gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Reduced signal of locus ceruleus in depression in quantitative neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging (2007)

We used a neuromelanin-magnetic resonance imaging technique to investigate abnormalities in the locus ceruleus in depression. We examined 20 patients with major depression and 43 age-matched controls using a 3 T scanner with a neuromelanin-sensitive sequence. The signal intensities of the areas corresponding to the rostral, middle, and caudal portions of the locus ceruleus were measured, and the contrast ratio relative to the adjacent pontine tegmentum was calculated. In controls, the contrast ratio in the middle portion was higher than in the rostral and caudal areas. In patients, contrast ratios in the rostral and middle portions were significantly decreased in comparison with controls, suggesting dysfunction of the ascending noradrenergic system. Neuromelanin-magnetic resonance imaging can be used to visualize abnormalities in the locus ceruleus of depressive patients.
Adherence of Candida species to newly polymerized and water-stored denture base polymers. (2002)

Yeasts seem to adhere less to newly polymerized than water-stored denture base polymer. This may be due to the release of residual monomer from the newly polymerized material.
Instrumentation and methodology for revision of European flicker threshold (2004)

The European standard CENELEC EN 50160 establishes that the severity of flicker caused by voltage fluctuations, under normal operating conditions, will not exceed the long term severity Plt=1 during 95% of the time in one week. This threshold was originally established considering that a lamp with tungsten filament of 60 W and 240 V, produces a flicker perceivable by 50% of the population when it is supplied with a voltage that verifies Plt=1. This work makes an analysis of this threshold, establishing as hypothesis the fact that incandescent lamps have little use nowadays, specially in industrial and commercial environments. In order to make a revision of the current thresholds, we have proposed an electro-optical equipment and the associated methodology. The device simulates the behavior of the eye plus human brain set, avoiding large clinical experiments. A methodology is also proposed in order to characterize the perceptibility threshold of a generic lamp. Finally, the proposed instrumentation and methodology is applied to two types of lamps: incandescent and fluorescent.
Deactivation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Medium by Copper Oxide-Containing Filters (2007)

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can be transmitted through breast-feeding and through contaminated blood donations. Copper has potent biocidal properties and has been found to inactivate HIV-1 infectivity. The objective of this study was to determine the capacity of copper-based filters to inactivate HIV-1 in culture media. Medium spiked with high titers of HIV-1 was exposed to copper oxide powder or copper oxide-impregnated fibers or passed through copper-based filters, and the infectious viral titers before and after treatment were determined. Cell-free and cell-associated HIV-1 infectivity was inhibited when exposed to copper oxide in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity at the active antiviral copper concentrations. Similar dose-dependent inhibition occurred when HIV-1 was exposed to copper-impregnated fibers. Filtration of HIV-1 through filters containing the copper powder or copper-impregnated fibers resulted in viral deactivation of all 12 wild-type or drug-resistant laboratory or clinical, macrophage-tropic and T-cell-tropic, clade A, B, or C, HIV-1 isolates tested. Viral inactivation was not strain specific. Thus, a novel means to inactivate HIV-1 in medium has been developed. This inexpensive methodology may significantly reduce HIV-1 transmission from "mother to child" and/or through blood donations if proven to be effective in breast milk or plasma and safe for use. The successful application of this technology may impact HIV-1 transmission, especially in developing countries where HIV-1 is rampant.
Tannins and related compounds. LXI. Isolation and structures of novel bi- and triflavanoids from the leaves of Cassia fistula L. (1988)

Together with (-)-epiafzelechin (1) and its 3-O-glucoside (4), (-)-epicatechin (2) and procyanidin B-2 (3), seven new biflavanoids (5-7, 9-12) and two triflavanoids (8, 13) have been isolated from the leaves of Cassia fistula L.(Leguminosae). On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence, the structures of 5-8 were established to be proanthocyanidins each having (-)-epiafzelechin unit(s) in the molecule, while 9-13 were shown to consist of (2S)-7, 4'-dihydroxyflavan and (-)-epiafzelechin units.
Analysis of local optima in predictive control for energy efficient buildings (2011)

We study the problem of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in a typical commercial building. We propose a model predictive control (MPC) approach which minimizes energy use while satisfying occupant comfort and actuator constraints by using predictive knowledge of weather and occupancy. The objective of this paper is to investigate the phenomenon of local optima. In particular, the product between air temperatures and mass flow rates arising from energy balance equations leads to a non-convex MPC problem. Fast computational techniques for solving non-convex optimization can only provide certificates of local optimality. In the first part of the paper, models and MPC control design for two common HVAC configurations are introduced. In the second part, simulation results exhibiting local optima for both configurations are presented. We perform a detailed analysis on the different types of local optima and their physical interpretation. Our ultimate goal is to use this analysis to derive branch and bound rules which allow a nonlinear programming solver to converge to globally optimal control sequences.
Occurrence and Genesis of Amphiboles in Hornblende Gabbro in Guwoonri, Hwacheon and in Otanri, Chuncheon (2009)

Jurassic hornblende gabbo intrusives are distributed in Otanri, Chuncheon, and in Guwoonri, Hwacheon located in the northern part of Gyeonggi Massif. The intrusives composed mainly of amphiboles and plagioclase can be divided into two distinct rocks depending on the shape of amphiboles: (i) subspherical amphibole gabbro which has subspherical amphibole phenocryst as a major mafic phase(Sag); (ii) prismatic amphibole gabbro which has prismatic amphiboles as a principal mafic mineral(Pag). Subspherical amphiboles in Sag have higher Cr content and higher Mg() ratio relative to the prismatic amphiboles in Pag. This is indicative of conversion of pyroxene into amphibole with pyroxene pseudomorph. Oxygen isotopic results of plagioclase and amphibole separated from the hornblende gabbro suggest that theses minerals have experienced oxygen isotopic exchange with relatively heavy-fluid for a long period, and magmatic fluid has been involved in the formation of subspherical amphiboles. Amphiboles in hornblende gabbro are composed of distinct species of pargasite, magnesiohornblende, actinolite, which formed at different stages.
Drawing graphs to convey proximity (1997)

Graph drawings are increasingly finding their way into user interfaces to convey a variety of relationships. This article deals with rendering graphs to show proximity between vertices by making their configuration (screen) distances reflect their distances in the graph. An arrangement method is described that achieves good drawings at speeds suitable for user interaction on a desktop computer. The method is “incremental” in that it first arranges a small portion of the graph, then arranges successively larger fractions of the graph until a suitable arrangement for the entirety is achieved. The incremental approach not only offers speed improvements, but avoids many of the suboptimal solutions reached with other iterative approaches. Algorithms are described in pseudocode, and results are presented.
5.6 <i>μ</i>m quantum cascade lasers based on a two-material active region composition with a room temperature wall-plug efficiency exceeding 28% (2016)

5.6 μm quantum cascade lasers based on the Al0.78In0.22As/In0.69Ga0.31As active region composition with the measured pulsed room temperature wall plug efficiency of 28.3% are reported. Injection efficiency for the upper laser level of 75% was measured for the design by testing devices with variable cavity lengths. A threshold current density of 1.7 kA/cm2 and a slope efficiency of 4.9 W/A were measured for uncoated 3.15 mm × 9 μm lasers. Threshold current density and slope efficiency dependence on temperature in the range from 288 K to 348 K for the structure can be described by characteristic temperatures T0 ∼ 140 K and T1 ∼ 710 K, respectively.
Synaptic Overflow of Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens Arises from Neuronal Activity in the Ventral Tegmental Area (2009)

Dopamine concentrations fluctuate on a subsecond time scale in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of awake rats. These transients occur in resting animals, are more frequent following administration of drugs of abuse, and become time-locked to cues predicting reward. Despite their importance in various behaviors, the origin of these signals has not been demonstrated. Here we show that dopamine transients are evoked by neural activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a brain region containing dopaminergic cell bodies. The frequency of naturally occurring dopamine transients in a resting, awake animal was reduced by a local VTA microinfusion of either lidocaine or (+/-)2-amino,5-phosphopentanoic acid (AP-5), an NMDA receptor antagonist that attenuates phasic firing. When dopamine increases were pharmacologically evoked by noncontingent administration of cocaine, intra-VTA infusion of lidocaine or AP-5 significantly diminished this effect. Dopamine transients acquired in response to a cue during intracranial self-stimulation were also attenuated by intra-VTA microinfusion of AP-5, and this was accompanied by an increase in latency to lever press. The results from these three distinct experiments directly demonstrate, for the first time, how neuronal firing of dopamine neurons originating in the VTA translates into synaptic overflow in a key terminal region, the NAc shell.
Object impedance control for cooperative manipulation: theory and experimental results (2003)

The authors present the dynamic control module of the Dynamic and Strategic Control of Cooperative Manipulators project at Stanford University's Aerospace Robotics Laboratory. First, the cooperative manipulation problem is analyzed from a systems perspective, and the desirable features of a control system for cooperative manipulation are discussed. Next, a control policy is developed that enforces a controlled impedance not of the individual arm endpoints, but of the manipulated object itself. A parallel implementation for a multiprocessor system is presented. The controller fully compensates for the system dynamics and directly controls the object internal forces. Most importantly, it presents a simple, powerful, intuitive interface to the strategic controller. Experimental results for a dual two-link arm robotic system are presented to verify the controllers performance, for both free-motion slews and environmental contact.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Regulation of virus induced inflammation by type I interferons (2015)

Type I interferons (IFNs) are the first line of defence against viral pathogens. They play a crucial role in activating antiviral responses to limit viral replication and viral spread. Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe lung inflammation and this has been associated with polymorphisms in several innate immune response genes, including many that control the IFN system. In order to elucidate the importance of type I IFNs in regulating local inflammatory responses in the lung, their role in pulmonary immune responses to RSV infection was assessed in mice lacking the type I IFN receptor (Ifnar1-/-). Levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were markedly reduced during RSV infection. Similar results were obtained when in Ifnar1-/- mice were challenged with non-infectious innate stimuli such as Toll-like receptor agonists. It was further shown that the administration of recombinant IFN-α together with innate stimuli was sufficient to potentiate the proinflammatory cytokine production. Exploiting a reporter mouse strain expressing GFP under the control of the Ifna6 promoter, alveolar macrophages (AMs) were identified as the predominant source of type I IFNs during RSV infection. This type I IFN production solely relied on signalling through the cytosolic RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), as AMs lacking MAVS, the adaptor downstream of RLRs, were unable to produce type I IFNs. Furthermore, Mavs-/- mice showed compromised production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and as a consequence had an increased viral burden and RSV-induced pathology. Interestingly, Mavs-/- mice had a marked deficiency in the production of monocyte chemoattractants and recruitment of inflammatory monocytes (infMo). The administration of recombinant CCL2 during RSV infection permitted monocyte recruitment into the lung of Mavs-/- mice and mediated an unexpected antiviral activity and reduced disease severity. This work emphasises a role for type I IFNs in antiviral immune responses by driving early proinflammatory cytokine responses and recruitment of antiviral monocytes, a yet underappreciated novel cell type responsible for dampening RSV-disease burden in vivo.
Seismic Retrofit of RC Columns with Continuous Carbon Fiber Jackets (1997)

The development, the validation, and the implementation of a new seismic retrofit system for reinforced concrete columns are described. The column jacketing system consists of continuous carbon fiber prepreg tows wound in an automated fashion onto existing circular or rectangular concrete columns, with variable jacket thickness along the column height based on experimentally validated design models. Jacket design criteria for various seismic column failure modes are described and detailed examples show their application to retrofits of columns with circular and rectangular column geometry, different reinforcement ratios, and detailing. The carbon jacket designs are validated through large-scale bridge column model tests and are found to be just as effective as steel shell jacketing in providing desired inelastic design deformation capacity levels. Furthermore, it is shown that the retrofit criteria and guidelines are also applicable to other advanced composite jacketing systems with appropriate considerations for differences in mechanical properties of the materials system, installation and curing technology, as well as jacket discontinuities.
The <i>Cf-4</i> and <i>Cf-9</i> Resistance Genes Against <i>Cladosporium fulvum</i> are Conserved in Wild Tomato Species (2005)

The Cf-4 and Cf-9 genes originate from the wild tomato species Lycopersicon hirsutum and L. pimpinellifolium and confer resistance to strains of the leaf mold fungus Cladosporium fulvum that secrete the Avr4 and Avr9 elicitor proteins, respectively. Homologs of Cf-4 and Cf-9 (Hcr9s) are located in several clusters and evolve mainly through sequence exchange between homologs. To study the evolution of Cf genes, we set out to identify functional Hcr9s that mediate recognition of Avr4 and Avr9 (designated Hcr9-Avr4s and Hcr9-Avr9s) in all wild tomato species. Plants responsive to the Avr4 and Avr9 elicitor proteins were identified throughout the genus Lycopersicon. Open reading frames of Hcr9s from Avr4- and Avr9-responsive tomato plants were polymerase chain reaction-amplified. Several Hcr9s that mediate Avr4 or Avr9 recognition were identified in diverged tomato species by agroinfiltration assays. These Hcr9-Avr4s and Hcr9-Avr9s are highly identical to Cf-4 and Cf-9, respectively. Therefore, we conclude that both Cf-4 and Cf-9 predate Lycopersicon speciation. These results further suggest that C. fulvum is an ancient pathogen of the genus Lycopersicon, in which Cf-4 and Cf-9 have been maintained by selection pressure imposed by C. fulvum.
Some rheological properties of highly crosslinked polysiloxanes (1975)

Abstract Seven crosslinked polydimethylsiloxanes were prepared from carboxyl‐terminated siloxane oligomers of different average lengths and a trifunctional imine. The 10‐sec torsion modulus was measured as a function of temperature, and compression‐deflection data were obtained on swollen specimens. Polymer‐solvent interaction parameters were calculated from equilibrium swelling ratios and modulus data. The plots of modulus versus temperature show two distinct transitions for all the crosslinked polymers. The low‐temperature transition corresponds to the siloxane chains, whereas the high‐temperature transition should be attributed to the portion of the network chain derived from the crosslinking agent and the organic part of the oligosiloxane. On shortening the siloxane blocks, both transitions shift to successively higher temperatures and higher modulus levels. However, the siloxane transition temperature shows only a limited rise even when the average block length becomes quite small. The low siloxane polymers seem to exhibit two swelling maxima, each corresponding to one of the constituents. The studied materials from nonrandom copolymeric structures typical of block polymers. Such microphase systems can probably be expected in crosslinked polymers whenever the crosslinking agent participates significantly in the network chains and its compatibility with the flexible chains species is poor.
Usage-based visualization of web localities (2001)

The World-Wide Web has evolved into an extremely huge but &quot;messy&quot; information space which is hard to overview. Sitemaps as alternative views of Web sites have been proposed to assist the user in navigating the hyperspace. As Web localities are subject to frequent change and redesign, it is especially important to provide a system for automatic generation of such sitemaps from various data sources instead of creating them manually. In this paper we present a new usage-based navigation sitemap approach. We elaborate the necessary concepts of data extraction and path visualizations. Finally, we demonstrate the results of our implementation using the yFiles.
Increased augmentation index and systolic stress in type 1 diabetes mellitus (2000)

