nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Association of elevated serum glycoprotein gp70 with increased gp70 immune complex formation and accelerated lupus nephritis in autoimmune male BXSB mice.

BXSB male mice, which spontaneously develop a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) like disease, were the only strain to have a significant incidence of abnormally elevated levels of gp70 in sera. Concentrations of gp70 in some mice were more than 10 times (greater than 500 micrograms/ml) those of young BXSB and any other murine strain. The presence of high serum levels of gp70 was significantly associated with hepatic sinusoidal lymphocytosis, a high incidence of which was only observed in male BXSB mice. Serum levels of gp70-anti-gp70 immune complexes were greatly increased in mice with high levels of gp70, presumably associated with increased anti-gp70 antibody production. Such mice developed fatal glomerulonephritis significantly earlier than those with lower levels of gp70. These results suggest that (1) hepatic inflammation of unknown aetiology occurring uniquely in male BXSB mice during the course of their SLE may be responsible for the enhanced expression of serum gp70 antigen, because of its nature as an acute phase reactant and (2) enhanced expression of gp70 antigen is associated with increased formation of anti-gp70 antibodies and exacerbation of lupus nephritis in male BXSB mice.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Separable models for age-structured population genetics

This paper is concerned with the applications of nonlinear age-dependent dynamics to population genetics. Age-structured models are formulated for a single autosomal locus with an arbitrary number of alleles. The following cases are considered: a) haploid populations with selection and mutation; b) monoecious diploid populations with or without mutation reproducing by self-fertilization or by two types of random mating. The diploid models do not deal with selection. For these cases the genic and genotypic frequencies evolve towards time-persistent forms, whether the total population size tends towards exponential growth or not.

Field of study: Biology, Mathematics
Enhancement of Spin Currents in a Lattice near the Curie Point

We show that pure spin currents carried by conduction electrons injected into a paramagnetic lattice of mutually interacting localized magnetic moments can be enhanced close to the Curie temperature by the exchange interaction between the lattice sites and the non vanishing spin density associated with the spin current. The latter partially aligns the magnetic moments of the lattice, generating a flow of paramagnons that contribute to the total spin current.

Field of study: Physics
A comparative study of the role of disease severity in drug reimbursement decision making in four European countries.

Considerations beyond cost-effectiveness are important in reimbursement decision making. We assessed the importance of disease severity in drug reimbursement decision making in Belgium, France, The Netherlands and Sweden. We investigated scientific literature and policy documents and conducted three interviews in each country (four in The Netherlands) with persons involved in drug reimbursement. Disease severity is an important consideration, especially where the level is high. The Netherlands operationalizes disease severity using the proportional shortfall approach. Sweden uses categories to give an indication of the level of severity. In The Netherlands and Sweden, severity only implicitly plays a role in the decision whether to reimburse a drug, whereas in Belgium and France it also explicitly plays a role in determining the willingness to use public resources. Interviewees acknowledged that as well as a qualitative description of the disease, quantitative information may also be useful as input for decision making. None of them, however, considered this to be of decisive importance. Although disease severity is important in drug reimbursement decision making in all four countries, all seem to struggle in explicitly specifying its actual role. Belgium and France are the most explicit by using levels of severity in setting reimbursement levels; all four countries could, however, improve the transparency of its actual importance relative to the other criteria in the decision-making process.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Study on the cutting technique of ornamental Punica granatum

The different concentrations of IBA and NAA were used to soak the shoots for different time to promote cutting rooting of 4 varieties of Punica granatum.and the best treatment was selected for the rooting.The results showed that the rooting rate was the highest when the cutting shoots were dipped in the liquid of 100 mg·L-1 NAA plus 100 mg·L-1 IBA about half an hour,and the rooting rate was as high as 91.23%.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Modeling and optimization of zone-based registration considering cell-by-cell location area for mobile communication networks

Zone-based registration (ZBR) has been adopted in most mobile communication networks and there have been numerous analytical models and performance studies of ZBR. However, many previous studies in which ZBR was compared with other registration schemes utilized ring-by-ring location registration area and two-dimensional random walk mobility models. In this study we show that this approach fails to smoothly reflect ZBR's actual operation. As an alternative, we propose a new analytical model that can accurately reflect ZBR's real operation in regard to the shape of a location area and mobility of the mobile stations, to find the optimal size of proposed cell-by-cell location registration area. We provide numerical results using the proposed approach to properly optimize the performance of ZBR under various circumstances. The results demonstrate that the number of cells in a location registration area that minimizes total cost is 2-4, and this approach is more accurate than the previous ring-by-ring location area. The results of this study should be useful for others analyzing the performance of various mobile communication registration systems.

