Large-scale analysis of self-disclosure patterns among online social networks users: a Russian context

Online social network services (SNS) provide an unprecedented rich source of information about millions of users worldwide. However, most existing studies of this emerging phenomenon are limited to relatively small data samples, with an emphasis on mostly “western” online communities (such as Facebook and MySpace users in Western countries). To understand the cultural characteristics of users of online social networks, this paper explores the behavioral patterns of more than 16 million users of a popular social network in the Russian segment of the Internet, namely, My.Mail.Ru (also known as “My World” or “Moj Mir” in Russian). Our main goal is to study the self-disclosure patterns of the site users as a function of their age and gender. We compare the findings of our analysis to the previous studies on Western users of SNS and discuss the culturally distinctive aspects. Our study highlights some important cultural differences in usage patterns among Russian users, which call for further studies in SNS in various cultural contexts.     

Avoiding the Look‐Ahead Pathology of Decision Tree Learning

Most decision‐tree induction algorithms are using a local greedy strategy, where a leaf is always split on the best attribute according to a given attribute‐selection criterion. A more accurate model could possibly be found by looking ahead for alternative subtrees. However, some researchers argue that the look‐ahead should not be used due to a negative effect (called “decision‐tree pathology”) on the decision‐tree accuracy. This paper presents a new look‐ahead heuristics for decision‐tree induction. The proposed method is called look‐ahead J48 ( LA‐J48) as it is based on J48, the Weka implementation of the popular C4.5 algorithm. At each tree node, the LA‐J48 algorithm applies the look‐ahead procedure of bounded depth only to attributes that are not statistically distinguishable from the best attribute chosen by the greedy approach of C4.5. A bootstrap process is used for estimating the standard deviation of splitting criteria with unknown probability distribution. Based on a separate validation set, the attribute producing the most accurate subtree is chosen for the next step of the algorithm. In experiments on 20 benchmark data sets, the proposed look‐ahead method outperforms the greedy J48 algorithm with the gain ratio and the gini index splitting criteria, thus avoiding the look‐ahead pathology of decision‐tree induction.     

Condition-based Maintenance with Multi-Target Classification Models

Condition-based maintenance (CBM) recommends maintenance actions based on the information collected through condition monitoring. In many modern cars, the condition of each subsystem can be monitored by onboard vehicle telematics systems. Prognostics is an important aspect in a CBM program as it deals with prediction of future faults. In this paper, we present a data mining approach to prognosis of vehicle failures. A multitarget probability estimation algorithm (M-IFN) is applied to an integrated database of sensor measurements and warranty claims with the purpose of predicting the probability and the timing of a failure in a given subsystem. The results of the multi-target algorithm are shown to be superior to a singletarget probability estimation algorithm (IFN) and reliability modeling based on Weibull analysis.     

Evaluation of optical qualities of a LIGA-spectrometer in SU-8

In the past few years, SU-8 negative resist has been used in addition to PMMA positive resist for MEMS applications using deep X-ray lithography [1]. The advantage of SU-8 compared to PMMA is a higher sensitivity and a higher chemical stability. However, it is not yet as well analyzed in terms of microstructure quality. In this work SU-8 was examined with regards to its suitability to be used for high-resolution MOEMS. This is done exemplarily for a LIGA microspectrometer as this device can be thoroughly analyzed evaluating the side wall quality and the optical gratings as single structures, as well as the whole optical system [2]. In order to eliminate the high damping of visible light inside solid SU-8 material, a hollow wave guide design has been chosen. SU-8 was detected to reproduce structures in the nanometer-regime, combined with an averaged peak-to-valley profile better than PMMA. Although the measured roughness of SU-8 is worse than that of PMMA, there is still a comparable damping of the signal in MOEMS for both resists.     

水解与颗粒污泥膨胀床串联工艺处理城市污水

提出了常温下水解和颗粒污泥反应器串联处理城市生活污水的新工艺以提高悬浮性和溶解性ＣＯＤ的去除率。在Ｔ〉１５℃和Ｔ＝１２℃条件下,工艺可分别达到７０％总ＣＯＤ、８５％ＳＳ的去除率和６０％总ＣＯＤ、７７％ＳＳ的去除率。ＨＵＳＢ反应器的水力停留时间是３ｈ,用于预处理去除ＳＳ和提高出水ＣＯＤ的溶解性和可生化性,其ＳＳ、悬浮性ＣＯＤ的去除率分别为８６％和６６％,并超过５０％的污泥水解率。在Ｔ＝８－１２℃ＪＦ     

Economies of Scale – Agitator Technology for World-Scale Plants

Over the past 35 years, the cost benefit of the economies of scale has led in some industrial production processes to a more than tenfold increase in reactor volume. The article highlights this trend with the focus on three industrial examples: PET production, pressure oxidizing in the mining industry, and fermentation. It gives background information about the current trend and shows industrial examples of the world's largest plants, often referred to as world-scale plants with their specific characteristics, challenges, and mixing and engineering solution.     

Responses of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) to Foliar Sprays of Copper

Previous studies have shown positive yield responses from foliar copper (Cu) applications to beet. However, some of these responses may have been due to fungicidal instead of nutritional effects. Also, since these studies, national yields have increased possibly increasing the Cu requirement of the beet crop. So, between 1987 and 1990 six field experiments tested the effect of foliar sprays of copper on the yield and processing quality of sugar beet. The copper was applied as Cu oxychloride or an inorganic Cu formulation, in factorial combination with a wetter or an adjuvant. Four of the experiments were on loamy sand textured soils, the remainder on peaty soils. The Cu sprays did not affect beet yields for crops grown on the peat soils. On two of the light textured mineral soils the Cu sprays did increase yield, but there was no clear relationship between soil ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) extractable Cu and yield response to added Cu. There was little difference between the forms of Cu tested on yield, or between the wetter or the adjuvant. Cu sprays did not affect beet processing quality, even when large yield responses were obtained. An analysis of the geographical distribution of sugar beet quota and soil extractable Cu showed that 15% of the UK's national crop could be affected by Cu deficiency.