gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Ultra high amorphous silicon passivation quality of crystalline silicon surface using in-situ post-deposition treatments (2014)

A parametric study of post-deposition hydrogen plasma treatment of intrinsic a:Si:H films is performed. We demonstrate a significant improvement in passivation of c-Si(100) promoting epitaxy after an in-situ hydrogen plasma treatment depending mainly on the pressure and slightly on the power. Plasma diagnostic indicates an increase of Hα* signal with high power and low pressure. However, our analysis reveals a better hydrogen incorporation with high pressure and a slight increase in monohydride with high power. Longer H2 plasma duration up to 50 s shows no detrimental effect on the passivation quality. Optimizing the in-situ H2 plasma treatment, high minority carrier lifetime over 15 ms was achieved after short thermal annealing. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Unique Pharmacological Properties of α-Conotoxin OmIA at α7 nAChRs (2021)

OmIA, isolated from <i>Conus omaria</i> venom, is a potent antagonist at α7 nAChRs. We determined the co-crystal structure of OmIA with <i>Lymnae stagnalis</i> acetylcholine binding protein (<i>Ls</i>-AChBP) that identified His5, Val10 and Asn11 as key determinants for the high potency of OmIA at α7 nAChRs. Remarkably, despite a competitive binding mode observed in the co-crystal structure, OmIA and analogues displayed functional insurmountable antagonism at α7 and α3β4 nAChRs, except OmIA analogues having long side chain at position 10 ([V10Q]OmIA and [V10L]OmIA), which were partial insurmountable antagonist at α7 nAChRs in the presence of type II positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). A "two-state, two-step" model was used to explain these observations, with [V10Q]OmIA and [V10L]OmIA co-existing in a fast reversible/surmountable as well as a tight binding/insurmountable state. OmIA and analogues also showed biphasic-inhibition at α7 nAChRs in the presence of PNU120596, with a preference for the high-affinity binding site following prolonged exposure. The molecular basis of binding and complex pharmacological profile of OmIA at α7 nAChRs presented in here expands on the potential of α-conotoxins to probe the pharmacological properties of nAChRs and may help guide the development novel α7 modulators.
Design and Implementation of a LLC Resonant Solid State Transformer (2020)

In this study, analysis and control of a highly efficient, high-power full-bridge unidirectional resonant LLC solid-state transformer (SST) are discussed. A combination of pulse frequency modulation and phase-shift modulation is utilized to control this resonant converter for a wide load range. The converter is designed to maintain soft switching by using a resonant circuit to minimize the switching loss of the high-frequency converter. Zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) is achieved for the H-bridge converter. The ZVS boundary for the proposed combined control method is also analyzed in detail. The experimental setup for the suggested configuration was implemented, and the performance of the proposed control scheme and resonant LLC SST have been verified with test results. The proposed combined control scheme improves control performance. The obtained results show that, the proposed system can regulate output voltage and maintain soft switching in a wide range of load. Thus, the efficiency of the system is improved and an efficiency of 97.18% is achieved.
Organic Photovoltaics: Elucidating the Ultra‐Fast Exciton Dissociation Mechanism in Disordered Materials (2014)

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) offer the opportunity for cheap, lightweight and mass-producible devices. However, an incomplete understanding of the charge generation process, in particular the timescale of dynamics and role of exciton diffusion, has slowed further progress in the field. We report a new Kinetic Monte Carlo model for the exciton dissociation mechanism in OPVs that addresses the origin of ultra-fast (<1 ps) dissociation by incorporating exciton delocalization. The model reproduces experimental results, such as the diminished rapid dissociation with increasing domain size, and also lends insight into the interplay between mixed domains, domain geometry, and exciton delocalization. Additionally, the model addresses the recent dispute on the origin of ultra-fast exciton dissociation by comparing the effects of exciton delocalization and impure domains on the photo-dynamics.This model provides insight into exciton dynamics that can advance our understanding of OPV structure-function relationships.
Structural and functional characterization of a single-chain peptide–MHC molecule that modulates both naive and activated CD8 + T cells (2011)

