nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Eco-Bat: A design tool for assessing environmental impacts of buildings and equipment

This paper presents the features of Eco-Bat, a computer program developed to assess the environmental impacts of buildings, including construction materials and energy consumed, during its life cycle. The methodology used to evaluate environmental impacts based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, compatible with ISO 14040 standards, is detailed. The data are mainly extracted from an environmental impacts database, Ecoinvent, which contains values for the manufacturing and elimination of numerous materials as well as other processes. Two applications are presented to illustrate the possibilities offered by Eco-Bat. The first one is a comparison of different variants of building facades. The second example shows the analysis of a whole building including its energy consumption.

Field of study: Engineering
Neurosurgery clinical registry data collection utilizing Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside and electronic health records at the University of Rochester.

In a population health-driven health care system, data collection through the use of clinical registries is becoming imperative to continue to drive effective and efficient patient care. Clinical registries rely on a department's ability to collect high-quality and accurate data. Currently, however, data are collected manually with a high risk for error. The University of Rochester's Department of Neurosurgery in conjunction with the university's Clinical and Translational Science Institute has implemented the integrated use of the Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside (i2b2) informatics framework with the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) databases.

Field of study: Medicine
Numerical simulation of a microchannel cooler

Microchannel heat sinks are minute channels fabricated onto the back of the thin silicon chip substrate with hydraulic diameter ranging from 10 to 103 μm. Microchannels have the advantage of large surface area to volume ratio, low thermal resistances and low flux, so they are thought to be an effective solution in dissipating thermal. One typical application is the cooling of the laser diode arrays. Because flow and heat transfer in microchannel are different from those in macro one, further research is necessary. An FEA (finite element analysis) model of a flat plate microchannel is set up in this paper using commercial software CoventorWare TM to investigate the localized flow and heat transfer in a single microchannel, computation results are also presented and analyzed. Microchannel is 2 000 μm long, 50μm wide and 500 μm high. It can dissipate heat flux of 500 W/cm2 fast and the thermal resistance is only 0.0423 K/(W·cm -2).

Field of study: Physics
Long-term association between the intensity of cosmic rays and mortality rates in the city of Sao Paulo

Human beings are constantly exposed to many kinds of environmental agents which affect their health and lifespan. Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are the main source of ionizing radiation in the lower troposphere, in which secondary products can penetrate the ground and underground layers. GCRs affect the physical–chemical properties of the terrestrial atmosphere, as well as the biosphere. GCRs are modulated by solar activity and latitudinal geomagnetic field distribution. In our ecological/populational retrospective study, we analyzed the correlation between the annual flux of local secondary GCR-induced ionization (CRII) and mortality rates in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, between 1951–2012. The multivariate linear regression analyses adjusted by demographic and weather parameters showed that CRII are significantly correlated with total mortality, infectious disease mortality, maternal mortality, and perinatal mortality rates (p < 0.001). The underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Further cross-sectional and experimental cohort studies are necessary to understand the biophysical mechanisms of the association found here.

Field of study: Environmental science
Analysis of constraints and opportunities in marine small-scale fisheries value chain: A multi-criteria decision approach

Small-Scale Fisheries (SSFs) globally and in Kenya face myriad constraints. However, there is little empirical information about actors' perspectives of these constraints and proposed solutions. The present study contributes to addressing this empirical gap. The study was conducted in Kenya's coast at Malindi, Mayungu, Mombasa, Shimoni and Vanga study sites. Data was collected through focus group discussions and supplemented by interviews of 403 actors (fishers, middlemen and small-scale processors). Constraints and opportunities were ranked using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method and reported under nine broad value chain dimensions. Results showed that all actor groups ranked financial capital as the most severe constraint. Market related constraints were ranked as the second most pressing problem amongst fishers and middlemen, while processors identified scarcity of fish. Other constraints identified, were related to resource, equipment and infrastructure, training, costs, governance, trust and labour dimensions. Solutions were ranked in corresponding order of constraints, except in a few cases. These findings can assist to bridge actors' perspectives with those of managers and other value chain development agents, and thus help to define appropriate interventions.

