nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Differences in developmental competence and gene expression profiles between buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) preimplantation embryos cultured in three different embryo culture media
Venue: Cytotechnology

The objective of this study was to compare effects of in vitro culture systems on embryonic development and expression patterns of developmentally important genes in preimplantation buffalo embryos. After IVM/IVF presumptive zygotes were cultured in one of three systems: undefined TCM 199, mCR2aa medium supplemented with 10 FBS and defined PVA myo inositol phosphate EGF medium. No (P 0.05) differences at 2 cell, 4 cell and 8 cell to 16 cell stages were observed among the three cultured media used, however, increased (P 0.05) blastocyst yield, cell number and hatching rate were found in defined medium compared to undefined media. The expression patterns of genes implicated in embryo metabolism (GLUT 1) anti apoptosis (BCL 2) imprinting (IGF 2R) DNA methylation (DNMT 3A) and maternal recognition of pregnancy (IFNT) were increased (P 0.05) in hatched blastocysts derived from defined medium compared to undefined media. In conclusion, serum free, defined medium improved developmental competence of in vitro cultured buffalo embryos. Whether these differences in morphological development and gene expression have long term effects on buffalo calves born after embryo transfer remains unknown. However, it is possible that early adaptations of the preimplantation embryo to its environment persist during fetal and post natal development.
Dietary supplements and disease prevention a global overview
Venue: Nature Reviews Endocrinology

Dietary supplements are widely used and offer the potential to improve health if appropriately targeted to those in need. Inadequate nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent conditions that adversely affect global health. Although improvements in diet quality are essential to address these issues, dietary supplements and/or food fortification could help meet requirements for individuals at risk of deficiencies. For example, supplementation with vitamin A and iron in developing countries, where women of reproductive age, infants and children often have deficiencies; with folic acid among women of reproductive age and during pregnancy; with vitamin D among infants and children; and with calcium and vitamin D to ensure bone health among adults aged =65 years. Intense debate surrounds the benefits of individual high dose micronutrient supplementation among well nourished individuals because the alleged beneficial effects on chronic diseases are not consistently supported. Daily low dose multivitamin supplementation has been linked to reductions in the incidence of cancer and cataracts, especially among men. Baseline nutrition is an important consideration in supplementation that is likely to modify its effects. Here, we provide a detailed summary of dietary supplements and health outcomes in both developing and developed countries to help guide decisions about dietary supplement recommendations.
Tradable Aggregate Risk Factors and the Cross Section of Stock Returns

We show that value and small stocks have higher expected returns due to their exposure to a factor linked to dividend growth and its risk premium a tradable dividend growth factor constructed using dividend swap data. Hence, growth risks are the only source of their risk premia. The equity market portfolio can be decomposed into several tradable aggregate risk factors, but only one of these factors is priced in the cross section of size and value sorted portfolios. We propose two alternative approaches to test the post 1963 cross sectional implications of the model based on either the stability of portfolio betas or ability to form factor mimicking portfolios. In both cases, our results imply that only dividend growth news and/or expected return news associated with dividend growth matter in this cross section, while other cash flow news (for instance, level of dividends) and other expected returns news (for instance, changes in government bond yields) do not matter. We find that a tradable dividend level factor is also priced in the cross section of other portfolios (sorted on dividend yield, earnings yield and cash flow to price) Results are robust to the inclusion of other tradable aggregate factors such as bond returns, inflation breakeven returns, implied volatility returns as well as credit risk, banking sector risk, and liquidity risk factors.
Nudging: A promising tool for sustainable consumption behaviour?

Success of strategies for solving problems of climate change, resource efficiency and environmental impacts increasingly depend on whether changes in public behaviour can and will supplement the technical solutions available to date. A renewed perspective on existing policy tools and potential strategies for behaviour change are entering public debate that have implications for behaviour of individuals, but that also raise critical questions about the role of the government in the society and transition to sustainability. The guiding question is whether it is possible to help individuals make better decisions for themselves and society at large by overcoming limitations of human cognitive capacity and behavioural biases? In order to answer these questions, this article 1) analyses existing academic knowledge on nudging and choice architecture; 2) investigates lessons about effectiveness of applied nudging tools and approaches in consumption domains of energy use in the home, food and mobility; 3) discusses opportunities and limitations for devising more successful nudges in the three consumption domains; and 4) outlines critical issues concerning the legitimacy of nudging. The article shows that lately applications of behavioural sciences and behavioural economics, such as nudge, have been helping policy makers in different countries and sectors to more systematically integrate behavioural insights into policy design and implementation. However, the size of the effects of policy interventions and the actual outcomes of interventions in different contexts are very diverse. Results from one experiment cannot be indiscriminately generalised to a different context or to a wider population. The problem is the complexity of human behaviour and the diversity of factors that influence it. Despite that, nudging is a useful strategy for inducing changes in context specific behaviour. Nudge tools are seen as a complement to the traditional policy instruments rather than as a substitute for laws and regulations and economic tools. The article is based on the project funded by the Swedish EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that resulted in a report "Nudging. Advancing Swedish policy making with academic insights and practical experiences of changing behaviour" Mont et al. 2014 which served as an input to the Swedish EPA' recommendations to the Swedish Government on policy measures for sustainable consumption (Naturvardsverket, 2014)
SPICE: Semantic Propositional Image Caption Evaluation
Venue: ECCV

There is considerable interest in the task of automatically generating image captions. However, evaluation is challenging. Existing automatic evaluation metrics are primarily sensitive to n gram overlap, which is neither necessary nor sufficient for the task of simulating human judgment. We hypothesize that semantic propositional content is an important component of human caption evaluation, and propose a new automated caption evaluation metric defined over scene graphs coined SPICE. Extensive evaluations across a range of models and datasets indicate that SPICE captures human judgments over model generated captions better than other automatic metrics (e.g. system level correlation of 0.88 with human judgments on the MS COCO dataset, versus 0.43 for CIDEr and 0.53 for METEOR) Furthermore, SPICE can answer questions such as which caption generator best understands colors? and can caption generators count?
Review Networks for Caption Generation
Venue: NIPS

We propose a novel extension of the encoder decoder framework, called a review network. The review network is generic and can enhance any existing encoder decoder model: in this paper, we consider RNN decoders with both CNN and RNN encoders. The review network performs a number of review steps with attention mechanism on the encoder hidden states, and outputs a thought vector after each review step; the thought vectors are used as the input of the attention mechanism in the decoder. We show that conventional encoder decoders are a special case of our framework. Empirically, we show that our framework improves over state of the art encoder decoder systems on the tasks of image captioning and source code captioning.
The stress state of the northern Tien Shan crust based on the KNET seismic network data

In this study we present a detailed analysis of natural stresses in the Northern Tien Shan crust averaged in a window of 10 15 km obtained from seismological data of the local KNET network. The transformation of focal mechanism data into the parameters of the stress tensor was based on the method of cataclastic analysis of rupture displacement elaborated by Yu.L. Rebetsky (Institute of Physic of the Earth, Moscow) The results, including the orientation of the principal stress axes and the reduced stresses, are presented for four depth layers. It was shown that the central part of the study area is dominated by horizontal compression, while multiple domains characterized by horizontal shear and superimposed compression or pure horizontal shear are also present (uppermost layers in the eastern part of the Chuya depression, Suusamyr depression and adjoining regions, in the central part of the Kyrgyz Range) There are also several large domains of high and low effective confining pressure, which defines the corresponding deviator stress, according to the Coulomb Mohr law. It was shown that relatively strong earthquakes are correlated with zones with low levels of effective pressure where the ruptures are characterized by lower resistance to brittle fracturing, i.e. Coulomb friction stresses. It was also shown that a distinct segment of the 60 km E W striking fault on the northern slope of the Kyrgyz Range generates a uniform distribution of stresses, corresponding to a dextral slip along of its edges.
Principals " Instructional Leadership Qualities That Enhance Effective Teaching and Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools from Perspectives of Students and Teachers

The study was designed to investigate the principals' instructional leadership qualities that enhance effective teaching and learning of chemistry in secondary schools in Kogi state, Nigeria. The sample of this study consists of 42 principals, 84 chemistry teachers and 1,050 chemistry students from 42 senior secondary schools selected using multi stage sampling technique. A 36 item questionnaire (r 0.81) was developed, validated and used by the researcher to collect data. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer research questions while t test was used to analyse the hypothesis at 0.05 alpha level. The results showed among others that provision of conducive teaching and learning environment, constant supervision of teaching learning process and provision of incentive to both teachers and students by the principals are the leadership qualities that enhance effective teaching and learning. It was also found that non significant difference existed between the mean perception scores of students and teachers on the instructional leadership qualities of principals' that enhance effective teaching and learning chemistry. Recommendations were made to include that principals of schools should be constantly assessed by their students and teachers and the feedback used to improve the instructional leadership qualities of principals.
Hierarchical Linearly Solvable Markov Decision Problems
Venue: ICAPS

We present a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework that formulates each task in the hierarchy as a special type of Markov decision process for which the Bellman equation is linear and has analytical solution. Problems of this type, called linearly solvable MDPs (LMDPs) have interesting properties that can be exploited in a hierarchical setting, such as efficient learning of the optimal value function or task compositionality. The proposed hierarchical approach can also be seen as a novel alternative to solving LMDPs with large state spaces. We derive a hierarchical version of the so called Z learning algorithm that learns different tasks simultaneously and show empirically that it significantly outperforms the state of the art learning methods in two classical hierarchical reinforcement learning domains: the taxi domain and an autonomous guided vehicle task.
Hierarchical Linearly Solvable Markov Decision Problems Extended Version with Supplementary Material

We present a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework that formulates each task in the hierarchy as a special type of Markov decision process for which the Bellman equation is linear and has analytical solution. Problems of this type, called linearly solvable MDPs (LMDPs) have interesting properties that can be exploited in a hierarchical setting, such as efficient learning of the optimal value function or task compositionality. The proposed hierarchical approach can also be seen as a novel alternative to solving LMDPs with large state spaces. We derive a hierarchical version of the so called Z learning algorithm that learns different tasks simultaneously and show empirically that it significantly outperforms the state of the art learning methods in two classical HRL domains: the taxi domain and an autonomous guided vehicle task.
Modeling and Predicting Students' Academic Performance Using Data Mining Techniques

The main objective of this study is to apply data mining techniques to predict and analyze students' academic performance based on their academic record and forum participation. Educational Data Mining (EDM) is an emerging tool for academic intervention. The educational institutions can use EDU for extensive analysis of students' characteristics. In this study, we have collected students' data from two undergraduate courses. Three different data mining classification algorithms (Naive Bayes, Neural Network, and Decision Tree) were used on the dataset. The prediction performance of three classifiers are measured and compared. It was observed that Naive Bayes classifier outperforms other two classifiers by achieving overall prediction accuracy of 86% This study will help teachers to improve student academic performance.
Performance Evaluation of Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms for Intrusion Detection

Intrusion detection system plays an important role in network security. Intrusion detection model is a predictive model used to predict the network data traffic as normal or intrusion. Machine Learning algorithms are used to build accurate models for clustering, classification and prediction. In this paper classification and predictive models for intrusion detection are built by using machine learning classification algorithms namely Logistic Regression, Gaussian Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine and Random Forest. These algorithms are tested with NSL KDD data set. Experimental results shows that Random Forest Classifier out performs the other methods in identifying whether the data traffic is normal or an attack.
The prediction of traffic congestion and incident on urban road networks using Naive Bayes classifier

This study proposes a Naive Bayes (NB) classifier model for predicting congestion and incident in urban road networks. NB is a machine learning classification model based on Bayes' theorem with strong (probabilistic) independence assumptions between predictor variables. This study considers congestion or incident as a target variable and applies a NB model to classify its state (i.e. occur vs. not occur) Predictor variables or features considered in this study include network environment variables (time of day, day of week, and weather) and traffic condition variables (speed on bottlenecks) This study develops a data driven approach for building and validating NB models. The models are trained and tested using actual traffic, incident, and weather data collected from Brisbane, Australia in 2014. The validation results show that the proposed models can successfully predict congestion and incident occurrence with a desired level of accuracy.
State consent as foundational myth

Throughout history, the conclusion of treaties based on the consent of states has been an important feature of international life. Today, the role of consent in international law is arguably more important than ever, with an unprecedented number of treaties in place, mostly created through the expressed will of states. Even where non state actors have assumed a pivotal role in the creation and application of treaties, 'the treaty paradigm generally continues to be pre conditioned on the presence of state consent'.1 Consent also continues to play an important role in areas other than the law of treaties, such as customary law or the regime regulating the legality of foreign intervention.2 From the nineteenth century, however, the consent of states has become more than a way of validating treaties, legitimizing customary law or legalizing foreign interventions. Increasingly, state consent has been portrayed as the sole foundation or defining characteristic of international law as a whole. International law, in the Lotus dictum of the Permanent Court of International Justice, is an order resting on the express and tacit consent of states: 'International law governs relations between independent states. The rules binding upon them therefore emanate from their own free will .3 The Lotus case thus understood international law as grounded in the consent of particular entities (territorially defined, independent states) and only binding upon those states that had, in one form or the other, bound themselves through consent. Under the Lotus reading of international law, all rules binding upon states are the product of lawmaking; they are not pre given, but result from the freely expressed will of states, either explicitly or
Influence of limiting factors on biomass and lipid productivities of axenic Chlorella vulgaris in photobioreactor under chemostat cultivation.
Venue: Bioresource technology

The understanding of process parameters and limiting conditions on microalgal biomass and lipid productivities is scarce especially in chemostat cultivation. In this study, the factors limiting growth of axenic Chlorella vulgaris OW 01 in cylindrical photobioreactor under chemostat cultivation were overcome in two phases. Physiological and physicochemical analyses determined inorganic carbon, phosphorous and light intensity as major limiting factors. Their effect on system productivity was ascertained and optimized in the first phase resulting in maximum biomass and lipid productivities of 538 and 128 (mg/L/d) respectively. In the second phase, the effect of dilution rate was evaluated under optimized conditions. The biomass and lipid productivities in this phase reached to 1013 and 270 (mg/L/d) respectively at a dilution rate of 0.75d( 1) yielding >10 fold cumulative increase in productivities. The study demonstrates addressing resource limitations by constant monitoring and optimization of chemostat cultivation to achieve high biomass and lipid productivities in photobioreactors.
Lire la peinture, lire le texte litteraire a l'ecole une activite de meme nature

Les programmes de francais de college et de lycee invitent a pratiquer la lecture de l'image, presupposant l'isomorphisme avec la lecture analytique des textes, dont elle favoriserait l'apprentissage. Notre recherche confirme que l'exercice applique a la peinture favorise l'acces aux attendus scolaires pour la majorite des eleves et suscite moins d'inegalites de reussite. Ce que nous expliquons par les ecarts semiologiques entre les deux arts et par le rapport differencie des eleves a l'un et a l'autre. Postuler l'activite de construction du sens comme de meme nature risque donc de court circuiter les causes de la facilitation et, partant, la possibilite d'un transfert des apprentissages d'un art a l'autre.
Social constructions of the male contraception pill: When are we going to break the vicious circle?
Venue: Journal of health psychology

Social constructions of men towards the availability of a male hormonal contraceptive, the 'male pill' were explored. A qualitative approach applying semi structured interviews and scenarios with 22 men (mean age 35 years) from the North East of England revealed two core constructs and six sub constructs using a Thematic Construct Analysis in line with the method of Toerien and Wilkinson and Clarke and Kitzinger. Verbal accounts were inductively used to balance the deductively created two core constructs 'Constructing the male pill norm: dominant system of sensemaking' and 'Living by the male pill norm' to represent a normative framework within a changing ideology of shared responsibility in contraceptive choice. Constructing the male pill norm was divided into two sub constructs: 'Male pill: we are going to join the women and become responsible too! and 'Male pill: you look so girly what are they going to think of me? The 'Living by the male pill norm' was further divided into four sub constructs 'Male pill thank you for giving me promises not to have to become a dad as yet! 'Male pill: thank you for the idea of fun sorry about my morals! 'Male pill: in stable relations yes, I would have you now sorry, I am too late! and 'Male pill, we love you but we are too anxious we are not ready as yet! From this male discourse, it is clear that discussions over the male pill follow the line of a vicious circle. In order to establish long term side effects, Phase IV studies are necessary, and these cannot commence without the male hormonal contraception being a marketable product. So, unless this circle gets broken by some brave men, the male pill will remain a virtual rotating idea for a long time.
Application of the Kvaal method for adult dental age estimation using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)
Venue: Journal of forensic and legal medicine

Different non invasive methods have been proposed for dental age estimation in adults, with the Kvaal et al. method as one of the more frequently tested in different populations. The purpose of this study was to apply the Kvaal et al. method for dental age estimation on modern volumetric data from 3D digital systems. To this end, 101 CBCT images from a Malaysian population were used. Fifty five per cent were female (n 55) and forty five percent were male (n 46) with a median age of 31 years for both sexes. As tomographs allow the observer to obtain a sagittal and coronal view of the teeth, the Kvaal pulp/root width measurements and ratios were calculated in the bucco lingual and mesio distal aspects of the tooth. From these data different linear regression models and formulae were built. The most accurate models for estimating age were obtained from a diverse combination of measurements (SEE 10.58 years) and for the mesio distal measurements of the central incisor at level A (SEE 12.84 years) This accuracy, however is outside an acceptable range in for forensic application (SEE 10.00 years) and is also more time consuming than the original approach based on dental radiographs.