nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Multi-proxy palaeoecological responses to water-level fluctuations in three shallow Turkish lakes

Natural or human-induced water-level fluctuations influence the structure and function of shallow lakes, especially in semi-arid to arid climate regions. In order to reliably interpret the effect of water-level changes from sedimentary remains in the absence of historical data, it is crucial to understand the variation in sedimentary proxies in relation to water level measurements. Here, we took advantage of existing water surface elevation data on three large shallow lakes in Turkey to elucidate the impact of lake-level changes on benthic-pelagic primary production over the last 50–100 years. Sub-fossil cladocerans, diatoms, plant remains and pigments were investigated as biological variables; X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and loss on ignition (LOI) analyses were conducted as geochemical-physical variables on a set of 210 Pb and 137 Cs dated cores. Dating of the cores were robust, with the exception of uncertainties in Lake Marmara littoral core due to low unsupported 210 Pb activities and high counting errors. Results indicated that Lake Marmara was dominated by benthic species throughout the sediment record, while Lakes Beysehir and Uluabat shifted from a littoral-dominated system to one with increased pelagic species abundance. In all cores there was a stronger response to longer-term (decadal) and pronounced water-level changes than to short-term (annual-biennial) and subtle changes. It was also noted that degree of alteration in proxies differed between lakes, through time and among pelagic-littoral areas, likely emphasising differences in depositional environments and/or resolution of sampling and effects of other stressors such as eutrophication. Our results highlight lake-specific changes associated with water-level fluctuations, difficulties of conducting studies at required resolution in lakes with rather mixed sediment records and complexity of palaeolimnological studies covering recent periods where multiple drivers are in force. They further emphasise the need to include instrumental records when interpreting effects of recent water-level changes from sediment core data in large shallow lakes.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Michael D. Bordo, Owen F. Humpage, and Anna J. Schwartz, Strained relations: US foreign‐exchange operations and monetary policy in the twentieth century (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015. Pp. x + 442. 74 figs. 17 tabs. ISBN 9780226051482 Hbk. £68.50/$97.50)


Field of study: Economics, History
Morphological Characteristics and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Three Different Phenotypes of Pristella maxillaris

Pristella maxillaris is known as the X-ray fish based on its translucent body. However, the morphological characteristics and the molecular regulatory mechanisms of these translucent bodies are still unknown. In this study, the following three phenotypes, a black-and-gray body color or wild-type (WT), a silvery-white body color defined as mutant I (MU1), and a fully transparent body with a visible visceral mass named as mutant II (MU2), were investigated to analyze their chromatophores and molecular mechanisms. The variety and distribution of pigment cells in the three phenotypes of P. maxillaris significantly differed by histological assessment. Three types of chromatophores (melanophores, iridophores, and xanthophores) were observed in the WT, whereas MU1 fish were deficient in melanophores, and MU2 fish lacked melanophores and iridophores. Transcriptome sequencing of the skin and peritoneal tissues of P. maxillaris identified a total of 166,089 unigenes. After comparing intergroup gene expression levels, more than 3,000 unigenes with significantly differential expression levels were identified among three strains. Functional annotation and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified a number of candidates melanophores and iridophores genes that influence body color. Some DEGs that were identified using transcriptome analysis were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. This study serves as a global survey of the morphological characteristics and molecular mechanism of different body colors observed in P. maxillaris and thus provides a valuable theoretical foundation for the molecular regulation of the transparent phenotype.

Field of study: Biology
Manganese dissolution in lithium-ion positive electrode materials

Understanding the key factors that affects overall performances of a battery is crucial to the lithium-ion battery industry. To this end characterisation methods must be specific, reproducible and representative. As such, an interference free and reproducible analytical method with a low detection limit (50 ppb) to evaluate manganese dissolution from lithium-ion battery positive electrodes is presented. Two different electrolytes (1.0 M LiClO 4 and 1.0 M LiPF 6 in EC:DMC (1:1)), LiFePO 4 , two nominally similar LiFe 0.3 Mn 0.7 PO 4 samples and spinel LiMn 2 O 4 are used for proof of concept. Mn and Fe quantification is performed on material ageing in solely in electrolyte, as well as, in a battery system with and without forced oxidation. It is demonstrated that water and free acid content in the electrolyte, as well as, imposing an oxidative electrochemical potential has a profound effect on manganese based material dissolution and battery performance.

Field of study: Materials science
Measuring the amount of radioactive elements in slime pits and enveloping soils

To create predictive models for eliminating radioactive residues from anthropogenic systems, it is necessary to measure the amounts of radioactive elements in source slimes and the degree of their concentration in secondary geochemical anomalies. The slime pits of the Angara Electrolysis Chemical Plant are just such objects. In this work, the amounts of radionuclides and other elements in different types of soils are measured.

Field of study: Physics
Signatures of phase transitions in nuclei at finite excitation energies

The mean-field approximation predicts pairing and shape phase transitions in nuclei as a function of temperature or excitation energy. However, in the finite nucleus the singularities of these phase transitions are smoothed out by quantal and thermal fluctuations. An interesting question is whether signatures of these transitions survive despite the large fluctuations. The shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) approach enables us to calculate the statistical properties of nuclei beyond the meanfield approximation in model spaces that are many orders of magnitude larger than spaces that can be treated by conventional diagonalization methods. We have extended the SMMC method to heavy nuclei and used it to study the transition from vibrational (spherical) to rotational (deformed) nuclei in families of rare-earth isotopes. We have calculated collective enhancement factors of level densities as a function of excitation energy and found that the decay of the vibrational and rotational enhancements is well correlated w...

Field of study: Physics
Resolution rate of isolated low-grade hydronephrosis diagnosed within the first year of life.

Diagnosis of low-grade hydronephrosis often occurs prenatally, during evaluation after urinary tract infection (UTI), or imaging for non-urologic reasons within the first year of life. Its significance in terms of resolution, need for antibiotic prophylaxis, or progression to surgery remains uncertain. We hypothesized that isolated low-grade hydronephrosis in this population frequently resolves, UTIs are infrequent, and progression to surgical intervention is minimal.



Children < 12 months old diagnosed hydronephrosis (Society for Fetal Urology [SFU] grade 1 or 2) between January 2004 and December 2009 were identified by ICD9 code. Patients with other urological abnormalities were excluded. Stability of hydronephrosis, UTI (≥ 100,000 CFU/mL bacterial growth) or need for surgical intervention was noted.



Of 1496 infants with hydronephrosis, 416 (623 renal units) met inclusion criteria. Of 398 renal units with grade 1 hydronephrosis, 385 (96.7%) resolved or remained stable. Only 13 (3.3%) worsened, of which one underwent ureteroneocystostomy. Of 225 renal units with grade 2 hydronephrosis, 222 (98.7%) resolved, improved or remained stable, three (1.3%) worsened, of which one required pyeloplasty. Only 0.7% of patients in the ambulatory setting had a febrile UTI.



Low-grade hydronephrosis diagnosed within the first year of life remains stable or improves in 97.4% of renal units. Given the low rate of recurrent UTI in the ambulatory setting, antibiotic prophylaxis has a limited role in management.

Field of study: Medicine
AN OPTIMAL SCHEME FOR HOISTING LARGE-SCALE SLENDER COLUMNS WITH UNEQUAL SECTIONS

To solve the problem of hoisting large-scale slender columns with unequal sections,an optimal scheme to carry out the whole erection is studied and the corresponding software is developed. Mathematical models for the internal forces corresponding to different hoisting schemes are established. The positions of hoist points are selected as design variables for the optimal model. The objective of the analysis is to minimize the maximum internal forces(bending moment) in the process of erecting. The constraints are imposed by penalty strategy. With grid method and genetic algorithm,the optimal problem is solved. By comparing the different induced moments due to different hoist point positions,one set of optimal positions of hoist point is determined. A practical example is presented to demonstrate the correctness of the analysis and explain the need of optimizing hoist points of slender columns with unequal sections.

