nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Outage Scaling Laws and Diversity for Distributed Estimation Over Parallel Fading Channels

We consider scaling laws of the outage for distributed estimation problems over fading channels with respect to the total power and the number of sensors. Using a definition of diversity which involves a fixed number of sensors, we find tight upper and lower bounds on diversity which are shown to depend on the sensing (measurement) signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the sensors. Our results indicate that the diversity order can be smaller than the number of sensors, and adding new sensors might not add to the diversity order depending on the sensing SNR of the added sensor. We treat a large class of envelope distributions for the wireless channel including those appropriate for line of sight scenarios. Finally, we consider fixed power per sensor with an asymptotically large number of sensors and show that the outage decays faster than exponentially in the number of sensors.

Field of study: Engineering
Altered Long- and Short-Range Functional Connectivity in Patients with Betel Quid Dependence: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study

Addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease. Brain structural abnormalities may constitute an abnormal neural network that underlies the risk of drug dependence. We hypothesized that individuals with Betel Quid Dependence (BQD) have functional connectivity alterations that can be described by long- and short-range functional connectivity density(FCD) maps.  We tested this hypothesis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from subjects of the Han ethnic group in Hainan, China. Here, we examined BQD individuals (n = 33) and age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) (n = 32) in a rs-fMRI study to observe FCD alterations associated with the severity of BQD.  Compared with HCs, long-range FCD was decreased in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and increased in the left cerebellum posterior lobe (CPL) and bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL) in the BQD group. Short-range FCD was reduced in the right ACC and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and increased in the left CPL. The short-range FCD alteration in the right ACC displayed a negative correlation with the Betel Quid Dependence Scale (BQDS) (r=-0.432, P=0.012), and the long-range FCD alteration of left IPL showed a positive correlation with the duration of BQD(r=0.519, P=0.002) in BQD individuals.  fMRI revealed differences in long- and short- range FCD in BQD individuals, and these alterations might be due to BQ chewing, BQ dependency, or risk factors for developing BQD.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Effects of long-term shock and associated stimuli on aggressive and manual responses.

Squirrel monkeys were exposed to response-independent, fixed-frequency shock that produced biting attack upon a pneumatic hose. Attacks decreased within and across sessions at low intensities and high frequencies of shock, but increased within and across sessions at higher intensities and lower shock frequencies. Stimuli paired with shock, when presented alone, came to produce biting, and stimuli correlated with shock parameters that produced increases in responding within sessions produced similar increases when presented alone. Further experiments showed that continuing exposure to shock also produced lever pressing or chain pulling, with longer shock exposure again producing higher response rates. Whereas biting generally decreased throughout the intershock interval, manual responding generally increased as shock time approached, but immediately before shock was often suppressed. Following shock, biting attack predominated over manual behavior. The results suggest a possible explanation for the extreme resistance of avoidance behavior to extinction, and may also partially explain the persistence of responding during schedules of response-produced shock. Relationships of the present findings to naturalistic observations of relations between fleeing, freezing, and fighting performances are discussed.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Influence of molecular structure on the biodegradability of naphthenic acids.

Large volumes of toxic aqueous tailings containing a complex mixture of naphthenic acids (NAs; CnH2n+ZO2) are produced in northern Alberta by the oil sands industry. Because of their persistence and contribution to toxicity, there is an urgent need to understand the fate of NAs under a variety of remediation scenarios. In a previous study, we developed a highly specific HPLC-high resolution mass spectrometry method for the analysis of NAs. Here we apply this method to determine quantitative structure-persistence relationships and kinetics for commercial NAs and NAs in oil sands process water (OSPW) during aerobic microbial biodegradation. Biodegradation of commercial NAs revealed thatthe mixture contained a substantial labile fraction, which was rapidly biodegraded, and a recalcitrant fraction composed of highly branched compounds. Conversely, NAs in OSPW were predominantly recalcitrant, and degraded slowly by first-order kinetics. Carbon number (n) had little effect on the rate of biodegradation, whereas a general structure-persistence relationship was observed indicating that increased cyclization (Z) decreased the biodegradation rate for NAs in both mixtures. Time to 50% biodegradation ranged from 1 to 8 days among all NAs in the commercial mixture, whereas half-lives for OSPW NAs ranged from 44 to 240 days, likely a result of relatively high alkyl branching among OSPW NAs. It is anticipated that these data will facilitate development of strategic solutions for remediating billions of cubic meters of OSPW stored, or predicted to be generated, in Northern Alberta.

Field of study: Environmental science
An inclusive outdoors? Disabled people’s experiences of countryside leisure services

In recent years, disabled people’s access to the outdoors has been the subject of renewed interest. This has in part been driven by legislative developments coupled with an increasing recognition that disabled people are under‐represented as users of the countryside. However, very little is actually known about disabled people’s views and experiences of the outdoors. Drawing on the concept of affordances and combining this with a social barrier’s approach to disability, we explore disabled people’s attitudes towards and experiences of woodland and countryside leisure. We argue that disabled people’s reasons for being outdoors are more complex than simply seeking ‘rehabilitation’; and, like their non‐disabled counterparts, access to the outdoors is perceived for some as an integral aspect of wellbeing and revitalisation. Through engagement with the outdoors, disabled people are challenging normative constructions of who they are and their purpose in being in the countryside. The paper concludes by arguing that providers of outdoor leisure services need to go beyond barrier removal and understand disabled people’s uses and views of the outdoors in planning the provision of services.

Field of study: Sociology
Large deflections of heavy cantilever beams and columns

Large deflections of the heavy horizontal cantilever of uniform cross section have been investigated by Hummel and Morton , Bickley , and Rohde . No exact analysis of the postbuckling deflections of the heavy column could be found in technical and mathematical publications. The purpose of this note is to extend and improve Rohde's results for the horizontal cantilever as well as to present an exact analysis of large postbuckling deflections of the heavy column. For notations refer to Fig. 1. According to the Bernoulli-Euler hypothesis for slender beams and columns, the bending couple M is proportional to the curvature dip/ds of the deflected inextensional elastica. Hence, m where EI = const, is the flexural stiffness of the column and dM/ds = ws sin by the conditions of equilibrium. Thus, d2\p ws . . ,0. -5 + -sin* = 0, (2) in which w is the weight per unit length of the column.

Field of study: Mathematics
Mucormycosis in renal transplant patients--a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Mucormycosis is a rare complication of diabetic ketoacidosis and immunosuppressed states, such as those occurring after renal transplantation. We describe two cases of mucormycosis in renal allograft recipients and present a review of similar cases previously reported. An analysis of these data suggests that renal transplant patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus are most susceptible to developing this complication.

Field of study: Medicine
A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR TESTING SOFT MATERIAL USING A MODIFIED HOPKINSON PRESSURE BAR

This paper describes a modification of the split Hopkinson pressure bar for the dynamic compressive property testing of soft material.The specimen is directly struck by the projectile bar in this modification.Semiconductor gage is used to measure the strain signal in the output bar.The stress wave propagation in the specimen is analyzed and the required loading shape and a practical loading shaping technique for achieving stress uniformity in the specimen is presented.This modification can overcome the difficulty of weak strain signal measurement caused by the unmatched impedances of the bar and the specimen and is more reliable than polymer Hopkinson pressure bar.It can achieve a large deformation,a large range of testing strain-rate and an approximately constant strain-rate dynamic compression testing.An experimental device has been built and some test result is presented.

Field of study: Engineering
Stable isotopes on foraminifera and ostracods for interpreting incidence of the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event in Westernmost Tethys: Role of water stagnation and productivity

The analysis of δ13C and δ18O from whole rock and the shells of selected foraminifera (Lenticulina and Dentalina) and bairdioid ostracods from Lower Toarcian of the South Iberian Palaeomargin (Western Tethys) is presented with the aim of improving knowledge of the processes and the environmental effects of the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event. In addition, isotopic data are compared with geochemical redox and palaeoproductivity proxies. The microhabitat affected δ13C values, δ13CLenticulina generally being lower than δ13CDentalina due to more depleted 13C values for sediment pore-water in the deep infaunal microhabitat. The lowest values of δ13C (lower part of Serpentinum Zone) happen during suboxic conditions, as indicated by redox proxies, low diversity and abundance of foraminifera and higher TOC values. The fine-grained, organic rich sediments allow for conditions favouring pore-water dissolved inorganic carbon that is depleted in 13C with respect to that of the bottom sea-water, particularly during the suboxic conditions. The δ13C of potential deep infauna (Lenticulina) reflects the oxygen restricted conditions better than shallow infauna (Dentalina) and whole sediment. Regarding δ18O, values from bulk rock present stronger fluctuations and lower values than δ18ODentalina and δ18OLenticulina. The stratigraphic differences between δ18ODentalina and δ18OLenticulina correspond to vital effects, since no important fluctuations in temperature occurred in the bottom sea-water, as deduced from the absence of peaks and stratigraphic trends in the interval studied. The δ18O values do not allow us to infer temperature changes related to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event in this part of the palaeomargin.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Ex parte Choudhury — An Opportunity Missed

The question before the Divisional Court in Ex parte Choudhury' was whether 'The Satanic Verses' amounted to a blasphemous or seditious libel. In respect of the former, the draft summons by Mr Azhar accused the author, Salman Rushdie and Penguin Books of publishing or causing to be published 'The Satanic Verses,' said to be a scurrilous attack on the religion of Islam and Christianity, and as such a blasphemous libel contrary to the common law of England. It also alleged the publication to be a seditious libel in that the content of 'The Satanic Verses' raised widespread discontent and dissatisfaction among Her Majesty's subjects, also contrary to the common law of England. The Chief Magistrate at Bow Street Magistrates' Court had decided that 'The Satanic Verses' was neither a blasphemous nor a seditious libel. Mr Azhar sought an order of certiorari quashing this decision and an order of mandamus to direct the magistrate to the relief sought. In a single judgment delivered by Watkins LJ, the Divisional Court refused both orders and confirmed the decision of the Chief Magistrate, stating that:

Field of study: Law
Hepatotoksikosis Awal Keracunan Kronis Aflatoksin B1 Pengarahnya Terhadap Spektruro Lipid Plasma Darah tikus

Plasma lipid spectrum studied included total lipid plasma, plasma triglyceride, plasma phospholipid and plasma cholesterol concentration in rats. 1-listologically earlier hepatotoxicosis showed hyperplasia and metaplasia, and metaplasia of bile duct epithelial cells. The two groups of rats, the control group and the treatment group (each group comprised 10 rats). 3â€¢month old, healthy, and 12 â€”16 g % haemoglobin concentration, were used as experimental animals. - All of them were fed and given water ad libitum, and 0.2 ml of propylen glycol per oral was also provided by sonde for 60 days. The treatment group was supplemented 10 mg of aflatoxin B, (AFB1) diluted in 0.2 ml propylen glycol. At the end of the treatment, histologically epithelial cells of bile duct showed extensive hyperplasia and metaplasia in rats supplemented with 10 rag AFB1. The plasma lipid spectrum between the control group and the treatment group was: plasma total lipid concentration (X Â± 1 SD): 496.0 Â± 12.61 mg/I00 ml and SO4M Â± 10.46 mg/100 ml, plasma triglyceride concentration (X * 1 SD) 93.4 Â± 14.83 mg/ l00 ml and 101.2 12.62 mg/100 ml. plasma phospholipid concentration (X Â± 1 SD) 9.3 Â± 4.21 mg/ l00 ml and 8.9 Â± 3.92 mg/100 ml, plasma cholesterol concentration (X Â± 1 SD) 106.9 t 17.56 mg/100 ml and 104.2 Â± 12.53 mg/100 ml. The analysis test showed that there were no significant differences between blood plasma parameter of the two groups (p > 0.05). The result suggests that AFB, chronic toxicity on plasma lipid spectrum of rats is not proven despite the occurrence of earlier hepatotoxicosis.  aflatoxin Bt -- hepatotoxicosis -- bile duct epithelial cells -- plasma lipid spectrum -- rat

Field of study: Medicine
Approach for reconstructing anisoplanatic adaptive optics images.

