nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Modeling octanol/water partition coefficients by molecular topology: chlorinated benzenes and biphenyls

Models based on chemical structure were developed for the accurate predictions of octanol/water partition coefficients (log K ow ) for chlorinated benzenes and biphenyls (PCBs). The molecular connectivity indices and other topological properties, readily available for all chemicals, were used as molecular descriptors. In the modeling process only K ow data measured by the direct slow-stirring method have been used. Derived models account for 99.9% of the variation in the log K ow data, and partition properties are described best by the 0 χ v index

Field of study: Environmental science
Preference for Immediate Events: Choices between Immediate and Delayed Drinks of Quinine Sulfate Solution or Tap Water

When faced with inevitable mild electric shock to the wrist, most people prefer to “get it over with” immediately. The present experiment tested the generality of this preference by asking 60 college students to choose between immediate and delayed drinks of a bitter tasting quinine sulfate solution. The immediate bitter drink was chosen over an equally bitter, delayed drink on 88% of the trials. A control condition using tap water was also tested. Immediate tap water was chosen over delayed tap water on 84% of the trials. This is the first known study in which a nonaversive control has been used and suggests that the preference people have for immediate aversive events may be part of a larger preference for immediate events (positive, neutral, or aversive in hedonic tone).

Field of study: Psychology
A perfect maze based steganographic method

In steganography, several different types of media have been used as carriers, such as images, audios and video streams, to hide secret data. Nevertheless, various novel media and applications have been developed due to the rapid growth of internet. In this paper, we select maze games as carrier media to conceal secret data. The original idea of embedding data in a maze is proposed by Niwayama et al. Their method has two disadvantages. One is the very small embedding capacity; the other is that the stego maze is not perfect. Here, we propose an improved algorithm for increasing the embedding capacity and preserving the ''perfect'' property.

Field of study: Computer science, Engineering
Melanocortin receptors mediate α-MSH induced stimulation of neurite outgrowth in neuro 2A cells

Melanocortins (MC), neuropeptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin, have been implicated in enhancing neurite outgrowth via an as yet unknown mechanism. Recently, five MC receptors have been identified, three of which, the MC3-R, the MC4-R and the MC5-R, are expressed in the nervous system. In this study, α-MSH and the melanocortin analog [ d -Phe7]ACTH (4–10) were able to stimulate neurite outgrowth in the neuroblastoma cell line Neuro 2A. ACTH (4–10), γ2-MSH and ORG2766 were inactive. In addition, the MC4-R antagonist [ d -Arg8]ACTH (4–10), inhibited the α-MSH effect, indicating that the MC4-R mediated stimulation of neurite outgrowth by α-MSH. Indeed, the presence of MC4-R mRNA in Neuro 2A cells was demonstrated by a RNase protection assay. Heterologous expression of the MC5-R in Neuro 2A cells lead to the recruitment of a responsiveness to γ2-MSH, but did not increase the effect of α-MSH on neurite outgrowth. This finding indicated that the function of MC4-R can also be exerted by another MC receptor, suggesting that the coupling to Gs, which they have in common, plays an essential role in the neurite outgrowth promoting effect. This was further substantiated by the fact that forskolin treatment per se induced neurite outgrowth in a similar fashion. These data imply that the neurotrophic properties of α-MSH are likely to result from Gs-coupled MC receptor activity in neuronal cells.

Field of study: Biology
Synthesis of 5(6)-decenoic acid

Use butyraldehyde and cyclohexanone as raw material via aldol condensation,hydrogenation,Beayer-Villiger oxidation and saponification dehydration reaction,to obtain the target product 5(6)-decenoic acid mixture(milk lactone).The factors influencing the yield of each step were analyzed,and the optimum conditions were obtained:(1)The aldol condensation:polyethylene glycol 400 as a phase transfer catalyst,n(butyraldehyde):n(cyclohexanone)=1:1.8,the temperature is 30 ℃;(2)The catalytic hydrogenation:hydrogen pressure is 2.5 MPa,temperature is 30 ℃;(3)The Baeyer-Villiger oxidation:n(2-butyl-cyclohexanone):n(urea peroxide)=1:1.8,temperature is 30 ℃;(4)The Saponification dehydration:alkali concentration of 30%(mass fraction),saponification temperature is 110 ℃.The total yield of reaction is 30.8%.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Too little, too late: comparison of nutritional status and quality of life of nutrition care and support recipient and non-recipients among HIV-positive adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Compare the nutritional vulnerability, risk of malnutrition, nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) between recipients and non-recipients of nutrition care and support (NCS) of HIV-positive adults.



In 2009, a household-based cross-sectional study of HIV-positive adults, NCS recipients (n=97) and non-NCS recipients (n=203) from KwaZulu-Natal was conducted. Nutritional vulnerability (socio-economic status; food security; self-reported health status; nutritional knowledge and attitude), risk of malnutrition (nutrition assessment screening tool), anthropometry (body mass index; mid-upper arm circumference; waist-to-hip ratio) and QoL (general health; self-care; physical functioning) were compared between the two groups.



Although the result suggests a modest impairment of QoL, NCS recipients were twice as likely to have severe impairment of general health; self-care functioning and QoL. Overweight and obesity were common despite indications of high prevalence of food insecurity, possible-risk of malnutrition and diets predominantly of cereals. NCS recipients were more frequently taking anti-retroviral drugs, receiving social grants, reporting good eating plans and owning kitchen gardens. Non-NCS recipients had been generally sick, reported fatigue, nausea, appetite loss and diarrhoea. NCS recipients were twice as likely to experience oral thrush.



Contextual factors such as low dietary diversity and household food insecurity that exacerbates nutritional vulnerability and malnutrition should be considered when providing NCS to fully achieve nutritional recovery and QoL of HIV-positive adults.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF MARRIED MEN TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUN KHWA, PAKISTAN.

Family planning programs have traditionally focused on women as the primary beneficiaries and men have been considered as the silent partners of the services. In Pakistan it is generally believed that men are not in favor of family planning and that men want more children particularly more sons.  The objectives of this study were to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of married men towards family planning services in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtun khwa, Pakistan.  This study was a cross sectional study involving 400 married men living in Bhana Mari Union Council Peshawar. Duration of the study was 6 months March 2015 to August 2015 .The sampling technique was multistage cluster sampling. Married men who did not meet pre-determined criteria were replaced with those from the nearest households Married men were interviewed through structured questionnaire.  The prevalence of family planning practice among the married men was (15.0%) about (6.0%) in their wives and (16.0%) were found among couples. Mean age of respondents were 38.3 +- 9.0 and respondents wives were 32.7 +- 8.4. Married men were mostly illiterate about 52.0% and 77.5% of their wives were illiterate.   Most married men were currently practicing condoms and their wives were currently practicing oral pills. Most married men (97.0%) were aware of the common types of male contraceptives methods.  The study finding showed that married men, who were illiterate and in young age did neither use contraception nor did allow their wives to practice family planning and nor even discussed family planning with their wives.

Field of study: Medicine
Casimir-Polder Repulsive Interaction

The Casimir effect is attractive in most vacuum-separated metallic or dielectric geometries. Two electrically neutral spatially separated systems interacting via Casimir force will have access to the stable separation state only when the force transitions from repulsive at small separations to attractive at large separations. Such issues are important in the future development of micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). We investigate here the Casimir-Polder free energy corresponding to interactions of a magnetically and electrically polarizable micro-particle with a magneto-dielectric sheet. Our theoretical study shows that such an interaction is tunable in strength and sign.The latter, particularly, is true provided we go beyond the natural materials and look for the meta-materials fabricated at scales between the micron and the nanometer. We assume that the particle and the sheet have access to non-tivial values of the polarizability ratio and the electromagnetic impedance, respectively. The crossover between attractive and repulsive behavior is found to depend on these quantities.

Field of study: Physics
Quantifying Gene Essentiality Based on the Context of Cellular Components

Different genes have their protein products localized in various subcellular compartments. The diversity in protein localization may serve as a gene characteristic, revealing gene essentiality from a subcellular perspective. To measure this diversity, we introduced a Subcellular Diversity Index (SDI) based on the Gene Ontology-Cellular Component Ontology (GO-CCO) and a semantic similarity measure of GO terms. Analyses revealed that SDI of human genes was well correlated with some known measures of gene essentiality, including protein–protein interaction (PPI) network topology measurements, dN/dS ratio, homologous gene number, expression level and tissue specificity. In addition, SDI had a good performance in predicting human essential genes (AUC = 0.702) and drug target genes (AUC = 0.704), and drug targets with higher SDI scores tended to cause more side-effects. The results suggest that SDI could be used to identify novel drug targets and to guide the filtering of drug targets with fewer potential side effects. Finally, we developed a user-friendly online database for querying SDI score for genes across eight species, and the predicted probabilities of human drug target based on SDI. The online database of SDI is available at: http://www.cuilab.cn/sdi.

Field of study: Biology
Non‐scale Models of Economic Growth

Growth models that incorporate nonrivalry and/or externalities imply that the size of an economy may influence its long-run growth rate. Such implied scale effects run counter to empirical evidence. This paper develops a general growth model to examine conditions under which balanced growth is void of scale effects. The model is general enough to replicate well known exogenous, as well as endogenous, (non-) scale models. The authors derive a series of propositions that show that these conditions for nonscale balanced growth can be grouped into three categories that pertain to (1) functional forms, (2) the production structure, and (3) returns to scale.

Field of study: Economics
Intrinsic non-linear conduction in the super-insulating state of thin TiN films

We investigate experimentally the electric transport at the insulating side of the superconductor to insulator transition in thin TiN-films. At temperatures T > 50 mK we observe an Arrhenius-type conductance, with an activation energy depending logarithmically on the sample size. At high bias the current voltage (I-V) characteristics display a large current jump into an electron heating dominated regime. For the largest samples, and below 50 mK we observe a low-bias power law I ~ V^alpha characteristics with an exponent alpha > 1 rapidly growing with decreasing temperature, which is expected for a binding-unbinding crossover of the charge-Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless type.

Field of study: Physics
Min-Max Metric for Spectrally Compatible Waveform Design Via Log-Exponential Smoothing

To ensure the proper functioning of active sensing systems in the presence of interferences from other electromagnetic equipment in a spectrally crowded environment, we devise four new solutions for spectrally compatible waveform design based on the min-max metric, namely, minimum modulus dynamic range, min-max spectral shape, minimum weighted peak sidelobe level, and minimum similarity. To address the resultant nonconvex and nonsmooth optimization problems, a unified algorithm framework is proposed. That is, we first approximate the min-max metric by using the “log-exponential smoothing” technique, then apply majorization-minimization to smooth and simplify the approximate optimization formulations, and finally use the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker theory to tackle the majorized problems. Besides, we develop an adaptive approximation parameter selection scheme, which monotonically decreases the approximation error at each iteration. The proposed algorithms are computationally efficient as they can be realized via fast Fourier transform. Finally, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate their excellent performance.

Field of study: Engineering
Comparative methods for multiplex analysis of cytokine protein expression in plasma of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice.

Changes in circulating cytokines might serve as predictors of compound-evoked inflammatory responses. CD-1 mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.2 ml of 0.25 mg/ml, intraperitoneal) for subsequent expression measurement of plasma cytokine protein expression at 24-h post-treatment using multiple antibody Western blot, and at both 2-h and 24-h post-treatment using antibody array and suspension bead array. Antibody array provided a semi-qualitative assessment and suggested significantly increased expression of GCSF at 2-h post-treatment and GCSF, IL-6, IL-12, MCP-1, MCP-5, RANTES and sTNFR1 at 24-h post-treatment. Densitometric analysis of multiple antibody Western blots provided a semi-quantitative assessment and indicated significantly increased expression of IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, GCSF, eotaxin, and MCP-2 at 24-h post-treatment. The suspension bead array yielded statistically significant cytokine protein expression increases for IL-6, IL-10, IFNgamma and TNFalpha at both 2-h and 24-h post-treatments, while significant expression at 24-h post-treatment only was noted for IL-1beta, IL-5, IL-12 and GM-CSF. Suspension bead array provided the greatest range of detection, revealing subtle increased expression of GM-CSF, IL-1beta, IL-5, IL-10, TNFalpha and IFNgamma at 24-h post-treatment, not detected by antibody array or multiple antibody Western blot. Suspension bead array proved to be the best method for detection of LPS-evoked changes in plasma cytokine levels.

Field of study: Medicine
Porphyry of the Porcupine district, Ontario

The porphyry of the Porcupine district, Ontario, has been considered pre-Timiskaming by some and post-Timiskaming by others. A detailed study reveals that it is the result of two processes—igneous intrusion and metasomatic replacement—separated by a period of deformation. Igneous intrusion is indicated by the stock- and dikelike forms crosscutting enclosing rocks and by their content of inclusions. Relative age is shown by the structures; porphyry crosscuts Timiskaming sedimentary beds but in most places contains a linear schistosity. Therefore, the intrusion followed deposition of the Timiskaming rocks but preceded the conclusion of the Timiskaming deformation. A Keewatin-Timiskaming unconformity indicates that the Keewatin rocks were folded and then eroded to a depth of at least 8000 feet before Timiskaming deposition. Metasomatic replacement of the schistose intrusive is suggested by the lack of orientation of the feldspar and quartz “phenocrysts,” their transection of the schistosity, and almost complete lack of strain. Similar features are common to “phenocrysts” in the porphyry of “ecole” structures, the porphyry fragments in Keewatin agglomerate, and the porphyry pebbles in Timiskaming conglomerate. In all these “fragmental” rocks, feldspar and quartz crystals, identical with those in the porphyry, occur in the matrix. Additional evidence of replacement is the presence in the stocks of lenses of carbonaceous porphyry which usually lie on the strike of carbonaceous schist lenses in the surrounding rocks. It is suggested that after the Timiskaming folding quartz and feldspar “phenocrysts” were deposited from permeating solutions. The Algoman granite is the probable source of the solutions.

Field of study: Geology
Looking under the bonnet of conservation conflicts: can neuroscience help?

Neuroscience—a branch of biology seemingly distant from nature/wildlife conservation is revolutionised by the ability to visualise the brain activity of humans. Using positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalograhy (MEG), neuroscience is revealing how humans are wired in ways that have bearing on any problem that involves values; and nature/wildlife conservation is surely one of those. Understanding how the human brain represents and processes morality and sacred values, and responds to conflicts could shed a powerful light on nature/wildlife conservation tactics. Conservation polices typically involve utilitarian considerations. However, research shows that conservation policies based solely on utilitarian considerations are likely to fail as the neurological process of rights and wrongs grates against the process of cost and benefits.

Field of study: Environmental science
Mitochondrial DNA transfer RNA mutation Leu(UUR)A-->G 3260: a second family with myopathy and cardiomyopathy.

A family with maternally inherited myopathy and cardiomyopathy is described. Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed a heteroplasmic point mutation at position 3260 in the leucine transfer RNA gene, previously reported in a large Italian family with a similar phenotype. This observation confirms pathogenicity of this mutation and suggests phenotypic specificity.

Field of study: Medicine
Variational Nonlinear State Estimation.

In this paper, the problem of state estimation, in the context of both filtering and smoothing, for nonlinear state-space models is considered. Due to the nonlinear nature of the models, the state estimation problem is generally intractable as it involves integrals of general nonlinear functions and probability density functions lacking closed-form solutions. As such, it is common to approximate the state estimation problem. In this paper, we develop a solution based on the variational inference principle, which offers the key advantage of a flexible, but principled, mechanism for approximating the required distributions. Our main contribution lies in a new formulation of the state estimation problem as an optimisation problem, which can then be solved using standard optimisation routines that employ exact first- and second-order derivatives. The resulting state estimation approach involves a minimal number of assumptions and is directly applicable to nonlinear systems with both Gaussian and non-Gaussian probabilistic models. The performance of our approach is demonstrated on several examples; a challenging scalar system, a model of a simple robotic system, and a target tracking problem using a von Mises-Fisher distribution and outperforms alternative assumed density approaches to state estimation.

Field of study: Computer science
Intramolecular Mannich Reaction of 2-Oxotryptamines with Acetone Yielding Spiro[indole-3,3'-pyrrolidin]-2-ones

2-Oxotryptamines undergo intramolecular Mannich-type cyclization with acetone to give 2',2'-dimethylspiro[indole-3,3'-pyrrolidin]-2-ones. In presence of an alkylating reagent, this reaction gives the corresponding 1'-substituted products.

Field of study: Chemistry
SU-F-T-163: Improve Proton Therapy Efficiency: Report of a Workshop.

The technology of proton therapy, especially the pencil beam scanning technique, is evolving very quickly. However, the efficiency of proton therapy seems to lag behind conventional photon therapy. The purpose of the abstract is to report on the findings of a workshop on improvement of QA, planning and treatment efficiency in proton therapy.



A panel of physicists, clinicians, and vendor representatives from over 18 institutions in the United States and internationally were convened in Knoxville, Tennessee in November, 2015. The panel discussed several topics on how to improve proton therapy efficiency, including 1) lean principle and failure mode and effects analysis, 2) commissioning and machine QA, 3) treatment planning, optimization and evaluation, 4) patient positioning and IGRT, 5) vendor liaison and machine availability, and 6) staffing, education and training.



The relative time needed for machine QA, treatment planning & check in proton therapy was found to range from 1 to 2.5 times of that in photon therapy. Current status in proton QA, planning and treatment was assessed. Key areas for efficiency improvement, such as elimination of unnecessary QA items or steps and development of efficient software or hardware tools, were identified. A white paper to summarize our findings is being written.



It is critical to improve efficiency by developing reliable proton beam lines, efficient software tools on treatment planning, optimization and evaluation, and dedicated proton QA device. Conscious efforts and collaborations from both industry leaders and proton therapy centers are needed to achieve this goal and further advance the technology of proton therapy.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
A New Load-balancing Algorithm in Wireless Networks

Since traditional soft load balancing algorithm in the heterogeneous wireless networks exists the problem of high load deviation and low system throughput, this paper proposes grid-based load-balancing algorithm to improve the integration of heterogeneous wireless throughput and reduce business delay and load deviation, while ensuring network quality of service basis. The algorithm proposed in this paper maps the wireless resource into different three-dimensional resource unit under the condition of full consideration of customers' business needs and difference matching of heterogeneous resources unit, and then divides the business into different sub-business traffic which is distributed to different network grid to achieve business distributed shunt. This gives specific process of load balancing algorithm. Finally, we perform the simulation experiments with MLB and DLBD algorithm on the aspects of shunt times, business blocking probability and network load balancing degree. Experiments show that: the algorithm proposed in this paper improves the utilization of the heterogeneous wireless resource, and improves performance of system.

Field of study: Computer science