gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Implementation and Experiments on Face Detection System (FDS) Using Perceptual Quality Aware Features (2017)

This thesis is motivated by developing a face detection system for detecting faces in distorted images. Interaction between face detection and perceptual image quality is studied and analyzed to develop this robust face detection system. It is observed that accuracy of existing face detection systems are degraded with increase in distortion which is occurred due to many factors like low resolution of cameras, during transmission or storing. These types of distortions are AWGN, G Blur and JPEG. To overcome this problem, a new set of features named QUALHOG (which is a combination of NSS features and HOG features) is proposed for better and accurate face detection which augments Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) features with perceptual quality-aware spatial Natural Scene Statistics (NSS) features. Face detection system based on QUALHOG features shows a great improvement in detecting faces as compared to face detection system based on HOG features. A large set of images are used for experimentation. To facilitate these experiments, a distorted face database (DFD) which contains face and non-face images by a variety of common distortion types and levels is used. This new dataset is available for download and further experimentation and it contains images at 10 distortion levels. Precision and Recall are calculated, Precision versus distortion level and Recall versus Distortion level curves are obtained to show the comparison between HOG and QUALHOG based face detection systems.\nFurthermore obtained results are compared with known results and presented as AUPR versus Distortion level curves to show the feasibility of FDS.\nKeywords: Face detection system, Distorted images, Perceptual Quality Aware features, Histogram of Oriented Gradients
H2O2 induces monocyte apoptosis and reduces viability of Mycobacterium avium-M. intracellulare within cultured human monocytes (1996)

Mycobacterium avium-M. intracellulare, an intracellular parasite of mononuclear phagocytes, rarely causes disease in immunocompetent individuals. In contrast, in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients, M. avium-M. intracellulare can infect almost every tissue and organ. This suggests that immunocompetent individuals have a protective mechanism to control or prevent the infection. How mycobacterial may be killed by the host immune response is unclear. We have recently reported that induction of apoptosis of Mycobacterium bovis BCG-infected macrophages with ATP4- was associated with killing of the intracellular mycobacteria. In the present study, a long-term culture of M. avium-M. intracellulare-infected monocytes was used to further evaluate the interaction between M. avium-M. intracellulare and primary human monocytes. In our system, M. avium-M. intracellulare parasitized the human monocytes and appeared to replicate slowly over 14 days within the host cells. To examine the role of apoptotic mechanisms in survival or death of intracellular mycobacteria, M. avium-M. intracellulare-infected human monocytes were treated with a monoclonal antibody to Fas receptor (APO-1/CD95) or with various concentrations of H2O2. Although both of these exogenous agents induced monocyte apoptosis, optimal killing (65% reduction in CFU) of intracellular M. avium-M. intracellulare was observed only when M. avium-M. intracellulare-infected cells were treated with 10 mM H2O2. Fas-induced apoptosis did not affect M. avium-M. intracellulare viability. Our results suggest that not all stimuli of monocyte apoptosis induce killing of intracellular M. avium-M. intracellulare. Since release of H2O2 following phagocytosis of mycobacteria has been documented, H2O2-induced apoptotic death of M. avium-M. intracellulare-infected monocytes and its association with killing of the intracellular bacilli may be a physiological mechanism of host defense against M. avium-M. intracellulare.
Synthesis of polyacetals with various main‐chain structures by the self‐polyaddition of vinyl ethers with a hydroxyl function (2002)

Abstract To establish the optimum conditions for obtaining high molecular weight polyacetals by the self‐polyaddition of vinyl ethers with a hydroxyl group, we performed the polymerization of 4‐hydroxybutyl vinyl ether (CH 2 CHOCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH) with various acidic catalysts [ p ‐toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate, p ‐toluene sulfonic anhydride (TSAA), pyridinium p ‐toluene sulfonate, HCl, and BF 3 OEt 2 ] in different solvents (tetrahydrofuran and toluene) at 0 °C. All the polymerizations proceeded exclusively via the polyaddition mechanism to give polyacetals of the structure [CH(CH 3 )OCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 O] n quantitatively. The reaction with TSAA in tetrahydrofuran led to the highest molecular weight polymers (number‐average molecular weight = 110,000, weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.59). 2‐Hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, cyclohexane dimethanol monovinyl ether, and tricyclodecane dimethanol monovinyl ether were also employed as monomers, and polyacetals with various main‐chain structures were obtained. This structural variety of the main chain changed the glass‐transition temperature of the polyacetals from approximately −70 °C to room temperature. These polyacetals were thermally stable but exhibited smooth degradation with a treatment of aqueous acid to give the corresponding diol compounds in quantitative yields. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4053–4064, 2002
Intracellular calcium related to force development in twitch contraction of mammalian myocardium (1990)

To characterize the relationship between force production and Ca2+ occupancy of troponin C, investigators have related peak intracellular Ca2+, measured with a variety of Ca2(+)-indicators, and peak force during twitches. Inherent in the force-[Ca2+] relationship is the responsiveness of the myofilaments to Ca2+ which can be altered by different pharmacological manipulations. In this study we compared the force-[Ca2+] relationship obtained in aequorin-injected papillary muscles and saponin skinned trabeculae from control, right ventricular pressure-overload hypertrophy (POH), and hyperthyroid ferret hearts. In POH, the twitch and [Ca2+]i transient were prolonged as compared to control. Force-[Ca2+] relationships from skinned fiber preparations were superimposable between control and POH. The peak force-peak [Ca2+]i relationship in intact muscles from POH was shifted to the left as compared to control. In hyperthyroid hearts, the twitch and [Ca2+]i were abbreviated. Force-[Ca2+]i relationships from skinned fiber preparations were superimposable between control and thyrotoxic hearts. The peak force-peak [Ca2+]i relationship in intact muscles from hyperthyroid hearts was shifted to the right as compared to control. Our findings indicate that time course changes in the calcium transient artifacturally shift the peak force-peak calcium relationship in a predictable manner. Therefore, this relationship can not be used to address changes at the level of the myofilaments as previously suggested.
Modulation of MthK Potassium Channel Activity at the Intracellular Entrance to the Pore (2006)

We used a bacterial complementation screen with the LB2003 K(+) uptake-deficient strain of Escherichia coli to analyze residues that are critical to Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum potassium channel (MthK) function. Channel expression and relative structural integrity of mutants were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, and mechanisms underlying altered mutant channel function were analyzed using single-channel recording. We observed that wild-type MthK expression complements K(+) uptake deficiency. Although MthK function was previously thought to require Ca(2+) in the millimolar range, we demonstrate that at elevated temperatures the requirement for Ca(2+) becomes much lower. Mutations at the cytoplasmic mouth of the MthK pore can blunt complementation, indicating that those mutant channels cannot support K(+) uptake. In contrast, substitutions at the Ca(2+)-binding site in the MthK RCK domain did not decrease complementation compared with wild-type MthK. We focused on mutations to residues Glu-92 and Glu-96, which may form the narrowest part of the pore in the channel's closed state. Mutations at these residues can yield slight changes in single-channel conductance that do not necessarily correlate with effects on bacterial complementation. However, mutations at Glu-92 could also change channel open probability, and these changes correlated with complementation effects. The most striking of these mutations was E92A, which nearly eliminated bacterial complementation by decreasing the open probability of MthK. Our results suggest that the small, hydrophobic alanine side chain at the K(+) channel bundle crossing may generate an intrinsically stable structure, which in turn shifts the closed-to-open-state equilibrium toward the closed state.
Tailor-made porous solid foods (1997)

Abstract A method of controlling the porosity of cellular solid foods and its dependence on solids content were investigated. Freeze-dehydration of cold-set alginate gels was used to produce tailor-made porous solids. Gels were composed of sodium alginate, corn starch, oil and other additives necessary to induce gelation. Porosity values were derived from particle and bulk densities utilizing a helium pycnometer and a volumetric displacement method. To achieve a wider range of porosities, the gels were immersed in sucrose solutions of 10 to 60 8Bx. Gel porosity after drying decreased from 0.85 to 0.42 and 0.07 after immersion in the 30 and 60 8Bx solution for 183 and 158 h, respectively. Similarly, after immersing gels containing an additional 5% soy oil, porosity decreased to 0.36 and 0.04 after 165 and 158 h, in 30 and 60 8Bx solution, respectively. Preparation and formulation play a significant role in porosity, and they can both be utilized to control its value within the range 0.85–0.04. SEM micrographs revealed changes in the original cellular solid, characterized by numerous large void spaces, to a denser and more uniform appearance of the specimen after immersion in the 60 8Bx sucrose solution. The dry gel system with controlled porosity provides a novel tool for the production of tailor-made cellular-solid foods.
The Role of the Support in the Performance of Grafted Metallocene Catalysts (2009)

Abstract A series of supports – differing in their textural properties, the nature of their surface sites, and in their crystallinities – were investigated in the sequential grafting reaction of Cp 2 ZrCl 2 and ( n BuCp) 2 ZrCl 2 mixtures. The catalyst systems were analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, AFM, EXAFS, and nitrogen adsorption. All systems were shown to be active in ethylene polymerization reactions when methylaluminoxane was used as the cocatalyst. Experimental results are discussed in terms of the relationships between the grafted metal content, the catalyst activity, the surface roughness and polarity, the interatomic Zr–C and Zr–O distances of the grafted species and the molecular weights of the resulting polyethylenes. magnified image
Bioelectrical Signal Processing in Cardiac and Neurological Applications (2005)

Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Electroencephalogram Chapter 3. EEG Signal Processing Chapter 4. Evoked Potentials Chapter 5. The Electromyogram Chapter 6. The Electrocardiogram Chapter 7. ECG Signal Processing Chapter 8. Heart Rate Variability Appendices Problems
FDA phantom CT database: a resource for the assessment of lung nodule size estimation methodologies and software development (2010)

As part of a more general effort to probe the interrelated factors impacting the accuracy and precision of lung nodule size estimation, we have been conducting phantom CT studies with an anthropomorphic thoracic phantom containing a vasculature insert on which synthetic nodules were inserted or attached. The utilization of synthetic nodules with known truth regarding size and location allows for bias and variance analysis, enabled by the acquisition of repeat CT scans. Using a factorial approach to probe imaging parameters (acquisition and reconstruction) and nodule characteristics (size, density, shape, location), ten repeat scans have been collected for each protocol and nodule layout. The resulting database of CT scans is incrementally becoming available to the public via the National Biomedical Imaging Archive to facilitate the assessment of lung nodule size estimation methodologies and the development of image analysis software among other possible applications. This manuscript describes the phantom CT scan database and associated information including image acquisition and reconstruction protocols, nodule layouts and nodule truth.
Approximation Schemes for the Restricted Shortest Path Problem (1992)

This note contains two fully polynomial approximation schemes for the shortest path problem with an additional constraint. The main difficulty in constructing such algorithms arises since no trivial lower and upper bounds on the solution value, whose ratio is polynomially bounded, are known. In spite of this difficulty, one of the algorithms presented here is strongly polynomial. Applications to other problems are also discussed.
Acoustic of a perforated liner with grazing flow: Floquet-Bloch periodical approach versus impedance continuous approach (2016)

The effect of a shear flow on an acoustic liner consisting of a perforated plate backed by cavities is studied. Two different approaches are investigated: First, the duct and the liner are considered as a periodic system while in the second approach the liner is considered as homogeneous and described by an impedance. Those two approaches coincide perfectly without flow for a small hole spacing compared to the acoustic wavelength. This work demonstrates that those two approaches are not wholly consistent when a shear flow is present and reveals some problems in the use of the local impedance with flow. The no-flow impedance cannot be used to describe the liner when a shear flow is present. An equivalent impedance with flow can be defined but it depends on the direction of the incident waves and loses its local characteristic.
Hybrid promiscuous (Hypr) GGDEF enzymes produce cyclic AMP-GMP (3′, 3′-cGAMP) (2016)

Over 30 years ago, GGDEF domain-containing enzymes were shown to be diguanylate cyclases that produce cyclic di-GMP (cdiG), a second messenger that modulates the key bacterial lifestyle transition from a motile to sessile biofilm-forming state. Since then, the ubiquity of genes encoding GGDEF proteins in bacterial genomes has established the dominance of cdiG signaling in bacteria. However, the observation that proteobacteria encode a large number of GGDEF proteins, nearing 1% of coding sequences in some cases, raises the question of why bacteria need so many GGDEF enzymes. In this study, we reveal that a subfamily of GGDEF enzymes synthesizes the asymmetric signaling molecule cyclic AMP-GMP (cAG or 3', 3'-cGAMP). This discovery is unexpected because GGDEF enzymes function as symmetric homodimers, with each monomer binding to one substrate NTP. Detailed analysis of the enzyme from Geobacter sulfurreducens showed it is a dinucleotide cyclase capable of switching the major cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) produced based on ATP-to-GTP ratios. We then establish through bioinformatics and activity assays that hybrid CDN-producing and promiscuous substrate-binding (Hypr) GGDEF enzymes are found in other deltaproteobacteria. Finally, we validated the predictive power of our analysis by showing that cAG is present in surface-grown Myxococcus xanthus. This study reveals that GGDEF enzymes make alternative cyclic dinucleotides to cdiG and expands the role of this widely distributed enzyme family to include regulation of cAG signaling.
BioInsights: Extracting personal data from &#x201C;Still&#x201D; wearable motion sensors (2015)

During recent years a large variety of wearable devices have become commercially available. As these devices are in close contact with the body, they have the potential to capture sensitive and unexpected personal data even when the wearer is not moving. This work demonstrates that wearable motion sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes embedded in head-mounted and wrist-worn wearable devices can be used to identify the wearer (among 12 participants) and his/her body posture (among 3 positions) from only 10 seconds of “still” motion data. Instead of focusing on large and apparent motions such as steps or gait, the proposed methods amplify and analyze very subtle body motions associated with the beating of the heart. Our findings have the potential to increase the value of pervasive wearable motion sensors but also raise important privacy concerns that need to be considered.
To Lube or Not to Lube: Experiences and Perceptions of Lubricant Use in Women with and Without Dyspareunia (2011)

ABSTRACT Introduction There are few studies examining the relationship between lubricant use and sexual functioning, and no studies have examined this relationship in women with dyspareunia. Vaginal dryness is a prevalent complaint among women of all ages. There is an association between vaginal dryness and painful intercourse; therefore, women with dyspareunia represent a particularly relevant sample of women in which to investigate lubricant use. Aim The aim of this study was to examine differences between women with and without dyspareunia in self-reported natural lubrication and attitudes toward and use of personal lubricants. Methods Respondents completed an online survey including questions on demographics, gynecological/medical history, sexual functioning, and lubricant use and attitudes. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures used were the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and questions regarding attitudes toward and use of lubricants. Results Controls scored higher on the lubrication subscale of the FSFI than women with dyspareunia (P &lt; 0.001). Women with dyspareunia reported greater frequency of lubricant use during sexual activity over the last year (P &lt; 0.01). They were also more likely to use lubricant prior to penetration (P &lt; 0.05). The most common use for controls was to enhance sexual experiences. This was also a common answer for women with dyspareunia; however, in this group, the most common reason was to reduce/alleviate pain. Lubricants were rated as less effective among women with dyspareunia vs. controls across all reported reasons for use. Nevertheless, lubricant use was still rated as being moderately effective in alleviating pain for women with dyspareunia. Conclusions Women with dyspareunia have more difficulty with natural lubrication; it is consequently not surprising that they reported using lubricant more frequently than control women. Women with dyspareunia reported using lubricants more often than controls to try to prevent or alleviate pain and reported this as being a moderately effective strategy, suggesting that it may be a useful tool for some women with dyspareunia.
Revealing the micromechanisms behind semi-solid metal deformation with time-resolved X-ray tomography (2014)

The behaviour of granular solid-liquid mixtures is key when deforming a wide range of materials from cornstarch slurries to soils, rock and magma flows. Here we demonstrate that treating semi-solid alloys as a granular fluid is critical to understanding flow behaviour and defect formation during casting. Using synchrotron X-ray tomography, we directly measure the discrete grain response during uniaxial compression. We show that the stress-strain response at 64-93% solid is due to the shear-induced dilation of discrete rearranging grains. This leads to the counter-intuitive result that, in unfed samples, compression can open internal pores and draw the free surface into the liquid, resulting in cracking. A soil mechanics approach shows that, irrespective of initial solid fraction, the solid packing density moves towards a constant value during deformation, consistent with the existence of a critical state in mushy alloys analogous to soils.
Synthesis of Glycerophospholipid Conjugates of Cantharidin and Its Analogues (2000)

Abstract A series of glycerophospholipid conjugates of cantharidin and its analogues were synthesized in a one-pot reaction, using hexaehtyl phosphorus triamide, activated by a catalytic amount of iodine, as the phosphorylating reagent. The structures of the title compounds were confirmed by H NMR, 31P NMR, IR and elemental analysis.
Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of [60]Fullerene–BHT Conjugates (2006)

Fullerene derivatives incorporating one or two 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl groups were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to C(60). The O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of these compounds were estimated by studying, by means of EPR spectroscopy, the equilibration of each of these phenols and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) with the corresponding phenoxyl radicals. The antioxidant activity of the investigated phenols was also determined by measuring the rate constants for their reaction with peroxyl radicals in controlled autoxidation experiments and compared to that recorded under identical experimental settings for [60]fullerene itself and unlinked BHT. The results indicate that linking of the BHT structure to C(60) does not substantially alter the thermochemistry and kinetics of its reaction with peroxyl radicals, but such adducts may behave as interesting bimodal radical scavengers. The inherent rate constant for trapping of peroxyl radicals by C(60) per se (k(inh)=3.1+/-1.1 x 10(2) m(-1) s(-1)) indicates that, contrary to previous reports, [60]fullerene is an extremely weak chain-breaking antioxidant.
Vav-1 regulates NK T cell development and NK cell cytotoxicity (2001)

The hematopoietic-specific Rho-family GTP exchange factor Vav-1 is a regulator of lymphocyte antigen receptor signaling and mediates normal maturation and activation of B and T cells. Recent findings suggest that Vav-1 also forms part of signaling pathways required for natural and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of human NK cells. In this study, we show that Vav-1 is also expressed in murine NK cells. Vav-1(-/-) mice had normal numbers of splenic NK cells, and these displayed a similar expression profile of NK cell receptors as wild-type mice. Unexpectedly, IL-2-activated Vav-1(-/-) NK cells retained normal ADCC. Fc-receptor mediated activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 was also normal. In contrast, Vav-1(-/-) NK cells exhibited reduced natural cytotoxicity against EL4, C4.4.25, RMA and RMA/S. Together, the results demonstrate that Vav-1 is dispensable for mainstream NK cell development, but is required for NK natural cytotoxicity. Unlike the findings for NK cells, NK T cells were dramatically diminished in Vav-1(-/-) mice and splenocytes from Vav-1 mutant mice failed to produce IL-4 in response to in vivo CD3 stimulation. These data highlight the important role of Vav-1 in NK T cell development and NK cell function.