gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Cross-cultural user-interface design (2000)

CHI and other conferences recognize the importance of considering cross-cultural (including gender) communication issues in user-interface (UI) design. Classic texts about cultures are not sufficiently known in the SIGCHI community. Many consumer information appliances, or computer-based communication products, must be suitable for international, multi-cultural markets. The growth of and consequent immediate international access to the Web demand a response by UI designers to the issues of when and how user interfaces can be designed for global access yet account for local differences. Attendees will discuss with mentors challenges of designing UIs for international and/or multi-cultural use, in which metaphors, mental models, navigation, interaction, and/or appearance must be significantly adjusted to account for global and/or local needs. Issues to be discussed include the following:• What are the dimensions of culture? What research exists?• What are the differences among cultures, e.g., North American, European, Asian? How do they affect UIs?• How does we account for different references of icons, metaphors, organization, and navigation strategies?• Can we design locale-neutral user interfaces? What can/must be standardized or localized?• How can/should cultural diversity issues impact professional education?• Why do/don't businesses design for global markets?• How can we handle legal issues across cultures in the borderless Internet?
Analytical methods for predicting load-displacement behaviour of piles (2014)

Abstract\nThis thesis presents new methods for predicting pile response under different loading and soil conditions. The new methods offer practs engineers with a simple, quick and reliable tool for designing piles and ensuring that both safety and serviceability requirements are satisfied.\nIn this thesis, an energy-based analytical approach for determining the dynamic response of piles subjected to dynamic loads is presented. The kinematic and potential energies of the pile-foundation system are minimized by a variational principle to obtain the governing equations of the pile-foundation system, along with the appropriate boundary conditions. Comparison with field data demonstrates the success of the new approach for predicting the resonant frequencies of laterally loaded piles. \nEnergy-based methods are also developed for piles subjected to combined static loading. These methods are formulated for different constitutive models: linear-elastic, non-linear elastic and elasto-plastic models. In addition to energy-based methods, simple similarity methods have been developed to predict pile displacements. In the similarity methods, the load-displacement curve of a pile foundation can be obtained directly by scaling the stress-strain response obtained from a triaxial test on a representative soil sample. Linear scaling factors are presented and extensive verification is carried out against field data, centrifuge models and nonlinear finite element analysis.\n
Enhanced Mass Transport of Electroactive Species to Annular Nanoband Electrodes Embedded in Nanocapillary Array Membranes (2012)

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) is used to enhance the delivery of Fe(CN)(6)(4-)/Fe(CN)(6)(3-) to an annular nanoband electrode embedded in a nanocapillary array membrane, as a route to high efficiency electrochemical conversions. Multilayer Au/polymer/Au/polymer membranes are perforated with 10(2)-10(3) cylindrical nanochannels by focused ion beam (FIB) milling and subsequently sandwiched between two axially separated microchannels, producing a structure in which transport and electron transfer reactions are tightly coupled. The middle Au layer, which contacts the fluid only at the center of each nanochannel, serves as a working electrode to form an array of embedded annular nanoband electrodes (EANEs), at which sufficient overpotential drives highly efficient electrochemical processes. Simultaneously, the electric field established between the EANE and the QRE (>10(3) V cm(-1)) drives electro-osmotic flow (EOF) in the nanochannels, improving reagent delivery rate. EOF is found to enhance the steady-state current by >10× over a comparable structure without convective transport. Similarly, the conversion efficiency is improved by approximately 10-fold compared to a comparable microfluidic structure. Experimental data agree with finite element simulations, further illustrating the unique electrochemical and transport behavior of these nanoscale embedded electrode arrays. Optimizing the present structure may be useful for combinatorial processing of on-chip sample delivery with electrochemical conversion; a proof of concept experiment, involving the generation of dissolved hydrogen in situ via electrolysis, is described.
Detection and Analysis of Human Emotions through Voice and Speech Pattern Processing (2017)

The ability to modulate vocal sounds and generate speech is one of the features which set humans apart from other living beings. The human voice can be characterized by several attributes such as pitch, timbre, loudness, and vocal tone. It has often been observed that humans express their emotions by varying different vocal attributes during speech generation. Hence, deduction of human emotions through voice and speech analysis has a practical plausibility and could potentially be beneficial for improving human conversational and persuasion skills. This paper presents an algorithmic approach for detection and analysis of human emotions with the help of voice and speech processing. The proposed approach has been developed with the objective of incorporation with futuristic artificial intelligence systems for improving human-computer interactions.
Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago: carving a niche in a petroleum‐based economy (2008)

