nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of symptomatic spinal stenosis.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is often the result of advanced degeneration of motion segments of the lumbar spine. Loss of disc height, facet displacement and hypertrophy, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, as well as buckling of the ligamentum flavum and annulus fibrosus, all contribute to impingement on the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen in lumbar stenosis. There is a subgroup of patients with spinal stenosis in whom the spine is unstable preoperatively or becomes destabilized following decompression who would benefit from an initial fusion procedure. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) addresses several aspects of the multifactorial pathophysiology responsible for spinal stenosis and may arrest the degenerative changes at the fused level. Fusion, in particular PLIF, should be considered in complex cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, most notably in patients with postlaminectomy stenosis or stenosis associated with spondylolisthesis.

Field of study: Medicine
Tests for mean equality that do not require homogeneity of variances: do they really Work?

Tests for mean equality proposed by Weerahandi (1995) and Chen and Chen (1998), tests that do not require equality of population variances, were examined when data were not only heterogeneous but, as well, nonnormal in unbalanced completely randomized designs. Furthermore, these tests were compared to a test examined by Lix and Keselman (1998), a test that uses a heteroscedastic statistic (i.e., Welch, 1951) with robust estimators (20% trimmed means and Winsorized variances). Our findings confirmed previously published data that the tests are indeed robust to variance heterogeneity when the data are obtained from normal populations. However, the Weerahandi (1995) and Chen and Chen (1998) tests were not found to be robust when data were obtained from nonnormal populations. Indeed, rates of Type I error were typically in excess of 10% and, at times, exceeded 50%. On the other hand, the statistic presented by Lix and Keselman (1998) was generally robust to variance heterogeneity and nonnormality.

Field of study: Mathematics
Effect of osmotic dehydration process using sucrose solution at mild temperature on mass transfer and quality attributes of red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizusis)

In the current research, osmotic dehydration of red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizusis) cubes using sucrose solution at mild temperature (35oC) was investigated. Sucrose solution (40, 50 and 60% w/w) was employed for osmotic dehydration process. Responses of weight reduction (WR), solid gain (SG), water loss (WL), color (L * , a * and b * ) and texture (hardness) were evaluated. It was found that sucrose concentration significantly (p < 0.05) affected the mass transfer terms during osmosis process. The results obtained revealed an increase in yellowness (b * ), decrease in lightness (L * ) and redness (a * ) as the sucrose concentration increased. Furthermore, osmotically dehydrated samples were considerably softer than untreated samples. Increasing of sucrose concentration and dehydration time caused softer tissue of dehydrated product compared with the fresh red pitaya.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Exchange-interaction effects on the conductance of long quantum wires

The effect of exchange-interaction on the two-terminal conductance of fully ballistic samples is studied using a many-particle wave packet formalism. The approach shows that the puzzling nonuniversal conductance quantization for long quantum wires can be explained as a fermion exchange interaction effect. The Landauer conductance step Go ≡ 2e2/h is obtained when two-electron interaction is considered. Reductions of Go are due to a wave packet many-particle exchange interaction effect. For ballistic GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wires longer than 1 µm, a conductance step reduction is obtained in agreement with experimental results.

Field of study: Physics
A field-deployable, chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer

We constructed a new chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (CI-TOFMS) that measures atmospheric trace gases in real time with high sensitivity. We apply the technique to the measurement of formic acid via negative-ion proton transfer, using acetate as the reagent ion. A novel high pressure interface, incorporating two RF-only quadrupoles is used to efficiently focus ions through four stages of differential pumping before analysis with a compact TOFMS. The high ion-duty cycle (>20 %) of the TOFMS combined with the efficient production and transmission of ions in the high pressure interface results in a highly sensitive (>300 ions s−1 pptv−1 formic acid) instrument capable of measuring and saving complete mass spectra at rates faster than 10 Hz. We demonstrate the efficient transfer and detection of both bare ions and ion-molecule clusters, and characterize the instrument during field measurements aboard the R/V Atlantis as part of the CalNex campaign during the spring of 2010. The in-field short-term precision is better than 5 % at 1 pptv (pL/L), for 1-s averages. The detection limit (3 σ, 1-s averages) of the current version of the CI-TOFMS, as applied to the in situ detection of formic acid, is limited by the magnitude and variability in the background determination and was determined to be 4 pptv. Application of the CI-TOFMS to the detection of other inorganic and organic acids, as well as the use of different reagent ion molecules (e.g. I−,  CO3−) is promising, as we have demonstrated efficient transmission and detection of both bare ions and their associated ion-molecule clusters.