Peptide-MHC (pMHC) multimers, in addition to being tools for tracking and quantifying antigen-specific T cells, can mediate downstream signaling after T-cell receptor engagement. In the absence of costimulation, this can lead to anergy or apoptosis of cognate T cells, a property that could be exploited in the setting of autoimmune disease. Most studies with class I pMHC multimers used noncovalently linked peptides, which can allow unwanted CD8(+) T-cell activation as a result of peptide transfer to cellular MHC molecules. To circumvent this problem, and given the role of self-reactive CD8(+) T cells in the development of type 1 diabetes, we designed a single-chain pMHC complex (scK(d).IGRP) by using the class I MHC molecule H-2K(d) and a covalently linked peptide derived from islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP(206-214)), a well established autoantigen in NOD mice. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the peptide is presented in the groove of the MHC molecule in canonical fashion, and it was also demonstrated that scK(d).IGRP tetramers bound specifically to cognate CD8(+) T cells. Tetramer binding induced death of naive T cells and in vitro- and in vivo-differentiated cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and tetramer-treated cytotoxic T lymphocytes showed a diminished IFN-γ response to antigen stimulation. Tetramer accessibility to disease-relevant T cells in vivo was also demonstrated. Our study suggests the potential of single-chain pMHC tetramers as possible therapeutic agents in autoimmune disease. Their ability to affect the fate of naive and activated CD8(+) T cells makes them a potential intervention strategy in early and late stages of disease.
Hif-2α programmes oxygen chemosensitivity in chromaffin cells (2023)

Abstract The study of transcription factors that determine specialised neuronal functions has provided invaluable insights into the physiology of the nervous system. Peripheral chemoreceptors are neurone-like electro-physiologically excitable cells that link the oxygen content of arterial blood to the neuronal control of breathing. In the adult, this oxygen chemosensitivity is exemplified by the Type I cells of the carotid body and recent work has revealed one isoform of the transcription factor HIF, HIF-2α, to have a non-redundant role in the development and function of that organ. Here we show that the activation of HIF-2α, including isolated overexpression alone, is sufficient to induce oxygen chemosensitivity in the otherwise unresponsive adult adrenal medulla. This phenotypic change in the adrenal medulla was associated with retention of extra-adrenal paraganglioma-like tissues that resemble the foetal organ of Zuckerkandl and also manifest oxygen chemosensitivity. Acquisition of chemosensitivity was associated with changes in the adrenal medullary expression of classes of genes that are ordinarily characteristic of the carotid body, including G-protein regulators and atypical subunits of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase. Overall, the findings suggest that, at least in certain tissues, HIF-2α acts as a phenotypic driver for cells that display oxygen chemosensitivity, providing a route to mechanistic understanding.
Closing the Verification Gap with Static Sign-off (2019)

It is commonly held that because SOCs are extremely complex, the gap between the ability to design and to verify is beyond manageable proportions. Recent reality, though, has been more positive. The recent increase in SOC scale has been enabled by design-style advances, and the increase in SOC scale has been much more rapid than that of constituent IP. Consequently, verification complexity and SOC failure is now more correlated to SOC implementation schemes than IP functionality. In this milieu, SOC sign-off appears more manageable when broken into verification problems posed by the individual SOC implementation schemes, each scheme characterized by a narrow range of failure risks that can be modeled precisely. This tends to be a sweet spot for “static analysis”, which is a general term for methods that are based on algorithmically analyzing design attributes rather than testing a design by evaluating input stimuli through them. In fact, the dissection of SOC verification into the individual verification problems and the development of failure-specific static analysis methods for them has been the verification revolution of the past decade, without which the SOC revolution would have stalled.
Improved Phosphoramidite Building Blocks for the Synthesis of the Simplified Nucleic Acid GNA (2009)

An improved synthesis of glycol nucleic acids is reported using new phosphoramidite building blocks in which the exocyclic amino groups of adenine and guanine are protected as N-dimethylformamidines, whereas the amino group of cytosine is protected via an acetamide. Besides a more rapid synthesis with higher yields, these phosphoramidites allow the use of a quicker deprotection procedure in the subsequent solid-phase synthesis of GNA oligonucleotides.
Topographic SU-8 Substrates for Immobilization of Three-Dimensional Nanotube−Vesicle Networks (2004)

A method to create three-dimensional compact liposome networks, adhered to topographic substrates fabricated in the epoxy polymer SU-8 was described. The polymeric photoresist SU-8 is a highly suitable material for soybean lipid vesicle immobilization displaying sufficient contact potential for secure anchoring of liposomes and minimal lipid spreading. The material allows fluid-state lipid membrane structures to retain their structural integrity for long time periods. The use of the construction techniques increases the compactness of lipid nanotube networks as the tube density from a single vesicle is increased when access to the off-equatorial area is provided.
Switching control of sympathetic activity from forebrain to hindbrain in chronic dehydration (2011)

We investigated the mechanisms responsible for increased blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) caused by 2-3 days dehydration (DH) both in vivo and in situ preparations. In euhydrated (EH) rats, systemic application of the AT(1) receptor antagonist Losartan and subsequent pre-collicular transection (to remove the hypothalamus) significantly reduced thoracic (t)SNA. In contrast, in DH rats, Losartan, followed by pre-collicular and pontine transections, failed to reduce tSNA, whereas transection at the medulla-spinal cord junction massively reduced tSNA. In DH but not EH rats, selective inhibition of the commissural nucleus tractus solitarii (cNTS) significantly reduced tSNA. Comparable data were obtained in both in situ and in vivo (anaesthetized/conscious) rats and suggest that following chronic dehydration, the control of tSNA transfers from supra-brainstem structures (e.g. hypothalamus) to the medulla oblongata, particularly the cNTS. As microarray analysis revealed up-regulation of AP1 transcription factor JunD in the dehydrated cNTS, we tested the hypothesis that AP1 transcription factor activity is responsible for dehydration-induced functional plasticity. When AP1 activity was blocked in the cNTS using a viral vector expressing a dominant negative FosB, cNTS inactivation was ineffective. However, tSNA was decreased after pre-collicular transection, a response similar to that seen in EH rats. Thus, the dehydration-induced switch in control of tSNA from hypothalamus to cNTS seems to be mediated via activation of AP1 transcription factors in the cNTS. If AP1 activity is blocked in the cNTS during dehydration, sympathetic activity control reverts back to forebrain regions. This unique reciprocating neural structure-switching plasticity between brain centres emphasizes the multiple mechanisms available for the adaptive response to dehydration.
On-line nano-solid phase extraction Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry workflow to analyse soil solution organic matter gradients in the rhizosphere (2020)

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Plant-microbe interplay in the rhizosphere generates multi-faceted chemical gradients. The soil solution is a crucial component of the rhizosphere, where chemical gradients of organic molecules first develop upon growth of roots, introduction of plant-derived carbon and microbial turnover. Studying these gradients requires high resolution both in time and space as well as high chemical specificity to resolve the multitude of compounds. Existing methods to probe the rhizosphere soil solution were mostly limited to bulk chemical parameters, inorganic ions or targeted analysis of organic molecules. However, to decipher organic carbon turnover in the rhizosphere the characterization of the complex pool of soil solution organic matter is needed.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Here we present a novel method that combines time-resolved collection of soil solution samples via micro-suction cups in the rhizosphere with ultrahigh chemical resolution provided by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) to unravel developing pattern of soil solution organic matter.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Zea mays plants were grown in soil columns for three weeks and soil solution samples of undisturbed root-soil system were collected once a week. Growth of the root system and hence position of sampling locations in relation to the distance from the root, were followed by X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The online sample preparation was optimised to extract and desalt the organic matter from a few microliters of soil solution. The downscaling to a nano-liquid chromatography system for the on-line extraction allowed the analysis of only minute amounts of organic carbon within the samples (down to 10 ng). Given the high background concentration of soil-derived organic carbon, the high mass resolution and sensitivity of FT-ICR-MS enabled to distinguish root derived molecules from soil organic matter based on their exact masses. Molecular formulas of the root derived molecules could be calculated showing distinct chemical characteristics as compared to the bulk soil solution. X-ray CT analyses enabled relating the results from the chemical analysis to distance from the root and root age. With increasing influence of the roots higher molecular masses and an increasing degree of oxygenation of the molecules could be observed.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Our method is thus capable to show the changing small scale pattern of soil solution organic matter during the early rhizosphere development, closing the knowledge gap between root exudates, soil chemistry and microbial processes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
(Invited) An Update on High Voltage SiC Power Devices (2011)

The development of high voltage power devices based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) will be a critical component in building the next generation power systems. Bipolar devices are preferable due to their low on-resistance. In this paper, a detailed review of the state-of-the-art of SiC power switches, namely Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs), Gate Turn-Off thyristors (GTOs), and Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs), is given with an emphasis on the device design, characterization and stability assessments.
Enhanced electro-optic phase shifts in suspended waveguides (2010)

We demonstrate enhanced electro-optic phase shifts in suspended InGaAs/InGaAsP quantum well waveguides compared to attached waveguides. The enhancement stems from an improved overlap between the optical mode and the multiple quantum well layers in thin waveguides when the semiconductor material beneath the waveguide is selectively etched. The measured voltage length product is 0.41 V-cm and the measured propagation loss is 2.3 +/- 0.7 dB/cm for the TE mode in the optical L-band.
Analysis of Lujo Virus Cell Entry using Pseudotype Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (2014)

LUJV is a newly identified arenavirus associated with a VHF outbreak in southern Africa. Although cell entry for many arenaviruses has been studied, cell entry for LUJV has not been characterized. In this study, we found that LUJpv utilizes neither αDG nor hTfR1 as a receptor and found unique characteristics of LUJV glycoprotein in membrane fusion and cell entry. Proper exclusion of cholesterol or some kinds of lipids may play important roles in LUJpv cell entry.
Syntheses of Strychnos and Aspidospermatan Type Alkaloids. 4. Formation of the Pentacyclic Core by an Intramolecular Diels Alder Reaction (1994)

Abstract Reactions of hetero-substituted acetaldehydes, or ethynyl methyl ketone, or methyl propiolate with methyl 1,2,3,4,5,8-hexahydroazonino[6,7-b]indole-7-carboxylate gave the pentacyclic core of the strychnos alkaloids with substituents on the central bridge.
Control of Solid State Transformer based on Modular Multilevel Converters with Interconnecting Dual Active Bridges (2019)

The increasing incorporation of energy storage and electric vehicles to the grid and the injection of variable renewable energies and hybrid microgrids will impose an important challenge to the transformer design and operation. Solid state transformers become a suitable alternative to address these issues due to the high controllability they perform. Particularly, modular solid state transformer are the preferred choice at distribution level due to the high voltage rating, reliability and fault tolerance they feature. In this paper a modular solid state transformer based on two modular multilevel converter connected by a series of isolated dual active bridges is proposed. The proposed topology is analyzed and mathematically modeled, and a suitable controller is designed. Simulations results shows the performance of the proposed topology and control scheme.
A Synthesis of 6-Tributylstannyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrans via Coupling of Enol Triflates with (Bu3Sn)(Bu)CuLi·LiCN (2002)

Enol triflates derived from 6- and 7-membered ring lactones (6 cases) react with (Bu3Sn)(Bu)CuLi·LiCN in THF at -78 °C to give the corresponding α-tributylstannyl cyclic enol ethers in 54-85% yield.
Sampling-oscilloscope measurement of a microwave mixer with single-digit phase accuracy (2006)

We describe a straightforward method of separately characterizing up- and down-conversion in microwave mixers using a sampling oscilloscope. The method mismatch-corrects the results, determines both magnitude and phase, and uses a novel time-base correction scheme to improve the accuracy of the measurements. We estimate our measurement accuracy to be on the order of a tenth of a decibel in magnitude and a few degrees in phase. We use the method to characterize the magnitude and phase reciprocity of a microwave mixer.
Measurement of exclusive pion pair production in proton–proton collisions at $$\sqrt{s}={7}\,\text {TeV}$$ with the ATLAS detector (2023)

Abstract The exclusive production of pion pairs in the process $$pp\rightarrow pp\pi ^+\pi ^-$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mo>→</mml:mo> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>-</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> has been measured at $$\sqrt{s}={7}\,\text {TeV}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msqrt> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> </mml:msqrt> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>7</mml:mn> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mtext>TeV</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, using $${80}\,{\upmu \textrm{b}}^{-1}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>80</mml:mn> <mml:mspace/> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>μ</mml:mi> <mml:mtext>b</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>-</mml:mo> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> of low-luminosity data. The pion pairs were detected in the ATLAS central detector while outgoing protons were measured in the forward ATLAS ALFA detector system. This represents the first use of proton tagging to measure an exclusive hadronic final state at the LHC. A cross-section measurement is performed in two kinematic regions defined by the proton momenta, the pion rapidities and transverse momenta, and the pion–pion invariant mass. Cross-section values of $$4.8 \pm 1.0 \mathrm {\ (stat)} {~}^{+0.3}_{-0.2} \mathrm {\ (syst)}\ {\upmu \textrm{b}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>4.8</mml:mn> <mml:mo>±</mml:mo> <mml:mn>1.0</mml:mn> <mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>stat</mml:mi> <mml:mo>)</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>-</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.3</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>syst</mml:mi> <mml:mo>)</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>μ</mml:mi> <mml:mtext>b</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> and $$9 \pm 6 \mathrm {\ (stat)} {~}^{+2}_{-2} \mathrm {\ (syst)}\ {\upmu \textrm{b}} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>9</mml:mn> <mml:mo>±</mml:mo> <mml:mn>6</mml:mn> <mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>stat</mml:mi> <mml:mo>)</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>-</mml:mo> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>syst</mml:mi> <mml:mo>)</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mspace/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>μ</mml:mi> <mml:mtext>b</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> are obtained in the two regions; they are compared with theoretical models and provide a demonstration of the feasibility of measurements of this type.
Neural-Network-Based G-OSNR Estimation of Probabilistic-Shaped 144QAM Channels in DWDM Metro Network Field Trial (2019)

A two-stage neural network model is applied on captured PS-144QAM raw data to estimate channel G-OSNR in a metro network field trial. We obtained 0.27dB RMSE with first-stage CNN classifier and second-stage ANN regressions.
New strategies for femto-macro cellular interference control (2013)

Femtocells are small wireless access points that are typically installed in a subscriber's premises, but operate in a cellular provider's licensed spectrum. Since femtocells can be manufactured at a very low cost, require minimal network maintenance by the operator, and can leverage the subscriber's backhaul, femtocells offer the possibility of expanding cellular capacity at a fraction of the cost of traditional macrocellular deployments. With the surge in demand for wireless data services, femtocells have thus attracted considerable recent attention, both in cellular standards bodies such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) [1–3] and academic research [4, 5].