bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The quest for the mechanisms of life
Authors: Klapa Maria I. , Quackenbush John 
Published: January 2004

AbstractThe genomic revolution, manifested by the sequencing of the complete genome of many organisms, along with technological advances, such as DNA microarrays and developments in high‐throughput analysis of proteins, metabolites, and isotopic tracer distribution patterns, challenged the conventional ways in which questions are approached in the biological sciences: (a) rather than examining a small number of genes and/or reactions at any one time;, we can now analyze gene expression and protein activity in the context of systems of interacting genes and gene products; (b) comprehensive analysis of biological systems requires the integration of all cellular fingerprints: genome sequence, maps of gene expression, protein expression, metabolic output, and in vivo enzymatic activity; and (c) collecting, managing, and analyzing comparable data from various cellular profiles requires expertise from several fields that transcend traditional discipline boundaries. While researchers in systems biology have still to address difficult challenges in both experimental and computational arenas, they possess, for the first time, the opportunity to unravel the mechanisms of life. The enormous impact of these discoveries in diverse areas, such as metabolic engineering, strain selection, drug screening and development, bioprocess development, disease prognosis and diagnosis, gene and other medical therapies, is an obvious motivation for pursuing integrated analyses of cellular systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Insights into the relation between mRNA and protein expression patterns: I. theoretical considerations
Authors: Mehra Amit , Lee Kelvin H. , Hatzimanikatis Vassily 
Published: January 2004

AbstractTranslation is a central cellular process in every organism and understanding translation from the systems (genome‐wide) perspective is very important for medical and biochemical engineering applications. Moreover, recent advances in cell‐wide monitoring tools for both mRNA and protein levels have necessitated the development of such a model to identify parameters and conditions that influence the mapping between mRNA and protein expression. Experimental studies show a lack of correspondence between mRNA and protein expression profiles. In this study, we describe a mechanistic genome‐wide model for translation that provides mapping between changes in mRNA levels and changes in protein levels. We use our model to study the system in detail and identify the key parameters that affect this mapping. Our results show that the correlation between mRNA and protein levels is a function of both the kinetic parameters and concentration of ribosomes at the reference state. In particular, changes in concentration of free and total ribosomes in response to a perturbation; changes in initiation and elongation kinetics due to competition for aminoacyl tRNAs; changes in termination kinetics; average changes in mRNA levels in response to the perturbation; and changes in protein stability are all important determinants of the mapping between mRNA and protein expression. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metabolic database systems for the analysis of genome‐wide function
Authors: Tsoka Sophia , Ouzounis Christos A. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractGenome sequencing projects provide an inventory of molecular components for a wide variety of organisms. Metabolic databases integrate these functional descriptions of individual modules into a higher‐level characterization of cellular metabolism. This article reviews efforts related to the development of metabolic databases and discusses how such systems have aided the delineation of genome properties. We illustrate the design features of metabolic databases and discuss the challenges facing metabolic as well as databases of other functional type. © 2003; Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Surgical site infection after groin hernia repair
Authors: Taylor E W , Duffy K , Lee K , Hill R , Noone A , Macintyre I , King P M , O'Dwyer P J 
Published: January 2004

Abstract

Background
Post-discharge surveillance for 30 days is needed to determine the true incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, SSI after hernia repair.

Methods
A total of 3150 patients who had undergone groin hernia repair in 32 Scottish hospitals were telephoned 10, 20 and 30 days after operation to screen for SSI. Patients who believed the wound to be infected were seen by a healthcare worker to confirm the diagnosis. Details of operations and risk factors were obtained by case-note review.

Results
One hundred and four patients (3·3 per cent) declined to give a contact telephone number, leaving 3046 patients who agreed to take part in the study. Some 108 patients (3·4 per cent) could not be contacted at any point, giving a response rate of 93·3 per cent. Complete data were available for 2665 patients (87·5 per cent); 140 (5·3 per cent) developed SSI and 57 (2·1 per cent) thought the wound infected but this was not confirmed by the healthcare worker. Patients given a prophylactic antibiotic had a lower incidence of SSI (P = 0·002), but neither increase in the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade of fitness for operation nor prolonged duration of operation was a significant risk factor for infection.

Conclusion
SSI after hernia repair is common and large clinical trials are required to determine whether the use of prophylactic antibiotics reduces the incidence of infection.
An intraductal papillary component is associated with prolonged survival after hepatic resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Tajima Y , Kuroki T , Fukuda K , Tsuneoka N , Furui J , Kanematsu T 
Published: January 2004

Abstract

Background
The outcome after surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is dismal and data on long-term survival are not available. This study evaluated prognostic indicators and characteristic features of long-term survivors after hepatic resection for ICC.

Methods
Thirty-one patients who had undergone hepatic resection for ICC were studied. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses of clinicopathological data included an intraductal papillary carcinoma component (IDPCC) in the tumour, which was defined as the histological demonstration of cancer cells growing in a papillary fashion into the lumen of the large bile duct.

Results
The overall cumulative survival rate after hepatic resection for ICC was 51·2 per cent at 1 year and 24·5 per cent at 5 years, with a mean(s.d.) survival time of 11(4) months. The presence of IDPCC (P = 0·003), curative resection (P = 0·009) and the absence of perineural invasion (P = 0·040) were identified as favourable independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. Eight patients with IDPCC had a 5-year survival rate of 87·5 per cent and a mean(s.d.) survival time of 69(13) months. All seven patients who survived for more than 5 years after surgery had IDPCC, regardless of the gross appearance of the tumour.

Conclusion
An IDPCC in the tumour resulted in long-term survival after hepatic resection for ICC.
Surgical treatment for cancer of the oesophagus and gastric cardia in Hebei, China
Authors: Liu J F , Wang Q Z , Hou J 
Published: January 2004

Abstract

Background
Southern Hebei Province has one of the highest incidences of oesophageal cancer in the world. This study describes a single-centre experience with oesophagectomy for this condition.

Methods
The reported articles on surgical treatment for cancer of the oesophagus and gastric cardia from a single department between September 1952 and December 2000 were summarized and the results compared.

Results
Between September 1952 and December 2000, the resectability rate increased from 78·8 to 96·0 per cent for oesophageal cancer and from 69·6 to 94·8 per cent for cancer of the cardia. The surgical mortality rate decreased from 4·6 to 1·1 per cent. There was little change in the overall 5-year survival rate; it increased from 21·2 to 23·9 per cent for patients with oesophageal cancer and from 15·2 to 17·6 per cent for those with cancer of the cardia.

Conclusion
The rate of postoperative complications and deaths following oesophagectomy for cancer has fallen steadily over the past five decades but long-term survival remains disappointing. Improved survival is likely to be dependent on earlier diagnosis and adjunctive therapies.
Trials in surgery
Authors: Lilford R , Braunholtz D , Harris J , Gill T 
Published: January 2004

Abstract

Background
Trials in surgery pose some special problems. This paper examines these with reference to 10 years of methodological research sponsored by the UK National Health Service Research and Development programme.

Methods
Solutions to common problems encountered in surgical studies were considered, such as issues of blinding, dependence of results on technical skill and continued evolution of technology.

Results
Numerous methodological developments are described, including the tracker trial concept in which trial design can be adapted to take account of technical developments and interim results. The governance of trials, solutions to ethical conundra and the rising importance of databases are also discussed.

Conclusion
Like surgery itself, the methodological toolkit for evaluation of surgical procedures continues to evolve. The rules of statistical and scientific probity provide plenty of scope for imaginative design solutions for surgical trials.
Focused parathyroid surgery with intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurement as a day-case procedure
Authors: Gurnell E M , Thomas S K , McFarlane I , Munday I , Balan K K , Berman L , Chatterjee V K K , Wishart G C 
Published: January 2004

Abstract

Background
This study assessed the feasibility, efficacy and safety of focused parathyroidectomy combined with intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) measurement in a day-case setting.

Methods
Over 28 months 50 consecutive patients (mean age 63 (range 33–92) years) with clear evidence of unifocal disease on sestamibi scanning or ultrasonography underwent unilateral neck exploration via a small lateral incision. Blood samples for measurement of IOPTH were taken at induction of anaesthesia, before adenoma excision and after adenoma excision (at 5, 10 and 20 min). Ten patients were discharged within 23 h and 40 patients on the day of surgery.

Results
A solitary adenoma was identified in all but one patient, with a mean operating time of 30 (range 16–57) min. After parathyroidectomy, IOPTH levels fell appropriately except in one patient with multiglandular hyperplasia. No patient developed symptomatic hypocalcaemia during the 2 weeks after operation, enabling cessation of oral supplements. All patients remained normocalcaemic on follow-up (mean 26 (range 8–84) weeks) and histological examination confirmed parathyroid adenoma (48 patients), hyperplasia (one) or carcinoma (one).

Conclusion
After accurate preoperative localization of uniglandular disease, patients with primary hyperparathyroidism may be managed successfully and safely by focused parathyroidectomy with IOPTH measurement as a day-case procedure.
Meta-analysis of the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of appendicitis
Authors: Andersson R E B 
Published: January 2004

Abstract

Background
The importance of specific elements in the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis is controversial. This review analyses the diagnostic value of elements of disease history, clinical findings and laboratory test results in suspected appendicitis.

Methods
A systematic Medline search was made of all published studies on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of appendicitis in patients admitted to hospital with suspected disease. Meta-analyses of receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) areas, and positive and negative likelihood ratios, of 28 diagnostic variables described in 24 studies are presented.

Results
Inflammatory response variables (granulocyte count, proportion of polymorphonuclear blood cells, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein concentration), descriptors of peritoneal irritation (rebound and percussion tenderness, guarding and rigidity) and migration of pain were the strongest discriminators, with ROC areas of 0·78 to 0·68. The discriminatory power of the inflammatory variables was particularly strong for perforated appendicitis, with ROC areas of 0·85 to 0·87. Appendicitis was likely when two or more inflammatory variables were increased and unlikely when all were normal.

Conclusion
Although all clinical and laboratory variables are weak discriminators individually, they achieve a high discriminatory power when combined. Laboratory examination of the inflammatory response, clinical descriptors of peritoneal irritation, and a history of migration of pain yield the most important diagnostic information and should be included in any diagnostic assessment.
Letter 3 (for Letters 1 and 2 see Br J Surg 2003; 90: 1451 – 1452): Cold provocation testing and hand-arm vibration syndrome — an audit of the results of the Department of Trade and Industry scheme for the evaluation of miners (Br J Surg 2003; 90: 1076-1079)
Authors: Coughlin P 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
The Editors welcome topical correspondence from readers relating to articles published in the Journal. Responses can be sent electronically via the BJS website (www.bjs.co.uk) or by post. All letters will be reviewed and, if approved, appear on the website. A selection of these will be edited and published in the Journal. Letters must be no more than 250 words in length. Letters submitted by post should be typed on A4-sized paper in double spacing and should be accompanied by a disk.
Identification of Physical Phenomena Governing Nucleate Boiling Heat Transfer of Binary Mixtures
Authors: Kern J. , Stephan P. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractA model based on first principles is presented to compute nucleate boiling heat transfer coefficients. It includes microscale heat and mass transfer phenomena in the so‐called micro region, i.e., the thin film area where the liquid vapor phase interface approaches the wall. The model is verified by comparing calculated to measured heat transfer coefficients. Parameter studies allowed to identify physical phenomena governing the typical reduction of binary mixture heat transfer coefficients compared to the ideal heat transfer coefficient, i.e., the molar average of the heat transfer coefficients of the two pure components of the mixture. These are bubble site density and departure diameter that deviate from the corresponding values of the two pure components. Furthermore, overall heat transfer is decreased by strong concentration gradients in the micro region.
Advances in Direct Contact Evaporator Design
Authors: Lage P.L.C. , Campos F.B. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractDirect contact evaporators are nonisothermal bubble columns where a hot gas, usually obtained by combustion, is used to heat and vaporize the solvent of a given solution that needs to be concentrated. The design of such equipment has been relied on experimental data or on a simplified method that assumes that the gas leaves the evaporator at equilibrium with the liquid phase, giving no information about the necessary bubbling height to attain such equilibrium conditions. Recent advances in the heat and mass transfer processes during the formation and ascension of superheated bubbles together with simple mass and energy balances in the liquid phase and gas distributor system were used to develop a more detailed design procedure. The accuracy of both design procedures are compared to available experimental data in a direct contact evaporator operating in semibatch mode. The new design method agreed well with the experimental data.
Kinetic Studies of the Electrochemical Treatment of Nitrate and Nitrite Ions on Iridium‐Modified Carbon Fiber Electrodes
Authors: De D. , Kalu E.E. , Tarjan P.P. , Englehardt J.D. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractElectrochemical reductions of nitrate and nitrite ions in neutral solution were studied using an Ir‐deposited carbon fiber electrode. The objective of the study was to set up a process to remove nitrate and nitrite ions from industrial and municipal wastes as well as from the nitrate and nitrite ion enriched water supplies. Since nitrate and nitrite ion reduction kinetics is very slow on plain carbon, the iridium‐modified fibers showed a significant reduction of nitrate and nitrite ions. Nitrogen and ammonia were identified as the two major gaseous products of the reduction process. A first‐order inhibition kinetics model is proposed and was used to analyze the nitrate and nitrite ion reduction kinetics. The reduction rates of nitrate and nitrite ions were favored at higher cathode potential (cf. –950 mV and –850 mV) in a solution of pH = 7.0 with hydrogen evolution efficiency increasing with cathodic potential. A simple model for the batch re‐circulation process was developed for the reduction of nitrate ion at surface‐modified fiber electrode. There was a good agreement between the model predictions and experimental results.
Solubility of CO2 in Aqueous Piperazine and its Modeling using the Kent‐Eisenberg Approach
Authors: Aroua M.K. , Mohd Salleh R. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractA systematic investigation of the equilibrium solubility of CO2 in aqueous piperazine solutions was conducted in a double‐jacketed stirred cell reactor. The solubilities of CO2 in the solution were measured at 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C with CO2 partial pressures ranging from 0.4–95 kPa. Generally the aqueous piperazine solution exhibits the same characteristics as conventional alkanolamines. Increasing the CO2 partial pressure increases the gas loading, however increasing the temperature or concentration decreases the CO2 loading. The values of the CO2 loading obtained confirm that the piperazine forms stable carbamates. The equilibrium solubility data were analyzed using a Kent‐Eisenberg approach. Representation of the model is generally in good agreement with that of the experimental data, especially at high temperature.
Fatty acid and 3‐hydroxy fatty acid composition of two Hypericum species from Turkey
Authors: Özen Hasan Çetin , Başshan Mehmet , Keskin Cumali , Toker Zuhal 
Published: January 2004

AbstractThe fatty acid compositions of flowering tops of Hypericum perforatum L. and Hypericum retusum Aucher (Guttiferae) were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The major components were C16:0 (24.87%), C18:3 n‐3 (21.94%), 3‐OH‐C18:0 (18.46%) and 3‐OH‐C14:0 (14.22%) for H. perforatumL. and 3‐OH‐C14:0 (28.29%), C18:0 (16.47%) and C16:0 (14.17%) for H. retusum Aucher. Besides widespread plant fatty acids, 3‐hydroxy fatty acids, namely 3‐hydroxytetradecanoic acid (3‐OH‐C14:0) and 3‐hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (3‐OH‐C18:0) were also obtained.
Dietary n‐3 fatty acids reduce the delayed hypersensitivity reaction and antibody production more than n‐6 fatty acids in broiler birds
Authors: Selvaraj Ramesh Kumar , Cherian Gita 
Published: January 2004

