bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acute Plasmodium chabaudi Infection Dampens Humoral Responses to a Secondary T-Dependent Antigen but Enhances Responses to a Secondary T-Independent Antigen
Authors: Wilmore Joel R. , Maue Alexander C. , Lefebvre Julie S. , Haynes Laura , Rochford Rosemary 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
High rates of coinfection occur in malaria endemic regions, leading to more severe disease outcomes. Understanding how coinfecting pathogens influence the immune system is important in the development of treatment strategies that reduce morbidity and mortality. Using the Plasmodium chabaudi mouse model of malaria and immunization with model Ags that are either T-dependent (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl [NP]-OVA) or T-independent (NP-Ficoll), we analyzed the effects of acute malaria on the development of humoral immunity to secondary Ags. Total Ig and IgG1 NP–specific Ab responses to NP-OVA were significantly decreased in the P. chabaudi–infected group compared with the uninfected group, whereas NP-specific IgG2c Ab was significantly increased in the P. chabaudi–infected group. In contrast, following injection with T-independent NP-Ficoll, the P. chabaudi–infected group had significantly increased NP-specific total Ig, IgM, and IgG2c Ab titers compared with controls. Treatment with anti–IFN-γ led to an abrogation of the NP-specific IgG2c Ab induced by P. chabaudi infection but did not affect other NP-specific Ab isotypes or titers. IFN-γ depletion also increased the percentage of plasma cells in both P. chabaudi–infected and uninfected groups but decreased the percentage of B cells with a germinal center (GC) phenotype. Using immunofluorescent microscopy, we were able to detect NP+ GCs in the spleens of noninfected mice, but there were no detectible NP+ GCs in mice infected with P. chabaudi. These data suggest that during P. chabaudi infection, there is a shift toward an extrafollicular Ab response that could be responsible for decreased Ab responses to secondary T-dependent Ags.
Pluralismo y paralelismo político en la información televisiva en España
Authors: Humanes María Luisa , Montero Sánchez María Dolores , Molina de Dios Ramón , López-Berini Alfredo 
Published: October 2013

El artículo se articula en dos objetivos generales. En primer lugar se intenta verificar si la información televisiva de las cadenas generalistas se rige por el dominio del pluralismo externo como característica distintiva del sistema de medios pluralista-polarizado, tal como han expuesto Hallin y Mancini. El segundo propósito se centra más específicamente en abordar la relación entre pluralismo y paralelismo político. Metodología: Se ha realizado un análisis de contenido a una muestra de 3.134 noticias de los noticiarios prime time de seis cadenas de televisión de cobertura estatal: TVE1, Antena 3, Telecinco, La Sexta, Cuatro e Intereconomía. Resultados: Los resultados demuestran respecto al pluralismo que el modelo televisivo español es un modelo híbrido en el que coexisten diferentes gradaciones de pluralismo interno y externo en función del perfil de la cadena y de la estrategia de negocio del grupo de comunicación. Los informativos de la televisión pública reflejan los mayores niveles de pluralismo interno.
Development of the Objective, Structured Communication Assessment of Residents (OSCAR) Tool for Measuring Communication Skills With Patients
Authors: Caron Aleece , Perzynski Adam , Thomas Charles , Saade Jimmy Y. , McFarlane Michael , Becker Jeffery 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundAlthough interpersonal and communication skills are essential to physician practice, there is a dearth of effective tools to meaningfully teach and assess communication skills.ObjectiveThe purpose of our study was to create a standardized tool for evaluation of communication skills for residents across specialties.MethodsWe designed an Objective, Structured Communication Assessment of Residents (OSCAR) tool, consisting of 4 clinical stations, to assess intern communication skills with relationship development, their establishment of case goals, and their organization and time management skills. Interns from 11 training programs completed the stations, with senior residents trained to function as standardized patients. The 4 stations' scenarios were a disruptive patient, handling a phone call for a narcotics refill, disclosing a medical mistake, and delivering bad news.ResultsEighty-three interns completed OSCAR during orientation. The assessment took interns about 40 minutes to complete, and participants were given immediate feedback by the standardized patients. The total possible score for each station was 50. Resident performance was highest for disclosing a medical error (94%, 47 of 50), followed by handling a disruptive patient (90%, 45 of 50), disclosing bad news (86%, 43 of 50), and handling the phone call for the narcotics refill (62%, 31 of 50). Multivariate analysis of variance results indicated differences between residents from US and international medical schools, but there were no significant differences across specialties. Interrater reliability was excellent for each station (&gt; 0.80).ConclusionsOSCAR is a practical tool for assessing interns' communication skills to provide timely results to program directors.
Caring for women living with HIV: gaps in the evidence
Authors: Loutfy Mona R , Sherr Lorraine , Sonnenberg‐Schwan Ulrike , Walmsley Sharon L , Johnson Margaret , d'Arminio Monforte Antonella ,   Women for Positive Action
Published: October 2013

IntroductionIn the management of HIV, women and men generally undergo the same treatment pathway, with gender differences being given limited consideration. This is in spite of accumulating evidence that there are a number of potential differences between women and men which may affect response to treatment, pharmacokinetics, toxicities and coping. There are also notable psychological, behavioural, social and structural factors that may have a unique impact on women living with HIV (WLWH). Despite our increasing knowledge of HIV and advances in treatment, there are significant gaps in the data relating specifically to women. One of the factors contributing to this situation is the under‐representation of women in all aspects of HIV clinical research. Furthermore, there are clinical issues unique to women, including gynaecologic and breast diseases, menopause‐related factors, contraception and other topics related to women's and sexual health.MethodsUsing scoping review methodology, articles from the literature from 1980 to 2012 were identified using appropriate MeSH headings reflecting the clinical status of WLWH, particularly in the areas of clinical management, sexual health, emotional wellbeing and treatment access. Titles and abstracts were scanned to determine whether they were relevant to non‐reproductive health in WLWH, and papers meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed.ResultsThis review summarizes our current knowledge of the clinical status of WLWH, particularly in the areas of clinical management, sexual health, emotional wellbeing and treatment access. It suggests that there are a number of gender differences in disease and treatment outcomes, and distinct women‐specific issues, such as menopause and co‐morbidities, that pose significant challenges to the care of WLWH.ConclusionsBased on a review of this evidence, outstanding questions and areas where further studies are required to determine gender differences in the efficacy and safety of treatment and other clinical and psychological issues specifically affecting WLWH have been identified. Well‐controlled and adequately powered clinical studies are essential to help provide answers to these questions and to contribute to activities aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of WLWH.
Conducting Polymer Membranes
Authors: Maksymiuk Krzysztof , Michalska Agata 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Conducting polymers (CP) are not only electronic conductors, but some of them (e.g. polypyrrole, polyaniline or some polythiophenes) can be membranes participating in either cation‐ or anion‐exchanging processes affecting electrical/electrochemical properties of the polymer. Therefore electrodes with CP membranes can be utilized in potentiometric or amperometric/voltammetric ion sensors. Advantages and limitations are shown and particularly efforts resulting in selectivity improvement and reducing the role of possible interferents. Moreover, appropriate tailoring of CP membrane composition can result in independence of potential of sample composition, thus such membranes can be utilized in novel solid state reference electrodes.
