gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Face extraction from non-uniform background and recognition in compressed domain (2002)

A complete face recognition system is proposed in this paper by introducing the concepts of foreground objects, which are currently used in the MPEG-4 standardization phase, to human identification. The system automatically detects and extracts the human face from the background, even if is not uniform, based on a combination of a retrainable neural network structure and the morphological size distribution technique. In order to combine face images of high quality and low computational complexity, the recognition stage is performed in the compressed domain. Thus, in contrast to existing recognition schemes, the face images are available in their original quality and not only in their transformed representation.
Collaborative Information Gathering (1998)

The combination of push and pull information retrieval technology can benefit from collaborative information gathering schemes. In this paper we outline an approach that combines a pull technology (Knowl- edge Brokers) with a push technology (Knowledge Pump) in a community-based environment. Appropriate toolkits supporting synchronous collaboration on the World Wide Web are briefly introduced. A PlaceWare-based implementation illustrates the synchronous construction of queries and the publication of search activities and results supported by the push component.
Continuous Monitoring of Atmospheric HCl, HNO<sub>2</sub>, HNO<sub>3</sub>and SO<sub>2</sub>by Wet-Annular Denuder Air Sampling with On-Line Chromatographic Analysis (1996)

Abstract An automated system for the collection, in-line preconcentration and analysis of acidifying atmospheric gases is described. Collection of HCl, HNO2, HNO3 and SO2 from ambient air is carried out with an annular wet denuder. After addition of an internal standard to the sample flow and conductivity suppression, preconcentration of the sample flow is performed by pumping a measured volume of the sample flow through an anion exchange concentrator column. Following the concentration step, the anions of the corresponding acids are analyzed by ion chromatography with conductivity detection. The manifold described with two sample loops and two concentrator columns operating in parallel allows automated collection and analysis of two air samples per hour. A computer programme has been developed for automated performance. It allows the system to run unattendedly during extended periods as all the functions, including data processing, are computer-controlled. Factors affecting the performance are reported. The detection limits achieved are 5.4, 12 and 17 ng/m3 for HCl, HNO2, HNO3 and SO2 respectively, with relative standard deviations better than 4% at 1–2 μg/m3. Ambient measurements for Petten, The Netherlands, are presented which show the capability of the system for continuous monitoring of atmospheric acidifying gases.
Deuterium oxide normalizes blood pressure and elevated cytosolic calcium in rats with ethanol-induced hypertension. (1993)

This study examined the effect of 10% deuterium oxide (D2O) in drinking water on systolic blood pressure, platelet cytosolic free calcium, aortic calcium uptake and renal vascular changes in rats with ethanol-induced hypertension. Eighteen male Wistar-Kyoto rats, age seven weeks, were divided into three groups of six animals each. Group I was given water and groups II and III, 5% ethanol in drinking water for the next seven weeks. After one week, systolic blood pressure in the ethanol-treated rats was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in rats drinking water. After seven weeks, animals in group I were continued on water, group II on 5% ethanol, group III on 5% ethanol but with the addition of 10% D2O in their drinking water for the next seven weeks. After 14 weeks, systolic blood pressure, platelet cytosolic free calcium and aortic calcium uptake was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in group II rats (given ethanol for 14 weeks) compared with rats from other groups. Ethanol-treated rats also showed smooth muscle hyperplasia with some thickening of the wall and narrowing of the lumen in small arteries and arterioles of the kidney. D2O given to ethanol-treated rats normalized their blood pressure, platelet cytosolic free calcium, aortic calcium uptake and attenuated renal vascular changes.
Prevention and Treatment of Oropharyngeal Mucositis Following Cancer Therapy (2004)

Oropharyngeal mucositis is an acute and distressing toxic effect of chemotherapy and head and neck irradiation. This oral sequela significantly impairs the daily functioning and quality of life of patients. The biological basis of mucositis is quite complex, involving sequential interaction of chemotherapeutic drugs or irradiation on mitosis of proliferating epithelium, a number of cytokines, and elements of oral microbial environment. Various interventions based on biological attenuation have been tested for mucositis. Such interventions have been reviewed elsewhere; however, most reviews focus on biomedical outcomes. Little attention has been paid to mucositis outcomes with oral morbidity or psychosocial aspects. The purpose of this article is to review the current research studies on the prevention and treatment of oropharyngeal mucositis following chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation with an emphasis on biomedical, oral symptomatic, and functional impairment outcomes. In addition, further avenues of mucositis management, including psychotherapeutic intervention and integrated and stage-based treatment approaches are discussed.
Soluble HLA‐G molecules impair natural killer/dendritic cell crosstalk <i>via</i> inhibition of dendritic cells (2008)

HLA-G molecules are known to exert immunosuppressive action on DC maturation and on NK cells, and can in consequence inhibit respectively T cell responses and NK cytolysis. In this study, we show that monocyte-derived DC, differentiated in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, are sensitive to soluble (s) HLA-G molecules during LPS/IFN-gamma maturation as demonstrated by the decrease of CD80 and HLA-DR expressions and IL-12 secretion. Moreover, DC pretreated with sHLA-G were found to activate NK/DC crosstalk less than non-treated DC. Early activation of NK cells co-cultured with autologous DC was diminished as assessed by CD69 expression. The IFN-gamma production was impaired whereas a slight inhibition of the NK cell cytotoxicity against Daudi cell line was observed. Since sHLA-G is expressed in grafts or sites of tumour proliferation, its indirect action on NK cells via DC could constitute a pathway of early inhibition for both innate and specific immune responses.
Streptomyces in Nature and Medicine (2007)

Abstract This is an insider's account of 50 years of genetic studies of the soil-inhabiting microbes that produce most of the antibiotics used to treat infections, as well as anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and immunosuppressant drugs. The book begins by describing how these microbes - the actinomycetes - were discovered in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but remained a 'Cinderella' group until, in the 1940s, they shot to prominence with the discovery of streptomycin, the first effective treatment for tuberculosis and only the second antibiotic after penicillin to become a medical marvel. There followed a massive effort over several decades to find further treatments for infectious diseases and cancer, tempered by the rise of antibiotic resistance consequent on antibiotic misuse and over-use. The book goes on to describe the discovery of gene exchange in the actinomycetes in the context of the rise of microbial genetics in the mid-20th century, leading to determination of the complete DNA sequence of a model member of the group at the turn of the millennium. There follow chapters in which the intricate molecular machinery that adapts the organisms' metabolism and development to life in the soil, including antibiotic production, is illuminated by the DNA blueprint. Then comes an up-to-the minute account of the use of genetic engineering to make novel, hybrid antibiotics and a topical description of techniques to learn the roles of the thousands of genes in a genome sequence, throwing a powerful light on the biology of the organisms and their harnessing for increasing antibiotic prductivity. In the final chapter we return to the mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy, the first actinomycetes to be discovered, and how methodology, in part derived from the study of the streptomycetes, is being applied to understand and control these still deadly pathogens.
An efficient shape coding scheme and its codec design (2002)

Shape coding is essential for video object based video compression such as MPEG-4. The shape mask specifies a video object's transparency and opaque characteristics during the video composition process. With shape information, we may perform shape-adaptive processing, e.g. shape adaptive DWT, to save both computation and communication overheads. We propose an efficient shape coding scheme called differential chain coding. Experimental results show that it can outperform all existing shape coding methods, including the well-known CAE method. In the decoding phase, we employ the concepts of change pixels and devise a new scheme to construct the binary alpha plane (shape mask) from the shape contour. Based on the proposed scheme, a novel VLSI architecture design for the shape decoder is developed. Synthesis and simulation results also indicate the design can process over 1,800 QCIF frames per second with very little hardware complexity.
Active gaze tracking for human-robot interaction (2003)

