Context-based information analysis for the Web environment

Finding the relevant set of information that satisfies an information request of a Web user in the availability of today’s vast amount of digital data is becoming a challenging problem. Currently, available Information Retrieval (IR) Systems are designed to return long lists of results, only a few of which are relevant for a specific user. In this paper, an IR method called Context-Based Information Analysis (CONIA) that investigates the context information of the user and user’s information request to provide relevant results for the given domain users is introduced. In this paper, relevance is measured by the semantics of the information provided in the documents. The information extracted from lexical and domain ontologies is integrated by the user’s interest information to expand the terms entered in the request. The obtained set of terms is categorized by a novel approach, and the relations between the categories are obtained from the ontologies. This categorization is used to improve the quality of the document selection by going beyond checking the availability of the words in the document by analyzing the semantic composition of the mapped terms.     

Three-dimensional direct-write lithography into photopolymer

We demonstrate a three-dimensional direct-write lithography system capable of writing deeply buried, localized index structures into diffusion-mediated photopolymer. The system is similar to that used for femtosecond writing in glass, but has a number of advantages including greater flexibility in the writing media and the ability to use low power, inexpensive, continuous-wave lasers. This system writes index structures both parallel and perpendicular to the writing beam in different types of photopolymers, providing control over the feature size and shape. We demonstrate that this system can be used to create single-mode waveguides that are deeply embedded in the photopolymer medium.     

Using global positioning system for bus priority in London: traffic signals close to bus stops

London's bus network is one of the largest and most comprehensive urban transport systems in the world. The contribution of buses is recognised by implementing a series of initiatives including bus priority at traffic signals. London has a long history of the implementation of bus priority at traffic signals. It has kept pace with the development of new technologies by updating its bus priority system. Now, London is moving towards a bus management system based on global positioning system (GPS), which will also be used to provide bus priority at traffic signals. The authors describe theoretical work carried out by TRG on behalf of Transport for London Bus Priority Team to tackle the challenge posed by locational error associated with GPS where a traffic signal is close to a bus stop     

Digestion of the dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, calcium and detergent-fibre fractions of the seed and pod of Stylosanthes humilis contained in terylene bags in the bovine rumen

The rates of digestion of the separated seed and pods of Stylosanthes humilis in Terylene bags in the rumen of cattle were studied. The rates of disappearance of dry matter, N, P, S, Ca and detergent fibre fractions and lignin were examined. The magnitude of the errors of determination were assessed statistically for dry matter digestion. Four bag replications were necessary to detect differences of 20% between samples. The cell contents constituted 80% of the seed dry matter, but only 20% of the pod dry matter. Lignin content of seed was negligible (0.5%), but was high in pods (18%). The seed was rapidly digested (77% of dry matter after 48 h). This was largely due to almost complete digestion of the cell contents. The pod was only slightly digested (14% at 48 h). Protein and phosphorus appeared to be selectively solubilised, but calcium was only slowly solubilised in both seed and pod. The cell-wall constituents present were compared to the concentrations of hemicellulose and cellulose found in seed and pod by more definitive chemical methods.     

Cogan's syndrome with arthritis and aortic insufficiency

A young man with nonsyphilitic keratitis and vestibulo-auditory dysfunction (Cogan's syndrome) and a recurrent febrile illness has been observed over a 10 year period. The systemic manifestations have included a splenic abscess vasculitis, pericarditis, aortic valvulitis, and mono-articular inflammatory arthritis.