gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Producing nitric oxide by pulsed electrical discharge in air for portable inhalation therapy (2015)

Inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) produces selective pulmonary vasodilation and is an effective therapy for treating pulmonary hypertension in adults and children. In the United States, the average cost of 5 days of inhaled NO for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is about $14,000. NO therapy involves gas cylinders and distribution, a complex delivery device, gas monitoring and calibration equipment, and a trained respiratory therapy staff. The objective of this study was to develop a lightweight, portable device to serve as a simple and economical method of producing pure NO from air for bedside or portable use. Two NO generators were designed and tested: an offline NO generator and an inline NO generator placed directly within the inspiratory line. Both generators use pulsed electrical discharges to produce therapeutic range NO (5 to 80 parts per million) at gas flow rates of 0.5 to 5 liters/min. NO was produced from air, as well as gas mixtures containing up to 90% O2 and 10% N2. Potentially toxic gases produced in the plasma, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3), were removed using a calcium hydroxide scavenger. An iridium spark electrode produced the lowest ratio of NO2/NO. In lambs with acute pulmonary hypertension, breathing electrically generated NO produced pulmonary vasodilation and reduced pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance index. In conclusion, electrical plasma NO generation produces therapeutic levels of NO from air. After scavenging to remove NO2 and O3 and filtration to remove particles, electrically produced NO can provide safe and effective treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
A reduced field-of-view method to increase temporal resolution or reduce scan time in cine MRI (2000)

In some dynamic applications of MRI, only a part of the field-of-view (FOV) actually undergoes dynamic changes. A class of methods, called reduced-FOV (rFOV) methods, convert the knowledge that some part of the FOV is static or not very dynamic into an increase in temporal resolution for the dynamic part, or into a reduction in the scan time. Although cardiac imaging is an important example of an imaging situation where changes are concentrated in a fraction of the FOV, the rFOV methods developed up to now are not compatible with one of the most common cardiac sequences, the so-called retrospective cine method. The present work is a rFOV method designed to be compatible with cine imaging. An increase by a factor n in temporal resolution or a decrease by n in scan time is obtained in the case where only one nth of the FOV is dynamic (the rest being considered static). Results are presented for both Cartesian and spiral imaging. Magn Reson Med 43:549–558, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the Robustness of Digital Predistortion Function Synthesis and Average Power Tracking for Highly Nonlinear Power Amplifiers (2007)

In this paper, a comprehensive study of the robustness of the digital predistortion function synthesis is presented. This study covers two aspects: the processing of the power amplifier (PA) input and output measured data intended for the extraction of the corresponding predistortion function, and the optimal setting of the predistorter's small-signal gain to adaptively track the average power variation between the input and output of the pre-distorter. First, the accuracy of the polynomial curve fitting and the lookup table's scheme in mimicking the measured AM/AM and AM/PM characteristics of the PA is investigated. To address the high dispersion of coefficients of the polynomial function, which limits the order that can be implemented and the fitting capabilities, a pre-processing technique is proposed. Second, the fitted PA curves are used to investigate the effects of the small-signal gain of the predistortion function on the linearization performance. An automated average power tracking technique is introduced in order to maintain a unit average gain of the predistorter. The measured spectra at the output of the amplifier show an additional 12-dBc improvement in the output spectrum regrowth.
A genetic segmentation algorithm for image data streams and video (2000)

We describe a genetic segmentation algorithm for image data streams and video. This algorithm operates on segments of a string representation. It is similar to both classical genetic algorithms that operate on bits of a string and genetic grouping algorithms that operate on subsets of a set. It employs a segment fair crossover operation. For evaluating segmentations, we define similarity adjacency functions, which are extremely expensive to optimize with traditional methods. The evolutionary nature of genetic algorithms offers a further advantage by enabling incremental segmentation. Applications include browsing and summarizing video and collections of visually rich documents, plus a way of adapting to user access patterns. 1 INTRODUCTION Segmenting multimedia data streams is a fundamental problem with many applications. By segmentation, we mean breaking up a data stream into meaningful parts. Properly segmented streams can be better organized and reused. They provid...
Stateflow to Extended Finite Automata Translation (2011)

State flow, a graphical interface tool for Matlab, is a common choice for design of event-driven software and systems. In order for their offline analysis (testing/verification) or online analysis (monitoring), the State flow model must be converted to a form that is amenable to formal analysis. In this paper, we present a systematic method, which translates State flow into a formal model, called Input/Output Extended Finite Automata (I/O-EFA). The translation method treats each state of the State flow model as an atomic module, and applies composition/refinement rules for each feature (such as state-hierarchy, local events) recursively to obtain the entire model. The size of the translated model is linear in the size of the State flow chart. Our translation method is sound and complete in the sense that it preserves the discrete behaviors as observed at the sample times. Further, the translation method has been implemented in a Matlab tool, which outputs the translated I/O-EFA model that can itself be simulated in Matlab.
The Texas Cryogenic Oxy-Fuel Cycle (TCO): A Novel Approach to Power Generation With CO2 Options (2012)

A novel oxy-fuel based power cycle is presented that combines conventional oxy-fuel cycle technology with novel mixed gaseous compression and liquid pumping of CO2 to produce both useable power and provide transportable CO2 for transportation via pipeline for use in sequestration or enhanced oil recovery (EOR). CO2 emissions reduction is a central focus of climate change initiatives. Therefore, it is desired to have a power plant process cycle that reduces CO2 emissions associated with producing power. Once captured CO2 must be transferred to a sequestration site for long term storage or utilized in EOR operations. Recent research has demonstrated that CO2 is most efficiently transported as a liquid at high pressures via pipelines. A Cryogenic Oxy-Fuel cycle will be presented that captures all CO2 produced during combustion and inherently converts that CO2 to a sequestration-ready state that can be immediately placed into transportation pipelines and stored at the desired sequestration site. The proposed cycle deviates from conventional cycles in that during part of the process the CO2 is in cooled liquid form which allows; 1) Decreased power demand to increase the CO2 pressure because pumping has lower power requirement than compression, 2) The take-off of the CO2 is optimized for pipeline transport and no further compression or expansion is required, and 3) A high overall thermodynamic cycle efficiency can be reached with relatively low firing temperatures in the oxy-burner (around 1000°F). This significantly simplifies the combustor and expander designs required for the process. Additional benefits of the cycle include predicted efficiencies near state of the art IGCC’s, applicability to multiple fuel sources, and cost reduction associated with reduced component sizes utilized in the cycle. This presentation will focus on the overall operational and technological requirements of the novel cycle, a breakdown of the individual components utilized, and simulations demonstrating predicted performance. Technological challenges of implementing a working version of the cycle will be discussed and suggested development required for overcoming the challenges will be presented. This paper will include recent research and development of an oxy-fuel combustor utilized in the cycle as well as implementation of compression and pumping apparatus of recent development.
Potent Antimalarial Activity of Acriflavine <i>In Vitro</i> and <i>In Vivo</i> (2014)

Malaria continues to be a major health problem globally. There is an urgent need to find new antimalarials. Acriflavine (ACF) is known as an antibacterial agent and more recently as an anticancer agent. Here, we report that ACF inhibits the growth of asexual stages of both chloroquine (CQ) sensitive and resistant strains of human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum in vitro at nanomolar concentration. ACF clears the malaria infection in vivo from the bloodstreams of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Interestingly, ACF is accumulated only in the parasitized red blood cells (RBCs) and parasite specific transporters may have role in this specific drug accumulation. We further show that ACF impairs DNA replication foci formation in the parasites and affects the enzymatic activities of apicoplast specific Gyrase protein. We thus establish ACF as a potential antimalarial amidst the widespread incidences of drug resistant Plasmodium strains.
miR‐204 downregulates EphB2 in aging mouse hippocampal neurons (2016)

Hippocampal synaptic function and plasticity deteriorate with age, often resulting in learning and memory deficits. As MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of neuronal protein expression, we examined whether miRNAs may contribute to this age-associated decline in hippocampal function. We first compared the small RNA transcriptome of hippocampal tissues from young and old mice. Among 269 hippocampal miRNAs, 80 were differentially expressed (≥ twofold) among the age groups. We focused on 36 miRNAs upregulated in the old mice compared with those in the young mice. The potential targets of these 36 miRNAs included 11 critical Eph/Ephrin synaptic signaling components. The expression levels of several genes in the Eph/Ephrin pathway, including EphB2, were significantly downregulated in the aged hippocampus. EphB2 is a known regulator of synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons, in part by regulating the surface expression of the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit. We found that EphB2 is a direct target of miR-204 among miRNAs that were upregulated with age. The transfection of primary hippocampal neurons with a miR-204 mimic suppressed both EphB2 mRNA and protein expression and reduced the surface expression of NR1. Transfection of miR-204 also decreased the total expression of NR1. miR-204 induces senescence-like phenotype in fully matured neurons as evidenced by an increase in p16-positive cells. We suggest that aging is accompanied by the upregulation of miR-204 in the hippocampus, which downregulates EphB2 and results in reduced surface and total NR1 expression. This mechanism may contribute to age-associated decline in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and the related cognitive functions.
New astroglial injury-defined biomarkers for neurotrauma assessment (2017)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an expanding public health epidemic with pathophysiology that is difficult to diagnose and thus treat. TBI biomarkers should assess patients across severities and reveal pathophysiology, but currently, their kinetics and specificity are unclear. No single ideal TBI biomarker exists. We identified new candidates from a TBI CSF proteome by selecting trauma-released, astrocyte-enriched proteins including aldolase C (ALDOC), its 38kD breakdown product (BDP), brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), astrocytic phosphoprotein (PEA15), glutamine synthetase (GS) and new 18-25kD-GFAP-BDPs. Their levels increased over four orders of magnitude in severe TBI CSF. First post-injury week, ALDOC levels were markedly high and stable. Short-lived BLBP and PEA15 related to injury progression. ALDOC, BLBP and PEA15 appeared hyper-acutely and were similarly robust in severe and mild TBI blood; 25kD-GFAP-BDP appeared overnight after TBI and was rarely present after mild TBI. Using a human culture trauma model, we investigated biomarker kinetics. Wounded (mechanoporated) astrocytes released ALDOC, BLBP and PEA15 acutely. Delayed cell death corresponded with GFAP release and proteolysis into small GFAP-BDPs. Associating biomarkers with cellular injury stages produced astroglial injury-defined (AID) biomarkers that facilitate TBI assessment, as neurological deficits are rooted not only in death of CNS cells, but also in their functional compromise.
ChemInform Abstract: Human Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) Binding with Inhibitors and the Quantitative Structure—Activity Correlation. (2008)

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Investigation of power transfer density enhancement in large air-gap capacitive wireless power transfer systems (2015)

This paper introduces a new capacitive wireless power transfer approach with the potential to significantly enhance power transfer density in large air-gap applications. This enhancement is achieved through the use of multiple phase-shifted capacitive plates that reduce fringing fields in areas where field levels must be limited for safety reasons. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated using an analytical framework and validated using finite-element and circuit simulations. It is shown that a 6.78-MHz eight plate-pair system based on the proposed approach reduces fringing fields by a factor of five relative to a two plate-pair system while retaining the same power transfer density.
In Ataxia-Telangiectasia, Oral Betamethasone Administration Ameliorates Lymphocytes Functionality through Modulation of the IL-7/IL-7Rα Axis Paralleling the Neurological Behavior: A Comparative Report of Two Cases (2020)

Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) is characterized by cerebellar neurodegeneration and immunodeficiency. Recent studies suggest that very low glucocorticoids (GCs) doses may help improve A-T neurological phenotype in some patients. Interestingly, in GCs studies an unexpected improvement of lymphocytes proliferation in some A-T patients has been observed. GCs are able to upregulate IL-7 Rα expression and rescue it from the recycling. In this study, we compared several immunological functions, including PBMC proliferative responses, cell activation events and IL-7/IL-7 Rα axis functionality, with the neurological behavior during an in-vivo GCs treatment between the most Responder patient to GC and the Non-Responder at all. During in-vivo GC treatment, we observed an increase of lymphocyte proliferation upon stimulation with PHA or IL-7 only in the Responder. This finding paralleled the increase in the surface expression of IL-7 R and up-regulation of the CD69 T-cell activation marker. Internalization and recycling of IL-7 R occurred properly only in the Responder. Microarray analysis revealed a remarkable difference in the DE-genes levels among Responder and Non-Responder, mostly concerning miRNAs and Multiple Complex families. Our findings suggest that the improvement of lymphocyte functionality, which correlates to the neurological behavior, is mediated through an effect of GCs on the IL-7/IL-7 Rα axis.
A Wavelet Synthesis Technique for Creating Realistic Virtual Environment Sounds (2002)

This paper describes a new technique for synthesizing realistic sounds for virtual environments. The four-phase technique described uses wavelet analysis to create a sound model. Parameters are extracted from the model to provide dynamic sound synthesis control from a virtual environment simulation. Sounds can be synthesized in real time using the fast inverse wavelet transform. Perceptual experiment validation is an integral part of the model development process. This paper describes the four-phase process for creating the parameterized sound models. Several developed models and perceptual experiments for validating the sound synthesis veracity are described. The developed models and results demonstrate proof of the concept and illustrate the potential of this approach.
High-rate low-density parity check codes based on anti-Pasch affine geometries (2003)

We introduce a combinatorial construction of regular low-density parity check codes based on balanced incomplete block designs whose bipartite graphs have girth six. Our construction employs a special type of anti-Pasch affine geometry that result in codes having minimum distance of at least six. We are primarily concerned with very high-rate codes and low column weights, but the proposed construction can be used to generate long codes as well as codes of arbitrary column weight.
Design of a cable-driven active leg exoskeleton (C-ALEX) and gait training experiments with human subjects (2015)

Robotic rehabilitation devices are attractive to physical therapists. Various leg exoskeletons have been developed during the past decade and have been used in gait training. Traditional exoskeletons usually have a complex structure and add extra inertia to the wearer's leg, which may change their natural gait. In this paper, we present the design of a cable-driven active leg exoskeleton (C-ALEX) for human gait training. The advantages of cable-driven designs are that they have a simpler structure, add minimal inertia to the human limbs, and do not require precise joint alignment. C-ALEX employs the “assist-as-needed” control strategy to help the ankle center move along a prescribed path. An experiment with 6 healthy subjects was conducted who walked with C-ALEX on a treadmill. The results showed that C-ALEX is capable of helping the subjects better track a prescribed ankle path.
Identification of novel immunogenic<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>peptides that stimulate mononuclear cells from immune donors (1999)

Proteins which are secreted or associated with the cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis may contain protective T-cell epitopes. Prior to this study, a recombinant clone bank of enzymatically active M. tuberculosis-alkaline phosphatase fusions, were screened for immunogenicity in a murine T-cell model. Five of these were selected for further study, and the IFN-gamma secretion and proliferation of human PBMC from purified protein derivative- (PPD)-positive and PPD-negative donors were measured in response to oligopeptides, Mtb-PhoA fusions and one full-length protein. Epitopes from four of the five selected antigens were immunoreactive in the human model and corresponded to cytochrome d ubiquinol oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, MTV005.02 and MTV033.08. Thus, this strategy identified novel human immunogenic peptides as possible candidates for a subunit vaccine.
Destroying LLW and hazardous waste on-site with the synthetica steam detoxifier (1994)

The amount of hazardous waste and low level waste generated in the country is growing at a steady rate, yet the options for effectively dealing with these waste streams are becoming fewer and fewer. In this paper we discuss a new technology that holds considerable promise for dealing with LLW and hazardous waste. The Synthetica{reg_sign} Detoxifier (STD) does not use air combustion and has no flame - quite different from incineration. It carries out hazardous waste destruction by very high temperature steam reforming (i.e., 2000 to 2700{degrees}F), and is only 4 ft x 6 ft x 7.5 ft in size. Vent gases are carbon dioxide and water. Destruction and removal efficiencies (DREs) exceed 99.99% for even the most refractory organics. The capacity is from 2 to 5 drums per day, or a ton per day, depending on the type of waste being processed. The STD combined with a Heated Shredder Evaporator feed system has shown considerable success reducing the mass and volume of low level waste (up to 50 fold reduction). A list of some of the many waste streams that have been processed with the STD are presented. The STD, with its low-risk operation, small size and the factmore » that it is not an incinerator greatly simplifies siting and permitting in today`s environment. User advantages are that it eliminates risky transportation of hazardous and low-level wastes and terminates their liability with their generated waste for a fixed cost. Costs are less than half that for incineration of landfilling.« less
BioAIM: Bio-inspired Autonomous Infrastructure Monitoring (2015)

The Bio-inspired Autonomous Infrastructure Monitoring (BioAIM) system detects anomalous behavior during the deployment and maintenance of a wireless communication network formed autonomously by unmanned airborne nodes. A node may experience anomalous or unexpected behavior in the presence of hardware/software faults/failures, or external influence (e.g. natural weather phenomena, enemy threats). This system autonomously detects, reasons with (e.g. differentiates an anomaly from natural interference), and alerts a human operator of anomalies at runtime via a communication network formed by the Bio-inspired Artificial Intelligence Reconfiguration (BioAIR) system. In particular, BioAIM learns and builds a prediction model which describes how data from relevant sensors should change when a behavior executes under normal circumstances. Surprises occur when there are discrepancies between what is predicted and what is observed. BioAIM identifies a dynamic set of states from the prediction model and learns a structured model similar to a Markov Chain in order to quantify the magnitude of a surprise or divergence from the norm using a special similarity metric. While in operation BioAIM monitors the sensor data by testing the applicable models for each valid behavior at regular time intervals, and informs the operator when a similarity metric deviates from the acceptable threshold.
Embedded media barcode links (2010)

Embedded Media Barcode Links, or simply EMBLs, are optimally blended iconic barcode marks, printed on paper documents, that signify the existence of multimedia associated with that part of the document content (Figure 1). EMBLs are used for multimedia retrieval with a camera phone. Users take a picture of an EMBL-signified document patch using a cell phone, and the multimedia associated with the EMBL-signified document location is displayed on the phone. Unlike a traditional barcode which requires an exclusive space, the EMBL construction algorithm acts as an agent to negotiate with a barcode reader for maximum user and document benefits. Because of this negotiation, EMBLs are optimally blended with content and thus have less interference with the original document layout and can be moved closer to a media associated location. Retrieval of media associated with an EMBL is based on the barcode identification of a captured EMBL. Therefore, EMBL retains nearly all barcode identification advantages, such as accuracy, speed, and scalability. Moreover, EMBL takes advantage of users' knowledge of a traditional barcode. Unlike Embedded Media Maker (EMM) which requires underlying document features for marker identification, EMBL has no requirement for the underlying features. This paper will discuss the procedures for EMBL construction and optimization. It will also give experimental results that strongly support the EMBL construction and optimization ideas.