nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Two-tier morpho-chemical defence tactic in Aethionema via fruit morph plasticity and glucosinolates allocation in diaspores.

Fruit dimorphism and the production of glucosinolates (GSLs) are two specific life history traits found in the members of Brassicales, which aid to optimize seed dispersal and defence against antagonists, respectively. We hypothesized that the bipartite dispersal strategy demands a tight control over the production of fruit morphs with expectedly differential allocation of defensive anticipins (GSLs). In dimorphic Aethionema, herbivory by Plutella xylostella at a young stage triggered the production of more dehiscent (seeds released from fruit) than indehiscent fruit morphs (seeds enclosed within persistent pericarp) on the same plant upon maturity. Total GSL concentrations were highest in the mature seeds of dehiscent fruits from Aethionema arabicum and Aethionema saxatile among the different ontogenetic stages of the diaspores. Multivariate analyses of GSL profiles indicated significantly higher concentrations of specific indole GSLs in the diaspores, which require optimal defence after dispersal (i.e., seeds of dehiscent and fruit/pericarp of indehiscent fruit). Bioassays with a potentially coinhabitant fungus, Aspergillus quadrilineatus, support the distinct defensive potential of the diaspores corresponding to their GSL allocation. These findings indicate a two-tier morpho-chemical defence tactic of Aethionema via better protected fruit morphs and strategic provision of GSLs that optimize protection to the progeny for survival in nature.

Field of study: Environmental science
Involvement of D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors within the rat nucleus accumbens in the maintenance of morphine rewarding properties in the rats.

Previous studies on drug abuse have shown that response to drug-associated cues exist during prolonged abstinence. In succession to previous investigations in our laboratory on morphine dependence and our research on acquisition and expression phases of morphine-conditioned place preference (CPP), in this study we attempt to determine the effects of intraaccumbal administration of SCH-23390, as a D1-like receptor antagonist, and sulpiride, as a D2-like receptor antagonist, in the maintenance of morphine-induced CPP in rats. Seventy-nine adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-280 g were bilaterally implanted with cannulas into the nucleus accumbens. During the 3-day conditioning phase, the animals received daily subcutaneous administration of morphine (5 mg/kg). CPP score and locomotor activity of animals were recorded by Ethovision software. Different doses (0.25, 1, 4 μg per 0.5 μL vehicle) of D1- and D2-like antagonists were bilateral injected daily after the expression phase and during the extinction phase. Our findings revealed that intraaccumbal administration of D1-like and D2-like antagonists after the CPP test shortened the extinction phase in the rats. The results suggested that the existence of the dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens was important for the maintenance of morphine-rewarding properties during the extinction phase. Therefore, dopamine receptors may be considered as a promising therapeutic agent in preventing the maintenance of morphine-rewarding effects in dependent individuals.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Hydrogen passivation of defects and impurities in GaAs and InP

Hydrogen passivation experiments in GaAs and InP are discussed. For GaAs it is argued that the results of hydrogen passivation of shallow donors, shallow acceptors and deep centers in materials with different Fermi level positions as well as diffusion data for undoped or lightly doped GaAs are consistent with the assumption that hydrogen is neutral or amphoteric (at least at rather high temperatures of treatment). Some new interesting effects are reported such as improvement of GaAs homogeneity as revealed by microcathodoluminescence imaging and also hydrogen passivation of surface states in GaAs. Evidence is presented that hydrogenation in direct plasmas leads to damage region formation at the surface of the GaAs. A new method of hydrogenation is described that is free from that drawback. The marked improvement of Au/n-GaAs Schottky diodes I-V characteristics is reported after using this method. This new technique is also used to hydrogenate InP for which conventional methods encounter very serious problems. In InP the results of hydrogen passivation experiments on shallow donors and acceptors imply that hydrogen is a deep donor. An interesting effect of injection annealing at room temperature of hydrogen-donor complexes inn-InP is observed.

Field of study: Materials science
Rising hypospadias rates: disproving a myth.

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital abnormalities occurring in males. In recent years, the prevalence of hypospadias and whether that prevalence is rising or stable has become part of a larger debate over the potential effects of so-called 'endocrine disruptors', such as phthalates and bisphenol-A, on male reproductive health. This commentary critically examines allegations suggesting a worldwide increase in hypospadias rates. Despite the lack of scientific support for this hypothesis and for related claims that the disorders of male reproductive health are related to endocrine disruptors, these constructs remain firmly entrenched in popular literature, and are being used in part to justify litigation banning suspected endocrine disruptors such as phthalates and bisphenol-A. A review of the epidemiologic data on this issue amassed to date clearly demonstrates that the bulk of evidence refutes claims for an increase in hypospadias rates. This suggests that two of the three components of alleged testicular dysfunction syndrome, i.e. decline in sperm counts and rise in urogenital anomalies, lack clinical support. It further suggests that extrapolations from data derived in laboratory animal studies about alleged occult risks to humans of various candidate compounds are unwarranted at this time.

Field of study: Medicine
High power radial reflex klystron oscillator with virtual cathode

A new idea about radial reflex klystron oscillator with a virtual cathode is brought forward to improve microwave power and efficiency.The radial reflex klystron oscillator is combined with a virtual cathode oscillator in one foldaway coaxial diode.The frequency of the virtual cathode oscillator is locked by the radial reflex klystron oscillator and the bunching of the reflex electron beam reflected by the virtual cathode is enhanced.A new type of radial reflex klystron oscillator with a virtual cathode is designed and simulated by 2.5 D PIC.The results of the simulation are presented.2.5 GW output power is generated with 620 kV voltage,25 kA beam current and the frequency is 1.25 GHz.

Field of study: Physics
Empowerment of Teachers in Implementing Thematic Learning Method.

The way of looking at something in the present era is different from the past era. In the past era, something is looked at partially. The effect of this situation is harm for the life. At present era and the future, look at something should comprehensively and integral. The profile of human beings who are able to think comprehensively and integral may be designed by thematic learning method. Thematic learning method is an interesting issue to be studied. This research is focused in thematic learning method. This research is community based research, that is a research that based on empowerment activity.  So there are two main activities, they are research and empowerment. The implementation both programs are together.  During the empowerment program, there is a research (collecting data). Experts said that in community based research, there is an action research, so there is a categorization that community based research is include action research. The result of the research showed that empowerment to teachers in implementing thematic learning is not significant. The trend of competence is 0.152 + 0.716 Motivation (Competence =  0.152 + 0.716 Motivation). It can be explained that “Each increasing of 1 point of motivation can increases 0.716 of competence.  Empowerment, Thematic learning

Field of study: Education
Changes of the structural and optical properties of cubic CdS films on annealing in H2 and air atmospheres

Structural and optical properties of as-grown cubic CdS polycrystalline films annealed in H2 and air atmospheres are reported. The CdS films were grown onto glass substrates by chemical-bath deposition. The forbidden band-gap and the x-ray diffraction spectrum evolution as a function of the thermal annealing temperature, in H2 and air ambients, were studied. Band-gap shift and changes in grain size, lattice parameter and crystalline structure were influenced by the type of atmosphere and the temperature of the thermal annealing. From these results, the dependence of the band-gap on the lattice parameter was determined.

Field of study: Materials science
Late Cretaceous orbitally-paced carbon isotope stratigraphy from the Bottaccione Gorge (Italy)

A refined astronomical tuning of the upper Albian−lower Campanian is proposed from the Bottaccione reference section (Gubbio, central Italy). Long-term eccentricity cycles filtered from a high-resolution δ13C record were tuned to the highly stable 405 kyr cycles of the new La2010 astronomical solution for the Earth's orbital elements. The achieved orbital tuning provides a new precise, and accurate age model for dating biostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic and carbon isotope events through a ~ 23 Myr long record. Cycles of ~ 8.0, 4.7, 3.4 and ~ 2.4 Myr modulate the entire δ13C record, thus extending their detection from the Cenozoic to ~ 100 Ma and represent primary and stable long-term oscillation modes of Earth's climate–ocean system. Although an ultimate driver of these long-term periodicities is lacking, we speculate that specifically the periodicity at 4.7 Myr, represents a homologue of the present eccentricity grand-cycles, evolved by the chaotic behaviour of solar system planets during the Mesozoic. The long-term periodicities potentially reflect an unexplored expression of the low-frequency response of the carbon cycle to global biogeochemical dynamics of major nutrients, particularly phosphorus, associated with modulation of inputs to the ocean in turn triggered by high-order marine transgressions and formation of highly productive shelf seas. This very long-term eccentricity control, modulated by periodic low-energy cycles, is suggested to play a crucial role in carbon cycling, controlling a chain of climate sensitive global biogeochemical processes on the Earth. Finally, these grand-cycles provide a potential tool for geological correlation and provide a robust constraint for accurate calculation of the orbital evolution of the Solar System.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Bimetallic catalytic systems containing Ti, Zr, Ni, and Pd. Their applications to selective organic syntheses

Controlled carbometallation of unnactivated acetylenes represents a new methodology in organic synthesis. We have found that the Zr-catalyzed carboalumination of terminal alkynes provides a highly selective and versatile entry into trisubstituted olefins, especially those of terpenoid origin. Its scope, synthetic applications, and mechanism are discussed with emphasis on the cross-coupling reactions of alkenylalanes with organic halides catalyzed by palladium and nickel complexes.

Field of study: Chemistry
Analysis on the High-order Distributed Consensus under Probabilistic Quantized Communication

Because the high-order distributed consensus algorithm utilizes the previous state values of non-adjacent nodes to accelerate the convergent rate, under the quantized communication, it means that the high-order distributed consensus algorithm utilizes the quantized information of more non-adjacent nodes, the performance of the high-order algorithm become very important under quantized communication. in the paper, the performance and the mean square errors of the high-order probabilistic quantization distributed consensus algorithm were analyzed. By analysis and simulation, the bigger the length of quantization message is, the better the performance is, and the smaller the square errors of the high-order algorithm is.

Field of study: Engineering
Methamphetamine causes widespread apoptosis in the mouse brain: evidence from using an improved TUNEL histochemical method.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dNTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) histochemistry is a sensitive method to expose DNA strand breaks in apoptotic cells, but it is difficult to conduct on slide-mounted sections. By using a 80 degrees C/0.5% Triton X-100 pretreatment, we have developed a TUNEL histochemical approach with high specificity and sensitivity using sections from ischemic rat brains. Thereafter, methamphetamine (METH)-induced neuronal death was investigated in mice brains. The results showed that a single injection of 40 mg/kg METH caused neuronal death in several brain areas including the striatum, cortex (frontal, parietal, and piriform), indusium griseum, medial habenular nucleus, and hippocampus. These results further confirmed the presence of METH-induced deleterious effects in nondopaminergic neurons. The significance of these findings is also discussed.

Field of study: Biology
Effect of ozone on net photosynthesis in oat (Avena sativa) and duckweed (Lemna gibba).

Short exposure to ozone depressed photosynthesis in both oat and duckweed at concentrations above 140 microg m(-3) and 300 microg m(-3), respectively. The effect on exposed oat flag leaves was age-dependent, with maximum susceptibility to ozone 10-20 days after emergence of the panicle. In duckweed, photosynthesis was more sensitive to differences in ozone concentration than to differences in duration of exposure.

Field of study: Environmental science
Nonlinear differential equations for the wavefront surface at arbitrary Hartmann-plane distances.

In the Hartmann test, a wave aberration function W is estimated from the information of the spot diagram drawn in an observation plane. The distance from a reference plane to the observation plane, the Hartmann-plane distance, is typically chosen as z=f, where f is the radius of a reference sphere. The function W and the transversal aberrations {X,Y} calculated at the plane z=f are related by two well-known linear differential equations. Here, we propose two nonlinear differential equations to denote a more general relation between W and the transversal aberrations {U,V} calculated at any arbitrary Hartmann-plane distance z=r. We also show how to directly estimate the wavefront surface w from the information of {U,V}. The use of arbitrary r values could improve the reliability of the measurements of W, or w, when finding difficulties in adequate ray identification at z=f.

Field of study: Physics
Late Pleistocene–Holocene oceanographic variability in the Okhotsk Sea: geochemical, lithological and paleontological evidence

Sedimentary, geochemical and paleontological data, extracted from a sediment core taken from the central Okhotsk Sea, record climatic and sedimentary changes over the past 100 ky. Benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope record and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C data provide the basis for the core age chronology. Planktonic and benthic foraminiferal δ18O and δ13C measurements, magnetic susceptibility, ice rafted debris and coarse fraction content, carbonate and organic carbon content, and diatom and pollen spectra show major changes in regional climate, sea surface conditions, ice extent and sedimentary regime, which are correlated with the global glacial–interglacial changes of marine isotope stages (MIS) 1 through 5.3. Regional cooling and intensification of winter sea ice formation during the last glaciation increased the northern shelf surface water density and Sea of Okhotsk Intermediate Water (SOIW) formation. In addition to major Milankovitch-scale changes, lithological, geochemical and paleontological indices also show suborbital oscillations in Okhotsk Sea hydrology, sedimentation and regional climate. These shorter-term oscillations are characterized by coupled maxima in ice rafted debris and sediment coarse fraction (lithodynamic indices, LDI) values and most are associated with cold events involving enhanced winter ice formation and intensification of SOIW and North Pacific intermediate water (NPIW) formation. The terminations of LDI maxima were induced by climate warming and reductions in ice formation, and were accompanied by sharp decreases in planktonic foraminiferal δ18O. During the glacial terminations of MIS 2 and 4, however, the onset of suborbital-scale LDI maxima occurs close to sharp negative δ18O shifts in planktonic foraminifera (δ18Opf) associated with climate warming. In these special cases, the LDI maxima occurred under warm climate and rising sea levels and did not lead to increases in SOIW or NPIW ventilation.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Evaluation of bendiocarb cytotoxicity in mammalian and insect cell cultures

There is an increasing need for rapid and easily interpreted in vitro assays to screen for possible cytotoxicity of pesticides. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the carbamate insecticide bendiocarb on mammalian and insect cell cultures. The cytotoxicity of this insecticide was evaluated by cell proliferation and cellular damage was assessed by evaluation of the cytopathic effect and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage. Cells of insect origin (Sf21) were the most sensitive to bendiocarb with significant (P < 0.01) suppression of their proliferative activity ranging from 10−1–10−5 M. However, significant suppression of proliferative activity was also recorded in rat liver cells (WBF344; 10−1–10−3 M; P < 0.01–0.05) and rabbit kidney cells (RK13; 10−1 M; P < 0.01). In contrast with the proliferation activity of cells, a cytopathic effect based on cellular damage and LDH leakage into the medium was observed only at the highest concentration (10−1 M) in RK 13 and WBF344 cells, but not in the Sf21 insect cell line. Our results indicate that bendiocarb exposure caused a cell-type dependent decrease in cell proliferation; however, cell damage and LDH leakage into the medium were not present or were strongly limited, dependent on the cell phenotype. Cell proliferation was shown as a sensitive indicator for evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of bendiocarb in vitro; on the other hand, microscopic signs of cellular damage and LDH leakage were insufficient in vitro markers.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Extracellular Ca2+ transients affect poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate regulation by the AtoS-AtoC system in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is exposed to wide extracellular concentrations of Ca2+, whereas the cytosolic levels of the ion are subject to stringent control and are implicated in many physiological functions. The present study shows that extracellular Ca2+ controls cPHB [complexed poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] biosynthesis through the AtoS-AtoC two-component system. Maximal cPHB accumulation was observed at higher [Ca2+]e (extracellular Ca2+ concentration) in AtoS-AtoC-expressing E. coli compared with their DeltaatoSC counterparts, in both cytosolic and membrane fractions. The reversal of EGTA-mediated down-regulation of cPHB biosynthesis by the addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ was under the control of the AtoS-AtoC system. Moreover, the Ca2+-channel blocker verapamil reduced total and membrane-bound cPHB levels, the inhibitory effect being circumvented by Ca2+ addition only in atoSC+ bacteria. Histamine and compound 48/80 affected cPHB accumulation in a [Ca2+]e-dependent manner directed by the AtoS-AtoC system. In conclusion, these data provide evidence for the involvement of external Ca2+ on cPHB synthesis regulated by the AtoS-AtoC two-component system, thus linking Ca2+ with a signal transduction system, most probably through a transporter.

Field of study: Biology, Computer science
Halo Occupation Distribution of Infrared Selected Quasars

We perform a Halo Occupation Distribution (HOD) modeling of the projected two-point correlation function (2PCF) of quasars that are observed in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope with counter-parts in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release (DR)-8 quasar catalog at a median redshift of $z\sim 1.04 (\pm 0.58)$. Using a four parameter HOD model we derive the host mass scales of WISE selected quasars. Our results show that the median halo masses of central and satellite quasars lie in the range $M_{\mathrm{cen}} = (5 \pm 1.0) \times 10^{12} M_{\odot}$ and $M_{\mathrm{sat}} = 8 (^{+7.8} _{-4.8}) \times 10^{13} M_{\odot}$, respectively. The derived satellite fraction is $f_{\mathrm{sat}}= 5.5 (^{+35} _{-5.0})\times 10^{-3}$. Previously Richardson et al.\ used the SDSS DR7 quasar clustering data to obtain the halo mass distributions of $z\sim 1.4$ quasars. Our results on the HOD of central quasars are in excellent agreement with Richardson et al.\ but the host mass scale of satellite quasars for the WISE sample, is lower than that of Richardson et al.\ resulting in an order of magnitude higher satellite fraction for the WISE sample. We note that our sample of quasars are systematically brighter in the WISE frequency bands compared to the full quasar sample of SDSS. We discuss the implication of this result in the context of current theories of galaxy evolution.

Field of study: Physics
Influence of Partially Debonded Interface on Elasticity of Syntactic Foam: A Numerical Study

The effect of interfacial bonding of glass hollow microspheres and a polymer matrix on the elastic properties of syntactic foam was investigated using representative volume element (RVE) models, including partially debonded interfaces. Finite element analysis, with models having different debonding geometries, was performed to numerically estimate the elastic behavior of the models. The models consisted of bonded and debonded regions of interfaces; the bonded region was treated as the perfectly bonded interface, while the Coulomb friction model was used to describe the debonded region with a small friction coefficient. The changes in the tensile and compressive moduli of the foams were investigated in terms of the degree of interfacial debonding and debonding geometry.

Field of study: Materials science
Hypogammaglobulinaemia associated with abnormalities of both B and T lymphocytes in patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

The underlying basis for hypogammaglobulinaemia in patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) was investigated by measurement if immunoglobulin produced in vitro in cultures of pokeweek mitogen-stimulated B and T lymphocytes. B and T cells were separated by sheep red blood cell rosette techniques and, by culture of these cells from CLL patients in various combinations with B or T cells from normal subjects, it was possible to measure independently the function of B lymphocytes and the helper or suppressor function of T lymphocytes. By these methods it was found that the B lymphocytes of six of eight patients failed to produce immunoglobulins in vitro. B lymphocytes from two patients appeared to produce immunoglobulins in vitro. T lymphocytes from five of the eight patients had low or undetectable helper T cell function and in six patients their T lymphocytes had excessive suppressor activity in comparison to T lymphocyte populations from normal subjects. Whether the primary abnormality in the CLL T cell populations was a deficiency of helper T cells or excess of suppressor T cells was uncertain from these studies. These results suggest that immunoglobulin production by B lymphocytes from most patients with CLL was abnormal but also that T cells from CLL patients may be abnormal in respect to their role in immunoglobulin production at an early stage of the disease. These findings may assist in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease and lead to new approaches in treatment.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine