nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Duration comparison: relative stimulus differences stimulus age, and stimulus predictiveness.

Under a psychophysical trials procedure, pigeons were presented with a red light of one duration followed by a green light of a second duration. Eight geometrically spaced base durations were paired with one of four shorter and four longer durations as the alternate member of a duration pair, with different pairs randomly intermixed. One choice was reinforced if red had lasted longer than green, and a second choice was reinforced if green had lasted longer. Performance was compared when all the base durations and their pair members were included (entire-range condition) or when only the four longest base durations and their comparison durations (restricted-range condition) were used. Discrimination sensitivity decreased for longer duration pairs under both conditions, supporting a memory-based account. Sensitivity was lower under the restricted-range condition. Under both conditions, a bias to report "green as longer" increased as the second green duration increased. Bias changed as a matching function of the green-duration predictiveness of the correct choice. The results are related to a quantitative model of timing and remembering proposed by Staddon.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Expression of the Slc12a1 Gene in Pancreatic β-cells: Molecular Characterization and in silico Analysis

The solute carrier protein family 12 group A, member one (Slc12a1) and two (Slc12a2) encode several splice variants of the kidney-specific and the ubiquitous isoforms, respectively, of the bumetanide (BTD)-sensitive Na-dependent K2Cl co-transporter. The Slc12a2 co-transporter is involved in the maintenance of a high intracellular chloride concentration [Cl–]i in β-cells and its inhibition with BTD blocks glucose-induced insulin secretion. In β-cells, [Cl–]i plays an important role in glucose-induced depolarization and insulin secretion. Glucose promotes electrogenic efflux of Cl–contributing to β-cell's electrical and secretory activity. To identify the expression pattern of Slc12a1 and Slc12a2 genes in β-cells we have used RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunolocalization studies in mouse pancreatic islets, β-cell lines and rat tissues. Our results demonstrate expression of specific splice variants of Slc12a1 and Slc12a2 transcripts in β-cells i.e., variants 1 of Slc12a1 (NKCC2A) and Slc12a2 (NKCC1a). Molecular cloning and characterization of Slc12a1 variant 1 transcripts from β-cells revealed an alternative splicing event involving the 5'-UTR region. NKCC2A expression at the protein level in islets and β-cells was confirmed by immunoblotting and immunolocalization. Further, NKCC2A, NKCC1a and pro-insulin co-localized in β-cells but not in the exocrine pancreas. Therefore, our results provide for the first time evidence of NKCC2A expression in pancreatic β-cells where it may play a role in insulin secretion.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Half quantum vortices and Majorana fermions in triplet superconductors

Half quantum vortices (HQVs) in superfluid 3 He A have been speculated since 1976. Two years ago, Yamashita et al(1) reported a very unusual NMR satellite in the rotating superfluid 3 He A in a parallel plate geometry. Recently this satellite has been interpreted in terms of HQVs(2). Also, the strong flux pinnings in the triplet superconductors UP t3, Sr2RuO4 and U1−xT hxBe13 have been discovered by Mota and her colleagues(3)(4) which are interpreted in terms of HQVs(5)(6)(7). We shall first review the bound state spectra around a single vortex in unconventional superconductors, which provides the necessary background. In particular, we find the zero modes of the Majorana fermions in some of triplet superconductors UP t3, Sr2RuO4 and CeP t3Sn. Armed with these results we analyze the microscopic aspects of HQVs in UP t3 and Sr2RuO4. We compute the quasiparticle density of states and the local magnetic field around HQVs, which should be accessible to scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), micromagnetometry and neutron scattering below 300 mK.

Field of study: Physics
Personal Prejudice, Other Guilt: Explicit Prejudice Toward Black People Predicts Guilty Verdicts for White Officers Who Kill Black Men

Across the United States, acquittals of White police officers who have killed Black men have spurred clashes between those who see such situations as manifestations of racism and those who see them as race-irrelevant acts of officer self-defense. In this research, we explore the relationship between participants’ racial prejudice and construal of an event that leads to the death of a Black man. In Study 1, we found that participants’ racial prejudice predicts lower perceived guilt for a White officer who killed a Black man. In Study 2, we found evidence that the relationship between racial prejudice and guilt judgments is driven by increased perceptions that the officer was in danger and decreased perceived relevance of officer prejudice. Finally, Study 3 demonstrated that these patterns hold when the victim is Black, but not White. We conclude that racial prejudice shapes perceptions of legal responsibility for lethal interactions with Black men.

Field of study: Psychology
High Temperature Schottky TTL Latchup

Selected devices of the low power and standard Schottky T2L family were radiation tested at elevated case temperatures to determine if there is a latchup susceptibility. No latchup was observed. Analysis of device circuit topology confirmed that the PNPN paths previously observed to latch in older devices had been redesigned and removed. Comparison was made to devices which did latchup in radiation tests. Case temperature is an important variable. Two devices were found which did not latch at room temperature but did latch at 100°C; two other devices showed a significantly lower latchup threshold at 110°C than at room temperature. This work emphasizes the necessity of performing latchup screens at worst case temperature and bias conditions.

Field of study: Physics
Dynamics of two-strain influenza model with cross-immunity and no quarantine class

The question about whether a periodic solution can exists for a given epidemiological model is a complicated one and has a long history (Hethcote and Levin, Applied math. ecology, biomathematics, vol 18. Springer, Berlin, pp 193–211, 1989). For influenza models, it is well known that a periodic solution can exists for a single-strain model with periodic contact rate (Aron and Schwartz,  1984; Kuznetsov and Piccardi,  1994), or a multiple-strain model with cross-immunity and quarantine class or age-structure (Nuño et al., Mathematical epidemiology. Lecture notes in mathematics, vol 1945. Springer, Berlin, 2008, chapter 13). In this paper, we prove the local asymptotic stability of the interior steady-state of a two-strain influenza model with sufficiently close cross-immunity and no quarantine class or age-structure. We also show that if the cross-immunity between two strains are far apart; then it is possible for the interior steady-state to lose its stability and bifurcation of periodic solutions can occur. Our results extend those obtained by Nuño et.al.  2005). This problem is important because understanding the reasons behind periodic outbreaks of seasonal flu is an important issue in public health.

Field of study: Biology, Mathematics
Continuous exposure to nitric oxide enhances diazepam binding inhibitor mRNA expression in mouse cerebral cortical neurons.

Effects of sustained exposure to nitric oxide (NO) formed by long-term activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and liberated from a long-lasting NO generator, DETA NONOate, on diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) and its mRNA expressions were examined using mouse cerebral cortical neurons. Long-term exposure to NMDA increased DBI mRNA expression, and NO synthase inhibitors dose-dependently inhibited this increase. DETA NONOate dose-dependently increased DBI mRNA expression when exposing the neurons to this agent for 3 days and a maximal enhancement of the expression was found at 100 microM of the NO generator. In addition, a significant increase in DBI mRNA expression was observed 1 day after the exposure to 100 microM DETA NONOate, and the maximal expression was observed 2 days after the exposure, whereas transient exposure for less than 3 h to 100 microM DETA NONOate produced no changes in the expression. DETA NONOate (100 microM)-induced increase in DBI mRNA expression was completely abolished by concomitant exposure to hemoglobin. DBI content was also dose-dependently increased by DETA NONOate after the exposure for 3 days. The inhibition of cGMP formation by 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) showed no affects on the DETA NONOate-induced expression, suggesting that the increased expression of DBI mRNA is mediated via processes independent of cGMP. These results indicate that continuous exposure of the neurons to NO is an essential factor for increasing DBI mRNA expression in the neurons.

Field of study: Biology
Microscopic mechanism for cold denaturation.

We elucidate the mechanism of cold denaturation through constant-pressure simulations for a model of hydrophobic molecules in an explicit solvent. We find that the temperature dependence of the hydrophobic effect induces, facilitates, and is the driving force for cold denaturation. The physical mechanism underlying this phenomenon is identified as the destabilization of hydrophobic contact in favor of solvent-separated configurations, the same mechanism seen in pressure-induced denaturation. A phenomenological explanation proposed for the mechanism is suggested as being responsible for cold denaturation in real proteins.

Field of study: Physics
New Trisubstituted Imidazolium-Based Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

Reaction of 1-decyl-2-methylimidazole ( 1 ) with linear bromoalkanes 2a , 2b in refluxing acetonitrile leads to the formation of quaternary bromide salts 3a , 3b in excellent isolated yields. Quaternary salts 3a , 3b were metathesized with KPF 6 ( 4a ), LiNTf 2 ( 4b ), LiBF 4 ( 4c ), or KOTf ( 4d ) in water to form the ionic liquids 5a - 5h in very good yields. These new ionic liquids are liquid at ambient temperature, immiscible with water, miscible with acetone and chloroform and thermally stable up to 350 °C.

Field of study: Chemistry
High acidity tolerance in lichens with fumarprotocetraric, perlatolic or thamnolic acids is correlated with low pKa1 values of these lichen substances.

The depsidone fumarprotocetraric acid as well as the depsides perlatolic and thamnolic acids are lichen secondary metabolites. Their first dissociation constants (pK(a1)) in methanol were determined to be 2.7 for perlatolic acid and 2.8 for fumarprotocetraric and thamnolic acids by UV spectroscopy. Lower pK(a1) values are, so far, not known from lichen substances. Several lichens producing at least one of these compounds are known for their outstanding tolerance to acidic air pollution. This is demonstrated by evaluating published pH preferences for central European lichens. The low pK(a1) values suggest that strong dissociation of the studied lichen substances is a prerequisite for the occurrence of lichens with these compounds on very acidic substrata, as protonated lichen substances of different chemical groups, but not their conjugated bases, are known to shuttle protons into the cytoplasm and thereby apparently damage lichens.

Field of study: Environmental science
The measurement of 14 CO 2 activity inside Geiger-Müller counting tubes

A method is described for the measurement of the relative activity of C/ sup 14/ as carbon dioxide in GM internal gas counting tubes, either with a mixture of argon and ethylene or with ethylene alone. The equipment permits reproducible measurements of a relative specific acitivity of carbon dioxide with a maximum total error of less than hr at 1500 deg 1.8% with a standard deviation of counting less than hr at 1500 deg 0.5%. (auth)

Field of study: Chemistry
Assessing Mental Health First Aid Skills Using Simulated Patients

To evaluate mental health first aid (MHFA) skills using simulated patients and to compare self-reported confidence in providing MHFA with performance during simulated patient roleplays.  Pharmacy students self-evaluated their confidence in providing MHFA post-training. Two mental health vignettes and an assessment rubric based on the MHFA Action Plan were developed to assess students’ observed MHFA skills during audio-recorded simulated patient roleplays.  There were 163 students who completed the MHFA training, of which 88% completed self-evaluations. There were 84% to 98% of students who self-reported that they agreed or strongly agreed they were confident providing MHFA. Postnatal depression (PND) and suicide vignettes were randomly assigned to 36 students. More students participating in the PND roleplay took appropriate actions, compared to those participating in the suicide role-play. However, more students participating in the suicide role play assessed alcohol and/or drug use. Ten (71%) participants in the PND roleplay and six (40%) in the suicide roleplay either avoided using suicide-specific terminology completely or used multiple terms rendering their inquiry unclear.  Self-evaluated confidence levels in providing MHFA did not always reflect observed performance. Students had difficulty addressing suicide with only half passing the suicide vignette and many avoiding suicide-specific terminology. This indicates that both self-reported and observed behaviors should be used for post-training assessments.

Field of study: Education, Medicine
Two spatially distant epitopes of human lactoferrin.

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron binding protein, which may represent a target for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Here we describe the production and characterization of two new monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human LF. These MAbs (AGM 10.14, an IgG1, and AGM 2.29, an IgG2b) recognize spatially distant epitopes of LF as assessed by cross-blocking experiments. We also demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence that both MAbs react with ethanol-fixed neutrophil granulocytes showing a perinuclear staining pattern. AGM 2.29 and AGM 10.14 have been utilized as capture and labeled tracer antibody, respectively, in a double determinant immunoassay (DDIA) to measure soluble LF. The results obtained show that this DDIA allows us to quantify even low concentrations of LF, the maximal range of the assay sensitivity being between 12 and 780 ng/ml. Therefore, AGM 10.14 and AGM 2.29 may represent useful reagents for studying the role of autoantibodies to LF as well as for measuring soluble LF, which is a reliable secretory marker of neutrophil activation.

Field of study: Biology
Face recognition: challenges, achievements and future directions

Face recognition has received significant attention because of its numerous applications in access control, law enforcement, security, surveillance, Internet communication and computer entertainment. Although significant progress has been made, the state-of-the-art face recognition systems yield satisfactory performance only under controlled scenarios and they degrade significantly when confronted with real-world scenarios. The real-world scenarios have unconstrained conditions such as illumination and pose variations, occlusion and expressions. Thus, there remain plenty of challenges and opportunities ahead. Latterly, some researchers have begun to examine face recognition under unconstrained conditions. Instead of providing a detailed experimental evaluation, which has been already presented in the referenced works, this study serves more as a guide for readers. Thus, the goal of this study is to discuss the significant challenges involved in the adaptation of existing face recognition algorithms to build successful systems that can be employed in the real world. Then, it discusses what has been achieved so far, focusing specifically on the most successful algorithms, and overviews the successes and failures of these algorithms to the subject. It also proposes several possible future directions for face recognition. Thus, it will be a good starting point for research projects on face recognition as useful techniques can be isolated and past errors can be avoided.

Field of study: Computer science
[The influence of growing seizure readiness on the autonomic regulation of the heart].

To study the functional state of the heart in a progressive increase of seizure readiness (SR) due to pentylenetetrazole kindling.



The study was carried out on male rats of the Wistar line. Simultaneous telemetric monitoring of electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram on-line was used. Individual SR of animals in 7- and 27 day pentylenetetrazole kindling was determined.



The decrease in the index of LF/HF after 7 days of kindling reflects a compensatory reaction of the autonomic nervous system. However, the increase in SI indicates that the result obtained at the price of considerable stress regulation mechanisms. The increase in QTc, Tpeak Tend and reduced SDNN and TP suggest that compensatory mechanisms cannot prevent the high risk of life-threatening arrhythmias. High SR after 27 days of kindling is accompanied by a shift of autonomic balance towards the growth of tone of the sympathetic system which may lead to decompensation and prenosological state.



The characteristics of autonomic regulation of the heart in progressive SR are important for fundamental and clinical cardioneurology.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Spectra of quantum states in thin metal films and their modification: Al/W(110) system

The modification of spectra of quantum well states of sp-type in thin Al films on the W(110) surface was experimentally investigated by angular-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy both during deposition and in dependence of the detection angle. Quantum well states are observed for the partially filled band of valence states in the range of binding energies from 4.4 eV to the Fermi level. An Al film with a thickness of 11 monolayers exhibits a jump of the dispersion relations of quantum well states in the local W(110) band gap in the ΓS direction and splitting of these relations due to the effect of substrate electronic structure on the formed spectrum of quantum states and their possible spin polarization.

Field of study: Physics
Solitary urethrocutaneous fistula managed by the PATIO repair.

A novel technique has been described for repairing penile urethrocutaneous fistula: the PATIO ('preserve the tract and turn it inside out') repair. We report our experience with this technique in managing solitary urethrocutaneous fistula following primary hypospadias repair.



Children with fistulae underwent the PATIO technique of repair. The inclusion criterion was solitary fistula of <4mm widest diameter.



Ten children underwent the procedure. The mean operating time was 22 min. In four of these children a healthy vascularized tunica vaginalis flap was interposed between the urethra and skin. No recurrence of fistula was noted.



