nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
A gold nanoparticle/latex microsphere-based colorimetric oligonucleotide detection method

An exceptionally simple and effective DNA detection methodology based on latex microsphere and gold nanoparticle probes has been developed. The latex and gold particle probes, which were functionalized with separate oligonucleotide sequences, undergo hybridization in the presence of target strands that are complementary to both of the probes. Duplex formation thus results in linking of gold nanoparticles to the latex microspheres and a corresponding white-to-red color change, which, because of the particularly large extinction coefficient of the gold nanoparticles, is clearly visible to the naked eye. Background signal caused by unbound gold nanoparticles is significantly reduced by filtering the solution containing the sample and probes through a size-selective cellulose acetate membrane. The unbound gold probes move freely through this membrane while the larger latex particles are trapped. Therefore, if the latex and gold nanoparticles are joined together via the target oligonucleotides, the membrane appears red, indicating a positive test result. If no hybridization takes place, the membrane appears white, indicating a negative result. The lower detection limits for this system are 500 pM for a 24 base single-stranded target and 2.5 nM for a duplex target oligonucleotide.

Field of study: Chemistry
Evaluation and diffusion of excimer laser treatment of myopia in the United States and in The Netherlands.

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is an experimental treatment to correct myopia (short-sightedness) that is diffusing into use without convincing evidence of safety and efficacy. It has been claimed that PRK may render conventional methods of correcting myopia, such as wearing glasses or contact lenses, obsolete. Since about 25% of the world's population is myopic, the consequences of this technology in terms of benefits, risks, and costs could be truly enormous. The fee for the procedure in various countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia varies from about US $1500 to US $2250 per eye. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration, acting as authorized in the Medical Devices Act of 1976, has limited the use of PRK to patients participating in clinical trials. In the Netherlands, in contrast, where medical equipment is not regulated, the method has diffused without controls, although it is not reimbursed by health insurance agencies. The procedure has become controversial in the Netherlands because it is provided privately and has been aggressively and inappropriately promoted. The case illustrates the limitations of health policy concerning technologies provided privately and raises a number of social and political questions.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Fabrication and Characteristics of 2G HTS Current Leads

2nd generation high temperature superconducting (2G-HTS) tape consists of multi-layers such substrate, buffer layer, superconducting layer and reinforced lamination tapes. 2G HTS tape is a candidate of good materials for current lead of superconducting magnet system owing to its low thermal conductivity. However, joint resistance between 2G HTS tapes and terminal block can be a major problem because of high electrical resistivity of substrate, buffer layer and reinforced lamination tapes of 2G HTS. So specially considering joint resistance between 2G tapes and terminal block, 2G HTS current lead for 400 A was designed and fabricated. This current lead was consisting of two terminal blocks, a support bar or tube, protection tube and six 2G HTS tapes. Its total length was 300 mm and body diameter 18.3 mm. At liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) critical current (Ic) of this HTS current lead was 600 A, about 1.5 times the operating current 400 A. Conductive heat loss of 2G HTS current lead between 60 K and 7 K was 50 mW.

Field of study: Physics
The effect of the Wyckoff position of the K atom on the crystal structure and electronic properties of the compound KFe₂Se₂.

By means of first-principles electronic structure calculations, we study the effect of the Wyckoff position of the K atom on the crystal and electronic structures of the compound KFe(2)Se(2). When the K atoms take up the Wyckoff positions 2a, 2b and 4c (the related structures of KFe(2)Se(2) are referred to as Struc-2a, Struc-2b and Struc-4c), the calculated lattice constants c lie in the ranges 13.5-14.5, 15.5-16.7 or 18.6-19.1 Å respectively. Three concentric cylinder-like Fermi surfaces emerge around Γ-Z in the Brillouin zone for Struc-2b in the nonmagnetic state, unlike the cases for Struc-2a and Struc-4c. The Fe-Se-Fe angles are 107.8°, 108.8° and 110.7° respectively in the collinear antiferromagnetic state, and the superexchange interactions J(2) between two next neighbor Fe moments are 13.08 meV S(-2), 20.75 meV S(-2) and 11.86 meV S(-2) for the Struc-2a, Struc-2b and Struc-4c structures respectively. Struc-2b and Struc-4c have good correspondence with the newly discovered superconducting phases with T(c) = 40 and 30 K in KFe(2)Se(2). Our findings suggest a reasonable approach for achieving an understanding of the existence of multiple superconducting phases in alkali metal intercalated FeSe superconductor.

Field of study: Physics
Impact of Marriage on Birth Outcomes: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2012–2014

Marriage has been associated with improved pregnancy outcomes. However, as Americans become increasingly accepting of pregnancy and childbearing outside of marriage, many believe the father can support the mother without the parents being married. Some question whether the present normalization of childbearing outside of marriage will negate the protective effect of marriage on pregnancy outcomes. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System were used to obtain data from a sample of 138,118 live singleton deliveries from 2012 to 2014. Odds ratios were compared between married and unmarried mothers for outcomes of preterm delivery, a small for gestational age infant, neonatal intensive care unit admission, vaginal delivery, and breastfeeding initiation. Logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for maternal age, maternal and paternal race, maternal medical comorbidities, maternal smoking status, and receipt of Medicaid. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) showed married women had a lower risk of preterm delivery (AOR = .877, 95% confidence interval [CI; .811–.948]), a small for gestational age baby (AOR = .838, 95% CI [.726–.967]), and a neonatal intensive care admission (AOR = .808, 95% CI [.754–.866]). Women who were married were more likely to have a vaginal delivery (AOR = 1.144, 95% CI [1.085–1.211]) and to initiate breastfeeding (AOR = 1.601, 95% CI [1.490–1.719]). These data demonstrate that despite a normalization in society of childbearing outside of marriage, there continues to be an association of marriage with improved birth outcomes.  Marriage is associated with a lower risk of preterm delivery, small for gestational age infants, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. These differences persist even after correcting for potentially confounding socioeconomic factors.

Field of study: Medicine, Philosophy
Clarifying anti-reflexivity: conservative opposition to impact science and scientific evidence

The recent study reported by McCright et al (2013 ) extends current research on conservatives’ distrust of science by distinguishing between public trust in production versus impact scientists (i.e. those whose work yields new technologies and marketable products versus those assessing the health and environmental impacts of such technologies and products). As expected, they find that conservatives are significantly less trustful of impact scientists but somewhat more trustful of production scientists. In the process they provide support for the Anti-Reflexivity Thesis, a perspective that attributes conservatives’ (and Republicans’) denial of anthropogenic climate change (ACC) and other environmental problems and attacks on climate/environmental science to their staunch commitment to protecting the current system of economic production. McCright et al’s innovative study deserves replication, and their approach should prove useful in accounting for divergent views of ACC. It is also important to keep in mind that anti-reflexivity is an institutional and structural issue, becoming more consequential when it is employed by political elites such as the George W Bush Administration in the US. Institutional anti-reflexivity is further illustrated by the widespread denial of ACC and a range of other problems among current Republican members of the US Congress.

Field of study: Environmental science
Cyanidin Curtails Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumorigenesis

Cyanidin is an anthocyanin found in many foods. Although its variable antioxidant levels are well-documented, little is known about its effects on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumorigenesis. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of cyanidin on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of renal cell carcinoma lines and demonstrated, for the first time, significant inhibitory effects of cyanidin on RCC tumorigenesis.  RCC cells were treated with different doses of cyanidin and the effects were tested by Cell Counting Kit-8 reagent, clone formation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Moreover, the cyanidin-mediated mechanism that curtailed tumorigenesis was analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to compare the expression of both early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) and selenoprotein W (SEPW1) in RCC and tumor-free adjacent normal tissue samples. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and/or western blot were used to assess the expression of E-cadherin, cleaved-caspase3, Bcl2, p62, and ATG4.  We found significantly greater induction of cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and suppression of RCC cell invasion and migration at concentrations of 25 µM and 100 µM than at a concentration of 50 µM. It was also discovered, first through RNA-seq then confirmed by RT-PCR, that cyanidin (100 µM) inhibited RCC carcinogenesis through EGR1 and SEPW1. TCGA data indicated that the expression level of EGR1 was lower and that of SEPW1 was higher in RCC tumor tissue than in normal tissues. Moreover, western blot and/or RT-PCR indicated that cleaved-caspase3 was enhanced and E-cadherin was inhibited by cyanidin treatment. Furthermore, western blot and RT-PCR also showed regulation of p62 and ATG4, which are associated with autophagy. Cyanidin in vivo significantly inhibited the growth of xenografts in nude mice.  The results of this study showed the therapeutic potential of cyanidin for the treatment of RCC and the prevention of recurrence and metastasis.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Perception of Self as a Mediator in the Dehumanization Process

