bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current Status of the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Geha Alexander S. , Abdelhady Khaled 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF) affects several million patients worldwide and is associated with a number of heart conditions, particularly coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. The treatment of AF and its complications is quite costly. Atrial fibrillation usually results from multiple macro‐re‐entrant circuits in the left atrium. Very frequently, particularly in association with mitral valve disease, these circuits arise from the area of the junction of the pulmonary venous endothelium and the left atrial endocardium. Pharmacological therapy is at best 50% effective. Therapeutic options for AF include antiarrhythmic drugs, cardioversion, atrioventricular (A‐V) node block, pacemaker insertion, and ablative surgery. In 1987, Cox developed an effective surgical procedure to achieve ablation. Current ablative procedures include the classic cut‐and‐sew Maze operation or a modification of it, namely through catheter ablation, namely, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation (dry or irrigated), and other forms of ablation (e.g., laser, microwave). These procedures will be described, along with the indications, advantages and disadvantages of each. Special emphasis on the alternative means to cutting and sewing to achieve appropriate effective atrial scars will be stressed, and our experience with these approaches in 50 patients with AF and associated cardiac lesions and their outcomes is presented.
Incidence of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A lyase (HL) deficiency in Brazil, South America
Authors: Vargas C. R. , Sitta A. , Schmitt G. , Ferreira G. C. , Cardoso M. L. , Coelho D. , Gibson K. M. , Wajner M. 
Published: December 2007

Summary3‐Hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase (HL) deficiency (3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric aciduria, 3‐HMG) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism involving the final step of leucine degradation. HL is the key enzyme for the production of glucose‐sparing ketone bodies for brain. Positive biochemical findings are metabolic acidosis, hyperammonaemia, and hypoketotic hypoglycaemia in the neonatal period or infancy. In the present study we report 15 Brazilian patients with HL deficiency and present their clinical and biochemical findings. Urine from all patients contained large amounts of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric, 3‐methylglutaconic, 3‐hydroxyisovaleric and 3‐methylglutaric acids, and 3‐methylcrotonylglycine was also observed in 13 patients. The main features at clinical presentation were hypoglycaemia (12 patients), seizures (10 patients), metabolic acidosis (9 patients), vomiting (6 patients), and hepatomegaly (5 patients). All but two patients were of Portuguese ancestry. HL deficiency comprised 7.3% of total organic acidurias detected in our laboratory during a 13‐year time span, indicating a high incidence of this disorder in Brazil. Limited molecular characterization (4/15 patients only) revealed two mutations common for individuals of Portuguese/Spanish (Iberian Peninsula) ancestry (E37X and V168fs(−2)). Our findings increase the number of HL‐deficient patients and reinforce the characteristic phenotypic picture of the disease. Effective dietary interventions based on mild protein restriction and avoidance of fasting and possibly alternative C5 ketone body generating therapy for this disorder may provide further impetus and rationale for expanded newborn screening of HL deficiency.
Responses of Caragana korshinskii Kom. to shoot removal: mechanisms underlying regrowth
Authors: Fang Xiangwen , Li Jinhua , Xiong Youcai , Xu Danghui , Fan Xianwei , Li Fengmin 
Published: December 2007

AbstractCaragana korshinskii Kom. a dominant member of desert flora in north‐western China, is often subjected to aboveground shoot destruction but is very successful in its rapid recovery. We investigated the physiological basis for resprouting by comparing shoot elongation, leaf‐nutrient content, pre‐dawn leaf‐water potential (LWP), root non‐structural carbohydrate (TNC), and photosynthetic rate of first‐year resprouts with those of adjacent undamaged individuals. C. korshinskii resprouts had a significantly higher rate of shoot elongation. Plant responses associated with enhanced shoot elongation included (1) improved water status, (2) drawing upon more TNC from roots to support aboveground shoot regrowth, (3) enhanced photosynthetic rate owing to improved water status and increased nutrient content in leaves, and (4) allocating more photosynthate to vegetative production without reproduction costs. Maintaining an active root system after shoot removal may be the foundation which engenders these mechanisms underlying rapid regrowth of C. korshinskii in the disturbed environment.
Boron Fullerenes: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Gonzalez Szwacki Nevill 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
A family of unusually stable boron cages was identified and examined using first-principles local-density functional method. The structure of the fullerenes is similar to that of the B12icosahedron and consists of six crossing double-rings. The energetically most stable fullerene is made up of 180 boron atoms. A connection between the fullerene family and its precursors, boron sheets, is made. We show that the most stable boron sheets are not necessarily precursors of very stable boron cages. Our finding is a step forward in the understanding of the structure of the recently produced boron nanotubes.
High‐Throughput Analysis of Plasma Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Employing Robotic Transesterification and Fast Gas Chromatography
Authors: Masood M. Athar , Salem Norman 
Published: December 2007

