bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Finding new posttranslational modifications in salivary proline‐rich proteins
Authors: Vitorino Rui , Alves Renato , Barros António , Caseiro Armando , Ferreira Rita , Lobo Maria Calheiros , Bastos Ana , Duarte José , Carvalho Davide , Santos Lúcio Lara , Amado Francisco L. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractProline‐rich proteins (PRPs) are the most complex family of salivary peptides with distinct isoforms and PTMs. Up to date, only the serine phosphorylation at positions 8, 17, and 22 have been experimentally observed on acidic PRP (aPRPs), and at position 8 on basic PRP1 and 2. The presence of a glucoronyl group at Ser17 was also noticed on aPRP. The main goal of this study was to identify new PTMs and distinct isoforms of salivary PRPs using LC‐MALDI‐TOF/TOF. Through the salivary peptidome characterization of 20 different subjects from Control, Diabetic, and Head and Neck Cancer groups, it was possible to identify the following species: (i) N‐glycosylation sites: two in basic proline‐rich protein 2 (bPRP2), one in bPRP3 and one in bPRP4; (ii) O‐glycosylation sites: two in bPRP2 and one in aPRP; (iii) other terminal monosaccharide sites: six in bPRP1, two in bPRP2 and two in bPRP3; (iv) other modifications such as N‐terminal pyro‐Glu (two in bPRP1, six in bPRP2, eight in bPRP3 and nine in bPRP4); (v) phosphorylation in serine, three in bPRP1, one in bPRP2, one in bPRP3 and one in aPRP1; (vi) bPRP1 (allele S, allele M and variant CP5) and bPRP4 (allele M). In summary, salivary peptidome data analysis allowed the identification of 45 new PRP‐modified residues, mainly due to glycosylation, phosphorylation and conversion of Gln to pyro‐Glu. Moreover, comparing all subject groups, it was noticed a predominance of N‐acetyl hexosamine modification on bPRPs in the Head and Neck Cancer patients.
The spliceosomal proteome: At the heart of the largest cellular ribonucleoprotein machine
Authors: Valadkhan Saba , Jaladat Yasaman 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAlmost all primary transcripts in higher eukaryotes undergo several splicing events and alternative splicing is a major factor in generating proteomic diversity. Thus, the spliceosome, the ribonucleoprotein assembly that performs splicing, is a highly critical cellular machine and as expected, a very complex one. Indeed, the spliceosome is one of the largest, if not the largest, molecular machine in the cell with over 150 different components in human. A large fraction of the spliceosomal proteome is organized into small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles by associating with one of the small nuclear RNAs, and the function of many spliceosomal proteins revolve around their association or interaction with the spliceosomal RNAs or the substrate pre‐messenger RNAs. In addition to the complex web of protein‐RNA interactions, an equally complex network of protein–protein interactions exists in the spliceosome, which includes a number of large, conserved proteins with critical functions in the spliceosomal catalytic core. These include the largest conserved nuclear protein, Prp8, which plays a critical role in spliceosomal function in a hitherto unknown manner. Taken together, the large spliceosomal proteome and its dynamic nature has made it a highly challenging system to study, and at the same time, provides an exciting example of the evolution of a proteome around a backbone of primordial RNAs likely dating from the RNA World.
Acceleration effect of N‐allyl group on thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of 1,3‐benzoxazine
Authors: Oie Hiroaki , Sudo Atsushi , Endo Takeshi 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of monofunctional N‐allyl‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1a was compared with that of N‐(n‐propyl)‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1b to clarify an unexpected effect of allyl group to promote the polymerization, that is, in spite of the comparable bulkiness of allyl group to n‐propyl group, the polymerization of 1a was much faster than that of 1b. Such a difference in polymerization rate was also observed similarly in the comparison of thermally induced polymerization of a bifunctional N‐allyl‐benzoxazine 2a with that of a bifunctional N‐(n‐propyl) analogue 2b. These observations implied a certain contribution of an electron‐rich CC double bond of the N‐ally group to promotion of the ring‐opening reaction of 1,3‐benzoxazine into the corresponding zwitterionic species, which would involve a mechanism to stabilize the cationic part of the zwitterionic species based on “neighboring group participation” of the CC double bond. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Sample‐to‐sample fluctuations in heterogeneous DNA
Authors: Gevorkian Zh. S. , Li Mai Suan , Hu Chin‐Kun 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWe studied the structure of heterogenous DNA in the native state. There are two different regimes in the sample‐to‐sample fluctuations of the free energy in the native state, which can be interpreted via the concept of local free energy of base pairs. In the first low‐temperature frozen regime, local free energies are random and there are large sample‐to‐sample fluctuations for short DNAs. In the high‐temperature molten regime, the weakly bounded base pairs are opened and do not give random contribution to the free energy of native DNA. As a result, sample‐to‐sample fluctuations are suppressed in the molten regime. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010
