Applying EuroWordNet to Cross-Language Text Retrieval

We discuss ways in which EuroWordNet (EWN) can be used in multilingual information retrieval activities, focusing on two approaches to Cross-Language Text Retrieval that use the EWN database as a large-scale multilingual semantic resource. The first approach indexes documents and queries in terms of the EuroWordNet Inter-Lingual-Index, thus turning term weighting and query/document matching into language-independent tasks. The second describes how the information in the EWN database could be integrated with a corpus-based technique, thus allowing retrieval of domain-specific terms that may not be present in our multilingual database. Our objective is to show the potential of EuroWordNet as a promising alternative to existing approaches to Cross-Language Text Retrieval.     

Thermodynamic cycle optimization for pyroelectric energy conversion in the thin film regime

Pyroelectric energy conversion is both simulated and realized on thin film lead zirconate titanate capacitors. The thermodynamics of the energy conversion cycle were explored, and the performance of the Brayton cycle was compared with the conventional Ericsson pyroelectric cycle. Cycle performance was examined using coefficients extracted from measured isothermal polarization hysteresis loops. It was found that the Brayton cycle is slightly more efficient than the Ericsson cycle over the range of temperatures tested and has significant efficiency improvements with increasing pyroelectric coefficients. The results from actual energy conversion cycles differed slightly from simulated performance, confirming the known challenges with synchronizing pyroelectric cycles with realistic thermal excitation. Finally, a one‐dimensional thermal transient model is used to explore the power conversion potential of thin film pyroelectrics. It is shown that the Brayton cycle has a significant performance advantage over the Ericsson cycle at higher operating frequencies. A power density of 8 mW/cm³ was obtained using the Brayton cycle for a thin film system at about 60 °C with an applied field of 5 V and stimulation frequency of 0.2 Hz. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adaptive decentralized control under non-uniqueness of the optimal control

We study the problem of decentralization of flow control in packet-switching networks under the isarithmic scheme. An incoming packet enters the network only if there are permits available at the entry port when it arrives. The actions of the controllers refer to the routing of permits in the network and the control variables are the corresponding probabilities. We study the behavior of adaptive algorithms implemented at the controllers to update these probabilities and seek optimal performance. This problem can be stated as a routing problem in a closed queueing network. The centralized version of a learning automation is a general framework presented along with the proof of asymptotic optimality. Decentralization of the controller gives rise to non-uniqueness of the optimal control parameters. Non-uniqueness can be exploited to construct asymptotically optimal learning algorithms that exhibit different behavior. We implement two different algorithms for the parallel operation and discuss their differences. Convergence is established using the weak convergence methodology. In addition to our theoretical results, we illustrate the main results using the flow control problem as a model example and verify the predicted behavior of the two proposed algorithms through computer simulations, including an example of tracking.The work of this author was partially supported by a grant from the Canadian Institute for Telecommunications Research under the NCE program of the Government of Canada, and partially supported by NSERC grant WFA 0139015 and FCAR-Québec grant 95-NC-1375.The work of this author was supported by a grant from the CITR under the NCE program of the Government of Canada.     

Recycling of the Products Obtained in the Pyrolysis of Fibre-Glass Polyester SMC

An SMC (Sheeting Moulding Compound) of fibre-glass and orthophthalic polyester has been pyrolysed in a 3·5 dm³ autoclave for 30 min in a nitrogen atmosphere at 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700°C. Gas yields of 8–13 weight%, liquid yields of 9–16 weight% and solid residues of 72–82 weight% were obtained. The suitability of the pyrolysis process for recycling SMC is discussed. The characteristics, compositions and possible ways of reusing the liquid and gaseous fractions are presented. The solid pyrolysis residue has been recycled in another thermoset composite (Bulk Moulding Compound, BMC) and its mechanical properties have been compared with those of virgin BMC. The main conclusion is that pyrolysis can be an appropriate method for recycling thermoset polymeric composites such as SMC. The pyrolysis gas fraction can be sufficient to provide the energy requirements of the process plant. The pyrolysis liquids have high gross calorific values (36·8 MJ kg⁻¹) and are non-polluting liquid fuels; about 40 weight% of such liquids could be used as petrols, and the remaining 60% could be mixed with fuel oils. The solid pyrolysis residue can be recycled in BMC with no detrimental effect on the BMC mechanical properties. Concerning temperature, it has been concluded that 400–500°C are the most suitable temperatures for recycling SMC by pyrolysis. © 1997 SCI.     

Screening of biogenic amine production by lactic acid bacteria isolated from grape must and wine

The potential to produce the biogenic amines tyramine, histamine and putrescine, was investigated for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of various origin, including commercial malolactic starter cultures, type strains and 78 strains isolated from Spanish grape must and wine. The presence of biogenic amines in a decarboxylase synthetic broth was determined by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Tyramine was the main amine formed by the LAB strains investigated. Leuconostoc strains were the most intensive tyramine formers. No potential to form biogenic amines was observed in Oenococcus oeni strains. Two strains of Latobacillus buchneri were associated with putrescine formation. None of the lactic acid bacteria produced histamine. According to these in vitro results, the commercial starter bacteria analyzed did not produce histamine, tyramine and putrescine.     

Analysis of lagoon samples from different concentrated animal feeding operations for estrogens and estrogen conjugates

Although Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) have been identified as potentially important sources for the release of estrogens into the environment, information is lacking on the concentrations of estrogens in whole lagoon effluents (including suspended solids) which are used for land application. Lagoons associated with swine, poultry, and cattle operations were sampled at three locations each for direct analysis for estrogens by GC/ MS/MS and estrogen conjugates by LC/MS/MS. Estrogen conjugates were also analyzed indirectly by first subjecting the same samples to enzyme hydrolysis. Solids from centrifuged samples were extracted for free estrogens to estimate total estrogen load. Total free estrogen levels (estrone, 17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, estriol) were generally higher in swine primary (1000-21000 ng/L), followed by poultry primary (1800-4000 ng/L), dairy secondary (370-550 ng/L), and beef secondary (22-24 ng/L) whole lagoon samples. Swine and poultry lagoons contained levels of 17(alpha-estradiol comparable to those of 17beta-estradiol. Confirmed estrogen conjugates included estrone-3-sulfate (2-91 ng/L), 17beta-estradiol-3-sulfate (8-44 ng/L), 17alpha-estradiol-3-sulfate (141-182 ng/L), and 17beta-estradiol-17-sulfate (72-84 ng/L) in some lagoons. Enzymatic hydrolysis indicated the presence of additional unidentified estrogen conjugates not detected bythe LC/MS/MS method. In most cases estrogen conjugates accounted for at least a third of the total estrogen equivalents. Collectively, these methods can be used to better determine estrogen loads from CAFO operations, and this research shows that estrogen conjugates contribute significantly to the overall estrogen load, even in different types of CAFO lagoons.     

Motivational control of heterogeneous instrumental chains.

Assessed sensitivity of instrumental actions to a shift in motivational state as a function of each action's proximal or distal location to a food outcome within a heterogeneous chain. The chain consisted of either a lever press and a chain pull or a lever press and a magazine-panel response. Food-deprived rats received instrumental training before performance was tested in extinction while the animals were either food deprived or undeprived. Results show when the animals were tested in the undeprived state, reexposure to the food outcome when undeprived prior to testing produced a relatively greater reduction in the test performance of distal than of proximal actions. In absence of reexposure to the outcome in the undeprived state, the proximal actions were more sensitive than the distal ones to the deprivation state on test. It is concluded that the motivational control of instrumental performance varies as a function of the location of the action within a behavioral chain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recycling polymeric wastes by means of pyrolysis

Different polymeric wastes, which include materials from the automobile industry, such as tyres, automobile shredder residues (ASR) and sheet moulding compound (SMC), and materials from municipal solid wastes (MSW), such as cardboard, tetrabrik and plastics (LDPE, PP, PS, PET and PVC), pure and mixed, have been pyrolysed in a 3.5 dm³ autoclave at 500 °C for 30 min in a nitrogen atmosphere. The amount and characteristics of the solid, liquids and gases obtained are presented. The suitability of the different materials for the pyrolysis recycling process is discussed. It is concluded that pyrolysis is a very promising technique for recycling tyres, SMC, one type of ASR (heavy ASR), and LDPE, PP and PS, either pure or mixed; with all of them valuable solid, liquid and gaseous products are obtained in pyrolysis. On the contrary, light ASR, tetrabrik and cardboard do not yield valuable products in the pyrolysis process and therefore their recycling by pyrolysis is not of interest, except as a way of volume reduction. PET and PVC turned out to be troublesome in the pyrolysis experiments; for a proper study of their recycling by pyrolysis other operating conditions and installations are required. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

A Perturbation Analysis Approach to Phantom Estimators for Waiting Times in the G/G/1 Queue

We study gradient estimation for waiting times in the G/G/1 queue. We propose a new estimator based on a synthesis of perturbation analysis and weak differentiation. More specifically, we combine the perturbation propagation rules from perturbation analysis with perturbation generation rules from weak differentiation. This leads to an on-line phantom estimator. Numerical experiments show that this estimator has smaller work normalized variance than IPA.