nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Nonequilibrium of organic compounds in sediment-water systems. Consequences for risk assessment and remediation measures.

In many cases, sediment risk assessment, and remediation rely on the assumption of equilibrium between chemical concentrations in sediment pore water and overlying surface water and thus rely on pore water concentrations only and do not additionally include assessment of the overlying water concentration. Traditionally, the validity of this assumption was insufficiently documented due to a lack of data. Recent studies using passive samplers, however, provided sufficient data for the first systematic evaluation of the extent of disequilibrium between sediment pore water and overlying surface water. Recent bioaccumulation studies reveal uncertainty as to which of these concentrations govern bioaccumulation by benthic organisms. Here, we provide the first review of studies measuring disequilibrium identifying general patterns and implications for the aforementioned areas of application. In most studies on water/sediment (dis)equilibrium, sediment pore water and overlying surface water are close to equilibrium. For lower molecular weight PAHs, overlying water concentrations tended to be relative low, which is tentatively ascribed to biodegradation in the water column. Substantial nonequilibrium was observed at some hot-spot locations such as in semistagnant harbors. In such cases, efficacy of sediment remediation measures to improve overlying water quality can be questioned because differences between overlying water concentrations at the hot-spots and those at reference locations typically are small. For nonequilibrium situations and some benthic taxa, exposure may be determined best by pore water concentrations. Improving our understanding in this area may further improve risk assessment of contaminated sediments.

Field of study: Environmental science
Research on innovative AIDS vaccine

人免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)因自然感染无有效保护性免疫和其基因的高变异性,使艾滋病疫苗研制面临着巨大的科学和技术挑战.如何诱导针对HIV感染的保护性免疫应答,特别是广谱性中和抗体和T细胞免疫应答,是艾滋病疫苗研发需要突破的关键技术.创新性艾滋病疫苗研究是在国家科技重大专项支持下,我国十余家研究机构和生物技术企业合作开展的联合攻关研究.该研究从基础和临床研究两个层面,围绕创新性免疫原设计和免疫应答调节两条主要技术路线,开展了艾滋病疫苗集成基础性研究及临床研究,并建设了提供技术支撑的核心技术平台。

Field of study: Biology
Factors Affecting Management Accounting Practices in Malaysia

Management accounting is the process of preparing management reports and accounts that provide accurate and timely, financial and statistical information to assist in management decision making. It is also known as the process of identifying, measuring, accumulating, analyzing, preparing, interpreting and communicating information to help managers fulfill the organization’s objectives. Management accounting practices are used by organizational managers at various levels and at the same time, it gives managers the freedom of choice as there are no constraints, other than the cost of information collected relative to benefits of improved management decisions. Studies have found that there are factors that may affect management accounting practices. Literature has indicated that factors such as--organization size, intensity of market competition, level of qualification of accounting staff and advanced production technology--may affect management accounting practices. The objective of this research is to study the impact of these factors on management accounting practices in Malaysia. A total of 200 respondents from Klang Valley, Malaysia were involved in the survey using purposive sampling. The results of the study revealed that organization size and advanced production technology have significant relationships with management accounting practices.

Field of study: Business
Peripheral mechanisms of the pathogenesis of cervical dystonia

: Peripheral mechanisms of pathogenesis and formation of the symptoms of cervical dystonia (spastic torticollis--ST) were investigated. By means of orthopedic diagnosis and analysis of motor stereotype, traumas, algesic syndrome in 40 patients with ST, it was found a "short leg" on the side, opposite to the rotation of the head, frequent postural loads on the head and on the neck before ST rise, and algesic and other sensory symptoms in the same region. The data of neuromyography and of evoked skin sympathetic potentials show a presence of pathologic changes in sympathetic autonomic fibers as well as in axons of accessory nerve at both sides, mainly at the left. Such alterations were mainly peripheral and were found more frequently in a group of left-sided ST. The correlations observed between a side of the rotation of a head and a side of peripheral factor, permitted to suppose that peripheral factors (the factor of a "short leg" mainly) determined frequently a side of the rotation of the head. So, ST therapy must influence the peripheral mechanisms, but not only the central ones.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Self-cultivation of Theory is the Root for a CPC Member to Conduct Himself

The key point of governing the country through moral approach is governing the CPC ac- cording to moral approach. The CPC members are the core strength in building socialist modernization. They should strengthen them self-cultivation, to reach the standard of the integration of ability and character. The most fundamental way to achieve this goal is to strengthen study of the theory This article tries to explain Comrade Liu Shaoqi's important thought of study of the theory for CPC members and gives the conclusion that self- cultivation of theory is the root for a CPC member to conduct himself

Field of study: Education
Active and passive short-wave infrared and near-infrared imaging for horizontal and slant paths close to ground.

This paper investigates active and passive short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging for slant paths close to ground. The main sensor, a gated SWIR camera, was collecting both passive and active images along a 2 km long path over an airfield and also from our rooftop laboratory looking over open fields. For some investigations we also used a gated system working in the near-infrared region and thermal as well as color CCD cameras. The sensor was elevated by a lift in steps from 1.6-13.5 m or placed in a rooftop laboratory 13 m above ground. Targets were resolution charts and man targets. The turbulence was measured along the path with anemometers and scintillometers. The image performance was evaluated by measurement of the image blur and also by performing observer perception tests. The results reveal a strong dependence on the sensor height especially during daytime.

Field of study: Physics
Palaeoenvironmental, paleontologic and stratigraphic significance of vertebrate remains in pleistocene limnic and alluvial deposits from southeastern Sicily

In southeastern Sicily on the Hyblean Plateau limnic deposits overlie early Pleistocene marine sediments and are covered by early Middle Pleistocene marine sands. In the limnic deposits fossil remains of large mammals have been collected and these represent the oldest found in a well-established Pleistocene stratigraphic succession in Sicily. The faunal association includes: Elephas falconeri Busk, the smallest Sicilian elephant, an elephant less reduced in size than E. falconeri , a canid ( Vulpes sp.?), rodents [ Leithia melitensis (Adams)], Chiroptera, Insectivora, fishes, birds, amphibians ( Bufo sp., Discoglossus sp.), and reptiles ( Lacerta sp., Testudo sp., Emys orbicularis Linnaeus). Alluvial fan deposits overlying the limnic deposits contain Elephas mnaidriensis Adams, Hippopotamus pentlandi Meyer, Cervus siciliae Pohlig and Bovidae. These new findings provide the stratigraphic evidence to definitively discredit previous chronological schemes for the Pleistocene dwarf elephants, which assumed a progressive decrease of the size with time, a hypothesis recently questioned by isoleucine epimerization age determination, which, however were object of discussion. These findings also represent a new step toward a better knowledge of the taphonomic conditions of the Pleistocene mammal-bearing deposits in Mediterranean islands, traditionally linked to karstic environment. Distribution of mammal faunas in the Hyblean Plateau proves fundamental in recognizing and dating Pleistocene mammal faunas in Sicily; the new findings fully confirm the assumption that Sicily experienced two elephant immigrations in Pleistocene times.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Corynebacterium glutamicum as an indicator for environmental cobalt and silver stress–A proteome analysis

Cobalt and silver are toxic for cells, but mechanisms of this toxicity are largely unknown. Analysis of Corynebacterium glutamicum proteome from cells grown in control and cobalt or silver enriched media was performed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) followed by mass spectrometry. Our results indicate that the cell adapted to cobalt stress by inducing five defense mechanisms: Scavenging of free radicals, promotion of the generation of energy, reparation of DNA, reparation and biogenesis of Fe-S cluster proteins and supporting and reparation of cell wall. In response to the detoxification of Ag+ many proteins were up-regulated, which involved reparation of damaged DNA, minimizing the toxic effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and energy generation. Overexpression of proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis (1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme and nucleoside-diphosphate-sugar epimerase) upon cobalt stress and induction of proteins involved in energy metabolism (2-methylcitrate dehydratase and 1, 2-methylcitrate synthase) upon silver demonstrate the potential of these enzymes as biomarkers of sub-lethal Ag+ and Co toxicity.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Performance of a 0.4 mm Pixelated Ce:GAGG Block Detector With Digital Silicon Photomultiplier

The intrinsic spatial resolution of the detector is an important aspect to reconstruct high quality nuclear medicine images. In order to realize a high spatial resolution, small pixelated Cerium doped Gd<sub>3</sub>Al<sub>2</sub>Ga<sub>3</sub>O<sub>12</sub> (Ce:GAGG) scintillators–known for their high light output, high density and relatively fast decay time, were coupled to a digital silicon photomultiplier (dSiPM) for read out. This detector module consists of a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {24 \times 24}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Ce:GAGG scintillator block of 0.4 mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\times }0.4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\times }5$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm crystal elements and a 2 mm thick light guide made of acrylic resin. The digital silicon photomultiplier (dSiPM), DPC-3200-22-44, was used to acquire 2-D position histogram, energy resolution and coincidence timing resolution. The 2-dimensional position histogram of the Ce:GAGG block detector irradiated with <sup>22</sup>Na gamma photons showed that most pixels were clearly resolved with an average peak-to-valley (P/V) ratio of ~3.4. The average energy resolution of the Ce:GAGG block detector was 17.8%. At trigger scheme 1 (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {1}^{\mathrm {st}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> photon trigger), the coincidence timing resolution was 342 ± 7 ps FHWM when acquired in coincidence with a 2 mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\times }2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\times }6$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm LSO crystal (after skew correction). This study demonstrates that a pixelated Ce:GAGG block coupled with dSiPM provides good position performance and time resolution. We conclude that the highly pixelated Ce:GAGG detector module may be a good candidate for implementing ultrahigh resolution nuclear medicine systems and applications requiring good timing resolution.

Field of study: Physics
A Novel Molecularly Imprinted Fluorescence Test Strip for Detection of Cimaterol

A novel test strip for rapid detection of cimaterol was prepared by combining highly specific selectivity of molecularly imprinted technology with convenient rapid response performance of test strip. The cimaterol molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared through chemical polymerization method, and nitrocellulose membrane was immersed into MIPs clouding solution. After that, the template molecules were eluted and then a clipping step was conducted for obtaining the test strip. After re-adsorption of cimaterol, fluorescent dye Eosin Y was added onto the surface reaction zone on the strip. Qualitative and quantitative analysis would be realized via determining fluorescence quenching in its reaction zone. The experimental results showed that the fluorescence quenching had a good relationship with cimaterol concentration ranging from 0.01–100 μg mL −1 with the limit of detection of 0.01 μg mL −1 . The molecular imprinting test strips provided convenient way in practical application especially for the detection of pork and fodder sample on site.

Field of study: Chemistry
A variant of severe combined immunodeficiency with normal in vitro response to allogeneic cells and an increase in circulating B lymphocytes persisting several months after successful bone marrow graft.

Severe combined immunodeficiency was diagnosed soon after birth in an infant with a well documented familial history of recessive autosomal inheritance. No thymic shadow was detectable and the number of circulating lymphocytes was decreased. Both humoral and cell-mediated immunity were severely impaired. Despite the absence of in vitro response to stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin, the circulating lymphocytes responded normally to allogeneic cells in the mixed leucocyte culture reaction. In addition, the vast majority of the blood lymphocytes were B lymphocytes bearing membrane-bound immunoglobulins which were shown to be actual cell products. A foetal thymus graft was performed at the age of 1 month and was not followed by any improvement of the immunological parameters. The transplantation of unfractionated bone marrow cells from an HLA identical brother with negative reactions in mixed lymphocyte culture was performed 1 month later and resulted in a gradual restoration of immunological competence for both B-cell and T-cell functions. High numbers of circulating B lymphocytes persisted for several months after immunological reconstitution. These unusual findings argue against the hypothesis of a stem cell defect in the presently described variant and suggest that severe combined immunodeficiencies may represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with regard to the level of the basic defect.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Identification of the bacterial community involved in methane-dependent denitrification in activated sludge using DNA stable-isotope probing.

Methane is used as an alternative carbon source in the denitrification of wastewater lacking organic carbon sources because it is nontoxic and may be efficiently produced by anaerobic biological processes. Methane-dependent denitrification (MDD) in the presence of oxygen requires the co-occurrence of methanotrophy and denitrification. Activated sludge was incubated with 13C-labeled methane in either a nitrate-containing medium or a nitrate-free medium. Then, bacterial and methanotrophic populations were analyzed by cloning analysis and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis targeting 16S rRNA gene and cloning analysis targeting pmoA genes. DNA-based stable-isotope probing (DNA-SIP) analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed an association of the Methylococcaceae and the Hyphomicrobiaceae in a MDD ecosystem. Furthermore, supplementation of nitrate stimulated methane consumption and the activity of methanotrophic populations (i.e. the stimulation of uncultivated relatives of distinct groups of the Methylococcaceae). In particular, uncultured type-X methanotrophs of Gammaproteobacteria were dominant when nitrate was added, i.e. in the MDD incubations. On the other hand, most methanotrophs (types I, II, and X methanotrophs) were found to have been labeled with 13C under nitrate-free conditions. This DNA-SIP study identifies key bacterial populations involved in a MDD ecosystem.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science
2D-DIGE screening of high-productive CHO cells under glucose limitation--basic changes in the proteome equipment and hints for epigenetic effects.

CHO derivates (Chinese hamster ovary) belong to the most important mammalian cells for industrial recombinant protein production. Many efforts have been made to improve productivity and stability of CHO cells in bioreactor processes. Here, we followed up one barely understood phenomenon observed with process optimizations: a significantly increased cell-specific productivity in late phases of glucose-limited perfusion cultivations, when glucose (and lactate) reserves are exhausted. Our aim was to elucidate the cellular activities connected to the metabolic shift from glucose surplus to glucose limitation phase. With 2D-DIGE, we compared three stages in a perfusion culture of CHO cells: the initial growth with high glucose concentration and low lactate production, the second phase with glucose going to limitation and high lactate level, and finally the state of glucose limitation and also low lactate concentration but increased cell-specific productivity. With our proteomic approach we were able to demonstrate consequences of glucose limitation for the protein expression machinery which also could play a role for a higher recombinant protein production. Most interestingly, we detected epigenetic effects on the level of proteins involved in histone modification (HDAC1/-2, SET, RBBP7, DDX5). Together with shifts in the protein inventory of energy metabolism, cytoskeleton and protein expression, a picture emerges of basic changes in the cellular equipment under long-term glucose limitation of CHO cells.

Field of study: Biology, Engineering
Differential effects of acute alcohol on prepulse inhibition and event-related potentials in adolescent and adult Wistar rats.

Previous studies have demonstrated that adolescent and adult rats show differential sensitivity to many of the acute effects of alcohol. We recently reported evidence of developmental differences in the effects of acute alcohol on the cortical electroencephalogram. However, it is unclear whether developmental differences are also observed in other neurophysiological and neurobehavioral measurements known to be sensitive to alcohol exposure. The present study determined the age-related effects of acute alcohol on behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) responses to acoustic startle (AS) and prepulse inhibition (PPI).



Male adolescent and adult Wistar rats were implanted with cortical recording electrodes. The effects of acute alcohol (0.0, 0.75, and 1.5 g/kg) on behavioral and ERP responses to AS and PPI were assessed.



Acute alcohol (0.75 and 1.5 g/kg) significantly reduced the behavioral and electrophysiological response to AS in adolescent and adult rats. Both 0.75 and 1.5 g/kg alcohol significantly enhanced the behavioral response to PPI in adolescent, but not in adult rats. During prepulse + pulse trials, 1.5 g/kg alcohol significantly increased the N10 pulse response in the adolescent frontal cortex. Acute alcohol (0.75 and 1.5 g/kg) also increased the N1 ERP pulse response to prepulse stimuli in frontal and parietal cortices in adult rats, but not in adolescent rats.



