nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Regularity and Structure of the Spatial Pattern of Blue Cones of Macaque Retina

Models were developed for describing the regular pattern of blue cones in macaque retina. Two functional descriptions were applied to patterns, one based on the cdf of interpoint distances, the other on the cdf of the central angles of Voronoi regions. Disordered triangular and square lattices and hard balls failed to model the blue-cone point pattern. An elastic-ball model was developed whose spatial properties fit well those of the blue-cone pattern. This model employed a hard core and a soft surrounding shell and is proposed as a valid model for the blue-cone pattern.

Field of study: Mathematics
Tree dominance and diversity in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Quantifying diversity is an old challenge for ecologists and is also a social demand given the increasing threats to natural areas. We sought to work on these issues by using data from 158 vegetation remnants (over 350,000 trees) in southeastern Brazil (Minas Gerais State—MG, nearly 600,000 km2). Specifically, we sought to answer the following questions.  How much has been lost in regards to tree amount and tree species? We built a 0.1-degree cell grid to estimate the number of trees via spatial regression and used Fisher’s alpha and Fisher’s log series to provide estimates on how many tree species there are and were in MG. We found the number of trees in Minas Gerais to be approximately 24.5 × 109, and the number of tree species to be between 3592 and 3743. The most abundant species distribution among the vegetation domains and vegetation types followed inversely the environmental heterogeneity of the classes. Consequently, the most abundant species in MG belonged to the Cerrado domain, where there was less environmental heterogeneity. The numbers of trees and tree species lost were estimated at 68.54 and 4.03–8.42% of the original values, respectively. We discuss that due to the consequences of human impacts that go back in the region for over a thousand years, other processes not considered in this study, such as habitat degradation by isolation, alterations of food webs, unsustainable use, and climate change, might have caused local extinctions and potentially increased the number of species lost. We believe our results may guide conservation initiatives by providing a base for future environmental laws, parks planning, and the development of more appropriate vegetation management techniques in MG. In addition, our results may inspire future quantitative ecological studies in the tropics.

Field of study: Environmental science
Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Serum Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress in Pediatric Patients on Regular Hemodialysis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

We sought to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on serum lipid profile and oxidative stress markers in pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis (HD).



This study was a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted on 49 pediatric patients on regular HD for at least 6 months.



Patients were randomly divided into either omega-3 group (n = 25) who received 1-g oral omega-3 capsule once daily for 16 weeks or placebo group (n = 24) who received 1-g matching oral placebo capsule once daily for 16 weeks.



Lipid profile markers including: total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and oxidative stress markers including the following: malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were measured at baseline and after 16 weeks of supplementation.



By the end of the study, children in omega-3 group showed a highly significant reduction in total cholesterol and a highly significant increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels.



The administration of omega-3 has a beneficial effect on serum lipid profile and oxidative stress in children undergoing HD.

Field of study: Medicine
Determination of Organotin Compounds in Timber and Wood Products by GC-MS

The gas chromatography-mass spectrometric(GC-MS) method was developed for the determination of 4 organotin compounds in timber and wood products.According to the preservative retention capacity,effective concentration and timber density,the analog samples were made of pine wood and plywood for experimental condition optimization.The analytes were extracted in ethanol and derivatised with NaBEt4(2%) at pH 5 with acetate buffer solution by ultrasonic bathing.The species of monobutyltin(MBT),dibutyltin(DBT),tributyltin(TBT) and triphenyltin(TPhT) are extracted with hexane and then detected simultaneously by GC-MS.The method has a good reproducibility and recovery with the linearity in the ranges of 0.1-20 mg/L.The average recoveries were in the range of 83.6% and 103.2% with the relative standard deviations of less than 9.8%.

