gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Rat Merkel Cells Are Mechanoreceptors and Osmoreceptors (2009)

Merkel cells (MCs) associated with nerve terminals constitute MC-neurite complexes, which are involved in slowly-adapting type I mechanoreception. Although MCs are known to express voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and hypotonic-induced membrane deformation is known to lead to Ca2+ transients, whether MCs initiate mechanotransduction is currently unknown. To answer to this question, rat MCs were transfected with a reporter vector, which enabled their identification.Their properties were investigated through electrophysiological studies. Voltage-gated K+, Ca2+ and Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa)channels were identified, as previously described. Here, we also report the activation of Ca2+ channels by histamine and their inhibition by acetylcholine. As a major finding, we demonstrated that direct mechanical stimulations induced strong inward Ca2+ currents in MCs. Depolarizations were dependent on the strength and the length of the stimulation. Moreover, touch-evoked currents were inhibited by the stretch channel antagonist gadolinium. These data confirm the mechanotransduction capabilities of MCs. Furthermore, we found that activation of the osmoreceptor TRPV4 in FM1-43-labeled MCs provoked neurosecretory granule exocytosis. Since FM1-43 blocks mechanosensory channels, this suggests that hypo-osmolarity activates MCs in the absence of mechanotransduction. Thus, mechanotransduction and osmoreception are likely distinct pathways.
Performance Analysis of Successive Decoding Based on Shadowing Side Information Under Non-Identical Composite Fading/Shadowing Channels (2015)

The performance of a distributed multiple input- multiple output (MIMO) system with m single-antenna transmitters and a receiver with n ≥ m antennas is analytically investigated. Particularly, the transmitters simultaneously send their information streams to the receiver, operating under the spatial multiplexing regime. To this end, the receiver utilizes the zero forcing detection followed by the ordered successive interference cancellation technique. Composite fading/shadowed channels between receiver and transmitters are assumed, which are modeled as non-identical K faded channels (i.e., Rayleigh multipath fading and Gamma distributed shadowing). The receiver sequentially detects and decodes the streams, starting from the strongest to the weakest, whereas symbol ordering is implemented with regards to shadowing side information without taking into account the fast varying multipath fading fluctuations. New closed-form expressions regarding the outage probability and the average symbol error probability are derived in terms of finite sums of the Meijer's-G functions. Further, simplified expressions in terms of elementary functions are obtained in some specific asymptotic cases of interest, namely, in high signal-to-noise regions and when the receiver is equipped with very large antenna arrays (i.e., massive MIMO systems). Moreover, useful engineering insights are manifested, such as the diversity order of the considered system.
The effect of VERU-111, a novel oral inhibitor of α and β tubulin, on tumor growth in the human castration-resistant, AR-variant prostate cancer (PCa) model 22Rv1. (2019)

167 Background: VERU-111 is a novel, oral α and β tubulin inhibitor that blocks tubulin polymerization and is not a substrate for multi-drug resistance. In xenograft mouse models of taxane responsive and resistant cancers, VERU-111 results in tumor inhibition at ≤20 mg/kg orally dosed infrequently as 1/week. VERU-111 and docetaxel were tested in the human PCa model, 22Rv1, which expresses androgen receptor splice variants, including AR-V7, and is resistant to abiraterone and enzalutamide. Methods: Human 22Rv1 cells were implanted into SCID mice. When tumors reached 150-200 mm , the animals were randomized into 4 groups (n = 10 per group): PO vehicle; PO VERU-111 5 or 20 mg/kg; or IP docetaxel 10 mg/kg 3X per week. Animal weights and tumor volumes were measured 2X week and at study end. Animals were removed from study when the tumor volume exceeded 2000 mm or upon treatment for 28 days. Results: VERU-111 (PO 5 and 20 mg/kg) 3X/week significantly reduced tumors by 31% (p = 0.049) and 49% (p = 0.010), respectively, compared to vehicle. Administration of 10 mg/kg docetaxel IP had a nonsignificant reduction in tumor size. With respect to toxicity, mice treated with oral VERU-111 either significantly gained (5 mg/kg) or maintained their weight (20 mg/kg), whereas the docetaxel treated mice lost weight (p = 0.013). There was a significantly greater weight in mice treated with VERU-111 versus docetaxel (p = 0.014). Conclusions: VERU-111, a next generation, orally α and β tubulin inhibitor, has significant anti-tumor activity against PCa and other tumors. In the human PCa model 22Rv1, VERU-111 had a statistically significant reduction in tumor growth and was well tolerated. In contrast, IP docetaxel did not significantly reduce tumor growth and had greater toxicity. A phase 1/2 trial evaluating VERU-111 in men with metastatic castration and novel androgen blocking agent (abiraterone or enzalutamide) resistant prostate cancer is in progress. [Table: see text]
Polarity effect on the behavior of gas-puff z-pinch plasma produced by IPP system (2002)

