gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
<title>Integrated optic ammonia sensor</title> (1993)

Most of the disadvantages that exist with electrochemical devices (e.g., short lifetimes, difficult to miniaturize, need of reference electrodes) can be avoided by using optical sensors. Smock et al. describe a device incorporating a ninhydrin coated fused silica rod that could detect ammonia vapor at concentrations below 100 ppb, however, the reaction is irreversible. Guiliani et al. describe a reversible sensor using a dye coated capillary tube. The dye utilized is oxazine perchlorate, a laser dye. They report that the presence of water vapor is an important factor in the detection of ammonia, and the concentration of water vapor must be controlled. Optical sensors built-up in integrated-optic technique with planar waveguide configurations allow the construction of optical sensor systems for a parallel detection of several chemical species, provide the generation of reference signals, and facilitate the problem of cross-sensitivities. Here, we report on integrated-optic sensors for ammonia detection with a sensitivity in the ppb-range. The reaction is reversible, and the response is independent of the water vapor concentration in the test gas.
The Weston wheelchair mounted assistive robot - the design story (2002)

Robotic technology can be used in several ways to benefit people with disabilities. This paper describes the mounting of a robotic arm to a powered wheelchair to assist disabled users in daily activities. Although there are many potential benefits for the disabled user, there are also very strong requirements and compromises, which must be considered in integrating the robotic arm with the wheelchair. This paper focuses on how these integration issues have been addressed.
Estimation of the shaft position on low-cost DC actuators (2010)

Low power DC motors are today largely used as actuators in home automation, office automation, medical equipment and automotive fields. Among automotive applications of DC motors, those regarding windows lifters, seat and mirror adjustment or multi-zone air conditioning, require a quite precise position control, leading to the introduction of suitable sensors. Unfortunately, the extra cost of even a simple Hall effect position sensor may result unacceptable on these systems. In this paper a robust but inexpensive approach is described to sensorless estimate the angular shaft position by counting the periodical pulses of the armature current. Such a pulse counting approach is very simple in principle, as a constant amount of current pulses per round are generated in low power DC motors without any specific intervention. However, the frequency of the current pulses widely varies according to the speed, thus requiring a relatively complex and expensive adjustable bandwidth filter to be correctly detected. The proposed approach suitably solves this problem, leading to the implementation of an accurate position sensorless control system even on ultra-low cost microcontrollers equipping several electrically actuated automotive devices.
Using the Grid to Support Software Component Systems. (1999)

The Grid provides a sophisticated service layer allowing users to access and manage distributed hardware resources. Grid tools such as Globus handle multiple networks, machines, binary representations of data, and scheduling policies. However, providing end users with practical tools to tie together combined hardware and software resources distributed across the Grid requires an additional software layer. The Component Architecture Toolkit (CAT) is a system based on distributed software components, which are found, instantiated, run, and connected together through a high-level visualprogramming model. This paper describes the architecture underlying the CAT, and shows example computations carried out using it. 1 Introduction The Component Architecture Toolkit comprises subsystems which can be combined to form a high-performance problem-solving environment for computational science and engineering (CS&amp;E). The CAT design emphasizes flexibility and extensibility, so that the ful...
Exploitation of the Coil−Globule Plasmid DNA Transition Induced by Small Changes in Temperature, pH Salt, and Poly(ethylene glycol) Compositions for Directed Partitioning in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (2006)

In this study, the interplay of two linked equilibria is examined, one concerning an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and salt employed to partition plasmid DNA (pDNA), and the other a potential structural transition of pDNA depending on PEG and salt concentration and other system parameters. The boundary conditions for pDNA partitioning are set by PEG and salt concentrations, PEG molecular weight, pH, and temperature. While investigating these parameters, it was found that a small increase/decrease of the respective values led to a drastic and significant change in pDNA behavior. This behavior could be attributed to a coil-globule transition of the pDNA triggered by the respective phase conditions. The combination of this structural change, aggregation effects linked to the transition process, and the electrostatic potential difference found in PEG-salt systems thus offers a sensitive way to separate nucleic acid forms on the basis of their unique property to undergo coil-globule transitions under distinct system properties.
Cognition and Behavior in Two-Person Guessing Games: An Experimental Study (2006)

This paper reports an experiment that elicits subjects' initial responses to 16 dominance-solvable two-person guessing games. The structure is publicly announced except for varying payoff parameters, to which subjects are given free access. Varying the parameters allows very strong separation of the behavior implied by leading decision rules. Subjects' decisions and searches show that most subjects understood the games and sought to maximize payoffs, but many had simplified models of others' decisions that led to systematic deviations from equilibrium. The predictable component of their deviations is well explained by a structural nonequilibrium model of initial responses based on level-k thinking.
Repulsion Loss: Detecting Pedestrians in a Crowd (2018)

Detecting individual pedestrians in a crowd remains a challenging problem since the pedestrians often gather together and occlude each other in real-world scenarios. In this paper, we first explore how a state-of-the-art pedestrian detector is harmed by crowd occlusion via experimentation, providing insights into the crowd occlusion problem. Then, we propose a novel bounding box regression loss specifically designed for crowd scenes, termed repulsion loss. This loss is driven by two motivations: the attraction by target, and the repulsion by other surrounding objects. The repulsion term prevents the proposal from shifting to surrounding objects thus leading to more crowd-robust localization. Our detector trained by repulsion loss outperforms the state-of-the-art methods with a significant improvement in occlusion cases.
Can a shape analysis work at run-time? (2001)

A shape analysis is a whole-program analysis that can identify run-time objects that do not need to be placed in the global heap and do not require any locking. Previous research has shown that these two optimizations can speed up some applications significantly. Unfortunately, since a shape analysis--like any whole-program analysis--requires a priori knowledge of the complete call graph, it has not been implemented in a JVM, which essentially builds the call graph as a program executes. In this paper, we adapt an efficient shape analysis to be incremental so that it can analyze an executing program. We investigate trade-offs regarding three approaches to performing the analysis inside a JVM and report results on a number of applications. Our measurements suggest that such an analysis may be viable if it uses results of previous executions and if it delays the initial analysis until the end of the first execution.
Parkinson's Disease and Alpha Synuclein: Is Parkinson's Disease a Prion‐Like Disorder? (2013)

Altered protein handling is thought to play a key role in the etiopathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), as the disorder is characterized neuropathologically by the accumulation of intraneuronal protein aggregates (Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites). Attention has particularly focused on the α-synuclein protein, as it is the principal component of Lewy pathology. Moreover, point mutations in the α-synuclein gene cause rare familial forms of PD. Importantly, duplication/triplication of the wild type α-synuclein gene also cause a form of PD, indicating that increased levels of the normal α-synuclein protein is sufficient to cause the disease. Further, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the α-synuclein gene are associated with an increased risk of developing sporadic PD. Recent evidence now suggests the possibility that α-synuclein is a prion-like protein and that PD is a prion-like disease. Within cells, α-synuclein normally adopts an α-helical conformation. However, under certain circumstances, the protein can undergo a profound conformational transition to a β-sheet-rich structure that polymerizes to form toxic oligomers and amyloid plaques. Recent autopsy studies of patients with advanced PD who received transplantation of fetal nigral mesencephalic cells more than a decade earlier demonstrated that typical Lewy pathology had developed within grafted neurons. This suggests that α-synuclein in an aberrantly folded, β-sheet-rich form had migrated from affected to unaffected neurons. Laboratory studies confirm that α-synuclein can transfer from affected to unaffected nerve cells, where it appears that the misfolded protein can act as a template to promote misfolding of host α-synuclein. This leads to the formation of larger aggregates, neuronal dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. Indeed, recent reports demonstrate that a single intracerebral inoculation of misfolded α-synuclein can induce Lewy-like pathology in cells that can spread from affected to unaffected regions and can induce neurodegeneration with motor disturbances in both transgenic and normal mice. Further, inoculates derived from the brains of elderly α-synuclein-overexpressing transgenic mice have now been shown to accelerate the disease process when injected into the brains of young transgenic animals. Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that α-synuclein is a prion-like protein that can adopt a self-propagating conformation that causes neurodegeneration. We propose that this mechanism plays an important role in the development of PD and provides novel targets for candidate neuroprotective therapies.
Biochemical and Structural Studies with Prenyl Diphosphate Analogues Provide Insights into Isoprenoid Recognition by Protein Farnesyl Transferase<sup>,</sup> (2003)

Protein farnesyl transferase (PFTase) catalyzes the reaction between farnesyl diphosphate and a protein substrate to form a thioether-linked prenylated protein. The fact that many prenylated proteins are involved in signaling processes has generated considerable interest in protein prenyl transferases as possible anticancer targets. While considerable progress has been made in understanding how prenyl transferases distinguish between related target proteins, the rules for isoprenoid discrimination by these enzymes are less well understood. To clarify how PFTase discriminates between FPP and larger prenyl diphosphates, we have examined the interactions between the enzyme and several isoprenoid analogues, GGPP, and the farnesylated peptide product using a combination of biochemical and structural methods. Two photoactive isoprenoid analogues were shown to inhibit yeast PFTase with K(I) values as low as 45 nM. Crystallographic analysis of one of these analogues bound to PFTase reveals that the diphosphate moiety and the two isoprene units bind in the same positions occupied by the corresponding atoms in FPP when bound to PFTase. However, the benzophenone group protrudes into the acceptor protein binding site and prevents the binding of the second (protein) substrate. Crystallographic analysis of geranylgeranyl diphosphate bound to PFTase shows that the terminal two isoprene units and diphosphate group of the molecule map to the corresponding atoms in FPP; however, the first and second isoprene units bulge away from the acceptor protein binding site. Comparison of the GGPP binding mode with the binding of the farnesylated peptide product suggests that the bulkier isoprenoid cannot rearrange to convert to product without unfavorable steric interactions with the acceptor protein. Taken together, these data do not support the "molecular ruler hypotheses". Instead, we propose a "second site exclusion model" in which PFTase binds larger isoprenoids in a fashion that prevents the subsequent productive binding of the acceptor protein or its conversion to product.
Routing in multidomain networks (1994)

Investigates the problem of management and control in a large and, for simplicity, homogeneous packet-switched network. Specifically the authors focus on routing, an important function of network management. The network consists of several individually controlled domains. Domains are interconnected via gateway links. Each domain is controlled by its own network control center, while the overall network performance is managed by an integrated network control center. Each center has only a portion of the information required for global routing. The authors investigate the impact of the reduced information available at each center on network performance (average delay in the present case). They present a general approach to designing a hierarchical algorithm for routing in multidomain networks. They propose a heuristic procedure suitable for packet-switched networks. Several numerical examples illustrate the impact of incomplete information on the network. Performance is compared with a lower bound obtained, which is not differentiating destinations in other domains. Therefore, for this bound, each domain is perceived as a single node in a simplified model of the network.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
A sealing robot system with visual seam tracking (1984)

SUMMARY A new robot system has been introduced which was designed to seal the seams of car body panels. The system has nine degrees of freedom, and includes the following features: (1) A seam tracking servo using a solid-state TV camera is mounted at the robot hand to compensate for the seam deviations. (2) The robot arm is equipped with a flexible mechanism at the wrist to provide a wide working range for the seal nozzle. (3) A two axis orthogonal robot carrier is provided to make the robot follow the work on an indexed conveyor during the sealing operation. This paper deals with the structure and operation of the system and presents test results obtained on a sealing line.
Highly fucosylated N-glycan ligands for mannan-binding protein expressed specifically on CD26 (DPPVI) isolated from a human colorectal carcinoma cell line, SW1116 (2008)

The serum mannan-binding protein (MBP) is a host defense C-type lectin specific for mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, and fucose residues, and exhibits growth inhibitory activity toward human colorectal carcinoma cells. The MBP-ligand oligosaccharides (MLO) isolated from a human colorectal carcinoma cell line, SW1116, are large, multiantennary N-glycans with highly fucosylated polylactosamine-type structures having Le(b)-Le(a) or tandem repeats of the Le(a) structure at their nonreducing ends. In this study, we isolated the major MBP-ligand glycoproteins from SW1116 cell lysates with an MBP column and identified them as CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) (110 kDa) and CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc)/4F2hc (82 kDa). Glycosidase digestion revealed that CD26 contained such complex-type N-glycans that appear to mediate the MBP binding. MALDI-MS of the N-glycans released from CD26 by PNGase F demonstrated conclusively that CD26 is the major MLO-carrying protein. More interestingly, a comparison of the N-glycans released from the MBP-binding and non-MBP-binding glycopeptides suggested that complex-type N-glycans carrying a minimum of 4 Le(a)/Le(b) epitopes arranged either as multimeric tandem repeats or terminal epitopes on multiantennary structures are critically important for the high affinity binding to MBP. Analysis of the N-glycan attachment sites demonstrated that the high affinity MLO was expressed preferentially at some N-glycosylation sites, but this site preference was not so stringent. Finally, hypothetical 3D models of tandem repeats of the Le(a) epitope and the MBP-Lewis oligosaccharide complex were presented.
New Method of Making Fresnel Transforms with Incoherent Light* (1966)

A new method for recording Fresnel transformations of two- and three-dimensional scenes illuminated by spatially incoherent light is described. The technique is based on the properties of the triangular interferometer and the afocal optical system. Experimental results with one- and two-point objects have verified the basic principles of the method.
Topical, single dose bisphosphonate treatment reduced bone resorption in a rat model for prosthetic loosening (2003)

Fluid pressure, instability or particles have been suggested to cause peri-prosthetic bone resorption. High intracapsular pressures have been reported in hip joints with loose prosthetic components, and oscillating fluid pressure has been shown to cause dramatic bone resorption in animal models. Resorption can be reduced by systemic bisphosphonate treatment in rat models with oscillating fluid pressure, but this has required higher doses than needed to inhibit normal remodelling. Bisphosphonates have high affinity to bone mineral. Topical application of the drug is therefore feasible. We used a previously described rat model where oscillating fluid pressure causes bone resorption. Before pressurization, a 1 mg/ml solution of alendronate was applied onto the bone surface for 1 min, after which excess bisphosphonate was rinsed away. Bone resorption was measured on histological slides as soft tissue area at the interface. Rats treated with topical alendronate had soft tissue areas reduced by half. Topical bisphosphonate treatment before cementing a joint implant could possibly reduce the risk of later loosening.
Low-Threshold Heterogeneously Integrated InP/SOI Lasers With a Double Adiabatic Taper Coupler (2011)

We report on a heterogeneously integrated InP/silicon-on-insulator (SOI) laser source realized through divinylsiloxane-bis-benzocyclobutene (DVS-BCB) wafer bonding. The hybrid lasers present several new features. The III-V waveguide has a width of only 1.7 μm, reducing the power consumption of the device. The silicon waveguide thickness is 400 nm, compatible with high-performance modulator designs and allowing efficient coupling to a standard 220-nm high index contrast silicon waveguide layer. In order to make the mode coupling efficient, both the III-V waveguide and silicon waveguide are tapered, with a tip width for the III-V waveguide of around 800 nm. These new features lead to good laser performance: a lasing threshold as low as 30 mA and an output power of more than 4 mW at room temperature in continuous-wave operation regime. Continuous wave lasing up to 70°C is obtained.
Preparation and a Novel Rearrangement Reaction of 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-9-hydroxy-b-carboline, and Their Applications for the Total Synthesis of (±)-Coerulescine (2000)

Novel 9-hydroxy-β-carboline derivatives were produced for the first time.A novel rearrangement reaction of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-hydroxy-β-carbolines was discovered to give 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles, which was successfully applied to the total synthesis of (±)-coerulescine.1-Hydroxyindoles undergo various types of reactions depending on the structures and reaction conditions. 2We have designed 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-hydroxyβ-carbolines (1a-d, Scheme 1) as key substrates to elucidate whether the rearrangement of the 2-substituent to the 3-position 3a or vice versa, predicted by our
Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase by G protein and tyrosine kinase oncoproteins. (1993)

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are rapidly phosphorylated and activated in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli in many different cell types. The kinases that activate MAPK, the MAPK/ERK Kinases (MEKs), are also activated by phosphorylation. We have studied the influence of specific oncogenes on the regulation of MEK activity in NIH3T3 and Rat1a fibroblasts. We show that a similar MEK activity phosphorylates and activates MAPK in both growth factor-stimulated (epidermal growth factor and thrombin) and oncogene (gip2, v-src, and v-raf)-transfected cells. Gip2 and v-Src activated MEK-1 in transfected Rat 1a cells, whereas v-Raf activated MEK-1 in transfected NIH3T3 cells. These cell-selective differences in MEK activation parallel constitutive MAPK activation in these cell lines. Stable expression of the v-ras oncogene resulted in little constitutive MEK activation in either cell line, even though both were highly transformed. The growth factor and oncoprotein regulated MEK activity co-fractionated by Mono S chromatography with the 45-kDa MEK-1 protein. We further demonstrate in NIH3T3 and Rat 1a cells that Raf-1 is activated, as measured by its ability to phosphorylate MEK-1, in response to epidermal growth factor but not thrombin. Thus, the regulatory network of protein kinases that activate MAPK converges at MEK but diverges with the kinases that phosphorylate and activate MEK.
An Iodide-Based Li<sub>7</sub>P<sub>2</sub>S<sub>8</sub>I Superionic Conductor (2015)

In an example of stability from instability, a Li(7)P(2)S(8)I solid-state Li-ion conductor derived from β-Li(3)PS(4) and LiI demonstrates electrochemical stability up to 10 V vs Li/Li(+). The oxidation instability of I is subverted via its incorporation into the coordinated structure. The inclusion of I also creates stability with the metallic Li anode while simultaneously enhancing the interfacial kinetics and ionic conductivity. Low-temperature membrane processability enables facile fabrication of dense membranes, making this conductor suitable for industrial adoption.
Data and web management research at Politecnico di Milano (2007)

Research in data management at Politecnico di Milano has a long and solid tradition; forefront books on distributed databases, conceptual database design, logical databases, and active databases contributed to shape the foundations of this discipline in the last two decades. Historically, our work has addressed both all aspects of innovation in the technology of modern data management systems and the consequent support of design methods and tools.
Transdermal Delivery of Drugs with Microneedles—Potential and Challenges (2015)

Transdermal drug delivery offers a number of advantages including improved patient compliance, sustained release, avoidance of gastric irritation, as well as elimination of pre-systemic first-pass effect. However, only few medications can be delivered through the transdermal route in therapeutic amounts. Microneedles can be used to enhance transdermal drug delivery. In this review, different types of microneedles are described and their methods of fabrication highlighted. Microneedles can be fabricated in different forms: hollow, solid, and dissolving. There are also hydrogel-forming microneedles. A special attention is paid to hydrogel-forming microneedles. These are innovative microneedles which do not contain drugs but imbibe interstitial fluid to form continuous conduits between dermal microcirculation and an attached patch-type reservoir. Several microneedles approved by regulatory authorities for clinical use are also examined. The last part of this review discusses concerns and challenges regarding microneedle use.