bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alluvial architecture of the Holocene Rhine–Meuse delta (the Netherlands)
Authors: GOUW MARC J.P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAncient fluvial successions often act as hydrocarbon reservoirs. Sub‐surface data on the alluvial architecture of fluvial successions are often incomplete and modelling is performed to reconstruct the stratigraphy. However, all alluvial architecture models suffer from the scarcity of field data to test and calibrate them. The purposes of this study were to quantify the alluvial architecture of the Holocene Rhine–Meuse delta (the Netherlands) and to determine spatio‐temporal trends in the architecture. Five north–south orientated cross‐sections, perpendicular to the general flow direction, were compiled for the fluvial‐dominated part of the delta. These sections were used to calculate the width/thickness ratios of fluvial sandbodies (SBW/SBT) and the proportions of channel‐belt deposits (CDP), clastic overbank deposits (ODP) and organic material (OP) in the succession. Furthermore, the connectedness ratio (CR) between channel belts was calculated for each cross‐section. Distinct spatial and temporal trends in the alluvial architecture were found. SBW/SBT ratios decrease by a factor of ca 4 in a downstream direction. CDP decreases from ca 0·7 (upstream) to ca 0·3 (downstream). OP increases from less than 0·05 in the upstream part of the delta to more than 0·25 in the downstream delta. ODP is approximately constant (0·4). CR is ca 0·25 upstream, which is approximately two times larger than in the downstream part of the delta. Furthermore, CDP in the downstream Rhine–Meuse delta increases after 3000 cal yr BP. These trends are attributed to variations in available accommodation space, floodplain geometry and channel‐belt size. For instance, channel belts tend to narrow in a downstream direction, which reduces SBW/SBT, CDP and CR. Tectonics cause local deviations in the general architectural trends. In addition, the positive correlation between avulsion frequency and the ratio of local to regional aggradation rate probably influenced alluvial architecture in the Rhine–Meuse delta. The Rhine–Meuse data set can be a great resource when developing more sophisticated models for alluvial architecture simulation, which eventually could lead to better characterizations of hydrocarbon reservoirs. To aid such usage of the Rhine–Meuse data set, constraints for relevant parameters are provided at the end of the paper.
Induction of the tobacco PR‐1a gene by virus infection and salicylate treatment involves an interaction between multiple regulatory elements
Authors: van de Rhee Miranda D. , Bol John F. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryExpression of the tobacco PR‐1a gene is induced by treatment of plants with salicylate or infection with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Cis‐acting sequences involved in regulation of the PR‐1a gene by salicylate and TMV were identified by investigating fusion constructs of PR‐1a upstream sequences with a heterologous minimal promoter and the GUS reporter gene in transformed tobacco plants. The PR‐1a promoter was found to contain a number of interacting elements which function in a context‐dependent way. A minimum of four regulatory elements was identified, located between nucleotides ‐902 to ‐691 (element 1), ‐689 to ‐643 (element 2), ‐643 to ‐287 (element 3) and ‐287 to +29 (element 4). Alone, these elements have no promoter activity and they are all four required for maximum induction of the reporter gene by salicylate or TMV. The PR‐1a promoter is positively regulated by elements 1, 2, and 3; constructs containing two of these three elements had about half of the maximum activity. Replacement of the minimal heterologous promoter by element 4 differentially affected the activity of these various constructs, suggesting that this element may be important for a correct spacing between elements 1 to 3 and the transcription start site. The observation that all PR‐1a promoter constructs respond similarly to salicylate treatment and TMV infection supports a role of salicylate in the signal transduction pathway leading to PR‐1a gene expression.
Antisense inhibition of pectin esterase gene expression in transgenic tomatoes
Authors: Hall Lisa N. , Tucker Gregory A. , Smith Christopher J.S. , Watson Colin F. , Seymour Graham B. , Bundick Yvonne , Boniwell Jeremy M. , Fletcher Jonathan D. , Ray John A. , Schuch Wolfgang , Bird Colin R. , Grierson Don 
Published: April 2008

SummaryTomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ailsa Craig) were transformed with chimaeric pectin esterase (PE; EC 3.1.1.11) antisense RNA genes, based on a cDNA isolated from a tomato fruit library. PE enzyme activity in ripe fruit of these plants was reduced by up to 93%, as a result of inhibition of PE mRNA accumulation from an endogenous gene, or genes. No major differences in fruit development and ripening were apparent, although pectin remained more heavily esterified (methylated) at all stages of fruit development, thus confirming that PE has a role in pectin de‐esterification in vivo. PE enzyme activity was unaffected in leaves or roots of the transformants, although antisense RNA transcripts were detected. This observation, and immunological differences between PE isoenzymes in leaves and roots compared to fruit, indicate differential expression of PE isoenzymes in these organs.
The effect of glycosylation trimming enzyme inhibitors on monoclonal antibody recognition of α‐sialoglycoprotein epitopes
Authors: Strickland A. , Wilkins B. S. , Jones D. B. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. The human erythrocyte membrane contains four sialoglycoproteins, denoted α, β, γ and δ (also known as glycophorins A, C, D and B respectively), of which α‐sialoglycoprotein (α‐SGP) is the most predominant species. The extracellular portion of α‐SGP is heavily glycosylated with approximately 15 O‐linked carbohydrate side‐chains and a single N‐linked group.We have used inhibitors of carbohydrate trimming enzymes to investigate the contribution of this single N‐glycan moiety towards the recognition of a range of antibody binding sites on α‐SGP. Two erythromyeloid cell lines, K562 and HEL, were cultured in the presence of these inhibitors and altered binding of antibodies to epitopes adjacent to the N‐glycan was observed. Digoxigenin‐coupled lectins were used to stain cytocentrifuge preparations and Western blots of cell lysates in order to confirm that modification of N‐linked carbohydrate side‐chains had been achieved. We suggest that the N‐glycan side chain of α‐SGP has a role in conferring conformational stability upon epitopes which lie in its vicinity.
Proteolytic activity during storage of platelets in plasma
Authors: Wallvik J. , Suontaka A. M. , Blombäck M. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. Proteolytic activity was studied in platelet concentrates (PC) stored in plasma at 22°C. In experiment 1, two PC with a higher (A) and a lower (B) white cell concentration were prepared from each of nine donors by centrifugation. Aliquots of the cell‐free plasma, PPP, were stored as a control. Samples for the assay of fibrinopeptide A (FPA), elastase, spontaneous proteolytic activity (SPA), kallikrein‐inhibiting activity, thrombin‐antithrombin complexes (TAT) and D‐dimers were collected initially and on days 1,3,5 and 7 of storage. Consumption of glucose, pH and concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ATP were determined to investigate the metabolic status of the PC. The decrease in pH correlated to the leucocyte count, r= ‐0.74, P<0.001 and to the increase in LDH, r= ‐0.74, P<0.01. The levels of elastase and the SPA were consistently low in the PPP bags. In the PC elastase had increased by day 5 and the SPA by day 3; the levels in PC A were significantly higher than in PC B, P<0.01. The leucocyte count correlated with the elastase activity, r= 0.71, P<0.01, and with the SPA, r= 0.65, P<0.01. A minor increase in FPA was demonstrated while no TAT and D‐dimers could be detected. The cause of the formation of FPA was studied in experiment 2; three bags of PC and four of PPP were prepared from each of 16 donors. To the PC and three of the PPP bags either hirudin, aprotinin or no enzyme inhibitor (control) was added. To the fourth PPP bag extra CPD was added to evaluate the effect of pH. Hirudin decreased the formation of FPA (P<0.001) while aprotinin had no inhibitory effect; thus the formation was due in part, to thrombin activation. The levels of FPA were higher in the PPP controls, correlating with an increase in the pH.We conclude that there is an activation of proteolytic enzymes in plasma during storage. The duration of storage, stability of pH and the concentration of white cells are important factors. The data give evidence for the benefit of a removal of leucocytes already in the preparation procedure.
