gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
3D hair synthesis using volumetric variational autoencoders (2018)

Recent advances in single-view 3D hair digitization have made the creation of high-quality CG characters scalable and accessible to end-users, enabling new forms of personalized VR and gaming experiences. To handle the complexity and variety of hair structures, most cutting-edge techniques rely on the successful retrieval of a particular hair model from a comprehensive hair database. Not only are the aforementioned data-driven methods storage intensive, but they are also prone to failure for highly unconstrained input images, complicated hairstyles, and failed face detection. Instead of using a large collection of 3D hair models directly, we propose to represent the manifold of 3D hairstyles implicitly through a compact latent space of a volumetric variational autoencoder (VAE). This deep neural network is trained with volumetric orientation field representations of 3D hair models and can synthesize new hairstyles from a compressed code. To enable end-to-end 3D hair inference, we train an additional embedding network to predict the code in the VAE latent space from any input image. Strand-level hairstyles can then be generated from the predicted volumetric representation. Our fully automatic framework does not require any ad-hoc face fitting, intermediate classification and segmentation, or hairstyle database retrieval. Our hair synthesis approach is significantly more robust and can handle a much wider variation of hairstyles than state-of-the-art data-driven hair modeling techniques with challenging inputs, including photos that are low-resolution, overexposured, or contain extreme head poses. The storage requirements are minimal and a 3D hair model can be produced from an image in a second. Our evaluations also show that successful reconstructions are possible from highly stylized cartoon images, non-human subjects, and pictures taken from behind a person. Our approach is particularly well suited for continuous and plausible hair interpolation between very different hairstyles.
Characterization of the amino acids essential for the photo- and radioprotective effects of a Bowman–Birk protease inhibitor-derived nonapeptide (2001)

The Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor has been reported to exert photo- and radioprotective activity. This effect was assigned to a cyclic nonapeptide sequence which is known to contain the amino acids responsible for the anti-chymotryptic activity of the BBI. The present study indicated that linearization of the nonapeptide resulted in a significant loss of anti-proteolytic activity, whereas the photo- and radioprotective capacity persisted. Substitution of the amino acids Leu or Ser of the nonapeptide, essential for the anti-proteolytic activity, with different amino acids, indicated that rather the hydrophobic features of the amino acids in this position than charge are critical to retain the photo- and radioprotective effect. These results suggest the existence of a bifunctional peptide sequence with anti-proteolytic and photo-/radioprotective capacity. However, the lack of correlation between the photo-/radioprotective activity and the anti-proteolytic activity within the peptides generated by modification of the linear nonapeptide argues for the existence of two closely colocalized domains within the nonapeptide responsible for photo-/radioprotection and protease inhibition.
Joint Probabilistic-Nyquist Pulse Shaping for an LDPC-Coded 8-PAM Signal in DWDM Data Center Communications (2019)

M-ary pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) meets the requirements of data center communication because of its simplicity, but coarse entropy granularity cannot meet the dynamic bandwidth demands, and there is a large capacity gap between uniform formats and the Shannon limit. The dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system is widely used to increase the channel capacity, but low spectral efficiency of the intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD) solution restricts the throughput of the modern DWDM data center networks. Probabilistic shaping distribution is a good candidate to offer us a fine entropy granularity and efficiently reduce the gap to the Shannon limit, and Nyquist pulse shaping is widely used to increase the spectral efficiency. We aim toward the joint usage of probabilistic shaping and Nyquist pulse shaping with low-density parity-check (LDPC) coding to improve the bit error rate (BER) performance of 8-PAM signal transmission. We optimized the code rate of the LDPC code and compared different Nyquist pulse shaping parameters using simulations and experiments. We achieved a 0.43 dB gain using Nyquist pulse shaping, and a 1.1 dB gain using probabilistic shaping, while the joint use of probabilistic shaping and Nyquist pulse shaping achieved a 1.27 dB gain, which offers an excellent improvement without upgrading the transceivers.
Seismic migration problems and solutions (2001)

Abstract Historically, seismic migration has been the practice (science, technology, and craft) of collapsing diffraction events on unmigrated records to points, thereby moving (“migrating”) reflection events to their proper locations, creating a true image of structures within the earth. Over the years, the scope of migration has broadened. What began as a structural imaging tool is evolving into a tool for velocity estimation and attribute analysis, making detailed use of the amplitude and phase information in the migrated image. With its expanded scope, migration has moved from the final step of the seismic acquisition and processing flow to a more central one, with links to both the processes preceding and following it. In this paper, we describe the mechanics of migration (the algorithms) as well as some of the problems related to it, such as algorithmic accuracy and efficiency, and velocity estimation. We also describe its relationship with other processes, such as seismic modeling. Our approach is tutorial; we avoid presenting the finest details of either the migration algorithms themselves or the problems to which migration is applied. Rather, we focus on presenting the problems themselves, in the hope that most geophysicists will be able to gain an appreciation of where this imaging method fits in the larger problem of searching for hydrocarbons.
Optimized HEVC encoding with complexity constraints (2016)

The High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard provides a number of encoding tools with different encoding quality and complexity tradeoffs [1]. Although numerous studies have been conducted on the complexity-compression trade-off of HEVC encoding tools [2], [4]-[11], and based on such studies, many algorithms have been proposed to reduce the complexity of various HEVC encoding modules and tasks, in most cases, these algorithms work in a statistical sense, i.e. best efforts are made to select a sensible subset of HEVC encoding tools that are expected to achieve good rate distortion (RD) results for the current input video sequence. Even though such algorithms have received wide applications in HEVC encoders for real time applications [3], it remains a challenge to achieve the optimal RD HEVC encoding while fully utilizing the available computational resources. In this paper, we propose a framework that addresses the issue of optimal HEVC encoding under an overall complexity constraint. Experimental results show that the proposed system can accurately achieve pre-defined target computational complexity while achieving RD performance superior to other encoders with similar complexity.
High-performance active gate drive for high-power IGBT's (1999)

This paper deals with an active gate drive (AGD) technology for high-power insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). It is based on an optimal combination of several requirements necessary for good switching performance under hard-switching conditions. The scheme specifically combines together the slow drive requirements for low noise and switching stress and the fast drive requirements for high-speed switching and low switching energy loss. The gate drive can also effectively dampen oscillations during low-current turn-on transient in the IGBT. This paper looks at the conflicting requirements of the conventional gate drive circuit design and demonstrates using experimental results that the proposed three-stage AGD technique can be an effective solution.
Active Management of Plant Canopy Temperature as a Tool for Modifying Plant Metabolic Activity (2015)

The relationship between a plant and its thermal environment is a major determiner of its growth and development. Since plants grow and develop within continuously variable thermal environments, they are subjected to continuous thermal variation over their life cycle. Transpiration serves to uncouple the temperature of the plant from that of its environment in a manner that reduces the occurrence of high temperature stresses that can limit plant performance. In some agriculturally important plants, there are desirable metabolic outcomes that are associated with specific stress events (e.g. wine grapes). In these plants it is often desirable to induce temperature and water stresses of known magnitude and duration at specific points in the growing season. In this study we used a computer-controlled irrigation system that used cotton canopy temperature to control irrigation in greenhouse-grown plants over a 10-day period. The system was designed to irrigate in a manner that altered the canopy temperature relative to specific temperature thresholds (28°C, 30°C, 32°C and 34°C). The results demonstrate that automated irrigation management based on canopy temperature is capable of altering the temporal pattern of canopy temperature in a desired manner using a feed-back loop. Potential limitations on this action are related to the range of air temperatures, radiation and humidity within the environment.
Progression From No AMD to Intermediate AMD as Influenced by Antioxidant Treatment and Genetic Risk (2017)

Purpose: To investigate the impact of antioxidant treatment and genetic risk on the development of intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients without baseline AMD, using data from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Cataract Trial. Methods: Genetic risk and antioxidant treatment were analyzed as independent and interacting risk factors for the development of intermediate AMD in 554 AREDS individuals for whom genotyping was available. Genetic risk was determined using an allele dosage model based on the total number of complement factor H and age-related maculopathy sensitivity 2 risk alleles. Results: Overall, 14% of patients developed intermediate AMD over approximately 8 years. The risk of developing intermediate AMD varied from 6.5% for patients with 0 risk alleles to 39% for those with 3 or 4 risk alleles ( P < .0001). Antioxidants had no impact on the development of intermediate AMD overall. However, antioxidant treatment had a significant impact on progression to intermediate AMD for patients with low or high genetic risk. Patients with 0 or 1 risk alleles had increased risk of progression to intermediate AMD (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.31, P = .017) if treated with antioxidants compared to placebo. Patients with 3 or 4 risk alleles had decreased risk of progression to intermediate AMD (HR = 0.27, P = .0008) if treated with antioxidants compared to placebo. Conclusion: On average, antioxidant treatment has no impact on the development of intermediate AMD in patients without AMD. However, antioxidant treatment may increase the risk of developing intermediate AMD in patients with low genetic risk and may reduce the risk of developing intermediate AMD in patients with high genetic risk. Since patients with high genetic risk have the greatest risk of progressing from intermediate to advanced AMD, genotype-directed antioxidant treatment of patients without AMD may ultimately lead to fewer cases of advanced AMD.
Autocrine regulation of milk secretion. (1998)

Mammary development and the rate of milk secretion are regulated by frequency and completeness of milk removal. This regulation occurs through chemical feedback inhibition by a milk constituent. Novel, immunologically related milk proteins able to perform this function have been isolated from caprine, bovine and human milk, based on their ability to inhibit milk constituent synthesis in mammary tissue and cell cultures, and to decrease temporarily milk secretion when added to milk stored in the mammary gland. Inhibition is concentration-dependent, suggesting that milk accumulation and removal is accompanied by cyclical changes in inhibitor accretion and depletion in milk. Feedback inhibition is an autocrine mechanism: the caprine inhibitor, termed FIL (feedback inhibitor of lactation) is synthesized by mammary epithelial cells in primary culture. Inhibition is by reversible blockade of the secretory pathway, an effect which, by down-regulating cell-surface hormone receptors, has longer-term consequences on epithelial cell differentiation. Treatment of goat mammary epithelial cell cultures with caprine FIL initially decreased milk protein secretion and subsequently reduced milk protein messenger RNA abundance. Thus the actions of a single milk constituent can bring about both the effect of milking frequency on milk secretion rate and a sequential modulation of cellular differentiation which acts to sustain the secretory response. Long-term regulation, through changes in galactopoietic hormone receptors, also provides an efficient mechanism for integrating acute intramammary regulation of lactation with strategic endocrine control of mammary tissue development.
Wellbore Integrity and CO2 Sequestration Using Polyaramide Vesicles (2021)

Abstract A new cementing additive is chemically engineered to react with formation fluids that act antagonistically towards cement. Engineered polymer capsules house encapsulants to react with antagonistic gases downhole like CO2 to form a more benign and beneficial material. Embedded in cement, the polymer capsules with semi-permeable shells allow fluids to permeate and react with encapsulants to produce beneficial byproducts, such as calcite and water from CO2. Reactivity between the encapsulant and antagonist gas CO2 is demonstrated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and other tests from oilfield equipment. When cement fails, casing-in-casing events, or CCA, causes antagonistic gases like CO2 to migrate to the surface. Embedded in the cement for such moments such as cement failure, additives housed within polyaramide vesicles chemically and physically intersect CO2 from gas migration events. The shape of the polyaramide additive is unique and versatile. Furthermore, because the material is polymeric, it imparts beneficial mechanical properties like elasticity to cement. A vesicle in form, this polymer allows the manufacturing of new cement additives for applications such as increasing the integrity and sustainability of oil well cement. Data also shows production of calcite by the bulk of the material. This technology applies to CO2 fixation and self-healing cement using reactive polymer vesicles.
Cloning of Large Positive‐Strand RNA Viruses (2007)

Full-length, biologically active cDNA clones of the positive-strand RNA plant viruses are indispensable for investigating the functions of viral genes and control elements as well as generating virus-derived gene expression and silencing vectors. Even though engineering of such clones for 4- to 10-kb viral RNAs has become routine, it remains a challenging task for 15- to 20-kb RNA genomes of the monopartite viruses in a family Closteroviridae. This unit describes strategic considerations and techniques used to generate an infectious cDNA clone of a closterovirus. The use of agroinfection to improve specific infectivity of the resulting clone is also explained.
Preparation of platinum(II) complexes of diamine isomers (PtX(1,3-diamine)) (X=Cl2,SO4,(NO3)2,oxalato,D-glucuronato,and D-gluconato) and determination of their antitumor activity against Leukemia L1210. (1981)

Platinum (II) complexes of the type [PtX (1, 3-diamine)] (X=Cl2, SO4, (NO3)2, oxalato, D-glucuronato, and D-gluconato ; 1, 3-diamine=2-(aminomethyl) cyclohexylamine, 2, 4-pentanediamine, 1, 3-butanediamine, and 1, 3-diphenyl-1, 3-propanediamine isomers) were prepared, and their antitumor activity against leukemia L1210 was tested according to the protocol recommended by the National Cancer Institute for the evaluation of Pt analogs. A large number of long-term survivors was observed with certain analogs, though the therapeutic indices were not large. Among the platinum (II) complexes tested so far, trans-l- and cis-l-2-(aminomethyl) cyclohexylamine platinum (II) complexes showed marked antitumor activity, while 1, 3-diphenyl-1, 3-propane diamine platinum (II) complexes were almost inactive because of their low solubility in water. The structures of the complexes are discussed on the basis of the circular dichroism (CD) and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral data. The structure of the cis-l-2-(aminomethyl) cyclohexylamine complex was much more flexible than that of the trans-l-2-(aminomethyl) cyclohexylamine complex, and the cyclohexane ring and the chelate ring of the latter lie in a common plane. The coplanarity of trans-2-(aminomethyl) cyclohexylamine and the flexibility of cis-2-(aminomethyl) cyclohexylamine may allow them to approach the target DNA relatively easily.
Production of the interferon protein: hyporesponsiveness. (1977)

A number of mechanisms may be responsible for development of hyporeactivity in cells or animals infected with viruses or exposed to interferon inducers. Available evidence, however, has implicated a specific control protein in modulation of interferon production. The precise identity and mechanism by which the repressor molecule modulates interferon production is at present unknown. Development of hyporeactivity to interferon induction as a consequence of repeated doses of an inducer or that develops secondary to virus infection may represent a serious limitation to use of inducers as antiviral agents. However, judicious selection of treatment regimens and inducers may circumvent or limit the severity of hyporeactivity and consequently enhance the therapeutic activity of interferon inducers.
Quantitative investigation of red blood cell three-dimensional geometric and chemical changes in the storage lesion using digital holographic microscopy (2015)

Quantitative phase information obtained by digital holographic microscopy (DHM) can provide new insight into the functions and morphology of single red blood cells (RBCs). Since the functionality of a RBC is related to its three-dimensional (3-D) shape, quantitative 3-D geometric changes induced by storage time can help hematologists realize its optimal functionality period. We quantitatively investigate RBC 3-D geometric changes in the storage lesion using DHM. Our experimental results show that the substantial geometric transformation of the biconcave-shaped RBCs to the spherocyte occurs due to RBC storage lesion. This transformation leads to progressive loss of cell surface area, surface-to-volume ratio, and functionality of RBCs. Furthermore, our quantitative analysis shows that there are significant correlations between chemical and morphological properties of RBCs.
Interrupted aging and secondary precipitation in aluminium alloys (2003)

AbstractAbstractIt is shown that, if elevated temperature aging of aluminium alloys is interrupted with a dwell period at a low temperature (65 °C), age hardening continues due to so called secondary precipitation. If elevated temperature aging is then resumed, significant improvements can be obtained in mechanical properties compared with those available using a conventional T6 temper. Average increases in 0.2% proof stress and tensile strength of 10%, combined with improved fracture toughness, have been achieved in a wide range of alloys. These effects arise primarily because interrupted aging promotes the formation of more finely dispersed precipitates in the final microstructures. The concept of interrupted aging is described in some detail with respect to the model system, Al-4Cu, and examples are then given of the effects of the treatment on the microstructures and mechanical properties of several wrought and cast aluminium alloys.
L2-NONEXPANSIVE NEURAL NETWORKS (2018)

A training method, system, and computer program product include training a neural network including at least one of using norm-pooling as a non-linear function, using a two-sided ReLU as a non-linear function, and increasing a confidence gap and further training such that the network comprises a non-expansive network.
Optical eye tracking system for noninvasive and automatic monitoring of eye position and movements in radiotherapy treatments of ocular tumors (2012)

A noninvasive eye tracking system based on infrared 3-D video-oculographic techniques is proposed for the automatic monitoring of eye position and orientation in external beam radiotherapy of ocular tumors. The presented method can be applied for the real-time estimation of lesion position and tumor-beam misalignments, allowing automatic patient setup and eye movement gated treatments. A prototypal eye tracker was developed and tested on five subjects, achieving gaze estimation errors of 0.5° and eye monitoring frequencies of 125 Hz. The proposed application can potentially improve quality and efficacy of ocular radiotherapy treatments, currently based on invasive, qualitative, and manual control procedures.
Determination of absolute interferometric phase using the beam-amplitude ratio technique (2002)

Determination of the absolute phase difference (i.e., not module 2/spl pi/) is a key problem in interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) for topographic mapping. One way of solving this problem requires use of a technique different from the basic interferometry to resolve a "coarse" angle measurement that lies within the IFSAR ambiguity angle. The method investigated in this paper involves taking advantage of the difference in the amplitude ratio versus elevation angle that occurs when the elevation beams of the two IFSAR antennas are pointed in slightly different directions. The performance of the technique is a function of the angular separation of the two beams, the elevation beamwidth, and the symmetry of the two beam-amplitude patterns. The performance required of the technique is set by the ambiguity angle of the interferometer. This paper presents an analysis of the beam-amplitude ratio technique and shows experimental results.
Quantum-structured III-V energy harvesting devices: pathways to ultra-high conversion efficiencies (2012)

Quantum-structured photovoltaic devices incorporating III-V quantum wells or quantum dots have the potential to dramatically increase the performance of energy harvesting devices. In this work, the dark current of high-voltage InGaAs quantum well structures is characterized, and the underlying saturation current density analyzed as a function of effective energy gap. Analysis of the current-voltage characteristics suggests that these advanced quantum well device structures are operating in a regime of suppressed radiative recombination. High-voltage output from quantum-structured energy harvesting devices, coupled with advances in the field of light trapping, provides a pathway for achieving ultra-high conversion efficiencies.