Robust Modeling of Epistemic Mental States

This work identifies and advances some research challenges in the analysis of facial features and their temporal dynamics with epistemic mental states in dyadic conversations. Epistemic states are: Agreement, Concentration, Thoughtful, Certain, and Interest. In this paper, we perform a number of statistical analyses and simulations to identify the relationship between facial features and epistemic states. Non-linear relations are found to be more prevalent, while temporal features derived from original facial features have demonstrated a strong correlation with intensity changes. Then, we propose a novel prediction framework that takes facial features and their nonlinear relation scores as input and predict different epistemic states in videos. The prediction of epistemic states is boosted when the classification of emotion changing regions such as rising, falling, or steady-state are incorporated with the temporal features. The proposed predictive models can predict the epistemic states with significantly improved accuracy: correlation coefficient (CoERR) for Agreement is 0.827, for Concentration 0.901, for Thoughtful 0.794, for Certain 0.854, and for Interest 0.913.Comment: Accepted for Publication in Multimedia Tools and Application, Special Issue: Socio-Affective Technologie

Sorption and Transport Behaviour of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds in Soils and Sediments of Bangladesh and Their Impact on Groundwater Pollution : Laboratory Investigations and Model Simulations

*** Zugleich als Dissertation an der Univ. Tübingen erschienen, 2002 *** This thesis focuses on the elucidation of the sorption and related transport processes controlling the fate of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) (contaminants and pesticide) in the subsurface environment. For a variety of organic compounds (phenanthrene, 1,2-DCB, TCE and carbofuran) batch and column experiments were carried out with different geosorbents (deltaic, floodplain and residuum soils, aquifer sediments and peat) to simulate the effect in Bangladesh top soils and sediments and the ultimate impact on groundwater. Overall, the results reported here so far indicate that sorption in these samples for the chemicals investigated is dominated by the partitioning processes. A nonlinear type sorption isotherm is described by the combination of the partitioning and pore-filling mechanisms. The solubility normalized Freundlich model predicts an inverse linear relationship between the sorption coefficient measured at a given relative concentration vs. S which facilitate the prediction of sorption of a variety of pollutants based on measured data of one probe compound. An effect of preferential solute transport coupled with diffusion into the surrounding matrix region has been examined by conducting macropore flow column experiments. A new analytical solution was developed to model the breakthrough curves. The model accounts for advection in the macropore region, diffusion into the matrix region and linear sorption in both regions. From the experimental results and the model assumptions it was concluded that sorption equilibrium was not achieved during matrix diffusion at the time scale of the macropore flow experiment. The combination of batch and column experimental results together with materials (solids) and environmental properties and a use of solute transport model, can provide tools for cost-effective soil and groundwater risk assessment.*** Published as printed thesis at Tuebingen University, 2002 **

Role of women in Service Sector: A Study on Education Sector in Dhaka

From this message I want to discover the role of women in service industry, particularly in education sector. The specific objectives of this study are to identify the socio-economic background of women in education sector; to recognize the contribution of women in education service for socio-economic development of the country; to identify the problems of women in this sector; and finally to offer recommendation to overcome such problems. As the education sector of Bangladesh could be classified into three categories, namely primary secondary and tertiary education, samples have collected from these three sectors. Some specific issues related to stated objectives have been analyzed. The paper reveals that women are playing a complementary role in their family income and savings, though their position in the family for making decision has not changed significantly. They prefer education service not only to earn money but also to accommodate family responsibility. The major impediments to the development of participation of women in education sector include lack of support at home and work; and suitable environment in both places. Finally, it suggests for quota for involving more women in this sector, awareness program for family support, favorable environment, training facilities, and acknowledgement of women's contribution to society. This study is limited to only one district of Bangladesh out of total 64 districts, which gives an opportunity for conducting extensive research in future

Product data management practices in a Bangladeshi agrochemical company

Abstract. As businesses are relying more on information systems to carry out their processes, data is becoming an increasingly important factor for success. In particular, product data is necessary for tasks such as producing, selling, delivering, and invoicing a product within these systems. In the past, studies on product data and product data management management have primarily focused on product development and related activities, with little emphasis on PDM in other stages of a product’s lifecycle. The aim of this Master’s thesis is to explain the contribution of PDM in enhancing a company’s performance by improving its operational and business processes as well as the difficulties and requirements involved in implementing Product Data Management (PDM) practices in a Bangladeshi agrochemical company. The research encompasses overall comprehension of PDM as a company-wide initiative and suggests possible strategies for establishing company-wide PDM practices. To improve their data management practices for handling a broad range of varying products, the case company was surveyed and analyzed in this study. The author utilized a case study approach and conducted interviews to gather data from practitioners with firsthand experience and perspectives. This empirical data has contributed to a better understanding of company-wide PDM. The findings of this research suggest that standardized understanding of products throughout a company is necessary to facilitate effective management of product data. To establish effective PDM practices throughout a company, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of product data, which encompasses both product master data and general product data from different stakeholder viewpoints. When dealing with a wide range of products that need to be effectively managed, higher level product decisions have a considerable influence on product data management, and general guidelines may be vital for ease of management. The study emphasizes the significance of adopting a top-down approach for creating effective PDM practices, and the need for a generic product structure to facilitate consistent product management. The main contribution of this research is its guidance for managers in establishing true company-wide practices for managing product data

Does Personality Matter When We Are Sick? An Empirical Study of the Role of Personality Traits and Health Emotion in Healthcare Technology Adoption Decision

Several studies reported disparities among patients in using healthcare technologies. Although some researchers cited demographic characteristics as possible factors responsible for these disparities, these factors alone may not provide a complete view of adoption issues. Thus, disparities among technology users remain a topic of interest to Health Informatics researchers. Although personality traits are important factors in influencing technology adoption behavior, its’ influence in healthcare technology adoption decision remains unknown. Moreover, individuals’ emotion related to their on-going health issues further complicate the situation. Specifically, the interaction effect between patients’ personality traits and health emotional state is an important and interesting research topic that is yet to be explored. This study proposes and empirically tests a conceptual model incorporating individuals’ personality traits and health emotional states in the context of patient portal use. The results suggest interesting finding – individual’s health emotion supersedes the influence of personality traits in healthcare technology adoption decision

Removal of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) and Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) from Drinking Water

Studies have reported almost ubiquitous presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the aquatic environment globally. Many of these compounds have been documented to be detrimental to aquatic flora and fauna which have raised concerns regarding their potential health impacts on humans. Humans are unwittingly and indirectly exposed to EDCs and PPCPs as these emerging contaminants can easily flout conventional drinking water treatment processes. Lake Huron, despite being a major drinking water source for many communities around the Great Lakes area, remains largely unexplored in terms of assessing EDCs and PPCPs contamination. The current study thus focuses on the occurrence of selected EDCs and PPCPs in Lake Huron Water and their removal using O3/H2O2 based pre-coagulation advanced oxidation process (AOP). Raw water, collected from a drinking water intake on Lake Huron near Ontario and spiked with nine target EDCs and PPCPs at environmentally relevant concentrations, was treated in a dual train pilot scale treatment plant to achieve finished water turbidity less than 0.1 NTU. Poly-aluminum chloride (PAC1) was used as coagulant for the coagulation treatment during the study. Pre-coagulation AOP was applied on one side of the pilot plant. An O3 dose of 2.0-2.3 mg/L and 0.2 mg/L of H2O2 were applied. Solid phase extraction followed by LC-MS/MS, using electrospray ionization in both positive and negative modes was used to analyze the target micropollutants. Results show that pre-coagulation AOP can efficiently reduce the number of particles in finished water compared to the conventional treatment process. Also, improved filtered water turbidity was achieved during all the runs following AOP treatment. Sharp decline in ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254) was observed right after AOP while only minimal overall decrease in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was achieved. This indicates that the pre-coagulation AOP treatment did not mineralize organic carbon but probably formed intermediate products. Atrazine, carbamazepine and fluoxetine were detected in raw Lake Huron water on at least four occasions at mean concentrations lower than 60 ng/L. None of the target chemicals showed any significant removal following conventional coagulation, sedimentation and filtration processes. Most of the target pollutants plummeted to concentrations below the method detection limit following AOP. However, ibuprofen and atrazine were consistently showing resistance to the applied doses during the study. No significant improvements in removals were observed following coagulation and filtration process preceded by AOP. The findings of the study suggest that certain EDCs and PPCPs are present in Lake Huron water. It also indicates that the majority of Canadian Drinking water treatment plants, since they employ only conventional coagulation and filtration processes, will be not be able to remove EDCs and PPCPs contamination, if these compounds are present in raw drinking water sources

UTILIZING MIXED SURFACTANTS FOR SIMULTANEOUS PORE TEMPLATING AND ACTIVE SITE FORMATION IN METAL OXIDES

Self-assembled nonionic alkyl glycoside surfactants are of interest for creating functional adsorption and catalytic sites at the surface of mesoporous metal oxides, but they typically impart poor long-range order when used as pore templates. Improved order and control over the functional site density may be achieved by mixing them with a cationic surfactant. To confirm this hypothesis, we investigate the lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) phase behavior of aqueous solutions of the functional nonionic surfactant n-dodecyl β-D-maltoside (C12G2) and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16TAB). A ternary phase diagram of the C16TAB-C12G2-water system is developed at 50 °C. By replacing the volume of water in the phase diagram with an equivalent volume of silica, ordered mesoporous materials are prepared by nanocasting with variable C12G2/C16TAB ratios. Metal oxide mesophases can almost always be predicted from the ternary phase diagram, except that silica prepared with high C12G2/C16TAB ratios are very weakly ordered, perhaps due to differences in hydrogen bonding or rate of assembly. Based on the ternary phase diagram of the system, a systematic approach is taken to the incorporation of titania sites via complexation to the maltoside headgroup of C12G2. Complexation to a saccharide is expected not only to guide titanium to the pore surface, but also to prevent uncontrolled hydrolysis and condensation of the (usually quite reactive) titanium precursor. Tetrahedrally coordinated titanium atoms incorporated into a silica network are believed to be the active oxidation sites required for heterogeneous silica-supported titania oxidation catalysts. To promote well-ordered materials and to allow control over titania site density, the mixed C12G2 / C16TAB system is used for pore templating. Series of Si-Ti mixed oxide thin films and bulk materials are synthesized with different amounts of titanium loading by utilizing pre-complexation between C12G2 and titanium isopropoxide. The degrees of homogeneity (indicated by tetracoordinated Ti) in these films are superior to those of films synthesized with the same loading of titanium but without C12G2 or without pre-complexation. Transition metal-carbohydrate complexation provides highly dispersed, tetrahedrally coordinated titanium atoms rather than the octahedral sites found without saccharide complexation