Entity linking systems for literature reviews

Scientometrics - Computer-assisted methods and tools can help researchers automate the coding process of literature reviews and accelerate the literature review process. However, existing...     

Formalization of Ring Theory in PVS

This paper presents a PVS development of relevant results of the theory of rings. The PVS theory includes complete proofs of the three classical isomorphism theorems for rings, and characterizations of principal, prime and maximal ideals. Algebraic concepts and properties are specified and formalized as generally as possible allowing in this manner their application to other algebraic structures. The development provides the required elements to formalize important algebraic theorems. In particular, the paper presents the formalization of the general algebraic-theoretical version of the Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) for the theory of rings, as given in abstract algebra textbooks, proved as a consequence of the first isomorphism theorem. Also, the PVS theory includes a formalization of the number-theoretical version of CRT for the structure of integers, which is the version of CRT found in formalizations. CRT for integers is obtained as a consequence of the general version of CRT for the theory of rings.

     

Mechanical improvement of concrete by irradiated polypropylene fibers

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) contains fibers physically mixed with gravel, sand, cement, and water. So far, adequate mechanical performance of FRC has been obtained at high cost and using complex technologies; important here is the geometry and surface characteristics of the polymers. We have modified polymeric‐fiber surfaces by using gamma radiation. Irradiated polypropylene (PP) fibers were submitted to 0, 5, 10, 50, and 100 kGy of gamma irradiation dosages. First, tensile strength of PP fibers was evaluated, and then fibers blended at 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% in volume with Portland cement, gravel, sand, and water. The highest values of compressive strength were obtained with irradiated‐fibers at 10 kGy and 1.5% in volume of fiber. The result is 101 MPa, as compared to 35 MPa for simple concrete without fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1426–1431, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Theoretical and Experimental Study of Water Transport in a Hollow Cylinder Applied to the Drying of Round Squid Mantle

Until now, attention has been focused solely in the drying of squid mantle from an experimental point of view, neglecting the transport phenomenon studies of water in squid muscle. This work studies the drying of squid mantle (Loligo brasiliensis), previously salted and smoked by liquid smoking (hickory extract), using a tubular dryer in closed cycle with a silicagel fixed bed in series. The mass transfer phenomenon during drying was studied, based on the Fick's second law, with the effective diffusivity supposed constant, which enabled an analytical solution to the problem. The drying curve calculated with the resulting equation was compared with experimental data. The model was applied to a hollow cylinder geometry (round squid mantle), with its internal surface isolated from the drying environment by a plastic film. The latter was given a tubular form and introduced inside the mantle cavity (impervious wall boundary condition).     

Role of reinforcement in spaced-trial operant learning in pigeons (Columba livia).

The author designed 3 experiments to study pigeons' adjustment to unexpected shifts in reinforcer magnitude with a single trial per day. Extinction was faster or poorer after training with a small magnitude (1 food pellet) than after training with a large magnitude (10 or 15 pellets). A shift from 15 to 1 pellet was accompanied by a gradual adjustment, with no indication of a successive negative contrast effect. Pigeons discriminated the reinforcer magnitudes but yielded no evidence of spaced-trial simultaneous negative contrast. Moreover, extinction was faster for a stimulus paired with 1 pellet than for a stimulus paired with 15 pellets. The results can be interpreted in terms of simple strengthening-weakening learning rules and without reference to anticipatory frustration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sheet molding compound characterization using spiral flow

Sheet molding compound (SMC) is a fiber‐reinforced polymeric composite. It is often used in automotive, marine, and industrial applications over other materials because of its high strength to density ratio, resistance to corrosion, and low cost. There is a demand in the SMC industry to be able to characterize SMC processability. This is particularly true for heavy truck body panels, one of the fastest growing applications of SMC. Because of their large size and high strength requirement, the molding forces have a major influence in the molding cycle. Also because of the long flow paths involved, the ability of the paste to carry glass needs to be properly characterized when developing new SMC materials. In this article, we demonstrate the benefits of using spiral flow as a processability tester. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Substance use escalation and substance use restraint among adolescent children of alcoholics.

Assessed the escalations in substance use over 3 yrs among 246 adolescent children of alcoholics (COAs) and 208 controls (aged 10.5–15.5 yrs). Older COAs showed the steepest escalations in drug use. Younger COAs whose fathers had continuing alcohol-related consequences showed the greatest escalations in alcohol use. Ss' beliefs about drinking restraint were related to their alcohol and drug use. Those whose alcoholic fathers had no continuing alcohol-related consequences showed the strongest relations between substance use and self-control reasons for limiting drinking, perceived risk for future drug problems, and seeing the negative effects of alcohol on someone else. These adolescents may be deterred from substance use escalations because of particular parental characteristics (e.g., mild forms of paternal alcoholism) or because of their beliefs about substance use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of CuInS2 thin films for solar cells prepared by spray pyrolysis

We have made a study of the chemical composition, the electrical, the optical and the structural properties of polycrystalline CuInS₂ thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis to be used for thin film solar cells. These films were deposited starting from aqueous solutions with different chemical compositions ([Cu]/[In] and [S]/[Cu] ratios) and at different substrate temperatures. In all cases, the material is p-type with grains preferentially oriented in the (112) direction of the sphalerite structure. The electro-optical properties show a very strong dependence on the [Cu]/[In] ratio in the solution. Films with copper excess have smaller resistivity and better crystallinity than those which are stoichiometric or have indium excess. The results obtained in this work show the possibility of having CuInS₂ thin films with a wide range of resistivity, a fact that could be important for making solar cells based on this material.     

Development of an RVE using a DEM–FEM scheme under modified approximate periodic boundary condition to estimate the elastic mechanical properties of open foams

Engineering with Computers - In this article, a methodology based on Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Finite Elements Method (FEM) combined with modified Approximate Periodic Boundary Condition...     

Adaptive synchronization of master–slave systems with mixed neutral and discrete time‐delays and nonlinear perturbations

This paper investigates the delay‐dependent adaptive synchronization problem of the master and slave structure of linear systems with both constant neutral and time‐varying discrete time‐delays and nonlinear perturbations based on the Barbalat lemma and matching conditions. An adaption law which includes the master‐slave parameters is obtained by using the Lyapunov functional method and inequality techniques to synchronize the master‐slave systems without the knowledge of upper bounds of perturbation terms. Particularly, it is shown that the synchronization speed can be controlled by adjusting the update gain of the synchronization signal. A numerical example has been given to show the effectiveness of the method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society