Hot spots produced by gas-puff z-pinch plasma which are high energy density plasma regions radiate intensive soft X-rays. The gas-puff z-pinch is expected to have industrial applications such as soft X-ray lithography, microscopy and in lasers. In these cases, the scattering of hot spots is important when the gas-puff z-pinch plasma is used as a point source of soft X-rays. Previous results in our study showed the reduction of radial displacement of hot spots in positive voltage shots by using an IPP (Inductive Pulsed Power) system. In this paper, the voltage polarity effects on the gas-puff z-pinch plasma behavior, spatial distribution of hot spots and soft X-ray emission are described.
Equation of state and temperature measurements for shocked nitromethane (2000)

A thermodynamically consistent equation of state (EOS) was developed for unreacted liquid nitromethane (NM). The specific heat cv, the coefficient of thermal pressure (∂P/∂T)v, and the isothermal bulk modulus BT, were modeled as functions of temperature and volume using existing experimental data. To test our EOS predictions, temperature measurements using time-resolved Raman spectroscopy were obtained from NM subjected to stepwise loading. In contrast to previous EOS developments, calculations using our EOS show good agreement with the measured temperatures. Comparison with previous EOS models shows that simplifying assumptions, such as holding (∂P/∂T)v or Γ/v constant, lead to significant inaccuracies in temperature predictions for shocked NM. The assumption that the Gruneisen parameter Γ is a function of volume only is not consistent with our EOS.
Crystallization kinetics of BaO-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ glasses (1988)

Barium aluminosilicate glasses are being investigated as matrix materials in high-temperature ceramic composites for structural applications. Kinetics of crystallization of two refractory glass compositions in the barium aluminosilicate system were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From variable heating rate DTA, the crystallization activation energies for glass compositions (wt percent) /sup 10/BaO-/sup 38/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-51SiO/sub 2/-1MoO/sub 3/ (glass A) and /sup 39/BaO-/sup 25/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-/sup 35/SiO/sub 2/-1MoO/sub 3/ (glass B) were determined to be 553 and 558 kJ/mol, respectively. On thermal treatment, the crystalline phases in glasses A and B were identified as mullite (/sup 3/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-/sup 2/SiO/sub 2/) and hexacelsian (BaO-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-/sup 2/SiO/sub 2/), respectively. Hexacelsian is a high-temperature polymorph which is metastable below 1590 C. It undergoes structural transformation into the orthorhombic form at approximately 300 C accompanied by a large volume change which is undesirable for structural applications. A process needs to be developed where stable monoclinic celsian, rather than hexacelsian, precipitates out as the crystal phase in glass B.
OR21-01 Pre-Operative Calcitonin Value as a Predictive Factor of Cancer Related Death in Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (2020)

