nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Mass transport effects on the kinetics of nitrobenzene reduction by iron metal.

To evaluate the importance of external mass transport on the overall rates of contaminant reduction by iron metal (Fe0), we have compared measured rates of surface reaction for nitrobenzene (ArNO2) to estimated rates of external mass transport in a permeable reactive barrier (PRB). The rate of surface reaction was measured at a polished Fe0 rotating disk electrode (RDE) in an electrochemical cell, and the rate of mass transport was estimated from a correlation for mass transport in packed-bed reactors. The kinetics of ArNO2 reduction were studied in pH 8.4 borate buffer at a potential below which an oxide film would form. The cathodic current measured in this system was dependent on the electrode rotation rate, and the measured first-order heterogeneous rate coefficient for surface reaction [krxn = (1.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(-3) cm s-1] was about 10 times faster than the first-order mass transport rate coefficient (kmt approximately 2 x 10(-4) cm s-1) estimated for PRBs. The similarity between rates of surface reaction and mass transport suggest that it may be important to consider mass transport processes in the design of PRBs for contaminants such as nitroaromatics that are highly reactive with Fe0.

Field of study: Environmental science
Evolution Strategies for Automatic Optimization of Jet Mixing

2Falkner, V. M., “A Further Investigation of the Boundary-Layer Equations,” British Aero. Res. Council, Reports and Memoranda, Rept. 1884, 1937. 3Smith, A.M. O., “Improved Solutionsof theFalkner and Skan Boundary Layer Equations,” Rep. E. S. 16009 [], Douglas Aircraft Co. Inc., 1952. 4Evans, H. L., Laminar Boundary Layer Theory, Addison–Wesley, London, 1968. 5Radbill, J. R., “Application of Quasilinearization to Boundary-Layer Equations,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 2, 1964,  K., “Remarks on Quasilinearization Applied in Boundary Layer Calculations,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 4, 1966, , P. A., and Liu, T. M., “Further Solutions of the Falkner-Skan Equation,”AIAA  1967,  The Theory of Laminar Boundary Layers in Compressible Fluids, OxfordMathematical Monographs, 9White, F. M., Viscous Fluid Flow, McGraw–Hill, New York, 1991. 10Coppell,W.,PhilosophicalTransactionsof theRoyalSociety ofLondon, Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Vol. 253, 1960, p. 101.

Field of study: Physics
Effect of PEA on LPS inflammatory action in human adipocytes.

N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous lipid secreted by human adipocytes that possesses numerous anti-inflammatory properties. Human adipose tissue can be subjected to modulation of its inflammatory state by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here we demonstrate that LPS increases the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by human mature adipocytes via activation of the NFkappaB pathway. This effect is not inhibited by PEA. Inversely, LPS strongly inhibits adipose cell leptin release, with PEA acting as a potentiator of this inhibitory effect. These actions are not linked to a reduction in leptin gene transcription. Thus, PEA does not have an anti-inflammatory role in the secretion of IL-6 via NFkappaB at the adipocyte level, but instead seems to act at the heart of the LPS-stimulated pathway, which, independently of NFkappaB, inhibits the secretion of leptin.

Field of study: Medicine
Effect of Sex of Subject on Recall of Gender-Stereotyped Magazine Advertisements

The effect of gender on recall of details in stereotypically male-or female-related magazine advertisements was tested. 20 male and 20 female subjects were shown 4 advertisements (2 stereotypically female-related ads and 2 stereotypically male-related ads), one at a time, for 5 sec. each. Each subject was then asked to recall details from each advertisement. Gender differences in verbal ability were determined by administering the Wide Range Vocabulary Test prior to the experiment. The main effect of sex of subject and the interaction of sex of subject and type of advertisement significantly affected the number of details recalled. Females recalled more details over-all. Males recalled more details from the male-related advertisements, while females recalled an equal number of details from both advertisements. The effect of the women's liberation movement on males' and females' recall of the advertisements is discussed. Suggestions are made for advertisers and directions for future research are discussed.

Field of study: Psychology
Eliminating all bad Local Minima from Loss Landscapes without even adding an Extra Unit

Recent work has noted that all bad local minima can be removed from neural network loss landscapes, by adding a single unit with a particular parameterization. We show that the core technique from these papers can be used to remove all bad local minima from any loss landscape, so long as the global minimum has a loss of zero. This procedure does not require the addition of auxiliary units, or even that the loss be associated with a neural network. The method of action involves all bad local minima being converted into bad (non-local) minima at infinity in terms of auxiliary parameters.

