gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Blind maximum likelihood sequence detection over fast fading channels (1996)

Maximum a posteriori (MAP) sequence detection for channels with intersymbol interference (ISI) has previously required knowledge of the channel sampled impulse response (SIR). Generally the SIR coefficients are determined via least mean square (LMS) or recursive least squares (RLS) estimation algorithms. For many unguided media channels such as mobile radio and high frequency radio which exhibit a time-varying SIR, these estimators must be adaptive. Adaptive estimators often fail to track adequately and are a major source of detector deterioration. A novel, blind maximum likelihood sequence detection (BMLSD) formulation without the need for external channel SIR estimation is proposed. The BMLSD performance is evaluated via simulation over several fast Rayleigh fading channels, which indicates substantial improvement compared to the conventional MLSD.
Multiple Light Source Estimation in a Single Image (2013)

Abstract Many high‐level image processing tasks require an estimate of the positions, directions and relative intensities of the light sources that illuminated the depicted scene. In image‐based rendering, augmented reality and computer vision, such tasks include matching image contents based on illumination, inserting rendered synthetic objects into a natural image, intrinsic images, shape from shading and image relighting. Yet, accurate and robust illumination estimation, particularly from a single image, is a highly ill‐posed problem. In this paper, we present a new method to estimate the illumination in a single image as a combination of achromatic lights with their 3D directions and relative intensities. In contrast to previous methods, we base our azimuth angle estimation on curve fitting and recursive refinement of the number of light sources. Similarly, we present a novel surface normal approximation using an osculating arc for the estimation of zenith angles. By means of a new data set of ground‐truth data and images, we demonstrate that our approach produces more robust and accurate results, and show its versatility through novel applications such as image compositing and analysis.
Muscarinic Signaling in the Cochlea: Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Effects on Efferent Feedback and Afferent Excitability (2010)

Acetylcholine is the major neurotransmitter of the olivocochlear efferent system, which provides feedback to cochlear hair cells and sensory neurons. To study the role of cochlear muscarinic receptors, we studied receptor localization with immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR and measured olivocochlear function, cochlear responses, and histopathology in mice with targeted deletion of each of the five receptor subtypes. M2, M4, and M5 were detected in microdissected immature (postnatal days 10-13) inner hair cells and spiral ganglion cells but not outer hair cells. In the adult (6 weeks), the same transcripts were found in microdissected organ of Corti and spiral ganglion samples. M2 protein was found, by immunohistochemistry, in olivocochlear fibers in both outer and inner hair cell areas. M3 mRNA was amplified only from whole cochleas, and M1 message was never seen in wild-type ears. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were unaffected by loss of Gq-coupled receptors (M1, M3, or M5), as were shock-evoked olivocochlear effects and vulnerability to acoustic injury. In contrast, loss of Gi-coupled receptors (M2 and/or M4) decreased neural responses without affecting DPOAEs (at low frequencies). This phenotype and the expression pattern are consistent with excitatory muscarinic signaling in cochlear sensory neurons. At high frequencies, both ABRs and DPOAEs were attenuated by loss of M2 and/or M4, and the vulnerability to acoustic injury was dramatically decreased. This aspect of the phenotype and the expression pattern are consistent with a presynaptic role for muscarinic autoreceptors in decreasing ACh release from olivocochlear terminals during high-level acoustic stimulation and suggest that muscarinic antagonists could enhance the resistance of the inner ear to noise-induced hearing loss.
Impact of 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine and epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate for induction of human regulatory T cells (2014)

The epigenetic regulation of transcription factor genes is critical for T-cell lineage specification. A specific methylation pattern within a conserved region of the lineage specifying transcription factor gene FOXP3, the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR), is restricted to regulatory T (Treg) cells and is required for stable expression of FOXP3 and suppressive function. We analysed the impact of hypomethylating agents 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate on human CD4(+) CD25(-) T cells for generating demethylation within FOXP3-TSDR and inducing functional Treg cells. Gene expression, including lineage-specifying transcription factors of the major T-cell lineages and their leading cytokines, functional properties and global transcriptome changes were analysed. The FOXP3-TSDR methylation pattern was determined by using deep amplicon bisulphite sequencing. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced FOXP3-TSDR hypomethylation and expression of the Treg-cell-specific genes FOXP3 and LRRC32. Proliferation of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine-treated cells was reduced, but the cells did not show suppressive function. Hypomethylation was not restricted to FOXP3-TSDR and expression of master transcription factors and leading cytokines of T helper type 1 and type 17 cells were induced. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate induced global DNA hypomethylation to a lesser extent than 5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine, but no relevant hypomethylation within FOXP3-TSDR or expression of Treg-cell-specific genes. Neither of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitors induced fully functional human Treg cells. 5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine-treated cells resembled Treg cells, but they did not suppress proliferation of responder cells, which is an essential capability to be used for Treg cell transfer therapy. Using a recently developed targeted demethylation technology might be a more promising approach for the generation of functional Treg cells.
The Nebraska Experience in Biocontainment Patient Care (2010)

Public health nurses in local health departments may receive the first call regarding a potential case of avian influenza, monkeypox, or viral hemorrhagic fever. One public health approach to containing these dangerous infectious disease outbreaks is the use of specialized isolation units. Early access to a biocontainment patient care unit (BPCU) for isolation during a bioterrorism or public health emergency event along with appropriate use of epidemiological and therapeutic interventions in the community may dramatically impact the size and severity of a disease outbreak (Smith et al., 2006). As emerging infectious agents, pandemics, resistant organisms, and terrorism continue to threaten human life; health care and emergency care providers must be empowered to work with nurses and other professionals in public health to plan for the consequences. This article describes the evolution of Nebraska's BPCU strategy for public health preparedness in the face of a biological threat. Design priorities, unit management, challenges, and lessons learned will be shared to guide others in establishing similar infrastructure.
Blood Lactate Levels Cutoff and Mortality Prediction in Sepsis—Time for a Reappraisal? a Retrospective Cohort Study (2016)

The objective of this study was to identify the initial value of blood lactate that best correlates with 28-day mortality in resuscitated septic shock patients. This was a retrospective cohort study including 443 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with severe sepsis or septic shock from the emergency department. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to obtain the best cutoff value for initial blood lactate associated with 28-day mortality. Patients were then dichotomized according to the chosen lactate cutoff, and sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Baseline blood lactate level more than 2.5 mmol/L showed the largest area under the ROC curve to predict 28-day mortality (ROC area, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.79), with sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 67.4%, 61.7%, and 94.2%, respectively. Mortality at 28 days was 16.9% (31/183) in patients with initial lactate more than 2.5 mmol/L and 5.8% (15/260) in patients with initial lactate at most 2.5 mmol/L (relative risk, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.63-5.28; P < 0.001). Initial blood lactate levels more than 2.5 mmol/L (hazard ratio [HR], 2.86; 95% CI, 1.53-5.33; P = 0.001) and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score at ICU admission (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09-1.27; P < 0.001) were associated with increased 28-day mortality in the adjusted Cox regression. In this retrospective cohort study, a lactate level more than 2.5 mmol/L was the best threshold to predict 28-day mortality among severe sepsis and septic shock patients. Further prospective studies should address the impact on morbidity and mortality of this threshold as a trigger to resuscitation in this population of critically ill patients.
Effect of Molsidomine on Thrombus Formation in Stenosed Coronary Arteries of Dogs and Pigs (1989)

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of molsidomine in stenosed coronary arteries of anesthetized dogs and pigs. Stenosis and vascular damage resulted in cyclical reductions of coronary blood flow due to periodic acute platelet thrombus formation in the narrowed lumen. Cyclical flow reductions were quantitated by their frequency and severity. In adult dogs with critical stenosis, molsidomine reduced significantly both the frequency and severity of the cyclical reductions in the first hour following injection, whereas both parameters remained constant in control dogs. Aspirin also significantly reduced the frequency and severity of flow reductions. In young dogs, cyclical flow reductions developed only when epinephrine was added to the combination of critical stenosis plus endothelial damage. In this model, molsidomine reduced the severity of flow reductions but not their frequency. Aspirin reduced both parameters. In young pigs, cyclical flow reductions were induced by subcritical stenosis. Molsidomine reduced the severity but not significantly the frequency of the cyclical flow reductions. A higher dose of molsidomine abolished them in three additional pigs; this effect was reversed by a subsequent injection of hemoglobin. It is concluded that molsidomine, like aspirin, possesses antithrombotic activity. This effect may entirely or in part, be due to the release of nitric oxide.
Adaptive Transcutaneous Power Transfer to Implantable Devices: A State of the Art Review (2016)