AbstractThe splenocyte fatty acid profile and immune response of broiler chickens were investigated. One hundred and twenty day‐old broiler chicks were fed diets containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (Diet I), sunflower oil (Diet II), flaxseed oil (Diet III) or fish oil (Diet IV). The total lipid content of the diets was 3.5%. Body weight and feed intake was higher (P <0.05) in Diet IV compared to Diets I, II and III. Birds fed Diet III and IV had a higher content of n‐3 fatty acids in splenocytes than those fed Diets I and II. Serum anti‐BSA immunoglobulin content was higher (P <0.05) in birds fed Diets III and IV, compared to those fed Diets I and II. Delayed type hypersensitivity response, measured as the wing web skin swelling reaction (thickness) to Mycobacterium butyricum injection (s.c.), increased (P <0.05) from 0.71 and 0.98 mm in Diets IV and III, respectively, to 1.19 and 1.41 mm in Diets I and II, respectively. The number of CD4+ and CD8+ blood lymphocytes and CD4+, CD8+ and IgM+ splenocytes did not differ (P >0.05) between treatment groups. N‐3 fatty acids increased production performances and antibody mediated responses, while n‐6 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid increased cell mediated responses in broiler birds.
Characterization of vegetable oils‐alumina membranes interactions by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Hafidi Abdellatif , Anglaret Eric , Pioch Daniel , Ajana Hamid 
Published: January 2004

AbstractAdsorption of vegetable oil components, either as pure molecules or as mixtures, on alumina membranes was investigated by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All tested compounds displayed very similar spectra. Triolein and diolein physically adsorb onto alumina by hydrogen bonding with the carbonyl groups of the carboxylic ester and surface hydroxyls. Monolein most likely interacts with glycerol hydroxyls, while phospholipids appear to adsorb either by the ester carbonyl or charged phosphate group. Due to the catalytic properties of alumina some hydrolysis takes place during treatments. The resulting oleic acid, most likely chemisorbs by ionic interactions with the carboxylic C=O bond of the alumina. The fact that no change in the symmetric and asymmetric CH2 stretches is noticed in comparison with the free (unbound) form indicates that the molecules are not parallel, but at an angle to the surface. When alumina comes into contact with increasing amounts of crude vegetable oils a broadening of the band at 3280 cm‐1 indicates an increasing adsorption of molecules with free hydroxyls, such as mono‐ and di‐acylglycerols or phospholipids. Among all oil components, sodium oleate seems to adsorb preferentially to alumina. However, a subsequent adsorption of a lipidic monolayer at the membrane surface or even inside the pores, is not consistent with the drastic flux reduction observed in previous studies during microfiltration, and could only initiate formation or/and deposition of macromolecular structures inside membrane pores.
Synthesis of Oxacycles by Tandem Radical Addition−Cyclization Reactions
Authors: Sibi Mukund P. , Patil Kalyani , Rheault Tara R. 
Published: January 2004

Abstractβ‐Alkoxyalkylidenemalonates undergo tandem radical addition−cyclization reactions to provide oxacycles of different ring sizes in good chemical efficiency. A variety of nucleophilic radicals participate in the addition−cyclization reactions, and the reaction requires the use of lanthanide triflates as Lewis acids. Compound 9 gave the 5‐exo cyclization product 13 in 80 % yield and greater than 50:1 diastereoselectivity favoring the trans isomer. Radical addition−cyclization reactions using substrate 26, in which the 5‐exo pathway was blocked, gave exclusively the 6‐endo products 27−32 in good yields (68−88 %) and moderate to good selectivity (1.2:1 to 14:1). Generally, 7‐endo cyclization dominated over the 6‐exo mode. Addition of various nucleophilic radicals to substrate 33 using ytterbium triflate as a Lewis acid gave the 7‐endo products 34−39 in moderate to good yield (49−75 %). Substrate 41, in which the 6‐exo pathway was blocked, gave the 7‐endo products 42−47 cleanly. The diastereoselectivities in these cyclizations were dependent on the size of the radical; bulky radicals gave lower selectivities. Radical addition−cyclization using 48 gave the 8‐endo products 49−53 in good yield (58−86 %). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)