gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Synthesizing transition textures on succession patterns (2005)

Synthesizing transition textures on succession patterns for displaying visually acceptable terrain is essential to applications such as computer games. In this paper, we exploited the Game of Life model to simulate successions on terrain to show that a good-looking profile can appear quickly and easily. Based on the proposed modified patch-based sampling texture synthesis approach, the basic types of transition textures on a succession pattern can be well synthesized. This method first generates a well-shaped transition cut along the source texture. Next, the feature maps of the source texture and the target texture are used to determine complementary patches from the target texture that will fit well along the source's transition cut. As the experimental results show, only a few input textures are required by our approach to synthesize plenty of tileable transition textures which are useful for obtaining vivid terrain while consuming only a small amount of texture memory.
Light‐Sensitive Molecular Building Blocks with Electron Transfer Activity: Synthesis and Properties of a Photochemically Switchable, Dicyanovinyl‐Substituted Furan (1989)

How does a light/current switch function at the molecular level? The title compounds could contribute to a deeper understanding. Visible light transforms 1 into 2. Both 1 as well as 2 are electron-transfer active. Since 2 is reduced electrochemically far more readily than 1, photochemically modulated current pulses are observed (R = 5-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)-2-furyl).
The influence of a metastable structure in plasmid primer RNA on antisense RNA binding kinetics (1995)

Replication of the ColE1 group plasmids is kinetically regulated by the interaction between plasmid-encoded primer RNA II and antisense RNA I. The binding is dependent on alternative RNA II conformations, formed during the transcription, and effectively inhibits the primer function within some time interval. In this paper, the folding pathways for the wild type and copy number mutants of ColE1 RNA II are studied using simulations by a genetic algorithm. The simulated pathways reveal a transient formation of a metastable structure, which is stabilized by copy number mutations. The folding kinetics of the proposed conformational transitions is calculated using a model of a multistep refolding process with elementary steps of double-helical stem formation or disruption. The approximation shows that the lifetime of the metastable structure is relatively long and is considerably increased in the mutants, resulting in a delay of the formation of the stable RNA II structure, which is the most sensitive to the inhibition by the antisense RNA I. Thus the effect of copy number mutations can be interpreted as a compression of the time window of effective inhibition due to an increased time spent by the RNA II in the metastable state. The implications of metastable foldings in RNA functioning are discussed.
Understanding the Biologic Therapies of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics (2015)

Necrotizing enterocolitis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in very low-birth-weight infants (<1500 g), with current preventive strategies unclear. Scientific evidence has recently emerged, suggesting that probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics may effectively and safely alter the premature intestinal microbiota, enhancing a deficient innate immune response and maturing the intestinal barrier to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis development. Currently, formal recommendations do not support routine use of these dietary supplementations for premature infants. Here, we examine how probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic preparations physiologically alter the underdeveloped intestinal microbial environment to potentially reduce necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and discuss current evidence that has examined safety and efficacy factors potentially supporting routine use among the premature infant population.
An Examination of Underfill Flow in Large Dies With Nonuniform Bump Patterns (2009)

In this paper, numerical modeling and experimental results are presented for underfill flow in a large die with a nonuniform bump pattern in a flip-chip packaging configuration. Two different 2-D flow models coupled with the volume-of-fluid method are applied to track the underfill flow front during the simulation of the flip-chip encapsulation process. The first model employs the modified Washburn model and uses a time-dependent inlet velocity to account for the flow resistance across the gap direction in the presence of bump interconnects. The second model introduces a momentum source term in the Stokes equation to represent the gapwise flow resistance. Rheological properties, surface tension, and dynamic contact angles for commercial underfill material and the effect of flux residue on underfill wetting properties are experimentally determined. Simulation results based on the two models are compared with in-situ flow visualization conducted using bumped quartz dies. The modified Stokes model yields better predictions of the underfill penetration length as a function of time and the total flow-out time. This model is then used to investigate the effects of dynamic contact angles and temperature-dependent underfill viscosity on underfill flow in a large die with a nonuniform bump pattern.
Home noninvasive ventilation in COPD (2010)

Educational aims To explain the rationales for home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. To review available evidence on the use of home NIV in COPD patients. To review the current consensus on the indications for home NIV in COPD patients. To describe recent evidence in support of home NIV in a selected group of severe COPD patients. To outline future research directions in this area. Summary NIV is now considered the standard care for COPD patients with hypercapnic exacerbations of their disease. There are theoretical benefits of long-term NIV in COPD patients, but evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is conflicting and inconclusive. This article will address the following issues: • What are the physiological and clinical rationales for the use of home NIV in COPD patients? • What is the available evidence on the use of home NIV in COPD patients? • What are the limitations of previous studies performed in this area? • Recent advances in home NIV. • Future directions.
On some problems related to de Giorgi’s conjecture (2003)

We study the uniqueness of minimizers for the Allen-Cahn energy and the nonexistence of monotone stationary solutions for the Allen-Cahn equation with double well potentials of different depths.
Investing in Climate Change (2009)

For an investor, this has opened up markets that are driving both listed and unlisted company opportunities. We have estimated that at the end of November 2007, something like 250 mutual funds and ETFs in climate related sectors (not including SRI funds) accounted for approximately €45bn of assets under management. We estimate nearly 100 hedge funds are investing in the theme and many private equity funds have invested and are looking at opportunities. For institutional investors, climate change still seems very much part of their overall approach to Socially Responsible Investment from where in some senses climate change emerged as a theme, but we believe has now established itself as an economic trend in its own right.
Science and ethics: Some issues for education (2001)

Abstract Ethical issues concerning pain and suffering of animals are necessarily a consideration when it comes to killing “pest” or “feral” species in Australia. Within a continent where there are no large predators, many introduced animal species such as rabbits, foxes, horses, donkeys, camels, goats, and mice have been able to thrive, competing with the interests of farmers and graziers, and livestock and food production. These species, thus, gain the label of “pest.” Many methods now exist to kill these species and, consequently, ethical issues arise concerning the possible pain and suffering caused as a direct result of these methods. Yet within government and scientific communities, ethical issues are reduced to a secondary consideration without serious debate or contention. Ethical issues appear to be at odds with scientific agendas. How can environmental ethics be incorporated as part of science‐based decision making that appeals to objectivity and scientific evidence? Within educational institutions as well, the same dilemma exists: How can ethical issues be addressed within the science curriculum and in the classroom? A greater understanding of various perspectives on the subject of environmental ethics and the value positions advocated by proponents of these perspectives may help teachers consider ways of handling such issues in the science classroom. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed 85: 769–780, 2001.
Cumulative effects of the ApoE genotype and gender on the synaptic proteome and oxidative stress in the mouse brain (2014)

Elderly females, particularly those carrying the apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-ε4 allele, have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying mechanism for this increased susceptibility remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of the ApoE genotype and gender on the proteome of synaptosomes. We isolated synaptosomes and used label-free quantitative proteomics, to report, for the first time, that the synaptosomal proteomic profiles in the cortex of female human-ApoE4 mice exhibited significantly reduced expression of proteins related to energy metabolism, which was accompanied by increased levels of oxidative stress. In addition, we also first demonstrated that the proteomic response in synaptic termini was more susceptible than that in the soma to the adverse effects induced by genders and genotypes. This suggests that synaptic mitochondria might be 'older' than mitochondria in the soma of neurons; therefore, they might contain increased cumulative damage from oxidative stress. Furthermore, female human-ApoE4 mice had much lower oestrogen levels in the cortex and treatment with oestrogen protected ApoE3 stable transfected C6 neurons from oxidative stress. Overall, this study reveals complex ApoE- and gender-dependent effects on synaptic function and also provides a basis for future studies of candidates based on specific pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The lack of oestrogen-mediated protection regulated by the ApoE genotype led to synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress, which might make older females more susceptible to AD.
Texture extraction from photographs and rendering with dynamic texture mapping (2003)

There is a natural trend in modeling a scene on a computer with minimum effort of the user. Wireframe modeling and texturing is the main two factors that affect the quality of results in computer graphics. In this paper, instead of 3D model reconstruction, automatic texture extraction and texture registering for surfaces are discussed. Deficiency of the artificial textures to create photorealistic results leads to us using real textures for rendering. Assuming that camera parameters, lighting conditions, 3D model and its surface properties are known and the image sequences of the scene are provided by the user, textures for surfaces can be extracted from images. Naturally, textures coming from different images need to be enhanced. Some artifacts, i.e., highlights, distortion from perspective projection should be removed. Unlike traditional texture mapping which generates a single texture for a surface, multiple textures are used in rendering. A selection mechanism enables us to choose the best texture from multiple textures according to the orientation of the viewpoint. The texture, which is mapped, is not unique and static. Therefore, it is called dynamic texture mapping. Experiments show that the results are promising.
The Use of Serum, Urine, and Fecal Neopterin to Determine Disease Activity in Crohnʼs Disease (2010)

Purpose: There are few noninvasive biomarkers which correlate with disease activity in Crohn's Disease (CD). The aim of this study was to determine if serum, urine, or fecal neopterin concentrations were associated with clinical activity as defined by the Harvey Bradshaw (HBI) or Capetown Indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and fecal lactoferrin. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 70 outpatients with CD (33 clinically in remission, 37 active). Disease was considered active if the HBI was ≥5. Fecal (n=50), urine (n=115) and serum (n=120) samples were collected from healthy controls for neopterin measurement. Due to non-normality of data, medians and ranges are present. Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's correlation coefficients were employed. Results: Fecal neopterin was significantly higher in CD patients compared to controls (-91 (20, 322) vs. 12.0 (3, 379) ng/g; p <0.001); median serum neopterin levels were higher in controls, although the range was wider in CD patients (4.5 (2.3, 14.6) v. 3.0 (1.5, 19.0), p < 0.001); neither fecal neopterin or serum neopterin were able to differentiate disease activity. We failed to detect any difference in urine neopterin values between groups (p=0.255). Urinary neopterin was weakly, but significantly correlated with HBI (0.27), Capetown index (0.27), Hb (-0.37), Hct (-0.34), Albumin (-0.36), CRP (0.38), and ESR (0.31). Serum neopterin was also correlated with HBI (0.27), Albumin (-0.38), CRP (0.43), and ESR (0.32), but not with Capetown index, Hb, Hct, or fecal lactoferrin. Fecal neopterin was not associated with any of the serum or clinical indices. Conclusion: Fecal neopterin was significantly greater in patients with CD vs. controls. For patients in remission, that suggests the likelihood of ongoing subclinical intestinal inflammation and may be a promising independent biomarker for disease. However, it was unable to distinguish between active and inactive CD. Urine neopterin did not distinguish clinically active or inactive patients from healthy controls. Although differences were seen in distributions of serum neopterin between CD groups and controls, it is unclear if there is a single mechanism that might explain this.
Effects of threonine deaminase on growth and viability of mammalian cells in tissue culture and its selective cytotoxicity toward leukemia cells. (1977)

Summary The purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of threonine deprivation on the growth and viability of malignant and nonmalignant cells in vitro. Threonine deaminase was added to the culture media of two mouse leukemias (RADA1 and EARAD1), mouse L-cells, and human GM 38 fibroblasts. This enzyme irreversibly deaminates threonine to α-ketobutyrate and ammonia, products that cannot be utilized by the cell for the resynthesis of threonine. Growth inhibition was observed in all cases, but only the two leukemia cell lines were killed in 24 to 48 hr after treatment. In the threonine-deficient medium, L-cells and GM 38 fibroblasts showed little or no loss of viability after 3 and 5 days, respectively. The inhibition of cell division and loss of viability were related to the ability of threonine deaminase to reduce threonine levels in the medium. However, addition of threonine deaminase to the cultures was more effective than simply using a threonine-free medium. Protein and RNA synthesis in RADA1 cells ceased 5 hr after treatment with the enzyme, while DNA synthesis gradually decreased between 5 and 24 hr. When the threonine-depleted medium was replaced by complete medium, inhibited L-cells resumed cell division, while fibroblasts did not. When the fibroblasts were trypsinized and replated in fresh medium, the cells resumed normal growth. These findings demonstrate that certain leukemia cells are more sensitive to threonine deprivation than some nonmalignant cells and suggest the possibility that threonine deaminase may have therapeutic uses in the treatment of cancer.
Uterine and Vaginal Organ Growth Requires Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling from Stroma* (1998)

Estrogens are crucial for growth and function of the female genital tract. Recently, we showed that induction of uterine epithelial proliferation by estradiol is a paracrine event requiring an estrogen receptor-positive stroma. Growth factors [such as EGF (epidermal growth factor) ligands] are likely paracrine mediators, which may directly or indirectly regulate epithelial proliferation in estrogen target organs via cell-cell interactions. In this report, we used mice with a null mutation in their EGF receptor (EGFR) to examine the role of EGFR signaling in growth of the uterus and vagina and in estrogen-induced uterine and vaginal epithelial proliferation. When WT and EGFR-knockout (EGFR-KO) uteri and vaginae were grown as renal capsule grafts in nude mice, growth of uterine and vaginal grafts of EGFR-KO mice was reduced, compared with their WT counterparts. Grafts of both EGFR-KO uteri and vaginae were about one third smaller (wet weight) than their corresponding WT organs, even though differentiation of both epithelium and mesenchyme were normal in both cases. Both wild-type and EGFR-KO vaginal grafts contained within their lumina alternating layers of cornified and mucified epithelial cell layers, indicating cyclic alteration of epithelial differentiation. In response to estradiol treatment, stromal cell labeling index (LI), as assessed by incorporation of 3H-thymidine, was severely depressed in EGFR-KO uterine and vaginal grafts vs. stromal cell LI in WT uterine and vaginal grafts. Unexpectedly, epithelium of both EGFR-KO and wild-type grafts responded comparably to estradiol with a marked elevation (approximately 7-fold overall) of epithelial LI in response to estradiol in uterine and vaginal epithelia. These data supported the hypothesis that overall uterine and vaginal organ growth, in response to estrogen, required EGFR signaling for DNA synthesis in the fibromuscular stroma, whereas EGFR signaling was not essential for estrogen-induced epithelial growth in the uterus and vagina.
[Role of the neurohormonal regulatory system in the development of impaired electrolyte profiles in chronic circulatory insufficiency]. (1991)

The parameters of electrolyte profile and some neurohumoral regulatory systems were compared in 257 patients with chronic circulatory insufficiency (CCI) secondary to coronary heart disease in the presence or absence of essential hypertension. The results obtained showed that not only the increased function of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, but the higher activity of the sympathoadrenal system in the presence of weakened adrenocortical glucocorticoid and epiphyseal functions late in CCI played a role in the mechanisms responsible for sodium retention in the patients with the disease.
<i>N</i>-{<i>N</i>-[<i>N</i>-(1,1-Dimethylethoxycarbonyl)-<scp>L</scp>-leucyl]-<i>N</i>-methyl-<scp>L</scp>-leucyl}-<i>N</i>-methyl-<scp>L</scp>-leucine benzyl ester (2008)

The tripeptide title compound, C(32)H(53)N(3)O(6), synthesized in 80% yield by coupling of N-methyl-l-leucine benzyl ester with tert-butoxy-carbonyl-l-leucyl-N-methyl-l-leucine at 273 K, conjugates through two amide linkages and includes two protecting groups: a tert-butyl-oxycarbonyl group at the C-tip and a benzyl group at the N-tip. A classical inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond and a weak non-conventional inter-molecular C-H⋯O contact connect the mol-ecules, forming layers parallel to (001).
GaInNAs SESAMs passively mode-locking 1.3-μm solid-state lasers (2004)

A GaInNAs semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) is demonstrated that is able to passively mode-lock a 1.3-μm Nd:YLF laser. The mirror was grown by molecular beam epitaxy and consists mainly of a GaInNAs single quantum well on an AlAs/GaAs distributed Bragg reflector. Two designs were grown: resonant and antiresonant. The first favoured optical characterisation, while the second one was more fitted to self-start passive mode-locking in the laser. Rapid thermal annealing was used to tune this wavelength closer to the desired laser wavelength of 1314 nm. Nonlinear characterisation of both designs allowed calculation of the saturation fluence of a 10-nm GaInNAs QW with photoluminescence around 1330 nm independently of design. It was measured to be 3.5±0.5 μJ/cm2. The incorporation of about 2% of N in In0.36Ga0.64As red-shifted the as-grown photoluminescence to about 1370 nm. The nonlinear optical characterisation of the antiresonant SESAM showed low saturation fluence (11.2 μJ/cm2), low nonsaturable losses and a recovery time suitable for ps-pulse generation. With this SESAM we obtained clean self-starting mode-locking with 6.7-ps pulses at a repetition rate of 117 MHz and a maximum average output power of 580 mW.
Application of a wavelength-amplitude double-modulation method in photoacoustic detection using a pulsed optical parametric oscillator (2005)

A wavelength-amplitude (WM-AM) double-modulation technique that uses the acoustic wave generated via light absorption by a gaseous medium as the carrier wave is demonstrated. By modulating the excitation wavelength of thelight pulses from a multi-kHz optical parametric oscillator at a lower frequency than the acoustic frequency, differential infrared spectra with a vanishing baseline are obtained when employing photoacoustic detection. This modulation technique is used to enhance the sensitivity in trace gas analysis to an estimated detection sensitivity of 136 pptv for methane using the all-solid-state optical parametric oscillator.
Prototype instrument for noninvasive ultrasonic inspection and identification of fluids in sealed containers (2006)

Government agencies and homeland security related organizations have identified the need to develop and establish a wide range of unprecedented capabilities for providing scientific and technical forensic services to investigations involving hazardous chemical, biological, and radiological materials, including extremely dangerous chemical and biological warfare agents. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a prototype portable, handheld, hazardous materials acoustic inspection prototype that provides noninvasive container interrogation and material identification capabilities using nondestructive ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements. Due to the wide variety of fluids as well as container sizes and materials encountered in various law enforcement inspection activities, the need for high measurement sensitivity and advanced ultrasonic measurement techniques were identified. The prototype was developed using a versatile electronics platform, advanced ultrasonic wave propagation methods, and advanced signal processing techniques. This paper primarily focuses on the ultrasonic measurement methods and signal processing techniques incorporated into the prototype. High bandwidth ultrasonic transducers combined with an advanced pulse compression technique allowed researchers to 1) obtain high signal-to-noise ratios and 2) obtain accurate and consistent time-of-flight (TOF) measurements through a variety of highly attenuative containers and fluid media. Results of work conducted in the laboratory have demonstrated that the prototype experimental measurement technique also provided information regarding container properties, which will be utilized in future container-independent measurements of hidden liquids.