nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Demand for rubber is causing the loss of high diversity rain forest in SW China

As the economies of developing countries grow, and the purchasing power of their inhabitants increases, the pressure on the environment and natural resources will continue to increase. In the specific case of China, impressive economic growth during the last decades exemplifies this process. Specifically, we focus on how changing economic dynamics are influencing land-use and land-cover change in Xishuangbanna, China. Xishuangbanna has the richest flora and fauna of China, but increasing demand for natural rubber and the expansion of rubber plantations is threatening this high-diversity region. We quantified land-use/land-cover change across Xishuangbanna using Landsat images from 1976, 1988, and 2003. The most obvious change was the decrease in forest cover and an increase in rubber plantations. In 1976, forests covered approximately 70% of Xishuangbanna, but by 2003 they covered less than 50%. Tropical seasonal rain forest was the forest type most affect by the expansion of rubber plantations, and a total of 139,576 ha was lost. The increase of rubber plantations below 800 m, shifted agricultural activities to higher elevations, which resulted in deforestation of mountain rain forest and subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest. Although these changes have affected the biodiversity and ecosystem services, we believe that long-term planning and monitoring can achieve a balance between economic and social needs of a growing population and the conservation of a highly diverse flora and fauna. Below 800 m , we recommend that no more rubber plantations be established, existing forest fragments should be protected, and riparian forests should be restored to connect fragments. Future rubber plantations should be established in the abandoned arable or shrublands at higher elevations, and tea or other crops should be planted in the understory to improve economic returns and reduce erosion.

Field of study: Environmental science
Malan to de Klerk : leadership in the Apartheid state

The president and the constitution, Laurence Boulle the president and parliament and his party, Nic Olivier the president and the citizenry, Hermann Giliomee the president and the African population, David Welsh the president and interest groups, Lourens Pretorius the president and foreign relations, Jack Spence the president and the executive, Annette Seegers.

Field of study: Political science
Development of diet cereal bar sweetened with stevia leaves pre-treated with ethanol

The Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is plant of the Asteraceae family, which presents in its leaves, stems and flowers, the steviol glycosides with sweetness power ranging between 300 and 450 times greater than sucrose, acting at the limit of the sweet taste perception (Lemus-Mondaca et al., 2012). Among the glycosides of steviol, the most prominents are the rebaudiosides A and C, and also the stevioside, the latter being classified according to its sweet sensorial profile (Wölwer-Rieck, 2012). The stevioside present in the stevia leaf has as characteristic a residual bitter taste in its composition, limiting its use in the food industry, as well as the presence of other phytochemical compounds (Formigoni et al., 2018).

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Field Screening of Pepper Germplasm for Sources of Resistance Against Leaf Curl Caused by Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) and Mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks)

Field screening of pepper germplasm to identify sources of resistance against the leaf curl caused by thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood and mites, Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks was undertaken. In the preliminary screening of 308 accessions of chilli germplasm carried out during 1998 -’99, 17 accessions were found to be promising on the basis of visual rating of leaf curl caused primarily by thrips followed by mites. These 17 genotypes were further screened during 1999-’00 and 2000-’01 and scored for leaf curl complex and thrips population. In their reaction to thrips leaf curl, three entries (EC-391082, PBC-613 and NIC-23906) were found resistant, four (EC-305593, EC-378633, EC-391090 and IC-214992) moderately resistant and three (EC-378634, IC-214990 and NIC-23897) tolerant. Against the reaction of the germplasm to mites leaf curl, it was observed that five accessions (EC-378630, EC-378633, EC-391082, IC-214991 and NIC-23897) were found as resistant with less than 1% disease while the incidence ranged from 2.1 to 5.2% in rest of the entries.

Field of study: Biology
Improved Thermoelectric Performance and Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Melt-Spun β-Zn4Sb3

Abstractβ-Zn4Sb3 is one of the most important thermoelectric materials in the intermediate temperature range, but poor mechanical properties limit its commercial application. In this work we adopted a melt-spinning (MS) technique followed by a quick spark plasma sintering (SPS) procedure to fabricate nanostructured β-Zn4Sb3 bulk material with good thermoelectric performance and mechanical properties. The nanostructure had a significant influence on the thermoelectric transport properties and mechanical strength. Compared with the sample prepared by the traditional melting method (M-ingot), the Seebeck coefficient of the MS-SPS samples was significantly higher and the thermal conductivity was remarkably lower. In spite of the lower electrical conductivity, the σ/κ ratio increased in the high temperature range, leading to great improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT). The maximum ZT value of 1.16 was obtained at 700 K for the MS-SPS-40 sample. Compared with the M-ingot sample, it was 47% higher at the same temperature. Moreover, the average compressive strength of the MS-SPS-40 sample reached 337.9 MPa, which is 130% higher than that of the M-ingot sample. β-Zn4Sb3 with such high mechanical strength has great potential for commercial application.

Field of study: Materials science
Carbon–isotope stratigraphy and ammonite faunal turnover for the Middle Jurassic in the Southern Iberian palaeomargin

Variations in the stable carbon–isotope ratio of marine and continental sediments can reflect changes in sink and flux modifications of the palaeocarbon cycle. Here we report carbon–isotope compositions of Middle Jurassic marine carbonates from the Betic Cordillera (southern Spain), which represents an ideal region to link the stable carbon–isotope curves directly to ammonite zones and subzones, and thereby for the first time achieve an accurate chronostratigraphic calibration. The five sections studied represent basin and high swell deposits of the Southern Iberian palaeomargin. We find a similar δ 13 C of carbonates between different oceanic areas, suggesting a homogeneous carbon–isotope oceanic reservoir through the Middle Jurassic. The Aalenian–Bajocian transition is a critical period in ammonite evolution; hence the Early Jurassic fauna are replaced by new ammonite families which become dominant throughout the Middle and Late Jurassic. For this reason, we compared the δ 13 C values of carbonates with ammonite diversity and extinction rates at different taxonomical levels in order to explore the possible relationship between the carbon cycle and ammonite evolution. The carbon–isotope values of carbonates are not exactly linearly correlated with the extinction rate and ammonite diversity, but the main faunal turnovers follow minimum δ 13 C values, where extinct taxa are replaced by new ones. Likewise, radiation episodes are associated with increasing δ 13 C values and with transgressive sea-level rise. All these data support the idea that perturbations in the global carbon cycle reflect rapid palaeoenvironmental changes. We made detailed analyses of these faunal turnovers, using them as a proxy to identify major palaeoenvironmental crises in their ecosystems forced by modification in the carbon cycle.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
Analysis of bases of rat-liver nucleic acids after administration of the carcinogen dimethylnitrosamine.

Dimethylnitrosamine is metabolized to form an alkylating intermediate, which may have significance for its carcinogenic action. However, certain other compounds that are known to be highly mutagenic, including nitrous acid and hydroxylamine, might also be formed. Owing to the general reactivity of these compounds, it would be difficult to detect their formation in the intact animal. Instead, the nucleic acids of carcinogen-treated animals were examined for products of reaction with nitrous acid and hydroxylamine, i.e. for deamination of adenine and guanine, and formation of N(6)-hydroxycytosine, respectively. A double-labelling technique was used to detect very small amounts of the abnormal bases. The purine moieties of DNA in adult rat liver were labelled either with (14)C or with (3)H, by treating the neonatal animals with [(14)C]formate or with [(3)H]formate, and then allowing a period for normal growth. During this time, in liver, the labels were largely lost by metabolic turnover from cell components other than DNA. The pyrimidine moieties in DNA were labelled by treating the neonatal animals with [(14)C]orotate. The purine constituents of RNA of adult rat liver were labelled by repeated administration of [(14)C]- or [(3)H]-formate to the adult rats. The [(14)C]nucleic acid-labelled rat could then be treated with the carcinogen, and the [(3)H]nucleic acid-labelled animal could be used as a control. By this means the experimental and control tissues could be homogenized together in a single preparation, and the nucleic acids from the two tissues could be isolated, hydrolysed and analysed in a single sample. It was therefore possible to have an internal control for artifacts due to changes taking place in the nucleic acid bases during the experimental procedures. With this technique, the formation in vivo of 7-methylguanine in rat-liver DNA and RNA after administration of dimethylnitrosamine was confirmed, and no evidence was found for the formation of xanthine, hypoxanthine, N(6)-hydroxycytosine, or any other abnormal base.