Atmospheric turbulence corrupts astronomical images formed by ground-based telescopes. Adaptive optics systems allow the effects of turbulence-induced aberrations to be reduced for a narrow field of view corresponding approximately to the isoplanatic angle theta(0). For field angles larger than theta(0), the point spread function (PSF) gradually degrades as the field angle increases. We present a technique to estimate the PSF of an adaptive optics telescope as function of the field angle, and use this information in a space-varying image reconstruction technique. Simulated anisoplanatic intensity images of a star field are reconstructed by means of a block-processing method using the predicted local PSF. Two methods for image recovery are used: matrix inversion with Tikhonov regularization, and the Lucy-Richardson algorithm. Image reconstruction results obtained using the space-varying predicted PSF are compared to space invariant deconvolution results obtained using the on-axis PSF. The anisoplanatic reconstruction technique using the predicted PSF provides a significant improvement of the mean squared error between the reconstructed image and the object compared to the deconvolution performed using the on-axis PSF.

Field of study: Physics
Classifying aging as a disease in the context of ICD-11

Aging is a complex continuous multifactorial process leading to loss of function and crystalizing into the many age-related diseases. Here, we explore the arguments for classifying aging as a disease in the context of the upcoming World Health Organization’s 11th International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11), expected to be finalized in 2018. We hypothesize that classifying aging as a disease with a “non-garbage” set of codes will result in new approaches and business models for addressing aging as a treatable condition, which will lead to both economic and healthcare benefits for all stakeholders. Actionable classification of aging as a disease may lead to more efficient allocation of resources by enabling funding bodies and other stakeholders to use quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and healthy-years equivalent (HYE) as metrics when evaluating both research and clinical programs. We propose forming a Task Force to interface the WHO in order to develop a multidisciplinary framework for classifying aging as a disease with multiple disease codes facilitating for therapeutic interventions and preventative strategies.

Field of study: Biology
Factors affecting fast food consumers’ intention to use menu labeling in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Menu labeling is an attempt to educate consumers about the nutrition value of the foods. The 
importance of using menu labeling has been highlighted in many studies in the past. Although 
public health programs are educating public on obesity but still this phenomenon is a serious 
problem in Malaysia. This study identified factors that influence intention to use menu labeling 
among fast food consumers in Malaysia. The research was conducted among 395 adults in 
Klang Valley. Respondents completed a self-administrative questionnaire which was adapted 
from previous studies. Results revealed that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral 
control had statistically significant positive association with intention and each was significant 
predictors of intention to use menu labeling and together explained 41% of its variance. The 
most effective factor was attitude, followed by subjective norms and perceived behavioral 
control. The outcomes of this study suggested that nutritional knowledge of consumers does 
not have effect on consumer’s intention to use menu labeling; therefore nutritional knowledge 
of fast food consumers must be improved. Fast food restaurants have to put more effort on 
encouraging customers to use menu labeling by making the label more accessible and in a user 
friendly format.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS: Mode-locked YAG:Nd3+ laser with a high output energy and brightness

A description is given of a YAG:Nd3+ laser with an unstable confocal resonator operating in the mode-locked regime. The resonator was from a 100% reflecting 2-m radius of curvature convex mirror and a concave glass substrate having a 4-m radius of curvature, which served as an exit mirror. A solution of dye No. 3274u in dichlorethane was used as a saturable filter. The latter had an initial transmission of 30%. For an active medium volume of ~5 m3 the energy of a train of ultrashort pulses was 150 mJ, that of the maximum pulse in the train being 50 mJ. The pulse duration was ~40 psec. The radiation divergence was close to the diffraction limit, having a value of ~0.3 mrad.

