gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Preparation of thermosensitive microgels via suspension polymerization using different temperature protocols (2005)

A thermosensitive and biodegradable microgel for protein drug release was synthesized from a thermosensitive macromer via inverse suspension polymerization. Preparation was made under a constant temperature or under variable temperatures. In the latter protocol, dispersion was performed at a low temperature below lower critical solution temperature of the macromer aqueous solution and polymerization was performed at a high temperature above lower critical solution temperature. According to the experiments, the constant-temperature method was not suitable for preparation of microgels when the macromer concentration was high, because early physical gelation at the preparation temperature seriously influenced formation of dispersed droplets. If the macromer concentration was low, both temperature protocols resulted in spherical hydrogel microparticles, but the properties of the resulting microgels were different to a certain degree. In both cases, the model protein bovine serum albumin was loaded into microgels by a postfabrication encapsulation technique, which takes advantage of the microgels' negative thermosensitivity. The results demonstrate that, in microgel preparation, the variable-temperature protocol is useful in suspension polymerization of negatively thermosensitive macromers at a wide rage of monomer concentrations.
Cleaning patch-clamp pipettes for immediate reuse (2016)

Patch-clamp recording has enabled single-cell electrical, morphological and genetic studies at unparalleled resolution. Yet it remains a laborious and low-throughput technique, making it largely impractical for large-scale measurements such as cell type and connectivity characterization of neurons in the brain. Specifically, the technique is critically limited by the ubiquitous practice of manually replacing patch-clamp pipettes after each recording. To circumvent this limitation, we developed a simple, fast, and automated method for cleaning glass pipette electrodes that enables their reuse within one minute. By immersing pipette tips into Alconox, a commercially-available detergent, followed by rinsing, we were able to reuse pipettes 10 times with no degradation in signal fidelity, in experimental preparations ranging from human embryonic kidney cells to neurons in culture, slices, and in vivo. Undetectable trace amounts of Alconox remaining in the pipette after cleaning did not affect ion channel pharmacology. We demonstrate the utility of pipette cleaning by developing the first robot to perform sequential patch-clamp recordings in cell culture and in vivo without a human operator.
Mode-Locked Fiber Laser Without Gain-Bandwidth Limitation (2012)

We show that self-similar evolution in a fiber laser can stabilize spectra broader than the gain bandwidth. 21-fs pulses, which are the shortest from a fiber laser to date, and 200-nm spectra are generated.
Automatic detection of fragments in dynamically generated web pages (2004)

Dividing web pages into fragments has been shown to provide significant benefits for both content generation and caching. In order for a web site to use fragment-based content generation, however, good methods are needed for dividing web pages into fragments. Manual fragmentation of web pages is expensive, error prone, and unscalable. This paper proposes a novel scheme to automatically detect and flag fragments that are cost-effective cache units in web sites serving dynamic content. We consider the fragments to be interesting if they are shared among multiple documents or they have different lifetime or personalization characteristics. Our approach has three unique features. First, we propose a hierarchical and fragment-aware model of the dynamic web pages and a data structure that is compact and effective for fragment detection. Second, we present an efficient algorithm to detect maximal fragments that are shared among multiple documents. Third, we develop a practical algorithm that effectively detects fragments based on their lifetime and personalization characteristics. We evaluate the proposed scheme through a series of experiments, showing the benefits and costs of the algorithms. We also study the impact of adopting the fragments detected by our system on disk space utilization and network bandwidth consumption.
Recursive all-lag reference-code correlator and its efficient implementation (2002)

An all-lag reference-code correlator generates an all-lag correlation vector at a rate equal to the rate of incoming data samples. Direct implementation of an all-lag reference-code correlator requires N parallel correlators, and the resultant degree of complexity is of the order N/sup 2/, where N is the length of the reference code. This paper derives a recursive form for the all-lag reference-code correlator. It is shown that the proposed recursive all-lag reference-code correlator can be implemented with a complexity approximately equal to that of a single parallel correlator. That is, the degree of complexity of the proposed recursive all-lag reference-code correlator is of the order N. Thus, substantial reduction in the implementation complexity is achieved.
Anti‐interleukin‐8 activity of tick salivary gland extracts (2001)

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is one of many mammalian chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) that direct mammalian inflammatory and immune cells to sites of injury and infection. Chemokines are produced locally and act on leucocytes through selective receptors. The principal role of IL-8 is to control the movement and activity of neutrophils. To date, several tick species have been shown to modulate the production or activity of certain cytokines but none of these are chemokines. Using an IL-8 specific ELISA, we showed that salivary gland extracts (SGE) from several ixodid tick species (Dermacentor reticulatus, Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Haemaphysalis inermis and Ixodes ricinus) reduced the level of detectable IL-8. Analyses of fractionated SGE revealed one similar peak of activity for D. reticulatus, A. variegatum and R. appendiculatus; a second peak, observed for D. reticulatus and A. variegatum, differed between the two species. Using radiolabelled IL-8, SGE and peak activity fractions of D. reticulatus were shown to bind the chemokine, and to inhibit binding of IL-8 to its receptors on human granuolocytes enriched for neutrophils. The biological significance of these observations was demonstrated by the ability of SGE to inhibit IL-8 induced chemotaxis of human blood granulocytes. Future isolation and characterization of the active molecules will enable determination of their functional roles in bloodfeeding and effect on tick-borne pathogen transmission.
A Novel Magnetic Relaxation-Based Platform for Hydration Monitoring (2014)

Hydration state has long been of interest to the military due to its importance in the relationship between physiological indexes and heat exhaustion. The need for hydration monitoring and assessment exists for civilian applications as well. An accurate evaluation of the hydration state in congestive heart failure patients is essential for the correct dose of the diuretic to be prescribed. Current hydration monitoring methods, however, are either unreliable, or require invasive and costly measurement techniques. We investigate in this paper a novel method with the potential for noninvasive and rapid determination of the hydration state of an individual based on nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation measurements. Feasibility studies are performed based on murine models of dehydration and specific tissues of interest for noninvasive screening are determined. The established platform can be employed for developing a portable hydration sensor for accurate and real-time monitoring of the hydration state.
Thulium-170 heat source (1990)

An isotopic heat source is formed using stacks of thin individual layers of a refractory isotopic fuel, preferably thulium oxide, alternating with layers of a low atomic weight diluent, preferably graphite. The graphite serves several functions: to act as a moderator during neutron irradiation, to minimize bremsstrahlung radiation, and to facilitate heat transfer. The fuel stacks are inserted into a heat block, which is encased in a sealed, insulated and shielded structural container. Heat pipes are inserted in the heat block and contain a working fluid. The heat pipe working fluid transfers heat from the heat block to a heat exchanger for power conversion. Single phase gas pressure controls the flow of the working fluid for maximum heat exchange and to provide passive cooling.
Shaped Local Regression and Its Application to Color Transforms (2009)

Local linear regression is widely used in describing input-output relationships and has been applied with reasonable success to computational problems in color imaging such as approximating printer-models and device color characterization transforms. A popular flavor of local regression is one where locality is achieved by using a weight function which decays as a function of the distance from the regression data point. This paper proposes an improved method for local regression by introducing the notion of “shaping” in the localizing weight function. We make two novel contributions: 1) a parameterization of the regression weight function via a shaping matrix, and 2) a method to optimize shape by explicitly introducing the shaping matrix parameters in the regression error measure. Experiments reveal dramatic improvements in approximating printer color transforms by using shaped local linear regression. A particularly pronounced benefit is gained in the case of sparse training sets, which are fairly common in color characterization applications due to the effort and/or cost associated with acquiring color measurements.
Chiral Sulfoxides as Neutral Coordinate-Organocatalysts in Asymmetric Allylation of <i>N</i>-Acylhydrazones Using Allyltrichlorosilanes (2003)

Sulfoxides were first introduced to the allylation of N-acylhydrazones with allyltrichlorosilanes as effective neutral coordinate-organocatalysts (NCOs). Both high diastereo- and enantioselectivity were attained when optically active chiral sulfoxides were used. Asymmetric crotylations using (Z)- and (E)-crotyltrichlorosilanes showed a high level of stereospecificity (Z --> anti and E --> syn) with high enantioselectivity.
Comparing Carbon Nanotube Transistors—The Ideal Choice: A Novel Tunneling Device Design (2005)

Three different carbon nanotube (CN) field-effect transistor (CNFET) designs are compared by simulation and experiment. While a C-CNFET with a doping profile similar to a "conventional" (referred to as C-CNFET in the following) p-or n-MOSFET in principle exhibits superior device characteristics when compared with a Schottky barrier CNFET, we find that aggressively scaled C-CNFET devices suffer from "charge pile-up" in the channel. This effect which is also known to occur in floating body silicon transistors deteriorates the C-CNFET off-state substantially and ultimately limits the achievable on/off-current ratio. In order to overcome this obstacle we explore the possibility of using CNs as gate-controlled tunneling devices (T-CNFETs). The T-CNFET benefits from a steep inverse subthreshold slope and a well controlled off-state while at the same time delivering high performance on-state characteristics. According to our simulation, the T-CNFET is the ideal transistor design for an ultrathin body three-terminal device like the CNFET.
A computational biomarker of idiopathic generalized epilepsy from resting state EEG (2016)

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurologic conditions. It is characterized by the tendency to have recurrent seizures, which arise against a backdrop of apparently normal brain activity. At present, clinical diagnosis relies on the following: (1) case history, which can be unreliable; (2) observation of transient abnormal activity during electroencephalography (EEG), which may not be present during clinical evaluation; and (3) if diagnostic uncertainty occurs, undertaking prolonged monitoring in an attempt to observe EEG abnormalities, which is costly. Herein, we describe the discovery and validation of an epilepsy biomarker based on computational analysis of a short segment of resting-state (interictal) EEG. Our method utilizes a computer model of dynamic networks, where the network is inferred from the extent of synchrony between EEG channels (functional networks) and the normalized power spectrum of the clinical data. We optimize model parameters using a leave-one-out classification on a dataset comprising 30 people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and 38 normal controls. Applying this scheme to all 68 subjects we find 100% specificity at 56.7% sensitivity, and 100% sensitivity at 65.8% specificity. We believe this biomarker could readily provide additional support to the diagnostic process.
Validation of the Applied Biosystems MicroSEQ® Real-Time PCR System for Detection of E. coli O157:H7 in Food (2012)

Modern molecular methods offer the advantages of simplicity and short time-to-results compared to traditional culture methods. We describe the validation of a new Real-Time PCR method to detect E. coli O157:H7 in five food matrixes. The complete system consists of the MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 Detection Kit, sample preparation (two sample preparation methods, the PrepSEQ Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit and the PrepSEQ Rapid Spin Sample Preparation Kit, were validated), the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR instrument, and RapidFinder Express software. The test method was compared to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook 5.04 reference method for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in 25 g and 375 g ground beef and beef trim, and to the ISO 16654 reference method for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in 25 g spinach, orange juice, and apple juice. The MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 Detection Kit showed equivalent detection compared to the corresponding reference method based on Mantel-Haenszel Chi-square statistics for all matrixes tested. An independent validation confirmed these findings on ground beef. The MicroSEQ kit detected all 51 E. coli O157:H7 strains tested and showed good discrimination against an exclusivity panel of 30 strains.
Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Technology (2007)

Today, plasmid DNA is becoming increasingly important as the next generation of biotechnology products (gene medicines and DNA vaccines) make their way into clinical trials, and eventually into the pharmaceutical marketplace. This review summarizes recent patents and patent applications relating to plasmid manufacturing, in the context of a comprehensive description of the plasmid manufacturing intellectual property landscape. Strategies for plasmid manufacturers to develop or in-license key plasmid manufacturing technologies are described with the endpoint of efficiently producing kg quantities of plasmid DNA of a quality that meets anticipated European and FDA quality specifications for commercial plasmid products.
Dengue Virus: Isolation, Propagation, Quantification, and Storage (2012)

Dengue is a disease caused by infection with one of the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4). The virus is transmitted to humans by Aedes sp. mosquitoes. This enveloped virus contains a positive single-stranded RNA genome. Clinical manifestations of dengue can have a wide range of outcomes varying from a mild febrile illness to a life-threatening condition. New techniques have largely replaced the use of DENV isolation in disease diagnosis. However, virus isolation still serves as the gold standard for detection and serotyping of DENV and is common practice in research and reference laboratories where clinical isolates of the virus are characterized and sequenced, or used for a variety of research experiments. Isolation of DENV from clinical samples can be achieved in mammalian and mosquito cells or by inoculation of mosquitoes. The experimental methods presented here describe the most common procedures used for the isolation, serotyping, propagation, and quantification of DENV.
Biomimetic Synthesis of the Antimalarial Flindersial Alkaloids (2012)

A biomimetic strategy for the synthesis of the antimalarial flindersial alkaloids is described. Flinderoles A, B, and C, desmethylflinderole C, isoborreverine, and dimethylisoborreverine were all synthesized in three steps from tryptamine. The key step is an acid-promoted dimerization of the natural product borrerine. This approach is thought to mirror the biosynthesis of these compounds.
Inducible Expression of Active Protein Phosphatase-1 Inhibitor-1 Enhances Basal Cardiac Function and Protects Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (2009)

Ischemic heart disease, which remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world, is invariably characterized by impaired cardiac function and disturbed Ca(2+) homeostasis. Because enhanced inhibitor-1 (I-1) activity has been suggested to preserve Ca(2+) cycling, we sought to define whether increases in I-1 activity in the adult heart may ameliorate contractile dysfunction and cellular injury in the face of an ischemic insult. To this end, we generated an inducible transgenic mouse model that enabled temporally controlled expression of active I-1 (T35D). Active I-1 expression in the adult heart elicited significant enhancement of contractile function, associated with preferential phospholamban phosphorylation and enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-transport. Further phosphoproteomic analysis revealed alterations in proteins associated with energy production and protein synthesis, possibly to support the increased metabolic demands of the hyperdynamic hearts. Importantly, on ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury, active I-1 expression augmented contractile function and recovery. Further examination revealed that the infarct region and apoptotic as well as necrotic injuries were significantly attenuated by enhanced I-1 activity. These cardioprotective effects were associated with suppression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. The present findings indicate that increased I-1 activity in the adult heart enhances Ca(2+) cycling and improves mechanical recovery, as well as cell survival after an ischemic insult, suggesting that active I-1 may represent a potential therapeutic strategy in myocardial infarction.
A sensitive liquid-cantilever diaphragm for pressure sensor (2013)

An absolute pressure sensor based on liquid cantilever diaphragm is described in this paper. The diaphragm was fabricated by using liquid to bridge the gap between a piezo-resistive cantilever and the surrounding walls. Due to surface tension, the liquid filled the cantilever's gap while it did not leak through the gap. A cavity was designed under the diaphragm as a reference pressure. By choosing proper liquid and narrowing the cantilever's gap, we obtained a highly sensitive diaphragm that was able to measure absolute pressure with resolution of sub 1 Pa.
Degradation mechanism at XLPE/semicon interface subjected to high electrical stress (1991)

In HV devices such as power cables, electrical stress enhancement can occur at the interface of semiconducting shields (semicon) and polymeric insulation. In this study, points of electrical stress enhancement are simulated by embedding semicon protrusions into the polymer. XLPE with two different concentrations of crosslinking byproducts and impregnated with various gases has been used. It it shown that, prior to electrical tree inception, electroluminescence occurs at the semicon tips and visible and ultraviolet light is emitted. The characteristics and the spectra of electroluminescence at semicon protrusions embedded in XLPE are similar to those previously observed at metallic needles embedded in LDPE. The ultraviolet light, emitted at points of electrical stress enhancement, can photodegrade the polymer, cause bond scission and lead to electrical treeing. Also, the results for XLPE impregnated with different gases indicate that, as in the case of LPPE/metal interface, oxygen in the free volume of the polymer plays an important role in the deterioration of XLPE insulation subjected to high electrical stress.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
A superior architecture of brightness enhancement for display backlighting (2006)

Brightness enhancement of backlighting for displays is typically achieved via crossed micro prismatic films that are introduced between a backlight unit and a transmissive (LCD) display. Prismatic films let pass light only into a restricted angular range, while, in conjunction with other reflective elements below the backlight, all other light is recycled within the backlight unit, thereby increasing the backlight luminance. This design offers no free parameters to influence the resulting light distribution and suffers from insufficient stray light control. A novel strategy of light recycling is introduced, using a microlens array in conjunction with a hole array in a reflective surface, that can provide higher luminance, superior stray light control, and can be designed to meet almost any desired emission pattern. Similar strategies can be applied to mix light from different colored LEDs being mounted upside down to shine into a backlight unit.
Carbon nanotubes and nucleic acids: tools and targets (2006)

Abstract Nucleic acids are playing an important role in the rapid development of nanotechnologies. Our Editor's Choice [1] discusses the use of nucleic acids to disperse and sort single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The cover picture shows a two‐dimensional photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of highly purified (6,5) SWNT:DNA hybrids. The fine resolution of the PL peaks displays photo‐excited intermediates in a range of energies between E S 22 and E S 11 transitions revealing for the first time specific phonon‐assisted optical absorption and energy relaxation mechanisms. The first author, Bibiana Onoa, has been working on carbon nanotubes and nucleic acids in the molecular electronics group of Dupont Central Research and Development. Her current research focuses on the development of nanotechnologies that allow fast and economical detection of pathogens. This special issue of physica status solidi (a) presents representative contributions and main topics on “Trends in Nanotechnology” from the TNT2005 International Conference in Oviedo (Spain).
A hemispherical monopole rectenna array for multi-directional, multi-polarization, and multi-band ambient RF energy harvesting (2016)

Rectennas for ambient RF energy harvesting are gathering significant interest as a source of sustainable energy. Maximizing harvested energy output is challenging due to the limitations of the bandwidth of the antenna and the impedance matching of the non-linear rectifier. In this work, we propose a hemispherical array of multiband, coupled-resonator monopoles for RF energy harvesting. We employ a multiband monopole antenna to target frequency bands with the high energy densities, particularly at GSM900, GSM1800, and WLAN (2.4 GHz) frequencies. Using a hemispherical array further enables the design to receive a diversity of angles of arrival and polarizations.