Field of study: Chemistry
Enhanced multi-dataset transfer learning method for unsupervised person re-identification using co-training strategy

This study proposes progressive unsupervised co-learning for unsupervised person re-identification by introducing a co-training strategy in an iterative training process. The authors' method adopts an iterative training process to improve transferred models by iterating among clustering, selection, exchange, and fine-tuning. To solve the problem of transferring representations learned from multiple source datasets, their method utilises multiple convolutional neural network (CNN) models trained on different labelled source datasets by feeding soft labels obtained by clustering on target dataset to each other. The enhanced model can learn more discriminative person representations than the single model trained on multiple datasets. Experimental results on two large-scale benchmark datasets (i.e. DukeMTMC-reID and Market-1501) demonstrate that their method can enhance transferred CNN models by using more source datasets and is competitive to the state-of-the-art methods.

Field of study: Computer science
Serum calcium ions, ratio of calcium/ creatinine urine and bone mass density in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women

Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is important to take early prevention and treatment. Dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry (DEXA) scan is gold standard diagnosis of osteoporosis. However, it is high technology and high cost. Biochemical marker using calcium could be developed for diagnosis of osteoporosis. The study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between serum calcium ions level as well as urine calcium and urine creatinine (UCa/UCr) ratio and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. This was an observational study with cross-sectional design involving women aged 45-75 years who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bone Mineral Density was measured using DEXA method. Serum and urine calcium ions were measured using ISE method, while serum and urine creatinine were determined using Jaffe method. Ratio of UCa/UCr were then calculated. The correlation between serum calcium ions as well as the ratio UCa/UCr and BMD of subjects were then analyzed. A total 63 subjects were involved in this study consists of 21 normal subjects, 22 subjects with osteopenia and 20 subjects with osteoporosis. Negative correlation between BMD and age (r=-0.591; p=0.001) and positive correlation between BMD and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.432; p=0.001) were observed. No correlation between serum calcium ions and BMD (r= -0.145; p=0.258), however negative correlation between UCa/UCr ratio and BMD (r=-0.310; p=0.013) were reported. Furthermore, no correlation was found between serum calcium ions and lumbar BMD (r=0.036; p=0.778), while negative correlation was found between UCa/UCr ratio and lumbar BMD (r= - 0.414; p=0.001). In conclusion, there is no correlation between serum calcium ions levels and BMD, however there is a weak negative correlation between UCa/UCr ratio and BMD

Field of study: Medicine
Relativistic corrections to resonant quantum tunnelling through heterostructures

The authors have proposed a transfer matrix method of calculation to compute the relativistic transmission coefficient for tunnelling through Ga1-xAlxAs-GaAs heterostructures. Analytical solutions of a Dirac-type equation as effective mass equation for electrons are obtained and it is found that relativistic corrections to resonant tunnelling through multiple finite quantum well heterostructures give the authors small but significant shifts in the transmittance-voltage characteristics.

Field of study: Materials science
Diagnostic 20-min whole blood clotting test in Russell's viper envenoming delays antivenom administration.

The 20-min whole blood clotting test (WBCT20) is widely used for the identification of coagulopathy in snake envenoming, but its performance in practice has not been evaluated.



We aimed to investigate the diagnostic utility of the WBCT20 for coagulopathy in Russell's viper envenoming.



Prospective observational study.



Adult patients with snake envenoming were recruited. Age, sex, bite information, clinical effects, serial WBCT20 and antivenom treatment were recorded. Definite Russell's viper envenoming was confirmed with venom specific enzyme immunoassay. We assessed sensitivity of admission WBCT20 to coagulopathy (international normalized ratio, INR > 1.5) in Russell's viper envenoming, the specificity of negative WBCT20 in non-envenomed patients and directly compared paired WBCT20 and INR.



Admission WBCT20 was done in 140 Russell's viper bites with coagulopathy and was positive in 56/140 [sensitivity 40% (95% confidence interval (CI): 32-49%)]. A negative WBCT20 led to delayed antivenom administration [WBCT20-ve tests: median delay, 1.78 h (interquartile range (IQR): 0.83-3.7 h) vs. WBCT20 + ve tests: median delay, 0.82 h (IQR: 0.58-1.48 h); P = 0.0007]. Delays to antivenom were largely a consequence of further WBCT20 being performed and more common if the first test was negative (41/84 vs. 12/56). Initial WBCT20 was negative in 9 non-envenomed patients and 48 non-venomous snakebites [specificity: 100% (95% CI: 94-100%)]. In 221 paired tests with INR > 1.5, the WBCT20 was positive in 91(41%). The proportion of positive WBCT20 only increased slightly with higher INR.