Detection of anti‐Fya, anti‐S and anti‐Jka in relation to the genotypes of the panel red cells: report of a U.K. NEQAS survey
Authors: Phillips P. K. , Whitton C. M. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. Three antibody‐containing samples (anti‐Fya anti‐S and anti‐Jka), each at two dilutions, were distributed to U.K. hospitals and transfusion centres together with an antibody screening panel comprising red cells homozygous for the corresponding antigens. Participants in the study subjected the samples to their routine antibody screening procedures using both their own antibody screening panels and the screening panel provided.A within‐group comparison of those participants using their own screening panels having a heterozygous expression of the antigens, with the same participants when using the screening panel provided, showed for five of the samples a greater detection rate in routine antibody screening procedures when using the panel provided, having homozygous expression of the corresponding antigens. The sixth sample, the most potent, was detected equally using both panels. The difference in overall detection rate is statistically significant (chi‐square test, 2p0.001).The study shows that the use of red cells presumptively homozygous for Fya, S and Jka improved the detection of the corresponding antibodies.
Haemolytic anaemia caused by anti‐Pra following rubella infection
Authors: Kadota Y. , Fujinami S. , Tagawa Y. , Sato M. , Miyazaki H. , Shiozaki Y. , Inoue K. , Ishida T. , Miyamoto A. , Okubo S. , Yasunaga K. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. A 24‐year‐old male was admitted to Kansai Medical University Hospital, complaining of fever, skin exanthema, jaundice, brown urine and lymphadenopathy.The patient was diagnosed as having haemolytic anaemia caused by a cold agglutinin following rubella infection.The cold agglutinin of the patient reacted strongly with group OI red blood cells (RBC), Oi cord RBC, Oi adult RBC and neuraminidase‐treated RBC, and much weaker with protease (papain, ficin, bromelin)‐treated RBC; it was identified as anti‐Pra.Cold agglutinins of anti‐Pra specificity following rubella infection in adults have rarely been reported.
Half‐strength citrate CPD and new additive solutions for improved blood preservation. 2. The effect of storage at ambient temperature before component preparation and different means of supplying glucose to the red cells
Authors: Högman C. F. , Eriksson L. , Gong J. , Vikholm K. , Debrauwere J. , Payrat J. M. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. In current anticoagulant‐additive systems used for the preparation of blood components an early loss of erythrocyte 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate (BPG) during storage is unavoidable. This increases reversibly the oxygen affinity of the haemoglobin of red blood cells (RBC). Using half‐strength citrate CPD solution (0·5CPD) as anticoagulant and a red‐cell additive solution (RAS 2) containing citrate, adenine, phosphate, mannitol and glucose, it was possible effectively to counteract this undesirable effect without loss of adenine nucleotides. The initial mean BPG level was maintained for 4 weeks and the total adenine nucleotide concentration for 7 weeks. The initial BPG level decreased upon prolonged hold of the whole blood at ambient temperature to 85–90% of normal after 4 h, 70% after 12 h and 50% after 22 h. Both preparation and storage haemolysis were lower in 0·5CPD blood processed into RAS‐2‐suspended RBC than in CPD blood processed into SAGM‐suspended cells.The possibility of adding glucose to the red cells via the primary anticoagulant instead of the additive solution was tested. The glucose concentration had to be increased to three times that in normal CPD to supply the red cells with sufficient glucose for 6–7 weeks of storage. However, this caused increased haemolysis, particularly after prolonged hold of the whole blood at ambient temperature before component preparation. The results therefore indicate that the glucose supply should be in the additive solution. Less citric acid in the 0·5CPD anticoagulant, an increase in intracellular pH on addition of the new additive solution and supply of phosphate seem to be major factors in explaining the effects. The new combination of anticoagulant and red‐cell additive solution is a clear improvement for blood component preparation and storage.
