nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Handgrip strength as a simple indicator of possible malnutrition and inflammation in men and women on maintenance hemodialysis.

To assess the validity of handgrip strength (HGS) as a simple screening instrument for malnutrition and inflammation in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) by correlating it with malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS).



Cross-sectional analysis of the Prospective Study of the Prognosis in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients (PROHEMO).



Satellite dialysis units in the city of Salvador, Brazil.



The sample included 274 men and 162 women on MHD.  HGS was chosen as the main predictor variable in this study.



An MIS ≥6.



As compared with men, women were found to have lower HGS values (19.38 ± 6.48 kg vs. 29.07 ± 8.67 kg; P < .001) and higher MIS (6.38 ± 3.84 vs. 5.57 ± 3.39; P = .032). HGS was found to be inversely correlated with MIS among women (Spearman's ρ = -.360; P < .001) as well as men (Spearman's ρ = -0.384; P < .001); this inverse correlation was observed in patients with and without diabetes, different racial groups, younger and older subjects, incident (<3 months) and prevalent patients, in the case of both genders. Among both men and women, every one standard deviation lower of HGS was associated with more than two-fold higher odds for MIS ≥6, after adjusting for age, race, duration of dialysis, and Kt/V. These associations remained statistically significant after more extensive adjustments. The optimized cutoff point of HGS for MIS ≥6 was 28.3 kg for men (sensitivity = 70.0%; specificity = 66.0%) and 23.4 kg for women (sensitivity = 87.0%; specificity = 43.0%).



Lower HGS values were independently associated with higher MIS among patients on MHD across several subgroups. These results suggest that HGS is a valid screening instrument for malnutrition and inflammation in patients on MHD.

Field of study: Medicine
Effect of Relaxation Training on Students' Persistence and Academic Performance

Considering anxiety to be a major debilitative factor among high-risk students, an attempt was made to evaluate the effectiveness of relaxation training on students' persistence and academic performance. Although 15 EMG-biofeedback subjects showed greater persistence (contact hours) than the 14 subjects given progressive relaxation, both techniques had beneficial effects on academic performance compared to 12 no-treatment controls.

Field of study: Psychology
Dinosaur footprints from the Lower Cretaceous of northern Spain: their sedimentological and palaeoecological context

Dinosaur footprints are described from two distinct horizons within the Lower Cretaceous sequence of the western Cameros Basin (Province of Burgos, Northern Spain). Footprints from a series of lacustrine carbonates in the Berriasian Rupelo Formation show a rounded outline and are preserved as negative endichnia. These footprints were probably formed by a bipedal ornithopod herbivore. Sauropod bones occur at a similar stratigraphic horizon at other localities in the basin. The footprints support the sedimentological evidence that the lake was shallow, with vegetated margins subject to frequent exposure. Tridactyl footprints, unusually preserved as positive epichnia, form a trackway on a sandstone bedding surface within the Piedrahita de Muno Formation (? Valanginian-Barremian). This set of footprints was probably made by a bipedal theropod carnivore which inhabited an extensive floodplain environment. The alternation of sandstones and overbank mudstones facilitated preservation of this set of footprints.

Field of study: Environmental science, Geography
A stereoselective formation of (Z)-2-methyl-2-alkenol by the Wittig reaction: its application to a synthesis of nerylacetone and (Z,Z)-farnesylacetone.

The Wittig reaction of benzyloxyacetone or tetrahydropyranyloxyacetone with 4-pentynylidenetriphenylphosphorane in salt-free conditions followed by removal of the protecting group afforded (Z)-2-methylhept-2-en-6-yn-1-ol in 95–96 % stereoselectivity. After conversion of the allylic alcohol to the corresponding bromide, the latter was coupled with prenyl or neryl p-tolyl sulfone, followed by reductive desulfonation and hydration of the acetylenic bond, to give nerylacetone and (Z,Z) -farnesylacetone, respectively.

Field of study: Chemistry
Magnetic-field-induced insulator-to-superconductor transition in a cuprate/manganite multilayer

Multilayers of complex oxides are well known for their unusual electronic and magnetic interface states. Especially interesting are the cases for which a superconducting state can be tuned with an external field, like the electric-field-driven superconductor-to-insulator transition in LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$. Here we show that in Pr$_{0.5}$La$_{0.2}$Ca$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$/YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$ multilayers a transition from a highly resistive state to a macroscopically coherent superconducting state can be induced with a magnetic field. The zero field state of the YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$ layer resembles the one of a granular superconductor or a frustrated Josephson-junction network. It seems to be induced by a coupling with the Pr$_{0.5}$La$_{0.2}$Ca$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$ layers which exhibit a specific kind of charge and orbital order that is suppressed by the magnetic field. Our findings highlight that these cuprate/manganite multilayers provide a unique platform to create exotic quantum domain states that can be modified with external magnetic and electric fields.

Field of study: Physics
Designing Integrated Approaches to Support People with Multimorbidity: Key Messages from Systematic Reviews, Health System Leaders and Citizens

Living with multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity) – and facing complex, uncoordinated and fragmented care – is part of the daily life of a growing number of Canadians.  We undertook: a knowledge synthesis; a “gap analysis” of existing systematic reviews; an issue brief that synthesized the available evidence about the problem, three options for addressing it and implementation considerations; a stakeholder dialogue involving key health-system leaders; and a citizen panel.  We identified several recommendations for actions that can be taken, including: developing evidence-based guidance that providers can use to help achieve goals set by patients; embracing approaches to supporting self-management; supporting greater communication and collaboration across healthcare providers as well as between healthcare providers and patients; and investing more efforts in health promotion and disease prevention.  Our results point to the need for health system decision-makers to support bottom-up, person-centred approaches to developing models of care that are tailored for people with multimorbidity and support a research agenda to address the identified priorities.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
FURTHER ANALYSIS FOR FRACTURE BEHAVIORS OF AN INTERFACIAL CRACK BETWEEN PIEZOELECTRIC AND PIEZOMAGNETIC LAYERS

Two dimensional fracture problem of an interfacial crack between piezoelectric and piezomagnetic layers are investigated under magnetic,electrical and mechanical loads by using integral transform method and singular integral equation technique.Four kinds of ideal crack-face assumptions,i.e.,magnetoelectrically impermeable(Case 1),magnetically permeable and electrically impermeable(Case 2),magnetically impermeable and electrically permeable(Case 3) and magnetoelectrically permeable(Case 4),are adopted separately.The stress intensity factor(SIF) as well as energy release rate(ERR) are given and numerically resolved.Lots of numerical results on ERR are given and compared with the possible results.The results presented here should have potential applications to the design of multilayered piezoelectric and piezomagnetic layered structures.

Field of study: Engineering
Polystyrene microplastics cause tissue damages, sex-specific reproductive disruption and transgenerational effects in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma).

The ubiquity of microplastics in the world's ocean has aroused great concern. However, the ecological effects of microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations are unclear. Here we showed that exposure of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) to environmentally relevant concentrations of 10 μm polystyrene microplastics for 60 days not only led to microplastic accumulation in the gill, intestine, and liver, but also caused oxidative stress and histological changes. Moreover, 2, 20, and 200 μg/L microplastics delayed gonad maturation and decreased the fecundity of female fish. Alterations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis were investigated to reveal the underlying mechanisms, and gene transcription analysis showed that microplastic exposure had significantly negative regulatory effects in female HPG axis. Transcription of genes involved in the steroidogenesis pathway in females were also downregulated. This disruption resulted in decreased concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in female plasma. Furthermore, parental exposure to 20 μg/L microplastics postponed the incubation time and decreased the hatching rate, heart rate, and body length of the offspring. Overall, the present study demonstrated for the first time that environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics had adverse effects on the reproduction of marine medaka and might pose a potential threat to marine fish populations.

Field of study: Environmental science
Opposite effects of bFGF and TGF-beta on collagen metabolism by human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

This study evaluated the effects of bFGF and TGF-beta, individually and combined, on cell proliferation and collagen metabolism. Primary human periodontal ligament cells were stimulated with two concentrations (1 and 10 ng/ml) of each growth factor, both individually and combined. Proliferation was determined by a commercial biochemical assay. Real time RT-PCR determined gene expression of MMP-1 and -2, collagen types I and III, TIMP-1, -2 and -3. Autocrine effects on synthesis of bFGF and TGF-beta were evaluated by ELISA. Only TGF-beta, either isolated or associated with bFGF, significantly increased cell proliferation. TGF-beta had anabolic effects, increasing expression of type I and III collagen as well as of TIMPs, whereas bFGF had opposite effects. When bFGF and TGF-beta were associated, the anabolic effects prevailed. Synthesis of TGF-beta was induced only by the association of lower concentrations of the growth factors, whereas there was a dose-dependent production of bFGF. It is concluded that bFGF had a predominantly catabolic effect, and TGF-beta exerted an anabolic effect on hPDL cells.

Field of study: Medicine
Paleogene postcompressional intermontane basin evolution along the frontal Cordilleran fold-and-thrust belt of southwestern Montana

The Paleogene Renova Formation is the earliest record of postcompressional sedimentation within and adjacent to the Helena Salient of the Cordilleran fold-and-thrust belt in southwestern Montana. Paleocurrent and compositional data from basin-margin facies document radiating paleodispersal away from high-relief (≥2 km) highlands coincident with modern mountainous areas. Source rocks within the paleohighlands included the same Archean metamorphic; Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic sedimentary; and Mesozoic plutonic and vo l canic rocks as exposed in modern uplifts. Paleocurrent and compositional data from trunk fluvial conglomerates and sandstones document the existence of an interbasinal drainage system that connected the Three Forks, western Gallatin, and Townsend Basins with headwaters farther to the west and southwest near the present-day Montana-Idaho border. Overall, the distribution of Paleogene mountainous areas and basins closely resembled modern geography, and the Paleogene drainage network was strikingly similar to the modern Missouri River headwater system. The Renova Formation records the early stages of decay of the Cordilleran orogenic belt, including the evolution of a complex intermontane basin network in southwestern Montana. High-energy Late Cretaceous to early Eocene fluvial systems carved deep, large-scale paleovalleys into the orogenic wedge along zones of structural and stratigraphic weakness. At least a 5 km thickness of overburden was removed during this time. Incision was temporally correlative with early Cenozoic regional uplift and subtropical climatic conditions. Subsequent deposition of the Renova Formation was temporally correlative with the cessation of uplift, the initiation of crustal extension, and climatic cooling. However, extension is not interpreted to have played a major role in earliest basin development.

Field of study: Geology
Teachers’ and Students’ Perception on Bullying Behaviour in Public Secondary Schools in Kisumu East District, Kenya

World over, bullying subjects students to physical, social and psychological suffering. In Kenya, bullying in schools was banned in 2003 and guidance and counselling programme put in place to manage the behaviour. The purpose of this study was to establish teachers’ and students’ perception on bullying among students in public secondary schools in Kisumu East District, since bullying escalated from 200 cases in 2006 to 900 cases in 2009. Objectives of the study were to establish bullying prevalence and identify types and forms of bullying among students. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Target population was students, deputy headteachers and heads of guidance and counselling from 47 schools. Stratified sampling was used to select 37 mixed, 5 boys’ and 5 girls’ schools. Saturated sampling was used to select 16 deputy headteachers and 16 guidance and counselling heads. A total of 447 students were selected for the study. Main tools for data collection were questionnaires and interview schedule. A pilot study of the instruments established reliability and coefficient indexes of 0.79 for students, 0.75 for deputy headteachers and 0.76 for guidance and counselling heads. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages. Qualitative data was transcribed, organized into themes and reported in text form. Findings of the study showed that bullying prevalence was 31%. Most common forms of bullying were name-calling, group isolation and use of technological visual messages. The conclusion was that school guidance and counselling should be strengthened to address verbal and emerging cyber-bullying by having trained teacher-counsellors.

Field of study: Education, Sociology
Tackling Web dynamics by programmable proxies

Web services are becoming increasingly complex as users become more experienced in their requests to access an ever growing collection of information on the Web. In this paper we review the state of the art in programmable HTTP proxies.We discuss and present the evolution of HTTP proxies and present some of the environments that were proposed to support the design and implementation of proxy-based services. Then, we present a new computational model, called collateral-push, that is well suited for several proxy applications whose goal is to cope with the dynamics of the Web. Finally, after presenting existing examples of the collateral-push services in the literature, we present some new examples that were quickly prototyped using two programmable proxy environments.

Field of study: Computer science
Single-electron charge sensing in self-assembled quantum dots

Measuring single-electron charge is one of the most fundamental quantum technologies. Charge sensing, which is an ingredient for the measurement of single spins or single photons, has been already developed for semiconductor gate-defined quantum dots, leading to intensive studies on the physics and the applications of single-electron charge, single-electron spin and photon–electron quantum interface. However, the technology has not yet been realized for self-assembled quantum dots despite their fascinating transport phenomena and outstanding optical functionalities. In this paper, we report charge sensing experiments in self-assembled quantum dots. We choose two adjacent dots, and fabricate source and drain electrodes on each dot, in which either dot works as a charge sensor for the other target dot. The sensor dot current significantly changes when the number of electrons in the target dot changes by one, demonstrating single-electron charge sensing. We have also demonstrated real-time detection of single-electron tunnelling events. This charge sensing technique will be an important step towards combining efficient electrical readout of single-electron with intriguing quantum transport physics or advanced optical and photonic technologies developed for self-assembled quantum dots.

Field of study: Physics
Generation of a mouse monoclonal antibody recognizing both the native and denatured forms of human VEGF.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its related member, placental growth factor (PlGF), play important roles in stimulating vascular growth (angiogenesis) in both physiological conditions such as embryonic development and pathological conditions such as inflammation and tumor growth. Development of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) capable of blocking the interaction of VEGF and its receptors, which in turn block VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, has become a novel and very powerful approach for cancer management. Here we report the generation of a mouse monoclonal antibody M23, which binds to both the natural and denatured forms of human VEGF165, as well as to two other major VEGF isoforms (VEGF121 and VEGF189) being tested. MAb M23 does not bind to other VEGF-related proteins such as PlGF. This MAb will have great future potential in VEGF-related research, diagnosis, and treatment.

Field of study: Biology
Hydrolyzing metal salts as coagulants

Aluminium and ferric salts are widely used as coagulants in water and wastewater treatment. They are effective in removing a broad range of impurities from water, including colloidal particles and dissolved organic substances. Their mode of action is broadly understood in terms of essentially two mechanisms: charge neutralization of negatively charged colloids by cationic hydrolysis products and incorporation of impurities in an amorphous precipitate of metal hydroxide. The relative importance of these two mechanisms depends on many factors, especially pH and coagulant dosage. Alternative coagulants based on prehydrolyzed forms of aluminium or iron can be more effective than the traditional materials in many cases, but their mode of action is not completely understood, especially with regard to the role of charge neutralization and hydroxide precipitation. Basic principles of colloid stability and metal ion hydrolysis are briefly reviewed, and the action of hydrolyzing metal coagulants is then discussed, with some examples from recent experimental studies. Although it is possible to interpret results reasonably well in terms of established ideas, there are still some uncertainties that need to be resolved

Field of study: Chemistry
A Probe into Countermeasures Concerning the Economy of County-Administered Areas after China' s Entry into WTO

County-Administered economy forms the base of the national economy.As f ar as the county economy is concerned,China' s entry into WTO has brought in golden development chances for as well as se vere challenges.For this rea-son,in accordance with local actual conditions,we should keep forging a head,hardle the situation calmly an d think out drastic measures in order t o find a development approach characteristic of the county economy.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Flow disturbances and progression of endocardial fibroelastosis - a case report.

Endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) is described as thickening of the endocardium and is associated with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The stimulus for EFE and the mechanism for recurrence and/or progression need to be investigated. In this report, we describe the case of a 4-year-old HLHS patient who underwent several surgeries with EFE resections due to recurrence of EFE. EFE recurrence was associated with flow disturbances due to valvar defects. At her latest follow-up 7 months after the last surgery, competent valves and no EFE were identified on all imaging study.

Field of study: Biology, Medicine
Electrochemical performance of polydopamine-assisted Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2/Ketjenblack cathodes

Herein, a Ketjenblack-coated Li[Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 ]O 2 cathode was characterized and compared with a pristine one. The polydopamine pre-coating layer was introduced to facilitate the adhesion between Ketjenblack and pristine powders. Homogenously dispersed Ketjenblack particles on the surface of the pristine powder indicated that the polydopamine layer acted as an effective binding agent. The discharge capacity, cyclic performance, and thermal stability of the Li[Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 ]O 2 cathode were improved by the polydopamine-assisted Ketjenblack coating. This implied that the Ketjenblack layer not only improved the electrical conductivity of the electrode but also protected the electrode from the reactive electrolyte.

Field of study: Materials science
Stereotypes and the Construal of Individuating Information

When stereotypes affect judgment about individuals in the presence of individuating information, they may do so by affecting the construal of that information. Therefore stereotypes may affect judgment even if perceivers subsequently neglect the stereotypes or base rates and base their impressions only on these stereotype-driven construals of the individuating information. Two experiments showed that stereotypes affected judgments about targets in the presence of the same ambiguous individuating information that was open to multiple construals, but not in the presence of the same specific disambiguated construals of that information. A third experiment showed that the effects of stereotypes on target ratings in the presence of ambiguous individuating information were mediated by the construals of this information. Thus all subjects relied predominantly on the individuating information, but when it was ambiguous, it was construed differently, depending on the stereotype.

Field of study: Psychology
Nd-Sr-Pb isotopic studies of the southern Coast Plutonic Complex, southwestern British Columbia

Nd, Sr, and Pb isotopic analyses are presented for plutonic and volcanic rocks from a northeast-southwest transect across the southern Coast Plutonic Complex (CPC). Plutonic and volcanic rocks have initial ϵNd of +4.2 to +8.9 and initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.702 44–0.704 83. Values of Pb isotopic ratios for the suite range from 18.23 to 19.03 for 206Pb/204Pb, from 15.43 to 15.67 for 207Pb/204Pb, and from 37.54 to 38.30 for 208Pb/204Pb. The isotopic data suggest that these rocks consist mainly of mantle-derived materials with little or no involvement of old continental material. There are no significant variations in Nd and Sr isotopic composition with rock type or age. Pb isotopic compositions are also independent of rock type and age except for 208Pb/204Pb, which, for a subset of volcanic rocks, rises slightly with decreasing age. Examined against position along the transect, the isotopic data are uniform except for a rise in initial 87Sr/86Sr toward the northeast defined by older metavolcanic rocks. Based on the Nd and Pb isotopic data, a number of igneous rocks from the southern CPC appear to have been derived strictly from partial melting of mantle material. Many intrusions, however, have isotopic compositions and t DM ages consistent with the combined effects of melting of mantle and subordinate anatexis of isotopically juvenile terranes (e.g., Wrangellia).

Field of study: Geology