gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Real-time Monitoring of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Ablation of <em>In Vitro</em> Canine Livers Using Harmonic Motion Imaging for Focused Ultrasound (HMIFU) (2015)

Harmonic Motion Imaging for Focused Ultrasound (HMIFU) is a technique that can perform and monitor high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation. An oscillatory motion is generated at the focus of a 93-element and 4.5 MHz center frequency HIFU transducer by applying a 25 Hz amplitude-modulated signal using a function generator. A 64-element and 2.5 MHz imaging transducer with 68kPa peak pressure is confocally placed at the center of the HIFU transducer to acquire the radio-frequency (RF) channel data. In this protocol, real-time monitoring of thermal ablation using HIFU with an acoustic power of 7 W on canine livers in vitro is described. HIFU treatment is applied on the tissue during 2 min and the ablated region is imaged in real-time using diverging or plane wave imaging up to 1,000 frames/second. The matrix of RF channel data is multiplied by a sparse matrix for image reconstruction. The reconstructed field of view is of 90° for diverging wave and 20 mm for plane wave imaging and the data are sampled at 80 MHz. The reconstruction is performed on a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) in order to image in real-time at a 4.5 display frame rate. 1-D normalized cross-correlation of the reconstructed RF data is used to estimate axial displacements in the focal region. The magnitude of the peak-to-peak displacement at the focal depth decreases during the thermal ablation which denotes stiffening of the tissue due to the formation of a lesion. The displacement signal-to-noise ratio (SNRd) at the focal area for plane wave was 1.4 times higher than for diverging wave showing that plane wave imaging appears to produce better displacement maps quality for HMIFU than diverging wave imaging.
Erzeugung und enzymatische Amplifikation hochgradig funktionalisierter DNA‐Doppelstränge (2004)

Bis zu acht Modifikationen konnten in einen DNA-Heteroduplex eingebaut werden (siehe Bild). Dies gelang durch Verwendung verschiedener Sätze von 2′-Desoxynucleotid-Derivaten durch DNA-Polymerase-vermittelte Primer-Verlängerung. Alle vier natürlichen Nucleobasen in jedem Strang wurden durch basenmodifizierte Analoga ersetzt. PCR-Bedingungen für eine direkte Amplifikation voll funktionalisierter DNA-Doppelstränge werden beschrieben.
Side effects of antimotion sickness drugs. (1984)

The possible influence on operational proficiency of the side effects of the anti-motion sickness drugs was investigated using a computerized pursuit meter as the test device. The medications and doses tested were scopolamine (Hyoscine) 0.25 mg and 0.50 mg oral doses, promethazine (Phenergan) 25 mg oral and 25 mg I.M. doses. Combinations of promethazine 25 mg with 10 mg d-amphetamine (Dexadrine) oral were also used, as was a combination of promethazine 25 mg oral with promethazine 25 mg I.M. and 10 mg of oral d-amphetamine. The proficiency on the pursuit meter task was not significantly altered by 0.25 mg or 0.50 mg doses of scopolamine. The combination of promethazine 25 mg oral with 10 mg d-amphetamine did not produce a significant decrement of performance. When promethazine 25 mg was given as an oral or I.M. dose without amphetamine the decrement of performance was significant and was approximately equivalent to an alcohol blood level of 25-50 mg% (one-two drinks). When a combination of promethazine 25 mg oral plus promethazine 25 mg I.M. with 10 mg d-amphetamine was tested, the error scores were significantly lower than with the oral or I.M. dose of promethazine. This combination also produced an error score significantly higher than placebo level. Promethazine by the I.M. route was slowly absorbed and 6 of the 10 subjects reported drowsiness at 6 h post injection.
Wayfinding: people, signs, and architecture (1992)

