nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
N6-Methyladenosine RNA Methylation Regulators Have Clinical Prognostic Values in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Although it is widely accepted that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation plays critical roles in tumorigenesis and progression, the values of m6A modification are less known in hepatocellular carcinoma. The major purpose of our current studies is to investigate the role of m6A regulators in hepatocellular carcinoma and whether it can affect the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we demonstrate that most of the m6A regulators are highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, we cluster hepatocellular carcinoma into two subgroups (cluster 1/2) by applying consensus clustering to m6A regulators. Compared with the cluster 1 subgroup, the cluster 2 subgroup was significantly associated with a higher pathological grade and survival. Based on these findings, we reveal a risk signature by using three m6A regulators, which are not only an independent prognostic marker but also a predictor of the clinicopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma. In conclusion, m6A regulators are crucial participants in the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and are potential targets for prognosis.

Field of study: Biology
Teaching Reform Exploration of "Digital Signal Processing" Driven by Engineering Project

A new teaching method is proposed for "Digital signal processing" course for postgraduate students because it is very theoretical and abstract. Digital signal processing teaching reforms consist of the basic theory integration and experiment simulations. The teaching process is driven by engineering project and combined with digital signal processing flow. The classic contents of digital signal processing are deeply analyzed combined with simulations. Algorithms commonly used in engineering are treated as the contents of experiment simulations and complete engineering simulation designs are treated as practice topics. Through this reform practice, postgraduate students will greatly improve in independent study, practice and collaboration and will lay the foundation of their future research work.

Field of study: Engineering
CircRNA-Cdr1as Exerts Anti-Oncogenic Functions in Bladder Cancer by Sponging MicroRNA-135a

CircRNAs regulate gene expression in different malignancies. However, the role of Cdr1as in the tumourigenesis of bladder cancer and its potential mechanisms remain unknown.  qRT-PCR was used to detect Cdr1as and target miRNA expression in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. Biological functional experiments were performed to detect the effects of Cdr1as on the biological behaviour of bladder cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Bioinformatic analysis was utilised to predict potential miRNA target sites on Cdr1as. Ago2 RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assay, RNA antisense purification assay, biotin pull down assay and RNA FISH were performed to detect the interaction between Cdr1as and target miRNAs. Western blot was used to determine the expression level of p21 in bladder cancer cells.  Cdr1as was significantly down-regulated in bladder cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Overexpression of Cdr1as inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of bladder cancer cells in vitro and slowed down tumour growth in vivo. Cdr1as sponged multiple miRNAs in bladder cancer. Moreover, Cdr1as directly bound to miR-135a and inhibited its activity in bladder cancer.  Cdr1as is down-regulated and sponges multiple miRNAs in bladder cancer. It exerts anti-oncogenic functions by sponging microRNA-135a.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
The Portuguese and Spanish voyages of discovery and the early history of geology

Geologists usually trace the history of their science back to the Geological Revolution, ca. 1800, when it was recognized that the Earth is very much more ancient than indicated in the biblical account. Geologists are thus accustomed to think that geology is a much younger science than modern astronomy and physics, which date back to the Copernican Revolution, ca. 1540–1690. We argue that this is only because geologists are neglecting a major advance in understanding the Earth that occurred a century before that. We argue that geologists should recognize the Portuguese Voyages of Discovery, later joined by the Spanish, as a major episode in the history of what would now be called geology. This revolutionary advance was driven by technological changes, yielded a cornucopia of discoveries, was marked by great excitement, and led to major changes in worldview and society. The Voyages of Discovery have been intensely studied by historians of geography, but not by historians of geology. Therefore we are at pains to show that they should be taken as part of the history of geology, as well as that of geography, for they led to central geological discoveries. These discoveries included the shape of coastlines whose match later demonstrated continental drift, the fact that there is more ocean than land, the arrangement of planetary climate zones, and the patterns of winds and the geomagnetic field. This new historical viewpoint sees geology as a science at least as old and worthy of respect as physics and astronomy, and this is an important consideration as a scientific understanding of the Earth becomes critical to the flourishing of the biosphere and of humanity.

Field of study: Geology
Multiple frequency spin-lattice relaxation time and conductivity measurements of FIC Li2S+SiS2 glasses

The glass series Li2S+SiS2 is known to be one of the very best fast Li+ ion-conducting glasses and for this reason, it has provided a unique opportunity to examine both the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation (NSLR) of the 7Li+ cation and the ionic conductivity over wide and overlapping regions of frequency and temperature. Since the decoupling indices for these glasses are so high, a wide temperature range above the NSLR rate maximum (in the frequency-independent regime) can be observed and compared directly to the frequency-independent conductivity. As expected, activation energies compared in this way agree very well and this result is used to resolve the long-standing disagreement that has exissted between conductivity and spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements. The frequency-dependent region of the relaxation has been modeled using both the empirical time-domain Kohlrausch- Williams-Watts function and the Cole-Davidson distribution of relaxation times model. Using a frequency range of 4–40 MHz, the first multiple frequency and simultaneous fit of the NSLR rate, R1, to these functions is provided. Though both functions appear to fit the data well, the KWW function is shown to give the better fit. More important is the result that just as the frequency-dependent conductivity can be fit to a relaxation function over wide ranges of frequency and temperature, so can the NSLR rate.

Field of study: Materials science
Persistent deficits in heart rate response habituation following neonatal binge ethanol exposure.

We have previously shown that the rate of habituation of the heart rate orienting response to a novel odor in rats is negatively affected by neonatal ethanol exposure. Thus far, however, only young rats (16 days of age) have been tested. Given the persistence of attention and memory problems evident in humans exposed to ethanol in utero, the purpose of this experiment was to examine the longer-term consequences of ethanol exposure on response habituation.



Ethanol (5.25 g/kg/d) was administered intragastrically to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats on postnatal days (PD) 4 to 9, and controls were given sham intubations. Animals were tested for heart rate orienting and response habituation to a novel olfactory stimulus (amyl acetate) on PD 16, 23, or 30.



Animals tested on PD 16 or 23 showed normal heart rate deceleration to the novel odor, a measure of the orienting response. However, ethanol-treated subjects showed impaired response habituation compared with sham controls. While controls exhibited complete habituation within 4 to 5 trials, ethanol-treated animals continued to respond throughout the testing session, with little decrement in heart rate response magnitude across 10 stimulus presentations. A different pattern of responding was observed in animals tested during adolescence (PD 30). Control animals failed to show the typical heart rate decrease indicative of orienting, and instead showed a tendency toward tachycardia. In contrast, ethanol-treated animals tested on PD 30 showed orienting bradycardia that persisted for several trials.



These data suggest that there are relatively long-term consequences of neonatal ethanol exposure on nonassociative memory. This impairment in habituation may be relevant to the distractibility and poor focused attention that is pervasive among humans diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Field of study: Medicine
Research advances in bioreactors and bioprocesses for biodesulfurization of petroleum

The development of bioreactors and bioprocesses for biocatalytic desulfurization of petroleum distillates in recent years are reviewed.The progress of several bioreactors, including stirred-tank reactors, airlift reactors, emulsion-phase contactor and fluidized bed reactors is introduced in detail.In addition, the development trend of various bioreactors and processes for the biodesulfurization of fuels is briefly described.The commercialization of biodesulfurization,problems to be resolved and future research are forecasted.

Field of study: Chemistry, Environmental science
Producing Exile: Diasporic Vision in Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun

Set in postcolonial Nigeria during the Biafra War, Adichie's second novel represents the fracturing of national unity and the suffering of the Igbo people as the doomed war propels them into diaspora. The essay explores the novel's diasporic vision, tracing Adichie's representation of the colonial legacies that shape public history and undermine personal communities. Rejecting historical omniscience and narrating instead through three uncertain characters, Adichie demonstrates the diasporic vision produced by events in the novel. The estranged observers demonstrate anticolonial modes of perception and the potential for a diasporic consciousness attuned to the innate failures of nationalism.

Field of study: Art
Study on sweet germinated brown rice wine rich in ferulic acid andγ-GABA

Sweet germinated brown rice wine rich in ferulic acid and γ-GABA was developed in this study. Germinated brown rice that has been pretreated was mixed with sweet wine koji for diastatic fermentation. The steam time of germinated brown rice, the amount of sweet wine koji, the fermentation temperature and the fermentation period were investigated. Results showed that germinated brown rice was steamed for 60 min, fermented with sweet wine koji at 31 ℃ for 60 h. The contents of ferulic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid of sweet germinated brown rice wine were 12.4 mg/100 mL and 2.1 mg/100 mL, respectively.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Space-group and origin ambiguity in macromolecular structures with pseudo-symmetry and its treatment with the program Zanuda.

The presence of pseudo-symmetry in a macromolecular crystal and its interplay with twinning may lead to an incorrect space-group (SG) assignment. Moreover, if the pseudo-symmetry is very close to an exact crystallographic symmetry, the structure can be solved and partially refined in the wrong SG. Typically, in such incorrectly determined structures all or some of the pseudo-symmetry operations are, in effect, taken for crystallographic symmetry operations and vice versa. A mistake only becomes apparent when the R(free) ceases to decrease below 0.39 and further model rebuilding and refinement cannot improve the refinement statistics. If pseudo-symmetry includes pseudo-translation, the uncertainty in SG assignment may be associated with an incorrect choice of origin, as demonstrated by the series of examples provided here. The program Zanuda presented in this article was developed for the automation of SG validation. Zanuda runs a series of refinements in SGs compatible with the observed unit-cell parameters and chooses the model with the highest symmetry SG from a subset of models that have the best refinement statistics.

Field of study: Chemistry
STUDIES ON PHOTO-POLAROGRAPHY. VII. PHOTO-CURRENT OF DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE AND FORMATION OF METHYLSULFYNYLCARBONIUM ANION AT IRRADIATED DROPPING MERCURY ELECTRODE

The photo-current produced at a dropping mercury electrode irradiated by ultra-violet light in the dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution was investigated. The formation of methylsulfynylcarbonium anion by the reaction of DMSO with the solvated electron was confirmed indirectly from the influence of ethanol as the H radical scavenger on the photo-current.

Field of study: Chemistry
Bank Selection Criteria in the Iranian Retail Banking Industry

Iranian retail banks need to identify criteria which bank customers consider when they select a bank in order to plan their marketing strategies and survive in an intense competition that exist in this industry. This study designed to examine the bank selection criteria being employed by bank customers in Iran. A total of 798 customers (55.7 percent male and 44.3 percent female) served as a sample for the study. 38 selection factors extracted from relevant literature and interviews with five bank officials. Factors analysis is used to extract important selection criteria and Friedman analysis ranks the factors according to their importance. Findings show that the important factors determining customers' selection are: quality of services and new banking methods, innovation and responsiveness of bank, friendliness of staff and confidence in manager, price and cost, staff attitudes and convenience of bank location and services.

Field of study: Business
Unilateral pedicle screw instrumentation for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

OBJECT
Clinical and radiographic results were assessed to determine the clinical outcomes and fusion rate in eight consecutive patients selected for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in which a percutaneous pedicle screw system was used unilaterally.



Eight patients underwent one-level, minimally invasive TLIF in which a percutaneous pedicle screw system was used only on the side where facets were removed for interbody access. Clinical, economic, functional, and radiographic data were recorded preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. The mean 6-month change in the modified Prolo Scale score was 7, and osseous interbody bridging assessed on coronal and sagittal computerized tomography studies was seen in all patients.



The use of unilateral percutaneous pedicle screw instrumentation for the minimally invasive TLIF procedure provides excellent clinical results and is an option in selected patients.

Field of study: Medicine
Microarray analysis of Mycobacterium bovis BCG revealed induction of iron acquisition related genes in response to hydrogen peroxide.

Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain Pasteur 1173P2 responds with adaptive and protective strategies against oxidative stress. Despite advances in our understanding of the responses to oxidative stress in many specific cases, the connectivity between targeted protective genes and the rest of cell metabolism remains obscure. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the genome-wide response of M. bovis BCG to hydrogen peroxide after 10 and 60 min of treatment. ATP measurements were carried out in order to monitor the changes in M. bovis BCG growth over a 1 h period. The furA gene in Mycobacterium bovis, a pleiotropic regulator that couples iron metabolism to the oxidative stress response was involved in the response to hydrogen peroxide stress. There were also increased levels of catalase/ peroxidase (KatG) and the biosynthesis operon of mycobactin. This study revealed significant upregulation of the oxidative response group of M. bovis, amino acid transport and metabolism, defense mechanisms, DNA replication, recombination and repair, and downregulation of cell cycle control, mitosis, and meiosis, lipid transport and metabolism, and cell wall/membrane biogenesis. This study shows that the treatment of M. bovis BCG with hydrogen peroxide induces iron acquisition related genes and oxidative stress response genes within one hour of treatment.

Field of study: Environmental science
Glycation increases the permeability of proteins across the blood-nerve and blood-brain barriers

Our previous investigations have demonstrated increased permeability across the blood-nerve barrier of human plasma albumin after glycation with D-glucose [J.F. Poduslo and G.L. Curran,  USA, 89 (1992) 2218-2222]. In the present investigation, the generality of this observation was evaluated by measuring the permeability coefficient-surface area product (PS) after correction for the residual plasma volume (Vp) across the blood-nerve barrier (BNB), as well as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), for nerve growth factor (NGF) and human IgG after in vitro glycation with D-glucose using an i.v. bolus injection technique in the cannulated brachial vein and artery of normal adult rats. Glycated proteins (gNGF and gIgG) had significantly decreased circulating plasma half-lives compared to the non-glycated proteins. The PS across the BNB obtained for gNGF was significantly increased compared to NGF with a 2.0-fold increase observed after 8 weeks of glycation and a 5.1-fold increase at 21 weeks of glycation. The Vp measurement for NGF and gNGF across the BNB was not significantly different at 8 weeks of glycation but was 1.3-fold greater at 21 weeks of glycation. The PS across the BBB for gNGF was about 2-fold greater than NGF with a glycation time of 8 weeks and 3.2-3.6-fold greater with a glycation time of 21 weeks for six different brain regions. No changes were observed in the Vp for any of the brain regions for gNGF compared to NGF. The PS across the BNB for gIgG compared to IgG was significantly greater with a 4.1-fold relative increase and no significant difference in the Vp values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Field of study: Biology
Lifting to Cluster-Tilting Objects in 2-Calabi–Yau Triangulated Categories

We show that a tilting module over the endomorphism algebra of a cluster-tilting object in a 2-Calabi–Yau triangulated category lifts to a cluster-tilting object in this 2-Calabi–Yau triangulated category. This generalizes a recent work of Smith for cluster categories.

Field of study: Mathematics
Methods of synthesis and physicochemical properties of 1-hydroxyimidazoles, imidazole 3-oxides, and their benzoannulated analogs

We provide a systematic overview of methods suitable for the synthesis of 1-hydroxyimidazoles, imidazole 3-oxides, and their benzoannulated analogs. Generalized spectral and structural data of the considered compounds are presented. This review covers literature sources from 1964 until 2016, as well as some earlier works.

Field of study: Chemistry
Convection-driven absorption of R-1234yf in lubricating oil

Experiments were carried out to determine rates of absorption of R-1234yf through the free surface of an initially stagnant layer of lubricant POE ISO VG 10 in a closed system. Rayleigh instability at the phase interface gives rise to natural mass convection-driven absorption. Mass transfer rates computed via a cooling-law relationship involving a time-dependent mass transfer coefficient and a refrigerant mass fraction driving force (assuming phase equilibrium at the interface) yielded good agreement with data for the system pressure decay as a function of time. Due to the lack of data on phase equilibrium of the R-1234yf/POE ISO VG 10 mixture, a PVT cell was designed and constructed to measure the solubility of the oil-refrigerant system. Tests carried out with R-134a/POE ISO VG 10 under the same conditions showed that R-1234yf offers lower absorption rates in the oil, which may result in higher values for the equalizing pressure in refrigeration systems.

Field of study: Engineering
Magnetizing Technique for Permanent Magnets in IPM Motor Rotors Using HTS Bulk Magnet

A unique activation technique for permanent Nd-Fe-B magnets which were embedded in the rotors of interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors has been developed as a magnetizing tool with use of high temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk magnet. The experimental and numerical simulation studies were conducted to evaluate the magnetic field-trapping performances of the rotor of air-conditioner compressor in the hybrid-type automobiles. The sample rotor containing six demagnetized permanent magnet plates were exposed in the intense static magnetic fields above the magnetic pole which contained the bulk magnet generating over 4 T. As a result, the sample magnets were perfectly magnetized in the static magnetic field. The precise simulation on the flux distribution in the rotor clarified that it is important to make the flux direction in the rotor core and the easy magnetization axis of PM identical. We convinced this activation technique should enable us to promote the degrees of freedom of motor designing and its processing.

Field of study: Physics
A Meta-Analysis of Indicated Mental Health Prevention Programs for At-Risk Higher Education Students

This meta-analysis found empirical support for the effectiveness of indicated prevention programs for higher education students at risk for subsequent mental health difficulties based on their current subclinical levels of various presenting problems, such as depression, anxiety, or interpersonal difficulties. A systematic literature search identified 79 controlled published and unpublished interventions involving 4,470 college, graduate, or professional students. Programs were effective at post-intervention overall (ES = 0.49, CI [0.43, 0.55]), and for both targeted outcomes (ES = 0.58, CI [0.51, 0.64]) as well as additional nontargeted outcomes assessed in the studies (ES = 0.32, CI [0.25, 0.39]). Interventions compared with a no-intervention or a wait-list control (ES = 0.64, CI [0.57, 0.71], k = 68) demonstrated significantly larger effects overall than did interventions compared with an attention-placebo control (ES = 0.27, CI [0.11, 0.43], k = 11), although both were significant. Among the former group, modality and presenting problem emerged as significant moderators of intervention effectiveness, and among the 43 of these that assessed effectiveness at an average follow-up period of 35 weeks, the positive effects from intervention remained strong (ES = 0.59, CI [0.50, 0.68]). Overall, programs were fairly brief, attracted and retained students, were positively rated by students, and effective when administered by paraprofessionals as well as professionals. Current findings are promising and stimulate recommendations for improving future research, such as expanding the range of outcomes assessed, and clarifying moderators and mediators of intervention impact.

Field of study: Psychology
Effects of punishing elements of a simple instrumental-consummatory response chain.

Rats were trained to press a lever, with every response reinforced with water. After responding was established, nine rats were administered a brief shock after each lever press, and nine others were shocked after drinking. The two procedures resulted in similar suppression of responding, and examination of the latency data when responding was partially suppressed indicated that under both conditions response suppression was due primarily to an increase in the latency of the instrumental response, rather than to pausing between the instrumental and consummatory responses. Thus, punishment following either the instrumental or consummatory component of the simple response sequence reduced the number of sequences initiated, rather than selectively suppressing the punished behavior.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology