gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Fast hand gesture recognition for real-time teleconferencing applications (2002)

Work on real-time hand-gesture recognition for SAVI (stereo active vision interface) is presented. Based on the detection of frontal faces, image regions near the face are searched for the existence of skin-tone blobs. Each blob is evaluated to determine if it it is a hand held in a standard pose. A verification algorithm based on the responses of elongated oriented filters is used to decide whether a hand is present or not. Once a hand is detected, gestures are given by varying the number of fingers visible. The hand is segmented using an algorithm which detects connected skin-tone blobs in the region of interest, and a medial axis transform (skeletonization) is applied. Analysis of the resulting skeleton allows detection of the number of fingers visible, thus determining the gesture. The skeletonization is sensitive to strong shadows which may alter the detected morphology of the hand. Experimental results are given indicating good performance of the algorithm.
Current-voltage curves of bipolar membranes (1992)

Bipolar membranes consist of a layered ion-exchange structure composed of a cation selective membrane joined to an anion selective membrane. They are analogous to semiconductor p-n devices as both of them present current-voltage curves exhibiting similar rectification properties. In this article, we present some current-voltage curves obtained for different bipolar membranes at several temperatures. The results can be interpreted in terms of a simple model for ion transport and field-enhanced water dissociation previously developed. The mechanism responsible for water splitting is assumed to be a catalytic proton transfer reaction between the charged groups and the water at the membrane interface. The effects of temperature are taken into account by introducing an Arrhenius-type relationship for the dependence of the forward rate constant of the reaction on temperature. Finally, comparison between theory and experiments provides reasonable values for the parameters introduced in the theoretical model. The analysis aims at developing a better physical understanding of a process in which chemical reactions and transport phenomena are coupled in such a way that the potential technological applications depend strongly on this coupling.
Getting to green (2008)

Rising global energy demands, increasing costs and limited natural resources mean that householders are more conscious about managing their domestic resource consumption. Yet, the question of what tools Ubicomp researchers can create for residential resource management remains open. To begin to address this omission, we present a qualitative study of 15 households and their current management practices around the water, electricity and natural gas systems in the home. We find that in-the-moment resource consumption is mostly invisible to householders and that they desire more real-time information to help them save money, keep their homes comfortable and be environmentally friendly. Designing for domestic sustainability therefore turns on improving the visibility of resource production and consumption costs as well as supporting both individuals and collectives in behavior change. Domestic sustainability also highlights the caveat of potentially creating a green divide by making resource management available only to those who can afford the technologies to support being green. Finally, we suggest that the Ubicomp community can contribute to the domestic and broader sustainability agenda by incorporating green values in designs and highlight the challenge of collecting data on being green.
The Program of Gene Transcription for a Single Differentiating Cell Type during Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis (2004)

Asymmetric division during sporulation by Bacillus subtilis generates a mother cell that undergoes a 5-h program of differentiation. The program is governed by a hierarchical cascade consisting of the transcription factors: sigma(E), sigma(K), GerE, GerR, and SpoIIID. The program consists of the activation and repression of 383 genes. The sigma(E) factor turns on 262 genes, including those for GerR and SpoIIID. These DNA-binding proteins downregulate almost half of the genes in the sigma(E) regulon. In addition, SpoIIID turns on ten genes, including genes involved in the appearance of sigma(K). Next, sigma(K) activates 75 additional genes, including that for GerE. This DNA-binding protein, in turn, represses half of the genes that had been activated by sigma(K) while switching on a final set of 36 genes. Evidence is presented that repression and activation contribute to proper morphogenesis. The program of gene expression is driven forward by its hierarchical organization and by the repressive effects of the DNA-binding proteins. The logic of the program is that of a linked series of feed-forward loops, which generate successive pulses of gene transcription. Similar regulatory circuits could be a common feature of other systems of cellular differentiation.
Regulation of tumor necrosis factor/cachectin and IL-1 secretion in human mononuclear phagocytes. (1988)

To determine whether the production and secretion of TNF and IL-1 by human mononuclear phagocytes could be independently modulated, we examined secretion of TNF and IL-1 by fresh monocytes and monocytes pretreated with IFN-gamma or granulocyte macrophage CSF before LPS stimulation. TNF and IL-1 secretion were in part differentially modulated. Fresh monocytes secreted large amounts of TNF and IL-1 after LPS stimulation and less than 6% as much without LPS. The capacity to secrete TNF in response to LPS decreased slightly in cultured monocytes but was markedly augmented by IFN-gamma (approximately five-fold more than fresh monocytes). In contrast, cultured monocytes secreted less than 5% as much IL-1 as fresh monocytes and, although augmented by IFN-gamma, IL-1 secretion remained much less than by fresh monocytes. These differences in modulation were reflected by differences in the molecular mechanisms regulating TNF and IL-1 secretion. TNF secretion was regulated primarily by changes in the duration of increased transcription and by an apparent increase in translation or protein stability in response to LPS; greater than 95% TNF produced was secreted under all conditions. In contrast, the changes in IL-1 secretion reflected primarily post-transcriptional regulation of IL1-alpha mRNA, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of IL-1 beta mRNA and a decrease in the fraction of IL-1 secreted by cultured compared with fresh monocytes (10 and 60%, respectively). Changes in translational efficiency or protein processing or stability appeared not to be important mechanisms regulating IL-1 secretion. Additional evidence that TNF and IL-1 can be differentially modulated was the selective decrease in TNF secretion and the failure of IFN-gamma to enhance TNF secretion by cultured monocytes from neonates, whereas results for IL-1 were similar with adult and neonatal monocytes. Results with tissue macrophages were similar to those with cultured monocytes. These results indicate that TNF and IL-1 production and secretion by mononuclear phagocytes can be differentially modulated, reflecting in part different mechanisms of regulation; this may allow them to play partially independent roles in the host immune response.
Cannabinoids ameliorate cerebral dysfunction following liver failure via AMP‐activated protein kinase (2007)

ABSTRACT Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatry disorder of complex pathogenesis caused by acute or chronic liver failure. We studied the etiology of cerebral dysfunction in a murine model of HE induced by either bile duct ligation or thioacetamide administration. We report that stimulation of cerebral AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), a major intracel‐lular energy sensor, is a compensatory response to liver failure. This function of AMPK is regulated by endo‐cannabinoids. The cannabinoid system controls systemic energy balance via the cannabinoid receptors CB‐1 and CB‐2. Under normal circumstances, AMPK activity is mediated by CB‐1 while CB‐2 is barely detected. However, CB‐2 is strongly stimulated in response to liver failure. Administration of ∆9‐tetrahy‐drocannabinol (THC) augmented AMPK activity and restored brain function in WT mice but not in their CB‐2 KO littermates. These results suggest that HE is a disease of energy flux. CB‐2 signaling is a cerebral stress response mechanism and makes AMPK a promising target for its treatment by modulating the canna‐binoid system.—Dagon, Y., Avraham, Y., Ilan, Y., Mechoulam, R., Berry, E. M. Cannabinoids ameliorate cerebral dysfunction following liver failure via AMP‐activated protein kinase. FASEB J. 21, 2431–2441 (2007)
Silyl‐Derivate von Pyrazol, Isoxazol und 1,2,3‐Triazol (1979)

Abstract 1,4‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)‐1,3‐butadiin ( 1 ) wird durch Addition von Hydrazin ( 2 ) in 3(5)‐(Trimethyl‐silylmethyl)pyrazol ( 4a ) übergeführt. Bei der Reaktion von 1 mit Methylhydrazin ( 3 ) entstehen 1‐Methyl‐5‐(trimethylsilylmethyl)pyrazol( 4b )und l‐Methyl‐3‐(trimethylsilylmethyl)pyrazol( 5 ).—Durch Umsetzung von Hydroxylamin mit 1 in Ethanol bildet sich 5‐(Trimethylsilylmethyl)isoxazol ( 6 ), während in Pyridin neben 6 noch 3‐Methyl‐5‐(trimethylsilyl)isoxazol ( 7 ) auftritt. Die 5‐(Trimethylsilyl)isoxazole 7 und 10a – e können auch durch Einwirkung von Hydroxylamin auf die Acyl(trimethylsilyl)acetylene 8a – f synthetisiert werden. Die Verbindungen 8a – f geben mit freier Stickstoffwasserstoffsäure die 4‐Acyl‐5‐(trimethylsilyl)‐1.2,3‐triazole 12a – f .
Cytotoxic T‐Lymphocytes How Do They Function? (1983)

The central theme of this work has been the roles of the CTL receptor and of MHC-proteins in CTL recognition and lysis. A major conclusion that may be deduced from the work presented here is that one CTL receptor is responsible for both target cell recognition and lysis. Although their function as recognitive structures is well established, involvement of MHC-proteins in the events that follow recognition has not been investigated in detail. We have proposed that MHC-proteins are molecular mediators whereby CTL receptors transmit signals ultimately leading to lysis of the target cell. I see future work on CTL-mediated lysis proceeding in the following directions: 1. Verification and analysis of the precise role of MHC proteins in CTL recognition and lysis by use of cell and vesicle systems of defined composition and structure. 2. Study of CTL-mediated 'lethal hit' in systems enabling analysis of early events (millisecond level) preceding lysis. 3. Grafting of CTL receptor(s) activity onto naive cells, using liposomes or other vehicles, and 4. Production of idiotypic reagents such as monoclonal antibodies specific for the combining site/effector mechanism of CTL.
Positive FNR-like control of anaerobic arginine degradation and nitrate respiration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1991)

A mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was characterized which could not grow anaerobically with nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor or with arginine as the sole energy source. In this anr mutant, nitrate reductase and arginine deiminase were not induced by oxygen limitation. The anr mutation was mapped in the 60-min region of the P. aeruginosa chromosome. A 1.3-kb chromosomal fragment from P. aeruginosa complemented the anr mutation and also restored anaerobic growth of an Escherichia coli fnr deletion mutant on nitrate medium, indicating that the 1.3-kb fragment specifies an FNR-like regulatory protein. The arcDABC operon, which encodes the arginine deiminase pathway enzymes of P. aeruginosa, was rendered virtually noninducible by a deletion or an insertion in the -40 region of the arc promoter. This -40 sequence (TTGAC....ATCAG) strongly resembled the consensus FNR-binding site (TTGAT....ATCAA) of E. coli. The cloned arc operon was expressed at low levels in E. coli; nevertheless, some FNR-dependent anaerobic induction could be observed. An FNR-dependent E. coli promoter containing the consensus FNR-binding site was expressed well in P. aeruginosa and was regulated by oxygen limitation. These findings suggest that P. aeruginosa and E. coli have similar mechanisms of anaerobic control.
Adaptive perceptual color-texture image segmentation (2005)

We propose a new approach for image segmentation that is based on low-level features for color and texture. It is aimed at segmentation of natural scenes, in which the color and texture of each segment does not typically exhibit uniform statistical characteristics. The proposed approach combines knowledge of human perception with an understanding of signal characteristics in order to segment natural scenes into perceptually/semantically uniform regions. The proposed approach is based on two types of spatially adaptive low-level features. The first describes the local color composition in terms of spatially adaptive dominant colors, and the second describes the spatial characteristics of the grayscale component of the texture. Together, they provide a simple and effective characterization of texture that the proposed algorithm uses to obtain robust and, at the same time, accurate and precise segmentations. The resulting segmentations convey semantic information that can be used for content-based retrieval. The performance of the proposed algorithms is demonstrated in the domain of photographic images, including low-resolution, degraded, and compressed images.
Identification of an ion channel activity of the Vpu transmembrane domain and its involvement in the regulation of virus release from HIV‐1‐infected cells (1996)

HIV-1 Vpu catalyzes two independent functions, degradation of the virus receptor CD4 in the endoplasmic reticulum and enhancement of virus release from the cell surface. These activities are confined to distinct structural domains of Vpu, the cytoplasmic tail and the transmembrane (TM) anchor, respectively. It was recently reported that Vpu forms cation-selective ion channels in lipid bilayers. Here we report that this property of Vpu is a characteristic of its TM anchor. Expression of full-length Vpu in Xenopus oocytes increases membrane conductance. The Vpu-induced conductance is selective to monovalent cations over anions, does not discriminate Na+ over K+ and shows marginal permeability to divalent cations. Notably, introduction of the scrambled TM sequence into full-length Vpu abrogates its capacity to increase membrane conductance in oocytes and to promote virus release from infected cells. Reconstitution of synthetic Vpu fragments in lipid bilayers identified an ion channel activity for a sequence corresponding to the TM domain of Vpu. In contrast, a peptide with the same amino acid composition but with a scrambled sequence does not form ion channels. Our findings therefore suggest that the ability of Vpu to increase virus release from infected cells may be correlated with an ion channel activity of the TM domain, thereby providing a potential target for drug intervention based on the development of Vpu-specific channel blockers.
High-power completely fiber integrated super-continuum sources (Invited Paper) (2005)

Advances in high power fibre lasers and amplifiers and in novel non-linear fibres that can be readily integrated with such pumps have led to a family of high power super-continuum sources that extend throughout the complete window of transparency of silica based fibres. The systems have been operated femtosecond, picosecond and nanosecond as well as cw. Average powers of 10’s Watts can be easily achieved, giving flat spectral power densities in excess of 10’s mW per nm from 400 nm to beyond 2.2 &#956;m.
Silicon nanoparticles–graphene paper composites for Li ion battery anodes (2010)

Composites of Si nanoparticles highly dispersed between graphene sheets, and supported by a 3-D network of graphite formed by reconstituting regions of graphene stacks exhibit high Li ion storage capacities and cycling stability. An electrode was prepared with a storage capacity >2200 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles and >1500 mA h g(-1) after 200 cycles that decreased by <0.5% per cycle.
Matrix Metalloproteinases Limit Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury by Modulation of Early Vascular Events (2002)

Inflammation in general and proteinases generated as a result are likely mediators of early secondary pathogenesis after spinal cord injury. We report that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in blood-spinal cord barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and locomotor recovery. MMP-9 was present in the meninges and neurons of the uninjured cord. MMP-9 increased rapidly after a moderate contusion spinal cord injury, reaching a maximum at 24 hr, becoming markedly reduced by 72 hr, and not detectable at 7 d after injury. It was seen in glia, macrophages, neutrophils, and vascular elements in the injured spinal cord at 24 hr after injury. The natural tissue inhibitors of MMPs were unchanged over this time course. MMP-9-null mice exhibited significantly less disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier, attenuation of neutrophil infiltration, and significant locomotor recovery compared with wild-type mice. Similar findings were observed in mice treated with a hydroxamic acid MMP inhibitor from 3 hr to 3 d after injury, compared with the vehicle controls. Moreover, the area of residual white matter at the lesion epicenter was significantly greater in the inhibitor-treated group. This study provides evidence that MMP-9 plays a key role in abnormal vascular permeability and inflammation within the first 3 d after spinal cord injury, and that blockade of MMPs during this critical period attenuates these vascular events and leads to improved locomotor recovery. Our findings suggest that early inhibition of MMPs may be an efficacious strategy for the spinal cord-injured patient.
A fast algorithm for video parsing using MPEG compressed sequences (2002)

Video parsing is a fundamental operation used in many digital video applications such as digital libraries and video servers. The accuracy and execution speed of the parsing algorithm is critical if large amounts of video data are to be processed, particularly in real-time. We present a new algorithm to reconstruct DC coefficient images of a DCT and motion compensation compressed video sequence, e.g. MPEG. The histograms of the DC coefficient images can be used to detect scene changes.
РЕСТРУКТУРИЗАЦИЯ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ В ПЕРИОД КРИЗИСА (2014)

The paper presents methods of restructuring and stabilizing the financial situation of the company, allow you to change the company's solvency in a crisis situation.
Cultural Sensitivity and Related Factors Among Community Health Nurses (2013)

Study results may be referenced in designing future in-service and cultural care education programs for community health nurses to improve healthcare quality for new immigrants.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Are There Gender Differences in the Genetics of Signal Transduction? A Preliminary Study of Cytosolic Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (2000)

The phenotype of cytosolic Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (cLMWPTP or ACP1), an enzyme involved in signal transduction of insulin, PDGF and T-cell receptors, has been determined in 71 patients with Crohn's Disease (CD: 37 males and 34 females), 49 patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC: 27 males and 22 females) and 358 consecutive newborns (194 males and 164 females). cLMWPTP phenotypes showing a high concentration of F isoforms are associated with CD in females and with UC in males. Since PTPases counteract the effects of protein tyrosines kinases, a high concentration of F isoform of cLMWPTP may influence the mucosal response to pathogenic factors, increasing susceptibility to CD in females and to UC in males.
Ultra-wideband precision asset location system (2003)

A prototype ultra-wideband (UWB) precision asset location (PAL) system was developed and tested aboard the SS Curtiss in Port Hueneme, California. The PAL system was developed to assess the capability of UWB geolocation to operate in severe multipath shipboard environments. The PAL system was based on an earlier UWB relative-time-of-arrival (RTOA) transceiver location system and was extended to a differential-time-of-arrival (DTOA) beacon architecture required for longer tag battery life. Testing was performed in open cargo spaces (worst-case multipath) and partially loaded cargo spaces (blockage). A reference laser surveying system was installed for comparison and accuracy tests were conducted over a cargo space. The PAL system performed to the estimated accuracy of a few feet in open cargo holds. UWB appeared to penetrate large cracks between containers, maintaining localization capability during blockage tests. This paper describes the UWB PAL system and the shipboard testing.
Paralog-Selective Ligands for Bcl-2 Proteins (2005)

There is considerable current interest in molecules that bind intra- or extracellular protein surfaces and inhibit protein-protein interactions. Previously we have reported that miniature proteins based on pancreatic-fold polypeptides can recognize even shallow alpha-helix binding clefts with high affinity and selectivity against unrelated proteins. One such miniature protein, PPBH3-1, binds the anti-apoptotic protein paralogs Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL with nanomolar affinity and a DeltaDeltaG = 1.2 kcal.mol-1 preference for Bcl-XL. Here we describe the directed evolution of PPBH3-1 into two new miniature proteins, PPBH3-5 and PPBH3-6, whose paralog specificity is reversed relative to PPBH3-1. PPBH3-5 and PPBH3-6 bind Bcl-2 with nanomolar affinity and a DeltaDeltaG = 0.9-1.3 kcal.mol-1 preference for Bcl-2 over Bcl-XL. Experiments with Bcl-XL variants suggest that PPBH3-5 and PPBH3-6 achieve high paralog specificity by exploiting subtle structural or electrostatic differences in the Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL molecular landscapes. PPBH3-5 and PPBH3-6 may have unique applications as early examples of nonnatural ligands that interact selectively with Bcl-2 proteins.
Genetic variability in scaffolding proteins and risk for schizophrenia and autism-spectrum disorders: a systematic review (2018)

Scaffolding proteins represent an evolutionary solution to controlling the specificity of information transfer in intracellular networks. They are highly concentrated in complexes located in specific subcellular locations. One of these complexes is the postsynaptic density of the excitatory synapses. There, scaffolding proteins regulate various processes related to synaptic plasticity, such as glutamate receptor trafficking and signalling, and dendritic structure and function. Most scaffolding proteins can be grouped into 4 main families: discs large (DLG), discs-large-associated protein (DLGAP), Shank and Homer. Owing to the importance of scaffolding proteins in postsynaptic density architecture, it is not surprising that variants in the genes that code for these proteins have been associated with neuropsychiatric diagnoses, including schizophrenia and autism-spectrum disorders. Such evidence, together with the clinical, neurobiological and genetic overlap described between schizophrenia and autism-spectrum disorders, suggest that alteration of scaffolding protein dynamics could be part of the pathophysiology of both. However, despite the potential importance of scaffolding proteins in these psychiatric conditions, no systematic review has integrated the genetic and molecular data from studies conducted in the last decade. This review has the following goals: to systematically analyze the literature in which common and/or rare genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms, single nucleotide variants and copy number variants) in the scaffolding family genes are associated with the risk for either schizophrenia or autism-spectrum disorders; to explore the implications of the reported genetic variants for gene expression and/or protein function; and to discuss the relationship of these genetic variants to the shared genetic, clinical and cognitive traits of schizophrenia and autism-spectrum disorders.