In our effort to make human-robot interfaces more user-friendly, we built an active gaze tracking system that can measure a person's gaze direction in real-time. Gaze normally tells which object in his/her surrounding a person is interested in. Therefore, it can be used as a medium for human-robot interaction like instructing a robot arm to pick a certain object a user is looking at. We discuss how we developed and put together algorithms for zoom camera calibration, low-level control of active head, face and gaze tracking to create an active gaze tracking system.
Molecular Oxygen Modulates Cytochrome c Oxidase Function (1996)

This study sought to determine whether molecular oxygen interacts with cytochrome c oxidase to modify its catalytic activity. Such an interaction could explain the observation that mitochondria incubated under low O2 concentrations exhibit a reversible suppression of State 3 respiration. Oxidized bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase was incubated in oxygen concentrations of <50 microM for 4 h. The enzyme exhibited a reversible decrease in Vmax after incubation, compared with control enzyme incubated at higher oxygen concentrations. This change was accompanied by a small increase in the apparent Km of the enzyme for both cytochrome c and oxygen, although the optical absorption spectra of oxidized, cycling, or reduced enzyme were not affected. Spectroscopy studies after 4 h of incubation revealed that heme a3 was 33% reduced during cycling at [O2] = 25 microM whereas enzyme at [O2] = 135 microM was only 18% reduced, suggesting that the site of inhibition occurred at the electron transfer step between heme a3 and O2. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for the observation that intact cells or mitochondria exhibit a reversible inhibition of respiration during prolonged exposure to [O2] <25 mM, by demonstrating that the catalytic activity of cytochrome c oxidase function is similarly inhibited, possibly through an allosteric effect of molecular O2 on the enzyme.
Seasonal Abundance, Longevity and Population Age Composition of Potential Malaria Vectors in Northern and Southern Australia (1987)

Populations of Anopheles mosquitoes were sampled fortnightly for 2 years at Casuarina and Leanyer in Darwin, N.T., and at Appin, N.S.W., and for 3 years at Echuca, Vic. Six anopheline species were recorded at the Darwin sites: An. bancroftii, An. farauti s.l., An. hilli, An. annulipes s.l., An. meraukensis and An. novaguinensis, although only the first three species were common and dissected for age grading. Only one species, An. annulipes s.l., was recorded at Appin and Echuca. The seasonal peak abundance of Anopheles species at Darwin was generally from the late wet season to the middle of the dry season. The proportion of the populations which was parous generally increased with increasing abundance. The oldest females were found in the early to mid-dry season about May, June and July. An average of 4.3% of An. farauti s.l., and an average of 2.6% of An. bancroftii, were old enough to be potential malaria vectors at Casuarina; at Leanyer less than 3.0% of An. farauti s.l., 0.1% of An. bancroftii, and 0.3% of An. hilli were of a potentially infective age. The period of greatest risk for malaria transmission in Darwin was, therefore, from April to August. At Appin and Echuca, populations of An. annulipes s.l. were present throughout the year, being most abundant in mid- to late summer. The populations aged gradually from the spring buildup; the oldest females being found from summer to late autumn. Females old enough to be potentially infective for malaria were recorded at each site during summer: up to 6.6% of the species at Appin and up to 10.3% at Echuca.
New ICI reduction schemes for OFDM system (2002)

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is sensitive to the carrier frequency offset (CFO). We introduce the peak interference-to-carrier ratio (PICR) to measure the resulting intercarrier interference (ICI). This paper shows that the PICR can be reduced by coding to select only those messages with low PICR as valid codewords. While explicit constructions of higher-rate, ICI-suppressing codes are rather difficult, we propose two new codes that map data onto three and four adjacent subcarriers. We also propose a new ICI reduction scheme, called tone reservation, that inserts optimized pilot tones in the data frame. Computing these pilot tones at the transmitter is a simple optimization technique.
The Role of Functionalisation, Asymmetry and Shape of a New Macrocyclic Compartmental Ligand in the Formation of Mononuclear, Homo‐ and Heterodinuclear Lanthanide(III) Complexes (2008)

Abstract The compartmental [1+1] macrocycle H 3 L , obtained by self‐condensation of the formyl precursor 3,3′‐(3,6‐dioxaoctane‐1,8‐diyldioxy)bis(2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde) with the amine precursor N , N ‐bis(2‐aminoethyl)‐2‐hydroxybenzylamine, contains one inner ON 3 O 2 Schiff base and one outer O 2 O 4 crown‐like chamber. According to the experimental conditions it forms, by a template process, the stable mononuclear complexes Ln(H 3 L )(Cl) 2 (CH 3 COO) · n S · m HCl or [Ln( L )] · n S (Ln = La, Lu, Y, Yb, Er, Dy, Tb, Gd, Eu, Ce) with the lanthanide(III) ion encapsulated in the crown‐ether‐like and in the Schiff base site. The mononuclear complexes Ln(H 3 L )(Cl) 2 (CH 3 COO) · n S · m HCl, by further complexation with a different lanthanide(III) ion, give rise to the related heterodinuclear complexes [LnLn′( L )(Cl) 2 (CH 3 COO)] · n S while the homodinuclear and the heterodinuclear complexes [Ln 2 ( L )](Cl) 3 · n H 2 O and [LnLn′( L )](Cl) 3 · n S could be prepared by a template reaction using the appropriate molar ratio of reactants. Their properties have been studied by using SEM‐EDS microscopy, IR and NMR spectroscopy and their compositions confirmed by thermal and ESI‐Mass spectrometric analyses. In the heterodinuclear complexes, the site occupancy of the different lanthanide(III) ions was determined by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy in CD 3 OD or (CD 3 ) 2 SO – it was found that heterodinuclear complexation occurs in methanol with the smaller lanthanide(III) ion mainly coordinating to the Schiff base site and the larger lanthanide(III) ion to the crown site whereas, in dimethyl sulfoxide, demetalation of the weaker coordinated lanthanide(III) ion into the crown ether chamber occurs with the subsequent formation of mononuclear species in solution. The thermal decomposition of the heterodinuclear complexes forms the related mixed oxides, the stoichiometries and properties of which were determined by SEM‐EDS microscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction studies (XRD). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Improving accuracy and efficiency in MRI-navigated breast biopsy (2014)

The tigecycline remains a valid option for the treatment of infections dues to multi-resistant bacteria especially when other alternatives are scarce or in cases of renal failure.
Experience of short term earthquake precursors with VLF?VHF electromagnetic emissions (2003)

Electromagnetic anomalies (EMA) covering a wide range of frequencies from ULF, VLF up to VHF have been observed before recent destructive earthquakes in continental Greece. We show that the features of these signals are possibly correlated with the fault model characteristics of the associated earthquake and with the degree of geotectonic heterogeneity within the focal zone. The time evolution of these electromagnetic sequences reveals striking similarities to that observed in laboratory acoustic and electromagnetic emissions during different stages of failure preparation process in rocks. If we consider that the same dynamics governs the large-scale earthquakes and the microscopic scale sample rheological structure, the results of this analysis suggest that the recorded EMA might reflect the nucleation phase of the associated impending earthquake. We focus on the rise of the statistical view of earthquakes. We find electro-magnetic fingerprints of an underlying critical mechanism. Finally, we conclude that it is useful to combine ULF and VLF-VHF field measurements in an attempt to enhance the understanding of the physics behind these observations and thus to improve the quality of earthquake prediction. Further, the identification of an EMA as a seismogenic one supports the characterization of a sequence of shocks as foreshocks at the time they occur, further helping the earthquake prediction effort.
Involvement of MicroRNAs in the Regulation of Muscle Wasting during Catabolic Conditions (2014)

Loss of muscle proteins and the consequent weakness has important clinical consequences in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, chronic heart failure, and in aging. In fact, excessive proteolysis causes cachexia, accelerates disease progression, and worsens life expectancy. Muscle atrophy involves a common pattern of transcriptional changes in a small subset of genes named atrophy-related genes or atrogenes. Whether microRNAs play a role in the atrophy program and muscle loss is debated. To understand the involvement of miRNAs in atrophy we performed miRNA expression profiling of mouse muscles under wasting conditions such as fasting, denervation, diabetes, and cancer cachexia. We found that the miRNA signature is peculiar of each catabolic condition. We then focused on denervation and we revealed that changes in transcripts and microRNAs expression did not occur simultaneously but were shifted. Indeed, whereas transcriptional control of the atrophy-related genes peaks at 3 days, changes of miRNA expression maximized at 7 days after denervation. Among the different miRNAs, microRNA-206 and -21 were the most induced in denervated muscles. We characterized their pattern of expression and defined their role in muscle homeostasis. Indeed, in vivo gain and loss of function experiments revealed that miRNA-206 and miRNA-21 were sufficient and required for atrophy program. In silico and in vivo approaches identified transcription factor YY1 and the translational initiator factor eIF4E3 as downstream targets of these miRNAs. Thus miRNAs are important for fine-tuning the atrophy program and their modulation can be a novel potential therapeutic approach to counteract muscle loss and weakness in catabolic conditions.
Increased health risk in Bangkok children exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from traffic-related sources (2006)

The aim of this study is to assess potential health risk of exposure to particle-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in children living in a megacity with traffic congestion such as Bangkok. The study population comprised 184 Thai schoolboys (aged 8-13 years) attending schools adjacent to high-density traffic areas in Bangkok and schools located in the provincial area of Chonburi. The ambient concentration of total PAHs at roadsides in proximity to the Bangkok schools was 30-fold greater than at roadsides in proximity to the provincial schools (30.39 +/- 5.80 versus 1.50 +/- 0.28 ng/m(3); P < 0.001). Benzo(g,h,i)perylene (BghiP), an indicator of automobile exhaust emission, was the predominant PAH. Personal exposure to total PAHs and the corresponding benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) equivalent concentrations in Bangkok schoolchildren were 3.5-fold higher than in provincial schoolchildren (4.13 +/- 0.21 versus 1.18 +/- 0.09 ng/m(3); P < 0.001 and 1.50 +/- 0.12 versus 0.43 +/- 0.05 ng/m(3); P < 0.001, respectively). The concentration of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HOP) was significantly higher in Bangkok schoolchildren. Bulky carcinogen-DNA adduct levels in peripheral lymphocytes were also significantly higher (0.45 +/- 0.03 versus 0.09 +/- 0.00 adducts/10(8) nt; P < 0.001). Finally, a significantly higher level of DNA strand breaks and a significantly lower level of DNA repair capacity were observed in Bangkok schoolchildren (P < 0.001). This study indicates that Bangkok schoolchildren exposed to a high level of genotoxic PAHs in ambient air may be more vulnerable to the health impacts associated with the exposure to genotoxic pollutants than children in provincial areas and may have increased health risks for the development of certain diseases such as cancer.
Protothreads - Lightweight Stackless Threads in C (2005)

Protothreads are a extremely lightweight, stackless threads designed for use in severely memory constrained systems such as embedded systems. Software for memory constrained embedded systems sometimes are based on an event-driven model rather than on multi-threading. While event-driven systems allow for reduced memory usage, they require programs to be developed as explicit state machines. Since implementing programs as explicit state machines is hard, developing, maintaining, and debugging programs for event-driven systems is difficult.
Distinct isoforms (COX‐1 and COX‐2) of cyclooxygenase: possible physiological and therapeutic implications (1996)

Summary— The discovery of an inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase (COX‐2) requires a refinement of the theory that inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity explains both therapeutic and side effects of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Indeed, new pharmacological results suggest that COX‐2 inhibition provides the therapeutic (ie, anti‐inflammatory) activity of NSAIDs, whereas inhibition of constitutive COX‐1 is responsible for their gastric and renal side effects as well as for their antithrombotic activity. However, a role of COX‐1 in inflammation cannot be excluded. Furthermore, the functional relevance of COX‐2 expression and induction in various tissues warrants further investigation. These studies should help in predicting potential adverse effects as well as new indications for selective COX‐2 inhibitors.