bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen exchange of monomeric α‐synuclein shows unfolded structure persists at physiological temperature and is independent of molecular crowding in Escherichia coli
Authors: Croke Robyn L. , Sallum Christine O. , Watson Emma , Watt Eric D. , Alexandrescu Andrei T. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAmide proton NMR signals from the N‐terminal domain of monomeric α‐synuclein (αS) are lost when the sample temperature is raised from 10°C to 35°C at pH 7.4. Although the temperature‐induced effects have been attributed to conformational exchange caused by an increase in α‐helix structure, we show that the loss of signals is due to fast amide proton exchange. At low ionic strength, hydrogen exchange rates are faster for the N‐terminal segment of αS than for the acidic C‐terminal domain. When the salt concentration is raised to 300 mM, exchange rates increase throughout the protein and become similar for the N‐ and C‐terminal domains. This indicates that the enhanced protection of amide protons from the C‐terminal domain at low salt is electrostatic in nature. Cα chemical shift data point to <10% residual α‐helix structure at 10°C and 35°C. Conformational exchange contributions to R2 are negligible at both temperatures. In contrast to the situation in vitro, the majority of amide protons are observed at 37°C in 1H‐15N HSQC spectra of αS encapsulated within living Escherichia coli cells. Our finding that temperature effects on αS NMR spectra can be explained by hydrogen exchange obviates the need to invoke special cellular factors. The retention of signals is likely due to slowed hydrogen exchange caused by the lowered intracellular pH of high‐density E. coli cultures. Taken together, our results emphasize that αS remains predominantly unfolded at physiological temperature and pH—an important conclusion for mechanistic models of the association of αS with membranes and fibrils.
Computational study of the putative active form of protein Z (PZa): Sequence design and structural modeling
Authors: Chandrasekaran Vasu , Lee Chang Jun , Duke Robert E. , Perera Lalith , Pedersen Lee G. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAlthough protein Z (PZ) has a domain arrangement similar to the essential coagulation proteins FVII, FIX, FX, and protein C, its serine protease (SP)‐like domain is incomplete and does not exhibit proteolytic activity. We have generated a trial sequence of putative activated protein Z (PZa) by identifying amino acid mutations in the SP‐like domain that might reasonably resurrect the serine protease catalytic activity of PZ. The structure of the activated form was then modeled based on the proposed sequence using homology modeling and solvent‐equilibrated molecular dynamics simulations. In silico docking of inhibitors of FVIIa and FXa to the putative active site of equilibrated PZa, along with structural comparison with its homologous proteins, suggest that the designed PZa can possibly act as a serine protease.
What is a food allergen?
Authors: Lucas J. S. A. , Atkinson R. G. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryWith the increasing prevalence of allergies, accurate identification of allergens is a major priority for allergists, scientists, the food industry, and food regulators. Knowledge of allergens is essential for risk assessment of novel genetically modified (GM) foods, and to develop recombinant proteins for the treatment and diagnosis of allergies. This Opinion Paper considers the lack of standardization for the clinical and scientific assessment of proteins before they are labelled as allergens. Food allergens are being reported and recorded in allergen databases, with minimal or in some cases apparently no published justification. IgE binding, rather than clinically relevant reactivity, is inappropriately used to confirm allergenicity. Using kiwifruit as an example, the lack of rigor in identifying allergenic proteins is considered.
Reduced learning ability as a consequence of evolutionary adaptation to nutritional stress in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: KOLSS MUNJONG , KAWECKI TADEUSZ J. 
Published: May 2008

Abstract 1. Dietary conditions affect cognitive abilities of many species, but it is unclear to what extent this physiological effect translates into an evolutionary relationship.2. A reduction of competitive ability under nutritional stress has been reported as a correlated response to selection for learning ability in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we test whether the reverse holds as well, i.e. whether an evolutionary adaptation to poor food conditions leads to a decrease in learning capacities.3. Populations of D. melanogaster were: (i) not subject to selection (control), (ii) selected for improved learning ability, (iii) selected for survival and fast development on poor food, or (iv) subject to both selection regimes.4. There was no detectable response to selection for learning ability.5. Selection on poor food led to higher survival, faster development and smaller adult size as a direct response, and to reduced learning ability as a correlated response. This study supports the hypothesis that adaptation to poor nutrition is likely to trade off with the evolution of improved learning ability.
Effects of shoreline development on the nearshore environment in large deep oligotrophic lakes
Authors: ROSENBERGER ELIZABETH E. , HAMPTON STEPHANIE E. , FRADKIN STEVEN C. , KENNEDY BRIAN P. 
Published: May 2008

Summary1. In large deep oligotrophic lakes, the shallow nearshore waters may provide the most important habitat for animals to feed and breed, and it is this area of the lake where humans are most likely to have initial impacts as the shoreline is developed. Nutrients in fertilizers, sediments and sewage effluents are likely to be rapidly intercepted by nearshore algae at the lake edge, having heterogeneous effects nearshore before offshore effects are noted.2. Here we examined the spatially explicit effects of residential development on nearshore periphyton communities in three large deep oligotrophic lakes that have all experienced modest residential development in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. We demonstrate that substantial nearshore changes in the basal food web are detectable even with low levels of shoreline development. These changes can potentially affect whole‐lake food web dynamics.3. For our primary study site (Lake Crescent, Washington, USA), we found that algal biomass and accumulation of detritus were higher at developed sites. In addition, both macroinvertebrate and periphyton communities exhibited a shift in composition with more detritivores and filamentous green algae at developed sites. These differences were more pronounced during the spring than at other times of year.4. A complementary investigation of field patterns in Priest Lake and Lake Pend Oreille (Idaho, USA) suggested that, although spatial and temporal patterns were idiosyncratic, indicators of productivity and the presence of filamentous green algae were generally higher at developed sites across lakes.5. Stable isotope signatures and water column nutrients were not useful in distinguishing developed and undeveloped sites, increasing the potential usefulness of periphyton monitoring during early stages of lake development.6. A laboratory investigation suggested that common macroinvertebrate grazers assimilated a much greater proportion of diatoms than the filamentous green algae that are associated with fertilization at developed sites.7. These findings have at least two clear implications: (i) periphyton may be used to detect human impacts before disturbance is evident in offshore monitoring programmes and (ii) nearshore impacts in response to modest residential development have the potential to disrupt lake food web dynamics.
The prevalence and nature of intellectual disability in Norwegian prisons
Authors: Søndenaa E. , Rasmussen K. , Palmstierna T. , Nøttestad J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground  The objective of the study was to calculate the prevalence of inmates with intellectual disabilities (ID), and identify historical, medical and criminological characteristics of a certain impact.Methods  A random sample of 143 inmates from a Norwegian prison cross sectional sample was studied. The Hayes Ability Screening Index (HASI) was validated with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI).Results  The prevalence of inmates with ID, IQ < 70, was 10.8%. Some essential characteristics of inmates with ID were more frequent medication for mental disorders, a higher number of imprisonments, less drug abuse and less education than the other inmates. The results indicated that the HASI is a valid tool for screening of ID for the Norwegian inmates.Conclusions  The prevalence of ID in Norwegian inmates is significant, measured by WASI and HASI. Identification, rehabilitation and care, concerning an intellectual handicap, are mostly absent in the Norwegian criminal justice system.
The patient movement as an emancipation movement
Authors: Williamson Charlotte 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjective  To suggest that the patient movement is an emancipation movement.Background  The patient movement is young and fragmented; and it can seem confusing because it lacks an explicit ideology with intellectual and theoretical underpinnings.Methods  Drawing mainly on the experiences and the published writings of patient activists, the author identified eight aspects of the patient movement that could be compared with aspects of recognized emancipation movements: the radicalization of activists; the creation of new knowledge; the identification of guiding principles; the sense of direction; the unmasking of new issues; schisms within the movement and allies outside it; and the gradual social acceptance of some of the ideas (here standards of health care) that activists work to promote.Results  Similarities between certain aspects of the patient movement and of the recognized emancipation movements were close.Conclusion  The patient movement can be regarded as an emancipation movement, albeit an immature one.
Evaluating the use of a modified CAHPS® survey to support improvements in patient‐centred care: lessons from a quality improvement collaborative
Authors: Davies Elizabeth , Shaller Dale , Edgman‐Levitan Susan , Safran Dana G , Oftedahl Gary , Sakowski John , Cleary Paul D 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjectives  To evaluate the use of a modified Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey to support quality improvement in a collaborative focused on patient‐centred care, assess subsequent changes in patient experiences, and identify factors that promoted or impeded data use.Background  Healthcare systems are increasingly using surveys to assess patients’ experiences of care but little is established about how to use these data in quality improvement.Design  Process evaluation of a quality improvement collaborative.Setting and participants  The CAHPS team from Harvard Medical School and the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement organized a learning collaborative including eight medical groups in Minnesota.Intervention  Samples of patients recently visiting each group completed a modified CAHPS® survey before, after and continuously over a 12‐month project. Teams were encouraged to set goals for improvement using baseline data and supported as they made interventions with bi‐monthly collaborative meetings, an online tool reporting the monthly data, a resource manual called The CAHPS® Improvement Guide, and conference calls.Main outcome measures  Changes in patient experiences. Interviews with team leaders assessed the usefulness of the collaborative resources, lessons and barriers to using data.Results  Seven teams set goals and six made interventions. Small improvements in patient experience were observed in some groups, but in others changes were mixed and not consistently related to the team actions. Two successful groups appeared to have strong quality improvement structures and had focussed on relatively simple interventions. Team leaders reported that frequent survey reports were a powerful stimulus to improvement, but that they needed more time and support to engage staff and clinicians in changing their behaviour.Conclusions  Small measurable improvements in patient experience may be achieved over short projects. Sustaining more substantial change is likely to require organizational strategies, engaged leadership, cultural change, regular measurement and performance feedback and experience of interpreting and using survey data.
Information needs and preferences of low and high literacy consumers for decisions about colorectal cancer screening: utilizing a linguistic model
Authors: Smith Sian K , Trevena Lyndal , Nutbeam Don , Barratt Alexandra , McCaffery Kirsten J 
Published: May 2008

AbstractContext  The use of written decision aids (DAs) in clinical practice has proliferated. However, few DAs have been developed for low literacy users, despite this group having low knowledge about healthcare and lacking involvement in health decisions.Objective  To explore the information needs and understanding of adults with varying literacy in relation to colorectal cancer screening, and to consider their responses to two versions of a decision aid.Participants  Thirty‐three men and women aged 45–74 years were recruited from Adult Basic Education classes (n = 17) and University Continuing Education programs (n = 16).Methods  We used qualitative methods (in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews) to compare and contrast the views of adults with lower and higher literacy levels, to gain a better understanding of how people with lower literacy value and interpret specific DA content and components; and determine whether needs and preferences are specific to lower literacy groups or generic across the broad literacy spectrum.Results  Regardless of literacy perspective, participants’ interpretations of the DA were shaped by their prior knowledge and expectations, as well as their values and preferences. This influenced perceptions of the DAs role in supporting informed decision making. A linguistic theoretical model was applied to interpret the findings. This facilitated considerations beyond the traditional focus on the readability of materials.Conclusion  Decision aids developers may find it useful to apply alternative approaches (linguistic) when creating DAs for consumers of varying literacy.
Evaluation of fungicides for the control of Botryosphaeria corticola on cork oak in Catalonia (NE Spain)
Authors: Luque J. , Pera J. , Parladé J. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryBotryosphaeria canker of cork oak (Quercus suber L.), caused by Botryosphaeria corticola, is a well‐known factor contributing to the decline of this forest species and is a serious disease in the main cork‐producing countries of the Western Mediterranean basin. In this work, fungicides with the potential for controlling the disease were selected using a combination of in vitro tests and field trials. Fourteen fungicides in different chemical families were tested in vitro to evaluate their effect on inhibition of mycelial growth. The most effective fungicides were benomyl, carbendazim, cyprodinil + fludioxonil, thiabendazol and thiophanate‐methyl; these compounds were then further tested under field conditions. In the field trials, carbendazim and thiophanate‐methyl were the most effective fungicides, as shown by efficacy indices, in reducing debarked trunk surface affected by cankers (76% and 50–65%, respectively). These results suggest that the occurrence of Botryosphaeria canker on cork oak can be reduced effectively with the application of selected fungicides after cork removal from the trees.
Childhood dermatomycoses study in Sfax hospital, Tunisia
Authors: Sellami A. , Sellami H. , Makni F. , Mezghani S. , Cheikh‐Rouhou F. , Marrekchi S. , Turki H. , Ayadi A. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryMycoses are frequent affections in childhood. Fungal type varies according to the age and the affected organ. The aim of this study was to determine the aetiological agents of childhood dermatomycoses and to draw attention to the diversity of their clinical manifestations. Retrospective study dealing with children’s cases with age <16‐year old and having dermatomycosis diagnosed between 1991 and 2005 at the Parasitology and Mycology Laboratory of Sfax University Hospital. A total of 4559 children suspected to have superficial mycoses were examined. Dermatomycosis diagnosis was confirmed in 49.3% of cases. Dermatophytes were the most prevalent fungal agents and accounted for 1865 cases (80.6%) dominated by Trichophyton violaceum (54.1%) and Microsporum canis (24.5%). Tinea capitis (69.4%) was the most common type of infection, followed by tinea corporis (20%). Superficial yeast infections (442 cases) were dominated by Malassezia infections (71%). Candida infections were mainly due to Candida albicans (58%). The clinical features of paediatric dermatomycoses vary with the age of the children: tinea capitis and tinea corporis were more frequent before 13 years of age. After this age, tinea versicolor and onychomycoses became more common.
Determination of the efficacy of terbinafine hydrochloride nail solution in the topical treatment of dermatophytosis in a guinea pig model
Authors: Ghannoum Mahmoud A. , Long Lisa , Pfister William R. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryCurrently available topical antifungals are often not satisfactory for the treatment of nail infections, because of the inability to penetrate the nail plate. Terbinafine HCl nail solution is a novel antifungal formulation containing a nail penetration enhancer dodecyl‐2‐N,N‐dimethylaminopropionate hydrochloride (DDAIP HCl, trade name NexACT®‐88). In this study, we used a guinea pig model of Trichophyton mentagrophytes dermatophytosis and evaluated the clinical and mycological efficacy of different terbinafine HCl nail solutions (TNS) formulated with or without DDAIP HCl. Ciclopirox (8%) nail lacquer (Penlac®), the only Food and Drug Administration approved topical treatment for onychomycosis, was used as a comparator. Following the IACUC Guidelines, the skin of male albino guinea pigs was abraded under anaesthesia. Each animal was infected with T. mentagrophytes ATCC 24953 (cell suspension containing 1 × 107 conidia). The experimental animals were divided into 11 groups (five animals per group) and tested with the following formulations: vehicle control, 0.5% DDAIP HCl, 1%, 5% and 10% TNS (without DDAIP HCl), 1% TNS with 0.5%, 2.5% and 5.0% DDAIP HCl, 5% and 10% TNS with 0.5% DDAIP HCl, 8% ciclopirox nail lacquer and an untreated control group. Evaluation of clinical and mycological efficacy was performed 72 h after completion of a 7‐day treatment regimen. Skin biopsy samples were processed for histopathological examination. The infected untreated control guinea pigs showed patches of hair loss and ulcerated or scaly skin and fungal invasion of hair roots. The vehicle and 0.5% DDAIP HCl treated groups showed minimal clinical efficacy (only 11% and 5%, respectively). In contrast, all three concentrations of TNS (1%, 5% and 10% terbinafine HCl) formulated with or without 0.5% DDAIP HCl showed 100% mycological efficacy by the hair root invasion test. Clinical efficacy of the 5% and 10% TNS improved with addition of 0.5% DDAIP HCl (47.4% and 73.8% vs. 68.4% and 89.5%, respectively). In addition, no fungal elements were detected in the treated guinea pig skin. All formulations of TNS resulted in a higher clinical and mycological efficacy compared with the 8% ciclopirox nail lacquer (P = 0.0444). In conclusion, TNS containing 1%, 5% and 10% terbinafine HCl formulated with and without DDAIP HCl demonstrated high antifungal efficacy in experimental dermatophytosis. Addition of 0.5% DDAIP HCl to 5% and 10% TNS significantly enhanced the clinical and mycological efficacy of these formulations which were superior compared with the 8% ciclopirox nail lacquer. Evaluation of the 1%, 5% and 10% TNS in clinical trials for the treatment of dermatophytosis and onychomycosis is warranted.
A general framework for the distance–decay of similarity in ecological communities
Authors: Morlon Hélène , Chuyong George , Condit Richard , Hubbell Stephen , Kenfack David , Thomas Duncan , Valencia Renato , Green Jessica L. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractSpecies spatial turnover, or β‐diversity, induces a decay of community similarity with geographic distance known as the distance–decay relationship. Although this relationship is central to biodiversity and biogeography, its theoretical underpinnings remain poorly understood. Here, we develop a general framework to describe how the distance–decay relationship is influenced by population aggregation and the landscape‐scale species‐abundance distribution. We utilize this general framework and data from three tropical forests to show that rare species have a weak influence on distance–decay curves, and that overall similarity and rates of decay are primarily influenced by species abundances and population aggregation respectively. We illustrate the utility of the framework by deriving an exact analytical expression of the distance–decay relationship when population aggregation is characterized by the Poisson Cluster Process. Our study provides a foundation for understanding the distance–decay relationship, and for predicting and testing patterns of beta‐diversity under competing theories in ecology.
The efficacy of self‐monitoring of blood glucose in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a gliclazide modified release–based regimen. A multicentre, randomized, parallel‐group, 6‐month evaluation (DINAMIC 1 study)
Authors: Barnett A. H. , Krentz A. J. , Strojek K. , Sieradzki J. , Azizi F. , Embong M. , Imamoglu S. , Perušičová J. , Uličiansky V. , Winkler G. 
Published: May 2008

Aim:  To determine if therapeutic management programmes for type 2 diabetes that include self‐monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) result in greater reductions in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) compared with programmes without SMBG in non‐insulin requiring patients.Methods:  Multicentre, randomized, parallel‐group trial. A total of 610 patients were randomized to SMBG or non‐SMBG groups. Patients in both groups received the same oral antidiabetic therapy using a gliclazide modified release (MR)–based regimen for 27 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐point was the difference between groups in HbA1c at the end of observation.Results:  A total of 610 patients were randomized: 311 to the SMBG group and 299 to the non‐SMBG group. HbA1c decreased from 8.12 to 6.95% in the SMBG group and from 8.12 to 7.20% in the non‐SMBG group; between‐group difference was 0.25% (95% CI: 0.06, 1.03; p = 0.0097). Symptoms suggestive of mild to moderate hypoglycaemia was the most commonly reported adverse event, reported by 27 (8.7%) and 21 (7.0%) patients in the SMBG and non‐SMBG groups, respectively; the incidence of symptomatic hypoglycaemia was lower in the SMBG group.Conclusion:  In patients with type 2 diabetes, the application of SMBG as an adjunct to oral antidiabetic agent therapy results in further reductions in HbA1c.