gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Systemic sclerosis is associated with specific alterations in gastrointestinal microbiota in two independent cohorts (2017)

The present analysis detected specific aberrations in the lower GIT microbiota of patients with SSc from 2 geographically and ethnically distinct cohorts. These findings suggest that GIT dysbiosis may be a pathological feature of the SSc disease state.
Capacitive out of plane large stroke MEMS structure (2013)

This paper introduces a way to increase the airgap of a capacitive MEMS sensor or actuator. Usually, a thicker sacrificial layer composed of silicon dioxide is used to increase the distance between two parallel plates. In our case, both poly-silicon planes are being produced with a small gap filled with silicon dioxide. Corrugation grooves lined with highly tensile silicon nitride cause a stress induced displacement of the stator after the release etch was done. We will present first results, gained from FEM-simulations and fabricated wafers. An insight into the optimization of the deflection profile and the mechanical stability of the buckling electrode is discussed.
Small molecule antagonists of α4 integrins: novel drugs for asthma (1999)

The alpha4 integrins, alpha4beta1 (VLA-4) and alpha4beta7, are heterodimeric cell-surface proteins expressed on leukocytes involved in both cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. These two integrins are key regulators of physiologic and pathologic responses in inflammation and autoimmune disease. In particular, their central role in animal models of allergic lung disease has been well documented, and suggests a key role in human asthma. In addition, integrins are proven valid targets for small molecule drugs, following the development of both parenteral and orally active antagonists of platelet integrin alphaIIbbeta3, and more recently, integrin alphaVbeta3. Therefore, there is a significant drive to develop small molecule inhibitors of alpha4 integrins for autoimmune diseases in general, and asthma in particular. The biology of alpha4 integrins in asthma has been recently reviewed, as has early work on the chemistry of alpha4 integrin antagonists. Here we summarise the recent rapid advances in this arena, particularly in the chemistry of alpha4 integrin small molecule antagonists, with emphasis on asthma as a clinical target.
Nondestructive Quantitative Analysis of Crack Propagation in Solder Joints (2013)

Nondestructive quantitative analysis has been developed and can reduce solder joint fatigue experiments by half the time. Additionally, the technique provides data that could shed some light on the dynamic behavior of solder joints under thermal cycles load. Statistical analysis of fatigue cracks' characteristics was performed based on solder joints that were monitored continuously during more than a thousand temperature cycles of -40/125 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">°</sup> C. This paper presents the statistical analyses of solder joint and crack characteristics. A novel comparative criterion that was developed based on the nondestructive quantitative analysis of crack propagation in solder joints (NDQC) technique and presented here could be utilized in development stages of new technologies and save even more than 50% of testing time.
Hybrid Mesoporous Nanoparticles for pH-Actuated Controlled Release (2019)

Among a variety of inorganic-based nanomaterials, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have several attractive features for application as a delivery system, due to their high surface areas, large pore volumes, uniform and tunable pore sizes, high mechanical stability, and a great diversity of surface functionalization options. We developed novel hybrid MSNs composed of a mesoporous silica nanostructure core and a pH-responsive polymer shell. The polymer shell was prepared by RAFT polymerization of 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (pKa ~6.5), using a hybrid grafting approach. The hybrid nanoparticles have diameters of ca. 100 nm at pH < 6.5 and ca. 60 nm at pH > 6.5. An excellent control of cargo release is achieved by the combined effect of electrostatic interaction of the cargo with the charged silica and the extended cationic polymer chains at low pH, and the reduction of electrostatic attraction with a simultaneous collapse of the polymer chains to a globular conformation at higher pH. The system presents a very low (almost null) release rate at acidic pH values and a large release rate at basic pH, resulting from the squeezing-out effect of the coil-to-globule transition in the polymer shell.
Characterization of the reversible phosphorylation and activation of ERK8 (2006)

ERK8 (extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase 8) expressed in Escherichia coli or insect cells was catalytically active and phosphorylated at both residues of the Thr-Glu-Tyr motif. Dephosphorylation of the threonine residue by PP2A (protein serine/threonine phosphatase 2A) decreased ERK8 activity by over 95% in vitro, whereas complete dephosphorylation of the tyrosine residue by PTP1B (protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B) decreased activity by only 15-20%. Wild-type ERK8 expressed in HEK-293 cells was over 100-fold less active than the enzyme expressed in bacteria or insect cells, but activity could be increased by exposure to hydrogen peroxide, by incubation with the protein serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, or more weakly by osmotic shock. In unstimulated cells, ERK8 was monophosphorylated at Tyr-177, and exposure to hydrogen peroxide induced the appearance of ERK8 that was dually phosphorylated at both Thr-175 and Tyr-177. IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), EGF (epidermal growth factor), PMA or anisomycin had little effect on activity. In HEK-293 cells, phosphorylation of the Thr-Glu-Tyr motif of ERK8 was prevented by Ro 318220, a potent inhibitor of ERK8 in vitro. The catalytically inactive mutants ERK8[D154A] and ERK8[K42A] were not phosphorylated in HEK-293 cells or E. coli, whether or not the cells had been incubated with protein phosphatase inhibitors or exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Our results suggest that the activity of ERK8 in transfected HEK-293 cells depends on the relative rates of ERK8 autophosphorylation and dephosphorylation by one or more members of the PPP family of protein serine/threonine phosphatases. The major residue in myelin basic protein phosphorylated by ERK8 (Ser-126) was distinct from that phosphorylated by ERK2 (Thr-97), demonstrating that, although ERK8 is a proline-directed protein kinase, its specificity is distinct from ERK1/ERK2.
Systematic Identification of Cyclic-di-GMP Binding Proteins in Vibrio cholerae Reveals a Novel Class of Cyclic-di-GMP-Binding ATPases Associated with Type II Secretion Systems (2015)

Cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous bacterial signaling molecule that regulates a variety of complex processes through a diverse set of c-di-GMP receptor proteins. We have utilized a systematic approach to identify c-di-GMP receptors from the pathogen Vibrio cholerae using the Differential Radial Capillary Action of Ligand Assay (DRaCALA). The DRaCALA screen identified a majority of known c-di-GMP binding proteins in V. cholerae and revealed a novel c-di-GMP binding protein, MshE (VC0405), an ATPase associated with the mannose sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) type IV pilus. The known c-di-GMP binding proteins identified by DRaCALA include diguanylate cyclases, phosphodiesterases, PilZ domain proteins and transcription factors VpsT and VpsR, indicating that the DRaCALA-based screen of open reading frame libraries is a feasible approach to uncover novel receptors of small molecule ligands. Since MshE lacks the canonical c-di-GMP-binding motifs, a truncation analysis was utilized to locate the c-di-GMP binding activity to the N-terminal T2SSE_N domain. Alignment of MshE homologs revealed candidate conserved residues responsible for c-di-GMP binding. Site-directed mutagenesis of these candidate residues revealed that the Arg9 residue is required for c-di-GMP binding. The ability of c-di-GMP binding to MshE to regulate MSHA dependent processes was evaluated. The R9A allele, in contrast to the wild type MshE, was unable to complement the ΔmshE mutant for the production of extracellular MshA to the cell surface, reduction in flagella swimming motility, attachment to surfaces and formation of biofilms. Testing homologs of MshE for binding to c-di-GMP identified the type II secretion ATPase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA14_29490) as a c-di-GMP receptor, indicating that type II secretion and type IV pili are both regulated by c-di-GMP.
Bleeding from cavernous angiomatosis of the rectum in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: report of three cases and literature review (2001)

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a congenital vascular anomaly characterized by limb hypertrophy, cutaneous hemangiomas, and varicosities. GI hemorrhage is a potentially serious complication secondary to diffuse hemangiomatous involvement of the gut. We report on three patients with KTS who presented with transfusion-dependent anemia and life-threatening bleeding due to extensive cavernous hemangiomas involving the rectum. Two patients were treated by proctocolectomy and coloanal anastomosis, which preserved anal function while controlling bleeding. The third patient required an abdominoperineal resection because of extensive rectal, perianal, and perineal angiomatosis. The literature on the evaluation and management of GI hemorrhage in KTS, particularly of colorectal origin, is reviewed.
Real-space strain mapping of SOI features using microbeam X-ray diffraction (2008)

Synchrotron-based X-ray microbeam measurements were performed on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) features strained by adjacent shallow-trench isolation (STI). Strain engineering in microelectronic technology represents an important aspect of the enhancement in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor device performance. Because of the complexity of the composite geometry associated with microelectronic circuitry, characterization of the strained Si devices at a submicron resolution is necessary to verify the expected strain distributions. The interaction region of the SOI strain extended the SOI film thickness from the STI edge at least 25 times. Regions of 65-nm-thick SOI less than 3 μm wide exhibited an overlap in the strain fields because of the surrounding STI. Microbeam mapping of arrays containing submicron SOI features and embedded STI structures revealed the largest out-of-plane strains because of the close proximity of superimposed strain distributions induced by the STI.
Role of the C-Terminal Lysine Residues of Streptococcal Surface Enolase in Glu- and Lys-Plasminogen-Binding Activities of Group A Streptococci (2003)

ABSTRACT Streptococcal surface enolase (SEN) is a major plasminogen-binding protein of group A streptococci. Our earlier biochemical studies have suggested that the region responsible for this property is likely located at the C-terminal end of the SEN molecule. In the present study, the gene encoding SEN was cloned from group A streptococci M6 isolate D471. A series of mutations in the sen gene corresponding to the C-terminal region ( 428 KSFYNLKK 435 ) of the SEN molecule were created by either deleting one or more terminal lysine residues or replacing them with leucine. All purified recombinant SEN proteins with altered C-terminal ends were found to be enzymatically active and were analyzed for their Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities. Wild-type SEN bound to Lys-plasminogen with almost three times more affinity than to Glu-plasminogen. However, the recombinant mutant SEN proteins with a deletion of Lys434-435 or with K435L and K434-435L replacements showed a significant decrease in Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities. Accordingly, a streptococcal mutant expressing SEN-K434-435L showed a significant decrease in Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities. Biochemical and functional analyses of the isogenic mutant strain revealed a significant decrease in its abilities to cleave a chromogenic tripeptide substrate, acquire plasminogen from human plasma, and penetrate the extracellular matrix. Together, these data indicate that the last two C-terminal lysine residues of surface-exposed SEN contribute significantly to the plasminogen-binding activity of intact group A streptococci and hence to their ability to exploit host properties to their own advantage in tissue invasion.
Controversy in Context (2019)

With the growing interest in social applications of Natural Language Processing and Computational Argumentation, a natural question is how controversial a given concept is. Prior works relied on Wikipedia's metadata and on content analysis of the articles pertaining to a concept in question. Here we show that the immediate textual context of a concept is strongly indicative of this property, and, using simple and language-independent machine-learning tools, we leverage this observation to achieve state-of-the-art results in controversiality prediction. In addition, we analyze and make available a new dataset of concepts labeled for controversiality. It is significantly larger than existing datasets, and grades concepts on a 0-10 scale, rather than treating controversiality as a binary label.
Dielectric Properties of Nanograin Barium Titanate Free-Standing Films (2011)

Dielectric properties of a nanograin barium titanate (BaTiO3) thick film were investigated in terms of grain size effects. Stress- and strain-free 10 μm-thick film with a grain size of 60 nm was prepared as a free-standing film at air/liquid interface by sol-gel method using a highly concentrated alkoxides precursor solution. Electrical measurements indicated clear transition temperature (Tc) at 119°C, Curie-Weiss behavior and polarization reversal hysteresis characteristics at above Tc. This unusual polarization reversal behavior above Tc was investigated by temperature and frequency dependence of the hysteresis in the range of 1 – 1000 Hz and time dependence of dielectric absorption and leakage currents.
FinFETs with Thermally Stable RMG Gate Stack for Future DRAM Peripheral Circuits (2022)

In this work, a 14-nm-node Replacement Metal Gate (RMG or “Gate Last”) high-k Last FinFET flow, compatible with the high thermal budget required during a DRAM fabrication process is demonstrated for the first time, with proven functionality of SRAM and Ring Oscillators. An extensive analysis is conducted for the assessment and optimization of the nMOS gate stack. A thermally stable nMOS gate stack featuring Lanthanum (La)-dipole and TiN/TiAl/TiN Work Function Metals (WFMs) is proposed to achieve sub 0.2 V nMOS threshold voltage $(V_{t})$.
Mass spectrometric analysis of arachidonyl-containing phospholipids in human U937 cells (1999)

The human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cell line contains a rich source of the 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). DMSO-differentiated U937 cells were used as a model to investigate the free arachidonic acid release, the arachidonate distribution and the phospholipid source of arachidonate upon Ca2+ ionophore stimulation. A combination of several chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques was employed in this study. The amount of free arachidonic acid (AA) released upon stimulation, the arachidonate content in total lipids and in each of the phospholipid classes were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) was found to be the major pool of arachidonate in differentiated human U937 cells (55%) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and glycerophosphoinositol (GPI) contributed 22 and 8%, respectively. Upon Ca2+ ionophore stimulation, GPE class lost the largest amount of arachidonate, followed by GPC class. GPI class, however, gained a substantial amount of arachidonate. Most of the arachidonate depleted from GPE and GPC was recovered as free AA, some of which was rapidly esterified into GPI species. GC/MS with electron capture negative chemical ionization provided excellent sensitivity for the measurement of arachidonic acid which was derivatized to its pentafluorobenzyl ester. Intact phospholipid molecular species including the arachidonyl-containing phospholipid species were identified using capillary high-performance liquid chromatography/continuous-flow liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (CF-LSIMS). No specificity was found for releasing free AA among the arachidonyl-containing GPE and GPC species upon Ca2+ ionophore stimulation. CF-LSIMS provided a sensitive and effective means of detecting intact phospholipid species.
Patient age and extent of liver resection influence outcome of liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver. (2014)

In Western countries HCC in non-cirrhotic liver is rare. Liver resection is safe and is the only curative therapy option for the time by HCC without liver cirrhosis. Further studies are necessary for identification of more prognostic factors and optionally special treatment
Doubling of rocking resonance frequency of an adhesive microparticle vibrating on a surface (2012)

For some spherical micro-particles on a vibrating flat substrate, in addition to their predicted rocking resonance frequencies, other resonance peaks at their doubles are observed. Here, a mathematical model and experimental results are presented for explaining this observation. It is determined that the frequency doubling is caused by nonlinear coupling between the out-of-plane and rocking modes of motion, and whirling-like motion that must be present for the presence of doubling effect. It is also found that the work-of-adhesion values extracted from the experimental resonance frequencies of a set of particles using the developed model are in good agreement with those reported in the literature.
Imide–aryl ether benzoxazole block copolymers (1990)

Abstract Imide–aryl ether benzoxazole multiblock copolymers were investigated. A key feature of these copolymers is the preparation of bis(amino) aryl ether benzoxazole (PBO) oligomers via nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The molecular weights of the oligomers were 10,500 and 26,000 g/mol with T' g s of 210 and 227°C, respectively. The oligomers were co‐reacted with 4,4′‐oxydianaline (ODA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) diethyl ester diacyl chloride in a N ‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/cyclohexanone solvent mixture in the presence of N ‐methylmorpholine. The resulting amic ethyl ester‐aryl ether benzoxazoles were isolated and washed to remove homopolymer contamination. Copolymer compositions, determined by 1 H‐NMR, ranged from 7 to 54 wt% PBO and the measured compositions were close to those charged. Solutions of the copolymers were cast and cured (350°C) to effect imidization producing clear films. The films showed tough ductile mechanical properties (∼50% elongations) with moduli comparable to PMDA/ODA polyimide. The copolymers displayed good thermal stability with decompositions temperatures in excess of 450°C. Multiphase morphologies were observed irrespective of PBO block lengths or compositions. Good auto‐adhension was achieved in the copolymers containing the high PBO compositions.
Knowledge, Practice, Activities and People (1997)

The perspective of modeling knowledge in Artificial Intelligence is that these models are equal to the knowledge itself (e.g. equate the map with the territory). This encoding view treats knowledge as if it were primarily verbal and assumes that verbal concepts themselves can be replaced by descriptions of concepts---as if a body of descriptions and neural categorizations were equivalent mechanisms for generating behavior.[1] This paper describes a number of concepts around the notion of `situatedness&amp;apos;: situated cognition, situated action, situated learning, and the concept of autopoiesis as an organizing principle. Situatedness changes the way we think about how knowledge is created (learning) and applied (action). In this light knowledge management changes its meaning from managing the knowledge of an organization to managing the situation in which learning happens. Collaboration
Live Coded Mashup with the Humming Wires (2019)

We describe two improvised performances in which a variety of source materials are algorithmically mashed up, using software code that is created on stage before a live audience. Each of us works with an original programming language that we designed and implemented ourselves, with significant influence from the live coding movement. Blackwell's Palimpsest is an experimental art language, used only in research settings, while Aaron's Sonic Pi is a free open-source product that has more than a million users worldwide. Working together to transform found and re-purposed material in ways that step outside traditional genres, this creative technical work raises profound questions about the nature of copyright and authorship in the digital era.
Enhanced Properties of Aerosol Jet Printed PZT: Towards Realizing Flexible Automotive Sensors (2020)

A photonic sintering method was presented by using repetitive high-intensity sub-msec flash pulses of an Aerosol Jet printed Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) nano-ink to achieve high-quality sintered devices. The rapid processing time eliminates the formation of the pyrochlore phase and oxidation of the substrate, and it results in enhanced piezoelectric properties compared with the same material following conventional thermal sintering. The short pulse duration and associated low-temperature increase in the substrate enable photonic sintering of PZT directly on commonly used metal electrodes. This process eliminates the need for an oxygen-free sintering environment to prevent oxidation, and avoids the need to pursue complex film-transfer techniques that are conventionally employed due to substrate temperature incompatibility. The presented process allows the realization of high performance fully printed flexible piezoelectric sensors on temperature sensitive substrates for several applications including automotive sensors.
Rolling Contact Fatigue Tests of Ceramics by Various Methods: Comparison of Suitability to the Evaluation of Silicon Nitrides (2015)

Abstract Results of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) tests by balls-on-rod (BOR) and two-roller methods have been compared to those by the balls-on-flat (BOF) method by using three different silicon nitride grades. Two were bearing grade (BG) and one was a general purpose (GP) grade. For a GP material, there was not much difference between the results of BOR and those of BOF, and the observations of a spalled region by BOR suggested similar spalling behavior to BOF. Meanwhile, for BG materials, most tests were terminated without spalling, but grooves, whose likely cause is inferred to be insufficient lubrication, were formed. As for the lifetime in BOR, however, the results for BG materials were much longer than those of the GP, demonstrating that the BOR result is qualitatively consistent with that of BOF, where instead most specimens failed in RCF by spalling or peeling. In the two-roller method, tests of a limited number of specimens were operated at high slip ratios of 10 % during longer cycles under low contact stress, and wear was predominant, suggesting the potential of providing the information on wear behavior rather than RCF. The results suggest that the two-roller method could differentiate the BG materials in terms of wear behavior. Considering these results, both the BOF and the BOR are applicable to distinguish BG and GP materials in terms of fatigue resistance. In particular, the BOF is judged to be more suitable for comparison of the RCF behavior of BG materials, which are commonly tested under higher contact stresses.
Design of Tunable Fiber Lasers Using Birefringence of Optical Fiber (1993)

The design of tunable fiber lasers that use the strain- induced birefringence of fiber coils to control the lasing wavelength is explained. The implementation of a ring laser tunable over a 35-nm range by rotation of a single fiber coil is presented.