nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Item analysis of multiple choice questions: Assessing an assessment tool in medical students

Assessment is a very important component of the medical course curriculum. Item analysis is the process of collecting, summarizing, and using information from student's responses to assess the quality of multiple choice questions (MCQs) Difficulty index (P) and discrimination index (D) are the parameters used to evaluate the standard of MCQs. The aim of the study was to assess quality of MCQs.  The study was conducted in the Department of Pathology. One hundred and twenty, 2nd year MBBS students took the MCQs test comprising 40 questions. There was no negative marking and evaluation was done out of 40 marks, and 50% score was the passing mark. Postvalidation of the paper was done by item analysis. Each item was analyzed for difficulty index, discrimination index, and distractor effectiveness. The relationship between them for each item was determined by Pearson correlation analysis using SPSS 20.0.  Difficulty index of 34 (85% items was in the acceptable range (P 30 70% 2 (5% item was too easy (P >70% and 4 (10% items were too difficult (P 0.4) 4 (10% items were good (D =0.3 0.39) 6 (15% items were acceptable (D =0.2 0.29) and 6 (15% items were poor (D 0 0.19) A total 40 items had 120 distractors. Amongst these, 6 (5% were nonfunctional distracters, 114 (95% were functional distracters. The discrimination index exhibited positive correlation with difficulty index (r 0.563, P 0.010, significant at 0.01 level [two tailed] The maximum discrimination (D 0.5 0.6) was observed in acceptable range (P 30 70%  In this study, the majority of items fulfilled the criteria of acceptable difficulty and good discrimination. Moderately easy/difficult had the maximal discriminative ability. Very difficult item displayed poor discrimination, but the very easy item had high discrimination index, indicating a faulty item, or incorrect keys. The results of this study would initiate a change in the way MCQ test items are selected for any examination, and there should be proper assessment strategy as part of the curriculum development.
Comparison between three option, four option and five option multiple choice question tests for quality parameters: A randomized study
Venue: Indian journal of pharmacology

Most of the academic teachers use four or five options per item of multiple choice question (MCQ) test as formative and summative assessment. Optimal number of options in MCQ item is a matter of considerable debate among academic teachers of various educational fields. There is a scarcity of the published literature regarding the optimum number of option in each item of MCQ in the field of medical education.  To compare three options, four options, and five options MCQs test for the quality parameters reliability, validity, item analysis, distracter analysis, and time analysis.  Participants were 3rd semester M.B.B.S. students. Students were divided randomly into three groups. Each group was given one set of MCQ test out of three options, four options, and five option randomly. Following the marking of the multiple choice tests, the participants' option selections were analyzed and comparisons were conducted of the mean marks, mean time, validity, reliability and facility value, discrimination index, point biserial value, distracter analysis of three different option formats.  Students score more (P 0.000) and took less time (P 0.009) for the completion of three options as compared to four options and five options groups. Facility value was more (P 0.004) in three options group as compared to four and five options groups. There was no significant difference between three groups for the validity, reliability, and item discrimination. Nonfunctioning distracters were more in the four and five options group as compared to three option group.  Assessment based on three option MCQs is can be preferred over four option and five option MCQs.
Constructive and blocking power in collaborative transportation
Venue: OR Spectr.

We empirically investigate constructive and blocking power concepts in transportation planning. Our main question is what do these concepts represent in collaborative transportation. We address it by studying cost allocation and coalition structure problems in a real world case on forest transportation involving eight companies. The potential savings of collaboration in this case account for about 9 We find that players more centrally located tend to benefit from the nucleolus allocation, which takes into account only the constructive power. Other methods, which take into account the blocking power, namely the modiclus and the SM nucleolus, correct the relative importance of the central players with respect to those in more peripheral areas. The blocking power acknowledges that the more peripheral companies, as a block, are still crucial to the collaboration, despite among themselves they have little opportunities for collaboration. Our main conclusion is that incorporating the blocking power as a criterion in a cost sharing rule for collaborative planning in transportation is important specially in the case where the coalition consists of one or few centrally located companies and several peripheral companies. A method based merely on the constructive power might extremely benefit the central companies, hurting the possibilities of sustaining the coalition.
A review on cost allocation methods in collaborative transportation
Venue: Int. Trans. Oper. Res.

Collaboration in transportation between two or more agents is becoming an important approach to find efficient solutions or plans. Efficiency can be measured in, for example, lower cost or more flexibility. An important aspect of the collaboration is to decide on how to share the benefits for example, cost, profit, or resources. There are many sharing mechanisms or cost allocations proposed in the literature. Some are based on simple proportional rules and others are based on theoretical concepts found in game theory. We provide a survey on cost allocation methods found in the literature on collaborative transportation, including problems on planning, vehicle routing, traveling salesman, distribution, and inventory. A total of 55 scientific articles compose the main part of the survey, most of them published between 2010 and 2015. We identify more than 40 cost allocation methods used in this stream of literature. We describe the theoretical basis for the main methods as well as the cases where they are used. We also report savings from the collaborations when they are based on industrial data. Some directions for future research are discussed.
Simplifying the Complex Complicates Our Findings: Understanding Marriage, Singlehood, and Health

Using a sample of same sex and different sex couples, Umberson and Kroeger (in chapter "Gender, Marriage, and Health for Same Sex and Different Sex Couples: The Future Keeps Arriving" explore gendered patterns of marriage, marital quality, and health. Understanding the social and political milieu in which individuals, families, and couples are embedded is a critical component of family science, thus, upon reading Umberson and Kroeger's work, context immediately came to mind. Context was largely missing. This chapter focuses on context, and it also addresses singlehood longevity of married couples, and diversity. Although those issues are distinct, all could easily fall under the umbrella of context. Relationships are best understood when the context in which they are embedded is taken into consideration. A salient component of context, as related to the study presented by Umberson and Kroeger is generational effects; the sample consists of a mixture of Generation Xers and baby boomers These two distinct generations were likely influenced by the prevailing sociopolitical attitudes of their respective times regarding sexuality, sex, and gender roles. Generational differences in attitudes and beliefs can be stark, and therefore must be considered.
Modelling biodiesel diesel spray combustion using multicomponent vaporization coupled with detailed fuel chemistry and soot models

A multicomponent vaporization model is integrated with detailed fuel chemistry and soot models for simulating biodiesel diesel spray combustion. Biodiesel, a fuel mixture comprised of fatty acid methyl esters, is an attractive alternative to diesel fuel for use in compression ignition engines. Accurately modelling of the spray, vaporization, and combustion of the fuel mixture is critical to predicting engine performance using biodiesel. In this study, a discrete component vaporization model was developed to simulate the vaporization of biodiesel drops. The model can predict differences in the vaporization rates of different fuel components. The model was validated by use of experimental data of the measured biodiesel drop size history and spray penetration data obtained from a constant volume chamber. Gas phase chemical reactions were simulated using a detailed reaction mechanism that also includes PAH reactions leading to the production of soot precursors. A phenomenological multi step soot model was utilized to predict soot emissions from biodiesel diesel combustion. The soot model considered various steps of soot formation and destruction, such as soot inception, surface growth, coagulation, and PAH condensation, as well as oxidation by oxygen and hydroxyl containing molecules. The overall numerical model was validated with experimental data on flame structure and soot distributions obtained from a constant volume chamber. The model was also applied to predict combustion, soot and NOx emissions from a diesel engine using different biodiesel diesel blends. The engine simulation results were further analysed to determine the soot emissions characteristics by use of biodiesel diesel fuels.
Pricing and ordering decisions of two competing supply chains with different composite policies: a Stackelberg game theoretic approach#

In today's global highly competitive markets, competition happens among supply chains instead of companies, as the members of supply chains. So, the partners of the chains seek to apply efficient coordinating strategies like discount, return, refund, buyback, or the other coordinating policies to abate the operation costs of the chains and subsequently increase market shares. Hence, because of the importance and application of these strategies in the current non exclusive markets, in this study, we introduce different composite coordinating strategies to enhance the coordination of the supply chains. Here, we consider two competing supply chains where both chains launch the same product under different brands to the market by applying different composite coordinating strategies. Each supply chain comprises one manufacturer and a group of non competing retailers where the manufacturer receives raw materials from an outside supplier and transforms them into a finished product; then, the products are sold to the retailers to satisfy the demands of market. In the first chain, a composite (QFF) policy, which is the combination of quantity and freight discount, as well as free shipping quantity policies, are considered between upstream and downstream members while in the second one, different composite polices are considered between upstream and downstream members such that the supplier offers a composite policy, as the first chain, to the manufacturer and the manufacturer proposes a composite (QPR) policy, which is the combination of quantity discount and partial refund customer return policies, to the retailers. The main objective of the paper is to determine the optimal selling prices and the order quantities of the manufacturer and the retailers in each chain in presence of different composite coordinating strategies. A Stackelberg game theoretic approach is employed between the members of each chain where the manufacturer is a follower and the retailers are leaders. The concavity of profit functions is proved. Finally, the applicability of the models is justified by presented numerical examples. Moreover, the effects of these strategies on the decisions of the chains' partners are examined.
Dopaminergic projections of the subparafascicular thalamic nucleus to the auditory brainstem
Venue: Hearing Research

Neuromodulators can alter the response properties of sensory neurons, including those in the auditory system. Dopamine, which plays a major role in reward and movement, has been shown to alter neural responses in the auditory brainstem and midbrain. Recently we identified the subparafascicular thalamic nucleus (SPF) part of the A11 dopaminergic cell group, as the source of dopamine to the inferior colliculus (IC) The superior olivary complex (SOC) is also a likely target of dopaminergic projections from the SPF because it receives projections from the SPF and contains fibers and terminals immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. However, it is unknown if the projections from the SPF to SOC are dopaminergic, and if single neurons in the SPF project to both the IC and SOC. Using anterograde tracing combined with fluorescent immunohistochemistry, we found that the SPF sends dopaminergic projections to the superior paraolivary nucleus and the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, but not the lateral superior olive. We confirmed these projections using a retrograde tracer. By making dual retrograde deposits in the IC and SOC, we found that individual dopaminergic cells innervate both the IC and SOC. These results suggest dopaminergic innervation, likely released in a context dependent manner, occurs at multiple levels of the auditory pathway.
Improved Round Robin CPU scheduling algorithm: Round Robin, Shortest Job First and priority algorithm coupled to increase throughput and decrease waiting time and turnaround time
Venue: 2016 International Conference on Global Trends in Signal Processing, Information Computing and Communication (ICGTSPICC)

In multitasking operating system, processes don't run simultaneously, but switch very expeditiously. Thus, all the processes share the CPU time. It is the job of the scheduler to select a process from the ready queue and place it into the memory based a particular strategy known as Scheduling Algorithm. There exist many Scheduling Algorithms such as First Come First Serve (FCFS) Shortest Job First (SJF) Round Robin (RR) Priority Scheduling, Multilevel Queue Scheduling (MLQ) This paper proposes a new strategy consolidating three of the existing scheduling algorithms to create a new strategy that reduces the time a process spends in waiting state. The proposed algorithm also reduces the number of context switches to provide a fair, efficient and methodical scheduling algorithm. The algorithm is an extended version of Round Robin Algorithm where each of the processes is given a priority level (low, medium or high) and based on the priority level, the Time Quantum for that process is decided and executed. The throughput of the algorithm is increased by executing processes with smaller burst time or smaller remaining burst time by allocating the process to the CPU as soon as it is ready but not pre empting the running process.
Student evaluations of physics teachers: On the stability and persistence of gender bias

Geoff Potvin and Zahra Hazari STEM Transformation Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199, USA Department of Physics, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199, USA Department of Teaching Learning, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199, USA (Received 7 February 2015;
Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from an enriched cage laying hen facility

Ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions were measured during a complete production cycle in an enriched cage laying hen facility under Oceanic climate conditions. Continuous monitoring of gas concentration, ventilation rate and environmental parameters were conducted from April 2012 to September 2013. The seasonal and diurnal pattern of gas emissions was analysed. Seasonality effect was found for NH 3 emission, showing an average emission of 144.9 mg d 1 hen 1 and 90.3 mg d 1 hen 1 in summer and winter, respectively. On the contrary, diurnal pattern of NH 3 emission did not differ between these seasons. For CO 2 mean emission values did not show seasonality, although the diurnal pattern differed between winter and summer. Results obtained for CH 4 and N 2 O emissions did not provide sufficient evidence to determine either seasonality or diurnal effect on these gases. An NH 3 emission factor of 7% of total N in manure was defined for this system. These losses increased at higher ventilation rates and lower belt cleaning frequencies. Thus, NH 3 mitigation strategies at housing level should consider both parameters. Further studies would be necessary to determine how these factors regulate NH 3 emission at laying hen houses.
Confidentiality in participatory research
Venue: Nursing ethics