This book brings together expertise on three of the elements that comprise wayfinding within the context of the built environment: architecture; graphics; and verbal human interaction. It is about everything one needs to know in order to design settings that will be user-friendly and that will work the way they should--at least as far as the all-important communications aspects are concerned. Readers will gain a better understanding of the wayfinding difficulties people have and why they have them; they will also discover what wayfinding is and how the process works through detailed examination of the architectural, graphic, aural, and tactile components involved in wayfinding design. The book is organized in six parts: (1) The issue; (2) Principles of wayfinding; (3) Principles of wayfinding design; (4) Architectural components of wayfinding design; (5) Graphic components of wayfinding design; and (6) Audible and tactile components of wayfinding design.
Organ‐Specific Autoimmunity: A 1986 Overview (1986)

The normally functioning immune system is subject to intricate networks of regulatory mechanisms: it is therefore not surprising to find that autoimmune diseases present a complex pathogenic picture in which the relative contributions of various factors probably determine the precise nature and course of disease. This is particularly evident in the effector mechanisms of organ-specific autoimmunity which are described in this chapter. These ultimately give rise to the disease symptoms, and can be directly cytotoxic, or may either stimulate or block functional activity or growth of the target cells. Their various contributions to human diseases are becoming more firmly established, as in Type I diabetes, or are only now being described, as in the case of EC-Ab in protracted diarrhea of infancy and as evidenced by the growing lists of receptor-stimulating or -blocking antibodies. The nature and precise location of relevant autoantigens is also coming under closer scrutiny. The answers to the question of why these diseases arise in the first place remain more elusive. However, it is again likely that a variety of factors can contribute. The attractive possibility of a role for idiotypic interactions is gaining ground, particularly within the context of antibodies to hormones and their receptors. Another potential mechanism which we believe may be of central importance, particularly in the development of organ-specific destructive autoimmunity, and which we have discussed here in detail, is the aberrant expression of HLA Class II molecules by target cells. Whether this is actually an initiating factor is presently not known, but its potential for promoting pathogenesis both early and late in the process is clear. Furthermore, the complex nature of the regulation of epithelial Class II expression may help to explain the heterogeneity of features and course of disease in different patients with the same underlying pathology. All these advances in our basic understanding of the disease processes should ultimately lead to more effective and specific means of therapeutic intervention.
Passive Gas-Liquid Separation Using Hydrophobic Porous Polymer Membranes: A Study on the Effect of Operating Pressure on Membrane Area Requirement (2012)

The use of hydrophobic porous polymer membranes to vent unwanted gas bubbles from liquid streams is becoming increasingly more common in portable applications such as direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) and micro-fluidic cooling of electronic circuits. In order for these portable systems to keep up with the ever increasing demand of the mobile user, it is essential that auxiliary components, like gas-liquid separators (GLS), continue to decrease in weight and size. While there has been significant progress made in the field of membrane-based gas-liquid separation, the ability to miniaturize such devices has not been thoroughly addressed in the available literature. Thus, it was the purpose of this work to shed light on the scope of GLS miniaturization by examining how the amount porous membrane required to completely separate gas bubbles from a liquid stream varies with operating pressure. Two membrane characterization experiments were also employed to determine the permeability, k, and liquid entry pressure (LEP) of the membrane, which provided satisfying results. These parameters were then implemented into a mathematical model for predicting the theoretical membrane area required for a specified two-phase flow, and the results were compared to experimental values. It was shown that the drastically different surface properties of the wetted materials within the GLS device, namely polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and acrylic, caused the actual membrane area requirement to be higher than the theoretical predictions by a constant amount. By analyzing the individual effects of gas and liquid flow, it was also shown that the membrane area requirement increased significantly when the liquid velocity exceeded an amount necessary to cause the flow regime to transition from wedging/slug flow to wavy/semi-annular flow.
Reduction of Clostridium Difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus contamination of environmental surfaces after an intervention to improve cleaning methods (2007)

Abstract Background Contaminated environmental surfaces may play an important role in transmission of some healthcare-associated pathogens. In this study, we assessed the adequacy of cleaning practices in rooms of patients with Clostridium difficile -associated diarrhea (CDAD) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization or infection and examined whether an intervention would result in improved decontamination of surfaces. Methods During a 6-week period, we cultured commonly touched surfaces (i.e. bedrails, telephones, call buttons, door knobs, toilet seats, and bedside tables) in rooms of patients with CDAD and VRE colonization or infection before and after housekeeping cleaning, and again after disinfection with 10% bleach performed by the research staff. After the housekeeping staff received education and feedback, additional cultures were collected before and after housekeeping cleaning during a 10-week follow-up period. Results Of the 17 rooms of patients with VRE colonization or infection, 16 (94%) had one or more positive environmental cultures before cleaning versus 12 (71%) after housekeeping cleaning (p = 0.125), whereas none had positive cultures after bleach disinfection by the research staff (p < 0.001). Of the 9 rooms of patients with CDAD, 100% had positive cultures prior to cleaning versus 7 (78%) after housekeeping cleaning (p = 0.50), whereas only 1 (11%) had positive cultures after bleach disinfection by research staff (p = 0.031). After an educational intervention, rates of environmental contamination after housekeeping cleaning were significantly reduced. Conclusion Our findings provide additional evidence that simple educational interventions directed at housekeeping staff can result in improved decontamination of environmental surfaces. Such interventions should include efforts to monitor cleaning and disinfection practices and provide feedback to the housekeeping staff.
Pathways of ethanol production from sucrose by a mutant thermophilic Bacillus in continuous culture (1993)

A mutant (strain LLD-15) of Bacillus stearothermophilus strain LLD-R, that lacks l-lactate dehydrogenase activity was studied in anaerobic single-stage continuous culture using a defined minimal medium for its capacity to produce ethanol from sucrose at 70 °C. Cultures were stable at neutral pH, dilution rates below 0·25 h−1 and sucrose concentrations below 15 g l−1, producing mainly ethanol, CO2, formate and acetate plus a little succinate. The data obtained were used to estimate the maintenance energy coefficient at 70 °C and showed that the relative fluxes through the pyruvate-formate lyase (PFL) pathway and an anaerobic pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) pathway were about equal, though the later predominates at low dilution rates. At higher dilution rates or at acid pH, l-lactate became the major anaerobic product due to takeover by wild-type revertants. Reversion occurred only above a critical specific sucrose consumption rate of 4·2 g sucrose h−1 (g cells)−1 at pH 7, at which point pyruvate production was also seen. This can be attributed to saturation of the PFL pathway and PDH pathways by increasing glycolytic flux and consequent accumulation of intracellular pyruvate. The growth rate then declines, but a small population of revertant LLD-R cells would always be present in the bioreactor since the mutation in the l-lactate dehydrogenase gene has a significant reversion rate. These revertants have no selective advantage below the critical sugar uptake rate, but at higher rates they divert excess pyruvate to L-lactate, so their growth is unimpaired and they take over in the culture. At lower pH, growth restriction and reversion occur at low sucrose consumption rates due to difficulty in excreting acetic and formic acids against a pH gradient.
The (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium) colorimetric assay for the quantitation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin. (1993)

Using swine neutrophils as target cells, two MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium) colorimetric assay systems, one with and one without phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation were established for the quantitation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin. The MTT assays were optimized for the number of neutrophils, incubation time, and PMA concentration by a series of experiments. The optimal conditions were 25 x 10(4) cells/well incubated for four hours for the assay system without PMA stimulation, and 12.5 x 10(4) cells/well incubated for two hours for the assay system with PMA stimulation. One culture supernatant of a toxigenic Pasteurella multocida strain and five A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin preparations produced from three A. pleuropneumoniae strains were used to test assay reproducibility. Results showed both assays were reproducible with a coefficient of variation ranging from 7.8 to 18% for the assay system without PMA stimulation and from 10.7 to 18.2% for the assay system with PMA stimulation. The PMA-stimulated assay had 40 to 60-fold higher sensitivity than the nonstimulated MTT assay. The MTT assay also was applied to the measurement of neutralizing antibody titers against A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin.
Management of Severe Lower Abdominal or Inguinal Pain in High-Performance Athletes (2000)

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the pathophysiologic processes of severe lower-abdominal or inguinal pain in high-performance athletes. We evaluated 276 patients; 175 underwent pelvic floor repairs. Of the 157 athletes who had not undergone previous surgery, 124 (79%) participated at a professional or other highly competitive level, and 138 patients (88%) had adductor pain that accompanied the lower-abdominal or inguinal pain. More patients underwent related adductor releases during the later operative period in the series. Evaluation revealed 38 other abnormalities, including severe hip problems and malignancies. There were 152 athletes (97%) who returned to previous levels of performance. The syndrome was uncommon in women and the results were less predictable in nonathletes. A distinct syndrome of lower-abdominal/adductor pain in male athletes appears correctable by a procedure designed to strengthen the anterior pelvic floor. The location and pattern of pain and the operative success suggest the cause to be a combination of abdominal hyperextension and thigh hyperabduction, with the pivot point being the pubic symphysis. Diagnosis of "athletic pubalgia" and surgery should be limited to a select group of high-performance athletes. The consideration of other causes of groin pain in the patient is critical.
Coring unconsolidated sands in the Gulf of Mexico (1988)

Diamant Board Stratabit has achieved coring recovery rates in soft, unconsolidated formations as high as 99 percent. These rates are achieved using conventional coring equipment in a special configuration to minimize frictional resistance to the core as it passes through the bit and core catcher assembly and enters the inner barrel. This paper describes DBS's coring experience with its Maximum Core Protection System, which has been used at depths from 3000 ft to below 20,000 ft and in deviated holes up to 57 degrees. In the Gulf of Mexico, the system cored over 5800 ft from Matagorda Island to Charlotte Harbor, with an overall recovery rate of 93 percent. In most applications, the hole size dictates the core barrel and core size. Through 9 5/8-in. casing with an 8 1/2-in. by 4-in. core bit, the 6 3/4-in. by 4-in. by 30-ft conventional core barrel will be used with a Fibertube inner barrel to replace the steel inner barrel, allowing a full 4-in. core to be cut. In smaller hole sizes, other equipment with the Maximum Core Protection System will be used. With a top drive unit or long Kelly, a 45-ft or 60-ft barrel may be used. Many times anmore » unconsolidated formation will not support more than 30 ft of core, therefore 30-ft barrels are normally used.« less
Tumor suppressor and overgrowth suppressor genes of Drosophila melanogaster: developmental aspects (1994)

In Drosophila about 27 developmental genes have been identified which suppress tumorous growth and about as many genes are known to suppress overgrowth. Recessive lethal mutations in tumor suppressor genes block in one step the differentiation of specific target cells, leaving unaffected their capacity to divide in an autonomous, malignant and lethal fashion. The structural analysis of eight tumor suppressor genes predicts putative functions in differentiation events, such as cell-cell communication, protein transport and protein synthesis, signal transduction, sex determination splicing and cytokinesis. Their predicted products function as effectors of the differentiated state being vital components of cell junctions, the cytoskeleton, the protein synthetic apparatus, the splicing machinery and signal transduction. In contrast to the tumor suppressor genes, which are instrumental in the establishment and maintenance of the differentiated state, overgrowth suppressor genes seem to control cell-specific division rates while leaving unaffected the capacity of the cells to differentiate. The Drosophila tumor suppressor and overgrowth suppressor genes show clearly the mutual exclusion of the genetic programs controlling cell division and cell differentiation. Some of the genes exhibit homologies to mammalian genes. Their functional homology, however, is still an open question.
An alternative derivation of Katsevich's cone‐beam reconstruction formula (2003)

In this paper an alternative derivation of Katsevich's cone-beam image reconstruction algorithm is presented. The starting point is the classical Tuy's inversion formula. After (i) using the hidden symmetries of the intermediate functions, (ii) handling the redundant data by weighting them, (iii) changing the weighted average into an integral over the source trajectory parameter, and (iv) imposing an additional constraint on the weighting function, a filtered backprojection reconstruction formula from cone beam projections is derived. The following features are emphasized in the present paper: First, the nontangential condition in Tuy's original data sufficiency conditions has been relaxed. Second, a practical regularization scheme to handle the singularity is proposed. Third, the derivation in the cone beam case is in the same fashion as that in the fan-beam case. Our final cone-beam reconstruction formula is the same as the one discovered by Katsevich in his most recent paper. However, the data sufficiency conditions and the regularization scheme of singularities are different. A detailed comparison between these two methods is presented.
UH-60A Black Hawk engineering simulation program. Volume 1: Mathematical model (1981)

A nonlinear mathematical model of the UR-60A Black Hawk helicopter was developed. This mathematical model, which was based on the Sikorsky General Helicopter (Gen Hel) Flight Dynamics Simulation, provides NASA with an engineering simulation for performance and handling qualities evaluations. This mathematical model is total systems definition of the Black Hawk helicopter represented at a uniform level of sophistication considered necessary for handling qualities evaluations. The model is a total force, large angle representation in six rigid body degrees of freedom. Rotor blade flapping, lagging, and hub rotational degrees of freedom are also represented. In addition to the basic helicopter modules, supportive modules were defined for the landing interface, power unit, ground effects, and gust penetration. Information defining the cockpit environment relevant to pilot in the loop simulation is presented.
Lee-metric decoding of BCH and Reed–Solomon codes (2003)

A Lee-metric list-decoding algorithm for Reed–Solomon (RS) codes over GF( p) is presented. The algorithm is obtained by generalising the Guruswami–Sudan (Hamming metric) list-decoding algorithm for RS codes. The algorithm can be used to decode the Lee-metric BCH codes, and outperforms the known Lee-metric decoding algorithm for BCH codes.
A Critical Review on Chagas Disease Chemotherapy (2002)

In this "Critical Review" we made a historical introduction of drugs assayed against Chagas disease beginning in 1912 with the works of Mayer and Rocha Lima up to the experimental use of nitrofurazone. In the beginning of the 70s, nifurtimox and benznidazole were introduced for clinical treatment, but results showed a great variability and there is still a controversy about their use for chronic cases. After the introduction of these nitroheterocycles only a few compounds were assayed in chagasic patients. The great advances in vector control in the South Cone countries, and the demonstration of parasite in chronic patients indicated the urgency to discuss the etiologic treatment during this phase, reinforcing the need to find drugs with more efficacy and less toxicity. We also review potential targets in the parasite and present a survey about new classes of synthetic and natural compounds studied after 1992/1993, with which we intend to give to the reader a general view about experimental studies in the area of the chemotherapy of Chagas disease, complementing the previous papers of Brener (1979) and De Castro (1993).
Foaming of Anhydrous Methanol for Well Stimulation (1985)

ABSTRACT Use of foamed anhydrous methanol for stimulation of formations sensitive to water damage is a tested technology whose wider application is limited by the relatively high cost of the additive systems needed to obtain foams of a satisfactory quality and half-life. The additive cost has now been sharply reduced by the introduction of new foaming systems which comprise a mixture of fluorosurfactant and a foam extender. While the foam extenders by themselves do not produce stable foams in anhydrous methanol, they dramatically decrease the amount of fluorosurfactant needed to produce satisfactory anhydrous methanol foams. Several compounds have been found to perform well when used in conjunction with fluorosurfactants. Of these, nonionic surfactants based on oxyalkylated fatty alcohols and amines or polyethers containing ethylene and propylene oxide units seem to be the most efficient foam extenders. The amount of fluorosurfactant needed to obtain satisfactory anhydrous methanol foams can be decreased by as much as two-thirds when 2% of these materials are added to the methanol solution. These results give a 50 to 60% decrease in the cost of the additive package without any decrease in the foam quality and half-life.