nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of two type-specific primers PCR genotyping methods of hepatitis B virus

To compare and evaluate two type-specific primers PCR genotyping methods of hepatitis B virus ( HBV) which were established by Naito et al ( Naito method) and our lab (new method).  The two genotyping methods were applied for detecting the plasmids containing the HBV genomes of genotype A or D or subgenotype B1 or C2 and the plasmids mixed with different proportion of subgenotypes B1 and C2. In addition, the genotypes of 113 serum samples of patients with chronic HBV infection from Shenzhen, Handan and Urumqi cities of China were identified by the two methods, respectively. The results were verified by PCR product based sequencing.  The sensitivity of the two methods showed no difference when they were applied to detect the plasmids containing the HBV genomes of genotype A or D or subgenotype B1 or C2. While detecting the plasmids mixed with different proportion of subgenotypes B1 and C2, the sensitivity of the new method was superior than that of Naito method. Meanwhile, the specificity of the new method was obviously superior than that of Naito method. Both of the two methods were highly sensitive in identification of HBV genotypes of serum samples with a single genotype. However, the new method showed more sensitive in identification of the B/C mix strains than that of Naito method. The total coincidence rate between the two methods was 83. 2% (94/113), with the discrepancy of 16. 8% (19/113). Fifteen of the 19 inconsistent genotypes by the two methods were selected and their PCR products were sequenced directly. The sequencing results were identical with that of the new methods, but not with that of the Naito method.  The new method is more sensitive, and its specificity is superior to the Naito method. It could be used for clinical and epidemiological studies on HBV genotype and subgenotype in China. 
 
 
Hepatitis B virus;  Genotype;  Subgenotype;  Type-specific primers PCR

Field of study: Biology
Effects of elevated (CO2) on photosynthesis in European forest species: a meta-analysis of model parameters

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on growth of forest tree species are difficult to predict because practical limitations restrict experiments to much shorter than the average life-span of a tree. Long-term, processbased computer models must be used to extrapolate from shorter-term experiments. A key problem is to ensure a strong flow of information between experiments and models. In this study, meta-analysis techniques were used to summarize a suite of photosynthetic model parameters obtained from 15 field-based elevated [CO2] experiments on European forest tree species. The parameters studied are commonly used in modelling photosynthesis, and include observed light-saturated photosynthetic rates (Amax), the potential electron transport rate (Jmax), the maximum Rubisco activity (Vcmax) and leaf nitrogen concentration on mass (Nm) and area (Na) bases. Across all experiments, light-saturated photosynthesis was strongly stimulated by growth in elevated [CO2]. However, significant down-regulation of photosynthesis was also observed; when measured at the same CO2 concentration, photosynthesis was reduced by 10‐20%. The underlying biochemistry of photosynthesis was affected, as shown by a down-regulation of the parameters Jmax and Vcmax of the order of 10%. This reduction in Jmax and Vcmax was linked to the effects of elevated [CO2] on leaf nitrogen concentration. It was concluded that the current model is adequate to model photosynthesis in elevated [CO2]. Tables of model parameter values for different European forest species are given.

Field of study: Environmental science
The Nelson–Aalen and Kaplan–Meier Estimators Under a Sequential Sampling Scheme

This article deals with some statistical properties of the modified Kaplan–Meier and Nelson–Aalen estimators defined for a right-censored sample under a certain sequential sampling scheme. Both types of estimators were proposed by Rossa in the article “Estimation of Survival Distributions Under Right-Censoring When Sample Size Is Random” (Sequent.  2008, 27(2), 174–184).

Field of study: Mathematics
Randomized trial of intravenous immunoglobulins versus prednisolone in Graves' ophthalmopathy

Glucocorticoids are usually given for management of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), but they may cause side effects. By comparison, intravenous administration of immunoglobulins resulted in clinical improvement and decreased antibody titres in a large number of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, a randomized trial was done, in which 19 patients with active GO were treated with a 20‐week course of oral prednisolone (P, starting dose 100 mg/day), and 21 received 1 g immunoglobulin/kg body weight for 2 consecutive days every 3 weeks. The immunoglobulin course was repeated six times. Before and at the end (20 weeks) of immunomodulating therapy, ophthalmological investigation and quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed. A successful outcome was observed in 12 (63%) P‐and in 13 (62%) immunoglobulin‐treated patients. Overall, there were no marked differences in degree of improvement between the two groups. Responders to treatment in both groups showed improvements in proptosis (median from 24.5 to 21.5 mm; P < 0.005), visual acuity (from 0.6 to 0.85; P < 0.001), intraocular pressure (from 25 to 20 mmHg; P < 0.0001), lid aperture (from 14 to 12 mm; P < 0.01) and a decrease in eye muscle area (inferior, from 44 to 33 mm2; medial, from 43 to 34 mm2; both P < 0.0005). Among the immunoglobulin‐treated patients, there was a marked decrease of thyroid antibody titres. Side effects were more frequent and severe during P than during immunoglobulin therapy. Thus, with respect to the above mentioned objective parameters, P and immunoglobulin appeared to be equally effective in treatment of active GO.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Quality and Accountability in Higher Education: Improving Policy, Enhancing Performance (review)

For those scholars, students, and administrators who have wished for an updated version of the 1992 work, The Evidence for Quality: Strengthening the Tests of Academic and Administrative Effectiveness by E. Grady Bogue and Robert L. Saunders, Quality and Accountability in Higher Education: Improving Policy, Enhancing Performance by Bogue and Kimberely Bingham Hall will be a welcome addition to the literature. The 2003 work certainly merits the appellation “revised edition,” but as the senior author of both texts is careful to note in its Preface, he holds the copyright to the earlier book. Thus it is feasible to use a new title with a new publisher. In a review of the first book that he wrote for Change in 1992, Peter Ewell called The Evidence for Quality “an insider’s book, written by a former university president and state official with a retired dean of education” (p. 44). Bogue is now Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee and co-author Kimberely B. Hall is Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee. As academic administrators, the authors of both books have focused above all on leadership as hallmark, arbiter, essential determinant, of quality in higher education. The following quotations from the Preface set the tone for the 2003 edition, “How can we teach our students the role of risk, courage, discipline, and perseverance in learning if we do not model these same values in learning about purpose and performance?” “Failing to acquire and to apply information on quality is to confirm that we lack both caring and daring, a lamentable flaw of character in a community of curiosity” (p. xii). Bogue and Hall use the phrase “caring and daring” in virtually every chapter of Quality and Accountability to describe the kind of leadership they believe is needed to utilize with intelligence and passion the panoply of quality assurance mechanisms they characterize in the volume. In a list of a dozen or so questions Bogue and Hall (p. x) pose for consideration, three in particular guide their approach throughout the text.

Field of study: Education
Ions at the air-water interface: an end to a hundred-year-old mystery?

Availability of highly reactive halogen ions at the surface of aerosols has tremendous implications for the atmospheric chemistry. Yet neither simulations, experiments, nor existing theories are able to provide a fully consistent description of the electrolyte-air interface. In this Letter a new theory is proposed which allows us to explicitly calculate the ionic density profiles, the surface tension, and the electrostatic potential difference across the solution-air interface. Predictions of the theory are compared to experiments and are found to be in excellent agreement. The theory also sheds new light on one of the oldest puzzles of physical chemistry--the Hofmeister effect.

Field of study: Physics
Formation of epitaxial YBCO thin films by ex-situ processing of a polymerized complex

High T/sub c/ and J/sub c/ YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ (YBCO) thin films have been formed by ex-situ processing of a spin coated organic sol-gel precursor based on a polymerized complex. To form the precursor we have reacted metal cations with a chelating organic acid, then formed polyesterified complexes through reaction with a polyhydroxy alcohol. This method permits a simple, cheap and reliable route to the fabrication of YBCO films. The value of J/sub c/ achieved for the film deposited onto a LaAlO/sub 3/ [100] substrate at 77 K under a zero field is routinely as high as 0.25 MA/cm/sup 2/ with T/sub c,zero/ of 90.6 K.

Field of study: Physics
New Governance in Australian Schools: A Place for Business Social Responsibility?

Many public policy areas are being transformed as traditional government roles and relationships with other actors are changing. This article reports on business not-for-profit support for Australian secondary schools revealing substantial contributions directed at core educational and schoolwork interface activities. The article explores the nature of these supports, the means by which the relationships between schools and businesses emerge, the motivation of business and broader issues arising from the involvement of business in this and other areas of public policy.

Field of study: Political science
The high-resolution extraterrestrial solar spectrum (QASUMEFTS) determined from ground-based solar irradiance measurements

A high-resolution extraterrestrial solar spectrum has been determined from ground-based measurements of direct solar spectral irradiance (SSI) over the wavelength range from 300 to 500 nm using the Langley-plot technique. The measurements were obtained at the Izana Atmospheric Research Centre from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia, Tenerife, Spain, during the period 12 to 24 September 2016. This solar spectrum (QASUMEFTS) was combined from medium-resolution (bandpass of 0.86 nm) measurements of the QASUME (Quality Assurance of Spectral Ultraviolet Measurements in Europe) spectroradiometer in the wavelength range from 300 to 500 nm and high-resolution measurements (0.025 nm) from a Fourier transform spectroradiometer (FTS) over the wavelength range from 305 to 380 nm. The Kitt Peak solar flux atlas was used to extend this high-resolution solar spectrum to 500 nm. The expanded uncertainties of this solar spectrum are 2 % between 310 and 500 nm and 4 % at 300 nm. The comparison of this solar spectrum with solar spectra measured in space (top of the atmosphere) gave very good agreements in some cases, while in some other cases discrepancies of up to 5 % were observed. The QASUMEFTS solar spectrum represents a benchmark dataset with uncertainties lower than anything previously published. The metrological traceability of the measurements to the International System of Units (SI) is assured by an unbroken chain of calibrations leading to the primary spectral irradiance standard of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Germany.

Field of study: Environmental science
Current conserving random phase approximation: Implications and applications

The restrictions imposed by the continuity equation on the residual interaction of the current conserving RPA are examined in detail. Residual interactions in common use generally violate these conditions. Notable exceptions are those of zero range such as the Migdal and surface delta interactions, which satisfy the conditions exactly for unnatural parity states (e.g. magnetic excitations). A new current conserving parametrization of the residual interaction is proposed, which leaves previous results unchanged, whenever the interaction is current conserving. It is applied to12C,16O and40Ca, and the results are compared with those of the conventional RPA.

Field of study: Physics
First-principles study of spontaneous polarization and band gap bowing in ScxAlyGa1 − x − yN alloys lattice-matched to GaN

First-principles calculations are carried out to estimate the spontaneous polarization and the band gap bowing in the ScxAlyGa1 − x − yN alloys lattice-matched to GaN based on the density functional theory together with a pseudopotential plane-wave method. The results indicate nonlinear behavior of the spontaneous polarization and the band gap energies in the ScxAlyGa1 − x − yN alloys similar to that in YxAlyGa1 − x − yN (Shimada et al 2011 J. ). The band gap energies and the magnitude of the spontaneous polarization of ScxAlyGa1 − x − yN is larger than that of YxAlyGa1 − x − yN in a wide range of the mole fraction of Ga. We find that the atomic configuration of Sc affects the magnitude of the polarization in ScxAlyGa1 − x − yN. Another finding is the apparent deviation from Vegard's law of the lattice constants of the ScxAlyGa1 − x − yN alloys lattice-matched to GaN.

Field of study: Materials science
Linear minimax prediction of finite population regression coefficient under a balanced loss function

Under a balanced loss function, we investigate the minimax prediction of finite population regression coefficient in a superpopulation model with Gauss–Markov type errors. The linear minimax predictor (LMP) proved to be admissible in the class of homogeneous linear predictors is obtained. Under the balanced loss function, we further prove that LMP dominates the best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) proposed by Bolfarine et al. [Bolfarine et al., Optimal prediction of the finite population regression coefficient. Sankhy. Ser. B. 56 (1994) 1–10] on certain conditions. Moreover, a numerical example is performed to illustrate the theoretical results.

Field of study: Mathematics
Numerical Modeling of Natural Convection Heating in Canned Liquid Foods

Amathematical model was developed for the first time for predicting detailed flow patterns and temperature profiles during natural convection heating of canned liquids. Finite difference methods were used to solve the governing Navier-Stokes equations in axisymmetric cylindrical coordinates. A vorticity-stream function formulation of the equations was used. Details of the numerical techniques used are discussed. Plots of transient isotherms, streamlines and velocities are provided. From the standpoint of food processing, the slowest heating points migrated within the bottom 15% of the can with no particular pattern of migration.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Teaching What We Know: The Influence of Pre-service EFL Teachers’ Background on L2 Reading Attitudes

Some aspects of Korean English teachers’ background such as the experience as second language readers may have shaped their attitudes toward English reading in less than favorable ways. Therefore, the primary aim of this research was to investigate how Korean EFL teachers’ background variables which include their L2 reading proficiency, access to English books for pleasure reading and their teaching experience relate to affective aspects of their L2 reading attitudes. To address these aims, a two-part L2 reading attitude survey was administered to 29 pre-service Korean EFL teachers. Results were that those with higher L2 reading proficiency are more comfortable reading in English, but there was no difference in comprehension ability and anxiety regarding L2 reading. Thus, it appears some aspects of attitude are more affected by L2 reading proficiency than others. Amount of teaching experience was found not to affect the participants’ levels of comfort or anxiety when reading in English. In accordance with other studies, those who reported having access to English books available to read for pleasure were more comfortable and less anxious about reading in English than those who indicated that they did not. This finding demonstrates that simply having L2 books available can make a difference in pre-service teachers’ L2 reading attitudes.

Field of study: Linguistics
Enhanced oxygen permeability and electronic conductivity of Ce0.8Gd0.2O2 − δ membrane via the addition of sintering aids

Fluorite oxide is an excellent material candidate for oxygen production from air with potentials in oxyfuel combustion for clean energy delivery and ceramic membrane reactor for chemical synthesis given its desirable CO 2 resistance and high oxygen ionic conductivity. However, its limited electronic conductivity restricts its practical applications in these technologies. In this work, we probed the use of transition metal (Co, Fe, and Cu) oxides as the sintering aid and the electronic conductivity enhancement agent. The presence of these transition metal oxides can lower the sintering temperature of GDC up to 300 °C. Oxygen fluxes were also enhanced in their presence; reaching the highest value of 0.112 mL min − 1  cm − 2 at 900 °C through a 0.8 mm-thick GDC membrane containing 2 mol% Co. Among the three sintering aids, CoO provided the maximum enhancement effect for oxygen fluxes. Such enhancement was primarily sourced from the improved electronic conductivities and the modified element distribution across the grain boundaries. In overcoming the electronic conductivity limitation of a predominantly ionic conducting phase, the use of sintering aid offers an attractive non-precious metal-based alternative that enables competitive performance enhancement with respect to the external short-circuit decoration.

Field of study: Materials science
Evolutionary structure optimization of hierarchical neural network for image recognition

The purpose of this paper is to optimize the structure of hierarchical neural networks. In this paper, structure optimization is used to represent a neural network by the minimum number of nodes and connections, and is performed by eliminating unnecessary connections from a trained neural network by means of a genetic algorithm. We focus on a neural network specialized for image recognition problems. The flow of the proposed method is as follows. First, the Walsh–Hadamard transform is applied to images for feature extraction. Second, the neural network is trained with the extracted features based on a back-propagation algorithm. After neural network training, unnecessary connections are eliminated from the trained neural network by means of a genetic algorithm. Finally, the neural network is retrained to recover from the degradation caused by connection elimination. In order to validate the usefulness of the proposed method, face recognition and texture classification examples are used. The experimental results indicate that a compact neural network was generated, maintaining the generalization performance by the proposed method.

Field of study: Computer science
Analyzing Some Economic Relations Based on Expansion Input-output Model

This paper is trial attempt for introducing the concept of Leontief inverse matrix and the Leontief extended system for Keynes multipliers, which can analyze the relationship between income groups and consumer groups, respectively. The model is also used to analyze the structure of income in order to describe quantitatively the relationship between income from production and income not from production. The empirical study used the Vietnam input-output table, 2005.

Field of study: Business
Hypoxia Suppresses TGF-B1-Induced Cardiac Myocyte Myofibroblast Transformation by Inhibiting Smad2/3 and Rhoa Signaling Pathways

Hypoxia modulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)- β-induced signaling during myofibroblast transformation is dependent on the specific cell type. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of hypoxia on myofibroblast transformation of TGF-β1-induced cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells.  H9c2 cells were cultured for intermittent hypoxia treatment and TGF-β1 treatment. α-Smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression was examined by western blotting and immunofluorescence after treatment. To further explore the possible mechanism for this effect, the effects of hypoxia on three early TGF-β-dependent signaling pathways, i.e. the Smad2/3, RhoA and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, were screened by western blotting.  Intermittent hypoxia induced TGF-β1 expression, but had no effect on α-SMA expression. Exogenous TGF-β1 alone upregulated α-SMA expression in H9c2 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. α-SMA expression declined with the duration of hypoxia after intermittent hypoxia and exogenous TGF-β1 co-treatment. Phospho-JNK and phospho-p38 levels were not significantly altered after TGF-β1 and hypoxia treatment. However, levels of phospho-ERK increased after TGF-β1 treatment and continued to increase after hypoxia co-treatment. The activation of phospho-Smad2/3 and phospho-RhoA induced by TGFβ1 was significantly reduced after hypoxia co-treatment.  Hypoxia can inhibit TGF-β1-induced H9c2 myofibroblast transformation, based on inhibition of α-SMA expression by suppressing signaling downstream of TGF-β1, Smad2/3 and RhoA. It suggested that TGF-β-mediated cardiomyocyte transformation is not involved in hypoxia-mediated fibrosis.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
مشاركات المنتخب الوطني العراقي لذوي الاعاقة البصرية في البطولات العالمية لالعاب القوى 1990 – 2018.

تناول هذا البحث دراسة تاريخية لكيفية أنخراط ذوي الاعاقة البصرية في الرياضة والتطرق الى مشاركاتهم. ومن خلال الاطلاع على الاطاريح والكتب والبحوث لاحظت الباحثة وجود دراسات تاريخية محددة أتجاه المعاق ولايوجد بحث او دراسة تخص ذوي الاعاقة البصرية سواء كانت تاريخية أم غيرها من الدراسات لذا تعد هذه الدراسة أول شق في أتجاههم. ومن خلال المقابلات والاطلاع على ارشيف الاتحاد المعني وجدت الباحثة أشتراك هذه الفئة في بطولتين عالميتين ضمن الفترة المحددة ولاحظت وجود ميداليات عراقية في البطولات العالمية تخص ذوي الاعاقة البصرية في رياضة العاب القوى لذا شملت الدراسة التطور التاريخي لهذه الرياضة وتنتهي بالتعرف على المشاركات العراقية في البطولات العالمية وتحليلها ومن ثم معرفة بعض المشاكل التي واجهتهم في مسيرتهم الرياضية. 
تركزت مشكلة البحث في طرح التساؤلات التالية: 
 
ماهي مشاركات المنتخب الوطني العراقي لذوي الاعاقة البصرية في البطولات العالمية؟وماهي المشاكل والصعوبات التي واجهت اللاعبين أثناء التدريب والمنافسة؟ 
 
وقد هدف البحث في التعرف على نشوء اللجنة البارالمبية العراقية والتعرف على نتائج البطولات العالمية الخاصة بذوي الاعاقة البصرية أما العيتة فقد شملت لاعبين المنتخب الوطني للمتقدمين من الرجال لذوي الاعاقة البصرية وبعد السرد التارخي الذي قامت به الباحثة ومعرفة النتائج المعنية فقد أستنتجت الباحثة ما يلي: 
 
ابتعدت البحوث في المجال الرياضي عن الدراسات التاريخية مما جعل المصادر التاريخية قليلة. 
عدم الاهتمام بالادوات المستعملة وعدم الالتزام ببرنامج غذائي متكامل من قبل اللاعبين 
 
وواوصت بما يلي: 
 
الخوض في الدراسات التاريخية كونها اصل باقي انواع الدراسات. 
توفير ادوات ذات مواصفات صحيحة للتدريب بصورة متكاملة اضافة الى وضع برنامج غذائي لكل لاعب حسب فعاليته وضرورة الالتزام به.

Field of study: Education