nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the NH3 removal efficiency of an acid packed bed scrubber using two methods: a case study in a pig facillity

The use of air cleaning systems to reduce ammonia emissions from animal houses is increasing. These systems are normally used in order to comply with local or national regulations of ammonia emission. Therefore, accurate determination of the proportion of ammonia being removed by these systems is crucial. There are two main methods available to measure ammonia removal efficiency of scrubbers: air balance (based on the measurement of ammonia concentrations in air) and combined water-air balance (in which it is also necessary to determine the amount of nitrogen recovered in the liquid phase). The first method is simpler to establish, while the second method might provide deeper information about the processes occurring. The main aim of this work was to assess, in terms of the variability of the results, the use of these two methods to evaluate the efficiency of an acid packed bed scrubber on a pig farm. An acid packed bed scrubber (70% NH3 removal) was monitored during ten complete 24 h cycles for ammonia concentrations, airflow rates, and nitrogen accumulation in the acid solution basin. The average efficiency calculated using the air balance method was 71% (±4%), close to the design value of 70%, while the average efficiency when using the combined water-air balance method was 255% (±53%). The accumulation and precipitation of ammonium salts in the packing material seem to be the main cause of the high variability and inaccuracy of the combined water-air balance method observed for this type of scrubber. According to these results, it is recommended to use the air balance method when determining the ammonia removal efficiency for acid packed bed scrubbers similar to the one studied here. According to the variability of the results observed in this work, at least 24 measurement days are needed in order to keep the relative error below 5% when using the air balance method to determine the ammonia removal efficiency of an acid packed bed scrubber.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Reconstruction of the Red Dog Zn–Pb–Ba orebody, Alaska: implications for the vent environment during the mineralizing event

The Red Dog orebody (western Brooks Range, Alaska) contains reserves of approximately 150 Mt at an average grade of 16.2% Zn, 4.4% Pb, and 110 g/t Ag. Three mineralization facies can be identified within the orebody on the basis of mineralogical, textural, and paragenetic variations. The mineralization facies are termed breccia, transitional, and stratiform, representing a variation from a predominantly early epigenetic style of mineralization (breccia and transitional facies) to features that are more characteristic of syngenetic mineralization (stratiform facies). The primary relationship between the orebody and host rocks has been obscured by postmineralization deformation events that occurred during the Cretaceous Brooks Range orogeny. Therefore, reconstruction of the orebody was established using the mineralization facies model, determining local fault strain kinematics, drawing sections, and contouring the orebody's footwall, which is also a structural horizon. The reconstructed vent field is approx...

Field of study: Environmental science
Data Organization and Quick Indexing Technologies in Disk-based Network Backup

The ultimate purpose of data backup is the ability of retoring data as soon as possible when disaster happens.Shortening the time taken by restore is the essence of enhancing the performance and value of the whole backup system.Taking the thought of ultimate purpose of data backup,we organize and search backup data effectively by using a method of tape simulated and stratified organization of backup data and the stratified index mechanism on the basis of this kind of organization.By using the both two technologies,the performance of backup could be improved gradually when the size of backup data increase and finally comes to a stable state.The performance of restore is improved significantly while there is a little loss of performance of backup as the price,but when the size of backup data is increasing,this kind of performance loss of backup will descend,while the restore performance will keep stable,so the performance and the value of the whole backup system is improved.

Field of study: Computer science
Cdk5 and MAPK are associated with complexes of cytoskeletal proteins in rat brain.

Neurofilament proteins, the major cytoskeletal components of large myelinated axons, are highly phosphorylated by second messenger-dependent and -independent kinases. These kinases, together with tubulins and other cytoskeletal proteins, have been shown to bind to neurofilament preparations. Cdk5 and Erk2, proline-directed kinases in neuronal tissues, phosphorylate the Lys-Ser-Pro (KSP) repeats in tail domains of NF-H, NF-M, and other axonal proteins such as tau and synapsin. In neurofilament and microtubule preparations from rat brain, we demonstrated by Western blot analysis that cdk5, a neuronal cyclin dependent kinase and Erk1/2 were associated with complexes of NF proteins, tubulins and tau. Using P13(suc1) affinity chromatography, a procedure known to bind cdc2-like kinases in proliferating cells with high affinity, we obtained a P13 complex from a rat brain extract exhibiting the same profiles of cdk5 and Erk2 bound to cytoskeletal proteins. The phosphorylation activities of these preparations and the effect of the cdk5 inhibitor, butyrolactone, were consistent with the presence of active kinases. Finally, during a column fractionation and purification of Erk kinases from rat brain extracts, fractions enriched in Erk kinase activity also exhibited co-elution of phosphorylated NF-H, tubulin, tau and cdk5. We suggest that in mammalian brain, different kinases, their regulators and phosphatases form multimeric complexes with cytoskeletal proteins and regulate multisite phosphorylation from synthesis in the cell body to transport and assembly in the axon.

