nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Membrane inlet mass spectrometric analysis of N-isotope labelling for aquatic denitrification studies

Techniques are described for measuring the isotope distribution in dissolved nitrate and N2 using membrane inlet mass spectrometry, which allows several gases to be measured in a water sample without the need for any separation steps. The isotope distribution in dissolved nitrate was measured using denitrifying Pseudomonas nautica to reduce the nitrate to N2 which was then measured by mass spectrometry.  The precision of the bioassay when measuring samples with high 15NO3− contents (0.5 μmol) was 0.05 atom%; with 0.1 μmol 15NO3−, the precision was around 0.2 atom%. Differences in labelling of N2 in preserved samples obtained from 15NO3− incubations of water-covered sediment cores were measured on parallel samples with membrane inlet MS and GC-MS. The membrane inlet technique was accurate but the precision on ratio measurements was lower than by GC-MS.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science
Coronary high-signal-intensity plaques on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging reflect intraplaque hemorrhage.

Coronary high-signal-intensity plaques (HIPs) detected by T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging are associated with future cardiovascular events. This study aimed to identify pathological findings reflecting HIPs in coronary arteries obtained from autopsy cases. Formalin-fixed hearts were imaged with noncontrast T1-weighted imaging with a 1.5-T magnetic resonance system. We defined HIPs or non-HIPs as a coronary plaque to myocardial signal intensity ratio (PMR) of ≥1.4 or <1.4, respectively. We found HIPs in 4 of 37 (10.8%) hearts and analyzed 7 hearts in detail. The corresponding sections to HIPs (n=11) or non-HIPs (n=25) were histologically and immunohistochemically analyzed. We calculated the T1 relaxation time of human venous blood in vitro. Plaque and necrotic core areas, and the frequency of intraplaque hemorrhage in HIPs were significantly larger/higher than those in non-HIPs. HIPs were immunopositive for CD68 (11/11), glycophorin A (10/11), and fibrin (11/11). Glycophorin-A-, matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9)-, and tissue factor-immunopositive areas were larger in HIPs than in non-HIPs. The PMR was positively correlated with glycophorin-A-, fibrin-, MMP9-, and tissue factor-immunopositive areas. Blood coagulation shortened the T1 relaxation time of the blood and plasma, and the T1 relaxation times in coagulated whole blood and erythrocyte-rich blood were significantly shorter than those in plasma. Coronary HIPs may reflect intraplaque hemorrhage and may be a novel marker for plaque instability and thrombogenic potential.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Cyclic structure of n-methyl- 2-aminobenzoyl- and 2-mercapto- benzoylhydrazones of fatty- aromatic aldehydes

It has been shown by 1H NMR spectroscopic methods that the previously unknown N-methyl-2-amino-benzoyl- and 2-mercaptobenzoylhydrazones of phenylacetic and 3-phenylpropionic aldehydes have cyclic benzo-1,2,4-triazepine and benzo-1,3,4-thiadiazepine structures respectively.

Field of study: Chemistry
Integrating Web-Based Applications into Aged Care: Two Case Studies and Discussion

In anticipation of the growing need for adequate mental health care for older adults in residential aged care facilities, psychologists are challenged to overcome several barriers that impede the uptake and delivery of their services in such settings. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have strong potential to overcome some of these barriers by supporting the delivery of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for common psychogeriatric issues. This paper presents two case studies that illustrate when and how psychologists can use various ICT applications (e.g., tablet devices, web-based applications) integrated with cognitive behavioural and reminiscence-based therapies. Both case studies demonstrate that ICT can effectively support the therapeutic alliance, enhance therapeutic engagement, and individualize treatment delivery to accommodate the needs of elderly patients. It is hoped that these case studies will encourage clinicians to consider using ICT to augment therapy with their elderly patients.

Field of study: Psychology
The role of GABRA2 in alcohol dependence, smoking, and illicit drug use in an Australian population sample.

Multiple studies have shown that genetic variation in the alpha-2 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor (GABRA2) is associated with risk for alcohol dependence. Recent reports have suggested that GABRA2 may exert its influence on dependence through factors such as sensitivity to alcohol's intoxicating effects and that GABRA2 may also contribute to a common underlying genetic vulnerability to both alcohol and drug dependence. The present study tested for association between GABRA2 and alcohol dependence, smoking, and illicit drug use within the Australian population.



We genotyped 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within or flanking GABRA2 in 4597 subjects (34.6% males) from 2618 families comprising 814 monozygotic pairs, 1177 dizygotic pairs, and 627 twins whose co-twin did not participate. Family-based association tests were conducted for binary and quantitative measures of alcohol dependence, smoking, and cannabis and other illicit drug use.



We observed evidence of association (p < 0.05) between multiple GABRA2 SNPs and quantitative measures of alcohol dependence, including symptom scores and principal component factor scores from the 9 criteria for DSM-IV alcohol dependence, in the opposite direction to that previously reported. In contrast, GABRA2 was not associated overall with dichotomous measure of alcohol dependence nor with smoking, cannabis, or illicit drug use.



The GABRA2 allelic associations found in clinical case-control studies have detectable but minor effects on DSM-defined alcohol dependence in the general community. Systematic comparisons of allelic effects on alcohol dependence in clinical cases and in the general community are required.

Field of study: Medicine
Late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic paleogeographic position of the Yangtze block and the change of tectonic setting in its northwestern margin: Evidence from detrital zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes of sedimentary rocks

The crustal evolution of the Yangtze block and its tectonic affinity to other continents of Rodinia and subsequent Gondwana have not been well constrained. Here, we present new U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the northwestern margin of the Yangtze block to provide critical constraints on their provenance and tectonic settings. The detrital zircons of two late Neoproterozoic samples have a small range of ages (0.87−0.67 Ga) with a dominant age peak at 0.73 Ga, which were likely derived from the Hannan-Micangshan arc in the northwestern margin of the Yangtze block. In addition, the cumulative distribution curves from the difference between the depositional age and the crystalline age (CA−DA) together with the mostly positive εHf(t) values of these zircon crystals (−6.8 to +10.7, ∼90% zircon grains with εHf[t] > 0) suggest these samples were deposited in a convergent setting during the late Neoproterozoic. In contrast, the Cambrian−Silurian sediments share a similar detrital zircon age spectrum that is dominated by Grenvillian ages (1.11−0.72 Ga), with minor late Paleoproterozoic (ca. 2.31−1.71 Ga), Mesoarchean to Neoarchean (3.16−2.69 Ga), and latest Archean to early Paleoproterozoic (2.57−2.38 Ga) populations, suggesting a significant change in the sedimentary provenance and tectonic setting from a convergent setting after the breakup of Rodinia to an extensional setting during the assembly of Gondwana. However, the presence of abundant Grenvillian and Neoarchean ages, along with their moderately to highly rounded shapes, indicates a possible sedimentary provenance from exotic continental terrane(s). Considering the potential source areas around the Yangtze block when it was a part of Rodinia or Gondwana, we suggest that the source of these early Paleozoic sediments had typical Gondwana affinities, such as the Himalaya, north India, and Tarim, which is also supported by their stratigraphic similarity, newly published paleomagnetic data, and tectono-thermal events in the northern fragments of Gondwana. This implies that after prolonged subduction in the Neoproterozoic, the northwestern margin of the Yangtze block began to be incorporated into the assembly of Gondwana and then accept sediments from the northern margin of Gondwanaland in a passive continental margin setting.

Field of study: Geology
Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks

We have imaged Néel skyrmion bubbles in perpendicularly magnetised polycrystalline multilayers patterned into 1 µm diameter dots, using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. The skyrmion bubbles can be nucleated by the application of an external magnetic field and are stable at zero field with a diameter of 260 nm. Applying an out of plane field that opposes the magnetisation of the skyrmion bubble core moment applies pressure to the bubble and gradually compresses it to a diameter of approximately 100 nm. On removing the field the skyrmion bubble returns to its original diameter via a hysteretic pathway where most of the expansion occurs in a single abrupt step. This contradicts analytical models of homogeneous materials in which the skyrmion compression and expansion are reversible. Micromagnetic simulations incorporating disorder can explain this behaviour using an effective thickness modulation between 10 nm grains.

Field of study: Physics
[Eukaryotic Expression and Immunogenic Research of Recombination Ebola Virus Membrane Protein Gp-Fc].

We used 293 cells to express the recombinant membrane protein of the Ebola virus. Then, the immunogenicity of the recombinant protein was studied by immunized BALB/c mice. According to the codon use frequency of humans, the gene encoding the extracellular domain of the Ebola virus membrane protein was optimized, synthesized, and inserted into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pXG-Fc to construct the human IgG Fc and Ebola GP fusion protein expression plasmid pXG-modGP-Fc. To achieve expression, the fusion protein expression vector was transfected into high-density 293 cells using transient transfection technology. The recombinant protein was purified by protein A affinity chromatography. BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified fusion protein, and serum antibody titers evaluated by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Purification and analyses of the protein revealed that the eukaryotic expression vector could express the recombinant protein GP-Fc effectively, and that the recombinant protein in the supernatant of the cell culture was present as a dimer. After immunization with the purified recombinant protein, a high titer of antigen-specific IgG could be detected in the serum of immunized mice by indirect ELISA, showing that the recombinant protein had good immunogenicity. These data suggest that we obtained a recombinant protein with good immunogenicity. Our study is the basis for development of a vaccine against the Ebola virus and for screening of monoclonal antibodies.

Field of study: Biology
Hurricane Isabel (2003): New Insights Into the Physics of Intense Storms. Part II: Extreme Localized Wind

An unprecedented dataset of category-5 Hurricane Isabel was collected on 12–14 September 2003. This two-part series focuses on novel dynamical and thermodynamical aspects of Isabel's inner-core structure on 13 September. In Part I, using a composite of dropwindsonde and in situ aircraft data, the authors suggested that the axisymmetric structure of Isabel showed that the storm was superintense. Mesocyclones seen clearly in satellite imagery within the eye of Hurricane Isabel are hypothesized to mix high-entropy air at low levels in the eye into the eyewall, stimulating explosive convective development and a concomitant local horizontal wind acceleration. Part II focuses on a unique set of observations into an extraordinary small- (miso) scale cyclonic feature inside of the inner edge of the eyewall of Hurricane Isabel. A dropwindsonde released into this feature measured the strongest known horizontal wind in a tropical cyclone. This particular observation is discussed in the context of concurrent...

Field of study: Environmental science
Multi‐centre retrospective analysis of anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia in the United Kingdom: aetiology and diagnostic performance of acute serum tryptase

This is the first multi‐centre retrospective survey from the United Kingdom to evaluate the aetiology and diagnostic performance of tryptase in anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia (GA). Data were collected retrospectively (2005–12) from 161 patients [mean ± standard deviation (s.d.), 50 ± 15 years] referred to four regional UK centres. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were constructed to assess the utility of tryptase measurements in the diagnosis of immunoglobulin (Ig)E‐mediated anaphylaxis and the performance of percentage change from baseline [percentage change (PC)] and absolute tryptase (AT) quantitation. An IgE‐mediated cause was identified in 103 patients (64%); neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) constituted the leading cause (38%) followed by antibiotics (8%), patent blue dye (6%), chlorhexidine (5%) and other agents (7%). In contrast to previous reports, latex‐induced anaphylaxis was rare (0·6%). A non‐IgE‐mediated cause was attributed in 10 patients (6%) and no cause could be established in 48 cases (30%). Three serial tryptase measurements were available in 34% of patients and a ROC analysis of area under the curve (AUC) showed comparable performance for PC and AT. A ≥ 80% PPV for identifying an IgE‐mediated anaphylaxis was achieved with a PC of >141% or an AT of >15·7 mg/l. NMBAs were the leading cause of anaphylaxis, followed by antibiotics, with latex allergy being uncommon. Chlorhexidine and patent blue dye are emerging important health‐care‐associated allergens that may lead to anaphylaxis. An elevated acute serum tryptase (PC >141%, AT >15·7 mg/l) is highly predictive of IgE‐mediated anaphylaxis, and both methods of interpretation are comparable.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Implicit Kernel Learning

Kernels are powerful and versatile tools in machine learning and statistics. Although the notion of universal kernels and characteristic kernels has been studied, kernel selection still greatly influences the empirical performance. While learning the kernel in a data driven way has been investigated, in this paper we explore learning the spectral distribution of kernel via implicit generative models parametrized by deep neural networks. We called our method Implicit Kernel Learning (IKL). The proposed framework is simple to train and inference is performed via sampling random Fourier features. We investigate two applications of the proposed IKL as examples, including generative adversarial networks with MMD (MMD GAN) and standard supervised learning. Empirically, MMD GAN with IKL outperforms vanilla predefined kernels on both image and text generation benchmarks; using IKL with Random Kitchen Sinks also leads to substantial improvement over existing state-of-the-art kernel learning algorithms on popular supervised learning benchmarks. Theory and conditions for using IKL in both applications are also studied as well as connections to previous state-of-the-art methods.

Field of study: Computer science
RADIATION INDUCED GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF VINYL ACETATE AND ISOPROPENYL ACETATE ONTO ISOTACTIC POLYPROPYLENE

Radiation-induced graft copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAC) and isopropenyl acetate (PAC) onto isotactic polypropylene (IPP) has been studied. The percentage of grafting was calculated for various reaction parameters, and the optimum conditions for attaining the maximum percentage of grafting were determined. Maximal achieved extents of grafting are 39% and 29% for VAC and PAC, respectively. The reactivity of the two monomers with respect to grafting is discussed.

