nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Information Systems: Success or Failure?

In many situations, the “management” of the technology is the limiting cause of information systems projects versus the “technology” itself. Information systems have, in general, failed more than they have succeeded. A major contributor of IS failure deals with management and organizational-related issues. To help shed further insight in this area, a Delphi survey of U.S. leading IS managers in major organizations was conducted. This paper describes the results from this survey, as well as provides some background material on the need for IS success measurements and associated methodologies.

Field of study: Computer science
An Occurrence of Archean Pseudotachylite from Southeastern Manitoba

Zoned veins (glass and crushed rock) of pseudotachylite occur in an Archean mylonite near Charron Lake, Manitoba. Glass occupies the centers of some veins and fusion products penetrate symmetrically distributed, crushed rock zones. The emplacement of the pseudotachylite postdates the formation of the mylonite fabric, but a later deformation affected both pseudotachylite and mylonite. The average chemical composition of the pseudotachylite veins reflects the composition of the host rocks, although the opaque, marginal crushed rock zones are enriched in iron and the fused centers are depleted in sodium. Glass is confined to crushed rock veins although not all crushed rock veins contain glass; apparently an increase in water pressure led to fusion.

Field of study: Environmental science
Description of the Oxygen Order evolution and its relation to the Superconducting Transition in $La_2CuO_{4+y}$

The segregation of oxygen in the high critical temperature cuprate superconductor $La_2CuO_{4+y}$ has been systematically studied along the years. In a recent set of experiments, Poccia et al related, for the first time, time ordering ($t$) of oxygen interstitials with the corresponding superconducting transition temperature $T_c(t)$. We develop a phenomenological description of the time ordering forming pattern domains and show how it may affect the superconducting interaction. The superconducting self-consistent calculations in a system with electronic granular structure of varying hole doping yields also different local d-wave amplitudes. These amplitudes are of the order of magnitude of scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and they vanish at $T^*(t)> T_c(t)$. Then, calculations with Josephson coupling among the isolated charge domains reveal that the superconducting interaction is likely to be scaled by the local free energy and capture the details of $T_c(t)$. The accurately reproduction of these apparently disconnected phenomena establishes routes to the important physical mechanisms involved in the connection between sample production and on the origin of the superconductivity of cuprates.

Field of study: Physics
Cost of illness studies: no aid to decision making: Reply to Shiell et al. (Health Policy, 8 (1987) 317-323).

Efficient resource allocation in health care requires adequate techniques of collective decision making. In a recent article Shiell, Gerard and Donaldson (Health Policy 8 (1987) 317-323) claim that cost of illness studies only confuse, mask and mislead, while cost-benefit analysis provides the relevant framework for decisions in health care. We do not agree with their naive approach to decision making in health care. In comparing the two alternative methods, their respective importance for decision making becomes apparent. None of the two techniques may be considered as the one and only means to ultimately solving the problem of efficient resource allocation in health care. Yet, both techniques can provide relevant information on which policy makers can base their decisions in health care.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Age differences in strategy selection and risk preference during risk-based decision making.

Studies of the effects of aging on decision making suggest that choices can be altered in a variety of ways depending on the situation, the nature of the outcome and risk, or certainty levels. To better characterize how aging impacts decision making in rodents, young and aged Fischer 344 rats underwent a series of probabilistic discounting tasks in which reward magnitude and probabilities were manipulated. Young rats tended to choose 1 of 2 different strategies: (a) to press for the large/uncertain reward, regardless of the reward probability; or (b) to continually adapt their behavior according to the odds of winning. The first strategy was adopted by about half of the younger rats, the second by the remaining young animals and the entire group of aged rats. Additionally, we found that when the odds of winning were varied from uncertain to certain during a session, aged rats chose most often the lever associated with the small/certain reward. This is consistent with an interpretation of increased risk aversion. When this behavior was further characterized using a lose-shift analysis, it appears that older rats exhibited an increased sensitivity to negative feedback. In contrast, sensitivity to wins was unaltered in aged rats compared with young, suggesting that aging selectively impacts rat's behavior following losses. In line with some human aging studies, it appears that aged rats are either more risk averse or have a greater certainty bias, which may result from age differences in emotion regulation.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Petrogenesis and regional tectonic significance of Late Devonian mafic intrusions in the Meguma Zone, Nova Scotia

Late Devonian (377–368 Ma, 40Ar/39Ar; 376 Ma, U–Pb) mafic intrusions in the Meguma Zone crop out as dykes, plugs, and synplutonic bodies of gabbro, diorite, or lamprophyre. All of the intrusions ha...

Field of study: Environmental science
High-energy zero-norm states and symmetries of string theory.

High-energy limit of zero-norm states in the old covariant first quantized spectrum of the 26D open bosonic string, together with the assumption of a smooth behavior of string theory in this limit, are used to derive infinitely many linear relations among the leading high-energy, fixed-angle behavior of four-point functions of different string states. As a result, ratios among all high-energy scattering amplitudes of four arbitrary string states can be calculated algebraically and the leading order amplitudes can be expressed in terms of that of four tachyons as conjectured by Gross in 1988. A dual calculation can also be performed and equivalent results are obtained by taking the high-energy limit of Virasoro constraints. Finally, we compute all high-energy scattering amplitudes of three tachyons and one massive state at the leading order by saddle-point approximation to verify our results.

Field of study: Physics
Refinements of the trace formula for GL(2)

We express the discrete noncuspidal terms in the spectral side of the trace formula for GL(2) in terms of orbital integrals, obtaining a geometric expansion for the cuspidal part of the trace formula. Assuming the Ramanujan conjecture for GL(2), this is equal to the tempered part of the trace formula, providing an alternate approach to the method of Frenkel-Langlands-Ngo in the context of Beyond Endoscopy. Using this, we establish a formula which in principle leads to an $r$-trace formula, and conclude with some remarks regarding the primitivization of the trace formula.

Field of study: Mathematics
Asymmetry with respect to the magnetic field direction in the interaction between the quantum states of two coupled superconducting rings

The interaction between the quantum states of two circularly asymmetric superconducting aluminum rings forming figure eight, threaded by a magnetic flux and biased by an external sinusoidal ac current with zero dc component, has been investigated. Quantum oscillations in the dependence Vdc(B) of the rectified dc voltage on magnetic field for these structures have been measured at different external currents and temperatures close to critical. Fourier and wavelet analyses of the function Vdc(B) have revealed, along with the two fundamental ring frequencies, various combination frequencies; this fact is indicative of interaction in the structure. Deviation of the function Vdc(B) from oddness with respect to the magnetic field direction has been found for the first time.

Field of study: Physics
Differential effect of pregnancy or gestagens on humoral and cell-mediated immunity.

The reactivity of spleen lymphocytes in a mixed lymphocyte culture and the in vivo PFC response to sheep erythrocytes have been evaluated in pregnant female mice and data compared with those observed in virgin sexually mature female mice daily treated either with progesterone or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or human prolactin. The mixed lymphocyte reactivity is depressed at mid-pregnancy, whereas PFC response is increased. Comparable immunological modifications have been found in mice treated with HCG, but not in animals treated with progesterone or prolactin. The similarity between HCG treatment and pregnancy suggests that the rate of gonadotropin release may be one of the earliest events responsible for the immunological disturbances present during pregnancy, although its action on the lymphoid system seems to require the presence of the ovary. From these data and from the observation that HCG increases the PFC response also in thymusless nude female mice, it can be deduced that it acts on both T and B cells.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Some arithmetical applications of Newton´s interpolation series

The main result of Nopper´s paper  in this same journal reads as follows. If a transcendental entire function f has small growth order, then there is at most one rational point w such that all f(n)(w), n = 0,1,..., are rational with denominators increasing sufficiently slowly with n. The principal purpose of our work is to considerably relaxe this arithmetic growth condition, to generalize Nopper´s result to meromorphic functions, and to improve on similar statements of Nikishin [6], and Nopper and Wallisser . From all these assertions, some well-known but not obvious irrationality results can be deduced in a systematic and simple way. In each case, the method of Newton´s interpolation series is essentially used, and it is also explained how this one leads to new and transparent proofs of Straus´ [16] and Schneider´s  achievements on integer-valued meromorphic functions.

Field of study: Philosophy
Towards Precision Addiction Treatment: New Findings in Co-morbid Substance Use and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) may have common etiologies. ADHD is more prevalent in patients with substance use disorders, and this pattern is consistent across different substances of abuse. Individuals with SUDs and ADHD exhibit significant variations in their clinical presentations. The developmental trajectory of ADHD to SUDs is complex: ADHD symptoms appear first in some patients but not in others. Many patients present with a heterogeneous collection of psychiatric and substance use co-morbidities, and these symptoms change over time. ADHD symptom severity is also highly variable, and more severe ADHD symptoms worsen co-morbid SUDs and complicate treatment. New longitudinal studies with innovative methods in high-risk populations and in community-based samples may clarify issues related to patient-treatment matching. When closely monitored, psychostimulant and other adjunct medications can be safely used to treat ADHD in this population, and such treatment may also improve outcome of SUDs. In particular, emerging evidence suggests individual-level tailoring (“precision medicine”) approaches may represent a key pathway to improve clinical outcome.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Observation of Vibrational Surface Modes in the Acousto-optical Bulk Gap of TiN

