bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Copper Regulates the Canonical NLRP3 Inflammasome
Authors: Deigendesch Nikolaus , Zychlinsky Arturo , Meissner Felix 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Inflammasomes are multimeric protein complexes that are activated through a NOD-like receptor and regulate the proteolytic activation of caspase-1 and cytokines, like IL-1β. The NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in many human pathologies including infections, autoinflammatory syndromes, chronic inflammation, and metabolic diseases; however, the molecular mechanisms of activation are not fully understood. In this study we show that NLRP3 inflammasome activation requires intracellular copper. A clinically approved copper chelator, tetrathiomolybdate, inhibited the canonical NLRP3 but not the AIM2, NLRC4, and NLRP1 inflammasomes or NF-κB–dependent priming. We demonstrate that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is blocked by removing copper from the active site of superoxide dismutase 1, recapitulating impaired inflammasome function in superoxide dismutase 1–deficient mice. This regulation is specific to macrophages, but not monocytes, both in mice and humans. In vivo, depletion of bioavailable copper resulted in attenuated caspase-1–dependent inflammation and reduced susceptibility to LPS-induced endotoxic shock. Our results indicate that targeting the intracellular copper homeostasis has potential for the treatment of NLRP3-dependent diseases.
CD8α+CD11c+ Extracellular Vesicles in the Lungs Control Immune Homeostasis of the Respiratory Tract via TGF-β1 and IL-10
Authors: Wan Shuangshuang , Wang Shoujie , Weng Lixia , Zhang Gensheng , Lin Zhendong , Fei Xuefeng , Zhang Fanghui , Yang Fei , Wang Jianli , Cai Zhijian 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
The immune balance of the respiratory tract is strictly regulated. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been reported to participate in maintaining the immune balance in the intestinal tract, but whether they are involved in regulation of the immune balance in the respiratory tract has yet to be revealed. In this study, we found that physiological EVs from lungs of WT mice (L-EVs) could be isolated, which contained the immunosuppressive cytokines TGF-β1 and IL-10. Among L-EV subsets, only the CD8α+CD11c+ EV subset was positive for TGF-β1 and IL-10 and could inhibit CD4+ T cell proliferation via TGF-β1 in vitro and relieve murine asthmatic symptoms. Mechanistically, L-EVs were effective at inhibiting OVA peptide–specific CD4+ T cell proliferation in a TGF-β1– and IL-10–dependent manner. In addition, they could prevent CD4+ T cells from hilar lymph nodes from secreting IL-4, IL-9, and IL-17A via IL-10 ex vivo, suggesting inhibition of Th2, Th9, and Th17 cell responses. Altogether, our results indicate that EVs from the lungs are involved in control of the immune balance in the respiratory tract, which reveals a novel mechanism in the maintenance of respiratory tract immune homeostasis.
Theological Thinking and Eurocentric Epistemologies: A Challenge to Theologians from within Africana Religious Studies
Authors: Drexler-Dreis Joseph 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
Motivated by the work of scholars of Africana religions, this essay questions whether theology as a mode of critical reflection that depends on Christian-centric understandings of revelation can contribute toward a liberation from colonial relations of power. Actualizing liberation in a meaningful way requires a liberation from Eurocentric loci of rationality, yet theologians' movement toward liberation often proceeds precisely from such a site—namely, a reception of revelation dominated by the Mediterranean world and Europe. To explain this tension, I first consider how work within Africana religious studies challenges Christian theological ways of thinking. Second, I focus on uses of revelation in theology and consider how even nuanced understandings of revelation often remain mired epistemologically in colonial relations of power. I conclude by concretizing a question, prompted by scholars of Africana religions, that theologians must address within projects responding to colonial relations of power.
A Reflexive Response to J. Lorand Matory's Retrospective on the Critical Reception of Black Atlantic Religion
Authors: Iyanaga Michael 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
In this short essay, I reflect on many of the most significant ways in which J. Lorand Matory's now-classic book Black Atlantic Religion influenced my approach to the study of music and religion in Bahia. Moreover, I present some of what I believe to be the work's larger contributions within the broader scholarly context of its time.
