nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Payment instruments and collateral in the interbank payment system

This paper presents a three-period model to analyze the endoge- nous need for bank reserves in the presence of Treasury securities. The model highlights the fact that the interbank market is an over- the-counter market. It characterizes the large value payment system operated by the central bank as an implicit contract, and shows that the contract requires less liquidity than decentralized settlement of bank transfers. In this contract, bank reserves are the balances of liquid collateral pledged by banks. The optimal contract is equiva- lent to the floor system. A private clearing house must commit to a time-inconsistent policy to provide the contract.

Field of study: Economics
Implications of Characterization Temperature on Hardness Assurance Qualification

To explore the impact of temperature on the post-irradiation response of ICs, we characterized the temperature response of transistors, SRAMs, and a custom mixed-signal ASIC. Devices were irradiated at room temperature and electrically characterized post irradiation as a function of temperature. Devices exhibit significantly more parametric degradation when characterized at elevated temperatures. In addition to parametric degradation, it is demonstrated that post-irradiation elevated temperature characterization can also induce functional failures at significantly lower total dose levels than at room temperature. As a result, to ensure system functionality, it is essential that devices be characterized over the full system temperature range pre- and post-irradiation. Recommendations for incorporating temperature testing into a hardness assurance test method (i.e., Method 1019) are suggested. Methods for minimizing the detrimental effects of elevated temperature anneals on hardness assurance testing are also discussed

Field of study: Physics
Salinger's Glass Stories as a Composite Novel, and: In Recognition of William Gaddis (review)

In America the 1950s were remarkable yearsÂ—years of aggressive complacency and self-assured paranoia; years that deployed ubiquitous televisions, carboncopy tract houses, and huge automobiles. Long after they ceased to create active issues, Joseph McCarthy and the Rosenbergs left a political atmosphere so obsessively discreet that by 1960 it became virtually impossible to distinguish Kennedy's politics from Nixon's. Because one implicitly understood that conforming to the narrow center of American life brought prosperity, to replicate and to imitate were virtues, whereas the term "nonconformist" was a dangerous pejorative. At the periphery of our metropolis on the hill, however, lay the same dark woods and Black Man who waited to lure the Puritan fathers from their

Field of study: Art
Simultaneous Confidence Intervals and Sample Size Determination for Multinomial Proportions

Simultaneous confidence interval procedures for multinomial proportions are used in many areas of science. In this article two new simultaneous confidence interval procedures are introduced. Numerical results are presented to evaluate these procedures and compare their performance with established methods that have been used in statistical literature. From the results presented in this article, it is evident that the new procedures are more accurate than the established ones, where the accuracy of the procedure is measured by the volume of the confidence region corresponding to the nominal coverage probability and the probability of coverage it achieves. In the sample size determination problem, the new procedures provide a sizable amount of savings as compared to the procedures that have been used in many applications. Because both procedures performed equally well, the procedure that requires the least amount of computing time is recommended.

Field of study: Mathematics
Calculation of Space Charge Effects in Beam Transport

Methods of calculating space charge effects which are presently available have as their basis the assumption of uniform charge density over the beam cross section. In design of a high intensity beam transport system, it is important to know how sensitive parameters of the design are to this assumption. This question has been investigated by propagating phase plots along the beam axis for space charge fields from both a uniform charge density and a charge density obeying a normal distribution. Normalization was such that the field from the uniform density was a least-squares fit to the field from the charge density of normal distribution. Results of computations for 20 mA of 3.0 MeV protons indicate that while the phase plot showed considerable distortion from effects of the normal charge density, parameters of the plot which effect design of a transport system were not changed appreciably. From these calculations it seems that unless close matching of an acceptance phase plot is imperative, design of a transport system is relatively insensitive to charge distribution in the beam.

Field of study: Physics
2°C and SDGs: united they stand, divided they fall?

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the new international climate treaty could put 2015 into the history books as a defining year for setting human development on a more sustainable pathway. The global climate policy and SDG agendas are highly interconnected: the way that the climate problem is addressed strongly affects the prospects of meeting numerous other SDGs and vice versa. Drawing on existing scenario results from a recent energy-economy-climate model inter-comparison project, this letter analyses these synergies and (risk) trade-offs of alternative 2 °C pathways across indicators relevant for energy-related SDGs and sustainable energy objectives. We find that limiting the availability of key mitigation technologies yields some co-benefits and decreases risks specific to these technologies but greatly increases many others. Fewer synergies and substantial trade-offs across SDGs are locked into the system for weak short-term climate policies that are broadly in line with current Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), particularly when combined with constraints on technologies. Lowering energy demand growth is key to managing these trade-offs and creating synergies across multiple energy-related SD dimensions. We argue that SD considerations are central for choosing socially acceptable 2 °C pathways: the prospects of meeting other SDGs need not dwindle and can even be enhanced for some goals if appropriate climate policy choices are made. Progress on the climate policy and SDG agendas should therefore be tracked within a unified framework.

Field of study: Environmental science
Construction of recombinant influenza virus carrying human metapneumovirus epitopes

To construct and rescue recombinant influenza virus strains expressing human metapneumovirus (hMPV) epitopes. 
 
 
 
B cell, CTL and Th epitopes predicted by bioinformatics software were coupled together in different combinations. These different array genes were inserted into the NS1 gene of influenza virus strain A/PR/8/34(PR8), respectively. Recombinant PR8 influenza virus vectors expressing different hMPV antigenic epitopes were rescued by reverse genetics using eight-plasmid system. Sequencing analysis was conducted to verify whether the rescued viruses carried the chimeric hMPV epitopes. Hemagglutination (HA) titers, half tissue culture infection dose (TCID50) and growth curves were detected. 
 
 
 
Interval sequences GPGPG and KK were introduced into hMPV epitope combinations to construct multi-epitope antigens (MEA). These MEA were inserted into the PR8 NS gene, respectively. Using 8 plasmid system, three recombinant influenza virus strains were rescued successfully. After cultured for three passages in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and one in eggs, these three recombinant strains could proliferate steadily. Whole genome sequencing verified that the three recombinant strains carried the chimeric MEA sequences, named as rFLU/hMPV/B, rFLU/hMPV/CTL-Th and rFLU/hMPV/B-Th. HA titers of the recombinant strains were 128, 128 and 256 using turkey erythrocyte, respectively. Their TCID50 were 107.0/ml, 106.8/ml and 107.0/ml, respectively. Growth curve tests also verified that the recombinant strains could proliferate steadily in MDCK cells. 
 
 
 
Three recombinant influenza virus vector strains carrying the B cell, CTL and Th epitopes of hMPV were rescued successfully. This study lays the foundation for further evaluation of the immune effects of these recombinant viruses and their potential application value in vaccine development. 
 
 
 
Human metapneumovirus; Influenza virus vector; Virus rescue; Antigenic epitope

Field of study: Biology
Association of polymorphisms in the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 gene with coronary artery disease.

Two chemokine receptor CX3CR1 gene variants, V249I and T280M, have been implicated in coronary artery diseases (CAD). Currently no consistent effect has been revealed and their role in cardiovascular disease is still conflicting. In the present study the association of CX3CR1 genotypes with CAD and myocardial infarction (MI) was investigated in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) cohort, including 3316 individuals in whom cardiovascular disease angiographically has been defined or ruled out. Similarly to previous studies, the alleles I249 and M280 were in strong linkage disequilibrium and formed an I(249)M(280) haplotype. However, there was no relationship between CX3CR1 genotypes or corresponding haplotypes and the prevalence of CAD or MI. Adjusted for classical risk factors (age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking), the odds ratio (OR) of V249I for CAD was 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.78-1.15, p=0.61). The OR of T280M for CAD was 0.83 (95% CI=0.66-1.04, p=0.11). Furthermore, CX3CR1 variants were not associated with C-reactive protein levels, age at onset of CAD, severity of CAD and MI. In conclusion, present data of LURIC do not support the hypothesis that common variants of the CX3CR1 gene are associated with the presence of CAD or MI.

Field of study: Medicine
PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION OF VOLCANICLASTIC SEDIMENTS AND ROCKS

Volcaniclastic sediments and rocks are divided here into autoclastic, pyroclastic, and epiclastic types with grain-size limits the same as non-volcanic epiclastic rocks. Autoclastic rocks contain fragments that are produced within (but not usually extruded from) volcanic vents, during movement of lava flows, or by gas explosions within flows that have ceased to flow. Pyroclastic rocks contain fragments produced by volcanic explosion and extruded as discrete particles from volcanic vents. Epiclastic volcanic rocks contain fragments produced by weathering and erosion of solidified or lithified volcanic rocks of any type. Volcaniclastic types may be mixed in all proportions with each other or with nonvolcanic fragments, although these mixtures are not designated within this classification. A non-genetic category, based only upon particle size and the presence of volcanic material, is included for rocks with clasts of unknown origin.

Field of study: Geology
[Cerebral structural characteristics in children with unilateral amblyopia: a MRI study].

To study the mechanism of the development of amblyopia using the analysis of brain grey matter parameters. The areas primarily associated with visual cortex in children with amblyopia were analyzed.



The study group comprised 8 right-handed children with left-sided amblyopia. MRI images were obtained by 1.5T Toshiba scanner with 3D MP-RAGE. T1-images were processed with FreeSurfer (5.3.0 version, http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/).



No significant interhemisphere differences by cortical thickness were identified in all tested regions of interest. In correlation analysis, only the positive correlation between visual acuity in the left eye and cortical thickness in the left pericalcarine as well as the positive correlation between visual acuity in the left eye and cortical thickness in the left V1 area obtained using another anatomical atlas survived multiple comparison correction. The findings support the hypothesis that pathological ontogenetic processes in children with amblyopia lead to the structural abnormalities of the primary visual cortex.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Studies on uterine motility in rats.

Magnus法による自発性子宮運動の観察法については,摘出子宮の重量に対して荷重4倍から5倍を負荷した場合,最も安定した基線と振幅を示し,性周期の各時期における自発性子宮運動に明らかな差異が認められ,ラットの子宮運動は性周期に伴って規則的に変化することは,さきに報告1)した。そこでこの方法を用いてAdr.,Ach.およびOxy.などの薬剤がラットの摘出子宮の自発性子宮運動にいかなる影響を及ぼすかについて検索した結果,次の所見が得られた。1)Adr.によって子宮筋は弛緩し,基線は下降して自発性子宮運動は明らかに抑制された。2)Ach.によって子宮筋は強度の収縮を示し,基線は上昇して,自発性子宮運動は明らかに亢進した。このAch.に対する子宮筋の反応は特に第II期において著明であった。3)Ach.による自発性子宮運動の充進作用はAdr.によって抑制された。4)Oxy.は子宮筋に対し強直性の収縮を来たし,自発性子宮運動は著明に充進した。このOxy.による子宮筋の強直性の収縮状態は特に第II期において著明であったが,第IV期においてはほとんど認められなかった。5)Oxy.による子宮筋の強直性の収縮状態はAdr.によって緩和された。

Field of study: Biology
Data compression and enhancement of sampled images.

A two-dimensional sampled image can be represented by an equal number of spatial frequencies in the Fourier domain. However, due to physical limitations of the sampling process, there exists an effective cutoff frequency beyond which no information is preserved. The knowledge of this cutoff frequency is very important, since a considerable amount of additional noise can be introduced by frequency components above this cutoff. Availability of a sharp edge within the image allows, within the linear theory, the estimation of the transfer function of the digitizing process itself. This calculated transfer function may be used for image enhancement below the cutoff frequency. In addition, significant amount of data compression may be achieved by removing all spatial frequency terms above the cutoff frequency. An example of this technique is developed utilizing a tribar resolution chart sampled at 1024 x 1024 points.

