WTMS: a system for collecting and analyzing topic-specific Web information

With the explosive growth of the World Wide Web, it is becoming increasingly difficult for users to collect and analyze Web pages that are relevant to a particular topic. To address this problem we are developing WTMS, a system for Web topic management. In this paper we explain how the WTMS crawler efficiently collects Web pages for a topic. We also introduce the user interface of the system that integrates several techniques for analyzing the collection. Moreover, we present the various views of the interface that allow navigation through the information space. We highlight several examples to show how the system enables the user to gain useful insights about the collection.     

A finite-sample, distribution-free, probabilistic lower bound on mutual information

For any memoryless communication channel with a binary-valued input and a one-dimensional real-valued output, we introduce a probabilistic lower bound on the mutual information given empirical observations on the channel. The bound is built on the Dvoretzky-Kiefer-Wolfowitz inequality and is distribution free. A quadratic time algorithm is described for computing the bound and its corresponding class-conditional distribution functions. We compare our approach to existing techniques and show the superiority of our bound to a method inspired by Fano's inequality where the continuous random variable is discretized.     

Modulation of bilayer fluidity by lipid peroxidation of human placental syncytiotrophoblast membranes during embryogenesis

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema (HE) is a chronic multifactorial dermatosis with the presence of endogenous and exogenous factors in its pathogenesis. The etiologic diagnosis of hand eczema is often difficult. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were (1) to detect clinical history and clinical examination data capable of differentiating HE types; (2) to determine the importance of patch tests for the etiologic diagnosis of HE; and (3) on the basis of the definitive diagnosis of HE type with the aid of patch tests, to obtain relevant data for appropriate patient guidance for the control of HE. METHODS: A total of 250 patients with HE were studied over a period of 3 years (1993 to 1995). All patients were submitted to the battery of patch tests. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained led to the following conclusions: (1) Women are more predisposed to HE. (2) Work under moist conditions favors HE. (3) With respect to the regional location of HE, any region may be involved in any type of HE; however, involvement of the dorsal region is more common in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), followed by contact dermatitis owing to primary irritation (ICD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Location of HE on the dorsal surface of the fingers was mainly observed in ACD, followed by ICD and AD. (4) Patch tests should be part of the investigative routine of HE etiology. (5) The presence of allergy to metals in the clinical history of the patient is a relevant feature, because patch tests confirmed sensitization to nickel in 89% of cases. (6) Rubber components have high sensitization frequency in patients with HE. (7) When the patient reports worsening of HE after the use of rubber gloves, this indicates a probable sensitization to rubber components, mainly in patients with AD.     

Numerical results on some generalized random Fibonacci sequences

Random Fibonacci sequences are stochastic versions of the classical Fibonacci sequence $f_{n+1}=f_n+f_{n?1}$ for $n>0$, and $f_0=f_1=1$, obtained by randomizing one or both signs on the right side of the defining equation and/or adding a “growth parameter.” These sequences may be viewed as coming from a sequence of products of i.i.d. random matrices and their rate of growth measured by the associated Lyapunov exponent. Following the techniques presented by Embree and Trefethen in their numerical paper Embree and Trefethen (1999) [2], we study the behavior of the Lyapunov exponents as a function of the probability $p$ of choosing $+$ in the sign randomization.     

Investigating the inverted N-shape EKC in the presence of renewable and nuclear energy in a global sample

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - A major concern for the modern world is to deal with environmental issues without compromising on economic growth targets. Energy use from renewable...