Databases Current Literature

Incorporating the Kirtas system with the International Plant Names Index and SNOW-MED allows movement of the historic text into an electronic format, identihcation of current plant names, and identihcation of the symptoms treated with the plants. To complete the mining of historic herbal texts for novel drug leads we use the Natural Products Alert (NAPRALERT ) database to compare the information extracted from the historic herbal text to the reports of plant use in the current literature. The NAPRALERT database provides a summary of plants ethnopharmacological use, biochemical activities, and isolated compounds [27]. By querying each plant (with the current plant name) it is possible to identify any reports in the current literature regarding the plant. As an example, Table 4.1 shows the NAPRALERT output for Cycas rumphii. 

The total and individual flavonoid contents in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables can be found in several recent surveys of the literature (Arabbi and others 2004 Franke and others 2004 Chun and others 2005 Harnly and others 2006 Sun and Powers 2007). They have been collected and compiled into a database (USDA Flavonoids Database Release 2.1, 2007). Table 5.1 enlists some of the most typical flavonoids, found in the major subgroups just discussed, for selected popular fruits and vegetables based on this database and current literature. 

By far the most widespread use of NMR in an on-line production environment is the utilization of downhole exploration tools by petroleum service companies such as Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes. Articles on these unilateral NMR systems are found in the patent databases, " academic literature, and on-line resources provided by the exploration companies. The references provided here are just a few examples in a very prolific field. The technique is applied in high-temperature and pressure situations and currently is used down to a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) to produce a picture of water/oil content in the adjacent rock formations as well as to derive permeability, diffusivity, and hydrocarbon chemistry information. Mobile unilateral NMR systems such as the NMR-MOUSE are also being developed in order to take benchtop NMR systems into the field to perform analysis of geological core samples at the drill site. NMR analyzers are also being developed to determine the bitumen content and properties in tar sand production and processing. " " ... 

A comprehensive and critical review of food flavonoid literature has led to the development of a food composition database for flavonols, flavones, procyanidins, catechins, and flava-nones. This database can now be used and continuously updated to estimate flavonoid intake of populations, to identify dietary sources of flavonoids, and to assess associations between flavonoid intake and disease. However, there is a need for better food composition data for flavones, procyanidins, and flavanones as current literature is sparse particularly for citrus fruits, fruit juices, and herbs. In addition, anthocyanin food composition data are lacking although validated methods of determination are becoming available. 

Overall, the toxicology database of OCs and BFRs in the Philippines are very limited the current literature is incomplete and often conflicting. Many animals—including whales, dolphins, seals, birds, and humans— have already been found to be contaminated with these substances, and the levels appear to be increasing in the developed countries, whereas in the developing countries such as the Philippines not much studies has been carried out and needs detailed studies on the present scenario. 

A database of literature references associated with the formulation of hard gelatin capsules, which is permanently updated through monitoring of current literature. 

Although information about dietary supplements is widely available on the Internet, it is usually provided by product distributors, and is designed to sell products rather than to provide objective information about product efficacy and toxicity. Even reviews of dietary supplements in journals, newsletters, books, and electronic databases can be biased or incorrect. In compiling information to be included in Herbal Products Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Second Edition, emphasis was placed on the use of original studies published in reputable, peer-reviewed journals. Older studies, as well as more current literature, were utilized for completeness, with an emphasis on newer literature and double-blind, controlled trials. Where appropriate, information was obtained... 

Reliability of thermodynamic data in program databases are often a subject of controversy. Constants AS AH AZ ° from different sources for the same compound may turn out incompatible. This difference is especially prominent at comparison of the data from domestic and foreign sources. For instance, free enthalpy of KH PO formation after Kraynov et al. (2004) is -1,411.4 kJ-mole and after Lances Handbook of Chemistry (1999) -1,622.85 kj-mole" in case of H AsO " the same parameter has values -593,73 and -587,22 kj-mole in the same sources. Errors associated with this show up at the determination of pH, SI, etc. There is some level of consent between commonly available databases for most common minerals and water components. This does not mean, however, that the results are equally correct or precise. Sometimes it is caused by different notions of precision and correctness. The responsibihty for errors caused by database parameters is on the user, not on the program creator. For this reason critical evaluation of the utilized database by the user is a must. He has the right to edit his databases on his sole discretion regardless of the nature and intent of the program. In this connection he must be appraised of the current literature and current changes in necessary thermodynamic constants. 

Beginning in 1985 the factual data of the primary literature from 1980 will be abstracted electronically. The abstracted data of the primary literature will no longer be written on paper but entered directly in a structured manner into microcomputers and stored on magnetic diskettes. After several automatic plausibility and redundancy checks, these data will be copied onto the mainframe computer and loaded into the database. The researching scientist has immediate access to the factual data of the current literature. 

The Center for Energy Resources Engineering (CERE) of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is operating a data bank for electrolyte solutions [18]. It is a compilation of experimental data for (mainly) aqueous solutions of electrolytes and/or nonelectrolytes. The database is a mixture between a literature reference database and a numerical database. Currently references to more than 3,000 papers are stored in the database together with around 150,000 experimental data. The main properties are activity and osmotic coefficients, enthalpies, heat capacities, gas solubilities, and phase equihhria like VLE, LLE, and SLE. The access to the htera-ture reference database is free of charge. The numerical values must be ordered at CERE. 