Field of study: Engineering, Physics
Geochronology of the Lumby Lake greenstone belt: A 3 Ga complex within the Wabigoon subprovince, northwest Ontario

The Lumby Lake greenstone belt lies within the central, predominantly metaplutonic terrane of the western Wabigoon subprovince. It is conformable with gneiss of the Marmion Lake tonalite batholith. U-Pb analyses of zircons from two felsic tuffs and a quartz porphyry within the greenstone belt give a scattered lead-loss pattern indicative of early disturbance. The ages of the oldest, concordant fractions agree, however, and define an age of 2999 ± 1 m.y. for emplacement of these felsic units. Zircons from a tonalite gneiss within the Marmion Lake batholith are also somewhat disturbed. The oldest abraded fraction is concordant and has an age of 3003 ± 5 m.y., indicating that the gneiss is probably close in age to the supracrustal rocks. U-Pb analyses of rutile from one of the felsic units give an age of 2690 ± 5 m.y. and record the effect of Late Archean metamorphism. Three titanite fractions from the tonalite gneiss agree within error and have an age of 2809 ± 1 m.y. The age and consistency of the titanite fractions indicate that titanite in this rock was formed as a result of a metamorphic event and was never subsequently disturbed. This age is therefore a minimum estimate for high-grade metamorphism of the gneiss. The presence of a pre-2809 Ma fabric in a gneiss of regional extent suggests that an early metamorphic-deformational event affected this area. These data constitute the first firm evidence for extensive 3.0 Ga crust in the southern Superior province and give the first evidence of a regional deformational event which predates cratonization of the Superior province.

Field of study: Geology
Uniform asymptotic solutions of discontinuous initial value problems for dispersive hyperbolic equations

This paper is concerned with a discontinuous initial value problem for a dispersive hyperbolic equation where the dispersive term of the equation contains a large parameter. In the case of an equation with constant coefficients the initial value problem can be solved exactly leading to an integral representation which is expanded asymptotically. Nonuniform and uniform asymptotic expansions are obtained. The nonuniform expansion is singular on a certain space-time line. This singularity is similar to the anomaly occurring at a shadow-boundary in geometrical optics. For the equation with nonconstant coefficients nonuniform and uniform asymptotic solutions of the initial value problem are derived by ray methods. It is verified that these solutions are in perfect agreement with the nonuniform and uniform asymptotic expansions of the exact solution of the problem.

Field of study: Mathematics
Intensified Beclin-1 Mediated by Low Expression of Mir-30a-5p Promotes Chemoresistance in Human Small Cell Lung Cancer

Although small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is sensitive to initial chemotherapy, patients experience tumor recurrence and metastasis, leading to treatment failure. Autophagy as a protective pattern for cell survival in the harsh environment plays an important role in chemoresistance. However, the role of Beclin-1, a key regulator of autophagy in the drug-resistance of SCLC cells is still poorly understood. In the current study, we focused on the effect and regulation of Beclin-1 in chemoresistance of SCLC cells.  We analyzed the levels of Beclin-1 in etoposide/cisplatin (EP) -resistant and -sensitive cell lines, as well as the relationship between Beclin-1 and patients’ chemosensitivity. The function of Beclin-1 in chemoresistant SCLC cells in vitro was measured by MTT, WB, colony formation and flow cytometric analysis. Further rescue experiment was performed after co-transfected with siBeclin-1 and miR-30a mimics or inhibitor.  Beclin-1 was upregulated in drug-resistant cells and patients with lower sensitivity to etoposide/cisplatin therapy. Downregulated Beclin-1 attenuated drug sensitivity and colony formation ability of chemoresistant cells. Moreover, inhibition of Beclin-1 resulted in a dramatic decline of autophagy and increase of apoptosis in drug-resistant cells, accompanied by a remarkable reduction in S phase and a raise in G2/M phase of cell cycle. The transfection with miR-30a-5p mimics exhibited an opposite effect. In addition, inhibition of Beclin-1 could partly reverse the effect induced by miR-30a-5p suppression in drug-sensitive cells.  Beclin-1 regulated by miR-30a-5p plays a notable role in the drug-resistance of SCLC. Inhibition of Beclin-1 by induction of miR-30a-5p may improve the therapeutic outcome via resensitizing the drug-resistant cells to chemotherapy in SCLC.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry