Computerized conferencing for knowledge acquisition from multiple experts

The increasing complecity of many expert system application areas calls for the integration of the knowledge of multiple experts. The use of multiple experts introduces some interesting new problems during the process of knowledge acquisition. The problems are further complicated when the experts are geographically dispersed or unavailable for face-to-face interactions.

This article discusses the motivations for acquiring the knowledge of multiple experts, the problems related to knowledge acquisition, new issues that arise whens multiple experts interact, solutions that can be brought to bear in building multiple expert systems (particularly when experts are geographically dispersed), and new tools for knowledge engineers to use when dealing with multiple experts.     

Catalytic properties and electronic structure of copper ions in Cu-ZSM-5

The effect of ion exchange conditions, such as Si/Al ratio, precursor copper salt, pH and concentration of the solution, on the catalytic activity in SCR of NO by propane and on the electronic state of copper ions in Cu-ZSM-5 has been studied. The NO conversion in NO SCR by C₃H₈ has been found to reach a maximum value at Cu/Al ratio about 0.37–0.4 and remain constant at higher Cu/Al.

ESR and UV–vis DR spectroscopy have been used to elucidate stabilization conditions of copper ions in Cu-ZSM-5 zeolites as isolated Cu²⁺ ions, chain copper oxide structures and square-plain oxide clusters. The ability of copper ions for reduction and reoxidation in the chain structures may be responsible for the catalytic activity of Cu-ZSM-5. These transformations of copper ions are accompanied by the observation of intervalence transitions Cu²⁺–Cu⁺ and CTLM of the chain structures in the UV–vis spectra.     

近期国内天然橡胶市场动态

本周（10月20～24日）亚洲天胶市场天胶价格小幅震荡，现货市场成交有限。期货沪胶在13000元震荡较为明显，市场商家仍多处于观望状态，对橡胶后市信心不足。本周CIF中国主港11月船期报价：泰国烟片胶RSS3外盘报价1640美元-1675美元／吨，泰国标准胶STR20外盘报价1550美元～1605美元／吨，印尼标准胶SIR20外盘报价1560美元～1580美元／吨，马来西亚标准胶SMR20外盘报价1670美元～1705美元／吨，越南标准胶SVR3L外盘报价1670美元-1705美元／吨，泰国乳胶外盘报价1340美元～1390美元／吨。本周国内天胶两大产区均未有成交，本周标准胶SCR5近期跟随期货市场价格波动，国内大部分销区市场主流报价在14700元～16000元／吨左右，下跌幅度高达1000元／吨左右。     

Effects of compressive and tensile stress on the growth mode of epitaxial oxide films

Oxide films were deposited on different substrates by laser molecular beam epitaxy. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction was performed to in situ investigate the change of growth mode and the lattice relaxation during the growth. An asymmetrical phenomenon was found in the two kinds of strain states, compressive stress and tensile stress of heterostructures with different lattice mismatch. In the case of BaTiO₃/SrTiO₃ (2.2%), 2D layer-by-layer growth mode without lattice relaxation can be maintained for a longer period for BTO films on STO with compressive stress, comparing to STO films on BTO with tensile stress. When MgO films were deposited on SrTiO₃ with a large mismatch of 7.8%, compressive stress leads to rapid lattice relaxation with a very thin wet layer, and 3D strained island were observed. As a comparison, SrTiO₃ films on MgO with tensile stress were configured. No RHEED patterns can be observed duo to a large tensile stress.     

Integration of prior knowledge of measurement noise in kernel density classification

Samples can be measured with different precisions and reliabilities in different experiments, or even within the same experiment. These varying levels of measurement noise may deteriorate the performance of a pattern recognition system, if not treated with care. Here we seek to investigate the benefit of incorporating prior knowledge about measurement noise into system construction. We propose a kernel density classifier which integrates such prior knowledge. Instead of using an identical kernel for each sample, we transform the prior knowledge into a distinct kernel for each sample. The integration procedure is straightforward and easy to interpret. In addition, we show how to estimate the diverse measurement noise levels in a real world dataset. Compared to the basic methods, the new kernel density classifier can give a significantly better classification performance. As expected, this improvement is more obvious for small sample size datasets and large number of features.     

Formation of the complex oxide NaNdTiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The processes of phase formation in the Na₂CO₃-TiO₂ and Na₂CO₃-TiO₂-Nd₂O₃ systems are investigated in the temperature range 600–900°C. The high-temperature solid-phase reactions underlying the process of formation of complex oxide NaNdTiO4 are studied. It is established that the synthesis of the NaNdTiO₄ compound occurs through the reaction of the intermediate product Na₈Ti₅O₁₄ with neodymium oxide in the temperature range 720–780°C. The optimum method is proposed for synthesizing NaNdTiO₄, which makes it possible to reduce the temperature of the synthesis, to avoid the formation of impurities, and to obtain the product in a finely dispersed state.     

Studies on the microstructure of the black-glazed bowl sherds excavated from the Jian kiln site of ancient China

The Jian kiln, located in present-day Jianyang county of Fujian province, mainly produced black-glazed tea bowls. Jian tea bowl was used as a utensil for tea tasting and was greatly appreciated by emperor Huizong of the Northern Song dynasty. The black glaze of Jian bowl was sometimes marked with streaks or spots, usually called “hare's fur” or “oil spot”, which are the crystalline markings of iron oxide precipitated during firing in the dragon kiln. In this study, black-glazed Jian bowl sherds excavated from the late Northern Song strata of Luhuaping and Daluhoumen Jian kiln sites were adopted as test samples. Based on the physico-chemical foundation for the formation of glaze microstructure, the correlation among composition, microstructure, and visual appearance has been investigated by means of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and field emission electron microscopy. For the first time, the study provides realizing proofs for two kinds of microstructural forming mechanics.     

富氧燃烧技术在梭式窑中的应用

研究了富氧燃烧技术对梭式窑烧成的影响.研究结果表明,随着氧浓度从21%-30%的逐渐增加,CO总浓度和NO总浓度都先明显下降,后缓慢上升;节能效果在初始段较为明显,而后效果不明显;而实际烟气量与氧浓度成反比,与过剩空气系数成正比.     

Protoplast from <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-carotene-producing fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blakeslea trispora</Emphasis>: Preparation,regeneration and validation

The effects of key parameters on the preparation and regeneration of protoplast from the β-carotene-producing fungus Blakeslea trispora were discussed in this paper, including the combination of various enzymes, mycelial age, digesting time and temperature, pH value, osmotic stabilizers, pretreatment, culture medium and culture method. Under the condition of mixed enzymes in osmotic stabilizer (0.6 M NaCl) combined with 2% lysozyme, 3% cellulase and 3% snailase, the highest protoplast yield, as high as 7.48×106 protoplasts/mL, was obtained when mycelial age was 60 h at pH 5.0–6.0 with digesting for 14–16 h at 28 °C. After purification of the obtained protoplasts, they were regenerated in PDA regenerative medium using bilayer plate culture method. To validate the usability of the protoplasts, a novel plasmid with green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used in transformation for easy visual observation. The results showed that the protoplasts prepared by the optimized method were active and applicable in further gene manipulation experiments. This work was presented at 13 ^th YABEC symposium held at Seoul, Korea, October 20–22, 2007.