nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Involvement of the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in the Repair of Esophageal Mucosa Injury in Rats with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Numerous studies have highlighted the activation of NF-κB in the esophageal mucosa during the early stages of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The present study aimed to investigate the role of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in GERD rat models.  Wistar rats (n = 60) were recruited to establish a GERD animal model. Distal esophageal pH was assessed, followed by determination of the contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in esophageal mucosa homogenate. ELISA was employed to detect the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α) in esophageal mucosa. The expression of MMP-3, MPP-9, Cldn1 and Cldn4 was determined by immunohistochemistry. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were applied to evaluate the protein expressions in TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, while TUNEL staining was utilized to examine the apoptosis rate in the esophageal mucosal tissues.  Distal esophageal pH of the rats was higher in the GERD + PDTC group than in other groups. Levels of inflammatory factors in esophageal mucosal tissues were downregulated with the inhibition of NF-κB, which was determined to be associated with the decreased contents of TBARS and ROS. Moreover, decreased MMP-3 and MPP-9 in addition to elevated Cldn1 and Cldn4 were detected in the esophageal mucosa as a result of the inactivation of NF-κB. The TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins (TLR4, NF-κB and IκBα); the rate of apoptosis was demonstrated to be suppressed in the GERD + PDTC group, while inactivating NF-κB was found to alleviate the tissue damage observed in the esophageal mucosa.  The key findings of the current study demonstrate that the inactivation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway alleviates oxidative stress injury and promotes the repair of esophageal mucosal injury among rats with GERD, highlighting a potential novel GERD mechanism.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Early-Middle Miocene paleodrainage and tectonics in the Pakistan Himalaya

The 18–14 Ma Kamlial Formation Himalayan foreland basin sedimentary rocks in the Chinji Village region, Potwar Plateau, Pakistan, are characterized by: (1) lithofacies indicative of deposition by a large river; (2) a dominant magmatic arc provenance completely unlike the ‘recycled orogen’ foreland basin deposits stratigraphically below, above, or coeval with these rocks; and (3) subordinate contribution from a rapidly exhuming source, interpreted as either the Nanga Parbat Haramosh Massif or the southern margin of the Asian crust. The start of Kamlial Formation deposition at this locality at 18 Ma marks a major break with the older Murree Formation rocks, which were deposited by rivers draining predominantly the Himalayan thrust stack south of the arc. We interpret this change as the result of diversion of the paleo-Indus River to its present position, which crosses the Kohistan arc and Himalayas and debouches into the foreland. If the rapidly exhuming subordinate source region were the Nanga Parbat Haramosh Massif, then initiation of its uplift would have resulted in significant arc detritus to the basin as the overlying arc carapace was exhumed. As the carapace was progressively breached, arc material would have become a less substantial component of detritus to the basin, consistent with the reported petrography of the overlying Siwalik deposits.

Field of study: Geology
HTLV-1 Myelopathy in Kuwait: A Report of 2 Patients and Review of Possible Links

The clinical and radiological features of 2 patients with HTLV-1 myelopathy are presented. The mother of 1 patient is a carrier. This is the first report of HTLV-1 infection from Kuwait and the Arabian Peninsula. Both patients were traced to Najaf, a town south of Bagdad in Iraq. Other Middle East cases were reviewed and suggest both a common source and a strong link to our cases.

Field of study: Medicine
Antibiotic resistance genes show enhanced mobilization through suspended growth and biofilm-based wastewater treatment processes

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known to harbor antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that are disseminated into the environment via effluent. However, few studies have compared abundance, mobilization and selective pressures for ARGs in WWTPs as a function of variations in secondary treatment bioprocesses. We used shotgun metagenomics to provide a comprehensive analysis of ARG composition, relationship to mobile genetic elements and co-occurrences with antibiotic production genes (APGs) throughout two full-scale municipal WWTPs, one of which employs biofilm-based secondary treatment and another that uses a suspended growth system. Results showed that abundances of ARGs declined by over 90% per genome equivalent in both types of wastewater treatment processes. However, the fractions of ARGs associated with mobile genetic elements increased substantially between influent and effluent in each plant, indicating significant mobilization of ARGs throughout both treatment processes. Strong positive correlations between ARGs and APGs were found for the aminoglycoside antibiotic class in the suspended growth system and for the streptogramin antibiotic class in the biofilm system. The biofilm and suspended growth WWTPs exhibited similarities in ARG abundances, composition and mobilization trends. However, clear differences were observed for within-plant ARG persistence. These findings suggest that both biofilm and suspended growth-based WWTPs may promote genetic mobilization of persistent ARGs that are then disseminated in effluent to receiving water bodies.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science
Cisplatin in 5% Ethanol Eradicates Cisplatin-Resistant Lung Tumor by Killing Lung Cancer Side Population (SP) Cells and Non-SP Cells

Cancer side population (SP) cells with cancer stem cell-like properties are thought to be responsible for lung cancer chemotherapy resistance and currently no drug can efficiently target them. Breast cancer resistance protein (BRCP/ABCG2) is a major drug transporter in protecting lung cancer SP cells from cytotoxic agents. We showed that a low concentration of ethanol, which inhibits many membrane proteins, inhibits ABCG2 in lung cancer SP cells. Furthermore, cytotoxic cisplatin (DDP) in 5% (vol/vol) ethanol kills SP plus non-SP cancer cells better than either treatment alone in eradicating chemoresistant lung tumors. We found that 5% ethanol did not reduce ABCG2 protein levels, but significantly reduced ABCG2 protein function by a Hoechst 33342 extrusion assay, an ATPase activity assay, and transmission electron microscopy. Further, DDP in 5% ethanol (5% ethanol–DDP) induced apoptosis of the SP plus non-SP cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In DDP-resistant A549/DDP lung tumor-bearing Balb/C nude mice, intratumoral injection of 5% ethanol–DDP regressed tumors and significantly improved survivals compared with 5% ethanol, DDP alone, or control. Intratumoral injection of 5% ethanol–DDP helped eradicate tumors in 30% (3/10) of the mice after 4 weeks treatment. By killing SP and non-SP cancer cells, 5% ethanol–DDP could eradicate DDP-resistant lung tumor and extend survival, providing a novel way to improve chemoresistant lung cancer survival for clinic.

Field of study: Biology
A Johann-type X-ray emission spectrometer at the Rossendorf beamline.

This paper gives a detailed description, including equations, of the Johann-type X-ray emission spectrometer which has been recently installed and tested at the Rossendorf beamline (ROBL) of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The spectrometer consists of a single spherically bent crystal analyzer and an avalanche photodiode detector positioned on the vertical Rowland cycle of 1 m diameter. The hard X-ray emission spectrometer (∼3.5-25 keV) operates at atmospheric pressure and covers the Bragg angles of 65°-89°. The instrument has been tested at high and intermediate incident energies, i.e. at the Zr K-edge and at the Au L3-edge, in the second experimental hutch of ROBL. The spectrometer is dedicated for studying actinides in materials and environmental samples by high-energy-resolution X-ray absorption and X-ray emission spectroscopies.

Field of study: Physics
HIV screening during pregnancy.

Costs of the screening programme This raises the issue of the cost of a screening programme that is only resulting in the identification of one or two women who may gain a benefit. To provide further context for this result, it has been estimated that an HIV+ woman has a 25% chance of passing the virus to her baby during pregnancy. So it is quite possible that none of the women identified as being HIV+ over the past 4 – 5 years would have given birth to a baby with HIV.

Field of study: Medicine
The irones and their origin

The violet fragrance of stored dry rhizomes of certain Iris (sword lily) species is due to the irones, homologues of ionones. The whole family is derived from the parent compound iridal. From the various iridals isolated and characterized, a biogenetic sequence was proposed which is currently under scrutiny. From the knowledge gained it is now possible to obtain the valuable irones in higher yields from their natural sources.

Field of study: Chemistry
Bioaccumulation of aluminium in the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis at neutral pH.

This study examined the accumulation of aluminium (Al) by the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis at neutral pH, when most Al would be predicted to be in an insoluble form (Al(OH)(3)). Snails were exposed to a range of Al concentrations (38-285 microg l(-1)) for 30 days, followed by 20 days in clean water. Aluminium was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Significant accumulation of Al occurred in the whole soft tissues, gut, digestive gland and kidney at the latest by day 10. High concentration factors were observed, ranging from 4.5 x 10(3) in the whole soft tissues to 6.3 x 10(4) in the kidney, corresponding to actual concentrations of 800 to 7500 microg g(-1), respectively. Proportionality between environmental (water) and tissue concentrations of Al was observed in the gut but not in the other tissues. Following transfer to clean water, rapid loss of Al from the whole soft tissues and gut was seen over the first 10 days. Loss of Al from the digestive gland was much less as a proportion of the total, with approximately 90% of the Al remaining in the tissue. In contrast, significant loss of Al from the kidney occurred between days 20 and 30, even in the continued presence of Al; little further loss occurred following transfer to clean water. Aluminium is clearly available to the snail at neutral pH, the most likely route of entry being the gut. This could facilitate entry of the metal into the food chain. The possible roles of the digestive gland and kidney in the handling of Al are discussed.

Field of study: Environmental science
Preparation of Dense Tungsten Block by SPS and Effect of TaC on Densification of Sintered Tungsten

Dense tungsten block was successfully prepared by a spark plasma sintering process.The highest relative density of pure tungsten block is 96.4%,and that of tungsten block with TaC is 98.6%.The effects of particle size of tungsten powders and TaC quantity on densification and grain size were investigated.The results show that the smaller the particle size of tungsten powders,the lower the density and the smaller the grain size of the sintered tungsten block.The added TaC and activate sintering and refine grain size in sintered tungsten block.The sintering shrinkage curves of tungsten powders with different particle size have different trends.

Field of study: Materials science
A Comparison of Five Criteria for Identifying Fakable Items on an Attitude Inventory

The fakability of responses to the Attitude Toward Disabled Persons Inventory (ATDP) was investigated through applying two criteria requiring subjects to identify the favorable responses and three using “honest” test - “faked response” retest techniques. Considerable differences were noted among the items indentified as non-fakable by use of the different criteria. Regardless of the criterion applied, less than 25% of the items were identified as not fakable. Serious objections were raised to any method of identifying not-fakable items which uses “honest” test - “faked response” retest techniques. The authors suggest that attitude inventory items should be selected on the basis of criterion-related validity rather than on that of non-fakability.

Field of study: Education
Shadowed triplet pairings in Hund's metals with spin-orbit coupling

Hund's coupling in multiorbital systems allows for the possibility of even-parity orbital-antisymmetric spin-triplet pairing, which can be stabilized by spin-orbit coupling (SOC). While this pairing expressed in the orbital basis is uniform and spin-triplet, it appears in the band basis as a pseudospin-singlet, with the momentum dependence determined by the SOC and the underlying triplet character remaining in the form of interband pairing active away from the Fermi energy. Here, we examine the role of momentum-dependent SOC in generating nontrivial pairing symmetries, as well as the hidden triplet nature associated with this interorbital pairing, which we dub a "shadowed triplet". Applying this concept to Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$, we first derive several forms of SOC with $d$-wave form factors from a microscopic model, and subsequently we show that for a range of SOC parameters, a pairing state with $s+id_{xy}$ symmetry can be stabilized. Such a pairing state is distinct from pure spin-singlet and -triplet pairings due to its unique character of pseudospin-energy locking. We discuss experimental probes to differentiate the shadowed triplet pairing from conventional pseudospin-triplet and -singlet pairings.

Field of study: Physics
Post-mortem glycolysis in ox skeletal muscle. Effect of temperature on the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates and cofactors.

1. Post-mortem changes in the concentrations of the following compounds in ox sternomandibularis muscles stored in nitrogen at 1 degrees , 5 degrees and 15 degrees are reported: P(i) creatine phosphate, hexose monophosphates, fructose diphosphate, triose phosphates, alpha-glycerophosphate, phosphoglycerates, lactate, ATP, ADP, AMP, NAD(+) and total nucleotides. Some results obtained with muscles stored at 37 degrees are included. 2. At the time the muscles were placed at controlled temperatures (about 1.5hr. post mortem) the phosphorus in the compounds measured accounted for 91+/-6% (s.d.) of the total acid-soluble phosphate. 3. The results indicated that at all temperatures the activities of the phosphorylase and phosphofructokinase steps limited the rate and the extent of post-mortem glycolysis. 4. The large variations in hexose monophosphate concentrations during storage indicated that the ratio of phosphorylase to phosphofructokinase activity varied considerably with time and temperature. 5. Between 3.5 and 7hr. post mortem the rates of glycolysis and of ATP turnover were not slower at 5 degrees that at 15 degrees , and were probably faster at 1 degrees . The significance of this finding is discussed.

Field of study: Biology, Computer science
Power Data Service Based on Ententes

Entente of data management and service is the definition method of data management and data service delivery. It is not necessary to establish dependencies and relationships between demand and data providers on data specifications and other attributes, but supply and demand can be constrained by signing Ententes. Data Ententes between suppliers and consumers need to build on common domains. Data providers publish their own data capability statement, such as data services method and data specifications. Data demanders need to identify the data and to request for data services. This data management and service method is suitable for establishing a general and flexible power multi-source data and independent management system.

Field of study: Engineering
Superconductivity and magnetism in iron sulfides intercalated by metal hydroxides† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6sc05268a Click here for additional data file.

Formation of heterostructured [(Na1–xFex)(OH)2]FeS and enhancement of critical temperature of layered FeS by lithium hydroxide intercalation.

Field of study: Physics
The Impacts of Emotion Elicited By Print Political Advertising on Candidate Evaluation

This study examines viewers' emotional responses to print political advertising. It demonstrates that positive and negative (direct attack) political advertising differ in the emotional responses that they elicit. Consistent with prior research on emotion, positive and direct attack political advertising generate different amounts of message recall and produce different quantities of positive and negative cognitive responses. Most importantly, this study establishes the importance of ad-evoked emotion in the formation process of ad exposure and candidate evaluation. Integrating findings from this study, a model is proposed that establishes the relationship of four important variables: ad valence, ad-evoked emotion, attitude toward the ad, and candidate liking. It suggests that (1) ad valence has an impact on attitude toward the candidate via the mediation of ad-evoked emotion; (2) ad valence has an impact on attitude toward the ad via the mediation of ad-evoked emotion; (3) attitude toward the ad has an impact on candidate evaluation; and (4) ad-evoked emotion can explain variations of candidate evaluations beyond that which can be accounted for by attitude toward the ad.

Field of study: Psychology
Transition from Staurolite to Sillimanite Zone, Rangeley Quadrangle, Maine

Study of pelitic schists in the Rangeley area, Maine, by means of petrographic, x-ray, and electron-microprobe techniques enables definition of the isogradic reaction relating the Staurolite and lower sillimanite zones. The reaction is a discontinuous one and can be shown on an AFM projection as the tie line change from Staurolite + chlorite to sillimanite + biotite. This topology change, in conjunction with the mineralogical data provides the equation: Staur + M g -Chte + Na-Musc + (Garn?)→Sill + Bio + K-richer Musc + Ab + Qtz + H 2 O. This reaction should result in a sharp isograd in the field but in fact is found to be spread out over a zone which is called the transition zone. It is proposed that this zone results from buffering of f H 2 O by means of the equation above. Buffering of f H 2 O by continuous reactions also appears to be taking place in the lower sillimanite zone. Metamorphic conditions for the isogradic reaction are believed to be near 4 kb and 600°C. P fluid was probably equal to P total but somewhat greater than P H 2 O .

Field of study: Geology
Characterization and Applications of Kaolinite Robustly Grafted by an Ionic Liquid with Naphthyl Functionality

Functionalization of the kaolinite (K) interlayer space is challenging. In this work, a new kaolinite-based nanohybridmaterial (K-NI) was successfully synthesized by grafting on the interlayer aluminol surfaces the ionic liquid, 1-(1-methylnaphthyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) imidazolium chloride (NI), using a guest displacement strategy. A substantial increase of the basal spacing (10.8 Å) was obtained. This is a grafted derivative of kaolinite possessing one of the largest d-values. Washing in water for several days and other vigorous treatments such as sonication showed a minor effect on the integrity of the material. FTIR and 13C NMR confirmed the conservation of the structure of the ionic liquid after the grafting. Thermal analysis confirmed the presence of grafted material and was used to estimate the abundance of the grafted ionic liquid (0.44 mole per mole of kaolinite structural formula, (Al2Si2O5(OH)4)). By using cyclic voltammetry, the permeability of a film of K-NI for the bulky ferricyanide ions was demonstrated. The accumulation of nitrophenolate anions was effective (maximum capacity of 190 μmol/g), but was less important than what was expected due to the steric hindrance of the bulky grafted NI. Although the presence of chloride anions reduced the adsorption capacity, the affinity of the modified kaolinite interlayer space for the nitrophenolate anions was demonstrated.

Field of study: Materials science
Effects of Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping Instructional Approach on Secondary School Students’ Motivation in Physics in Nyeri County, Kenya

This study aimed at finding out the effects of Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping ECCM on students’ motivation to learn Physics. Solomon Four Non-equivalent Control Group Design under the quasi- experimental research was used. A stratified random sample of 12 Secondary Schools was drawn from Nyeri County. Four boys’ alone, four girls’ alone and four co-educational schools were randomly assigned to four groups with a total of 513 Form Two students. Students in all the groups were taught the same Physics content of Magnetic Effect of Electric Current. The experimental groups were taught using ECCM approach while the control groups were taught through Regular Teaching Methods (RTM). Two groups were pre-tested prior to the implementation of treatment. After five weeks, all four groups were post-tested using the Student Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ). The instrument was validated and pilot tested before use. The reliability coefficient for SMQ was 0.81.  The instrument was scored and data analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA at a significance level of alpha equal to 0.05.  The results of the study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the motivation to learn of students who were taught through ECCM and those taught through RTM. The researchers recommend the used of ECCM in addressing motivation of students towards learning physics.  Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping (ECCM), Regular Teaching Methods (RTM), Secondary School students, Physics,

Field of study: Education
The Organization and Procedure of the Pennsylvania Assembly, 1682-1776, The Legislative Process

IN view of the fact that Pennsylvania is said to have contributed "much the largest part of our national law-making devices" it seems strange that the legislative procedure of Pennsylvania's colonial Assembly has not been systematically investigated long before this. For it is certainly worthy of note that the Congress of the United States sat in Philadelphia during its formative years; was presided over by a former Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly; and had at hand, in printed form for easy reference, the journals which record the procedure customarily employed by the Pennsylvania Assembly in carrying on its legislative business.

Field of study: History
Walsh Spectral Analysis of the SMS4 S-Boxes Boolean Functions

S-Boxes are quite important components of modern symmetric cryptosystems in the sense that S-Boxes bring nonlinearity to block ciphers and strengthen their cryptographic security. Uses the theory of Walsh spectrum to analyse the SMS4 characteristics such as linearity, nonlinearity, balanceness, strict avalanche criteria and propagation criteria in order to reveal the security of SMS4 S-box theoretically.

Field of study: Computer science