Phonon frequency distributions of bulk [${g}^{b}(\ensuremath{\omega})$] and microcrystalline [${g}^{m}(\ensuremath{\omega})$] titanium nitritde are obtained from neutron scattering experiments. The surface excess distribution ${g}^{s}(\ensuremath{\omega})={g}^{m}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{-}{g}^{b}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ shows, at low energies, a positive region due to acoustic surface modes. A second positive region in ${g}^{s}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ proves, for the first time experimentally, the existence of a band of surface vibrational modes bridging the acousto-optical gap of the bulk modes; the double-peak structure indicates two branches of surface modes.

Field of study: Physics
On Cultural Similarities in Attitudes toward Eating of Women Students in Pennsylvania and South Korea

This study compared attitudes toward eating among 226 women undergraduates at universities in Pennsylvania and South Korea. Analysis indicated that both groups (ns = 111 and 115, respectively) had similar percentages (21% and 18%, respectively) of respondents with scores suggesting symptomatology of eating disorders. Mean differences between groups on the Eating Attitudes Test-26 were not significant. Implications for research are discussed.

Field of study: Psychology
Reductive degradation of dieldrin and endrin in the field using acidified zinc.

The reductive dechlorination of dieldrin and endrin was investigated as a possible procedure for field disposal of small quantitites of these pesticides. The objective was to convert the parent compounds to environmentally less objectionable materials. Emulsifiable concentrate formulations of the pesticides in a soil slurry were mixed with powdered zinc, dilute acetic acid, and acetone to facilitate reaction. Analysis of the mixtures by GC-MS indicated essentially complete conversion of endrin and partial conversion of dieldrin to products probably formed by replacement of the bridge anti chlorines with hydrogen. Partial confirmation of the desired anti dechlorodieldrin product was made by nmr. Disappearance of the parent compounds and production of conversion products was monitored for 2 1/2 years by GC in an outside soil plot, and accelerated destruction of parent compounds was achieved by the treatment. By analogy to the bridge anti dechloro products of aldrin and isodrin, the anti dechloro products probably are much less toxic than the parent compounds and are therefore environmentally less objectionable.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
MicroRNA-340 Inhibits Esophageal Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion by Targeting Phosphoserine Aminotransferase 1

Emerging evidence indicates that microRNA (miR)-340 is downregulated in various human cancers, suggesting that it acts as a tumor suppressor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression and role of miR-340 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).  The expression of miR-340 was examined in 64 paired ESCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues by quantitative real time PCR. The effects of miR-340 on ESCC cell proliferation and metastasis were examined by MTT and Matrigel invasion assays. Tumor growth was assessed by subcutaneous inoculation of cells into BALB/c nude mice. Targets of miR-340 were identified by bioinformatics and verified by luciferase reporter assays, quantitative real-time PCR, and western blotting.  MiR-340 was significantly downregulated in ESCC tumor tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues and in ESCC cell lines compared to esophageal endothelial cells. Overexpression of miR-340 inhibited ESCC cell growth, colony formation, and invasion, and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. PSAT1 was identified as a direct target of miR-340 and its ectopic expression partially reversed the miR-340 mediated inhibition of viability, invasion and EMT in ESCC cells. The expression of miR-340 was negatively correlated with that of PSAT1 in human ESCC samples.  MiR-340 functions as a tumor suppressor by modulating the expression of PSAT1 and may contribute to the progression and invasiveness of ESCC.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Reduction of ammonia formation in cell cultures by l-alanyl-l-glutamine requires optimization of the dipeptide concentration

In cell culture media, glutamine (Gln) decomposes progressively into ammonia and 5-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. Ammonia is toxic and reduces cell growth. The formation of ammonia is strongly decreased by using the Gln dipeptide l -alanyl- l -glutamine ( l -Ala- l -Gln). However, the effects of this dipeptide on the amount of ammonia originating from cellular Gln metabolism are not known. Growing microglial BV-2 cells in a medium containing either Gln or l -Ala- l -Gln showed that the replacement of Gln by l -Ala- l -Gln, at concentrations much below those present in commercial media, was beneficial to the cell growth. Our approach could prove advantageous in culturing various types of cells.

Field of study: Biology, Engineering
[Genetic characteristics of hemagglutinin in measles viruses isolated in Henan Province, China].

This study aims to investigate the genetic characteristics of hemagglutinin in wild-type measles viruses in Henan Province, China and to provide a basis for measles control and elimination. Specimens were collected from suspected measles cases in Henan during 2008-2012. Cell culture was performed for virus isolation, and RT-PCR was used to amplify hemagglutinin gene. The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed, including construction of phylogenetic tree and analysis of the distance between the isolated virus and the reference virus; then, the variations in predicted amino acids were analyzed. The results showed that 12 measles viruses were isolated in Henan Province and identified as H1a genotype; the nucleotide and amino acid homologies were 98.0%-100% and 97.2%-99.8%, respectively. One glycosylation site changed in all the 12 sequences because of the amino acid mutation from serine to asparagine at the 240th site, as compared with Edmonston-wt. USA/54/A. Overall, the wild-type measles virus genotype circulating in Henan Province from 2008 to 2012 was H1a, with high homology between strains; there were some variations in amino acid sequences, resulting in glycosylation site deletion.

Field of study: Biology
Have recent changes in forest structure reduced the Estonian black stork Ciconia nigra population?

The black stork Ciconia nigra is listed as a focal species for guiding forest management in Estonia, where forestry has recently intensified and the stork population has suffered a twofold decline. We explored a possible link between the decline of the population and man-induced changes in forest structure, by analysing nesting of the species in relation to forest cover, edge effects and stand structure. Although the storks had distinct habitat preferences (old remote stands near rivers and a certain distance far from ecotones in well-forested landscapes), these were hardly reflected in site re-occupancy and productivity. Therefore, changes in forest structure are probably not responsible for the population decline, although preferences for specific forest environments may limit the range of potential nest sites. The results indicated that edge avoidance cannot be considered a species-specific feature over large areas and clear habitat preferences are not necessarily related with the present success of a population. We also suggest that lists of focal species should be regularly updated and validated in the field.

Field of study: Environmental science
Geometrical characterizations of constant modulus receivers

Convergence properties of the constant modulus (CM) and the Shalvi-Weinstein (SW) algorithms in the presence of noise remain largely unknown. A new geometrical approach to the analysis of constant modulus and Shalvi-Weinstein receivers is proposed by considering a special constrained optimization involving norms of the combined channel-receiver response. This approach provides a unified framework within which various blind and (nonblind) Wiener receivers can all be analyzed by circumscribing an ellipsoid by norm balls of different types, A necessary and sufficient condition for the equivalence among constant modulus. Shalvi-Weinstein, zero forcing, and Wiener receivers are obtained. Answers to open questions with regard to CM and SW receivers, including their locations and their relationship with Wiener receivers, are provided for the special orthogonal channel and the general two-dimensional (2-D) channel-receiver impulse response. It is also shown that in two dimensions, each CM or SW receiver is associated with one and only one Wiener receiver.

Field of study: Engineering
On the Generic Efficiency of Takeovers under Incomplete Information

This paper extends the mechanism design technique to financial assets and examines the welfare implications of popular linkages between shareholdings and control in takeovers. When all contenders for control except the incumbent have private information, plurality mechanisms are generically efficient, but simple majority rules are not, with more than two contenders. When all contenders have private information, plurality, majority and winner-take-all mechanisms are not generically efficient. In fact, generic efficiency is impossible if the winner obtains non-zero shares. The results suggest that common linkages between shares and control may be in compatible with generic efficiency under incomplete information.

Field of study: Economics
The effect of the market opening on trends in smoking rates in Taiwan.

To examine smoking rates before and after the opening of the market to foreign imports.



Consumer surveys of Monopoly Bureau, National Health Interview Survey and official tobacco consumption, production and import data were used to calculate smoking rates, cigarette consumption, and the market share of imports. Age-adjusted smoking rates were used to compare trends before and after the market opening.



The market share of the imports reached half in 2001 from 2% before opening. Compared to projected rates, smoking rates in 2001 for all and younger males, and all and younger females were increased by 12, 6, 202, and 249%, respectively, over and above the projected trends. The ratio of smoking rates between younger and older adults became larger, from 0.62 to 0.74 in males and from 0.32 to 0.98 in females. Per capita consumption increased after the market opening, particularly when large increases in smuggled cigarettes were considered.



The finding that the market opening triggered an increase in smoking rates is contrary to the assertion by U.S. cigarette producers that importation would only make smokers switch brands. Younger adults and females were more affected, reflecting their higher sensitivity to the appeal from foreign cigarettes. Because of the marketing strategy of imports, more young people smoked, at an earlier age. Experience from Taiwan revealed that after the initial increase in smoking rates, the opening had galvanized the anti-smoking sentiments, legitimized and strengthened tobacco control policies and tempered the severity of the adverse impact.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science