gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 Response in 2D and 3D Cell Cultures Models to High Carbon Content CoCr Alloy Particles. Effect of Metallic Particles on Vimentin Expression (2017)

The study of the biocompability of the metallic materials is a priority treating to avoid the osteolysis and aseptic loosening of prosthesis. Wear debris is considered one of the main factors responsible for aseptic loosening of orthopedic endoprostheses. We examined the response of mouse osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 to high carbon cobalt-chrome (HCCoCr) particles obtained a) from wear-corrosion assays on a pin-on-disk tribometer using as pair an alumina ball and a disc of a HCCoCr alloy, and b) HCCoCr bulk particles obtained by nitrogen gas atomization from an alloy used in clinic for prostheses application. Mitochondrial activity and lactate dehydrogenase activity assayed in 2D and 3D osteoblasts cell culture models were used to evaluate the cellular response to size, shape, and chemical composition of the metallic particles. 2D cell model was used to study the direct interaction of cells with particles and 3D cell cultures was used to more closely mimic in vivo conditions. The results showed that vimentin was overexpressed in the 2D osteoblasts cultures in presence of metal particles. This might be related to the appearance of pseudotumor in the peri-prosthetic vicinity described in some implanted patients.
Tailoring nanophotonic frequency converters for quantum dot single-photon sources (2019)

We demonstrate the suitability of silicon nanophotonic frequency converters for use with quantum dot single-photon sources. Preservation of photon statistics, operation across an 840-980 nm input wavelength band, and tunable wavelength shifts are shown.
Dynamics of Silicon Micro-Heaters: Modelling and Experimental Identification (2006)

In this paper we present a novel tractable feedback model that captures the thermo-electric dynamics of silicon micro-heaters. The validity of the model is demonstrated using an analytical derivation from physical principles. Furthermore the model is applied to the synthesis of specific temperature profiles.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Symptom Provocation in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (1996)

Results of functional magnetic resonance imaging were consistent with past studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder that used other functional neuroimaging modalities. However, paralimbic and limbic activations were more prominent in the present study.
Coplanar Shadowgrams for Acquiring Visual Hulls of Intricate Objects (2007)

Acquiring 3D models of intricate objects (like tree branches, bicycles and insects) is a hard problem due to severe self-occlusions, repeated thin structures and surface discontinuities. In theory, a shape-from-silhouettes (SFS) approach can overcome these difficulties and use many views to reconstruct visual hulls that are close to the actual shapes. In practice, however, SFS is highly sensitive to errors in silhouette contours and the calibration of the imaging system, and therefore not suitable for obtaining reliable shapes with a large number of views. We present a practical approach to SFS using a novel technique called coplanar shadowgram imaging, that allows us to use dozens to even hundreds of views for visual hull reconstruction. Here, a point light source is moved around an object and the shadows (silhouettes) cast onto a single background plane are observed. We characterize this imaging system in terms of image projection, reconstruction ambiguity, epipolar geometry, and shape and source recovery. The coplanarity of the shadowgrams yields novel geometric properties that are not possible in traditional multi-view camera- based imaging systems. These properties allow us to derive a robust and automatic algorithm to recover the visual hull of an object and the 3D positions of light source simultaneously, regardless of the complexity of the object. We demonstrate the acquisition of several intricate shapes with severe occlusions and thin structures, using 50 to 120 views.
The Quest for Welfare-Friendly Feeding of Broiler Breeders: Effects of Daily vs. 5:2 Feed Restriction Schedules (2017)

