Learning and Revising User Profiles: The Identification of Interesting Web Sites

We discuss algorithms for learning and revising user profiles that can determine which World Wide Web sites on a given topic would be interesting to a user. We describe the use of a naive Bayesian classifier for this task, and demonstrate that it can incrementally learn profiles from user feedback on the interestingness of Web sites. Furthermore, the Bayesian classifier may easily be extended to revise user provided profiles. In an experimental evaluation we compare the Bayesian classifier to computationally more intensive alternatives, and show that it performs at least as well as these approaches throughout a range of different domains. In addition, we empirically analyze the effects of providing the classifier with background knowledge in form of user defined profiles and examine the use of lexical knowledge for feature selection. We find that both approaches can substantially increase the prediction accuracy.     

Two-way interactions between ocean biota and climate mediated by biogeochemical cycles

Some of the two-way interactions between ocean biota and climate are mediated by biogeochemical cycles that link the different components of the climate system. As suggested by proxy records extracted from ice and ocean cores, by recent measurements, and by numerical models, such two-way interactions were likely major players in past climate variability on glacial—interglacial timescales, and may act to amplify or moderate an anthropogenically induced climate change in the near future. At present, our lack of understanding of these interactions hampers our ability to anticipate the consequences of possible anthropogenic climate change. In this article, we highlight some of the possible feedbacks between ocean biota and climate, reviewing some key biogeochemical processes and discussing mechanisms of two-way interactions. We also outline the need and strategies for continuing research aimed at advancing our understanding of these feedbacks and discuss their significance.     

Experimental evaluation of fishway modifications on the passage behaviour of adult Chinook salmon and steelhead at Lower Granite Dam,Snake River,USA

Previous studies of Pacific salmonid passage over Snake River dams indicated slowed passage at transition pools, the transition area between the fishway entrance and the fish ladder. In 2001 and 2002, we conducted an experiment to determine if modified weirs affected adult salmon and steelhead passage times and route selection through the Lower Granite Dam transition pool. Fish attraction flows through the lower ladder weirs were experimentally increased using removable panels. During the experiment we monitored radio‐tagged adult Chinook salmon and steelhead to determine passage routes and times through the transition pool. The weir treatment increased the number of spring–summer Chinook salmon passing straight through the transition pool compared to those exiting the transition pool to the collection channel or tailrace. Mean passage times through the transition pool differed among routes and were significantly lower during treatment periods for the exit‐to‐collection channel route in spring‐summer Chinook salmon, but not for other routes. Passage times among routes differed in steelhead, but there was no evidence of treatment effects on route use or passage time. Fall Chinook exhibited similar trends in route use and passage time to spring–summer Chinook, but differences were not significant, perhaps because of relatively small sample size. Total dam passage times did not differ by treatment or route for any run. Fish depth during passage of the transition pool suggested that most fish passed through submerged orifices and supported the hypothesis that increased water velocity through these orifices caused the increase in straight‐through passage in spring–summer Chinook. Collectively, the results suggested the weir modifications provided improvement to passage through the transition pool for spring–summer Chinook and no evidence of negative effects on other runs. The results from this study were used to develop new design criteria and modifications of the Lower Granite Dam fishway. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energy pricing policies in developing countries

Government energy pricing policies have multiple and often conflicting objectives: economic efficiency, government revenues (for both parastatal supply companies and the treasury), maintenance or improvement of income distribution, promotion of particular sectors (such as industrial exporters and local resource development) demand management and security of supply. It is important to examine the impacts on and the trade-offs between these objectives resulting from alternative policies in order to assist in policy selection. This article discusses the more important objectives and their conflicts and outlines an approach for the quantitative examination of alternative policies.     

Acidity in upland and hill soils: Cation exchange capacity,pH and lime requirement

For 30 acid upland and hill soils, with initial pH from 3.5 to 5.8, and loss on ignition from 14% to 94%, cation exchange capacity varied with pH according to the relationship CEC = m pH+C, where m and C are characteristic of each soil. The slope m depended on loss on ignition (LOI), and is given by: m=Δ CEC/Δ=0.22 LOI+1.92. Because of these relationships, CEC measured at the natural pH of the soil (in 0.025 M MgSO₄ solution) is more relevant to field conditions than a conventional measurement at pH7. An improved method for estimating lime requirement (LR) of these soils was developed, based on the relationship found between LR and the difference in CEC (ΔCEC) between that at the natural pH of the soil and that at the target pH of 5.5: LR=1.12 ΔCEC+1.48. Lime requirement can therefore also be estimated from loss on ignition using the earlier relationships, and is given by: LR=(0.25 LOI+2.15) Δ+1.48, where Δ is the difference between the natural pH (in 0.025 M MgSO₄) and the target pH. Predictions based on this agreed well with results for a further 10 soils.     

