gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Device Physics of Thin-Film Polycrystalline Cells and Modules: Final Report, February 1998 -- August 2001 (2002)

This report describes the basic measurements of CdTe and CI(G)S solar cells fabricated at a number of collaborating laboratories. The first area of emphasis has been to quantitatively deduce the loss mechanisms in these cells, and to make appropriate comparisons that illuminate where progress in being made. Cells evaluated include those at or near record efficiencies and those made with new processing strategies. A second area of emphasis, the role of impurities, has focused on sodium in CIS. Cells made with varying amounts of sodium added during CIS deposition were fabricated at NREL using four types of substrates. Best performance was achieved with 0.01 to 0.1 at% sodium. The third area of study has been small-spot measurement of micro-nonuniformities. A new facility was built to focus a laser beam onto a solar cell with 1-um beam size, 1-um resolution and repeatability, and one-sun intensity. Specific projects to date have focused on CdTe and have included the local effect of CdCl2, local intermixing of sulfur, and the effect of temperature-induced stress. Documentation of cell changes at elevated temperatures has been the fourth area of study. Changes seen in CdTe J-V curves are almost certainly related to diffusion of copper from the back contact, but in most cases an activation-energy model predicts sufficient stability for a 30-year product lifetime. Transients seen in some CIS cells are primarily seen in fill-factor and are primarily driven by voltage bias rather than illumination condition. The final area of emphasis has been numerical simulations of CdTe and CI(G)S cells. Results with CdTe are able to replicate experimental data, have explained the effects of partial overlap of the primary junction with the back contact, and have shown how variations in carrier density, carrier lifetime, and CdTe layer thickness impact cell performance.
The Tbx‐files: The truth is out there (2004)

T-box factors are critical regulators of embryonic development and have been implicated in several human diseases. This primer describes the basics of how T-box factors work and features a discussion of the state of T-box gene research with three experts in the field.
Single-Molecule Detection of Airborne Singlet Oxygen (2006)

Airborne singlet oxygen (1O2) molecules, which are generated during the TiO2 photocatalytic reactions and diffused from the surface into air, were detected at the opposite surface using terrylenediimide (TDI) molecules at the single-molecule level. The novel 1O2 nanosensor, which has a detectable number of about 1000 1O2 molecules in 70 x 70 square micrometers, can easily detect the single 1O2 molecule at a distance of over 1000 micrometers from the place of its creation in ambient air.
[The role of bacteriological examination in diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis]. (2008)

A bacteriological examination was made in 105 patients with various forms of chronic tonsillitis. Eighteen cultures of beta-hemolytic streptococcus (BHSA) were isolated from 36 patients with paratonsillar abscesses. BHSA seeding in paratonsillar abscess was 50.0%. Eight BHSA cultures were isolated from 69 patients with chronic tonsillitis. BHSA seeding in chronic tonsillitis was 11.6%. Adequate set of culture media for BHSA growth was optimized. The technique of the sample collection from tonsillar lacunes was improved. The significance of bacteriological diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis increases considerably due to optimization of out- and intralaboratory tests at the preanalytic stage of the study.
Survey of Wireless Indoor Positioning Techniques and Systems (2007)

Wireless indoor positioning systems have become very popular in recent years. These systems have been successfully used in many applications such as asset tracking and inventory management. This paper provides an overview of the existing wireless indoor positioning solutions and attempts to classify different techniques and systems. Three typical location estimation schemes of triangulation, scene analysis, and proximity are analyzed. We also discuss location fingerprinting in detail since it is used in most current system or solutions. We then examine a set of properties by which location systems are evaluated, and apply this evaluation method to survey a number of existing systems. Comprehensive performance comparisons including accuracy, precision, complexity, scalability, robustness, and cost are presented.
Intelligence on board: modern approach to transit fleet management (2002)

GSI Gesellschaft fuer Systemtechnik und Informatik mbH, Salem, is the German supplier of the intelligent transportation system (ITS) which is a modular construction set for enhanced fleet navigation, operations information and management, vehicle dispatching and service restoration, and passenger service in public transportation. This paper focuses on the specific ITS approach of providing the fully vehicle autonomous operation through utilizing as much intelligence as possible on board the vehicles. The emphasis is not on completeness but focused on those components which may be referred to as of latest technology gaining increasing importance and significance in current applications.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Long-term low-dose dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in aging males with partial androgen deficiency (2004)

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) age-related withdrawal is very likely to be involved in the aging process and the onset of age-related diseases, giving rise to the question of whether preventing or compensating the decline of these steroids may have endocrine and clinical benefits. The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the endocrine, neuroendocrine and clinical consequences of a long-term (1 year), low-dose (25 mg/day) replacement therapy in a group of aging men who presented the clinical characteristics of partial androgen deficiency (PADAM). Circulating DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, total testosterone and free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, allopregnanolone, estrone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were evaluated monthly to assess the endocrine effects of the therapy, while beta-endorphin values were used as a marker of the neuroendocrine effects. A Kupperman questionnaire was performed to evaluate the subjective symptoms before and after treatment. The results showed a great modification of the endocrine profile; with the exception of cortisol levels, which remained unchanged, DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, total and free testosterone, DHT, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, estrone, estradiol, GH, IGF-1 and beta-endorphin levels increased significantly with respect to baseline values, while FSH, LH and SHBG levels showed a significant decrease. The Kupperman score indicated a progressive improvement in mood, fatigue and joint pain. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that 25 mg/day of DHEA is able to cause significant changes in the hormonal profile and clinical symptoms and can counteract the age-related decline of endocrine and neuroendocrine functions. Restoring DHEA levels to young adult values seems to benefit the age-related decline in physiological functions but, however promising, placebo-controlled trials are required to confirm these preliminary results.
High-order interior caustics produced in scattering of a diagonally incident plane wave by a circular cylinder (1997)

We examine scattering of a family of initially parallel diagonally incident rays by a dielectric circular cylinder and show that the interior and exterior caustics that occur are qualitatively identical to those produced at normal incidence. We find, however, that (1) varying the plane-wave tilt angle has the same effect on the caustics as varying the refractive index of the cylinder at normal incidence and (2) high-order interior caustics are visible because of larger internal-reflection Fresnel coefficients at diagonal incidence than at normal incidence. We also observe noncaustic ray trajectories produced by the sharp peaking of internal-reflection Fresnel coefficients at large ray impact parameters, as well as another class of internal caustics produced by scattering from inhomogeneities in our glass cylinder.
Regulation of p16CDKN2 Expression and Its Implications for Cell Immortalization and Senescence (1996)

p16CDKN2 specifically binds to and inhibits the cyclin-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6, which function as regulators of cell cycle progression in G1 by contributing to the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Human cell lines lacking functional pRB contain high levels of p16 RNA and protein, suggesting a negative feedback loop by which pRB might regulate p16 expression in late G1. By a combination of nuclear run-on assays and promoter analyses in human fibroblasts expressing a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 T antigen, we show that p16 transcription is affected by the status of pRB and define a region in the p16 promoter that is required for this response. However, the effect is not sufficient to account for the differences in p16 RNA levels between pRB-positive and -negative cells. Moreover, p16 RNA is extremely stable, and the levels do not change appreciably during the cell cycle. Primary human fibroblasts express very low levels of p16, but the RNA and protein accumulate in late-passage, senescent cells. The apparent overexpression of p16 in pRB-negative cell lines is therefore caused by at least two factors: loss of repression by pRB and an increase in the number of population doublings.
Retrieval of 3D-Position of a Passive Object using Infrared LED's and Photodiodes (2006)

A sensor using infrared emitter/receiver pairs to determine the position of a passive object is presented. An array with a small number of infrared emitter/receiver pairs is proposed as the sensing part to acquire information on the object position. The emitters illuminate the object and the intensity of the light reflected by the object is measured by the receivers. The emitter/receiver pair positions are fixed in a 2D-plane. A model of the light reflections from IR-emitters to IR-receivers is used to determine the position of a ball using a Nelder-Mead simplex algorithm. Laboratory experiments show good agreement between actual and retrieved positions when tracking a ball. The ball has been successfully replaced by a human hand, and a "3D non-touch screen" with a human hand as "pointing device" is shown possible.
Fabrication of 7.2% Efficient CZTSSe Solar Cells Using CZTS Nanocrystals (2010)

Earth abundant copper-zinc-tin-chalcogenide (CZTSSe) is an important class of material for the development of low cost and sustainable thin film solar cells. The fabrication of CZTSSe solar cells by selenization of CZTS nanocrystals is presented. By tuning the composition of the CZTS nanocrystals and developing a robust film coating method, a total area efficiency as high as 7.2% under AM 1.5 illumination and light soaking has been achieved.
Structure of the Quaternary Complex of Interleukin-2 with Its α, ß, and γ c Receptors (2005)

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an immunoregulatory cytokine that acts through a quaternary receptor signaling complex containing alpha (IL-2Ralpha), beta (IL-2Rbeta), and common gamma chain (gc) receptors. In the structure of the quaternary ectodomain complex as visualized at a resolution of 2.3 angstroms, the binding of IL-2Ralpha to IL-2 stabilizes a secondary binding site for presentation to IL-2Rbeta. gammac is then recruited to the composite surface formed by the IL-2/IL-2Rbeta complex. Consistent with its role as a shared receptor for IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21, gammac forms degenerate contacts with IL-2. The structure of gammac provides a rationale for loss-of-function mutations found in patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency diseases (X-SCID). This complex structure provides a framework for other gammac-dependent cytokine-receptor interactions and for the engineering of improved IL-2 therapeutics.
Sulforaphane Represses Matrix‐Degrading Proteases and Protects Cartilage From Destruction In Vitro and In Vivo (2013)

SFN inhibits the expression of key metalloproteinases implicated in osteoarthritis, independently of Nrf2, and blocks inflammation at the level of NF-κB to protect against cartilage destruction in vitro and in vivo.
The Capsid Proteins of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus Activate Caspases and Are Specifically Cleaved during Infection (2009)

Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is currently the only known member of the genus Amdovirus in the family Parvoviridae. It is the etiological agent of Aleutian disease of mink. We have previously shown that a small protein with a molecular mass of approximately 26 kDa was present during AMDV infection and following transfection of capsid expression constructs (J. Qiu, F. Cheng, L. R. Burger, and D. Pintel, J. Virol. 80:654-662, 2006). In this study, we report that the capsid proteins were specifically cleaved at aspartic acid residue 420 (D420) during virus infection, resulting in the previously observed cleavage product. Mutation of a single amino acid residue at D420 abolished the specific cleavage. Expression of the capsid proteins alone in Crandell feline kidney (CrFK) cells reproduced the cleavage of the capsid proteins in virus infection. More importantly, capsid protein expression alone induced active caspases, of which caspase-10 was the most active. Active caspases, in turn, cleaved capsid proteins in vivo. Our results also showed that active caspase-7 specifically cleaved capsid proteins at D420 in vitro. These results suggest that viral capsid proteins alone induce caspase activation, resulting in cleavage of capsid proteins. We also provide evidence that AMDV mutants resistant to caspase-mediated capsid cleavage increased virus production approximately 3- to 5-fold in CrFK cells compared to that produced from the parent virus AMDV-G at 37 degrees C but not at 31.8 degrees C. Collectively, our results indicate that caspase activity plays multiple roles in AMDV infection and that cleavage of the capsid proteins might have a role in regulating persistent infection of AMDV.
Development of an integrated microfluidic platform for dynamic oxygen sensing and delivery in a flowing medium (2005)

This paper describes a platform for real-time sensing of dissolved oxygen in a flowing microfluidic environment using an oxygen-sensitive luminescent dye (platinum octaethylporphyrin ketone) integrated into a micro-oxygenator device. Using a phase-based detection method, the luminescent decay lifetime of the dye was consistent with the linear Stern-Volmer relationship using both gaseous and aqueous samples. Maximum sensor resolution varied between 120-780 ppb across a range of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations ranging from 0-42.5 ppm. The sensor was subsequently used to determine the convective mass-transfer characteristics of a multi-layer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic oxygenator. The membrane-based oxygenator showed excellent agreement with an analytical convection model, and the integrated oxygen sensor was accurate across a wide range of tested flow rates (0.05-5 mL min(-1)). The device is unique for its ease of fabrication and highly flexible configuration, as well as the novel incorporation of oxygen delivery and detection in a single micro-device. Potential applications include tissue engineering, cell culturing, and miniaturized bio-assays that require the delivery and/or detection of precise quantities of oxygen within a microfluidic construct.
A Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Based on Pressure Fluctuations in Karman Vortex Street (2011)

In this regard; this study investigates the possibility of providing electricity from solar/wind based hybrid standalone system for remotely located people detached off the main grid line. Within the hybrid system setup PV panels; wind turbines; a bank of batteries and for a backup diesel generator is included. The wind potential of the area has been assessed in a previously published article. The solar potential has also been investigated in another article awaiting publication. It is based on the findings of the solar and the wind energy potential that this study is carried out.
Detection of cell surface and intracellular antigens by human monoclonal antibodies. Hybrid cell lines derived from lymphocytes of patients with malignant melanoma. (1983)

This study represents an initial attempt to analyze the humoral immune reactions of patients with malignant melanoma by hybridoma methodology. Using lymphocytes from regional lymph nodes, peripheral blood and tumor infiltrates, 158 fusions were performed with SKO-007 (human myeloma line), LICR-LON-HMy2 (LICR-2), GM 4672 (human lymphoblastoid lines), or NS-1 (mouse myeloma line). Fusion of lymph node lymphocytes with NS-1 resulted in a 3-4 times higher frequency of clones than fusion with LICR-2, and a 10 times higher frequency than fusion with SKO-007 or GM 4672. In the case of peripheral blood lymphocytes, fusion with NS-1 gave greater than 25 times higher frequency of clones than fusion with LICR-2 or SKO-007. Production of human mu, gamma, or alpha heavy chains was detected in 50-80% of wells containing growing clones, and the levels of immunoglobulin ranged from 0.3 micrograms to 40 micrograms/ml. NS-1-derived clones could be easily subcultured, while LICR-2 and SKO-007 clones grew more slowly on subculturing. In this study, Ig secretion appeared to be a more stable property of LICR-2-derived clones than NS-1-derived clones. A panel of 20 human cancer cell lines was used to screen 771 Ig-secreting cultures for antibody to cell surface or intracellular antigens. Reactivity with cell surface antigens was found infrequently (6 cultures), whereas reactivity with intracellular antigens was more common (27 cultures). A new cell surface antigen with properties of a glycolipid was defined with an IgM monoclonal antibody secreted by a tetraploid cell derived from a fusion of LICR-2 with lymphocytes from the axillary lymph node of a patient with melanoma. The hybrid cell line has been subcloned four times and secretes 5 micrograms IgM/ml. The antigen detected by this IgM antibody was found on 5 of 23 melanoma cell lines and 12 of 30 epithelial cancer cell lines. No reactions were found with 11 cultures derived from normal cells. Stable cell lines secreting human antibody that detected nuclei, nucleoli, cytoskeletal elements, Golgi complex, or other cytoplasmic components were also isolated in this study. One of these antibodies detected an intracellular antigen that is restricted to cells of neuroectodermal derivation, and a second antibody reacted primarily with cells of epithelial origin. Using these methods to isolate and analyze human monoclonal antibody, it should now be possible to define the repertoire of the humoral immune response to melanoma.
XMill (2000)

We describe a tool for compressing XML data, with applications in data exchange and archiving, which usually achieves about twice the compression ratio of gzip at roughly the same speed. The compressor, called XMill, incorporates and combines existing compressors in order to apply them to heterogeneous XML data: it uses zlib, the library function for gzip, a collection of datatype specific compressors for simple data types, and, possibly, user defined compressors for application specific data types.
Manipulation of T cell costimulatory and inhibitory signals for immunotherapy of prostate cancer (1997)

The identification of potentially useful immune-based treatments for prostate cancer has been severely constrained by the scarcity of relevant animal research models for this disease. Moreover, some of the most critical mechanisms involved in complete and proper antitumoral T cell activation have only recently been identified for experimental manipulation, namely, components involved in the costimulatory pathway for T cell activation. Thus, we have established a novel syngeneic murine prostate cancer model that permits us to examine two distinct manipulations intended to elicit an antiprostate cancer response through enhanced T cell costimulation: (i) provision of direct costimulation by prostate cancer cells transduced to express the B7.1 ligand and (ii) in vivo antibody-mediated blockade of the T cell CTLA-4, which prevents T cell down-regulation. In the present study we found that a tumorigenic prostate cancer cell line, TRAMPC1 (pTC1), derived from transgenic mice, is rejected by syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, but not athymic mice, after this cell line is transduced to express the costimulatory ligand B7.1. Also, we demonstrated that in vivo antibody-mediated blockade of CTLA-4 enhances antiprostate cancer immune responses. The response raised by anti-CTLA-4 administration ranges from marked reductions in wild-type pTC1 growth to complete rejection of these cells. Collectively, these experiments suggest that appropriate manipulation of T cell costimulatory and inhibitory signals may provide a fundamental and highly adaptable basis for prostate cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, the syngeneic murine model that we introduce provides a comprehensive system for further testing of immune-based treatments for prostate cancer.
L-Ficolin Specifically Binds to Lipoteichoic Acid, a Cell Wall Constituent of Gram-Positive Bacteria, and Activates the Lectin Pathway of Complement (2004)

The lectin pathway of complement is activated when a carbohydrate recognition complex and associated serine proteases binds to the surface of a pathogen. Three recognition subcomponents have been shown to form active initiation complexes: mannan-binding lectin (MBL), L-ficolin, and H-ficolin. The importance of MBL in antimicrobial host defense is well recognized, but the role of the ficolins remains largely undefined. This report shows that L-ficolin specifically binds to lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a cell wall component found in all Gram-positive bacteria. Immobilized LTA from Staphylococcus aureus binds L-ficolin complexes from sera, and these complexes initiate lectin pathway-dependent C4 turnover. C4 activation correlates with serum L-ficolin concentration, but not with serum MBL levels. L-ficolin binding and corresponding levels of C4 turnover were observed on LTA purified from other clinically important bacteria, including Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus agalactiae. None of the LTA preparations bound MBL, H-ficolin, or the classical pathway recognition molecule, C1q.