Reflections on West Africa's Women of God: Alinesitoué and the Diola Prophetic Tradition
Authors: Ambler Charles 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
This brief discussion of Robert Baum's recent book, West Africa's Women of God: Alinesitoué and the Diola Prophetic Tradition, is based on comments made at a roundtable devoted to the work at the 2016 meeting of the American Academy of Religion. This commentary looks at Baum's work from the perspective of African history, including reflections on Baum's training as a historian. Focus is given to the persistent influence of Robin Horton's work on African conversion and the importance of Baum's book in challenging Horton's analysis.
West African Women of God: A Response
Authors: Baum Robert M. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
This article, by the author of West Africa's Women of God, responds to five commentaries on my book. It raises issues about prophetic movements in West Africa, the role of women prophets, Diola religious history, and future research projects on Diola prophetic movements. Of central concern is Alinesitoué Diatta and her place within an ongoing tradition of women prophets of the supreme being. This tradition emerged from an older tradition of male prophets during the period of Portuguese, French, and British colonization.
Global, Regional, and Megacity Trends in the Highest Temperature of the Year: Diagnostics and Evidence for Accelerating Trends
Authors: Papalexiou Simon Michael , AghaKouchak Amir , Trenberth Kevin E. , Foufoula‐Georgiou Efi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTrends in short‐lived high‐temperature extremes record a different dimension of change than the extensively studied annual and seasonal mean daily temperatures. They also have important socioeconomic, environmental, and human health implications. Here, we present analysis of the highest temperature of the year for approximately 9000 stations globally, focusing on quantifying spatially explicit exceedance probabilities during the recent 50‐ and 30‐year periods. A global increase of 0.19°C per decade during the past 50 years (through 2015) accelerated to 0.25°C per decade during the last 30 years, a faster increase than in the mean annual temperature. Strong positive 30‐year trends are detected in large regions of Eurasia and Australia with rates higher than 0.60°C per decade. In cities with more than 5 million inhabitants, where most heat‐related fatalities occur, the average change is 0.33°C per decade, while some east Asia cities, Paris, Moscow, and Houston have experienced changes higher than 0.60°C per decade.
Effects of Ice Nucleation Protein Repeat Number and Oligomerization Level on Ice Nucleation Activity
Authors: Ling M. L. , Wex H. , Grawe S. , Jakobsson J. , Löndahl J. , Hartmann S. , Finster K. , Boesen T. , Šantl‐Temkiv T. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIce nucleation active bacteria have attracted particular attention due to their unique ability to produce specific ice nucleation proteins (INpros), which are the most efficient ice nuclei known as they induce nucleation at temperatures close to 0°C. Our model bacterium Pseudomonas syringae strain R10.79 produced INpros containing 67 tandem repeats, forming the proposed ice‐binding surface. To understand the role of the INpro repeats as well as the role of intermolecular interactions between INpros for their ice nucleation behavior, we produced a truncated version of the protein with only 16 tandem repeats (INpro16R). The purified INpro16R produced oligomers of varying sizes. Immersion freezing ice nucleation behavior of purified INpro16R was characterized by droplet‐freezing assays and in the Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator. Predominant INpro16R oligomers introduced into Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator as single particles with diameters of 50 nm or 70 nm were ice nucleation active at temperatures of −26°C and −24°C, respectively. These are much lower temperatures compared to that of intact INpros (−12°C). The data clearly indicated that the number of repeats determines the ice nucleation temperature. In addition, ice nucleation between −9°C and −10°C, comparable to the activity of intact INpro, was caused by higher‐order INpro16R oligomers. This supported previous observations that INpro oligomerization increases the ice‐binding surface, thereby affecting ice nucleation activity. In conclusion, both repeat number and oligomerization contribute in a seemingly independent manner to the nucleation mechanism of INpros.
GLS loss of function causes autosomal recessive spastic ataxia and optic atrophy
Authors: Lynch David S. , Chelban Viorica , Vandrovcova Jana , Pittman Alan , Wood Nicholas W. , Houlden Henry 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe describe a consanguineous family in which two brothers were affected by childhood onset spastic ataxia with optic atrophy and loss of motor and language skills. Through a combination of homozygosity mapping and whole‐genome sequencing, we identified a homozygous copy number variant in GLS as the cause. The duplication leads to complete knockout of GLS expression. GLS encodes the brain‐ and kidney‐specific enzyme glutaminase, which hydrolyzes glutamine for the production of glutamate, the most abundant central nervous system neurotransmitter. This is the first report implicating GLS loss of function in human disease.
New OLEDs Based on Zirconium Metal‐Organic Framework
Authors: Gutiérrez Mario , Martin Cristina , Kennes Koen , Hofkens Johan , Van der Auweraer Mark , Sánchez Félix , Douhal Abderrazzak 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe search for new smart‐materials in solid‐state light‐emitting applications, like hybrid organic–inorganic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs), has seen an intense growth in the recent years. Among all the possibilities, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising smart materials due to their chemical and structural properties. Herein, for the first time, the use of a Zr‐based MOF (Zr‐NDC, NDC = dimethyl 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylate) as electroluminescent active material in OLED devices is reported. The results indicate that, independently of the properties of the polymer used to form the emissive layer, the OLED emission is due to radiative electron and hole recombination in the MOF. A tuning of the optoelectronic properties of the device by incorporating Coumarin 153, (C153) and 4‐(Dicyanomethylene)‐2‐methyl‐6‐(4‐dimethylaminostyryl)‐4H‐pyran, into the MOF pores is demonstrated. Using different MOFLED architectures, and MOF composition, it is possible to elucidate the photoluminescence and electroluminescence mechanisms, providing the clues for further improvements. It is observed that the current density as well as the electroluminescent behavior depends on the dopant fluorophores. It is also shown that defects within the Zr‐MOF play a role in the OLED optoelectronic properties. The results clearly demonstrate the potential of MOFs as new tunable electroluminescent materials for OLED applications.
Reactions Involving Tryptamines and δ‐Allenyl Aldehydes: Competition between Pictet‐Spengler Reaction and Cyclization to 1‐Aminotetralins
Authors: Gobé Valérian , Gandon Vincent , Guinchard Xavier 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe isolation of 1‐aminotetralin was unexpectedly observed in the course of Pictet‐Spengler reactions between tryptamines and δ‐allenyl aldehydes. This discovery led to the study of a novel reactivity using aldehydes and secondary amines. DFT calculations show that the cyclization occurs in a stepwise manner that is sufficiently fast to allow high diastereoselectivity. When using allyl‐tryptamines, it is possible to control the reaction, depending on the substituents, in order to have either the 1‐aminotetralin or the tetrahydro‐β‐carboline. These competitive reactivities were studied by DFT computations.magnified image
A Ultrasensitive Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Probe Reveals Pyroglutamate Aminopeptidase 1 Can Be a New Inflammatory Cytokine
Authors: Gong Qiuyu , Zou Ruifen , Xing Jie , Xiang Lingchao , Zhang Renshuai , Wu Aiguo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPrevious study showed that pyroglutamate aminopeptidase 1 (PGP‐1) has a relationship with the immune response in cells. However, whether PGP‐1 is involved in inflammatory response in vivo and can serve as a new inflammatory cytokine are still unclear. To address these issues, a new near‐infrared fluorescent probe, which exhibits high selectivity and super sensitivity, is developed. With this probe, the up‐regulation of PGP‐1 (evidenced by western blot) in BALB/c mice legs and livers under the stimulation of two main immunopotentiators is revealed for the first time. The occurrence of inflammatory process (including tissue necrosis) in mice is determined by up‐regulation of tumor necrosis factor‐α and hematoxylin‐eosin staining. Interestingly, it is revealed for the first time that knocking down PGP‐1 leads to the weakness of inflammatory process in RAW264.7 cells. These new findings suggest that PGP‐1 is indeed involved in inflammatory response in vivo and can be a new inflammatory cytokine.
First‐in‐human implantation of a novel self‐expanding supra‐annular transcatheter heart valve for transcatheter aortic valve implantation inside a small degenerated aortic surgical bioprosthesis
Authors: Schäfer Ulrich , Kalbacher Daniel , Voigtländer Lisa , Conradi Lenard 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWith next‐generation valves such as the ALLEGRA valve from NewValve Technologies (NVT), Hechingen Germany, there is a very likely treatment expansion for patients with aortic valve disease. Besides treatment of native valvular aortic stenosis with the ALLEGRA valve, the special implant mechanism seems to be an appealing concept for patients with degenerated surgical bioprostheses. We report the first case of a transfemoral implantation in small degenerated surgical bioprosthesis of a 76‐year‐old woman.
Effects of heat exposure from late sowing on the agronomic and technological quality of tetraploid wheat
Authors: Sissons Mike , Pleming Denise , Taylor Julian D. , Emebiri Livinus , Collins Nicholas C. 
Published: January 2018

Background and objectivesHeat stress is a major limiting factor to wheat yield that also impacts on grain quality, and its incidence is likely to increase. Thirty‐seven durum wheats were grown in irrigated replicated field trials over two seasons in Australia, normal sown (NS) or a 2‐month late sown (LS). Agronomic and technological quality traits were examined.FindingsLater sowing exposed the crop to more days at temperatures of 30°C and above indicating more heat stress while the irrigation ensured no drought stress. Relative to NS, LS reduced yield, grain weight, test weight, and milling yield but grain vitreousness and hardness either increased or decreased depending on the trial. However, LS had positive effects on increasing protein content, dough quality indicators, and increased the proportion of high molecular weight gluten polymer. LS also enhanced pasta end‐use traits, increasing pasta yellowness and firmness and decreasing cooking loss. Genotypes that showed relatively stable yield and grain characteristics under LS were identified (Caparoi, Jandaroi, Kalka, Kronos, Saintly, and WID802).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the heat stress experienced enhanced dough and pasta quality, despite having a negative impact on yield and physical grain characteristics. Genotypes were identified that represent potential sources of heat tolerance that could be useful in breeding to help limit the undesirable effects of heat stress on durum production.Significance and noveltyLate sowing of wheat is a good strategy to obtain exposure to heat stress in the Australian environment and can be used to select genotypes with better yield and quality stability.
Rice grain protein composition influences head rice yield
Authors: Balindong Jeanette L. , Ward Rachelle M. , Rose Terry J. , Liu Lei , Raymond Carolyn A. , Snell Peter J. , Ovenden Ben W. , Waters Daniel L.E. 
Published: January 2018

Background and objectivesThe objective of this study was to determine the extent to which differences in rice grain protein composition are associated with head rice yield (HRY). HRY, the mass of milled unbroken rice grain derived from a defined mass of paddy rice expressed as a percentage, is a commercially important trait targeted by rice breeders. Variation in rice grain protein composition influences rice grain texture, and high grain protein content is associated with high HRY; however, the relationship between rice grain protein composition and HRY is not well understood.FindingsHPLC analysis of protein extracts derived from broken and unbroken milled medium‐ and long‐grain rice suggests that rice grain protein composition differences are associated with HRY. Glutelin, a major class of rice grain storage proteins, displayed the greatest difference between broken and unbroken rice grains but weakest association with HRY. Prolamin and globulin content displayed relatively smaller differences between broken and unbroken medium and long grains, yet both protein fractions were associated with HRY.ConclusionsRice grain protein composition, in addition to other known factors, influences rice HRY.Significance and noveltyProtein composition differences between broken and unbroken rice grains have significant implications for human nutrition and in part explain differences in HRY. Rice breeders face the challenge of balancing the two competing traits of HRY and soft grain texture.
Promotion of Oxygen Reduction with Both Amorphous and Crystalline MnOx through the Surface Engineering of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3‐δ Perovskite
Authors: Yu Jing , Chen Dengjie , Saccoccio Mattia , Lam Kwunyu , Ciucci Francesco 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSurfaces play a key role in catalysis. Surfaces can be modified in a number of ways, for example by depositing nanoparticles or with functional coating layers. Here, the surface of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3‐δ (LSMO) is treated with diluted HNO3. This process leads to the preferential formation of MnOx/LSMO on the surface, leading to the exposure of Mn cations at the surface of LSMO. The electrocatalytic activity of the MnOx/LSMO heterostructure towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is shown to increase when it is compared to the untreated LSMO. Thanks to the formation of MnOx at the surface, the resulting MnOx/LSMO possesses 1) a relatively high specific surface area and a mesoporous structure, 2) a higher coverage of Mn4+/Mn3+ cations at the surface, and 3) a high concentration of highly oxidative oxygen species. This work develops a facile strategy (i. e. HNO3 treatment) for improving the ORR activity of perovskite oxides in alkaline solution at room temperature.
Ionisierende Strahlung mit dem Smartphone messen
Authors: Kuhn Jochen , Schäfer Matthias , Hauck Bernhard , Ulber Roland 
Published: January 2018

ZusammenfassungDurch ihre vielseitige Ausstattung lassen sich Smartphones als mobile Minilabore für vielseitige Messungen einsetzen. Der Beitrag beschreibt, wie sich Smartphones und Tablet‐PCs zur Messung von ionisierender Strahlung verwenden lassen. Die dem Experiment zugrundeliegenden physikalischen Zusammenhänge können mit einer für den schulischen Physikunterricht hinreichenden Genauigkeit bestätigt werden, wobei die gewonnenen Daten vergleichbar zu denen eines schulüblichen Geiger‐Müller‐Zählrohres sind. Mittlerweile zeigen erste Untersuchungsergebnisse, dass auch das Lernen gefördert werden kann, wenn diese Medien als mobile Mini‐Labore eingesetzt werden.
The risk of malignancy of atypical urothelial cells of undetermined significance in patients treated with chemohyperthermia or electromotive drug administration
Authors: Pierconti Francesco , Rossi Esther Diana , Straccia Patrizia , Fadda Guido , Larocca Luigi Maria , Bassi Pier Francesco , Sacco Emilio , Schinzari Giovanni 
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUNDChemohyperthermia (C‐HT) or electromotive drug administration (EMDA) are alternative therapies to radical cystectomy in patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer who do not respond to intravesical therapy with bacille Calmette‐Guérin.METHODSThe authors investigated a group of 87 patients with a diagnosis of high‐grade non‐muscle‐invasive bladder carcinoma or carcinoma in situ. Of these, 45 patients received EMDA of mitomycin (EMDA/MMC) and 42 patients were treated with C‐HT and mitomycin therapy (C‐HT/MMC). In accordance with the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology, a cytological diagnosis was made and patients with diagnoses of atypical urothelial cells (AUC), suspicious high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (SHGUC), or high‐grade urothelial carcinoma also underwent histological bladder biopsies.RESULTSIn accordance with the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology, the AUC cases may have cytological features of SHGUC present on atypical degenerated cells. In analyzing the AUC group without the SHGUC cases diagnosed on the basis of degenerated urothelial cells, the authors found a significant association between the AUC category and a negative histological biopsy. The SHGUC group, including cases with a SHGUC diagnosis rendered on degenerated urothelial cells, was associated with high‐grade urothelial carcinoma or carcinoma in situ (P =  .0269 for patients treated with EMDA/MMC and P =  .0049 for patients treated with C‐HT/MMC).CONCLUSIONSIn the urine samples from patients treated with EMDA/MMC or C‐HT/MMC, a diagnosis of SHGUC could be made even on degenerated urothelial cells when considering cellular degeneration as a “physiological” consequence of the treatment that involves either normal or neoplastic cells. Cancer Cytopathol 2018;126:200‐6. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Investigation of Microalgal Carotenoid Content Using Coherent Anti‐Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) Microscopy and Spontaneous Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Legesse Fisseha Bekele , Rüger Jan , Meyer Tobias , Krafft Christoph , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe yield of high‐value products, such as pigments that could be extracted from microalgae, is affected by various nutritional and physical factors. Consequently, there is a need for fast visualization techniques that investigate the responses of individual microalgal cells to changing environmental conditions without introducing perturbations. Here, we apply CARS microscopy to map the distribution of pigments in the diatoms Ditylum brightwellii and Stephanopyxis turris and report their relative change in response to varying light cycles using a marker‐based watershed analysis of the acquired images. Simultaneously, the underlying specific pigment composition alterations are revealed using Raman microspectroscopy at 785 nm excitation. In regards to assessing the chemical content of microalgae, these methods present themselves as viable alternatives to the standard techniques currently in use because of their non‐disruptive nature and the wealth of complementary information that could be obtained from them.