gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Flame Retardants from Renewable Sources: Food Waste, Plant Oils, and Starch (2018)

The demand for polymer additives that are eco-friendly continues to grow. Materials generated from renewable biosources are particularly attractive as a source of new additives. They tend to be relatively modest in cost, are generally nontoxic, and are independent of fluctuations in petrochemical markets. New phosphorus flame retardants derived from tartaric acid (a by-product of the wine industry), chitosan (a by-product of the fishing industry), castor oil (a non-edible plant oil), and isosorbide (a diether diol produced from starch) have been developed. Several of these chemicals impart remarkable flame retardancy when incorporated into diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol A (DGEBA) resin. These materials may serve as replacements for more traditional flame retardants, particularly brominated aromatics, which are stable in the environment, tend to bioaccumulate, and may pose a risk to human health.
Optimal configuration of hash table based multimedia fingerprint databases using weak bits (2010)

The increasingly large amount of digital multimedia content has created a need for technologies to search and identify multimedia files. Multimedia fingerprinting has been widely researched and successfully commercialized as a technology to trace and recognize both audio and video content. Most published research on multimedia fingerprinting focuses on the design of the fingerprinting extraction algorithm. The architecture of the fingerprinting database and the database query search algorithm has only been investigated in very few publications. In particular, no comprehensive mathematical models describing the accuracy of database query algorithms have been developed. Therefore, most performance evaluations of fingerprint system rely on experimental data. In this paper, we develop an analytic model to describe the operation of hash-table based multimedia fingerprinting databases. It allows to predict the accuracy of a fingerprinting query algorithm as a function of the statistical distribution of the fingerprints and the specific design of the fingerprint database.
Optimizing Efficient RNAi-Mediated Control of Hemipteran Pests (Psyllids, Leafhoppers, Whitefly): Modified Pyrimidines in dsRNA Triggers (2021)

The advantages from exogenously applied RNAi biopesticides have yet to be realized in through commercialization due to inconsistent activity of the dsRNA trigger, and the activity level of RNAi suppression. This has prompted research on improving delivery methods for applying exogenous dsRNA into plants and insects for the management of pests and pathogens. Another aspect to improve RNAi activity is the incorporation of modified 2'-F pyrimidine nucleotides into the dsRNA trigger. Modified dsRNA incorporating 32-55% of the 2'-F- nucleotides produced improved RNAi activity that increased insect mortality by 12-35% greater than non-modified dsRNA triggers of the same sequence. These results were repeatable across multiple Hemiptera: the Asian citrus psyllid (<i>Diaphorina citri,</i> Liviidae); whitefly (<i>Bemisia tabaci,</i> Aleyroididae); and the glassy-winged sharpshooter (<i>Homalodisca vitripennis</i>, Cicadellidae). Studies using siRNA with modified 2'-F- pyrimidines in mammalian cells show they improved resistance to degradation from nucleases, plus result in greater RNAi activity, due to increase concentrations and improved binding affinity to the mRNA target. Successful RNAi biopesticides of the future will be able to increase RNAi repeatability in the field, by incorporating modifications of the dsRNA, such as 2'-F- pyrimidines, that will improve delivery after applied to fruit trees or crop plants, with increased activity after ingestion by insects. Costs of RNA modification have decreased significantly over the past few years such that biopesticides can now compete on pricing with commercial chemical products.
Nonlinear-dynamical arrhythmia control in humans (2001)

Nonlinear-dynamical control techniques, also known as chaos control, have been used with great success to control a wide range of physical systems. Such techniques have been used to control the behavior of in vitro excitable biological tissue, suggesting their potential for clinical utility. However, the feasibility of using such techniques to control physiological processes has not been demonstrated in humans. Here we show that nonlinear-dynamical control can modulate human cardiac electrophysiological dynamics by rapidly stabilizing an unstable target rhythm. Specifically, in 52/54 control attempts in five patients, we successfully terminated pacing-induced period-2 atrioventricular-nodal conduction alternans by stabilizing the underlying unstable steady-state conduction. This proof-of-concept demonstration shows that nonlinear-dynamical control techniques are clinically feasible and provides a foundation for developing such techniques for more complex forms of clinical arrhythmia.
Near-field focusing plates: Theory and experiment (2008)

Using a modulated grating-like surface, referred to as a near-field plate, we experimentally demonstrate focusing of microwave radiation in a pattern that mimics that of a negative-index slab. The near-field platepsilas resolution, of lambda/20, is well beyond the diffraction limit.
Recursive function data allocation to scratch-pad memory (2007)

This paper presents the first automatic scheme to allocate local (stack) data in recursive functions to scratch-pad memory (SPM) in embedded systems. A scratch-pad is a fast directly addressed compiler-managed SRAM memory that replaces the hardware-managed cache. It is motivated by its significantly lower access time, energy consumption, real-time bounds, area and overall runtime. Existing compiler methods for allocating data to scratch-pad are able to place only code, global, heap and non-recursive stack data in scratch-pad memory; stack data for recursive functions is allocated entirely in DRAM, resulting in poor performance.
Pilot‐Scale Purification of Zeamatin, an Antifungal Protein from Maize (2000)

Zeamatin is an antifungal protein isolated from the seeds of Zea mays. A practical process for isolation and purification was developed to increase recovery yields for future testing of zeamatin as a novel therapeutic drug. Zeamatin was extracted with buffer from corn meal milled to flour. Solids were removed from the extract using pressure filtration, and zeamatin was purified using two separate reverse-phase chromatography steps. Determination of the amino-terminal amino acid sequence, Western blotting using anti-zeamatin antibody, and activity against Candida albicans were used to confirm that the purified protein was zeamatin. From 5 kg of corn meal, approximately 110 mg of zeamatin was purified to apparent homogeneity.
Epidermal mechano-acoustic sensing electronics for cardiovascular diagnostics and human-machine interfaces (2016)

Physiological mechano-acoustic signals, often with frequencies and intensities that are beyond those associated with the audible range, provide information of great clinical utility. Stethoscopes and digital accelerometers in conventional packages can capture some relevant data, but neither is suitable for use in a continuous, wearable mode, and both have shortcomings associated with mechanical transduction of signals through the skin. We report a soft, conformal class of device configured specifically for mechano-acoustic recording from the skin, capable of being used on nearly any part of the body, in forms that maximize detectable signals and allow for multimodal operation, such as electrophysiological recording. Experimental and computational studies highlight the key roles of low effective modulus and low areal mass density for effective operation in this type of measurement mode on the skin. Demonstrations involving seismocardiography and heart murmur detection in a series of cardiac patients illustrate utility in advanced clinical diagnostics. Monitoring of pump thrombosis in ventricular assist devices provides an example in characterization of mechanical implants. Speech recognition and human-machine interfaces represent additional demonstrated applications. These and other possibilities suggest broad-ranging uses for soft, skin-integrated digital technologies that can capture human body acoustics.
Fast simulation of VLSI interconnects (2005)

This work introduces an efficient and accurate interconnect simulation technique. A new formulation for typical VLSI interconnect structures is proposed which, in addition to providing a compact set of modeling equations, also offers a potential for exploiting sparsity at the simulation level. Simulations show that our approach can achieve 50 /spl times/ improvement in computation time and memory over INDUCTWISE (which in turn has been shown to be 400 /spl times/ faster than SPICE) while preserving simulation accuracy.
Initiation of Laser Damage at Surface Imperfections on Fused Silica Optics (2010)

Imperfections on optical surfaces contain fractured, densified and displaced material. After physical isolation, the laser damage susceptibility of specific defect structures has been determined. Fractures, rather than displaced or densified material limits laser damage performance.
OSCAM - optimized stereoscopic camera control for interactive 3D (2011)

This paper presents a controller for camera convergence and interaxial separation that specifically addresses challenges in interactive stereoscopic applications like games. In such applications, unpredictable viewer- or object-motion often compromises stereopsis due to excessive binocular disparities. We derive constraints on the camera separation and convergence that enable our controller to automatically adapt to any given viewing situation and 3D scene, providing an exact mapping of the virtual content into a comfortable depth range around the display. Moreover, we introduce an interpolation function that linearizes the transformation of stereoscopic depth over time, minimizing nonlinear visual distortions. We describe how to implement the complete control mechanism on the GPU to achieve running times below 0.2ms for full HD. This provides a practical solution even for demanding real-time applications. Results of a user study show a significant increase of stereoscopic comfort, without compromising perceived realism. Our controller enables 'fail-safe' stereopsis, provides intuitive control to accommodate to personal preferences, and allows to properly display stereoscopic content on differently sized output devices.
Molecular basis of toxicity of<i>Clostridium perfringens</i>epsilon toxin (2011)

Clostridium perfringens ε-toxin is produced by toxinotypes B and D strains. The toxin is the aetiological agent of dysentery in newborn lambs but is also associated with enteritis and enterotoxaemia in goats, calves and foals. It is considered to be a potential biowarfare or bioterrorism agent by the US Government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The relatively inactive 32.9 kDa prototoxin is converted to active mature toxin by proteolytic cleavage, either by digestive proteases of the host, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, or by C. perfringens λ-protease. In vivo, the toxin appears to target the brain and kidneys, but relatively few cell lines are susceptible to the toxin, and most work has been carried out using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The binding of ε-toxin to MDCK cells and rat synaptosomal membranes is associated with the formation of a stable, high molecular weight complex. The crystal structure of ε-toxin reveals similarity to aerolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila, parasporin-2 from Bacillus thuringiensis and a lectin from Laetiporus sulphureus. Like these toxins, ε-toxin appears to form heptameric pores in target cell membranes. The exquisite specificity of the toxin for specific cell types suggests that it binds to a receptor found only on these cells.
Robust Spectrum Sensing Algorithms for Cognitive Radio Application by Using Distributed Sensors (2009)

Due to the advancement of software radio and RF technology, cognitive radio(CR) has become an enabling technology to realize dynamic spectrum access through its spectrum sensing and reconfiguration capability. Robust and reliable spectrum sensing is a key factor to discover spectrum opportunity. Single cognitive radios often fail to provide such reliable information because of their inherent sensitivity limitation. Primary signals that are subject to detection by cognitive radios may become weak due to several factors such as fading and shadowing. One approach to overcome this problem is to perform spectrum sensing by using multiple CRs or multiple spectrum sensors. This approach is known as distributed sensing because sensing is carried out through cooperation of spatially distributed sensors. In distributed sensing, sensors should perform spectrum sensing and forward the result to a destination where data fusion is carried out. Depending on the channel conditions between sensors (sensor-to-sensor channel) and between the sensor and the radio (user-channel), we explore different spectrum sensing algorithms where sensors provide the sensing information either cooperatively or independently. Moreover we investigate sensing schemes based on soft information combining (SC), hard information combining (HC). Finally we propose a two-stage detection scheme that uses both SC and HC. The newly proposed detection scheme is shown to provide improved performance compared to sensing based on either HC or SC alone. Computer simulation results are provided to illustrate the performances of the different sensing algorithms.
Abstract 4812: A novel EGFL7-derived peptide, E7C13, is a potent anti-tumor agent that inhibits angiogenesis in a beta 1 integrin- and thrombospondin-dependent manner (2014)

Abstract As a tumor grows beyond 1mm, it recruits new blood vessels through the process of angiogenesis. The selective inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway increases the efficacy of chemotherapy and has beneficial effects on multiple advanced cancers, but response is often limited and the disease eventually progresses. This highlights the necessity to develop novel therapeutics that target alternate angiogenic signaling pathways. The epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) is a secreted protein that is up-regulated in actively remodeling endothelium, localizing to the perivascular extracellular matrix. Inhibition of EGFL7 in zebrafish disrupts vascular tube formation during vasculogenesis, while knockout of EGFL7 in mice prevents endothelial lumen formation and tubulogenesis. EGFL7 expression is associated with poor prognosis in malignant glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer, and therefore is a promising therapeutic target for anti-cancer strategies. In this study we investigated the impact of tumor-localized EGFL7 in tumor growth and angiogenesis. When EGFL7 is over-expressed in HT1080 fibrosarcoma or MDA-MB-231 breast cancer we saw no effect on tumor cell proliferation yet we observed a dramatic inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis in animal models. Indeed, we demonstrate that EGFL7 interacts with thrombospondin, and that it promotes endothelial cell spreading and adhesion in a beta 1 integrin- and TSP-dependent manner. In an attempt to isolate the domain of EGFL7 that is responsible for this angiogenesis inhibition activity, we identified and characterized a novel EGFL7-derived peptide, E7C13. This peptide inhibited sprouting and tube formation of human endothelial cells in vitro in 2D and 3D assays, and inhibited angiogenesis induced by tumor cells in vivo in the chicken embryo CAM assay and in the mouse DIVAA assay. Treatment of HT1080 tumor-bearing mice with E7C13 peptide intravenously at 75 mg/kg led to significantly reduced tumor growth and increased survival. Tumors from E7C13-treated animals were significantly less vascularized compared to controls. These data suggest that E7C13 is a promising new anti-vascular agent, and may provide a basis for a novel anti-angiogenesis approach to treat cancer. Citation Format: Choi-Fong Cho, Laura A. Fung, Tienabe Nsiama, Lihai Yu, Alisha Kadam, Daniela F. Quail, Katia Carmine-Simmen, Desmond Pink, Lynne-Marie Postovit, Leonard G. Luyt, John D. Lewis. A novel EGFL7-derived peptide, E7C13, is a potent anti-tumor agent that inhibits angiogenesis in a beta 1 integrin- and thrombospondin-dependent manner. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4812. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4812
Increasing the Efficiency of Seismic Data Acquisition via Compressive Sensing (2014)

Optimal selection of locations for sensors in a seismic survey has been a long-standing issue for geophysicists. If we could sample the earth at two points per wavelength or better in all dimensions according to Nyquist sampling theory, design would not be an issue. The reality of limited access and funding requires us to make do with orders of magnitude fewer sampling points than Nyquist theory would dictate. The field of Compressive Sensing (CS) provides a new theory for non-uniform sampling that allows for using significantly fewer sensors than current practice in seismic exploration. We describe the application of CS concepts to seismic survey design. We refer to our method as Non-Uniform Optimal Sampling, or NUOS. This method differs from earlier work on the application of CS to seismic acquisition in that an optimization loop is used to determine the locations of sources and receivers for a non-uniform design, rather than relying solely on decimation, jittering, or randomization. Optimization can also be applied to the problem of simultaneous shooting. As an extension of the NUOS methodology, we design shooting patterns for simultaneous source surveys by creating non-uniform patterns for each source that have minimal cross-coherence with each other. We have used a combination of computer modeling and targeted field trials to develop and validate CS designs for seismic acquisition. Full 3D finite difference modeling is used to provide data for computer analysis of CS designs in conjunction with conventional survey design systems. Field trials show that we are able to obtain significant improvements in bandwidth and data quaility with NUOS designs for source and receiver locations. NUOS designs for simultaneous shooting further reduce acquisition shooting time by factors of 2 or more, depending on the number of simultaneous sources employed. We illustrate the application of CS designs to ocean bottom recording using examples from offshore Malaysia and the North Sea. Application of Compressive Sensing theory to seismic data acquisition will result in significant improvements in data quality and acquisition efficiency, leading to more effective use of seismic data for exploration and production.
Enhanced mobility in vertically scaled N-polar high-electron-mobility transistors using GaN/InGaN composite channels (2018)

A GaN/InGaN composite channel design for vertically scaled N-polar high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) structures is proposed and demonstrated by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. In a conventional N-polar HEMT structure, as the channel thickness (tch) decreases, the sheet charge density (ns) decreases, the electric field in the channel increases, and the centroid of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) moves towards the back-barrier/channel interface, resulting in stronger scattering and lower electron mobility (μ). In this study, a thin InGaN layer was introduced in-between the channel and the AlGaN cap to increase the 2DEG density and reduce the electric field in the channel and therefore increase the electron mobility. The dependence of μ on the InGaN thickness (tInGaN) and the indium composition (xIn) was investigated for different channel thicknesses. With optimized tInGaN and xIn, significant improvements in electron mobility were observed. For a 6 nm channel HEMT structure, the electron mobility increased from 606 to 1141 cm2/(V·s) when the 6 nm thick pure GaN channel was replaced by the 4 nm GaN/2 nm In0.1Ga0.9N composite channel.
Ultrafast photonic PCR (2015)

Abstract Nucleic acid amplification and quantification via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most sensitive and powerful tools for clinical laboratories, precision medicine, personalized medicine, agricultural science, forensic science and environmental science. Ultrafast multiplex PCR, characterized by low power consumption, compact size and simple operation, is ideal for timely diagnosis at the point-of-care (POC). Although several fast/ultrafast PCR methods have been proposed, the use of a simple and robust PCR thermal cycler remains challenging for POC testing. Here, we present an ultrafast photonic PCR method using plasmonic photothermal light-to-heat conversion via photon–electron–phonon coupling. We demonstrate an efficient photonic heat converter using a thin gold (Au) film due to its plasmon-assisted high optical absorption (approximately 65% at 450 nm, the peak wavelength of heat source light-emitting diodes (LEDs)). The plasmon-excited Au film is capable of rapidly heating the surrounding solution to over 150 °C within 3 min. Using this method, ultrafast thermal cycling (30 cycles; heating and cooling rate of 12.79±0.93 °C s −1 and 6.6±0.29 °C s −1 , respectively) from 55 °C (temperature of annealing) to 95 °C (temperature of denaturation) is accomplished within 5 min. Using photonic PCR thermal cycles, we demonstrate here successful nucleic acid (λ-DNA) amplification. Our simple, robust and low cost approach to ultrafast PCR using an efficient photonic-based heating procedure could be generally integrated into a variety of devices or procedures, including on-chip thermal lysis and heating for isothermal amplifications.
Dispersion-compensating fiber with high figure of merit and its application to an analog transmission system (1994)

Dispersion-compensating fibers (DCFs) with large negative chromatic dispersion in the 1.55-µm region are attractive for upgrading 1.3-µm-optimized transmission lines using erbium-doped fiber amplifiers.1 For putting DCFs into practical use, a figure of merit (FOM), which is defined as a ratio of the absolute value of the chromatic dispersion to the transmission loss at 1.55 µm, should be enhanced. In this paper an optimum range of the refractive index of the core for maximization of the FOM is investigated for the matched-cladding-type profile,2 and a DCF with a FOM of 250 ps nm−1dB−1 is presented. An analog transmission experiment using this DCF is also demonstrated.