gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Biomedical applications of free-electron lasers: generation of ultrashort high-peak-power optical pulses (1992)

The Mark III free-electron laser (FEL) is an rf linac-driven infrared laser continuously tunable from 2 to 9 microns which delivers diffraction-limited optical pulses with durations of several picoseconds and peak output powers of several megaWatts. By driving the laser with electron pulses which exhibit a linear energy chirp over time, one can create broadband optical pulses which exhibit a linear frequency chirp and are susceptible to pulse compression in an external dispersive delay line. Numerical simulations of the Mark III FEL at 3.35 μm using electron pulses with only a 2% energy chirp over 4 ps have demonstrated subsequent optical pulse compression from 3.4 ps to 230 fs, and compressed peak output powers of 30 MW; such pulses can be focused to intensities greater than 10<sup>13</sup> W/cm<sup>2</sup>. We review the extension of the technique to other wavelengths, and describe the design of prism compressors in the wavelength ranges of 2.5-4.1 μm and 7.5-9.1 μm which have been procured for applications in a user-oriented program at Duke University.
Evaluation of the free α‐hemoglobin pool in red blood cells: A new test providing a scale of β‐thalassemia severity (2010)

β-Thalassemias are characterized by an imbalance of globin chains with an excess of α-chains which precipitates in erythroid precursors and red blood cells (RBCs) leading to inefficient erythropoiesis. The severity of the disease correlates with the amount of unpaired α-chains.Our goal was to develop a simple test for evaluation of the free α-hemoglobin pool present in RBC lysates. Alpha-Hemoglobin Stabilizing Protein (AHSP), the chaperone of α-Hb, was used to trap excess a-Hb. A recombinant GST-AHSP fusion protein was bound to an affinity micro-column and then incubated with hemolysates of patients. After washing, the α-Hb was quantified by spectrophotometry in the elution fraction. This assay was applied to 54 patients: 28 without apparent Hb disorder, 20 β-thalassemic and 6 α-thalassemic. The average value of free α-Hb pool was 93 ± 21 ppm (ng of free α-Hb per mg of Hb subunits)in patients without Hb disorder, while it varies from 119 to 1,756 ppm, in β-thalassemic patients and correlated with genotype. In contrast,the value of the free α-Hb pool was decreased in α-thalassemic patients (65 ± 26 ppm). This assay may help to characterize β-thalassemia phenotypes and to follow the evolution of the globin chain imbalance(α/β+γ ratio) in response to treatment.
A robust random number generator based on a differential current-mode chaos (2008)

This paper demonstrates a differential current-mode chaos-based circuit used to generate random number sequences, which was implemented on 90 nm CMOS-SOI technology. The proposed design implements an improved and robust chaotic map, and diminishes non-idealities such as asymmetry, offset. Randomness tests were conducted and show the advantages of the differential chaos circuit.
Learning to Detect a Salient Object (2010)

In this paper, we study the salient object detection problem for images. We formulate this problem as a binary labeling task where we separate the salient object from the background. We propose a set of novel features, including multiscale contrast, center-surround histogram, and color spatial distribution, to describe a salient object locally, regionally, and globally. A conditional random field is learned to effectively combine these features for salient object detection. Further, we extend the proposed approach to detect a salient object from sequential images by introducing the dynamic salient features. We collected a large image database containing tens of thousands of carefully labeled images by multiple users and a video segment database, and conducted a set of experiments over them to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Mycobacterium smegmatis whmD and its homologue Mycobacterium tuberculosis whiB2 are functionally equivalent (2006)

Mycobacterium smegmatis whmD is is an essential gene involved in cell division. This paper shows that whmD and its homologue whiB2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis are functionally equivalent. The genes are syntenous, and share significant homology in both their coding and non-coding DNA sequences. Transcription site mapping showed that the two genes possess near-identical promoter elements, and they displayed comparable promoter strengths in a reporter gene assay. The two proteins show near identity in their C-terminus, and polyclonal antiserum to WhmD specifically cross-reacts with a approximately 15 kDa band in M. tuberculosis lysates. Following overexpression of sense and anti-sense constructs in their cognate mycobacterial hosts, whiB2 and whmD transformants displayed a small-colony phenotype, exhibited filamentation, and showed a reduction in viability. These observations reveal that the two proteins are functionally homologous and that their intracellular concentration is critical for septation in mycobacteria. Colonies of M. tuberculosis overexpressing whiB2 were spherical and glossy, suggesting a change in composition of the cell envelope. Filaments of the conditionally complemented M. smegmatis whmD mutant were non-acid-fast, also indicating changes in characteristics of surface lipids. M. smegmatis transformants carrying a whmD-gfp fusion showed a diffuse pattern of fluorescence, consistent with the putative role of WhmD as a regulator. These observations strongly suggest that M. tuberculosis whiB2 is an essential gene and its protein product in all likelihood regulates the expression of genes involved in the cell division cascade.
Membrane-Mediated Delivery of Carbon Dioxide for Consumption by Photoautotrophs: Eliminating Thermal Regeneration in Carbon Capture (2012)

Photoautotrophs, such as microalgae and cyanobacteria, use sunlight to convert inorganic carbon, especially dissolved CO2 and bicarbonates, to organic materials, commonly biofuels or biofuel precursors. For large-scale biofuel production, the CO2 abundance in ambient air is not sufficient and CO2 must be delivered in a concentrated form, ideally captured from anthropogenic sources such as flue gas streams from power plants. Carbon dioxide capture and delivery to the photoautotrophic culture can add significantly to the cost of biofuels. Much of that cost can be attributed to the regeneration of the CO2 sorbent, a generally energy intensive process. Herein, a liquid-based CO2 delivery methodology is described and demonstrated. The system involves a conventional CO2 sorption system (exemplified by an amine-functionalized sorbent), and a carbonate stripping solution that produces a bicarbonate-rich solution after contacting the absorber. The latter solution serves as the feed stream for a CO2 selective membrane with the permeate side of the membrane being swept by a seawater solution, designed as a model for a photoautotrophic culture medium. Changes in pH and carbon content of the solutions, as well as the lack of any ionic transport across the membrane, are consistent with molecular transport of CO2. The CO2 flux is shown to be consistent with the chemical potential differential provided by the carbon-rich stripping solution and the carbon-depleted seawater solution. In application to biofuel production, the driving force would be sustained by carbon consumption in the photosynthetic process. Thus, photosynthesis provides much of the energy for the CO2 sorbent regeneration in the form of the regenerated carbonate stripping solution. The overall liquid-based CO2 delivery process described here provides the potential for a more cost-effective biofuel production process.
Further insights into the antinociceptive potential of a peptide disrupting the N-type calcium channel–CRMP-2 signaling complex (2011)

The N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Cav 2.2) has gained immense prominence in the treatment of chronic pain. While decreased channel function is ultimately anti-nociceptive, directly targeting the channel can lead to multiple adverse side effects. Targeting modulators of channel activity may facilitate improved analgesic properties associated with channel block and a broader therapeutic window. A novel interaction between Cav 2.2 and collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2) positively regulates channel function by increasing surface trafficking. We recently identified a CRMP-2 peptide (TAT-CBD3), which effectively blocks this interaction, reduces or completely reverses pain behavior in a number of inflammatory and neuropathic models. Importantly, TAT-CBD3 did not produce many of the typical side effects often observed with Cav 2.2 inhibitors. Notably chronic pain mechanisms offer unique challenges as they often encompass a mix of both neuropathic and inflammatory elements, whereby inflammation likely causes damage to the neuron leading to neuropathic pain, and neuronal injury may produce inflammatory reactions. To this end, we sought to further disseminate the ability of TAT-CBD3 to alter behavioral outcomes in two additional rodent pain models. While we observed that TAT-CBD3 reversed mechanical hypersensitivity associated with a model of chronic inflammatory pain due to lysophosphotidylcholine-induced sciatic nerve focal demyelination (LPC), injury to the tibial nerve (TNI) failed to respond to drug treatment. Moreover, a single amino acid mutation within the CBD3 sequence demonstrated amplified Cav 2.2 binding and dramatically increased efficacy in an animal model of migraine. Taken together, TAT-CBD3 potentially represents a novel class of therapeutics targeting channel regulation as opposed to the channel itself.
Native Macromolecular Heparin Proteoglycans Exocytosed From Stimulated Rat Serosal Mast Cells Strongly Inhibit Platelet-Collagen Interactions (1997)