Field of study: Computer science
Uptake, Accumulation, and in Planta Distribution of Coexisting Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Cadmium in Glycine max (L.) Merr. .

Agricultural soils are likely to be polluted by both conventional and emerging contaminants at the same time. Understanding the interactions of coexisting engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and trace elements (a common source of abiotic stress) is critical to gaining insights into the accumulation of these two groups of chemicals by plants. The objectives of this study were to determine the uptake and accumulation of coexisting ENPs and trace elements by soybeans and to gain insights into the physiological mechanisms resulting in different plant accumulation of these materials. The combinations of three cadmium levels (0 [control] and 0.25 and 1 milligrams per kilogram of dry soil) and two CeO2 NPs concentrations (0 [control] and 500 milligrams per kilogram of dry soil) were investigated. Measurements of the plant biomass and physiological parameters indicated that CeO2 NPs led to higher variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence ratio, suggesting that CeO2 NPs enhanced the plant light energy use efficiency by photosystem II. In addition, the presence of CeO2 NPs did not affect Cd accumulation in soybean, but Cd significantly increased the accumulation of Ce in plant tissues, especially in roots and older leaves. The altered Ce in planta distribution was partially associated with the formation of root apoplastic barriers in the co-presence of Cd and CeO2 NPs.

Field of study: Environmental science
Theory of ultrafast phenomena in laser-excited semiconductors

The study of semiconductor carriers excited by femtosecond laser excitation has proved to be one of the most effective methods of characterization of semiconductors, as well as providing a probe for new physical effects. On the femtosecond time-scale, however, it is not expected that the semiclassical Boltzmann equation will be correct, and a more basic quantum mechanical formulation is required. The formulation of equivalent transport equations from the Schrodinger equation and its variants will be briefly reviewed. Results, using an ensemble Monte Carlo method, for electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions will be presented to show how these studies can be used to investigate the strength of the electron-phonon interaction and how the finite collision duration affects such studies.

Field of study: Materials science
Application of the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) technique for mouse dosimetry in micro-CT imaging.

Micro-CT is considered to be a powerful tool to investigate various models of disease on anesthetized animals. In longitudinal studies, the radiation dose delivered by the micro-CT to the same animal is a major concern as it could potentially induce spurious effects in experimental results. Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) are a relatively new kind of detector used in radiation dosimetry for medical applications. The aim of this work was to assess the dose delivered by the CT component of a micro-SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography)∕CT camera during a typical whole-body mouse study, using commercially available OSLDs based on Al2O3:C crystals.



CTDI (computed tomography dose index) was measured in micro-CT with a properly calibrated pencil ionization chamber using a rat-like phantom (60 mm in diameter) and a mouse-like phantom (30 mm in diameter). OSLDs were checked for reproducibility and linearity in the range of doses delivered by the micro-CT. Dose measurements obtained with OSLDs were compared to those of the ionization chamber to correct for the radiation quality dependence of OSLDs in the low-kV range. Doses to tissue were then investigated in phantoms and cadavers. A 30 mm diameter phantom, specifically designed to insert OSLDs, was used to assess radiation dose over a typical whole-body mouse imaging study. Eighteen healthy female BALB∕c mice weighing 27.1 ± 0.8 g (1 SD) were euthanized for small animal measurements. OLSDs were placed externally or implanted internally in nine different locations by an experienced animal technician. Five commonly used micro-CT protocols were investigated.



CTDI measurements were between 78.0 ± 2.1 and 110.7 ± 3.0 mGy for the rat-like phantom and between 169.3 ± 4.6 and 203.6 ± 5.5 mGy for the mouse-like phantom. On average, the displayed CTDI at the operator console was underestimated by 1.19 for the rat-like phantom and 2.36 for the mouse-like phantom. OSLDs exhibited a reproducibility of 2.4% and good linearity was found between 60 and 450 mGy. The energy scaling factor was calculated to be between 1.80 ± 0.16 and 1.86 ± 0.16, depending on protocol used. In phantoms, mean doses to tissue over a whole-body CT examination were ranging from 186.4 ± 7.6 to 234.9 ± 7.1 mGy. In mice, mean doses to tissue in the mouse trunk (thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and flanks) were between 213.0 ± 17.0 and 251.2 ± 13.4 mGy. Skin doses (3 OSLDs) were much higher with average doses between 350.6 ± 25.3 and 432.5 ± 34.1 mGy. The dose delivered during a topogram was found to be below 10 mGy. Use of the multimouse bed of the system gave a significantly 20%-40% lower dose per animal (p < 0.05).