Field of study: Environmental science
Initial Deposits in the Cordilleran Geosyncline: Evidence of a Late Precambrian (<850 m.y.) Continental Separation

Upper Precambrian and Lower Cambrian strata in western North America are exposed in a narrow slightly sinuous belt extending from Alaska and northern Canada to northern Mexico, a distance of 2,500 mi. Within this belt, the strata thicken from 0 ft on the east to 15,000 to 25,000 ft in areas 100 to 300 mi to the west. The basal unit of this sequence is a diamictite (conglomeratic mudstone) which is widely distributed but discontinuous and is generally considered to be of glacial origin. Overlying sedimentary rocks consist predominantly of siltstone, shale, argillite, quartzite, and conglomerate. Tholeiitic basalt forms thick and widespread units near the base of the sequence but is sparse higher in the section. The distribution pattern and lithologic characteristics of the upper Precambrian and Lower Cambrian sequence fit the recently developed concept that thick sedimentary sequences accumulate along stable continental margins subsequent to a time of continental separation. The depositional pattern of the sequence is unlike that of underlying rocks, a relation consistent with the idea of a continental separation cutting across the grain of previous structures. The pattern is, on the other hand, similar to that of overlying lower and middle Paleozoic rocks, suggesting that the diamictite and post-diamictite rocks were the initial deposits in the Cordilleran geosyncline. Thick units of volcanic rock near the bottom of the sedimentary sequence indicate volcanic activity related to the thinning and rifting of the crust during the continental separation.

Field of study: Geology
Current antiplatelet options for NSTE-ACS patients.

Non-ST elevation (NSTE) myocardial infarction and unstable angina are the most common clinical presentations of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Platelet activation is central to the pathogenesis of NSTE-ACS and consensus guidelines that advocate early revascularization supported by intensive antiplatelet therapy. This review examines the drugs used concurrently with aspirin as dual antiplatelet therapy in the NSTE-ACS setting. Clopidogrel represented an important therapeutic advance. However, variations in platelet response and a relatively slow onset of action compromise outcomes with clopidogrel. Evidence reviewed in this article shows that in NSTE-ACS patients, ticagrelor and prasugrel are more effective than clopidogrel and are relatively well tolerated, with an acceptable and manageable bleeding risk. The literature suggests several differences between ticagrelor and prasugrel that should allow clinicians to better tailor treatment to the patient. Head-to-head comparisons are now needed to compare directly the risks and benefits of ticagrelor and prasugrel in NSTE-ACS. Further studies also need to address other outstanding issues such as the benefits and risks of prasugrel pre-treatment and to stratify efficacy and tolerability according to diabetes mellitus (DM) and other co-morbidities. In the meantime, the issues discussed in this review should enhance clinicians' ability to optimize and individualize NSTE-ACS treatment, thereby further reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this common cardiovascular condition.

Field of study: Medicine
Reliability prediction model of NAND flash memory based on random forest algorithm

Nowadays, NAND flash is widely used for its excellent characteristics. However, the increasing storage capability leads to the decrease of reliability of NAND flash. Therefore, improving the reliability of NAND flash chip has become a hot issue to be solved. If we can find an effective method to predict the error rate distribution of NAND flash, it will provide significant guidance for adapting appropriate error correction algorithm and wear-leveling algorithm. Based on the 200 days of measured data from NAND flash experimental platform, a comprehensive error rate prediction model of NAND flash is established using the random forest algorithm, and the experimental results of the model are analysed and evaluated. And the results show that the proposed stochastic forest algorithm not only has high prediction accuracy, but also operates fast.

Field of study: Engineering
Systematics of 2+ states in C isotopes from the no-core shell model

We study low-lying states of even carbon isotopes in the range A = 10-20 within the large-scale no-core shell model. Using several accurate nucleon-nucleon (NN) as well as NN plus three-nucleon (NNN) interactions, we calculate excitation energies of the lowest 2(+) state, the electromagnetic B(E2; 2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) transition rates, and the 2(1)(+) quadrupole moments as well as selected electromagnetic transitions among other states. Recent experimental campaigns to measure 2(+)-state lifetimes indicate an interesting evolution of nuclear structure that pose a challenge to reproduce theoretically from first principles. Our calculations do not include any effective charges or other fitting parameters. However, calculated results extrapolated to infinite model spaces are also presented. The model-dependence of those results is discussed. Overall, we find good agreement with the experimentally observed trends, although our extrapolated B(E2; 2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) value for C-16 is lower compared to the most recent measurements. Relative transition strengths from higher excited states are investigated and the influence of NNN forces is discussed. In particular for 16C we find a remarkable sensitivity of the transition rates from higher excited states to the details of the nuclear interactions.

Field of study: Physics
How firms set prices for medical materials: a multi-country study.

This study presents a comparison of medical material prices, discusses why differences exist, and examines methods for comparing prices.



Market prices for drug-eluting stents (DES), non-drug-eluting stents (non-DES), and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) catheters were collected from five countries: the United States, Japan, Korea, Turkey, and Thailand. To compare prices, three adjustment methods were used: currency exchange rates, purchasing power parity (PPP), and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.



The ratios of medical material prices compared with those in the United States were higher in Japan (from 1.4 for DES to 5.0 for PTCA catheters) and Korea (from 1.2 for DES to 4.0 for PTCA catheters), and lower in Turkey (from 0.8 for non-DES to 1.4 for DES) and Thailand (from 0.5 for non-DES to 1.3 for PTCA catheters). The PPP-adjusted ratios changed slightly for Japan, Korea, and Turkey. When the prices were adjusted by GDP per capita, the ratios were much higher.



Comparing prices using currency exchange rates or PPP is applicable only between countries with stable economic relations; adjustment by GDP per capita reflects the actual burden. Further study is needed to fully elucidate the factors influencing the global medical material market.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Measurement of MRI scanner performance with the ADNI phantom.

The objectives of this study are as follows: to describe practical implementation challenges of multisite, multivendor quantitative studies; to describe the MRI phantom and analysis software used in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study, illustrate the utility of the system for measuring scanner performance, the ability to assess gradient field nonlinearity corrections: and to recover human brain images without geometric scaling errors in multisite studies. ADNI is a large multicenter study with each center having its own copy of the phantom. The design of the phantom and analysis software are presented as results from predistribution systematics studies and results from field experience with the phantom at 58 enrolling ADNI sites over a 3 year period. The estimated coefficients of variation intrinsic to measurements of geometry in a single phantom are in the range of 3-5 parts in 10(4). Phantom measurements accurately detect linear and nonlinear scaling in images. Gradient unwarping methods are readily assessed by phantom nonlinearity measurements. Phantom-based scaling correction reduces observed geometric drift in human images by one-third or more. Repair or replacement of phantoms between scans, however, is a confounding factor. The ADNI phantom can be used to assess both scanner performance and the validity of postprocessing image corrections in order to reduce systematic errors in human images. Reduced measurement errors should decrease measurement bias and increase statistical power for measurements of rates of change in the brain structure in AD treatment trials. Perhaps the greatest practical value of incorporating ADNI phantom measurements in a multisite study is to identify scanner errors through central monitoring. This approach has resulted in identification of system errors including sites misidentification of their own gradient hardware and the disabling of autoshim, and a miscalibrated laser alignment light. If undetected, these errors would have contributed to imprecision in quantitative metrics at over 25% of all enrolling ADNI sites.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
Studies on structural stability of thermophilic Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ribosomes.

Structural stability of thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ribosomes, with respect their susceptibility to pancreatic RNase A and stability to temperature (deltaTm), on treatment with various stabilizing (polyamines) and destabilizing (sulfhydryl and intercalating) agents were studied and compared with mesophilic E. coli ribosomes, to understand the structural differences between thermophilic and mesophilic ribosomes. Thermophilic archaeal ribosomes and their subunits were 10-times less susceptible to pancreatic RNase A, compared to mesophilic ribosomes, showing the presence of strong and compact structural organization in them. Thermophilic ribosomes treated with destabilizing agents, such as sulfhydryl reagents [5,5'-Dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), N-ethylmaleimide and p-hydroxymercurybenzoate) and intercalating agents (ethidium bromide, EtBr) showed higher stability to RNase A, compared to similarly treated mesophilic ribosomes, indicating the unavailability of thiol-reactive groups and the presence of strong solvent inaccessible inner core. Higher stability of thermophilic ribosomes compared to mesophilic ribosomes to unfolding agents like urea further supported the presence of strong inner core particle. Thermophilic ribosomes treated with intercalating agents, such as EtBr were less susceptible to RNase A, though they bound to more reagent, showing the rigidity or resilience of their macromolecular structure to alterations caused by destabilizing agents. Overall, these results indicated that factors such as presence of strong solvent inaccessible inner core and rigidity of ribosome macromolecular structure contributed stability of thermophilic ribosomes to RNase A and other destabilizing agents, when compared to mesophilic ribosomes.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Ingestion of metal-nanoparticle contaminated food disrupts endogenous microbiota in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Nanoparticles (NPs) can be ingested by organisms, and NPs with antimicrobial properties may disrupt beneficial endogenous microbial communities and affect organism health. Zebrafish were fed diets containing Cu-NPs or Ag-NPs (500 mg kg(-1) food), or an appropriate control for 14 d. Intestinal epithelium integrity was examined by transmission electron microscopy, and microbial community structure within the intestine was assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of partial 16S rRNA. No lesions were observed in intestinal epithelia; however, presence of NPs in diets changed intestinal microbial community structure. In particular, some beneficial bacterial strains (e.g., Cetobacterium somerae) were suppressed to non-detectable levels by Cu-NP exposure, and two unidentified bacterial clones from the Firmicutes phylum were sensitive (not detected) to Cu, but were present in Ag and control fish. Unique changes in zebrafish microbiome caused by exposure to Ag-NP and Cu-NP indicate that NP ingestion could affect digestive system function and organism health.

