nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
The statin-low cholesterol-cancer conundrum.

Hundreds of millions of people all over the globe are currently being administered statins because it is believed that their lipid lowering actions provide cardioprotective benefits. Adverse effects are considered uncommon and mild, and authors of numerous case–control studies of patients on statin treatment and matched, untreated individuals have even suggested a protective effect against numerous non-cardiovascular diseases, including cancer. In contrast, four controlled, randomized statin trials have resulted in a statistically significant increase of cancer in the treatment group; and several case–control and cohort studies have also shown a significant risk of cancer associated with statins. To add further confusion to this issue, meta-analyses of controlled, randomized statin trials have shown neither an increased nor a decreased risk of  Some of these discrepancies may result from the failure to recognize that the recordings of cancer in statin trials are biased for several reasons.

Several cohort studies of healthy people have shown that low cholesterol is a risk marker for future cancer. The usual interpretation has been that the association is secondary, because in most studies the association disappeared after having excluded early cancer cases. A common explanation has been that preclinical cancers might use cholesterol, which would lead to lower levels. However, when searching Pubmed with the words ‘cancer AND cholesterol’ we identified nine cohort studies including more than 140 000 individuals, where cancer was inversely associated with cholesterol measured 10–30 years earlier, and where the association persisted after exclusion of cancer cases appearing during the first 4 years (Table 1).2–10 It seems unlikely that the liver would be unable to produce the extra cholesterol necessary for early tumor growth, considering that much larger amounts are steadily made for the constant renewal of our cells. Moreover, none of these cohort studies has been corrected …

Field of study: Medicine
Non-vanishing Fourier coefficients of Δk

Let Δk be the unique normalized cusp form of level one and weight k with k = 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 26 . In this paper, we describe a method to achieve the explicit bounds Bk of n such that the Fourier coefficients an(Δk) ≠ 0 for all n

Field of study: Mathematics
Fabrication of Novel Vanadium Dioxide Nanorods as Cathode Material for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

Novel vanadium dioxide nanorods in diameter of 40–60 nm and in length up to 1–2 μm were successfully fabricated via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method at 180 °C for 48 h. Electrochemical tes...

Field of study: Chemistry
Terrestrial Neutron-Induced Failures in Silicon Carbide Power MOSFETs and Diodes

Investigations of terrestrial neutron radiation-induced failures in silicon carbide power MOSFETs and diodes indicate that the failures are related to a hole-initiated impact ionization process followed by a thermal transient resulting in the loss of device voltage blocking ability due to the damage of lattice along a filament within the device volume. Irrespective of device type, MOSFET or diode, the start of these failures exhibits the same characteristics, and can be mitigated by decrease in field in device OFF state. These failures with origins in impact ionization and fast thermal transients are fundamentally different from those of bipolar burn-out events, observed in silicon power devices. In addition, once a failure event starts, the failure ends with all terminals shorting.

Field of study: Physics
Critical charge concepts for CMOS SRAMs

The dramatic effects of external circuit loading on the heavy-ion-induced charge-collection response of a struck transistor are illustrated using three-dimensional mixed-mode simulations. Simulated charge-collection and SEU characteristics of a CMOS SRAM cell indicate that, in some cases, more charge call be collected at sensitive nodes from strikes that do not cause upset than from strikes that do cause upset. Computations of critical charge must take into account the time during which charge is collected, not simply the total amount of charge collected. Model predictions of the incident linear energy transfer required to cause upset agree well with measured data for CMOS SRAMs, without parameter adjustments. The results show the absolute necessity of treating circuit effects in any realistic device simulation of single-event upset (SEU) in SRAMs.

Field of study: Physics
Effects of different doses of Eimeria tenella inoculated on microstructure of small intestine in chickens

To study the effects of different doses of E.tenella inoculated by mouth on microstructure of small intestine in chickens,a total of 60 20-day-old chickens were selected and divided into control group and experiment group Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ and Ⅴ.The chickens in each experiment group were inoculated with 0.5×104,1.0×104,2.0×104,4.0×104 and 8.0×104 E.tenella oocysts by mouth,respectively,for 7 days,while the chickens in control group were inoculated with saline.At the end of the experiment,the chickens in each treatment were slaughtered and dissected immediately,the duodenum,jejunum and ileum were obtained and fixed in Bouin fixative solution for 24 h,then these tissue samples were made paraffin section(6 μm),stained with HE,observed and photographed with micro-photography system.The results were as follows.Compared with control group,the histopathological changes in each segment of small intestine appeared in each experiment group,and they became remarkable with the inoculation dosage of E.tenella oocysts.The accumulative E.tenella schizont in lamina propria and submucosa of jejunum and duodenum could be seen in chickens of experiment group Ⅴ.In each experiment group,the pathological lesions of jejunum were most obvious,secondly for duodenum,while the pathological changes of ileum were most slight.The results showed that the main parasitic sites and damage location of E.tenella were jejunum,next were duodenum and the end were ileum.The damage degree of small intestine caused by E.tenella were significantly correlated with the inoculation dosage of E.tenella oocysts.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Expansion capitalista y transformaciones regionales: Relaciones sociales y empresas agrarias en la Argentina del siglo XIX (review)

suggests, for example, that tropical medicine was not warmly received in Brazil, despite all the efforts of the distinguished local physician Carlos Chagas, because Chagas reproduced in his research the same voyeuristic taste for exotic monstrosities that had characterized North Atlantic practitioners. The Brazilian intelligentsia also questioned Agazzi’s racial typologies and saw tropical mongrelization as a boon, a source of national strength rather than degeneration. Finally, landscape architects such Roberto Burle Marx playfully and ironically manipulated European conventions of tropical flora to create gardens of great beauty. I have only one caveat with this book. Stepan overlooks nineteenth-century landscape painting in Brazil on the false premise that it was marginal and unimportant because the local intelligentsia never developed a taste for Natural Theology and thus a view of nature as sacred. Drawing on a single source, she wrongly concludes that only a handful (some 50) paintings and photographs of rural landscapes were produced in Brazil in the nineteenth century (pp. 216–17). Carlos Roberto Maciel Levy identified years ago some 600 extant landscape paintings by Antônio Parrerias (1860–1937) alone. In fact, a complete catalogue of nineteenth-century landscape painting in Brazil would most likely run into the thousands. For all its contributions, the reader will not find in Picturing the Tropics a study of how the dozens of Braizilian nineteenth-century landscape painters contested the North Atlantic representations of the “tropics.”

Field of study: History
Composite Binary Losses

We study losses for binary classification and class probability estimation and extend the understanding of them from margin losses to general composite losses which are the composition of a proper loss with a link function. We characterise when margin losses can be proper composite losses, explicitly show how to determine a symmetric loss in full from half of one of its partial losses, introduce an intrinsic parametrisation of composite binary losses and give a complete characterisation of the relationship between proper losses and "classification calibrated" losses. We also consider the question of the "best" surrogate binary loss. We introduce a precise notion of "best" and show there exist situations where two convex surrogate losses are incommensurable. We provide a complete explicit characterisation of the convexity of composite binary losses in terms of the link function and the weight function associated with the proper loss which make up the composite loss. This characterisation suggests new ways of "surrogate tuning" as well as providing an explicit characterisation of when Bregman divergences on the unit interval are convex in their second argument. Finally, in an appendix we present some new algorithm-independent results on the relationship between properness, convexity and robustness to misclassification noise for binary losses and show that all convex proper losses are non-robust to misclassification noise.

Field of study: Computer science
Orbital reconstruction and the two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface.

In 2004, Ohtomo and Hwang discovered that an electron gas is created at the interface between insulating LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 compounds. Here we show that the generation of a conducting electron gas is related to an orbital reconstruction occurring at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. Our results are based on extensive investigations of the electronic properties and of the orbital structure of the interface using x-ray absorption spectroscopy. In particular, we find that the degeneracy of the Ti 3d states is fully removed and that the Ti 3d xy levels become the first available states for conducting electrons.

Field of study: Physics
On convergence analysis of fractionally spaced adaptive blind equalizers

In this paper, we study the convergence analysis of fractionally spaced adaptive blind equalizers. We show that based on the trivial and nontrivial nullspaces of a channel convolution matrix, all equilibria can be classified as channel dependent equilibria (CDE) or algorithm dependent equilibria (ADE). Because oversampling provides channel diversity, the nullspace of the channel convolution matrix is affected. We show that fractionally spaced equalizers (FSEs) do not possess any CDE if a length-zero condition is satisfied. The convergence behavior of these FSE are clearly determined by the specific choice of cost function alone. We characterize the global convergence ability of several popular algorithms simply based on their ADE. We also present an FSE implementation of the super-exponential algorithm. We show that the FSE implementation does not introduce any nonideal approximation. Simulation results are also presented to illustrate the robustness and the improved performance of FSE under the super-exponential algorithm.

Field of study: Engineering
Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition CdTe passivation of HgCdTe

CdTe epilayers are grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on bulk HgCdTe crystals with x ~ 0.22 grown by the traveling heater method (THM). The THM HgCdTe substrates are (111) oriented and the CdTe is grown on the Te face. The metalorganic sources are DMCd and DETe, and the growth is performed at subatmospheric pressure. Ultraviolet (UV) photon-assisted hydrogen radicals pretreatment plays a dominant role in the electrical properties of the resulting heterostructures. The requirements of a good passivation for HgCdTe photodiodes vis-a-vis the passivation features of CdTe/HgCdTe heterostructures are discussed. The effect of valence band offset and interface charges on the band diagrams of p-isotype CdTe/HgCdTe heterostructures, for typical doping levels of the bulk HgCdTe substrates and the MOCVD grown CdTe, is presented. Electrical properties of the CdTe/HgCdTe passivation are determined by capacitance-voltage and current-voltage characteristics of metal-insulator-semiconductor test devices, where the MOCVD CdTe is the insulator. It is found that the HgCdTe surface is strongly inverted and the interface charge density is of the order of 1012cm2 when the CdTe epilayer is grown without the UV pretreatment. With the in-situ UV photon-assisted hydrogen radicals pretreatment, the HgCdTe surface is accumulated and the interface charge density is -4. 1011 cm-2.

Field of study: Materials science
Determination of 26 Mycotoxins in Feedstuffs by Multifunctional Clean-up Column and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A rapid high-throughput method for the determination of 26 mycotoxins involving multifunctional clean-up column coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination in feedstuffs. The feedstuff samples were extracted by ultrasonic treatment for 1 h, and the mixture of acetonitrile/water/formic acid (84:15.9:0.1, V/V) was used as the extraction solvent. After purified by a commercial Mycospin 400 multifunctional clean-up column, 1 mL of the supernatant layer was evaporated and redissolved by 0.25 mL of water/methanol/formic acid (95:4.9:0.1, V/V) in a vial for injection into the LC-MS/MS system. Then chromatographic analyses were carried out on a reversed phase C18 column using a gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and 0.1% formic acid methanol solution. After that, the mass spectrometer was operated in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode selected one precursor ion and two product ions for each target compound. Validation studies were carried out in maize and soybean meal as representative matrixes. Since most target compounds had different levels of matrix effects, matrix-matched calibration was adopted for quantification. Mean recoveries from spiked samples at three levels ranged from 61.9% to 119.5% with relative standard deviations of 0.8%–18.6%. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.5 μg kg−1 to 50 μg kg−1.

Field of study: Chemistry
Sensitivity of submersed freshwater macrophytes and endpoints in laboratory toxicity tests.

The toxicological sensitivity and variability of a range of macrophyte endpoints were statistically tested with data from chronic, non-axenic, macrophyte toxicity tests. Five submersed freshwater macrophytes, four pesticides/biocides and 13 endpoints were included in the statistical analyses. Root endpoints, reflecting root growth, were most sensitive in the toxicity tests, while endpoints relating to biomass, growth and shoot length were less sensitive. The endpoints with the lowest coefficients of variation were not necessarily the endpoints, which were toxicologically most sensitive. Differences in sensitivity were in the range of 10-1000 for different macrophyte-specific endpoints. No macrophyte species was consistently the most sensitive. Criteria to select endpoints in macrophyte toxicity tests should include toxicological sensitivity, variance and ecological relevance. Hence, macrophyte toxicity tests should comprise an array of endpoints, including very sensitive endpoints like those relating to root growth.

Field of study: Environmental science
Molecular modeling of the solubility of low global warming potential refrigerants in polyol ester lubricants

Pentaerythritol esters (PECs) act as the main precursors in polyol ester (POE) lubricants. The solubility of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants in linear chained PECs was studied in this work using the perturbed chain form of the statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT). The effect of PEC alkyl tail length on the solubility of various refrigerants was investigated. Results showed that the solubility of HFO refrigerants is weakly dependent on PEC molecular structure. On contrary, the solubility of other natural and paraffin refrigerants significantly increased with increasing the alkyl tail length. Within the SAFT framework, pure component and binary interaction parameters were found to correlate linearly with PEC molecular weight. These correlations were used to predict the solubility of refrigerants in a predefined PEC blend through component lumping. Sensitivity analyses showed that the latter simplification could adequately describe the mixture phase behavior. The proposed model was then applied to fully and accurately predict the solubility of carbon dioxide in commercial POE lubricants. Results demonstrate that the proposed model can be used as a fully predictive tool to determine the solubility of refrigerants in commercial POE oils, provided that the lubricant molecular weight is known, a clear step forward developing adequate low GWP refrigerants-lubricant pairs.

Field of study: Engineering
Peach Culture and Shandong Peach Folk-custom

China is rich in tree culture resources. If we exploit and research them fully,we can not only comprehend Chinese culture,but also understand some aspects of the ethnic culture and psychology. Peach culture is an important part of China tree culture,with the flowers,fruits and branches all containing a single or rich cultural connotations. Peach culture not only reflects the origins and history of the national plant worship,but also exhibits the richness and complexityofChinese traditional culture.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Fishery management and spatial variation of giant clam stocks: lessons from New Caledonia

Giant clams have been over-exploited throughout their wide geographical range in the Indo-Pacific. Marine reserves could be one tool to potentially safeguard broodstock, but their effect on giant clam abundance and the differential benefits of lagoon reserves compared to barrier reef reserves is still unclear. We assessed abundances of four species of giant clams across 20 barrier reef and 30 lagoon reef sites across 600 km of coastline in New Caledonia using stratified underwater visual censuses. Tridacna maxima was the most common species. T. derasa was significantly more abundant in marine reserves than at sites open to fishing, but there was no effect of marine reserves on total abundance pooled across the four species. T. squamosa was significantly more abundant on barrier reefs, while Hippopus hippopus was found solely on lagoon reefs. National data from fisher logbooks shows a marked reduction in commercial catches of giant clam following implementation of daily catch limits of 5 giant clams per vessel per trip. Despite small daily bag limits of 2 giant clams per recreational fisher per trip, the recreational catch appears to be significant and much greater than the commercial catch. The utility of marine reserves on giant clams appears to be species specific, and might be diminished for the group as a whole by the concomitant protection of their natural predators. Both lagoon and barrier reef sites should be included in reserve networks. Our data suggest that daily boat/trip limits are an effective output control, at least for commercial fishers, but might not safeguard giant clams if recreational fishers are numerous. Further fishery restrictions on the less common species might be needed to ensure their persistence in the Indo-Pacific.

Field of study: Environmental science
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: preliminary results in patients aged >65 years.

Sir,

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is often diagnosed in the elderly, but no specific guidelines exist for such  Recent studies report that patient age may influence both therapeutic response and treatment-associated toxicity.2 We describe the preliminary results of our experience of ITP in a group of patients aged >65 years.

This retrospective study included 30 elderly patients (⩾65 years) followed since 1985 in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Haematology of the University …

Field of study: Medicine
Experimental investigation of vacuum ultraviolet emission from Kr and Xe rare gases in a high-power high-pressure pulsed microwave discharge

The results are reported of the first experimental investigation of vacuum ultraviolet emission from Kr and Xe rare gases in a high-power (~ 107 W/cm3) pulsed microwave discharge at pressures up to 10 atm. Narrowing of the spectral profile of the krypton dimer occurs at a pumping rate of ~ 7 MW/cm3 when the gas pressure is 5 atm.

Field of study: Engineering, Physics
Psychometric Properties of the Feedback Orientation Scale among South African Salespersons

Feedback to employees is an important management tool, and the literature demonstrates that it has a positive effect on learning, motivation, and job performance. This study investigates in a non-U.S. context the psychometric properties of the Feedback Orientation Scale. Data were gathered from a sample of 202 salespersons from a large South African firm within the industrial fuels and lubricants sector. Confirmatory Factor Analysis provided evidence for the intended dimensionality, reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity of the scale.

Field of study: Psychology
Earthquakes and the western mountain region

The recent rapid growth of earthquake investigation in the United States has been largely due to economic reasons and especially to the realization by engineers and architects that, with increased knowledge of earthquakes, much can be done to prevent loss of life and damage to property through better design of structures. The inevitable result has been a broadening of interest of seismologists and geologists, and the latter are giving more attention to earthquakes than in the past. It must not be inferred that the geologists of the United States have neglected earthquakes. Not only have they investigated in the field all the more important ones in which there has been surface geologic change, but they have studied the lesser earthquakes, especially in California and New England. Probably the most important contribution to the determination of the immediate cause of earthquakes is the elastic rebound theory of Harry Fielding Reid . . .

Field of study: Geology
Modulation of Entrapment Efficiency and In Vitro Release Properties of BSA-Loaded Chitosan Microparticles Cross-Linked with Citric Acid as a Potential Protein–Drug Delivery System

Microparticles, aimed for oral protein and peptide drug delivery, were prepared via emulsion cross-linking using citric acid as cross-linker and polyglycerol polyricinoleate as surfactant. A comparative study of the interaction between chitosan and citric acid and its effect on the resulting microparticle properties was performed using different chitosan-to-cross-linker mass ratios and pH-values during fabrication of the microparticles. Non-cross-linked and cross-linked microparticles were studied in terms of size (4–12 μm), zeta potential (−15.7 to 12.8 mV), erosion (39.7–75.6%), a model protein encapsulation efficiency (bovine serum albumin) (6.8–27.6%), and loading capacity (10.4–40%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the ionic interaction between the protonated amine groups of chitosan and the carboxylate ions of the cross-linking agent. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the non-cross-linked microparticles had an uneven shape with wrinkled surfaces, while the cross-linked formulations were spherical in shape with smooth surfaces. On the basis of these data, the role of the surfactant and microparticle structure on the release mechanism was proposed. Control of the microparticle shape and release mechanisms is expected to be crucial in developing carriers for the controlled delivery of proteins and peptides.

Field of study: Materials science