nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Noise suppression for dual-energy CT via penalized weighted least-square optimization with similarity-based regularization.

Dual-energy CT (DECT) expands applications of CT imaging in its capability to decompose CT images into material images. However, decomposition via direct matrix inversion leads to large noise amplification and limits quantitative use of DECT. Their group has previously developed a noise suppression algorithm via penalized weighted least-square optimization with edge-preservation regularization (PWLS-EPR). In this paper, the authors improve method performance using the same framework of penalized weighted least-square optimization but with similarity-based regularization (PWLS-SBR), which substantially enhances the quality of decomposed images by retaining a more uniform noise power spectrum (NPS).



The design of PWLS-SBR is based on the fact that averaging pixels of similar materials gives a low-noise image. For each pixel, the authors calculate the similarity to other pixels in its neighborhood by comparing CT values. Using an empirical Gaussian model, the authors assign high/low similarity value to one neighboring pixel if its CT value is close/far to the CT value of the pixel of interest. These similarity values are organized in matrix form, such that multiplication of the similarity matrix to the image vector reduces image noise. The similarity matrices are calculated on both high- and low-energy CT images and averaged. In PWLS-SBR, the authors include a regularization term to minimize the L-2 norm of the difference between the images without and with noise suppression via similarity matrix multiplication. By using all pixel information of the initial CT images rather than just those lying on or near edges, PWLS-SBR is superior to the previously developed PWLS-EPR, as supported by comparison studies on phantoms and a head-and-neck patient.



On the line-pair slice of the Catphan( Similar performance on spatial resolution is observed on an anthropomorphic head phantom. In addition, results of PWLS-SBR show substantially improved image quality due to preservation of image NPS. On the Catphan(The authors propose improvements to the regularization term of an optimization framework which performs iterative image-domain decomposition for DECT with noise suppression. The regularization term avoids calculation of image gradient and is based on pixel similarity. The proposed method not only achieves a high decomposition accuracy, but also improves over the previous algorithm on NPS as well as spatial resolution.

Field of study: Medicine, Physics
A Convenient and Useful Method of Preparation of α-Bromo Enones from the Corresponding Enones Using Organic Ammonium Tribromide (OATB)

Various acyclic α-bromo enones 2 as well as cyclic α-bromo enones 4 can be prepared from the corresponding acyclic enones 1 and cyclic enones 3 respectively, in a one-pot procedure by employing organic ammonium tribromide, such as cetyltrimethylammonium tribromide (CetTMATB) or tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB) in presence of K2CO3 in dichloromethane at 0 °C to room temperature under very mild conditions in good yields.2

Field of study: Chemistry
The ants of the southern Sonoran desert: community structure and the role of trees

In contrast to other North American deserts, the southern Sonoran desert is dominated by trees that provide shaded microhabitats necessary for the establishment and survival of several plant species. Near the southern limit of the Sonoran desert in Sonora, Mexico, we evaluated the role that tree microhabitats may play in structuring ant communities. We recorded 39 species and 21 genera of ants from a 9.7-ha area. Total species richness was estimated to be between 47 and 49 species, a much greater species richness than that reported for other North American arid-zone habitats. Although species richness did not differ between open ground and tree-shaded microhabitats, species composition did. Opportunistic species, Camponotus species, Pheidole sciophila and P. titanis were more common near trees, whereas Pheidole sp. A and granivorous species were more active in open areas. The imperilment of trees in the Sonoran desert due to commercial cutting and the spread of buffelgrass Pennisetum ciliare may alter the existing composition of ant communities.

Field of study: Environmental science
Deformation paths in the shallow levels of an accretionary prism: The Eocene Shimanto belt of southwest Japan

Detailed structural analysis of coherent turbidites in a part of the Eocene Shimanto belt on the Muroto Peninsula, Shikoku Island, Japan, reveals a structural evolution that is typical of the shallow levels of accretionary prisms in style and sequence of deformational fabrics, but anomalous in that it includes both a marked rotation in shortening direction and a major out-of-sequence thrust. Deformation throughout a history of progressive lithification and burial was dominated by subhorizontal shortening and seaward-vergent shear. Structures evolved from predominantly mesoscale thrusts and folds to larger, more brittle faults, and finally to kilometer-scale, amplified fault-bend folds with an associated pressure-solution cleavage. This structural progression is consistent with increasing strength of the rocks, decreasing fluid pressures, and increasing temperature and pressure as the sediments were dewatered, lithified, and accreted to the prism. In contrast to this straightforward structural evolution, the prism-scale deformation of the Eocene Shimanto belt is difficult to reconcile with simple models of prism developmentthat assume orthogonal subduction and seaward-stepping imbrication. A 50° counterclockwise rotation in the shortening direction and a major out-of-sequence (or intraprism) thrust are recorded by two distinct structural domains. In both, the earliest structures are clastic dikes and faults indicative of north-south shortening. One domain is characterized by east-striking, regional-scale folds and cleavage that are transected by an east-northeast-trending cleavage; however, the other is characterized by northeast-striking folds and cleavage that are transected by a slightly more north-striking cleavage. The different deformation histories of the two do-mains require that they be separated by a major intraprism fault. This fault carries tectonic melange containing blocks of pillow basalt and chert, indicating that it rooted in the decollement zone beneath the prism. The tectonostratigraphy and deformation histories of the two domains suggest that both before and after the out-of-sequence fault developed, higher structural levels of the prism experienced significant subhorizontal shortening, whereas lower structural levels bypassed this zone of deformation.

Field of study: Geology
Radix $r^{k} $ FFTs: Matricial Representation and SDC/SDF Pipeline Implementation

This paper proposes to use the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrix factorization based on the Kronecker product to express the family of radix <i>rk</i> single-path delay commutator/single-path delay feedback (SDC/SDF) pipeline fast Fourier transform (FFT) architectures. The matricial expressions of the radix <i>r</i>, <i>r</i> <sup>2</sup>, <i>r</i> <sup>3</sup>, and <i>r</i> <sup>4</sup> decimation-in-frequency (DIF) SDC/SDF pipeline architectures are derived. These expressions can be written using a small set of operators, resulting in a compact representation of the algorithms. The derived expressions are general in terms of <i>r</i> and the number of points of the FFT <i>N</i>. Expressions are given where it is not necessary that <i>N</i> is a power of <i>rk</i>. The proposed set of operators can be mapped to equivalent hardware circuits. Thus, the designer can easily go from the matricial representations to their implementations and vice versa. As an example, the mapping of the operators is shown for radix 2, 2<sup>2</sup>, 2<sup>3</sup>, and 2<sup>4</sup>, and the details of the corresponding SDC/SDF pipeline FFT architectures are presented. Furthermore, a general expression is given for the SDC/SDF radix <i>rk</i> pipeline architectures when <i>k</i> > 4. This general expression helps the designer to efficiently handle a wider design exploration space and select the optimum single-path architecture for a given value of <i>N</i>.

Field of study: Engineering
Budget-constrained pareto efficient allocations: A dynamic story

It has been established in the context of pure exchange economies that, given a fixed price system and a given income distribution, there exists at least one allocation which is going to be Pareto efficient and still satisfy every consumer’s budget equation with respect to the given price system and the income assigned to him. Existence, structural stability, and uniqueness of B.C.P.E. allocations have been dealt with in [ 11 under the assumption of differentiability of preferences; the existence result has been extended so as to cover non-differentiable preferences in 121. The theory developed in these papers being basically static, the purpose of this note is therefore to add a dynamic touch to the theory of B.C.P.E. allocations. We use the same definitions, assumptions, and notation as in [Il. If 2 = (p, WI, w, ,*..r wm) denotes a price-income vector with p.r = w,+W,+**~+W,, where r is the vector of total resources, we denote by A(i) the space of budget-constrained allocations associated with 2. The space A(Z) is a linear manifold having dimension (f 1) (m 1). We define X as the set of allocations x = (x,, x2 ,..., x,J with C xi = r. In this note, we shall investigate processes that lead to B.C.P.E. allocations in a sense to be made more precise later on.

Field of study: Economics
The thermoelectric power in AgxTiS2 and AgxNiPS3. Part II. The ionic component of the thermoelectric power

The EMF of the isothermal cells: Ag/AgI/AgxTiS2: 0<x<1, T=150–200°C/AgxNiPS3: 0<x<3, T=150–350°C has been measured. From the EMF-x curves the existence ranges of the 2-phase (stage I and II) regions −0.16<x<0.32 for the Ag/AgxTiS2 system at 190°C; 0.20 < x < 0.50 and 1 < x < 2 for the Ag/AgxNiPS3 system at 400°C - have been determined. The results are sustained by X-ray diffraction and electrical conductivity measurements. From the EMF-T curves the partial enthalpy (ΔHAg) and entropy (ΔSAg) of dissolution of silver in the AgxSSE (solid solution electrode) materials were obtained. In the case of AgxTiS2, ΔHAg has a low absolute value, while ΔSAg is distinctly positive. The EMF of the Ag/AgxNiPS3 system also has a positive temperature coefficient. Furthermore, the ionic component of the thermoelectric power, ΔE/ΔT, of the thermogalvanic cells: Ag/AgI/AgxSSE/AgI/Ag AgxTiS2: 0 < x < 1, T = 150–200°C( T ) (T+ΔT) AgxNiPS3: 0 < x < 1, T= 150–350°C has been measured. The kinetically important heat of transport of silver ions in the AgxSSE materials has been determined in two ways: first from the dependence of the ionic Seebeck coefficient (ϵAg+) on reciprocal temperature; and second from direct calculation, using the data for ϵAg+ and ΔSAg. The heat of transport is much smaller than the activation enthalpy for Ag+-conduction, indicating a high ionic polaron binding energy in these materials.

Field of study: Materials science
Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Porosity in MgB2 Wires Using FIB Nanotomography

Porosity is one of several current limiting mechanisms in MgB2 wires. We have compared the microstructural homogeneity and the porosity distribution in different ex situ and in situ MgB2 powder-in-tube wires. The submicrometer structure was determined using focused ion beam nanotomography. The ex situ wires exhibit an isotropic microstructure, which has been quantified in terms of an identical tortuosity in transverse and longitudinal filament direction. The very homogenous microstructure in the new ex situ wire generation is probably one reason for its strongly improved critical current density. The in situ wire has an anisotropic microstructure with a lower tortuosity in the axial direction. The microstructural inhomogeneity of the in situ filaments makes microstructural characterization and the comparison between materials and superconducting properties particularly challenging.

Field of study: Physics
Exploring plastic-induced satiety in foraging green turtles.

In the last decade many studies have described the ingestion of plastic in marine animals. While most studies were dedicated to understanding the pre-ingestion processes involving decision-making foraging choices based on visual and olfactory cues of animals, our knowledge in the post-ingestion consequences remains limited. Here we proposed a theoretical complementary view of post-ingestion consequences, attempting to connect plastic ingestion with plastic-induced satiety. We analyzed data of plastic ingestion and dietary information of 223 immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from tropical Brazilian reefs in order to understand the impacts of plastic ingestion on foraging behavior. Generalized linear mixing models and permutational analysis of variance suggested that plastic accumulations in esophagus, stomach and intestine differed in their impact on green turtle's food intake. At the initial stages of plastic ingestion, where the plastic still in the stomach, an increase in food intake was observed. The accumulation of plastic in the gastrointestinal tract can reduce food intake likely leading to plastic-induced satiety. Our results also suggest that higher amounts of plastics in the gastrointestinal tract may led to underweight and emaciated turtles. We hope that adopting and refining our proposed framework will help to clarify the post-ingestion consequences of plastic ingestion in wildlife.

Field of study: Environmental science
Genetic and environmental influences on IL-6 and TNF-alpha plasma levels in apparently healthy general population.

Dysregulation of cytokines synthesis is thought to play a role in the development of a number of age-related conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, and others, but observational studies have led to contradictory results. We investigated potential familial influences on the plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in 91 nuclear and more complex pedigrees of Caucasian ethnic origin (N=401 individuals). The maximum likelihood based variance decomposition analysis showed significant positive correlation between circulating IL-6 and age in both genders. The magnitude of these correlations in our sample ranged from 0.22 in females to 0.28 in males (P<0.001). Significant association between TNF-alpha and IL-6 (r=0.28, r=0.43; P<0.001; respectively for men and women) was also observed. Likelihood ratio test clearly revealed that additive genetic effect for TNF-alpha was highly significant (P<0.001), and accounted over 80% of its variation, adjusted for IL-6 levels and age. In contrast, heritability estimate for IL-6 adjusted for age and TNF-alpha, revealed small contribution of genetic factors (24.1 +/- 10.2%). The bivariate variance component analysis demonstrated that significant relationship between IL-6 and TNF-alpha was due to shared environment only (r(E)=0.760 +/- 0.140). As evinced from our complex segregation analysis the nature of the genetic determinant of each of these two cytokines is quite complex and it is probably oligogenic.

Field of study: Medicine
Patterns of population displacement during mega-fires in California detected using Facebook Disaster Maps

Facebook Disaster Maps (FBDM) is the first platform providing analysis-ready population change products derived from crowdsourced data targeting disaster relief practices. We evaluate the representativeness of FBDM data using the Mann-Kendall test and emerging hot and cold spots in an anomaly analysis to reveal the trend, magnitude, and agglommeration of population displacement during the Mendocino Complex and Woolsey fires in California, USA. Our results show that the distribution of FBDM pre-crisis users fits well with the total population from different sources. Due to usage habits, the elder population is underrepresented in FBDM data. During the two mega-fires in California, FBDM data effectively captured the temporal change of population arising from the placing and lifting of evacuation orders. Coupled with monotonic trends, the fall and rise of cold and hot spots of population revealed the areas with the greatest population drop and potential places to house the displaced residents. A comparison between the Mendocino Complex and Woolsey fires indicates that a densely populated region can be evacuated faster than a scarcely populated one, possibly due to the better access to transportation. In sparsely populated fire-prone areas, resources should be prioritized to move people to shelters as the displaced residents do not have many alternative options, while their counterparts in densely populated areas can utilize their social connections to seek temporary stay at nearby locations during an evacuation. Integrated with an assessment on underrepresented communities, FBDM data and the derivatives can provide much needed information of near real-time population displacement for crisis response and disaster relief. As applications and data generation mature, FBDM will harness crowdsourced data and aid first responder decision-making.

Field of study: Environmental science
Long-term observations minus background monitoring of ground-based brightness temperatures from a microwave radiometer network

Ground-based microwave radiometers (MWRs) offer the capability to provide continuous, high-temporal-resolution observations of the atmospheric thermodynamic state in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) with low maintenance. This makes MWR an ideal instrument to supplement radiosonde and satellite observations when initializing numerical weather prediction (NWP) models through data assimilation. State-of-the-art data assimilation systems (e.g. variational schemes) require an accurate representation of the differences between model (background) and observations, which are then weighted by their respective errors to provide the best analysis of the true atmospheric state. In this perspective, one source of information is contained in the statistics of the differences between observations and their background counterparts (O–B). Monitoring of O–B statistics is crucial to detect and remove systematic errors coming from the measurements, the observation operator, and/or the NWP model. This work illustrates a 1-year O–B analysis for MWR observations in clear-sky conditions for an European-wide network of six MWRs. Observations include MWR brightness temperatures (TB) measured by the two most common types of MWR instruments. Background profiles are extracted from the French convective-scale model AROME-France before being converted into TB. The observation operator used to map atmospheric profiles into TB is the fast radiative transfer model RTTOV-gb. It is shown that O–B monitoring can effectively detect instrument malfunctions. O–B statistics (bias, standard deviation, and root mean square) for water vapour channels (22.24–30.0 GHz) are quite consistent for all the instrumental sites, decreasing from the 22.24 GHz line centre ( ∼  2–2.5 K) towards the high-frequency wing ( ∼  0.8–1.3 K). Statistics for zenith and lower-elevation observations show a similar trend, though values increase with increasing air mass. O–B statistics for temperature channels show different behaviour for relatively transparent (51–53 GHz) and opaque channels (54–58 GHz). Opaque channels show lower uncertainties (

Field of study: Environmental science
COLD AIR REFRIGERATING MACHINES WITH MECHANICAL, THERMAL AND MATERIAL REGENERATION

The cold air refrigerating machines are practically of the same age as the vaporisation-
compression-type refrigerating machines, however, the former ones were put in actual 
operation only during the past decades. As the principal reason for it, their lower economi-
cal efficiency can be considered. However, the vaporisation-compression-type refrigerating 
machines cause heavy pollution to the environment (gap of ozone layer problem), there-
fore the interest in the cold air refrigerating machines has been greatly aroused lately. In 
the paper, the operation, theory and application possibilities of the cold air refrigerating 
machines are dealt with, especially considering the air- conditioning of motor vehicles. 
The improvement of the economy of cold air refrigerating machines is especially paid 
great attention in this paper. In addition, the possibilities of applying heat exchangers, 
as well as the cooling process of the operating-medium during compression with the help 
of liquid charge are examined.

Field of study: Engineering
Complications and cardiovascular risk factors in South Asians and Europeans with early-onset type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a major cardiovascular risk factor, and early-onset (<40 years) type 2 diabetes is becoming more common.



To determine the prevalence of complications, and cardiovascular risk factors at diagnosis, in early-onset type 2 diabetes, and to compare these between South Asians and Europeans.



Prospective study of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients aged <40 years, attending hospital and primary care clinics 1999-2001.



Patients were assessed for signs of macrovascular disease, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. Cardiovascular risk factors were also determined.



Overall, 292 patients were enrolled (165 South Asians). Macrovascular disease was more prevalent in South Asians (15.7% vs. 9.4%, p<0.001), as was microvascular disease (27.3% vs. 16.5%, p<0.001), including retinopathy (17.5% vs. 7.9%, p<0.001), and nephropathy (18.1% vs. 7.8%, p<0.001). South Asians had trends towards greater waist:hip ratio (0.95 vs. 0.90), and higher blood pressure (127/80 vs. 123/76 mmHg). HDL cholesterol was lower (1.0 vs. 1.3 mmol/l, p<0.001) and fasting triglycerides higher (1.9 vs. 1.5 mmol/l, p<0.001) in South Asians. Absolute CHD risk was significantly higher in South Asians (16.9% vs. 13.7%, p<0.001).



Complications were common at diagnosis, with a quarter of all patients having evidence of at least one diabetic complication. South Asians had a higher prevalence of established macrovascular and microvascular disease, compared to Europeans, and a higher risk of CHD, predominantly because of lower HDL cholesterol and higher blood pressure.

Field of study: Medicine
Data Wiping System Design for Privacy Protecting Based on m Sequence

With the development of networking technology, privacy protection is more and more important. The paper analysis and compares the application of the data destroy and data wiping technology in the privacy protection domain, and illustrates the actuality of the data wiping technology. Since the development of the modern RLL code technology, the paper proposals a data wiping algorithm based on m sequence, and introduces the main technology to design a data wiping system.

Field of study: Computer science