Discharge haematocrit as clinical indicator for blood transfusion audit in surgery patients
Authors: Goodnough L. T. , Vizmeg K. , Riddell J. , Soegiarso R. Wida 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. Three cohorts of elective surgical patients were reviewed in order to develop a method in which the discharge haematocrit can serve as a clinical indicator for a subsequent study of the use of blood transfusion therapy. Three different levels of discharge haematocrit were evaluated: 36, 33, and 30% for ‘generous’, ‘intermediate’, and ‘strict’ criteria, respectively. Discharge haematocrits (%, mean ± SD) for patients not transfused were 29.6±4.6, 33.7 ± 5.0, and 33.6 ± 3.4 for three different surgical groups (cardiac, orthopaedic, and urological surgical patients). When discharge haematocrits greater than 33% (‘intermediate’) were considered excessive due to previous transfusion, the prevalence of patients identified was 9, 6.5 and 13%, respectively. We found no relationship between the length of stay in hospital and the number of blood units transfused or patient discharge haematocrit levels. When the length of stay of patients identified by exceeding the clinical indicator was compared to that of patients not identified, orthopaedic and urological surgical patients showed no difference; however, cardiac surgical patients who exceeded the clinical indicator had shorter hospital stays compared to patients who were not so identified. We conclude the following: 1 The discharge haematocrit can be used as a clinical indicator for a subsequent review of use in order to evaluate the appropriateness of blood transfusion therapy. 2 The prevalence of patients identified who exceeded the clinical indicator, among three elective surgical patient groups, suggests that this indicator is applicable across elective surgical categories in order to target transfusion medicine education programmes and clinical outcome studies. 3 Additional factors important to the ‘transfusion trigger’, such as blood lost during hospitalization, may need to be included with the discharge haematocrit as clinical indicators in order to evaluate blood transfusion therapy in this setting.
Informed consent for blood transfusion as a transfusion medicine educational intervention
Authors: Goodnough L. T. , Hull A. L. , Kleinhenz M. E. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. The aim here was to determine the effectiveness of a transfusion medicine educational intervention in a medicine core clerkship program.Third‐year medical students enrolled in their medicine core clerkship rotations at tertiary care hospitals affiliated with our institution underwent a two‐part educational intervention that incorporated a transfusion medicine curriculum within the context of the medicolegal, ethical and educational elements of informed consent. Part one was a 1‐h didactic session on standards of practice for red blood cell transfusion. Part two was a 90‐min multidisciplinary workshop on informed consent. The effectiveness of the educational intervention was analysed by an objective structured clinical evaluation.The student group receiving the educational intervention scored significantly higher than in the comparison group (65.8 ± 9.2 vs. 54.1 ± 10.56, P <0.001). When student scores were used to determine changes in student response patterns over time, the largest change occurred in identifying possible other options to allogeneic blood transfusion.These results suggest that a transfusion medicine curriculum using an informed consent model can be used effectively as an educational intervention in a medicine core clerkship programme.
Risk of hepatitis C in patients who received blood from donors subsequently shown to be carriers of hepatitis C virus
Authors: Ayob Y. , Davidson J. I. , Baxter A. , Jordan A. , Yap P. L. , Gillon J. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. A retrospective study was undertaken to identify recipients of blood from donors subsequently shown to be positive for hepatitis C virus using second‐generation tests and polymerase chain reaction. The main aims were to determine the numbers of such recipients who were still alive and traceable, and to determine the risk of infection in this group. The feasibility and workload of this procedure, which is currently not practised in the U.K. or U.S.A., was also assessed.In the first six months of routine testing 42,697 donors were tested. Of 20 confirmed to be HCV‐positive, 15 were regular donors. Eighty‐three components were prepared from 63 anti‐HCV positive previous donations from these donors. In all, nine recipients were found to be alive. All were positive for anti‐HCV. We conclude that although this retrospective procedure is time‐consuming and difficult, substantial numbers of infected recipients can be identified. The availability of treatment for chronic hepatitis C for such patients should encourage transfusion services to reassess current policies on the hepatitis C retrospective.
Three examples of Rh haemolytic disease of the newborn with a negative direct antiglobulin test
Authors: Heddle N. M. , Wentworth P. , Anderson D. R. , Emmerson D. , Kelton J. G. , Blajchman M. A. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. Typically the serological diagnosis of alloimmune haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) includes a positive direct antiglobulin test on the infant's red cells, and the presence of an IgG red cell alloantibody in both maternal and cord sera. HDN with a negative direct antiglobulin test has been reported with anti‐A and anti‐B, but not with other red‐cell alloantibodies.In this report we describe four examples of HDN in infants whose red cells had a negative direct antiglobulin test. The first case was diagnosed retrospectively when the infant was admitted to hospital aged 3 weeks with severe anaemia and cardiac failure, and subsequently died. Maternal and infant sera were both shown to contain anti‐C: however, the direct antiglobulin test on the infant's red cells was negative. Approximately 1 year later the mother of this infant gave birth to triplets: soon after birth one of the triplets required an exchange transfusion, one had hyperbili‐rubinaemia, and the third was unaffected. Anti‐C and anti‐e were detectable in the maternal serum at this time. The most probable Rh genotypes of the two affected infants were R1R2 (CDe/cDE), while the Rh genotype of the unaffected infant was R2R2 (cDE/cDE). Anti‐c was implicated as causing HDN in a fourth infant (from a different family) who was a hydropic stillborn. The direct antiglobulin test on fetal blood was negative and other causes of non‐immune hydrops were excluded. These four infants provide evidence that the direct antiglobulin test may be negative in some severely affected and even fatal cases of HDN.
Monocyte monolayer assay (MMA) reactivity of alloantibodies reacting by the manual polybrene technique but not by an antiglobulin test
Authors: Lown J. , Willis J. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. The manual polybrene technique (MP) has been shown to be useful in pretransfusion testing as a rapid method capable of detecting a wide range of red cell antibodies. The clinical significance of alloantibodies reacting by the MP but not by an antiglobulin test (MP +/AGT‐) has not been determined.The monocyte monolayer assay (MMA) is an established in vitro technique for assessing the likely clinical significance of red cell antibodies. This was used to examine 21 MP +/AGT‐ alloantibodies and 41 alloantibodies reacting by a LISS antiglobulin method (LISS‐AGT).Two of the 21 MP +/AGT‐ antibodies (9.5%) produced positive results by the MMA compared with 26/41 (63.4%) of LISS‐AGT‐reactive antibodies. The incidence of positive reactivity of the latter antibodies in the MMA was similar between those that were reactive and nonreactive by the MP.These results suggest that antibodies reacting by MP and not by an antiglobulin test are less likely to be clinically significant.
Analysis of donor‐deferral pattern in a voluntary blood donor population
Authors: Chaudhary R. K. , Gupta D. , Gupta R. K. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. A reterospective analysis of records of the deferred donors from 1 October 1992 to 31 December 1993 was performed. Of 14,269 prospective blood donors (13,030 males and 1,239 females), 2,431 (16.4%) donors were disqualified for various reasons: 8‐1% of the donors were deferred for non‐pathological causes while 91‐9% were deferred for medical reasons. The most common cause for non‐pathological deferral was volunteers attending below the minimum acceptable age (5‐2%). Abnormal findings on physical examination accounted for 57‐2% of the deferrals in which low body weight was the most common finding (32‐3%) followed by low Hb (18‐6%). A past history of jaundice was the leading cause for deferral on medical interview.Numerous prospective donors are currently being deferred based on empirically derived criteria. By developing strategies to identify and rationalize donor selection criteria, the blood transfusion services should be able to decrease unnecessary deferrals.
A multicentre assessment of the specificity of ten anti‐HBc screening tests
Authors: Hughes W. , Barr A. , Dow B. C. , Follett E. A. C. , Barbara J. A. J. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY. Samples from 1828 donations were screened for anti‐HBc at seven sites in the UK using kits supplied by 10 manufacturers. Only 10 (0.55%) donations were considered to have true anti‐HBc reactivity and these were detected by all 10 kits. Additional markers of HBV infection were found in nine of these 10 donations. Additional reactives were found by all kits, the number ranging from 1 to 43.In the four more specific kits, the 10 true reactives were clearly distinguished from the ‘false reactives’ by the strength of the reaction. It is concluded that the reliance on a single ELISA test for anti‐HBc diagnosis is unwise. The use of a second test known to be more specific than the screening ELISA is recommended.