Restricted feeding of broiler breeders is required for improved long-term health and welfare. Because feeding frustration and hunger are major welfare concerns during rearing, many suggestions have been made to decrease the negative feelings of hunger while maintaining suitable growth rates and reproductive health. Non-daily ("skip-a-day") feeding schedules are commonly used around the world to increase portion sizes at meal times while restricting intake but these practices are prohibited in many countries due to welfare concerns on fasting days. We compared birds raised on a non-daily feeding schedule (2 non-consecutive fasting days per week, 5:2), previously suggested as a welfare-friendlier non-daily alternative, to birds raised on daily feed restriction. We found signs of increased physiological stress levels in 5:2 birds, including elevated heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (1.00 for 5:2 vs. 0.75 for daily fed at 12 weeks of age), increased adiposity (0.21% lean body weight [LBW] for 5:2 vs. 0.13% LBW for daily fed), and reduced muscle growth (pectoral muscle 5.94% LBW for 5:2 vs. 6.52% LBW for daily fed). At the same time, 5:2 birds showed signs of lower anxiety before feeding times (activity was reduced from 10.30 in daily fed to 4.85) which may be a result of the lower feed competition associated with larger portion sizes. Although we found no difference in latency to first head movement in tonic immobility between the treatments (136.5 s on average for both groups), 5:2 birds generally showed more interest in a novel object in the home pen which indicated increased risk taking and reduced fear while fasting. The 5:2 birds in this study showed no signs of learning the feeding schedule, and this unpredictability may also increase stress. Taken together, the effects of 5:2 vs. daily feed restriction on the welfare of broiler breeder pullets remain inconclusive and differ between feeding and fasting days. In addition to reducing stress by minimizing the number of fasting days, we suggest that a shift to more predictable schedules may help improve the welfare of broiler breeder pullets.
Sonography of the gravid uterus and placenta: current concepts. (1993)

Examination of the placenta and gravid uterus is an integral part of any obstetric sonographic study. Fetal well-being and growth depend on an intact uteroplacental vascular supply, and sonography can show most of the macroscopic abnormalities that may adversely affect the placenta or the gravid uterus, and thus compromise the fetus or affect the mode of delivery. The first part of this review will highlight sonography of normal uterine anatomy and pitfalls and review sonographic findings in cases of incompetent cervix, premature labor, and uterine synechiae. The second part will describe some recent advances in sonography of normal placental development and appearance, sonographic and anatomic variations, placental lesions, and implantation abnormalities.
A Two-Dimensional Audio Scaling Enhancement to an Internet Videoconferencing System * (1997)

: Without widely deployed mechanisms for resource reservation, adaptive, best-effort techniques are the only methods of congestion control available to interactive, real-time applications. Here we discuss media scaling techniques for the audio component of videoconferencing systems and describe an experimental version of the ProShare system that incorporates two of these techniques. We also report the results of experiments using these techniques to adapt to daytime Internet traffic conditions. 1. INTRODUCTION This paper presents the results of experiments comparing two schemes for best-effort, adaptive congestion control for videoconferencing. In particular, these two techniques used two different approaches to the adaptation of the audio component of a videconferencing system. The first of these two schemes used conventional bit-rate scaling to adapt the audio stream. The second scheme employed a two-dimensional scaling scheme to adjust the audio packet-rate as well as the audio bi...
Transgenic Expression of the Dicotyledonous Pattern Recognition Receptor EFR in Rice Leads to Ligand-Dependent Activation of Defense Responses (2015)

Plant plasma membrane localized pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect extracellular pathogen-associated molecules. PRRs such as Arabidopsis EFR and rice XA21 are taxonomically restricted and are absent from most plant genomes. Here we show that rice plants expressing EFR or the chimeric receptor EFR::XA21, containing the EFR ectodomain and the XA21 intracellular domain, sense both Escherichia coli- and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo)-derived elf18 peptides at sub-nanomolar concentrations. Treatment of EFR and EFR::XA21 rice leaf tissue with elf18 leads to MAP kinase activation, reactive oxygen production and defense gene expression. Although expression of EFR does not lead to robust enhanced resistance to fully virulent Xoo isolates, it does lead to quantitatively enhanced resistance to weakly virulent Xoo isolates. EFR interacts with OsSERK2 and the XA21 binding protein 24 (XB24), two key components of the rice XA21-mediated immune response. Rice-EFR plants silenced for OsSERK2, or overexpressing rice XB24 are compromised in elf18-induced reactive oxygen production and defense gene expression indicating that these proteins are also important for EFR-mediated signaling in transgenic rice. Taken together, our results demonstrate the potential feasibility of enhancing disease resistance in rice and possibly other monocotyledonous crop species by expression of dicotyledonous PRRs. Our results also suggest that Arabidopsis EFR utilizes at least a subset of the known endogenous rice XA21 signaling components.
Nω-Nitroarginine-Containing Dipeptide Amides. Potent and Highly Selective Inhibitors of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (1999)

Selective inhibition of the isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) could be therapeutically useful in the treatment of certain disease states arising from the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO). Recently, we reported the dipeptide methyl ester, D-Phe-D-Arg(NO)()2-OMe (19), as a modest inhibitor of nNOS (K(i) = 2 microM), but with selectivity over iNOS as high as 1800-fold (Silverman, R. B.; Huang, H.; Marletta, M. A.; Martasek, P. J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 2813-2817). Here a library of 152 dipeptide amides containing nitroarginine and amino acids other than Phe are synthesized and screened for activity. Excellent inhibitory potency and selectivity for nNOS over eNOS and iNOS is achieved with the dipeptide amides containing a basic amine side chain (20-24), which indicates a possible electrostatic (or hydrogen bonding) interaction at the enzyme active site. The most potent nNOS inhibitor among these compounds is L-Arg(NO)()2-L-Dbu-NH(2) (23) (K(i) = 130 nM), which also exhibits the highest selectivity over eNOS (>1500-fold) with a 192-fold selectivity over iNOS. These compounds do not exhibit time-dependent inhibition. The order and the chirality of the amino acids in the dipeptide amides have profound influences on the inhibitory potency as well as on the isoform selectivity. These dipeptide amide inhibitors open the door to the design of potent and highly selective inhibitors of nNOS.
Polygon Mesh Processing (2010)

Geometry processing, or mesh processing, is a fast-growing area of research that uses concepts from applied mathematics, computer science, and engineering to design efficient algorithms for the acquisition, reconstruction, analysis, manipulation, simulation, and transmission of complex 3D models. Applications of geometry processing algorithms alrea
Exploring the Limits of Improving DI Diesel Emissions By Increasing In-Cylinder Mixing (1998)

&lt;div class="htmlview paragraph"&gt;In the current investigation, the authors identified conditions under which increased in-cylinder turbulence can be used to improve diesel emissions. Two separate regimes of engine operation were identified; one in which combustion was constrained by mixing and one in which it was not. These regimes were dubbed under-mixed and over-mixed, respectively. It was found that increasing mixing in the former regime had a profound effect on soot emission. Fuel injection characteristics were found to be extremely important in determining the point at which mixing became inadequate. In addition, the ratio of the fuel injection momentum flux relative to that of the gas injection was found to be important in determining how increasing mixing would effect soot emissions.&lt;/div&gt;
Modeling Reduction of Uranium U(VI) under Variable Sulfate Concentrations by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (2000)

The kinetics for the reduction of sulfate alone and for concurrent uranium [U(VI)] and sulfate reduction, by mixed and pure cultures of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) at 21 +/- 3 degrees C were studied. The mixed culture contained the SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris along with a Clostridium sp. determined via 16S ribosomal DNA analysis. The pure culture was Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (ATCC 7757). A zero-order model best fit the data for the reduction of sulfate from 0.1 to 10 mM. A lag time occurred below cell concentrations of 0.1 mg (dry weight) of cells/ml. For the mixed culture, average values for the maximum specific reaction rate, V(max), ranged from 2.4 +/- 0.2 micromol of sulfate/mg (dry weight) of SRB. h(-1)) at 0.25 mM sulfate to 5.0 +/- 1.1 micromol of sulfate/mg (dry weight) of SRB. h(-1) at 10 mM sulfate (average cell concentration, 0.52 mg [dry weight]/ml). For the pure culture, V(max) was 1.6 +/- 0.2 micromol of sulfate/mg (dry weight) of SRB. h(-1) at 1 mM sulfate (0.29 mg [dry weight] of cells/ml). When both electron acceptors were present, sulfate reduction remained zero order for both cultures, while uranium reduction was first order, with rate constants of 0.071 +/- 0.003 mg (dry weight) of cells/ml. min(-1) for the mixed culture and 0.137 +/- 0.016 mg (dry weight) of cells/ml. min(-1) (U(0) = 1 mM) for the D. desulfuricans culture. Both cultures exhibited a faster rate of uranium reduction in the presence of sulfate and no lag time until the onset of U reduction in contrast to U alone. This kinetics information can be used to design an SRB-dominated biotreatment scheme for the removal of U(VI) from an aqueous source.
Water Sorption and Transport Properties of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes: New Insights from Theory (2009)

Pertinent polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) channel protons through random networks of water-filled pores. Their operation hinges on sufficient amounts of water for proton conduction. This requirement affects structure and properties on &gt; 6 scales. Theoretical research on PEM employs a hierarchy of physical models to address these multiscale challenges. The first part of this contribution focuses on recent progress in ab initio calculations of structural correlations and proton dynamics at dense interfacial arrays of protogenic surface groups. These results have vital implications for the design of PEM that could attain high proton conductivity at minimal hydration. The second part explores the realms of equilibrium and dynamic water sorption and swelling of PEM. The outlined approaches in modeling provide capabilities to predict the membrane response to changing external conditions and to extract parameters of bulk water transport in PEM and vaporization exchange at the membrane surfaces from measured water fluxes through the membrane.
SATIRE (2006)

Personal instrumentation and monitoring services that collect and archive the physical activities of a user have recently been introduced for various medical, personal, safety, and entertainment purposes. A general software architecture is needed to support different categories of such monitoring services. This paper presents a software architecture, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of SATIRE, a wearable personal monitoring service transparently embedded in user garments. SATIRE records the owner's activity and location for subsequent automated uploading and archiving. The personal archive can later be searched for particular events to answer questions regarding past and present user activity, location, and behavior patterns. A short feasibility and usage study of a prototype based on MicaZ motes provides a proof of concept for the SATIRE architecture.
Effect of alpha alpha-Cross-Linked Hemoglobin and Pyridoxalated Hemoglobin Polyoxyethylene Conjugate Solutions on Gastrointestinal Regional Perfusion in Hemorrhagic Shock (1998)

PHP was efficacious in restoring CI and small-bowel flow, but the pHi remained low, indicating possible continued mucosal ischemia. Alpha(alpha)Hb led to limited recovery of CI and small-bowel blood flow but restored pHi close to baseline. Shed blood was efficacious in restoration of pHi, gastrointestinal blood flows, and systemic hemodynamics.
Purification and properties of neutral α-1,4 glucosidase from human seminal plasma (1979)

Following a preliminary fractionation of neutral alpha-glucosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.20) from human seminal plasma, we have shown by ion exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-200 filtration, and adsorption chromatography that this alpha-glucosidase activity corresponded to two isoenzymes having the same ability to hydrolyse p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. Both isoenzymes present a heat-stable fraction at 60 degrees C, require the presence of divalent cations in the incubation medium to demonstrate their glycolytic activity, and are inhibited by maltotriose and maltose. They have a molecular weight of approximately 200,000 daltons and different sedimentation profiles on sucrose density gradient. This basic knowledge appears to be the prerequisite for further studies dealing with the importance of such isoenzymes as markers of epididymal function in male fertility.
Relative and absolute 99Tcm-DMSA uptake measurements in normal and obstructed kidneys (1987)

Relative and absolute 99Tcm-DMSA uptake measurements were carried out on 25 adult patients among whom there were 23 normal and 25 malfunctioning kidneys. Data were collected at 3 and 6 h post intravenous tracer injection. Four methods of calculating absolute uptake were investigated and evaluated. These were based on: (1) posterior view and measured kidney depth; (2) posterior view and Raynauld's depth; (3) geometric mean assuming kidney thickness is small enough not to introduce self attenuation of counts in the kidney itself; (4) geometric mean taking kidney thickness into account. Whilst (1) and (2) were found to overestimate and underestimate renal uptake by up to 5 and 14%, respectively, (3) and (4) were found to be more accurate and comparable. The measurement of relative DMSA uptake (right to left) showed no change between the 1 and 6 h measurements for both obstructed and non-obstructed kidneys. Based on the results from method 4, the absolute renal DMSA uptake had a mean value of 25.4%, S.D. 8.9% and 30.0%, S.D. 9.2% at 3 and 6 h, respectively, for normal/non obstructed kidneys. For obstructed kidneys (responding to frusemide), the mean uptake was 23.0%, S.D. 7.2 and 25.6%, S.D. 6.7% at 3 and 6 h, respectively. For obstructed kidneys not responding to frusemide, the mean uptake was 16.8%, S.D. 3.9 and 20.6%, S.D. 4.8% at 3 and 6 h, respectively. No correlation was found between absolute DMSA uptake and degree of renal obstruction.
Scaling with MgO thickness of the proximity exchange field in a Fe/MgO/Si contact (2023)

The scaling of the proximity exchange field, which ferromagnetic Fe exerts on the spin accumulation at the MgO/Si interface of Fe/MgO/Si tunnel contacts, was investigated using the inverted Hanle effect. Data as a function of the applied bias voltage shows that the exchange field varies with bias in the same way as the square of the tunnel spin polarization (TSP). The decay of the exchange field with increasing MgO thickness ${t}_{\mathrm{MgO}}$ is rather weak and nonexponential, which we argue to be related to the improved epitaxial quality of the MgO, and the, consequently, improved spin-filtering properties at larger MgO thickness. Using the TSP data to correct for this yields an exponential decay of the exchange field with ${t}_{\mathrm{MgO}}$ with a decay length of $\ensuremath{\lambda}=\ensuremath{-}0.42$ nm. Comparing this to the decay length for the tunnel conductance ($\ensuremath{\lambda}=\ensuremath{-}0.21$ nm) suggests that the exchange interaction is dominated by two-step tunneling processes.
Assessing e-scooters safety and drivability: a quantitative analysis (2022)

E-scooters are now massively present in urban environments as a shared last-mile solution. Their apparent ease of drivability favored their diffusion, but also actually raises safety concerns. In this work, we propose a data-driven approach to map e-scooters mechanical specifications to drivability and safety metrics, the latter appropriately defined and computed based on experimental data. An ad-hoc HW/SW platform was designed for this purpose, so as to be portable and installed on seven different e-Scooters that were tested in trips carried out in the city of Milan. The proposed approach allowed us to characterize both stability and comfort metrics on the different vehicles, and compare them also with a qualitative driving test carried out by a journalist making driving tests. The quantitative analysis matched the impressions of the human driver, and it disclosed an interesting mapping between the perceived risk and the vehicle characteristics evaluated according to the two metrics proposed.
110th Anniversary: Selection of Cross-Linkers and Cross-Linking Procedures for the Fabrication of Solvent-Resistant Nanofiltration Membranes: A Review (2019)

Separation in organic mixtures is challenging but inevitable in many chemical and pharmaceutical processes. A membrane-based technique known as organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) offers a sustainable and reliable solution due to its characteristics of low energy consumption and high efficiency. However, fabrication of a robust membrane that can maintain its separation performance in direct contact with organic solvents for a long period of time is challenging. The most common way to make a polymeric membrane resistant to organic solvents is to cross-link it with a three-dimensional network of polymer chains. However, selection of the right cross-linker for a particular polymer may not be very straightforward. Therefore, in this review, we aim to briefly introduce the common materials used for the fabrication of OSN membranes and demonstrate the state-of-art cross-linking procedures to improve the chemical stability of the membranes. This review may be helpful to researchers when selecting and modifying materials for the development of OSN membranes.
Predicting microbial species richness (2005)

Microorganisms are spectacularly diverse phylogenetically, but available estimates of their species richness are vague and problematic. For example, for comparable environments, the estimated numbers of species range from a few dozen or hundreds to tens of thousands and even half a million. Such estimates provide no baseline information on either local or global microbial species richness. We argue that this uncertainty is due in large part to the way statistical tools are used, if not indeed misused, in biodiversity research. Here we develop a powerful synthetic statistical approach to quantify biodiversity. It provides statistically sound estimates of microbial richness at any level of taxonomic hierarchy. We apply this approach to a large original 16S rRNA dataset on marine bacterial diversity and show that the number of bacterial species in a sample from marine sediments is (2.4 +/- 0.5 SE) x 10(3). We argue that our methodology provides estimates of microbial richness that are reliable and general, have biologically meaningful SEs, and meet other fundamental statistical standards. This approach can be an essential tool in biodiversity research, and the estimates of microbial richness presented here can serve as a baseline in microbial diversity studies.