Irregular (so-called broken) plural identification in modern standard Arabic is a problematic issue for information retrieval (IR) and language engineering applications, but their effect on the performance of IR has never been examined. Broken plurals (BPs) are formed by altering the singular (as in English: tooth→ teeth) through an application of interdigitating patterns on stems, and singular words cannot be recovered by standard affix stripping stemming techniques. We developed several methods for BP detection, and evaluated them using an unseen test set. We incorporated the BP detection component into a new light-stemming algorithm that conflates both regular and broken plurals with their singular forms. We also evaluated the new light-stemming algorithm within the context of information retrieval, comparing its performance with other stemming algorithms.

Abstract

Due to the high number of inflectional variations of Arabic words, empirical results suggest that stemming is essential for Arabic information retrieval. However, current light stemming algorithms do not extract the correct stem of irregular (so-called broken) plurals, which constitute ~10% of Arabic texts and ~41% of plurals. Although light stemming in particular has led to improvements in information retrieval [5, 6], the effects of broken plurals on the performance of information retrieval systems has not been examined.We propose a light stemmer that incorporates a broken plural recognition component, and evaluate it within the context of information retrieval. Our results show that identifying broken plurals and reducing them to their correct stems does result in a significant improvement in the performance of information retrieval systems.

после добавления токсиканта, во всем диапазоне концентраций фенола. Таким образом, зависимости, получаемые в таких случаях, являются сложными и фиксируют большое число факторов. Исключение в эксперименте одних факторов и изучение влияния других достигается в проточных реакторах полного перемешивания, когда один из факторов поддерживается постоянным (например, режим рН-стата). Построенные в работе зависимости позволяют разрабатывать методики эксперимента, служащих целям токсикологии, например, при разработке системы предельно допустимых концентраций по влиянию токсиканта на скорость дыхания тест-объекта. Природные фенольные соединения расщепляются почвенными микроорганизмами, использующими их в качестве источника углерода [29]. Микроорганизмы природных биоценозов приспособлены к низким концентрациям этих соединений. Для удаления фенолов при их высокой концентрации (например, промышленные сточные воды, аварийные ситуации, залповые выбросы) необходимо выделять формы, которые активно окисляют фенол, и адаптировать их к высоким концентрациям фенола как субстрата [30]. В связи с этим возникает круг задач оптимального сочетания концентраций основного субстрата, окислителя и косубстратов (азот в форме дрожжевого экстракта), которые могут быть решены в соответствии с подходом, представленным выше в форме задачи о конкуренции молекул субстрата и окислителя за активные центры поверхности клеточной мембраны. Круг подобного типа задач может быть расширен в зависимости от вопросов, которые ставит практика микробиологии.

Abstract

The turbine of an automotive turbocharger is essentially one acoustic element in the exhaust system which lies between the primary noise source, the gas pulsations through the exhaust valves, and the primary noise radiation element, the exhaust tailpipe orifice. As such, like every other acoustic element of the exhaust system, it has a passive effect on the propagation of the primary exhaust noise. Thus if a comprehensive model of the acoustic propagation through the entire exhaust system of a turbocharged engine is sought, an acoustic model of the turbine is a prerequisite.

This paper presents a preliminary attempt to create such a model. The model is a purely fluid mechanic one, without recourse to any empiricism such as a turbine map. The nonlinear equations of the fluid flow are developed and solved for steady flow, to determine the mean convective flow effects upon the noise. The full time-domain equations are then linearised and solved for a single frequency of sound.

Results are given from both the steady flow and the acoustic analyses. The latter are presented in terms of both transmission loss and four-pole parameters. The model is found to give a rational representation of the passive effect of a turbine rotor.

Abstract

This paper presents a one-dimensional acoustic model for prediction of the frequencies of

self-excited oscillation and acoustic mode shapes in combustion systems. The impedance of

the combustion system is represented in terms of a frequency response function (FRF).

Impedances of the settling and combustion chambers are predicted by using the acoustic

model, taking into account the temperature distribution in the combustion chamber. Reasonably

good agreement between measured and predicted acoustic resonance frequencies and

mode shapes was achieved. Some data on stability regimes are discussed.

# 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Combustion; Instability; Eigen-frequencies; Prediction; Measurement

Increased leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion is a key early event in the development of retinopathy and atherogenesis in diabetic patients. We recently reported that raised activity of glycosylating enzyme [beta]1,6 acetylglucosaminyltransferase (core 2 GlcNAc-T) is responsible for increased leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and capillary occlusion in retinopathy. Here, we demonstrate that elevated glucose increases the activity of core 2 GlcNAc-T and adhesion of human leukocytes to retinal capillary endothelial cells, in a dose-dependent manner, through diabetes-activated serine/threonine protein kinase C beta2 (PKCbeta2)-dependent phosphorylation. This regulatory mechanism, involving phosphorylation of core 2 GlcNAc-T, is also present in polymorphonuclear leukocytes isolated from type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Inhibition of PKCbeta2 activation with the specific inhibitor, LY379196, attenuated serine phosphorylation of core 2 GlcNAc-T and prevented increased leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. Raised activity of core 2 GlcNAc-T was associated with a threefold increase in O-linked glycosylation of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 on the surface of leukocytes of diabetic patients compared with age-matched control subjects. PKCbeta2-dependent phosphorylation of core 2 GlcNAc-T may thus represent a novel regulatory mechanism for activation of this key enzyme in mediating increased leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and capillary occlusion in diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract

Experimental investigations have been carried out to measure axial effective thermal conductivities of

packed beds for a number of particles and catalyst pellets. Measurements were made for three gases (air,

nitrogen and carbon dioxide) in beds packed with ball bearings, copper chromite, chromia alumina, alumina

hollow cylinders and alumina spheres. A glass vacuum vessel was employed for most measurements,

but a thin wall stainless steel vessel was used in a few experiments.

Empirical correlations to predict the axial effective thermal conductivity of packed bed reactors have

been derived from the experimental results.

2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Axial thermal conductivities; Packed beds

This paper concerns the adequacy of existing detailed reaction mechanisms for use in computer simulations of combustion systems with injection of gaseous fuels such as hydrogen, and methane. Shock tube induction time data are compiled from the literature and compared to thermodynamic conditions of gas combustion systems to establish validation limits. Existing detailed reaction mechanisms are then used in constant-volume explosion simulations for validation against the shock tube data. A quantitative measure of mechanism accuracy is obtained from the validation study results, and deficiencies in the experimental data and reaction mechanisms are highlighted. 

The preparation and characterization of a cobalt substituted ETS-10 titanosilicate are described. X-ray diffraction shows that cobalt incorporation causes an increase in unit cell dimensions. UV–VIS, EPR, Raman and Co K-edge XANES spectra all show that Co2+ occupies tetrahedral sites, substituting for silicon. The 29Si NMR spectra do not permit identification of which silicon sites in ETS-10 are substituted, but the Co K-edge EXAFS shows clearly that Co2+ substitutes at Si(3Si,1Ti) sites.