nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Nickel isotopes in stellar matter

Isotopes of nickel play a key role during the silicon burning phase up to the presupernova phase of massive stars. Electron capture rates on these nickel isotopes are also important during the phase of core contraction. I present here the microscopic calculation of ground- and excited-states Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions for key nickel isotopes. The calculation is performed within the frame-work of the pn-QRPA model. A judicious choice of model parameters, specially of the Gamow-Teller strength parameters and the deformation parameter, resulted in a much improved calculation of GT strength functions. The excited-state GT distributions are much different from the corresponding ground-state distributions resulting in a failure of the Brink's hypothesis. The electron capture and positron decay rates on nickel isotopes are also calculated within the framework of pn-QRPA model relevant to the presupernova evolution of massive stars. The electron capture rates on odd-A isotopes of nickel are shown to have dominant contributions from parent excited states during as early as silicon burning phases. Comparison is being made with the large-scale shell model calculation. During the silicon burning phases of massive stars the electron capture rates on 57, 59Ni are around an order of magnitude bigger than shell model rates and can bear consequences for core-collapse simulators.

Field of study: Physics
The rise and fall(acy) of clinical directorates in Italy.

Clinical Directorates (CDs), in the sense of "intermediate organizational arrangements through which defined parts of larger hospitals health services are managed", were introduced in the Italian National Health Service (INHS) by law after the major reform of 1992. By means of such reform, accountability chains within INHS hospitals were streamlined. Changes looked at strengthening the role of management in hospitals as a strategy to improve efficiency in the provision of services. From this stream of managerialism emerged the attempts to re-organize hospital activities along the lines of clinical directorates. The aim of this paper is to outline the context in which CDs initially developed in Italy as the "one best way" to address current hospital problems and the reasons why they are now challenged due to not coming up to expectations. To do so we run through the last 10 years of history of CDs in Italy and propose an interpretative framework to understand the grounds for their partial failure and success.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Effects of the val(158)met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism on olfactory processing in schizophrenia.

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism has received attention in schizophrenia due to its role in prefrontal dopamine catabolism. Given the rich dopaminergic innervations of the olfactory bulb and the influence of dopamine on the transmission of olfactory signals, the authors examined the influence of COMT genotype status on the olfactory processing impairment observed in schizophrenia. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was administered unirhinally to individuals with schizophrenia (n = 42) and a demographically matched sample of healthy controls (n = 30). Individuals were genotyped for the COMT val158met polymorphism. A statistically significant interaction of diagnosis and COMT genotype was observed, such that schizophrenia heterozygotes and Met homozygotes showed impaired odor identification accuracy relative to Val158 homozygotes. These findings could not be explained by factors such as antipsychotic medication status, clinical symptomatology, or demographic and illness characteristics. Notably, the schizophrenia Val158 homozygotes' odor identification performance was comparable to that of the control group. These data indicate that odor identification impairments observed in schizophrenia are influenced by the COMT val158met polymorphism. This relationship is consistent with specific dopaminergic modulation of primary olfactory sensory afferents, rather than a broader effect on cognitive processes. Future studies that examine the olfactory processing deficit in schizophrenia with respect to other olfactory measures and COMT haplotypes is warranted.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Measurement of total nickel in body fluids: Electrothermal atomic absorption methods and sources of preanalytic variation (Technical Report)

Chairman: 1989-91 P. Grandjean (Denmark); 1991-93 Rita Cornelis (Belgium);  1989-91 R. Cornelis (Belgium); 1991-93 B. Henizow (Germany); Titular Members: S . S . Brown (1989-91; UK); J. H. Duffus (1991-93; UK); R. F. M. Herber (1989-93; Netherlands); M. Jakubowski (1989-93; Poland); Jytte Molin Christensen (1991-93; Denmark); E. Nieboer (1989-91; Canada); D. M. Templeton (1991-93; Canada); C. Veillon (1989-91; USA); Associate Members: A. Cavalleri (1989-93; Italy); Sheila Dawling (1991-93; UK); AndrCe Lamberty (1989-93; Belgium); S.  (1989-91; Yugoslavia); D. Rutherford (1991-93; Australia); Y. Thomassen (1991-93; Norway); Marie Vahter (1991-93; Sweden); C. Veillon (1991-93; USA); National Representatives: 0. August0 (1991-93; Brazil); I. DCsi (1989-93; Hungary); P. K. Ray (1989-93; India); W. King (1991-93; Ireland); W. A. Temple (1989-93; New Zealand); M. Repetto Jimenez (1989-93; Spain); Zeliha Imre (1989-93; Turkey); Representative of IUPHAR Section on Toxicology: J. G. Salway (1989-91; USA); Representative of ZUTOX P. Grandjean (1989-93; Denmark).

Field of study: Chemistry
A reduction in the abundance of calium oxalate crystals in Oenothera improves the yield of intact chloroplasts

Oenothera plants grown as shoot meristem cultures on media having a low calcium concentration had a reduced abundance of raphides when compared to greenhouse-grown plants or shoot meristem cultures grown on higher concentrations of calcium. Plants from the low-calcium media also yielded a higher proportion of intact chloroplasts during subcellular fractionation.

Field of study: Environmental science
Developing a Microfluidic Device with an Integrated Electrode System for Measuring the Impedance Spectra of Cellular Models in Real Time

A mathematical model is presented that describes the distribution of the potential and electric field strength in cells of a microfluidic device for culturing a cellular monolayer with built-in electrodes of different geometries. The design of the measuring cell and the geometry of the electrodes are selected by analyzing the results from calculations.

Field of study: Physics
A Discussion on Energy-Saving Design of Building Decoration and Fitment

As an important part of our country's energy strategy,the energy saving of buildings has shown its importance evidently;while the energy saving of building decoration and fitment,as an indispensable part of building energy saving,should attract people's attention.To provide references for designers of building decoration and fitment,the paper summarized key energy-saving approaches in the design of building decoration and fitment and analyzed energy-saving measures and orientations in concrete design,according to the requirements of building energy saving and the features of decoration and fitment.

Field of study: Materials science
Priorities for the education and training of software engineers

We present the complete results of our 1998 survey of software practitioners. In this survey we asked over 200 software developers and managers from around the world what they thought about 75 educational topics. For each topic, we asked them how much they had learned about it in their formal education, how much they know about it now and how important the topic has been in their career. The objective of the survey was to provide data that can be used to improve the education and training of information technology workers. The results suggest that some widely taught topics perhaps should be taught less, while coverage of other topics should be increased.

Field of study: Computer science, Engineering
The state of body iron in women anemic patients at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital

Disorders resulting from body iron overload (hemosiderosis in reticgoendothelial cells or accumulation within parenchymal cells of the liver, heart and other organs) may octal- in patients who have undergone frequent blood transfusions or under other excessive iron therapy to treat the anemia. Therefore, every iron preparation especially by repeated parenteral route or blood transfusions must be accompanied by monitoring of body iron status. In the present study the most useful indirect measurement of ,body iron status, included serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferin saturation (TS) and the erythrocyte, were studied in 34 women anemic patients at the Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. The results of the study are as follows: among 30 subjects with anemia caused by other than iron deficiency, included chronic renal diseases, inflammation or infection, hematologic and other organ malignancy, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, the mean of SF level increased to 210,85ng/ml; but SI level (66,941g/d1) and TIBC (271, 07/Âµg/dl) showed no useful information about the state of iron stores, because its large biologic and analytic variability. In overall there was normal percentage of TS (25,58%), but among them 7 cases showed evidence of blood loss with TS less than normal, and erythrocyte indices within normal range. In 4 patients with uncomplicated iron deficiency anemia the mean of SF and 1'S were low (4,62ng/ml and 11,85% respectively), although SI only slightly decreased (38,7/tig/d1), and the TIBC was normal (340,3ffig/d1). The blood smears showed variation of size in the erythrocyte, with many smaller than normal and pale RBCs. It is concluded that ferritin serum measurement was the most sensitive and non invasive indicator for early stage of iron deficiency assessment. However, in fact no single indicator or, combination of indicators is ideal for the evaluation of body iron status in all clinical circumstances, because each indicator may be by other conditions such as infections, inflammations, liver, chronic, renal disease and malignancy.  anemia - serum ferritin - serum iron - total iron binding capacity - transferin saturation

Field of study: Medicine
AERODYNAMIC AND SURFACE RESISTANCES OF COMPLETE COVER CROPS: HOW GOOD IS THE “BIG LEAF”?

The Penman-Monteith equation is based on the assumption that the canopy can be reduced to a “big leaf”. 
Given the most commonly used formulation of aerodynamic resistance (ra), this “big leaf” is considered to be, implicitly, 
at the d + zoH level (where d is zero plane displacement height and zoH is roughness length for heat transfer). This can 
lead to negative values of surface resistance (rs) when the leaves of the top of the canopy (between d + zoH and crop 
height hc) are the ones that most contribute to total water loss to the atmosphere. To avoid this, ra should be computed 
from the top of the canopy to the reference height in the atmosphere. Also, one concludes that rs for complete cover crops 
cannot be computed by simply averaging stomatal resistance since the main condition, the driving force being the same in 
all of the elements of the “circuit”, is violated.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Sustainability metrics for vehicles

The public has growing concerns about the effects of human activity on the environment for both themselves and future generations. The concept being developed to address these environmental concerns, along with economic and social-equity considerations, is called "sustainable development". The business community has already started to address their contribution to environmental issues through collaborative efforts under organizations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. That work has focused primarily on industrial and corporate environmental and economic performance through the development of eco-efficiency metrics, which are a measure of resources and materials consumed per unit output of product, sales, or value-added. While this development is important, it is not enough. Clearly, the environmental performance of the entire product system must also be elucidated. Otherwise, one might forget, for example, the power plant emissions of his or her so-called "zero-emission" vehicle. The metrics required to characterize sustainable practices and systems have yet to be developed. The set will include economic, environmental, and social-equity metrics. Because of their system-oriented environmental performance representation, life-cycle assessment metrics are certainly going to be included in such a set. A discussion of some potential life-cycle metrics follows.

Field of study: Chemistry
Using Centromere Mediated Genome Elimination to Elucidate the Functional Redundancy of Candidate Telomere Binding Proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proteins that bind to telomeric DNA form the key structural and functional constituents of telomeres. While telomere binding proteins have been described in the majority of organisms, their identity in plants remains unknown. Several protein families containing a telomere binding motif known as the telobox have been previously described in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nonetheless, functional evidence for their involvement at telomeres has not been obtained, likely due to functional redundancy. Here we performed genetic analysis on the TRF-like family consisting of six proteins (TRB1, TRP1, TRFL1, TRFL2, TRFL4, and TRF9) which have previously shown to bind telomeric DNA in vitro. We used haploid genetics to create multiple knock-out plants deficient for all six proteins of this gene family. These plants did not exhibit changes in telomere length, or phenotypes associated with telomere dysfunction. This data demonstrates that this telobox protein family is not involved in telomere maintenance in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis in major plant lineages revealed early diversification of telobox proteins families indicating that telomere function may be associated with other telobox proteins.

Field of study: Biology
The spatial distribution of the lignite qualitative parameters and variant estimates of coal reserves: the Czech Part of the Vienna Basin

The aim of this article is to inform about the spatial distribution of the lignite qualitative parameters and total lignite reserves in the Czech Part of the Vienna Basin—The South Moravian Lignite Coalfield (SMLC). The total reserves were estimated on the basis of several composed variant digital models of individual seams in four partial area of SMLC. Calculations of the reserves resulted from the identified spatial distribution of chemical-technological parameters obtained from the thousands analysis of samples taken from more than 4,000 exploration works. The basic model of the deposit was so-called geological model characterising genetic evolution of the deposit and defines the spatial positions of the coal seams. Subsequently developed variant economical models spatially define the selected areas by the quality of lignite expressed by the limits of ash yield. Based on the created models, it was found that in the past just 3–7 % (depending on the variant model) of the total lignite reserves SMLC had been extracted. The presented geological reserves are currently using the existing mining technologies only partially mineable.

Field of study: Environmental science
GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE VALLEY OF THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER, ARIZONA

The Little Colorado River, a tributary from the southeast, empties into the Colorado River at the head of the Grand Canyon. It drains an extensive desert area in northeastern Arizona. Upstream from a gorge 60 miles long in the Marble Platform it flows in a broad valley which is the subject of the present study. The stratigraphy, structure, and volcanic rocks are summarized in a geologic map as a basis for the geomorphic study. Three successive erosion surfaces are, from highest to lowest, the Black Point pediplane, the Wupatki pediplane, and the Little Colorado pediplane. Each is interpreted as having formed during a period of stability of the profile of the Little Colorado River. It is concluded that the Black Point and Wupatki pediplanes represent the culmination of long periods of erosion, each interrupted and rejuvenated by regional uplift. During the formation of the present Little Colorado pediplane, the stabilization of base level has been controlled by the occurrence of resistant beds along the course of the master stream. The history of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado has been postulated by previous writers to consist of two great cycles of erosion. The events of the valley of the Little Colorado are interpreted as having taken place during the second of these, “the canyon cycle”. The Black Point pediplane was well developed at the time of Stage 1 lavas which are of uppermost Pliocene or early Pleistocene age. The Wupatki pediplane was formed prior to Stage 2 lavas which are of early or middle Pleistocene age. The Little Colorado surface is still in the process of development and is found locally beneath Stage 3 and Stage 4 lavas.

Field of study: Geology
Electron velocity in GaAs: bulk and selectively doped heterostructures

The paper describes measurements of the velocity of electrons at electric fields up to 9 kV cm-1 in GaAs and in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. In order to avoid charge and field domain formation, this experiment uses a sinusoidally varying electric field with frequency of 35 GHz. The results of these measurements indicate that negative differential mobility is present in not only the undoped GaAs, but also in the heavily doped GaAs and in the selectively doped heterostructures. These results imply that such a measurement is necessary to correctly determine the velocity-field characteristics of electrons in this electric field range. The experimental results further indicate that in the case of the selectively doped heterostructures, the electrons have peak velocities lower than those found in undoped bulk GaAs and that the peak occurs at a lower electric field. At room temperature, this effect is primarily due both to the effective lowering of the Gamma -L energy difference which results in a more efficient k-space transfer of electrons and to real-space transfer of electrons into the AlGaAs. At 77 K, these mechanisms are still active; additionally, the two-dimensionality of the electrons results in an enhanced scattering of the electrons with the polar optical phonons. In the case of doped GaAs, because of the significantly increased ionised impurity scattering, the peak velocity is also lower than that found in undoped GaAs, but the peak occurs at higher electric fields.

Field of study: Materials science
リッジ基板上の一回の選択MOCVDによるInGaAs/AlGaAs 量子細線DFBレーザー

A quasi-buried hetero-structure (BH) quantum wire (QWR) distributed feedback (DFB) laser was realized by one time selective metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on a ridge substrate with a sub-micron grating. One time selective MOCVD growth forms ridge waveguide with BH structure and a QWR array for gain guided DFB LD without additional etching or re-growth process. The threshold current is 15mA, and the threshold current density is 850A/cm2. A stable single longitudinal mode was preserved until 3 Ith, after which another mode emerged at higher drive current at 813.6nm. This suggests a complex coupled DFB mode operation. Elimination of the re-growth step also enlarges the selection of material for extended wavelength and operational temperature.

Field of study: Computer science
Gender Disparities and Socio-Economic Factors on Learning Achievements in Agricultural Science in Rural and Urban Secondary Schools of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria.

To contribute to the realization of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by the United Nations on the promotion f gender equity, the researchers sought to empirically verify the existence  or otherwise   of  gender   inequality   in   the   agricultural • science achievement of urban and rural,  male and female students in Ogbomoso North Local Government area of Oyo State, Nigeria; and whether parental socio-economic status and school location, taken independently, are significant factors in the achievement of the students. By simple random sampling, 240 students (50% males, 50% females) were selected from three schools each in urban and rural settings of the secondary schools and a 30-itrm four option multiple choices agricultural science achievement test (ASAT)   was   constructed   and   administered. Two validated instruments were used to collect the data while descriptive and t-test statistics were employed for data analysis. The findings indicated that gender, schools location and socio-economic status have effects on students' performance in agricultural science as a subject. A major implication of this study is that collective efforts of the governments and other educational stakeholders should be put in place.

Field of study: Education
Educational strategies to reduce serum phosphorus in hyperphosphatemic patients with chronic kidney disease: systematic review with meta-analysis.

To systematically review educational strategies for phosphorus reduction in patients with hyperphosphatemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD).



Systematic review with meta-analysis.



CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and mRCT databases were assessed in June 2010.



Randomized controlled trials evaluating educational strategies related to diet in hyperphosphatemic patients with CKD.  Study characteristics, phosphorus levels, and calcium-phosphorus product levels were retrieved. Jadad scale was used for quality assessment. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by random effects method.



Seven randomized controlled trials were retrieved with a total of 524 patients with hyperphosphatemia and CKD. Educational strategies reduced phosphorus levels with an MD of -0.72 mg/dL (95% CI: -1.11 to -0.33, P < .01). Sensitivity analysis of trials with follow-up of <4 months did not show any benefit of the intervention, but educational intervention for ≥ 4 months showed an MD of -1.07 (95% CI: -1.49 to -0.64, P < .01). Calcium-phosphorus product level was improved in 227 evaluated patients from 5 trials with an MD of -5.22 mg(2)/dL(2) (95% CI: -9.48 to -0.98, P = .02, and I(2) = 58%). Sensitivity analysis removed the source of heterogeneity and resulted in an MD of -3.02 (95% CI: -6.51 to 0.47, P = .09).



Education helped reduce phosphorus levels in hyperphosphatemic patients with CKD, particularly those on dialysis.

Field of study: Medicine