nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Toxic Effects of Exogenous Cadmium on Tomato and Its Toxicity Threshold

The toxic effects of exogenous Cd on the length and the fresh weight of roots, and the height and the fresh weight of the aerial part of tomato, a Cd-sensetive crop, were studied by field experiments. The toxicity thresholds of Cd(EC10)for root length, plant height and the fresh weight of tomato were calculated based on the regression equations between soil available Cd(0.10 mol/L CaCl2extractable) and root length, plant height and the fresh weight of aerial parts of tomato. The difference between the EC10 values derived from field experiments and those derived from greenhouse experiments were discussed. The results showed that low concentration of exogenous Cd may promote whereas higher concentration of exogenous Cd will inhibit the growth of tomato. The toxicity thresholds of Cd(EC10, expressed as soil available Cd) for root length, plant height and the fresh weight of aerial parts of tomato varied greatly in different soils. The EC10 values were 0.13 mg/kg to 5.22 mg/kg for root length, 0.14 mg/kg to 9.34 mg/kg for plant height and 0.02 mg/kg to 4.13 mg/kg for the fresh weight of aerial parts.The maximum difference between the EC10 values derived from field experiments and from greenhouse experiments was 103.25 times for the fresh weight of aerial parts and 2.85 times for root length. At most circumstances, the difference of EC10 values from field experiments and greenhouse experiments was within 5 times. Some EC10 values from greenhouse experiments were higher than those from field experiments while the others were on the contrary.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
A RARE COMPLICATION OF ACUTE COLECISTITIS

Laparoscopic procedures are often preferred to open surgery due to their many advantages, theymay sometimes cause rare complications like intraabdominal, pelvic, and abdominal wall abscesses.We report a case of a 45-year-old woman who presented on multiple occasions to the hospital withsymptoms suggesting an infection involving the epigastric area. Following an exploratoryprocedure it was concluded that unretrieved gallstones from a previous laparoscopiccholecystectomy caused an abdominal wall abscess. This case shows that when establishing adiagnosis, the physician should consider that laparoscopic procedures can cause rarecomplications even after a long period of time.

Field of study: Computer science, Engineering
Prediction of record values

Given a number of record values from independent and identically distributed random variables with a continuous distribution function F, our aim is to predict future record values under suitable assumptions on the tail of F. In this paper, we are primarily concerned with finding reasonable tolerance regions for future record values. Two methods are proposed. The first one deals with the case where we observe only record values. The second one makes use of the information brought by the complete sample.

Field of study: Mathematics
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Improvement by Bi-2223 Surface RF Coil in 0.3T MRI System

A Bi-2223 surface RF coil was developed for a 0.3T permanent MRI system to achieve better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of images. Based on the finite element method (FEM), the SNR of a copper-made surface coil is analyzed, and the emphasis is put on the coil self-resistance that accounts for much higher percentage of the equivalent noise resistance in low field MRI than that in high field MRI. In order to improve SNR, a surface coil that is made of a Bi-2223 tape is fabricated for a 0.3T permanent MRI system. Phantom images are acquired, and the image SNR by the Bi-2223 coil in liquid nitrogen is improved by up to 35% compared with that by a copper coil at room temperature.

Field of study: Physics
Loss of suppressor T-lymphocyte function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Immunological reactivity in patients with SLE was studied in vitro trinitrobenzene sulphonate (TNP) specific antibody formation by peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from patients with SLE could produce an increased number of TNP-specific plaque-forming cells (PFC), while no such response could be seen in normal controls. Co-culture of lymphocytes from active SLE patients and normal controls was performed with TNP-Horse red blood cells (TNP-HRBC). The number of PFC by B lymphocytes from active SLE patients was suppressed by T lymphocytes from normal controls. On the other hand, the number of PFC by B lymphocytes from normal controls was increased by T lymphocytes from active SLE patients. Co-culture of lymphocytes from identical twins discordant for SLE was also performed, and the same results were obtained. We further examined the effects of Con A on antibody formation. Con A-treated T lymphocytes from a normal control markedly suppressed TNP-specific PFC by peripheral lymphocytes from active SLE patients. However, Con A-treated T lymphocytes from an active SLE patient did not suppress TNP-specific PFC by lymphocytes from another active SLE patient. These results suggest that active SLE patients showed a loss of suppressor T-lymphocyte function.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Numerical comparisons between Bayesian and frequentist low-rank matrix completion: estimation accuracy and uncertainty quantification

In this paper we perform a numerious numerical studies for the problem of low-rank matrix completion. We compare the Bayesain approaches and a recently introduced de-biased estimator which provides a useful way to build confidence intervals of interest. From a theoretical viewpoint, the de-biased estimator comes with a sharp minimax-optinmal rate of estimation error whereas the Bayesian approach reaches this rate with an additional logarithmic factor. Our simulation studies show originally interesting results that the de-biased estimator is just as good as the Bayesain estimators. Moreover, Bayesian approaches are much more stable and can outperform the de-biased estimator in the case of small samples. However, we also find that the length of the confidence intervals revealed by the de-biased estimator for an entry is absolutely shorter than the length of the considered credible interval. These suggest further theoretical studies on the estimation error and the concentration for Bayesian methods as they are being quite limited up to present.

Field of study: Computer science
CLEANER PROCESS OF NH_4OH-KOH PULPING OF WHEAT STRAW

A cleaner process of wheat straw pulping with aqueous ammonia containing a small amount of caustic potash was studied.The caustic potash as a strong base not only could reduce the needed quantity of NH 3 used and cooking time, but also enriched black liquor with potassium element.The black liquor after recovering excess NH 3 contained nitrogen, potassium and organic substance and could be used as a fertilizer.The black liquor could be applied as liquid fertilizer directly,or the black liquor could be treated by coagulation in alkaline condition and the precipitate could be chemically modified to solid fertilizer.The clear liquid after precipitation could be recycled to cooking by adding NH 4OH and KOH.The environmental pollution of black liquor would be solved and a new pattern of virtuous cycle was set up between paper industry and farming.

Field of study: Chemistry, Environmental science
On the G-invariant Modules

Let $G$ be a reductive group acting on a path algebra $kQ$ as automorphisms. We assume that $G$ admits a graded polynomial representation theory, and the action is polynomial. We describe the quiver $Q_G$ of the smash product algebra $kQ\# k[M_G]^*$, where $M_G$ is the associated algebraic monoid of $G$. We use $Q_G$-representations to construct $G$-invariant representations of $Q$. As an application, we construct algebraic semi-invariants on the quiver representation spaces from those $G$-invariant representations.

Field of study: Mathematics
Structure and microhardness of samples of composition Al-Mn obtained by the modified Stepanov technique

Microhardness of the structure of the cross section and longitudinal section of polycrystalline samples of composition Al-Mn obtained using Stepanov’s technique with the aid of a shaper which contains moving elements is investigated. It is discovered that a change in the value of the microhardness of the samples obtained by the modified Stepanov technique independently of the method of formation of structure does not exceed approximately 5% of the mean value. The obtained results support the expansion of the possibilities of this technique.

Field of study: Physics
Midbrain dopamine neurons regulate preprotachykinin-A mRNA expression in the rat forebrain during development.

Intracerebroventricular 6-hydroxydopamine injections were performed at postnatal days 3 and 6 in animals pretreated with the norepinephrine uptakeblocker desimipramine in order to generate a selective lesion of dopamine neurons. In situ hybridization was then used to analyze preprotachykinin-A (PPT-A) mRNA expression in the lesioned as well as in saline-injected control animals. The midbrain dopaminergic lesion caused a 22-25% increase in the level of PPT-A mRNA in cingulate cortex and frontoparietal cortex when analysed at 2 weeks of age, compared to saline-injected control animals. In contrast, the lesion caused no change in PPT-A mRNA expression in the neonatal caudate-putamen. These results indicate that dopamine neurons downregulate the expression of PPT-A mRNA specifically in cingulate cortex and frontoparietal cortex during early postnatal brain development. In the adult rat forebrain, lesioned at P3 and P6, no change in the level of PPT-A mRNA was seen in cingulate cortex and frontoparietal cortex. However, a 29% decrease in PPT-A mRNA was seen in the lateral caudate-putamen with no significant change in neurons of medial caudate-putamen. Thus, dopamine neurons appears to exert a region specific influence on PPT-A mRNA expression during brain development.

Field of study: Biology
Carbon isotopic composition and oxygen isotopic enrichment in phloem and total leaf organic matter of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along a climate gradient.

This study investigated the influence of climate on the carbon isotopic composition (sigma13C) and oxygen isotopic enrichment (delta18O) above the source water of different organic matter pools in European beech. In July and September 2002, sigma13C and delta18O were determined in phloem carbohydrates and in bulk foliage of adult beech trees along a transect from central Germany to southern France, where beech reaches its southernmost distributional limit. The data were related to meteorological and physiological parameters. The climate along the transect stretches from temperate [subcontinental (SC)] to submediterranean (SM). Both sigma13Cleaf and delta18Oleaf were representative of site-specific long-term environmental conditions. sigma13C of leaves collected in September was indicative of stomatal conductance, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and radiation availability of the current growing season. delta18O was mainly correlated to mean growing season relative humidity (RH) and VPD. In contrast to the leaves, sigma13Cphloem varied considerably between July and September and was well correlated with canopy stomatal conductance (Gs) in a 2 d integral prior to phloem sampling. The relationship between sigma13C and delta18O in both leaves and phloem sap points, however, to a combined influence of stomatal conductance and photosynthetic capacity on the variation of sigma13C along the transect. delta18Ophloem could be described by applying a model that included 18O fractionation associated with water exchange between the leaf and the atmosphere and with the production of organic matter. Hence, isotope signatures can be used as effective tools to assess the water balance of beech, and thus, help predict the effects of climatic change on one of the ecologically and economically most important tree species in Central Europe.

Field of study: Environmental science
Removal of Gaseous Ammonia and Methylamine Using Ozone

(NH3) and methylamine (CH3NH2) concentration in specially prepared atmospheres using ozone has been demonstrated. The contact time for ozone exposures is somewhat lengthy (max. 2 hr) for the concentrations studied. Methylamine is more resist-ant to ozone oxidation than ammonia, probably due to the protective nature of the attached methyl group to the amine. Stoichiometry developed to predict ozone doses based on odorant (NH3 and CH3NH2) concentration was not verified. In all cases, more ozone was needed for effective oxida-tion than was calculated by the stoichiometry.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
High T/sub c/ superconducting step-edge junctions and their properties in millimeter-wave band

Superconducting step-edge junctions were fabricated on step-edges in (100) LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates by sputter-deposited epitaxial YBaCuO and TlBaCaCuO thin films. The substrate steps were patterned by ion beam etching using metal film as a mask. The transport properties of the junctions were characterized by four-probe electrical measurements. The critical current-normal resistance product (I/sub c/R/sub N/) was larger than 0.2 mV (77 K) for most of the junctions. Clear Shapiro steps were observed in the current-voltage characteristics of the junctions with 36 GHz or 95 GHz millimeter-wave irradiation. The high frequency properties of these high T/sub c/ Josephson junctions showed that they were quite suitable for the Josephson harmonic mixer used in the digital phase locked millimeter and sub-millimeter wave sources.<<ETX>>

Field of study: Physics
Re the lost testis: failure of physical examination and diagnostic laparoscopy to identify inguinal undescended testis, P.I. Ellsworth and L. Chenck, Vol 5 (4) 321-323.

I read with interest the paper by Ellsworth and Cheuck, Vol. 5 (4) 321e323, describing the lost testis. The authors describe the fact that the testis was located in the groin of an obese boy after being impalpable clinically, and showing blind-ending vessels laparoscopically. However, a review of the photographs that the authors present shows a normal left-sided closed internal ring with vas and vessels  In Fig.1, although the testicular vessels are blind-ending, one is clearly able to see the vas with an enlarged collateral supply, with the arteries to the vas enlarged significantly more than normal, consistent with the fact that they are clearly not supplying just the vas itself but must be supplying a viable testis beyond the internal ring.

Field of study: Medicine
Pre-flight thermal performance test of a 35 K cryogenic integrated system

A cryogenic integrated system, consisting of a neon loop heat pipe, two pulse tube cryocoolers and other components, was designed and tested in the terrestrial environment. This paper presents the test results of the pre-flight thermal performance of the cryogenic integrated system, such as supercritical characteristics, steady-state operating characteristics and critical heat transfer capacity. The integrated system could achieve supercritical startup under auxiliary heat load of 0.4 W and obtain maximum heat transfer capacity of 1.3 W under anti-gravity attitude. The results show that both the function and the thermal performance are in concordance with the expectations, which validates the design of this cryogenic integrated system. Radiator temperature play an important role in the operation of the integrated system, where a temperature increment of 5 °C would lead the supercritical startup to fail.

Field of study: Engineering
Molecular Dynamics of Vesicles of Unsaturated Phosphatidylcholines Studied by 13C NMR Spin-Lattice Relaxation

13 C spin-lattice relaxation times, T 1Z , were measured at four different magnetic field strengths for a vesicles of a series of unsaturated 1,2-diacyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholines over the temperature range from 5 to 50 °C. The acyl chains of the phosphatidylcholines varied in length from 14 to 18 carbons and in the degree of unsaturation: myristoleoyl (14 : 1), palmitoleoyl (16 : 1), oleoyl (18 : 1), linoleoyl (18 : 2), linolenoyl (18 : 3). For each of the phosphatidylcholines studied the R 1Z = ( NT 1Z ) -1 values of the acyl chain methylene carbons, where N is the number of directly bonded hydrogens, decreased from the C 2 position which is situated close to the glycerol backbone towards the acyl terminal methyl group. The effect of the double bond was manifested by an increase in R 1Z and was less pronounced if it was located closer to the terminal methyl group than in the middle of the chain. A minimum in the T 1Z relaxation times was not observed, even for highest frequency of 125.8 MHz and the lowest temperature of 5 °C. In the case of the phosphocholine headgroup and glycerol backbone carbons the T 1Z times showed similar temperature and frequency dependencies as the acyl chain carbons. The results of the measurements indicate substantial differences in the dynamics of these systems in the liquid-crystalline state. Analysis of the data using various dynamical models is consistent with a distribution of motions which is not described by a single Lorentzian spectral density. This dispersion appears to be an inherent feature of the dynamics of phosphatidylcholines in the liquid-crystalline state.

Field of study: Chemistry
A Semiparametric Basis for Combining Estimation Problems Under Quadratic Loss

When there is uncertainty concerning the appropriate statistical model-estimator to use in representing the data sampling process, we consider a basis for optimally combining estimation problems. The objective is to produce natural adaptive estimators that are free of subjective choices and tuning parameters. In the context of two competing multivariate linear statistical models–estimators, we demonstrate a semiparametric Stein-like (SPSL) estimator, , that, under quadratic loss, has superior risk performance relative to the conventional least squares estimator. The relationship of the SPSL estimator to the family of Stein estimators is noted, and asymptotic and analytic finite-sample risk properties of the estimator are developed for some special cases. As an application we consider the problem of combining two polar linear models and demonstrate a corresponding SPSL estimator. An extensive sampling experiment is used to investigate the finite-sample performance of the SPSL estimator over a wide range of data sampling designs and symmetric and skewed distributions. Bootstrapping procedures are used to develop confidence sets and serve as a basis for inference.

