gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Imaging organic aerogels at the molecular level (1991)

The sol-gel polymerization of metal alkoxides or certain multifunctional organic monomers leads to the formation of highly crosslinked, transparent gels. If the solvent is simply evaporated from the pores of these gels, large capillary forces are exerted, and a collapsed structure known as a xerogel is formed. In order to preserve the gel skeleton, it is necessary to remove the the aforementioned solvent under supercritical conditions. The low density, microporous material that results from this operation is known as an aerogel. Aerogels have an ultrafine cell/pore size (< 500 Å), connected porosity, high surface areas (400-1000 m 2 /g), and an ultrastructure composed of interconnected colloidal-like particles or polymeric chains with characteristic dimensions of 100 Å. This ultrastructure is responsible for the unique optical, thermal, and acoustic properties of aerogels. For example, the ultrafine cell/pore size minimizes light scattering; and thus, aerogels are transparent porous solids. The high porosity of aerogels makes them excellent insulators with their thermal conductivity being approximately 100X lower than that of the fully dense matrix. Finally, the aerogel skeleton is responsible for the low sound velocities observed in these materials (i.e. 100-300 m/sec).
License Plate Recognition (2020)

Real time license plate recognition (LPR) is a key function for automated traffic monitoring and law enforcement on public roads. The use of a Car LPR (CLPR) system in a real time/life environment puts high demands on the throughput of the system and the contents of the image. The design of the CLPR system for Vehicle Identification on PUblic Roads (VIPUR) is based on the Dutch license plate registration regulation. This regulation enholds a strict set of rules for the position of the license plate on the car, the shape, size, color of the plate, and the character font. This chapter discusses the segmentation of the license plate and the isolation of individual characters. It focuses on feature-based classifiers and classification schemes. The chapter introduces the overall system and compares VIPUR to other systems. VIPUR is based on an open framework containing a number of the classifiers and Bayes decision makers.
The pulmonary surfactant protein C (SP-C) precursor is a type II transmembrane protein (1991)

Human pulmonary-surfactant-associated protein C (SP-C) is an extremely hydrophobic peptide comprising 34-35 amino acids. It is involved in the reduction of surface tension at the air/liquid in the lung. In order to understand the mechanism by which this molecule is generated from its 197-amino-acid-residues-long precursor and secreted into the alveolar space, we analysed the biosynthesis and processing of this precursor in an 'in vitro' system. Our results show that the SP-C precursor is a 21 kDa integral membrane protein. It is anchored in the membrane by a hydrophobic domain that comprises the 20-amino-acid-residues-long hydrophobic core of the mature SP-C peptide. The N-terminus remains in the cytoplasm, which leads to a type II transmembrane orientation of the precursor. Membrane integration occurs in a signal-peptidase-independent manner. The hydrophobic domain acts as both signal sequence and membrane-anchoring domain. We suggest that correct membrane insertion of the SP-C precursor, which is strictly dependent on the hydrophobic-amino-acid sequence represented by the hydrophobic core of the mature SP-C, is itself a prerequisite for further processing and intracellular transport of the mature SP-C.
Imaging of buried objects by laser-induced acoustic detection (1999)

We report here on the use of acoustic pulses generated by a pulsed-laser incident on the ground surface for the depth- and shape-resolution of buried objects. The laser-induced acoustic wave has considerable advantages over other acoustic wave generation techniques for landmine detection applications. (1) It is efficient because the sound is generated directly in the ground. (2) The acoustic source can be precisely positioned or scanned by optical redirection of the laser spot. (3) Remote, non-ground- contact detection can be accomplished with a receiving microphone in the air or by using optical vibrometry of the soil surface for detection. Research has been focused on the data acquisition and signal processing applicable to de- mining scenarios. A de-convolution method using a Wiener filter is introduced to the processing of data. By scanning the laser position and filtering the time-trace of the reflected acoustic pulse, we have obtained 3D images of the underground objects. The images give us the clear discrimination of the shapes of underground objects. The quality of the images depends on the mismatch of acoustic impedance of buried objects, the bandwidth of acoustic sensor, and the selection of filter function.
A low power phase change memory using thermally confined TaN/TiN bottom electrode (2011)

Application of phase change memory (PCM) has been limited by the high power required to reset the device (changing from crystalline to amorphous state by melting the phase change material). Utilizing the poor thermal and electrical conductivity of TaN we have designed a simple structure that thermally insulates the bottom electrode and thus drastically reduces the heat loss. A 39nm bottom electrode with a TaN thermal barrier and 1.5nm of TiN conductor has demonstrated 30µA reset current, representing a 90% reduction. The benefit of thermal insulation is understood through electrothermal simulation, and the benefit is demonstrated in a 256Mb test chip. The low reset current also improves the reliability and excellent cycling endurance >1E9 is observed. This low power device is promising for expanding the application for PCM.
The Experimental Investigations of the Big Size Holographic Screen in the Autostereoscopic Displays (2001)

Results of an experimental study of possible ways to extend the capabilities of a big size transmission type holographic screen are presented. Different approaches to the problem of making a big size screen have been considered and tested experimentally. Up to 60<TEX>$\times$</TEX>80 <TEX>$\textrm{cm}^2$</TEX> screens have been recorded on a single photographic plate VRP-M. By attaching a mirror behind the screen, the reflection mode of operation has been obtained. In this arrangement some additional peculiarities appear in the screen, which can be used to extend the screen capabilities. The first possibility is to increase the screen size by mosaicking the subscreens in the reflection mode of operation. Screens of 120<TEX>$\times$</TEX>80 <TEX>$\textrm{cm}^2$</TEX> and 180<TEX>$\times$</TEX>40 <TEX>$\textrm{cm}^2$</TEX> have been obtained by proper alignment of 60<TEX>$\times$</TEX>40 <TEX>$\textrm{cm}^2$</TEX> subscreens. The second possibility is to move the viewing Bone by rotation of the screen together with the mirror and thereby realize by the eye-tracking capability. Methods of increasing vertical size of the viewing zone have been considered. Along with the multi-exposure method, which was considered in previous papers, addition of the vertical diffuser with the optimized scattering angle has been tested experimentally. The vertical size of the viewing zone has been increased by up to 10-15 cm. Another method consists of usage of a diffraction grating with vertical dispersion to solve the same problem.
Insulin Generates an Enzyme Modulator from Hepatic Plasma Membranes: Regulation of Adenosine 3′, 5′-Monophosphate Phosphodiesterase, Pyruvate Dehydrogenase, and Adenylate Cyclase* (1987)

Some of the acute actions of insulin may be mediated by the intracellular generation of a chemical substance that modulates certain enzymes. Such a substance has been identified which is released from liver plasma membranes after exposure to insulin. This substance was purified on sequential ion exchange, reverse phase, and gel permeations columns. The purified substance modulated the activities of cAMP phosphodiesterase, adenylate cyclase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase. The activities that modulated each of these enzymes exhibited singular chromatographic behavior and sensitivity to a variety of chemical reagents. Each activity was also produced by treatment of membranes with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. These results suggested that each of the enzyme-modulating activities was due to a single complex carbohydrate substance which contained inositol, phosphate, glucosamine, and other monosaccharides. The actions of this substance on these three enzymes mimicked those of insulin, suggesting that the release of this enzyme modulator might play a role in mediating some of the actions of the hormone.
An Integrated Approach to Gene Discovery and Marker Development in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) (2010)

Atlantic cod is a species that has been overexploited by the capture fishery. Programs to domesticate this species are underway in several countries, including Canada, to provide an alternative route for production. Selective breeding programs have been successfully applied in the domestication of other species, with genomics-based approaches used to augment conventional methods of animal production in recent years. Genomics tools, such as gene sequences and sets of variable markers, also have the potential to enhance and accelerate selective breeding programs in aquaculture, and to provide better monitoring tools to ensure that wild cod populations are well managed. We describe the generation of significant genomics resources for Atlantic cod through an integrated genomics/selective breeding approach. These include 158,877 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), a set of annotated putative transcripts and several thousand single nucleotide polymorphism markers that were developed from, and have been shown to be highly variable in, fish enrolled in two selective breeding programs. Our EST collection was generated from various tissues and life cycle stages. In some cases, tissues from which libraries were generated were isolated from fish exposed to stressors, including elevated temperature, or antigen stimulation (bacterial and viral) to enrich for transcripts that are involved in these response pathways. The genomics resources described here support the developing aquaculture industry, enabling the application of molecular markers within selective breeding programs. Marker sets should also find widespread application in fisheries management.
Extracellular Life Cycle of ComS, the Competence-Stimulating Peptide of Streptococcus thermophilus (2013)

In streptococci, ComX is the alternative sigma factor controlling the transcription of the genes encoding the genetic transformation machinery. In Streptococcus thermophilus, comX transcription is controlled by a complex consisting of a transcriptional regulator of the Rgg family, ComR, and a signaling peptide, ComS, which controls ComR activity. Following its initial production, ComS is processed, secreted, and imported back into the cell by the Ami oligopeptide transporter. We characterized these steps and the partners interacting with ComS during its extracellular circuit in more detail. We identified the mature form of ComS and demonstrated the involvement of the membrane protease Eep in ComS processing. We found that ComS was secreted but probably not released into the extracellular medium. Natural competence was first discovered in a chemically defined medium without peptides. We show here that the presence of a high concentration of nutritional peptides in the medium prevents the triggering of competence. In milk, the ecological niche of S. thermophilus, competence was found to be functional, suggesting that the concentration of nutritional peptides was too low to interfere with ComR activation. The kinetics of expression of the comS, comR, and comX genes and of a late competence gene, dprA, in cultures inoculated at different initial densities revealed that the activation mechanism of ComR by ComS is more a timing device than a quorum-sensing mechanism sensu stricto. We concluded that the ComS extracellular circuit facilitates tight control over the triggering of competence in S. thermophilus.
On the Performance of Multiple Pulse Multiple Delay UWB Modulation (2003)

Multiple access (MA) in UWB communication is an area of active research. In this paper we introduce and study the performance of a new MA scheme in the context of multiple transmitted-reference short duration (nsec) chirp pulses in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The transmitted-reference (T-R) receiver is extended using multiple orthogonal pulses. The proposed UWB receiver samples the receiver autocorrelation function (ACF) at both zero- and non-zero lags, thus sampling and matching the shape of ACFs rather than just the shape of the received pulses. Sampling of non-zero ACF lags is a significant new approach. The scheme proposed in this paper is a step towards combining the multi-pulse approach and T-R modulation in a multiple access ultra wideband (MA-UWB) communications system. Improved bit error rate performance over a conventional zero-lag receiver (i.e. energy detection receiver) is demonstrated by simulation. Analytical expressions for the system BER are also derived and confirmed through simulations for the system.
A mathematical proof of a noise weighted FBP reconstruction algorithm (2013)

This paper shows that the FBP algorithm is able to provide a solution to a weighted least-squares problem. Therefore, the projection noise model can be included in the FBP reconstruction. Bayesian information can also be incorporated in the FBP reconstruction.
Study on an integer frequency offset estimation and compensation for DOCSIS 3.1 downstream (2016)

In this paper, we propose an integer frequency offset estimation and compensation method based on PLC preamble correlation in DOCSIS 3.1 Downstream system. The proposed method finds out the PLC preamble subcarrier location recovered from PLC data and the one obtained from PLC preamble correlation. We showed the performance of PLC preamble detection in the received signal through the maximum value detection of PLC preamble correlation. Thus we can estimate and compensate the integer frequency offset by computing the difference of PLC subcarrier locations.
Tomographic Fluorescence Mapping of Tumor Targets (2005)

Methods that allow robust imaging of specific molecular targets and biological processes in vivo should have widespread applications in biology and clinical medicine. Here we use a quantitative, three-dimensional fluorescence-mediated tomographic technique (FMT) that enables rapid measurements of fluorochrome-based affinity tags in live xenograft models. We validate the method by showing its sensitivity in quantitating tumor angiogenesis and therapeutic modulation using an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody. Furthermore, we show the feasibility of simultaneous multichannel measurements of distinct biological phenomena such as receptor tyrosine kinase expression and angiogenesis. FMT measurements can be done serially, with short imaging times and within the same live animal. The described method should be valuable for rapidly profiling biological phenomena in vivo.
Active Optical Zoom for Tracking (2008)

In order to optically vary the magnification of an imaging system, continuous mechanical zoom lenses require multiple optical elements and use fine mechanical motion to precisely adjust the separations between groups of lenses. By incorporating active elements into the optical design, imaging systems that are capable of variable optical magnification with no macroscopic moving parts are possible. Changing the effective focal length and magnification of an imaging system can be accomplished by positioning two or more active optics in an optical design. In this application, the active optics (deformable mirrors) serve as variable focal-length lenses and steering mirrors making an active optical zoom system that can zoom in on off-axis points on the image and therefore track objects in the field of view of the system. We will present results from a bench top system.
Influenza Virus Protecting RNA: an Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Antiviral (2008)

Another influenza pandemic is inevitable, and new measures to combat this and seasonal influenza are urgently needed. Here we describe a new concept in antivirals based on a defined, naturally occurring defective influenza virus RNA that has the potential to protect against any influenza A virus in any animal host. This "protecting RNA" (244 RNA) is incorporated into virions which, although noninfectious, deliver the RNA to those cells of the respiratory tract that are naturally targeted by infectious influenza virus. A 120-ng intranasal dose of this 244 protecting virus completely protected mice against a simultaneous challenge of 10 50% lethal doses with influenza A/WSN (H1N1) virus. The 244 virus also protected mice against strong challenge doses of all other subtypes tested (i.e., H2N2, H3N2, and H3N8). This prophylactic activity was maintained in the animal for at least 1 week prior to challenge. The 244 virus was 10- to 100-fold more active than previously characterized defective influenza A viruses, and the protecting activity was confirmed to reside in the 244 RNA molecule by recovering a protecting virus entirely from cloned cDNA. There was a clear therapeutic benefit when the 244 virus was administered 24 to 48 h after a lethal challenge, an effect which has not been previously observed with any defective virus. Protecting virus reduced, but did not abolish, replication of challenge virus in mouse lungs during both prophylactic and therapeutic treatments. Protecting virus is a novel antiviral, having the potential to combat human influenza virus infections, particularly when the infecting strain is not known or is resistant to antiviral drugs.
Biopolymer Templated Glass with a Twist: Controlling the Chirality, Porosity, and Photonic Properties of Silica with Cellulose Nanocrystals (2013)

A detailed investigation of the formation and properties of mesoporous silica templated by the chiral nematic liquid crystal phase of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is presented. Under appropriate conditions, CNCs co‐assemble with silica up to loadings of ≈60 wt% to give composite films with periodic chiral nanostructures. The periodicity of these films can be readily controlled to obtain materials that selectively reflect light with wavelengths ranging from ≈400–1400 nm. The co‐assembly of CNCs and silica into ordered chiral nematic structures is demonstrated to occur within a narrow window of pH and is affected by aging: a slow rate of silica condensation appears to be vital for the formation of well‐ordered materials. CNCs can be removed from the composite films by calcination or acid hydrolysis to give high surface area chiral nematic mesoporous silica (CNMS) with tunable pore diameters. The combination of mesoporosity and chiral nematic ordering in CNMS enables it to be used in a unique way for refractometric sensing applications. It is shown that, when using circular dichroism (CD) signals to monitor the chiral photonic properties of CNMS, variations in refractive index can be detected based on changes of both CD signal intensity and peak position with good sensitivity.
Chemical looping technology and its applications in fossil fuel conversion and CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; capture (2012)

Chemical looping is a reaction scheme to decompose one reaction into multiple subreactions via chemical intermediates. The concept of chemical looping has been applied to the generation of hydrogen through the steam iron reaction, as well as the production of carbon dioxide since the 20th Century. However, there are currently no chemical looping processes in commercial operation. Under the circumstances of growing global warming and energy crisis, chemical looping processes have attracted extensive interests for the unique ability to convert carbonaceous fuel to energy or chemicals with affordable CO2 control. Recent developments in chemical looping technology have overcome some of the earlier shortcomings. New research on direct conversion of solid feedstock, such as coal has also been conducted. Through the current sub-pilot/pilot scale tests and process analysis, it has been demonstrated that chemical looping process can effectively reduce the energy cost for CO2 separation with enhanced energy efficiency. This paper presents the status of existing research activities on chemical looping development for fossil fuel conversion, with emphasis on large scale demonstration of chemical looping combustion (CLC) and chemical looping gasification (CLG). The opportunities as well as the challenges on the way to commercialize chemical looping processes have also been briefly discussed.
Design, Modeling, and Characterization of a Novel Circular Surface Acoustic Wave Device (2008)

The design, modeling, and fabrication of a novel circular surface acoustic wave (SAW) device in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) are introduced. The results obtained in authors' previous work demonstrated that it is possible to design and fabricate SAW-based sensors in CMOS with comparable performances to conventional devices. It is of great interest to improve the transfer characteristics and to reduce the losses of conventional rectangular SAW architectures for obtaining highly selective sensor platforms. Performance deficiencies of regular SAW devices in CMOS were addressed with this new architecture for improved performance. A 3-D model for the novel architecture was constructed. A detailed finite-element analysis was carried out to examine the transient, harmonic, and modal behavior of the new architecture under excitation. The devices were fabricated in 0.5 mum AMI semiconductor technology and the postprocessing was carried out using cost-effective CMOS compatible methods. The results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain highly oriented SAWs by using the novel circular architecture. A 12.24 dB insertion loss improvement was achieved when compared with a conventional rectangular device that was fabricated in the same technology.
Comparative Analysis of Mesenteric and Peripheral Blood Circulating Tumor DNA in Colorectal Cancer Patients (2006)

An increasing number of reports have demonstrated the presence of tumor-specific DNA in cancer patients' plasma/serum. These findings offer the prospective of serologic tumor markers that may aide in early disease detection, predict subclinical disease progression, and monitor treatment responses. However, for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), there are few reports using this approach, with most revealing poor sensitivity. In contrast to tumors of other organ systems, CRCs drain predominantly via the mesenteric/portal veins (MV) to the liver. We hypothesize that because of this unique relation, tumor DNA may be less abundant in CRC patients' systemic circulation as compared to the mesenteric/portal system. At the time of surgery, paired blood was collected from both the peripheral vein (PV) and MV from 33 CRC patients. DNA was isolated from serum, quantified and assessed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) using a panel of 11 microsatellite markers corresponding to regions on six chromosomes frequent for LOH in CRC. In addition, 16 samples were assessed for the presence of hypermethylated DNA for tumor suppressor genes: MGMT, P16, RAR-beta2, RASSF1A, and APC. Circulating tumor DNA associated with LOH or methylation was more frequently detected in the MV of patients, 11 (33%) and 6 (38%), as compared to PV, 9 (27%) and 1 (6%), respectively. This study is the first to identify the presence of increased tumor DNA in the direct efferent venous drainage system of CRC and its variation as compared to systemic circulation. The findings provide important evidence supporting the origin of tumor-associated DNA in circulation, which merits consideration when devising blood-based nucleic acid assays for the assessment of CRC.