Field of study: Environmental science
Optimal channels selection for underlying surface classification using orthogonal subspace projection algorithm

Basing on orthogonal subspace projection algorithm,the algorithm was used to satellite optimum channels selection for underlying surface classification.The weight functions were obtained by analyzing target spectra distribution and background radiance,transmittance computed by MODTRAN.Satellite optimum bands for underlying surface classification were selected by using weight function spectra distribution,optimum index function(OIF) and the usages channels of MODIS.Channels composing result shows that the algorithm is effective for underlying surface classification.

Field of study: Physics
The master therapist : Ideal character or clinical fiction? comments and questions on jennings and skovholt's the cognitive, emotional, and relational characteristics of master therapists

L. Jennings and T. M. Skovholt's (1999) study constitutes a useful step toward deepening scientific understanding of what therapists at their best are capable of offering to their clients. Both the study's strengths and limitations stimulate questions, which this commentary attempts to consider. These questions mainly concern the lack of a clear initial definition of master therapist, the lack of meaningful comparison groups needed to infer the distinctive characteristics of master therapists, the incomplete communication of data-analytic procedures, and the formulation of results as a uniform ideal-typical pattern that precludes recognition of individual differences. Despite this, the clinical richness of the findings is well appreciated, and the questions stimulated by the study indicate its high heuristic value.

Field of study: Psychology
Effect of exposure to an alcohol diet for 10 days on the ability of interleukin-1 beta to release ACTH and corticosterone in the adult ovariectomized female rat.

Adult ovariectomized female rats were fed an alcohol diet for 10 days. Animals fed ad libitum, or fed an isocaloric diet (pair-fed), were also included in all experiments. The intravenous injection of interleukin-1 beta caused dose-related increases in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in all three groups of rats. However, alcohol-fed animals showed a significant blunting of their ACTH, but not corticosterone response, in comparison with rats fed ad libitum or pair-fed. In contrast, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) injection caused overall statistically comparable ACTH secretory rates in all animals, although small differences were observed in some cases. Exposure to mild electroshocks for 30 min significantly increased ACTH values in all animals, but alcohol-fed rats again showed blunted release. In this paradigm, pair-fed animals exhibited a response that was intermediate between that of the ad libitum and alcohol-fed groups. We conclude that chronic alcohol consumption decreases the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to cytokines and mild footshocks. This suggests that the activity of both CRF nerve terminals in the median eminence, and of CRF perikarya in the hypothalamus, is inhibited by this treatment, although pituitary responsiveness to CRF appears unchanged.

Field of study: Medicine
The prevalence and risk factors associated with the onset of diabetic nephropathy in juvenile-onset (insulin-dependent) diabetics diagnosed under the age of 17 years in Leicestershire 1930-1985.

The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was studied in a population of 847 juvenile-onset (insulin-dependent) diabetics diagnosed under the age of 17 years who attended diabetic clinics in Leicestershire between 1930 and 1985. Seven hundred and eighty-nine patients (93·2 per cent) were traced. Eight patients with non-diabetic proteinuria and four classified as maturity-onset diabetics of the young were excluded from further analysis. The mean age at onset was 9·3 ± 4·2 years (mean ± SD) and the mean duration of diabetes 17·0 ± 10·6 years (range 3–63 years). Overall, 28 patients (3·6 per cent) developed persistent proteinuria and 39 patients (five per cent) intermittent proteinuria. End-stage renal failure developed in eight patients. In patients with diabetes of 20 years duration ( n = 254) the prevalence of persistent proteinuria was 9·1 per cent and of intermittent proteinuria, 7·9 per cent. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were elevated in diabetics with persistent proteinuria compared to patients without proteinuria (154/89 ± 27/15 vs 123/76 ± 15/9 mm Hg mean ± SD; p <0·001). Systolic blood pressure was also raised in patients with intermittent proteinuna (133/77 ± 17/12, p <0·005). In addition, proteinuria (intermittent and persistent) was significantly associated with the use of once-daily insulin therapy in childhood and poor clinic attendance. This study suggests that twice-daily insulin therapy from diagnosis in childhood and regular contact with the diabetic clinic decreased the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in this population.

Field of study: Medicine
Invasive Insects Detected in Imported Germplasm

Quarantine examination of 1, 64, 795 exotic seed samples of various crops during 2009–10 revealed infestation by insect in 1, 566 samples including 110 instances of hidden infestation. Several pests were intercepted during visual examination including storage beetles and weevils. Some of these detections assumed significance in view of their detection at the entry point as these pests were not known to occur in India. They include Blapstinus histrichus in Carthamus tinctorius from USA; Carpophilus hemipterus in Zea mays and mango stones from USA and Israel respectively; Carpophilus sp. in Citrullus vulgaris from Thailand; Trogoderma variabile in Triticum aestivum from Australia, and Typhaea stercorea in mango stones from Israel. Equally significant pests in terms of their invasiveness were detected through X-ray radiography viz., Acanthoscelides obtectus in Phaseolus vulgaris from USA, B. ervi in Lens culinaris from Syria (ICARDA) and B. tristis in Lathyrus sativus from ICARDA (Syria). All necessary quarantine protocols were followed before releasing the germplasm to the consignees with respect to the insect infestations in general and those of quarantine significance in particular.

Field of study: Biology
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS AND MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF LATTICE STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE MIDDLE FRAME WITH SPECIAL-SHAPED COLUMNS

Based on previous experimental studies, 3-D finite element models were used to analyze the behavior of the lattice steel reinforced concrete middle frame with special-shaped columns subjected to monotonous load. The load-displacement skeleton curves of the structure were calculated and analyzed. The final deformations of the structure and joints were also analyzed. It is shown that the finite element analysis results are in good agreement with those of the experiments, which verified the finite element models built in this paper. The strain distribution and development of concretes and steels at typical sections of the structure were analyzed. The conclusion provides valuable references for the design and engineering application of this kind of structure.

Field of study: Engineering
Invivo Dosimetry for Treatment of Cancer of the Cervix

The treatment of uterine cervical neoplasms with intra-cavitary applications of radioisotopes has been practiced widely for the past half century. An overwhelming conclusion has emerged: if performed accurately these treatments may be very worthwhile, otherwise acute complications ensue. It has been observed that often the intracavitary applications are the source of excessive irradiation due to inaccurate placement of sources and improper choice of source activities. The ensuing complications are most often cystitis of the bladder, proctitis of the rectum and or fistulae in the vagina, bladder and rectum. Furthermore, if inaccurately performed, intracavitary applications will not result in irradiation of the tumor to the required dose. For all these reasons, it is very important to verify the dose distribution within the patient treated with intracavitary applications of radioactive sources. The best proven method of such verification is through measurement of dose rates along the rectum and if possible the bladder.

Field of study: Physics
Connectionist Simulation of Attitude Learning: Asymmetries in the Acquisition of Positive and Negative Evaluations

Connectionist computer simulation was employed to explore the notion that, if attitudes guide approach and avoidance behaviors, false negative beliefs are likely to remain uncorrected for longer than false positive beliefs. In Study 1, the authors trained a three-layer neural network to discriminate “good” and “bad” inputs distributed across a two-dimensional space. “Full feedback” training, whereby connection weights were modified to reduce error after every trial, resulted in perfect discrimination. “Contingent feedback,” whereby connection weights were only updated following outputs representing approach behavior, led to several false negative errors (good inputs misclassified as bad). In Study 2, the network was redesigned to distinguish a system for learning evaluations from a mechanism for selecting actions. Biasing action selection toward approach eliminated the asymmetry between learning of good and bad inputs under contingent feedback. Implications for various attitudinal phenomena and biases in social cognition are discussed.

Field of study: Psychology
Torquato Tasso e Francesco Patrizi: tra polemiche letterarie e incontri intellettuali. Micaela Rinaldi

Aminta's famous unfolding of how he fell in love — "A poco a poco nacque nel mio petto, / non so da qual radice, / com'erba suol che per se stessa germini, / un incognito affetto / che mi fea desiare d'essere sempre presente / a la mia bella Silvia" (1.2.87-93) — is captured with a similarly alliterative and felicitous opening line and then sustained by parallel grammatical construction in the English translation: "And bit by bit was born within my breast, / 1 don't know from what root, / as grass may seem to germinate itself, / a strange affection that / made me desire to be / forever present where / my lovely Silvia was." Finally, Dafne's soulful lament (note how the repeated o's in the plaintive second verse in Italian echo the initial exclamatory "O" [my emphasis]) — "O Silvia, Silvia, tu non sai ne credi / quanto '1 foco d'amor possa in un petto" (4.1.66-67) — becomes only slightly less poetic in this translation and aptly mirrors the imagery: "O Silvia, you neither think nor know / how in one's breast the fire of love can burn." In fine, Professors Jernigan and Jones are to be complimented for their laudable attention to poetic nuances or how the poem means, to paraphrase "the master of those who know" (in this case, translator-poet John Ciardi). This reviewer's only disappointment, in fact, derived from the translation's overly-modest scholarly apparatus. While the translators' scholarship includes, in addition to cursory introductory comments, a biographical chronology, a selected bibliography, and five pages of clarifying notes, most readers would likely welcome expanded glosses that detail Tasso's complex poetics and decipher the Ferrarese court's complicated politics. MADISON U. SOWELL Brigham Young University

Field of study: History
Comparison of N and C dynamics in two Norway spruce stands using a process oriented simulation model

Nitrogen and carbon dynamics of two Norway spruce stands were compared using a dynamic soil-plant simulation model (SOILN). The objectives were to evaluate differences in properties between the two stands and to explore the consequences on C and N dynamics. The young stand (25 years old) was located in south-west Sweden (Skogaby) growing on a loamy sand soil. The old stand (70 years old) was growing on a sandy soil in western Denmark (Klosterhede). Differences in specific rates of processes between the two sites were estimated in terms of parameter values derived by calibration of the model. Differences in daily flow rates and pathways of N and C were examined and budget components were simulated over a six year period. Simulations showed that the different stands had different specific rates for growth, allocation, litter fall and N uptake resulting in higher N uptake in the younger trees whereas growth was more similar. The soil carbon balance was positive and soil C/N ratio increased for the young stand. For the old stand the soil carbon balance was negative and the C/N ratio decreased. The soil mineral N levels were much lower in the younger stand which was explained by a higher plant uptake of organic N. At both sites the average pools and fluxes over the years were fairly well simulated indicating that N leaching predictions on average might be reliable.

Field of study: Environmental science
Studies on Some Physiological Indices and Drought Resistance among Different Rice Cultivars

Some resistance indices had been carried out generally by means of grey relevancy analysis method.According to the relevancy and sequencing on the resistance of different rice cultivars,the result showed that the drought resistance of Yangdao6 was stranger than that of other cultivars,and Xieyou63's followed,but the drought resistance of Xiguang and Anxuan5 was weaker relatively.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Critical evaluation of the pulsed laser method for single event effects testing and fundamental studies

In this paper we present an evaluation of the pulsed laser as a technique for single events effects (SEE) testing. We explore in detail the important optical effects, such as laser beam propagation, surface reflection, and linear and nonlinear absorption, which determine the nature of laser-generated charge tracks in semiconductor materials. While there are differences in the structure of laser- and ion-generated charge tracks, we show that in many cases the pulsed laser remains an invaluable tool for SEE testing. Indeed, for several SEE applications, we show that the pulsed laser method represents a more practical approach than conventional accelerator-based methods.

Field of study: Physics
Specifying cycles of minimal length for commonly used linear layers in block ciphers

With the advances of Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications in smart cities and the pervasiveness of network devices with limited resources, lightweight block ciphers have achieved rapid development recently. Due to their relatively simple key schedule, nonlinear invariant attacks have been successfully applied to several families of lightweight block ciphers. This attack relies on the existence of a nonlinear invariant g : F2 → F2 for the round function Fk so that g(x) + g(Fk(x)) is constant for any input value x. Whereas invariants of the entire S-box layer has been studied in terms of the corresponding cycle structure [TLS16, WRP20] (assuming the use of bijective S-boxes), a similar analysis for the linear layer has not been performed yet. In this article, we provide a theoretical analysis for specifying the minimal length of cycles for commonly used linear permutations (implementing linear layers) in lightweight block ciphers. Namely, using a suitable matrix representation, we exactly specify the minimal cycle lengths for those (efficiently implemented) linear layers that employ ShiftRows, Rotational-XOR and circular Boolean matrix operations which can be found in many well-known families of block ciphers. These results are practically useful for the purpose of finding nonlinear invariants of the entire encryption rounds since these can be specified using the intersection of cycles corresponding to the linear and S-box layer. We also apply our theoretical analysis practically and specify minimal cycle lengths of linear layers for certain families of block ciphers including some NIST candidates.

Field of study: Computer science, Mathematics
Education and Its Role in the Economic Development of the Country and Government Policies to be Undertaken to Increase the Quality of Education, the Case of Albania

Our paper focuses on education and, how the high-quality education affects welfare and economic growth in the case of Albania. The data were provided by INSTAT (Institute of Statistics, Albania) on the results of the adult education survey by gender, age group which refers to the population aged 25-64 years and, level of education, including three levels of education, elementary/primary education, secondary education, and postsecondary/higher education. Despite the fact that we provided the data in 2017, they would serve us to highlight some problems related to the quality of education in Albania, which would be important to develop different strategies to improve these problems in the coming years. Another priority of this paper is to define and recommend some government policies that would increase the quality of education, in order for us to have a better economic growth in the future. Here we have used the descriptive method, and through tables and charts we have provided a comparative analysis, based on some statistics which are expressed in percentage (%). However, the main purpose here is to show through comparative analysis the level of participation in types of education, trainings, and cultural activities by gender, age group, and level of education, therefore showing the relationship between the quality of education and economic growth. We will also handle some of the government policies that recommend in order to increase quality of the education in the future. 
  
 4 September 2020  17 December 2020 / Published: 17 January 2021

Field of study: Education, Sociology