gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Neural Networks for Real-Time Traffic Signal Control (2006)

Real-time traffic signal control is an integral part of the urban traffic control system, and providing effective real-time traffic signal control for a large complex traffic network is an extremely challenging distributed control problem. This paper adopts the multiagent system approach to develop distributed unsupervised traffic responsive signal control models, where each agent in the system is a local traffic signal controller for one intersection in the traffic network. The first multiagent system is developed using hybrid computational intelligent techniques. Each agent employs a multistage online learning process to update and adapt its knowledge base and decision-making mechanism. The second multiagent system is developed by integrating the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation theorem in fuzzy neural networks (NN). The problem of real-time traffic signal control is especially challenging if the agents are used for an infinite horizon problem, where online learning has to take place continuously once the agent-based traffic signal controllers are implemented into the traffic network. A comprehensive simulation model of a section of the Central Business District of Singapore has been developed using PARAMICS microscopic simulation program. Simulation results show that the hybrid multiagent system provides significant improvement in traffic conditions when evaluated against an existing traffic signal control algorithm as well as the SPSA-NN-based multiagent system as the complexity of the simulation scenario increases. Using the hybrid NN-based multiagent system, the mean delay of each vehicle was reduced by 78% and the mean stoppage time, by 85% compared to the existing traffic signal control algorithm. The promising results demonstrate the efficacy of the hybrid NN-based multiagent system in solving large-scale traffic signal control problems in a distributed manner
Lung Image Database Consortium: Developing a Resource for the Medical Imaging Research Community (2004)

To stimulate the advancement of computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) research for lung nodules in thoracic computed tomography (CT), the National Cancer Institute launched a cooperative effort known as the Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC). The LIDC is composed of five academic institutions from across the United States that are working together to develop an image database that will serve as an international research resource for the development, training, and evaluation of CAD methods in the detection of lung nodules on CT scans. Prior to the collection of CT images and associated patient data, the LIDC has been engaged in a consensus process to identify, address, and resolve a host of challenging technical and clinical issues to provide a solid foundation for a scientifically robust database. These issues include the establishment of (a) a governing mission statement, (b) criteria to determine whether a CT scan is eligible for inclusion in the database, (c) an appropriate definition of the term qualifying nodule, (d) an appropriate definition of “truth” requirements, (e) a process model through which the database will be populated, and (f) a statistical framework to guide the application of assessment methods by users of the database. Through a consensus process in which careful planning and proper consideration of fundamental issues have been emphasized, the LIDC database is expected to provide a powerful resource for the medical imaging research community. This article is intended to share with the community the breadth and depth of these key issues. © RSNA, 2004
Mild Electrical Stimulation at 0.1-ms Pulse Width Induces p53 Protein Phosphorylation and G2 Arrest in Human Epithelial Cells (2013)

Exogenous low-intensity electrical stimulation has been used for treatment of various intractable diseases despite the dearth of information on the molecular underpinnings of its effects. Our work and that of others have demonstrated that applied electrical stimulation at physiological strength or mild electrical stimulation (MES) activates the PI3K-Akt pathway, but whether MES activates other molecules remains unknown. Considering that MES is a form of physiological stress, we hypothesized that it can activate the tumor suppressor p53, which is a key modulator of the cell cycle and apoptosis in response to cell stresses. The potential response of p53 to an applied electrical current of low intensity has not been investigated. Here, we show that p53 was transiently phosphorylated at Ser-15 in epithelial cells treated with an imperceptible voltage (1 V/cm) and a 0.1-ms pulse width. MES-induced p53 phosphorylation was inhibited by pretreatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor and transfection of dominant-negative mutants of p38, MKK3b, and MKK6b, implying the involvement of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, MES treatment enhanced p53 transcriptional function and increased the expression of p53 target genes p21, BAX, PUMA, NOXA, and IRF9. Importantly, MES treatment triggered G2 cell cycle arrest, but not cell apoptosis. MES treatment had no effect on the cell cycle in HCT116 p53(-/-) cells, suggesting a dependence on p53. These findings identify some molecular targets of electrical stimulation and incorporate the p38-p53 signaling pathway among the transduction pathways that MES affects.
A novel method for rapid detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen in sputum and its application in adult respiratory tract infections (2008)

A highly sensitive immunochromatography test kit, ODK0501, was developed using specific polyclonal antibodies against the C-polysaccharide moiety of Streptococcus pneumoniae for the rapid detection of S. pneumoniae antigen in sputum samples. The clinical utility of ODK0501 for this detection was evaluated prospectively in 52 adult patients with respiratory infections and compared with that of a urinary antigen detection kit. Overall, 21 patients (40.4 %) showed positive results with ODK0501, compared with 16 patients (30.8 %) using the urinary antigen detection kit, and S. pneumoniae was cultured from 18 patients. ODK0501 and the urinary antigen detection kit exhibited a sensitivity of 94.4 and 55.6 % (P<0.01), respectively, and a specificity of 88.2 and 82.4 %, respectively. Eleven of thirteen patients with conflicting results between the two test kits exhibited consistent results for sputum cultures. Moreover, eight out of nine patients positive for ODK0501 and negative for the urinary antigen detection kit were S. pneumoniae culture-positive, including five who exhibited phagocytosis, indicating S. pneumoniae as a causative agent of infection, in Gram staining of sputum samples. These results suggest that the ODK0501 direct sputum detection kit is more clinically useful than the urinary antigen detection kit in adult patients with respiratory infections.
Comparative evaluation of protective coatings and focused ion beam chemical vapor deposition processes (2002)

Dual-beam instruments incorporate both an electron column and an ion column into a single instrument, and therefore allow the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to be either ion- or electron-beam assisted. Damage has been observed in the surface layers of specimens in which ion-beam assisted CVD processes have been employed. Cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to compare (100) Si substrates on which Pt metal lines have been grown by ion- and electron-beam assisted CVD processes. The micrographs show that a 30 keV Ga+ ion beam, a 5 keV ion beam, and a 3 keV electron beam imparts 50 nm, 13 nm, and 3 nm of damage to the Si substrate, respectively. In addition, Au–Pd and Cr sputter coatings were evaluated for the prevention of ion-beam induced surface damage. TEM cross-section specimens revealed that Cr sputter coatings &gt; 30 nm in thickness are sufficient to protect the (100) Si surface from the 30 keV Ga+ ion beam while Au–Pd sputter coatings up to 70 nm in thickness may be discontinuous and, therefore, will not protect surface regions from ion beam damage.
Pricing Framework for a Differential Services Internet (1999)

Abstract A number of recent proposals and proposed standards have addressed adding differential services to the Internet. Although their details and tentative implementations differ, most are recommending what essentially amounts to multiple levels of best‐effort service. In this paper, we survey recent differential services and pricing proposals and introduce a pricing framework for a differentiated‐services network that focuses on simplicity, flexibility, and ease of implementation. In particular, our model can be used in the current heterogeneous Internet without major restructuring. We focus on flat‐rate, per‐time and usage‐based pricing, where users can change their service level on an ad‐hoc basis. We also show that a sender‐pays model with back‐charging is simple to implement and can be effective even in complicated transactions, such as multicasting. Our approach is different from many previous proposals and consciously integrates differential services and pricing with implementation as the immediate goal. Finally, we outline future areas of research including ISP support for pricing, the dynamics of service quality and pricing in a differentiated Internet, and the latest trends and directions of QoS deployment and standardization.
Human monocytic and granulocytic ehrlichioses. Discovery and diagnosis of emerging tick-borne infections and the critical role of the pathologist. (1997)

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis are emerging tick-borne infections in the United States. The clinical presentations of these two distinct, potentially life-threatening infections are fever, headache, myalgia, and other diagnostically nonspecific symptoms. Physician awareness is lacking and appropriate diagnostic tests are still not widely available. Because few documented cases have been autopsied, the pathology of human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis is incompletely described. In human monocytic ehrlichiosis, bone marrow and hepatic granulomas and multiorgan perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrates have been observed. In human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, opportunistic fungal and viral infections have been important findings. To expedite an analysis of the pathology and pathogenesis of the human ehrlichioses, it is proposed that a Registry of Pathology of Human Ehrlichioses be established.
Illuminant Chromaticity from Image Sequences (2013)

We estimate illuminant chromaticity from temporal sequences, for scenes illuminated by either one or two dominant illuminants. While there are many methods for illuminant estimation from a single image, few works so far have focused on videos, and even fewer on multiple light sources. Our aim is to leverage information provided by the temporal acquisition, where either the objects or the camera or the light source are/is in motion in order to estimate illuminant color without the need for user interaction or using strong assumptions and heuristics. We introduce a simple physically-based formulation based on the assumption that the incident light chromaticity is constant over a short space-time domain. We show that a deterministic approach is not sufficient for accurate and robust estimation: however, a probabilistic formulation makes it possible to implicitly integrate away hidden factors that have been ignored by the physical model. Experimental results are reported on a dataset of natural video sequences and on the Gray Ball benchmark, indicating that we compare favorably with the state-of-the-art.
High-K Nanocomposites with Core-Shell Structured Nanoparticles for Decoupling Applications (2005)

High-k materials with manufacturing processes capable of achieving continually high density for decoupling applications are believed to be one of the key issues to enable the extendibility of Cu/Low-k technology. Filled polymer nanocomposites are potentially one of such high-k materials because this approach can combine the low-temperature (<250degC) processibility of the organic polymer matrix with the desirable dielectric properties of the filler. In previous studies, we reported the development of a novel low-loss high-k composite by using self-passivated aluminum as the filler for polymer nanocomposites. A self-passivated aluminum particle has a core-shell structure. The core is metallic aluminum, and the shell is insulating aluminum oxide. Such core-shell structured aluminum particles give their composite a high dielectric constant but a low loss comparable with that of neat epoxy. Polymer/aluminum nanocomposites have the combined characteristics of polymer-ceramic (due to the ceramic shell) and polymer-metal (due to the metal core) systems. Because filler surface treatment is a vital factor to optimize the electrical and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites, to further enhance the dielectric properties and processibility of polymer/aluminum composites, an aluminum particle surface modification was performed with an epoxide-functionalized silane coupling agent. The nanoaluminum particle surface chemistry before/after coupling agent treatment was studied using a Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) was used to characterize the thermal degradation behavior of untreated/treated aluminum particles. From FTIR and TGA studies, it was found that the silane coupling agent was successfully grafted on the aluminum particle surface. Rheology properties of polymer/aluminum composites were studied with a stress rheometer. It was found that the coupling agent treatment could significantly reduce the viscosity of the aluminum composites, which indicates coupling agent treatment can improve the processibility of aluminum composites at high filler loading levels. Dielectric properties of the coupling agent treated aluminum composites were studied as well. At the same filler loading level, composites with coupling agent-treated aluminum particles showed a higher dielectric constant. The frequency responses and temperature coefficient of capacitance of the aluminum composites were studied with a dielectric analyzer (DEA). The microstructures of aluminum composites were studied with a scanning electron microscope (SEM)
Synergistic Effect of EDTA and HEDP on the Crystal Growth, Polymorphism, and Morphology of CaCO<sub>3</sub> (2015)

Polymorphic compositions of CaCO3 synthesized under the influence of a blended system of EDTA and HEDP between 60 and 230 °C using a controlled precipitation technique from CaCl2 solution using Na2CO3 has been investigated. The phases and structures of the samples were characterized by Raman, FTIR, and powder XRD techniques. The morphological studies were carried out using SEM, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and TEM. Usually, at higher temperatures vaterite and aragonite are transformed into stable calcite. Here, we report the stabilization of metastable aragonite and vaterite in the presence of a blended system of EDTA and HEDP at 200 and 230 °C. We also report a novel morphology, roselike structure for vaterite at 230 °C, which is not reported earlier.
Technology and system issues for the WDM-based fiber loop architecture (1989)

A fiber-optic subscriber loop architecture employing multichannel wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) techniques is discussed. The architecture, which is called the passive photonic loop (PPL), eliminates the need for outside-plant multiplexing and routing electronics while maintaining complete compatibility with broadband ISDN. An experimental demonstration of the PPL employing 32-channel WDM and a combination of distributed-feedback (DFB) laser and light emitting diode (LED) transmitters is described. A family of alternative PPL implementations is identified. Tradeoffs between these alternatives are explored, and related hardware issues such as wavelength alignment and WDM-component temperature sensitivity are discussed. An economic analysis comparing the PPL with the use of dedicated fiber between the central office and customer premises is presented. The analysis predicts that the PPL can achieve a cost advantage for at least 80 to 90% of the subscribers served in today's network, given DFB-laser and dense-WDM-component cost reductions of approximately one order of magnitude from today's unit-quantity prices.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Rapid detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae by an assay based on PCR and probe hybridization in a nonradioactive microwell plate format (1997)

A new molecular assay, based on a rapid DNA extraction protocol, PCR, and hybridization to a specific probe in a nonradioactive microwell plate format was used to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae in bronchoalveolar fluid specimens. The sensitivity of the assay was determined to be 10 to 100 organisms with M. pneumoniae reference strains. Specificity testing with different bacteria capable of producing pneumonia showed no cross-reactivity. In a prospective study, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids obtained from patients with pneumonia were investigated with the PCR assay and compared to culture. Twelve positive samples were detected with the PCR assay. Seven of them were subsequently confirmed by culture. All patients with positive PCR results seroconverted. Application of the PCR assay described may lead to safe and early diagnosis of M. pneumoniae in patients with pneumonia.
Influence of Race or Ethnicity on Pharmacokinetics of Drugs (1997)

Review of the current literature on racial differences in pharmacokinetics of drugs supports the premise that only pharmacokinetic processes which are biologically or biochemically mediated have the potential to exhibit differences between racial or ethnic groups. Thus, the pharmacokinetic factors which can be expected to potentially exhibit racial differences are (1) bioavailability for drugs which undergo gut or hepatic first-pass metabolism, (2) protein binding, (3) volume of distribution, (4) hepatic metabolism, and (5) renal tubular secretion. Absorption (unless active), filtration at the glomerulus, and passive tubular reabsorption would not be expected to exhibit racial differences. As is evident from this review, there are relatively few drugs for which there is information on ethnic or racial differences in pharmacokinetics. Thus it is often necessary to try to predict whether such differences might exist. Taking into consideration the above factors and evaluation of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the drug, it should be possible to identify those drugs most likely to exhibit differences in their pharmacokinetics. For example, a drug which is eliminated entirely by the kidneys through filtration and reabsorption and is not highly bound to plasma proteins (or is bound to albumin) is highly unlikely to exhibit racial differences in its kinetics. Conversely, a drug which undergoes significant gut and/or hepatic first-pass metabolism and is highly bound to AGP is much more likely to exhibit kinetic differences between racial groups. A discussion of the impact of racial differences in kinetics on drug response or racial differences in drug efficacy, toxicity, or pharmacodynamics (concentration-response relationship) is beyond the scope of this review. However, a number of the papers described above also evaluated differences in pharmacodynamics or response. Among the comparisons of Chinese and Caucasians, these include the papers on propranolol, morphine, nifedipine, triazolam, diazepam, and omeprazole. For those studies comparing differences in blacks and Caucasians, responses or pharmacodynamics were also determined in the studies of propranolol, trimazosin, and methylprednisolone. Interested readers are also referred to the review by Wood and a more recent review by Kitler for additional discussion of ethnic/racial differences in pharmacodynamics/drug response.
Loofah sponges as reservoirs and vehicles in the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacterial species to human skin (1994)

Loofah sponges are natural products used as exfoliative beauty aids. As a consequence of tracing a case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis to a contaminated loofah sponge, we assessed the role of loofah sponges in supporting the growth of a wide variety of bacterial species. Our data show growth enhancement of sterile loofah fragments for numerous gram-negative (Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and Klebsiella) and gram-positive (Enterococcus and group B Streptococcus) species of human and environmental origin. Furthermore, hydrated new, unused loofah sponges undergo a shift in bacterial flora from sparse colonies of Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus epidermidis to a predominantly gram-negative flora. The growth-promoting potential of loofah sponges (and other exfoliatives) can be further augmented by desquamated epithelial cells entrapped in the loofah fibrous matrix. Therefore, as loofah sponges (and other exfoliatives) can serve as a reservoir and a vehicle for the transmission of potentially pathogenic species to the human skin, we recommend their decontamination with hypochlorite (10%) bleach at regular intervals.
Crack Initiation Criteria in EBC under Thermal Stress (2019)

For design of multi-layered environmental barrier coatings (EBCs), it is essential to assure mechanical reliability against interface crack initiation and propagation induced by thermal stress owing to a misfit of the coefficients of thermal expansion between the coating layers and SiC/SiC substrate. We conducted finite element method (FEM) analyses to evaluate energy release rate (ERR) for interface cracks and performed experiment to obtain interface fracture toughness to assess mechanical reliability of an EBC with a function of thermal barrier (T/EBC; SiC/SiAlON/mullite/Yb-silicate gradient composition layer/Yb2SiO5 with porous segment structure) on an SiC/SiC substrate under thermal stress due to cooling in fabrication process. Our FEM analysis revealed that a thinner SiAlON layer and a thicker mullite layer are most suitable to reduce ERRs for crack initiation at the SiC/SiAlON, SiAlON/mullite and mullite/Yb2Si2O7 interfaces. Interface fracture tests of the T/EBC with layer thicknesses within the proposed range exhibited fracture at the SiC/SiAlON and SiAlON/mullite interfaces. We also estimated the approximate fracture toughness for the SiC/SiAlON and SiAlON/mullite interfaces and lower limit of fracture toughness for the mullite/Yb2Si2O7 interface. Comparison between ERR and fracture toughness indicates that the fabricated T/EBC possesses sufficient mechanical reliability against interface crack initiation and propagation.