gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
A Survey Transition Course (2012)

Abstract Successful outcomes for a Transition Course in Mathematics have resulted from two unique design features. The first is to run the course as a “survey course” in mathematics, introducing sophomore-level students to a broad set of mathematical fields. In this single mathematics course, undergraduates benefit from an introduction of proof techniques in diverse fields, from abstract algebra and number theory to real analysis and probability. The second is to use one of these fields, mathematical logic, as the foundation upon which to explain the methods of proof. Logic is interesting in its own right as one of the surveyed mathematical fields of study, but it also provides a helpful framework for thinking mathematically, allowing students to progress rapidly to prove results from all the surveyed fields. At one institution, an unexpected benefit that coincided with the establishment of the survey transition course was an increase in the number of majors, fulfilling a long-sought goal for a freshman-sophomore course serving as a “pump” to entice students to become mathematics majors.
Spectral contrast enhancement of speech in noise for listeners with sensorineural hearing impairment: effects on intelligibility, quality, and response times. (1993)

This paper describes a series of experiments evaluating the effects of digital processing of speech in noise so as to enhance spectral contrast, using subjects with cochlear hearing loss. The enhancement was carried out on a frequency scale related to the equivalent rectangular bandwidths (ERBs) of auditory filters in normally hearing subjects. The aim was to enhance major spectral prominences without enhancing fine-grain spectral features that would not be resolved by a normal ear. In experiment 1, the amount of enhancement and the bandwidth (in ERBs) of the enhancement processing were systematically varied. Large amounts of enhancement produced decreases in the intelligibility of speech in noise. Performance for moderate degrees of enhancement was generally similar to that for the control conditions, possibly because subjects did not have sufficient experience with the processed speech. In experiment 2, subjects judged the relative quality and intelligibility of speech in noise processed using a subset of the conditions of experiment 1. Generally, processing with a moderate degree of enhancement was preferred over the control condition, for both quality and intelligibility. Subjects varied in their preferences for high degrees of enhancement. Experiment 3 used a modified processing algorithm, with a moderate degree of spectral enhancement, and examined the effects of combining the enhancement with dynamic range compression. The intelligibility of speech in noise improved with practice, and, after a small amount of practice, scores for the condition combining enhancement with a moderate degree of compression were found to be significantly higher than for the control condition. Experiment 4 used a subset of conditions from experiment 3, but performance was assessed using a sentence verification test that measured both intelligibility and response times. Scores on both measures were improved by spectral enhancement, and improved still more by enhancement combined with compression. The effects were statistically more robust for the response times. When expressed as equivalent changes in speech-to-noise ratio, the improvements were about twice as large for the response times as for the intelligibility scores. The overall effect of spectral enhancement combined with compression was equivalent to an improvement of speech-to-noise ratio by 4.2 dB.
Silent cerebral infarction in chronic atrial fibrillation. (1987)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of stroke. In AF patients with acute stroke, cerebral computed tomography (CT) often reveals old asymptomatic infarcts. To investigate the frequency of such lesions, 29 AF patients and 29 controls in sinus rhythm without history of cerebrovascular disease were CT scanned. Fourteen patients with AF (48%) had abnormal CT scans with areas of low density with sharp demarcation from surrounding tissue compared with 8 patients in sinus rhythm (28%) (p greater than 0.10). However, the number of abnormal areas with apparent tissue loss was significantly higher in the AF group (39 lesions) compared with the control group (16 lesions) (p = 0.033). The lesions were mainly located in the cortex with no significant difference in lesion size between AF patients and controls. The abnormal areas probably reflected small, clinically silent infarcts. We conclude that these lesions are present in AF patients without history of cerebrovascular events and occur more frequently than in controls without atrial fibrillation.
A Comparative Study on Ferritin Concentration in Serum and Bilateral Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Patients with Peripheral Lung Cancer versus Control Subjects (1999)

<i>Objectives:</i> To assess the diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) ferritin as a lung tumor marker by comparing serum and BALF ferritin concentrations in patients with peripheral lung cancer versus control subjects with benign lung disease, and to examine the theory of ferritin compartmentalization around the tumor area by comparing ferritin concentrations in serum and bilateral (affected and unaffected side) BALF in cancer patients. <i>Methods:</i> Four groups of patients were investigated: 10 control nonsmokers, 10 control smokers, 10 smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 22 patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in all subjects (both sides in 13 oncological patients, one side in the others) and samples of BALF and blood were submitted to biochemical analysis. <i>Results:</i> As a lung tumor marker, BALF ferritin showed 54% sensitivity and 93% specificity and serum ferritin 22% sensitivity and 93% specificity. A significant difference was observed between the two sides in the cancer patients (p = 0.033), and between BALF ferritin from the affected side and COPD patients (p = 0.025). Greater differences were obtained when BALF ferritin in the affected side of cancer patients was compared with values in both control nonsmokers (p < 0.0001) and control smokers (p < 0.001). <i>Conclusions:</i> These findings seem to confirm the relative diagnostic value of BALF ferritin as a lung tumor marker and the theory of ferritin compartmentalization. However, further studies are required to clarify the relations between iron and ferritin on the one hand and inflammation, tumorigenesis and host response on the other.
Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles: From Sensors to Theranostics (2013)

Copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention from biomedical researchers across the globe, because of their intriguing properties which have been mainly explored for energy- and catalysis-related applications to date. This focused review article aims to summarize the recent progress made in the synthesis and biomedical applications of various CuS nanoparticles. After a brief introduction to CuS nanoparticles in the first section, we will provide a concise outline of the various synthetic routes to obtain different morphologies of CuS nanoparticles, which can influence their properties and potential applications. CuS nanoparticles have found broad applications in vitro, especially in the detection of biomolecules, chemicals, and pathogens which will be illustrated in detail. The in vivo uses of CuS nanoparticles have also been investigated in preclinical studies, including molecular imaging with various techniques, cancer therapy based on the photothermal properties of CuS, as well as drug delivery and theranostic applications. Research on CuS nanoparticles will continue to thrive over the next decade, and tremendous opportunities lie ahead for potential biomedical/clinical applications of CuS nanoparticles.
Books of the Month (1982)

Leonard Lewin, ed. TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE U.S.: TRENDS AND POLICIES (Dedham, Mass.: Artech House, 610 Washington St., 1981---$40.00). Lewis A. Coser, et al. BOOKS: THE CULTURE & COMMERCE OF PUBLISHING (New York: Basic Books, 1982---$19.00).
DNA recovery from microhymenoptera using six non-destructive methodologies with considerations for subsequent preparation of museum slides (2016)

Because of the tiny size of microhymenoptera, successful morphological identification typically requires specific mounting protocols that require time, skills, and experience. Molecular taxonomic identification is an alternative, but many DNA extraction protocols call for maceration of the whole specimen, which is not compatible with preserving museum vouchers. Thus, non-destructive DNA isolation methods are attractive alternatives for obtaining DNA without damaging sample individuals. However, their performance needs to be assessed in microhymenopterans. We evaluated six non-destructive methods: (A) DNeasy® Blood & Tissue Kit; (B) DNeasy® Blood & Tissue Kit, modified; (C) Protocol with CaCl 2 buffer; (D) Protocol with CaCl 2 buffer, modified; (E) HotSHOT; and (F) Direct PCR. The performance of each DNA extraction method was tested across several microhymenopteran species by attempting to amplify the mitochondrial gene COI from insect specimens of varying ages: 1 day, 4 months, 3 years, 12 years, and 23 years. Methods B and D allowed COI amplification in all insects, while methods A, C, and E were successful in DNA amplification from insects up to 12 years old. Method F, the fastest, was useful in insects up to 4 months old. Finally, we adapted permanent slide preparation in Canada balsam for every technique. The results reported allow for combining morphological and molecular methodologies for taxonomic studies.
Health effects of omega-3 fatty acids. (1986)

During the last eight years, scientific research has been conducted to explore the beneficial role of fish and fish oils in human nutrition. Much of this research has focused on the omega-3 fatty acids, which are a unique component of fish and fish oils. • This article will review the role of omega-3 fatty acids in human nutrition as well as the recent research and theories exploring the positive health effects of omega-3 fatty acids. These include reducing the risk factors for atherosclerosis and providing protection against immunological reactions. Also, the essentiality and dietary levels of omega-3 fatty acids needed to produce protective effects will be addressed.
New drugs in ovarian cancer and malignant melanoma: in vitro phase II screening with the human tumor stem cell assay. (1981)

The successful development of a soft agar clonogenic assay for human tumor stem cells provides an in vitro technique with a high degree of accuracy for predicting in vivo clinical response to standard anticancer drugs. We used this system to conduct an "in vitro phase II trial" in human ovarian cancer and melanoma. This approach can potentially identify active phase I--II drugs suitable for treatment of given tumor types for specific patients and eliminates the need to subject patients (who would be predicted not to respond) to toxic side effects. In vitro sensitivity for new agents was operationally defined as at least a 70% reduction of tumor colony-forming units (TCFU) at concentrations which are readily achievable pharmacologically. The new agents AMSA and vindesine (as well as vinblastine) appeared to have activity in melanoma, while PALA and thymidine were inactive. Pentamethylmelamine, mitomycin C, methyl-GAG, and AMSA were relatively ineffective in ovarian cancer. Vinblastine and vindesine had definite activity. The human tumor stem cell assay may thus provide the basis for a useful alternative to the current clinical phase II testing approach for identifying antitumor activity of new agents. Validation of this concept with correlative in vitro and in vivo phase II trials of new agents in patients with tumor types predicted to be sensitive is clearly warranted.
Self-assessment of excellence: An application of the evidential reasoning approach (2001)

Self-assessment of performance using the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Model for Excellence is widespread amongst European organizations. The paper reports the development of a model, based on the evidential reasoning approach from multiple attribute decision-making (MADM), which it is argued helps to reduce the subjectivity of the scoring of an organization's performance against the criteria of the EFQM Model and brings a degree of science into the self-assessment process. The development of the MADM model is based on the people management criteria of the 1998 version of the EFQM Model and tests have been undertaken using two self-assessment submission documents from a major multi-utility organization.
Chemical Toxins: A Hypothesis to Explain the Global Obesity Epidemic (2002)

The number of obese people worldwide has escalated recently, revealing a complex picture of significant variations among nations and different profiles among adults and children, regions, and occupations. The commonly held causes of obesity-overeating and inactivity-do not explain the current obesity epidemic. There is evidence of a general decrease in food consumption by humans and a significant decline in their overall levels of physical activity. There is also more evidence to indicate that the body's natural weight-control mechanisms are not functioning properly in obesity. Because the obesity epidemic occurred relatively quickly, it has been suggested that environmental causes instead of genetic factors maybe largely responsible. What has, up to now, been overlooked is that the earth's environment has changed significantly during the last few decades because of the exponential production and usage of synthetic organic and inorganic chemicals. Many of these chemicals are better known for causing weight loss at high levels of exposure but much lower concentrations of these same chemicals have powerful weight-promoting actions. This property has already been widely exploited commercially to produce growth hormones that fatten livestock and pharmaceuticals that induce weight gain in grossly underweight patients. This paper presents a hypothesis that the current level of human exposure to these chemicals may have damaged many of the body's natural weight-control mechanisms. Furthermore, it is posited here that these effects, together with a wide range of additional, possibly synergistic, factors may play a significant role in the worldwide obesity epidemic.
Time domain characterization of thin film head/media systems (1988)

With thin-film head/media systems, frequency-domain parametric measurements (SNR, resolution, decibel overwrite, etc.) often demonstrate poor correlation with actual disk-drive phase margin results. Superposition modeling and direct time-domain measurements are required to understand these systems better. Several techniques are discussed: time-domain quantification of individual read and media noise, aggregate noise and offset deconvolution from phase margin graphs, and time-domain writeability measurements. Applications of these techniques include characterization of phenomena unique to thin-film systems, optimization of disk-drive electronics using these systems, and the creation of improved component and drive production tests.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
c-Cbl-Mediated Selective Virus-Receptor Translocations into Lipid Rafts Regulate Productive Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Infection in Endothelial Cells (2011)

During target cell entry and infection, many enveloped and nonenveloped viruses utilize cell surface receptors that translocate into lipid rafts (LRs). However, the mechanism behind this translocation is not known. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) interacts with the human microvascular dermal endothelial (HMVEC-d) cell surface heparan sulfate (HS), integrins α3β1, αVβ3, and αVβ5, and the amino acid transporter x-CT protein and enters via c-Cbl-bleb-mediated macropinocytosis (Veettil et al., J. Virol. 82:12126-12144, 2008; Veettil et al., PLoS Pathog. 6:e1001238, 2010). Here we have demonstrated that very early during infection (1 min postinfection), c-Cbl induced the selective translocation of KSHV into the LR along with the α3β1, αVβ3, and x-CT receptors but not αVβ5. Activated c-Cbl localized with LRs at the junctional base of macropinocytic blebs. LR-translocated α3β1 and αVβ3 were monoubiquitinated, leading to productive macropinocytic entry, whereas non-LR-associated αVβ5 was polyubiquitinated, leading to clathrin entry that was targeted to lysosomes. c-Cbl knockdown blocked the macropinocytosis and receptor translocation and diverted KSHV to a clathrin-lysosomal noninfectious pathway. Similar results were also seen by LR disruption with MβCD. These studies provide the first evidence that c-Cbl regulates selective KSHV-α3β1, -αVβ3, and -x-CT receptor translocations into the LRs and differential ubiquitination of receptors which are critical determinants of the macropinocytic entry route and productive infection of KSHV. Our studies suggest that interventions targeting c-Cbl and LRs are potential avenues to block KSHV infection of endothelial cells.
El acontecer mundial en Biopolímeros a través de los resultados de la Vigilancia Tecnológica (2005)

The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime after a 1-g bolus dose were studied in 11 subjects, with creatinine clearances ranging from 113 to 6 ml/min. Concentrations of ceftazidime in serum were determined by microbiological assay. These data were fitted to a two-compartment open model, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Correlation of ceftazidime clearance with creatinine clearance was excellent (r = 0.99).
Stabilizing PMD Compensators by Means of Polarization Dithering (2007)

Feedback-based single-stage polarization-mode dispersion compensators can suffer from dynamical limitations. These can be prevented by modulating the polarization of the transmitted signal. A high-depth modulation can result in high jitter and partial eye closure. A low-depth modulation (dithering) effectively stabilizes the compensator while it does not introduce significant system penalty.
Waveguide lasers and nonlinear devices in lithium niobate (2003)

During the last years a whole family of waveguide lasers has been developed in Er-diffusion doped LiNbO/sub 3/ substrates with conventional Ti-diffused channel guides. More recently, various types of very efficient, quasiphase-matched nonlinear frequency converters have been demonstrated in PPLN (periodically poled lithium niobate) also with Ti-diffused channel guides. Moreover, periodic poling of Ti,Er:LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguides was achieved. Using this technology the development of several attractive laser/nonlinear frequency converter combinations-integrated on the same substrate or even in the same waveguide structure-becomes possible. It is the aim of this contribution to briefly review the state of the art of Er-doped waveguide lasers and of quasi phase-matched nonlinear devices. Moreover, concepts of laser/frequency converter combinations are discussed and latest results are reported.
Recognize Martin Luther King Day (1997)

Each academic year as January nears the University of Maine begins to think again about Martin Luther King, about the day officially designated to honor his life and teachings. Like several other national holidays, this one currently does not bring with it a day off from classes at this university. Several reasons have been cited for this: one is the academic year is already too short.
The angiogenic response to skeletal injury is preserved in the elderly (2001)

Angiogenesis is essential for normal bone formation and repair. Avascularity characterizes aberrant fracture union in the elderly, while angiogenic mechanisms during cutaneous wound repair are attenuated in aged humans. We hypothesized that skeletal injury results in local (circulating) and systemic (fracture site) 'angiogenic' responses and that these reparative mechanisms are attenuated with advanced patient age. This prospective study examined peripheral blood and fracture hematoma from 32 patients, 16 under 40 years and 16 over the age of 75, undergoing emergent surgery for isolated fracture. The angiogenic cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were assayed. Endothelial cell cultures were supplemented with patient plasma and fracture hematoma and angiogenesis determined in vitro by measuring cell proliferation and blood vessel tube formation. Angiogenesis was determined in vivo using a murine dorsal wound pocket model and quantification of new blood vessel formation after 7 days. We found that all injured patients, irrespective of age, have elevated plasma and fracture hematoma levels of VEGF and PDGF. These elevated cytokine concentrations translate into biologically significant angiogenic effects, in vitro and in vivo. These effects are primarily VEGF mediated and are not dependent on patient age. The biological activity of these growth factors does not diminish with advanced age. Thus skeletal injury does result in local and systemic angiogenic responses whereby angiogenic cytokine availability and activity is preserved in the aged suggesting alternative mechanisms for the development of avascularity in delayed and fracture non-union in the elderly.
Edible Films and Coatings from Whey Proteins: A Review on Formulation, and on Mechanical and Bioactive Properties (2012)

The latest decade has witnessed joint efforts by the packaging and the food industries to reduce the amount of residues and wastes associated with food consumption. The recent increase in environmental awareness has also contributed toward development of edible packaging materials. Viable edible films and coatings have been successfully produced from whey proteins; their ability to serve other functions, viz. carrier of antimicrobials, antioxidants, or other nutraceuticals, without significantly compromising the desirable primary barrier and mechanical properties as packaging films, will add value for eventual commercial applications. These points are tackled in this review, in a critical manner. The supply of whey protein-based films and coatings, formulated to specifically address end-user needs, is also considered.
COMeT: Continuous Online Memory Test (2011)

Today's computers have gigabytes of main memory due to improved DRAM density. As density increases, smaller bit cells become more susceptible to errors. With an increase in error susceptibility, the need for memory resiliency also increases. Self-testing of memory health can proactively check for errors to improve resiliency. This paper describes a software-only self test to continuously test memory. We present the challenges and design for an approach, called Continuous Online Memory Testing (COMeT), that targets chip multiprocessors. COMeT tests memory health simultaneously with application execution in anticipation of allocation requests. The approach guarantees that memory is tested within a fixed time interval to limit exposure to lurking errors. We developed and evaluated an implementation of COMeT. On the SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks, COMeT has a low 4% average performance overhead. When emulated errors were injected into physical memory, applications executed 1.13× to 4.41× longer with COMeT than without it.
Truly random number generation via entropy amplification (2010)

We present a simple setup to implement truly random number generator based on the measurement of the laser phase noise. From the entropy point of view, we estimate the number of truly random bits that can be extracted from the sampled Byte. With a simple method of adopting the $m$-least-significant-bit, we amplify the entropy of the original bit sequence and realize a truly random bit generation rate of $300$ Mbps.