Initial Stages in the Metal-dusting Process on Alloy 800

The initial stages of the metal-dusting process on Alloy 800 at 620 °C were investigated by light optical microscopy, RAMAN spectroscopy, atomic-force microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, transmission-electron microscopy and electron back-scatter diffraction. As it turned out the incubation period for metal-dusting is characterized by simultaneous formation of a heterogeneously growing oxide scale and deposition of carbon. The material surface shows different tarnish colors depending on the substrate-grain orientation with different susceptibility to the beginning of metal-dusting attack. “Low-index” grains were not attacked within the times investigated while the other grain orientations showed pitting. Carbon is evidently incorporated into the oxide scale from the very beginning of exposure with different intensities depending on the underlying substrate-grain orientation leading to differences in the tarnish colors. As a consequence carbides are formed even underneath “dense” oxide layers. Evidently metal-dusting attack starts at positions of the oxide scale where “higher carbon concentrations” are present.     

Sensitization of the startle reflex by footshock: Blockade by lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala or its efferent pathway to the brainstem.

Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the central, but not the lateral, nucleus of the amgydala blocked shock sensitization of startle (the increase in startle produced by presentation of ten 0.6-mA footshocks in rapid succession). Lesions of the central nucleus also decreased reactivity to shock (jumping and flinching) during shock presentation. However, this decrease in reactivity cannot account for the blockade of shock sensitization, because when a higher shock intensity (1.0 mA) was used, producing equivalent reactivity to that of controls at 0.6 mA, central nucleus lesions still blocked shock sensitization. Moreover, lesions of the caudal part of the ventral amygdalofugal pathway, which carries central nucleus efferents to the startle reflex pathway, also blocked shock sensitization. It is hypothesized that shock activates the central nucleus of the amygdala, which increases startle through modulation of the startle pathway. Activation of the amygdala by shock may be the unconditioned response relevant for fear conditioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

SO2 SCRUBBING BY ULTRAFINE CA(OH)2 AEROSOL

The objective of the present study was to generate submicrometer calcium hydroxide aerosols and to investigate the effectiveness of such aerosols in sulfur capture. The effectiveness of SO₂ removal by Ca(OH)₂ aerosol has been investigated in an isothermal reactor. Ca(OH) ₂ aerosol was generated by a novel fluidizer system in which submicrometer-sized powders were entrained in gases. SO₂ was added to this aerosol to a concentration of 2000 ppm. The aerosol-SO₂ mixture was heated to 550°C-750°C in an isothermal tube reactor. The SO₂ removal efficiency, which varied from 20% to 70%, was determined to be a function of the aerosol concentration, reactor temperature and residence time. The fraction of aerosol reacted was not affected strongly by the aerosol concentration. The reaction kinetics were determined from the experimental data using a simple analytical model in which the rate is first order in both SO₂ and calcium hydroxide aerosol concentrations.     

Finite element micromechanical modelling of unidirectional fibre-reinforced metal-matrix composites

Typical finite element formulations and models for unidirectional composite materials are reviewed. The application of micromechanical finite element analysis to the modelling of unidirectional fibre-reinforced metal-matrix composites is demonstrated by presenting some studies from recent publications. It is shown that while analytical models offer a simple tool for obtaining the overall response of composites, finite element analysis provides more accurate and detailed characterisation of composite properties for complicated geometries and constituent property variations. Various effects that influence the stress/strain response and fibre/matrix deformation of composites are studied through modelling. These effects include the fibre coating and reaction layer, fibre shape and distribution, metallurgical and environmental factors, stress distributions and damage. It is demonstrated that the properties and constituent phase interaction of metal-matrix composites are best modelled by finite element analysis. It is emphasized that in order to obtain good predictions, the models must be coupled with first-hand characterisations of the constituent phases and their interactions, including the thermal history of the specimens.