nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Optimal control of electromagnetic field using metallic nanoclusters

The dielectric properties of metallic nanoclusters in the presence of an applied electromagnetic field are investigated using the non-local linear response theory. In the quantum limit we find a nontrivial dependence of the induced field and charge distributions on the spatial separation between the clusters and on the frequency of the driving field. Using a genetic algorithm, these quantum functionalities are exploited to custom-design sub-wavelength lenses with a frequency-controlled switching capability.

Field of study: Physics
Aid coordination for health sector reform: a conceptual framework for analysis and assessment.

Recent widespread interest in health sector policy and institutional reform in lower income countries has coincided with heightened concern for aid coordination. Because the health budgets of many low income countries are highly aid dependent, donors are strongly placed to make aid conditional on health care reforms. However, given the growing number and heterogeneity of multilateral, bilateral and international non-governmental donors operating in many of these countries, there is concern that if external efforts are not coordinated, the aims of health care reform--namely improving efficiency, effectiveness and equity--will not be met. Evidence is mounting that without effective coordination arrangements, donors may weaken rather than improve fragile health systems, undermining attempts to reform those systems. This paper traces the factors fuelling current interest in coordination, in particular with reference to its contribution to the goals of health sector reform. Aid coordination is defined and its principles elaborated. A framework is developed by which to assess the variety of coordination mechanisms which are evolving at the county level. In light of this framework, a case is made for greater and more critical analysis of aid coordination arrangements. The paper concludes that if health sector reform is to be successful in low income countries, current enthusiasm for coordination needs to be harnessed. The framework offered here provides a way of assessing the variety of coordination mechanisms currently proliferating, which could be used to enhance health sector reform.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Lattice Modeling of Early-Age Behavior of Structural Concrete

The susceptibility of structural concrete to early-age cracking depends on material composition, methods of processing, structural boundary conditions, and a variety of environmental factors. Computational modeling offers a means for identifying primary factors and strategies for reducing cracking potential. Herein, lattice models are shown to be adept at simulating the thermal-hygral-mechanical phenomena that influence early-age cracking. In particular, this paper presents a lattice-based approach that utilizes a model of cementitious materials hydration to control the development of concrete properties, including stiffness, strength, and creep resistance. The approach is validated and used to simulate early-age cracking in concrete bridge decks. Structural configuration plays a key role in determining the magnitude and distribution of stresses caused by volume instabilities of the concrete material. Under restrained conditions, both thermal and hygral effects are found to be primary contributors to cracking potential.

Field of study: Materials science
Energy gap of ferromagnet–superconductor bilayers

The excitation spectrum of clean ferromagnet–superconductor bilayers is calculated within the framework of the self-consistent Bogoliubov–de Gennes theory. Because of the proximity effect, the superconductor induces a gap in the ferromagnet spectrum, for thin ferromagnetic layers. The effect depends strongly on the exchange field in the ferromagnet. We find that as the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer increases, the gap disappears, and that its destruction arises from those quasiparticle excitations with wave vectors mainly along the interface. We discuss the influence that the interface quality and Fermi energy mismatch between the ferromagnet and superconductor have on the calculated energy gap. We also evaluate the density of states in the ferromagnet, and we find it in all cases consistent with the gap results.

Field of study: Physics
Humans, bees, and pollination services in the city: the case of Chicago, IL (USA)

Despite the global trend in urbanization, little is known about patterns of biodiversity or provisioning of ecosystem services in urban areas. Bee communities and the pollination services they provide are important in cities, both for small-scale urban agriculture and native gardens. To better understand this important ecological issue, we examined bee communities, their response to novel floral resources, and their potential to provide pollination services in 25 neighborhoods across Chicago, IL (USA). In these neighborhoods, we evaluated how local floral resources, socioeconomic factors, and surrounding land cover affected abundance, richness, and community composition of bees active in summer. We also quantified species-specific body pollen loads and visitation frequencies to potted flowering purple coneflower plants (Echinacea purpurea) to estimate potential pollination services in each neighborhood. We documented 37 bee species and 79 flowering plant genera across all neighborhoods, with 8 bee species and 14 flowering plant genera observed on average along each neighborhood block. We found that both bee abundance and richness increased in neighborhoods with higher human population density, as did visitation to purple coneflower flower heads. In more densely populated neighborhoods, bee communities shifted to a suite of species that carry more pollen and are more active pollinators in this system, including the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and native species such as Agapostemon virescens. More densely populated neighborhoods also had a greater diversity of flowering plants, suggesting that the positive relationship between people and bees was mediated by the effect of people on floral resources. Other environmental variables that were important for bee communities included the amount of grass/herbaceous cover and solar radiation in the surrounding area. Our results indicate that bee communities and pollination services can be maintained in dense urban neighborhoods with single-family and multi-family homes, as long as those neighborhoods contain diverse and abundant floral resources.

Field of study: Environmental science
Preoperative growth inhibition of human gastric adenocarcinoma treated with a combination of celecoxib and octreotide

To gain insight into the histopathological responses and molecular targets in the inhibition of growth of human gastric cancer treated with celecoxib (a cyclooxygenase [COX]-2 inhibitor) combined with octreotide.Seventy five patients with gastric cancer undergoing curative gastrectomy or extended resection were randomly divided into 3 groups. The apoptosis of tumor cells was measured by terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. Gastric cancer microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of COX-2 were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-2 was detected with the biomolecular interaction analysis system. The transcription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene (NAG)-1 was measured by RT-PCR.Results:Compared with the control and celecoxib groups, more necrosis in the combination group was observed. The apoptotic rate in the combination group (7.06%±0.67%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.23%±1.29%, P<0.05). The MVD decreased considerably in the combination group. The upregulation of NAG-1 was displayed both in the celecoxib and combination groups. The positive rate of SSTR-2 in gastric cancers treated with celecoxib (48%) was significantly higher than that of control group (12%) after surgery (P<0.05).Conclusion:Celecoxib combined with octreotide significantly promoted necrosis in gastric adenocarci-noma through the induction of apoptosis and the reduction of MVD. NAG-1 and SSTR-2 might be the molecular targets for celecoxib or octreotide.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
Simultaneous Detection of Hydroquinone, Catechol and Resorcinol by an Electrochemical Sensor Based on Ammoniated-Phosphate Buffer Solution Activated Glassy Carbon Electrode

An electrochemical sensor was successfully fabricated by coupled ammoniated modification with PBS activation on glassy carbon electrodes (CA-GCE) and characterized by electrochemical impedance spectra. The CA-GCE showed outstanding electrochemical performance, and was applied to simultaneous detection of resorcinol (RC), catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ), which could be ascribed to new active sites by the introduction of amino and oxygen-containing groups and H-bonds formed between hydroxyl groups of RC, CC, and HQ with amine, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of CA-GCE. The reaction kinetics of RC, CC, and HQ and their reaction on CA-GCE were studied. Experimental results showed that the electrochemical reaction was adsorption controlled. Under the optimal conditions, the linear detection ranges for RC, CC, and HQ were 5–200 μM, 10–300 μM, and 1–300 μM, respectively, with their detection limits of 0.47, 0.23 and 0.46 μM, respectively. Interference and repeatability was further investigated. This strategy opened a new horizon for qualitative and quantitative detection of dihydroxy benzene.

Field of study: Chemistry
Paths towards Autonomy in Indigenous Women's Movements: Mexico, Peru, Bolivia

Based on comparative research this article analyses indigenous women's organising trajectories and the creation of spaces where they position themselves as autonomous political actors. Drawing on social movement theory and intersectionality, we present a typology of the organisational forms adopted by indigenous women in Peru, Bolivia and Mexico over the last two decades. One of the key findings of our comparative study is that indigenous women have become social movement actors through different organisational forms that in part determine the degree of autonomy they can exercise as political subjects. Spanish abstract Basado en una investigación comparativa este artículo analiza las trayectorias organizativas de las mujeres indígenas y la creación de espacios donde se posicionan como actoras políticas autónomas. A partir de teorías sobre movimientos sociales e interseccionalidad, presentamos una tipología de las formas organizativas adoptadas por mujeres indígenas en Perú, Bolivia y México en las dos últimas décadas. Una de las principales conclusiones de nuestro estudio comparativo es que las mujeres indígenas se vuelven actoras de movimientos sociales a través de diferentes formas organizativas que en parte determinan el grado de autonomía que pueden ejercer como sujetas políticas. Portuguese abstract Baseado em pesquisa comparativa, este artigo analisa a trajetória organizativa de mulheres indígenas e a criação de espaços onde as mulheres apresentam-se como sujeitos políticos autônomos. A partir da teoria dos movimentos sociais e da interseccionalidade, apresentamos uma tipologia de formas organizacionais adotadas por mulheres indígenas no Peru, na Bolívia e no México ao longo das últimas duas décadas. Uma das principais conclusões de nosso estudo comparativo aponta que mulheres indígenas tornaram-se atores de movimentos sociais através de diferentes formas organizacionais que determinam em parte o nível de autonomia que elas podem exercer como sujeitos políticos.

Field of study: Political science
Effects of ATPM-ET, a novel κ agonist with partial μ activity, on physical dependence and behavior sensitization in mice

To investigate the effects of ATPM-ET [(−)-3-N-Ethylaminothiazolo [5,4-b]-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan hydrochloride] on physical dependence and behavioral sensitization to morphine in mice.The pharmacological profile of ATPM-ET was characterized using competitive binding and GTPγS binding assays. We then examined the antinociceptive effects of ATPM-ET in the hot plate test. Morphine dependence assay and behavioral sensitization assay were used to determine the effect of ATPM-ET on physical dependence and behavior sensitization to morphine in mice.The binding assay indicated that ATPM-ET ATPM-ET exhibited a high affinity to both κ- and μ-opioid receptors with Ki values of 0.15 nmol/L and 4.7 nmol/L, respectively, indicating it was a full κ-opioid receptor agonist and a partial μ-opioid receptor agonist. In the hot plate test, ATPM-ET produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect, with an ED50 value of 2.68 (2.34–3.07) mg/kg. Administration of ATPM-ET (1 and 2 mg/kg, sc) prior to naloxone (3.0 mg/kg, sc) injection significantly inhibited withdrawal jumping of mice. In addition, ATPM-ET (1 and 2 mg/kg, sc) also showed a trend toward decreasing morphine withdrawal-induced weight loss. ATPM-ET (1.5 and 3 mg/kg, sc) 15 min before the morphine challenge significantly inhibited the morphine-induced behavior sensitization (P<0.05).Conclusion:ATPM-ET may have potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of drug abuse.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
The relationship between crime, punishment and economic conditions: is reliable inference possible when crimes are under-recorded?

We investigate the estimation of dynamic models of criminal activity, when there is significant under-recording of crime. We give a theoretical analysis and use simulation techniques to investigate the resulting biases in conventional regression estimates. We find the biases to be of little practical significance. We develop and apply a new simulated maximum likelihood procedure that estimates simultaneously the measurement error and crime processes, using extraneous survey data. This also confirms that measurement error biases are small. Our estimation results for data from England and Wales imply a significant response of crime to both the economic and the enforcement environment.

Field of study: Mathematics
Considerações sobre a migração, a naturalização e a dupla cidadania de jogadores de futebol

The migration processes, naturalization and dual nationality have gained visibility within the football universe. Although these are not recent phenomena, they call attention to the proliferation and the speed with which these processes have occurred in recent years. Thus, this article has as central objectives to map these phenomena over the past two decades and to look at some changes that are being produced in the modern football. Through a qualitative methodology, we try to map, to interpret and to analyze a series of data and information that we seek from different sources: newspapers, sports magazines, internet (sports websites), academic articles and picture books (football card albums). As a conclusion of the study, we highlight that the multiplication of cases of dual nationality and naturalization of professional football players is part of the migratory movements that have been multiplying with higher speed in recent years, bringing tensions to the territorial limits and to the concept of nationality

Field of study: Education
Syntheses Based on Natural α-Amino Acids. Cyanoethylation of 3-Substituted 5-Methyl-2-thiohydantoins

Starting from α-alanine, the C- and S-cyanoethyl derivatives of 5-methyl-3-phenyl(allyl)-2-thiohydantoins have been synthesized. It was shown that the products of hydrolysis of C-cyanoethyl derivatives, 5-methyl-3-phenyl(allyl)-(β-carboxyethyl)-2-thiohydantoins, are formed in addition.

Field of study: Chemistry
Distribution of prokaryotic genetic diversity in athalassohaline lakes of the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile.

Athalassohaline lakes are inland saline aquatic environments with ionic proportions quite different from the dissolved salts in seawater. Prokaryotes inhabiting athalassohaline environments are poorly known and very few of such places have been surveyed for microbial diversity studies around the world. We analyzed the planktonic bacterial and archaeal assemblages inhabiting several of these evaporitic basins in a remote and vast area in northern Chile by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Most systems were springs and athalassohaline ponds in different saltflats of the Atacama Desert region, including Salar de Llamará (in the Central Depression), Salar de Atacama (in the Pre-Andean Depression) and Salar de Ascotán (in the Altiplano). Overall, we analyzed more than 25 samples from 19 different environments with strong gradients of altitude, qualitative ionic compositions and UV influence. Between 4 and 25 well-defined DGGE bands were detected for Bacteria in each sample, whereas Archaea ranged between 1 and 5. Predominant DGGE bands (defined by intensity and frequency of appearance) were excised from the gel and sequenced. Bacterial assemblages were dominated by the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides (CFB) phylum and a few Proteobacteria. There was a tendency for increasing contribution of CFB with higher salinities and altitude. Thus, CFB accounted for the major fraction of band intensity in the Ascotán samples and for lower percentages in Atacama and Llamará. When the distribution of particular CFB sequences was examined, there were several relatives of Psychroflexus torquis substituting each other as salinity changed in Ascotán. Another set of CFB sequences, very distantly related to Cytophaga marinovorus, was abundant in both Llamará and Atacama at salinities lower than 7%. Archaeal assemblages were dominated by uncultured haloarchaea distantly related to cultured strains mostly obtained from thalassohaline environments. Most of the archaeal sequences did not have a close match with environmental 16S rRNA genes deposited in the database either. Therefore, athalassohaline environments are excellent sources of new microorganisms different from their counterparts in thalassohaline sites and useful tools to relate microbial genetic diversity and environmental characteristics such as changes in salinity (both qualitative and quantitative) and altitude.

Field of study: Biology, Environmental science
Urbanity, the Flâneur, and the Visual Qualities of Urban Design: A Walk in Lisbon, Portugal

The c oncept of urbanity and the literary fi gure of the fl âneur are a platform for del Rio’s exploration of the visual qualities of urban design in Lisbon’s historic core. Drawings are are used throughout this study since they are analyses in themselves and capture the essence of places more than a photo can do. All drawings in this article are by the author.

Field of study: Medicine
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS: Determination of the kinetics of absorption changes in PVC:TNF complexes subjected to picosecond excitation

An investigation was made of the kinetics of absorption changes in poly-N-vinylcarbazole:trinitrofluorenone (PVC:TNF) by the method of selective picosecond spectroscopy at the wavelength of 570 nm. The kinetics of the induced absorption was used to calculate the relaxation time of the excited state (340 psec for PVC and 5.5 nsec for TNF); two components with relaxation times of 50±15 psec and 3 nsec were observed in the kinetics. An increase in the TNF concentration increased the contribution of the fast component to the overall relaxation kinetics.

Field of study: Engineering, Physics
Miscibility and Isothermal Crystallization Behavior of Poly-(L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide)/ Poly(ρ-Dioxanone) Blends

We prepared a series of blends from solution co-precipitation of poly-(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly (ρ-dioxanone) (PPDO) at various mass ratios. Using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), PLGA and PPDO were revealed to be immiscible. The crystallization behavior of PLGA/PPDO blends was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under isothermal conditions. Through comparing the crystallization exothermic peak location and the PLGA/PPDO blends' shape, the crystallization rate was determined to slow as the temperature increased. We applied the Avrami equation to analyze the primary stage of the isothermal crystallization and obtained relevant crystallization kinetic parameters. The data revealed that the PPDO component acted as nucleation sites in blends and accelerated the PLGA crystallization rate by increasing the crystallization rate constant k and decreasing the half-crystallization time (t1/2). The Arrhenius equation was used to analyze the crystallization's activation energy. Our analysis confirmed that blending with PPDO accelerates PLGA crystallization. Our micrograph imaging of the spherulites via a polarizing optical microscopy (POM) revealed that the PLGA/PPDO blends' crystals were smaller in size but greater in number than that of pure PLGA. This finding indicated that PPDO is a good nucleation agent for PLGA. All these results suggest that it is possible to control the PLGA crystallization rate by adding a PPDO component.

Field of study: Materials science
Use of diverging and nonmonochromatic pump waves in nonlinear spectroscopy of infrared radiation

An analysis is made of the possibility of using nonlinear optics methods in the visualization of infrared radiation in nonlinear spectroscopy. Various nonlinear infrared spectrometers based on this approach are classified. A detailed theoretical study is made of an integrating nonlinear spectrometer in which the integrated intensity of the converted visible radiation is measured. This intensity is proportional to the spectral density of the infrared radiation intensity averaged within the limits of the phase-matching band. An investigation is made of the spectral resolution, light transmission, and other characteristics of a nonlinear spectrometer. The influence of the nonmonochromaticity of the pump radiation and of the spatial divergence of the interacting waves is considered. A similar analysis is also made of the local nonlinear spectrometer in which the converted radiation is analyzed by a visible-light spectrometer. The results of the general theory are illustrated by calculations performed for specific nonlinear crystals.

Field of study: Engineering, Physics
Africa and the Americas: Interconnections during the Slave Trade. Edited by José C. Curto and Renée Soulodre-La France. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2005. Pp. vii, 338. Illustrations. Tables. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $99.95 cloth; $29.95 paper.

tic vision of a complicated century of rural history. The resulting work, although at times dense, is very absorbing. One might wish that he had more thoroughly analyzed the strands of political rhetoric deployed during conflicts. Perhaps he could have expanded his vision of the vanilla business to discuss how the flavor itself was a cultural commodity or to more carefully consider the forms of labor and knowledge involved in the business. Finally, Kouri is perhaps too reluctant to suggest what his work can say about the process of privatization in Mexico more generally. Still, these are debatable points, and in the end the book is one that every historian of rural Mexico needs to read.

Field of study: History