Membrane Characterization by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Johnson Daniel J. , Hilal Nidal 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe atomic force microscope (AFM) has been shown to be an increasingly useful tool in the characterization of membrane surfaces, in the assessment of their fouling resistance, and for the understanding of the mechanisms of fouling by colloidal and biocolloidal materials. Used in conjunction with membrane modification, its ability to directly measure adhesion forces under a wide range of operating conditions and with different foulants, actual and simulated, allows the easy assessment of the fouling resistance of the modified membranes compared with commercial membranes. The small sample sizes needed for this technique mean that this can be done without the need to produce large amounts of membranes, which may be expensive; instead, the technique acts as a potential screening technique prior to upscaling for pilot‐level or industrial tests. In this article, the use of the AFM as a tool for the membrane technologist will be explored, giving information about the operation of the instrument and the types of experiment of interest in the study of separation membranes giving numerous examples from the published scientific literature.
Superhydrophobic Biomimetic Fibrous Membranes
Authors: Raza Aikifa , Ding Bin 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Multiscale structures of biotic materials exhibiting natural integration provide a model for the development of functional surfaces with special wettability. Inspired by nature, for example, by the lotus leaf and butterfly wings that show excellent superhydrophobicity, scientists have recently fabricated a variety of biomimetic superhydrophobic membranes through various smart and easy routes. After a brief description of natural superhydrophobic surfaces and the structural and functional biomimetic surfaces, we present the design and fabrication methods of these bio‐inspired superhydrophobic fibrous membranes. The main focus is the overview of the polymeric materials used to fabricate the superhydrophobic fibrous membranes at nano‐ or microscales and the chemical modifications that led to superhydrophobicity of as‐prepared polymeric and inorganic fibrous membranes. Later, we describe the induced superhydrophobicity in common textile fibrous surfaces. In addition, we highlight some potential applications associated with these remarkable biomimetic surfaces.
Particle clustering in photocurable nanocomposites: Dependence of curing kinetics and viscoelastic properties
Authors: Ziobrowski Piotr , Andrzejewska Ewa , Szybowicz Miroslaw , Nowicka Ariadna , Sadej‐Bajerlein Mariola , Gojzewski Hubert , Drozdowski Miroslaw 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe aim of this article is to investigate the effect of nanoparticle clustering on the mobility of nanoparticles in nanocomposites, using spectroscopic methods (Brillouin and Raman). Special attention is paid to the effect of particle clustering on photocuring kinetics. The model system was poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) filled with fumed nanosilica in concentration range encompassing the percolation threshold. Results obtained from Brillouin spectroscopy show substantial changes in the sound velocity and the attenuation coefficient with increasing filler content. The damping of acoustic waves reaches the maximum at the percolation threshold (∼15 wt %), which is related to changes in the mechanism of acoustic wave propagation. The formation of the cocontinuous silica phase strongly affects the curing kinetics of the monomer/silica system: the polymerization rate is the highest at a silica content corresponding to the percolation threshold. These results correlate well with the results of AFM surface roughness analysis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39895.
Biocatalytic Synthesis of a Diketobornane as a Building Block for Bifunctional Camphor Derivatives
Authors: Hofer Michael , Strittmatter Harald , Sieber Volker 
Published: October 2013

AbstractCamphor is a natural terpene readily available in huge amounts with the potential to replace existing chemical compounds derived from fossil resources. To create new industrial applications of camphor, it is necessary to introduce additional functional groups into its non‐reactive carbohydrate backbone. With the P450cam enzyme system of Pseudomonas putida, it is possible to selectively oxidize the non‐activated C5 position of camphor with air under mild conditions to produce 5‐exo‐hydroxycamphor. In this study, the dehydrogenase enzyme that catalyzes the further oxidation of 5‐exo‐hydroxycamphor to the diketone derivative (FdeH) has been cloned and analyzed. Together with the P450cam enzyme system, FdeH was used to realize a cell‐free enzymatic cascade reaction producing 2,5‐diketobornane at the lab scale. We show that this process is highly efficient in terms of NADH cofactor usage and reaction yield. The enzymatically produced 2,5‐diketobornane was converted further into corresponding biobased diamine and diol compounds. Our results show the advantage of combining enzymatic and chemical catalytic synthesis for the development of new routes to novel terpene‐based bicyclic bifunctional derivatives.
Specificity of a protein–protein interface: Local dynamics direct substrate recognition of effector caspases
Authors: Fuchs Julian E. , von Grafenstein Susanne , Huber Roland G. , Wallnoefer Hannes G. , Liedl Klaus R. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTProteases are prototypes of multispecific protein–protein interfaces. Proteases recognize and cleave protein and peptide substrates at a well‐defined position in a substrate binding groove and a plethora of experimental techniques provide insights into their substrate recognition. We investigate the caspase family of cysteine proteases playing a key role in programmed cell death and inflammation, turning caspases into interesting drug targets. Specific ligand binding to one particular caspase is difficult to achieve, as substrate specificities of caspase isoforms are highly similar. In an effort to rationalize substrate specificity of two closely related caspases, we investigate the substrate promiscuity of the effector Caspases 3 and 7 by data mining (cleavage entropy) and by molecular dynamics simulations. We find a strong correlation between binding site rigidity and substrate readout for individual caspase subpockets explaining more stringent substrate readout of Caspase 7 via its narrower conformational space. Caspase 3 subpockets S3 and S4 show elevated local flexibility explaining the more unspecific substrate readout of that isoform in comparison to Caspase 7. We show byin silicoexchange mutations in the S3 pocket of the proteases that a proline residue in Caspase 7 contributes to the narrowed conformational space of the binding site. These findings explain the substrate specificities of caspases via a mechanism of conformational selection and highlight the crucial importance of binding site local dynamics in substrate recognition of proteases. Proteins 2014; 82:546–555. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The prediction of blood–tissue partitions, water–skin partitions and skin permeation for agrochemicals
Authors: Abraham Michael H , Gola Joelle MR , Ibrahim Adam , Acree William E , Liu Xiangli 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDThere is considerable interest in the blood–tissue distribution of agrochemicals, and a number of researchers have developed experimental methods for in vitro distribution. These methods involve the determination of saline–blood and saline–tissue partitions; not only are they indirect, but they do not yield the required in vivo distribution.RESULTSThe authors set out equations for gas–tissue and blood–tissue distribution, for partition from water into skin and for permeation from water through human skin. Together with Abraham descriptors for the agrochemicals, these equations can be used to predict values for all of these processes. The present predictions compare favourably with experimental in vivo blood–tissue distribution where available. The predictions require no more than simple arithmetic.CONCLUSIONSThe present method represents a much easier and much more economic way of estimating blood–tissue partitions than the method that uses saline–blood and saline–tissue partitions. It has the added advantages of yielding the required in vivo partitions and being easily extended to the prediction of partition of agrochemicals from water into skin and permeation from water through skin. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Drawing Causal Inferences Using Propensity Scores: A Practical Guide for Community Psychologists
Authors: Lanza Stephanie T. , Moore Julia E. , Butera Nicole M. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractConfounding present in observational data impede community psychologists’ ability to draw causal inferences. This paper describes propensity score methods as a conceptually straightforward approach to drawing causal inferences from observational data. A step‐by‐step demonstration of three propensity score methods—weighting, matching, and subclassification—is presented in the context of an empirical examination of the causal effect of preschool experiences (Head Start vs. parental care) on reading development in kindergarten. Although the unadjusted population estimate indicated that children with parental care had substantially higher reading scores than children who attended Head Start, all propensity score adjustments reduce the size of this overall causal effect by more than half. The causal effect was also defined and estimated among children who attended Head Start. Results provide no evidence for improved reading if those children had instead received parental care. We carefully define different causal effects and discuss their respective policy implications, summarize advantages and limitations of each propensity score method, and provide SAS and R syntax so that community psychologists may conduct causal inference in their own research.
Quasi-Chemical Viscosity Model for Fully Liquid Slag in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 System. Part II: Evaluation of Slag Viscosities
Authors: Suzuki Masanori , Jak Evgueni 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
A model is presented that enables viscosities to be predicted reliably over the whole range of compositions and temperatures in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 slag system above liquidus in the temperature range from 1543 K to 2643 K (1270 °C to 2370 °C). Experimental procedures and data from the studies reported in the literature have been collected and critically reviewed with particular attention to the viscometry methods and possible contamination of slag samples to select reliable data points for further model development. Relevant revised formalism to describe the complex viscosity trends including charge-compensation effect of the Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations on the formation of tetrahedrally coordinated Al3+ was introduced. Parameters of the quasi-chemical viscosity model have been optimized to reproduce within experimental uncertainties most of the selected experimental data in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 system and all subsystems. This study is part of the overall development of the self-consistent viscosity model of the Al2O3-CaO-FeO-Fe2O3- MgO-Na2O-SiO2 multicomponent slag system.
Physico‐chemical, Sensory and Aromatic Properties of Cold Press Produced Safflower Oil
Authors: Aydeniz Buket , Güneşer Onur , Yılmaz Emin 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn this study, seeds from the safflower variety called “Dinçer” were roasted and microwaved before oil extraction by cold pressing. Some physico‐chemical analyses (moisture, ash, oil content and color) were performed in safflower meals. Physico‐chemical properties (refractive index, viscosity, turbidity, specific gravity, color, free acidity, peroxide value, iodine number), nutritional components (total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, tocopherol content), sterol composition and fatty acid composition of produced oils were also determined. Volatile components of the oils were detected by solid‐phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique. Quantitative descriptive analysis was accomplished with trained panelists by 11 definition terms. Cold pressing yielded less oil than solvent extraction, but oil quality was superior and a refining process was not required. There was no significant difference between samples for fatty acid composition and some physico‐chemical parameters. Whereas, microwave treatment caused a decrease in oil turbidity, free acidity, α‐tocopherol and some sterol contents and an enhancement in total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and peroxide value. Moreover, microwave treatment led to an increased nutty aroma in the oil. In contrast, isot pepper aroma was decreased by microwave treatment. This study provides very important information about the safflower oils for the first time in the literature.
Secretome and degradome profiling shows that Kallikrein‐related peptidases 4, 5, 6, and 7 induce TGFβ‐1 signaling in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Shahinian Hasmik , Loessner Daniela , Biniossek Martin L. , Kizhakkedathu Jayachandran N. , Clements Judith A. , Magdolen Viktor , Schilling Oliver 
Published: October 2013

Kallikrein‐related peptidases, in particular KLK4, 5, 6 and 7 (4–7), often have elevated expression levels in ovarian cancer. In OV‐MZ‐6 ovarian cancer cells, combined expression of KLK4–7 reduces cell adhesion and increases cell invasion and resistance to paclitaxel. The present work investigates how KLK4–7 shape the secreted proteome (“secretome”) and proteolytic profile (“degradome”) of ovarian cancer cells. The secretome comparison consistently identified >900 proteins in three replicate analyses. Expression of KLK4–7 predominantly affected the abundance of proteins involved in cell–cell communication. Among others, this includes increased levels of transforming growth factor β‐1 (TGFβ‐1). KLK4–7 co‐transfected OV‐MZ‐6 cells share prominent features of elevated TGFβ‐1 signaling, including increased abundance of neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM). Augmented levels of TGFβ‐1 and L1CAM upon expression of KLK4–7 were corroborated in vivo by an ovarian cancer xenograft model. The degradomic analysis showed that KLK4–7 expression mostly affected cleavage sites C‐terminal to arginine, corresponding to the preference of kallikreins 4, 5 and 6. Putative kallikrein substrates include chemokines, such as growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF 15) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Proteolytic maturation of TGFβ‐1 was also elevated. KLK4–7 have a pronounced, yet non‐degrading impact on the secreted proteome, with a strong association between these proteases and TGFβ‐1 signaling in tumor biology.