Field of study: Mathematics
MODELLING OF CRACK PROPAGATION FOR COMPOSITE MATERIALS BASED ON POLYGON SCALED BOUNDARY FINITE ELEMENTS

The newly developed Polygon Scaled Boundary Finite Elements(PSBFE) combining with topography-based local remeshing technique is, for the first time, applied to the fracture analysis of composite materials. Near-interfacial crack propagation in a layered metal-ceramic structure is simulated and the effects of elastic constants mismatch on the interaction between a propagating crack and a single inclusion in brittle matrix materials are presented. The agreement between the simulating result, experimental and other numerical data available in literatures demonstrates a good validity and accuracy of the proposed method in predicting the crack-growth of composite material. The parametric study on the effect of mesh density and effect of different increments of crack propagation leads to the consistent results. This technique can represent the singular stress field at a crack tip more precisely than FEM. Meanwhile, it is more robust and universal than current crack growth simulation methods based on SBFEM.

Field of study: Engineering
Increasing the Discovery Space in Astrophysics - A Collation of Six Submitted White Papers

We write in response to the call from the 2020 Decadal Survey to submit white papers illustrating the most pressing scientific questions in astrophysics for the coming decade. We propose exploration as the central question for the Decadal Committee's discussions.The history of astronomy shows that paradigm changing discoveries are not driven by well formulated scientific questions, based on the knowledge of the time. They were instead the result of the increase in discovery space fostered by new telescopes and instruments. An additional tool for increasing the discovery space is provided by the analysis and mining of the increasingly larger amount of archival data available to astronomers. Revolutionary observing facilities, and the state of the art astronomy archives needed to support these facilities, will open up the universe to new discovery. Here we focus on exploration for compact objects and multi messenger science. This white paper includes science examples of the power of the discovery approach, encompassing all the areas of astrophysics covered by the 2020 Decadal Survey.

Field of study: Physics
Wildlife farming: an alternative to unsustainable hunting and deforestation in Neotropical forests?

Wild animals have been a source of food and income through subsistence hunting by forest-dwelling people in Neotropical countries in spite of the fact that hunting appears to be unsustainable as it leads to the depletion of wild fauna. Laws in Brazil and other Latin American countries forbid hunting but allow the commercial use of captive-bred animals. Notwithstanding the fact that this is a controversial topic among conservationists, in this paper we propose that wildlife farming in the Neotropics can be an alternative to the over-hunting and deforestation that are carried out for the production of traditional food and pastures for livestock. This review sets out this proposal, and discusses the implications for tropical forest integrity and rural population dependency on forest resources. We discuss the ecological and economical advantages of wildlife farming and its constraints as a conservation tool, using collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) farming in the Amazon region as a model. Productivity levels may reach 19,000 times higher than those obtained from the management of peccaries from forests in the Amazon region. This can be achieved with an easily obtainable diet composed of forest fruits and locally available agricultural by-products. Therefore, establishing captive management programs for peccaries is an effective way of avoiding wild stock depletion, deforestation, and guaranteeing the livelihood of forest dwellers in the Neotropics. However, it is essential that governmental and/or non-governmental agencies be involved in providing subsides to establish peccary farms, provide technical assistance, and introducing peccary captive breeding centers to supply founder stock.

Field of study: Environmental science
Second Coming: The Strategies of the New Christian Right

Since the election of a Republican majority in Congress in 1994, the Christian Right movement has attained an unprecedented degree of legitimacy and influence in American politics. GOP lawmakers eagerly seek to be pictured with Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed, Jr., who unveiled the "Contract with the American Family." Popular media portrayals, including a Time magazine cover story, refer to a Christian Right strategy of "taking over" American politics as "working." These developments are remarkable when we consider the once declining stature of the Christian Right and the predictions of its demise as recently as the aftermath of the 1992 elections. Yet the success of the Christian Right was neither a sudden occurrence nor an accident of the GOP takeover of Congress. It was the result of a calculated, sophisticated strategy to build a disorganized social movement into a formidable party faction with a grassroots oriented network of activists. This article examines the factors that have contributed to the recent successes of the Christian Right.

Field of study: Political science