bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simulating electrostatic energies in proteins: Perspectives and some recent studies of pKas, redox, and other crucial functional properties
Authors: Warshel Arieh , Dryga Anatoly 
Published: July 2011

AbstractElectrostatic energies provide what is arguably the most effective tool for structure–function correlation of biological molecules. Here, we provide an overview of the current state‐of‐the‐art simulations of electrostatic energies in macromolecules, emphasizing the microscopic perspective but also relating it to macroscopic approaches. We comment on the convergence issue and other problems of the microscopic models and the ways of keeping the microscopic physics while moving to semi‐macroscopic directions. We discuss the nature of the protein dielectric “constants” reiterating our long‐standing point that the dielectric “constants” in semi‐macroscopic models depend on the definition and the specific treatment. The advances and the challenges in the field are illustrated considering different functional properties including pKa's, redox potentials, ion and proton channels, enzyme catalysis, ligand binding, and protein stability. We emphasize the microscopic overcharging approach for studying pKa's of internal groups in proteins and give a demonstration of power of this approach. We also emphasize recent advances in coarse grained models with a physically based electrostatic treatment and provide some examples including further directions in treating voltage activated ion channels. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enantiomeric 9‐mer peptide analogs of protaetiamycine with bacterial cell selectivities and anti‐inflammatory activities
Authors: Lee Eunjung , Kim Jin‐Kyoung , Shin Soyoung , Jeong Ki‐Woong , Lee Juneyoung , Lee Dong Gun , Hwang Jae‐Sam , Kim Yangmee 
Published: July 2011

AbstractProtaetiamycine is an insect defensin, derived from the larvae of the beetle Protaetia brevitarsis. In our previous work, we designed 9‐mer peptide analogs of protaetiamycine, including 9Pbw2 (RLWLAIKRR‐NH2), 9Pbw3 (RLWLAIWRR‐NH2), and 9Pbw4 (RLWLAWKRR‐NH2). 9Pbw2 and 9Pbw4 showed high antimicrobial activity without cytotoxicity, while 9Pbw3 with higher hydrophobicity compared to 9Pbw2 and 9Pbw4 showed high cytotoxicity as well as high antimicrobial activity (Shin et al., J. Pept. Sci. 2009; 15: 559–568). In this study, we investigated the anti‐inflammatory activities of 9Pbw2, 9Pbw3, and 9Pbw4 by quantitation of NO production in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that only 9Pbw3 has strong inhibition of NO production, implying that Trp7 as well as optimum level of hydrophobicity may play key roles in the anti‐inflammatory activity of 9Pbw3. In order to design potent anti‐inflammatory peptide with lower cytotoxicity as well as high stability from cleavage by protease compared to 9Pbw3, we synthesized 9Pbw3‐D, the all‐D‐amino acid analog of 9Pbw3. 9Pbw3‐D showed less cytotoxicity against RAW264.7 cells as well as considerably stronger inhibition of NO production and inflammation‐induced cytokine production in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells than 9Pbw3. 9Pbw3‐D inhibited the gene expression of inflammatory‐induced cytokine significantly more than 9Pbw3 and showed high resistance to proteolytic digestion. Binding of 9Pbw3‐D with LPS caused higher enhancement of the FITC fluorescence as a result of its stronger interaction with LPS compared to that of 9Pbw3 and this result is in good agreement with their anti‐inflammatory activities. 9Pbw3‐D with higher anti‐inflammatory activity as well as lower cytotoxicity against mammalian cell compared to 9Pbw3 can be a potent noncytotoxic antibiotic candidates. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microwave and infrared dielectric response in BaTiO3 based relaxor ferroelectrics
Authors: Zhang Jingji , Zhai Jiwei , Zhang Yewen 
Published: July 2011

AbstractMicrowave (MW), infrared (IR) dielectric response, and Raman spectra of BaZryTi1‐yO3 (BZT) (y = 0.25–0.40) and BaTi1‐zSnzO3 (BTS) (z = 0.15–0.30) ceramics were studied systematically. As the substitution levels increased, the evolution from normal ferroelectric to canonical relaxor was observed. BaTiO3 based relaxor ferroelectrics have high tunability, MW permittivity, and loss tangent. IR analysis confirmed that the relaxor behavior in BZT and BTS was caused by the cationic disorder with BO6 octahedron and the origin of larger diffuseness in BTS dielectric peak was attributed to a distinct split of BO6 bending. Compared with BST, the soft mode in BaTiO3 based relaxor ferroelectrics hardened slightly and became harmonic with increasing substitution levels, resulting in high tunability for BaTiO3 based relaxors. The variation in tunability of BZT with composition is larger than that of BTS, due to the larger variation in softest mode with composition for BZT. Raman scattering showed that, in comparison with cubic‐BST, the bands at ∼730 cm−1 were observed in cubic‐BZT and ‐BTS, owing to the positional disorder at B‐site cation. However, an extra band at ∼770 cm−1 in BZT appeared and red‐shifted, whose intensity increased with the substitution levels increasing. It is of particular interest that the upward shift of A1(TO2) mode of the samples with higher substitution levels indicated a tighter bonding between the cations and the anions, which led to a smaller permittivity of the samples with higher substitution levels.
Effect of M3C on the Precipitation Behavior of M23C6 Phase during Early Stage of Tempering in T91 Ferritic Steel
Authors: Liu Chenxi , Liu Yongchang , Zhang Dantian , Ning Baoqun , Yan Zesheng 
Published: July 2011

AbstractTempered martensitic structure is the service condition of T91 ferritic steel after adopting the austenitizing followed by tempering. Needle‐like M3C particles are precipitated during air cooling after austenization, while the precipitation of M3C is suppressed during the water cooling. The effect of existence of M3C on the precipitation behaviors of M23C6 during the early stage of tempering, as nucleation site, number density and size distribution, was investigated by means of TEM observation. The TEM results indicate that, upon the same tempering time, the size of M23C6 is smaller and its number density is higher in the sample pre‐existing M3C than in the sample without M3C. This can be explained that existence of M3C results in more M23C6 precipitates forming inside of grain, where a relatively low self‐diffusion coefficient of alloy element leads to M23C6 hardly coarsening. However, with the prolongation of tempering time, this effect becomes weaken. Microhardness results indicate that the existence of M3C phase results in the increase of hardness after tempering due to the precipitation of finer and denser M23C6 particles.
Tensile properties, swelling, and water absorption behavior of rice‐husk‐powder‐filled polypropylene/(recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber) composites
Authors: Ismail H. , Ragunathan S. , Hussin K. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe effect of rice husk powder (RHP) on the tensile properties, swelling, water absorption, and morphology of polypropylene (PP)/[recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBRr)]/RHP composites was studied. Composites containing 0 to 30 parts of RHP per hundred parts of resin were prepared by using a Haake Rheomix Polydrive R 600/610 mixer at 180°C with a rotor speed of 50 rpm. Results indicated that the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased but that the tensile modulus increased with increasing amounts of RHP. Swelling of the PP/NBRr/RHP composites in oil and toluene increased with increasing RHP contents, and the composites exhibited a non‐Fickian diffusion with a two stage absorption mechanism. Micrographs acquired by SEM revealed an increasing number of voids and micro‐holes on the tensile‐fractured surfaces of the composites with increasing amounts of RHP. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Viscosity, shear strength, and peel strength on poly(ethylene terephthalate) of (natural rubber)‐based adhesives containing hybrid tackifiers
Authors: Poh B.T. , Syed Putra S.Z. Firdaus 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe viscosity, shear strength, and peel strength of [natural rubber (Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) L grade)]‐based pressure‐sensitive adhesives were studied by using hybrid tackifiers, i.e., mixtures of coumarone–indene resin and petro resin. Toluene and poly(ethylene terephthalate) were used as the solvent and substrate, respectively. Viscosity of the adhesives was determined with a HAAKE rotary viscometer, whereas shear and peel strength were measured by a Lloyd adhesion tester. Results showed that the viscosity and shear strength decreased with increasing petro resin concentration, an observation which is attributed to the plasticizing effect of the resin. Peel strength, however, showed a maximum value at 60 phr (parts by weight per hundred parts of resin) petro resin concentration, thus indicating maximum wettability at this petro resin content. Peel strength increased with coating thickness for all the peel tests studied. In all cases, a 90° peel test consistently exhibited the highest peel value. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Application of resins and crosslinking agents on fiber blend fabric to reduce pilling performance, optimized by response surface methodology
Authors: Montazer M. , Mazaheri F. , Khosravian Sh. , Azimi M. , Bameni Moghadam M. , Sadeghi A. H. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractResins and crosslinking agents have been used on textiles for a long time for various purposes. Fiber blend fabrics have a propensity to pill, thereby giving garments a spoiled surface appearance. The pilling should be reduced or prevented by application of an appropriate finishing method. Surface modification by using different chemicals is the most useful method. Here, various resins and crosslinking agents were used to reduce the pilling of viscose/polyester (35/65) fabric. A viscose/polyester knitted fabric was treated with different blends of aminoplast resins and crosslinking agents in order to obtain a fabric with permanent anti‐pilling performance. The concentrations of the resins were determined with a central composite design, and then different characteristics of the fabrics such as pilling rate, water absorption, air permeability, water vapor transmission, bending, tensile strength, whiteness, and washing durability were examined. The results showed that application of aminoplast resins along with a crosslinking agent helped to reduce pilling. Also, the amounts of different variables were optimized with response surface methodology, and their statistical models were obtained. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Plant serine/arginine‐rich proteins: roles in precursor messenger RNA splicing, plant development, and stress responses
Authors: Reddy Anireddy S. N. , Shad Ali Gul 
Published: July 2011

AbstractGlobal analyses of splicing of precursor messenger RNAs (pre‐mRNAs) have revealed that alternative splicing (AS) is highly pervasive in plants. Despite the widespread occurrence of AS in plants, the mechanisms that control splicing and the roles of splice variants generated from a gene are poorly understood. Studies on plant serine/arginine‐rich (SR) proteins, a family of highly conserved proteins, suggest their role in both constitutive splicing and AS of pre‐mRNAs. SR proteins have a characteristic domain structure consisting of one or two RNA recognition motifs at the N‐terminus and a C‐terminal RS domain rich in arginine/serine dipeptides. Plants have many more SR proteins compared to animals including several plant‐specific subfamilies. Pre‐mRNAs of plant SR proteins are extensively alternatively spliced to increase the transcript complexity by about six‐fold. Some of this AS is controlled in a tissue‐ and development‐specific manner. Furthermore, AS of SR pre‐mRNAs is altered by various stresses, raising the possibility of rapid reprogramming of the whole transcriptome by external signals through regulation of the splicing of these master regulators of splicing. Most SR splice variants contain a premature termination codon and are degraded by up‐frameshift 3 (UPF3)‐mediated nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD), suggesting a link between NMD and regulation of expression of the functional transcripts of SR proteins. Limited functional studies with plant SRs suggest key roles in growth and development and plant responses to the environment. Here, we discuss the current status of research on plant SRs and some promising approaches to address many unanswered questions about plant SRs. WIREs RNA 2011 2 875–889 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.98This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms
RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing
Concurrent Use of Cultural Health Practices and Western Medicine During Pregnancy: Exploring the Mexican Experience in the United States
Authors: Barragan Deborah I. , Ormond Kelly E. , Strecker Michelle N. , Weil Jon 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe relationship between concurrent use of cultural health practices and Western medicine during pregnancy by women of Mexican origin is relatively unstudied. The aim of this study was to explore how cultural health practices are balanced with the use of Western medicine during pregnancy by women of Mexican origin across differing acculturation levels. A convenience sample of 15 women of self‐identified Mexican origin between the ages of 18–65 participated either in a telephone interview or one of two small group interviews; each was conducted in participants’ preferred language. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic coding, and acculturation level was assessed using a validated measure. The results indicate that (1) Women of all acculturation levels valued Western medical care in pregnancy and had a good understanding of common public health messages; (2) Perceived benefits of and reasons for engaging in cultural health practices varied by acculturation level; and (3) Motivation for sharing cultural health practices with children also varied by acculturation level. Consequently, acculturation level is an important factor to consider in culturally competent genetic counseling, including eliciting cultural information relevant to counseling and decision‐making and identifying barriers to effective, culturally sensitive communication.
Primary Care Physicians’ Awareness, Experience and Opinions of Direct‐to‐Consumer Genetic Testing
Authors: Powell Karen P. , Cogswell Whitney A. , Christianson Carol A. , Dave Gaurav , Verma Amit , Eubanks Sonja , Henrich Vincent C. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess primary care physicians’ awareness, experience, opinions and preparedness to answer patients’ questions regarding direct‐to‐consumer (DTC) genetic testing. An anonymous survey was mailed to 2,402 family and internal medicine providers in North Carolina. Of the 382 respondents, 38.7% (n = 148) were aware of and 15% (n = 59) felt prepared to answer questions about DTC genetic tests. Respondents aged 50 or older were more likely to be aware of DTC genetic testing than those less than 40 years old (OR = 2.42). Male providers were more likely to feel prepared to answer questions than female providers (OR = 2.65). Among respondents who reportedly were aware, family practitioners were more likely than internists (OR = 3.30) to think DTC testing was clinically useful, and 18.9% had patients ask questions or bring in test results. The small percent of physicians who were aware of DTC genetic testing or felt prepared to answer questions about it suggests that education of providers will be necessary if testing becomes more widespread.
Mechanism of maternal vascular remodeling during human pregnancy
Authors: Sato Yukiyasu , Fujiwara Hiroshi , Konishi Ikuo 
Published: July 2011

AbstractRemodeling of maternal spiral arteries by invasion of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) is crucial for an adequate blood supply to the fetus. EVT cells that migrate through the decidual tissue destroy the arterial muscular lining from the outside (interstitial invasion), and those that migrate along the arterial lumen displace the endothelium from the inside (endovascular invasion). Numerous factors including cytokines/growth factors, chemokines, cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix‐degrading enzymes, and environmental oxygen have been proposed to stimulate or inhibit the differentiation/invasion of EVT. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to depict overall pictures of the mechanism controlling perivascular and endovascular invasion. Potential factors that direct interstitial trophoblast towards maternal spiral artery are relatively high oxygen tension in the spiral artery, maternal platelets, vascular smooth muscle cells, and Eph/ephrin system. On the other hand, very little is understood about endovascular invasion except for the involvement of endothelial apoptosis in this process. Only small numbers of molecules such as polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecules and CCR1 have been suggested as specific markers for the endovascular trophoblast. Therefore, an initial step to approach the mechanisms for endovascular invasion could be more detailed molecular characterization of the endovascular trophoblast.
“I should remember I don’t want to become fat”: Adolescents’ views on self‐regulatory strategies for healthy eating
Authors: Stok F. Marijn , de Vet Emely , de Ridder Denise T.D. , de Wit John B.F. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTFew studies have investigated the strategies adolescents identify to self‐regulate eating behavior. Aiming to address this gap in the literature, the current article describes a bottom‐up investigation of strategies adolescents identify for the successful self‐regulation of eating behavior. Sixty‐two adolescents generated statements about self‐regulation strategies for eating and rated the utility of each statement. From an initial pool of 357 statements, thirteen overarching self‐regulatory strategies were distilled (e.g. preparation; stimulus control). Significant differences were found between the strategies with regard to perceived utility. Findings indicate that, in apparent contradiction to growing obesity rates, adolescents have knowledge of various self‐regulatory strategies. Possible explanations for this contradiction are discussed.
Naloxone inhibits not only stress‐induced analgesia but also sympathetic activation and baroreceptor‐reflex sensitivity
Authors: Fechir M. , Breimhorst M. , Kritzmann S. , Geber C. , Schlereth T. , Baier B. , Birklein F. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractInteractions between the sympathetic nervous system and pain are manifold and still have not been sufficiently characterized. Accordingly, several possible neuronal pathways have been described as being involved in mental stress‐induced analgesia. We studied the role of the endogenous opioidergic system in stress‐induced analgesia in 14 healthy participants in a double‐blind cross‐over trial. Naloxone or placebo was applied while electrical pain stimulation was started and electrical current increased. After reaching a constant stimulation at 30 mA, a color word interference test (Stroop task) was performed in a stressful and a non‐stressful version. Blood pressure, heart rate and baroreflex sensitivity were continuously recorded to assess autonomic activation. Each participant was tested with naloxone and placebo with a randomized and balanced order of trials.The major results are that the opioid‐receptor antagonist naloxone prevented (1) stress‐induced reduction of tonic current‐induced pain, (2) attenuated the simultaneous activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and (3) reduced the counteraction of sympathetic activation by vagal baroreceptor mechanisms. Thus, the opioidergic system not only modulates nociceptive input but also the interplay with vegetative responses.We conclude that acute stress, sympathetic activation and analgesia might be linked via vagal reflexes, which are disturbed when opioid receptors are blocked. This mechanism might underlie increased perception of noxious stimuli in patients with chronic pain or mood disorders.
The role of nutritional supplements and feeding strategies in equine athletic performance
Authors: Geor Raymond J 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIn human and animal nutrition, much interest has been focused on the potential role of dietary supplements in promoting health, athletic performance and disease mitigation. Supplements may include essential nutrients provided in amounts greater than required to prevent a deficiency state, or substances purported to have a role in metabolism or tissue function but that are not recognized as an essential nutrient. This review aims to provide the rationale and scientific evidence for use (or not) of some of the supplements marketed for use in horses, with emphasis on supplements purported to directly boost performance, such as creatine, carnitine and branched-chain amino acids. It also discusses the so-called ‘joint supplements’ (or slow-acting, disease-modifying osteoarthritis agents), such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. The effects of selected feeding strategies on performance, including fat supplementation, are also examined. It is concluded that although the use of nutritional supplements is commonly alleged to boost performance or health in horses, for most, if not all, of these supplements there is little or no scientific evidence of efficacy.
MEASURING THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL KNOWLEDGE DEPRIVATION OF HIV/AIDS: A NEW APPROACH WITH INDIAN EVIDENCE ON ITS MAGNITUDE AND DETERMINANTS
Authors: RAY RANJAN , SINHA KOMPAL 
Published: July 2011

SummaryThough HIV/AIDS poses serious risks to economic security, there is very little economics literature quantifying awareness and knowledge of this disease and their principal socioeconomic determinants. This is what the present study attempts to do in the context of India, which faces a significant threat from HIV/AIDS. The study is based on India's National Family Health Surveys covering the period of economic reforms and beyond. The contribution is both methodological and empirical. The study shows that the recent multi-dimensional deprivation approach to poverty can also be used to measure and analyse awareness and lack of knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The use of decomposable multi-dimensional measures helps in identifying regions, socioeconomic groups and aspects of HIV knowledge that should be targeted in policy interventions. The study identifies the importance of safe sex practices as an area that needs to be targeted in future information campaigns. The study also explores the impact of increased female autonomy in health and economic decision-making on their and their partners' knowledge of the disease, along with a host of other economic and demographic determinants.