In clinical practice, the WBCT20 has low sensitivity for detecting coagulopathy in snake envenoming and should not over-ride clinical assessment-based decisions about antivenom administration. There is an urgent need to develop a simple bedside test for coagulopathy in snake envenoming.

Field of study: Medicine
Brainstem lesions and gustatory function: II. The role of the nucleus of the solitary tract in Na+ appetite, conditioned taste aversion, and conditioned odor aversion in rats.

Rats with lesions of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) that demonstrated flat concentration-response functions for NaCl and sucrose (T. Shimura, P. S. Grigson, & R. Norgren, 1997) expressed a significant (albeit reduced) salt appetite following sodium depletion, and a normal conditioned taste aversion (CTA) for alanine when paired with lithium chloride-induced toxicosis. Rats with lesions of the NST also could acquire a conditioned odor aversion, but the CTA to alanine was not mediated by odor cues because other rats with NST lesions also demonstrated normal CTA learning even when made anosmic with zinc sulfate. Together, the data suggest that the rostral NST is essential for responding appropriately to increasing concentrations of a tastant, but not for the chemical identification necessary for sodium appetite and CTA learning.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Development of long-term sulfur dioxide monitor using permeation sampling

A method of monitoring sulfur dioxide for weeks or po concentrations can be directly correlated to federal regulations. The method involves collecting SO2 by permeation of the gas through a membrane into a catalytic oxidizing solution that stabilizes the SO2 as sulfate. The sulfate is analyzed turbidimetrically by precipitation as 2-perimidinylammonium sulfate. (1 diagram, 2 graphs, 2 tables)

Field of study: Environmental science
Everyday Paperwork: Literacy Practices in the Daily Life of Unschooled and Underschooled Women in a Semiurban Community of Mexico City

This article presents findings from a recent study of the literacy practices of unschooled and underschooled women in Mexico City. While the women are considered to be barely literate in the eyes of many literacy standards, they are able to solve many of the requirements for reading and writing that appear in the course of their daily life. Through observation, collecting written and print materials, and interviewing, the author presents evidence of the different literacy practices used and shared among a small group of women in a semiurban community. She concludes that adult education and literacy classes should build upon people's existing knowledge in developing educational efforts directed towards undereducated adults.

Field of study: Education, Linguistics
Richardson Elements for Parabolic Subgroups of Classical Groups in Positive Characteristic

Let G be a simple algebraic group of classical type over an algebraically closed field k. Let P be a parabolic subgroup of G and let ${\mathfrak p} = \text{Lie } P$ be the Lie algebra of P with Levi decomposition ${\mathfrak p} = {\mathfrak l} \oplus {\mathfrak u}$, where ${\mathfrak u}$ is the Lie algebra of the unipotent radical of P and ł is a Levi complement. Thanks to a fundamental theorem of Richardson ( 1974), P acts on ${\mathfrak u}$ with an open dense orbit; this orbit is called the Richardson orbit and its elements are called Richardson elements. Recently Baur ( 2006), the first author gave constructions of Richardson elements in the case $k = {\mathbb C}$ for many parabolic subgroups P of G. In this note, we observe that these constructions remain valid for any algebraically closed field k of characteristic not equal to 2 and we give constructions of Richardson elements for the remaining parabolic subgroups.

Field of study: Mathematics
Early Precambrian tectonic-igneous evolution in the Vermilion district, northeastern Minnesota

The Vermilion district and adjacent areas are part of the greenstone-granite terrane of northern Minnesota and consist of a thick succession of subaqueous volcanic rocks, derivative sedimentary rocks, and intrusive granitic rocks, which formed during the interval 2,750 to 2,700 m.y. ago. The volcanic-sedimentary succession now constitutes an eastward-trending, upright, tight anticlinorium between flanking granitic batholiths. The folding was broadly contemporaneous with emplacement of the oldest recognized plutonic rocks, which range in composition from granite to tonalite, and is attributed to compression caused by the relative upwelling and convergence of the buoyant granitic bodies. Metamorphism of the supracrustal rocks to greenschist and, locally, middle-amphibolite facies accompanied the folding. Later, anorogenic monzonite–quartz monzonite and other syenitic rocks intruded the supracrustal rocks, apparently as diapirs. Regional strike-slip faulting followed emplacement of the anorogenic plutons. The principal fault, named the Vermilion fault system, transects several greenstone-granite complexes; within the district, stratigraphic offsets indicate a right-lateral strike-slip separation of 17 to 19 km along the fault. The strike-slip faulting marked the transition from an unstable crust dominated by vertical tectonic movements to a more stable crust capable of sustaining regional fractures.

Field of study: Geology
SYNTHESIS AND TRANSFORMATIONS OF CYANOMETHYL-1,2,4,5-TETRAZINES

Derivatives of s -tetrazine containing malonodinitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, and 1,3-indanedione fragments were synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution of heterocyclic groups in 3,6-diazolyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazines. Coordination compounds of the cyanomethyltetrazine anion with Cu + , Mn 2+ , and the tetrathiafulvalene radical cation were obtained, and their structures were determined. A transformation of cyanomethyltetrazines to pyrrolo[1,2- b ][1,2,4,5]tetrazines catalyzed by metal cations was discovered.  S. G. Tolshchina, R. I. Ishmetova, N. K. Ignatenko, A. V. Korotina, P. A. Slepukhin, G. L. Rusinov, and V. N. Charushin English Translation in Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds , 2013, 49 (4), pp 604-617 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10593-013-1288-z

Field of study: Chemistry
Biochemical characterisation of aconitase from Corynebacterium glutamicum.

In this work, aconitase of the biotechnologically relevant microorganism Corynebacterium glutamicum was characterised. The specific activity of aconitase in extracts of glucose-grown cells was determined by four different assays. In three of them the formation or disappearance of cis-aconitate was measured, whereas in the fourth assay the aconitase reaction was coupled with isocitrate dehydrogenase. The highest activity was determined with cis-aconitate as substrate (0.433 ± 0.054 Umg(-1)) and the lowest one with the coupled assay and citrate as substrate (0.134 ± 0.026 Umg(-1)). Only the latter assay covers the complete aconitase reaction and thus gives the most relevant information on in vivo activity. For the determination of kinetic constants, aconitase was heterologously overproduced, purified, reactivated and biochemically characterised. Size exclusion chromatography indicated that the protein is monomeric. The enzyme showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K(m) values of 480 ± 200 μM for citrate, 552 ± 302 μM for isocitrate and 18.5 ± 3.4 μM for cis-aconitate. The highest V(max) was observed for the hydration of cis-aconitate with 40.6 Umg(-1). Aconitase was active over a wide pH and temperature range with maximal activity between pH 7.5 and 7.75 and at about 50 °C.

Field of study: Biology, Engineering
Composition of certain Mesozoic Igneous Rocks of Virginia

Generally Uniform Composition of Mesozoic Trap. No one has ever studied the earlier Mesozoic formation along the Atlantic border without being struck by the numerous ridges and dikes of trap which are found in connection with it, and no one has ever studied the trap found in these ridges and dikes without being impressed by its uniformity of composition. J. D. Dana* has pointed out the wonderful uniformity of these eruptive rocks, calling them all dolerites; rocks made up essentially of labradorite and pyroxene, with more or less magnetic iron ore in disseminated grains or crystals. He says that the aspect of specimens from Nova Scotia to North Carolina is closely the same, and that the density varies little from 3. The lowest density which he quotes is 2.94, and the highest 3.16. Chemical analyses of these rocks by G. H. Cook,† W. G. Mixter,‡ S. T. . . .

Field of study: Geology
A Flat-field XUV Spectrometer with 155mm Incidence Dist ance

Using a ray-tracing cod e, A flat-field grazing-incidence spectrometer with 155mm inc ident distance was designed. This is different from the conventional design for a flat-field grazing-incidence spectrometer. This spectrometer has good spectral resolution as well as smaller size and improved flexibility. The spectrum covers wavelength ranges of 4～40nm and the spectral resolution is 0.01nm.

Field of study: Physics
[Contamination of fish tissue cell cultures by Mycoplasma].

The inoculated and primary cell cultures of fish (carp, salmon, and sturgeon) have been studied. Acholeplasma typed as A. laidlawii in terms of its biochemical properties shown in inhibited metabolism has been isolated from 19 samples. The authors consider the source of Acholeplasma-induced contamination of the cell cultures under study.

Field of study: Medicine
Global Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: A Quality Perspective

Maintaining a good level of quality in global supply chains is a real challenge when the level of cooperation islow between partners. In pharmaceutical supply chains, ultimate levels of coordination and quality are sought.This industry cannot afford quality issues of almost any level, which creates costly tests and validation processes.In this paper we reveal some well documented issues and recalls that took place due to imperfect aspects of thedrug supply chain. We also reveal a model to evaluate all tests based on benefits, cost and harm caused by thattest. Lastly, we present a framework used by a Jordanian pharmaceutical company in order to use the proposedmodel in a manner aligned with the organization practices. The presented framework guides organizations tofind various solutions to supply chain quality issues and select the most ideal solution based on benefits andcosts.

Field of study: Business
Chemically assisted ion beam etching of laser diode facets on nonpolar and semipolar orientations of GaN

We demonstrate a vertical (<1° departure) and smooth (2.0 nm root mean square line-edge roughness (LER)) etch by chemically assisted Ar ion beam etching (CAIBE) in Cl2 chemistry that is suitable for forming laser diode (LD) facets on nonpolar and semipolar oriented III-nitride devices. The etch profiles were achieved with photoresist masks and optimized CAIBE chamber conditions including the platen tilt angle and Cl2 flow rate. Co-loaded studies showed similar etch rates of ~60 nm min−1 for and m-plane orientations. The etched surfaces of LD facets on these orientations are chemically dissimilar (Ga-rich versus N-rich), but were visually indistinguishable, thus confirming the negligible orientation dependence of the etch. Continuous-wave blue LDs were fabricated on the semipolar plane to compare CAIBE and reactive ion etch (RIE) facet processes. The CAIBE process resulted in LDs with lower threshold current densities due to reduced parasitic mirror loss compared with the RIE process. The LER, degree of verticality, and model of the 1D vertical laser mode were used to calculate a maximum uncoated facet reflection of 17% (94% of the nominal) for the CAIBE facet. The results demonstrate the suitability of CAIBE for forming high quality facets for high performance nonpolar and semipolar III-N LDs.

Field of study: Materials science
LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH EXCEPTIONAL FUNDAMENTAL SETS

We will prove the following conjecture of Wittich: Let L(w) = w(n) + pn−2(z)w + · · · + p0(z)w be a linear differential operator with polynomial coefficients and let {w1, . . . , wn} be a fundamental set of the equation L(w) = 0, each wj having Borel exceptional value 0 (or being a polynomial). Then the coefficients of L are constants.

Field of study: Philosophy
Log-ratio circuit and low frequency feedback system

During the past year, several measures have been tried to improve the stability of injected beam at HLS (Hefei Light Source), which has newly upgraded its injection system. To overcome the evident residual betatron oscillation, one specific betatron-oscillation suppressor circuitry is accomplished to take it under control. Means to excite and damp beam motions has been suggested, as well as a PLL circuit in plan to track the variation of tune under various machine states. In addition, works as improving the performance of early version of turn-by-turn system and rebuilding the software kit to make it a reliable instrumentation for beam nonlinear dynamics study and machine state monitoring.

Field of study: Physics