A number of additional compounds with three- and four-connected nets can be found in the recent literature, [19-22] and a number of interpenetrating structures have been listed by Proserpio et al. [14] Recently Wang et al. reported on the deliberate self-assembly of triangles, squares, and tetrahedral [23]. The RCSR database currently includes some 30 different three- and four-connected nets [24]. The Ge3N4 net described by Wells will probably also be made in the future. 

An abstract is a summary of the important discoveries and conclusions in a paper and provides a way into the content of research publications. Abstract literature allows access to this information in a searchable format. Many of the early journals published annual author and subject indexes. Chemisches Zentralblatt, begun in 1830 and ending in 1969, is the one of the most reliable means into the very early chemical literature. A searchable database is available by subscription through InfoChem [9], which maintains a database for current literature as well. 

This is a combined archival database with 171629 reactions originating predominantly from about 300 Journals and some patents. It comprises the Theilheimer databa.se (46785 reactions 1946-1980), the core database from the former ORAC system (about 65 000 reactions, mainly 1980-1991), and several databases produced by MDL (CLF Current Literature File 36600 general synthetic reactions 1983-1991. CHIRAS 13 200 asymmetric reactions 1975-1991. Metalysis 12000 metal-mediated reactions 1974-1991). Although the time coverage of RefLib does really start at 1946, the onset of Theilheimer, there are almost 4000 reactions with pre-1946 references (2600 with literature only before that year). 

Data for this review were abstracted from chemical databases compiled and maintained by the Division of AIDS. Information contained in our databases is acquired by surveillance of primary literature sources and consists of published data on compounds which have been evaluated pre-clinically against HIV or certain opportunistic infections associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The databases were established to help members of the Division of AIDS track therapeutic developments in the treatment of AIDS and to serve as an information base available to all researchers. Our HIV database contains entries for over 4(X)0 different chemical entities, including over 800 nucleosides. We recently have established a similar database for compounds which have been evaluated against various AIDS-associated opportunistic infections. The latter database currently contains information on more than 2000 compounds. 

Comparative QSAR is a field currently under development by several groups. Large databases of known QSAR and 3D QSAR results have been compiled. Such a database can be used for more than simply obtaining literature citations. The analysis of multiple results for the same or similar systems can yield a general understanding of the related chemistry as well as providing a good comparison of techniques. 

Hall and Mudawar (2000) provided a comprehensive review of the current state of the knowledge of subcooled CHF for water flow boiling in channels, and designed a statistical correlation with five parameters based on almost all available subcooled CHF databases in the literature ... 

Figure 4.4 The general protocol for information extraction from an herbal text (A-E) is paired with case examples from our work with the Ambonese Herbal by Rumphius. (A) Text is digitized. (B) Through either manual reading or automated extraction the plant name(s), plant part(s), and symptoms or disorders are identified. (C) These extracted data are then updated (as necessary) to reflect current names of the plants, using the International Plant Names Index (IPNI), and the pharmacological function(s) of the described medicinal plants are extrapolated from the mentioned symptoms and disorders. (D) The current botanical names are queried against a natural products database such as the NAPRALERT database to determine whether the plant has been previously examined. (E) Differential tables are generated that separate the plants examined in the literature from plants that may warrant further examination for bioactivity. (Adapted from Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, with permission.) See color plate.

All of the science disciplines contribute to the body of information and knowledge that is used by pharmaceutical researchers, educators, and practitioners. Questions and information needs that arise within a pharmaceutical specialty will not necessarily be met by the literature associated with that specialty [13]. Researchers and academics particularly need access to a broad range of science literature. English is widely used however, the biomedical literature is and has been truly international [13]. About 86% of the current MEDLINE database is English language even though only 52% of current cited articles were published in the United States [20]. 

The ISI web of science at http //www.isinet.com is a multidisciplinary database that provides web access to current and retrospective journal literature. It includes three citation databases Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Arts and Humanities Citation Index. The ISI Science Citation Index (SCI ) provides access to current and retrospective bibliographic information, author abstracts, and cited references found in 3500 science and technical journals covering more than 150 disciplines. The Science Citation Index Expanded format available through the ISI Web of Science and the online version, SciSearch, cover more than 5700 journals. 

The Scientific World at http //www.thescientihcworld.com/ offers literature searching through SciBase, a collection of databases of scientific, technical, and medical research literature. SciBase currently covers more than 19 million documents published since 1965 in more than 30,000 journals. SciBase content is derived from databases created by the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE), the British Library, BIOSIS, and PASCAL, as well as CAB ABSTRACTS. Abstracts are sometimes available free and individual articles are available for purchase. 

With the increasing number of publications on block copolymer micelles (a database literature search with these three associated keywords already gives more than 500 references), an exhaustive description of all previous works would not be possible in the framework of the present review. This contribution has rather as its purpose giving a general overview about block copolymer micelles for the nonspecialist and will therefore try to answer such practical questions as how does one prepare block copolymer micelles How does one characterize them What are the different types of structures that can be formed How can we predict them How does one tune the morphology of these micelles These basic questions and the corresponding answers will be illustrated by selected examples. Then, we will focus on the new directions that are currently implemented in this field. 

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