bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chirality sensing of various biomolecules with helical poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing acidic functional groups in water
Authors: Onouchi Hisanari , Hasegawa Takashi , Kashiwagi Daisuke , Ishiguro Hiroyuki , Maeda Katsuhiro , Yashima Eiji 
Published: July 2006

AbstractStereoregular, cis–transoidal poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing strongly acidic functional groups as pendants, such as a phosphonic acid and its monoethyl ester and a sulfonic acid, were found to interact with various biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, amino sugars, and carbohydrates in water, and the complexes exhibited characteristic induced circular dichroisms in the ultraviolet–visible region of the polymer backbones, which resulted from the formation of predominantly one‐handed helical conformations. On the other hand, the sodium salt of poly[(4‐carboxyphenyl)acetylene], bearing a weak acidic carboxy group, showed induced circular dichroisms only in the presence of carbohydrates and some positively charged proteins. The sensitivity of the polymers to the chirality of various biomolecules was also investigated with circular dichroism spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5039–5048, 2006
Synthesis, properties, and gas permeability of novel poly(diarylacetylene) derivatives
Authors: Sakaguchi Toshikazu , Yumoto Kenichi , Shida Yuichi , Shiotsuki Masashi , Sanda Fumio , Masuda Toshio 
Published: July 2006

AbstractPoly(diphenylacetylene)s having various silyl groups are soluble in common solvents, from whose membranes poly(diphenylacetylene) membranes can be obtained by desilylation. The oxygen permeability coefficients of the desilylated polymers are quite different from one another (120–3300 barrers) irrespective of the same polymer structure. When bulkier silyl groups are removed, the oxygen permeability increases to larger extents. Poly[1‐aryl‐2‐p‐(trimethylsilyl)phenylacetylene]s are soluble in common solvents, and afford free‐standing membranes. These Si‐containing polymer membranes are desilylated to give the membranes of poly[1‐aryl‐2‐phenylacetylene]s. Both of the starting and desilylated polymers show very high thermal stability and high gas permeability. 1‐Phenyl‐2‐p‐(t‐butyldimethylsiloxy)phenylacetylene polymerizes into a high‐molecular‐weight polymer. This polymer is soluble in common organic solvents to provide a free‐standing membrane. Desilylation of this membrane yields a poly(diphenylacetylene) having free hydroxyl groups, which is the first example of a highly polar group‐carrying poly(diphenylacetylene). The P/P and P/P permselectivity ratios of poly(1‐phenyl‐2‐p‐hydroxylphenylacetylene) membrane are as large as 47.8 and 45.8, respectively, while keeping relatively high P of 110 barrers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5028–5038, 2006
Women's experiences of repeated HPV testing in the context of cervical cancer screening: a qualitative study
Authors: Waller Jo , McCaffery Kirsten , Kitchener Henry , Nazroo James , Wardle Jane 
Published: July 2006

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the psychosocial impact of taking part in repeated testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) in the context of cervical cancer screening.Methods: In‐depth interviews were carried out with 30 women who were HPV positive with normal cytology at trial baseline, and attended for a repeat HPV test 12 months later. Interview transcripts were analysed qualitatively using Framework Analysis to identify emergent themes.Results: Although women often experienced serious negative emotional consequences at the time of their first positive result, these did not generally last during the year between tests once questions about HPV had been resolved. The emotional impact of testing positive a second time was greater for many women, sometimes causing them to overcome their embarrassment about having a sexually transmitted infection in order to disclose their result and seek support. Among the women interviewed there was an overwhelming preference for immediate colposcopy rather than continued surveillance for persistent HPV. This was associated with the desire for a speedy resolution, and fears about progression to cancer.Conclusions: Although most women did not appear to suffer on‐going anxiety while waiting for a second HPV test, this seemed contingent on their information needs being met. Women appeared to be more distressed by a second HPV positive result than a single one, and expressed a clear preference for immediate colposcopy over continued surveillance. This finding might have implications for the way in which HPV testing could be used in cervical cancer screening programmes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Starch‐synthase III family encodes a tandem of three starch‐binding domains
Authors: Palopoli Nicolás , Busi María Victoria , Fornasari María Silvina , Gomez‐Casati Diego , Ugalde Rodolfo , Parisi Gustavo 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe starch‐synthase III (SSIII), with a total of 1025 residues, is one of the enzymes involved in plants starch synthesis. SSIII from Arabidopsis thaliana contains a putative N‐terminal transit peptide followed by a 557‐amino acid SSIII‐specific domain (SSIII‐SD) with three internal repeats and a C‐terminal catalytic domain of 450 amino acids. Here, using computational characterization techniques, we show that each of the three internal repeats encodes a starch‐binding domain (SBD). Although the SSIII from A. thaliana and its close homologous proteins show no detectable sequence similarity with characterized SBD sequences, the amino acid residues known to be involved in starch binding are well conserved. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of the residual structure in the unfolded state of the Δ131Δ fragment of staphylococcal nuclease
Authors: Francis Christopher J. , Lindorff‐Larsen Kresten , Best Robert B. , Vendruscolo Michele 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe determination of the conformational preferences in unfolded states of proteins constitutes an important challenge in structural biology. We use inter‐residue distances estimated from site‐directed spin‐labeling NMR experimental measurements as ensemble‐averaged restraints in all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations to characterise the residual structure of the Δ131Δ fragment of staphylococcal nuclease under physiological conditions. Our findings indicate that Δ131Δ under these conditions shows a tendency to form transiently hydrophobic clusters similar to those present in the native state of wild‐type staphylococcal nuclease. Only rarely, however, all these interactions are simultaneously realized to generate conformations with an overall native topology. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of protein active site structures for functional annotation of proteins and drug design
Authors: Powers Robert , Copeland Jennifer C. , Germer Katherine , Mercier Kelly A. , Ramanathan Viswanathan , Revesz Peter 
Published: July 2006

AbstractRapid and accurate functional assignment of novel proteins is increasing in importance, given the completion of numerous genome sequencing projects and the vastly expanding list of unannotated proteins. Traditionally, global primary‐sequence and structure comparisons have been used to determine putative function. These approaches, however, do not emphasize similarities in active site configurations that are fundamental to a protein's activity and highly conserved relative to the global and more variable structural features. The Comparison of Protein Active Site Structures (CPASS) database and software enable the comparison of experimentally identified ligand‐binding sites to infer biological function and aid in drug discovery. The CPASS database comprises the ligand‐defined active sites identified in the protein data bank, where the CPASS program compares these ligand‐defined active sites to determine sequence and structural similarity without maintaining sequence connectivity. CPASS will compare any set of ligand‐defined protein active sites, irrespective of the identity of the bound ligand. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensitivity of Raman spectra excited at 325 nm to surface treatments of undoped polycrystalline diamond films
Authors: Ghodbane S. , Deneuville A. , Tromson D. , Bergonzo P. , Bustarret E. , Ballutaud D. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAbout 20 μm thick films were deposited in the same run by MPCVD at 900 °C on Si substrates and then hydrogenated in situ during 30 min with a hydrogen plasma at the same temperature. Their surfaces were kept as prepared or more or less strongly oxidized by annealing at 600 °C under ambient atmosphere or by sulphochromic acid or aqua regia treatments. Raman spectra were excited at 325 and 632.8 nm. Spectra of the as‐prepared sample exhibit structures around 2835 and 2895 cm–1 from monohydride carbon–hydrogen ascribed to the atomically flat (111) and (100) areas, respectively, on the facets of the sample surface crystallites. The decrease of these structures in the normalized spectra after the various oxidation treatments confirms these assignments. The decrease is smaller for the aqua regia treatment than for the two other treatments which give similar effects. Other Raman signals from sp2 C around 1589 cm–1 and CHx bonds around 2930, 2952, 3025 and 3050 cm–1 originate from species at the surface and within the films. Their variation with the oxidizing treatments indicates a significant contribution from the surface species. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
QSTR Study of Small Organic Molecules AgainstTetrahymena pyriformis
Authors: Pasha Farhan Ahmad , Srivastava Hemant Kumar , Srivastava Anupma , Singh Pashupati Prasad 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe Quantitative Structure–Toxicity Relationship (QSTR) models of various derivatives of phenols, alcohols, esters, aldehydes and ketones have been made with the help of constitutional descriptors, geometrical descriptors, BCUT descriptors, empirical descriptors, topological descriptors and Galvez topol charge indices. In the first step, all the descriptors have been applied on 46 phenol derivatives. The molecular modelling and geometry optimization have been carried out with CAChe pro software. The calculation of descriptors has been done by Dragon software. The topological descriptors provide better results compared to others and have high reliability as indicated by correlation coefficient and cross‐validation coefficient values. The final QSTR models for the other set of compounds made with the help of topological descriptors were only. The values obtained by these QSTR models are in close range with observed toxicity.
Science inquiry and student diversity: Enhanced abilities and continuing difficulties after an instructional intervention
Authors: Lee Okhee , Buxton Cory , Lewis Scott , LeRoy Kathryn 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis study examines elementary students' abilities to conduct science inquiry through their participation in an instructional intervention over a school year. The study involved 25 third and fourth grade students from six elementary schools representing diverse linguistic and cultural groups. Prior to and at the completion of the intervention, the students participated in elicitation sessions as they conducted a semistructured inquiry task on evaporation. The results indicate that students demonstrated enhanced abilities with some aspects of the inquiry task, but continued to have difficulties with other aspects of the task even after instruction. Although students from all demographic subgroups showed substantial gains, students from non‐mainstream and less privileged backgrounds in science showed greater gains in inquiry abilities than their more privileged counterparts. The results contribute to the emerging literature on designing learning environments that foster science inquiry of elementary students from diverse backgrounds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 607–636, 2006
Role of bladder neck mobility and urethral closure pressure in predicting outcome of tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure
Authors: Viereck V. , Nebel M. , Bader W. , Harms L. , Lange R. , Hilgers R. , Emons G. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate how urethral mobility and urethral closure pressure affect the outcome of tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) insertion for stress incontinence.MethodsA total of 191 consecutive women with genuine stress urinary incontinence with or without intrinsic sphincter deficiency were evaluated prospectively with multichannel urodynamics, 24‐h voiding diaries, clinical stress tests and introital ultrasound measurements preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. Additional introital ultrasound examinations were performed immediately after the operation, at 12 months and annually thereafter. 177/191 patients had completed a 36‐month follow‐up at the time of writing. Urethral mobility was described as linear dorsocaudal movement (LDM), with hypermobility being defined as LDM > 15 mm on sonography. Intrinsic sphincter deficiency was defined by a maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) of <20 cmH2O.ResultsThe overall cure rate at the 36‐month follow‐up was 89.5% (Kaplan‐Meier estimator), with secondary cure (within 6 months of surgery) in 10.5% of these patients. The operation failed in 4.2% of the women and recurrence was seen in 6.3% of the cases. Bladder neck mobility was significantly reduced at the 6‐month follow‐up (P < 0.001). Compared with primary cure, therapeutic failure and secondary cure were associated with a significantly lower postoperative bladder neck mobility (P < 0.05). Postoperative hypermobility reduced the risk of therapeutic failure. In addition, women with therapeutic failure or secondary cure had a significantly lower MUCP than did those with primary cure (P < 0.01).ConclusionThe effectiveness of the TVT sling appears to depend on adequate postoperative urethral mobility and urethral closure pressure. Copyright © 2006 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adolescents caught between fires: Cognitive emotion regulation in response to war experiences in Northern Uganda
Authors: Amone‐P’Olak Kennedy , Garnefski Nadia , Kraaij Vivian 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of war experiences and the use of specific cognitive emotion regulation strategies in response to these experiences among 294 formerly abducted adolescents at three rehabilitation centres in Uganda. Cognitive strategies were measured by Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Symptoms of psychopathology were measured by the Impact of Events Scale—Revised (IES‐R) and the Youth Self‐Report (YSR). Relationships were studied by means of descriptive statistics, correlations and Multiple Regression Analyses. Strong relationships were found between specific cognitive emotion regulation strategies and posttraumatic stress (PTS), Internalizing and Externalizing symptoms. The results may have implications for intervention strategies.
Analgesia through the looking‐glass? A randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of viewing a ‘virtual’ limb upon phantom limb pain, sensation and movement
Authors: Brodie Eric E. , Whyte Anne , Niven Catherine A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe extent to which viewing a ‘virtual’ limb, the mirror image of an intact limb, modifies the experience of a phantom limb, was investigated in 80 lower limb amputees before, during and after repeated attempts to simultaneously move both intact and phantom legs. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, a control condition in which they only viewed the movements of their intact limb and a mirror condition in which they additionally viewed the movements of a ‘virtual’ limb. Although the mirror condition elicited a significantly greater number of phantom limb movements than the control condition, it did not attenuate phantom limb pain and sensations any more than the control condition. The potential of a ‘virtual’ limb as a treatment for phantom limb pain was discussed in terms of its ability to halt and/or reverse the cortical re‐organisation of motor and somatosensory cortex following acquired limb loss.
Characterization of human A2A adenosine receptors with the antagonist radioligand [3H]‐SCH 58261
Authors: Dionisotti Silvio , Ongini Ennio , Zocchi Cristina , Kull Björn , Arslan Giulia , Fredholm Bertil B. 
Published: July 2006

We have characterized the binding of the new potent and selective antagonist radioligand [3H]‐5‐amino‐7‐(2‐phenylethyl)‐2‐(2‐furyl)‐pyrazolo[4,3‐e]‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c]pyrimidine, [3H]‐SCH 58261, to human cloned A2A adenosine receptors.
In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the human cloned A2A receptor, [3H]‐SCH 58261 specific binding (about 70%) was rapid, saturable, reversible and proportional to protein concentration. The kinetic KD value was 0.75 nM. Saturation experiments showed that [3H]‐SCH 58261 labelled a single class of recognition sites with high affinity (KD=2.3 nM) and limited capacity (apparent Bmax=526 fmol mg−1 protein).
Competition experiments revealed that binding of 0.5 nM [3H]‐SCH 58261 was displaced by adenosine receptor agonists with the following order of potency: 2‐hexynyl‐5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamido‐adenosine (2HE‐NECA)>5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA)=2‐phenylaminoadenosine (CV 1808)>2‐[4‐(2‐carboxyethyl)‐phenethylamino]‐5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680)>R‐N6‐phenylisopropyladenosine (R‐PIA)N6‐cyclohexyladenosine (CHA)>S‐N6‐phenylisopropyladenosine (S‐PIA).
Adenosine receptor antagonists inhibited [3H]‐SCH 58261 binding with the following order: 5‐amino‐9‐chloro‐2‐(2‐furyl)‐[1,2,4]‐triazolo[1,5‐c] quinazoline (CGS 15943)>SCH 58261>xanthine amine congener (XAC)>(E,18%‐Z,82%)7‐methyl‐8‐(3,4‐dimethoxystyryl)‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (KF 17837S)> 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (DPCPX)>theophylline.
Affinity values and rank order of potency of both receptor agonists and antagonists were similar to those previously obtained in human platelet and rat striatal membranes, except for CV 1808 which was more potent than CGS 21680. SCH 58261 was a competitive antagonist at inhibiting NECA‐induced adenosine 3′ : 5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation in CHO cells transfected with human A2A receptors. Good agreement was found between binding and functional data.
Thus, the new antagonist radioligand is preferable to the receptor agonist radioligand [3H]‐CGS 21680 hitherto used to examine the pharmacology of human cloned A2A adenosine receptors.
Effects of chronic growth hormone treatment in aged rats on the biophysical and pharmacological properties of skeletal muscle chloride channels
Authors: De Luca Annamaria , Pierno Sabata , Cocchi Daniela , Conte Camerino Diana 
Published: July 2006

The effects of a 4‐month daily treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (GH) (150 μg kg−1) to aged rats were evaluated on the passive and active membrane electrical properties of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle fibres in vitro by means of a two intracellular microelectrode technique.
Chronic GH treatment completely restored the diameter and the membrane capacitance of aged EDL muscle fibres and significantly lowered the membrane resistance towards the adult value. There was also an increase of the threshold current, a shortening of the latency and an increase of the amplitude of the action potential and a significant amelioration of the membrane firing capability.
The effects were almost fully attributable to a significant 50% increase of resting conductance to chloride ions (GCl), although an observed restoration of potassium conductance and a possible effect on voltage‐activated sodium channels could contribute to the effects.
EDL muscle fibres of untreated aged rats showed a different pharmacological response to 2‐(p‐chlorophenoxy) propionic acid (CPP) enantiomers from that seen in adult rats; the S‐(−) isomer was less potent in blocking GCl and the R‐(+) isomer always increased GCl instead of producing the typical biphasic effect observed in adult fibres (an increase of GCl at 1–10 μM and a decrease at higher concentrations). The 4‐month‐GH‐treated aged rats showed a pharmacological sensitivity to CPP enantiomers similar to that of adults.
The in vitro application of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I), the peripheral mediator of GH, produced a significant and irreversible increase of GCl of EDL muscle of untreated aged rats, an effect not observed in adults. This effect was completely inhibited by preincubation with 0.5 μM okadaic acid, suggesting that the IGF‐I receptor transduction pathway can act on the phosphorylation state of the chloride channel through a serine‐threonine protein phosphatase.
The results show that the skeletal muscle chloride channel is a target of the impairment of GH/IGF‐I axis occurring in aged subjects. The acute and chronic effects observed on GCl of aged muscle fibres suggest that the GH/IGF‐I stimuli act through a modulation of channel phosphorylation state and through the synthesis of ‘adult’‐like type chloride channels.
Cytochrome P450 1A‐like proteins expressed in the islets of Langerhans and altered pancreatic β‐cell secretory responsiveness
Authors: Clarke Jacqueline , Flatt Peter R. , Barnett Christopher R. 
Published: July 2006

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) mixed‐function oxidase system is widely distributed in body tissues and plays a key role in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds. Little attention has been paid to the expression of the system in the islets of Langerhans. The current study has examined the expression and potential role of the CYP1A family within the islets of Langerhans of control and 3‐methylcholanthrene (3‐MC)‐induced Wistar rats.
CYP1A expression within pancreatic slices and islets from 3‐MC‐induced and control rats demonstrated that CYP1A‐like protein levels were induced by 3‐MC pretreatment (25 mg kg−1 day−1; i.p. for 3 days).
Effects of 3‐MC‐induction on β‐cell secretory responsiveness were investigated by use of rat collagenase‐isolated islets. Insulin release from control islets incubated with 3 mM glucose (basal) was 1.4±0.2 ng/islet h−1 (mean±s.e.mean, n=7). Incubation with 16.7 mM glucose, 25 mM KCl, 100 μM arachidonic acid, or 100 μM carbachol caused a 4.4, 7.0, 4.0 and 4.2 fold, respectively, increase in insulin release (P<0.001). Forskolin (2 μM), or phorbol 12‐myristic 13‐acetate (10 nM) potentiated glucose‐stimulated insulin release 1.2 and 1.6 fold (P<0.01) whereas adenalin (1 μM) caused a 76% inhibition (P<0.01).
Islets from 3‐MC pretreated animals displayed similar responsiveness to all agents tested except arachidonic acid, carbachol and forskolin. Insulin release in response to arachidonic acid and carbachol was enhanced 5.2 and 5.0 fold, respectively, by 3‐MC pretreatment (P<0.001 compared to control islets incubated with 3 mM glucose); the effect of forskolin on insulin output was significantly decreased (20%; P<0.01) compared to control islets.
3‐MC pretreatment did not cause any significant differences in food intake, plasma glucose or total islet insulin content. Incubation of islets with 3‐MC in vitro (1 μM–10 mM) did not affect basal or glucose‐stimulated insulin release.
These data suggest that CYP1A‐like protein expression within the pancreatic islets of Langerhans is inducible and may have a role in the alteration of pancreatic β‐cell secretory responsiveness.