Abstract Trinidad and Tobago lies within one of the world's most tourism‐intensive regions, the Caribbean. Yet, unlike its neighbours, it has not relied heavily on income from travel and tourism since its economy is dominated by the energy sector. The energy sector is the mainstay of the economy contributing approximately 34.1% to the country's GDP, 85.5% to merchandise exports and 37.1% to Government revenues in 2004 (Ministry of Energy, 2006). The Government, in its aim for developed nation status by 2020, recognizes that the energy sector is unable to provide the sustainable jobs needed to achieve this. Thus, the Government's policy strategy, Vision 2020, identifies tourism as one of five (5) sectors that should be developed to contribute to the country's economic development. The tourism industry currently represents 13.8% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Trinidad and Tobago and is expected to increase its share by nearly three percentage points to 16.5% by 2015. It accounts for 16.7% of total employment, and this is forecasted to rise to 19.2% (WTTC, 2005). Several challenges are evident, that continue to limit the industry's full potential for growth in the country. It is against this background that this paper seeks to identify and analyse the strategies that can be adopted to maximize the contribution of the hospitality and tourism industry to economic development in Trinidad and Tobago. The three main strategies proposed are a greater focus on local entrepreneurship; the re‐orientation of the role of the local financial mechanisms in tourism development and; the development of competitive tourism investment incentives for potential investors in the hospitality and tourism industry. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dietary Flaxseed Inhibits Human Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis and Downregulates Expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (2002)

Recent studies indicate that diets rich in phytoestrogens and n-3 fatty acid have anticancer potential. This study determined the effect of flaxseed (FS), the richest source of lignans and alpha-linolenic acid, on growth and metastasis of established human breast cancer in a nude mice model. Estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-435, were injected into the mammary fat pad of mice (Ncr nu/nu) fed a basal diet (BD). At Week 8, mice were randomized into two diet groups, such that the groups had similar tumor size and body weight. One continued on the BD, while the other was changed to BD supplemented with 10% FS, until sacrifice at Week 15. A significant reduction (P < 0.05) in tumor growth rate and a 45% reduction (P = 0.08) in total incidence of metastasis were observed in the FS group. Lung metastasis incidence was 55.6% in the BD group and 22.2% in the FS group, while the lymph node metastasis incidence was 88.9% in the BD group and 33.3% in the FS group (P < 0.05). Mean tumor number (tumor load) of total and lymph node metastasis was significantly lower in the FS than in the BD group (P < 0.05). Metastatic lung tumor number was reduced by 82%, and a significantly lower tumor trend (P < 0.01) was observed in the FS group. Lung weight, which also reflects metastatic tumor load, in the FS group was reduced by 20% (P < 0.05) compared with the BD group. Immunohistochemical study showed that Ki-67 labeling index and expression of insulin-like growth factor I and epithelial growth factor receptor in the primary tumor were lower in the FS (P < 0.05) than in the BD group. In conclusion, flaxseed inhibited the established human breast cancer growth and metastasis in a nude mice model, and this effect is partly due to its downregulation of insulin-like growth factor I and epidermal growth factor receptor expression.
The Unconventional Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase in Regulation of Retinal Microangiopathy in Diabetic Human and Animal Models (2011)

This is the first study demonstrating activation of ASM in the retinal vasculature of diabetic retinopathy animal models. Inhibition of ASM could be further explored as a potential therapeutic strategy in treating diabetic retinopathy.
The Acute Metabolic Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor Administration in Humans (1987)

It has been suggested that the monokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (cachectin) is responsible for metabolic abnormalities frequently accompanying malignant neoplasms. The acute metabolic effects of TNF in patients with cancer were studied. Subcutaneous administration of recombinant human TNF led to a rise in the C-reactive protein level (4.4 +/- 1.2 mg/dL vs 11.6 +/- 1.8 mg/dL) and a reduction in the serum zinc level (12.9 +/- 0.8 mumol/L vs 7.3 +/- 0.8 mumol/L [79 +/- 5 mg/dL vs 48 +/- 5 mg/dL]) (values are the mean +/- SEM). Forearm efflux of total amino acids more than doubled after intravenous TNF injection, principally because of increases in release of the gluconeogenic amino acids alanine and glutamine. Concomitantly, the arterial levels of alanine, glutamine, and total amino acids fell, indicating that TNF also stimulated the uptake of amino acids by other tissues. The observed amino acid pattern cannot be explained solely on the basis of measured changes in cortisol, glucagon, or insulin levels. These findings are discussed in relation to known alterations of amino acid metabolism in cancer-associated cachexia.
Quels taux de guérison pour le cancer (1998)

On lit souvent dans la grande presse que l'on guerit un cancer sur deux. Connaissant la frequence et la survie relative a 5 ans de chaque localisation de cancer, on peut estimer une probabilite de guerison. Le calcul est presente pour les cancers diagnostiques en 1975, en utilisant les donnees de survie a 5 ans des cancers diagnostiques entre 1978 et 1985. La probabilite de survivre 5 ans a un cancer est d’environ 37 %. L'affirmation que l'on guerit actuellement un cancer sur deux en France est donc trop optimiste et ne repose sur aucune base solide. On peut cependant esperer arriver a guerir un patient sur deux au debut du xxie siecle.
Reliability Fusion of Time-of-Flight Depth and Stereo Geometry for High Quality Depth Maps (2010)

Time-of-flight range sensors have error characteristics, which are complementary to passive stereo. They provide real-time depth estimates in conditions where passive stereo does not work well, such as on white walls. In contrast, these sensors are noisy and often perform poorly on the textured scenes where stereo excels. We explore their complementary characteristics and introduce a method for combining the results from both methods that achieve better accuracy than either alone. In our fusion framework, the depth probability distribution functions from each of these sensor modalities are formulated and optimized. Robust and adaptive fusion is built on a pixel-wise reliability weighting function calculated for each method. In addition, since time-of-flight devices have primarily been used as individual sensors, they are typically poorly calibrated. We introduce a method that substantially improves upon the manufacturer's calibration. We demonstrate that our proposed techniques lead to improved accuracy and robustness on an extensive set of experimental results.
Carbohydrate Chemistry (2010)

Carbohydrate Chemistry provides review coverage of all publications relevant to the chemistry of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in a given year. The amount of research in this field appearing in the organic chemical literature is increasing because of the enhanced importance of the subject, especially in areas of medicinal chemistry and biology. In no part of the field is this more apparent than in the synthesis of oligosaccharides required by scientists working in glycobiology. Clycomedicinal chemistry and its reliance on carbohydrate synthesis is now very well established, for example, by the preparation of specific carbohydrate- based antigens, especially cancer-specific oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Coverage of topics such as nucleosides, amino-sugars, alditols and cyclitols also covers much research of relevance to biological and medicinal chemistry. Each volume of the series brings together references to all published work in given areas of the subject and serves as a comprehensive database for the active research chemist Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.
A Robust Multi-view Freehand Three-dimensional Ultrasound Imaging System Using Volumetric Registration (2006)

In this paper, we describe a freehand, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system. The system uses an electromagnetic position and orientation measurement device to capture two-dimensional ultrasound images at arbitrary planar orientations in space. For robust performance, we use a novel electromagnetic interference detection algorithm that can be used to estimate the probability density function of position and orientation measurement errors. Another important contribution of the proposed system is its ability to reconstruct from multiple standard views. The multi-view reconstruction procedure results in significant reduction in reconstruction error. The system uses object-based 3D volume registration, allowing for arbitrary rigid object movements in inter-view acquisition. The proposed system has been validated on simulated data and a physical, 3D ultrasound calibration phantom. Quantitative experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the 3D registration system, and a significant reduction in the mean-squared error via the use of the proposed multi-view reconstruction method.
A review of our development of dental adhesives — Effects of radical polymerization initiators and adhesive monomers on adhesion (2010)

This paper reviews the development of dental adhesives by collating information of related studies from original scientific papers, reviews, and patent literatures. Through our development, novel radical polymerization initiators, adhesive monomers, and microcapsules were synthesized, and their effects on adhesion were investigated. It was found that 5-monosubstituted barbituric acid (5-MSBA)-containing ternary initiators in conjunction with adhesive monomers contributed to effective adhesion with good polymerization reactivity. Several kinds of novel adhesive monomers bearing carboxyl group, phosphonic acid group or sulfur-containing group were synthesized, and investigated their multi-purpose bonding functions. It was suggested that the flexible methylene chain in the structure of adhesive monomers played a pivotal role in their enhanced bonding durability. It was found that the combination of acidic monomers with sulfur-containing monomer markedly improved adhesion to enamel, dentin, porcelain, alumina, zirconia, non-precious metals and precious metals. A new poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-type adhesive resin comprising microencapsulated polymerization initiators was also found to exhibit both good formulation stability and excellent adhesive property.
Hemodynamic effects of nicotinic acid infusion in normotensive and hypertensive subjects (2003)

Nicotonic acid (NA) infusions are associated with peripheral vasodilation from the generation of vascular prostaglandins with minimal effects on blood pressure (BP) in normotensive subjects. We studied the effects of a NA infusion in 10 hypertensive and 11 normotensive individuals to further characterize systemic hemodynamic responses to NA using pulse waveform analysis. Blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, large and small artery elasticity were determined before and after a 1-h NA infusion. In the normotensives, systolic, diastolic, mean BP, and pulse pressure were not affected by NA. In contrast, the hypertensive subjects experienced a decrease in mean BP from 105 +/- 2 mm Hg to 100 +/- 3 mm Hg (P <.01) accompanied by significant decreases in systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressures. The differential BP response occurred despite comparable increases in heart rate (11% to 13%, P </=.05) and similar decreases in total peripheral resistance (6%, P </=.05) in both groups. However, the normotensive group demonstrated a decrease in overall vascular compliance, measured as stroke volume to pulse pressure ratio, from 2.12 +/- 0.09 to 1.93 +/- 0.09 mL/mm Hg (P <.05). This finding was supported by a decrease in C1 (large artery compliance), assessed by pulse waveform analysis, from 15.8 +/- 1 to 14.2 +/- 1 mL/mm Hg (P <.05). In contrast, overall compliance and C1 were unchanged after the NA infusion in the hypertensive group. These results suggest that there is a differential hemodynamic response to NA infusion in normotensive and hypertensive individuals. The adjustment in vascular compliance may be an important factor in determining overall BP response to NA.
Higher dosage nicotine patches increase one‐year smoking cessation rates: results from the European CEASE trial (1999)

The Collaborative European Anti-Smoking Evaluation (CEASE) was a European multicentre, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled smoking cessation study. The objectives were to determine whether higher dosage and longer duration of nicotine patch therapy would increase the success rate. Thirty-six chest clinics enrolled a total of 3,575 smokers. Subjects were allocated to one of five treatment arms: placebo and either standard or higher dose nicotine patches (15 mg and 25 mg daily) each given for 8 or 22 weeks with adjunctive moderately intensive support. The 12 month sustained success rates were: 25 mg patch for 22 weeks (L-25), 15.4%; 25 mg patch for 8 weeks (S-25), 15.9%; 15 mg patch for 22 weeks (L-15), 13.7%; 15 mg patch for 8 weeks (S-15), 11.7%; and placebo (P-0) 9.9% (placebo versus 15 mg, p<0.05; 25 mg versus 15 mg, p<0.03; 25 mg versus placebo, p<0.001, Chi-squared test). There was no significant difference in success rate between the two active treatment durations. Of the first week abstainers (n=1,698), 25.1% achieved success at 12 months as opposed to first week smokers, 2.7% of 1,877 subjects (p< 0.001). In summary, a higher than standard dose of nicotine patch was associated with an increase in the long-term success in smoking cessation but continuation of treatment beyond 8-12 weeks did not increase the success rates.
Medical ultrasound systems (2011)

Medical ultrasound imaging has advanced dramatically since its introduction only a few decades ago. This paper provides a short historical background, and then briefly describes many of the system features and concepts required in a modern commercial ultrasound system. The topics addressed include array beam formation, steering and focusing; array and matrix transducers; echo image formation; tissue harmonic imaging; speckle reduction through frequency and spatial compounding, and image processing; tissue aberration; Doppler flow detection; and system architectures. It then describes some of the more practical aspects of ultrasound system design necessary to be taken into account for today's marketplace. It finally discusses the recent explosion of portable and handheld devices and their potential to expand the clinical footprint of ultrasound into regions of the world where medical care is practically non-existent. Throughout the article reference is made to ways in which ultrasound imaging has benefited from advances in the commercial electronics industry. It is meant to be an overview of the field as an introduction to other more detailed papers in this special issue.
Reproductive Health Policy in China: A Study of Preconception Care in Rural China (2014)

Objectives: Policy plays an important role in shaping preconception health and care. The purpose of this study was to explore how preconception care was defined in Chinese government policies. The specific aims of the study were to: (a) define and critically analyze the language of preconception care in the context of Chinese government policies and (b) explore rural women's and healthcare providers' views on preconception care-related government policies.
Bioinformatic Analysis of the Urine Proteome of Acute Allograft Rejection (2004)

The urinary proteome in health and disease attracts increasing attention because of the potential diagnostic and pathophysiologic biomarker information carried by specific excreted proteins or their constellations. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the urinary proteome in patients with biopsy-proven acute rejection (n = 23) compared with transplant recipients with stable graft function (n = 22) and healthy volunteers (n = 20) and to correlate this with clinical, morphologic, and laboratory data. Urine samples were preadsorbed on four different protein chip surfaces, and the protein composition was analyzed using a surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer platform. The data were analyzed using two independent approaches to sample classification. Patients who experienced acute rejection could be distinguished from stable patients with a sensitivity of 90.5 to 91.3% and a specificity of 77.2 to 83.3%, depending on the classifier used. Protein masses that were important in constructing the classification algorithms included those of mass 2003.0, 2802.6, 4756.3, 5872.4, 6990.6, 19,018.8, and 25,665.7 Da. Normal urine was distinguished from transplant urine using a protein marker of mass 78,531.2 Da with both a sensitivity and a specificity of 100%. In conclusion, (1) urine proteome in transplant recipients with stable graft function was significantly different from healthy control subjects, and (2) acute rejections were characterized by a constellation of excreted proteins. Analysis of the urinary proteome may expedite the noninvasive prediction of acute graft rejection, thus importantly assisting in establishing the diagnosis.