The PATIO repair is simple and easy to perform, with low morbidity, and is reliable in treating solitary urethrocutaneous fistula <4mm in size.

Field of study: Medicine
Development of Local Content Learning Module for Karawo Embroidery Crafts in Vocational High Schools in Gorontalo

The research problem was based on the fact that local content learning had not been optimally implemented. In the learning outcomes, the sulwo karawo skills were still low. Learning carried out was only limited to knowledge transfer. The effort taken to overcome this problem was to develop a karawo learning module. This study aims to: (1) Describe objective conditions of local content embroidery module in vocational high schools in Gorontalo, (2) Describe the conceptual learning model of the local content of karawo embroidery modules in vocational high schools in Gorontalo, (3) Describe the implementation of local content embroidery in vocational high schools in Gorontalo, (4) Describe the effectiveness of the local content karaman embroidery module in vocational high schools in Gorontalo. The approach used was a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The method used was the research and development (R & D) method. The research findings showed that: (1) Development of local content learning module for karawo embroidery craft in vocational high schools in Gorontalo was conducted by using a research and development approach known as Research and Development (R & D) referring to the ADDIE model development model consisting of: 1) analyze, (2) design, (3) development, (4) implementation, and (5) evaluation; (2) Feasibility test of the local content learning of Karawo embroidery craft in vocational high schools in Gorontalo obtained average module validation rates by material experts and media experts that were 94.99 with a very feasible category and 90.37 with very feasible category respectively. Additionally, teacher module validation average was 96.43 or very feasible and evaluation by participants student was 92 or very feasible; (3) After the local content learning module for karawo embroidery craft had given to students in vocational high schools in Gorontalo, effectiveness of student learning outcome achievement had increased significantly, indicated by the acquisition of Zscore of 2.28 > Ztable = 0.85. The findings also indicated that the Karawo embroidery learning module could improve student learning outcomes, hence it is recommended to relevant parties to use the module to improve student learning outcomes.  Local Content Learning Module for Karawo Embroidery Craft for Vocational School Students DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-15-09 Publication date :May 31 st 2019

Field of study: Education
In vitro studies of cells grown on the superconductor PrO(x)FeAs.

The recent discovery of arsenic-based high temperature superconductors has reignited interest in the study of superconductor: biological interfaces. However, the new superconductor materials involve the chemistry of arsenic and their toxicity remains unclear [Hand, E., 2008.  (24), 922]. In this study the possible adverse effects of this new family of superconductors on cells have been examined. Cell culture studies in conjunction with microscopy and viability assays were employed to examine the influence of arsenic-based superconductor PrO(x)FeAs (x=0.75) material in vitro. Imaging data revealed that cells were well adhered and spread on the surface of the superconductor. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies showed that cells were unaffected during the time-course of the experiments, providing support for the biocompatibility aspects of PrO(x)FeAs-based superconductor material.

Field of study: Physics
Morphology and distribution of residual limestone hills (mogotes) in the karst of northern Puerto Rico

Limestone towers, residual hills occurring in northern Puerto Rico, between Arecibo and Manati, have been examined by field investigation and photogrammetry. Previously, these landforms have been described only qualitatively; in this paper summit densities, heights, diameters, planimetric shapes, and orientations are quantified. Tower heights are generally less than 25 m; diameters range from 10 to 200 m. Diameter/height ratios range from 1.42 to 7.50. These values place the hills in the Sewu class of Balazs9 (1971) classification of tropical karst styles. Towers are predominantly elongate in plan view, and pronounced long-axis orientations are evident. Tower summits exhibit a distribution that approaches uniformity. The relationship between the residual hills and the adjacent cockpit karst area indicates a similar origin for both areas, with differences in summit densities relating to the distribution of surficial deposits, which promote subsurface corrasion. Tower slope asymmetry occurs only in 35% of cases, and it is probably related to basal erosion, induration of the limestone surface being of secondary importance.

Field of study: Geology