gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
A global probabilistic framework for the foreground, background and shadow classification task (2009)

Over the years, many works have been published on the two-dimensional foreground segmentation task, describing different methods that treat to extract that part of the scene containing active entities. In most of the cases, the stochastic background process for each pixel is modeled first, and then the foreground pixels are classified as an exception to the model or using maximum a posteriori (MAP) or maximum likelihood (ML). The shadow is usually removed in a later stage and salt and pepper noise is treated with connected component analysis or mathematical morphology. In this paper, we propose a global method that classifies each pixel by finding the best possible class (foreground, background, shadow) examining the image globally. A Markov random field is used to represent the dependencies between all the pixels and classes and the global optimal solution is approximated with the belief propagation algorithm. The method can extend most local methods and increase their accuracy. In addition, this approach brings a probabilistic justification of the classification problem and it avoids the use of additional post-processing techniques.
Investigation of<i>in-vitro</i>release characteristics of NSAID-loaded polylactic acid microspheres (1996)

The intra-pulmonary delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-loaded PLA microspheres has potential utility in the treatment of inflammatory lung conditions such as asthma. Drug encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics depend upon a variety of parameters in the production process, all of which affect the properties of the microspheres produced. The release of piroxicam from PLA microspheres followed an apparently biphasic release profile. PLA microspheres containing indomethacin, however, exhibited kinetics which approached more closely to zero order release. The effect of microsphere production parameters upon these release profiles has been investigated. Results indicate that factors affecting the nature of the microsphere matrix have the greatest influence on release profiles. The use of halothane as organic solvent in the microsphere production increases the burst release effect. Residual halothane is known to be present in the microspheres, producing a less stable matrix, thus allowing much faster release of the drug. The nature of drug incorporated also appears to affect the nature of the microspheres matrix. Piroxicam-loaded microspheres possess a much more porous matrix than indomethacin-loaded microspheres, as evidenced by washing procedures. This difference could explain the difference in release profiles between the two types of microspheres.
Solid‐phase Edman degradation. The use of p‐phenyl diisothiocyanate to attach lysine‐ and arginine‐containing peptides to insoluble resins (1972)

The primary step in sequencing peptides by the solid-phase Edman degradation [l] is attachment of the peptide to an insoluble resin, generally by blocking the peptide amino groups and then activating the C-terminal carboxyl with carbonyldiimidazole [l] or a carbodiimide [2-41. A problem limiting the usefulness of the solid-phase method is that the side-chain carboxyls of aspartic and glutamic acids also become activated, with the result, at least when carbonyldiimidazole is used, that the y-carboxyl of glutamic acid becomes bound to the resin and that aspartic acid apparently forms a cyclic imide which prevents further degradation of the peptide [i] . Although procedures for selective blocking of side chain carboxyls have been devised [2], they involve a number of steps and are often unsuitable for use with nanomole amounts of peptide. A procedure we have found to be particularly useful for tryptic peptides involves attaching them by their lysine e-amino groups to aminopolystyrene usingp-phenyl diisothiocyanate. Arginine peptides are first deguanidated with hydrazine [5],
<i>Salmonella typhimurium</i> Persists within Macrophages in the Mesenteric Lymph Nodes of Chronically Infected <i>Nramp1</i> + <i>/</i> + Mice and Can Be Reactivated by IFNγ Neutralization (2004)

Host-adapted strains of Salmonella are capable of establishing a persistent infection in their host often in the absence of clinical disease. The mouse model of Salmonella infection has primarily been used as a model for the acute systemic disease. Therefore, the sites of long-term S. typhimurium persistence in the mouse are not known nor are the mechanisms of persistent infection clearly understood. Here, we show that S. typhimurium can persist for as long as 1 yr in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of 129sv Nramp1(+)(/)(+) (Slc11a1(+)(/)(+)) mice despite the presence of high levels of anti-S. typhimurium antibody. Tissues from 129sv mice colonized for 60 d contain numerous inflammatory foci and lesions with features resembling S. typhi granulomas. Tissues from mice infected for 365 d have very few organized inflammatory lesions, but the bacteria continue to persist within macrophages in the MLN and the animals generally remain disease-free. Finally, chronically infected mice treated with an interferon-gamma neutralizing antibody exhibited symptoms of acute systemic infection, with evidence of high levels of bacterial replication in most tissues and high levels of fecal shedding. Thus, interferon-gamma, which may affect the level of macrophage activation, plays an essential role in the control of the persistent S. typhimurium infection in mice.
All-fiber Spectral Filters based on LP01 - LP11 Mode Coupling and Applications in Wavelength Division Multiplexing and Dispersion Compensation (1996)

All-fiber spectral filters have the advantages of providing low coupling loss and being readily integrated into fiber-optic networks. Spectral filters made of single-mode identical or dissimilar core parallel fibers provide 3-dB spectral widths on the order of 1 to 10 nm. A spectral filter made of single-mode and dual-mode fibers and operating based on coupling of power between LP01 and LP11 modes is proposed for applications as narrowband demultiplexers and as broadband mode converters with spectral widths of fraction of 1 nm to few 10 nm, respectively. With appropriate choice of parameters, filters can be designed such that the LP01 mode of the single-mode fiber is phase matched with the LP11 mode of the dual-mode fiber at a desired wavelength. Thus, significant exchange of power between these two modes can occur. The coupled-mode theory of parallel dielectric waveguides is used to analyze the proposed filter. Transmission expressions are derived from the governing coupled-mode equations and evaluated numerically for example cases. Two cases corresponding to maximum power coupling at 1.33 mm and 1.55 mm wavelengths are examined. Design data and transmission characteristics versus wavelength for these two cases are presented. The influence of the distance between fiber cores on peak transmission wavelength, spectral width, and coupling length is investigated. The application of the proposed filter as mode converter, which is required in the implementation of dispersion compensation using LP11 mode, is elucidated.
Measuring Time Base Distortion in Analog-Memory Sampling Digitizers (2007)

High-frequency digital oscilloscopes are often prone to systematic errors in sampling time or time base distortion (TBD). This error greatly affects the quality of the acquisition of fast signals, but its systematic nature makes measurement and correction possible and greatly advantageous. Existing techniques for measuring TBD exhibit good performance with equivalent-time sampling digitizers, but they are not able to measure the distortion in real-time analog-memory systems - a technology of widespread use in modern gigasamples/second sampling scopes. This paper illustrates the correct measurement technique that was developed according to the hardware peculiarities of analog-memory sampling digitizers. The performance of the developed techniques are theoretically evaluated and practically demonstrated in the experimental characterization of an actual real-time analog-memory scope.
Roles of H2S in the Behavior of Engineering Alloys: A Review of Literature and Experience (1998)

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has long been associated with the cause of corrosion damage and sulfide stress cracking (SSC) in high strength steels and high hardness weldments used in oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and petrochemical/chemical processing. Other applications where sulfide species have produced environmental cracking include heavy water production, electric power, marine applications and many others where sulfate reducing bacteria can flourish and oftentimes produce substantial amounts of H2S. H2S has also been associated with internal blistering, hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) and stress oriented hydrogen induced cracking (SOHIC) of carbon steels used in refinery vessels in wet H2S service and pipelines containing sour (H2S-containing) fluids. In recent years, new stainless alloys have been implemented in lieu of conventional steels in many applications where H2S corrosion is particularly severe. These materials have been used along with chemical inhibitors to mitigate corrosion. These alloys, however, may in some cases also be susceptible to SSC, localized corrosion and anodic stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in sour environments. In this review, the behavior of carbon and low-alloy steels, stainless steels, and nickel alloys in sour environments is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the identification of the various types of H2S-related corrosion and environmental cracking that can occur, the origin and mechanisms, and the methods of control.
Development and testing of vortex generators for small horizontal axis wind turbines (1986)

An analytical and experimental study has been performed to develop and test vortex generators (VGs) for a small (32 ft diameter) horizontal axis wind turbine, the Carter Model 25. Arrays of VGs in a counterrotating arrangement were tested on the inboard half-span, outboard half-span, and on the entire blade. VG pairs had their centerlines spaced at a distance of 15% of blade chord, with a spanwise width of 10% of blade chord. Each VG had a length/height ratio of 4, with a height of between 0.5% and 1.0% of the blade chord. Tests were also made with roughness strips to determine whether VGs alleviated the sensitivity of some turbines to an accumulation of bugs and dirt on the leading edge. Field test data showed that VGs increased power output up to 20% at wind speeds above 10 m/s and only a small (<4%) performance penalty at lower speeds. The VGs on the outboard span of the blade were more effective than those on inner sections. For the case of full span coverage, the energy yearly output increased almost 6% at a site with a mean wind speed of 16 mph. The VGs did reduce the performance loss caused by leading edge roughness. An increase in blade pitch angle has an effect on the power curve similar to the addition of VGs. One use of VGs is therefore seen as being to alleviate the sensitivity of wind turbine rotors to leading edge roughness caused by bugs and dirt.
Antenna applications of superconductors (1991)

The applicability of superconductors to antennas is examined. Potential implementations that are examined are superdirective arrays; electrically small antennas; tuning and matching of these two; high-gain millimeter-wavelength arrays; and kinetic inductance slow wave structures for array phasers and travelling wave array feeds. It is thought that superdirective arrays and small antennas will not benefit directly, but their tuning/matching networks will undergo major improvements. Miniaturization of antennas will not be aided, but much higher gain millimeter-wave arrays will be realizable. Kinetic inductance slow-wave lines appear advantageous for improved array phasers and time delay, as well as for traveling-wave array feeds.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Syntheses and properties of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines (1969)

Five different routes for the preparation of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines have been investigated. A number of 2-, 3-, and 4-alkyl and -aryl substituted derivatives were prepared by two of these methods which involved modifications of Madelung- and Fischer-syntheses of indoles. The 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines are shown to undergo nitration, nitrosation, bromination, iodination, and reaction with Mannich bases predominantly at the 3-position although one example of nitration at the 2-position has also been found. Di-3-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridyl)methanes are formed by reaction with aldehydes, and treatment of 2-phenyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine with nitrosobenzene yields 2-phenyl-3-phenylimino-3H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine. A further example of a derivative of this isomeric 3H-system is 3-diazo-2-phenyl-3H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine which is formed from the corresponding amine by basification of the diazonium salt. 1-Substituted Grignard derivatives yield 3-iodo-compounds on treatment with hydrogen peroxide but only 1-acyl derivatives with acyl chlorides. Treatment of 2-phenyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine with chloroform and alkali caused ring-expansion to a 1,8-naphthyridine.A number of unexpected products have been isolated both in the syntheses of the 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and in their reactions with electrophiles. I.r., n.m.r., and mass spectra have been used to establish all structures.
Targeting malignant B‐cell lymphoma with a humanized anti‐CD22 scFv‐angiogenin immunoenzyme‡ (2005)

We report on the generation and functional characterization of a humanized immunoenzyme comprising a stable humanized single chain Fv (scFv) with grafted specificity of the anti-CD22 murine monoclonal antibody RFB4 and the human ribonuclease angiogenin (ANG). The fusion protein produced from transiently transfected mammalian Chinese hamster ovary cells could easily be purified to homogeneity, retained full ribonucleolytic activity, and efficiently killed CD22(+) tumour cells with an IC(50) of 56 nmol/l. In contrast, incubation of tumour cells with either ANG or scFv alone did not result in any cytotoxicity. Potent receptor-mediated killing of target cells, expected lack of extracellular toxicity, predictable low immunogenic potential, and ease of production, suggest that this novel immunoenzyme has potential for the immunotherapy of CD22(+) malignancies.
Internal Variability and Regional Climate Trends in an Observational Large Ensemble (2018)

Recent observed climate trends result from a combination of external radiative forcing and internally generated variability. To better contextualize these trends and forecast future ones, it is necessary to properly model the spatiotemporal properties of the internal variability. Here, a statistical model is developed for terrestrial temperature and precipitation, and global sea level pressure, based upon monthly gridded observational datasets that span 1921–2014. The model is used to generate a synthetic ensemble, each member of which has a unique sequence of internal variability but with statistical properties similar to the observational record. This synthetic ensemble is combined with estimates of the externally forced response from climate models to produce an observational large ensemble (OBS-LE). The 1000 members of the OBS-LE display considerable diversity in their 50-yr regional climate trends, indicative of the importance of internal variability on multidecadal time scales. For example, unforced atmospheric circulation trends associated with the northern annular mode can induce winter temperature trends over Eurasia that are comparable in magnitude to the forced trend over the past 50 years. Similarly, the contribution of internal variability to winter precipitation trends is large across most of the globe, leading to substantial regional uncertainties in the amplitude and, in some cases, the sign of the 50-yr trend. The OBS-LE provides a real-world counterpart to initial-condition model ensembles. The approach could be expanded to using paleo-proxy data to simulate longer-term variability.
A smart calendar application for mobile environments (2007)

Traditional e-calendar applications limit their usage in simple operations such as scheduling appointments, storing and managing contacts and reminding their users of significant facts that they have entered by themselves. A nice graphical user interface is responsible for displaying the calendaring information to the user either on demand or proactively using sound or text alerting mechanisms. More intelligent applications have advanced features such as peer coordination for the scheduling of a meeting but they have not found wide acceptance in the market due to their complexity and computationally intensive operations. However, there is still no application taking advantage of the ever increasing digital and networking convergence happening in our days. In this paper, we envisage the design and implementation of a Smart Calendar that goes beyond the state of the art because it can act proactively and on behalf of the user. Its purpose is three-fold: a) organize the existing time schedule of a user according to his busy/free time slots, b) propose interesting events or actions that he may undertake during a time period and c) guide him to accomplish his obligations in a timely manner.
Calculation of the electromagnetic parameters of a switched reluctance motor using an improved FEM-BIEM-application to different models for the torque calculation (1997)

This paper expands on a hybrid numerical method coupling the finite element method (FEM) and boundary integral equation method (BIEM), developed to calculate magnetic fields in a switched reluctance motor (SRM). This hybrid approach is a solution to the issues stemming from the small size and odd shape of the SRM airgap, where meshing an FEM grid is difficult. In the past, the stator and rotor FEM domains kept their actual shapes, which resulted in problems with the definition of the unit outward normal vector n/spl I.oarr/ at the corner points of the SRM poles. Therefore, the normal derivative of the magnetic vector potential, i.e., the tangential component of the flux density, was undefined at these points. In this paper, a new approach with new definitions of the stator and rotor FEM domains is presented. The new concept defines the SRM airgap as a ring in which circular boundaries permit the correct definition of the normal derivative quantities and exploit the natural Neumann condition. The electromagnetic parameters of a 7.5 kW SRM prototype machine were calculated using this new approach. They compare favorably with test data. Phase magnetization characteristics also have good precision and smoothness. These electromagnetic parameters were then used to assess and compare two different SRM models for the calculation of the torque on the motor shaft, the linear trapezoidal model and the nonlinear model. The comparison between the measured torque and the torque as calculated with the two different models shows that the more simple trapezoidal model should be satisfactory in many cases and could, in particular, be used in automated SRM designs.
The STT3a Subunit Isoform of the Arabidopsis Oligosaccharyltransferase Controls Adaptive Responses to Salt/Osmotic Stress (2003)

Arabidopsis stt3a-1 and stt3a-2 mutations cause NaCl/osmotic sensitivity that is characterized by reduced cell division in the root meristem. Sequence comparison of the STT3a gene identified a yeast ortholog, STT3, which encodes an essential subunit of the oligosaccharyltransferase complex that is involved in protein N-glycosylation. NaCl induces the unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and cell cycle arrest in root tip cells of stt3a seedlings, as determined by expression profiling of ER stress-responsive chaperone (BiP-GUS) and cell division (CycB1;1-GUS) genes, respectively. Together, these results indicate that plant salt stress adaptation involves ER stress signal regulation of cell cycle progression. Interestingly, a mutation (stt3b-1) in another Arabidopsis STT3 isogene (STT3b) does not cause NaCl sensitivity. However, the stt3a-1 stt3b-1 double mutation is gametophytic lethal. Apparently, STT3a and STT3b have overlapping and essential functions in plant growth and developmental processes, but the pivotal and specific protein glycosylation that is a necessary for recovery from the unfolded protein response and for cell cycle progression during salt/osmotic stress recovery is associated uniquely with the function of the STT3a isoform.
Two semi-automatic elutriators for extracting nematodes and certain fungi from soil. (1976)

Two efficient, semi-automatic elutriators for assaying soil samples for nematodes are described. The first apparatus is a four-unit elutriator which combines conventional extraction methods with the following major features: automatic mixing of 500- to 1,500-cm(3) soil samples with water (+/- air); "turbinate" sample splitters from which fractions of 1/15 or greater are passed onto 26- or 38-microm sieves for collection of larvae and adult nematodes; the capacity for collecting roots, intact egg masses, and cysts on 250-425-microm sieves; and a variable speed motorized sieve-shaker. Nematodes, after being collected on 38-microm sieves, are separated from debris by centrifugation or by Baermann trays. Secondary features include: air cylinders, solenoid valves, and time clock for automatic dumping residual soil and water; relay-controlled coarse spray nozzles activated for 5 sec every 30 sec for washing nematodes through 250-425-mum sieves; adjustable rates of water amt air flow, and tinting. The second type of elutriator operates on similar principles but costs less to construct. It requires somewhat more operator participation; sieve spraying is carried out by the operator, anti elutriators are dumped manually. Both elutriators also show promise for monitoring populations of certain other soil microorganisms.
Characterization and Isolation Techniques in Silicon on Insulator Technology Microprocessor Designs (2000)

Abstract This paper discusses the challenges involved in testing microprocessors incorporating silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology and assesses new characterizations tools, such as scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM), focused ion beam (FIB) analysis, and AFM electrical probing, that show promise when used to examine SOI device anomalies and failure modes.
Enteric bacterial proteases in inflammatory bowel disease- pathophysiology and clinical implications (2013)

Numerous reports have identified a dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiota in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), yet the mechanism(s) in which this complex microbial community initiates or perpetuates inflammation remains unclear. The purpose of this review is to present evidence for one such mechanism that implicates enteric microbial derived proteases in the pathogenesis of IBD. We highlight and discuss studies demonstrating that proteases and protease receptors are abundant in the digestive system. Additionally, we investigate studies demonstrating an association between increased luminal protease activity and activation of protease receptors, ultimately resulting in increased intestinal permeability and exacerbation of colitis in animal models as well as in human IBD. Proteases are essential for the normal functioning of bacteria and in some cases can serve as virulence factors for pathogenic bacteria. Although not classified as traditional virulence factors, proteases originating from commensal enteric bacteria also have a potential association with intestinal inflammation via increased enteric permeability. Reports of increased protease activity in stools from IBD patients support a possible mechanism for a dysbiotic enteric microbiota in IBD. A better understanding of these pathways and characterization of the enteric bacteria involved, their proteases, and protease receptors may pave the way for new therapeutic approaches for these diseases.