Field of study: Engineering
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy Determination of Trace Element Composition of Argan Oil

A methodology based on inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after microwave assisted acid digestion has been developed to determine the trace element content of Moroccan argan oil. Limit of detection values equal or lower than few mg/kg were obtained for all elements under study. To assure the accuracy of the whole procedure, recovery studies were carried out on argan oil samples spiked at different concentration levels from 10 to 200 µg/L. Quantitative average recovery values were obtained for all elements evaluated, demonstrating the suitability of this methodology for the determination of trace elements in argan oil samples. Aluminum, calcium, chromium, iron, potassium, lithium, magnesium, sodium, vanadium and zinc were quantitatively determined in Moroccan argan oils being found that their concentration is different of that found in other edible oils thus offering a way for authentication and for the evaluation of possible adulterations.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
A multicenter program on assessment of efficacy and safety of a new therapeutic scheme for patients with chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency

: An assessment of the complex multicenter prospective non-comparative program aimed at studying of efficacy and safety of a new scheme of therapy with cavinton in patients with chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency has been conducted. One hundred and forty-nine patients (46 male, 113 female), aged from 35 to 65 years, have been examined. The treatment started from intravenous infusions of the drug during 7 days as follows: 20, 30, 40, 50, 50, 50 and 50 mg of cavinton solution diluted in 500 ml of physiologic solution with the following peroral taking of cavinton forte in dose 10 mg 3 times daily during 11 weeks. Efficacy of drug was primarily assessed with MMSE and then by SF-36 and CGIC-PGIC. There were significant differences in scores on MMSE and SF-36 before and after treatment and on CGIC-PGIC on the 8th and 90th days of the study. The parenteral and peroral use of cavinton is well-tolerated and has a favorable safety profile.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Genetic diversity of Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) revealed by AFLP analysis: an implication on the management of captive conservation

Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is one of the most critically endangered species among 23 extant crocodiles in the world. To prevent the extinction of the species, a captive propagation started at early 1980s, and the total number of alligator was brought up to 10 thousands from dozens of founder in 2000. But several genetic investigations showed those alligators were under an extremely low genetic diversity status with few detectible polymorphic loci. To get more insight into its genetic diversity for the management of captive Chinese alligator, AFLP was adopted to characterize variations in the population. Total of 347 bands were generated from 47 individuals using 3 primer combinations, of which 203 (58.50%) were polymorphic, and 35 AFLP phenotypes were revealed from those individuals. Comparing the results between RAPD and AFLP analysis on almost same sample set clearly indicated that AFLP is more efficient in revealing polymorphic loci, especially in those populations with extremely low genetic diversity. In present three assays, electrophoresis profile also displayed 3 individuals possessing very highly polymorphic AFLP phenotypes that were never been found by RAPD and mtDNA D-loop sequencing, implicating that we should offer these individuals more breeding opportunities to maintain the genetic diversity in the population and restrict those carrying few polymorphic loci from reproduction.

Field of study: Environmental science
Aldonolactones as chiral templates in the synthesis of thiolactones, 1,3-polyols and hydroxy amino acids

The usefulness of aldonolactones as chiral templates is shown in the synthesis of varied asymmetric molecules. For example, enantiomerically pure 4-thio- D-ribono and 4-thio-L-lyxono- 1 ,Clactones have been respectively synthesized from D- gulono- and D-ribono- 1,4-lactones. Seven carbon 1,3-polyol chains have been enantioselectively obtained from D-glycero-D-gulo-heptono- 1 ,Clactone via chiral furanone derivatives. Also, furanones and pyranones derived from D-glucosaminic acid were employed as intermediates in the synthesis of hydroxy amino acids, such as cis-4-hydroxypipecolic acid and (2S,4S,5R)-4,5,6-trihydroxynorleucine. Aldonolactones are useful chiral templates in the synthesis of modified sugars and non-carbohydrate natural products (ref. 1). Many aldonolactones are commercially available products, or they can be readily obtained by oxidation of the respective monosaccharides. In our laboratory aldonolactones such as D-ribono-, D- gulono-, and D-glycero-D-gulo-heptono- 1,4-1actones, as well as unsaturated lactones derived from D- glucosaminic acid have been employed in the synthesis of sugar thiolactones, 1,3-polyol systems, and hydroxy amino acids. Particularly, D-ribono-1 ,Clactone has been considered a "chiral cornerstone" (ref. 2) because of its use as a chiral precursor of numerous naturally occurring, asymmetric molecules, and many derivatives have been prepared (ref. 3). However, no synthesis for its 4-thio analogue, 4-thio-D-ribono- 1,4- lactone, has been reported. This together with the fact that previous attempts to prepare sugar thiolactones from aldonic acids were not satisfactory, prompted us to develop a general procedure for the synthesis of aldopentono- 1 ,4-thiolactones. 4-Thio-D-ribono- 1P-lactone was our fist target, and L-lyxono-1 ,Clactone was selected as the chiral template, since the replacement of a HO group by thiol usually takes place with inversion of the configuration of the carbon involved. As this lactone is not commercial, D-gulono-1,4-lactone u), which has the same stereochemistry for all the ring stereocenters as lyxonolactone, was employed as starting material. Acetonation of 1 with acetone in the presence of sulfuric acid gave the diacetonide 2, which was selectively hydrolyzed with aqueous acetic acid to the 2,3-O-monoisopropylidene derivative 9. The glycol system was oxidized with sodium periodate to give the aldehyde 4, which was in equilibrium with the hydrated form, according to the NMR spectra. Chemoselective reduction of the aldehyde function with sodium cyanoborohydride (pH 4) led to the 2,3-O-isopropylidene-~-lyxono- 1,4-1actone (5) in 60% yield from 1. The free hydroxyl group of 5 reacted with p-tolylsulfonyl chloride affording the tosylate 4 in 78% yield.

Field of study: Chemistry
Effect of radiation grafting of organic monomers on specific gravity and shrinkage of bamboo.

Taken bamboo as raw material,bamboo organic composite materials were obtained through allyl alcohol vacuum impregnation and radiation induced grafting.The specific gravity and shrinkage of materials induced by different processes were measured.With the increasing of impregnation time and radiation dose,the oven-dried radial shrinkage and oven-dried tangential shrinkage of original and carbonized materials all decreased,but they were still higher than that of the control groups;while the specific gravity of the two materials increased significantly.The ANOVA results revealed that only the influence of main factor of the different raw materials on specific gravity was significant;the influence of main factor of the soaking time on oven-dried radial shrinkage was significant;the influence of main factor of the radiation dose on oven-dried radial,longitudinal,tangential shrinkage were significant.The influence of interactive factors of the soaking time and the radiation dose on oven-dried radial shrinkage was significant;the influence of interactive factor of the three factors on oven-dried radial,longitudinal and tangential shrinkage was significant.With the increasing of soaking time,oven-dried longitudinal shrinkage,oven-dried radial shrinkage and oven-dried tangential shrinkage of carbonized material tended to decrease while the specific gravity increased gradually.With the increasing of radiation dose,oven-dried radial shrinkage,oven-dried longitudinal shrinkage and oven-dried tangential shrinkage of carbonized material decreased while the specific gravity increased.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Friendship and the Development of Self-Schemas

Two studies were conducted to examine a model proposed to explain similarity in the self-schemas of friends. According to this model, in the ongoing conversation of friendship, each person becomes aware of the dimensions used by the friend for describing people. Over time each incorporates some of the friend's dimensions for organizing information about others and ultimately for describing the self. In the first study the self-conceptions of friends and nonfriends were compared. As predicted, friends, as compared to nonfriends, had more similar self-schemas, and more readily adopted each other's self-schema dimensions for describing a target. In the second study two unacquainted partners discussed their impressions of a target person. Subsequently, the pairs shared more similar self-schemas and incorporated dimensions from each other's self-schemas for self-description and for description of the target person. Thus, the results of both studies are consistent with the model proposed. Directions for future research are discussed.

Field of study: Psychology
Input pulse duration effect on laser-induced underwater acoustic signals.

The characteristics of laser-induced underwater acoustic signals (UASs) generated by focused 10 ns and 30 ps laser pulses of different energies under similar experimental conditions are compared. Time domain signals and time-frequency analysis of the UASs were used to understand the role of input pulse duration and energy on the evolution of UAS. In the time domain, the peak-to-peak (${{\rm P}_k} {-} {{\rm P}_k}$) overpressure of the UAS decreases, and the arrival time (${{\rm A}_t}$) increases as a function of propagation distance for both ns and ps laser-induced breakdown (LIB) of water. With increasing incident energy of both ns and ps laser pulses, the ${{\rm P}_k} {-} {{\rm P}_k}$ overpressures of acoustic signals increase almost linearly. In the time-frequency domain, the spectrogram obtained via short-time Fourier transform provides spectral information and ${{\rm A}_t}$ of both direct and reflected signals simultaneously. The spectrogram revealed that the transient UAS has broad acoustic spectra spanning from 10 to 800 kHz, perpendicular to the laser propagation direction. The initial acoustic impulse resulted in two major frequencies centered around 105 and 690 kHz with a standard error of 30 kHz. Upon reflection from the water-air interface, only the peak frequency corresponding to ${\sim}{105}\;{\rm kHz}$ was reflected, while the longer frequency was observed to dissipate. Our results demonstrate that the ns-LIB is more suitable for applications compared to the ps-LIB owing to stronger acoustic impulse of both direct and reflected signals.

Field of study: Physics
Learning Outcomes Following Self-Directed and Formally Guided Responses in Controlled Situations

This study is concerned primarily with the statistical comparison of two approaches to learning in so far as they were amenable to isolation and measurement. Specifically, the problem is to compare learning outcomes of eighth and ninth grade pupils whose responses are self-directed in given situations with the learning outcomes of the same pupils when their responses are formally guided in ana logous situations. Further, to verify find ings, the learning outcomes of matched groups in the two situations are likewise compared in certain instances.

Field of study: Education
Methylprednisolone regulates the dysfunctional T_H subsets observed in children with asthma

In order to observe the clinical effects of a new type of glucocorticoids methylprednisolone (MP) in the treatment of asthma, and explore the mechanism of MP in the treatment of this disease.  30 asthmatic children were divided into two groups, one as MP treated group, and the other as control group. All blood samples were collected before and after treatment with MP. The serum IgE, cytokine production in the cultured supernatants of PBMC, and the cytokine mRNA expression were determined by ELISA and RT PCR methods respectively.  There were obvious clinical effects observed in the MP treated patients compared with the controls; (2) MP inhibited both T H1 and T H2 type cytokines; (3) MP inhibited both IFN γ and IL 4 mRNA expression.  The anti inflammatory action of MP in asthma may be associated with its immunomodulatory function, which influences the production of T H1 and T H2 type cytokines and blocks the cascade of inflammation.

Field of study: Biology
Cohomology of the Minimal Nilpotent Orbit

We compute the integral cohomology of the minimal nontrivial nilpotent orbit in a complex simple (or quasi-simple) Lie algebra. We find by a uniform approach that the middle cohomology group is isomorphic to the fundamental group of the parabolic subsystem generated by the long simple roots. The modulo ℓ reduction of the Springer correspondent representation (in the parametrization of the original paper by Springer) involves the trivial representation exactly when ℓ divides the order of this cohomology group. The primes dividing the torsion of the rest of the cohomology are bad primes.

Field of study: Mathematics