gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Characteristic Features of Anti-Human Neurofascin 155 Antibody-Associated Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (P7.081) (2015)

OBJECTIVE: To develop anti-human neurofascin 155 (NF155) antibody assays, and clarify prevalence and features of anti-NF155 antibody-associated chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). BACKGROUND: We reported that patients with combined central and peripheral demyelination had antibodies against rat NF155, which acts as an adhesion molecule between axons and myelin-forming cells, while other reported occurrence of the antibody in a fraction of multiple sclerosis (MS) and CIDP patients. DESIGN/METHODS: Sera from 43 consecutive patients diagnosed by the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society task force CIDP diagnostic criteria at Kyushu University Hospital between 2004 and 2014 were enrolled together with 17 MS patients, and 10 healthy controls (HCs). Anti-human NF155-antibodies were measured by ELISA using a human recombinant NF155 protein and a cell-based assay (CBA) using HEK293 cells expressing human recombinant NF155 protein. Additional two anti-NF155 antibody-positive CIDP cases diagnosed in other clinics were also included for clinical analyses. RESULTS: Positivity rates for anti-human NF155 antibodies by both ELISA and CBA in patients with CIDP and MS, and HCs were 20.9[percnt] (9/43), 0[percnt] (0/17) and 0[percnt] (0/10), respectively. All eleven patients with anti-NF155 antibodies had predominantly distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy with distal muscle atrophy in 9/11, while the age of onset was 24.3±10.9 (mean±SD) (range; 13 to 50) years. The nerve conduction study revealed severe demyelinating patterns affecting both sensory and motor nerves with some axonal damages in all. CSF protein levels were 266±119 mg/dl while 7/7 showed marked spinal root hypertrophy on MRI. CNS involvement in MRI and/or evoked potentials was seen in 4 while kinetic tremor was present in 5. Plasma exchange was effective in 3/4. CONCLUSIONS: About 20[percnt] of CIDP patients harbor anti-NF155 antibodies and have characteristic features, such as younger ages at onset, distal muscle atrophy, severe sensory and motor nerve demyelination, root hypertrophy and CNS involvement.
Enhanced light harvesting with π-conjugated cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for porphyrin-sensitized solar cells (2011)

Zinc porphyrins in a series bearing a phenylethynyl, naphthalenylethynyl, anthracenylethynyl, phenanthrenylethynyl or pyrenylethynyl substituent, denoted LD1, LD2, LD3a, LD3p or LD4, respectively, were prepared as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. The overall efficiencies of the corresponding devices show a trend LD4 > LD3p > LD2 > LD3a > LD1. Significantly, LD4 features JSC/mA cm−2 = 19.627, VOC/V = 0.711, and FF = 0.721, giving an efficiency η = 10.06% of power conversion. This value is superior to that of a N719-based solar cell fabricated under similar experimental conditions. The remarkable performance of the LD4 cell is rationalized to be due to the broader and more red-shifted spectral feature that makes the IPCE spectrum to cover broadly across the entire visible region, 400–800 nm.
Measuring Hole Elongation in Bolted Joints (1986)

Measurement does not affect joint parameters. Verification of analytical and strength-prediction methods for bolted composite joints based generally on data obtained experimentally from double-lap-joint specimens. In mechanically fastened joints, stresses maximal at fastener holes. Ability to measure accurately hole elongations without affecting joint parameters provides better understanding of elastic and plastic behavior of joint material leading to failure mechanisms in mechanically fastened joints required for design of more-efficient, lightweight composite joints.
Production of Acetaldehyde by <i>Zymomonas mobilis</i> (1987)

Mutants of Zymomonas mobilis were selected for decreased alcohol dehydrogenase activity by using consecutively higher concentrations of allyl alcohol. A mutant selected by using 100 mM allyl alcohol produced acetaldehyde at a level of 4.08 g/liter when the organism was grown in aerated batch cultures on a medium containing 4.0% (wt/wt) glucose. On the basis of the amount of glucose utilized, this level of acetaldehyde production represents nearly 40% of the maximum theoretical yield. Acetaldehyde produced during growth was continuously air stripped from the reactor. Acetaldehyde present in the exhaust stream was then trapped as the acetaldehyde-bisulfite addition product in an aqueous solution of sodium bisulfite and released by treatment with base. Acetaldehyde was found to inhibit growth of Z. mobilis at concentrations as low as 0.05% (wt/wt) acetaldehyde. An acetaldehyde-tolerant mutant of Z. mobilis was isolated after both mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine and selection in the presence of vapor-phase acetaldehyde. The production of acetaldehyde has potential advantages over that of ethanol: lower energy requirements for product separation, efficient separation of product from dilute feed streams, continuous separation of product from the reactor, and a higher marketplace value.
Charge reversal at the P3′ position in protein C optimally enhances thrombin affinity and activation rate (1994)

We have examined the properties of several human protein C (HPC) derivatives with substitutions for acidic residues near the thrombin cleavage site, including changing the P3' Asp to Asn (D172N), Gly (D172G), Ala (D172A), or Lys (D172K). The rate of thrombin-catalyzed activation of D172N, D172G, and D172A was increased 4-9-fold compared to wild-type HPC, primarily due to a reduction in the inhibitory effect of calcium and a resulting increase in affinity for free alpha-thrombin. There was no significant increase in activation rate or affinity with these 3 derivatives in the absence of calcium, confirming that P3' Asp affects calcium dependency in the native protein C molecule. With charge reversal at P3' (D172K), there was a 30-fold increase in activation rate in the presence of calcium, but unlike the other derivatives, there was a substantial effect (5-fold) on the activation rate and affinity for free alpha-thrombin in the absence of calcium. Thus, protein C affinity for thrombin appears to be influenced by a combination of calcium-dependent and -independent effects of the acidic P3' residue.
Fault diagnosis for embedded read-only memories (2009)

The paper presents a BIST-based scheme for fault diagnosis that can be used to identify permanent and address independent failures in embedded read-only memories. The proposed approach offers a simple test flow and does not require intensive interactions between a BIST controller and a tester. The scheme rests on partitioning of rows and columns of the memory array by employing low cost test logic. It is designed to meet requirements of at-speed test thus enabling detection of time-related faults.
A built-in technique for probing power-supply noise distribution within large-scale digital integrated circuits (2004)

Noise detector circuits as compact as standard logic cells for being embedded within a high-density large-scale digital circuit enable in-depth characterization of dynamic power-supply and ground noises. Voltage drops at the locations of active cell rows within 1.8-V standard cell based digital circuits are consistently measured by 1.8-V and 2.5-V built-in detectors in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS triple well technology. Measurements show that the ground-noise distribution is distinctively more localized than the power-supply counterpart due to the presence of a substrate.
Identification of plasmid partition function in coryneform bacteria (1991)

We have identified and characterized a partition function that is required for stable maintenance of plasmids in the coryneform bacteria Brevibacterium flavum MJ233 and Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831. This function is localized to a HindIII-NspV fragment (673 bp) adjacent to the replication region of the plasmid, named pBY503, from Brevibacterium stationis IFO 12144. The function was independent of copy number control and was not associated directly with plasmid replication functions. This fragment was able to stabilize the unstable plasmids in cis but not in trans.
Improving financial services data quality – a financial company practice (2015)

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a funnel methodology that selects business data elements for data quality improvement practices at a financial company. Data quality is crucial in post-crisis recovery of the financial services industry. This allows the bank to monitor its critical data assets and improve its business operation by Six Sigma engagement that benefits from the good quality of data. Design/methodology/approach – A funnel methodology is invented. It utilizes a rationalization matrix and statistical methods to identify critical data elements (CDEs) for data quality efforts from numerous candidates across business functions. The “Voice of the Customer” is achieved by including subject matter experts, whose knowledge and experience contribute to the entire process. Findings – The methodology eliminates redundancy and reduces the number of data elements to be monitored, so that attention becomes focused on the right elements. In addition, the methodology ensures that the conduct of the data quality assessment is framed within a context of the functional area’s business objectives. Originality/value – Measuring and improving data quality form a solid foundation of every Six Sigma engagement. When presented with large data elements, determining what to measure can be an arduous task. Having a proven systematic and valid process to reduce the CDE candidate pool becomes an operational necessity of paramount importance, and this justifies the value of the proposed methodology. Its implementation is described by a Basel II case study. The methodology is not restricted to financial services industry, and can be used readily in any other industry that requires data quality improvement.
Flash/no-flash fusion for mobile document image binarization (2014)

We propose a novel algorithm for improving the quality of binarized document images captured with a mobile device under low light conditions. In such scenarios, images captured without a flash often result in blur artifacts and poor signal-to-noise ratio, while images taken with the flash may produce information loss due to specular reflection in a localized region termed a “flash spot”. Our algorithm automatically triggers the capture of a pair of images, one with and one without flash, in rapid succession. The flash spot region (FSR) is first detected. The two images are then accurately aligned within the FSR using a multiscale alignment technique. Finally the images are binarized and fused in the vicinity of the FSR using an intelligent technique that minimizes fusion boundary artifacts. The result is a binary image that is largely identical to the binarized flash image, except within the FSR where content from the no-flash image is selectively incorporated. To our knowledge this is the first attempt to employ flash/no-flash fusion to improve binarization of mobile document images. Results show superior qualitative and quantitative performance of the proposed algorithm when compared with standard binarization applied to either the flash or no-flash image.
Bayesian detection and tracking for joint positioning and multipath mitigation in GNSS (2008)

A sequential Bayesian estimation algorithm for joint positioning and multipath mitigation in global navigation satellite systems is presented, with an underlying process model that is especially designed for dynamic user scenarios and dynamic channel conditions. In order to facilitate efficient integration into receivers it builds upon complexity reduction concepts that previously have been applied within maximum likelihood estimators. To demonstrate its capabilities simulation results are presented.
Design and Optimization of Superjunction Collectors for Use in High-Speed SiGe HBTs (2011)

After reviewing the various mechanisms causing breakdown in bipolar transistors, we present a novel collector design for silicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBTs). The design improves the well-known speed/breakdown voltage tradeoff in SiGe HBTs for radio-frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave applications. Applying multiple alternating p- and n-type layers (a superjunction) deep in the collector-base (CB) space-charge region (SCR) alters the electric field and electron temperature in the CB junction. Consequently, impact ionization is suppressed, whereas the width of the CB SCR is not increased, and therefore, the breakdown voltages BV <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CEO</sub> and BV <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CEO</sub> are increased, with no degradation in the device speed or RF performance. For a fixed alternating-current performance, BV <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CEO</sub> is improved by 0.33 V, producing a SiGe HBT with f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">T</sub> = 101 GHz, f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">max</sub> = 351 GHz, and BV <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">CEO</sub> = 3.0 V, as predicted by calibrated DESSIS technology computer-aided design simulations. Concerns with regard to the influence of thermal cycles associated with fabrication are considered, and a more practical doping profile is proposed to simplify the use of superjunctions. The proposed structure is also contrasted with other approaches from the literature.
Specific Inhibition of in Vitro Formation of Protease-resistant Prion Protein by Synthetic Peptides (1998)

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are characterized by the conversion of the protease-sensitive prion protein (PrPsen) into a protease-resistant isoform (PrPres) associated with the neuropathogenic process in vivo. Recently, PrPres has been shown to be capable of directly inducing the conversion of PrPsen to PrPres in a cell-free in vitro system. In the present experiments, various PrP peptides were studied for their ability to enhance or inhibit this cell-free conversion reaction. None of the synthetic peptides was able to confer protease-resistance to the labeled PrPsen molecules on their own. On the contrary, peptides from the central part of the hamster PrP sequence from 106 to 141 could completely inhibit the conversion induced by preformed PrPres. The presence of residues 119 and 120 from the highly hydrophobic sequence AGAAAAGA (position 113 to 120) was crucial for an efficient inhibitory effect. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that inhibitory peptides formed high beta-sheet aggregates under the conditions of the conversion reaction, but this was also true of certain peptides that were not inhibitory. Thus, the potential to form beta-sheeted aggregates may be necessary, but not sufficient, for peptides to act as inhibitors of PrPres formation. Clearly, the amino acid sequence of the peptide is also important for inhibition. The sequence specificity of the inhibition is consistent with the idea that residues in the vicinity of positions 106-141 of PrPres and/or PrPsen are critically involved in the intermolecular interactions that lead to PrPres formation.
Content Adaptive Hash Lookups for Near-Duplicate Image Search by Full or Partial Image Queries (2010)

In this paper we present a scalable and high performance near-duplicate image search method. The proposed algorithm follows the common paradigm of computing local features around repeatable scale invariant interest points. Unlike existing methods, much shorter hashes are used (40 bits). By leveraging on the shortness of the hashes, a novel high performance search algorithm is introduced which analyzes the reliability of each bit of a hash and performs content adaptive hash lookups by adaptively adjusting the "range" of each hash bit based on reliability. Matched features are post-processed to determine the final match results. We experimentally show that the algorithm can detect cropped, resized, print-scanned and re-encoded images and pieces from images among thousands of images. The proposed algorithm can search for a 200x200 piece of image in a database of 2,250 images with size 2400x4000 in 0.020 seconds on 2.5GHz Intel Core 2.
<title>Multimedia links and metadata channels for distributed shared browsing and authoring</title> (2003)

We present methods and systems for authoring by linking---generating multimedia documents by creating richly typed links between component media assets. As an example we describe our Sticky Video functionality in the MEERCAT system for linking photo and video media. We do so within the framework of a hierarchy of possible link-based authoring systems from manual to programmatic link creation and document authoring. We discuss mechanisms for accurately situating links between rich media components and flexibly typing those links to allow both better human information browsing and searching and automatic authoring. We describe issues in realtime distributed authoring and the use of metadata channels. In particular we present the concept of authoring by meeting, the automatic creation of multimedia documents from business meetings.
A Class of Highly Potent Antibacterial Peptides Derived from Pardaxin, A Pore‐Forming Peptide Isolated from Moses Sole Fish <i>Pardachirus marmoratus</i> (1996)

Pardaxin, a 33-amino-acid pore-forming polypeptide toxin isolated from the Red Sea Moses sole Pardachirus marmoratus, has a helix-hinge-helix structure. This is a common structural motif found both in antibacterial peptides that can act selectively on bacterial membranes (e.g., cecropin), and in cytotoxic peptides that can lyse both mammalian and bacterial cells (e.g., melittin). Herein we show that pardaxin possesses a high antibacterial activity with a significantly reduced hemolytic activity towards human red blood cells (hRBC), compared with melittin. Its potency is comparable to that of other known native antibacterial peptides such as magainin, cecropins and dermaseptins. To determine the structural features responsible for the selective hemolytic and antibacterial activities, and the structural requirements for a high antibacterial activity, 8 truncated and modified pardaxin analogues were synthesized and structurally and functionally characterized. Each peptide was synthesized with a free carboxylate or amino group (i.e., aminated form) at its C-terminus. The aminated form of pardaxin has both high hemolytic and antibacterial activity. A truncated analogue, with 11 amino acids removed from the C-terminal domain, had dramatically reduced hemolytic activity. However, the aminated form of this analogue was significantly more potent that pardaxin against most bacteria tested, suggesting that the C-terminal tail of pardaxin is responsible for non-selective activity against erythrocytes and bacteria. Furthermore, a positive charge added to its N-terminus significantly increased its antibacterial activity and abolished its low hemolytic activity. The 22-amino-acid C-terminal domain and the short 11-amino-acid N-terminal domain were, in their aminated forms, active only against gram-positive bacteria. Secondary-structure determination using circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that all the aminated analogues had 25-80% more alpha-helical content in 40% CF3CH2OH/water than their non-aminated forms. Using model phospholipid membranes it was found that all the analogues that were less hemolytic but had retained antibacterial activity could permeate acidicly charged phospholipid vesicles better than zwitterionic phospholipid vesicles, a property characteristics of all the native antibacterial peptides tested so far (e.g., cecropins, magainins and dermaseptins). Pardaxin and its analogues therefore represent a new class of antibacterial peptides that can serve as a basis for the design of therapeutic agents. Furthermore, negative-staining electron microscopy revealed that total inhibition of bacterial growth was due to total lysis of the bacterial wall. Therefore, it might be more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance to such a destructive mechanism, compared with the more specific mechanisms of the currently used antibiotics.
Toward Water Volume Fraction Calculation in Multiphase Flows Using Electrical Capacitance Tomography Sensors (2020)

Real-time monitoring of water volume fraction in multiphase flows is an important problem for a number of industrial applications. The water phase in the multiphase flows may correspond to either the dispersed phase or the continuous phase. In the past, several low-cost and nonintrusive techniques based on the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) has been developed to image and monitor in real-time multiphase flows containing water. However, such monitoring becomes increasingly challenging for high salinity levels, and no reliable ECT-based method is presently available which could work for obtaining water volume fraction in multiphase flows for all water salinity levels. In this paper, we propose a new approach based on the Hanai's formula for complex dielectric constant and taking advantage of the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars effect to obtain, to a good approximation, water volume fractions in multiphase flows containing water as either dispersed or continuous phase.
Genetic Architecture Underpinning Yield Components and Seed Mineral–Nutrients in Sesame (2020)

Genetic dissection of yield components and seed mineral-nutrient is crucial for understanding plant physiological and biochemical processes and alleviate nutrient malnutrition. Sesame (<i>Sesamum indicum</i> L.) is an orphan crop that harbors rich allelic repertoire for seed mineral-nutrients. Here, we harness this wide diversity to study the genetic architecture of yield components and seed mineral-nutrients using a core-collection of worldwide genotypes and segregating mapping population. We also tested the association between these traits and the effect of seed nutrients concentration on their bio-accessibility. Wide genetic diversity for yield components and seed mineral-nutrients was found among the core-collection. A high-density linkage map consisting of 19,309 markers was constructed and used for genetic mapping of 84 QTL associated with yield components and 50 QTL for seed minerals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on mineral-nutrients QTL in sesame. Genomic regions with a cluster of overlapping QTL for several morphological and nutritional traits were identified and considered as genomic hotspots. Candidate gene analysis revealed potential functional associations between QTL and corresponding genes, which offers unique opportunities for synchronous improvement of mineral-nutrients. Our findings shed-light on the genetic architecture of yield components, seed mineral-nutrients and their inter- and intra- relationships, which may facilitate future breeding efforts to develop bio-fortified sesame cultivars.