Absorbed doses in micro-CT were found to be relatively high. In micro-SPECT∕CT imaging, the micro-CT unit is mainly used to produce a localization frame. As a result, users should pay attention to adjustable CT parameters so as to minimize the radiation dose and avoid any adverse radiation effects which may interfere with biological parameters studied.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
Recreational diver willingness to pay for goliath grouper encounters during the months of their spawning aggregation off eastern Florida, USA

Recently, fisheries managers have been faced with high uncertainty about Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) stock status, especially due to the lack of fishery-dependent data since the harvest moratorium in 1990. Regardless of this uncertainty, the angling community has been pressuring fishery managers to open the goliath grouper to recreational take, while the diving community has been pressuring managers to keep the fishery closed due to the touted ecotourism value of the spawning aggregations. A previous study estimated that resident anglers in Florida who wanted the fishery open were willing to pay between US$34 and US$79 to harvest a goliath grouper. Using a survey instrument with choice experiments, the present study estimated that divers (n = 1537) off eastern Florida would be willing to pay approximately US$103 for a dive trip with one goliath grouper encounter during the months of their spawning aggregation (August–October), and US$202 if there are 40 goliath grouper (such as is common on a many spawning aggregation sites). Results suggested that divers coming from outside of Florida were willing to pay higher rates for dive trips with goliath grouper encounters; and at spawning aggregations sites, willingness to pay was estimated around US$336 for these non-Florida divers. Based on life-history traits of goliath grouper and the high value of their spawning aggregation sites, we suggest any changes in goliath grouper policy that would negatively impact spawning aggregation numbers be made with caution.

Field of study: Environmental science
Derivations of Group Algebras and Hochschild cohomology

The Hochschild homology and cohomology group can be described in terms of the homology and cohomology of the classifying space of the groupoid of the adjoint action of the group under the suitable assumption of the finiteness of the supports of cohomology groups. The difference between homology and cohomology leads to a correction of the results in the book by D. J. Benson (1995),(1991).

Field of study: Mathematics
Fuzzy logic and neural networks - Applications to analytical chemistry

A general overview about the usefulness of the theory of fuzzy sets for solving problems in the field of data analysis and analytical reasoning as well as for using neural networks for knowledge processing in analytical che- mistry is given. Recent results of the development of intel- systems for automated qualitative analysis in X-ray fluores- cence analysis and in ICP-atomic emission spectrosocopy are discussed.

Field of study: Chemistry
In dubio pro defensio: initial activation of conditioned fear is not cue specific.

This study explored the time course of conditioned fear response expression. Two neutral male facial expressions served as conditioned stimuli (CS) in a differential trace conditioning that involved either an aversive (n=14) or a nonaversive (n=12) unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in a between-subjects design. Skin conductance response (SCR) to the CSs and startle response magnitudes to acoustic probes presented at early (250 ms) or late (1,750 ms) probe times after CS onset were measured. As expected, conditioned SCR discrimination was observed in both aversive and nonaversive learning, whereas the conditioned potentiation of the startle response was only observed for the aversive UCS condition. Interestingly, conditioned startle discrimination was specific for the later probe time. In contrast, conditioned fear potentiation of the startle response at the early probe time was equally pronounced for CS+ and CS-. These findings suggest that fear-eliciting neural structures are rapidly activated in fear learning, whereas the expression of inhibitory conditioning requires more time, presumably reflecting the involvement of cortical top-down control processes.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Indirect commensalism between an introduced apex predator and a native avian predator

In ecosystems, some organisms facilitate others indirectly, by interacting with one or more common mediator organisms. Thus, the indirect effects of introducing or removing species can be resonant, sometimes leading to successional extinctions. The dingo (Canis dingo) is the apex predator in Australian deserts and was introduced to the continent between 3000 and 5000 years ago. Dingoes suppress the abundances of introduced mesopredators, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus) and in so doing mitigate small mammal declines wreaked by these mesopredators. Given the positive association between the abundances of dingoes and small mammals, we predicted that dingoes indirectly facilitate a specialised native predator of small mammals, the Barn owl, Tyto alba. We tested our prediction by monitoring the abundances of dingoes, foxes, cats, small mammals and barn owls and investigating barn owl diets in areas where dingoes were common versus areas where dingoes were functionally extinct on either side of the dingo barrier fence (DBF) in the Strzelecki Desert. Foxes and cats were less abundant in areas where dingoes were common. Conversely, small mammals and barn owls were more abundant where dingoes were common. Owls in areas where dingoes were common fed almost exclusively on small mammals, but owls in areas where dingoes were functionally extinct fed on greater proportion of birds and invertebrates. The findings of our study provide evidence that an introduced apex predator may indirectly facilitate a native predator and illustrates the myriad of far-reaching indirect effects that can result from apex predator suppression.

Field of study: Environmental science
Score Inquiring System in Network based on Virtual Host

ating reducing the expensive cost of mailing score sheet for students without campus network, the paper designs a network score inquiring system based on virtual host instead of mailing score sheet. The system design is optimized, short and extractive. It makes the best of merits of virtual host and avoids virtual host's shortage, and acquires high profits by low cost, and possesses value of popularization.

Field of study: Computer science
Highly anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$

The in-plane London penetration depth, $\Delta\lambda(T)$, was measured using a tunnel diode resonator in single crystals of Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ for five doping levels $x$ ranging from underdoped, $T_c$=11 K ($x$=0.17), to optimally doped, $T_c=$38 K ($x_\textmd{\scriptsize opt}$= 0.35). In the optimally doped samples, $\Delta\lambda(T)$ shows exponential saturation in $T \to 0$ limit suggesting a fully gapped superconductivity. The lowest-$T_c$ samples show much stronger non-exponential variation of $\Delta\lambda(T)$. Fitting the data to a power-law, $\Delta\lambda(T)= AT^n$, reveals a monotonic decrease of the exponent $n$ with $x$ towards the underdoped edge of the superconducting dome. Comparison with $n \approx 1.2$ reported in KFe$_2$As$_2$ ($T_c$=3.5 K, $x=$ 1), suggests a dome-like variation of $n$ with $x$, implying an evolution of the topology of the superconducting gap from full and isotropic in the center of the dome towards strongly anisotropic and, eventually, nodal at the dome edges.

Field of study: Physics
Uranium abundances and distribution in associated glassy and crystalline rhyolites of the western United States

The abundance and distribution of uranium have been determined in 11 units of rhyolitic lava and ash-flow tuff of calc-alkaline and transitional composition from the western United States in order to further evaluate the potential of rhyolitic glass as a source of uranium ores. Samples consist of coexisting obsidians, perlites, and felsites that range in age from Pleistocene to Oligocene. Uranium abundances in analyzed obsidians are 5 to 46 ppM. Obsidians and coexisting perlites have identical (+-5 percent) uranium concentrations, which confirms that little or no uranium is lost during hydration. Felsites show uranium depletions as high as 80 percent relative to coexisting obsidians and perlites. Combination of this data with the results of earlier work on peralkaline rhyolites indicates that uranium depletion seems to increase with age, with different rates of depletion for calc-alkaline (slowest) and peralkaline (fastest) compositions. Uranium distribution is homogeneous in obsidians, perlites, and spherulites, but inhomogeneous in felsites. Electron microprobe analyses of the least-depleted felsites indicate that uranium is associated with concentrations of Fe--Ti--Mn oxides or is in accompanying accessory minerals. Secondary Fe--Mn oxides in older, depleted felsites are uranium-bearing, especially along fractures or flow layers. Uranium loss from felsites seems to be largely controlledmore » by low-temperature solution over long time periods, with some precipitation in secondary phases.« less

Field of study: Geology
Field criteria for the recognition of till or tillite

Till is a highly variable sediment. It is formed and deposited by primary glacial and also by closely associated penecontemporaneous secondary non-glacial processes. Therefore, the range of the criteria useful for the recognition of till or tillite is very broad, and some of the characteristics are restricted to certain varieties of till only. Consequently no single descriptive characteristic would apply to all tills. Various site-specific petrographic characteristics of tills and also regional indicators of the presence of a glacier in the area investigated are discussed. By combining these multiple criteria, a sediment may be identified, or rejected, as till with a greater certainty than by applying only one or another set of the above criteria. Most of the characteristics of till or of the glacial environment can be identified in the field, and a regional study must supplement detailed site investigations.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography