Expressive visual text to speech and expression adaptation using deep neural networks

In this paper, we present an expressive visual text to speech system (VTTS) based on a deep neural network (DNN). Given an input text sentence and a set of expression tags, the VTTS is able to produce not only the audio speech, but also the accompanying facial movements. The expressions can either be one of the expressions in the training corpus or a blend of expressions from the training corpus. Furthermore, we present a method of adapting a previously trained DNN to include a new expression using a small amount of training data. Experiments show that the proposed DNN-based VTTS is preferred by 57.9% over the baseline hidden Markov model based VTTS which uses cluster adaptive training

Blowing the Whistle on Unethical Information Techmology Practices: The Role of Machiavellianism, Gender and Computer Liteacy

Although organizations can derive competitive advantages from developing and implementing information systems, they are confronted with a rising number of unethical information practices. Because end-users and computer experts are the conduit of an ethical organizational environment, their intention to report unethical IT-related practices plays a critical role in protecting intellectual property and privacy rights. Using the survey methodology, this paper investigates the relationship between willingness to report intellectual property and privacy violations and Machiavellianism, gender and computer literacy in the form of programming experience. We found that gender and computer literacy interact with Machiavellianism to influence individuals’ intention of reporting unethical IT practices. This study helps to improve our understanding of the emergent ethical issues existing in the IT-enabled decision environment

A TQM-Based Systems Development Process

Similar to manufacturing, a critical requirement to achieving high quality in the production of information systems (IS) is the ability to deploy the customers\u27 desires throughout the systems development process(SDP). The MIS literature has long recognized the importance of user involvement in the SDP (Davis, 1989; Davis, Bagozi, and Warshaw, 1989). The major objective of user involvement is to develop high quality systems with which users are comfortable and satisfied. Thespecification of requirements and the subsequent conversion of these requirements into a useful system is often a complex process. It is imperative to be able to capture user requirements accurately and in a fashion that is conducive to their transfer to a development methodology. This can result in detailed design specifications that reflect the user quality concerns and can lead to efficient and effective implementation. It is often assumed that the existing systems analysis, design, and implementation methodologies allow developers to document and keep track of the user requirements thus enabling development of an end product with which users are satisfied. Situations where users are dissatisfied with a system are nevertheless not uncommon. This dissatisfaction is the result of the users\u27 perceptions of quality not being met. Careful attention to details and user involvement in the development process increase the potential for, but do not guarantee, a high-quality system. It is important to realize thatthe traditional systems development methodologies do not explicitly document user quality attributes. They also make no provisions for ensuring that those quality characteristics are properly and systematically considered throughout the various stages of the development process. It is possible that some user requirements such as ease of use, maintenance, and security are not captured in data and process modeling. It may also be the case that quality features related to hardware or support services and other user requirements are either not explicitly considered or they vanish in the stepwise refinement process, which typically emphasizes software. This paper highlights limitations of the traditional systems analysis and design methods as they relate to user perceptions and measures of quality, and proposes a method of integrating quality function deployment into the SD

Mucosal delivery of tuberculosis vaccines: a review of current approaches and challenges.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health threat and it is now clear that the current vaccine, BCG, is unable to arrest the global TB epidemic. A new vaccine is needed to either replace or boost BCG so that a better level of protection could be achieved. The route of entry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism, is via inhalation making TB primarily a respiratory disease. There is therefore good reason to hypothesize that a mucosally delivered vaccine against TB could be more effective than one delivered via the systemic route.Areas covered: This review summarizes the progress that has been made in the area of TB mucosal vaccines in the last few years. It highlights some of the strengths and shortcomings of the published evidence and aims to discuss immunological and practical considerations in the development of mucosal vaccines.Expert opinion: There is a growing body of evidence that the mucosal approach to vaccination against TB is feasible and should be pursued. However, further key studies are necessary to both improve our understanding of the protective immune mechanisms operating in the mucosa and the technical aspects of aerosolized delivery, before such a vaccine could become a feasible, deployable strategy

Two-phase homogeneous diffusion model for the fixed bed sorption of heavy metals on natural zeolites

In this work, the fixed bed removal kinetics of Pb2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Cr3+, Fe3+ and Cu2+ from aqueous solutions on natural zeolites was studied. For this aim, a non-dimensional two-phase homogeneous solid diffusion model including axial dispersion and equipped with a universal double-selectivity equilibrium model is developed and applied. In total 9 isotherms, representing 128 experimental points and 25 breakthrough curves, representing 764 experimental points are used in modeling. The application of the model is satisfactory resulted in an average deviation from the experimental data of 11.19 ± 5.53%. The solid phase diffusion coefficients are between 10−7 and 10−9 cm2/s depending on the metal, flow rate and particle size in the decreasing order of Cu > Fe, Cr > Zn, Pb > Mn. The study is supplemented by an extended literature review on fixed bed models and experimentally derived solid phase diffusion coefficients in zeolites

Sustainable treatment method of a high concentrated NH3 wastewater by using natural zeolite in closed-loop fixed bed systems

The aim of this study is to investigate ammonium removal from a wastewater resulted after homogenization and anaerobic digestion of a mixture of wastes and wastewater from animal processing units and sewage sludge, by using natural zeolite clinoptilolite. Batches as well as closed loop fixed bed system (CLFB) are studied, offering an alternative to conventional fixed bed systems. The experimental results showed that the optimum pH is in the vicinity of 6.48, where the achieved removal in the batch system reached 46%. The CLFB system, under the same experimental conditions and relative flow rate of 2.56 BV h−1, reached a removal of 55%, which is almost 22% higher. In the CLFB the removal of ammonia could be further increased by diluting the initial solution by 1/8, reaching the level of 96%. The achieved zeolite loading, for all studied systems, is between 2.62 and 13 mg g−1. This kind of operation is very useful for relatively high concentration and small volumes of wastewater and in systems that there is no need for continuous flow operation

Effect of tumor necrosis factor antagonism on allergen-mediated asthmatic airway inflammation

SummaryObjectiveTo assess whether tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonism can attenuate eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with mild-to-moderate allergic asthma.DesignRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.SettingNational Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center.PatientsTwenty-six patients with mild-to-moderate allergic asthma, receiving only inhaled β-2-agonists, who demonstrated both an early and late phase response to inhalational allergen challenge.InterventionInjection of a soluble TNF receptor (TNFR:Fc, etanercept, Enbrel) or placebo, 25mg subcutaneously, twice weekly for 2 weeks, followed by a bronchoscopic segmental allergen challenge.MeasurementsThe primary outcome measure was whether TNFR:Fc can access the lung and inhibit TNF bioactivity. Secondary outcome measures included pulmonary eosinophilia, Th2-type cytokines, and airway hyperresponsiveness.ResultsAnti-TNF therapy was associated with transient hemiplegia in one patient, which resulted in suspension of the study. Data from the 21 participants who completed the study were analyzed. Following treatment, patients receiving anti-TNF therapy had significantly increased TNFR2 levels in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) (P<0.001), consistent with delivery of TNFR:Fc to the lung. TNF antagonism did not attenuate pulmonary eosinophilia and was associated with an increase in ELF IL-4 levels (P=0.033) at 24h following segmental allergen challenge. TNF antagonism was not associated with a change in airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine.ConclusionsTNF antagonism may not be effective for preventing allergen-mediated eosinophilic airway inflammation in mild-to-moderate asthmatics. Transient hemiplegia, which may mimic an evolving stroke, may be a potential toxicity of anti-TNF therapy

Regulation of breast cancer stem cell activity by signaling through the Notch4 receptor

The Notch receptor signalling pathway plays an important role in breast development, regulation of stem cells and differentiation of luminal progenitor cells. The pathway also plays a significant role in breast cancer development and progression. However, which of the Notch receptors that regulate breast cancer stem cells is unknown. We assessed stem cell activity in breast cancer cell lines and nine primary human tumour samples. In vitro and in vivo breast cancer stem cell activity was enriched using selection of anoikis resistant cells or cells expressing the membrane phenotype ESA(+)/CD44(+)/CD24(low). We compared the activation of Notch receptors in the breast cancer stem cell-enriched population to luminally differentiated cells and studied the effects of pathway inhibition, both in vitro and in vivo. We find that Notch4 signalling activity is 8-fold higher in the breast cancer stem cell-enriched cells compared to the differentiated cells while Notch1 activation is 4-fold lower in breast cancer stem cells. Furthermore, pharmacological or genetic Notch inhibition markedly reduced breast cancer stem cell activity in vitro, and significantly reduced tumour formation in vivo. Importantly, cells with Notch4 knock-down using specific shRNA formed fewer mammosphere colonies than Notch1 knock-down cells. In vivo Notch1 knock-down, like pharmacological inhibition, reduced the number and size of tumours but Notch4 knock-down suppressed tumour initiation completely. Our findings indicate that Notch4-targeted therapies will be more effective than targeting Notch1 in suppressing breast cancer recurrence initiated by breast cancer stem cells