These data suggest that alcohol's effect on behavioral and electrophysiological indices of AS do not differ between adults and adolescents whereas developmental stage does appear to significantly modify alcohol-influenced response to PPI.

Field of study: Medicine
New light on Novaya Zemlya polar mirage

While seeking a Northeast Passage to the Orient, the explorer Willem Barents and his crew were stranded for the winter at Novaya Zemlya (76°12'N). During the perpetual night of their arctic winter, one noontime in January 1597 the explorers were astonished to see the Sun appear two weeks sooner than expected at that latitude. At the time, the Sun's actual position was still about 5° below the geometrical horizon.

Field of study: Physics
[Expression and characterization of rabies virus nucleoprotein in baculovirus].

To construct a recombinant expression plasmid Bacmid-N containing the N gene of Rabies Virus, the N gene of RV CVS-11 strain was cloned into the baculovirus shuttle vector (Bacmid). Recombinant Baculovirus AcMNPV-N (P1 Viral stock) was obtained by transfecting the Bacmid-N into the insect cell line of Sf9. The expressed nucleoprotein was identified and analysised by ELISA, FA, SDS-PAGE and Western blot assays. The results showed that the NP protein was expressed intracellularly and had a good antigenicity, which would be potentially used for further study on the diagnostic reagent of rabies virus detection.

Field of study: Biology
Evolution of the East Asian winter land temperature trends during 1961–2018: role of internal variability and external forcing

Detecting the contributions of internal variability and external forcing to the evolution of surface air temperature (SAT) trend at regional scales is a challenge. Based on the observations and large-ensemble simulations of climate models, we estimate the contribution of the internal and forced components to the evolution of East Asian winter land SAT (EAWT) during 1961–2018. Although the external forcing induced EAWT trends show a slow increase, both the total and internally generated EAWT trends exhibit a decrease with the extension of the time period, suggesting a critical role of internal variability in the evolution of the EAWT trends. The internal variability contributes to about 70% of total EAWT trends during 1961–1995. With the extension of the time period, the contribution of internal variability decreases, whereas the contribution of external forcing gradually grows to dominate the EAWT trends. Based on the dynamical adjustment method, we identify that the internal dynamics and forced thermodynamics account for a majority of internal and forced EAWT variations, respectively. We further identify that the multidecadal fluctuation of internal component of autumn Arctic sea ice is a critical precursor of the internal variability, especially the internal dynamically induced EAWT variations, through triggering a meridional stationary Rossby wave response in the following boreal winter. Our findings provide an insight into the understanding of the present and future climate change over East Asia.

Field of study: Environmental science
Inhibition of dextransucrase activity in Streptococcus mutans by plant phenolics.

Streptococcus mutans is responsible for causing dental caries in humans and utilizes sucrose for its growth. The dextransucrase (EC 2.4.1.5) is responsible for sucrose metabolism, which exhibits both hydrolytic and glucosyltransferase activities. In this study, we examined the effects of the plant phenols, namely gallic, tannic and syringic acids and aqueous extracts of certain traditionally used chewing sticks (Acacia arabica, Azadirachta indica, Pongamia pinnata and Salvadora persica) for prevention of dental caries on hydrolytic activity of dextransucrsae in S. mutans. Gallic acid (4-5 mM) produced 80-90% inhibition of the enzyme, while tannic acid (0.2 mM) and syringic acid (5 mM) inhibited the enzyme activity 80% and 48%, respectively in vitro. The aqueous extracts of chewing sticks produced 35-40% inhibition of dextransucrase activity at 5 mg phenol concentration. Kinetic analysis revealed mixed-type of enzyme inhibition by polyphenols, where both K(m) and V(max) were altered. The value of K(i) for tannic, gallic and syringic acids were 0.35, 1.6 and 1.94 mM, respectively. The enzyme inhibition by polyphenols was optimum at pH 7-7.5, while by plant extract was maximum at pH 5-6. These results suggest that plant polyphenols may find potential applications in the prevention and control of dental caries by inhibiting dextransucrase activity in S. mutans.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Physics