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness, both of which may contribute to the excess cardiovascular mortality in such patients. Arterial stiffening increases pulse wave velocity and wave reflection, which augments central systolic pressure and stress. Using the non-invasive technique of pulse wave analysis, we investigated aortic augmentation and central pressure in 35 patients with type 1 diabetes and 35 matched controls. Peripheral pulse waveforms were recorded from the radial artery. Central aortic waveforms were then generated, and augmentation index (AIx), ascending aortic pressure and tension time index (TTI), a measure of systolic load, were calculated. Peripheral and central blood pressure did not differ between the two groups. AIx was significantly elevated in the diabetic patients compared with controls (7.1+/-1.6% vs. 0.4+/-2.0%; p=0.01), as was the TTI (2307+/-51 mmHg x s x min(-1) vs. 2010+/-61 mmHg. s x min(-1); p<0.001). Estimated pulse wave velocity was also higher in the diabetic group. Type 1 diabetes is associated with an increased AIx and rate of wave travel, indicating enhanced wave reflection and increased systemic arterial stiffness, and elevation of the TTI. Such haemodynamic effects may contribute to the increased left ventricular mass and risk of cardiovascular disease associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Privacy Failures in Encrypted Messaging Services: Apple iMessage and Beyond (2014)

Instant messaging services are quickly becoming the most dominant form of communication among consumers around the world. Apple iMessage, for example, handles over 2 billion message each day, while WhatsApp claims 16 billion messages from 400 million international users. To protect user privacy, these services typically implement end-to-end and transport layer encryption, which are meant to make eavesdropping infeasible even for the service providers themselves. In this paper, however, we show that it is possible for an eavesdropper to learn information about user actions, the language of messages, and even the length of those messages with greater than 96% accuracy despite the use of state-of-the-art encryption technologies simply by observing the sizes of encrypted packet. While our evaluation focuses on Apple iMessage, the attacks are completely generic and we show how they can be applied to many popular messaging services, including WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram.
Lithium-mediated protection of hippocampal cells involves enhancement of DNA-PK–dependent repair in mice (2009)

Long-term neurological deficiencies resulting from hippocampal cytotoxicity induced by cranial irradiation (IR) present a challenge in the treatment of primary and metastatic brain cancers, especially in children. Previously, we showed that lithium protected hippocampal neurons from IR-induced apoptosis and improved neurocognitive function in treated mice. Here, we demonstrate accelerated repair of IR-induced chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs) in lithium-treated neurons. Lithium treatment not only increased IR-induced DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) threonine 2609 foci, a surrogate marker for activated nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair, but also enhanced double-strand DNA end-rejoining activity in hippocampal neurons. The increased NHEJ repair coincided with reduced numbers of IR-induced gamma-H2AX foci, well-characterized in situ markers of DSBs. These findings were confirmed in vivo in irradiated mice. Consistent with a role of NHEJ repair in lithium-mediated neuroprotection, attenuation of IR-induced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons by lithium was dramatically abrogated when DNA-PK function was abolished genetically in SCID mice or inhibited biochemically by the DNA-PK inhibitor IC86621. Importantly, none of these findings were evident in glioma cancer cells. These results support our hypothesis that lithium protects hippocampal neurons by promoting the NHEJ repair-mediated DNA repair pathway and warrant future investigation of lithium-mediated neuroprotection during cranial IR, especially in the pediatric population.
sputum from patients with lung cancer (2010)

Abstract Background: Cytologic examination of specimens obtained from the respiratory tract is a lung cancer diagnostic procedure with high specificity, but moderate sensitivity. The use of molecular biomarkers may enhance the sensitivity of cytologic examination in the detection of lung cancer. Methods: Complement factor H, a protein secreted by lung cancer cells, was quantified in a series of bronchoalveolar lavage supernatants from lung cancer patients and patients with non-malignant respiratory diseases. Albumin, total protein content, and hemoglobin were also analyzed. Results were validated in independent sets of bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum supernatants. Results: There was a significantly higher concentration of factor H in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from lung cancer patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the factor H test was 82% and 77%, respectively. These results were validated in an independent set of patients with nearly identical results. Furthermore, 70% and 45% of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from central and peripheral tumors, respectively, reported as cytologically negative were classified as positive using this marker. Finally, the test was evaluated in a series of sputum supernatants from lung cancer patients and controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the factor H test in this series was 80% and 88%, respectively.