nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Effects of gas switch on power gain in pulse compressed system

Some important effects of gas switch on power gain in the pulse compressed system of high power microwave are analyzed, including the absorbed energy of gas switch in the progress of opening, the descending resonance inhere quality factor because of plasma instant power wastage, and the result because of plasma not being an ideal conductor. Modified coefficients are used to show these effects and the formula of power gain deduced by microwave equivalent circuit theory can be amended and the precision can be improved from 60% to about 85%.

Field of study: Physics
Physiological stimulation regulates the exocytic mode through calcium activation of protein kinase C in mouse chromaffin cells.

Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells release catecholamines and neuropeptides in an activity-dependent manner controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. Under basal sympathetic tone, catecholamines are preferentially secreted. During acute stress, increased sympathetic firing evokes release of both catecholamines as well as neuropeptides. Both signalling molecules are co-packaged in the same large dense core granules, thus release of neuropeptide transmitters must be regulated after granule fusion with the cell surface. Previous work has indicated this may be achieved through a size-exclusion mechanism whereby, under basal sympathetic firing, the catecholamines are selectively released through a restricted fusion pore, while less-soluble neuropeptides are left behind in the dense core. Only under the elevated firing experienced during the sympathetic stress response do the granules fully collapse to expel catecholamines and neuropeptides. However, mechanistic description and physiological regulation of this process remain to be determined. We employ electrochemical amperometry, fluid-phase dye uptake and electrophysiological capacitance noise analysis to probe the fusion intermediate in mouse chromaffin cells under physiological electrical stimulation. We show that basal firing rates result in the selective release of catecholamines through an Omega-form 'kiss and run' fusion event characterized by a narrow fusion pore. Increased firing raises calcium levels and activates protein kinase C, which then promotes fusion pore dilation until full granule collapse occurs. Our results demonstrate that the transition between 'kiss and run' and 'full collapse' exocytosis serves a vital physiological regulation in neuroendocrine chromaffin cells and help effect a proper acute stress response.

Field of study: Biology, Computer science
Experimental Investigation on the Freeze–Thaw Resistance of Steel Fibers Reinforced Rubber Concrete

The reuse of rubber in concrete results in two major opposing effects: an enhancement in durability and a reduction in mechanical strength. In order to strengthen the mechanical properties of rubber concrete, steel fibers were added in this research. The compressive strength, the four-point bending strength, the mass loss rate, and the relative dynamic elastic modulus of steel fiber reinforced rubber concrete, subjected to cyclic freezing and thawing, were tested. The effects of the content of steel fibers on the freeze–thaw resistance are discussed. The microstructure damage was captured and analyzed by Industrial Computed Tomography (ICT) scanning. Results show that the addition of 2.0% steel fibers can increase the compressive strength of rubber concrete by 26.6% if there is no freeze–thaw effect, but the strengthening effect disappears when subjected to cyclic freeze–thaw. The enhancement of steel fibers on the four-point bending strength is effective under cyclic freeze–thaw. The effect of steel fibers is positive on the mass loss rate but negative on the relative dynamic elastic modulus.

Field of study: Materials science
Heavy metal and nitrogen concentrations in mosses are declining across Europe whilst some "hotspots" remain in 2010.

In recent decades, naturally growing mosses have been used successfully as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen. Since 1990, the European moss survey has been repeated at five-yearly intervals. In 2010, the lowest concentrations of metals and nitrogen in mosses were generally found in northern Europe, whereas the highest concentrations were observed in (south-)eastern Europe for metals and the central belt for nitrogen. Averaged across Europe, since 1990, the median concentration in mosses has declined the most for lead (77%), followed by vanadium (55%), cadmium (51%), chromium (43%), zinc (34%), nickel (33%), iron (27%), arsenic (21%, since 1995), mercury (14%, since 1995) and copper (11%). Between 2005 and 2010, the decline ranged from 6% for copper to 36% for lead; for nitrogen the decline was 5%. Despite the Europe-wide decline, no changes or increases have been observed between 2005 and 2010 in some (regions of) countries.

Field of study: Environmental science
Student Perceptions of and Confidence in Self-Care Course Concepts Using Team-based Learning

To evaluate changes in student perceptions of and confidence in self-care concepts after completing a team-based learning (TBL) self-care course.  Team-based learning was used at two universities in first professional year, semester-long self-care courses. Two instruments were created and administered before and after the semester. The instruments were designed to assess changes in student perceptions of self-care using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) domains and confidence in learning self-care concepts using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to evaluate pre/post changes, and Mann Whitney U tests were used to evaluate university differences.  Fifty-three Cedarville University and 58 Manchester University students completed both instruments (100% and 92% response rates, respectively). Student self-care perceptions with TPB decreased significantly on nine of 13 items for Cedarville and decreased for one of 13 items for Manchester. Student confidence in self-care concepts improved significantly on all questions for both universities.  Data indicate TBL self-care courses were effective in improving student confidence about self-care concepts. Establishing students’ skill sets prior to entering the profession is beneficial because pharmacists will use self-directed learning to expand their knowledge and adapt to problem-solving situations.

Field of study: Education, Medicine
Association between mannose-binding lectin and the sensitivities of common infections in children

To investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms and protein levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and the sensitivities of common infections in a pediatric Han population lived in Zhejiang Province. MBL genetic polymorphisms of patients and controls were detected by PCR-based sequencing.MBL protein levels were measured using MBL ELISA Kit. No mutations at positions +223 and +239 of the exon 1 were detected in either patients or controls.No mutation at position +4 of the promoter was detected in controls.The frequencies of the three genotypes HH,HL,and LL at position-550 of the promoter were different between patients and controls(P＜0.05).The frequencies of genotypes "YA" and "XB" relevant to MBL protein levels were also different between patients and controls(P＜0.05).Comparing the frequencies of genotypes "YA" and "XB" in separate infectious disease with controls,significant differences were found in the group of RRI and CMV infection.The distributions of serum MBL level frequencies in patients and controls were both characterized by skewed distributions.MBL levels of patients with CMV infection were lower than those of controls(P＜0.05).Inversely,MBL levels of patients with acute respiratory infection and localized abscess were higher than those of controls (P＜O.05).Conclusion Genetic polymorphism of MBL gene is seemed to be relative to the sensitivity of common infections in children. 
 
 
Mannose/mannan-binding lectin ;  Genetic polymorphism ;  Children ;  Infection

Field of study: Biology
Saturated liquid kinematic viscosity, surface tension and thermal diffusivity of two low-GWP refrigerants 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R1243zf) and trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene (R1233zd(E)) by light scattering method

To facilitate the application of low-GWP refrigerants in the refrigeration and heat pump systems, it is highly necessary to obtain their thermophysical properties including the liquid surface tension, viscosity and thermal diffusivity. In the present study, these thermophysical properties of two low-GWP refrigerants 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R1243zf) and trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene (R1233zd(E)) were investigated by using the light scattering method under saturation conditions. With the experimental data, a van der Waals type equation for surface tension and polynomial equation with an additional term to capture the trend close to the critical point for viscosity and thermal diffusivity were proposed for the future applications.

Field of study: Engineering
Benthic foraminiferal assemblage turnover during intensification of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation in the Piacenzian Punta Piccola section (Southern Italy)

We present the results of a high-resolution analysis of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages at the Punta Piccola section (Stratotype for the Piacenzian Stage), which spans the gradual climate transition of the intensification of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation (3.6–2.6 Ma). This study highlighted a major benthic foraminiferal fauna turnover, which started at about 3.05 Ma with LO of Cibicidoides italicus , registered the gradual decline of Stilostomella spp. and culminated at about 2.7–2.75 Ma, when the dominant Siphonina reticulata was replaced by Cibicidoides pachyderma , costate Bulimine, spinose Bulimine, spinose Uvigerine and the Bolivina dilatata group. Four compositional zones, identified by constrained cluster analysis, are indicative of palaeoenvironmental changes and document the transition from stable and mainly oligotrophic conditions to unstable, mesotrophic and more fluctuating bottom conditions. Two intervals of deposition of sapropelite clusters coded as O and A, investigated using both benthic and planktic assemblages, reveal that anoxia conditions were never reached. Planktic foraminifera in the sapropelite layers of cluster O indicate deep mixing and benthic foraminifera suggest an increase in export productivity to the sea floor. By contrast, planktic foraminifera in the uppermost sapropelite layers of cluster A indicate oligotrophic surface water conditions, stratification and more eutrophic subsurface water conditions, without deep mixing. The benthic foraminifera indicate hypoxic and eutrophic bottom conditions, and evidence the first episode of down-slope transport, which testifies to a strengthening of runoff and stratification of superficial waters, but not true stagnation.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Antibubbles dynamics: the drainage of an air film with incompressible interfaces

An antibubble is a spherical air film that is immersed in a surfactant mixture and drains under the action of hydrostatic pressure. A dynamical model of this film is proposed that accounts for the surface shear viscosity effects in the case of incompressible interfaces, which apply for surfactants whose adsorption rate is much larger than convection rate and at concentration much above the cmc. Our model show that the lifetime of antibubbles in this case increases with surface shear viscosity, whose value is measured independently, all in agreement with experimental measurements.

Field of study: Physics
Concerted stimuli regulating osteo-chondral differentiation from stem cells: phenotype acquisition regulated by microRNAs

AbstractBone and cartilage are being generated de novo through concerted actions of a plethora of signals. These act on stem cells (SCs) recruited for lineage-specific differentiation, with cellular phenotypes representing various functions throughout their life span. The signals are rendered by hormones and growth factors (GFs) and mechanical forces ensuring proper modelling and remodelling of bone and cartilage, due to indigenous and programmed metabolism in SCs, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, as well as osteoclasts and other cell types (eg T helper cells).This review focuses on the concerted action of such signals, as well as the regulatory and/or stabilizing control circuits rendered by a class of small RNAs, designated microRNAs. The impact on cell functions evoked by transcription factors (TFs) via various signalling molecules, also encompassing mechanical stimulation, will be discussed featuring microRNAs as important members of an integrative system. The present approach to cell differentiation in vitro may vastly influence cell engineering for in vivo tissue repair.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
The method of joining of the BSCCO superconductors

To lengthen high-T/sub c/ superconducting wares (wires, screens and other) we present a method of joining of BSCCO materials, retaining their initial superconducting properties. The BSCCO original superconducting materials (tubes) were prepared by the melt quenching method with subsequent annealing. The initial superconducting temperature T/sub c//sup 0/ (R=0) of the BSCCO tubes is (85-92) K. For joining of the tubes the BSCCO superconducting material containing additions that decreased the synthesis regimes of BSCCO joining contact (splice) are used. The superconducting property and phase investigations of the original and joined BSCCO tubes are presented.

Field of study: Physics
Pan-African Orogeny in Northern Nigeria

An area of approximately 12,000 sq km of Precambrian to lower Paleozoic rocks around Zaria in northern Nigeria has recently been mapped for the first time. Results from this survey have been combined with limited data from adjacent areas to determine the nature of the Pan-African event in this part of Nigeria. A crystalline basement complex of gneisses, migmatites (Dahomeyan), and relicts of an ancient metasedimentary sequence (Birrimian) underlies most of the region. Infolded into this basement, as north-south-trending synclinoria, is a younger metasedimentary sequence (Ka-tangan) forming the remnants of an earlier, more extensive supracrustal cover. A suite of syntectonic to late tectonic granites and granodiorites (late Precambrian to lower Paleozoic) has intruded both the basement and its cover. The structure of the area is dominated by north-south trends typical over much of Nigeria. There is evidence to suggest that the whole area was affected by two successive phases of intense deformation resulting in tight isoclinal folding about (1) east-northeast-west-southwest, and (2) north-south axes. The crystalline basement was reactivated and the supracrustal cover regionally metamorphosed. Two phases of progressive metamorphism accompanied the deformations, which were separated and followed by static metamorphic phases. Pressure-temperature conditions of metamorphism appear to have remained fairly constant throughout, giving rise to a low pressure facies series similar to the Buchan type. Extensive migmadzation of the crystalline basement is believed to have accompanied the first deformation, followed by further differentiation during the second phase to produce homogeneous gneisses and intrusive granites. Jointing, fracturing, and faulting followed the orogeny, and a major northeast-southwest-trending transcurrent fault system crosses the area. It is obvious from the structural and metamorphic evidence that the Pan-African event reached the status of an orogeny in northwestern Nigeria.

Field of study: Geology
Landscape-scale distribution and density of raptor populations wintering in anthropogenic-dominated desert landscapes

Anthropogenic development has great potential to affect fragile desert environments. Large-scale development of renewable energy infrastructure is planned for many desert ecosystems. Development plans should account for anthropogenic effects to distributions and abundance of rare or sensitive wildlife; however, baseline data on abundance and distribution of such wildlife are often lacking. We surveyed for predatory birds in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of southern California, USA, in an area designated for protection under the “Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan”, to determine how these birds are distributed across the landscape and how this distribution is affected by existing development. We developed species-specific models of resight probability to adjust estimates of abundance and density of each individual common species. Second, we developed combined-species models of resight probability for common and rare species so that we could make use of sparse data on the latter. We determined that many common species, such as red-tailed hawks, loggerhead shrikes, and especially common ravens, are associated with human development and likely subsidized by human activity. Species-specific and combined-species models of resight probability performed similarly, although the former model type provided higher quality information. Comparing abundance estimates with past surveys in the Mojave Desert suggests numbers of predatory birds associated with human development have increased while other sensitive species not associated with development have decreased. This approach gave us information beyond what we would have collected by focusing either on common or rare species, thus it provides a low-cost framework for others conducting surveys in similar desert environments outside of California.

Field of study: Environmental science
Shadow Bands, Gap and Pseudogaps in High-Tc Superconductors

Within the framework of the Charge Density Wave Quantum Critical Point(CDW-QCP) scenario for high-Tc superconductors (HTCS) we introduce a modelfor tight-binding electrons coupled to quasi-critical fluctuations. In thenormal state our model reproduces features the Fermi Surface (FS) observedin ARPES measurements on optimality doped Bi2212, such as the anisotropicsuppression of spectral weight around the M points of the Brillouinzone. The spectral density is characterized by a transfer of spectral weightfrom the main quasiparticle peak to dispersing shadow peaks which originatebranches of a shadow FS. In the superconducting state our model reproducesthe d-wave symmetry of the gap parameter, which results from a balancebetween small-q attraction and large-q repulsion. The gap parameter isenhanced due to cooperative effects of charge and spin fluctuations.

Field of study: Physics
Economic value of coastal environment improvement programs in aquaculture zones in South Korea

The present study attempted to estimate the value of the environmental improvement programs using a CVM model. The CVM model included economic variables, socio-demographic variables, and proxy variables measuring survey participants' familiarity with the coastal areas. We conducted an online survey during August 2018 with 3428 participants and received 1000 usable responses (final response rate of 29.1%). According to the survey, 73.2% of the households were willing to pay to support the environmental improvement programs in the aquaculture zones. The weighted average value of willingness to pay (WTP), taking into account the participation rate, was estimated at USD 9.05 per household; the aggregated WTP in 2019 was calculated at USD 182,049,800; a five-year net present value of the aggregate value of the improvement project was calculated at USD 837,411,929.

Field of study: Environmental science
The Influencing Mechanism of Rural Land Consolidation and Beautiful Country Construction on Ecological Environment and the Countermeasures

The promotion of rural land consolidation and beautiful country construction is an important strategic measure to enhance the synchronous development of "Four Modernizations"and to accelerate the construction of all-round comfortably-off society in Anhui province,which has exerted different influences on agro-ecological environment in the process of current implementation in different rural areas in Anhui. This paper studied,from the aspects of water environment,soil,vegetative cover,species diversity and landscape pattern,the influencing mechanism of rural land consolidation on ecological environment,which include high standard basic farmland construction,rural construction land and unused farming land consolidation,as well as land rehabilitation.Then,the countermeasures to promote the protection of agroecological environment in Anhui were proposed:to establish evaluation standard systems,construct regulatory agencies,select the methods and approaches of land consolidation in an appropriate way and strengthen the efforts of protection and training.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
[Identification of human monoclonal HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies from phage antibody library by cell-based screening].

To identify human monoclonal HIV-l-neutralizing antibodies from an HIV-1 CRF07BC specific phage display antibody library by cell-based screening. 293T cells were transfected by pCH064. 2-Env plas mid and then used to biopan the phage antibody library. The positive phage clones were screened by cell based ELISA and sequenced for the variable region of heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains. The expressed Fabs were purified by Ni(+2) -NTA column and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The cell- and gp120 protein-based ELISA as well as flow cytometry were used to measure Fab's binding activity. The neutralizing activity of Fabs was assessed by HIV-1 pseudoviruses. After 4-round biopanning, the binding phages to transfected cells were enriched about 650-folds. A total of 28 positive clones were screened out by cell ELISA and sequence analysis identified 5 different Fabs possessing unique VH and VL (2801, 2837, 2863, 2870 and 2920). Interestingly, these Fabs reacted with the Env-transfected 293T cells but not soluble gp120 proteins, suggesting that they might target conformation-dependent epitopes presenting on viral Env complex. We found that three Fabs (2801, 2863, 2870) exhibited potent neutralizing activity against CRF07_BC isolate CH120. 6 with IC50 of 2.24, 0.89 and 3.09 microg/mL respectively, and that 2801 and 2863 cross-neutral ized the subtype B isolate SF162 at IC50 of 0.69 and 3.52 microg/mL respectively. In conclusion, the HIV-1 Env-transfected 293T cells can be used to efficiently enrich and screen the phage antibody library and isolate human monoclonal HIV-1-neutralizing Fabs that target the Env complex-dependent conformational epitopes. Therefore, our studies provide a powerful platform for exploring the mechanism of HIV-1 neu tralizing response and for designing AIDS vaccines.

Field of study: Biology
Formation of η/ω-mesic nuclei using the recoilless (d,3He) reaction


We discuss the possibility to use the recoilless (d,3He) reaction to produce bound states of η and ω mesons in light nuclei. We calculate meson bound states in the nucleus using an optical potential and their formation cross sections with the Green function method, and show that it should be feasible to experimentally observe mesic nuclei in the excitation energy spectrum and to deduce the meson mass shift in nuclei. This method discussed here is complementary to the dilepton invariant-mass spectroscopy, commonly used to study in-medium vector meson masses.

Field of study: Physics