nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
ERK-dependent Signaling Pathway and Transcriptional Factor Ets-1 Regulate Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Production in Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Stimulated Glomerular Podocytes

The unregulated synthesis of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) components, extracelluar matrix (ECM) proteins, or the secretion of ECM-degradation enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), by podocytes under pathological conditions might be major factors in GBM damage. The present study examined the effects and the underlying molecular mechanism of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) on the production of gelatinase in cultured murine podocytes. Our results showed that TGFβ1 is the most potent inducer of MMP-9 secretion in both a dose- and time-dependent manner, but has very little effect on MMP-2 secretion. TGFβ1 upregulated MMP-9 mRNA levels, but did not affect the expression of matrix mettaloproteinases TIMP-1 mRNA. TGFβ1 induced activation of both Smad2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2). However, blockade of Smad2 signaling pathway by Staurosporine did not affect the TGFβ1-stimulated secretion of MMP-9, whereas inhibition of activation of ERK1/2 by PD98059 abolished TGFβ1-stimulated secretion of MMP-9 and expression of MMP-9 mRNA. Protein levels of the transcriptional factor Ets-1 increased and were sustained for 12 h by TGFβ1-stimulation. Our data also showed that blockage of ERK1/2 activation by PD98059 led to a reduction in the level of Ets-1 protein and to a consequent decrease in MMP-9 mRNA levels. These results demonstrate that TGFβ1 can induce the production of MMP-9 in podocytes through the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway, and suggested that an increase in MMP-9 enzymatic activities may be involved in the damage of the GBM in response to inflammatory factors, ultimately leading to glomerulosclerosis.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Polyploidization-driven differentiation of freezing tolerance in Solidago canadensis.

Solidago canadensis, originating from the temperate region of North America, has expanded southward to subtropical regions through polyploidization. Here we investigated whether freezing tolerance of S. canadensis was weakened during expansion. Measurement of the temperature causing 50% ruptured cells (LT50 ) in 35 S. canadensis populations revealed ploidy-related differentiation in freezing tolerance. Freezing tolerance was found to decrease with increasing ploidy. The polyploid populations of S. canadensis had lower ScICE1 gene expression levels but more ScICE1 gene copies than the diploids. Furthermore, more DNA methylation sites in the ScICE1 gene promoter were detected in the polyploids than in the diploids. The results suggest that promoter methylation represses the expression of multi-copy ScICE1 genes, leading to weaker freezing tolerance in polyploid S. canadensis compared to the diploids. The study provides empirical evidence that DNA methylation regulates expression of the gene copies and supports polyploidization-driven adaptation to new environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Field of study: Environmental science
Magnetoresistance of layered conductors under conditions of topological phase transition

The resistance of layered conductors with a multisheet Fermi surface (FS), in a high magnetic field, in the immediate vicinity of Lifshic's topological transition when the separate FS sheets are drown together by an external action, pressure in part (and eventual change of the FS connectivity) is studied theoretically. Analysis of magnetoresistance near topological transition is illustrated for the case of FS in the shape of lightly corrugated cylinder and two corrugated planes distributed with a repeated period in the pulse space. It yields, that as the FS plane sheets approach sufficiently the cylinder, the charge carriers produce a magnetic breakdown of one FS sheet to another, decreasing a sharp anisotropy of magnetoresistance to the in-plane current. Instead of square increase with a magnetic field, the slower resistance growth remains linear in the field within a broad magnetic-field range. In the intimate vicinity of topological transition, when the energy gap between FS layers is negligibly small, the resistance is saturated.

Field of study: Physics
Host-pathogen interactions in the development of metabolic disturbances and atherosclerosis in HIV infection: the role of CCL2 genetic variants.

Circulating CCL2 concentration has been implicated in promoting atherosclerosis in patients infected with HIV. We evaluated whether CCL2 gene variants are associated with metabolic disturbances and plasma CCL2 levels in HIV-infected patients.



CCL2 genotypes and estimated haplotypes, plasma CCL2 levels and indicators of metabolic status in HIV-infected patients were compared with a representative group of the general population. We also performed a carotid/femoral artery ultrasonography to detect sub-clinical atherosclerosis in these patients. Six haplotypes were estimated in more than the 5% of individuals, and accounted for more than 98% of the population. In HIV-infected patients, carriers of H1, H2 and H5 haplotypes had higher CCL2 concentration than carriers of H3, H4 and H6 haplotypes. However, only carriers of H1 and H5 haplotypes presented higher insulin resistance as well as higher proportion of patients affected with sub-clinical. Conversely, carriers of H2 haplotype, which also showed high plasma CCL2 concentration, were associated with less deleterious metabolic disturbances.



Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the genetic background of the host is involved in CCL2 production and that this chemokine is implicated in promoting metabolic disturbances and sub-clinical atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients.

Field of study: Medicine
Co-Z Divisor Addition Formulae in Jacobian of Genus 2 Hyperelliptic Curves over Prime Fields

in this paper we proposed a new approach to divisor scalar multiplication in Jacobian of genus 2 hyperelliptic curves over fields with odd characteristic, without field inversion. It is based on improved addition formulae of the weight 2 divisors in projective divisor representation in most frequent case that suit very well to scalar multiplication algorithms based on Euclidean addition chains. Keywords-hyperelliptic curve, divisor, Jacobian, addition formulae, exponentiation, projective representation

Field of study: Computer science, Mathematics
Effect of Decontamination Processes on Insecticide Residues on Cauliflower

Residues of endosulfan, fenvalerate, and monocrotophos applied @ 500, 75, and 350 g a.i./ha on cauliflower crop dissipated by 99.34, 71.31, and 81.79%, respectively on leaves, and 100, 87.44, and 95.27%, respectively on curds in 15 days. These insecticides at 1000, 150, and 700 g a.i./ha receded to 98.35, 77.48, and 84.11%, respectively on leaves, and 100, 82.86 and 91.60%, respectively on curds in 15 days. The half-life values were 2.2, 9.1, and 6.5 days for endosulfan, fenvalerate, and monocrotophos respectively. Deposits were below the FAO/WHO tolerance limits for endosulfan and fenvalerate. Monocrotophos required a waiting period of 103 days. Cooking after washing mitigated 5 day old residues by 94.49 (95.68), 37.97 (1.30), 11.64% (6.82) from single (double) rates of application of endosulfan, fenvalerate, and monocrotophos, respectively.

Field of study: Biology
Phase Crystals.

Superconductivity owes its properties to the phase of the electron pair condensate that breaks the $U(1)$ symmetry. In the most traditional ground state, the phase is uniform and rigid. The normal state can be unstable towards special inhomogeneous superconducting states: the Abrikosov vortex state, and the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. Here we show that the phase-uniform superconducting state can go into a fundamentally different and more ordered non-uniform ground state, that we denote as a phase crystal. The new state breaks translational invariance through formation of a spatially periodic modulation of the phase, manifested by unusual superflow patterns and circulating currents, that also break time-reversal symmetry. We list the general conditions needed for realization of phase crystals. Using microscopic theory we then derive an analytic expression for the superfluid density tensor for the case of a non-uniform environment in a semi-infinite superconductor. We demonstrate how the surface quasiparticle states enter the superfluid density and identify phase crystallization as the main player in several previous numerical observations in unconventional superconductors, and predict existence of a similar phenomenon in superconductor-ferromagnetic structures. This analytic approach provides a new unifying aspect for the exploration of boundary-induced quasiparticles and collective excitations in superconductors. More generally, we trace the origin of phase crystallization to non-local properties of the gradient energy, which implies existence of similar pattern-forming instabilities in many other contexts.

Field of study: Physics
Evaluation of Electrically Conductive Concrete Containing Carbon Products for Deicing

Using electrically conductive concrete for deicing is an emerging material technology. Due to its electrical resistance, a thin layer of conductive concrete can generate enough heat to prevent ice formation on concrete pavement when energized by a power source. Under research sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Roads, a concrete mixture containing steel fibers and shavings was developed specifically for concrete bridge deck deicing. The mixture has a compressive strength of 31 MPa and provides average thermal power density of 590 W/m-sq. with a heating rate of 0.14 deg C/min in a winter environment. During development of the conductive concrete, several drawbacks about using steel shavings in the mixture were noticed. As a follow-up effort, carbon and graphite products were used to replace steel shavings in the conductive concrete design. The electrical conductivity and the associated heating rate were improved with the carbon products. A conductive concrete deck has been implemented for deicing on a highway bridge at Roca, located approximately 15 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Roca Spur Bridge has a 117-ft-long and 28-ft-wide conductive concrete inlay, which has been instrumented with temperature and current sensors for heating performance monitoring during winter storms. Experimental data and operating costs are presented herein.

Field of study: Materials science
Preparation of Noble Metal Nanoparticles and Hydrogel Composite Materials and Their Application in Analytical Chemistry

Noble metal nanomaterials are widely used in analytical chemistry due to their unique physical and chemical properties. However, the instability of nanoparticles in aqueous solutions limits the development of noble metal nanomaterials. Hydrogels acting as nanoparticle carriers can solve this problem well. Due to the excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility and ease of modification, hydrogels can improve the properties of nanomaterials and provide new application advantages. Therefore, more and more researches focus on the development of noble metal nanoparticles and hydrogel composite materials. Here, we reviewed the preparation principles and application progress of various types of noble metal nanoparticles and hydrogel composite materials in the past five years, and discussed the application advantages of composite materials and their further research orientations.

Field of study: Chemistry
The Equatorial Mid-Ocean Canyon: A relict deep-sea channel on the Brazilian continental margin

The Equatorial Mid-Ocean Canyon is an erosional-depositional deep-sea channel which was formed by turbidity-current activity, was active during the Miocene, but is now a relict feature. The canyon parallels the Brazilian continental rise between 3°–5°S and 33°15′ to 28°W and descends eastward for at least 1,200 km with a gradient of 1:1,000. The canyon is 5 to 8 km wide and as much as 200 m deep. Although the bathymetric expression of the canyon on the sea floor begins at about 33°15′W, the canyon has been traced westward (up-slope) from this longitude in subsurface for at least 75 to 150 km. The trend of this buried portion of the canyon indicates that originally the head of the canyon was on the upper continental rise. The stratigraphic relationship between the canyon and a lower Miocene acoustic reflector of widespread regional extent suggests that the canyon formed during the late early Miocene period. Piston cores from the canyon floor, walls, and levees consist largely of pelagic foraminiferal marls and brown clays which indicate that the canyon has been inactive for at least the past million years. The exact time when the canyon became inactive is still uncertain, but it was probably middle to late Miocene. When active, the canyon channeled terrigenous sediments southeastward along the trend of the Fernando de Noronha Basin. The canyon apparently was abandoned and subsequently buried when the predominant direction of sediment dispersal shifted from southeastward along the Fernando de Noronha Basin to northeastward into the adjacent Guiana Basin, thus making the canyon path obsolete.

Field of study: Geology
Short kernel fifth-order interpolation

An explicit analytical formula for a short kernel fifth-order polynomial interpolator is obtained. It is also possible to obtain the explicit forms of even higher order interpolation kernels with the method of calculation used, but it is seen that these local kernels become "remainder-dominated" as the order increases. The frequency domain properties and the accuracies of the obtained kernel and the known convolution kernels are compared. Frequency domain comparison with the cubic B-spline interpolators is also given. Some cases of proper use of the calculated kernels have been pointed out.

Field of study: Engineering
INDUCTION OF INTERFERON γ IN HUMAN GINGIVAL FIBROBLASTS CHALLENGED WITH PHYTOHAEMAGGLUTININ

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potential immunoregulatory cytokine, which is secreted mainly by cells of immune origin. In this study, we examined the capacity of human gingival fibroblasts as non-professional immune cells to express IFN-gamma messenger RNA (mRNA) and to produce the protein. Cultures of fibroblast cells were established from gingival biopsies from three children. The expression of mRNA for IFN-gamma was studied by in situ hybridization, and the level of IFN-gamma was determined by cell-released capturing ELISA. Treatment of the cells with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (2.5, 5.0, and 10 microg/ml) increased the number of IFN-gamma mRNA expressing cells and the protein production at 1, 6, and 24 h. Non-stimulated cells did not reveal measurable levels of IFN-gamma mRNA or the protein. The inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) (100 microg/ml) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) (10 ng/ml) did not affect IFN-gamma mRNA expression or protein production. Treatment of the cells with 1 microM phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) stimulated IFN-gamma mRNA expression but had no effect on IFN-gamma protein production. We conclude that human gingival fibroblasts not only transcribe IFN-gamma mRNA but also produce the IFN-gamma protein in response to PHA. The finding that human gingival fibroblasts, produce the cytokine IFN-gamma, further support the concept that these cells take an active part in the modulation of the inflammatory and immune response in the periodontal tissue.

Field of study: Medicine
Predicting suicidal behaviours using clinical instruments: Systematic review and meta-analysis of positive predictive values for risk scales

Prediction of suicidal behaviour is an aspirational goal for clinicians and policy makers; with patients classified as ‘high risk’ to be preferentially allocated treatment. Clinical usefulness requires an adequate positive predictive value (PPV).  To identify studies of predictive instruments and to calculate PPV estimates for suicidal behaviours.  A systematic review identified studies of predictive instruments. A series of meta-analyses produced pooled estimates of PPV for suicidal behaviours.  For all scales combined, the pooled PPVs were: suicide 5.5% (95% CI 3.9–7.9%), self-harm 26.3% (95% CI 21.8–31.3%) and self-harm plus suicide 35.9% (95% CI 25.8–47.4%). Subanalyses on self-harm found pooled PPVs of 16.1% (95% CI 11.3–22.3%) for high-quality studies, 32.5% (95% CI 26.1–39.6%) for hospital-treated self-harm and 26.8% (95% CI 19.5–35.6%) for psychiatric in-patients.  No ‘high-risk’ classification was clinically useful. Prevalence imposes a ceiling on PPV. Treatment should reduce exposure to modifiable risk factors and offer effective interventions for selected subpopulations and unselected clinical populations.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Customer's Adoption for Technology-Enabled Delivery Channels in Selected Public Sector Banks

The purpose of this paper is to investigate customer’s adoption for technology-enabled delivery channels such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Internet banking, Tele-banking, mobile banking and branch lobby kiosks of selected Public Sector Banks (PSBs). In addition, the study consists of the customer’s willingness for adopting banks delivery channels and customer demographics influence on delivery channels in specific for Mumbai city (India). For this study, structured questionnaire was administered to collect the primary data and random sampling method was adopted. The paper also presents a multi-year research effort on e-banking in delivery channels and suggests strategies to enhance the channelization of banking products and services through usage of delivery channels. The findings reveal that the customer’s willingness for adoption of various technology-enabled delivery channels is lower than the banks’ acceptable level. The usage of technology-enabled delivery channels such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Internet banking is high in Mumbai. The results also show that the usage of mobile banking and branch lobby kiosks is very low. Most of respondents are using Internet banking for the purpose of fund transfer and account information. ATMs service is highly used among 36-45 years of age groups. Promoting awareness about benefit of technology-enabled delivery channels is of utmost important to increase usage of technology-enabled delivery channels. The paper presents the opportunity for bank marketers to adapt to market orientated approach. They can consider customers usage pattern to increase the effectiveness of delivery channels. The results suggest that banks strategic and tactical activities require improvement in order to become more customer-focused and market-oriented. Furthermore, the scope of the study was selected PSBs’ customers residing in Mumbai city (India). Previous studies that sought adoption of innovative delivery channels lack concern to user’s inclination to technology-enabled delivery channels. This paper makes a valuable contribution in the field of marketing strategy of banks, and evaluate to what extent consumers are ready to accept and use the products or the services introduced.

Field of study: Business
Threshold and stability results for an age-structured epidemic model

We study a mathematical model for an epidemic spreading in an age-structured population with age-dependent transmission coefficient. We formulate the model as an abstract Cauchy problem on a Banach space and show the existence and uniqueness of solutions. Next we derive some conditions which guarantee the existence and uniqueness for non-trivial steady states of the model. Finally the local and global stability for the steady states are examined.

Field of study: Biology, Mathematics
Comprehensive Benefit Analysis of Three Gorges Resrvior Running at 175 Meters

The Three Gorges Project is the greatest hydraulic projection in the world.It is the key project of the harness and explotation of Yangtze River.The normal water level of Three Gorges reservoir is 175 meters and the total reservoir storage is 39.3 billion stere.The length of the reservoir is more than 600 kilometers,the width is about 1.1 kilometers.The area of the reservoir is 1084 square kilometer.The Three Gorges Project has the compositive benefit in Flood Controlling,power generating and shipping.

Field of study: Engineering, Physics
Probiotic salami with fat and curing salts reduction: Physicochemical, textural and sensory characteristics

Currently, consumers are searching for safe and nutritious products, besides being innovative and attractive, as functional foods are. On this sense, meat products have been criticized by their large amount of animal fat, nitrite and nitrate. Thus, the search for new products to be developed has aroused great interest, so as to meet the consumer’s needs and obtain products that are healthier from a nutritional point of view (Rubio et al., 2014a).

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Progress in serological detection of Zika virus infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection may lead to some serious potential complications, such as neonatal microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. ZIKV epidemics have caused public panic and aroused global concern. World Health Organization (WHO) has listed ZIKV infection as one of the public health emergencies of international concern. This paper focused on the progress in ZIKV detection methods, especially in serological tests, and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of each method in practical application, aiming to provide technical reference for the prevention and control of Zika virus infection. 
 
 
 
Zika virus; Serological detection; Antibody; Antigen

Field of study: Biology
Radiation-induced meningioma.

The long-term or delayed side effects of irradiation on neural tissue are now known to include the induction of new central nervous system neoplasms. However, during the first half of the 20th century, human neural tissue was generally considered relatively resistant to the carcinogenic and other ill effects of ionizing radiation. As a result, exposure to relatively high doses of x-rays from diagnostic examinations and therapeutic treatment was common. In the present article the authors review the literature relating to radiation-induced meningiomas (RIMs). Emphasis is placed on meningiomas resulting from childhood treatment for primary brain tumor or tinea capitis, exposure to dental x-rays, and exposure to atomic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The incidence and natural history of RIMs following exposure to high- and low-dose radiation is presented, including latency, multiplicity, histopathological features, and recurrence rates. The authors review the typical presentation of patients with RIMs and discuss unique aspects of the surgical management of these tumors compared with sporadic meningioma, based on their clinical experience in treating these lesions.

Field of study: Medicine
Revealed favorability, indirect utility, and direct utility

This paper studies the axiomatic foundations of the indirect utility function, based upon a revealed preference approach. A chain of comparisons of budgets is regarded as giving a relation on the price-income space (a revealed favorability relation) rather than a relation on the commodity space (a revealed preference relation). The weak and strong axioms of revealed favorability are introduced by analogy with the weak and strong axioms of revealed preference, and the relationship between the former two axioms is investigated. The indirect and direct utility functions are then derived on the basis of the strong axiom of revealed favorability. Neither the continuity property of the demand function nor the convex property of its range is required for the approach taken in the paper.

Field of study: Economics