bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A pilot study of the association of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of warfarin with the dose in patients on long‐term anticoagulation
Authors: Kulkarni Uday P. , Swar Balkrishna D. , Karnad Dilip R. , Davis Sanish , Patwardhan Anil M. , Kshirsagar Nilima A. , Gogtay Nithya J. 
Published: February 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Warfarin is a widely used anticoagulant with a low therapeutic index.• There is wide interindividual variation in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin which is also reflected in the warfarin dose requirement.• CYP2C9 and VKORC1 polymorphisms have been shown to affect warfarin dose requirement. However a large amount of the variation in warfarin dose remains unaccounted for. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Our findings suggest that in patients who are on long‐term warfarin therapy, INR : plasma 7‐hydroxywarfarin concentration correlates well with warfarin requirement and also accounts for a large amount of variation in warfarin dose.AIMSTo assess the correlation between plasma total warfarin concentration, plasma 7‐hydroxywarfarin concentration and INR and the weekly doses of warfarin in patients on long‐term anticoagulation.METHODSTwenty‐five patients on long‐term anticoagulation with warfarin were studied. Plasma total warfarin and 7‐hydroxywarfarin concentrations and INR were determined. Equations were derived with the weekly warfarin dose as the dependent variable and plasma total warfarin concentration : plasma 7‐hydroxywarfarin concentration, INR : plasma total warfarin concentration and INR : plasma 7‐hydroxywarfarin concentration as independent variables.RESULTSThere was a good correlation between INR : plasma total warfarin concentration and the weekly dose of warfarin (y = 46.73e−0.30x, r2 = 0.65). There was a better correlation between INR : plasma 7‐hydroxywarfarin concentration and the weekly dose of warfarin (y = 156.52x−0.63, r2 = 0.74)CONCLUSIONSPharmacokinetic parameters along with INR seem to correlate with the weekly doses of warfarin in patients on long‐term anticoagulation. These parameters may therefore be useful for predicting warfarin doses.
Paediatric myelodysplastic syndromes and juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia: molecular classification and treatment options
Authors: Niemeyer Charlotte Marie , Kratz Christian Peter 
Published: February 2008

SummaryMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and the mixed myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorder juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) are rare haematopoietic stem cell diseases in children. While MDS‐initiating events remain largely obscure, a growing body of clinical, genetic and laboratory evidence suggests that JMML is, at least in part, caused by aberrant signal transduction resulting from mutations of components of the RAS signalling pathway. To date, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation cures more than half of children diagnosed with MDS or JMML. Research on genetic conditions predisposing to MDS in young age, such as inherited syndromes with bone marrow failure, may present important insights into MDS pathogenesis.
Capture and enrichment of CD34‐positive haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from blood circulation using P‐selectin in an implantable device
Authors: Wojciechowski Joel C. , Narasipura Srinivas D. , Charles Nichola , Mickelsen Deanne , Rana Kuldeeepsinh , Blair Martha L. , King Michael R. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryClinical infusion of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is vital for restoration of haematopoietic function in many cancer patients. Previously, we have demonstrated an ability to mimic physiological cell trafficking in order to capture CD34‐positive (CD34+) HSPCs using monolayers of the cell adhesion protein P‐selectin in flow chambers. The current study aimed to determine if HSPCs could be captured directly from circulating blood in vivo. Vascular shunt prototypes, coated internally with P‐selectin, were inserted into the femoral artery of rats. Blood flow through the cell capture device resulted in a wall shear stress of 4–6 dynes/cm2. After 1‐h blood perfusion, immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis revealed successful capture of mononuclear cells positive for the HSPC surface marker CD34. Purity of captured CD34+ cells showed sevenfold enrichment over levels found in whole blood, with an average purity of 28%. Robust cell capture and HSPC enrichment were also demonstrated in devices that were implanted in a closed‐loop arterio‐venous shunt conformation for 2 h. Adherent cells were viable in culture and able to differentiate into burst‐forming units. This study demonstrated an ability to mimic the physiological arrest of HSPCs from blood in an implantable device and may represent a practical alternative for adult stem cell capture and enrichment.
Prediction of relapse in paediatric pre‐B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia using a three‐gene risk index
Authors: Hoffmann Katrin , Firth Martin J. , Beesley Alex H. , Freitas Joseph R. , Ford Jette , Senanayake Saranga , De Klerk Nicholas H. , Baker David L. , Kees Ursula R. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryDespite high cure rates 25% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) relapse and have dismal outcome. Crucially, many are currently stratified as standard risk (SR) and additional markers to improve patient stratification are required. Here we have used diagnostic bone marrow specimens from 101 children with pre‐B ALL to examine the use of gene expression profiles (GEP) as predictors of long‐term clinical outcome. Patients were divided into two cohorts for model development and validation based on availability of specimen material. Initially, GEP from 55 patients with sufficient material were analysed using HG‐U133A microarrays, identifying an 18‐gene classifier (GC) that was more predictive of outcome than conventional prognostic parameters. After feature selection and validation of expression levels by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), a three‐gene qRT‐PCR risk index [glutamine synthetase (GLUL), ornithine decarboxylase antizyme inhibitor (AZIN), immunoglobulin J chain (IGJ)] was developed that predicted outcome with an accuracy of 89% in the array cohort and 87% in the independent validation cohort. The data demonstrate the feasibity of using GEP to improve risk stratification in childhood ALL. This is particularly important for the identification of patients destined to relapse despite their current stratification as SR, as more intensive front‐line treatment options for these individuals are already available.
Neutrophil function is preserved in a pooled granulocyte component prepared from whole blood donations
Authors: Bashir Saber , Stanworth Simon , Massey Edwin , Goddard Fred , Cardigan Rebecca 
Published: February 2008

SummaryWhole blood‐derived granulocytes (buffy coats) are issued as an alternative to apheresis donations, but are heavily contaminated with red cells and platelets and there is minimal in vitro data describing their functionality. We developed a purer pooled granulocyte component (PGC) from whole blood donations by pooling 10 ABO‐matched buffy coats with 400 ml of platelet additive solution (SSP+) and re‐centrifuging. The PGC was irradiated (25–50 Gy) and neutrophil viability, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity were determined by flow cytometry. Results from 13 PGC at 16–20 h following donation were compared with those obtained from 20 standard individual buffy coats and with fresh whole blood. The PGC contained similar numbers of neutrophils (approximately 0·9 × 1010) with a reduced volume and haemoglobin content when compared with 10 individual buffy coats. Neutrophils in the PGC maintained >90% viability, oxidative burst and phagocytic activity and their ability to migrate towards a chemoattractant 16–20 h following donation, which is similar to results obtained with either fresh whole blood or standard buffy coats. Therefore, neutrophil function in the PGC was preserved 16–20 h following donation, but this product had significantly lower red cell contamination compared with 10 buffy coats, which are currently transfused.
Amino acid 15N in long‐term bare fallow soils: influence of annual N fertilizer and manure applications
Authors: Bol R. , Ostle N. J. , Petzke K. J. , Chenu C. , Balesdent J. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryLong‐term dynamics of amino acids (AAs), from a bare fallow soil experiment (established in 1928 at INRA‐Versailles, France), were examined in unamended control (Con) plots and plots treated with ammonium sulphate (Amsul), ammonium nitrate (Amnit), sodium nitrate (Nanit) or with animal manure (Man). Topsoil (0–25 cm) from 1929, 1963 and 1997 was analysed for C, N and 15N content and distribution of 18 amino acids recovered after acid hydrolysis with 6 m HCl. With time, soil N, C and AA content were reduced in Con, Amsul, Amnit and Nanit, but increased in Man. However, the absolute N loss was 3–11 times larger in Man than Nanit, Amsul, Amnit and Con, due to the much higher N annual inputs applied to Man. From 1929 to 1997 in Con, Amsul, Amnit and Nanit the whole soil and non‐hydrolysable‐N pool δ15N increased associated with the loss of N (indicative of Rayleigh 15N/14N fractionation). No δ15N change from 1929 to 1997 was found in the hydrolysable AA‐N (HAN) pool. Fertilizer N inputs aided stabilization of soil AA‐N, as AA half‐life in the mineral N fertilizer treatments increased from 34 years in 1963 to 50 years in 1997. The δ15N values of alanine and leucine reflected both source input and 15N/14N fractionation effects in soils. The δ15N increase of ornithine (∼6‰) was similar to the whole soil. The δ15N change of phenylalanine in Con (decrease of 7‰) was related to its proportional loss since 1929, whereas for Amsul, Amnit, Nanit and Man it was associated with isotope effects caused by the fertilizer inputs. However, the soil δ15N value of most individual amino acids (IAAs) did not significantly change over nearly 70 years, even with mineral or organic N inputs. We conclude for these bare fallow systems that: (i) δ15N changes in the whole soil and non‐hydrolysable AA pool were solely driven by microbial processes and not by the nature of fertilizer inputs, and (ii) without plant inputs, the δ15N of the HAN pool and (most) IAAs may reflect the influence of plant–soil interactions from the previous (arable cropping) rather than present (fallow) land use on these soil δ15N values.
Terrestrial export of highly bioavailable carbon from small boreal catchments in spring floods
Authors: ÅGREN A. , BERGGREN M. , LAUDON H. , JANSSON M. 
Published: February 2008

Summary1. We assessed the terrestrial export of organic carbon, which effectively supported aquatic bacterial production (BP), from small boreal catchments during spring flood. We analysed stream runoff from nine small catchments with different proportions of peat mires and coniferous forests by monitoring the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux in combination with conducting bacterial bioassays.2. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that BP during 7‐day‐dark bioassays (BP7; μg C L−1day−1) was explained by both the quantity and quality (low‐molecular weight fractions) of the DOC. BP7 can be used as a measure of export of terrestrial organic carbon that is highly bioavailable.3. Total export of DOC during spring flood from the different catchments ranged from 20 to 27 kg ha−1 and was negatively correlated to forest cover (%). However, the export of BP7 carbon was positively correlated to forest cover and varied from about 0.1 kg ha−1 in mire‐dominated streams to about 0.2 kg ha−1 in forest‐dominated streams.4. The high bioavailability of forest carbon suggests that forests are the main contributors of BP‐supporting carbon in boreal streams although mires have higher area‐specific export of DOC.
Calibration of Terra/MODIS gross primary production over an irrigated cropland on the North China Plain and an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: ZHANG YONGQIANG , YU QIANG , JIANG JIE , TANG YANHONG 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper evaluated the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) gross primary production (GPP) product (MOD17) by using estimated GPP from eddy‐covariance flux measurements over an irrigated winter wheat and maize double‐cropping field on the North China Plain in 2003–2004, and an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau in 2002–2003. The mean annual GPP from MOD17 accounted for 1/2–2/3 of the surface estimated mean annual GPP for the alpine meadow, but only about 1/5–1/3 for the cropland. This underestimation was partly attributed to low estimates of leaf area index by a MODIS product (MOD15) because it is used to calculate absorbed photosynthetically active radiation in the MOD17 algorithm. The main reason is that the parameter maximum light use efficiency (εmax) in the MOD17 algorithm was underestimated for the two biomes, especially for the cropland. Contrasted to the default, εmax was optimized using surface measurements. The optimized εmax for winter wheat, maize and meadow was 1.18, 1.81 and 0.73 g C/MJ, respectively. By using the surface measurements and optimized εmax , the MOD17 algorithm significantly improved the accuracy of GPP estimates. The optimum MOD17 algorithm explained about 82%, 68%, and 79% of GPP variance for winter wheat, maize, and meadow, respectively. These results suggest that it is necessary to adjust the MOD17 parameters for the estimation of cropland and meadow GPP, particularly over cropland.
Plant‐mediated effects of elevated ultraviolet‐B radiation on peat microbial communities of a subarctic mire
Authors: RINNAN RIIKKA , NERG ANNE‐MARJA , AHTONIEMI PAULIINA , SUOKANERVA HANNE , HOLOPAINEN TOINI , KYRÖ ESKO , BÅÅTH ERLAND 
Published: February 2008

AbstractElevated ultraviolet‐B (UVB) radiation has been reported to have few effects on plants but to alter the soil microbial community composition. However, the effects on soil microorganisms have to be mediated via plants, because direct radiation effects are only plausible on the uppermost millimeters of soil. Here, we assessed secondary effects of UVB on soil microbes. The responses in the dominant plant Eriophorum russeolum, peat pore water and microbial communities in the peat were recorded at a subarctic mire in the middle of the third growing season under field exposure simulating 20% depletion in the ozone layer. The UVB treatment significantly reduced the sucrose and the total soluble sugar (sucrose+glucose+fructose) concentration of the plant leaves while increasing the sucrose concentration in the belowground storage organ rhizome. The starch concentration of the leaves was also slightly reduced by elevated UVB. In the plant roots, carbohydrate concentrations remained unaffected but the total phenolics concentration increased under elevated UVB. We suggest that the simultaneously observed decrease in bacterial growth rate and the altered bacterial community composition are due to UVB‐induced changes in the plant photosynthate allocation and potential changes in root exudation. There were no effects of elevated UVB on microbial biomass, peat pore water or nutrient concentrations in the peat. The observed responses are in line with the previously reported lower ecosystem dark respiration under elevated UVB, and they signify that the changed plant tissue quality and lower bacterial activity are likely to reduce decomposition.
Coupling of respiration, nitrogen, and sugars underlies convergent temperature acclimation in Pinus banksiana across wide‐ranging sites and populations
Authors: TJOELKER MARK G. , OLEKSYN JACEK , REICH PETER B. , ŻYTKOWIAK ROMA 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPatterns and mechanisms of short‐term temperature acclimation and long‐term climatic adaptation of respiration among intraspecific populations are poorly understood, but both are potentially important in constraining respiratory carbon flux to climate warming across large geographic scales, as well as influencing the metabolic fitness of populations. Herein we report on leaf dark respiration of 33‐year‐old trees of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) grown in three contrasting North American common gardens (0.9, 4.6, and 7.9 °C, mean annual temperature) comprised of identical populations of wide‐ranging geographic origins. We tested whether respiration rates in this evergreen conifer acclimate to prevailing ambient air temperatures and differ among populations. At each of the common gardens, observed population differences in respiration rates measured at a standard temperature (20 °C) were comparatively small and largely unrelated to climate of seed‐source origin. In contrast, respiration in all populations exhibited seasonal acclimation at all sites. Specific respiration rates at 20 °C inversely tracked seasonal variation in ambient air temperature, increasing with cooler temperatures in fall and declining with warmer temperatures in spring and summer. Such responses were similar among populations and sites, thus providing a general predictive equation regarding temperature acclimation of respiration for the species. Temperature acclimation was associated with variation in nitrogen (N) and soluble carbohydrate concentrations, supporting a joint enzyme and substrate‐based model of respiratory acclimation. Regression analyses revealed convergent relationships between respiration and the combination of needle N and soluble carbohydrate concentrations and between N‐based respiration (RN, μmol mol N− 1 s− 1) and soluble carbohydrate concentrations, providing evidence for general predictive relationships across geographically diverse populations, seasons, and sites. Overall, these findings demonstrate that seasonal acclimation of respiration modulates rates of foliar respiratory carbon flux in a widely distributed evergreen species, and does so in a predictable way. Genetic differences in specific respiration rate appear less important than temperature acclimation in downregulating respiratory carbon fluxes with climate warming across wide‐ranging sites.
Artificial neural network approach to simultaneously predict shelf life of two varieties of packaged rice snacks
Authors: Siripatrawan Ubonrat , Jantawat Pantipa 
Published: February 2008

SummaryActual storage shelf life test by storing a packaged product under typical storage conditions is costly and time consuming. A new approach using an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm for shelf life prediction of two varieties of moisture‐sensitive rice snacks packaged in polyethylene and polypropylene bags and stored at various storage conditions was established. The ANN used to predict the shelf life was based on multilayer perceptron with back propagation algorithm. The ANN algorithm employed the data of product characteristics, package properties and storage conditions. The neural network comprised an input, one hidden and one output layers. The network was trained using Bayesian regularisation. The performance of ANN was measured using regression coefficient (R2 = 0.23–0.28) and root mean square error (RMSE = 0.96–0.99). The ANN‐predicted shelf lives agreed very well with actual shelf life data. ANN could be used as an alternative method for shelf life prediction of moisture‐sensitive food products as well as product/package optimisation.
MRI study of bread baking: experimental device and MRI signal analysis
Authors: Wagner Muriel J. , Loubat Michel , Sommier Alain , Le Ray Dominique , Collewet Guylaine , Broyart Bertrand , Quintard Honoré , Davenel Armel , Trystram Gilles , Lucas Tiphaine 
Published: February 2008

SummaryAn oven dedicated to a magnetic resonance imager (MRI) was designed and constructed for continuous monitoring of the entire baking process. The general aim was to test whether response variables conventionally measured on bread loaves, such as temperature, density, and water loss, were consistent with those reported for similar products baked in classical convection ovens. MRI images acquired during baking are presented and discussed, emphasising the need to develop quantitative MRI methods allowing conversion of the MRI signal into one variable of interest, such as local density or local water content.
Changes in the processing quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) during long‐term storage under controlled conditions
Authors: Kenter Christine , Hoffmann Christa M. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryLong‐term storage of sugar beet is an option to extend the processing campaign of the sugar factories in Europe. In the present study, changes in the processing quality of sugar beet were quantified during 110 days of storage at 7 and 20 °C. During storage, the concentration of sucrose decreased whereas K, Na, amino N, betaine, invert sugar and raffinose accumulated in the beets, i.e. quality was impaired markedly. At 7 °C, the changes in sucrose concentration were relatively small but the formation of invert sugar and raffinose caused considerable losses in beet quality. Thus, long‐term storage at low temperature is appropriate to prolong the campaign but processing costs will increase. Quality assessment with two formulae showed that measurements of K, Na and amino N are insufficient to evaluate stored sugar beets for recoverable sugar. Due to its increase in storage, the concentration of invert sugar should also be taken into account.
Effects of ingredients and process conditions on ‘Amaretti’ cookies characteristics
Authors: Farris Stefano , Piergiovanni Luciano 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThis research aimed at determining the influence of different factors (i.e. ingredients and process conditions) on the most important characteristics defining consumers’ appreciation of ‘Amaretti’ cookies using DOE (design of experiment) technique. A different recipe than the original one was used in the manufacturing of the cookies, where saccharose was partially replaced with fructose and bamboo fibre was added as a new ingredient. Besides fructose/saccharose ratio and fibre, the effect of egg white, baking time and baking temperature on quality responses (hardness, water activity, moisture content and colour) of ‘Amaretti’ was measured by using a fractional factorial design in a screening test. Responses were affected mostly by changes in temperature and fructose/saccharose ratio levels and then by baking time; bamboo fibre had a statistically significant influence only on hardness. The power of fit of the regression models was significant for all four responses and had R2 value in the range of 0.886–0.997. However, the power of prediction was significant only for hardness, moisture content and colour and had Q2 value in the range of 0.584–0.965. The mathematical model for water activity resulted inappropriate to explain the link between factors and response. The achieved results can represent a useful tool to address and facilitate the next phase of optimisation.