Field of study: Chemistry
The New Features and New Developing Thought of Utilizing Foreign Capital in Nanjing after the Entry to WTO

On the terms of the new feature、new problem and new challenge of utilizing foreign capital that Nanjing faced with after the entry to WTO, this article raise the following developing thought: enlarge the use of foreign capital by utilizing the good opportunity of developing the surrounding area of Yangze River in developing strategy to elevate the actual strength of Nanjing economy; to combine the use of foreign capital with industrial development and adjustment as well as the new way of industrialization in the direction of utilizing foreign capital; attention to emphasis the main point and move forward gradually in the tactic of utilizing foreign capital; diversify in the measure of utilizing foreign capital.

Field of study: Economics
Economic Status of Parents, a Determinant on Academic Performance of Senior Secondary Schools Students in Ibadan, Nigeria

This research was carried out to examine if economic status of parents is a determinant to the academic performance of  senior Secondary school Students in Ibadan, Nigeria. The Questionnaire was used for the collection of data, administered to five hundred and twelve students selected randomly in two local government areas. A hypothesis that “ there is no significant relationship between economic status of parents and the academic performance of their children was formulated”. This was tested using correlation analysis and the result shows that there is significant relationship between economic status and academic performance of students. Those from lower income groups scored significantly lower than children from higher income households. It is recommended that the government can help to erase this imbalance by subsidizing the educational expenses of the low income group.

Field of study: Education, Sociology
Disentangling Concepts of Ministerial Responsibility

Debates on ministerial responsibility have too often gone around in circles. The application of the principle is related to the incidence of resignations; analysis considers the reasons given for resignation or, rather more often, the reasons given for not resigning. The usual conclusions are that ministers resign occasionally when their personal involvement is unquestioned and when the prime minister determines that the political costs are less to let the minister go. But the ideas remain at a broad level because they relate to all the ministerial activities. This article seeks to disentangle these concepts, developing the ideas in Thompson and Tillotsen’s article in this symposium, to see if a different set of concepts can better define this old notion.

Field of study: Political science
Fire and ice in the Midlands : MPO KwaZulu-Natal

The last week of June 2007 saw the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands experiencing some of the most devastating forest fires in decades. The Karkloof area was particularly hard hit with over 13 000 ha of commercial forest destroyed. Numerous homesteads belonging to smallholders, farmers and farm workers were damaged or destroyed, some people losing everything they owned.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Cardiovascular protection by curcumin: molecular aspects.

Curcumin is the active component in turmeric--a spice that has been extensively used as a culinary agent and a home remedy to prevent and treat many diseases in India and other countries for hundreds of years. However, systematic studies to understand the molecular basis of disease preventing or therapeutic properties of curcumin began to appear in the scientific literature only during the last 40 years. As a result of these studies, substantial evidence has accumulated to suggest that curcumin can affect signaling pathways linked to cellular growth, proliferation, survival, inflammation and transcription. In addition, curcumin has also been shown to exert anti-atherosclerotic, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties in animal models of various diseases and in human subjects. In this article, we highlight the cardiovascular protective role of curcumin with an emphasis on the molecular basis of this effect.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Effects of two training methods on function of the heart as a pump in male university student

To investigate effects of short term endurance and strength endurance training of aerobic training on function of the heart as a pump in male university student this research measured stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) in twenty male university students before,after six weeks and after eight weeks training separately.The results showed that SV and CO increased significantly following six or eight weeks endurance training and that SV and CO increased significantly only following eight weeds strength-endurance training.These results demonstrated that short-term endurance and strength-endurance training all enhance function of the heart as a pump,in which there was different training time threshold from training items.

Field of study: Education
Physiological response of Prorocentrum lima (Dinophyceae) to varying light intensities.

The benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima is among the most common toxic morphospecies with a cosmopolitan distribution. This study explored if strains from different environments and different morphotypes, isolated from three locations in the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula and two from the Mediterranean Sea, showed different responses to varying light regimes, after confirming that all strains belonged to the same ribotype. Growth rates and photosynthetic parameters such as Fo, Fv/Fm, and rETRmax were analysed with a Coulter counter, a water-PAM and a fast repetition rate fluorometer. The photosynthetic properties were investigated in a high light stress experiment using strains acclimated to low light (LL) and high light (HL). The highest growth rate was 0.23 day-1 at 80 and 100 μmol photons m-2 s-1 for strains Dn150EHU and Dn60EHU, originated from different locations. Under control conditions (18°C and 90 μmol photons m-2 s-1), growth rate was on average 0.10 day-1. The HL stress exposure induced photodamage to all strains and the recovery period was not sufficiently long for full recovery of Fv/Fm. However, cells acclimated to HL showed a better recovery than the LL acclimated ones. Furthermore, some assumptions are discussed in relation to strains' original location.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science