AbstractFatty acid analysis is an important research tool, and indices derived from essential fatty acid contents serve as useful biomarkers related to cardiovascular and other chronic disease risk. Both clinical and basic studies of essential fatty acid composition are becoming ever larger in magnitude leading to delays while the rather laborious lipid analyses are performed. A robotic transesterification procedure has been developed for high‐throughput analysis of plasma fatty acid methyl esters. In this approach, robots perform most steps including plasma and reagent transfer, transesterification reaction via heating at 80 °C in open tubes with multiple reagent additions, followed by two‐phase extraction and transfer of lipid extracts to GC vials. The vials are then placed directly onto a GC autosampler carousel for robotic sample injection. An improved fast GC method is presented in which the peaks of interest are eluted within 6 min. This method is readily scalable to prepare and analyze 200 samples per day (1,000 samples per week) so that large clinical trials can be accommodated.
Altered Lipid Response in Hamsters Fed cis‐9,trans‐11+trans‐8,cis‐10 Conjugated Linoleic Acid Mixture
Authors: Bissonauth Vishnee , Chouinard P. Yvan , Marin Johanne , Leblanc Nadine , Richard Denis , Jacques Hélène 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to compare the effects of cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐8,cis‐10 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) mixture to those of cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐10,cis‐12 CLA mixture and linoleic acid (LA) on lipoprotein profile, hepatic lipids, body composition and digestibility of dietary fat in hamsters (n = 17) fed diets containing 2% of experimental fat (w/w) for 28 days. The cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐10,cis‐12 CLA mixture showed higher LDL cholesterol concentrations than LA and the cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐8,cis‐10 CLA mixture. The cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐8,cis‐10 CLA mixture induced similar plasma LDL cholesterol and hepatic lipid concentrations, and coefficient of digestibility as LA, indicating no effect of the trans‐8,cis‐10 CLA isomer on these lipid parameters. On the other hand, the cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐8,cis‐10 CLA mixture induced higher plasma VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides than LA and the cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐10,cis‐12 CLA mixture. The cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐8,cis‐10 CLA mixture also induced the highest plasma glucose concentrations compared with the two other groups, indicating an impairment of glycemic control. No differences in body composition were noted between the three groups. The present results thus show that the cis‐9,trans‐11 + trans‐8,cis‐10 CLA mixture can deteriorate plasma VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides in hamsters, possibly due to an increased flux of glucose.
Validation of a Rapid Measure of Blood PUFA Levels in Humans
Authors: Bailey‐Hall Eileen , Nelson Edward B. , Ryan Alan S. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAn assay involving a finger stick and filter paper blood spotting was developed to determine polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in blood. Capillary whole blood from a finger stick was blotted on antioxidant impregnated filter paper, air dried, saponified and methylated using sodium hydroxide and boron trifluoride in methanol. The method differed from those described previously because separation of plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) was not needed, thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) was not required to separate phospholipids, initial extraction of lipids before transesterification was not necessary, and the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) method was able to methylate steryl esters, free fatty acids, and sphingomyelins. Twenty‐six subjects provided blood samples by finger stick and venipuncture. Levels of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA) from capillary whole blood were correlated with those from RBCs and PLs in venous blood (P < 0.001, R2 ranged from 0.64 to 0.86). Although highly significant (P < 0.002), the R2 values for the correlation between arachidonic acid (ARA) levels in capillary whole blood with ARA levels in RBCs and plasma phospholipids (PLs) were relatively lower (R2 = 0.31–0.41, respectively). Results indicate that the described finger stick assay represents a fast, reliable method to measure specific LC‐PUFA levels.
Direct Microwave Transesterification of Fingertip Prick Blood Samples for Fatty Acid Determinations
Authors: Armstrong Jeff M. , Metherel Adam H. , Stark Ken D. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractOmega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) dietary intakes and tissue levels are positively associated with various health benefits. The development of cost efficient, high throughput methodologies would enable research in large clinical and population studies, and clinical fatty acid profiling. Microwave heating for the transesterification of blood fatty acids was examined. Samples were collected by venous puncture and fingertip prick onto chromatography paper. Aliquots of serum, plasma, erythrocytes and whole blood were prepared from venous blood. Boron trifluoride in methanol was used for transesterification but sample preparation and heating varied. Fatty acid determinations and markers of omega‐3 fatty acid status including the sum of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, the ratio of total n‐3 PUFA to n‐6 PUFA, and the percentage of n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA, ≥20 carbons and ≥3 carbon–carbon double bonds) in total HUFA were compared. Quantitative determinations indicate that microwave transesterification results in significantly lower estimates of monounsaturates and polyunsaturates, possibly through incomplete transesterification of triacylglycerols. However, qualitative estimates of omega‐3 fatty acid status were relatively similar. Fingertip prick blood collection combined with direct transesterification by microwave may be a very rapid method to estimate omega‐3 fatty acid status for selected applications.
Evaluation of Methyl Esters of Mahua Oil (Madhuca Indica) as Diesel Fuel
Authors: Kapilan N. , Reddy R. P. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThere is increasing interest in India for suitable alternative fuels that are environment friendly. This search has led to mahua oil (MO) as one alternative for diesel fuel in India. Mahua oil methyl esters (MOME) were prepared by transesterification using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as catalyst and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) testing was done to determine the conversion of vegetable oil to biodiesel (MOME). The properties of MOME were close to those of diesel oil. Engine testing was conducted using a single‐cylinder 4‐stroke direct‐injection, constant‐speed compression‐ignition diesel engine using MO, MOME and B20 as fuels. The engine ran smoothly with MOME and B20, but heavy smoke emissions were observed when MO was used as fuel.
Recovery of Natural Antioxidants from Olive Mill Wastewater Using Genapol‐X080
Authors: Gortzi Olga , Lalas Stavros , Chatzilazarou Arhontoula , Katsoyannos Evangelos , Papaconstandinou Spyros , Dourtoglou Euthalia 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe possibility of applying cloud point extraction (CPE) using Genapol X‐080 as surfactant for the separation of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater was examined. The ability of the surfactant to recover individual and mixtures of polyphenols and tocopherols in various concentrations from aqueous solutions was tested before its application for the recovery of phenols from olive mill wastewater. Many of the examined individual polyphenols were recovered at high percentage. Especially, in the case of Luteolin, low surfactant concentrations were sufficient for quantitative removal. The recovery appeared proportional to the surfactant concentration. The complete recovery of tocopherols was also possible. Total phenol recovery by simple and successive CPE of olive mill wastewater with various concentrations (2, 5 and 20%, v/v) of Genapol X‐080 was up to 89.5%.
Genotype and Growing Environment Effects on the Tocopherols and Fatty Acids of Brassica napus and B. juncea
Authors: Richards Amy , Wijesundera Chakra , Salisbury Phil 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe effects of genotype and growing environment on the tocopherols and fatty acids (FA) of experimental Brassica juncea and B. napus breeding lines were investigated. For both species, with the exception of a few genotypes, the concentration ratio of γ‐tocopherols to α‐tocopherol was practically constant. The genotype influenced the tocopherol concentration in B. napus, and to a lesser degree, B. juncea. The environment also had a similar effect, and a positive correlation existed between the daily maximum temperature and the α‐tocopherol concentration in B. napus. Genotype effects on the FA composition were significant for the conventional but not for Clearfield or triazine tolerant traits of B. napus. The genotype had no effect on the FA of the B. juncea genotypes. In contrast, the growing environment had a significant influence on the FA composition of both species with apparent influence from temperature and rainfall. For both species, the concentration of γ‐tocopherol as well as total tocopherols was inversely related to the 18:3 concentration, which could have resulted from opposite and independent effects of temperature on the two variables. No relationship existed between the concentrations of tocopherol and the remaining unsaturated FA 18:1 and 18:2. The positional distribution of unsaturated FA within the oil triacylglycerol was a function of their total concentration.
Influence of wind on extreme wave events: experimental and numerical approaches
Authors: KHARIF C. , GIOVANANGELI J.-P. , TOUBOUL J. , GRARE L. , PELINOVSKY E. 
Published: December 2007

The influence of wind on extreme wave events in deep water is investigated experimentally and numerically. A series of experiments conducted in the Large Air–Sea Interactions Facility (LASIF-Marseille, France) shows that wind blowing over a short wave group due to the dispersive focusing of a longer frequency-modulated wavetrain (chirped wave packet) may increase the time duration of the extreme wave event by delaying the defocusing stage. A detailed analysis of the experimental results suggests that extreme wave events may be sustained longer by the air flow separation occurring on the leeward side of the steep crests. Furthermore it is found that the frequency downshifting observed during the formation of the extreme wave event is more important when the wind velocity is larger. These experiments have pointed out that the transfer of momentum and energy is strongly increased during extreme wave events.Two series of numerical simulations have been performed using a pressure distribution over the steep crests given by the Jeffreys sheltering theory. The first series corresponding to the dispersive focusing confirms the experimental results. The second series which corresponds to extreme wave events due to modulational instability, shows that wind sustains steep waves which then evolve into breaking waves. Furthermore, it was shown numerically that during extreme wave events the wind-driven current could play a significant role in their persistence.
Influence of wing kinematics on aerodynamic performance in hovering insect flight
Authors: BOS FRANK M. , LENTINK D. , VAN OUDHEUSDEN B. W. , BIJL H. 
Published: December 2007

The influence of different wing kinematic models on the aerodynamic performance of a hovering insect is investigated by means of two-dimensional time-dependent Navier–Stokes simulations. For this, simplified models are compared with averaged representations of the hovering fruit fly wing kinematics. With increasing complexity, a harmonic model, a Robofly model and two more-realistic fruit fly models are considered, all dynamically scaled atRe= 110. To facilitate the comparison, the parameters of the models were selected such that their mean quasi-steady lift coefficients were matched. Details of the vortex dynamics, as well as the resulting lift and drag forces, were studied.The simulation results reveal that the fruit fly wing kinematics result in forces that differ significantly from those resulting from the simplified wing kinematic models. In addition, light is shed on the effect of different characteristic features of the insect wing motion. The angle of attack variation used by fruit flies increases aerodynamic performance, whereas the deviation is probably used for levelling the forces over the cycle.
In vitro inhibition of soredial growth in the epiphytic lichen Physcia tenella (Ascomycetes: Lecanorales) by a variety of bark phenols
Authors: KOOPMANN Ricarda , STEVENS Henning , FRANZEN-REUTER Isabelle , FRAHM Jan-Peter , GROTE Manfred 
Published: December 2007

Abstract:The in-vitro growth rate of soredia from the epiphytic lichen species Physcia tenella was tested at different concentrations of phenols added in an in vitro experiment designed to evaluate the allelopathic effects of bark derived substances in stem flow. The conditions used were designed to resemble those found on bark of Populus×canadensis, as this tree species has been widely used for lichen mapping studies in Germany. Bark phenolic glycosides, flavonoids and tannins undergo hydrolytic decomposition in stem flow, resulting in a variety of monomeric phenolic acids, aldehydes and alcohols. Eleven phenolic substances of different biosynthetic origin in the concentration range between 10−6 M and 10−3 M in the culture medium were tested. IC50 values were calculated for each substance. Inhibition was highest for catechol, substituted phenolic glycosides, benzoic and ellagic acids, moderate for flavonoids, gallic acid, salicylic alcohol, salicylic aldehyde and low for salicylic acid. The tests show that bark phenols in natural concentrations inhibit soredial growth of the test species Physcia tenella and therefore have an influence on the growth of lichens on trees.
Seasonal variations of Fo, Fm, and Fv/Fm in an epiphytic population of the lichen Punctelia subrudecta (Nyl.) Krog
Authors: BARUFFO Laurence , TRETIACH Mauro 
Published: December 2007

Abstract:Chlorophyll a fluorescence was measured every three months from December 2003 to December 2004 in ten, randomly selected thalli of the epiphytic lichen Punctelia subrudecta (Nyl.) Krog occurring in a deciduous, thermophilous downy oak wood in southern Tuscany (central Italy). In situ measurements were carried out with a photosynthesis yield analyser Mini-PAM (Walz, Effeltrich, Germany) on the same measuring points of 30-minute dark-adapted, fully hydrated thalli. The results show a remarkable seasonal change in Fo, Fm, and Fv/Fm, probably caused by a long-term physiological-structural adaptation of the photobiont to the gradual modification of the climatic conditions of each measurement period and the light regime of the understorey. However, P. subrudecta is also sensitive to rapid changes in microclimatic conditions as the PSII functionality is affected by the light regime of the days preceding the field measurements. Some critical observations on the statistical analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters are also made.
The lichen genus Ramalina on the Galapagos
Authors: APTROOT A. , BUNGARTZ F. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract:Ramalina species are among the most abundant lichens on the Galapagos Isles. A total of fifteen species have been distinguished, four of which are described as new here: Ramalina darwiniana, R. fragilis, R. furcellangulida and R. polyforma. These new species are considered to be endemic to the Galapagos whereas previous reports refer to relatively common, more widely distributed species. Several other species are reported here for the first time from the Galapagos.
Two new lichenicolous fungi: an Opegrapha and a Plectocarpon species (Ascomycota: Roccellaceae) from Chile
Authors: ETAYO J. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract:Opegrapha invadens Etayo on Pannaria farinosa and Plectocarpon usneaustralis Etayo on corticolous Usnea sp. are described as new from southern Chile.
A new species of Loxospora (lichenized Ascomycota: Sarrameanaceae) from Australia
Authors: LUMBSCH H. Thorsten , ARCHER Alan W. , ELIX John A. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract:Loxospora lecanoriformis Lumbsch, A. W. Archer & Elix is described from deeply shaded trunks of Doryphora sassafras Endl. in temperate rainforest in north-eastern New South Wales. This species is characterized by large, lecanorine apothecia, mostly unbranched paraphyses, non-amyloid asci and large, thin-walled, simple, ellipsoid ascospores. Molecular data has established that this taxon is related to Loxospora ochrophaea (Tuck.) R. C. Harris.