A body of literature in the fields of both clinical and personality psychology has centered on the assumption that a high acceptance of self is linked with a positive perception of others. In direct opposition, our own results, based on two independent field studies, one sampling 76 mental health workers, the other 204 elementary school children, concluded that individuals low in self-perception are more empathetic and more humanly treat a stimulus person while those high in perception of self dehumanize and detach themselves from the stimulus person. These findings are interpreted within a social psychological analysis of a modified deindividuation/ dehumanization model.

Field of study: Psychology
Cohomology of Deligne-Lusztig varieties for groups of type A

We study the cohomology of parabolic Deligne-Lusztig varieties associated to unipotent blocks of GLn(q). We show that the geometric version of Brou\'e's conjecture over Q_\ell, together with Craven's formula, holds for any unipotent block whenever it holds for the principal Phi_1-block, that is for the variety X(\pi).

Field of study: Mathematics
Changes in public attitudes to depression during the Defeat Depression Campaign.

Aims of the Defeat Depression Campaign between 1991 and 1996 included the reduction of stigma associated with depression, education of the public about the disorder and its treatment and encouragement of earlier treatment-seeking. Newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television programmes and other media activities were employed.



Surveys of public attitudes were conducted by MORI in late 1991, early 1995 and mid-1997. Each covered approximately 2000 subjects, sampled to be representative of the population of Great Britain. Structured interviews covered views on depression, treatment and general practitioners (GPs).



There were significant positive changes regarding attitudes to depression, reported experience of it, attitudes to antidepressants, and less consistently, to treatment from GPs. Changes were of the order of 5-10%. Throughout, attitudes to depression and to treatment by counselling were very favourable, whereas antidepressants were regarded as addictive and less effective.



Positive attitude change was achieved during the Campaign, although there is still room for improvement in some aspects.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
On rare-earth clustering in flourite type solid solutions MF2REF3

The clustering of rare-earth cations (RE) in the heavily doped flourite-type solid solutions are discussed in a scope of the close relations between the cationic frameworks of CaF2- and REF3-type structures. The REF3 clusters in the flourite solid solutions are shown to be the structure units of the neighboring individual phase nearest to the fluorite phase in the phase diagram.

Field of study: Materials science
Chimaeras obtained by the nuclear transplantation technique in the mouse.

核移植技術を用いて,BALB×BALBおよびF1×CBAの2細胞胚期間で片側割球核の交換移植を行いキメラマウスの作出を試みた。得られた結果の概要は次の通りである。1. BALB系の核を注入したF1胚の胚盤胞への発生率(62%)は,F1の核を注入したBALB系胚の発生率(42%)に比べて有意に高かった。2. 培養胚の移植により,BALB系の核を注入したF1胚で,産仔の33% (15/39)に体毛キメラが得られた。じかしながら,逆の組み合わせではキメラ個体は得られなかった。3. GPI-1型の比率と体毛のキメラ状態は一致したが,生殖細胞では異なっていた。

Field of study: Biology
Comparative in silico analysis of PCR primers suited for diagnostics and cloning of ammonia monooxygenase genes from ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