Validation of the Chinese version of the Short‐form Supportive Care Needs Survey Questionnaire (SCNS‐SF34‐C)
Authors: Au A. , Lam W. W. T. , Kwong A. , Suen D. , Tsang J. , Yeo W. , Suen J. , Ho W. M. , Yau T. K. , Soong I. , Wong K. Y. , Sze W. K. , Ng A. , Girgis A. , Fielding R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground: There is no instrument available in Chinese for assessing psychosocial needs. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey short form (SCNS‐SF34‐C) in Chinese women with breast cancer (BC).Methods: The Chinese version of the 34‐item SCNS‐SF34‐C, a self‐report measure for assessing psychosocial unmet needs, was administered to 348 Chinese women with BC at the outpatient oncology unit. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) tested the factor structure. The internal consistency, convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity of the identified factor structure were assessed.Results: In contrast to the five‐factor structure identified in the original 34‐item SCNS‐SF34, our EFA produced a 33‐item solution accounting for 54% of score variance comprising four‐factors: (1) Health system, information, and patient support, (2) Psychological needs, (3) Physical and daily living, and (4) Sexuality needs. Separate dimensions for Health system and information, and the Patient care and support domains were not supported. Cronbach alphas ranged from 0.75 to 0.92. Correlations of psychological and physical symptom distress measures indicated acceptable convergent validity. No correlation with optimism and positive affect measures indicated divergent validity. Discriminant validity was demonstrated by effective differentiation between clinically distinct patient groups (no active treatment versus active treatment; advanced BC versus localized BC).Discussion: The Chinese version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey has suitable factor structure and psychometric properties for use in assessing psychosocial needs among Chinese women with BC. Further validation is needed for other cancer types. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics of Decomposition of Energetic Ionic Liquids
Authors: Chowdhury Arindrajit , Thynell Stefan T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe Arrhenius‐type reaction rate parameters for the initiation reactions governing the thermal decomposition of several energetic ionic liquids (EILs) were determined by numerical techniques. The compounds chosen for this purpose were the energetic 4‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazolium nitrate (4ATN) and 1‐hydroxyethyl‐hydrazinium nitrate (HEHN). The supplementary compounds studied for comparison were 4‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazolium chloride (4ATCl) and ammonium nitrate (AN). The reaction rate parameters were obtained by an evolutionary genetic algorithm (GA) that compared the difference between the experimental and simulated species evolution profiles from the decomposition process. The experimental data were generated by confined rapid thermolysis (CRT). The decomposition process was simulated by applying conservation equations to the condensed and gas phases individually. The optimization module recovered the experimental species profiles with reasonable accuracy for all the compounds studied. The processes governing the decomposition of these energetic compounds were found to be autocatalytic in nature, and the autocatalytic agents were the strong acids generated by the initial decomposition step. The activation energy and pre‐exponential factor for the unimolecular decomposition step for 4ATN, HEHN, and 4ATCl were 167–188 kJ mol−1 and 1016 s−1, respectively, similar to previously determined values for AN.
Internal duplications in α‐helical membrane protein topologies are common but the nonduplicated forms are rare
Authors: Hennerdal Aron , Falk Jenny , Lindahl Erik , Elofsson Arne 
Published: September 2010

AbstractMany α‐helical membrane proteins contain internal symmetries, indicating that they might have evolved through a gene duplication and fusion event. Here, we have characterized internal duplications among membrane proteins of known structure and in three complete genomes. We found that the majority of large transmembrane (TM) proteins contain an internal duplication. The duplications found showed a large variability both in the number of TM‐segments included and in their orientation. Surprisingly, an approximately equal number of antiparallel duplications and parallel duplications were found. However, of all 11 superfamilies with an internal duplication, only for one, the AcrB Multidrug Efflux Pump, the duplicated unit could be found in its nonduplicated form. An evolutionary analysis of the AcrB homologs indicates that several independent fusions have occurred, including the fusion of the SecD and SecF proteins into the 12‐TM‐protein SecDF in Brucella and Staphylococcus aureus. In one additional case, the Vitamin B12 transporter‐like ABC transporters, the protein had undergone an additional fusion to form protein with 20 TM‐helices in several bacterial genomes. Finally, homologs to all human membrane proteins were used to detect the presence of duplicated and nonduplicated proteins. This confirmed that only in rare cases can homologs with different duplication status be found, although internal symmetry is frequent among these proteins. One possible explanation is that it is frequent that duplication and fusion events happen simultaneously and that there is almost always a strong selective advantage for the fused form.
