bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cell Surface MHC Class I Expression Is Limited by the Availability of Peptide‐Receptive “Empty” Molecules Rather than by the Supply of Peptide Ligands
Authors: Komov Liran , Kadosh Dganit Melamed , Barnea Eilon , Milner Elena , Hendler Ayellet , Admon Arie 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWhile antigen processing and presentation (APP) by the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC‐I) molecules have been extensively studied, a question arises as to whether the level of MHC‐I expression is limited by the supply of peptide‐receptive (empty) MHC molecules, or by the availability of peptide ligands for loading. To this end, the effect of interferons (IFNs) on the MHC peptidomes of human breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) were evaluated. Although all four HLA allotypes of the MCF‐7 cells (HLA‐A*02:01, B*18, B*44, and C*5) present peptides of similar lengths and C‐termini, which should be processed similarly by the proteasome and by the APP chaperones, the IFNs induced differential modulation of the HLA‐A, B, and C peptidomes. In addition, overexpression of recombinant soluble HLA‐A*02:01, introduced to compete with the identical endogenous membrane‐bound HLA‐A*02:01 for peptides of the MCF‐7 cells, did not alter the expression level or the presented peptidome of the membrane‐bound HLA‐A*02:01. Taken together, these results indicate that a surplus supply of peptides is available inside the ER for loading onto the MHC‐I peptide‐receptive molecules, and that cell surface MHC‐I expression is likely limited by the availability of empty MHC molecules.
Preparation of emulsion‐templated fluorinated polymers and their application in oil/water separation
Authors: Wu Pingping , Zhang Shengmiao , Yang Huaqing , Zhu Yun , Chen Jianding 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTA series of emulsion‐templated fluorinated polymers (polyHIPEs) were first synthesized with introducing 2‐(perfluorohexyl)ethyl methacrylate (PEM) to the external phase of water‐in‐styrene high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templates. The morphology (i.e., void size and its distribution) of these porous materials could be tuned simply by changing PEM and/or surfactant amount. The synergistic effect between the surface chemistry and surface architecture allowed the polyHIPEs to possess hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 151°. The superhydrophobicity and oleophilicity of the polyHIPEs, together with their highly open porous structure, make the material a very competitive candidate as a filtration material for oil/water separation in practice with the efficiency of separating dichloromethane from the oil/water mixture of 95%. Such oil/water separating capacity was maintained after 10 cycles of filtration of oil/water, indicating the cyclic usage of the polyHIPE is feasible. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2018,56, 1508–1515
Thermoresponsive polymeric nanoparticles based on poly(2‐oxazoline)s and tannic acid
Authors: Wang Chunying , Li Yunhui , Ma Yuqin , Gao Ying , Dong Dewen , Fang Jianyong , Zhang Ning 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTHydrogen bonding is widely present and plays a significant role in material science and supramolecular chemistry. This work reports a straightforward strategy for the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles from neutral poly(2‐oxazoline)s (POx) and tannic acid (TA) driven by their intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurements showed that POx bearing different substituents, that is, methyl, ethyl andn‐propyl in the 2‐position all could assemble with TA into stable nanoparticles in water or ethanol. The diameter of the assembled nanoparticles could be manipulated by varying parameters such as molecular weight of POx, concentration and ratio of POx, and TA. Interestingly, POx/TA nanoparticles exhibited upper critical solution temperature (UCST)‐type thermoresponsive properties in ethanol or water depending on the molecular weight and substituent in the 2‐position of POx. Increasing or decreasing the temperature at the transition point resulted in the reversible transformation between assembled nanoparticles and disassembled poly(2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PnPrOx) and TA. In view of the tailored size of the stable nanoparticles and the biocompatibilities of POx and TA, the prepared thermoresponsive nanoparticles are promising candidates as carriers for medicine toward related biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2018,56, 1520–1527
Solvent effects on the morphology and electrical conductivity of a D‐A random copolymer with low band gap
Authors: da Silva Daniel J. , Wang Shu Hui 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTD‐A copolymer systems have unique characteristics, such as low band gap and ambipolar nature, which are important to design electronic polymer devices. In this contribution, we synthesized and characterized a D‐A random copolymer containing bis‐3‐hexylthiophene‐benzothiadiazole as acceptor unit and 9,9‐dioctylfluorene as donor unit. We show that the polymeric film morphology depends of the Hansen solubility parameters, evaporation rate, and surface tension of the solvent. Chloroform, toluene, and 1,2,4‐trichlorobenzene (TCB) promote the formation of self‐assembled structures due to breath‐figure mechanism. In contrast, THF causes aggregation and phase separation that affect negatively the electrical conductivity of the copolymer film. Among the solvents analyzed, TCB is the one with the highest molecular interaction with the copolymer synthetized in this work. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 1035–1044
Resistance selection of indoxacarb in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): cross‐resistance, biochemical mechanisms and associated fitness costs
Authors: Cui Li , Wang Qinqin , Qi Haoliang , Wang Qiyuan , Yuan Huizhu , Rui Changhui 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is a worldwide insect pest with the ability to develop resistance to many insecticides. Indoxacarb, a sodium channel blocker, is an important insecticide that is used to control H. armigera. Cross‐resistance, metabolic mechanisms and life history traits were established for an indoxacarb‐selected (IND‐SEL) population of H. armigera.RESULTSAfter 11 generations of selection, the susceptibility to indoxacarb was decreased by 4.43‐fold and the estimated realized heritability (h2) was only 0.072. Interestingly, the IND‐SEL population was more susceptible to methoxyfenozide and abamectin than the susceptible population. The activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) and carboxyl esterase (CarE) were significantly increased in IND‐SEL H. armigera. Thus, susceptibility to indoxacarb was increased by piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S‐tributyl phosphorothioate, showing synergistic ratios of 2.54‐ and 1.82‐fold, respectively. Moreover, the IND‐SEL population had a reduced relative fitness (0.67), with a lower growth rate and fecundity than the susceptible population.CONCLUSIONSEvidence from this study suggests that decreased susceptibility to indoxacarb may be associated with fitness costs in H. armigera and enhanced activities of P450 and CarE may be important detoxification mechanisms in the development of indoxacarb resistance. Methoxyfenozide and abamectin can be rotationally used to manage indoxacarb resistance. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Performance of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as a reliability index under various distributions in scale reliability studies
Authors: Mehta Shraddha , Bastero‐Caballero Rowena F. , Sun Yijun , Zhu Ray , Murphy Diane K. , Hardas Bhushan , Koch Gary 
Published: April 2018

Many published scale validation studies determine inter‐rater reliability using the intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC). However, the use of this statistic must consider its advantages, limitations, and applicability. This paper evaluates how interaction of subject distribution, sample size, and levels of rater disagreement affects ICC and provides an approach for obtaining relevant ICC estimates under suboptimal conditions. Simulation results suggest that for a fixed number of subjects, ICC from the convex distribution is smaller than ICC for the uniform distribution, which in turn is smaller than ICC for the concave distribution. The variance component estimates also show that the dissimilarity of ICC among distributions is attributed to the study design (ie, distribution of subjects) component of subject variability and not the scale quality component of rater error variability. The dependency of ICC on the distribution of subjects makes it difficult to compare results across reliability studies. Hence, it is proposed that reliability studies should be designed using a uniform distribution of subjects because of the standardization it provides for representing objective disagreement. In the absence of uniform distribution, a sampling method is proposed to reduce the non‐uniformity. In addition, as expected, high levels of disagreement result in low ICC, and when the type of distribution is fixed, any increase in the number of subjects beyond a moderately large specification such as n = 80 does not have a major impact on ICC.
Size Effect of Multifarenes on Host‐Guest Interactions with Naphthylamines and Naphthols
Authors: Huang Yin‐Hui , Jin Xian‐Yi , Yan Shan , Cong Hang , Tao Zhu 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHost‐guest interactions of multifarenes with naphthylamines and naphthols were investigated. Decreased fluorescence emission of the guests upon addition of increasing amounts of multifarene hosts confirmed the formation of host‐guest complexes in a ratio of 1:1. Non‐linear curve fitting showed moderate association constants of between (5.2 ± 0.7) × 103 and (2.3 ± 0.6) × 104 L mol−1. The stabilities of the complexes were dependent upon both the ring size of the host and the structure of the guest. 1H NMR spectra indicated that the interactions involved hydrogen bonds between the amine or hydroxyl groups of the guests and the hydroxyl groups of the multifarenes. Molecular simulations were performed to provide the microcosmic structures of the interaction complexes.
Computational structure‐based drug design: Predicting target flexibility
Authors: Iglesias Jelisa , Saen‐oon Suwipa , Soliva Robert , Guallar Victor 
Published: April 2018

The role of molecular modeling in drug design has experienced a significant revamp in the last decade. The increase in computational resources and molecular models, along with software developments, is finally introducing a competitive advantage in early phases of drug discovery. Medium and small companies with strong focus on computational chemistry are being created, some of them having introduced important leads in drug design pipelines. An important source for this success is the extraordinary development of faster and more efficient techniques for describing flexibility in three‐dimensional structural molecular modeling. At different levels, from docking techniques to atomistic molecular dynamics, conformational sampling between receptor and drug results in improved predictions, such as screening enrichment, discovery of transient cavities, etc. In this review article we perform an extensive analysis of these modeling techniques, dividing them into high and low throughput, and emphasizing in their application to drug design studies. We finalize the review with a section describing our Monte Carlo method, PELE, recently highlighted as an outstanding advance in an international blind competition and industrial benchmarks.This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics
Software > Molecular Modeling
Introduction
Authors: Willemsen Marc C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTwenty years ago I worked on an advisory report on the effectiveness of various tobacco control policy measures, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Health as part of the process of presenting a revised tobacco act to the parliament (Willemsen, De Zwart, & Mooy, 1998). Soon after the report was finished I attended the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Beijing, where I spoke with a civil servant from the Dutch Ministry of Health. I asked him what would happen with the report and was shocked when he told me that many of the conclusions were “not politically feasible” and could not be taken up.
Dutch Tobacco Control Policy from the 1950s to the Present
Authors: Willemsen Marc C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTobacco control policy is a long step from the neat theoretical path of identifying a problem, selecting the most effective strategy to tackle it, and then just implementing it. This chapter describes the many steps that were taken by the Dutch government to shape tobacco control policy. The description covers more than half a century and stays close to the timeline of events. The reader will learn how the government chose to combat smoking from the early years when it first became clear that smoking is not an innocent pleasure. At first the government was hesitant to react, but in the 1970s it became more active, culminating in a Tobacco Memorandum with far-reaching policy proposals, many of which were killed or toned down over subsequent years. The fight over tobacco policy then concentrated on two major national pieces of legislation: the 1988 Tobacco Act and its 2002 revision. These were not definitive laws but “framework” laws—meaning that they offered the basis for more specific decisions to be taken by the Council of Ministers (so-called orders-in-council) or by a minister (Ministerial Regulations) at a later stage. This opened up long periods of bargaining between interest groups, politicians, and the government about interpretations during the implementation phase.
YTH Domain: A Family of N
6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Readers
Authors: Liao Shanhui , Sun Hongbin , Xu Chao 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Like protein and DNA, different types of RNA molecules undergo various modifications. Accumulating evidence suggests that these RNA modifications serve as sophisticated codes to mediate RNA behaviors and many important biological functions. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal RNA modification found in a variety of eukaryotic RNAs, including but not limited to mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). In mammalian cells, m6A can be incorporated by a methyltransferase complex and removed by demethylases, which ensures that the m6A modification is reversible and dynamic. Moreover, m6A is recognized by the YT521-B homology (YTH) domain-containing proteins, which subsequently direct different complexes to regulate RNA signaling pathways, such as RNA metabolism, RNA splicing, RNA folding, and protein translation. Herein, we summarize the recent progresses made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the m6A recognition by YTH domain-containing proteins, which would shed new light on m6A-specific recognition and provide clues to the future identification of reader proteins of many other RNA modifications.
Effects of biofeedback in the treatment of female fecal incontinence
Authors: Santos Kertulem Larissa Aparecida Silverio dos , Cavenaghi Simone , Folchine Ana Elisa Rosselli , Carvalho Lais Helena , Martins Priscila , Ferreira Lucas Lima , Netinho João Gomes 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Introduction Fecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of stools and gases, characterized by the inability to keep physiological control of bowel contents. It can negatively affect patients’ quality of life. Biofeedback is a therapeutic tool used in the treatment, through the training of the pelvic floor muscles from visual and sound stimuli.
Objective To evaluate the effects of biofeedback in the treatment of female fecal incontinence.
Methods Twenty-three patients with fecal incontinence, diagnosed by clinical evaluation and manometry, and referred for biofeedback treatment, participated responding to the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Assessment scale, and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire to obtain personal data, clinical complaints and incontinence characteristics. Four biofeedback sessions were held once a week. After the protocol, they were reevaluated with anorectal manometry and questionnaires, and they were instructed to daily perform the sphincteric contraction exercises at home.
Results The comparison of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Scoring System and FIQL scores before and after the biofeedback protocol showed a significant decrease (p = 0.0001) in fecal incontinence. The mean anal pressure at rest was 33.3 mmHg before and 49.65 mmHg after biofeedback, while the mean anal pressure of maximal voluntary contraction was 85 mmHg before treatment and 136.65 mmHg after it.
Conclusion Biofeedback is an effective method for the treatment of fecal incontinence, with increased sphincter strength and improved quality of life.
Risk factors for postoperative complications in Crohn disease: analysis of 173 patients
Authors: Melo-Pinto Diogo , Santos João Vasco , Barbosa Elisabete 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Background and objectives Surgery for Crohn disease has a wide range of factors that are being studied as possible risk factors for postoperative complications. The later are a major problem in those patients and are associated with longer hospital stays and increased mortality and morbidity. Despite the debate regarding the influence of patients’ characteristics, preoperative and operative details, the risk factors are not fully identified. The debate has been focused on the new medical therapy and the time of surgery. Our goal was to help identify and confirm risk factors for postoperative complications.
Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study including all patients operated due to Crohn disease in São João Hospital Center from 2010 to 2015. We analyzed patient, preoperative and surgical characteristics. For postoperative complications data only those occurring within 30 days were included.
Results Neither age at diagnosis or previous corticotherapy/anti-TNF/ustekinumab was significantly associated with an increased risk in postoperative complications. Only age at surgery >40 years (Montreal Classification A1 + A2 vs. A3; OR = 4.12; p < 0.05) and the group others (occlusion vs. others [combination of intestinal perforation, mesenteric ischemia and postoperative complications] vs. fistula/abscess as indication for surgery; OR = 4.12; p < 0.05) remained as independent risk factors after multivariable regression analysis.
Conclusions We described clear associations between age at surgery >40 years and the group others (intestinal perforation, mesenteric ischemia and postoperative complications) and overall postoperative complications in Crohn disease. These results may suggest that surgery does not need to be delayed and, in some cases, should be anticipated.
Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement Following Pelvic Radiation: Technical Considerations and Contemporary Outcomes
Authors: Loh-Doyle Jeffrey , Patil Mukul B. , Nakhoda Zein , Nassiri Nima , Yip Wesley , Wayne Kevin , Doumanian Leo , Boyd Stuart D. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Background
Pelvic radiation is a known risk factor for the development and progression of erectile dysfunction. When medical therapy fails, the 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) can offer patients a definitive treatment option. Because of radiation-induced vascular changes and tissue fibrosis, a careful surgical approach is necessary to avoid intraoperative complications and attain successful outcomes. Despite its widespread use in prostate cancer treatment, there are no contemporary studies examining the effects that pelvic radiation can have on 3-piece IPP placement and device survival.

Aim
To present technical considerations and contemporary outcomes of placing a 3-piece IPP for refractory erectile dysfunction in patients with a history of pelvic radiation.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 78 patients who underwent placement of a 3-piece IPP (AMS 700; Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) after being treated with pelvic radiotherapy from 2003 through 2016. All patients had been treated with external beam and/or brachytherapy for treatment of prostate malignancy. An infrapubic approach was used in all patients, with reservoir placement in the space of Retzius or in the lateral retroperitoneal space. Patient demographics, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes including prosthetic infection and mechanical failure were examined and statistical analysis was performed.

Outcomes
Rates of device infection, revision surgery, and reservoir complications.

Results
No intraoperative complications were observed. After a mean follow-up of 49.0 months (6.6–116.8), 2 patients developed an infection of their prosthesis that required explantation. These patients underwent successful IPP removal and immediate reimplantation. 11 patients (14.1%) required revision surgery (pump replacement, n = 4; pump relocation, n = 2; cylinder replacement, n = 4; reservoir replacement owing to leak, n = 1). No reservoir-related complications such as herniation or erosion into adjacent structures were observed.

Clinical Implications
The 3-piece IPP can be placed safely in a broad range of patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy.

Strengths and Limitations
This study describes contemporary long-term outcomes of the IPP in patients treated with pelvic radiation and includes patients with prior pelvic surgery and artificial urinary sphincter, which are commonly encountered in practice. It is limited by its single-center experience and lacks a comparison group of patients. Objective patient satisfaction data were not available for inclusion.

Conclusions
The 3-piece IPP can be placed successfully in patients with a history of pelvic radiation without a significant increase in infectious complications, reservoir erosion, or mechanical failure compared with the global literature.
The Fictions and Realities of MFN Clauses in International Investment Agreements
Authors: Pérez-Aznar Facundo 
Published: April 2018

In an article published concurrently in the Journal of International Economic Law, I reach many of the same conclusions as Simon Batifort and J. Benton Heath regarding the use of most favored nation (MFN) clauses to import substantive provisions from other treaties. However, although our conclusions are similar, our reasoning differs in several important respects. In my view, the reasons why MFN clauses cannot be used to import treaty provisions have more to do with the nature of these clauses than their specific text. MFN clauses are primary rules that require performing a comparison and determining whether there is a breach of the provision, and this produces legal effects that run against any attempt at importation. In addition, it is not possible or desirable to interpret MFN clauses in isolation from general international law. Stephan Schill is also correct that Batifort and Heath cannot disclaim the normative implications of their effort to shift the debate over MFN clauses. But Schill confuses the legal effects of MFN clauses with a policy consideration (multilateralization) and misreads the interpretative background that must be considered when applying MFN clauses. Schill also mistakes multilateralization via arbitral interpretations of MFN clauses for true multilateralism, which is the product of states working together in multilateral fora. That distinction matters, too, for Schill's solution might provoke a state-led backlash that will undermine the very multilateralism he seeks to promote.