Field of study: Computer science
Simulation study on the lifetime of electrochemical capacitors using the accelerated degradation test under temperature and voltage stresses

Several studies on the degradation mechanism of electrochemical capacitors have been conducted, but they have not predicted and analyzed the lifetime of the capacitors. A capacitor's life is normally considered to end when its capacity is reduced to 20% of the initial level or its ac equivalent series resistance (ESR) increases by 200% compared its initial value. Once the ac ESR reaches a failure state, it becomes impractical to use it as a factor to determine the failure of an electrochemical capacitor; hence, only the capacity is considered as a factor when determining a capacitor's failure. This method, which is used for small-scale electrochemical capacitors employed as capacitance backup, cannot be applied to new electrochemical capacitors with high output and low resistance. Therefore, we analyzed a failure mechanism by conducting a load-life test on high-output cylindrical-shaped electrochemical capacitors under different voltages (2.5, 2.7, and 2.9 V) and temperatures (333.15 K, 343.15 K, and 353.15 K) for 1000–1500 h, using the simulation software ALTA 8 PRO and Weibull ++8. By proposing an appropriate dc ESR as a life-determining factor for existing capacitors and by analyzing different failure conditions (150%, 180%, and 200%) through comparison, we found that a 180% increase in the dc ESR over its initial level is the most appropriate factor to be used as a failure condition for electrochemical capacitor performance. In addition, in the case of performance degradation due to voltage and temperature changes, an acceleration factor for each condition has been deduced, facilitating a preliminary performance evaluation w an accelerated life test.

Field of study: Engineering
Changes in geographic variation in the uptake of cervical cancer screening in Taiwan: possible effects of "leadership style factor"?

Wennberg proposed the "practice style factor" to explain the large variations in the use of medical care. As a corollary, we propose the "leadership style factor" of the director of the city/county bureau of public health to explain changes in geographic variation in the uptake of cervical cancer screening.



We first calculated the triennial Pap smear rates for women aged 30-69 years from 1997 through 2010 for each city/county in Taiwan and the rate difference and rate ratio between the highest and the lowest city/county to illustrate the geographic variation in the uptake of cervical cancer screening. We then created an expert panel to conduct a hypothesis generation process to examine the possible effects of "leadership style factors" in explaining the changes.



The Pap smear rate in Taiwan as a whole was 35% in 1997 and increased to 56% in 2001, and was then stable until 2010 (55%). In 2002, the geographic variation in the Pap smear rate was the smallest, ranging from 49% in Penghu County to 63% in I-lan County, with a rate ratio of 1.28. Unfortunately, the rate ratio increased to 1.49 in 2010, the rate being lowest in Penghu County (42%) and highest in Tainan City (63%). We identified four cities/counties with unique patterns of change in Pap smear rates, which were highly associated with the leadership style of the director of the city/county bureau of public health.



Despite the launch of an organized cancer screening program in Taiwan, geographic variation in the uptake of cervical cancer screening still exists and has increased during the past decade. The "leadership style factor" of the director of the city/county bureau of public health might play a plausible role in explaining the pattern of change in geographic variation in the use of cervical cancer screening in Taiwan.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
[Changes in the immunological parameters in Alzheimer's disease: their relation to disease severity].

The peculiarities of the immune system in patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and their relations with some clinical parameters were investigated. 21 patients with AD aged 51-70 and 16 age-matched healthy subjects were included in this study. The following parameters were examined: 1) total lymphocyte numbers, 2) the functional activity of T- and B-lymphocytes under conditions of stimulation by nonspecific mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and 3) the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). A statistically significant decrease (p < 0.01) in lymphocyte number and significant increase of proliferative activity of T-lymphocytes, stimulated by PHA (when the small mitogen doses in the range of 1.25-2.5 mg/ml were used) were found in patients with moderate and severe dementia (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). No significant changes of lymphocyte proliferative activity were detected in patients with mild dementia. Some tendency for higher IL-1 production was found in AD patients, but it was not statistically significant. No changes of functional activity of B-cells and of production of IL-2 in AD patients were found in comparison with the control group.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
A Social Cognitive Construct Validation: Determining Women's and Men's Success in Engineering Programs

Because educational theorists have maintained that classroom environment strongly predicts academic success, we utilized Bandura's (1986) model measuring environment, self, and behavior to GPA using approximately 700 engineering students. A structural equation analysis indicated that discrimination affected females more frequently while academic integration had more positive effects on females' self-efficacy, perceived helpseeking, effort, and critical thinking.

