gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Sensor, actuator, and loop validation (1995)

Economic pressures are dispersing machine intelligence away from centralized computers toward distributed Fieldbus devices. Simultaneously, the control concept is being extended to include other operational factors such as quality assurance, process data management, just-in-time maintenance, and plant safety and availability. As credible sensing and actuation are essential prerequisites for advanced control, validation of the sensor and actuator interface is necessary. As such subsystems are linked to a range of different overall plant systems. We must consider generic validation and its reporting to the "next level up". This article discusses validation features which are best embedded in local devices.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
A comparison of methods for the measurement of microbial activity on stone (1995)

There is a need for a simple, rapid method which can be used with a minimum of equipment to evaluate whether microbial populations may pose a potential risk to the integrity of stone incorporated into buildings and works of art. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride (INT) were compared for detection of microbial activity on stone, using both pure cultures of bacteria from stone and also natural stone samples. Both compounds could detect activity of bacteria and other microorganisms isolated from stone. INT-formazan was produced only by intact microorganisms whereas FDA was cleaved by extracellular enzymes as well. Use of FDA with stone samples was successful but INT required extended incubation times which gave little indication of in situ activity. A positive correlation was found between rapid cleavage of large amounts (> 15μg per gram stone) of FDA and production of INT-formazan after extended incubation periods. FDA was therefore found to be more appropriate as an indirect measure of metabolic activity of microbial populations on stone. The simplicity of the method makes it suitable for use by non-scientific personnel, with a minimum of scientific equipment, to identify stones at risk from active microbial populations.
Spoken Language Comprehension in Older Adults: Interactions between Sensory and Cognitive Change in Normal Aging (2001)

Adult aging is accompanied by changes in cognitive factors, such as a general slowing in perceptual and cognitive operations, a limitation in working memory capacity, and reduced efficiency of executive function in dividing attention. This article considers how these factors join with changes in hearing ability to affect how well older adults are able to comprehend speech and encode that understanding in memory for later use. Factors receiving special attention are negative effects of rapid speech rates and speech heard in background noise. Also examined are positive effects of linguistic context and effective use of speech prosody in speech comprehension and recall in older adults.
Phenytoin in cutaneous medicine: its uses, mechanisms and side effects. (2003)

Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin or Dilantin) is a highly effective and widely prescribed anticonvulsant agent used in the treatment of grand mal and psychomotor epilepsy. In dermatology, phenytoin has been used to treat ulcers, epidermolysis bullosa, and inflammatory conditions. Its mechanism appears to involve its ability to inhibit collagenase. Its topical use for the promotion of wound healing seems promising but requires further trials. The side effects of phenytoin continue to create significant morbidity. Common side effects include gingival hyperplasia, coarsening of the facies, and hirsutism. Rarer cutaneous side effects include drug-induced lupus, purple-hand syndrome, pigmentary alterations, and IgA bullous dermatosis. It can cause generalized cutaneous eruptions that include a maculopapular exanthem, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, generalized exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, vasculitis, and fixed-drug eruptions. Phenytoin is linked to a hypersensitivity syndrome manifested by fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy. Patients receiving phenytoin may develop pseudolymphoma or, rarely, malignant lymphoma and mycosis-fungoides-like lesions. Phenytoin can effect clotting function. Phenytoin can alter vitamin and mineral levels. Prenatal exposure to phenytoin may result in a spectrum of structural, developmental, and behavioral changes known as the fetal hydantoin syndrome. After 60 years of use, phenytoin uses and mechanisms of action have yet to be fully defined; the drug remains a useful tool and an important subject for additional research.
Antibody Response to <i>Escherichia Coli</i> Lipopolysaccharide and Type III Pneumococcal Polysaccharide by Congenitally Thymusless (Nude) Mice (1972)

Abstract The concept of thymus-dependency of immune responses arose from studies of neonatally thymectomized animals and thymectomized, irradiated, bone marrow-reconstituted adult animals. In addition to an impaired cellular response, these animals exhibit a depressed humoral response to some antigens, such as sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), T-2 bacteriophage and certain serum proteins, but produce a normal humoral response to other antigens, such as ferritin, Salmonella flagellar antigen and MS-2 bacteriophage (1). These results have led to a classification of antigens as either thymus-dependent or thymus-independent. There is some controversy as to whether the concept of a thymus-independent immune response which is based on the responses of thymectomized animals is valid. First, it is possible that the immune response to some antigens matures relatively early in ontogeny and appropriate thymus-derived antigen-reactive cells are seeded out from the thymus before its removal at birth. Second, it has been shown that some thymusderived cells can survive irradiation and that bone marrow preparations used in reconstitution may contain thymus-derived cells (2). Therefore, alleged thymus-independent antigens may merely require fewer thymus-derived cells to produce an immune response. Alternatively, thymus-independent antigens may be able to evoke an immune response by some mechanism which does not require the participation of thymus-derived cells.
Hysteresis Current Control for Multilevel Converter in Parallel-Form Switch-Linear Hybrid Envelope Tracking Power Supply (2018)

