Generation of multi-modal dialogue for a net environment

In this paper an architecture and special purpose markup language for simulated affective face-to-face communication is presented. In systems based on this architecture, users will be able to watch embodied conversational agents interact with each other in virtual locations on the internet. The markup language, or Rich Representation Language (RRL), has been designed to provide an integrated representation of speech, gesture, posture and facial animation

Effects of Interfacial Energetics on the Effective Surface Recombination Velocity of Si/Liquid Contacts

Photoconductivity decay data have been obtained for NH_4F_((aq))-etched Si(111) and for air-oxidized Si(111) surfaces in contact with solutions of methanol, tetrahydrofuran (THF), or acetonitrile containing either ferrocene^(+/0) (Fc^(+/0)), [bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)iron]^(+/0) (Me_(10)Fc^(+/0)), iodine (I_2), or cobaltocene^(+/0) (CoCp_2^(+/0)). Carrier decay measurements were made under both low-level and high-level injection conditions using a contactless rf photoconductivity decay apparatus. When in contact with electrolyte solutions having either very positive (Fc^(+/0), I_2/I^-) or relatively negative (CoCp_2^(+/0)) Nernstian redox potentials with respect to the conduction-band edge of Si, Si surfaces exhibited low effective surface recombination velocities. In contrast, surfaces that were exposed only to N_2(g) ambients or to electrolyte solutions that contained a mild oxidant (such as Me_(10)Fc^(+/0)) showed differing rf photoconductivity decay behavior depending on their different surface chemistry. Specifically, surfaces that possessed Si−OCH_3 bonds, produced by reaction of H-terminated Si with CH_3OH−Fc^(+/0), showed lower surface recombination velocities in contact with N_(2(g)) or in contact with CH_3OH−Me_(10)Fc^(+/0) solutions than did NH_4F_((aq))-etched, air-exposed H-terminated Si(111) surfaces in contact with the same ambients. Furthermore, the CH_3OH−Fc^(+/0)-treated surfaces showed lower surface recombination velocities than surfaces containing Si−I bonds, which were formed by the reaction of H-terminated Si surfaces with CH_3OH−I_2 or THF−I_2 solutions. These results can all be consistently explained through reference to the electrochemistry of Si/liquid contacts. In conjunction with prior measurements of the near-surface channel conductance for p^+−n−p^+ Si structures in contact with CH_3OH−Fc^(+/0) solutions, the data reveal that formation of an inversion layer (i.e., an accumulation of holes at the surface) on n-type Si, and not a reduced density of surface electrical trap sites, is primarily responsible for the long charge carrier lifetimes observed for Si surfaces in contact with CH_3OH or THF electrolytes containing I_2 or Fc^(+/0). Similarly, formation of an accumulation layer (i.e., an accumulation of electrons at the surface) consistently explains the low effective surface recombination velocity observed for the Si/CH_3OH−CoCp_2 and Si/CH_3CN−CoCp_2 contacts. Detailed digital simulations of the photoconductivity decay dynamics for semiconductors that are in conditions of inversion or depletion while in contact with redox-active electrolytes support these conclusions

Measurement of the Free-Energy Dependence of Interfacial Charge-Transfer Rate Constants using ZnO/H_2O Semiconductor/Liquid Contacts

The dependence of electron-transfer rate constants on the driving force for interfacial charge transfer has been investigated using n-type ZnO electrodes in aqueous solutions. Differential capacitance versus potential and current density versus potential measurements were used to determine the energetics and kinetics, respectively, of the interfacial electron-transfer processes. A series of nonadsorbing, one-electron, outer-sphere redox couples with formal reduction potentials that spanned approximately 900 mV allowed evaluation of both the normal and Marcus inverted regions of interfacial electron-transfer processes. All rate processes were observed to be kinetically first-order in the concentration of surface electrons and first-order in the concentration of dissolved redox acceptors. The band-edge positions of the ZnO were essentially independent of the Nernstian potential of the solution over the range 0.106−1.001 V vs SCE. The rate constant at optimal exoergicity was observed to be approximately 10^(-16) cm4 s^(-1). The rate constant versus driving force dependence at n-type ZnO electrodes exhibited both normal and inverted regions, and the data were well-fit by a parabola generated using classical Marcus theory with a reorganization energy of 0.67 eV. NMR line broadening measurements of the self-exchange rate constants indicated that the redox couples had reorganization energies of 0.64−0.69 eV. The agreement between the reorganization energy of the ions in solution and the reorganization energy for the interfacial electron-transfer processes indicated that the reorganization energy was dominated by the redox species in the electrolyte, as expected from an application of Marcus theory to semiconductor electrodes

Hyponatraemia and changes in natraemia during hospitalization for acute heart failure and associations with in-hospital and long-term outcomes – from the ESC-HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims To comprehensively assess hyponatraemia in acute heart failure (AHF) regarding prevalence, associations, hospital course, and post-discharge outcomes.Methods and results Of 8298 patients in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry hospitalized for AHF with any ejection fraction, 20% presented with hyponatraemia (serum sodium <135 mmol/L). Independent predictors included lower systolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and haemoglobin, along with diabetes, hepatic disease, use of thiazide diuretics, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, digoxin, higher doses of loop diuretics, and non-use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers. In-hospital death occurred in 3.3%. The prevalence of hyponatraemia and in-hospital mortality with different combinations were: 9% hyponatraemia both at admission and discharge (hyponatraemia Yes/Yes, in-hospital mortality 6.9%), 11% Yes/No (in-hospital mortality 4.9%), 8% No/Yes (in-hospital mortality 4.7%), and 72% No/No (in-hospital mortality 2.4%). Correction of hyponatraemia was associated with improvement in eGFR. In-hospital development of hyponatraemia was associated with greater diuretic use and worsening eGFR but also more effective decongestion. Among hospital survivors, 12-month mortality was 19% and adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were for hyponatraemia Yes/Yes 1.60 (1.35- 1.89), Yes/No 1.35 (1.14-1.59), and No/Yes 1.18 (0.96-1.45). For death or heart failure hospitalization they were 1.38 (1.21- 1.58), 1.17 (1.02- 1.33), and 1.09 (0.93-1.27), respectively.Conclusion Among patients with AHF, 20% had hyponatraemia at admission, which was associated with more advanced heart failure and normalized in half of patients during hospitalization. Admission hyponatraemia (possibly dilutional), especially if it did not resolve, was associated with worse in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes. Hyponatraemia developing during hospitalization (possibly depletional) was associated with lower risk

Association between loop diuretic dose changes and outcomes in chronic heart failure: observations from the ESC-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

[Abstract] Aims. Guidelines recommend down-titration of loop diuretics (LD) once euvolaemia is achieved. In outpatients with heart failure (HF), we investigated LD dose changes in daily cardiology practice, agreement with guideline recommendations, predictors of successful LD down-titration and association between dose changes and outcomes. Methods and results. We included 8130 HF patients from the ESC-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry. Among patients who had dose decreased, successful decrease was defined as the decrease not followed by death, HF hospitalization, New York Heart Association class deterioration, or subsequent increase in LD dose. Mean age was 66±13 years, 71% men, 62% HF with reduced ejection fraction, 19% HF with mid-range ejection fraction, 19% HF with preserved ejection fraction. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] LD dose was 40 (25–80) mg. LD dose was increased in 16%, decreased in 8.3% and unchanged in 76%. Median (IQR) follow-up was 372 (363–419) days. Diuretic dose increase (vs. no change) was associated with HF death [hazard ratio (HR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–2.08; P = 0.008] and nominally with cardiovascular death (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.96–1.63; P = 0.103). Decrease of diuretic dose (vs. no change) was associated with nominally lower HF (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.33–1.07; P = 0.083) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.62 95% CI 0.38–1.00; P = 0.052). Among patients who had LD dose decreased, systolic blood pressure [odds ratio (OR) 1.11 per 10 mmHg increase, 95% CI 1.01–1.22; P = 0.032], and absence of (i) sleep apnoea (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.69; P = 0.008), (ii) peripheral congestion (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29–0.80; P = 0.005), and (iii) moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37–0.87; P = 0.008) were independently associated with successful decrease. Conclusion. Diuretic dose was unchanged in 76% and decreased in 8.3% of outpatients with chronic HF. LD dose increase was associated with worse outcomes, while the LD dose decrease group showed a trend for better outcomes compared with the no-change group. Higher systolic blood pressure, and absence of (i) sleep apnoea, (ii) peripheral congestion, and (iii) moderate/severe mitral regurgitation were independently associated with successful dose decrease

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%