gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Space Mapping : A Machine Learning Approach to Sound Source Separation and Localization (2013)

In this thesis, we address the long-studied problem of binaural (two microphones) sound source separation and localization through supervised learning. To achieve this, we develop a new paradigm referred to as acoustic space mapping, at the crossroads of binaural perception, robot hearing, audio signal processing and machine learning. The proposed approach consists in learning a link between auditory cues perceived by the system and the emitting sound source position in another modality of the system, such as the visual space or the motor space. We propose new experimental protocols to automatically gather large training sets that associate such data. Obtained datasets are then used to reveal some fundamental intrinsic properties of acoustic spaces and lead to the development of a general family of probabilistic models for locally-linear high- to low-dimensional space mapping. We show that these models unify several existing regression and dimensionality reduction techniques, while encompassing a large number of new models that generalize previous ones. The properties and inference of these models are thoroughly detailed, and the prominent advantage of proposed methods with respect to state-of-the-art techniques is established on different space mapping applications, beyond the scope of auditory scene analysis. We then show how the proposed methods can be probabilistically extended to tackle the long-known cocktail party problem, i.e., accurately localizing one or several sound sources emitting at the same time in a real-word environment, and separate the mixed signals. We show that resulting techniques perform these tasks with an unequaled accuracy. This demonstrates the important role of learning and puts forwards the acoustic space mapping paradigm as a promising tool for robustly addressing the most challenging problems in computational binaural audition.
Coordination of <i>Drosophila</i> Metamorphosis by Two Ecdysone-Induced Nuclear Receptors (1997)

The functions of the ecdysone-induced DHR3 and E75B orphan nuclear receptors in the early stages of Drosophila metamorphosis were investigated. DHR3 represses the ecdysone induction of early genes turned on by the pulse of ecdysone that triggers metamorphosis. It also induces betaFTZF1, an orphan nuclear receptor that is essential for the appropriate response to the subsequent prepupal pulse of ecdysone. The E75B receptor, which lacks a complete DNA binding domain, inhibits this inductive function by forming a complex with DHR3 on the betaFTZF1 promoter, thereby providing a timing mechanism for betaFTZF1 induction that is dependent on the disappearance of E75B.
Leukocyte‐derived growth factor links the PDGF and CXC chemokine families of peptides (1996)

Leukocytes produce many biological mediators that orchestrate the subsequent cellular events during wound healing. We have identified a novel cytokine, leukocyte-derived growth factor (LDGF), which is mitogenic for connective tissue cells. Sequence analysis of the LDGF peptide revealed that it is a precursor of other known peptides including platelet basic protein (PBP), connective tissue activating peptide III (CTAP-III), and neutrophil activating peptide 2 (NAP-2). None of these shorter peptides are active as mitogens for fibroblasts. LDGF appears to stimulate fibroblast growth by stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity of the PDGF receptors. One of the truncated products of LDGF, NAP-2, is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant. Peptides larger than NAP-2, such as PBP and CTAP-III, are not active as neutrophil chemoattractants. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the LDGF peptide must remain intact in order to retain its fibroblast mitogenic activity. If the LDGF peptide is processed to release the carboxyl terminal half to generate NAP-2, a peptide with proinflammatory activity is generated. These results indicate that the multiple peptides produced from the LDGF-PBP gene posses divergent biological activities that could regulate different phases of the repair process.
Webgazer: scalable webcam eye tracking using user interactions (2016)

We introduce WebGazer, an online eye tracker that uses common webcams already present in laptops and mobile devices to infer the eye-gaze locations of web visitors on a page in real time. The eye tracking model self-calibrates by watching web visitors interact with the web page and trains a mapping between features of the eye and positions on the screen. This approach aims to provide a natural experience to everyday users that is not restricted to laboratories and highly controlled user studies. WebGazer has two key components: a pupil detector that can be combined with any eye detection library, and a gaze estimator using regression analysis informed by user interactions. We perform a large remote online study and a small in-person study to evaluate WebGazer. The findings show that WebGazer can learn from user interactions and that its accuracy is sufficient for approximating the user's gaze. As part of this paper, we release the first eye tracking library that can be easily integrated in any website for real-time gaze interactions, usability studies, or web research.
Effect of relative humidity on the morphology of electrospun polymer fibers (2008)

The effect of relative humidity on the morphology of electrospun fibers of poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, and poly(lactic acid) dissolved in solvents such as toluene, N,N-dimethylformamide, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and deionized water was studied by scanning electron microscopy to investigate the factors that may contribute to pore formation. Results showed that the presence of pores depends on factors such as the type of polymers used, the polymer–solvent combination, molecular weight, and the size of the electrospun structure. The final morphology developed implies a competition between the dynamics of phase separation and the rate of solvent evaporation. In addition, continuous solvent evaporation and constant stretching owing to the electric potential difference give rise to the final shape of porous electrospun fibers.Key words: electrospinning, relative humidity, porous fibers, polymers.
Design model generation for reverse engineering using multi-sensors (1998)

Reverse engineering is the process of creating a design model and a manufacturing database for an existing part or prototype. The applications of reverse engineering are in redesigning of existing partstools or prototype parts where the CAD model of the part is not available. Reverse engineering, for the most part, is performed as an interactive process where the designer identifies the surface features from digitized data and then models the surfaces accordingly. This paper presents the algorithms and implementation results for a reverse engineering system which is intended to automatically create CAD representations of part prototypes. An integrated sensory system combining contact and non-contact sensors has been developed to digitize parts surfaces. The sensory system fuses data from machine vision and a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) in order to automatically digitize the part surface. Machine vision is used to capture the orthographic views of the part. The images of these orthographic views are processed and vectorized to create five views of the part in the form of an engineering drawing. The system utilizes the generated orthographic projections to automatically drive the CMM to capture a grid of point coordinates from the part surface. The CMM digitization process is guided by the segmentation provided from the orthographic views. The segmented data from the part surface is input to the surface modeling module of the system where parametric surfaces are fitted through the digitized points. The surfaces are then extended and intersected using the Hermite approximation method to develop the 3-D CAD model of the part. Accuracy and automation is achieved by combining global shape information obtained from part images with the accurate point data acquired by a CMM. Algorithms for surface segmentation, part digitization, surface extension, and surface intersection modeling are described in this paper.
Phosvitin extraction and phosphopeptides characterization from chicken egg yolk (2012)

Phosphopeptides derived from egg yolk phosvitin have been reported to exhibit various physiological functions. However, commercial use of phosvitin phosphopeptides (PPPs) has been hampered due to the lack of a simple and economic method to prepare PPPs. The purposes of this study were to develop a protocol to extract phosvitin from egg yolk, and to prepare and characterize phosphopeptides derived from enzymatic hydrolysis of phosvitin. The phosvitin prepared in this study had comparable or higher purity and recovery than previous methods. The atomic ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus (N/P) describes the density of phosphorus in peptide sequences. A lower value relates to higher density of phosphorus and high phosphorus content is preferred for bioactivities. The phosvitin hydrolysate showed comparable or lower N/P ratio than purified casein phosphopeptides. Novel phosphopeptides with high phosphorylation degree were identified. The protocols developed in this study could be used for laboratory uses and industrial scale-up. The phosphopeptides identified in this study are expected to exert multi-physiological functions and to be developed as functional food ingredients.
A forecast-based biologically-plausible STDP learning rule (2011)

Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP) is a well known paradigm for learning in neural networks. In this paper we propose a new approach to this problem based on the standard STDP algorithm, with modifications and approximations, that relate the membrane potential with the LTP (Long Term Potentiation) part of the basic STDP rule. On the other side we use the standard STDP rule for the LTD (Long Term Depression) part of the algorithm. We show that on the basis of the membrane potential [5] it is possible to make a statistical prediction of the time needed by the neuron to reach the threshold, and therefore the LTP part of the STDP algorithm can be triggered when the neuron receives a spike.We present results that show the efficacy of this algorithm using one or more input patterns repeated over the whole time of the simulation. Through the approximations we suggest in this paper we introduce a learning rule that is easy to implement in simulators and reduces the execution time if compared with the standard STDP rule.
Software Developers, Moods, Emotions, and Performance (2014)

Studies show that software developers' happiness pays off when it comes to productivity.
UHPC Compressive Strength Test Specimens: Cylinder or Cube? (2015)

Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a new cement-based material developed in the era of modern concrete technology. The present of fiber in UHPC composition is necessary to increase strengths and durability, which then lead to name the material as Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC). However, the exact determination of UHPC and UHPFRC have challenges due to its very high compression strength. Some issues are the limited capability to purchase high load capacity testing machines, and the surface preparation requirement for cylinder specimens. In this study, three series of experimental programs were conducted to investigate the compressive strength of UHPC and UHPFRC using cylinder and cube specimens, and to determine its converting factors (ratio). The results show that the compressive strength relationships between specimens differ from those of conventional concrete.
Stem cell treatment for patients with autoimmune disease by systemic infusion of culture-expanded autologous adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (2011)

Prolonged life expectancy, life style and environmental changes have caused a changing disease pattern in developed countries towards an increase of degenerative and autoimmune diseases. Stem cells have become a promising tool for their treatment by promoting tissue repair and protection from immune-attack associated damage. Patient-derived autologous stem cells present a safe option for this treatment since these will not induce immune rejection and thus multiple treatments are possible without any risk for allogenic sensitization, which may arise from allogenic stem cell transplantations. Here we report the outcome of treatments with culture expanded human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs) of 10 patients with autoimmune associated tissue damage and exhausted therapeutic options, including autoimmune hearing loss, multiple sclerosis, polymyotitis, atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. For treatment, we developed a standardized culture-expansion protocol for hAdMSCs from minimal amounts of fat tissue, providing sufficient number of cells for repetitive injections. High expansion efficiencies were routinely achieved from autoimmune patients and from elderly donors without measurable loss in safety profile, genetic stability, vitality and differentiation potency, migration and homing characteristics. Although the conclusions that can be drawn from the compassionate use treatments in terms of therapeutic efficacy are only preliminary, the data provide convincing evidence for safety and therapeutic properties of systemically administered AdMSC in human patients with no other treatment options. The authors believe that ex-vivo-expanded autologous AdMSCs provide a promising alternative for treating autoimmune diseases. Further clinical studies are needed that take into account the results obtained from case studies as those presented here.
The EDEM methodology for housing upgrade analysis, carbon and energy labelling and national policy development (2008)

The ESRU Domestic Energy Model (EDEM) has been developed in response to demand from policy makers for a tool to assist in analysis of options for improving carbon and energy performance of housing across a range of possible future technologies, behaviours and environmental factors. A major challenge is to comprehend the large variation in fabric, systems (heating, hot water, lighting and appliances) and behaviours across the housing stock as well as uncertainty over future trends. Existing static models have limited ability to represent dynamic behaviour while use of detailed simulation has been based on modelling only a small number of representative designs. To address these challenges, EDEM has been developed as an easy to use, Web based tool, built on detailed simulation models aligned with national house survey data. From pragmatic inputs, EDEM can determine energy use and carbon emissions at any scale, from individual dwelling to national housing stock. EDEM was used at the behest of the Scottish Building Standards Agency and South Ayrshire Council to quantify the impact of upgrades including new and renewable energy systems. EDEM was also used to rate energy/carbon performance of dwellings as required by the EU Directive (EU, 2002). This paper describes the evolving EDEM methodology, its structure and operation then presents findings from applications. While initial EDEM projects have been for the Scottish housing stock the methodology is structured to facilitate project development and application to other countries.
Intelligent packet shaper to avoid network congestion for improved streaming video quality at clients (2004)

This paper proposes a traffic shaping algorithm based on neural network, which adapts to a network over which streaming video is being transmitted. The purpose of this intelligent shaper is to eradicate all traffic congestions and improve the end-users video quality. It possesses the capability to predict, to a very high level of accuracy, a state of congestion based upon the training data collected about the networks behavior. Initially, the current traffic shaping technologies are discussed and later a simulation in a controlled environment is illustrated to exhibit the effects of this intelligent traffic-shaping algorithm on the underlying networks real time packet traffic and the eradication of unwanted abruptions in the streaming videos quality. This paper concluded from the results of the simulation that neural networks are a very superior means of modeling real-time traffic and that it can be applied as an appropriate solution to network congestion.
Stem Cell Delivery with Polymer Hydrogel for Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: From 3D Culture to Design of the Delivery Device for Minimally Invasive Therapy (2016)

Nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue damage can induce detrimental mechanical strain on the biomechanical performance of intervertebral discs (IVDs), causing subsequent disc degeneration. A novel, photocurable, injectable, synthetic polymer hydrogel (pHEMA-co-APMA grafted with PAA) has already demonstrated success in encapsulating and differentiating human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) toward an NP phenotype during hypoxic conditions. After demonstration of promising results in our previous work, in this study we have further investigated the inclusion of mechanical stimulation and its impact on hMSC differentiation toward an NP phenotype through the characterization of matrix markers such as SOX-9, aggrecan, and collagen II. Furthermore, investigations were undertaken in order to approximate delivery parameters for an injection delivery device, which could be used to transport hMSCs suspended in hydrogel into the IVD. hMSC-laden hydrogel solutions were injected through various needle gauge sizes in order to determine its impact on postinjection cell viability and IVD tissue penetration. Interpretation of these data informed the design of a potential minimally invasive injection device, which could successfully inject hMSCs encapsulated in a UV-curable polymer into NP, prior to photo-cross-linking in situ.
Sensitivity of human tissue heme oxygenase to a new synthetic metalloporphyrin (1989)

Heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme for heme degradation, can be inhibited by several new synthetic metalloporphyrins. Under certain conditions, a depression in heme oxygenase activity has important clinical significance in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia, and, in this regard, tin-protoporphyrin has been shown to decrease the production of bilirubin in vitro as well as in vivo. Similarly, our study was concerned with finding a new metalloporphyrin which will inhibit heme oxygenase. Many of the synthetic heme analogs that we analyzed were quite effective inhibitors of heme oxygenase, but the most powerful inhibitor was found to be zinc-deuteroporphyrin IX, 2,4-bisglycol. This metalloporphyrin almost completely inhibits liver heme oxygenase at concentrations as low as 0.5 microM. Its potency as an inhibitor was found to be greater than that of tin-protoporphyrin; the Ki of zinc-deuteroporphyrin IX, 2,4-bisglycol was calculated to be 0.003 microM. In conclusion, we demonstrated that zinc-deuteroporphyrin IX, 2,4-bisglycol has potent inhibitory effects on human liver, kidney and brain heme oxygenase so that this metalloporphyrin can be considered as an alternative to tin-protoporphyrin in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia.
Extracting Indoor Space Information in Complex Building Environments (2018)

Indoor space information extraction is an important aspect of reconstruction for building information modeling and a necessary process for geographic information system from outdoor to indoor. Entity model extracting methods provide advantages in terms of accuracy for building indoor spaces, as compared with network and grid model methods, and the extraction results can be converted into a network or grid model. However, existing entity model extracting methods based on a search loop do not consider the complex indoor environment of a building, such as isolated columns and walls or cross-floor spaces. In this study, such complex indoor environments are analyzed in detail, and a new approach for extracting buildings’ indoor space information is proposed. This approach is based on indoor space boundary calculation, the Boolean difference for single-floor space extraction, relationship reconstruction, and cross-floor space extraction. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can accurately extract indoor space information from the complex indoor environment of a building with geometric, semantic, and relationship information. This study is theoretically important for better understanding the complexity of indoor space extraction and practically important for improving the modeling accuracy of buildings.
A Practical Guide to Security Engineering and Information Assurance (2001)

Today the vast majority of the world's information resides in, is derived from, and is exchanged among multiple automated systems. Critical decisions are made, and critical action is taken based on information from these systems. Therefore, the information must be accurate, correct, and timely, and be manipulated, stored, retrieved, and exchanged s
Mode of action of acidocin D20079, a bacteriocin produced by the potential probiotic strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079 (2007)

Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079 is the producer of a novel bacteriocin termed acidocin D20079. In this paper, mode of action using three various concentrations of acidocin D20079 (2,048, 128 and 11.3 AU/ml) was determined against an indicator strain L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis DSM 20076. These concentrations all led to marked decreases in both the number of viable cells and in optical density, indicating that the activity of the acidocin D20079 was bactericidal with concomitant cell lysis. Moreover, the probiotic potential of L. acidophilus DSM 20079 was analyzed for its ability to survive and retain viability at conditions (acid and bile concentrations) mimicking the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, under which it survived exposure to pH 2.0 with a 1.2 log cycle reduction in viability and where 45% of the original population survived in a medium containing 0.3% bile for 3 h.
Analysis and Application of an On-Package Planar Inverted-F Antenna (2007)

An on-package planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) is described. The on-package PIFA consists of a single folded metal plate and has several advantages, including small size, light weight, low cost, and ease of fabrication. The antenna radiation pattern is omnidirectional in the H-plane. The coupling effect between the on-package PIFA and the radio-frequency (RF) components in the shielding package was studied. The antenna performance rarely changes and the isolation between the antenna and the RF components can be maximized when the locations of the components are appropriately arranged in the package. Finally, a wireless local-area network (WLAN) front-end module (FEM) including the switch, low-pass filter (LPF), bandpass filter (BPF), and power amplifier (PA), is embedded into the shielding package of the antenna. The error vector magnitude (EVM) of the resultant antenna integrated FEM, together with a WLAN card containing the baseband/medium-access control (MAC) circuitry, is tested. Good performance is obtained, showing the usability of the proposed antenna configuration.
An RC Oscillator With Comparator Offset Cancellation (2016)

A fully-integrated 18.5 kHz RC time-constant-based oscillator is designed in 65 nm CMOS for sleep-mode timers in wireless sensors. A comparator offset cancellation scheme achieves 4× to 25× temperature stability improvement, leading to an accuracy of ±0.18% to ±0.55% over -40 to 90 °C. Sub-threshold operation and low-swing oscillations result in ultra-low power consumption of 130 nW. The architecture also provides timing noise suppression, leading to 10× reduction in long-term Allan deviation. It is measured to have a stability of 20 ppm or better for measurement intervals over 0.5 s. The oscillator also has a fast startup-time, with the period settling in 4 cycles.