gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Chemical and microphysical characterization of ambient aerosols with the aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (2007)

The application of mass spectrometric techniques to the real-time measurement and characterization of aerosols represents a significant advance in the field of atmospheric science. This review focuses on the aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), an instrument designed and developed at Aerodyne Research, Inc. (ARI) that is the most widely used thermal vaporization AMS. The AMS uses aerodynamic lens inlet technology together with thermal vaporization and electron-impact mass spectrometry to measure the real-time non-refractory (NR) chemical speciation and mass loading as a function of particle size of fine aerosol particles with aerodynamic diameters between approximately 50 and 1,000 nm. The original AMS utilizes a quadrupole mass spectrometer (Q) with electron impact (EI) ionization and produces ensemble average data of particle properties. Later versions employ time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometers and can produce full mass spectral data for single particles. This manuscript presents a detailed discussion of the strengths and limitations of the AMS measurement approach and reviews how the measurements are used to characterize particle properties. Results from selected laboratory experiments and field measurement campaigns are also presented to highlight the different applications of this instrument. Recent instrumental developments, such as the incorporation of softer ionization techniques (vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photo-ionization, Li+ ion, and electron attachment) and high-resolution ToF mass spectrometers, that yield more detailed information about the organic aerosol component are also described.
CacheCash: A Cryptocurrency-based Decentralized Content Delivery Network (2019)

Online content delivery has witnessed dramatic growth recently with traffic consuming over half of today’s Internet bandwidth. This escalating demand has motivated content publishers to move outside the traditional solutions of infrastructure-based content delivery networks (CDNs). Instead, many are employing peer-to-peer data transfers to reduce the service cost and avoid bandwidth over-provision to handle peak demands. Unfortunately, the open access work model of this paradigm, which allows anyone to join, introduces several design challenges related to security, efficiency, and peer availability. In this dissertation, we introduce CacheCash, a cryptocurrency-based decentralized content distribution network designed to address these challenges. CacheCash bypasses the centralized approach of CDN companies for one in which end users organically set up new caches in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens. Thus, it enables publishers to hire caches on an as-needed basis, without constraining these parties with long-term business commitments. To address the challenges encountered as the system evolved, we propose a number of protocols and techniques that represent basic building blocks of CacheCash’s design. First, motivated by the observation that conventional security assessment tools do not suit cryptocurrency-based systems, we propose ABC, a threat modeling framework capable of identifying attacker collusion and the new threat vectors that cryptocurrencies introduce. Second, we propose CAPnet, a defense mechanism against cache accounting attacks (i.e., a client pretends to be served allowing a colluding cache to collect rewards without doing any work). CAPnet features a bandwidth expenditure puzzle that clients must solve over the content before caches are given credit, which bounds the effectiveness of this collusion case. Third, to make it feasible to reward caches per data chunk served, we introduce MicroCash, a decentralized probabilistic micropayment scheme that reduces the overhead of processing these small payments. MicroCash implements several novel ideas that make micropayments more suitable for delay-sensitive applications, such as online content delivery. CacheCash combines the previous techniques to produce a novel service-payment exchange protocol that secures the content distribution process. This protocol utilizes gradual content disclosure and partial payment collection to encourage the honest collaborative work between participants. We present a detailed game theoretic analysis showing how to exploit rational financial incentives to address several security threats. This is in addition to various performance optimization mechanisms that promote system efficiency and scalability. Lastly, we evaluate system performance and show that modest machines can serve/retrieve content at a high bitrate with minimal overhead.
Multimodal Molecular Imaging In Vivo (2010)

In medical research and practice, imaging is now playing a crucial role. With rapidly developing molecular imaging, the role of in vivo imaging is expected to expand much more. In molecular imaging, one of the recent trends is multimodal imaging, which theoretically combines all the strengths of each imaging modality and consequently provides synergism. For this, many multimodal imaging probes have been developed so far. However, multimodal probe imaging is different from simple fusion images using multimodal imaging instruments. To maximize the effectiveness of multimodal in vivo imaging, practical application methods and delicate design of imaging probes are essential. Here, imaging instruments and probes for multimodal in vivo imaging are briefly reviewed and practical application is discussed.
Analytical modeling of the interfacial shearing stress in dual-coated optical fiber specimens subjected to tension (1993)

A simple analytical model is developed for the evaluation of interfacial shearing stress at the glass fiber surface in dual-coated optical fiber specimens subjected to tension. The analysis has been performed for pull-out testing and in situ evaluation of Young's (shear) modulus of the primary coating material and is aimed at assessment of the effect of the materials properties and the specimen's geometry on the magnitude and distribution of interfacial shearing stress. It is shown that the longitudinal distribution of this stress is nonuniform and that, for the given specimen's length, its maximum value increases with a decrease in the thickness of the primary coating. It is concluded that, while currently used 1-cm-long specimens with approximately 30-µm-thick primary coatings are acceptable, shorter specimens (say, 5 mm long) are expected to result in more stable experimental data. The results obtained can be useful for comparing the adhesive strength of the primary coating material in fibers of different lengths and with different coating designs, as well as for the evaluation of Young's (shear) modulus of this material from the measured axial displacement of the glass fiber.
Clinical Reflectance Confocal Microscope for Imaging of Oral Cancer (2014)

Biopsy and histopathology remain the standard method for diagnosis of oral cancer in the clinic today. Early detection of oral cancer is fundamental to a higher survival rate, and a non-invasive method is preferred. This is possible through optical imaging techniques. This dissertation describes the design, development and testing of a clinical reflectance confocal microscope for imaging of oral cancer in combination with macroscopic fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). \n\nA compact bench top reflectance confocal microscope was designed and constructed for use in combination with a bench top FLIM system. The system was evaluated by imaging porcine oral tissue ex vivo and normal and dysplastic hamster cheek pouch tissue in vivo. To facilitate in vivo imaging of the human oral cavity, an electrically tunable lens was integrated in the system for axial scanning and a miniature objective lens was designed and fabricated for access into the oral cavity. Performance of the system was characterized over the full range of axial scanning with the electrically tunable lens. The reflectance confocal microscopy system was tested in combination with macroscopic FLIM by imaging normal and pre-cancerous human oral tissue ex vivo and in vivo in the clinic.
Properties of lanthanum oxide thin films deposited by cyclic chemical vapor deposition using tris(isopropyl-cyclopentadienyl)lanthanum precursor (2006)

Lanthanum oxide thin films were deposited at deposition temperatures ranging from 170to370°C using alternate injection of tris(isopropyl-cyclopentadienyl)lanthanum and various reactants (H2O, O2, and NH3). It was possible to deposit films containing a carbon impurity concentration &lt;1at.%. The residual carbon could be further reduced by postdeposition annealing. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that after rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 870°C the films transformed to silicate which increased the band gap of the films (7.0±0.15eV). With changing the RTA ambient from O2 to N2, a binding energy shift of the substrate’s Si peaks by 0.9eV was observed in the XPS spectra relative to the signals from the oxide layer. The shift was attributed to the electric field in the oxide film caused by the fixed charge distribution. A flat band voltage shift indicating the change of the fixed charge was also observed according to the RTA ambient. From Pt∕La-oxide∕p-Si(100) structures, the dielectric constant and the interface trap density were estimated to be ∼16 and ∼4×1011eV−1cm−2, respectively. An equivalent oxide thickness of 0.9nm was obtained after RTA.
Medical malpractice solutions: Systems and proposals for injury compensation (1990)

Halley, M.M., Fowks, R.J., Bigler, F.C., Ryan, D.L. (Charles C Thomas, Publishers, Springfield, Illinois, 1990), 289 pages, $49.75.
The use of financial information in stock exchange decision making in Mtwara Tanzania (2012)

The use of financial information in deciding to invest wisely is crucial in all undertakings of investment ventures. This article presents the research findings on the use of financial information in Tanzania a case of Iringa region. The study was conducted to find out whether investors of stock exchange do consider financial information when deciding to invest. Mixed methodology of data collections strategies was used in the study. However, questionnaire was the prominent collection strategy. Correlation and descriptive methods were used in the analysis of the data. The study applied purposive sampling methodology and was stratified into three categories: Small Investors (SI), Medium Investors (MI), and Large Investors (LI). The findings revealed three propositions. 1) That the use of financial information assimilated a direct relationship with the level of investment. 2) That small investors realized poor use of financial information compared to other groups of investors. 3) That large investors indicated that they were more sensitive to the use financial information when deciding to invest than other groups of investors. Generally it was found that only 13.63 percent of all investors use/consider financial information when deciding to invest.
Design optimization of a compact photonic crystal microcavity based on slow light and dispersion engineering for the miniaturization of integrated mode-locked lasers (2018)

We exploit slow light (high ng) modes in planar photonic crystals in order to design a compact cavity, which provides an attractive path towards the miniaturization of near-infrared integrated fast pulsed lasers. By applying dispersion engineering techniques, we can design structures with a low dispersion, as needed by mode-locking operation. Our basic InP SiO2 heterostructure is robust and well suited to integrated laser applications. We show that an optimized 30 μm long cavity design yields 9 frequency-equidistant modes with a FSR of 178 GHz within a 11.5 nm bandwidth, which could potentially sustain the generation of optical pulses shorter than 700 fs. In addition, the numerically calculated quality factors of these modes are all above 10,000, making them suitable for reaching laser operation. Thanks to the use of a high group index (28), this cavity design is almost one order of magnitude shorter than standard rib-waveguide based mode-locked lasers. The use of slow light modes in planar photonic crystal based cavities thus relaxes the usual constraints that tightly link the device size and the quality (peak power, repetition rate) of the pulsed laser signal.
General Behavior Prediction by a Combination of Scenario-Specific Models (2014)

Before taking a decision, a driver anticipates the future behavior of other traffic participants. However, if a driver is inattentive or overloaded, he may fail to consider relevant information. This can lead to bad decisions and potentially result in an accident. A computational system that is designed to anticipate other traffic participants' behaviors could assist the driver in his decision making by sending him an early warning when a risk of collision is predicted. Existing research in this area usually focuses on only one of two aspects, i.e., quality or scope. Quality refers to the ability to warn a driver early before a dangerous situation happens. Scope is the diversity of scenarios in which the approach can work. In general, we see methods targeting a broad scope but showing low quality, with others having a narrow scope but high quality. Our goal is to create a system with high quality and high scope. To achieve this, we propose an architecture that combines classifiers to predict behaviors for many scenarios. In this paper, we will first introduce the generic concept of such a system applicable to highway and inner-city scenarios. We will show that a combination of general and specific classifiers is a solution to improve quality and scope based on a concrete implementation for lane-change prediction in highway scenarios.
Sustainable bioproduction of phytochemicals by plant <i>in vitro</i> cultures: anticancer agents (2005)

Due to their complex structure with several chiral centres important anticancer agents are still extracted from plants and not synthesized chemically on a commercial scale. Sustainable bioproduction of the compounds of interest may be achieved by plant in vitro cultures. Undifferentiated callus and suspension cultures, which can be cultivated in large bioreactors easily, very often fail to accumulate the compounds of interest, whereas shoot and root cultures as well hairy roots normally produce the same compounds as in the appropriate organs. The production of anticancer compounds, such as the alkaloids vinblastine, vincristine, paclitaxel (Taxol ® ), camptothecin, or the lignan podophyllotoxin, by plant in vitro cultures is reviewed. Taxanes can be produced in bioreactors using cell suspensions of various Taxus species with good yields; presently paclitaxel is produced on a commercial scale by Phyton Biotech (Germany). Camptothecin has low yields in suspension cultures of Camptotheca acuminata or Nothapodytes foetida (0.0003–0.01%), but a good production (0.1–0.3% dry wt) in root and hairy root cultures of Ophiorrhiza pumila , O. mungos and C. acuminata . Podophyllotoxin can be produced in cell suspension and root as well as hairy root cultures of Podophyllum and various Linum species up to 130 mg/l ( Linum album cell suspensions); its derivative 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin is accumulated in hairy roots of L. persicum up to about 500 mg/l. The in vitro production of dimeric indole alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus has failed so far both in undifferentiated and differentiated in vitro cultures. In cases where in vitro cultures show good yields, they can be employed in biotechnology for the sustainable production of valuable products.
What Are the Ants Doing? Vision-Based Tracking and Reconstruction of Control Programs (2006)

In this paper, we study the problem of going from a real-world, multi-agent system to the generation of control programs in an automatic fashion. In particular, a computer vision system is presented, capable of simultaneously tracking multiple agents, such as social insects. Moreover, the data obtained from this system is fed into a mode-reconstruction module that generates low-complexity control programs, i.e. strings of symbolic descriptions of control-interrupt pairs, consistent with the empirical data. The result is a mechanism for going from the real system to an executable implementation that can be used for controlling multiple mobile robots.
Realistic avatar eye and head animation using a neurobiological model of visual attention (2004)

We describe a neurobiological model of visual attention and eye/head movements in primates, and its application to the automatic animation of a realistic virtual human head watching an unconstrained variety of visual inputs.The bottom-up (image-based) attention model is based on the known neurophysiology of visual processing along the occipito-parietal pathway of the primate brain, while the eye/head movement model is derived from recordings in freely behaving Rhesus monkeys.The system is successful at autonomously saccading towards and tracking salient targets in a variety of video clips, including synthetic stimuli, real outdoors scenes and gaming console outputs.The resulting virtual human eye/head animation yields realistic rendering of the simulation results, both suggesting applicability of this approach to avatar animation and reinforcing the plausibility of the neural model.
A Mechanism Switch in Enyne Metathesis Reactions Involving Rearrangement: Influence of Heteroatoms in the Propargylic Position (2002)

Novel findings concerning the mechanism of enyne metathesis reactions involving rearrangement are presented. It has been demonstrated that the presence of either oxygen or nitrogen at the propargylic position leads to opposite regioselectivities in the presence of a cross-metathesis partner. The application of these reactions to domino processes is also described.
Advanced and natural interaction system for motion-impaired users (2009)

Human-computer interaction is an important area that searches for better and more comfortable systems to promote communication between humans and machines. Vision-based interfaces can offer a more natural and appealing way of communication. Moreover, it can help in the e-accessibility component of the e-inclusion. The aim is to develop a usable system, that is, the end-user must consider the use of this device effective, efficient and satisfactory. The research's main contribution is SINA, a hands-free interface based on computer vision techniques for motion impaired users. This interface does not require the user to use his upper body limbs, as only nose motion is considered. Besides the technical aspect, user's satisfaction when using an interface is a critical issue. The approach that we have adopted is to integrate usability evaluation at relevant points of the software development
O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity in adult gliomas: relation to patient and tumor characteristics. (1998)

The DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) confers resistance to therapeutic methylating and chloroethylating agents in human brain tumor-derived cell lines. In this work, we assayed MGMT activity in 152 adult gliomas to establish correlates with patient and tumor characteristics. We also assayed MGMT in histologically normal brain adjacent to 87 tumors to characterize changes in activity accompanying neurocarcinogenesis. MGMT activity was detectable in 76% (115 of 152) of tumors, ranging approximately 300-fold from 0.30 to 89 fmol/10(6) cells (180-57,000 molecules/cell). Mean activity was 6.6 +/- 13 fmol/10(6) cells and varied 4-fold among diagnostic groups. The mean for oligodendrogliomas was 2-fold lower (P < 0.03), and for mixed oligodendroglioma-astrocytomas, the mean was 4-fold lower (P < 0.006) than for astroglial tumors. Twenty-five % of gliomas had no detectable MGMT activity (Mer- phenotype; < 0.25 fmol/10(6) cells or 150 molecules/cell). Glioma MGMT was inversely correlated with age (P < 0.01), consistent with the observed age dependence in the progenitor tissue of brain tumors (J. R. Silber et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93: 6941-6946, 1996). Neither MGMT activity nor proportion of Mer- tumors differed by sex. Glioma MGMT was correlated with degree of aneuploidy (P < 0.006) but not with fraction of S-phase cells. Mean activity in tumors was 5-fold higher than in adjacent histologically normal brain (5.0 +/- 7.6 versus 1.1 +/- 1.9 fmol/10(6) cells; P < 0.001). Notably, elevation of tumor activity was observed in 62% of tissue pairs, ranging from 2-fold to > 105-fold. Moreover, 64% of Mer- normal tissue was accompanied by Mer+ tumor. These observations indicate that expression of MGMT activity is frequently activated and/or increased during human neurocarcinogenesis, and that the enhancement is not related to proliferation per se. Significantly, enhanced MGMT activity may heighten the resistance of brain tumors to therapeutic alkylating agents.
Shape-memory behavior of segmented polyurethanes with an amorphous reversible phase: The effect of block length and content (2000)

Segmented thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU)s with amorphous soft segments from the reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate and 1,2-butanediol and crystalline hard segments from 4,4′-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate and 1,6-hexanediol showed sharp glass-transition temperatures that could be used as shape-recovery temperatures. The thermal, mechanical, and shape-memory effect of these TPUs of various block compositions and lengths were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical testing, and tensile testing. As the block lengths decreased, phase mixing increased and hysteresis in the shape-memory behavior decreased. Too low a content of hard segments increased the hysteresis in the shape-memory behavior. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2652–2657, 2000
Towards Secure Analog Designs: A Secure Sense Amplifier Using Memristors (2014)

In this work, we propose a key-based locking/unlocking mechanism for sense amplifiers, an integral part of many analog systems. We leverage process variations to make the circuit functional only when the correct key is entered. An incorrect key will result in a circuit breakdown, making it inaccessible to an attacker. To enable this secure functionality, we leverage emerging technology devices, specifically memristors. The proposed secure sense amplifier can be used in important analog applications such as memories and sensors. We develop properties to ensure the security of the sense amplifier. These properties are validated by simulations results at the 22 nm CMOS technology node and assuming HP memristor properties.
Propene Polymerization with Catalyst Mixtures Containing Different <i>ansa</i>-Zirconocenes:  Chain Transfer to Alkylaluminum Cocatalysts and Formation of Stereoblock Polymers (2000)

Substantial transfer of growing polypropyl chains to methylalumoxane and trimethylaluminum occurs with the highly substituted, isospecific zirconocene catalyst Me2Si(2-Me-4-tBu-C5H2)2ZrCl2/MAO, while little if any such chain transfer is observed for the more open isospecific catalyst Me2Si(2-MeInd)2ZrCl2/MAO, for aspecific H4C2(Flu)2ZrCl2/MAO, and for syndiospecific Ph2C(Cp)FluZrCl2/MAO. Propene polymerization with MAO-activated mixtures of Me2Si(2-MeInd)2ZrCl2 and H4C2(Flu)2ZrCl2 gives completely separable mixtures of the isotactic and atactic polymers characteristic for each of the individual catalysts. MAO-activated mixtures of Me2Si(2-Me-4-tBu-C5H2)2ZrCl2 and H4C2(Flu)2ZrCl2, however, give polypropene mixtures that contain, besides isotactic and atactic polymers, polymer fractions in which isotactic and atactic polypropene chain segments are inseparably linked. While clear evidence for isotactic−syndiotactic stereoblock formation was not obtained, some polymeryl exchange between isospecific and syndiospecific catalyst sites in MAO-activated mixtures of Me2Si(2-Me-4-tBu-C5H2)2ZrCl2 and Ph2C(Cp)FluZrCl2 is indicated by increased stereoerror frequencies in some fractions of the polymer product mixture obtained by temperature-rising elution fractionation. Structural prerequisites for an efficient transfer of growing polymer chains between different types of catalyst centers are discussed.