Wireless energy transfer is a broad research area that has recently become applicable to implantable medical devices. Wireless powering of and communication with implanted devices is possible through wireless transcutaneous energy transfer. However, designing wireless transcutaneous systems is complicated due to the variability of the environment. The focus of this review is on strategies to sense and adapt to environmental variations in wireless transcutaneous systems. Adaptive systems provide the ability to maintain performance in the face of both unpredictability (variation from expected parameters) and variability (changes over time). Current strategies in adaptive (or tunable) systems include sensing relevant metrics to evaluate the function of the system in its environment and adjusting control parameters according to sensed values through the use of tunable components. Some challenges of applying adaptive designs to implantable devices are challenges common to all implantable devices, including size and power reduction on the implant, efficiency of power transfer and safety related to energy absorption in tissue. Challenges specifically associated with adaptation include choosing relevant and accessible parameters to sense and adjust, minimizing the tuning time and complexity of control, utilizing feedback from the implanted device and coordinating adaptation at the transmitter and receiver.
Pulsed radio frequency plasma deposition of a-SiNx:H alloys: Film properties, growth mechanism, and applications (2006)

In this work, we propose a fabrication process of a-SiNx:H alloys by pulsing the radio frequency (rf) signal in a low pressure plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system. The characteristics of the films can be controlled simply by adjusting the duty cycle of the pulsed rf power, while keeping the N2∕SiH4 gas mixture constant. Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis in the ultraviolet-visible-near infrared and far infrared ranges, atomic force microscopy, and elastic recoil detection reveal strong variations in the optical properties (1.88⩽n⩽2.75, 10−4⩽k⩽5×10−2 at 550nm), optical gap (4.01eV⩽Eg⩽1.95eV), microstructural characteristics (1.3nm⩽surfaceroughness⩽8.3nm), and chemical composition (0.47⩽x⩽1.35) of the coatings as a function of duty cycle. This behavior is interpreted in terms of radical concentration changes in the gas phase, as well as variation in the average ion bombardment energy at the film surface, leading to modifications of both chemical and physical mechanisms that sustain the film growth. Using the control of duty cycle, we fabricated two types of a-SiNx:H-based thin film devices, namely, (i) a model Fabry-Perot optical filter deposited on plastic substrate and (ii) a superlattice structure displaying a photoluminescence signal four times higher than the reference single layer. These two examples of applications point out the main advantages of this pulsed rf PECVD process, in particular, low deposition temperature, reproducibility, versatility, and ease of use.
MOSFET loss evaluation for a low-power StandAlone photovoltaic-LED system (2015)

This paper presents a performance evaluation and comparison of state-of-the-art low voltage Si MOSFETs for a stand-alone photovoltaic-LED Light to Light (LtL) system. The complete system is formed by two cascaded converters that will be optimized for a determined solar irradiation and LED illumination profiles. The comparison is performed based on dynamic characterization and evaluation of the devices energy loss at different current levels.
Beyond the balloon: excimer coronary laser atherectomy used alone or in combination with rotational atherectomy in the treatment of chronic total occlusions, non-crossable and non-expansible coronary lesions (2013)

ELCA provides safe and effective adjunctive therapy in contemporary PCI to treat lesions associated with balloon failure due to an inability either to cross the lesion or to expand a balloon sufficiently to permit stenting. ELCA was successful in the majority of these selected cases when used independently with further effectiveness achieved when combined with RA or after RA failure.
Continuous spectrophotometric assay for plant pectin methyl esterase (1986)

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTContinuous spectrophotometric assay for plant pectin methyl esteraseAnn E. Hagerman and Paul J. AustinCite this: J. Agric. Food Chem. 1986, 34, 3, 440–444Publication Date (Print):May 1, 1986Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 May 1986https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf00069a015https://doi.org/10.1021/jf00069a015research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views2745Altmetric-Citations326LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts
Using memory-mapped network interfaces to improve the performance of distributed shared memory (2002)

Shared memory is widely believed to provide an easier programming model than message passing for expressing parallel algorithms. Distributed Shared Memory (DSM) systems provide the illusion of shared memory on top of standard message passing hardware at very low implementation cost, but provide acceptable performance for only a limited class of applications. We argue that the principal sources of overhead overhead in DSM systems can be dramatically reduced with modest amounts of hardware support (substantially less than is required for hardware cache coherence). Specifically, we present and evaluate a family of protocols designed to exploit hardware support for a global, but non-coherent, physical address space. We consider systems both with and without remote cache fills, fine-grain access faults, "doubled" writes to local and remote memory, and merging write buffers. We also consider varying levels of latency and bandwidth. We evaluate our protocols using execution driven simulation, comparing them to each other and to a state-of-the-art protocol for traditional message-based networks. For the programs in our application suite, protocols taking advantage of the global address space improve performance by a minimum of 50% and sometimes by as much as an order of magnitude.
A model-based approach for the analysis of the calibration of probability judgments (2011)

Abstract The calibration of probability or confidence judgments concerns the association between the judgments and some estimate of the correct probabilities of events. Researchers rely on estimates using relative frequencies computed by aggregating data over observations. We show that this approach creates conceptual problems, and may result in the confounding of explanatory variables or unstable estimates. To circumvent these problems we propose using probability estimates obtained from statistical models—specifically mixed models for binary data—in the analysis of calibration. We illustrate this methodology by re-analyzing data from a published study and comparing the results from this approach to those based on relative frequencies. The model-based estimates avoid problems with confounding variables and provided more precise estimates, resulting in better inferences.
Vasodilators in the treatment of acute heart failure: what we know, what we don’t (2008)

Although we have recently witnessed substantial progress in management and outcome of patients with chronic heart failure, acute heart failure (AHF) management and outcome have not changed over almost a generation. Vasodilators are one of the cornerstones of AHF management; however, to a large extent, none of those currently used has been examined by large, placebo-controlled, non-hemodynamic monitored, prospective randomized studies powered to assess the effects on outcomes, in addition to symptoms. In this article, we will discuss the role of vasodilators in AHF trying to point out which are the potentially best indications to their administration and which are the pitfalls which may be associated with their use. Unfortunately, most of this discussion is only partially evidence based due to lack of appropriate clinical trials. In general, we believe that vasodilators should be administered early to AHF patients with normal or high blood pressure (BP) at presentation. They should not be administered to patients with low BP since they may cause hypotension and hypoperfusion of vital organs, leading to renal and/or myocardial damage which may further worsen patients' outcome. It is not clear whether vasodilators have a role in either patients with borderline BP at presentation (i.e., low-normal) or beyond the first 1-2 days from presentation. Given the limitations of the currently available clinical trial data, we cannot recommend any specific agent as first line therapy, although nitrates in different formulations are still the most widely used in clinical practice.
Limit analysis of ductile composites based on homogenization theory (2003)

A numerical method is presented in this paper for determining the load–bearing capacities of ductile composites such as metal matrix composites based on homogenization theory and the kinematic limit theorem. A representative volume element is chosen to reflect the microstructure of a periodic composite. By directly introducing the von Mises yield criterion into the kinematic limit theorem, a nonlinear optimization formulation can be obtained to calculate the ultimate strength of a ductile composite. The finite–element modelling of the kinematic limit analysis is formulated as a nonlinear mathematical programming problem with equality–constraint conditions, which can be solved by a direct iterative algorithm. An interface failure model based on the microscopic fluctuation displacements is proposed to account for the effects of interfaces on the failure of composites. The present method can effectively reveal the effects of the microstructure on the macroscopic properties and micromechanical failure mechanisms of composites. Finally, some numerical examples illustrate the validity of the present method.
Vitamin E Is Essential for Seed Longevity and for Preventing Lipid Peroxidation during Germination (2004)

Tocopherols (vitamin E) are lipophilic antioxidants synthesized by all plants and are particularly abundant in seeds. Despite cloning of the complete suite of tocopherol biosynthetic enzymes and successful engineering of the tocopherol content and composition of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and seeds, the functions of tocopherols in plants have remained elusive. To address this issue, we have isolated and characterized two VITAMIN E loci (VTE1 and VTE2) in Arabidopsis that when mutated result in tocopherol deficiency in all tissues. vte1 disrupts tocopherol cyclase activity and accumulates a redox-active biosynthetic intermediate, whereas vte2 disrupts homogentisate phytyl transferase activity and does not accumulate pathway intermediates. Mutations at either locus cause significantly reduced seed longevity compared with the wild type, indicating a critical role for tocopherols in maintaining viability during quiescence. However, only vte2 mutants exhibited severe seedling growth defects during germination and contained levels of lipid hydroperoxides and hydroxy fatty acids elevated up to 4- and 100-fold, respectively, relative to the wild type. These data demonstrate that a primary function of tocopherols in plants is to limit nonenzymatic lipid oxidation during seed storage, germination, and early seedling development. The vte mutant phenotypes also explain the strong selection for retention of tocopherol biosynthesis during the evolution of seed-bearing plants.