nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Efficiencies for window estimates of the parameters of the Cauchy distribution

Higgins and Tichenor [ (1977), 113-126] considered ''window estimates'' of location and reciprocal scale parameters for a general class of distributions and showed them to be asymptotically efficient for the Cauchy distribution. In this study, efficiencies of these estimates for the Cauchy distribution are investigated for small and moderate sample sizes by Monte Carlo methods. For n>=40, window estimates of location are nearly optimal, and for n>=20, they compare favorably with other easy-to-compute estimates. Window estimates of reciprocal scale are very good even for small samples and are nearly optimal for n>=10. Thus, window estimates appear to have high efficiency for moderate as well as large sample sizes. Approximate normality is also investigated. The estimate of location converges rapidly to normality, whereas the estimate of reciprocal scale does not.

Field of study: Mathematics
WIND-STRUCTURE-COUPLING EFFECTS AND BUFFETING RESPONSES

It is evident that the interaction between wind and structure is of great importance for structures such as super tall buildings, towers and guyed masts that have a low fundamental natural frequency. However, little research has been carried out to consider the coupling effects. This paper presents a method for analyzing the wind-induced vibration which takes into account wind-structure coupling effects. The method is developed based on the quasi-stead theory by treating the wind-structure coupling effect as an aerodynamic damping. The buffeting responses of a tall transmission tower are analyzed in detail to demonstrate the method. Numerical results based on Kaimal spectrum and Davenport spectrum are presented. Wind tunnel tests were also carried out. It is shown that numerical predictions based on Kaimal spectrum are in good agreement with experimental observations. The study shows that the wind-structure interaction has a significant effect on the responses of the structure.

Field of study: Engineering
CXCL12 gene expression is upregulated by hypoxia and growth arrest but not by inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.

CXCL12 is a constitutively expressed chemokine with important homeostatic functions. Increased CXCL12 expression has been observed in several inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was undertaken to identify potential mechanisms of regulation of CXCL12 gene expression by human fibroblasts under normal or inflammatory conditions.



Synovial fibroblasts (SF) were cultured from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissues. CXCL12 mRNA expression was analysed by real time quantitative RT-PCR in RA-SF under different growth conditions, and exposed to hypoxia or to different pro-inflammatory factors. A 5'CXCL12 -1.4 kb promoter region fragment was cloned in a luciferase reporter plasmid and its activity analysed in human fibroblasts.



CXCL12 mRNA expression was not constitutively increased in RA- compared to OA-SF. LPS, pro-inflammatory cytokines or growth factors did not induce CXCL12 mRNA expression in SF. Hypoxia and growth arrest by either serum starvation or confluent growth induced CXCL12 mRNA and protein expression in SF. Constitutive and induced expression of CXCL12 in fibroblasts was regulated at the transcriptional level by specific regions of the -1.4 kb promoter.



Pro-inflammatory factors and cytokines do not up-regulate CXCL12 gene expression in SF. Growth arrest and hypoxia are potentially important inducers of CXCL12 expression in human fibroblasts and operate by regulating transcriptional activity of the promoter.

Field of study: Medicine
Study on the relationship between erythromycin sensitivity and ermB gene in Ureaplasma urealyticum

To study the relationship between erythromyein sensitivity and ermB gene in 143 Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) clinical isolates.  We detected the minimum inhabit concen-trations (MICs) of Uu to erythromycin by broth dilution method and MIC≥8 μg/ml was used as standard concentration of resistance to erythromycin. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the ermB gene and biotype Uu with primers based on multi-band antigen gene.  The MICs, MIC50 MIC90 of Uu to erythromycin were ≤0. 125 μg/ml to ≥128 μg/ml, 16 μg/ml, and ≥128 μg/ml, respectively, with a high resistance rate of 64.38%. ermB gene, which was mainly detected in Uu with MIC≥8 μg/ml, was positively detected in 40 out of 143 Uu strains (27.97%). No significant differences of the resistance to erythromycin and positive rate of ermB gene were found between the two biovars in the study .  ermB gene may probably be one of the important genes conferring resistance to erythromycin in Uu. Further studies are needed to discover the difference of resistance and mechanism of erythromycin between the two bi-ovars. 
 