Mast cells, the major source of tissue heparin, line the vascular system. On stimulation, rat serosal mast cells release soluble heparin proteoglycans (HEP-PGs) of very high molecular weight (7500(K)). We compared the effects of HEP-PGs and standard heparins (average molecular weights, 15,000 and 5,000) on platelet-collagen interactions in vitro. In contrast with the standard heparins, HEP-PGs completely inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation and serotonin release in platelet-rich plasma. The inhibition caused by HEP-PGs depended on its macromolecular structure. In flowing blood, HEP-PGs also inhibited platelet deposition on a collagen-coated surface both at low and high shear rates. Although HEP-PGs did not block glycoprotein (GP) Ia/IIa-mediated platelet adhesion, they attenuated subsequent platelet activation and aggregation, as well as fibrinogen binding to platelets after collagen stimulation. HEP-PGs did not bind to platelets but bound tightly to von Willebrand factor (vWf) and enhanced its binding to collagen. Although platelet adhesion at high shear rate and vWf binding to GP Ib after ristocetin stimulation were not markedly affected, HEP-PGs reduced thrombin-induced aggregation and vWf binding to GP IIb/IIIa. These findings imply that activation of vascular mast cells with ensuing secretion of HEP-PGs may locally attenuate the thrombogenicity of matrix collagen by inhibiting its platelet-activating capacity.
Quantum Spin Gyroscope using NV centers in Diamond (2015)

nd wide applications in everyday life from navigation and inertial sensing to rotation sensors in hand-held devices and automobiles. Current devices, based on either atomic or solid-state systems, impose a choice between long-time stability and high sensitivity in a miniaturized system. We are building a solid-state spin gyroscope associated with the Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond to overcome these constraints. More specically, we will take advantage of the 14 N nuclear spin coherence properties of NV centers and side-collection techniques to achieve high sensitivity of about 1 (mdeg s 1 )= √ (Hz mm 3 ). Moreover, by exploiting the four classes of the NV axes, we will be able to determine axis of rotation as well as its rate.
Immunological Protection Against Botulinum Neurotoxin by a Synthetic Vaccine. (1997)

Abstract : Botulism due to food toxin is caused mainly by seven known serotypes of protein neurotoxins, botulinum neurotoxins (BoNt) produced by clostridium botulinum. BoNts are the most potent toxins and poisons known. The purpose of this work is to design a synthetic peptides vaccine for protection against BoNt. Regions of BoNt/A will be selected for synthesis, based on a number of sequence and conformational parameters and their immunological activities towards anti-BoNt/A antibodies and T cells determined. The immunodominant epitopes will be used as immunogens and those peptides which stimulate BoNt/A-cross reactive antibody and/or T cell responses will then be investigated for their capacity to provide active and passive immunity against BoNt/A challenge. The epitopes that are most protective when employed individually as immunogens will be used, in a mixture and in a multiepitope- carrier conjugate, as a vaccine for both active and passive protection of mice. The synthetic vaccine against BoNt/A will be used as a prototype to prepare synthetic vaccines containing the regions of the other serotypes that are counterparts to the regions found to be most protective on BoNt/A.
CJ-1639: A Potent and Highly Selective Dopamine D3 Receptor Full Agonist (2011)

We have identified several ligands with high binding affinities to the dopamine D3 receptor and excellent selectivity over the D2 and D1 receptors. CJ-1639 (17) binds to the D3 receptor with a K(i) value of 0.50 nM and displays a selectivity of >5,000 times over D2 and D1 receptors in binding assays using dopamine receptors expressed in the native rat brain tissues. CJ-1639 binds to human D3 receptor with a K(i) value of 3.61 nM and displays over >1000-fold selectivity over human D1 and D2 receptors. CJ-1639 is active at 0.01 mg/kg at the dopamine D3 receptor in the rat and only starts to show a modest D2 activity at doses as high as 10 mg/kg. CJ-1639 is the most potent and selective D3 full agonist reported to date.
Threshold Amsler Grid Testing (1986)

The Amsler grid is a commonly used test for evaluation of the 10 degrees of visual field surrounding fixation. The Amsler grid is a suprathreshold stimulus and thus may not detect relative scotomas. Therefore, we had ten patients with optic neuropathies view the grid through cross-polarizing filters that created low luminance conditions in which the grid was barely perceptible. The patients were also surveyed with a 2-m tangent screen protocol and threshold automated perimetry. The threshold Amsler grid technique increased both the number of defects found and the total area of these defects by approximately a factor of 5. Two thirds of the defects found were confirmed by one of the other screening techniques. Threshold Amsler grid testing is a rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive technique for the evaluation of the central 10 degrees of the visual field.
Physicochemical principles that regulate the competition between functional and dysfunctional association of proteins (2009)

To maintain protein homeostasis, a variety of quality control mechanisms, such as the unfolded protein response and the heat shock response, enable proteins to fold and to assemble into functional complexes while avoiding the formation of aberrant and potentially harmful aggregates. We show here that a complementary contribution to the regulation of the interactions between proteins is provided by the physicochemical properties of their amino acid sequences. The results of a systematic analysis of the protein-protein complexes in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) show that interface regions are more prone to aggregate than other surface regions, indicating that many of the interactions that promote the formation of functional complexes, including hydrophobic and electrostatic forces, can potentially also cause abnormal intermolecular association. We also show, however, that aggregation-prone interfaces are prevented from triggering uncontrolled assembly by being stabilized into their functional conformations by disulfide bonds and salt bridges. These results indicate that functional and dysfunctional association of proteins are promoted by similar forces but also that they are closely regulated by the presence of specific interactions that stabilize native states.
Improved Delineation of Short Cortical Association Fibers and Gray/White Matter Boundary Using Whole-Brain Three-Dimensional Diffusion Tensor Imaging at Submillimeter Spatial Resolution (2014)

Recent emergence of human connectome imaging has led to a high demand on angular and spatial resolutions for diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While there have been significant growths in high angular resolution diffusion imaging, the improvement in spatial resolution is still limited due to a number of technical challenges, such as the low signal-to-noise ratio and high motion artifacts. As a result, the benefit of a high spatial resolution in the whole-brain connectome imaging has not been fully evaluated in vivo. In this brief report, the impact of spatial resolution was assessed in a newly acquired whole-brain three-dimensional diffusion tensor imaging data set with an isotropic spatial resolution of 0.85 mm. It was found that the delineation of short cortical association fibers is drastically improved as well as the definition of fiber pathway endings into the gray/white matter boundary-both of which will help construct a more accurate structural map of the human brain connectome.
Thermally-drawn fibers with spatially-selective porous domains (2017)

The control of mass transport using porous fibers is ubiquitous, with applications ranging from filtration to catalysis. Yet, to date, porous fibers have been made of single materials in simple geometries, with limited function. Here we report the fabrication and characterization of thermally drawn multimaterial fibers encompassing internal porous domains alongside non-porous insulating and conductive materials, in highly controlled device geometries. Our approach utilizes phase separation of a polymer solution during the preform-to-fiber drawing process, generating porosity as the fiber is drawn. Engineering the preform structure grants control over the geometry and materials architecture of the final porous fibers. Electrical conductivity of the selectrolyte-filled porous domains is substantiated through ionic conductivity measurements using electrodes thermally drawn in the cross-section. Pore size tunability between 500 nm-10 µm is established by regulating the phase separation kinetics. We further demonstrate capillary breakup of cylindrical porous structures porous microspheres within the fiber core.Porous polymer fibers show great potential for a range of applications, but their simple structures typically limit their functionality. Here, the authors combine a thermal drawing process with polymer solution phase separation to fabricate porous multimaterial fibers with complex internal architectures.
Multiresolution foveated laparoscope with high resolvability (2013)

A key limitation of the state-of-the-art laparoscopes for minimally invasive surgery is the tradeoff between the field of view and spatial resolution in a single-view camera system. As such, surgical procedures are usually performed at a zoomed-in view, which limits the surgeon's ability to see much outside the immediate focus of interest and causes a situational awareness challenge. We proposed a multiresolution foveated laparoscope (MRFL) aiming to address this limitation. The MRFL is able to simultaneously capture wide-angle overview and high-resolution images in real time; it can scan and engage the high-resolution images to any subregion of the entire surgical field in analogy to the fovea of human eye. The MRFL is able to render equivalently 10 million pixel resolution with a low data bandwidth requirement. The system has a large working distance (WD) from 80 to 180 mm. The spatial resolvability is about 45 μm in the object space at an 80 mm WD, while the resolvability of a conventional laparoscope is about 250 μm at a typically 50 mm surgical distance.
Real-Time Multimodel Superensemble Forecasts of Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1999 (2003)

Abstract In this paper, Atlantic hurricane forecasts for the year 1999 are addressed. The methodology for these forecasts is called the multimodel superensemble. This statistical method makes use of the real-time forecasts provided by a number of operational and research models to construct the superensemble forecasts. This method divides the forecast time line into two phases: a training phase and a forecast combining phase. The training phase includes an inventory of past applicable hurricane forecasts, each by the multimodels. The model biases of position and intensity errors of past forecasts are summarized via a simple linear multiple regression of these forecasts against the best-observed estimates of position and intensity. These statistics are next passed on to future forecasts of the multimodels in order to forecast the hurricanes of 1999. This method was first tested for the hurricanes of 1998 with considerable success, with some of those results summarized here. Those statistics were refined for the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Overall, the main result of the seasonal summary is that the position and intensity errors for the multimodel superensemble are generally less than those of all of the participating models during 1–5-day real-time forecasts. Some of the major storms of the 1999 season, such as Dennis, Floyd, Irene, and Lenny, were extremely well handled by this superensemble approach. The message of this study is that the proposed approach may be a viable way to construct improved real-time forecasts of hurricane positions and intensity.
Large holographic displays as an alternative to stereoscopic displays (2008)

3D displays comprise stereoscopic displays and holographic displays. Eye convergence and accommodation are important depth cues for human vision. Stereoscopic displays provide only convergence information whereas holographic displays also provide accommodation information. Due to the inherently better 3D quality we consider holographic displays as the preferred alternative to stereoscopic displays. Our new approach to holographic displays omits unnecessary wavefront information and significantly reduces the requirements on the resolution of the spatial light modulator and the computation effort compared to conventional holographic displays. We verified our concept with holographic display prototypes and measurements. SeeReal's approach makes holographic displays feasible as a consumer product for mass-market applications.
Compact conformai strongly coupled magnetic resonant devices for medical applications (2016)

In this paper the mid-range power transfer method of conformai strongly coupled magnetic resonance is used to achieve efficient wireless power transfer with compact receiving elements. A procedure is outlined to design power transfer systems at specific frequencies using a multilayer and coplanar configuration. The proposed design operates in the medical ISM frequency of 40.68 MHz, is capable of efficiently delivering power for up to six times the radius of the compact receiving element, and exhibits increased performance with a significantly reduced volume over traditional power transfer methods.
Ceramic processing of high-T/sub c/ superconductors. [YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/minus/x/] (1988)

The means by which superconducting YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/minus/x/ powders can be synthesized are summarized. Methods of forming powders into useful shapes are then described. Lastly, heat treatment schedules used for consolidation of the powders into dense, sound bodies with good superconducting properties are discussed. 19 refs.