Parallel-form switch-linear hybrid (SLH) envelope tracking (ET) power supply is constituted by a linear amplifier and a switched-mode converter connected in parallel. The switched-mode converter is usually implemented by a buck converter with hysteresis current control. However, the slew rates of the load current and the inductor current of the buck converter cannot match well when the slew rate of the load current has a wide variation range. The unmatched slew rates will lead to a high switching frequency of the buck converter or a large loss of the linear amplifier, which degrades the overall efficiency. In this paper, a multilevel converter is adopted to replace the buck converter in the parallel-form SLH ET power supply, and the hysteresis current control scheme is proposed for the multilevel converter to dynamically adjust its inductor current slew rate to approach that of the load current to improve the overall efficiency. The optimal design for the efficiency-related parameters including the inductor, the current hysteresis, and the number and values of the voltage levels in the multilevel converter is given. A prototype of the parallel-form SLH ET power supply with hysteresis current controlled multilevel converter is fabricated and tested in the lab. The measured overall efficiency is 79.4% when tracking the envelope of wideband code division multiple access signal with 5 MHz bandwidth and outputs 18 W average power, and a 3.8% efficiency improvement is achieved over that with the hysteresis current controlled buck converter.
Genetics of O-Antigen Biosynthesis in<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (1999)

Pathogenic bacteria produce an elaborate assortment of extracellular and cell-associated bacterial products that enable colonization and establishment of infection within a host. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules are cell surface factors that are typically known for their protective role against serum-mediated lysis and their endotoxic properties. The most heterogeneous portion of LPS is the O antigen or O polysaccharide, and it is this region which confers serum resistance to the organism. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of concomitantly synthesizing two types of LPS referred to as A band and B band. The A-band LPS contains a conserved O polysaccharide region composed of D-rhamnose (homopolymer), while the B-band O-antigen (heteropolymer) structure varies among the 20 O serotypes of P. aeruginosa. The genes coding for the enzymes that direct the synthesis of these two O antigens are organized into two separate clusters situated at different chromosomal locations. In this review, we summarize the organization of these two gene clusters to discuss how A-band and B-band O antigens are synthesized and assembled by dedicated enzymes. Examples of unique proteins required for both A-band and B-band O-antigen synthesis and for the synthesis of both LPS and alginate are discussed. The recent identification of additional genes within the P. aeruginosa genome that are homologous to those in the A-band and B-band gene clusters are intriguing since some are able to influence O-antigen synthesis. These studies demonstrate that P. aeruginosa represents a unique model system, allowing studies of heteropolymeric and homopolymeric O-antigen synthesis, as well as permitting an examination of the interrelationship of the synthesis of LPS molecules and other virulence determinants.
Improving realism of a surgery simulator: linear anisotropic elasticity, complex interactions and force extrapolation (2002)

Abstract In this article, we describe the latest developments of the minimally invasive hepatic surgery simulator prototype developed at INRIA. The goal of this simulator is to provide a realistic training test bed to perform laparoscopic procedures. Therefore, its main functionality is to simulate the action of virtual laparoscopic surgical instruments for deforming and cutting tridimensional anatomical models. Throughout this paper, we present the general features of this simulator including the implementation of several biomechanical models and the integration of two force‐feedback devices in the simulation platform. More precisely, we describe three new important developments that improve the overall realism of our simulator. First, we have developed biomechanical models, based on linear elasticity and finite element theory, that include the notion of anisotropic deformation. Indeed, we have generalized the linear elastic behaviour of anatomical models to ‘transversally isotropic’ materials, i.e. materials having a different behaviour in a given direction. We have also added to the volumetric model an external elastic membrane representing the ‘liver capsule’, a rather stiff skin surrounding the liver, which creates a kind of ‘surface anisotropy’. Second, we have developed new contact models between surgical instruments and soft tissue models. For instance, after detecting a contact with an instrument, we define specific boundary constraints on deformable models to represent various forms of interactions with a surgical tool, such as sliding, gripping, cutting or burning. In addition, we compute the reaction forces that should be felt by the user manipulating the force‐feedback devices. The last improvement is related to the problem of haptic rendering. Currently, we are able to achieve a simulation frequency of 25 Hz (visual real time) with anatomical models of complex geometry and behaviour. But to achieve a good haptic feedback requires a frequency update of applied forces typically above 300 Hz (haptic real time). Thus, we propose a force extrapolation algorithm in order to reach haptic real time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Binding of [<sup>3</sup>H]Ro 16‐6491, a Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase Type B, to Human Brain Mitochondria and Platelet Membranes (1987)

The reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) [3H]Ro 16-6491 binds specifically and with high affinity to a single population of binding sites in human frontal cortex crude mitochondria and platelet membranes. In both tissues binding equilibrium was reached after 1 h incubation at 20 degrees C. Dissociation of bound radioactivity was relatively fast at 20 degrees C (t1/2 = 90-120 min) whereas at 0 degrees C [3H]Ro 16-6491 showed the characteristics of a slowly dissociating ligand. Inhibitors and substrates of MAO-B inhibited binding of [3H]Ro 16-6491, whereas MAO-A blockers were much less potent. Ro 16-6491 was also a substrate for MAO-B and a stable unidentified intermediate of the oxidation of Ro 16-6491 possessing high affinity for the enzyme may account for the marked MAO-B inhibitory effect of the drug. According to this hypothesis Ro 16-6491 would behave as a mechanism-based reversible inhibitor. In conclusion, [3H]Ro 16-6491 binds selectively to MAO-B and represents an excellent new radioligand probe for studying the regional tissue distribution of this enzyme in normal and pathological conditions.
Cyclic flow patterns in human coronary arteries (2002)

Biplane digital coronary angiograms, as routinely performed in angiography, are used to construct a three-dimensional model of the coronary arteries. This model is used to solve the fluid flow equations throughout the cardiac cycle. The spatial position of the centreline of the artery is determined in three dimensions by detecting the ridge line in the two images and using the rotation angles embedded in the DICOM format. Combining this with the arterial radii taken from the images allows a model of the surface of the artery to be built. This model is then discretised and a mesh constructed, both on its surface and within, which allows for a computational fluid dynamics package to solve the Navier-Stokes equations and provide detailed flow patterns, including wall shear stress. In a series of 4 patients the right coronary artery has been reconstructed throughout the cardiac cycle, and flows have been calculated for a typical pressure gradient at each step. The flow shows a wide variation of shear stresses with variations being due to both altered velocities as well as the altered configuration of the coronary due to systolic movement. The techniques of reconstruction appear robust, as can be shown by introduction of random noise in the model.
Ultrasonic welding of PEEK graphite APC‐2 composites (1989)

Abstract The ultrasonic welding process is modeled using a five part model that includes mechanics and vibration of the parts, viscoelastic heating, heat transfer, flow and wetting, and intermolecular diffusion. The model predicts that melting and flow occur in steps, which has been confirmed by experiments. The model also indicates the possibility of monitoring joint quality by measuring the dynamic mechanical impedance of the parts during welding, which has also been verified experimentally by indirectly monitoring the magnitude of the impedance. via measurements of both the power and the acceleration of the base. When the melt fronts of the energy directors meet, at the end of welding, the dynamic impedance of the composites' interface is shown to rise rapidly. This raises the possibility of developing closed loop control procedures for the ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic composites. Ultrasonic welding of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) graphite APC‐2 composites produced joints with excellent strengths.
IgM-enriched immunoglobulin (pentaglobin) positively influences the course of post-surgical intra-abdominal infections. (2004)

Pentaglobin has a positive influence on the course of post-surgery intra-abdominal infection.
Towards Safer Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (1991)

More than one hundred years ago salicylic acid and its salts were introduced into the therapy of rheumatic diseases. Ninety years ago aspirin was discovered, and within the last forty years phenylbutazone, indomethacin, ibuprofen, the oxicams and many others were discovered. All of these drugs are acidic. They inhibit the prostaglandin synthetase, combine analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity and show side-effects mainly in the GI-tract, liver, bone-marrow, and kidney. Within the last twenty years, however, distinct relationships between effects and side-effects could be shown: 1. Rapid absorption beginning in the stomach goes along with intensive gastric-duodenal irritation and ulceration. 2. A high degree of enterohepatic circulation appears to be associated with ileal and jejunal ulcerations and perforations. 3. Intensive hepatic metabolisation may be related to enhanced hepatic damage. 4. Intensive intrarenal circulation of the active moiety may be related to kidney damage. These observations indicate that certain pharmacokinetic characteristics of distinct nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are responsible, at least in part, for well-known side-effects. It is obvious that modifying the pharmacokinetics of the active principle may reduce specific types of side-effects. The clinical success of these attempts are limited but altogether promising.
Optimum delivery of telemedicine over low bandwidth links (2002)

Telemedicine is frequently used to support the delivery of medicine to remote regions, but it can often be the case that these areas are poorly served by communications. The AIDMAN project investigates the delivery of telemedicine in remote regions of Greece using satellite. However the high cost of such links can severely limit the bandwidth available to applications. In addition the satellite link is a clear channel and may be configured to emulate any protocol. This presents a problem of determining which protocol may best support the applications. We have modelled the three types of link protocol, circuit switched (ISDN), packet switched (TCP/IP) and cell switched (ATM) to determine how their characteristics affect the performance when bandwidth is severely restricted. We further investigate how performance may be optimised when the link is used to carry mixed traffic of real-time videoconference and image transfer. Our simulation shows that TCP/IP can support telemedicine applications reasonably well, so long as the number of simultaneous image transfers are restricted. Furthermore, IPv6, which supports prioritisation of traffic, can overcome this restriction. Use of TCP/IP has a further advantage, in that it permits integration of wider networks, is cheap, widely available and supports virtually all telemedicine applications. Real-time measurements using the virtual consultation workstations developed for the AIDMAN project on a low bandwidth link implemented on routers connected using ISDN to simulate a link with 128 kbps confirms the findings of the simulation.
Viruses and their potential in bioimaging and biosensing applications (2009)

Successful development of ultrasensitive constructs for bioimaging and biosensing is a challenging task. Recently, viruses have drawn increasing attention due to their exquisite three-dimensional structures and unique properties, including multivalency, orthogonal reactivities, and responsiveness to genetic modifications. With such well-characterized structures, functional units, such as imaging and binding motifs, can be engineered on the surface of viruses in a programmable, polyvalent manner, which leads to novel nanosized sensing/imaging systems with enhanced signaling and targeting performance. This review highlights some recent progress in the applications of viruses in bioimaging and biosensing.
Evaluating CORBA portability: the case of an object group service (2002)

One of the most attractive aspects of the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) lies in its open standard nature. Code that is based only on constructs described in the CORBA specification is portable between object request brokers (ORBs) without depending on any single ORB implementation. However, this portability feature is not completely achieved in real-world applications. This paper discusses CORBA portability issues through our experience in implementing a CORBA object group service (OGS) and porting it on different ORBs. In particular, we discuss some implementation choices we made with Orbix and VisiBroker, and we point out the impact of these choices on the service portability and interoperability. This sheds some light on whether the current CORBA specification is mature enough to be deployed in industrial systems that have requirements regarding portability and interoperability. We also present how new CORBA specifications solve part of the shortcomings mentioned in this paper.
Quasi-Primitive Block-Wise Concatenated BCH Codes With Collaborative Decoding for NAND Flash Memories (2015)

In this work, we propose a novel design rule of block-wise concatenated Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BC-BCH) codes for storage devices using multi-level per cell (MLC) NAND flash memories. BC-BCH codes designed in accordance with the proposed design rule are called quasi-primitive BC-BCH codes in which constituent BCH codes are deliberately chosen for their lengths to be as close to primitive BCH codes as possible. It will be shown that such quasi-primitive BC-BCH codes can achieve significant improvements of error-correcting capability over the existing BC-BCH codes when an iterative hard-decision based decoding (IHDD) is assumed. In addition, we propose a novel collaborative decoding algorithm which targets at resolving dominant error patterns associated with the IHDD. Error-rate performances of error-control systems with the proposed quasi-primitive BC-BCH and existing BC-BCH codes are compared. For more comprehensive performance comparisons, systems with a hypothetically long BCH code and a product code are also considered in the comparisons.
Cross-platform, secure message delivery for mobile devices (2013)

With the rise of mobile technology, modern organizations are encountering rapidly evolving demands to their communications and data infrastructure. The "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) approach places significant new demands on how enterprises approach security, device management, crossplatform support and data distribution. Mobile devices are powerful, lightweight and rapidly supplanting classical computing systems like desktop and notebook computers. Here we discuss a framework which unifies numerous heterogenous devices and their software ecosystems into a single flexible platform for enterprise device management and message dissemination. This framework provides a foundation that considers the myriad security, connectivity and energy implications that are far different from "classical" enterprise system. We discuss the experiences and considerations used in the design of this framework, and why such a unified, flexible approach is necessary for the present and approaching demands of enterprise security, timeliness and accessibility.