gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
A2B adenosine receptor inhibition by the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker nifedipine involves colonic fluid secretion (2020)

The adenosine A<sub>2B</sub> receptor is a critical protein in intestinal water secretion. In the present study, we screened compound libraries to identify inhibitors of the A<sub>2B</sub> receptor and evaluated their effect on adenosine-induced intestinal fluid secretion. The screening identified the dihydropyridine calcium antagonists nifedipine and nisoldipine. Their respective affinities for the A<sub>2B</sub> receptor (K<sub>i</sub> value) were 886 and 1,399 nM. Nifedipine and nisoldipine, but not amlodipine or nitrendipine, inhibited both calcium mobilization and adenosine-induced cAMP accumulation in cell lines. Moreover, adenosine injection into the lumen significantly increased fluid volume in the colonic loop of wild-type mice but not A<sub>2B</sub> receptor-deficient mice. PSB-1115, a selective A<sub>2B</sub> receptor antagonist, and nifedipine prevented elevated adenosine-stimulated fluid secretion in mice. Our results may provide useful insights into the structure-activity relationship of dihydropyridines for A<sub>2B</sub> receptor. As colonic fluid secretion by adenosine seems to rely predominantly on the A<sub>2B</sub> receptor, nifedipine could be a therapeutic candidate for diarrhoea-related diseases.
ChemInform Abstract: Stereoselective Synthesis of Macrolactin A Analogues. Part 2. The C1‐ C14 Fragment. (1996)

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Roadside Safety Analysis Program: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Procedure (1998)

Brief descriptions are provided of a new cost-effectiveness analysis program, known as the Roadside Safety Analysis Program (RSAP), which was developed under NCHRP Project 22-9. RSAP is an improvement over existing cost-effectiveness analysis procedures for evaluation of roadside safety improvements, such as the procedures in the 1977 AASHTO barrier guide and the ROADSIDE program. RSAP improves on many of the algorithms in the procedures and provides a user-friendly interface to facilitate use. The program has undergone extensive testing and validation, including evaluation by an independent reviewer. It is anticipated that RSAP will be available to the public through the McTrans Center at the University of Florida.
A Microscale Sputter-Ion Pump and Harsh (2007)

This project is developing microdischarge-based devices to control the environments in microscale packages and to detect gases in harsh environments. Microscale sputter-ion pumps (micro-SIPs) are used to control pressure, humidity, and gas composition inside micropackages. Micro-SIPs are typically fabricated by p a t t e rning thin-film titanium electrodes and operated by sputtering these electrodes through the application of high voltages. The resulting microplasmas cause the titanium to bond to gases in the environment, and these new molecules fall to the substrate surface. This effectively removes them. Removing a large number of molecules allows a user to control the pressure inside a sealed cavity, while selectively removing nitrogen and oxygen in an inert gas environment allows a user to control the purity of an environment. Micro-SIPs have reduced the pressure in a sealed cavity by 168Torr.A system for gas-phase chemical detection in harsh environments has been developed that utilizes three microplasma-based devices: the micro-SIP as a gas purifier; a pressure sensor; and a discharge emission chemical sensor.The gas-purifying micro-SIP has achieved a 56.5x reduction in nitrogen concentration relative to helium. This purification enhances the ability to detect trace amounts of gases and has demonstrated a spectral enhancement of 8xat 200°C for carbon line emission intensity.This project is supported by the Engineering Research Centers Program of the National Science Foundation under award number EEC-9986866.
Tissue bioreactor system for the creation and maturation of organized functional muscle (2006)

As a first step toward the development of clinically applicable functional muscle tissues we investigated whether organized functional muscle tissue could be engineered in a three‐dimensional bioreactor system. Human skeletal muscle precursor cells (MPCs) were isolated, grown and expanded in culture, and seeded onto collagen‐based muscle scaffolds for two days of static culture. Subsequently, MPC‐seeded scaffolds were placed in the bioreactor system and subjected to cyclic strain of ±10% of the initial scaffold length at a frequency of 3 times/minute for the first 5 minutes of every hour, for up to 3 weeks; MPC‐seeded scaffolds without cyclic stimulation served as controls. The resulting engineered tissue was assessed for structural and functional parameters using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histo‐ and immunohistochemistry, and physiologic studies. SEM of engineered muscle tissue showed a uniform attachment of muscle cells on the scaffold surface with unidirectional orientation within 5 days and continued to mature with time. Multinucleated myofibrils were evident and cells expressed muscle markers and produced extracellular matrices over time. Control scaffolds showed disorganized muscle cells without any directional orientation. Engineered muscle exhibited a reproducible contractile response to KCl‐induced depolarization (p&lt;0.05), while control scaffolds displayed no detectable contraction. This study demonstrates that an organized functional muscle tissue can be engineered using a unidirectional tissue bioreactor system.
Fabrication of magnetic force microscopy probes via localized electrochemical deposition of cobalt (2007)

Magnetic force microscopy probes were obtained via the solution phase electrochemical deposition of cobalt nanostructures at the probe apexes. Single tips were fabricated in an atomic force microscope fluid cell. Multiple tips were produced in a single batch with an alternating potential in an electrochemical cell. The probes achieve 50nm spatial resolution.
BATCH REVERSE OSMOSIS: EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS, MODEL VALIDATION, AND DESIGN IMPLICATIONS (2019)

In theory, batch reverse osmosis (RO) systems can achieve the lowest practical energy consumption by varying feed pressure over time. However, few batch RO syste ms have been built and operated. We have tested a bench-scale prototype of a true batch RO system using a bladder and a 2.5” (6.35 cm) spiral wound membrane element. Some practical issues in implementing batch RO include system start-up time, system depressurization, osmotic backwash during the reset phases, and lower permeate quality. This study is the first to validate batch models by measuring the hydraulic work of both the high pressure pump and the circulation pump. The experimental measurements agree well with the model (error ≤ 3 %) after accounting for concentration polarization. We used the validated model to calculate the energy savings of true batch systems at higher salinities and recovery ratios. We find that the energy savings achievable by true batch systems are less than previously thought, but still significant at relatively high recoveries. At 50% recovery of seawater feed, a batch RO plant could save 15% of the energy consumed by a continuous RO plant while still maintaining the same effective flux. Further studies should identify the additional costs associated with batch RO in order to identify the operating conditions where batch RO will be an economically favorable option compared to conventional continuous RO.
Deep learning for the AI industry (2018)

Deep learning is powering a transformation in computational sciences and its industry.The classic paradigm of humans programming the computational operations is challenged today by neural networks capable of self-tunning based on large amounts of sensor data or simulated actions.The outstanding results in challenges such as computer vision or natural language is expanding to multiple other fields such as genomics, autonomous driving or energy management.This seminar presents the perspective from two leading labs, Google Deepmind and Facebook Research, that represent the currently vitality of the sector and the experience of open research from industry.
Jumping force of coalescing droplets on a superhydrophobic surface (2017)

We report a method to directly measure the jumping force during the coalescence of two water droplets on a superhydrophobic surface using a MEMS-based force sensor as shown in Figure 1(a). The sensor is designed to measure the jumping force during the coalescence of two droplets whose radii are several hundred μm. The measurement results show that the maximum jumping force could be more than 10 times larger than the total weight of the merged droplet. Moreover, the impulse calculated from the measured force was on the same order with the jumping momentum of the droplet. Therefore, our sensor is a useful tool to investigate the mechanism of coalescence-induced droplet jumping.
π‐Extended Carbazole Derivatives as Host Materials for Highly Efficient and Long‐Life Green Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes (2020)

High-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that use phosphorescent and/or thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters are capable of realizing 100 % electron-to-photon conversion. The host materials in these OLEDs play crucial roles in determining OLED performance. Carbazole derivatives are frequently used as host materials, among which 3,3-bis(9H-carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl (mCBP) is often used for lifetime testing in scientific studies. In this study, the π conjugation of the carbazole unit was expanded to enhance OLED lifetime by designing and developing two benzothienocarbazole (BTCz)-based host materials, namely m1BTCBP and m4BTCBP. Among these host materials, m1BTCBP formed a highly efficient [Ir(ppy)<sub>3</sub> ]-based OLED with an operational luminescence half-life (LT<sub>50</sub> ) of over 300 h at an initial luminance of approximately 12000 cd m<sup>-2</sup> (current density: 25 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> ). The LT<sub>50</sub> value at 1000 cd cm<sup>-2</sup> was estimated to be about 23 000 h. This performance is clearly higher than that of mCBP-based OLEDs (LT<sub>50</sub> ≈8500 h).
Reverse blocking IGCT optimised for 1 kV DC bi‐directional solid state circuit breaker (2015)

This study presents the simulation and experimental results of the newly developed 2.5 kV reverse blocking‐integrated gate commutated thyristor (RB‐IGCT) which has been designed and optimised to have very low conduction losses and high turn‐off current capability for DC solid state circuit breaker (SSCB) applications. The device has been optimised through anode engineering, thickness and resistivity to achieve the required blocking capability of 2.5 kV and to have very low conduction losses below 1 kW at 1 kA, that is, the on‐state voltage drop is as low as 0.9 V at 1 kA. This study also presents the simulation and experimental results at the system level including the influence of the surge arrester (SA) which is connected in parallel to the RB‐IGCT to clamp the overvoltage and to absorb the energy stored in the system inductance at the current interruption. The influence of different voltage rating SAs and parallel combination of SAs on the switching behaviour of the RB‐IGCT has been investigated. A bi‐directional SSCB for 1 MW application based on 2.5 kV RB‐IGCT has been built successfully. The device simulations show that the results are in good agreement with the measurement results both at the device and system levels.
Accumulated Lattice Strain as an Internal Trigger for Spontaneous Pathway Selection (2021)

Multicomponent crystallization is universally important in various research fields including materials science as well as biology and geology, and presents new opportunities in crystal engineering. This process includes multiple kinetic and thermodynamic events that compete with each other, wherein "external triggers" often help the system select appropriate pathways for constructing desired structures. Here we report an unprecedented finding that a lattice strain accumulated with the growth of a crystal serves as an "internal trigger" for pathway selection in multicomponent crystallization. We discovered a "spontaneous" crystal transition, where the kinetically preferred layered crystal, initially formed by excluding the pillar component, carries a single dislocation at its geometrical center. This crystal "spontaneously" liberates a core region to relieve the accumulated lattice strain around the dislocation. Consequently, the liberated part becomes dynamic and enables the pillar ligand to invade the crystalline lattice, thereby transforming into a thermodynamically preferred pillared-layer crystal.
Parasitic mode suppression techniques for shielded FP cavity antennas (2011)

International audience
A New Approach for the Synthesis of Miktoarm Star Polymers Through a Combination of Thiol–Epoxy “Click” Chemistry and ATRP/Ring‐Opening Polymerization Techniques (2018)

ABSTRACT A new approach was developed for synthesis of certain A 3 B 3 ‐type of double hydrophilic or amphiphilic miktoarm star polymers using a combination of “grafting onto” and “grafting from” methods. To achieve the synthesis of desired miktoarm star polymers, acetyl protected poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) thiols ( M n = 550 and 2000 g mol −1 ) were utilized to generate A 3 ‐type of homoarm star polymers through an in situ protective group removal and a subsequent thiol–epoxy “click” reaction with a tris‐epoxide core viz . 1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethane triglycidyl ether. The secondary hydroxyl groups generated adjacent to the core upon the thiol–epoxy reaction were esterified with α‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to install atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating sites. ATRP of N ‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) using the three‐arm star PEG polymer fitted with ATRP initiating sites adjacent to the core afforded A 3 B 3 ‐type of double hydrophilic (PEG) 3 [poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide)] (PNIPAM) 3 miktoarm star polymers. Furthermore, the generated hydroxyl groups were directly used as initiator for ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare A 3 B 3 ‐type of amphiphilic (PEG) 3 [poly(ε‐caprolactone)] 3 miktoarm star polymers. The double hydrophilic (PEG) 3 (PNIPAM) 3 miktoarm star polymers showed lower critical solution temperature around 34 °C. The preliminary transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated formation of self‐assembly of (PEG) 3 (PNIPAM) 3 miktoarm star polymer in aqueous solution. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57 , 146–156
2532 Development of Thermal Flying-height Control Slider (2) (2005)

In order to realize ultra-low flying heights, magnetic spacing variations due to manufacturing tolerances, environmental variations, and write-induced thermal protrusion need to be reduced. To decrease the flying height, we have developed a thermal flying-height control (TFC) slider that carries a micro-thermal actuator. Using the device, the magnetic spacing of these sliders can be controlled in-situ during operation of the drive. First prototype had shown insufficient characteristics when evaluated at a component-level prototype. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to verify drive-level feasibility and better actuator characteristics. After analytical design by simulation of heat transfer and thermal deformation, second type of TFC device was fabricated. Component level evaluation showed sufficient actuator characteristics that met the requirements leading to the development of drives with controllable flying-height sliders. Drive level evaluation showed its effectiveness in reducing the magnetic spacing.
Localization of transforming growth factor beta binding site in betaglycan. Comparison with small extracellular matrix proteoglycans. (1993)

The most abundant binding molecule for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) on many cell types is betaglycan, a transmembrane proteoglycan. To localize the binding site for TGF-beta in betaglycan, parts of the betaglycan extracellular portion were expressed as recombinant fusion proteins in bacteria and tested for their ability to compete for the binding of TGF-beta 1 to Hep G2 cells. One fragment encompassing 226 residues near the transmembrane domain (amino acids 543-769) (López-Casillas, F., Cheifetz, S., Doody, J., Andres, J. L., Lane, W. S., and Massagué, J. (1991) Cell 67, 785-795) was active, whereas fusion proteins representing the other parts of the betaglycan ectodomain were inactive. Affinity measurements revealed two classes of binding sites (Kd = 3.9 nM and Kd = 145 nM) for the active fusion protein. The binding of the betaglycan fusion protein to immobilized TGF-beta 1 was inhibited by fusion proteins representing the core proteins of the small interstitial proteoglycans decorin, biglycan and fibromodulin, each also known to bind TGF-beta. The effective concentrations of TGF-beta for binding to these other proteoglycans were similar to those required for binding to betaglycan, indicating similar affinities for the binding of proteoglycans and betaglycan. Affinity cross-linking showed that, at low concentrations, the betaglycan fragment enhanced the binding of TGF-beta to the type II receptor and to endogenous betaglycan but had no effect on the binding to type I receptor. At high concentrations, the TGF-beta binding fragment inhibited the binding of TGF-beta to all these receptors. The fragment enhanced the activity of TGF-beta in mink lung cell bioassay at all active concentrations. The results indicate that betaglycan and the decorin type proteoglycans all bind to the same or closely spaced sites in TGF-beta and compete with one another for the binding. In addition, betaglycan may cooperate with the type II receptor on TGF-beta binding.
Extreme lattices: symmetries and decorrelations (2013)

We study statistical and structural properties of extreme lattices, which are the local minima in the density landscape of lattice sphere packings, in $d$-dimensional Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^d$. Specifically, we ascertain the distributions of densities, kissing numbers and numbers of symmetries of the packings across a wide range of dimensions using the stochastic Voronoi algorithm. The degree to which the packings decorrelate as well as the correlations between the density maxima as the space dimension increases is also investigated. We find that the extreme lattices decorrelate with increasing dimension, the least symmetric lattices decorrelate faster. The extreme lattices in a fixed dimension of space $d$ ($d\geq 8$) are dominated by typical lattices that have similar packing properties, like packing densities and kissing numbers, while the best and the worst packers are in the long tails of the distribution of the extreme lattices.
Generalized Langevin-Debye model of the field dependence of tilt, birefringence, and polarization current near the de Vries smectic-A*to smectic-C*liquid crystal phase transition (2013)

In chiral smectic-$A$ (Sm-$A$) liquid crystals, an applied electric field induces a tilt of the optic axis from the layer normal. When these materials are of the de Vries type, the electroclinic tilt susceptibility is unusually large, with the field-induced director reorientation accompanied by a substantial increase in optical birefringence with essentially no change in the smectic layer spacing. In order to account for the observed electro-optic behavior, we assume that the molecular orientation distribution in the Sm-$A$ has two degrees of freedom: azimuthal orientation and tilt of the molecular long axis from the layer normal, with the tilt confined to a narrow range of angles. We present a generalized Langevin-Debye model of the response of this orientational distribution to applied field that gives a field-induced optic axis tilt, birefringence, and polarization dependence that agrees well with experimental measurements and reproduces the double-peaked polarization current response characteristic of a first-order Sm-${A}^{*}$--Sm-${C}^{*}$ transition. Additionally, we find that the measured field-induced polarization and the Langevin-Debye model predictions can be quantitatively described as pre-transitional behavior near the tricritical point of a recently published generalized 3D $XY$ model of interacting hard rods confined to reorient on a cone in the presence of an applied field.
UWB acquisition based on combining multiple correlator outputs (2011)

This paper proposes a novel two-stage detection scheme based on multiple correlator outputs to enhance the detection performance in ultra-wideband (UWB) signal acquisition. Due to the rich multipath of UWB channels, the signal energy spreads over multiple correlator outputs, which makes each correlator output have only a portion of the signal energy, and thus, degrades the detection performance of the conventional scheme where a single correlator output is used as the decision variable for detection. In the proposed two-stage detection scheme, the decision variable is formed by combining multiple correlator outputs, making it possible to collect the signal energy spread by the multipath. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can provide a better detection performance over the conventional scheme in various UWB channel environments.
Deficiency of myeloid prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins aggravates atherogenesis via macrophage apoptosis and paracrine fibrotic signaling (2021)

Abstract Background Atherosclerotic plaque hypoxia is detrimental for macrophage function. Prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) initiate cellular hypoxic responses, possibly influencing macrophage function in plaque hypoxia. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the role of myeloid PHDs in atherosclerosis. Methods Myeloid specific PHD knockout (PHDko) mice were fed high cholesterol diet for 6–12 weeks to induce atherosclerosis. Plaque parameters, e.g. plaque size and macrophage content, were analyzed. Bulk and single cell RNA sequencing was performed on PHD2 BMDMs and plaque macrophages, respectively. Results Aortic root plaque size was augmented 2.6fold in PHD2cko, and 1.4-fold in PHD3ko, but not in PHD1ko mice compared to controls. Macrophage apoptosis was promoted in PHD2cko and PHD3ko mice in vitro and in vivo, via the HIF1α/BNIP3 axis. Bulk and single cell RNA data of PHD2cko bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and plaque macrophages, respectively, confirmed these findings and were validated by siRNA silencing. Human plaque BNIP3 mRNA associated with plaque necrotic core, suggesting similar adverse effects. Further, PHD2cko plaques displayed enhanced fibrosis, independent of macrophage MMP activity, collagen secretion or proliferation and of SMC collagen production, or proliferation. Rather, PHD2cko BMDMs enhanced fibroblast collagen secretion in a paracrine manner. Nichenet in silico analysis of macrophage-fibroblast communication predicted SPP1 signaling as regulator, in line with enhanced plaque SPP1 protein content, and SPP1 mRNA in TREM2-foamy plaque macrophages, but not in neutrophils. Conclusion Myeloid PHD2cko and PHD3ko enhanced plaque growth, macrophage apoptosis, and PHD2cko activated paracrine collagen secretion by fibroblasts. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NWO, Leducq