Field of study: Education
Enhanced electrochemical performance of Na3V2(PO4)3 with Ni2+ doping by a spray drying-assisted process for sodium ion batteries

Spherical Na3V2−xNix(PO4)3/C composites with different Ni2+ doping contents (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) were prepared through a spray drying-assisted method for sodium batteries. The XRD analysis indicates that a small amount of Ni2+ doping does not alter the structure of Na3V2(PO4)3/C. SEM demonstrates that the particle size of spherical Na3V2−xNix(PO4)3/C materials are 1–2 μm. The four-point probe method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) show that the Ni2+ doped Na3V2(PO4)3/C samples possess higher electronic conductivity and smaller charge transfer resistance compared with the undoped Na3V2(PO4)3/C cathode composite, which is favorable for improving the cell performance. Especially for the Na3V1.85Ni0.15(PO4)3/C, it exhibited a superior discharge capacity of 104.5 mAh·g−1 at a high rate of 5C. Moreover, after 1000 cycles at 5C, an excellent capacity retention of 95.4% is maintained.

Field of study: Materials science
Distribution and abiotic degradation of chlorinated solvents in heated field samples.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the abiotic degradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in contaminated soil and groundwater samples obtained from the Camelot Cleaners Superfund site, West Fargo, ND. The field samples were incubated at temperatures of 25, 55, 75, and 95 degrees C in sealed ampules containing aqueous, gas, and solid phases for periods of up to 75 days to simulate thermal treatment temperatures. Aqueous PCE concentrations increased with incubation temperature but remained constant over time. The degradation of dolomite to form CO2 facilitated the transfer of sorbed-phase PCE from the solid to the aqueous phase in heated ampules. While compounds associated with PCE degradation were detected in the heated ampules, these compounds were also detected in ampules with PCE-free Camelot soil and were attributed to soil diagenesis rather than PCE degradation. Trichloroethylene underwent hydrogenolysis to form cis-DCE at 95 degrees C, and TCE levels decreased with first-order half-lives of 157 days at 55 degrees C and 26 days at 95 degrees C. The relatively small decrease in total PCE levels after 75 days of heating at 95 degrees C suggests that abiotic degradation of PCE will not result in significant mass reduction during thermal treatment of the Camelot Cleaners Superfund site.

Field of study: Environmental science
Spectra of anti-nucleons in the vacuum of finite nuclei

The quantum vacuum in a many-body system of finite nuclei has been investigated within the relativistic Hartree approach which describes the bound states of nucleons and anti-nucleons consistently. The contributions of the Dirac sea to the source terms of the meson-field equations are taken into account up to the one-nucleon loop and one-meson loop. The tensor couplings for the omega- and rho-meson are included in the model. After adjusting the parameters of the model to the properties of spherical nuclei, a large effective nucleon mass m(*)/M-N approximate to 0.78 is obtained. The overall nucleon spectra of shell-model states are in agreement with the data. The computed anti-nucleon spectra in the vacuum differ about 20-30MeV with and without the tensor-coupling effects.

Field of study: Physics
Selective reductions with complex hydride reducing agents

This paper describes the selective reductions with thioborane derivatives, zinc—modified cyanoborohydride, and the ate complex from diisobutylaluminum hydride and n-butyllithium. Reaction of carboxylic acids with 1,3,2-dithiaborinane in the presence of stannous chloride or boron trifluoride etherate in tetrahydrofuran gives 1,3-dithianes in high yields. The reaction of acids with thexylphenylthioborane in dichloromethane gives S,S'-diphenyl acetais, whereas esters are converted into phenyl sulfides in the presence of zinc iodide. Zinc-modified cyanoborohydride in ether selectively reduces allylic, benzylic, tertiary alkyl halides without reducing primary and secondary alkyl, vinyl, and aryl halides. Furthermore, the reagent in ether reduces aldehydes, ketones, and acid chlorides to alcohols and the reagent in methanol is very effective in the reduction of enamines, reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones, and deoxygenation of aldehdyes and ketones. The ate complex from diisobutylaluminum hydride and n-butyllithium, capable of reducing most reducible functional groups, is found to be a highly selective reducing agent. The reagent rapidly reduces simple primary alkyl bromides, benzylic, and allylic halides but slowly primary alkyl chlorides and secondary alkyl bromides. Tertiary amides are cleanly reduced to aldehydes and various selective reductions can be achieved by the use of the reagent.

Field of study: Chemistry
Carcinoma Erysipelatoides Resulting from Gastric Adenocarcinoma: An Unusual Clinical Presentation

To report a rare case of carcinoma erysipelatoides on the laryngeal skin caused by stomach adenocarcinoma.  A 48-year-old male, who had undergone a gastrectomy 18 months prior to admission for stage IIIA gastric adenocarcinoma, presented with a reddish induration of the cervical skin, lymphadenopathy in both supraclavicular areas and widespread subcutaneous nodules. Abdominal computerized tomography and chest radiography did not reveal any organ metastasis or peritoneal carcinomatosis. A biopsy of the induration revealed atypical epithelial cells with edema and dilatation of lymphatics. The patient was given combination chemotherapy of etoposide, adriamycin, and cisplatin, and significant improvement was observed over the cervical area after three courses. The patient tolerated the systemic chemotherapy well and has been followed for two months.  We recommend combination chemotherapy in patients with cutaneous metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma as a safe and effective treatment.

Field of study: Medicine
The Predicament of Packaging Joint Guarantee System from the Perspective of the Farmers and the Related Solutions——Taking Forest Farmers in Lishui City,Zhejiang Province as an Example

The Packaging Joint Guarantee of forest insurance has already become an important approach in some provinces of China,such as Zhejiang.Based on a survey of 120 peasant households in Yunhe County and Qingyuan County in Lishui City of Zhejiang Province,the paper analyzes the current situation and problems of this mode through a satiscical analysis of the first and second-hand data got from the questionnaires and the interviews.Furthermore,this paper tries to give some suggestions for changing the development dilemma of this mode,including promoting the publicity in depth and breadth,increasing the approaches of financing,strengthening monitoring and perfecting the design of the forest insurance.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Generalization Error Bounds with Probabilistic Guarantee for SGD in Nonconvex Optimization

The success of deep learning has led to a rising interest in the generalization property of the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) method, and stability is one popular approach to study it. Existing works based on stability have studied nonconvex loss functions, but only considered the generalization error of the SGD in expectation. In this paper, we establish various generalization error bounds with probabilistic guarantee for the SGD. Specifically, for both general nonconvex loss functions and gradient dominant loss functions, we characterize the on-average stability of the iterates generated by SGD in terms of the on-average variance of the stochastic gradients. Such characterization leads to improved bounds for the generalization error for SGD. We then study the regularized risk minimization problem with strongly convex regularizers, and obtain improved generalization error bounds for proximal SGD. With strongly convex regularizers, we further establish the generalization error bounds for nonconvex loss functions under proximal SGD with high-probability guarantee, i.e., exponential concentration in probability.

Field of study: Computer science
Seismic refraction data in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence: implications for the lower-crustal blocks.

A refined model for the wide-angle reflection-refraction profile 88-3 that crosses the foreland basin of the Appalachian orogen is presented. The two major layers of the cratonic crust have velocities of 6.2 and 6.7 km·s -1 with low gradients. Near the exposed North American craton, the 6.7 km·s -1 velocity appears at the shallow depth of 13 km and the M discontinuity at greater than 40 km depth. Towards the orogen, a southeastward-dipping ramp is developed at mid-crustal levels at the top of the 6.7 km·s -1 layer. Near the Appalachian Front lower-crustal velocities typical of the Grenville are replaced with a velocity of 7.2 km·s -1 . The collinear reflection profile confirms the southward-dipping ramp, the shallowing M discontinuity, and the lateral changes in the lower crust. Refraction profiles combined with reflection and gravity data are used to distinguish the Grenville lower-crustal block. The Grenville lower-crustal block is defined as a pattern of lower-crustal and upper-mantle reflectivity, with associated velocities, and a more negative gravity anomaly than lower-crustal blocks of the Appalachian terranes. The Grenville block terminates northwest of the coast of Newfoundland near the Appalachian Front. Thus, this lower-crustal province does not underlie the Humber tectono-stratigraphic zone. This is different than the relationship of the edge of the Grenville lower-crustal block to surface zones in New England. A thick-skinned tectonic style with basement-involved deformation appears to be typical of the Newfoundland Appalachians; in contrast, a thin-skinned structural style is observed in New England. The change in structural styles occurs in the bend of the Appalachian orogen across the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Field of study: Environmental science
The War of 1898: The United States a Cuba in History a Historiography. By Pérez Louis A. Jr. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1998. Pp. xvi, 171. Notes. Index. $16.95.)

This tightly-written examination of the import of the Spanish-Cuban-United States War of 1898 demonstrates that "modes of historical explanation have . . . been simultaneously fitted within and derived from the moral hierarchies of the nation, fashioned in such a manner as to represent the ideals to which the nation professed dedication. The telling of 1898—in historical discourses, both popular and professional, repeated and refined—has served as a means of self-affirmation of what the nation is, or perhaps more correctly what the nation thinks itself to be, as past and present have been conjoined in the service of self-revelation" (p. x). As a touchstone for American self-identity in the twentieth century, then, the explanations for the War of 1898 illustrate not only the mythic aspirations of the United States but also more specifically the historian's participation in sustaining that national tradition.

Field of study: History
Some Properties of Geodesic Strongly E-b-vex Functions

Geodesic E-b-vex sets and geodesic E-b-vex functions on a Riemannian manifold are extended to the so called geodesic strongly E-b-vex sets and geodesic strongly E-b-vex functions. Some basic properties of geodesic strongly E-b-vex sets are also studied.

Field of study: Mathematics