bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pannexin‐1 promotes NLRP3 activation during apoptosis but is dispensable for canonical or noncanonical inflammasome activation
Authors: Chen Kaiwen W. , Demarco Benjamin , Broz Petr 
Published: August 2019

AbstractInflammasomes are multimeric protein complex that assemble in the cytosol upon microbial infection or cellular stress. Upon activation, inflammasomes drive the maturation of proinflammatory cytokines, IL‐1β and IL‐18, and also activate the pore‐forming protein, gasdermin D to initiate a form of lytic cell death known as “pyroptosis”. Pannexin‐1 is channel‐forming glycoprotein that promotes membrane permeability and ATP release during apoptosis; and was implicated in canonical NLRP3 or noncanonical inflammasome activation. Here, by utilizing three different pannexin‐1 channel inhibitors and two lines of Panx1–/– macrophages, we provide genetic and pharmacological evidence that pannexin‐1 is dispensable for canonical or noncanonical inflammasome activation. In contrast, we demonstrate that pannexin‐1 cleavage and resulting channel activity during apoptosis promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Trace metals’ contamination in water and soils in the vicinity of a small–medium waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling plant
Authors: Tzoraki Ourania , Zkeri Eirini , Lasithiotakis Michael , Sinioros Panagiotis 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAn e‐waste recycling plant's ecological burden is correlated to soil and water, inside and outside the plant with inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. Correlation between heavy metal concentrations was calculated with Spearman's rho correlation coefficients. Ecological risk was assessed with ecological risk indexes (RIs) such as Hakanson's ecological RI, Geoaccumulation index, and enrichment factors. Heavy metals in water comply with drinking water criteria, except Pb in one water sample W2. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Zn were higher in the rainwater collection tank (43.50, 10.90, 18.87, 81.17, 177.99, and 330.17 μg/L) than the surficial water inside (8.93, 1.27, 4.97, 17.0, 91.87, and 72.97 μg/L) and outside the plant (4.18, 1.28, 1.60, 10.35, 26.21, and 12.10 μg/L). In most water samples, As, Li, Mg, Ca, Na, Ba, Si, Sr, U, and V concentrations were at similar levels and are not influenced by the company's activities except the rainwater tank. Water samples correlation results showed statistically significant positive correlation between (a) Al, Fe, Pb, Ce, Co, La, Nd, Sm, Y and (b) Cu and Mn—an anthropogenic influence related with e‐waste. Ecological RIs for soils showed low to moderate pollution. The most enriched soil samples in Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Hg were two samples west of the plant, and another two east of the plant. Pb comes from cathode ray tubes. A pH‐edge desorption study concluded that the cation exchange processes with clays and the strong sorption affinity of Fe oxides keep metals bound to the soil matrix.
Assessment and optimization of total ammonia nitrogen adsorption in aqueous phase by sodium functionalized graphene oxide using response surface methodology
Authors: Mirahsani Arghavan , Sartaj Majid , Giorgi Javier B. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTotal ammonia nitrogen (TAN) uptake by sodium functionalized graphene oxide as an efficient adsorbent was evaluated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Batch adsorption tests were carried out based on a central composite design experimental plan at 3 pH levels (6, 7, and 8) and 3 temperature levels (5, 25, and 45°C). The equilibrium condition was reached within 5 min. Quadratic models for percent TAN removal (R%) and solid phase TAN concentration (qe) as response were obtained and evaluated by statistical analysis to predict the experimental data. The models were reduced by eliminating insignificant terms. The final reduced models were significant (p < .0001) with R2 values .96 for R% and .97 for qe, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature to reach the maximum values for R% (58.23%) and qe (27.45 mg/g) were predicted by the RSM. The laboratory experiments were in very good agreement with the predicted optimized values for R% and qe by RMS as the error was 1.2 and 0.3%, respectively.
Permeability improvements of an outburst‐prone coal seam by means of presplitting and blasting with multiple deep boreholes
Authors: Huang Chang‐guo , Zhang Yue‐bing , He Jiang‐fu , Luo Yongjiang , Sun Zhong‐guang 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCoalbed methane, which is a significant potential unconventional source of energy, exhibits considerable challenges in the implementation of the exploration and production process, especially the degasification in low permeability of coal seams with high gas concentrations. Due to the difficulties in gas extraction, long mining period and low extraction concentration in soft and outburst coal seams, the permeability improvement method using presplitting and blasting technology with multiple boreholes has been proposed and applied to improve the permeability of soft coal seam, which is achieved by optimizing the inseam distribution of generated fractures through multiple control boreholes. Research results showed that the permeability improved by presplitting and blasting with deep boreholes is 2.5 times higher than that of the original coal seam. Within 6 days of extraction, the average extraction concentration and pure volume of the extraction borehole were 40.13% and 0.113 m3/min, respectively, which are 2.9 times and 4.1 times higher than the original data, respectively. Likewise, the average extraction concentration and purity of the extraction hole were 21.75% and 0.063 m3/min after being extracted within 14 days, which is twice and three times higher than that of the original average extraction concentration and purity volume, respectively. Besides, proposed technology has a little influence on the methane concentration of the coal seam 70 m ahead of the heading face. The research results promote the prevention and control of coal‐gas outburst in low permeability and high gas concentration coal seams.
Experimental study of the effects of turbine solidity, blade profile, pitch angle, surface roughness, and aspect ratio on the H‐Darrieus wind turbine self‐starting and overall performance
Authors: Du Longhuan , Ingram Grant , Dominy Robert G. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNew and comprehensive time‐accurate, experimental data from an H‐Darrieus wind turbine are presented to further develop our understanding of the performance of these turbines with a particular focus on self‐starting. The impact of turbine solidity, blade profile, surface roughness, pitch angle, and aspect ratio on the turbine's performance is investigated, parameters that are thought to be critical for small‐scale VAWT operation, particularly when operating in the built environment. It is demonstrated clearly that high turbine solidity is beneficial for turbine self‐starting and that the selection of a thick, symmetrical aerofoil set at a low, negative pitch angle () is better than a cambered foil. Increased blade surface roughness is also shown to improve a turbine's self‐starting capability at low tip speed ratios and with high turbine solidity and the associated flow physics are discussed. Finally, it was confirmed that blade span has a significant impact on turbine starting. This paper contributes to the understanding of the turbine characteristics during the starting period and provides clear guidance and validation cases for future design and research in order to promote and justify the wider application of this wind turbine configuration.
Evidence for Bronze Age and Medieval tin placer mining in the Erzgebirge mountains, Saxony (Germany)
Authors: Tolksdorf Johann Friedrich , Schröder Frank , Petr Libor , Herbig Christoph , Kaiser Knut , Kočár Petr , Fülling Alexander , Heinrich Susann , Hönig Heide , Hemker Christiane 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTin is an essential raw material both for the copper–tin alloys developed during the Early Bronze Age and for the casting of tableware in the Medieval period. Secondary geological deposits in the form of placers (cassiterite) provide easily accessible sources but have often been reworked several times during land‐use history. In fact, evidence for the earliest phase of tin mining during the Bronze Age has not yet been confirmed for any area in Europe, stimulating an ongoing debate on this issue. For this study, a broad range of methods (sedimentology, pedology, palynology, anthracology, OSL/14C‐dating, and micromorphology) was applied both within the extraction zone of placer mining and the downstream alluvial sediments at Schellerhau site in the upper eastern Erzgebirge (Germany). The results indicate that the earliest local removal of topsoil and processing of cassiterite‐bearing weathered granite occurred already in the early second millennium BC, thus coinciding with the early and middle Bronze Age period. Placer mining resumed in this area during the Medieval period, probably as early as the 13th century AD. A peak of alluvial sedimentation during the mid‐15th century AD is probably related to the acquisition of this region by the Elector of Saxony and the subsequent promotion of mining.
On the sensitivity of the diffusion MRI signal to brain activity in response to a motor cortex paradigm
Authors: De Luca Alberto , Schlaffke Lara , Siero Jeroen C. W. , Froeling Martijn , Leemans Alexander 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDiffusion functional magnetic resonance imaging (dfMRI) is a promising technique to map functional activations by acquiring diffusion‐weighed spin‐echo images. In previous studies, dfMRI showed higher spatial accuracy at activation mapping compared to classic functional MRI approaches. However, it remains unclear whether dfMRI measures result from changes in the intracellular/extracellular environment, perfusion, and/or T2 values. We designed an acquisition/quantification scheme to disentangle such effects in the motor cortex during a finger‐tapping paradigm. dfMRI was acquired at specific diffusion weightings to selectively suppress perfusion and free‐water diffusion, then time series of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC‐fMRI) and of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) effects were derived. ADC‐fMRI provided ADC estimates sensitive to changes in perfusion and free‐water volume, but not to T2/T2* values. With IVIM modeling, we isolated the perfusion contribution to ADC, while suppressing T2 effects. Compared to conventional gradient‐echo blood oxygenation level‐dependent fMRI, activation maps obtained with dfMRI and ADC‐fMRI had smaller clusters, and the spatial overlap between the three techniques was below 50%. Increases of perfusion fractions were observed during task in both dfMRI and ADC‐fMRI activations. Perfusion effects were more prominent with ADC‐fMRI than with dfMRI but were significant in less than 25% of activation regions. IVIM modeling suggests that the sensitivity to task of dfMRI derives from a decrease of intracellular/extracellular diffusion and an increase of the pseudo‐diffusion signal fraction, leading to different, more confined spatial activation patterns compared to classic functional MRI.
Mortality Related to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Increasing in the United States
Authors: Paik James M. , Henry Linda , De Avila Leyla , Younossi Elena , Racila Andrei , Younossi Zobair M. 
Published: August 2019

Population‐level nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) death rate data are sparse. We described death rates for adults with NAFLD in the United States using mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System multiple‐cause mortality data (2007‐2016). Decedents who had NAFLD were identified by International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes K75.81, K76.0, K74.0, K74.6, and K76.9. Among NAFLD decedents, cause‐specific deaths (e.g., cardiovascular disease [CVD], cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], non‐liver cancer, diabetes mellitus [DM]) were identified by underlying cause of death ICD‐10 codes. Trends were evaluated by average annual percentage change (AAPC) in age‐standardized death rate (ASDR) per 100,000 persons. Among the 25,129,960 decedents aged ≥20 years, 353,234 (1.4%) decedents had NAFLD (212,322 men; 260,765 non‐Hispanic whites, 32,868 non‐Hispanic blacks, 46,530 Hispanics, 5,025 non‐Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives [AIANs], 7,023 non‐Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islanders [APIs]), with a mean age at death of 64.47 ± 13.17 years. During the study period, the ASDR for NAFLD increased by 15% (12.94 to 14.90; AAPC, 1.98%; P < 0.001]), while women (AAPC, 2.99% vs. 1.16% men; P = 0.003), non‐Hispanic whites (AAPC, 2.48%), non‐Hispanic AIANs (AAPC, 2.31%), and Hispanics (AAPC, 0.74%) experienced the highest annual increases. Stable trends were noted for non‐Hispanic blacks and non‐Hispanic APIs. Among subgroups, Mexican (AAPC, 1.75%) and Asian Indians (AAPC, 6.94%) experienced annual increases. The top six underlying causes of death (155,894 cirrhosis, 38,444 CVD, 19,466 non‐liver cancer, 10,867 HCC, 8,113 DM, and 5,683 lung disease) accounted for 67.5% of NAFLD‐related deaths. For cause‐specific deaths, ASDR increased for HCC (AAPC, 3.82%), DM (AAPC, 2.23%), non‐liver cancer (AAPC, 2.14%), CVD (AAPC, 1.59%), and cirrhosis (AAPC, 0.96%). Conclusion: NAFLD‐related deaths in U.S. adults are increasing. Cirrhosis is the top cause‐specific death, followed by CVD. Women, non‐Hispanic whites, and non‐Hispanic AIANs (subgroups Mexicans and Asian Indians) experienced the highest increases in deaths. Policies addressing the societal burden of NAFLD are needed.
X‐Ray Crystal Structure of a Second‐Generation Peptide Dendrimer in Complex with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lectin LecB
Authors: Baeriswyl Stéphane , Javor Sacha , Stocker Achim , Darbre Tamis , Reymond Jean‐Louis 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDendrimers are regularly branched molecular trees which are notoriously difficult to crystallize. Herein we report the crystal structure of a C‐fucosylated second generation peptide dendrimer as complex with lectin LecB in which the only dendrimer‐lectin contact is the LecB bound glycoside (PDB 6S5S). In contrast to a previously reported crystal structure of a first‐generation peptide dendrimer as LecB complex in which the dendrimer formed trimers connected by intermolecular β‐sheets (PDB 5D2A), the present structure features a globular monomeric state held together by intramolecular backbone hydrogen bonds and assembled into a non‐covalent dimer stabilized by hydrophobic contacts between leucine side‐chains and proline‐phenylalanine CH‐π stacking interactions. Molecular dynamics and circular dichroism studies suggest that this crystal structure resembles the structure of the peptide dendrimer in solution. Structures of a partially resolved dendrimer (PDB 6S5R) and of C‐fucosylated disulfide bridged peptide dimers connecting different LecB tetramers are also reported (PDB 6S7G, PDB 6S5P).
Interactive Picture Book Read‐Alouds to the Rescue: Developing Emerging College EFL Learners’ Word Inference Ability
Authors: Sun Chia‐Ho 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe importance of teacher read‐alouds in language teaching and learning has been known for years, but we know very little about how older English learners with limited English skills can benefit from this practice. The author shares how interactive read‐alouds with picture books can be designed to help emerging college learners of English as a foreign language develop word inference ability and become more independent word learners. The processes of selecting a picture book and target words for the practice and implementation of the four phases of a read‐aloud in a beginning‐level freshman English class in Taiwan are described. Findings suggest that interactive picture book read‐alouds can be a pleasurable and effective instructional practice for giving older emerging English learners tools that enable them to internalize the use of context and prior knowledge to draw inferences and further apply them independently when they confront unknown vocabulary as they read on their own.
Dismantling Winning Stories: Lessons From Applying Critical Literature Pedagogy toThe Odyssey
Authors: Steiss Jacob 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn teaching canonical literature, presuming a text's merit and infallibility can inhibit the development of critical thought and may transmit values that are not socially and politically just. The author describes how educators can promote academic literacy and critical consciousness in their students through pedagogy that helps students critically analyze canonical texts, specifically the ancient Greek epic poemThe Odysseyby Homer. By implementing critical literature pedagogy, students can deconstruct problematic ideologies embedded inThe Odyssey, such as the text's promotion of patriarchy, violence against women, and sexual double standards. Using scholarship and examples of lessons and student work from an all‐male high school English classroom, the author demonstrates strategies that allow students to identify and disrupt dominant narratives that try to shape their actions and thoughts, and instead construct counternarratives that are more sociopolitically just and inclusive of perspectives marginalized or absent from the canon.
Effect of the initial concentration on the equilibrium liquid phase concentration at salting out of proteins
Authors: de Araújo Júnior Moysés Batista , Pessoa Filho Pedro de Alcântara , Miranda Everson Alves 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDProtein precipitation is a unit operation commonly employed in bioprocesses. The most important thermodynamic property for designing an industrial precipitation operation is the solubility. The solubility is defined as the protein concentration in a certain liquid phase in equilibrium with its solid precipitate. In some cases, the protein concentration in the liquid phase at equilibrium depends on the initial concentration of the protein, therefore being an apparent solubility. Here an assessment of the effect of the molecular mass of proteins on the dependence of the apparent solubility on the initial protein concentration is reported.RESULTSProteins with different molecular masses (bovine insulin, 5.7 kDa; chicken egg white lysozyme, 14.7 kDa; porcine trypsin, 23.4 kDa; bovine serum albumin (BSA), 66.0 kDa) at different initial concentrations were precipitated with NaCl at constant pH and temperature. Lysozyme was the only protein that showed no change in its solubility as a function of the initial protein concentration at the studied conditions. For insulin, the effect of the initial concentration on the apparent solubility was verified only at low salt concentrations. The apparent solubility of proteins with higher molecular mass, i.e. trypsin and albumin, showed dependence on the initial protein concentration: the higher the initial protein concentration, the higher the apparent solubility.CONCLUSIONBased on the data of this work and the literature, the molecular mass appears to affect the dependence of the apparent solubility of proteins on their initial concentration in precipitation processes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Prolonged exposure to hypoxia induces an autophagy-like cell survival program in human neutrophils
Authors: Talla Usharani , Bozonet Stephanie M , Parker Heather A , Hampton Mark B , Vissers Margreet C M 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNeutrophils contribute to low oxygen availability at inflammatory sites through the generation of reactive oxidants. They are also functionally affected by hypoxia, which delays neutrophil apoptosis. However, the eventual fate of neutrophils in hypoxic conditions is unknown and this is important for their effective clearance and the resolution of inflammation. We have monitored the survival and function of normal human neutrophils exposed to hypoxia over a 48 h period. Apoptosis was delayed, and the cells remained intact even at 48 h. However, hypoxia promoted significant changes in neutrophil morphology with the appearance of many new cytoplasmic vesicles, often containing cell material, within 5 hours of exposure to low O2. This coincided with an increase in LC3B-II expression, indicative of autophagosome formation and an autophagy-like process. In hypoxic conditions, neutrophils preferentially lost myeloperoxidase, a marker of azurophil granules. Short-term (2 h) hypoxic exposure resulted in sustained potential to generate superoxide when O2 was restored, but the capacity for oxidant production was lost with longer periods of hypoxia. Phagocytic ability was unchanged by hypoxia, and bacterial killing by neutrophils in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions was substantially diminished after 24 hours. However, pre-exposure to hypoxia resulted in an enhanced ability to kill bacteria by oxidant-independent mechanisms. Our data provide the first evidence for hypoxia as a driver of neutrophil autophagy that can influence the function and ultimate fate of these cells, including their eventual clearance and the resolution of inflammation.
Positive and negative ions of the amino acid histidine formed in low‐energy electron collisions
Authors: Meißner Rebecca , Feketeová Linda , Bayer Andreas , Postler Johannes , Limão‐Vieira Paulo , Denifl Stephan 
Published: August 2019

AbstractHistidine is an aromatic amino acid crucial for the biological functioning of proteins and enzymes. When biological matter is exposed to ionising radiation, highly energetic particles interact with the surrounding tissue which leads to efficient formation of low‐energy electrons. In the present study, the interaction of low‐energy electrons with gas‐phase histidine is studied at a molecular level in order to extend the knowledge of electron‐induced reactions with amino acids. We report both on the formation of positive ions formed by electron ionisation and negative ions induced by electron attachment. The experimental data were complemented by quantum chemical calculations. Specifically, the free energies for possible fragmentation reactions were derived for the τ and the π tautomer of histidine to get insight into the structures of the formed ions and the corresponding neutrals. We report the experimental ionisation energy of (8.48 ± 0.03) eV for histidine which is in good agreement with the calculated vertical ionisation energy. In the case of negative ions, the dehydrogenated parent anion is the anion with the highest mass observed upon dissociative electron attachment. The comparison of experimental and computational results was also performed in view of a possible thermal decomposition of histidine during the experiments, since the sample was sublimated in the experiment by resistive heating of an oven. Overall, the present study demonstrates the effects of electrons as secondary particles in the chemical degradation of histidine. The reactions induced by those electrons differ when comparing positive and negative ion formation. While for negative ions, simple bond cleav ages prevail, the observed fragment cations exhibit partly restructuring of the molecule during the dissociation process.