Constructive Visual Analytics for Text Similarity Detection

Detecting similarity between texts is a frequently encountered text mining task. Because the measurement of similarity is typically composed of a number of metrics, and some measures are sensitive to subjective interpretation, a generic detector obtained using machine learning often has difficulties balancing the roles of different metrics according to the semantic context exhibited in a specific collection of texts. In order to facilitate human interaction in a visual analytics process for text similarity detection, we first map the problem of pairwise sequence comparison to that of image processing, allowing patterns of similarity to be visualized as a 2D pixelmap. We then devise a visual interface to enable users to construct and experiment with different detectors using primitive metrics, in a way similar to constructing an image processing pipeline. We deployed this new approach for the identification of commonplaces in 18th‐century literary and print culture. Domain experts were then able to make use of the prototype system to derive new scholarly discoveries and generate new hypotheses.     

Chemical investigation of oil of the seed of “White Todri” (Matthiola incana,R.Br.)

The fixed oil from the seeds of 舠White Todri舡,Matthiola incana, R.Br. (Cruciferae), of Indian origin, has been studied for its component acids. The fatty acid composition was found to be myristic (2.60%), palmitic (4.73%), steric (4.37%), arachidic (2.50%), lignoceric (?) (0.73%), oleic (32.17%), linoleic (21.70%), linolenic (10.70%), erucic (13.10%), and resin acids (7.40%).     

Alcoholysis of palm oil mid-fraction by lipase from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis

A mycelial lipase from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis was prepared in fragment form. The lipase was examined to catalyze the alcoholysis of palm oil mid-fraction (PMF) in organic solvents. High percentage conversions of PMF to alkyl esters were achieved when methanol or propanol was used as acyl acceptor. Of the two most prevalent fatty acids in PMF, palmitic acid seemed to be preferred over oleic acid in the formation of methyl and propyl esters. The optimal ratio of oil to methanol in the alcoholysis reaction is 1 to 2 moles. The lipase exhibited high alcoholysis activities in nonpolar solvents (log P>2), such as hexane, benzene, toluene, and heptane. The enzyme showed exceptionally high thermostability.     

Synthesis and characterization of side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyacrylates containing azobenzene moieties

Syntheses of novel liquid‐crystalline polymers containing azobenzene moieties were performed by a convenient route with an acrylate backbone. The azobenzenes were key intermediates of the monomers, and side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polymers were prepared, that is, poly[α‐{4‐[(4‐acetylphenyl)azo]phenoxy}alkyloxy]acrylates, for which the spacer length was 3 or 11 methylene units. In addition, poly[3‐{4‐[(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)azo]phenoxy}propyloxy]acrylate was prepared with a spacer length of 3 methylene units. The structures of the precursors, monomers, and polymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR techniques. The polymers were obtained by conventional free‐radical polymerization with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The phase‐transition temperatures of the polymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, and the phase structures were evaluated with a polarizing optical microscopy technique. The results showed that two of the monomers and their corresponding polymers exhibited nematic liquid‐crystalline behavior, and one of the monomers and its corresponding polymer showed smectic liquid‐crystalline behavior. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2653–2661, 2002     

Mechanical properties study of photocured paperboard surface treated with aliphatic epoxy diacrylate

In order to improve the quality of paperboard (a well‐known packing material) surface by photocuring method, different formulations were developed with aliphatic epoxy diacrylate (EA‐1020) oligomer along with reactive monomers of various functionalities. The reactive monomers are tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), a difunctional monomer, and trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA), a trifunctional monomer. 2‐Benzyl‐2‐dimethylamino‐1(4morpholinophenyl) butanone‐1 (Irgacure 369), a photoinitiator (2%), was incorporated into the formulations to initiate photocuring reaction. The formulated solutions were coated on clean glass plate and irradiated under UV radiation of different intensities. Different physical properties like pendulum hardness and gel content of the cured films were studied. The formulation containing TMPTA showed better properties. After characterization of the films, these formulations were applied on paperboard surfaces and cured under the same UV radiation. Various physicomechanical properties such as pendulum hardness, tensile properties, surface gloss, adhesion, abrasion, and water uptake were studied. The best performance was obtained at 12 passes of radiation with 18% TMPTA‐containing formulation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1774–1780, 2003     

Comparison of the mechanical properties and interfacial interactions between talc,kaolin, and calcium carbonate filled polypropylene composites

Three types of mineral fillers—talc, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and kaolin (10–40 wt % filler loadings)—were compounded with polypropylene (PP) with a twin‐screw extruder. The composites were injection‐molded, and the effects of the filler loading on the mechanical, flow, and thermal properties for the three different types of filled composites were investigated. The aim was to compare their properties and to deduce prospective filler combinations that would yield hybrid PP composites in following studies. The results showed that in most cases, the strength and stiffness of the talc‐filled PP composites was significantly higher than those of the CaCO₃‐ and kaolin‐filled PP composites. However, CaCO₃, being a nonreactive filler, increased the toughness of PP. The kaolin‐filled PP composites also showed some improvement in terms of strength and stiffness, although the increases in these properties were not as significant as those of the talc‐filled PP composites. The effects of interfacial interactions between the fillers and PP on the mechanical properties were also evaluated with semiempirical equations. The nucleating ability of all three fillers was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, and the strongest nucleating agent of the three was talc, followed by CaCO₃ and kaolin. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3315–3326, 2004     

Effect of emulsion temperature on physical properties of palm oil-based margarine

Margarines made from refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil at different emulsion temperatures showed no significant difference in their consistency, polymorphic behavior, and solid fat content (SFC) during storage, although differences were observed during processing. The emulsion temperatures studied were 40, 45, and 50°C, with other parameters such as emulsion flow rates, tube cooler temperature, and pin rotor speed kept constant. The SFC developed during processing and storage at 28°C was measured to evaluate the quality of margarine. The emulsion contained no SFC at any emulsion temperature studied. However, the amount of SFC in the perfector or tube cooler unit increased to 15.9, 13.9, and 15.6% in margarine produced at emulsion temperatures of 40, 45, and 50°C, respectively. At 40°C, the lowest SFC was developed during storage even though this margarine had the highest consistency. The softening point of this sample was moderately high and closely related to the type of crystal developed, which was a mixture of β′ and β crystals. Emulsion at 45°C gave the most stable margarine consistency and SFC with crystal in the β′ form even after the fourth week. At 50°C, moderately soft product was produced, which might be undesirable for some applications, although the crystals were in the β′ form.     

The use of chromium waste sludge for the adsorption of colour from dye effluent streams

Adsorption studies show that chromium hydroxide precipitates can be used for the removal of methylene blue, reactive blue, congo red and disperse orange dyes from aqueous media. Three different mechanisms are involved: attraction of positive surface charges on the precipitate at low pH for dye anions (reactive blue and congo red); attraction of negative surface charges on hydroxide at high pH for dye cations (methylene blue), and dye particle entrapment for the neutral disperse orange. The point of zero charge of the chromium hydroxide precipitate based on the dye adsorption studies is pH 10.5. The changes in the surface charge of such precipitates with pH can be used to achieve the removal of any charged dye species. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry