gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
SUBMERSIBLE OPTICAL SENSORS EXPOSED TO CHEMICALLY-DISPERSED CRUDE OIL: WAVE TANK SIMULATIONS FOR IMPROVED OIL SPILL MONITORING (2014)

In situ fluorometers were deployed during the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Gulf of Mexico oil spill to provide critical measurements for tracking the subsea oil plume. In the wake of the spill, uncertainties regarding instrument specifications, capabilities and reliability necessitated performance testing of sensors (commonly used during spill response) exposed to simulated, dispersed oil plumes. Moreover, concerns on the applicability of laboratory calibrations (at high concentrations and insufficient mixing energies) to field conditions and on sensor reliability to detect dispersed oil persist. To address these uncertainties the performance of select commercially-available sensors (from Chelsea Technologies Group, Satlantic, Turner Designs, WetLabs Inc) was evaluated using a wave tank facility at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Breaking waves were generated within the tank to simulate mixing energies and achieve dispersant effectiveness observed in the field. Presented here are the results of the sensors exposed to chemically-dispersed MC252 crude oil using Corexit 9500, DOR=1:20. Stepwise additions of dispersed oil (0.3 – 12 ppm) to the tank were used to establish linearity. Model 1 linear least squares regressions were calculated and applied to sensor data during validation experiments to simulate dilution of an oil plume. Dynamic ranges of the sensors, exposed to fresh and artificially weathered crude oil, were determined. Sensors were standardized against known oil volumes and measured Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Benzene-Toluene-Ethylbenzene-Xylene (BTEX) values – both collected during spills, providing oil estimates during dilution experiments. Results were validated against particle size data (Sequoia LISST). All sensors estimated oil concentrations down to 300 ppb oil, refuting previous reports. Low percent differences and absolute errors between chemistry and sensor results were metrics to evaluate performance. Discussed will be the application of this vicarious calibration approach as a means to calibrate the DWH fine-scale fluorescence data into oil concentrations. This allows for filling in coarse-scale field chemistry data, improved assessment of DWH spill measurements mined from the NOAA NODC, and understanding the fate and transport of the DWH oil plume.
Front side attack on the bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane system by halonium ion; halogenation of dehydronoriceane (1980)

Halogenation of dehydronoriceane (1) in dichloromethane in the dark exclusively or predominantly gave the trans-4,5-dihalogenoethanonoradamantanes (2) providing decisive evidence for front side attack on the bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane system by halonium ions; the reaction is susceptible to the solvent and halogen used.
Recent Advances in Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring Applications (2019)

In this paper, some recent piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) progress achieved in our laboratory for active materials and smart structures (LAMSS) at the University of South Carolina: http: //www.me.sc.edu/research/lamss/ group is presented. First, the characterization of the PWAS materials shows that no significant change in the microstructure after exposure to high temperature and nuclear radiation, and the PWAS transducer can be used in harsh environments for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. Next, PWAS active sensing of various damage types in aluminum and composite structures are explored. PWAS transducers can successfully detect the simulated crack and corrosion damage in aluminum plates through the wavefield analysis, and the simulated delamination damage in composite plates through the damage imaging method. Finally, the novel use of PWAS transducers as acoustic emission (AE) sensors for in situ AE detection during fatigue crack growth is presented. The time of arrival of AE signals at multiple PWAS transducers confirms that the AE signals are originating from the crack, and that the amplitude decay due to geometric spreading is observed.
Dosimetric Tranferability of a Medical Linear Accelerator Mounted Mini-Beam Collimator (2016)

The goal of this study was the dosimetric characterization of a mini-beam collimator on three clinically beam matched Varian iX linear accelerators.Measurements of the beam quality (%DD(10)), peak-to-valley dose ratio (PVDR), collimator factor ( ), and relative output factor ( ) were carried out for 2 cm x 2 cm, 3 cm x 3 cm, 4 cm x 4 cm, and 5 cm x 5 cm mini-beam collimated 6 MV fields on each linear accelerator.As well, Monte Carlo simulation of the mini-beam collimated fields were used to link the measurement results to a validated linear accelerator model.The quality of the mini-beam collimated field was clinically equivalent to that of the open field.Changes in the mini-beam collimated field in response to changes in both field size and collimator inclination were consistent across all three linear accelerators.However, PVDR, collimator factors, and relative output factors varied in excess of the measurement uncertainty, revealing a difference in the mini-beam collimated fields of each linear accelerator.
Energy Efficient Homes: Comparing Homes for Energy Efficiency (2008)

FCS-3272, a 7-page fact sheet by Nicholas W. Taylor, Jeffrey Michael, and Barbara Haldeman, provides Florida homebuyers with an overview for evaluating each home’s energy efficiency and a checklist to help evaluate and compare. Includes references. One of an Energy Efficient Homes series. Published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, June 2008.
Liquid Crystal and Polymer Dispersionsin a Microgravity Environment (2001)

Liquid crystal and polymer dispersions (LCPD) fabricated using polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) contain morphologies that range from a dispersion of micrometer-sized droplets of a liquid crystal in a solid polymer matrix to a polymer network dispersed in the liquid crystal. The interest in LCPDs continues to grow with applications that range from light shutters to flat panel displays, and to high-resolution projection displays. Herein, we investigate the fabrication of LCPDs processed in terrestrial and microgravity environments. The materials used in this investigation include the liquid crystal mixture E7, the single component liquid crystal K15; the thiol-ene based pre-polymer NOA65, and the liquid crystal monomer RM257. Scanning electron microscopy and laser-light transmission measurements were used to probe the sample morphology and electro-optic parameters of LCPDs processed in the terrestrial and microgravity environments. The results discussed here stem from four parabolic flights spanning the years of 1995-1997.
A convertible group signature scheme (2004)

The digital signature technique is a popular research branch in the field of contemporary cryptography because of its popularity in both economic and official applications. As more and more information gets processed digitally, digital signatures come to play a more and more important role. The prevention of the signature repudiation is therefore a basic requirement for digital signature techniques living up to. However, in some signature schemes, the validity of the signature is confirmed through some extra parameters or by certain trusted third parties. In 1999, Araki et al. proposed a scheme known for being convertible. In their scheme, certain verifiers can examine the signature without the help of the signers. Since then, many researchers have been devoted to the research and development of schemes with such a property. In this paper, we shall propose a new convertible group signature scheme. Our new scheme is based on two assumptions: the complexity of the discrete logarithm problem and the un-reversibility of the one-way hash function. In our discussion section later, we shall consider some possible attacks and prove that our new scheme is able to survive them. In addition, the special strength of our scheme is its efficient verification mechanism.
Correlation between corrosion performance and surface wettability in ZrTiCuNiBe bulk metallic glasses (2010)

The corrosion properties of two Zr-based bulk metallic glass, Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 (LM1) and Zr44Ti11Cu10Ni10Be25 (LM1b) were investigated by electrochemical measurements in simulated body fluid with pH value 7.4. With much lower current density and higher impedance values, as well as higher pitting potential, LM1b showed superior corrosion resistance to LM1. Under identical sample preparation and testing conditions, the difference in corrosion performance is found to relate closely to their surface wettability difference, as contact angle tests showed that LM1b is more hydrophobic than LM1. The excess free volume was measured and found having a close correlation with the wettability or the surface energy.
Dramatic Potentiation of the Antiviral Activity of HIV Antibodies by Cholesterol Conjugation (2014)

The broadly neutralizing antibodies HIV 2F5 and 4E10, which bind to overlapping epitopes in the membrane-proximal external region of the fusion protein gp41, have been proposed to use a two-step mechanism for neutralization; first, they bind and preconcentrate at the viral membrane through their long, hydrophobic CDRH3 loops, and second, they form a high affinity complex with the protein epitope. Accordingly, mutagenesis of the CDRH3 can abolish their neutralizing activity, with no change in the affinity for the peptide epitope. We show here that we can mimic this mechanism by conjugating a cholesterol group outside of the paratope of an antibody. Cholesterol-conjugated antibodies bind to lipid raft domains on the membrane, and because of this enrichment, they show increased antiviral potency. In particular, we find that cholesterol conjugation (i) rescues the antiviral activity of CDRH3-mutated 2F5, (ii) increases the antiviral activity of WT 2F5, (iii) potentiates the non-membrane-binding HIV antibody D5 10-100-fold (depending on the virus strain), and (iv) increases synergy between 2F5 and D5. Conjugation can be made at several positions, including variable and constant domains. Cholesterol conjugation therefore appears to be a general strategy to boost the potency of antiviral antibodies, and, because membrane affinity is engineered outside of the antibody paratope, it can complement affinity maturation strategies.
Tamoxifen Neuroprotection in Cerebral Ischemia Involves Attenuation of Kinase Activation and Superoxide Production and Potentiation of Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase (2007)

The purpose of this study was to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of neuronal death after focal cerebral ischemia and the neuroprotective effects of tamoxifen (TMX). The phosphorylation state of 31 protein kinases/signaling proteins and superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) production in the contralateral and ipsilateral cortex was measured after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in ovariectomized rats treated with placebo or TMX. The study revealed that pMCAO modulated the phosphorylation of a number of kinases/proteins in the penumbra at 2 h after pMCAO. Of significant interest, phospho-ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) was elevated significantly after pMCAO. TMX attenuated the elevation of pERK1/2, an effect correlated with reduced infarct size. In situ detection of O(2)(-) production showed a significant elevation at 1-2 h after pMCAO in the ischemic cortex with enhanced oxidative damage detected at 24 h. ERK activation may be downstream of free radicals, a suggestion supported by the findings that cells positive for O(2)(-) had high pERK activation and that a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, tempol, significantly attenuated pERK activation after MCAO. TMX treatment significantly reduced the MCAO-induced elevation of O(2)(-) production, oxidative damage, and proapoptotic caspase-3 activation. Additionally, pMCAO induced a significant reduction in the levels of manganese SOD (MnSOD), which scavenge O(2)(-), an effect largely prevented by TMX treatment, thus providing a potential mechanistic basis for the antioxidant effects of TMX. As a whole, these studies suggest that TMX neuroprotection may be achieved via an antioxidant mechanism that involves enhancement of primarily MnSOD levels, with a corresponding reduction of O(2)(-) production, and downstream kinase and caspase-3 activation.
Erratum to “Sarcopenia, A Neurogenic Syndrome?” (2014)

201812 bcrc
PAS-A domain of phosphorelay sensor kinase A: A catalytic ATP-binding domain involved in the initiation of development in Bacillus subtilis (2001)

The major sensor kinase controlling the initiation of development in Bacillus subtilis, KinA, functions by activating the phosphorelay signal-transduction system in response to as yet unknown signal ligands. KinA contains, within its amino-terminal signal-sensing region, three PAS domains that, in other proteins, are known to be involved in sensing changes in oxygen concentration and redox potential among other functions. The most amino-terminal PAS domain, PAS-A, was found to bind ATP and catalyze exchange of phosphate between ATP and nucleoside diphosphates. A cysteine-to-alanine mutation in PAS-A increased the affinity for ATP 5-fold, decreased the exchange reaction 2-fold, and stimulated KinA-dependent sporulation. A model for the role of ATP and the exchange reaction in the PAS domain in sensor kinase signal transduction is presented in which the free energy of nucleotide hydrolysis drives the conformational changes that activate or deactivate the sensor kinase in response to signal ligand binding.
Leveraging user comments for aesthetic aware image search reranking (2012)

The increasing number of images available online has created a growing need for efficient ways to search for relevant content. Text-based query search is the most common approach to retrieve images from the Web. In this approach, the similarity between the input query and the metadata of images is used to find relevant information. However, as the amount of available images grows, the number of relevant images also increases, all of them sharing very similar metadata but differing in other visual characteristics. This paper studies the influence of visual aesthetic quality in search results as a complementary attribute to relevance. By considering aesthetics, a new ranking parameter is introduced aimed at improving the quality at the top ranks when large amounts of relevant results exist. Two strategies for aesthetic rating inference are proposed: one based on visual content, another based on the analysis of user comments to detect opinions about the quality of images. The results of a user study with $58$ participants show that the comment-based aesthetic predictor outperforms the visual content-based strategy, and reveals that aesthetic-aware rankings are preferred by users searching for photographs on the Web.
Cover crops and weed suppression in the U.S. Midwest: A meta-analysis and modeling study (2020)

In addition to soil health and conservation benefits, cover crops (CCs) may offer weed control in the midwestern United States, but individual studies report vary- ing effects. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies measuring weed biomass (WBIO) or density (WDEN) in paired CC and no-cover treatments in corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] rotations in the U.S. Midwest. Fifteen studies provided 123 paired comparisons of WBIO and 119 of WDEN. Only grass CCs significantly reduced WBIO, while no CC reduced WDEN. We found no evidence CC management factors (e.g., termination method) directly affected out- comes. Our dataset showed that a 75% reduction in WBIO requires at least 5 Mg ha−1 of CC. Simulations from a process-based model (SALUS) indicated achieving 5 Mg ha−1 requires substantially earlier fall planting and later spring termination in most years, conflicting with typical cash-crop planting and harvesting. We conclude CCs significantly reduce WBIO, but current CC management constraints render these reductions variable and uncertain.
Osteopontin—a molecule for all seasons (2002)

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein, and although highly expressed in bone, it is also expressed by various cell types including macrophages, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and epithelial cells.1,,2 OPN is involved in diverse biological processes and the aim of this review is to give a broad outline of some important aspects of the biology of OPN. Although this review is written primarily from a renal perspective, it is hoped that the reader will appreciate that OPN is involved in both physiological and pathological processes in multiple organs and tissues including biomineralization, inflammation, leukocyte recruitment and cell survival.

OPN is a negatively‐charged acidic hydrophilic protein of approximately 300 amino acid residues, and is secreted into all body fluids. The OPN cDNA from various mammalian species exhibits a high degree of sequence homology. There is evidence of alternative splicing, although the functional significance of this is unclear at present. The molecule undergoes considerable post‐translational modification, and is phosphorylated and glycosylated. OPN has an arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD) cell binding sequence, a calcium binding site and two heparin binding domains.

Cells may bind OPN via multiple integrin receptors including the vitronectin receptor ( α v β 3) as well as various β 1 and β 5 integrins. Integrin binding may be RGD‐dependent or ‐independent (e.g. via the motif SVVYGLR). OPN does not bind the standard form of CD44 (hyaluronic acid receptor) but does bind various isoforms of CD44. These CD44 isoforms bind OPN via multiple sites. OPN may be cleaved by thrombin, resulting in the exposure of additional cryptic binding sites as well as the production of functional chemotactic fragments.3

The regulation of OPN expression is incompletely understood at present and may differ between various cell types. Studies indicate that the OPN promoter contains various motifs including a purine‐rich …
Detection of Epidemic USA300 Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains by Use of a Single Allele-Specific PCR Assay Targeting a Novel Polymorphism of Staphylococcus aureus pbp3 (2013)

In recent years, the dramatic increase in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections has become a significant health care challenge. Early detection of CA-MRSA is important because of its increased virulence associated with the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and other toxins that may contribute to disease severity. In particular, the USA300 epidemic clone has emerged and now represents the cause of as much as 98% of CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue infections in the United States. Current diagnostic assays used to identify CA-MRSA strains are based on complex multiplex PCRs targeting the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) DNA junction, a multitude of genes, and noncoding DNA fragments or on a number of lengthy sequence-typing methods. Here, two nucleotide polymorphisms, G88A and G2047A, that were found to be in strict linkage disequilibrium in the S. aureus penicillin-binding protein 3 (pbp3) gene were also found to be highly associated with the USA300 clone of CA-MRSA. Clinical isolates that contained this pbp3 allele were also positive for the presence of SCCmec type IV, the ACME, and the PVL toxin gene and matched the t008 or t121 molecular spa types, which are associated specifically with the USA300 CA-MRSA clone. A single allele-specific PCR targeting the G88A polymorphism was developed and was found to be 100% sensitive and specific for the detection of USA300 CA-MRSA and 91.5% sensitive and 100% specific for the detection of all CA-MRSA isolates in this study.
Evaluation of energy harvesting performance of electrostrictive polymer and carbon-filled terpolymer composites (2010)

Recent trends in energy conversion mechanisms have demonstrated the abilities of electrostrictive polymers for converting mechanical vibrations into electricity. In particular, such materials present advantageous features such as high productivity, high flexibility, and processability. Hence, the application of these materials for energy harvesting purposes has been of significant interest over the last few years. The purpose of this paper consists in evaluating the energy scavenging abilities of electrostrictive terpolymer composite filled with 1 vol % carbon black poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene). For fair comparison, a new figure of merit taking into account the intrinsic parameters of the material is introduced. This figure of merit equals the squared product of the electric field-related electrostrictive coefficient by the Young modulus, divided by the permittivity, relating the electric energy density per cycle per squared strain magnitude and squared bias electric field. Based on this criterion, it is demonstrated that the carbon-filled terpolymer outperforms other investigated compositions, exhibiting a figure of merit as high as 30 mJ cm−3 (m/m)−2 (V/μm)−2 cycle−1, which is 2000 times higher than pure polyurethane. In addition, the comparison of the figure of merit with experimental maximal harvested powers shows that such a criterion allows a very accurate prediction of the energy scavenging performance of electrostrictive composites.
Taste Release and Its Effect on Overall Flavor Perception (2002)

Methods for monitoring the concentrations of both volatile and non-volatile flavor compounds, close to the respective flavor receptors in the nose and on the tongue during eating, have been developed. Using these techniques, a "time release" profile can be built for each of the flavor compounds in a food over the time course of eating. These release profiles can then be compared with perceived flavor, measured using conventional sensory analyses, to study the contribution of the volatile and non-volatile flavor signals to the overall perceived flavor. The methods were applied to model gel-based and viscous foods as well as a chewing gum system. From the systems tested, there was evidence that the intensity of perceived volatile flavor was not solely due to the concentration of volatile in-nose. Various explanations for this discrepancy are given along with preliminary experimental data that suggest that delivery of the non-volatile flavor component also affects the perceived intensity of volatile flavor compounds.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: An Epigenetic-Centric View of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (2021)

Compared to many common solid tumors, the main genetic drivers of most testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are unknown. Decades of focus on genomic alterations in TGCTs including awareness of a near universal increase in copies of chromosome 12p have failed to uncover exceptional driver genes, especially in genes that can be targeted therapeutically. Thus far, TGCT patients have missed out on the benefits of targeted therapies available to treat most other malignancies. In the past decade there has been a greater appreciation that epigenetics may play an especially prominent role in TGCT etiology, progression, and hypersensitivity to conventional chemotherapy. While genetics undoubtedly plays a role in TGCT biology, this mini-review will focus on the epigenetic "states" or features of testicular cancer, with an emphasis on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNAs associated with TGCT susceptibility, initiation, progression, and response to chemotherapy. In addition, we comment on the current status of epigenetic-based therapy and epigenetic biomarker development for TGCTs. Finally, we suggest a unifying "rock and a hard place" or "differentiate or die" model where the tumorigenicity and curability of TGCTs are both dependent on common but still ill-defined epigenetic states.