nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Bayesian aerosol retrieval algorithm for MODIS AOD retrieval over land

We have developed a Bayesian aerosol retrieval (BAR) algorithm for the
retrieval of aerosol optical depth (AOD) over land from the Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). In the BAR algorithm, we simultaneously
retrieve all dark land pixels in a granule, utilize spatial correlation
models for the unknown aerosol parameters, use a statistical prior model for
the surface reflectance, and take into account the uncertainties due to fixed
aerosol models. The retrieved parameters are total AOD at 0.55  µ m,
fine-mode fraction (FMF), and surface reflectances at four different
wavelengths (0.47, 0.55, 0.64, and 2.1  µ m). The accuracy of the new
algorithm is evaluated by comparing the AOD retrievals to Aerosol Robotic
Network (AERONET) AOD. The results show that the BAR significantly improves
the accuracy of AOD retrievals over the operational Dark Target (DT)
algorithm. A reduction of about 29 % in the AOD root mean square error and
decrease of about 80 % in the median bias of AOD were found globally when
the BAR was used instead of the DT algorithm. Furthermore, the fraction of
AOD retrievals inside the ± ( 0.05 + 15 % ) expected error envelope
increased from 55 to 76 %. In addition to retrieving the values of AOD,
FMF, and surface reflectance, the BAR also gives pixel-level posterior
uncertainty estimates for the retrieved parameters. The BAR algorithm always
results in physical, non-negative AOD values, and the average computation
time for a single granule was less than a minute on a modern personal
computer.

Field of study: Environmental science
Explaining Intergenerational Parallelism in Adverse School Experiences: Mediating Influence of Young and Middle Adulthood Experiences.

A theoretically informed model was estimated with the LISREL-VIII program using panel data from 1,384 mother-adolescent child pairs to examine processes by which mothers'adolescent school experiences measured in 1971 (Time 1) affected the adolescent school experiences of their children measured in the 1990s (Time 3) through mediating variables examined when the mothers were young adults in the 1980s (Time 2) and when they were parents of adolescents in the 1990s (Time 3). Results revealed two statistically significant paths from mothers'adolescent school experiences and psychological distress to their children's adolescent school experiences. This intergenerational effect was mediated by mothers' early adoption of adult roles, psychological vulnerability, and low self-expectations, measured at Time 2, and by mothers' educational involvement, educational expectations, and family socioeconomic level, measured at Time 3.

Field of study: Education
[The influence of confounders on the outcome of ischemic stroke].

To determine the degree of influence of the confounders on the outcome of ischemic stroke (IS).



One hundred and eight patients were included in the prospective clinical cohort study. Based on disease outcomes, two groups of patients were singled out: 1st group - survivors (n=93), 2nd group - patients with fatal outcomes (n=15).



Concomitant diseases were found in 80 (74.1%) patients. Twenty-eight (25.9%) patients had no concomitant pathology (without taking into account atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease). The Pearson χ2 test was 0.005 (p=0.944), which indicated that there was no significant association between the fatal outcome and the presence of confounders. The relative risk (RR) was 0.963 (95% CI 0.333-2.779), indicating that the likelihood of a favorable or fatal outcome was almost equal.



Therefore, the presence or absence of confounders noted in patients of our cohort does not affect the likelihood of a favorable or fatal outcome.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Parameter Estimation of Autoregressive Models Using the Iteratively Robust Filtered Fast-τ Method

Utilizing time series modeling entails estimating the model parameters and dispersion. Classical estimators for autocorrelated observations are sensitive to presence of different types of outliers and lead to bias estimation and misinterpretation. It is important to present robust methods for parameters estimation which are not influenced by contaminations. In this article, an estimation method entitled Iteratively Robust Filtered Fast− τ(IRFFT) is proposed for general autoregressive models. In comparison to other commonly accepted methods, this method is more efficient and has lower sensitivity to contaminations due to having desirable robustness properties. This has been demonstrated by applying MSE, influence function, and breakdown point criteria.

Field of study: Mathematics
Chloride Corrosion Threshold in Concrete

Chloride ions can destroy the passivity of reinforcing steel in concrete and corrosion is likely to procede if moisture and oxygen availability are such as to support corrosion. Chloride may be introduced from different sources such as admixtures containing chloride, chloride bearing aggregates, or deicing salt solution permeating through hardened concrete. In this study, concrete slabs containing either single steel rods or electrically connected steel were subjected to various outdoor and indoor exposure conditions. It was found that corrosion rates of the single steel increased with increasing chloride content. The chloride corrosion threshold limit was between about 0.2% and 0.4% calcium chloride dihydrate by mass of cement (0.014% and 0.022% soluble chloride ion by mass of concrete) depending on the test method. Macrocell corrosion rate with electrically coupled steel was influenced greatly by the differential concentration of chloride ions in anode and cathode regions; large differences in chloride concentration resulted in a high corrosion rate.

Field of study: Materials science
A human gene encodes a putative G protein-coupled receptor highly expressed in the central nervous system.

The mammalian bombesin (Bn)-like neuropeptide receptors gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) and neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R) transduce a variety of physiological signals that regulate secretion, growth, muscle contraction, chemotaxis and neuromodulation. We have used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to isolate a cDNA from human brain mRNA, GPCR/CNS, that encodes a putative G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) based upon the presence of the paradigmatic seven heptahelical transmembrane domains in its predicted amino acid sequence. Analysis of the deduced protein sequence of GPCR/CNS reveals this putative receptor to be 98% identical to the deduced amino acid sequence of a recently reported gene product and minimally identical (approximately 23%) to both murine GRP-R and human endothelin-B (ET-B) receptor. Our deduced protein sequence differs at 12 positions, scattered throughout the open reading frame, relative to the original sequence. A 3.7 kb GPCR/CNS mRNA species is expressed in vivo in a tissue-specific manner, with highest levels detected in brain and spinal cord, lower levels found in testis, placenta and liver, but no detectable expression observed in any other tissue. Analysis of GPCR/CNS genomic clones reveals that the human gene contains one intron that is about 21 kb in length that divides the coding region into two exons and maps to human chromosome 7q31. No specific binding is observed with either a newly identified ligand (DTyr6, beta Ala11, Phe13, Nle14]Bn-(6-14)) having high affinity for all Bn receptor subtypes or Bn after GPCR/CNS is stably expressed in fibroblasts. No elevation in inositol trisphosphate is observed after the application of micromolar levels of either DPhe6, beta Ala11, Phe13, Nle14]Bn-(6-14) or Bn, a concentration of agonist known to activate all four known Bn receptor subtypes. When GPCR/CNS is expressed in Xenopus oocytes, no activation of the calcium-dependent chloride channel is detected despite the addition of micromolar levels of Bn peptide agonists. We conclude that the natural ligand for this receptor is none of the known naturally occurring Bn-like peptides and the true agonist for GPCR/CNS remains to be elucidated.

Field of study: Biology
Kulshan caldera: A Quaternary subglacial caldera in the North Cascades, Washington

Calderas that collapse during large pyroclastic eruptions are anomalously rare in the Cascade arc. Recognition of the early Pleistocene 4.5 × 8 km Kulshan caldera, filled with rhyodacite ignimbrite at the northeast foot of Mount Baker, brings to only three the Quaternary calderas identified in the Cascades. A near-vertical ring fault cut in basement rocks of the North Cascades encloses 30 km 2 of intracaldera ignimbrite (and intermixed collapse breccia) >1 km thick but with no floor exposed. The Lake Tapps tephra in the Puget lowland is the correlative fallout; 200 km from the source, it is as thick as 30 cm. Features of the distal ash fall and the intracaldera tuff suggest large-scale phreatomagmatism during an eruption that may have started subglacially. Several advances of the Cordilleran ice sheet subsequently obliterated the topographic rim, removed every vestige of extracaldera ignimbrite and proximal fallout, and stripped any precaldera extrusive rocks-the former existence of which is suggested only by a few silicic intrusions that cut the circumcaldera basement. Although the caldera is not structurally resurgent, several early intracaldera rhyodacite lavas intrude and rest directly on ignimbrite or on ashy caldera-lake sediments reworked from the eruption products. Subsidence areas, pumice compositions, and volumes of magma erupted (>50 km 3 ) are similar for the Kulshan, Rockland, and Crater Lake (Mazama) events, the three Quaternary caldera-forming eruptions now recognized in the Cascades.

Field of study: Geology
Phase transitions and ionic transport in K3InF6

Four allotropic forms are shown for the K 3 InF 6 ternary fluoride by various experimental investigations, microcalorimetry, high temperature X-ray diffraction, optical and electrical measurements. The ac conductivity data of K 3 InF 6 are analysed in the Z *, M * and e * formalisms and the conductivity relaxation parameters are determined. Conductivity is of Arrhenius-type on either side of a transition temperature T tr ( T tr =488±10 K) which is very close to the Curie temperature T C ( T C =480±5 K). A conductivity jump of about one decade is observed at T C and that transition is of ionic-superionic type.

Field of study: Materials science
Visualization and calculation of polarized light. I. The polarization ellipse, the Poincaré sphere and the hybrid polarization sphere.

We describe the historical and mathematical development of the polarization ellipse and the Poincaré sphere. We point out the limitations of the Poincaré sphere in its present use. To overcome these limitations we describe a new polarization sphere that we call the hybrid polarization sphere. This name is used because phase shifting and rotation of polarization components are described by small circles. Furthermore, longitudinal and latitudinal great circles are introduced so that the coordinates of a point on the sphere can be read. The hybrid polarization sphere is described and applied to polarizers, wave plates, and rotators. As a result, the hybrid polarization sphere can be used for both visualization and calculation and enables the difficulties associated with the Poincaré sphere to be overcome.

Field of study: Physics
Production processes of recombinant IL-1 beta from Bacillus subtilis: comparison between intracellular and exocellular expression.

The human IL-1 beta coding sequence derived from a cDNA library was inserted into two different plasmid expression vectors, pSM214 and pSM308, which promote the synthesis of recombinant products intracellularly and exocellularly, respectively. The hybrid constructs pSM261 and pSM320 were obtained. Bacillus subtilis SMS118 was transformed with these plasmids and the recombinant strains were grown in 1 litre bioreactors. Different growth conditions were analyzed to optimize yields both in terms of biomass and IL-1 beta production. In the pSM261-harbouring strain, IL-1 beta was synthesized in the cytoplasm to levels ranging from 1 to 2.7 mg g-1 of cells, corresponding to up to 40 mg l-1 of the culture. In contrast, SMS118(pSM320) was able to secrete 0.27 mg of natural IL-1 beta per g of cells (6.7 mg l-1 of culture). Processes for the purification of IL-1 beta from the supernatant and the biomass of the two cultures were also developed and compared in terms of yield and simplicity of the purification schemes. From our data it turns out that the route of intracellular expression is very efficient and superior to the one which results in secretion of IL-1 beta. This indicates that the use of B. subtilis as a recombinant host in biotechnology is not strictly dependent on its ability to secrete proteins into the culture medium.

Field of study: Biology, Engineering
Experimental derivation of the fluence non-uniformity correction for air kerma near brachytherapy linear sources.

In brachytherapy, one of the elements to take into account for measurements free in air is the non-uniformity of the photon fluence due to the beam divergence that causes a steep dose gradient near the source. The correction factors for this phenomenon have been usually evaluated by two available theories by Kondo and Randolph [ (1960)] and Bielajew , both conceived for point sources. This work presents the experimental validation of the Monte Carlo calculations made by Rodriguez and deAlmeida [ (2004)] for the non-uniformity correction specifically for a Cs-137 linear source measured using a Farmer type ionization chamber. The experimental values agree very well with the Monte Carlo calculations and differ from the results predicted by both theoretical models widely used. This result confirms that for linear sources there are some important differences at short distances from the source and emphasizes that those theories should not be used for linear sources. The data provided in this study confirm the limitations of the mentioned theories when linear sources are used. Considering the difficulties and uncertainties associated with the experimental measurements, it is recommended to use the Monte Carlo data to assess the non-uniformity factors for linear sources in situations that require this knowledge.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
Soaring in the Sky; Efforts by United Arab Emirates in Air and Space Activities

Aviation is one of the quickest and steadily develo ping ventures around the globe. As indicated by the Air traveler Forecasts Global Report of IATA, October 2 015, the travelers number is developing by 5.4 % ev ery year in United Arab Emirates. The flying segment is critica l to the UAE's economy, as it contributes more than 15% or US$ 46 billion to the nation's GDP, and is relied upon to increment to 38% or US$ 53 billion by 2020. Dubai's prosperity zenith lies into clear vision, persistent planning, and wo rldwide synergistic execution. UAE’s aviation preci n t is thriving to be a world pioneer in the business, the country has th ought of part of activity like building up GCAA, pa ssing Federal Law Number 4 and 20 identified with Civil Aviation and Aviation Authority law, however, it has their own d ifficulties like purview issue, authorizing prerequisites, state of carriage, wellbeing and security. Moving to space a re in 2014, the UAE made the fundamental stride towards turning int o a space part pioneer, with the foundation of the UAE Space Agency marked three UN settlements identified with space law. UAE keeps on upgrading and build up its administrative system to pull in outside venture and PPP show outl ine work in a joint effort with Boeing, Airbus, NAS A, and Thuraya to name few. UAE is the signatory for a few differe nt treaties and convention to conquer the difficult ies confronting in the space area like Outer Space Treaty, Treaty on P rinciples Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Ce lestial Bodies, Liability Convention, Convention on I ternational Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, Regis tration Convention, Convention on Registration of O bjects Launched into Outer Space.UAE Government has been p roposing UAE National Space Policy, UAE Space Law a nd Regulations, UAE Space Strategy (10 years design) f or the fruitful voyage in the space division. The p a er will concentrate on lawful issue relating to different e ndeavors taken by United Arab Emirates for air and space activities.

Field of study: Business
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (mdma): A review

This article reviews the history, pharmacology, and adverse events associated with the use of 3,4-methylenendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as Ecstasy. Past research describing the neurotoxic effects of MDMA in animals, current research on the neurotoxic effects of MDMA in humans, and the attendant changes in psychologic functioning will be highlighted in this review. Finally, the limitations of human research on the effects of MDMA and suggestions for future MDMA research will be discussed.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Analysis of B/C Recombinant Structure of C Gene in A Newly Found HBV Subtype

Hepatitis B is one of the most serious global threats to human health.Phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus(HBV)can reveal the evolutionary relationship between HBV sequences and thus provide a basis for the prediction and treatment of hepatitis B and other aspects.In this study,we performed sequence analyses on the HBV sequences of five clinical HBV samples and the HBV sequences retrieved from the GenBank,EMBL,and DDBJ to construct a phylogenetic tree and analyze sequence structures.The experimental results revealed that the C gene of one cloned sequence had a recombinant structure of HBV B/ C subtype.Moreover,the phylogenetic results proved the existence of a newly found subtype HBV/B6in Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province,China.The experimental conclusion represents certain value for phylogenetic studies of HBV in Yunnan ethnic minority groups.

Field of study: Biology
Environmental Vibrio spp., isolated in Mozambique, contain a polymorphic group of integrative conjugative elements and class 1 integrons.

Circulation of mobile genetic elements linked to drug resistance spread was studied in Vibrio strains isolated from surface urban water (river and sea) and shellfish samples in 2002-2003 in Maputo, Mozambique. Class 1 integrons and integrating conjugative elements (ICE) were investigated by PCR and mating experiments in strains of major health interest: 10 Vibrio cholerae, six Vibrio parahaemolyticus, two Vibrio alginolyticus and one Vibrio fluvialis. Resistance to at least two antibiotics (predominantly beta-lactams) was detected in all the strains, with additional resistances to sulfamethoxazole, spectinomycin, streptomycin and/or trimethoprim. Class 1 integrons contributed partially to the expression of drug resistance and were found in five isolates: four V. cholerae (blaP1 cassette, one strain also contained the dfrA15 cassette) and one V. alginolyticus (aadA2 cassette). ICEs, apparently devoid of resistance genes, were found in eight V. cholerae, three V. parahaemolyticus and one V. fluvialis isolates. A wide variability was observed by molecular characterization of ICEs. Five ICEs were included in the SXT/R391 family and seven ICEs were not classified. Our results indicate that the SXT/R391 family and related ICEs comprise a large class of polymorphic genetic elements widely circulating in environmental Vibrio strains in Africa, beside those evidently linked to drug resistance in clinical isolates.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science
Scaling violations and the gluon distribution of the nucleon

Using recent data on deep inelastic lepton-nucleon scattering an attempt is made to extract the gluon distributionG(x, Q2=4 GeV2) from the observed scaling violations of structure functions. The accuracy of the data allows only for a rough determination of the gluon distribution. In particular it is found that a hard gluon distributionis consistent with present measurements. Implications of the hard gluon distribution for charm production in the gluon fusion model and for the perturbative contributions to σL/σT are further discussed. Finally, analytic parametrizations of the QCDx- andQ2-dependence of quark and gluon distributions are presented facilitating further possible applications.

Field of study: Physics
Antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections by Libyan community pharmacists and medical practitioners: An observational study

Inappropriate uses of antibiotics for the treatment of common self-limiting infections are a major dispensing malpractice worldwide. This potentially may result in the development of resistant bacterial strains, which represents a significant public health problem. This study aimed to describe the pattern of antibiotics dispensing between community pharmacists (CPs) and general practitioners (GPs) regarding symptomatic diagnosis, antibiotic categories, and adherence to therapeutic doses.  Between March and June 2017, using trained simulated patients (SPs) with simulated clinical scenarios of having upper respiratory tract infections, a cross-sectional observational study of antibiotic dispensing encounters was conducted at 20 randomly selected pharmacies and clinics in the city of Tripoli, Libya. SPs were trained to deal with both expertise and record their notice after each visit in specific form developed by the researcher. The data were descriptively analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests at alpha level of 0.05.  CPs dispensed more antibiotics than GPs (P = 0.001) for treating symptoms of common cold. They dispensed more amoxicillin (n = 32, 53.5%) than GPs (n = 18, 30.0%) (P = 0.001). While no CP dispensed ciprofloxacin, only two GPs dispensed this category (P = 0.022). In general, GPs comply better with the symptomatic diagnosis standard than CPs. On the other hand, CPs (n = 26, 59%) adhered better than GPs (n = 4, 12.5%) to therapeutic doses (P = 0.001).  The findings suggested poor professional practices by both CPs and GPs. Antibiotic dispensing regulation policies need to be implemented in Libya and CPs must practice ethically.

Field of study: Medicine
Water-soluble graphitic carbon nitride for clean environmental applications.

The removal of halogenated dye and sensing of pharmaceutical products in the water bodies with quick purification time is of high need due to the scarcity of drinking water. The present work reported on the preparation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for quick time water contaminant adsorption, followed by synthesizing silver nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon nitride for pharmaceutical product sensing using in-situ SERS technique. The prepared graphitic carbon nitride is used to study the adsorption behavior of water contaminants at room temperature, in the presence of methylene blue (MB) as an adsorbate model. The water-soluble graphitic carbon nitride, even at low concentration, possesses an excellent ability to adsorb halogenated organic dye. As a result, the dyes are found to adsorb within ∼5s even without any additional physical or chemical activation. From the UV-Vis absorption investigations, it has been perceived that in the presence of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) the dye adsorption efficacy is observed nearly 80% with the well fitted linearly of R2 = 0.9731. Effective in-situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies for Ag nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon nitride has been carried out and the obtained result shows good sensing performance of the material towards acetaminophen drug. This method opens the possibility of the Nobel metal decorated graphitic carbon nitride for real-time sensing of SERS-based drug products along with the development of high-performance sensing of the target analyte in the future.

Field of study: Environmental science