Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emodin Inhibits Inflammation, Carcinogenesis, and Cancer Progression in the AOM/DSS Model of Colitis-Associated Intestinal Tumorigenesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide. Chronic inflammation contributes to CRC development and progression. Emodin, is a natural anthraquinone derivative with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities. We used the AOM/DSS model of colitis-associated intestinal tumorigenesis to characterize the effect of Emodin on inflammation and tumorigenesis at weeks 3, 5, and 14 after initiation with AOM. At all three time points, Emodin (50 mg/kg) reduced inflammatory cell (i.e. CD11b+ and F4/80+) recruitment, cytokine (i.e. TNFα, IL1α/β, IL6, CCL2, CXCL5) and pro-inflammatory enzymes (i.e. COX-2, NOS2) expression in the tumor microenvironment, while promoting recruitment of CD3+ T lymphocytes at 14 weeks. Emodin decreased the incidence of premalignant lesions (adenoma) at week 3, the incidence of dysplastic lesions and carcinomas at week 5, and the incidence, size and the invasiveness of carcinomas at week 14. Emodin also reduced the acute clinical intestinal symptoms (i.e. bleeding and diarrhea) during DSS treatment. In vitro, Emodin inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and reduced viability, adhesion, migration, and fibroblasts-induced invasion of SW620 and HCT116 colon cancer cells. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that Emodin suppresses carcinogenesis-associated intestinal inflammation and prevents AOM/DSS-induced intestinal tumorigenesis and progression. These results instigate further studies on Emodin as a natural agent for the prevention or treatment of colorectal cancer.
A Theoretical Framework on Reflection in Service Learning: Deepening Reflection Through Identity Development

In higher education, well-designed service learning combines service activities and academic knowledge in reflection, generating essential learning outcomes: academic enhancement, personal growth, and civic engagement. As research on reflection in service learning has shown, the process of reflection deepens through description of service experiences, examination of those experiences and articulation of learning. This article provides a theoretical explanation of deepening the reflection process by incorporating reflection theory and identity theory of college student development, professional development, and general identity development. Expanding the theoretical explanation of the reflective process clarifies the conditions of the deepening student reflection process in service learning in the following ways. First, it focuses on concrete experience then-and-there at that moment rather than abstract impressions by paying attention to personal dissonance in the experience. In addition, it finds discrepancies from differences of views, perspectives, and backgrounds between those of students and others. It connects outward exploration of those differences and inward exploration to construct internal voices toward self-authorship. The deep reflection process requires confronting contradictions through dialogical interplays among the I-positions of their own and others. It bridges discontinuities between past, present, and future selves by expanding the time perspective retrospectively and prospectively, and solving contradictions embedding in their prejudice. Furthermore, it activates plurality in social norms and values. The above conditions should be design principles for deepening critical and dialogical reflection in high-impact service learning. Through deepening reflection in service learning, it can be expected to activate mutuality and support generativity toward solidarity against hostility.
Antigen-Presenting Cells in Food Tolerance and Allergy

Food allergy now affects 6%–8% of children in the Western world; despite this, we understand little about why certain people become sensitized to food allergens. The dominant form of food allergy is mediated by food-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which can cause a variety of symptoms, including life-threatening anaphylaxis. A central step in this immune response to food antigens that differentiates tolerance from allergy is the initial priming of T cells by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), primarily different types of dendritic cells (DCs). DCs, along with monocyte and macrophage populations, dictate oral tolerance versus allergy by shaping the T cell and subsequent B cell antibody response. A growing body of literature has shed light on the conditions under which antigen presentation occurs and how different types of T cell responses are induced by different APCs. We will review APC subsets in the gut and discuss mechanisms of APC-induced oral tolerance versus allergy to food identified using mouse models and patient samples.
Within-Day Variability in Negative Affect Moderates Cue Responsiveness in High-Calorie Snacking

Background Many discretionary foods (“snacks”) contribute both to individual health risks and to global issues, in particular through high carbon footprints and water scarcity. Snacking is influenced by the presence of snacking cues such as food availability, observing others eating, and negative affect. However, less is known about the mechanisms underlying the effects of negative affect. This study examines whether the individual odds of consuming high-calorie snacks as a consequence to being exposed to known snacking cues were moderated by experiencing (i) higher or lower total negative affect per day or (ii) higher or lower negative affect variability per day. Methods Secondary analysis of an ecological momentary assessment study of 60 participants over 14 days with food logs and randomly timed assessments of known snacking cues. High total daily negative affect levels (daily within-participant means) and negative affect variability (daily within-participant SDs) were examined as moderators to predict high-calorie snacking in three-level hierarchical random effects logistic regressions. Results Consistent with previous studies, the odds of snacking increased when food was available (OR = 5.05, 95% CI 3.32, 7.66), when others were eating (OR = 5.11, 95% CI = 3.73, 6.99), and when participants experienced more negative affect (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.03). Associations for food availability (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.86, 0.99) and others eating (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.91, 0.99) were significantly moderated by negative affect variability such that associations between cues and high-calorie snacking were weaker on days with higher negative affect variability, but not negative affect levels. Conclusion The relationship between cues to high-calorie snacking and snacking behavior varies with variability in negative affect, suggesting a complex relationship between affect and high-calorie snacking. Clearer conceptualizations on the relation between affect and eating are needed.
TaLAMP1 Plays Key Roles in Plant Architecture and Yield Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer in Wheat

Understanding the molecular mechanisms in wheat response to nitrogen (N) fertilizer will help us to breed wheat varieties with improved yield and N use efficiency. Here, we cloned TaLAMP1-3A, -3B, and -3D, which were upregulated in roots and shoots of wheat by low N availability. In a hydroponic culture, lateral root length and N uptake were decreased in both overexpression and knockdown of TaLAMP1 at the seedling stage. In the field experiment with normal N supply, the grain yield of overexpression of TaLAMP1-3B is significantly reduced (14.5%), and the knockdown of TaLAMP1 was significantly reduced (15.5%). The grain number per spike of overexpression of TaLAMP1-3B was significantly increased (7.2%), but the spike number was significantly reduced (19.2%) compared with wild type (WT), although the grain number per spike of knockdown of TaLAMP1 was significantly decreased (15.3%), with no difference in the spike number compared with WT. Combined with the agronomic data from the field experiment of normal N and low N, both overexpression and knockdown of TaLAMP1 inhibited yield response to N fertilizer. Overexpressing TaLAMP1-3B greatly increased grain N concentration with no significant detrimental effect on grain yield under low N conditions; TaLAMP1-3 B is therefore valuable in engineering wheat for low input agriculture. These results suggested that TaLAMP1 is critical for wheat adaptation to N availability and in shaping plant architecture by regulating spike number per plant and grain number per spike. Optimizing TaLAMP1 expression may facilitate wheat breeding with improved yield, grain N concentration, and yield responses to N fertilizer.
Resistance to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,’ the Huanglongbing Associated Bacterium, in Sexually and/or Graft-Compatible Citrus Relatives

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive, yet incurable disease of citrus. Finding sources of genetic resistance to HLB-associated ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las) becomes strategic to warrant crop sustainability, but no resistant Citrus genotypes exist. Some Citrus relatives of the family Rutaceae, subfamily Aurantioideae, were described as full-resistant to Las, but they are phylogenetically far, thus incompatible with Citrus. Partial resistance was indicated for certain cross-compatible types. Moreover, other genotypes from subtribe Citrinae, sexually incompatible but graft-compatible with Citrus, may provide new rootstocks able to restrict bacterial titer in the canopy. Use of seedlings from monoembryonic species and inconsistencies in previous reports likely due to Las recalcitrance encouraged us to evaluate more accurately these Citrus relatives. We tested for Las resistance a diverse collection of graft-compatible Citrinae species using an aggressive and consistent challenge-inoculation and evaluation procedure. Most Citrinae species examined were either susceptible or partially resistant to Las. However, Eremocitrus glauca and Papua/New Guinea Microcitrus species as well as their hybrids and those with Citrus arose here for the first time as full-resistant, opening the way for using these underutilized genotypes as Las resistance sources in breeding programs or attempting using them directly as possible new Las-resistant Citrus rootstocks or interstocks.
How Closely Related Are Parent and Child Reports of Child Alexithymia?

Alexithymia is a subclinical trait involving difficulty describing and identifying emotions. It is common in a number of psychiatric conditions. Alexithymia in children is sometimes measured by parent report and sometimes by child self-report, but it is not yet known how closely related the two measures are. This is an important question both theoretically and practically, in terms of research design and clinical practice. We conducted a preliminary study to investigate this question in a sample of 6- to 11-year-old neurotypical children and their parents (N = 29 dyads). Parent and child reports were not correlated, and 93% of parents under-estimated their child’s level of alexithymia relative to the child’s self-report. Based on these results, we hypothesize that when asked to report on the child’s alexithymia, children and parents may not be reporting on the same phenomenon, and thus these two measures may not be interchangeable. These provocative findings, however, must be considered preliminary: our analyses were sufficiently powered to detect a strong relation between the two types of report had one existed, but our analyses were not sufficiently powered to distinguish between a small relation and no relation at all.
Chronic Low-Level Lead Exposure Increases Mesenteric Vascular Reactivity: Role of Cyclooxygenase-2-Derived Prostanoids

Lead (Pb) exposure causes hazardous effects as hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated whether chronic Pb exposure alters the peripheral vascular resistance measuring the vascular reactivity of mesenteric resistance arteries in rats to identify the underlying mechanisms that are associated to the development of Pb-induced hypertension. Mesenteric resistance arteries from lead-treated and untreated Wistar rats (1st dose: 10 μg/100 g; subsequent doses: 0.125 μg/100 g, intramuscular, 30 days) were used. Contractile responses to phenylephrine increased, while acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation was not affected by lead treatment. Endothelium removal and inhibition of NO synthase by L-NAME similarly enhanced the response to phenylephrine in untreated and lead-treated rats. The antioxidants apocynin and superoxide dismutase (SOD) did not affect vasoconstriction in either group. The vascular expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein increased after lead exposure. The respective non-specific or specific COX-2 inhibitors indomethacin and NS398 reduced more strongly the response to phenylephrine in treated rats. Antagonists of EP1 (SC19220), TP (SQ29548), IP (CAY10441) and angiotensin II type 1 (losartan) receptors reduced vasoconstriction only in treated rats. These conclusions present further evidence that lead, even in small concentration, produces cardiovascular hazards being an environmental contaminant that account for lead-induced hypertension.
Serum Ratio of Free Triiodothyronine to Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: A Novel Index for Distinguishing Graves’ Disease From Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Objective Graves’ disease (GD) and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) are two major causes of thyrotoxicosis that require correct diagnosis to plan appropriate treatment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of thyroid-related parameters for distinguishing GD from AIT and identify a novel index for differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis. Design This retrospective study was performed using electronic medical records in Peking University People’s Hospital (Beijing, China). Methods In total, 650 patients with GD and 155 patients with AIT from December 2015 to October 2019 were included in cohort 1. Furthermore, 133 patients with GD and 14 patients with AIT from December 2019 to August 2020 were included in cohort 2 for validation of the novel index identified in cohort 1. All patients were of Chinese ethnicity and were newly diagnosed with either GD or AIT. Thyroid-related clinical information was collected before intervention by reviewing the patients’ electronic medical records. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal cutoff for distinguishing GD from AIT. Results In cohort 1, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody was identified as the best indicator for distinguishing GD from AIT. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.99(95% confidence interval: 0.98–0.99, p<0.0001)and the optimal cutoff was 0.84 IU/l (98% sensitivity and 99% specificity). The free triiodothyronine (FT3)/TSH ratio (FT3/TSH) was the second –best for distinguishing GD from AIT, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of FT3/TSH was 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.84–0.88, p<0.0001); its optimal cutoff was 1.99 pmol/mIU (79% sensitivity and 80% specificity). Its effectiveness was confirmed in cohort 2 (81% sensitivity and 100% specificity). Conclusions The FT3/TSH ratio is a new useful index for differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis, especially when combined with TRAb.
Effect of BaF2 Variation on Spectroscopic Properties of Tm3+ Doped Gallium Tellurite Glasses for Efficient 2.0 μm Laser

The effects of substitution of BaF2 for BaO on physical properties and 1. 8 μm emission have been systematically investigated to improve spectroscopic properties in Tm3+ doped gallium tellurite glasses for efficient 2.0 μm fiber laser. It is found that refractive index and density gradually decrease with increasing BaF2 content from 0 to 9 mol. %, due to the generation of more non-bridging oxygens. Furthermore, OH− absorption coefficient (αOH) reduces monotonically from 3.4 to 2.2 cm−1 and thus emission intensity near 1.8 μm in gallium tellurite glass with 9 mol. % BaF2 is 1.6 times as large as that without BaF2 while the lifetime becomes 1.7 times as long as the one without BaF2. Relative energy transfer mechanism is proposed. The maximum emission cross section and gain coefficient at around 1.8 μm of gallium tellurite glass containing 9 mol. % BaF2 are 8.8 × 10−21 cm2 and 3.3 cm−1, respectively. These results indicate that Tm3+ doped gallium tellurite glasses containing BaF2 appear to be an excellent host material for efficient 2.0 μm fiber laser development.
Effect of Acidity and Elevated PCO2 on Acid Neutralization within Pulsed Limestone Bed Reactors Receiving Coal Mine Drainage

Limestone has potential for reducing reagent costs and sludge volume associated with the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD), but its use has been restricted by slow dissolution rates and sensitivity to scale forming reactions that retard transport of H+ at the solid–liquid interface. We evaluated a pulsed limestone bed (PLB) remediation process designed to circumvent these problems through use of intermittently fluidized beds of granular limestone and elevated carbon dioxide pressure. PLB limestone dissolution (LD, mg/L), and effluent alkalinity (Alk, mg/L) were correlated with reactor pressure (PCO2 , kPa), influent acidity (Acy, mg/L) and reactor bed height (H, cm) using a prototype capable of processing 10 L/min. The PLB process effectively neutralized sulfuric acid acidity over the range of 6–1033 mg/L (as CaCO3) while generating high concentrations of alkalinity (36–1086 mg/L) despite a hydraulic residence time of just 4.2–5.0 min. Alk and LD (mg/L CaCO3) rose with increases in influent acidity an.
Direct dynamics study on the mechanism and the kinetics of the reaction of CH3NH2 with OH

A theoretical study of the mechanism and the kinetics for the hydrogen abstraction reaction of methylamine by OH radical has been presented at the CCSD(T)/6-311 ++G(2d,2p)//CCSD/6-31G(d) level of theory. Our theoretical calculations suggest a stepwise mechanism involving the formation of a prereactant complex in the entrance channel and a preproduct complex in the exit channel, for the two hydrogen abstraction channels involving the methyl and amine groups. For clarity, the diagram of potential for the reaction is given. The calculated standard reaction enthalpies are −98.48 and −76.50 kJ mol−1 and barrier heights are 0.36 and 25.25 kJ mol−1, respectively. The rate constants are evaluated by means of the improved canonical variational transition state theory with small-curvature tunneling correction (ICVT/SCT) in the temperature range of 299–3000 K. The calculated results show that the rate constants at experimentally measured temperatures are in good agreement with the experimental values. It is shown that the calculated rate constants exhibit a non-Arrhenius behavior. Moreover, the variational effect is obvious in the calculated temperature range. The dominant product channel is to form CH2NH2 and H2O via hydrogen abstraction from the CH3 group of CH3NH2 by OH in the calculated temperature range. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Thermal and mechanical evaluation of cyanate ester resin modified with bismaleimide and diallyl phthalate

Cyanate ester resins have excellent dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties; however, their major drawback is their brittleness. A high performance matrix blend was developed using bisphenol A dicyanate (BADCy), bismaleimide (BMI) and diallyl phthalate (DAP), and Cobalt (III) acetylacetonate dissolved in nonyl phenol (NP) as a complex catalyst system for BADCy. The properties of the BADCy/BMI/DAP blends, such as thermal and mechanical properties, were investigated in detail by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical measurement. The results show that the addition of the appropriate amount of DAP and BMI can improve the impact strength and the flexural strength and this possibly comes from forming an interpenetrating polymer network in the systems. However, the thermal stability of the blends was found to be lower than that of the unmodified BADCy resin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heat Capacity of Alkanolamines by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Measurements of the heat capacities of the alkanolamines monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, diglycolamine, di-2-propanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol, and 2-piperidineethanol were performed from 30 to 80 °C with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The heat capacity of liquid water has been measured to verify the validity of the Cp measurements. The measured Cp of each alkanolamine has been expressed as a function of temperature. The estimated uncertainty of the measured heat capacities including the effect of impurities in a substance with a purity of 95% is ±3%. The measured heat capacities are, in general, of sufficient accuracy for most engineering-design calculations.
Pressure Distribution in Shallow Rectangular and Circular Dies Using Different Filling Methods

The process of die filling is a significant unit operation in many industries. The inhomogeneity of fill has been known to cause tablet and compact quality issues, such as lamination, capping, and distortion. Therefore, the goal of this research was to investigate and compare the uniformity of pressure distribution of four die filling methods, i.e., feed shoe, rotational rainy, point feed, and pneumatic. To study the powder deposition characteristics, rectangular (32 × 30 mm and 6.5 mm deep) and circular (35 mm in diameter and 6.5 mm deep) cross-sectional shallow dies of equal volume were used. Due to their industrial importance, test materials used were a battery powder mixture (BPM) and microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH102). A second-generation pressure deposition tester with circular and square feed shoe tube cross sections was used to measure the two powders’ pressure distribution characteristics. To evaluate the symmetry of measured pressure distribution profiles, variance metrics and uniformity analysis were used. Analysis of results showed that: (1) contour plot analysis was the most reliable method for evaluating deposition characteristics; (2) for all filling methods, the circular die generated higher uniformity than the rectangular die; (3) PDT-II is capable of filling the die at very high speed and was determined to be the fastest filling method in this study; (4) the average uniformity pressure distribution for feed shoe, rainy, and point feed are 55%, 77%, and 64%, respectively; and (5) the rotational rainy fill method appears to be the most appropriate filling method to generate the highest uniformity pressure distribution inside the die.
Microwave-Assisted Solvent Free Synthesis of Spiro- Indole Derivative

A solid supported synthetic procedure has been developed for the synthesis of novel spiro indole derivatives using solid support as energy transfer medium under microwave irradiation (MWI). The results were compared with those obtained by the classical as well as solution phase method in MWI. This solvent-free technique coupled with the high yields and short reaction time makes this procedure eco-friendly for synthesis. Keywords: Spiro indoles; Microwave irradiation; 1 HNMR; IR DOI: 10.3126/jncs.v24i0. 2391 Journal of Nepal Chemical Society Vol. 24, 2009 Page: 49-52