Integrating perceptual and cognitive modeling for adaptive and intelligent human-computer interaction

This paper describes technology and tools for intelligent human-computer interaction (IHCI) in which human cognitive, perceptual, motor and affective factors are modeled and used to adapt the H-C interface. IHCI emphasizes that human behavior encompasses both apparent human behavior and the hidden mental state behind behavioral performance. IHCI expands on the interpretation of human activities, known as W4 (what, where, when, who). While W4 only addresses the apparent perceptual aspect of human behavior the W5+ technology for IHCI described in this paper addresses also the why and how questions, whose solution requires recognizing specific cognitive states. IHCI integrates parsing and interpretation of nonverbal information with a computational cognitive model of the user which, in turn, feeds into processes that adapt the interface to enhance operator performance and provide for rational decision-making. The technology proposed is based on a general four-stage interactive framework, which moves from parsing the raw sensory-motor input, to interpreting the user's motions and emotions, to building an understanding of the user's current cognitive state. It then diagnoses various problems in the situation and adapts the interface appropriately. The interactive component of the system improves processing at each stage. Examples of perceptual, behavioral, and cognitive tools are described throughout the paper Adaptive and intelligent HCI are important for novel applications of computing, including ubiquitous and human-centered computing.     

基于小波神经网络的炉膛火焰燃烧诊断方法

提出了一种基于数字图像处理及小波神经网络进行燃烧诊断的方法,并将经过训练的小波神经网络应用到锅炉的实时燃烧诊断中.现场实验表明,该方法具有准确、快速的优点,为锅炉安全的运行提供了更为可靠的依据.     

Mediated Electrochemistry to Mimic Biology's Oxidative Assembly of Functional Matrices

Biology uses diffusible oxidants to perform functions that range from signaling to matrix assembly, and these oxidation chemistries offer surprising selectivities. Here, it is reported that mediated electrochemistry can access the richness of such oxidation chemistries. Specifically, electrode‐imposed voltage inputs are used to locally generate oxidized mediators that can diffuse into polymer solutions and induce the formation of covalent bonds for the deposition and functionalization of hydrogels at the electrode surface. Depending on the mediator's redox potential (E⁰), it is possible to “gate” the voltage inputs to target specific residues (e.g., thiols or amines) and oxidation chemistries. Further, mediators of varying E⁰ offer different reactivities and thus allow control of reaction‐diffusion rates to modulate the hydrogel's crosslink density and mechanical properties. Importantly, this mediated oxidation can be performed under physiologically relevant conditions to preserve labile biological functionalities (e.g., cell viability and protein function). Finally, it is demonstrated that protein fusion tags can be engineered to have “targetable” amino acid residues that enable protein function to be oxidatively conjugated to electrodeposited hydrogels. In summary, mediated electrochemistry can engage orthogonal oxidation chemistries to create functionalized matrices and thus mediated electrochemistry should add important capabilities to the electrofabrication toolbox.     

Creating an effective security risk model for outsourcing decisions

Globalisation has had a fundamental impact on the way that business is conducted and approaches to sourcing work have evolved. Outsourcing is here to stay and the proportion of worldwide spend in this market-place will continue to rise. BT’s security community has successfully introduced a new risk model and supporting process to identify the key risk factors applicable to outsourcing, namely, specific environmental conditions, the number of third party personnel involved in the contract and the level of ‘trust’ given to these personnel. The importance of protective monitoring and audit regimes is highlighted from both a compliance and assurance perspective — and is being used to create effective engagement with outsourcing partners to raise security thresholds and discuss security issues. Globalisation, coupled with the requirement for more open networks, will continue to increase in the future and result in corporate infrastructure fragmentation and the breaking down of traditional boundaries. At the same time, approaches to security must also evolve — moving the focus from the infrastructure to the client, application and eventually the data level.     

The limits of testing particle-mediated oxidative stress in vitro in predicting diverse pathologies; relevance for testing of nanoparticles

In vitro studies with particles are a major staple of particle toxicology, generally used to investigate mechanisms and better understand the molecular events underlying cellular effects. However, there is ethical and financial pressure in nanotoxicology, the new sub-specialty of particle toxicology, to avoid using animals. Therefore an increasing amount of studies are being published using in vitro approaches and such studies require careful interpretation. We point out here that 3 different conventional pathogenic particle types, PM₁₀, asbestos and quartz, which cause diverse pathological effects, have been reported to cause very similar oxidative stress effects in cells in culture. We discuss the likely explanation and implications of this apparent paradox, and its relevance for testing in nanotoxicology.     

Simulating particle agglomeration in the flash smelting reaction shaft

A steady-state, axi-symmetric, numerical model was developed to investigate the agglomeration of molten particles of sulphide ore in the reaction shaft of a flash smelting process used for extracting copper. The turbulent, particle-laden, gas flow was simulated in conjunction with a population balance model to account for agglomeration. The agglomeration was found to depend primarily on the particle to gas mass loading ratio, and the particle size and turbulence intensity at the shaft inlet. Predictions compared well with the limited experimental data in the literature. Increasing the angle at which the flow enters the shaft from the burner was found to increase agglomeration up to a critical angle at which the flow behaviour changes. The results have implications for the control and reduction of dust levels in the waste gas stream.     

Synthesis and biological properties of novel pyridinioalkanoyl thiolesters (PATE) as anti-HIV-1 agents that target the viral nucleocapsid protein zinc fingers

Nucleocapsid p7 protein (NCp7) zinc finger domains of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are being developed as antiviral targets due to their key roles in viral replication and their mutationally nonpermissive nature. On the basis of our experience with symmetrical disulfide benzamides (DIBAs; Rice et al. Science 1995, 270, 1194-1197), we synthesized and evaluated variants of these dimers, including sets of 4,4'- and 3,3'-disubstituted diphenyl sulfones and their monomeric benzisothiazolone derivatives (BITA). BITAs generally exhibited diminished antiviral potency when compared to their disulfide precursors. Novel, monomeric structures were created by linking haloalkanoyl groups to the benzamide ring through -NH-C(=O)- (amide) or -S-C(=O)- (thiolester) bridges. Amide-linked compounds generally lacked antiviral activity, while haloalkanoyl thiolesters and non-halogen-bearing analogues frequently exhibited acceptable antiviral potency, thus establishing thiolester benzamides per se as a new anti-HIV chemotype. Pyridinioalkanoyl thiolesters (PATEs) exhibited superior anti-HIV-1 activity with minimal cellular toxicity and appreciable water solubility. PATEs were shown to preferentially target the NCp7 Zn finger when tested against other molecular targets, thus identifying thiolester benzamides, and PATEs in particular, as novel NCp7 Zn finger inhibitors for in vivo studies.     

Adenoma characteristics at first colonoscopy as predictors of adenoma recurrence and characteristics at follow-up. The Polyp Prevention Study Group

In Bacillus transformation, sexual isolation is known to be an exponential function of the sequence divergence between donor and recipient. Here, we have investigated the mechanism under which sequence divergence results in sexual isolation. We tested the effect of mismatch repair by comparing a wild-type strain and an isogenic mismatch-repair mutant for the relationship between sexual isolation and sequence divergence. Mismatch repair was shown to contribute to sexual isolation but was responsible for only a small fraction of the sexual isolation observed. Another possible mechanism of sexual isolation is that more divergent recipient and donor DNA strands have greater difficulty forming a heteroduplex because a region of perfect identity between donor and recipient is required for initiation of the heteroduplex. A mathematical model showed that this heteroduplex-resistance mechanism yields an exponential relationship between sexual isolation and sequence divergence. Moreover, this model yields an estimate of the size of the region of perfect identity that is comparable to independent estimates for Escherichia coli. For these reasons, and because all other mechanisms of sexual isolation may be ruled out, we conclude that resistance to heteroduplex formation is predominantly responsible for the exponential relationship between sexual isolation and sequence divergence in Bacillus transformation.     

Long-term expression and secretion of human glucocerebrosidase by primary murine and human myoblasts and differentiated myotubes

The majority of studies dealing with DNA analyses are made on fixed cells. In this context, the efficiency as fixatives of ethanol, methanol, acetone, Carnoy, Boehm-Sprenger and aldehydes was determined using two different DNA fluorescent probes, Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide. The purpose of our study was to find the fixative that would provide the best results with respect to the following parameters: aggregates, cell size and granularity, and DNA staining analysis. Using murine fibroblasts, we found that 68% ethanol, 85% methanol and aldehydes did not increase aggregate formation, whereas Carnoy, acetone or Boehm-Sprenger fixatives did. The results show that aldehydes seem to alter cell size least. All fixatives induce an increase in cell granularity, which is very pronounced with alcohols, but aldehydes alter morphology less than alcohols. We observed that the fixatives giving the best resolution with Hoechst 33342 staining lead to a lower measurement variability than with propidium iodide staining. This study leads us to conclude that 68% ethanol and 85% methanol can be considered as appropriate fixatives for flow cytometry studies of DNA content.     

Single-chain immunotoxins targeted to CD40 for the treatment of human B-lineage hematologic malignancies

Immunotoxins, in chemical conjugate form, have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials in patients with hematologic malignancies. Single-chain immunotoxins (SCIT) provide for enhanced therapeutic efficacy over chemical conjugate forms without additional toxicity and thus may result in improved antitumor activity. We have evaluated two SCITs targeted to CD40, a receptor expressed on most B-lineage hematologic malignancies, for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Both SCITs, G28-5 sFv-PE40 and BD1-G28-5 sFv, were highly potent and specifically cytotoxic against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell lines. G28-5 sFv-PE40 has proven to be efficacious in SCID mice bearing human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma xenografts. Antitumor activity has also been noted in preliminary studies using BD1-G28-5 sFv in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma models. The data presented here indicate that these agents should be considered for use in clinical trials in patients with refractive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other CD40-expressing hematologic malignancies.