Field of study: Physics
Role for HIF-1α and Downstream Pathways in Regulating Neuronal Injury after Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Diabetes

HIF-1α is accumulated in the cellular nucleus and cytoplasm under conditions of oxygen deprivation and engaged in pathophysiologic changes of homeostasis by modulating the expression of several target genes. As an endogenous signaling protein, HIF-1α contributes to in neuroprotection, erythropoiesis, and apoptosis modulation. The purpose of this study was to examine the role played by HIF-1α in regulating neurological injury evoked by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) through its downstream product, namely vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In particular, we examined the effects of diabetic hyperglycemia on HIF-1α response in the processing of ICH.  ELISA was used to measure HIF-1α and VEGF; and Western Blot analysis to examine the protein expression of VEGFR-2 and Caspase-3. Neurological Severity Score and brain water content were used to indicate neurological function and brain edema.  HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly increased in the brain after induction of ICH in non-diabetic control rats and diabetic rats; however, the amplified levels of HIF-1α and VEGF were attenuated in diabetic rats (P<0.05 vs. non-diabetic rats) as compared with non-diabetic rats. Also, the protein expression of VEGF receptor subtype 2 was significantly less in the brain of diabetic rats (P<0.05 vs. non-diabetic rats). Further, cerebral infusion of HIF-1 activator stabilized VEGF levels, attenuated Caspase-3 and improved neurological deficits induced by ICH and the effects are smaller in diabetic animals.  HIF-1α activated by ICH likely plays a beneficial role via VEGF mechanisms and response of HIF-1α is largely impaired in diabetes. This has pharmacological implications to target specific HIF-1α and VEGF pathway for neuronal dysfunction and vulnerability related to ICH.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Physiological Responses of Salinity-Stressed Vibrio sp. and the Effect on the Biofilm Formation on a Nanofiltration Membrane.

This study evaluated the effects of salinity on the physiological characteristics of Vibrio sp. B2 and biofilm formation on nanofiltration (NF) membrane coupons used in the high recovery seawater desalination process. The test conditions were at 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 M sodium chloride (NaCl), equivalent to salinity of seawater, brine at 50% and 75% water recovery, respectively. High salinity inhibited the cell growth rate but increased the viability and bacterial membrane integrity. In addition, protein and eDNA concentrations of salinity-stressed bacteria were increased at 1.2 and 2.4 M NaCl. In particular, protein concentration was linearly correlated with the NaCl concentration. Similarly, less biofilm formation on the NF membrane coupon (without permeation flux) was observed by the salinity-stressed bacteria; however, the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was significantly increased as compared to control, and protein was an influential factor for biofilm formation. This study shows that salinity-stressed bacteria have a high potential to cause biofouling on membrane surface as the bacteria still maintain the cell activity and overproduce EPS. The potential of biofilm formation by the salinity-stressed bacteria has not been reported. Therefore, the findings are important to understand the mechanisms of membrane biofouling in a high salinity environment.

Field of study: Environmental science
Geometric indicators of population persistence in branching continuous-space networks

We study population persistence in branching tree networks emulating systems such as river basins, cave systems, organisms on vegetation surfaces, and vascular networks. Population dynamics are modeled using a reaction–diffusion–advection equation on a metric graph which provides a continuous, spatially explicit model of network habitat. A metric graph, in contrast to a standard graph, allows for population dynamics to occur within edges rather than just at graph vertices, subsequently adding a significant level of realism. Within this framework, we stochastically generate branching tree networks with a variety of geometric features and explore the effects of network geometry on the persistence of a population which advects toward a lethal outflow boundary. We identify a metric (CM), the distance from the lethal outflow point at which half of the habitable volume of the network lies upstream of, as a promising indicator of population persistence. This metric outperforms other metrics such as the maximum and minimum distances from the lethal outflow to an upstream boundary and the total habitable volume of the network. The strength of CM as a predictor of persistence suggests that it is a proper “system length” for the branching networks we examine here that generalizes the concept of habitat length in the classical linear space models.

Field of study: Biology, Mathematics
WE-C-BRB-09: Sensitivity of a Novel External X-Ray Treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration to Variations in the Position of the Eye

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness of the elderly in the United States. A novel external beam treatment has been developed for the treatment of AMD that delivers a 16‐Gy prescribed dose to the fovea (clinical target volume, CTV) using three overlapping low‐energy x‐ray fields while adequately sparing normal tissues in the eye and brain. The purpose of this study was to test the sensitivity of the successful delivery of the prescribed dose to the CTV and of the sparing of normal tissues to plausible variations in the position of the eye.  In the standard case, the axial length of the eye is 24 mm and the gaze is straight ahead. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we examined the overlap of the three beams on the posterior surface of concentric spheres with radii from 10 mm to 14 mm. In addition, we calculated absorbed dose in the CTV and structures at risk while varying varied the gaze angle by ±5° vertically and laterally and the displacement of the eye ±1 mm in all orthogonal directions.  The three fields did not diverge for all radii tested. For variations in the position of the eye, the dose to the CTV was stable (<6% fluctuation), the maximum dose to the sclera was <20 Gy, the maximum dose to the optic disc was <0.7 Gy, and the mean doses to the optic nerve, lens, and cornea were <0.3 Gy.  The results of this study provide strong evidence that variations in the position of the eye will not hinder the successful delivery of the prescribed dose to the CTV and the sparing of critical structures for this stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of AMD.  Research sponsored in part by Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
Microstructure and Strengthening Mechanisms of HCM2S(T23) Steel

Microstructure and strengthening mechanisms of T23 steel used for superheater tube has been investigated by means of carbon replica method,transmission electron microscopy,SEM and EDS.The results showed that the microstructure of T23 by normalizing processing is granular bainite.For granular bainite steel,not only grain boundary and substructure strengthening,solution strengthen,but also dispersion strengthening of M/A island are effective.The microstructure of T23 under tempered after normalizing conditions is tempered granular bainite.For tempered granular bainite steel,The major portion of M/A islands decompose into carbide and ferrite.And a great deal of fine granular deposited MX phase precipitate in the intragranular and intergranular fields of T23 steel.The strengthening mechanism of T23 steel include the solution strengthening,grain boundary and substructure strengthening and the precipitation strengthening plays a significant role in strengthening mechanism.

Field of study: Materials science
Bioactivity analysis of lemongrass (Cymbopogan citratus) essential oil.

Diseases such as diabetes mellitus and gout are among the chronic diseases affecting worldwide population. Investigation is required to find the alternative approaches to treat these chronic diseases, such as plant based medicine. In this study, lemongrass (Cymbopogan citratus) was chosen and examined on the basis of their usage in traditional medicines throughout Southeast Asia. GCMS analysis revealed the major constituents of the lemongrass essential oil which compromise 67.769% and 67.328% of the total oil respectively. Total phenolic content of the essential oil was analyzed by Folin Ciocalteau method and the results indicated that highest amount of phenolic content was obtained from essential oil extracted from lemongrasses stalk, with phenolic concentration of 2100.769 mg/l GAE. Anti oxidant activity was examined by DPPH scavenging test and the highest inhibition was obtained by essential oil extracted from lemongrass stalk (89.5%). β-glucosidase inhibition assay was carried out using an in-vitro model for anti diabetic test and lemongrass stalk essential oil showed highest degree of inhibitory activity (89.63%). Anti gout test was examined by xanthine oxidase inhibition (XOI) assay with the maximum percentage of xanthine oxidase inhibition of 81.34% obtained from lemongrass stalk essential oil. Thus this project aimed to find the potentiality of lemongrass essential oil which could be the alternative approach due to adverse effects with the use of synthetic drugs for the treatment of many forms of diseases.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS: Observation of saturated absorption resonances in a molecular I2 beam subjected to separated fields

The Doppler broadening of the absorption lines of the I2 molecules was suppressed by a combination of the saturated absorption and molecular beam methods. Saturated absorption resonances were observed at the components of the hyperfine structure of the P(13) and R(15) branches of the lΣ+g(X)→3ΠOU+(B) electronic transition in the I2 molecules subjected to 514.5 nm radiation from an argon laser. The optical fields were separated spatially by 3.5 cm along the molecular beam. The advantages of this method of inducing narrow resonances were considered from the point of view of their reproducibility.

Field of study: Engineering, Physics