gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Memory and a priori best strategy in complex adaptive systems (2004)

Abstract We employ an agent‐based model to show that memory and the absence of an a priori best strategy are sufficient for self‐segregation and clustering to emerge in a complex adaptive system with discrete agents that do not compete over a limited resource nor contend in a winner‐take‐all scenario. An agent starts from a corner of a two‐dimensional lattice and aims to reach a randomly selected site in the opposite side within the shortest possible time. The agent is isolated during the course of its journey and does not interact with other agents. Time‐bound obstacles appear at random lattice locations and the agent must decide whether to challenge or evade any obstacle blocking its path. The agent is capable of adapting a strategy in dealing with an obstacle. We analyze the dependence of strategy‐retention time with strategy for both memory‐based and memory‐less agents. We derive the equality spectrum to establish the environmental conditions that favor the existence of an a priori best strategy. We found that memory‐less agents do not polarize into two opposite strategy‐retention time distributions nor cluster toward a center distribution. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 9: 41–46, 2004
Theoretical and experimental analyses of ultrasonic-assisted indentation forming of tube (2013)

Indentation forming process is used for internal forming and sizing of thick-walled tubes working in high internal pressures. In this process, a mandrel with a diameter slightly larger than that of the tube is pressed and moved inside the tube, creating an internal profile. This article presents theoretically and experimentally influences of longitudinal ultrasonic vibration on this forming process. For this purpose, vibro-impact and continuous forming regimes have been investigated. Application of longitudinal ultrasonic vibration along the axis of the workpiece showed experimentally reduction of 15%–21% of axial forming forces and improvement of surface quality of the bore of the tube, while no effect on spring back of the formed zone was observed.
Redox Cycling-based Electrochemical Reporter Gene Assay for Single Cells Using a Scanning Electrochemical Microscope-microwell System (2016)

Single-cell analyses are important for providing new insights into cellular biology. Here we report an electrochemical reporter gene assay for single cells using a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM)-microwell system. Each microwell trapped a single cell that synthesized a reporter protein, secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP). The SEAP catalyzed the hydrolysis of p-aminophenyl phosphate to p-aminophenol (PAP). A disk electrode in the SECM was positioned above the microwell and monitored the oxidation currents of PAP derived from SEAP. In addition, ring electrodes were prepared on the microwell device to induce redox cycling between the ring and disk electrodes, thus amplifying the electrochemical signals from the reporter protein. The redox cycling-based electrochemical reporter gene assay is useful for single-cell analyses.
Transcription factor (TF) IIB and TFIIA can independently increase the affinity of the TATA-binding protein for DNA. (1994)

The general transcription factors (TF) IIB and TFIIA are the first factors to associate with the TATA-binding protein (TBP) during formation of a transcription initiation complex on RNA polymerase II promoters. DNase I footprint titration was used to measure the effects of TFIIB and TFIIA on binding of TBP to a consensus TATA box. Under reaction conditions optimized for TBP-DNA complex formation, the presence of TFIIB increased affinity of TBP for the TATA box by 2.5-fold, while TFIIA had no effect. When TBP binding conditions were sub-optimal, both TFIIB and TFIIA independently increased TBP affinity by approximately 10-fold. Therefore both TFIIB and TFIIA have the intrinsic ability to directly increase the affinity of TBP for the TATA box. We suggest that this property of TFIIA and TFIIB may increase the range of conditions under which high affinity TBP-DNA interactions can occur and may therefore favor the formation of the preinitiation complex.
Surface modification of ultra high modulus polyethylene fibers by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (2007)

Abstract To improve their adhesion properties, ultra high modulus polyethylene (UHMPE) fibers were treated by an atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet (APPJ), which was operated at radio frequency (13.56 MHz). The surface properties of the fibers were investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurement. The surface dyeability improvement after plasma treatments was investigated using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The adhesion strengths of the fibers with epoxy were evaluated by microbond tests. In addition, the influence of operational parameters of the plasma treatment including power input and treatment temperature was studied. XPS analysis showed a significant increase in the surface oxygen content. LSCM results showed that the plasma treatments greatly increased fluorescence dye concentrations on the surface and higher diffusion rate to the fiber center. The tensile strength of UHMPE fiber either remained unchanged or decreased by 10–13.6% after plasma treatment. The contact angle exhibited a characteristic increase in wettability, due to the polar groups introduced by plasma treatment. The microbond test showed that the interfacial shear strengths (IFSS) increase significantly (57–139%) after plasma treatment for all groups and the optimum activation is obtained at 100°C and 5 W power input. SEM analysis showed roughened surfaces after the plasma treatments. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
The minimum k-cover problem (2013)

We consider the problem of determining the minimum cardinality collection of substrings, each of given length k ≥ 2, that "cover" a given string x of length n. We describe an approach to solve this problem. This approach is based on constructing an explicit reduction from the problem to the satisfiability problem. © 2013 Anna Gorbenko and Vladimir Popov.
A two-dimensional bar code reader (2002)

As an alternative to the use of laser scanners for bar code readers, we have developed a global solution based on a 2D vision system. It is composed of two main functions: bar code localization on the overall image, and the reading stage. The localization of the symbol which can be oriented in any direction is carried out with an original method which relies upon the extraction of high density area of mono-oriented gradients. The reading method is based on the detection of the transitions between the stripes by extracting the zero-crossings of the second derivative of the 1D signal reconstructed from the 20 bar code block. This system has been tested on several hundred images, the results show a global success rate (localization and decoding) of 100% within a wide range of acquisition parameters, resolution and depth of field, as the camera is not auto-focused the images can be deeply blurred.
Effect of wind on the rise height of volcanic plumes (2001)

A theoretical model of a volcanic plume, based on applying the equations of motion in a plume‐centered coordinate system, suggests that the interaction between a volcanic plume and wind causes enhanced entrainment of air and horizontal momentum, plume bending, and a decrease in plume rise height at constant eruption rate. Because of rapid dilution in the high windspeeds of the polar jet, plumes that vary over more than one order of magnitude in mass eruption rate (10 6 to 10 7 –10 8 kg/s), if injected into the polar jet, may all attain rise heights only slightly different from that of the core of the jet, ∼ 10 km, as opposed to 17–33 km in a still atmosphere.
Ambient Intelligence Framework for Context Aware Adaptive Applications (2006)

Despite recent turbulence of the digital economy, the information society continues its progress. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are increasingly entering in all aspects of our life and in all sectors, opening a world of unprecedented scenarios where people interact with electronic devices embedded in environments that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of users. These context-aware environments combine ubiquitous information, communication, with enhanced personalization, natural interaction and intelligence. A critical issue, common in most of applications framed inside domotic systems or ambient intelligence, is the approach to automatically detect context from wearable or environmental sensor systems and to transform such information for achieving personalized and adaptive services. Most of the flexible and robust systems use probabilistic detection algorithms that require extensive libraries of training; in this work we experiment with a prototype framework based on intelligent agents skilled to capture user habits, identify requests, and apply the artefact-mediated activity through hybrid approaches, featuring adaptive fuzzy control strategy and biometric techniques.
A New Research Field and A New Society, Complex Medical Engineering (2007)

The human neural mechanism is a complex system. The solution of many neuroscience complex problems involves highly coordinated and highly interdisciplinary research efforts between neuroscientists and biomedical engineers. The neuroscience and the biomedical engineering are melded into a new international society, known as Institute of Complex Medical Engineering (ICME). Complex Medical Engineering (CME) consists of neuroscience, neurology, biomedical robotics and biomedical informatics, using medical and engineering methods to understand the complex system of human neural mechanisms, and to apply the basic findings to technology. The goal of ICME is to establish a new forum for this interdisciplinary field of neuroscientists and biomedical engineers to discuss their investigations in same conference (symposium), and publish their research work in one periodical. The CME can bridge the gap between medicine & engineering and science & technology. The CME focuses on the complex problems in the medicine and engineering fields, and tries to solve their problems in order to find simple theories and unique tools to help us to reach new understanding and help develop better methods of improving patients' lives.
The Design of Molecular Switches for Biosensors (2017)

A biosensor is a device, which incorporates a biological sensing element near to or integrated with a physical signal transducer. The sensing elements accomplish recognition from the binding, which occurs between bio recognition molecules, and target analytes. Transduction is the physicochemical perturbation caused by this binding that enables recognition of the triggered change by some device. To detect a small number of binding events, a single binding event must be amplified. Here, we design a molecular switch capable of converting a single binding event into the movement of about one million ions per second. In this switch, a single binding, amplified by the release of the stored free electrochemical energy, leads to a dynamic signal that is large compared to the noise in the measuring system. This approach is adapted from biological receptors, which convert chemical signals into currents in ion channels. The molecular switches in this work are artificial ion channels constructed by modular design from molecular pores and gates. The currents through these channels can be registered by conventional methods. The molecular switches can be triggered by various sensing elements such as antibodies, antibody fragments, polypeptides, DNA, RNA, and ion sensitive molecules. The small size and planar architecture of the molecular switches allow them to become components of a microelectronic circuit. The switches can be used for detection of proteins, toxins, viruses, bacteria, and ions.
The Ethnographic Spiral: Reflections on the Intersection of Life History and Ideal-Typical Analysis (2014)

Following Gananath Obeyesekere, himself following Max Weber, this essay argues that ethnographers do not really study social worlds or even social groups. Instead, they move back and forth between abstract models and life histories: according to Obeyesekere, “… my thoughts are conditioned by the data that I deal with, as the data themselves are conditioned by my abstractions.” (Obeyesekere, 1990, p. 3) Sometimes, ethnographers present abstract information. But at other times, when gathering life histories of their informants, ethnographers are immersed in the empirical details of “who,” “what,” “why”, and “when.” In this life historical phase, the ethnographer studies what can be, in a sense, photographed; ethnography, then, has a narrative as events are structured through time. Also, when gathering life histories, ethnographers are very aware of motivational issues: why did someone choose this course of action, not another? Life historical research is then, by its character, akin to psychoanalytic investigation.
Nano-structured hybrid sheets for electrotechnical high-power insulating applications: The sol-gel route (2012)

Among the new insulating materials to be used in high-voltage insulation, hybrid organic/inorganic nanocomposites have received a great attention. Indeed, these materials are gaining in popularity as an effective dielectric insulator with high temperature resistance. This research route is a part of the ANASTASIA consortium, which is made up of a balanced team of academic and industrial partners, and set out to address the wider topic of the reliable production of high performance nanodielectrics. Inorganic micro/nanofillers can be exploited for improving the breakdown strength, the dielectric permittivity and thermal conductivity of polymeric materials, using a sol-gel approach. Literature surveys identified some fillers as potential candidates for insulation applications. These sol-gel techniques show that all the hybrid systems present a structure based on amorphous metal-oxo nanodomains embedded within the polymer network. We further observed a strong influence of the cross-linking metal nature on the size of the metal-oxo nanoparticles and on the extent of the interface between inorganic domains and the polymer phase. Spectroscopic measurements revealed an important nanophase separation for the polymer systems incorporating for example Si(IV), Al(III), Ti(IV), or Zr(IV) alkoxides as cross-linking agents. Preliminary characterization has shown enhanced thermal conductivity and electrical performance for these nanostructured materials, compared with performance of current thermosets. Another advantage brought by this sol-gel technology is the wide choice of fillers and matrix compositions in order to design the mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties of the resulting nanocomposite. This paper will discuss the processes by which inorganic fillers are introduced and how the dielectric and thermal properties are thus improved.
Protease covalently coupled to porous glass: Preparation and characterization (1975)

Abstract A microbial protease was immobilized by covalent attachment, to porous glass. This material was characterized for pH optimum, thermal stability, and operational half–life using casein as substrate. The immobilized enzyme was used for preparation of soya hydrolysates, low in free amino acids with high solubility.
[Results of distraction by way of external metacarporadial fixation in fracture of the distal end of the radius. Apropos of 97 cases]. (1991)

104 fractures cases were treated over 5 years using this method, which is reserved for the most critical cases (less than one fourth the total number of fractures of the distal end of the radius); 97 of those were reviewed by an impartial observer. The technique consists in distractive reduction, maintained by a small external holding device interconnecting two pins inside the radius and two pins in the 2nd metacarpal bone. Usually, the device is removed after 45 days. Subjective results were rated "very good" in 62.8% of cases, while post-mobilization, radiological and overall findings rated likewise in 61.8%, 40.2% and 63.9% of cases, respectively. Half the patients presented secondary displacement, which although usually minimal, did necessitate in 6 cases a new reduction (using the same device). Algodystrophy occurred in 17 cases and constituted the main source of complications. It increased in frequency proportionally to the degree of distraction applied. At long term, important finger stiffness persisted only in 3 cases. Thus, the quality of results obtained makes external fixator distraction a choice therapeutic method in hard-to-manage fractures.
The Binding Orientation of a Norindenoisoquinoline in the Topoisomerase I−DNA Cleavage Complex Is Primarily Governed by π−π Stacking Interactions (2008)

High level ab initio quantum chemical studies have shown that the binding orientations of topoisomerase I (top1) inhibitors such as camptothecins and indenoisoquinolines are primarily governed by pi-pi stacking. However, a recently discovered norindenoisoquinoline antitumor compound was observed by X-ray crystallography to adopt a "flipped" orientation (relative to indenoisoquinolines), which facilitates the formation of a characteristic hydrogen bond with the Arg364 of top1 in its binding with the top1-DNA complex. This observation raises the possibility that hydrogen bonding between the norindenoisoquinoline nitrogen and the Arg364 side chain of top1 might be responsible for the "flip". It also brings into question whether pi-pi stacking, as opposed to hydrogen bonding, is primarily responsible for the binding orientations of indenoisoquinolines and norindenoisoquinolines. In this study, the forces responsible for the binding orientation of a norindenoisoquinoline in the DNA cleavage site were systematically investigated using MP2 methods. The theoretical calculation of the preferred binding orientation based solely on pi-pi stacking was completely consistent with the actual orientation observed by X-ray crystallography, indicating that the binding of the norindenoisoquinoline in the top1-DNA complex is mainly governed by pi-pi stacking forces and that the "flip" can occur independently from hydrogen bonding.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of Thymidine Derivatives as Potential Pharmaceuticals Against HIV/AIDS Infection (2002)

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ESTIMATION OF THE EFFECT OF MATERIAL UNCERTAINTY ON SURFACE FAULT DISPLACEMENT USING LATIN HYPERCUBE SAMPLING (2022)

Reliable estimation of surface fault displacements is necessary for the safety of infrastructure and buildings. It is essential to consider various uncertainties in the fault rupture process for the reliable estimation. In this study, the effect of material uncertainties on surface fault analysis was examined by performing ensemble simulations using Latin hypercube sampling. The convergence of probabilistic responses versus the number of samples was analyzed by computing multiple sample sets. It is shown that the critical value of the primary fault base slip at which surface faults appear on the ground are strongly affected by material uncertainties. The probabilistic distribution of the critical base slip can be approximated well by the log-normal distribution when the material properties are assumed to be log-normal random variables. The mean and standard deviation can be estimated with errors of several centimeters by conducting ten simulations when the material properties have coefficients of variance of less than 0.3.
Development of soft stretchable knit sensor for humanoids' whole-body tactile sensibility (2009)

In order for humanoid robots to behave with soft contacts among humans, whole-body tactile sensing function is indispensable. For enclosing whole-body regions of a humanoid, softness and the stretchable property is necessary especially for the regions around joints. Although there are some studies to realize a whole-body enclosing-type tactile sensing exterior so far, most of them have difficulties to enclose the joint regions. Therefore, we propose the method to construct a soft stretchable enclosing type tactile sensing exterior using electro-conductive knitting structure and about 200% stretchable and pressure sensitive exterior can be realized. Furthermore cardigan type knit sensor exterior is developed and the feasibility of the proposed method is confirmed through behavior experiments by a humanoid wearing the developed cardigan knit sensor.
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies on Ultrathin Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Films Prepared by Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (2000)

Ultrathin amorphous silicon films prepared by the thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been investigated using a spectroscopic ellipsometer. The analysis of ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopic ellipsometric data reveals the morphology of the ultrathin films. To determine the optical functions of such films from ellipsometric data, a new parameterization, i.e., the Sellmeier law with four Lorentz oscillators, has been successfully introduced. A direct correlation has been made between the new parameters and the change of optical functions with the thickness of ultrathin a-Si:H films. By the analysis of ellipsometric data, it has been shown that the formation of dense Si matrices with low structural disorder is possible when the thickness of a-Si:H is more than about 8 nm, and the film with a thickness of less than around 3.5 nm develops voids.
Polyphasic Approach to the Classification and Identification of Gardnerella vaginalis and Unidentified Gardnerella vaginalis-Like Coryneforms Present in Bacterial Vaginosis (1996)

A taxonomic study of Gardnerella vaginalis and G. vaginalis-like coryneforms was performed in order to clarify the phylogenetic affiliation of these organisms and to improve future identification. We examined 50 strains by performing whole-cell protein and fatty acid analyses, a 16S rRNA sequence analysis, and an extensive phenotypic characterization analysis. The results of both chemotaxonomic techniques which we used divided the organisms into two main clusters, and the 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that the clusters represent different genera, which were easily distinguished by the results of classical phenotypic tests. The cluster I strains were identified as G. vaginalis, which was shown to be a close relative of the genus Bifidobacterium. An improved description of G. vaginalis is presented. The cluster II strains belong to or are closely related to Actinomyces turicensis.