Over recent years, several PCR primers have been described to amplify genes encoding the structural subunits of ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) from ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Most of them target amoA, while amoB and amoC have been neglected so far. This study compared the nucleotide sequence of 33 primers that have been used to amplify different regions of the amoCAB operon with alignments of all available sequences in public databases. The advantages and disadvantages of these primers are discussed based on the original description and the spectrum of matching sequences obtained. Additionally, new primers to amplify the almost complete amoCAB operon of AOB belonging to Betaproteobacteria (betaproteobacterial AOB), a primer pair for DGGE analysis of amoA and specific primers for gammaproteobacterial AOB, are also described. The specificity of these new primers was also evaluated using the databases of the sequences created during this study.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science
The life cycle climate performance evaluation of low-GWP refrigerants for domestic heat pumps

Domestic heat pumps constitute a significant part of the global heat pump industry. R401A offers excellent performance with no influence on the ozone depletion and has been a dominant refrigerant in most domestic heat pumps. However, R410A has a significant impact on the climate due to its high global warming potential (GWP). Thus, the heat pump industry has been focusing on the development of R410A substitutes. Pure refrigerant alternates, such as HFC32, and the blends mixed with low-GWP refrigerants, such as HFO1234yf and HFO1234ze(E), are widely reported. Besides the direct impact of refrigerants (which is estimated as GWP), domestic heat pumps indirectly affect the environment from the energy consumption and manufacturing processes. Hence the life cycle climate performance (LCCP) analysis accounts for all emissions through the lifetime of a heat pump. This article reports the LCCP evaluation of various low-GWP refrigerants for R410A replacement on domestic heat pumps. Six refrigerants, i.e., HFC32, binary blends of HFC32 and HFO1234yf (with GWP values of 300, 200 and 150), and HFC32 and HFO1234ze(E) with GWP values of 300 and 200, were compared against R410A. The performance data of these refrigerants from the experimental heat pump facility were utilized to evaluate the LCCP. Among the selected refrigerants, the binary blend of HFC32/HFO1234ze(E) with GWP 300 shows the lowest LCCP. Low-GWP refrigerants would become more competitive than R410A when CO2 emission from energy generations can be reduced by the optimization of the system or the usage of renewable energy.

Field of study: Engineering
Flexible Chip-on-Flex (COF) and embedded Chip-in-Flex (CIF) packages by applying wafer level package (WLP) technology using anisotropic conductive films (ACFs)

Due to increasing demand for higher performance, greater flexibility, smaller size, and lighter weight in electronic devices, extensive studies on flexible electronic packages have been carried out. However, there has been little research on flexible packages by wafer level package (WLP) technology using anisotropic conductive films (ACFs) and flex substrates, an innovative packaging technology that requires fewer process steps and lower process temperature, and also provides flexible packages. This study demonstrated and evaluated the reliability of flexible packages that consisted of a flexible Chip-on-Flex (COF) assembly and embedded Chip-in-Flex (CIF) packages by applying a WLP process. The WLP process was successfully performed for the cases of void-free ACF lamination on a 50 μm thin wafer, wafer dicing without ACF delamination, and a flip-chip assembly which showed stable bump contact resistances. The fabricated COF assembly was more flexible than the conventional COF whose chip thickness is about 700 μm. To evaluate the flexibility of the COF assembly, a static bending test was performed under different bending radiuses: 35 mm, 30 mm, 25 mm, and 20 mm. Adopting optimized bonding processes of COF assembly and Flex-on-Flex (FOF) assembly, CIF packages were then successfully fabricated. The reliability of the CIF packages was evaluated via a high temperature/humidity test (85 °C/85% RH) and high temperature storage test (HTST). From the reliability test results, the CIF packages showed excellent 85 °C/85% RH reliability. Furthermore, guideline of ACF material property was suggested by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for better HTST reliability.

Field of study: Engineering
Response of the soil microbial community to imazethapyr application in a soybean field

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of imazethapyr on soil microbial communities combined with its effect on soybean growth. A short-term field experiment was conducted, and imazethapyr was applied to the soil at three different doses [1-fold, 10-fold, and 50-fold of the recommended field rate (H1, H10, H50)] during the soybean seedling period (with two leaves). Soil sampling was performed after 1, 7, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of application to determine the imazethapyr concentration and microbial community structure by investigating phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). The half-lives of the imazethapyr in the field soil varied from 30.1 to 43.3 days. Imazethapyr at H1 was innocuous to soybean plants, but imazethapyr at H10 and H50 led to a significant inhibition in soybean plant height and leaf number. The soil MBC, total PLFA, and bacterial PLFA were decreased by the application of imazethapyr during the initial period and could recover by the end of the experiment. The ratio of Gram-negative/Gram-positive (GN/GP) bacteria during the three treatments went through increases and decreases, and then recovered at the end of the experiment. The fungal PLFA of all three treatments increased during the initial period and then declined, and only the fungal PLFA at H50 recovered by the end of the treatment. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the PLFA clearly separated the treatments and sampling times, and the results demonstrate that imazethapyr alters the microbial community structure. This is the first systemic study reporting the effects of imazethapyr on the soil microbial community structure under soybean field conditions.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
MMPI Characteristics of the DSM-III—R Avoidant Personality Disorder

The clinical description provided by the MMPI Scale 0 (Social Introversion, Si) reflects an apparent and striking affinity with the DSM-III—R concept of the avoidant personality disorder which was here investigated by comparing the MMPI variables of 22 avoidant with 60 other, nonavoidant personality disordered inpatients. Both of the groups were diagnosed by use of a semistructured interview (SCID-II). The avoidant group obtained for mean MMPI profile a 2-6-7 (D-Pa-Pt) code. Significant differences were found between groups on MMPI Scales 2 (D), 7 (Pt), 9 (Ma), and 0 (Si). ROC analysis of the diagnostic performance showed the importance and utility of the evaluation of Scale 0 (Si) in the psychodiagnostic assessment of the avoidant personality disorder.

Field of study: Psychology
Direct Stereoselective Aziridination of Cyclohexenols with 3‐Amino‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one in the Synthesis of Cyclitol Aziridine Glycosidase Inhibitors

Cyclophellitol aziridine and its configurational and functional isomers are powerful covalent inhibitors of retaining glycosidases, and find application in fundamental studies on glycosidases, amongst others in relation to inherited lysosomal storage disorders caused by glycosidase malfunctioning. Few direct and stereoselective aziridination methodologies are known for the synthesis of cyclophellitol aziridines. Herein, we present our studies on the scope of direct 3‐amino‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one‐mediated aziridination on a variety of configurational and functional cyclohexenol isosters. We demonstrate that the aziridination can be directed by an allylic or homoallylic hydroxyl through H‐bonding and that steric hindrance plays a key role in the diastereoselectivity of the reaction.

Field of study: Chemistry
Differential distribution of individual subunits of strongly inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir2 family) in rat brain.

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels modulate cellular excitability, membrane potential, and secretion of neurotransmitters and hormones. Kir channels with the strongest inward rectification belong to the Kir2 family. In this report, polyclonal monospecific affinity-purified antibodies against the less conserved carboxy-terminal sequences of Kir2.1, Kir2.2, Kir2.3, and Kir2.4 were used to analyze the detailed distribution of all members of the Kir2 family in the rat central nervous system. Kir2 channel expression is detected in neurons but not in glial cells. Kir2 protein distribution confirms the basic mRNA localization pattern given by in situ hybridization. Kir2.1 is detected throughout the whole brain but in particular subsets of neurons with highest expression in olfactory bulb and superior colliculus. Kir2.2 immunoreactivity is primarily displayed in several forebrain nuclei, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and spinal cord. The Kir2.3 subunit is predominantly localized in olfactory bulb, basal ganglia, cortex, and cerebellar Purkinje cells. In contrast, Kir2.4-positive staining is detected at significantly lower levels in most neurons throughout the rat brain with highest expression in brainstem motoneurons. Thus, our data show a more widespread distribution of Kir2.4 than previously determined. In summary, the widespread presence of all four Kir2 channel subunits in the rat brain provides further evidence for their important role in central signal processing and neural transmission.

Field of study: Biology