Field of study: Biology
Energy Efficient Clustering Algorithm for Data Gathering in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are characterized by centralized data gathering, multi-hop communication and many-to-one traffic pattern. These three characteristics may give rise to funneling effects that can lead to severe packet collision, network congestion, packet loss and even congestion collapse. This can also result in hotspots of energy consumption that may cause premature death of sensor nodes and even premature death of entire network. In this paper, exploiting spatial correlation of nodes to form clusters of nodes sensing similar values, and only cluster head sensor reading is transmit to sink, such can efficiently alleviates the funneling effects. A novelty clustering algorithm is proposed which can greatly reduce the number of cluster heads. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of this approach.

Field of study: Computer science
Theory of topological excitations and metal-insulator transition in reentrant integer quantum Hall effect

The reentrant integer quantum Hall effects (RIQHE) are due to formation of electronic crystals. We show analytically and numerically that topological textures in the charge density distribution in these crystals in the vicinity of charged defects strongly reduce energy required for current-carrying excitations. The theory quantitatively explains sharp insulator-metal transitions experimentally observed in RIQHE states. The insulator to metal transition in RIQHE emerges as a thermodynamic unbinding transition of topological charged defects.

Field of study: Physics
The effect of environmentally relevant emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on the growth and antioxidant response in marine Chlorella sp.

The 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids (6:2 Cl-PFAES), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoic acid (HFPO-DA) and perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS) are emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) that are being applied to replace phased-out PFASs, which have high persistency, high bioaccumulation potential and high toxicity. Recently, these emerging PFASs were observed in estuary and marine areas with a pollution level of ng/L. In this study, three levels (10 ng L-1, 100 ng L-1 and 1000 ng L-1) for these PFASs were selected to investigate the response of marine Chlorella sp. to 14 days of exposure. The growth of Chlorella sp. was significantly inhibited by each PFAS over time. Treatments with 1000 ng/L exposure caused the most severe reduction in growth for each PFAS treatment. For the first half of the experimental period (from Day 0 to Day 6), the influence of each PFAS was not significant (p > 0.05). However, treatments with all concentrations of 6:2 Cl-PFAES, HFPO-DA and 1000 ng L-1 PFECHS significantly reduced the growth of Chlorella sp. from Day 8. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in Chlorella sp. were significantly increased (p < 0.05) when exposed to 6:2 Cl-PFAES, HFPO-DA and PFECHS. The catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities in Chlorella sp. were significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) by each PFAS. The glutathione (GSH) contents in Chlorella sp. were significantly increased by each PFAS. However, the increases in GSH concentration in Chlorella sp. were low. The inhibition of algal growth was primarily due to the reduction of the activities of CAT and POD. PFECHS had the lowest toxicity among the three PFASs, and it induced less oxidized damage to Chlorella sp. In conclusion, as alternatives to phased-out PFASs, the emerging PFASs are not safe in aquatic environment, and attention should be paid to the management and restriction of these emerging PFASs.

Field of study: Environmental science
[Cross reactivity of mimotopes of hepatitis C virus hypervariable region 1].

The cross reactivity of mimotopes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) was investigated to obtain epitopes that have high cross reactivity. Five expression vectors encoding B cell mimotopes fused with Trx were constructed, and the mimotope proteins were purified. The cross reactivity of mimotope proteins with HCV positive sera was determined by ELISA. HCV pseudotype particles (HCVpp) were generated and applied to evaluate neutralization effects of the sera of BALB/c mice immuned with the mimotope proteins on infection of Huh7. 5 cells. Our data showed that the mimotope proteins (P1, P2, P5, P6, P8) could react to the HCV positive sera. The HCVpp infection inhibition of the sera of BALB/c mice immuned with P6 or P8 was detectable. These results suggest that the mimotopes may be valuable in the studies of anti-HCV infection and development of HCV vaccines.

Field of study: Biology
On the Modernization of the Local University's Governance System

The modernization of the local university's governance system included institutionalization and procedures of power operation,legalization and democratization of governance pattern,efficiency and the multiple values integration of inner operation system.This process of modernization was being driven by multiple factors such as reform of higher education administration system,local economic and social development needs and competition among universities for allocation of resources.The local universities would face difficulties such as development lag behind reform,significant dependence on government and superposition of institutional barriers.Therefore,for responding to local needs,local universities should reform the administration system and inner governance structure gradually in order to modernize the institution through innovating leadership system for integrating diverse values,balancing academic and administrative power to optimize the inner operating structure,and through territoriality legalization of the university's charter and investment diversification.

Field of study: Education
Assessing the reliability of household expenditure data: results of the World Health Survey.

The World Health Survey (WHS) which has been implemented in more than 70 countries with standardized questionnaires opens a great opportunity for research on health care financing issues. This study examines the household expenditures and health expenditure collected in the WHS in terms of reliability, consistency between different ways of data collection within the survey and with other types of household surveys. Data used in this study include 50 WHS and 37 other type of surveys, namely the Living Standard Measurement Survey, Household Budget Survey and Income and Expenditure Survey. The analysis consists of comparison of test-retest results; the aggregated and reported total household expenditure and health expenditure; the expenditures from the WHS and other type of surveys. The results from test-retest are fairly similar in the WHS. For health expenditure the average of reported total is lower than the aggregated total while for household total expenditure the estimate is similar from the two measures. Finally the WHS was found to report lower total household expenditure but higher out-of-pocket expenditure comparing with other types of surveys. The study suggests further efforts to standardize the questions in collecting expenditure data in household surveys for the purpose of cross-country and over time comparison.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Scattering matrix for Raman effect in cubic crystals

The scattering matrix for Raman effect in cubic crystals for any general orientation of the crystal and any angle of scattering is given. The averages of the matrix over all possible orientations is also given and checks with the well known value of 6/7 for the depolarisation of degenerate lines for transverse scattering. The scattering matrix for backward scattering in terms of polar angles and for some special cases are also given.

Field of study: Physics
MicroRNA-141 Targets Sirt1 and Inhibits Autophagy to Reduce HBV Replication

About 400 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, at high risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent studies have demonstrated an interaction between hepatitis B virus replication and autophagy activity of hepatocytes. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-141 in regulating autophagy and hepatitis B virus replication.  The expression of HBV-DNA, miR-141 and Sirt1 mRNA was determined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The expression of HBsAg and HBeAg was determined by ELISA. Western blotting was performed to detect protein expression. The LC3 puncta was determined by immunofluorescence. To test whether miR-141 directly regulate the expression level of Sirt1 mRNA, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed.  In vitro studies showed that miR-141 mimic inhibited the autophagic response, hepatitis B virus and the expression of Sirt1 in hepatocytes. And transfection with miR-141 inhibitor enhanced autophagic response and Sirt1 expression. The autophagy induced by overexpression of Sirt1 was inhibited by miR-141 mimic. In addition, miR-141 mimic also decreased the expression of Sirt1 mRNA. Sirt1 was predicted as a potential miR-141 target by bioinformatic analysis of its 3'-UTR, and confirmed by luciferase reporter assays which analyzing the interaction of miR-141 with the wild- type or the mutated Sirt1 3’-UTR.  We have therefore demonstrated a role of miR-141 in regulating autophagy-mediated hepatitis B virus inhibition by targeting Sirt1, and may provide potential targets for drug development.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Recycling of Polyethylene/Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Post-Consumer Oil Pouches using Compatibiliser

The recyclability of LDPE/LLDPE/PET based post-consumer laminated oil pouches, and the scope for improvement of the properties of the recycled polymer by the addition of reactive compatibilisers are evaluated. Two efficient reactive compatibilisers, viz., a zinc salt of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer (Surlyn ionomer) and polyethylene graft maleic anhydride (Fusabond) were used. The effectiveness of the compatibiliser in the recycling of laminated oil pouches was evaluated by infrared spectroscopy, melt flow index, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, rheological and mechanical properties. The melt viscosity, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the recycled material were improved to a satisfactory level by the addition of 5 wt% of compatibiliser. The Surlyn ionomer gave better thermal and mechanical properties. The overall performance of the compatibilised recycled oil pouch materials indicates their suitability for several demanding applications.

Field of study: Materials science
Multistage carcinogenesis and the fraction at risk

Multistage carcinogenesis models describe the evolution of the cells in an individual’s organ from a normal stage to a pre-neoplastic stage to a neoplastic stage. The triggers for the passage from one stage to the next one are presumed to be genetic alterations, which are not only governed by purely random events but also by individual environmental and genetic factors. We generalize existing models of carcinogenesis to populations composed of heterogeneous individuals, thus taking the environmental and genetic variability into account.

Field of study: Biology, Mathematics
Research on Component Recognition and Attitude Estimation Method Based on Point Cloud

In order to identify and understand the real objects in the assembly environment, propose a 3D aware method of registration based on real scene object perception by the similarity of point cloud, in order to reduce the impact of noise on the registration results, propose a method of matching algorithm based on adaptive density, the density of point cloud adaptive adjustment of different sources. Using the affine invariance of four coplanar point features to achieve recognition of real objects. This method can reduce the amount of cloud data, reduce the computational complexity, and also improve the matching accuracy. The experimental results show that the proposed method can identify components accurately in the assembly environment point cloud and calculate their pose, and can be used for augmented reality interactive applications under noisy conditions.

Field of study: Engineering
Lesions of the amygdala, but not of the cerebellum or red nucleus, block conditioned fear as measured with the potentiated startle paradigm.

Rats were given 10 light-shock pairings on 2 successive days. At 24-48 hr following training, groups of rats received bilateral transection of the cerebellar peduncles, bilateral lesions of the red nucleus (which receives most of the cerebellar efferents), or bilateral lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala. Control rats were sham operated. At 3-4 days after surgery, the rats were tested for potentiated startle (increased acoustic startle in the presence of the light previously paired with shock). Potentiated startle was blocked by lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala. Transection of the cerebellar peduncles or lesions of the red nucleus did not block potentiated startle. A second experiment in which a visual prepulse test was used indicated that the blockade of potentiated startle observed in the animals with amygdala lesions could not be attributed to optic tract damage. A third experiment demonstrated that the absence of potentiation in the animals with amygdala lesions was not simply due to a lowered startle level ceiling, because these animals could show increased startle with increased stimulus intensity and with administration of strychnine, a drug that increases startle. Taken together, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that the amygdala is involved in fear conditioning, because potentiated startle is a measure of conditioned fear.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
The Permian Moradi Formation of northern Niger: Paleosol morphology, petrography and mineralogy

Three basic paleosol morphologies, named Type A, Type B and Type C, are described from the middle–upper Permian strata of the Moradi Formation, Tim Mersoi Basin, northern Niger. The Moradi Formation is a typical alluvial redbed succession dominated by red mudrocks with fine to coarse-grained pebbly channel sandstones and matrix-breccias. Type A paleosols are hosted by well-sorted fine to medium grained trough cross bedded and massive sandstones and preserve abundant vertical to horizontal micritic and microspar calcite tubules, interpreted as rhizoliths. Lateral variability of rhizoliths in Type A paleosols, and their close association with fluvial channel-fill sediments suggests they are the roots of grove stands of phreatophytic vegetation that grew within unstable anabranching stream systems. Type B paleosols are hosted by mudrocks and preserve well-developed ped structure, abundant micritic calcite nodules and vertically-stacked micritic calcite nodular bodies, as well as rare calcite with satin-spar texture interpreted as a pseudomorphic replacement of pedogenic gypsum. The morphology of Type B paleosols suggests they were formed in well-drained floodplain deposits on stable landforms. Type C paleosols are similar to Type B but preserve pedogenic structures indicative of soil volume expansion and contraction, as well as more abundant Stage II pedogenic carbonate nodules. The morphology of Type C paleosols suggests that they developed periodically rather than seasonally in poorly-drained deposits that nevertheless occupied a relatively stable part of the landscape such as the plains flanking ephemeral lakes or sabkhas. X-ray diffraction analysis of the The range of morphologies, petrographic textures and mineralogy of the paleosol profiles indicates semi-arid to hyper-arid climatic setting. This paleoclimatic reconstruction is in agreement with Middle and Late Permian conceptual paleoclimate models and quantitative general circulation models. Nevertheless, and in spite of an arid climate, Moradi paleosols and their host strata also indicate a relatively shallow groundwater table. Importantly, this shallow groundwater resource undoubtedly helped to support the moderately diverse fossil vertebrate assemblage and large-stature macrophytes preserved in the Moradi Formation.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Extractable organohalogens in tissues of beluga whales from the Canadian Arctic and the St. Lawrence estuary.

Samples of blubber, brain, kidney, liver, and muscle of individual beluga whales were extracted and analyzed for extractable organic Cl (EOCl), Br (EOBr), and I (EOI) by neutron activation analysis. The highest levels of EOCl (554 microg g(-1) lipid) were found in the kidney of Arctic beluga and the lowest (24 microg g(-1) lipid) in the blubber. Levels in brain and liver lipids were on average of equal magnitude. The unequal distribution of EOCl in tissue lipids is in marked contrast to the equal distribution, in lipid, demonstrated for organochlorines such as DDTs and PCBs by a number of investigations. The distribution of brominated (EOBr) and iodinated (EOI) compounds was similar and markedly different from that of EOCl. The tissue distribution of EOCl seems to be related to the proportion to polar lipids in the tissues. Beluga from St. Lawrence had significantly higher brain EOCl levels than the Arctic samples whereas the levels of EOCl in liver and kidney were higher in the Arctic whales.

Field of study: Environmental science