CD4 T‐Cell‐mediated immune response to prostatic proteins in HLA‐DRB1*1503 transgenic mice and identification of a novel HLA‐DRB1*1503‐restricted T‐cell epitope from human prostatic acid phosphatase
Authors: Klyushnenkova Elena N. , Alexander Richard B. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBACKGROUNDTransgenic mice engineered to express human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are widely used for identification of immunogenic and naturally processed epitopes. Using HLA‐DRB1*1501 (DR2b) transgenic mice, we have previously identified epitopes from two prostatic antigens, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). These antigens are implicated in the development of autoimmunity in the prostate and also are considered promising targets for prostate cancer immunotherapy. HLA‐DRB1*1501 is the most common DR15 allele in Caucasians, while HLA‐DRB1*1503 is the most common in African Americans. Hence characterization of peptide immunogenicity for these alleles is important for the development of prostate cancer immunotherapy in white and black patients.METHODSHLA‐DRB1*1501 or HLA‐DRB1*1503 transgenic mice were immunized with human PSA or PAP. Libraries of overlapping 20‐mer peptides spanning the entire sequences of these proteins were screened by IFN‐γ ELISPOT assay.RESULTSPSA and PAP peptides that were previously identified in HLA‐DRB1*1501 tg mice were immunogenic in HLA‐DR1503 tg mice and induced CD4 T‐cell response against whole processed PSA or PAP respectively. However, the hierarchy of the immunodominance among the peptides differed significantly between strains. Using HLA‐DRB1*1503 tg mice, a novel immunogenic and naturally processed 20‐mer peptide, PAP (233‐252) has been identified that showed no reactivity in HLA‐DRB1*1501 tg mice.CONCLUSIONSOur data demonstrate a disparity in CD4 T‐cell immune reactivity to PSA and PAP between HLA‐DRB1*1501 and ‐DRB1*1503 alleles in HLA transgenic mouse models. It is possible that such immunological differences could contribute to racial disparity in prostate cancer outcome. Prostate 71:561–566, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combodart: combined therapy for moderate to severe BPH
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Kirby Roger 
Published: September 2010

AbstractCombodart is a combination of tamsulosin and dutasteride licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe BPH. In our New products review Steve Chaplin presents the trial data relating to its efficacy and side‐effects, and Professor Roger Kirby considers its advantages over an alpha‐blocker or 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitor taken alone. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Interface Ltd
Effect of contact spreading layer on photovoltaic response of InGaN‐based solar cells
Authors: Zheng Xinhe , Tang Longjuan , Zhang Dongyan , Dong Jianrong , Yang Hui 
Published: September 2010

AbstractDifferent conductive films are used as p‐GaN current spreading layers in order to explore photovoltaic action of InGaN/GaN double heterojunction solar cells. It is found that the devices with the 200‐nm thick indium‐tin oxide (ITO) transparent spreading layers shows a very small decrease in fill factor compared to those with the 3‐nm Ni/3‐nm Au semitransparent metal, but the former demonstrates an enhancement of short‐circuit current density by 24% due to the increased amount of light that reaches the solar cell. This improvement in usable light is shown by the increase in transmission and external quantum efficiency.
Calculating the second‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of 3‐methyl‐4‐nitropyridine N‐oxide, 2‐carboxylic acid‐4‐nitropyridine‐1‐oxide, 2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline, and m‐nitroaniline crystals
Authors: Kanoun Mohammed Benali , Champagne Benoît 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe static and the second harmonic generation second‐order nonlinear susceptibilities, χ(2), of 3‐methyl‐4‐nitropyridine N‐oxide, 2‐carboxylic acid‐4‐nitropyridine‐1‐oxide, 2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline, and m‐nitroaniline crystals are calculated using a model that combines accurate ab initio molecular properties with an electrostatic interaction approach to account for the crystal packing effects. The impact of the way to distribute the molecular polarizabilities on the final second‐order nonlinear susceptibilities is highlighted, whereas the frequency dispersion of the macroscopic and molecular responses is addressed. This approach is shown to reproduce experimental data, at least in what concerns the relative amplitude of χ(2). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Is there a role for robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass in HIV positive patients?
Authors: van Wagenberg Frans S. , Lehr Eric J. , Rehman Atiq , Bonatti Johannes 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackgroundPerforming cardiac surgery on HIV positive patients represents a significant risk of occupational exposure to surgeons and their support staff. In addition, the immunocompromized state of these patients may be a factor which could adversely influence the results. Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) in HIV patients has not been reported.MethodsA male patient with HIV and Hepatitis C presented with three vessel coronary artery disease requiring surgical revascularization. Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. Using the da Vinci (R) surgical robot, the left and right internal mammary arteries were harvested and sutured to the second obtuse marginal branch and the left anterior descending artery respectively.ResultsThe patient was discharged home on postoperative day six. At one month following the operation, the patient was asymptomatic and had returned to full activity without the need for sternal precautions.ConclusionsWe describe the first case of completely endoscopic coronary surgery using the da Vinci (R) system in an HIV patient. Double internal mammary artery grafting to the left coronary artery system was carried out successfully. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
System dynamics modelling for examining knowledge transfer during crises
Authors: Wang Wei‐Tsong 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe threat of organizational crises cannot be overlooked in today's complex business environment. During crises, organizations encounter unique, threatening and stress‐inducing situations in which critical decisions must be made constantly in a timely manner based on limited information. Nevertheless, there have been very few studies engaging in exploring the theme of knowledge transfer in the context of managing organizational crises. Consequently, this study attempts to explore this issue with reference to a product recall crisis of a motorcycle manufacturer using the method of system dynamics modelling. The research findings illustrate the multiple knowledge transfer mechanisms used and their influence on organizational performance during crises as a means of distributing critical knowledge and facilitating the development of collective understanding within organizations. Future studies which aim to explore the dynamics of different types of knowledge being processed by means of various knowledge transfer mechanisms during crises are encouraged. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling of DRI Processes with Two Simultaneously Active Reducing Gases
Authors: Kolbeinsen L. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe concept of DRI is understood as reduction of iron ore (oxide) without the occurrence of a liquid phase, and where the means of reduction is either coal or natural gas. This method for making iron has existed since the Iron Age, but had its renaissance in the 1960s. Today's DRI production is of a magnitude of 60 million metric tons a year, and is rapidly growing. The MIDREX® and HyL® processes are based on reduction in a packed bed (shaft furnace), something that requires the ore to be pelletized. The reduction of fine grain ore directly, typically fluidized beds with multiple reactors in series like in the FINMET® process, constitutes another process family. In both cases the gas doing the reduction‐work will be a synthesis‐gas (SynGas/SG), but with variations in the H2/CO‐ratio from process to process. Use of the top‐gas from the reduction as an oxygen source in the SynGas generation is common. Mathematical modelling is considered essential for development and optimization of such processes.Reduction of single pellets can be described using various models, e.g. the well known Shrinking Core Model (SCM). The classical SCM needs to be modified both with respect to the solids to include the intermediate products magnetite and wüstite that exist between hematite and metallic iron, but also with respect to the gas to handle two different reactants; hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and should also include the possible internal gas reactions like the water gas shift reaction (WGSR). The use of oxygen potentials can replace gas compositions in modelling of such systems. In this paper a model for the reduction of a single iron ore pellet is described; and further a description is given of how such a model is incorporated into a full process model as well as experimental methods of how to determine model parameters.
Reduction and Carburization of Iron Oxide by Carbonaceous Materials
Authors: Satoh K. , Noguchi T. , Hino M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe iron nugget making process, where mixtures of iron ore powder and pulverized coal are made to heat rapidly, is regarded as a new ironmaking process. Since the iron carburization reaction is an especially important step from the viewpoint of energy saving in this process, the purpose of this study is to reveal the carburization mechanism of reduced iron formed during the heating process of the mixtures. Fe2O3 and H2‐CO‐CO2 gas mixture were made react with each other to simulate the formation of iron ore and the generation of coal gas from coal during the heating process. An electric resistance furnace was used to heat the samples. A cut surface of the quenched iron product was observed by microscopy. Carbon content in the iron was analyzed after reduction and carburization of Fe2O3. It is considered that there are many possibilities in the real process to carburize the reduced iron during the heating process, such as carburization with CO formed by coal combustion, solution loss reaction, and direct carburization with coal. It was observed in the present work that the carbon content in the reduced iron became the highest as Fe3C was formed during the heating process. Therefore, it became clear that the key technology for production of pig iron containing high carbon was to control the formation of Fe3C in the heating period of the mixture. The carburization mechanism was discussed in this study based on these experimental results.
Research for Using Iron & Steelmaking Zinc Laden Dust to Desulphurisze Hot Metal
Authors: Kumar R.V. , Liu J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn order to promote recycling of zinc laden dust, desulphurizing hot metal using the dust has been researched on a laboratory scale and the possibility of developing a new desulphurization (De‐S) method has been evaluated. The thermodynamic data of the Zn‐O‐S system has been determined with an electrochemical cell. The results indicate that ZnS sublimes at a temperature between 1450 and 1460 K. Directly as a result of this phase change the driving force for desulphurization with Zn or ZnO increases with increasing temperature beyond this sublimation temperature, thus potentially making Zn based reagents useful for high temperature desulphurization reactions. Feasibility reactions were also performed to confirm that ZnO can effectively react with FeS (1473 to 1653 K) or with Fe‐Csat‐S (1473‐1673K) to remove S. There is therefore potential for the utilization of ZnO laden waste dust or granular zinc as additional or alternative reagents for desulphurization. This paper provides a theoretical basis and the feasibility for granular Zn (and/or ZnO) replacing granular Mg for desulphurizing hot metal.