Abstract Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare tumor, it originates from the C cells producing calcitonin (CT) and can occur as sporadic or associated to germline RET mutation. The initial treatment is represented by total thyroidectomy associated with central compartment lymph nodes dissection and possible extension to the laterocervical compartment. CT is the main marker of follow-up of MTC, conversely its pre-operative role as diagnostic and prognostic factor is still debated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate several predictive factors of cancer related death in a large series of sporadic MTCs. Patients and Methods: We evaluated 537 consecutive patients surgically treated for sporadic MTC, from 2000 to 2019, and followed at the Operative Unit of Endocrinology 1 of the University of Pisa. We evaluated epidemiological, clinical and pathological data and pre and post-operative CT values, and their correlation with cancer related death. Results: At the end of the follow-up (average 75 months), 300/537 (55.9%) pts were cured, 100/537 (18.6%) pts showed biochemical disease, 88/537 (16.4%) pts showed metastatic disease and 49/537 (9.1 %) pts died for the disease. The factors significantly correlated with the cancer related death to the univariate analysis were the male gender, dimension of the primary tumor&amp;gt; 4 cm, the presence of lymph node metastasis to histology (N1) and/or distant metastasis (M1) at the time of diagnosis, multifocality, minimal extrathyroidal extension (mETE), initial staging, pre-operative CT values&amp;gt; 500 pg/ml and post-operative&amp;gt; 20 pg/ml. At multivariate analysis, statistical significance persisted only for pre- and post-operative CT and for the staging. Conclusions: 1) In our study we observed a significant improvement in the outcome and survival in the medium-long term of sporadic CMT patients, compared to the previous studies. 2) A more advanced staging at the time of diagnosis has been confirmed as a negative prognostic factor and it is evident that an early diagnosis is an essential requirement for improving cancer related death. 3) This is the first study that showed, in a large monocentric series of sporadic MTCs, as pre-operative CT represents a prognostic factor associated with cancer related death, as well as the value of post-operative CT.
Reexpression of caveolin-1 in endothelium rescues the vascular, cardiac, and pulmonary defects in global caveolin-1 knockout mice (2007)

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the principal structural component of caveolae organelles in smooth muscle cells, adipocytes, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells (ECs). Cav-1-deficient (Cav-1 knockout [KO]) mice are viable and show increases of nitric oxide (NO) production in vasculature, cardiomyopathy, and pulmonary dysfunction. In this study, we generated EC-specific Cav-1-reconstituted (Cav-1 RC) mice and reexamined vascular, cardiac, and pulmonary phenotypes. Cav-1 KO pulmonary arteries had decreased smooth muscle contractility and increased endothelial NO synthase activation and hypotension; the latter two effects were rescued completely in Cav-1 RC mice. Cav-1 KO mice exhibited myocardial hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, and alveolar cell hyperproliferation caused by constitutive activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt. Interestingly, in Cav-1 RC mice, cardiac hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension were completely rescued, whereas alveolar hyperplasia was partially recovered because of the lack of rescue of Cav-1 in bronchiolar epithelial cells. These results provide clear physiological evidence supporting the important role of cell type-specific Cav-1 expression governing multiple phenotypes in the vasculature, heart, and lung.
Analysis of a noise-based loudness compensation module for immersive audio systems within the car cabin (2022)

With the rapid development and improvement of in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, many car manufacturers seek to incorporate state-of-the-art technologies from their consumer electronics counterparts in their top car models series. Audio playback systems are no exception, as the manufacturers have started introducing immersive audio technologies in their vehicles. This brings up the question of improvement of the perceived quality of the audio playback in vehicles, as the listening environment greatly differs from the one in home audio systems settings. One of the biggest differences is handling the noise present in vehicles, which affects how the reproduced audio is perceived by the listeners. In this paper, a framework for a noise-based loudness compensation module for immersive audio systems within the car cabin is evaluated.
Selective Gammatone Envelope Feature for Robust Sound Event Recognition (2012)

Conventional features for Automatic Speech Recognition and Sound Event Recognition such as Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) have been shown to perform poorly in noisy conditions. We introduce an auditory feature based on the gammatone filterbank, the Selective Gammatone Envelope Feature (SGEF), for Robust Sound Event Recognition where channel selection and the filterbank envelope is used to reduce the effect of noise for specific noise environments. In the experiments with Hidden Markov Model (HMM) recognizers, we shall show that our feature outperforms MFCCs significantly in four different noisy environments at various signal-to-noise ratios.
Relation of the Contractile Reserve of Hibernating Myocardium to Myocardial Structure in Humans (1999)

Contractile reserve during DE correlates inversely with the extent of interstitial fibrosis and the amount of fibronectin and vimentin and directly with rest-redistribution thallium uptake.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Pharmacological Activity of N‐Substituted 1‐Aminoethyl‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo(1,2‐a)benzimidazoles. (1989)

Abstract Starting with benzimidazole‐2‐sulfonic acid (I), the aminoethylimidazobenzimidazoles (V) are prepared via the chloroethyl compound (III).
Misalignment tolerance analysis of free-space optical interconnects via statistical methods (2002)

System-level packaging is one of the critical issues that need to be addressed for free space optical interconnections (FSOI) to become useful in desktop systems. The performance of FSOI, e.g., in terms of system bit-error rate, is greatly affected by misalignments in the optical system. Therefore tolerancing, i.e., the ability to analyze and predict the effects of misalignments in the system, is of prime importance to system designers. We introduce an approach in which we study the effects of optical misalignments and other tolerance factors using statistical methods. We use Monte Carlo simulations, design of the experiments, and regression techniques to fit a polynomial equation that expresses the relationship between the system performance and the tolerance factors. This prediction model can be used for design, cost optimization, and quality control purposes. In addition, we perform a sensitivity analysis to determine those tolerance variables that have the greatest effect on system performance.
Molecular release from a polymeric microreservoir device: Influence of chemistry, polymer swelling, and loading on device performance (2004)

A polymeric microreservoir device for controlled-release drug delivery relies on the degradation of thin poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) membranes that seal each reservoir to achieve pulsatile drug delivery. In vitro release studies in which the swelling of the reservoir membranes was measured indicate a correlation between the release times of various radiolabeled molecules from the devices and the time at which the maximum membrane swelling was observed. Varying the chemistry (lipophilicity/hydrophilicity) or molecular weight of the molecules loaded into the devices did not appear to affect the degree of membrane swelling that was observed, or the time at which the molecules were released from the devices. The amount of drug that was loaded into the reservoirs also did not appear to affect the observed release time of the drug from the device, a significant departure from the behavior of many matrix-type polymeric drug delivery systems.
Preface (2005)

Although our names appear on the book cover, the contents benefited enormously from insightful conversations with many colleagues, the detailed comments of those who suffered through early versions of the manuscript, seminar and conference participants literally all over the world, and the extraordinary help of many research assistants. At various stages of putting together the database and checking the results, we received excellent assistance from Xin Chen, Dan Goldblum, Andy Kim, and Iffath Sharif; Polly Means assisted with Figure 1.1 and the cover with her usual skill. Daniele Evans kept Jerry organized while he was working on the book and defended him from some bureaucratic demands with great skill, and she and Elena Mehkova helped on parts of the manuscript. We are especially grateful to Cindy Lee and Triphon Phumiwasana for their tireless efforts in assisting us with the database during the past few years. We also benefited from extensive comments from a number of scholars working in this or related areas, and we owe a debt to Thorsten Beck, John Boyd, Charles Calomiris, Maria Carkovic, Stijn Claessens, Asli Demirgüç-Kunt, Bill Easterly, Morris Goldstein, Charles Goodhart, Stephen Haber, Jim Hanson, Patrick Honohan, Ed Kane, George Kaufman, Luc Laeven, Juan Marchetti, Rick Mishkin, Dan Nolle, Larry Promisel, Raghu Rajan, Joao Santos, Augusto de la Torre, Andrei Shleifer, and Greg Udell for comments both general and specific.
Fluidics-the link between micro and nano sciences and technologies (2002)

Microfluidics is a collection of processes for moving bulk fluid mass or controlling the paths of selected embedded particles, cells or molecules, in flows. Length scale matching between the flow and the device is the key for efficient momentum and energy transfers of the desired fluid motions. MEMS enable us to handle minute amounts of fluid in the nano or pico liter range. With properly designed microfluidic devices, molecules can be directly manipulated by the flow patterns inside the device, which provides a pathway to exploit the nano world. Obviously, understanding of the molecular effects on flows becomes a crucial issue. In traditional fluid dynamics, the flow length scale is much larger than the molecular length scale. Continuum is the most common hypothesis for flow researches. In the case of micro/nano engineering system, we are in the transition regime between continuum and molecule dominated conditions. This feature brings us the challenges when exploring the science and developing the technology in micro/nano fluidics.
Low Pt Thin Cathode Layer Catalyst Layer by Reactive Spray Deposition Technology (2008)

National Research Council Canada's Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, NRC-IFCI, has been developing the Reactive Spray Deposition Technology (RSDT) process to optimize composite electrode layer formation and develop novel electrocatalysts and catalyst layers. The RSDT process provides the means necessary to develop the next generation of thin, low platinum or alloy catalyst layers for PEM MEA's. In order to best manage water distribution, mass transport and conductivity, the structure should be a gradient with controlled porosity and controlled distribution of both platinum and ionomer across the catalyst layer. The RSDT process allows good control of the platinum particle size as they are created directly from metal vapors, which prevents agglomeration in the catalyst layer. Additionally, it has the flexibility to build a gradient layer structure across a very thin film catalyst layer (&lt;1 um). In our design, a platinum sub-layer (100 nm) was deposited directly on a Nafion® 117 membrane as a columnar structure. After the sub-layer, the platinum loading was reduced in a co-deposited layer of Pt-Nafion (ionomer)-carbon with the lowest loading closest to the GDL. The combined loading of both layers was &lt;0.05mg/cm2 Pt with this approach. The manufactured catalyst layer has a performance of 0.65V at 1 A/cm2 with 0.05mg/cm2 Pt loading using pure oxygen .
Comparison of NIRS, laser Doppler flowmetry, photoplethysmography, and pulse oximetry during vascular occlusion challenges (2016)

Monitoring changes in blood volume, blood flow, and oxygenation in tissues is of vital importance in fields such as reconstructive surgery and trauma medicine. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), laser Doppler (LDF) flowmetry, photoplethysmography (PPG), and pulse oximetry (PO) contribute to such fields due to their safe and noninvasive nature. However, the techniques have been rarely investigated simultaneously or altogether. The aim of this study was to investigate all the techniques simultaneously on healthy subjects during vascular occlusion challenges. Sensors were attached on the forearm (NIRS and LDF) and fingers (PPG and PO) of 19 healthy volunteers. Different degrees of vascular occlusion were induced by inflating a pressure cuff on the upper arm. The responses of tissue oxygenation index (NIRS), tissue haemoglobin index (NIRS), flux (LDF), perfusion index (PPG), and arterial oxygen saturation (PO) have been recorded and analyzed. Moreover, the optical densities were calculated from slow varying dc PPG, in order to distinguish changes in venous blood volumes. The indexes showed significant changes (p < 0.05) in almost all occlusions, either venous or over-systolic occlusions. However, differentiation between venous and arterial occlusion by LDF may be challenging and the perfusion index (PI) may not be adequate to indicate venous occlusions. Optical densities may be an additional tool to detect venous occlusions by PPG.
TkReplay: record and replay for Tk (1995)

Record and replay of user interactions with a GUI are useful for regression testing and demonstrations. Recording is implemented by intercepting each user action at some point in its processing and saving it in a script file. During replay, the script is read and the user actions (or their effects) are emulated. In X windows, one program can intercept user input events before they get to another program by putting a wrapper around the program. This level of recording is sensitive to changes in window position, fonts, etc. Recording events at the widget level is more robust and closer to the semantics of the program than recording at the X event level. The TkReplay program does this for the Tk toolkit. A number of factors have to be considered when implementing record and replay and these are discussed in the paper. Recording is implemented in Tk by modifying each binding to call a recording program. TkReplay operates as a separate program and uses send to communicate with the Tk program being recorded. Hooks have recently been added to the X toolkit to allow implementation of record and replay at the Xt widget level.
Optimization of the file access method in content-addressable database access machine (CADAM) (1981)

The design of the database machine CAD AM with an efficient file access mechanism is presented. CAD AM can be used widely for various applications cost-effectively. For this purpose, the functions of database systems are distributed over three basic components, and a conventional magnetic disk device instead of a disk attached with microprocessors and logic circuits is used. One of the most important points in designing CAD AM with high throughput is to minimize the time for transferring data from the disk to the cache memory. We analyze the optimal size of physical access unit between them for various applications in order to show that the size should be adjustable.