nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
The pattern of GAP-43 immunostaining changes in the rat hippocampal formation during reactive synaptogenesis.

The reactive synaptogenesis that takes place in the rat hippocampal formation after certain experimental manipulations affords an opportunity to investigate the molecular events that underlie structural remodeling in the adult CNS. Between 2 and 4 days after lesioning the perforant pathway, levels of the synaptic phosphoprotein, GAP-43 (B50, F1, pp46, neuromodulin), were found to increase markedly in the inner molecular layer (iml) of the dentate gyrus, coincident with the time at which commissural-associational (CA) fibers begin to sprout axon collaterals into dendritic portions denervated by the lesion. GAP-43 immunostaining in the iml began to decline by 8 days but continued to define an expanded CA projection for at least one month. In the outer molecular layer (oml), GAP-43 levels decreased after the loss of perforant pathway terminals and did not return for 2-3 weeks, the time at which sprouting of septal inputs into this layer can be visualized by cholinesterase histochemistry. These results demonstrate that GAP-43 levels change during reactive synaptogenesis, and point to differences among neural systems in their expression of this protein.

Field of study: Biology
Nonmonotonic variations in deposition rate coefficients of microspheres in porous media under unfavorable deposition conditions.

The transport of carboxylate-modified polystyrene latex microspheres was examined in packed quartz sand under a variety of environmentally relevant ionic strength and flow conditions. The retained concentrations of microspheres in the sediment increased first, and then decreased with transport distance, indicating that the deposition rate coefficient changed nonmonotonically over the transport distance. This finding demonstrates the ubiquity of spatial variation in deposition rate coefficients under unfavorable deposition conditions, and in addition indicates that the previously recognized monotonic decrease with transport distance is not the sole form of spatial variations in deposition rate coefficients. In contrast, the deposition rate coefficients of similarly sized microspheres with different surface group densities were shown to decrease monotonically with transport distance in the same porous media, indicating that the form of spatial variation in deposition rate coefficient is highly sensitive to system conditions. The ubiquity and sensitivity of the spatial variation of deposition rate coefficients indicate that current practices that utilize log-linear extrapolation of discreet measurements of colloid attenuation to determine colloid removal with distance from source are not valid (for both biological and nonbiological colloids). The retained colloid profiles hold the promise to reveal processes governing colloid deposition under unfavorable conditions that are yet to be identified.

Field of study: Environmental science
Externalism, Self-Knowledge, and the Prevalence of Slow Switching

In an influential article, Paul Boghossian  has argued that externalism about mental content and a priori self-knowledge are incompatible doctrines. Commandeering the slow switching thought experiment introduced by Burge  (where an agent unknowingly switches between Earth and Twin Earth), Boghossian argues that it appears possible for an agent S to know his thoughts at time t, forget nothing, yet at some time later than t (perhaps having been informed that switches were taking place) be unable to say what the contents of his thoughts were at t. As Boghossian argues,

Field of study: Philosophy
Tracker Readout ASIC for Proton Computed Tomography Data Acquisition

A unique CMOS chip has been designed to serve as the front-end of the tracking detector data acquisition system of a pre-clinical prototype scanner for proton computed tomography (pCT). The scanner is to be capable of measuring one to two million proton tracks per second, so the chip must be able to digitize the data and send it out rapidly while keeping the front-end amplifiers active at all times. One chip handles 64 consecutive channels, including logic for control, calibration, triggering, buffering, and zero suppression. It outputs a formatted cluster list for each trigger, and a set of field programmable gate arrays merges those lists from many chips to build the events to be sent to the data acquisition computer. The chip design has been fabricated, and subsequent tests have demonstrated that it meets all of its performance requirements, including excellent low-noise performance.

Field of study: Physics
Potassium channel openers inhibit ATP-induced cytosolic free calcium increase in cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells.

To study the effects of potassium channel openers (PCO) on cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) changes and their possible mechanisms in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC).



Cultured rabbit aortic VSMC were treated with Fura-2 AM 2.5 mumol.L-1 at 37 degrees C for 50 min. The PCO were pinacidil (Pin), nicorandil (Nic), lemakalim (Lem), and RP 49356 (RP). 
[Ca2+]i increase induced by K+ 30 mmol.L-1 was weakly inhibited by Pin, Nic, Lem, and RP (441 +/- 23, 455 +/- 48, 451 +/- 22, 370 +/- 31 vs 544 +/- 40 nmol.L-1, P < 0.01). ATP (0.1 mmol.L-1)-induced peak and sustained [Ca2+]i increase were inhibited by these agents in a concentration-dependent manner. The effects of Pin, Lem, and RP were completely canceled (peak phase: 549 +/- 39, 540 +/- 30, 564 +/- 13 vs 541 +/- 39 nmol.L-1; sustained phase: 413 +/- 25, 364 +/- 16, 377 +/- 11 vs 380 +/- 8 nmol.L-1), but that of Nic was only partially blocked (peak phase: 453 +/- 31 vs 541 nmol.L-1; sustained phase: 348 +/- 19 vs 380 +/- 8 nmol.L-1, P < 0.01) by glibenclamide (Gli, 10 mumol.L-1). Pretreated with the Pin, Nic, Lem, and RP (10 mumol.L-1), the peak [Ca2+]i elevation induced by ATP was reduced in the Ca(2+)-free solution (129 +/- 17, 142 +/- 21, 136 +/- 14, 114 +/- 9 vs 258 +/- 32 nmol.L-1, P < 0.01).



Pin, Nic, Lem, and RP inhibited ATP-induced [Ca2+]i increase, associated with decreases of both Ca2+ release from intracellular store and Ca2+ influx from extracellular store.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
pRate: Anonymous Star Rating with Rating Secrecy

We introduce pRate, a novel reputation management scheme with strong security and privacy guarantees for the users and their reputation scores. The reputation scores are computed based on the (aggregated) number(s) of stars that users receive from their raters. pRate allows users to advertise privacy-friendly statements about their reputation when searching for potential transaction partners. Ratings can only be submitted by partners who have been initially authorised by the ratee and issued a rating token. The scheme is managed by a possibly untrusted reputation manager who can register users and assist ratees in updating their reputation scores, yet without learning these scores. In addition to ensuring the secrecy of the ratings, a distinctive feature of pRate over prior proposals, is that it hides the identities of raters and ratees from each other during the transaction and rating stages. The scheme is built from a number of efficient cryptographic primitives; its security is formally modeled and proven to hold under widely used assumptions on bilinear groups.

Field of study: Computer science, Mathematics
Sr-isotope, K, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, and rare-earth geochemistry of basalts from the FAMOUS area

Ten basalt samples recovered from the FAMOUS area were selected so as to obtain representatives of a wide geographical and compositional range. The samples were analyzed for 87Sr/86Sr, K, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, and rare-earths. Sr-isotope ratios fall in the narrow range of 0.70288 to 0.70307, which implies that these samples were derived from an isotopically homogeneous source. The FAMOUS area lies in a geochemical transition zone between the Azores Plateau and “normal” ridge areas south of lat 33°N. The LIL (large-ion-lithophile) and Sr-isotope geochemistry of FAMOUS basalts is thus influenced by the Azores mantle plume; this results in higher Sr-isotope and LIL concentrations in these basalts than is typical of Mid-Atlantic Ridge basalts. Trace-element distributions in FAMOUS area basalts cannot be entirely accounted for by fractional crystallization models that are based on major-element chemistry. The LIL distribution in FAMOUS basalts could be due to variable extents of partial melting. Zonation within the magma chamber may result from incomplete mixing of successive batches of magma entering the chamber and could be further enhanced by fractional crystallization. The variation in partial melting would require significant increases in mantle temperature over a relatively short period of time. According to this model, the Mount Pluto magma represents the highest degree of partial melting and may mark the initiation of a new cycle of eruptive activity in the median valley.

Field of study: Geology
Anomalous Broad-Line Region Responses to Continuum Variability in Active Galactic Nuclei.

In the standard AGN reverberation-mapping model variations in broad-line region (BLR) fluxes are predicted from optical continuum variability (taken as a proxy for variations in the ionizing continuum) convolved with an impulse function that depends on the geometry of the emitting and reprocessing regions. However, it has long been known that BLR variability can deviate from these predictions. We analyze extensive long-term H$\beta$ and continuum monitoring of NGC 5548 and a large sample of high-quality H$\beta$ light curves of other AGNs to investigate the frequency and characteristics of anomalous responses of the BLR. Anomalies are very common and probably occur in every object. Onsets can be on a timescale only slightly longer than the light-crossing time and durations are of the order of the characteristic timescale of variability of the optical continuum to several times longer. Anomalies are larger when NGC 5548 is in a low state, but otherwise there is no correlation with continuum variability. There is abundant evidence for the optical continuum of AGNs varying independently of the higher-energy continua and this is sufficient to explain the anomalous responses. There are good reasons for believing that the frequent lack of correlation between different spectral regions is due to anisotropic and non-axisymmetric emission. Rapid changes in line profiles and velocity-dependent lags are consistent with this. Motion of compact absorbing clouds across the line of sight is another possible cause of anomalies. The prevalence of anomalies needs to be taken into account when planning reverberation-mapping campaigns.

Field of study: Physics
Effect of Bi Segregation on the Asymmetrical Growth of Cu-Sn Intermetallic Compounds in Cu/Sn-58Bi/Cu Sandwich Solder Joints During Isothermal Aging

An asymmetrical interfacial microstructure was observed at both top and bottom interfaces of Cu/Sn-58Bi/Cu solder joints after isothermal aging at 120°C for different times. The asymmetrical interfacial microstructure resulted from asymmetrical Bi segregation, which was attributed to the density difference between Bi and Sn atoms. Bi atoms were driven to the bottom solder/Cu interface by gravity during the liquid soldering procedure since Bi atoms are more massive than Sn atoms. With increasing aging time, Bi accumulated at the bottom Cu3Sn/Cu interface and the Bi segregation enhanced Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compound growth, blocked Sn transport to the Cu3Sn intermetallic compound, and facilitated growth of the Cu6Sn5, based on the measured thicknesses of intermetallic compounds (including Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn) at both bottom and top interfaces for Cu/Sn-58Bi/Cu sandwich joints under the same aging process.

Field of study: Materials science
Andean grasslands are as productive as tropical cloud forests

We aim to assess net primary productivity (NPP) and carbon cycling in Andean tropical alpine grasslands (puna) and compare it with NPP of tropical montane cloud forests. We ask the following questions: (1) how do NPP and soil respiration of grasslands vary over the seasonal cycle? (2) how do burning and grazing affect puna productivity? (3) if the montane forest expands into the puna, what will be the resulting change in productivity? The study sites are located at the South-eastern Peruvian Andes; one grassland site and the forest sites are in Wayqecha biological station, and another grassland site in Manu National Park. At each grassland site, we selected a burnt and an unburnt area, installed unfenced and fenced transects in each area, and monitored above-ground productivity (NPPAG), below-ground productivity (NPPBG) and soil respiration (Rs) for 2 yr. In the forest, we monitored NPPAG, NPPBG and Rs for 2–4 yr. Grassland NPP varied between 4.6±0.25 (disturbed areas) to 15.3±0.9 Mg C ha �1 yr �1 (undisturbed areas) and cloud forest NPP was between 7.05±0.39 and 8.0±0.47 Mg C ha �1 yr �1 , while soil carbon stocks were in the range of 126±22 to 285±31 Mg C ha �1 . There were no significant differences on NPP between the puna and forest sites. The most undisturbed site had significantly higher NPP than other grassland sites, but no differences were found when relating grazing and fire at other sites. There were lower residence times of above-ground biomass compared to below-ground biomass. There was a strong seasonal signal on grassland NPPAG and NPPBG, with a shift on allocation at the beginning of the austral summer. High elevation tropical grasslands can be as productive as adjacent cloud forests, but have very different carbon cycling and retention properties than cloud forests. S Online supplementary data available from stacks.iop.org/ERL/9/115011/mmedia

Field of study: Environmental science
Asymptotic behavior of expected shortfall for portfolio loss under bivariate dependent structure

Under the dependent structure of bivariate Eyraud-Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstern copula, we present the asymptotics of expected shortfall for portfolio loss as the confidence level tends to one. Additionally, the corresponding asymptotics of spectral risk measure is also given. In order to illustrate the obtained main result, a numerical example and its relevant simulation are carried out.

Field of study: Mathematics
On the Relationship between Culture Capital and Plateau Phenomena in English Learning——Analysis on the Causes of Plateau Phenomena in English Learning of University Students

Based on plateau phenomena in English learning of university students,the students could be divided into short term group and long term group according to the duration of plateau phenomena.And it analyses the causes of plateau phenomena in English learning of university students.However,it finds out that there are no any obvious relations among plateau phenomena and family background.It means that culture capital theory and related points are not sound enough to explain some specific learning fields,and some other perspectives should be used to explore the causes of plateau phenomena in English learning of university students.

Field of study: Education
Biological effect of liposomes in hypoxic conditions of various etiologies

: The antihypoxic and antioxidative effects of phosphatidyl choline liposomes have been studied in hypoxic hypoxia, pneumonia, and acute blood loss. It was demonstrated that the body tolerance of persisting hypoxia increased on liposome administration due to elimination of lactate-acidosis, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and higher rate of oxygen diffusion through the biological barriers. The antihypoxic properties of the vesicles are determined by their remedial effect on the key mechanisms responsible for the development of hypoxic organ damage.

Field of study: Medicine
Invasion risks posed by the aquarium trade and live fish markets on the Laurentian Great Lakes

International trade is an important mechanism for global non-indigenous species introductions, which have had profound impacts on the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems including the Laurentian Great Lakes. The best-documented vector by which non-indigenous species have entered the Great Lakes is ballast water discharged by transoceanic ships. A variety of potential alternative vectors exist, including the intentional release of aquarium or food organisms. To assess whether these vectors pose a significant invasion risk for the Great Lakes, we surveyed fish sold live in markets and fish, mollusks and macrophytes sold in pet and aquarium stores within the Great Lakes watershed. We evaluated invasion risk using information on species’ thermal tolerance, history of invasion elsewhere, and potential propagule loads as indicated by frequency of occurrence in shops. Our research suggests that both the aquarium industry and live fish markets represent potential sources of future invaders to the Great Lakes, including several aquarium fishes and macrophytes, as well as Asian carp species sold in fish markets. Currently, few regulatory mechanisms exist to control these potential vectors.

Field of study: Environmental science
Per-station throughput fairness in a WLAN hot-spot with TCP traffic

The 802.11 DCF protocol was devised to achieve per-station fairness; conversely, an harsh per-station unfairness occurs when DCF is loaded by TCP traffic. We aim at extending theoretical knowledge on this fairness issue and at restoring per-station fairness. The contribution of the paper is threefold. First, we introduce two findings: (i) changing the physical transmission rate of the stations does not impact the per-station fairness; (ii) packet queuing occurs in the uplink buffer of a station and has a non-negligible impact on the fairness. Second, we derive a model for evaluating fairness performance. Our model accounts for the effect of several parameters and scenarios that no other model captures in a single analytic framework. Third, and finally, we propose a technique to enforce fairness, which is easy to deploy in real systems, without having to modify existing devices. Experimental results obtained with commercial devices confirm the validity of our solution and findings. Albeit the focus of this paper is on per-station (throughput) fairness, our technique can be easily modified, e.g. to enforce time-based fairness, or per-direction or per-flow fairness.

Field of study: Computer science
Electioneering: A Comparative Study of Continuity and Change.

The United States, Jody Foster and Christopher Muste Latin America, Alan Angell et al Britain, Dennis Kavanagh Australia and New Zealand, Colin Hughes India, James Manor France, Jean Charlot and Monica Charlot Germany, Max Kaase Italy, Stephen Gundle Scandinavia, Peter Esaiasson Japan, Gerald L. Curtis stability and change in American electoral politics, Larry M. Bartels.

Field of study: Political science
‘Give Me Liberty, or Give Me . . . Nice, New, Shiny Things’: Global Development Aid Education in Australia

In a world where we are being confronted with seemingly ever more distressing images of our inability or unwillingness to exercise and extend our humanity to one another, this paper discusses global development aid, and how education, and, more specifically, syllabus and policy documents, can contribute to a more informed and empathic response to people who see through eyes different from our own. This paper discusses curricular initiatives, to enhance students’ understanding and responses to issues of global inequalities. The paper embeds this discussion within an examination of elements shaping minds and hearts with regard to such issues, and on impediments to and opportunities for a more informed and humane response to our shared humanity.

Field of study: Political science
Increased Calcific Aortic Valve Disease in response to a diabetogenic, procalcific diet in the LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 mouse model.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a major cause of aortic stenosis (AS) and cardiac insufficiency. Patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at heightened risk for CAVD, and their valves have greater calcification than nondiabetic valves. No drugs to prevent or treat CAVD exist, and animal models that might help identify therapeutic targets are sorely lacking. To develop an animal model mimicking the structural and functional features of CAVD in people with T2DM, we tested a diabetogenic, procalcific diet and its effect on the incidence and severity of CAVD and AS in the, LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 mouse model.



LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 mice fed a customized diabetogenic, procalcific diet (DB diet) developed hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, increased atherosclerosis, and obesity when compared with normal chow fed LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 mice, indicating the development of T2DM and metabolic syndrome. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed that LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 mice fed the DB diet had 77% incidence of hemodynamically significant AS, and developed thickened aortic valve leaflets and calcification in both valve leaflets and hinge regions. In comparison, normal chow (NC) fed LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 mice had 38% incidence of AS, thinner valve leaflets and very little valve and hinge calcification. Further, the DB diet fed mice with AS showed significantly impaired cardiac function as determined by reduced ejection fraction and fractional shortening. In vitro mineralization experiments demonstrated that elevated glucose in culture medium enhanced valve interstitial cell (VIC) matrix calcium deposition.



By manipulating the diet we developed a new model of CAVD in T2DM, hyperlipidemic LDLr-/-ApoB100/100 that shows several important functional, and structural features similar to CAVD found in people with T2DM and atherosclerosis including AS, cardiac dysfunction, and inflamed and calcified thickened valve cusps. Importantly, the high AS incidence of this diabetic model may be useful for mechanistic and translational studies aimed at development of novel treatments for CAVD.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Hemingway's Art of Non-fiction, and: Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast: The Making of a Myth (review)

Hemingway's neglected stories through the "more conventional approaches of biographical, textual, contextual, theme and source study" to those out to apply the latest techniques of Continental linguistics, Marxism, deconstruction, metafiction, psychoanalysis, and semiotics. Given contributors such as Scott Donaldson, Gary Brenner, James Nagel, and Michael S. Reynolds, the results are precisely what one might expectÂ—namely a book that is as useful as it is clearly important.

Field of study: Art
Stochastic design optimization of microstructures with utilization of a linear solver

Microstructure design can have a substantial effect on the performance of critical components in numerous aerospace applications. However, the stochastic nature of metallic microstructures leads to deviations in material properties from the design point, and it alters the performance of these critical components. In this work, an inverse stochastic design approach is introduced such that the material is optimized while accounting for the inherent variations in the microstructure. The highlight is an analytical uncertainty quantification model via a Gaussian distribution to model propagation of microstructural uncertainties to the properties. A metallic microstructure is represented using a finite element discretized form of the orientation distribution function. A stochastic optimization approach is proposed that employs the analytical model for uncertainty quantification, to maximize the yield strength of Galfenol microstructure in a compliant beam when constrained by uncertainties in the designed natura...

Field of study: Physics