nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Monte Carlo simulations of radiation therapy dose distributions using wavelet threshold de-noising.

The Monte Carlo dose calculation method works by simulating individual energetic photons or electrons as they traverse a digital representation of the patient anatomy. However, Monte Carlo results fluctuate until a large number of particles are simulated. We propose wavelet threshold de-noising as a postprocessing step to accelerate convergence of Monte Carlo dose calculations. A sampled rough function (such as Monte Carlo noise) gives wavelet transform coefficients which are more nearly equal in amplitude than those of a sampled smooth function. Wavelet hard-threshold de-noising sets to zero those wavelet coefficients which fall below a threshold; the image is then reconstructed. We implemented the computationally efficient 9,7-biorthogonal filters in the C language. Transform results were averaged over transform origin selections to reduce artifacts. A method for selecting best threshold values is described. The algorithm requires about 336 floating point arithmetic operations per dose grid point. We applied wavelet threshold de-noising to two two-dimensional dose distributions: a dose distribution generated by 10 MeV electrons incident on a water phantom with a step-heterogeneity, and a slice from a lung heterogeneity phantom. Dose distributions were simulated using the Integrated Tiger Series Monte Carlo code. We studied threshold selection, resulting dose image smoothness, and resulting dose image accuracy as a function of the number of source particles. For both phantoms, with a suitable value of the threshold parameter, voxel-to-voxel noise was suppressed with little introduction of bias. The roughness of wavelet de-noised dose distributions (according to a Laplacian metric) was nearly independent of the number of source electrons, though the accuracy of the de-noised dose image improved with increasing numbers of source electrons. We conclude that wavelet shrinkage de-noising is a promising method for effectively accelerating Monte Carlo dose calculations by factors of 2 or more.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
Lyra: password-based key derivation with tunable memory and processing costs

We present Lyra, a password-based key derivation scheme based on cryptographic sponges. Lyra was designed to be strictly sequential (i.e., not easily parallelizable), providing strong security even against attackers that use multiple processing cores (e.g., custom hardware or a powerful GPU). At the same time, it is very simple to implement in software and allows legitimate users to fine-tune its memory and processing costs according to the desired level of security against brute force password guessing. We compare Lyra with similar-purpose state-of-the-art solutions, showing how our proposal provides a higher security level and overcomes limitations of existing schemes. Specifically, we show that if we fix Lyra ’s total processing time $$ in a legitimate platform, the cost of a memory-free attack against the algorithm is exponential, while the best-known result in the literature (namely, against the scrypt algorithm) is quadratic. In addition, for an identical same processing time, Lyra allows for a higher memory usage than its counterparts, further increasing the cost of brute force attacks.

Field of study: Computer science, Mathematics
Uniqueness of Fisher plots and their inferred (nuclear) liquid-vapor phase diagrams

Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720(Dated: July 22, 2011)A detailed study of the lattice gas (Ising) model shows that the correct deﬁnition of clusterconcentration in the vapor at coexistence with the liquid leads to Fisher plots that are unique,independent of ﬁxed particle number density ρ

Field of study: Physics
Who Benefits From Chatting, and Why?

The current study aimed to provide more insight into the role of online chatting in young adults’ emotional adjustment. A model was tested that takes into account (a) extraversion of individuals who communicate online, (b) the kind of peers these individuals communicate with online (i.e., online-exclusive peers vs. friends), and (c) the extent to which effects of online chatting on emotional adjustment are mediated by individuals’ ability to provide support to others. Young adults (age M = 18.9) filled out questionnaires about themselves and their fellow students at three measurements with a 4-month interval. Results showed that only for less extraverted individuals, chatting with peers found exclusively online directly predicted higher self-esteem and indirectly predicted less depressive symptoms through increases in supportiveness. Thus, results supported a model of social compensation where effects of online chatting with online-exclusive peers improved young adults’ emotional adjustment.

Field of study: Psychology
Electronic and Magnetic Tunability of SnSe Monolayer via Doping of Transition-Metal Atoms

The structure and electronic and magnetic properties of SnSe monolayer doped with transition-metal (TM) atoms (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) were investigated using first-principles calculations. It is found that TM atoms can substitute either Se atoms (TM-Se) or Sn atoms (TM-Sn) to form thermodynamically stable systems. Semiconductor–metal or semiconductor–half metal transitions may be induced by TM atom doping, depending on the types of dopants and substituted atoms. The pristine nonmagnetic SnSe monolayers can be turned into magnetic systems by TM dopants. Especially, for TM-Se systems (TM = Sc, V, Mn and Fe) and TM-Sn systems (TM = V, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co), the monolayers become two-dimensional narrow-band diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). Among the magnetic systems, TM-Se systems can exhibit either obviously enhanced (TM = Sc, Ti, V and Cu) or weakened (TM = Mn, Fe and Co) total magnetic moments, due to the strong interaction between the 3 d -orbit of the dopant atoms and the 5 p -orbit of the neighboring Sn atoms, while TM-Sn systems only exhibit slightly enhanced total magnetic moments, which shows the greater electronic tunability of Sn atoms than that of Se atoms. Our results may provide a platform for potential applications of SnSe monolayer-based spintronic materials.

Field of study: Materials science
Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae), reduces benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in a protected subtropical lake in South Africa

The socio-economic impacts of the free-floating aquatic plant water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae), on aquatic systems are well documented, yet the impacts on aquatic biodiversity, particularly invertebrate biodiversity, are less well understood. This study aimed to determine whether the presence of water hyacinth altered the diversity and assemblage structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in a conservation area. The benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage was sampled over 1 year at five sites under water hyacinth mats and at five sites without water hyacinth at Lake Nsezi—Nseleni River in the vicinity of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Artificial substrates were placed beneath water hyacinth mats or in the open water to allow for colonization by freshwater macroinvertebrates, and left for a period of 6 weeks, repeated on seven occasions. Twenty nine families comprising 18,797 individuals were collected, 817 (13 families) individuals were from under water hyacinth mat sites compared to 17,980 (27 families) individuals from open water sites. Ninety-eight percent of individuals collected were, however, the invasive snail, Tarebia granifera. Open water samples were separated from samples beneath the water hyacinth mat by non-metric Multidimensional Scaling, indicating reduced biodiversity associated with the presence of water hyacinth. Exclusion of the dominant Thiaridae from the analysis did not alter the groupings. Family richness(s) and abundance (N) were significantly higher in open water communities(S: H3 = 21.09; P = 0.0001; N: H3 = 22.58; P = 0.00001), while evenness (J’) was higher under water hyacinth mats (H3 = 20.13; P = 0.0002). The presence of water hyacinth had a significantly negative impact on aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity in a conservation area, and therefore the control of this invasive aquatic plant must play a major role in catchment management.

Field of study: Environmental science
Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception of Genetic Testing for Hereditary Disorders Among Malaysians in Klang Valley

Genetic testing aids patients in making important decisions in the prevention, treatment, or early detection of hereditary disorders. Low awareness of the importance of genetic testing contributes to the increase in the incidence of hereditary disorders. This study aims to explore the knowledge, awareness, and perception of genetic testing for hereditary disorders among local residents of the Klang Valley, Malaysia, and the potential variables that influence their understanding of genetic testing. A survey was conducted in different municipalities of the Klang Valley through self-administered questionnaire assessing the public's knowledge, awareness, and perception of genetic testing. Overall, the results revealed adequate knowledge and positive awareness of genetic testing, in which both were influenced by the respondent's educational level (P < 0.001), field of study (P < 0.001), and status of heard or unheard of genetic testing (P < 0.001). The perception of genetic testing was generally positive and influenced by the respondent's differences in age (P < 0.016), educational level (P < 0.001), field of study (P < 0.001), and status of heard or unheard of genetic testing (P < 0.001). Although positive responses were obtained, ~20.2% of the respondents had never heard of genetic testing. Of the respondents, 24.5% were unwilling to undergo genetic testing, with 25.1% believing that genetic testing tampers with nature and 18% believing that it opposes religion and their beliefs. Such attitude calls for the need to conduct programs to eliminate any misconception, as well as to educate the public to lessen any perceived misunderstanding of the concepts of genetic testing.

Field of study: Biology
Effect of aidi injection on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with breast cancer

To investigate the effect of aidi injection on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with breast cancer. Peripheral blood natural killer(NK) subsets and T-lymphocyte subsets of treatment group(78 cases) and control group(62 cases)was detected by flow cytometry of breast cancer. ResultsAfter aidi injection for a cycle, NK cell activity and the percentage of NK cells in peripheral blood of treatment group had a certain increase, CD3+, CD4+ as well as CD4+/CD8+ increased more significantly than before treatment(P<0.05 orP<0.01), the differences between two gourp had statistical significance(P<0.05). ConclusionAidi injection can improve peripheral blood NK cells activities and T-lymphocytes functions in patients with breast cancer.

Field of study: Medicine
Exposing Scandals, Guarding Secrets: Manuel Buendía, Columnismo, and the Unraveling of One-Party Rule in Mexico, 1965–1984

On January 14, 1982, residents of Tula, Hidalgo, discovered the bodies of nine murdered men floating in a sewage drain emanating from Mexico City. All bore signs of gruesome torture. Red Cross workers soon located three more bodies, leading one reporter to describe the homicides as “the crime of the century.” Detectives initially asserted that the victims were drug traffickers who had been murdered by a rival gang. Manuel Buendía, in his weekday political column Red Privada, described the scene as “bloodcurdling,” employing his signature hard-boiled prose. Yet, the nation's most prominent journalist was referring not only to the gore, but also to his suspicions that police had committed the crime.

Field of study: History
On the thermal stability and defect structure of the solid solution LixNi1-xO

Li x Ni 1- x O solid solutions are both of scientific and technological interest as they have been proposed as cathodic material in MCFC. In this work TG, XRD and SEM measurements have been used to study the thermal stability of several solid solutions (of different initial composition) obtained starting from the reactive system Ni/Li 2 CO 3 . Composition changes, due to both lithium and oxygen loss, take place as a consequence of samples annealing. In some cases a sensible disagreement between the compositions deduced by TG and XRD data is showing, which is ascribed to the presence, in the final solid solutions, of lattice defects others than substitutional ones (namely cation vacancies). The TG and XRD measurements have been then worked out to obtain both the correct composition and vacancies concentration of the solid solutions. It is shown that solid solutions with similar lithium content but different vacancies concentration can be obtained depending on the preparation conditions.

Field of study: Materials science
Impaired tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) production and abnormal B cell response to TNF‐α in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

We examined the TNF‐α activity in culture supernatants of monocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with SLE and of normal individuals. The monocytes from patients with SLE stimulated with silica particles, lipopolysaccharide or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I secreted significantly lower amounts of TNF‐α than did normal monocytes. A decreased TNF mRNA expression was observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by mitogens from patients with SLE. Furthermore, we examined the effect of recombinant TNF‐α (rTNF‐α) on the B cell function in SLE patients. rTNF‐α inhibited the spontaneous Bcell proliferation of SLE, but tended to enhance the normal Bcell proliferation. Spontaneous IgM production from SLE Bcells was inhibited by rTNF‐α, but that from normal B cells was not. Spontaneous IgG production was unaffected by rTNF‐α. Also, rTNF‐α did not affect the viability of B cells. These findings suggest that an impaired TNF‐α production and an abnormal B cell response to TNF‐α play a role in the immunological dysfunction in patients with SLE.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Calcium channel blockade and anti-free-radical actions of panaxatriol saponins in cultured myocardiocytes.

To identify the calcium channel blockade and anti-free-radical actions of panaxatriol saponins Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rh1, and oleanolic acid saponin Ro.



On ventricular myocytes of Wistar rats, single channel activities of B, L, and T type calcium channels were recorded with the cell-attached configuration of patch-clamp technic, and free radical contents were measured with electron spin resenance method.



Re, Rg1, Rg2, and Rh1 shortened the open times, prolonged the close times, and reduced the open-state probabilities of B, L, and T type calcium channels; Rf shortened the open time, prolonged the close time and reduced the open-state probability of L type calcium channel; Ro did not influence the activity of calcium channels (60 mumol.L-1). Re, Rg1, Rg2, and Rh1 antagonized the increase of free radical content induced by xanthine 0.42 mmol.L-1-xanthine oxidase 5.3 nmol.L-1; Ro and Rf had no effect (30 mumol.L-1).



Re, Rg1, Rg2, and Rh1 had both the calcium channel blockade and antifree-radical actions. Rf had blockade action on L type calcium channel.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
Clay mineralogy of late Cenozoic sediments in the CESAR cores, Alpha Ridge, central Arctic Ocean

The clay-sized (< 2 μm) fraction of the silty and arenaceous lutites constituting CESAR cores 14 and 103 (Alpha Ridge, central Arctic Ocean) is composed predominantly of mica (40–60%), with subequal percentages (10–20%) of kaolinite and chlorite and lesser amounts (< 5%) of smectite, quartz, plagioclase, and potassium feldspar. Calcite and dolomite also occur, but only intermittently in the upper 1.2 m; dissolution is probably responsible for their absence in other units. The silty lutites have a constant mineralogy throughout the 4.5 m long (~ 4.25 Ma) section, whereas some of the arenaceous intervals in the upper 2.1 m have markedly higher amounts of kaolinite, calcite, dolomite, and, to a lesser extent, smectite. The silty lutites were most likely derived from the Beaufort Sea shelf during nonglacial periods, whereas the distinctive components in the sandy layers suggest that they were transported from the Canadian Arctic Islands and Greenland by glacial ice. The absence of kaolinite peaks in the lower...

Field of study: Environmental science
Association and linkage analysis of COL1A1 and AHSG gene polymorphisms with femoral neck bone geometric parameters in both Caucasian and Chinese nuclear families

To simultaneously investigate the contribution of the alpha 1 chain of collagen type 1 (COL1A1) and alpha2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) genes to the variation of bone geometric parameters in both Caucasians and Chinese.Six hundred and five Caucasian individuals from 157 nuclear families and 1228 Chinese subjects from 400 nuclear families were genotyped at the AHSG-SacI, COL1A1-PCOL2 and Sp1 polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). 5 FN bone geometric parameters were calculated based on bone mineral density and bone area of femoral neck (FN) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Population stratification, total family association, within-family association, and linkage tests were performed by the quantitative transmission disequilibrium test program.The t-test showed the significant differences of all bone geometric phenotypes (except ED) between Caucasians and Chinese in the offspring using both unadjusted and adjusted (by age, height, weight, and gender) data. In Caucasians, we found significant within-family association results between the COL1A1-Sp1 polymorphism (rs1800012) and cross sectional area (CSA), cortical thickness (CT), endocortical diameter (ED), buckling ratio (BR) (P = 0.018, 0.002, 0.023, and 0.001, respectively); the COL1A1-Sp1 polymorphism also detected significant linkage with BR (P = 0.039). In the population of China, the within-family associations between the COL1A1-PCOL2 polymorphism (rs1 107946) and CT, BR were significant (P = 0.012 and 0.008, respectively). Furthermore, evidence of linkage were observed between the AHSG-SacI polymorphism (rs4918) and CT, BR (P = 0.042 and 0.014, respectively) in Caucasians, but not in Chinese.Our results suggest that the COL1A1 gene may have significantly association with bone geometry in both Caucasians and Chinese, and the AHSG gene may be linked to bone geometry in Caucasians, but not in Chinese. This study represents our first efforts on investigating the importance of the COL1A1 and AHSG genes on bone geometry in both Caucasians and Chinese.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
Estimation of power MOSFET junction temperature during avalanche mode: Experimental tests and modelling

In this paper, an experimental and numerical procedure has been developed to estimate the junction temperature of a power MOSFET when operating in avalanche mode of short duration. At first, a simplified electrothermal model proposed in literature has been recalled then we describe the experimental procedure that we have developed to extract the parameters necessary for its exploitation. The comparison between measurements and numerical simulation results of temperature and drain–source voltage shows that the proposed methodology leads to a quite accurate prediction of the MOSFET heating and drain–source voltage waveforms during avalanche mode.

Field of study: Engineering
Nonadiabatic ladder climbing during molecular collisions.

Combining classical molecular dynamics simulations with high level, multiconfigurational ab initio calculations, we demonstrate that even relatively mild collisions between ground state oxygen molecules can readily lead to the formation of highly reactive singlet oxygen molecules via a novel "ladder climbing" mechanism. We employ our findings to shed some light on two recent experiments that have remained poorly understood until now. The first one concerns the highly efficient cluster-catalyzed etching of silicon surfaces, whereas the second one involves a yet to be explained "dark channel" observed for the ozone photolysis in the stratosphere.

Field of study: Physics
Derivative-based closed Newton-Cotes numerical quadrature

A new family of numerical integration formula of closed Newton–Cotes-type is presented, that uses both the function value and the derivative value on uniformly spaced intervals. Since there are more unknowns when using including derivative values in addition to function values, the order of accuracy of these numerical integration formula are higher than the standard closed Newton–Cotes formula. These new formula are derived via the method of undetermined coefficients, based on the concept of the precision of the quadrature formula. The error terms are found in three different ways, using the concept of precision, using Taylor series expansions about the interval midpoint and using polynomial approximating functions, which is how the error terms for the standard closed Newton–Cotes formula were obtained. The concept of precision and the Taylor series methods yield the same error terms as the polynomial-based method, but there are certain unverifiable assumptions in their use. Quadrature formula using first derivatives at all points throughout the interval increase the order of accuracy to 2 n  + 2. Quadrature formula using the first derivatives at the endpoints of the interval obtain an increase of two orders of accuracy over the closed Newton–Cotes formula; while quadrature formula involving higher order derivatives result in substantially higher orders of accuracy, being ( D  + 1)( n  + 1) where D is the number of derivatives involved in the formula. The computational cost for these methods are analyzed for two different examples, showing the number of function and derivative evaluations necessary to reduce the error below a certain level. These two numerical examples are used to demonstrate that the theoretical order of accuracy is achieved by the numerical implementation of these formula. Additionally, a Generalized Rolle’s Theorem with Derivatives and a theorem for the error in the general interpolating polynomial including derivatives are provided in the appendix, which leads to the proof of some of the error terms in the derivative-based closed Newton–Cotes-type quadrature formula.

Field of study: Mathematics
On initiation of overseas Chinese higher education in P.R.China——Liao Cheng-zhi and re-establishment of Ji'nan University

Liao Cheng-zhi,who was for a long time in charge of the overseas Chinese affairs,was known as an important pioneer in higher education of overseas Chinese.He showed great concern for overseas Chinese and passionately advocated and supported the re-establishment of Ji'nan University in Guangzhou in 1958 and 1978.Liao was not only Chairman of the board of directors of Ji'nan University but also principal of Huaqiao University.With Liao's great efforts,overseas Chinese can acquire knowledge and gain a better understanding of Chinese traditional culture.Liao Cheng-zhi made remarkable contributions to the initiation and development of overseas Chinese higher education.

Field of study: Education