This article presents key ethical challenges that were encountered when conducting a participatory qualitative research project with a very specific, small group of nurses, in this case with practice development nurses in Malta.  With the small number of nurses employed in practice development roles in Malta, there are numerous difficulties of maintaining confidentiality. Poorly constructed interventions by the researcher could have resulted in detrimental effects to research participants and the overall trustworthiness of the research. Generally, ethical guidelines for research exist to reinforce validity of research; however, there is not an established consensus on how these strategies can be utilised in some types of qualitative field work.  The researcher used an exploratory case study methodology. The sample consisted of 10 participants who were interviewed twice using face to face interviews, over a period of 2 months.  The study was ethically reviewed by the University Research Ethics Committee and the Faculty Research Ethics Committee, University of Malta. The participants referred to in this article have been given adequate information about the study and their consent has been obtained.  Numerous strategies for ensuring confidentiality during recruitment of the participants, during data collection, during transcription and data analysis and during dissemination of research results assisted the researcher in responding to potential and actual ethical issues.  This article emphasises the main strategies that can be used to respond to ethical challenges when researching with a small easily identifiable group. The learning discussed here may be relevant to or even transferable to other similar research studies or research contexts. These methods fostered a greater credibility throughout the research process and predisposed the participants to greater trust, and thus, they disclosed their experiences and speak more freely, thus enhancing the quality of the study.
CD44 alternative splicing in gastric cancer cells is regulated by culture dimensionality and matrix stiffness.
Venue: Biomaterials

Two dimensional (2D) cultures often fail to mimic key architectural and physical features of the tumor microenvironment. Advances in biomaterial engineering allow the design of three dimensional (3D) cultures within hydrogels that mimic important tumor like features, unraveling cancer cell behaviors that would not have been observed in traditional 2D plastic surfaces. This study determined how 3D cultures impact CD44 alternative splicing in gastric cancer (GC) cells. In 3D cultures, GC cells lost expression of the standard CD44 isoform (CD44s) while gaining CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6) expression. This splicing switch was reversible, accelerated by nutrient shortage and delayed at lower initial cell densities, suggesting an environmental stress induced response. It was further shown to be dependent on the hydrogel matrix mechanical properties and accompanied by the upregulation of genes involved in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) metabolism and angiogenesis. The 3D cultures reported here revealed the same CD44 alternative splicing pattern previously observed in human premalignant and malignant gastric lesions. These findings indicate that fundamental features of 3D cultures such as soluble factors diffusion and mechanical cues influence CD44 expression in GC cells. Moreover, this study provides a new model system to study CD44 dysfunction, whose role in cancer has been in the spotlight for decades.
Angiographically Silent Macular Edema.
Venue: JAMA ophthalmology

Aman in his late 70s presented with a 1 month history of blurry vision in his left eye. He reported fatigue,muscle stiffness, joint pain, anda 10 lbunintentionalweight loss.Onocular examination, his best corrected visual acuity was 20/25 OD and 20/60 OS. Anterior segment examination findings were unremarkable. Fundusexamination revealedbilateralmicroaneurysmsanddothemorrhages throughout the posterior pole, along with bilateral macular edema and serous neurosensory detachment in the left eye (Figure 1A) Optical coherence tomography of the right eye revealed severe cystoid macular edema, and fluorescein angiography showednormal fillingwithmultiplemicroaneurysms.Anoptical coherence tomographic imageof the left eye showed a large neurosensory detachment withoverlyingandsurroundingcystoidmacular edema. Fluorescein angiography of the left eye demonstrated hypofluorescence without pooling or leakage of fluorescein dye over the area of neurosensory detachment, which was persistent in later frames (Figure 1B) Quiz at jamaophthalmology.com Neurosensory detachment A Hypofluorescence and macular edema B
Application of anaerobic digestion of municipal solid food wastes in treating wastewaters

Anaerobic digestion is the breakdown of biodegradable organic material by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen or in an oxygen starved environment. This technology is superior to the landfilling and also the aerobic composting. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the effluent Volatile Fatty Acids from the anaerobic acidogenesis of the urban food waste can be used, due to its high value in organic elements, as an external carbon source for the denitrificationin waste water treatment plants. The results showed that Volatile Fatty Acids concentration in mgCOD/L in the fermentation was in the range between 3,300 mg COD/L and 6,560 mg COD/L. The n butiric acids had the highest concentration in mg COD/L followed by the propionic and acetic acid, while the valeric acid had the lowest concentration,also the concentration of the acetic and valeric acid were stable over the time. Opposite to these, the propionic and n butyric acid showed high variability in the concentration, especially the nbutyric acid. The specific denitrification rate tests showed that the ethanol cultivated biomass was more successful in using the effluent of the urban food waste digestion as carbon source than methanol cultivated biomass. The specific denitrification rate tests results of the experiment showed that the average of 0.15 an 0.51 mg N/mg for methanol and ethanol cultivated biomass respectively.