gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
REAL-TIME BINAURAL BLIND SOURCE SEPARATION (2003)

Binaural blind source separation algorithm for noisy mixtures is proposed. We consider ambient background noise signals and nonstationary target source signals. The proposed blind source separation combines signal estimation from noisy observations with source identication through mixing parameter estimation. The sparseness property of target source signals enables the proposed noisy, underdetermined, binaural blind source separation. A minimum mean square error estimator in frequency domain is implemented to estimate the signal spectra from noisy observations. The K-means clustering algorithm is utilized to identify the sources. With the help of calculating the signal absence probability for each frequency bin, noises are effectively eliminated from the target source signals and the mixing parameter estimation becomes more accurate in noisy environments.
Early Outcomes with the CADENCE Total Ankle Prosthesis (2020)

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: A number of two-component, 4th generation total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) prostheses have been introduced to the market within the past few years. The purpose of the present study was to assess early outcomes for the CADENCE total ankle prosthesis. Methods: All patients who underwent primary TAA with CADENCE between August 2016 and June 2018 at a single institution and who were at least 1 year postoperative were included. A total of 32 ankles with a mean follow up of 19 (range, 12-33) months met the criteria. Weightbearing radiographs were assessed using coronal and sagittal alignment parameters preoperatively, at 6 weeks postoperative, and at the most recent follow-up. Medical records and charts were reviewed and revisions, reoperations, and complications were classified according to the criteria established by Vander Griend et al. and Glazebrook at el., respectively. Results: Survivorship for the CADENCE prosthesis was 93.7%. Coronal and sagittal tibiotalar alignment significantly improved after surgery (p&lt; 0.001, p&lt; 0.005), and was maintained at the latest follow-up (p=0.44, p=0.30). Overall, two ankles (6.3%) underwent early revision for aseptic loosening; while 6 (18.8%) underwent a non-revisional reoperation. Nine ankles (28.1%) presented a total of 13 complications (4 high grade, 2 intermediate, and 7 low) according to the Glazebrook classification system. The most common was intraoperative periprosthetic medial malleolar fracture (5 ankles, 15.6%), a low-grade complication. Conclusion: Satisfactory outcomes were observed at short-term follow-up for the CADENCE prosthesis. Additional studies with longer follow-up are warranted.
Handwritten word recognition with character and inter-character neural networks (1997)

An off-line handwritten word recognition system is described. Images of handwritten words are matched to lexicons of candidate strings. A word image is segmented into primitives. The best match between sequences of unions of primitives and a lexicon string is found using dynamic programming. Neural networks assign match scores between characters and segments. Two particularly unique features are that neural networks assign confidence that pairs of segments are compatible with character confidence assignments and that this confidence is integrated into the dynamic programming. Experimental results are provided on data from the U.S. Postal Service.
Partitioning United States' feed consumption among livestock categories for improved environmental cost assessments (2014)

SUMMARY The high environmental costs of raising livestock are now widely appreciated, yet consumption of animal-based food items continues and is expanding throughout the world. Consumers' ability to distinguish among, and rank, various interchangeable animal-based items is crucial to reducing environmental costs of diets. However, the individual environmental burdens exerted by the five dominant livestock categories – beef, dairy, poultry, pork and eggs – are not fully known. Quantifying those burdens requires splitting livestock‘s relatively well-known total environmental costs (e.g. land and fertilizer use for feed production) into partial categorical costs. Because such partitioning quantifies the relative environmental desirability of various animal-based food items, it is essential for environmental impact minimization efforts to be made. Yet to date, no such partitioning method exists. The present paper presents such a partitioning method for feed production-related environmental burdens. This approach treated each of the main feed classes individually – concentrates (grain, soy, by-products; supporting production of all livestock), processed roughage (mostly hay and silage) and pasture – which is key given these classes' widely disparate environmental costs. It was found that for the current US food system and national diet, concentrates are partitioned as follows: beef 0·21±0·112, poultry 0·27±0·046, dairy 0·24±0·041, pork 0·23±0·093 and eggs 0·04±0·018. Pasture and processed roughage, consumed only by cattle, are 0·92±0·034 and 0·87±0·031 due to beef, with the remainder due to dairy. In a follow-up paper, the devised methodology will be employed to partition total land, irrigated water, greenhouse gases and reactive nitrogen burdens incurred by feed production among the five edible livestock categories.
Urinary Exosomes (2009)

Exosomes are nanovesicles of endocytic origin that are secreted into the extracellular space or body fluids when a multivesicular body (MVB) fuses with the cell membrane. Interest in exosomes intensified after their description in antigen-presenting cells and the observation that they can significantly moderate immune responses in vivo. In the past few years, several groups have reported on the secretion of exosomes by almost all cell types in an organism. In addition to a common set of membrane and cytosolic molecules, exosomes harbor unique subsets of proteins, reflecting their cellular source. Major research efforts were put into their surprisingly various biological functions and in translating knowledge into clinical practice. Urine provides an exciting noninvasive alternative to blood or tissue samples as a potential source of disease biomarkers. Urinary exosomes (UE) became the subject of serious studies just a few years ago. A recent large-scale proteomics-based study of normal UE revealed a myriad of proteins, including disease-related gene products. Thus, UE have valuable potential as a source of biomarkers for early detection of various types of diseases, monitoring the disease evolution and/or response to therapy. As a relatively new field of research, it still faces many challenges, but UE have already shown some straightforward potential.
Planning to Explore via Self-Supervised World Models (2020)

Reinforcement learning allows solving complex tasks, however, the learning tends to be task-specific and the sample efficiency remains a challenge. We present Plan2Explore, a self-supervised reinforcement learning agent that tackles both these challenges through a new approach to self-supervised exploration and fast adaptation to new tasks, which need not be known during exploration. During exploration, unlike prior methods which retrospectively compute the novelty of observations after the agent has already reached them, our agent acts efficiently by leveraging planning to seek out expected future novelty. After exploration, the agent quickly adapts to multiple downstream tasks in a zero or a few-shot manner. We evaluate on challenging control tasks from high-dimensional image inputs. Without any training supervision or task-specific interaction, Plan2Explore outperforms prior self-supervised exploration methods, and in fact, almost matches the performances oracle which has access to rewards. Videos and code at https://ramanans1.github.io/plan2explore/
Statistical characterization and reliability modeling of novel high-K gate dielectric stacks (2012)

High-κ (HK) dielectric thin films are currently the most suited insulators for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology in the sub-45nm technology nodes. Hafnium-based dielectrics are widely used in both advanced logic and memory device structures. While reliability studies to qualify the metal gate (MG) – HK stacks have been ongoing for the past few years, there are many unresolved issues regarding the physics and statistical nature of the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) failure mechanism at the front-end. Some of these issues include (a) deciphering the sequence of BD in the dual layer dielectric stack comprising HfO2 and a thin interfacial layer (IL) of SiOx, (b) studying the origin behind the non-Weibull stochastic nature of BD, (c) decoding the reliability of the individual HK and IL layers, (d) studying the role played by grain boundary (GB) microstructural defects (which cause localized non-random trap generation) on the HK BD statistics, (e) investigating the feasibility of a zero interfacial layer (ZIL) device for sub-16nm nodes from a reliability point of view and (f) extrapolating the device level analysis results to circuit level reliability assessment. These issues form the motivation of this doctoral work. We use electrical characterization, statistical and simulation tools along with failure analysis results as a supporting tool to find solutions to all the above issues listed. Our results clearly indicate IL to be the first layer to BD and at circuit level, failure is most likely to occur by multiple uncorrelated IL soft breakdown (SBD) events rather than a single catastrophic hard breakdown. Percolation BD in the IL layer is also found to be localized around the GB defect lines in the HK film as they serve as low activation barrier paths for oxygen vacancy (defect) diffusion. Based on our electrical observations of post-breakdown recovery in MG-HK MIS logic stacks, we have also been able to explain the origin of resistive switching phenomenon in HfO2-based MIM RRAM considering the role of oxygen vacancy and metal nano-filaments. We report the possibility of operating the same RRAM in two distinct independent switching modes depending on the forming / SET compliance and also quantitatively study the retention reliability of the memory stack at low and high resistance states.
Linear groups whose proper subgroups are close to being nilpotent (2021)

The aim of this paper is to describe linear groups in which all proper subgroups belong to a group class X for several relevant choices of X. In particular, we study linear groups either with only nilpotent-by-finite proper subgroups or with only paranilpotent subgroups; here a group G is paranilpotent if it has a normal series of finite length whose factors are abelian and have only G-invariant subgroups.
Electrode Ionomer Accelerated Stress Test Applied to High Oxygen Permeability Ionomer in Fuel Cells (2022)

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer electrolytes are widely used in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell fabrication for the membrane separator and the electrode binder. The PEM serves to electrically insulate the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) from anode catalyst layer (ACL), provide proton conduction between both CCL and ACL, as well as prevent gas crossover. PFSA ionomers are also used in the CCL and ACL to mechanically bind the catalyst particles into thin-films, provide proton conduction between the PEM and catalyst surface, and produce a high proton reactant concentration at the oxygen reduction reaction catalyst. Despite their versatility to be used as a membrane and catalyst binder, the typical PFSA ionomers pose challenges due to the high oxygen transport resistance that is introduced by the thin ionomer films over the catalyst. In recent years, novel high oxygen permeability ionomers (HOPIs) have been developed as the successor to the traditional Nafion™ PFSA ionomers. Despite their remarkable results as a catalyst binder due to their increased oxygen transport rates, less is known regarding their degradation and functional lifetime. Although accelerated stress tests (ASTs) for platinum (Pt)/Pt-alloy catalysts, carbon supports, and membranes are well-established and commonly applied, there is no standard and easily implemented AST for electrode ionomers. One challenge is that membrane ASTs usually quantify the fluoride emission rate (FER) to assess chemical degradation, which is difficult to apply for electrode PFSA ionomer when also using a PFSA membrane because the FER is overwhelmed by membrane signal. In addition, changes in OCV and H 2 crossover are not directly indicative of electrode ionomer degradation. Furthermore, concomitant degradation of the catalyst and support can interfere with interpreting electrode ionomer degradation. Here we present an effective and easily applied electrode ionomer chemical AST protocol that can be used to evaluate degradation in the functionality of the electrode ionomer. The approach borrows the chemical AST conditions of the chemical membrane AST’s open circuit voltage (OCV) hold and avoids excessive potential cycling to minimize catalyst and support degradation that will elicit changes in electrode properties separate from ionomer degradation. During the AST, we measure the cathode’s proton conduction resistance, oxygen permeability, and electrochemically surface area (ECSA) to evaluate the degradation of the ionomer’s functionality. Thus, this protocol can be used to assess if more complex and time consuming analyses of ionomer durability are needed as new chemistries emerge. Here we present results of this AST to both conventional PFSA ionomers and HOPIs.
Pressure distribution of the liquid crystal journal bearing (2002)

This paper describes the properties of the journal bearing using liquid crystal (LC) as a lubricating oil in order to realize the real-time control of the hydrodynamic lubrication characteristic. The change of pressure distribution in applying the voltage to LC was required by the theoretical calculation. We focused on the position where the voltage was applied and examined the effect of the position on the pressure distribution, eccentricity and attitude angle. The results showed the optimum location of electrode to effectively change the pressure distribution and position of journal center.
Tunable microwave impedance matching to a high impedance source using a Josephson metamaterial (2013)

We report the efficient coupling of a 50 Ω microwave circuit to a high impedance conductor. We use an impedance transformer consisting of a λ/4 co-planar resonator whose inner conductor contains an array of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), providing it with a tunable lineic inductance L∼80 μ0, resulting in a characteristic impedance ZC∼1 kΩ. The impedance matching efficiency is characterized by measuring the shot noise power emitted by a dc biased tunnel junction connected to the resonator. We demonstrate matching to impedances in the 15 to 35 kΩ range with bandwidths above 100 MHz around a resonant frequency tunable between 4 and 6 GHz.
Persepolis: Recovering history with a handheld camera (2003)

In this paper we present new improvements to our novel pipeline for image based modeling of objects using a camcorder. Our system takes an uncalibrated sequence of images recorded around a scene, it automatically recovers the underlying 3D structure and camera path and then a volumetric scene reconstruction is performed using a hardware accelerated voxel carving approach. Finally a triangular mesh is obtained and the available information from the images is combined to generate a full 3D photo-realistic reconstruction. As an application, we use this system to reconstruct parts of the archeological site of Persepolis (Iran).
Screening for <em>Thermotoga maritima</em> Membrane-Bound Pyrophosphatase Inhibitors (2019)

Membrane-bound pyrophosphatases (mPPases) are dimeric enzymes that occur in bacteria, archaea, plants, and protist parasites. These proteins cleave pyrophosphate into two orthophosphate molecules, which is coupled with proton and/or sodium ion pumping across the membrane. Since no homologous proteins occur in animals and humans, mPPases are good candidates in the design of potential drug targets. Here we present a detailed protocol to screen for mPPase inhibitors utilizing the molybdenum blue reaction in a 96 well plate system. We use mPPase from the thermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima (TmPPase) as a model enzyme. This protocol is simple and inexpensive, producing a consistent and robust result. It takes only about one hour to complete the activity assay protocol from the start of the assay until the absorbance measurement. Since the blue color produced in this assay is stable for a long period of time, subsequent assay(s) can be performed immediately after the previous batch, and the absorbance can be measured later for all batches at once. The drawback of this protocol is that it is done manually and thus can be exhausting as well as require good skills of pipetting and time keeping. Furthermore, the arsenite-citrate solution used in this assay contains sodium arsenite, which is toxic and should be handled with necessary precautions.
Inactivation of Viruses during Ultraviolet Light Treatment of Human Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Albumin (1993)

A comparison of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at two wavelength ranges UVB (280-320 nm) and UVC (lower than 280 nm) showed that UVC in particular could very effectively inactivate, in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and albumin preparations, non-enveloped and non-acid labile model viruses (i.e. Polio 2 and T4 phage) and dry heat-resistant viruses (vaccinia and T4 phage). This effective virucidal treatment (5 min, 5,000 J/m^2 dose) was achieved before an unacceptable level of IVIG aggregates occurred. The use of UV irradiation to inactivate infectious agents could add safety and supplement current methods, e.g. solvent/detergent, low pH, which do not inactivate non-enveloped, non-acid labile or dry-heat-resistant viruses at present.
Survey of academic divisions of nuclear medicine in U.S. medical schools, April 1973. (1974)

A survey was carried out by the Academic Council of the Society of Nuclear Medicine con cerning various aspects of academic nuclear medicine divisions or departments. These in cluded physician manpower and other person nel, activities of physicians, reading, training, medical school teaching, technologist training, space and equipment, administrative organiza tion, and major problems. The information ob tamed serves as a useful baseline for further studies in educational aspects of nuclear medi cine.
Empirical measurements of intrabody communication performance under varied physical configurations (2001)

Intrabody communication (IBC) is a wireless communications technology that uses a person's body as the transmission medium for imperceptible electrical signals. Because communication is limited to the vicinity of a person's body, ambiguities arising from communication between personal devices and environmental devices when multiple people are present can, in theory, be solved simply. Intrabody communication also potentially allows data to be transferred when a person touches an IBC-enabled device. We have designed and constructed an intrabody communication system, modeled after Zimmerman's original design, and extended it to operate up to 38.4Kbps and to calculate signal strength. In this paper, we present quantitative measurements of data error rates and signal strength while varying hand distance to transceiver plate, electrode location on the body, touch plate size and shape, and several other factors. We find that plate size and shape have only minor effects, but that the distance to plate and the coupling mechanism significantly effect signal strength. We also find that portable devices, with poor ground coupling, suffer more significant signal attenuation. Our goal is to promote design guidelines for this technology and identify the best contexts for its effective deployment.
Geomechanical review of hydraulic fracturing technology (2013)

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.
Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Kinase 1 (MSK1) Regulates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Histone Modifications on NF-κB-dependent Genes (2012)

Cigarette smoke (CS) causes sustained lung inflammation, which is an important event in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have previously reported that IKKα (I kappaB kinase alpha) plays a key role in CS-induced pro-inflammatory gene transcription by chromatin modifications; however, the underlying role of downstream signaling kinase is not known. Mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1) serves as a specific downstream NF-κB RelA/p65 kinase, mediating transcriptional activation of NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes. The role of MSK1 in nuclear signaling and chromatin modifications is not known, particularly in response to environmental stimuli. We hypothesized that MSK1 regulates chromatin modifications of pro-inflammatory gene promoters in response to CS. Here, we report that CS extract activates MSK1 in human lung epithelial (H292 and BEAS-2B) cell lines, human primary small airway epithelial cells (SAEC), and in mouse lung, resulting in phosphorylation of nuclear MSK1 (Thr581), phospho-acetylation of RelA/p65 at Ser276 and Lys310 respectively. This event was associated with phospho-acetylation of histone H3 (Ser10/Lys9) and acetylation of histone H4 (Lys12). MSK1 N- and C-terminal kinase-dead mutants, MSK1 siRNA-mediated knock-down in transiently transfected H292 cells, and MSK1 stable knock-down mouse embryonic fibroblasts significantly reduced CS extract-induced MSK1, NF-κB RelA/p65 activation, and posttranslational modifications of histones. CS extract/CS promotes the direct interaction of MSK1 with RelA/p65 and p300 in epithelial cells and in mouse lung. Furthermore, CS-mediated recruitment of MSK1 and its substrates to the promoters of NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes leads to transcriptional activation, as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Thus, MSK1 is an important downstream kinase involved in CS-induced NF-κB activation and chromatin modifications, which have implications in pathogenesis of COPD.
Patient/physician "Bond" in the management of glaucoma (2011)

Patient/physician "Bond" in the management of glaucoma. annual meeting of the association-for-research-in-vision-and-ophthalmology (ARVO)
Dynamic active probing of helpdesk databases (2008)

Helpdesk databases are used to store past interactions between customers and companies to improve customer service quality. One common scenario of using helpdesk database is to find whether recommendations exist given a new problem from a customer. However, customers often provide incomplete or even inaccurate information. Manually preparing a list of clarification questions does not work for large databases. This paper investigates the problem of automatic generation of a minimal number of questions to reach an appropriate recommendation. This paper proposes a novel dynamic active probing method. Compared to other alternatives such as decision tree and case-based reasoning, this method has two distinctive features. First, it actively probe the customer to get useful information to reach the recommendation, and the information provided by customer will be immediately used by the method to dynamically generate the next questions to probe. This feature ensures that all available information from the customer is used. Second, this method is based on a probabilistic model, and uses a data augmentation method which avoids overfitting when estimating the probabilities in the model. This feature ensures that the method is robust to databases that are incomplete or contain errors. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of our approach.