Field of study: Biology, Computer science
The effects of bilateral lesions of the amygdala on dyadic social interactions in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

The role of the amygdala in dyadic social interactions of adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) was assessed after bilateral ibotenic acid lesions. Social, nonsocial, and spatial behaviors of amygdalectomized and control monkeys were assessed in 3 dyadic experiments: constrained, unconstrained, and round robin. Lesions produced extensive bilateral damage to the amygdala. Across all experiments, the amygdalectomized monkeys demonstrated increased social affiliation, decreased anxiety, and increased confidence compared with control monkeys, particularly during early encounters. Normal subjects also demonstrated increased social affiliation toward the amygdalectomized subjects. These results indicate that amygdala lesions in adult monkeys lead to a decrease in the species-normal reluctance to immediately engage a novel conspecific in social behavior. The altered behavior of the amygdalectomized monkeys may have induced the increased social interactions from their normal companions. This is contrary to the idea that amygdalectomy produces a decrease in social interaction and increased aggression from conspecifics.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Tectonic Significance of Intrusive Rocks in the Maya Mountains, British Honduras

The Maya Mountains horst of British Honduras, is collinear with, and probably geologically related to, the Cayman Ridge in the Caribbean Sea. It contains one batholith of highly differentiated granite (Mountain Pine Ridge batholith) with Rb/Sr values of 8 to 16, and two modal muscovite granodiorite batholiths (Hummingbird and Cockscomb) with Rb/Sr values of 0.5 to 3.6. The Mountain Pine Ridge batholith is a true granite and is modally and chemically distinct from the dominantly granodioritic post-Jurassic intrusive rocks of the Caribbean and Central America. The Hummingbird and Cockscomb batholiths, although identical to the post-Jurassic rocks in relative quartz–plagioclase–alkali feldspar abundance, contain modal muscovite, which, along with the high K 2 O and SiO 2 contents of the batholiths, distinguishes them from the post-Jurassic rocks. The absence, from recent dredge hauls, of granitic material similar to British Honduran granitic and granodioritic rocks precludes the use of these submarine granitic exposures as definite evidence for pre-Jurassic crust in the submarine part of the Caribbean region.

Field of study: Geology
Inhibitory effect of potassium channel openers on proliferation of cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells.

To study the effects of pinacidil (Pin), nicorandil (Nic), RP 49356 (RP), and lemakalim (Lem) on phenylephrine (PE)-induced proliferation of cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC).



The [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and number of ASMC were measured.



[3H]Thymidine uptake induced by PE was markedly inhibited by Pin, Nic, RP, and Lem (0.1-10 mumol.L-1). Only RP inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake without PE-pretreatment. Cell growth induced by PE was completely inhibited by Pin.



Pin, Nic, RP, and Lem showed potent antiproliferation of ASMC.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
A sequence of nitrogen-rich very red giants in the globular cluster NGC 1851

We present the abundances of N in a sample of 62 stars on the red giant branch (RGB) in the peculiar globular cluster NGC 1851. The values of [N/Fe] ratio were obtained by comparing the flux measured in the observed spectra with that from synthetic spectra for up to about 15 features of CN. This is the first time that N abundances are obtained for such a large sample of RGB stars from medium-resolution spectroscopy in this cluster. With these abundances we provide a chemical tagging of the split red giant branch found from several studies in NGC 1851. The secondary, reddest sequence on the RGB is populated almost exclusively by N-rich stars, confirming our previous suggestion based on Stromgren magnitudes and colours. These giants are also, on average, enriched in s-process elements such as Ba, and are likely the results of pollution from low mass stars that experienced episodes of third dredge-up in the asymptotic giant branch phase.

Field of study: Physics
Study of the development of theoretical resources for physical education in the educational reform movement in the United States

With the heats of educational reform in the United States,profound changes have been made to the study of theoretical resources for physical education in the United States.Since the 1950s,the educational reform in the United States successively went through such heats as the new curriculum movement,equal educational opportunity promotion movement,foundation restoration movement,school reconstruction movement,national standard movement,and the movement of combining scholastic education with job demands.In the mean time,the reform heats have also boosted the development of theoretical resources for physical education in the United States,and created famous theories such as human movement,academic principles for physical education,sports education,humanistic physical education,behaviorism,constructivism and fitness education,which greatly boosted the development of theories about physical education and health worldwide.Based on examining and analyzing the development of educational reform in the United States and prominent characteristics shown,the author analyzed and studied the way to the development of theoretical resources for physical educational reform in the United States,thus gaining an insight into the basic trend of development of the physical educational reform in the United States,hoping to somehow enlighten the intensification and way selection of the development of the physical educational reform in China.

Field of study: Education
Bipanconnectivity of faulty hypercubes with minimum degree

In this paper, we consider the conditionally faulty hypercube Q n with n  ⩾ 2 where each vertex of Q n is incident with at least m fault-free edges, 2 ⩽  m  ⩽  n  − 1. We shall generalize the limitation m  ⩾ 2 in all previous results of edge-bipancyclicity. We also propose a new edge-fault-tolerant bipanconnectivity called k -edge-fault-tolerant bipanconnectivity. A bipartite graph is k-edge-fault-tolerant bipanconnected if G  −  F remains bipanconnected for any F  ⊂  E ( G ) with ∣ F ∣ ⩽  k . For every integer m , under the same hypothesis, we show that Q n is ( n  − 2)-edge-fault-tolerant edge-bipancyclic and bipanconnected, and the results are optimal with respect to the number of edge faults tolerated. This not only improves some known results on edge-bipancyclicity and bipanconnectivity of hypercubes, but also simplifies the proof.

Field of study: Mathematics
Knowledge translation to advance the nurse practitioner role in British Columbia: researchers and decision-makers conduct policy-relevant research to guide legislative and regulatory development and the design of a nurse practitioner education program.

This project brought together a team of researchers and decision-makers to conduct policy-relevant research to support the introduction of advanced nursing practice roles in British Columbia. All team members, including decision-makers, were actively involved in the conceptualization, design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the study. This level of engagement, coupled with ongoing knowledge translation (KT) activities, led to the implementation by stakeholders of a majority of the study's recommendations. The results have since been used to guide legislative and regulatory development and to design a nurse practitioner education program.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Monetary policy rules in a non-rational world: A macroeconomic experiment

This paper introduces a learning-to-forecast laboratory experiment based on a New-Keynesian macroeconomy that is particularly close to the model's microfoundations. In this setup, subjects forecast their individual optimal consumption and prices instead of aggregate outcomes. Due to different personal experiences, coordination of forecasting behavior does not occur naturally, and there is considerable randomness in subjects' responses. Thompson Sampling, a learning heuristic from operations research that links randomness to the Bayesian posterior uncertainty, describes subjects' individual forecasting data well, and explains the observed patterns in the experiments. The experimental results show that a particularly aggressive anti-inflation response by the central bank is needed to achieve coordination on rational expectations and macroeconomic stability.

Field of study: Economics
Changes in the metabolism of biogenic amines in alcoholism--especially regarding CSF monoamine metabolites and serum DBH activity.

Concentrations of the major metabolites of biogenic amines in cerebrospinal fluid and activity of serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in abstinent alcoholics were measured, suggesting that withdrawal symptoms of alcoholics were based on the abnormality of serotonin and dopamine metabolism in the body.

Field of study: Medicine
Robotic end effector for handling greenhouse plant material.

An end effector was developed to investigate the mechanics and control of robotic handling and manipulation of plant material of a type commonly found in commercial greenhouses. The end effector was shown to handle a wide range of sizes of geranium cuttings with rare indications of damage to the petioles (1.5%) and main stem (2.0%). Several features of the end effector were determined to be important for reliable, non-damaging performance. A two-stage feedback controller which combined position/velocity control with force control was successful in minimizing cycle time while also minimizing impact velocity and resultant impact loads on plant material. A machine vision local scene analysis technique provided an automatic method of obstacle avoidance by the fingers in a plant canopy. Padded fingers with relatively small, curved ends minimized contact area and assisted in decreasing impact forces. In general, results indicate the importance of sensing and interpretation of the sensor data to assist a robot in accommodating the nonuniformity typical of plants.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Capacitative Ca2+ Entry During Ca2+ Undershoot in Bovine Airway Smooth Muscle

In numerous cells, Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot is commonly observed after withdrawing stimulus that release Ca<sup>2+</sup> from intracellular stores. In airway smooth muscle (ASM), the fast intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration ([Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub>) drop during undershoot is produced by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) reloading, but the mechanisms involved in the long lasting basal [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> recovery are unknown. We investigated the post-caffeine Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot recovery in ASM isolated cells from bovine trachea. [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> determination was done by a ratiometric method by incubating cells with Fura-2/AM. After inducing a transient response, caffeine withdrawn generated a Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot. SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> content during maximum undershoot drop was ∼40% of SR caffeine-releasable Ca<sup>2+</sup> (SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> load). Undershoot recovery rate increased in presence of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, a SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> ATPase inhibitor), but SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> load was reduced. Genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) slowed down the Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot drop and the SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> load but did not affect the undershoot recovery rate. Ni<sup>2+</sup> (a capacitative Ca<sup>2+</sup> inhibitor), but neither SKF-96365 (a passive Ca<sup>2+</sup> entry inhibitor) nor econazole (a capacitative Ca<sup>2+</sup> inhibitor in non-excitable cells), inhibited Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot recovery and SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> load. Our data suggest that capacitative Ca<sup>2+</sup> entry is involved in bovine ASM Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot recovery, and that changes in Ca<sup>2+</sup> undershoot have an impact on SR-Ca<sup>2+</sup> loading which might affect in turn ASM excitability.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
The Validation of a Case-Based, Cumulative Assessment and Progressions Examination

To assess content and criterion validity, as well as reliability of an internally developed, case-based, cumulative, high-stakes third-year Annual Student Assessment and Progression Examination (P3 ASAP Exam).  Content validity was assessed through the writing-reviewing process. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing student scores on the P3 ASAP Exam with the nationally validated Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA). Reliability was assessed with psychometric analysis comparing student performance over four years.  The P3 ASAP Exam showed content validity through representation of didactic courses and professional outcomes. Similar scores on the P3 ASAP Exam and PCOA with Pearson correlation coefficient established criterion validity. Consistent student performance using Kuder-Richardson coefficient (KR-20) since 2012 reflected reliability of the examination.  Pharmacy schools can implement internally developed, high-stakes, cumulative progression examinations that are valid and reliable using a robust writing-reviewing process and psychometric analyses.

Field of study: Education, Medicine
Study on Quenching Process of Cr12Mo1V1 Cold-rolled Work Roll

The microstructure and properties of Cr12Mo1V1 steel after quenching at different temperature and then oil-cooling were researched by impact test,hardness test,metallographic,XRD and other means.The results show that: in a certain temperature range,the impact toughness of Cr12Mo1V1 steel rises after a decline,and the hardness first rises and then falls.Ultimately,the best quenching temperature of Cr12Mo1V1 steel is 1020 ℃.

Field of study: Materials science