 
Ureaplasma urealyticum;  Erythromyein;  Drug sensitivity test;  ermB gene

Field of study: Biology
Hegemonic Masculinity: Reviewing the Gendered Analysis of Men's Power in South Africa

The study of men and masculinity has become a strong feature of gendered research and scholarship in South Africa in the last twenty years. Gender policy frequently includes consideration of men and masculinity, marking a significant shift from the days when ‘gender’ was synonymous with women. The gendered focus on men owes its origins to feminist theory and thus centres on the subordination of women. The concept of hegemonic masculinity is part of a theoretical framework developed to analyse men's power (Carrigan, Connell & Lee 1985). It proposes a multiplicity of masculinities and hierarchies of power and shows how men exercise power over women and other men. In this paper we discuss the concept as it has been developed and then explore how it has been used in the South African context. What is significant is that it was initially adopted to explain the country's high levels of violence and to analyse the gender relationships under colonialism, apartheid and post-apartheid. Among the reasons that the concept of ‘hegemonic masculinity’ has become widely used in gender research in South Africa is because it can broaden the understanding of questions of gender inequality. The concept is multidimensional and allows consideration of men's power over women, the multiple and unequal location of men themselves, fluidity in power relations and the persistence of patriarchal trends. The pliability of the concept encouraged its adoption across a wide range of disciplines and fields. However, the concept is controversial. Its analytical and pragmatic utility and political potential are questioned and its exact meaning debated. In this paper we reflect on the use of the concept in gender research conducted in southern Africa. We select from a wide range of publications and projects with no claim that this selection is exhaustive or representative. The work on masculinity and men has grown dramatically in the last twenty years and it is not possible in an article of this length to cover all of this work. Instead we have chosen to examine four areas roughly defined by methodology and disciplinary location – in societal analyses, psychology, education and in health. We highlight the diverse and sometimes confusing ways that the concept is used, while also explaining why it is misused. In the process we identify aspects of the concept that seem more or less valuable and show what value it gives to theory, social analysis, research and practice.

Field of study: Sociology
Mice Deficient in Cyp4a14 Have An Increased Number of Goblet Cells and Attenuated Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis

Cyp4a14 is a member of cytochrome P450 (Cyp450) enzyme superfamily that possesses NADPH monooxygenase activity, which catalyzes omega-hydroxylation of medium-chain fatty acids and arachidonic acid. Study suggests that down-regulation of Cyp4a14 has an anti-inflammatory response in intestine. The present study was to test the function of Cyp4a14 in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.  Female Cyp4a14-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with DSS for 6 days to induce colitis. The colon of mice was histologically observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. The serum malondialdehyde (MDA), an endogenous indicator of oxidative stress, was chemically measured. Proinflammatory and NADPH oxidase genes were examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).  Cyp4a14-KO mice had a significantly higher number of goblet cells in the colon and were more resistant to DSS-induced colitis compared with the WT mice. The DSS-treated KO mice had lower levels of MDA. Consistent with the milder inflammatory pathological changes, DSS-treated KO mice had lower levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA in the liver and the colon. Moreover, the colon of DSS-treated Cyp4a14-KO and WT mice had higher mRNA levels of two members of NADPH oxidases, Nox2 and Nox4, suggesting that both Nox2 and Nox4 are inflammatory markers. By contrast, DSS-treated WT and KO mice had drastically decreased epithelium-localized Nox1 and dual oxidase (Duox) 2 mRNA levels, coinciding with the erosion of the mucosa induced by DSS.  These results suggests a hypothesis that the increased goblet cell in the colon of Cyp4a14-KO mice provides protection from mucosal injury and Cyp4a14-increased oxidative stress exacerbates DSS-induced colitis. Therefore, Cyp4a14 may represent a potential target for treating colitis.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Pulse pressure and arterial elasticity.

The last decade has seen increased interest in the mechanical interaction between the heart and the arterial system. In particular, it has been suggested that increased arterial stiffness is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and may even predict its development at an early stage before vascular lesions or external symptoms become evident (reviewed in references 1 and 2). The reasons for this association are not fully understood, although we have known for almost 200 years that pulse pressure is affected by the distensibility of the arterial system, its dimensions and the presence of wave reflections.3 Accordingly, renewed attention has been directed at methods of measuring arterial elasticity, either directly or by way of ‘surrogates’.

The review in this issue by Mackenzie and colleagues discusses the clinical value of such measurements. They reiterate the argument outlined by O'Rourke:4 that after the introduction of the sphygmomanometer, the shape of the pressure wave was neglected in favour of a simple numerical representation (i.e. pulse pressure), and that with the development of improved methods, analysis of the pulse wave is back in fashion. Whatever the reasons, it is clear that the long‐term performance of the heart, like that of all machines, depends not only on the average load to which it is exposed, but at least as much on time‐varying and peak loads. It is surprising, at least with the benefit of hindsight, that more attention has not been given to this aspect of the circulation.

To explain the relationship between forces generated within the myocardium, pressure within the ventricles, and changes in the shape and height of the pressure pulse as it travels away from the heart, requires a model of the circulation which, constrained by the observed anatomy and mechanical properties of the circulation, is able to predict …

Field of study: Medicine
Traditional Urban Construction Experience of Rainwater Utilization for Beijing Sponge Urban Construction Reference

Throughout the history of Beijing urban construction, the rainwater utilization has been accompanied by the development of Beijing city. The rainwater utilization has a close connection with Beijing water system construction, landscape construction and the location change of city. This article reviewed the traditional experiences and wisdom of rainwater utilization in Beijing urban construction from Beijing ancient rainwater utilization’s dominant ideas, methods, technologies and other aspects. It also summarizes the methods and technologies of ancient rainwater guidance, storage, retention and drainage. These experiences and methods have an important reference and inspiration to modern Beijing sponge city construction.

Field of study: Engineering
Tendencies and Preferences of Choosing Information Sources in Academic Learning: A Case of Native Hebrew and Native Arabic Speakers in Israel

In this article, we describe a study which examined factors that dominate the preferences of Israeli native Arabic speaking (NAS) students and those of Israeli native Hebrew speaking (NHS) students for choosing digital, printed, written, or orally conveyed information sources for academic learning. The study included 173 students (109 NHS; 64 NAS) from two academic institutions located in northern Israel who participated in the same two annual academic courses. We examined the perceived attribution of eight different information sources common in academic learning and 15 information source criteria that are relevant for the NAS and NHS students' preferences. We conclude that differences in perception of scope, depth, accessibility, trustworthiness, clarity, and especially the perceived ability of cognitive processing from various information sources can explain the “Digital Divide” between NAS and NHS Israeli students in the context of evaluating the contribution of different information sources for their learning. Thus, a techno-socio-cultural Second Order Digital Divide emerges. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2016.v6n1p39

Field of study: Education, Sociology
A simplified proof for a moving boundary problem for Hele-Shaw flows in the plane

In [7] Richardson derived a mathematical model for describing Hele-Shaw flows with a free boundary produced by the injection of fluid into a narrow channel. This model can be represented in the following form (see also ): Given fo(z), f0(0)=0, analytic and univalent in a neighbourhood of Izl_<l, find f(z,t), analytic and univalent as a function of z in a neighbourhood of Izl_<l, continuously differentiable with respect to t in a right-sided neighbourhood of t=0 , satisfying

Field of study: Mathematics
Retrospective Evaluation of Ecological Environment Impact Base on RS and GIS——Taking the Zijinshan mine in Fujian province as an example

Explanation,collection,analysis and comparison are made on ecological environment information of Zijinshan mine area with the methods of RS and GIS based on practical investigations.The result shows that the exploitation of Zijinshan mine has caused disruptions to the ecological environment of the mine area to a certain extent,the coverage rate of vegetation has decreased,land utilization type changed and soil erosion accelerated,with little change of erosion type and strength to the surrounding area of the mine.

Field of study: Materials science
Research on the phenomenon of examinees with false registered residence in the Ming and Qing Dynasty——Also on its enlightenment on how to solve the contemporary "immigrants in the national college entrance examinations"

The phenomenon of examinees with false registered residence refers to the fact that examinees in fierce competitive districts entered the relatively less severe competitive districts for the selective exam by unjust means due to the "quotas according to districts" in the imperial examination system in ancient China . It appeared in the Song Dynasty andbe-came increasingly common in the Ming and Qing dynasties, whose governments selected and adopted a series of measures to solve the issue . In recent years, "immigrated examinees for the National College Entrance Examinations" has happened repeatedly despite strict restrictions. The research on the phenomenon in Ming and Qing dynasties mentioned above can not only help us further understand the present problem of immigrated examinees also mentioned, but also provide suggestion on solving it.

Field of study: Education
Effect of Strategic Intent of Patient Relationship Management on the Competitiveness of Public Health Facilities in Kilifi County, Kenya

The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of strategic intent of patient relationship management on competitiveness of public health care facilities in Kilifi County. Asthe complexity of healthcare businessis unique, the clear plan of marketing which is Customer Relationship Management (CRM)was not able to be translated into healthcare sector. As a result, the idea of Patient Relationship Management (PRM) has been brought in. The study investigated the nature and scope of PRM, barriers towards implementation and effect of implementation of PRM on competitiveness of public health facilities in Kilifi County. The study employed cross sectional survey where sampling was done through systematic stratified sampling technique. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive and relational statistics. The outcome showed fundamentally that the chief purpose and benefit of PRM scheme to the public healthcare facilities were increased access to healthcare and improving patient services hence competitiveness. It was noted that inadequate supporting budget appeared as the major barrier to PRM implementation and that the operational and collaborative function of PRM had a higher effect on competitiveness of healthcare facilities in Kilifi County. Lastly, from the at timeout come, a number of suggestions were made regarding activities that should be undertaken to enhance PRM benefits as well as on the competence of operations in public healthcare establishments in Kilifi County.

Field of study: Business
Lacustrine stromatolites as multi-scale recorders of climate change: Insights from the Miocene Ebro Basin

Sedimentological, δ13C and δ18O data from stromatolites in a lower and middle Miocene sequence from the Ebro Basin (N Spain) are used to assess the potential of ancient lacustrine stromatolite lamination as an archive of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic change. The isotopic evolution through the studied sequence supports a general trend toward less saline conditions with time. Stromatolites and muddy-grainy laminated limestones developed in lake water that underwent little renewal, compared with other carbonate facies. The palaeoclimatic value of the stable-isotope changes and concurrent textural variations in calcite stromatolite lamination is studied at different orders of cyclicity. Stromatolite lamination consists of simple laminae (dark dense, light dense and light porous) grouped into alternating composite light and dark laminae. δ13C and δ18O analyses in consecutive composite laminae (bulk sampling) yielded a cyclic pattern that mimics textural variations. Light laminae, with lower δ13C and δ18O values, reflect higher precipitation/evaporation ratio (P/E) and more influence of biogenic 12C. Dark laminae, with higher δ13C and δ18O values, reflect drier conditions, more complete atmospheric CO2 exchange with water and photosynthetic 12CO2 uptake. Textural features of laminae support these results: the dark laminae are related to higher calcite saturation in lake water during drier periods. Isotopic values from high-resolution sampling through a 2.1-cm thick stromatolite reveal palaeoclimate variations at different temporal scales. Isotopic variation in 3rd order cyclicity of alternating light/dark simple laminae is recording seasonal P/E variations. Light and dark composite laminae (2nd order cyclicity) correspond to pluriannual dominantly-humid or -dry conditions, respectively. A gradual succession from light to dark composite laminae forms the 1st order cycles driven by decreasing P/E through longer pluriannual periods, resulting in lake level lowering. The stromatolites are thus recording lake level changes of centennial to millennial scale.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Effect of roasting on phytochemical properties of Thai soybeans.

Soybeans are a rich source of protein and widely cultivated in Thailand, and they have various bioactive ingredients, which have antioxidant and anticancer activates. This investigation revealed the phytochemical properties of three Thai roasted soybeans (RSB), which were roasted at 230oC for 12, 15 and 18 min, including the total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and βcarotene bleaching activity. Additionally, we measured the mutagenicity by the Ames test and anti-carcinogenic properties in the MCF-7 cell line. The RSB showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than raw soybean in TPC, TFC and all antioxidant assays. In particular, the RSB of SJ5 at 230oC for 15 min showed the highest antioxidant activity. Moreover, almost all of the RSBs did not have mutagenicity properties, in addition, no anticancer effects of RSBs were found. Therefore, the phytochemical properties of RSB depended upon the type of soybean, and the antioxidant activity can be maximized by roasting. This results shown beneficiary of increasing antioxidant activity of RSB with safe for nonmutagenicity approved.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Enzymatic activity characterization of SARS coronavirus 3C-like protease by fluorescence resonance energy transfer technique

To characterize enzymatic activity of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) 3C-like protease (3CLpro) and its four site-directed mutants.Based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) principle using 5-[(2′-aminoethyl)-amino] naphthelenesulfonic acid (EDANS) and 4-[[4-(dimethylamino) phenyl] azo] benzoic acid (Dabcyl) as the energy transfer pair, one fluorogenic substrate was designed for the evaluation of SARS-CoV 3CLpro proteolytic activity.The kinetic parameters of the fluorogenic substrate have been determined as Km=404 μmol·L−1, kcat=1.08 min−1, and kcat/Km=2.7 mmol−1·L·min−1. SARS-CoV 3CLpro showed substantial pH and temperature-triggered activity switches, and site-directed mutagenesis analysis of SARS-CoV 3CLpro revealed that substitutions of His41, Cys145, and His163 resulted in complete loss of enzymatic activity, while replacement of Met162 with Ala caused strongly increased activity.This present work has provided valuable information for understanding the catalytic mechanism of SARS-CoV 3CLpro. This FRET-based assay might supply an ideal approach for the exploration SARS-CoV 3CLpro putative inhibitors.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
Prenatal diagnosis of juvenile granulosa cell tumor of the testis.

Juvenile granulosa cell tumor is a rare benign neoplasm of the testicular stroma that accounts for 1-5% of all prepubertal testis tumors [Metcalfe PD, Farivar-Mohseni H, Farhat W, McLorie G, Khoury A, Bagli DJ. Pediatric testicular tumors: contemporary incidence and efficacy of testicular preserving surgery.  Urol 2003;170:2412-2416; Ross JH, Rybicki L, Kay R. Clinical behavior and a contemporary management algorithm for prepubertal testis tumors: a summary of the prepubertal testis tumor registry. J Urol 2002;168:1675-1679]. A prior case series retrospectively identified a cystic testis tumor on prenatal ultrasound images which was subsequently diagnosed as a juvenile granulosa cell tumor [Bryan DE, Cain MP, Casale AJ. Juvenile granulosa-theca cell (sex cord-stromal) tumor of the infant testis.  Urol 2003;169:1497-1498]. We report a case of a prenatally diagnosed testis tumor which was subsequently diagnosed as a juvenile granulosa cell tumor.

Field of study: Medicine