Field of study: Environmental science
Electronic properties of defects introduced in strained, epitaxial p-type SiGe alloys during sputter etching in an argon plasma

We have used deep-level transient spectroscopy in an investigation of the electronic properties of defects introduced in boron-doped, strained p-type Si1-xGex alloys with x = 0 and 0.05, during argon plasma sputter etching. These defects are compared with those introduced during electron beam deposition of metal contacts and after 5.4 MeV particle irradiation. Four defects with discrete energy levels, ranging from 0.22 eV to 0.55 eV above the valence band, were introduced in p-Si during sputtering. The most prominent defect, detected in Ar plasma etched samples, has similar electronic properties to those of the defects detected after electron and particle irradiation. The main defects detected in p-Si were also observed in p-Si0.95Ge0.05. One of the dominating peaks has been correlated with the interstitial carbon-interstitial oxygen pair. The decrease in activation energy of this defect with increasing Ge content from x = 0 to 0.05 is found to follow the same variation as the bandgap of strained Si1-xGex/Si. The energy level position of the defect, relative to the conduction band, is therefore the same for x = 0 and 0.05 indicating that such a level is pinned to the conduction band.

Field of study: Materials science
When Wanting the Best Goes Right or Wrong

Researchers have often disagreed on how to define maximization, leading to conflicting conclusions about its potential benefits or drawbacks. Drawing from motivation research, we distinguish between the goals (i.e., wanting the best) and strategies (e.g., alternative search) associated with maximizing. Three studies illustrate how this differentiation offers insight into when maximizers do or do not experience affective costs when making decisions. In Study 1, we show that two motivational orientations, promotion focus and assessment mode, are both associated with the goal of wanting the best, yet assessment (not promotion) is related to the use of alternative search strategies. In Study 2, we demonstrate that alternative search strategies are associated with frustration on a discrete decision task. In Study 3, we provide evidence that one reason for this link may be due to reconsideration of previously dismissed options. We discuss the potential of this approach to integrate research in this area.

Field of study: Psychology
L'orazione proibita: Censura ecclesiastica e letteratura devozionale nella prima età moderna (review)

efficient way of having troublesome priests removed, but it did not succeed in swaying the judges. At the end of November, 1607, the court sentenced Paolo Orgiano to ten years’ incarceration in Venice, where he died in 1613. His commoner helpers suffered long banishments while the noblemen were subjected to notable fines. I am not sure that publishing the entire text was the best heuristic strategy. A persuasive microhistory could have been built from this document with more economy. I also doubt Povolo’s claim that the inquisitorial ritual reflected “republican and aristocratic” values. There is nothing in the text that leads me to concur that the magistrates were “culturally different” from the respondents in any but the most technical sense. More centralized tribunals, with greater power to isolate criminals, multiplied during the sixteenth century. Cases of lowborn people bringing charges against nobles are fairly common in the archives of the Sienese Capitano di Giustizia around the same period. Povolo evokes in footnotes Clifford Geertz, Pierre Bourdieu, and Paul Gewirtz with respect to narrative strategies, but they do not help us understand the actions of the different protagonists. The criminal behaviour, and the judicial animus it mobilized, are much better illuminated by Maurice Cusson, Martin Daly, and Margo Wilson. GREGORY HANLON Dalhousie University

Field of study: History
NiGe-based ohmic contacts to n-type GaAs

Refractory NiGe ohmic contacts which have excellent thermal stability and smooth surface have been developed. To apply these contacts to the future very large scale integration GaAs devices, reduction of the contact resistance (Rc) of the NiGe contacts is mandatory. In the present paper, in order to obtain a guideline for the Rc reduction, the formation mechanism of the NiGe contacts was investigated. The NiGe contacts were found to have two different ohmic contact formation mechanisms. These mechanisms suggested that facilitation of heavy doping at the GaAs surface and/or in the Ge layer was very effective to reduce the Rc values of the NiGe contacts. Experimentally, the Rc reduction was demonstrated by adding a small amount of third elements. Direct doping elements (Sn, Sb, and Te) and indirect doping elements (Pd, Pt, Au, Ag, and Cu) were chosen as the third elements. In additon, the effect of addition of In, which forms alow barrier layer between metal and GaAs, was investigated. The contact resistance of these NiGe-based contacts were close to 0.3 Ω mm, and they provided smooth surface and shallow reaction depth. Finally, the NiGe-based contacts were compared with the conventional AuGeNi contact.

Field of study: Materials science