nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Molecular signature for early detection and prediction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in peripheral blood.

Whole blood is one of the most easily accessible biofluids, and circulating leukocytes would include informative transcripts as a first line of immune defense for many disease processes. To demonstrate that transcriptomic responses of circulating blood cells reflect the exposure to environmental toxicants and the characteristic molecular signatures can discriminate and predict the type of toxicant at an early exposure time, we identified and validated characteristic gene expression profiles of rat whole blood after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). At an early exposure time point, conventional toxicological analysis including changes in the body and organ weight, histopathological examination, and blood biochemical analysis did not reflect any toxicant stresses. However, unsupervised gene expression analysis of blood cells resulted in a characteristic molecular signature for each toxicant. Further analysis of multiclassification suggested 220 genes as early detective and surrogate markers for predicting each PAH with 100% accuracy. These findings suggest that the blood expression signature could be used as a predictable and discernible surrogate marker for detection and prediction of PAHs, and the use of these molecular markers may be more widely implemented in combination with more traditional techniques for assessment and prediction of toxicity exposure to PAHs from an environmental aspect.

Field of study: Environmental science
Controlling rice bacterial blight in Africa: needs and prospects.

Rice cultivation has drastically increased in Africa over the last decade. During this time, the region has also seen a rise in the incidence of rice bacterial blight caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. The disease is expanding to new rice production areas and threatens food security in the region. Yield losses caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzae range from 20 to 30% and can be as high as 50% in some areas. Employing resistant cultivars is the most economical and effective way to control this disease. To facilitate development and strategic deployment of rice cultivars with resistance to bacterial blight, biotechnology tools and approaches, including marker-assisted breeding, gene combinations for disease control, and multiplex-PCR for pathogen diagnosis, have been developed. Although these technologies are routinely used elsewhere, their application in Africa remains limited, usually due to high cost and advanced technical skills required. To combat this problem, developers of the technologies at research institutions need to work with farmers from an early stage to create and promote the integration of successful, low cost applications of research biotech products. Here, we review the current knowledge and biotechnologies available to improve bacterial blight control. We will also discuss how to facilitate their application in Africa and delivery to the field.

Field of study: Biology, Engineering
Nuclear Structure of Two-Proton Halo-Nucleus 17Ne

Theoretical investigation of two-proton halo-nucleus 17Ne has revealed that the valence protons are more likely to be positioned in the d-state than the s-state. In this study, this finding is clarified by calculation of the binding energy, it is found that the theoretical values for the d-state are closer to the experimental values, in contrast with those obtained for the s-state. The three-body model and MATLAB software are utilised to obtain theoretical values for the three-body-model 17Ne binding energy and matter radius. 17Ne has halo properties of a weakly bound valence proton, a binding energy of less than 1 MeV, and a large matter radius. The core deformation parameter has zero and negative values; thus, the 17Ne core exhibits both spherical and oblate shapes depending on the binding energy of the three-body system. This suggests 17Ne has two-proton halo.

Field of study: Physics
Quantizations of conical symplectic resolutions I: local and global structure

We re-examine some topics in representation theory of Lie algebras and Springer theory in a more general context, viewing the universal enveloping algebra as an example of the section ring of a quantization of a conical symplectic resolution. While some modification from this classical context is necessary, many familiar features survive. These include a version of the Beilinson-Bernstein localization theorem, a theory of Harish-Chandra bimodules and their relationship to convolution operators on cohomology, and a discrete group action on the derived category of representations, generalizing the braid group action on category O via twisting functors. 
Our primary goal is to apply these results to other quantized symplectic resolutions, including quiver varieties and hypertoric varieties. This provides a new context for known results about Lie algebras, Cherednik algebras, finite W-algebras, and hypertoric enveloping algebras, while also pointing to the study of new algebras arising from more general resolutions.

Field of study: Mathematics
Recent developments in child and adolescent social phobia

The following article discusses research trends in childhood and adolescent social phobia during the past year. Of particular importance are findings regarding prevalence rates, cognitive variables and social skills deficits, temperamental influences, and the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Recent prevalence rates of social anxiety disorder in children and adolescents range from 0.5% to 4.0%. Findings regarding the role of cognitive processes and social skills deficits in childhood social phobia are supported. Recent longitudinal data investigating the stability of extremes of behavioral inhibition have found that it persists from childhood into adolescence. Initial data regarding the use of SSRIs suggest that they may be a promising treatment option.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Second-generation rodenticides and polecats (Mustela putorius) in Britain.

In Britain, polecats Mustela putorius hunt around farm buildings, especially in winter, and, as a result, may be secondarily exposed to rodenticides by eating contaminated prey. This paper reports the first survey of second-generation rodenticides in polecats. Twenty-nine adult polecats which had been killed either accidentally on roads (24) and in traps (4), or had died of an unknown cause (1) were collected during 1992-1994. The livers of 24 animals and the stomach walls of the remaining five, for which the livers were not available, were analysed for difenacoum, bromadiolone, brodifacoum and flocoumafen. In total, rodenticide residues were detected in 31% of the polecats analysed. Residues were found in seven of the 24 livers (29%) and in two of the five stomachs analysed (40%). Difenacoum was detected most frequently (28% of animals), and was the only rodenticide in the stomach, while bromadiolone and brodifacoum were detected in only 10% and 3% of polecats, respectively. Flocoumafen was not detected in any animals. More than one rodenticide occurred in the livers of two animals; one contained difenacoum and bromadiolone, the other also contained brodifacoum. There was no sex bias in the proportion of animals containing rodenticides. Animals with detectable residues came from more than one county and were collected only during January-April in each year.

Field of study: Environmental science
The Engineering Application of Component Ob ject Model Technology in Visual C

This paper firs tly introduces the concept,principle and function of Component Object Model te chnology,then introduces its implement method in Visual C++.It also gives th e implement procedure and correlative code of finite element subdivision compon ent,taking finite element analysis as an example.It is proved by practice tha t applying COM technology can enhance compatibility and expandability of compone nt and improve code quality and programming efficiency.

Field of study: Computer science
Structure and function of the type III pullulan hydrolase from Thermococcus kodakarensis.

Pullulan-hydrolysing enzymes, more commonly known as debranching enzymes for starch and other polysaccharides, are of great interest and have been widely used in the starch-saccharification industry. Type III pullulan hydrolase from Thermococcus kodakarensis (TK-PUL) possesses both pullulanase and α-amylase activities. Until now, only two enzymes in this class, which are capable of hydrolysing both α-1,4- and α-1,6-glycosidic bonds in pullulan to produce a mixture of maltose, panose and maltotriose, have been described. TK-PUL shows highest activity in the temperature range 95-100°C and has a pH optimum in the range 3.5-4.2. Its unique ability to hydrolyse maltotriose into maltose and glucose has not been reported for other homologous enzymes. The crystal structure of TK-PUL has been determined at a resolution of 2.8 Å and represents the first analysis of a type III pullulan hydrolyse. The structure reveals that the last part of the N-terminal domain and the C-terminal domain are significantly different from homologous structures. In addition, the loop regions at the active-site end of the central catalytic domain are quite different. The enzyme has a well defined calcium-binding site and possesses a rare vicinal disulfide bridge. The thermostability of TK-PUL and its homologues may be attributable to several factors, including the increased content of salt bridges, helical segments, Pro, Arg and Tyr residues and the decreased content of serine.

Field of study: Chemistry
An evaluation of flora from coastal sand dunes of India: Rationale for conservation and management

A key component that guarantees stability of coastal sand dunes (CSDs) is vegetation. In this study, the floristic composition and distribution from CSDs of India is reviewed. Analysis revealed a total 338 species of CSD flora, of which 92 species are found to be common to the west and east coasts. The west coast showed a greater diversity than the east coast, accounting for 267 and 163 species respectively. Fabaceae members dominated the flora and 62% of dune species exhibited an herbaceous habit. The non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS) resulted in three groups at 20% similarity. The CSD vegetation appeared to be more influenced by the geological setting and climatology of the region. The higher number of coastal dune species along the west coast is attributed to larger and extensive sandy areas. The CSD flora of India is under constant anthropogenic pressure due to rapid elimination of sand dunes and its associated vegetation. The prevailing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification does not guarantee the health of sand dune flora. A coastal vegetation conservation policy that ensures a succession of species in the form of a three layered biozone is proposed as a long term sustainable option to maintain biodiversity of coastal flora.

Field of study: Environmental science
The Talent-Search Concept: an Identification Strategy for the Intellectually Gifted

Using the empirically based evidence that has resulted from the previous five Talent Searches of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, the article develops the rationale and success behind the talent-search concept as a useful strategy for identifying the intellectually gifted. Its practicality as a model is further demonstrated through the systematic curricular programming that has resulted at school-district levels after students have been identified as talented in a specific aptitude area. The identification issue is discussed as it pertains to efficiency and effectiveness related to cost, predictive validity, and feasibility.

Field of study: Education
A RESEARCH ON THE TENSILE INSTABILITY OF SPH IN FLUID DYNAMICS

A small perturbation and linearization method have been employed to analyze the tensile instability of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), after the matrix form of SPH is introduced. With the former method, the propagation of numerical errors in SPH are found, which consists of the routine error propagation and the distortion of errors’ phases. With the latter method, the errors’ linear form and its systematical matrix are obtained. The sufficient condition for tensile instability from Swegle could be obtained through both methods above. Omitting the effects from continuity and constitutive equations, the characteristic equation of the systematical matrix is derived. Thus a representative matrix which could approximately indicate the existence of tensile instability is derived. The eigenvalues of this representative matrix are calculated for a system with 3-nearby particles. These eigenvalues transit from saddle points, central points to focus points if differences exist among the errors’ phases. Under the request for eigenvalues to stabilize the error system of SPH at the wave number K = π /?X , appropriate initial smoothing lengths for different smoothing functions are derived. And a relation among the numerical sound speed in weakly-incompressible method, smoothing length refreshing and the stability of SPH is found, and which could theoretically give the values of the density variation rate from Monaghan and Morris’ numerical researches.

Field of study: Engineering
Studies on Antagonism of Trichoderma and Gliocladium species Against Rhizoctonia solani of Rice

Antagoniastic fungi, Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, T. koningii and Gliocladium virens were evaluated against Rhizoctonia solani, the sheath blight pathogen of rice. In dual culture technique, T. viride (Coimbatore - 2 isolate) was superior in inhibiting the growth of the pathogen followed by T. harzianum (Coimbatore), G. virens (Pantnagar) and T. harzianum (Pantnagar). Lysis of the pathogen with biocontrol agents was observed. Many bioagents were superior in controlling sheath blight disease when sprayed 24 h after inoculation of the plant with the pathogen than sprayed 24 h before inoculation. Maximum disease reduction was observed in T. koningii (Delhi isolate) followed by T. viride (Coimbatore-2), T. viride (Delhi) and T.viride (Coimbatore-1), when sprayed 24 h after inoculation. In both the treatments T. koningii showed superiority over other bioagents, while the performance of G. virens was very poor irrespective of the treatments although the performance was better in inhibiting the pathogen in dual culture experiments.

Field of study: Biology
Molecular and polymeric precursors to boron-based ceramics

The compounds 2-(vinyl) pentaborane and B-vinylborazine have been observed to undergo thermally induced polymerizations to produce either soluble or crosslinked forms of poly[2-(vinyl) pentaborane] or poly(B-vinylborazine), respectively. It has now been found that when these polymers are pyrolyzed under appropriate conditions they may function as excellent high yield precursors to boron-containing ceramics such as boron carbide and boron nitride.

Field of study: Materials science
Ipsilateral ureteroureterostomy for ureteral duplication anomalies: predictors of adverse outcomes.

Ipsilateral ureteroureterostomy (UU) has gained popularity for treating ureteral duplication (UD) associated with obstruction or vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Several studies have demonstrated its high success rate and low morbidity. This study aimed to identify the predictors of adverse outcomes associated with UU.



A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients with UD treated with UU at the study institution. Patients with less than 6 months of follow-up were excluded. Charts were reviewed for demographics, pre-operative imaging, surgical indications, operative notes, and follow-up data. Pre-operative and intra-operative variables were tested for association with adverse outcomes including unplanned surgery, worsening hydronephrosis, and febrile UTI recurrence.



A total of 35 patients underwent UU for UD between 2009 and 2017 at the study institution. The majority (33/35) had a distal anastomosis. A concomitant re-implantation of the recipient ureter was performed in 9 (25.7%) patients. After a median follow-up of 36.7 months, adverse outcomes developed in 9 patients (25.7%). No further surgery was required in 88.6% of the subjects. Adverse outcomes were associated with female gender (p = 0.048) and hydronephrosis of both upper and lower moieties (p = 0.015) and were more likely associated with ectopic ureteroceles (50%, p = 0.074) and having a concomitant re-implant performed (44.4%, p = 0.19) (table).



In this study, the low re-operation rates of UU for treating UD in patients with ectopic ureters or intravesical ureteroceles was demonstrated. The majority of patients with ectopic ureteroceles treated with UU and concomitant ureteral re-implantation had worsening hydronephrosis of both moieties and recurrent febrile UTI in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Interestingly, some of them had progression of hydronephrosis after excision of the upper pole. While worsening of hydronephrosis of the recipient moiety after UU was historically attributed to yo-yo reflux, most of the study patients did not have worsening hydronephrosis despite having distal anastomosis. Therefore, mechanical obstruction should be ruled out, and any underlying bladder dysfunction should be aggressively managed in patients with worsening hydronephrosis or recurrent UTI after UU before considering additional surgery.



Ureteroureterostomy is a successful option for UD with a low risk of adverse events in patients with ectopic ureters or intravesical ureteroceles. However, it should be cautiously considered in patients with hydronephrosis of both moieties, with ectopic ureteroceles, or if a concomitant re-implant is needed.

Field of study: Medicine
High-precision miniaturized low-cost reflective grating laser encoder with nanometric accuracy.

This paper presents a novel optical encoder, M-encoder, which can be used within high-precision metrology systems based on the technology of customized prism and homodyne detection. The M-encoder is an exposed encoder measuring reflective glass and metal scale, which is targeting the biggest area of the encoder market, 20 µm pitch, and has a resolution under 100 nm. The error of 23 nm for 100 mm traveling distance has been measured. The applied technology has successfully improved alignment tolerances, in which the tolerance of installation achieved to ±0.5∘, ±0.5∘, and ±1∘ for pitch, yaw, and roll angle, respectively. The accuracy of results has been verified by comparing them with one of the commercial encoders and also by using an HP interferometer. The results show the resolution and accuracy can be compatible with the market products. In addition, a new method of grating calibration has been described based on the Littrow configuration, and the pitch of the fabricated scale by a femtosecond laser has been measured with the accuracy of 2 nm.

Field of study: Physics
Choice Between Fluorescent and Poultry-Specific LED Lights by Pullets and Laying Hens

Light plays an important role in poultry development, production performance, health, and well-being. Light technology continues to advance, and accordingly new light products are finding applications in poultry operations. However, research concerning responses of young and adult laying hens to light sources is relatively lacking. This study assessed the choice between a Dim-to-Red poultry-specific light-emitting diode (LED) light (PS-LED, correlated color temperature or CCT = 2000K) and a warm-white fluorescent light (FL, CCT = 2700K) by pullets and laying hens (W-36 breed) via preference test. Birds with different prior lighting experiences were evaluated for their light choice, including (1) pullets (14 to 16 weeks of age or WOA) reared under incandescent light (designated as PINC), (2) layers (44 to 50 WOA) under PS-LED (LLED) throughout the pullet and laying phases, and (3) layers under FL (LFL) throughout the pullet and laying phases. Each bird category consisted of 12 replicates, three birds per replicate. Each replicate involved a 6-day preference test, during which the birds could move freely between two interconnected compartments that contained PS-LED and FL, respectively. Time spent and feed intake by the birds under each light were measured and then analyzed with generalized linear mixed models. Results showed that regardless of prior lighting experience, birds in all cases showed stronger choice for FL (p = 0.001 to 0.030), as evidenced by higher proportions of time spent under it. Specifically, the proportion of time spent (mean ±SEM) under FL versus PS-LED was 58.0% ±2.9% vs. 42.0% ±2.9% for PINC, 53.7% ±1.6% vs. 46.3% ±1.6% for LLED, and 54.2% ±1.2% vs. 45.8% ±1.2% for LFL. However, the proportions of daily feed intake occurring under FL and PS-LED were comparable in all cases (p = 0.419 to 0.749). The study thus reveals that prior lighting experience of the pullets or layers did not affect their choice of FL versus PS-LED. While the birds exhibited a somewhat stronger choice for FL, this tendency did not translate into differences in the proportion of feed use under each light type.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Restoration of a smeared photographic image by incoherent optical processing.

A technique of restoration of smeared photographic images by white light optical processing is described. It is well known that the image quality and the degree of restoration obtainable by coherent optical processing techniques are severely limited by artifact noise. This new technique offers a lower artifact noise and possibly a higher degree of restoration. We stress that this incoherent restoration technique applies to 2-D objects, although the operation to be performed must be 1-D.

Field of study: Physics
Risk assessment of rainstorm disasters under different return periods: A case study of Bohai Rim, China

Rainstorms are extreme events that have a serious impact on the safety of people's lives and property, and on socioeconomic development. Coastal areas have a large population and a high urban concentration tend to be areas that experience high levels risk of extreme precipitation. The present study uses the Bohai Rim, China, as a case study, and applies the copula joint function to daily precipitation data to calculate the probability of rainstorms under different return periods such that the hazard presented by each rainstorm disaster could be analyzed. Grid data of gross domestic product (GDP) per land area (km2) and population density were selected to calculate and assess the associated respectively levels of exposure and vulnerability. The risk of occurrence of a rainstorm disaster was analyzed according to the disaster risk assessment paradigm of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The results showed that the risk of a rainstorm disaster under different return periods in the Bohai Rim gradually decreased from the southeast coastal region towards the northwest inland area. Our study provides a scientific basis for governments to improve disaster prevention and reduction, and can assist in the formulation of emergency management countermeasures.

Field of study: Environmental science
How is the midwife's training and practice defined in policies and regulations in Australia today?

This paper describes the current definitions of a midwife found in Australian State policies and regulations. It examines these for internal consistency and external comparability. It also discusses the links between nursing and midwifery in Australia and their influence on the midwife's practice. The basis on which midwifery training programmes are established is examined, particularly in the light of characteristics and career plans of midwifery students and the questionable cost-effectiveness of current training. The assumption that nursing leadership is necessarily satisfactory, fitting or appropriate for midwifery is challenged.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science