Novelty and Diversity in Retrieval Evaluation

Queries submitted to search engines rarely provide a complete and precise description of a user's information need. Most queries are ambiguous to some extent, having multiple interpretations. For example, the seemingly unambiguous query ``tennis lessons'' might be submitted by a user interested in attending classes in her neighborhood, seeking lessons for her child, looking for online videos lessons, or planning to start a business teaching tennis. Search engines face the challenging task of satisfying different groups of users having diverse information needs associated with a given query. One solution is to optimize ranking functions to satisfy diverse sets of information needs. Unfortunately, existing evaluation frameworks do not support such optimization. Instead, ranking functions are rewarded for satisfying the most likely intent associated with a given query. In this thesis, we propose a framework and associated evaluation metrics that are capable of optimizing ranking functions to satisfy diverse information needs. Our proposed measures explicitly reward those ranking functions capable of presenting the user with information that is novel with respect to previously viewed documents. Our measures reflects quality of a ranking function by taking into account its ability to satisfy diverse users submitting a query. Moreover, the task of identifying and establishing test frameworks to compare ranking functions on a web-scale can be tedious. One reason for this problem is the dynamic nature of the web, where documents are constantly added and updated, making it necessary for search engine developers to seek additional human assessments. Along with issues of novelty and diversity, we explore one approximate approach to compare different ranking functions by overcoming the problem of lacking complete human assessments. We demonstrate that our approach is capable of accurately sorting ranking functions based on their capability of satisfying diverse users, even in the face of incomplete human assessments

Inverse Dynamics Problems

The inverse dynamics problem was developed in order to provide researchers with the state of the art in inverse problems for dynamic and vibrational systems. Contrasted with a forward problem, which solves for the system output in a straightforward manner, an inverse problem searches for the system input through a procedure contaminated with errors and uncertainties. An inverse problem, with a focus on structural dynamics, determines the changes made to the system and estimates the inputs, including forces and moments, to the system, utilizing measurements of structural vibration responses only. With its complex mathematical structure and need for more reliable input estimations, the inverse problem is still a fundamental subject of research among mathematicians and engineering scientists. This book contains 11 articles that touch upon various aspects of inverse dynamic problems

Estudo geoarqueológico com Georadar : aplicação aos contextos arqueológicos da Pré-História recente à Proto-História do NW de Portugal

Tese de doutoramento em Ciências (área de especialização de Geologia)A necessidade de caracterização das estações arqueológicas com recurso a métodos não destrutivos e não intrusivos, dá uma importância de relevo às técnicas de prospecção geofísica e em particular ao Georadar. A prospecção geofísica com Georadar é, na actualidade, uma das metodologias mais utilizadas a nível mundial para o estudo de sítios arqueológicos, possibilitando a definição da estratigrafia do subsolo e a detecção, identificação e mapeamento de estruturas arqueológicas soterradas. O presente trabalho descreve a aplicação do Georadar ao estudo de estações arqueológicas da Pré-História recente e da Proto-História do NW de Portugal, tendo por objectivos: a definição de uma metodologia prospectiva que se adeqúe aos contextos arqueológicos em questão; a definição de metodologias de aquisição de dados mais adequadas a sítios arqueológicos de ampla diacronia e de estratigrafia complexa; a definição de metodologias prospectivas que se adequam a sítios arqueológicos com estruturas pétreas e com estruturas perecíveis ou escavadas no subsolo. No âmbito desta tese foram escolhidos seis casos de estudo entre o Neolítico e o período romano, nomeadamente: dólmen da Tojeira (Póvoa de Lanhoso); área contígua aos monumentos sob tumuli de Vale de Chãos 1 e 2 (Braga); povoado/necrópole do Pego (Braga); área envolvente às gravuras rupestres de Campelo (Mondim de Basto); povoado do Crastoeiro (Mondim de Basto) e castro do Monte do Padrão (Santo Tirso). A prospecção geofísica realizada nestes sítios arqueológicos foi efectuada com o equipamento de Georadar SIR3000 da GSSI, e antena de 400 MHz. Foram aplicadas e testadas diferentes metodologias de prospecção, nomeadamente: prospecção com perfis individuais; prospecção em área pseudo 3D, com perfis adquiridos numa direcção e em direcções ortogonais, com espaçamentos de 20 cm e 50 cm entre perfis, e prospecção em área de alta resolução ou verdadeiro 3D, com 5 cm e 10 cm de espaçamento entre perfis. Após processamento, foram utilizadas e testadas várias metodologias de visualização dos dados, nomeadamente: radargramas individuais; mapas de amplitudes e imagens tridimensionais (volumes de isosuperfícies, blocos diagrama). Concluiu-se que a metodologia mais adequada à prospecção dos contextos dos sítios arqueológicos das cronologias em questão é a prospecção em área com grelhas ultra densas e/ou com perfis paralelos adquiridos em duas direcções (grelhas XY), tendo sido particularmente apropriada aos sítios arqueológicos com estruturas pétreas e/ou de elevado diacronismo. Nos sítios com estruturas subtis e/ou matérias perecíveis foi especialmente favorável a prospecção com grelhas XY. Para sítios com condições desfavoráveis (topografia irregular, presença de obstáculos, solos condutivos, etc.) o método deverá adequar-se às condições do terreno, podendo em algumas situações optar-se pelo método de perfis individuais ou pela prospecção em área com grelhas pseudo 3D. Para a visualização, a abordagem mais indicada consistiu na criação de radargramas, mapas de amplitude e imagens tridimensionais (volumes de isosuperfícies, blocos diagrama). Recomendase, em situações arqueológicas semelhantes, a análise dos radargramas, como primeiro passo na interpretação, seguida da análise de mapas de amplitudes e de imagens tridimensionais, caso se tenha realizado uma prospecção em área. A correlação dos vários tipos de imagens auxiliará uma melhor interpretação das estruturas e da estratigrafia das estações arqueológicas.The need for characterization of archaeological sites using non-destructive and non-intrusive methods, gives emphasis to the importance of geophysical techniques and in particular from Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). This geophysical methodology is one of the most used for the study of archaeological sites, enabling the definition of subsurface site stratigraphy and the detection, identification and mapping of buried archaeological features. This thesis describes the use of GPR in the study of archaeological sites from Neolithic to Iron Age of NW Portugal, and aimed the following objectives: the definition of a prospective methodology that fits the archaeological contexts in question; the definition of data acquisition methodologies best suited to wide diachronic and stratigraphically complex archaeological sites; the definition of methodologies suited to the prospection of archaeological sites with stone structures and/or with perishable and subtle archaeological features . For this work six archaeological sites, from the Neolithic to the Roman period, were chosen as case studies, naming: the megalithic monument of Tojeira (Póvoa de Lanhoso); surrounding area from the funerary monuments under tumuli from Vale de Chãos 1 and 2 (Braga); settlement/necropolis of Pego (Braga); area surrounding the rock engraving site of Campelo (Mondim de Basto); Castro of Crastoeiro (Mondim de Basto) and Castro of Monte do Padrão (Santo Tirso). The geophysical survey was performed with GSSI SIR3000 GPR equipment, and the 400 MHz antenna. In these studies we applied and tested different prospecting methodologies, including: prospecting with individual recorded profiles; pseudo 3D detailed area survey, with profiles acquired in one direction and orthogonal directions, with spacing of 20 cm and 50 cm between profiles; high resolution detailed area survey or true 3D, with 5 cm and 10 cm spacing between profiles. After data processing several methods of data visualization were created and interpreted, including: individual radargrams; amplitudes slice maps and three-dimensional images (isosurfaces volumes, block diagrams). It was concluded that the most appropriate survey methodology to the study of these archaeological contexts is the high-resolution detailed area survey and/or detailed area survey with parallel profiles acquired in two directions (XY grids). The high-resolution survey was particularly appropriate to study of archaeological sites with stone structures and/or with high diachronism. At sites with subtle and/or perishable structures it was the detailed area survey with XY grids that presented the best results. For sites with unfavourable conditions (irregular topography, presence of obstacles, conductive soils, etc.) the survey method should adapt to the ground conditions. For data visualization, the most appropriate approach involved the generation of radargrams, amplitude slice maps and three-dimensional images (isosurfaces volumes, block diagrams). It is recommended similar archaeological contexts, the radargram analysis as interpretation first step followed by the analysis of amplitude slice maps and of three-dimensional images. The correlation of the various types of images will insure a better interpretation of the features and stratigraphy from archaeological sites

Anti-Foundational Categorical Structuralism

The aim of this dissertation is to outline and defend the view here dubbed “anti-foundational categorical structuralism” (henceforth AFCS). The program put forth is intended to provide an answer the question “what is mathematics?”. The answer here on offer adopts the structuralist view of mathematics, in that mathematics is taken to be “the science of structure” expressed in the language of category theory, which is argued to accurately capture the notion of a “structural property”. In characterizing mathematical theorems as both conditional and schematic in form, the program is forced to give up claims to securing the truth of its theorems, as well as give up a semantics which involves reference to special, distinguished “mathematical objects”, or which involves quantification over a fixed domain of such objects. One who wishes—contrary to the AFCS view—to inject mathematics with a “standard” semantics, and to provide a secure epistemic foundation for the theorems of mathematics, in short, one who wishes for a foundation for mathematics, will surely find this view lacking. However, I argue that a satisfactory development of the structuralist view, couched in the language of category theory, accurately represents our best understanding of the content of mathematical theorems and thereby obviates the need for any foundational program

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Handbook

The Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Handbook: Two-Volume Set comprehensively captures the cross-disciplinary breadth of the fields of micro- and nanofluidics, which encompass the biological sciences, chemistry, physics and engineering applications. To fill the knowledge gap between engineering and the basic sciences, the editors pulled together key individuals, well known in their respective areas, to author chapters that help graduate students, scientists, and practicing engineers understand the overall area of microfluidics and nanofluidics. Topics covered include Finite Volume Method for Numerical Simulation Lattice Boltzmann Method and Its Applications in Microfluidics Microparticle and Nanoparticle Manipulation Methane Solubility Enhancement in Water Confined to Nanoscale Pores Volume Two: Fabrication, Implementation, and Applications focuses on topics related to experimental and numerical methods. It also covers fabrication and applications in a variety of areas, from aerospace to biological systems. Reflecting the inherent nature of microfluidics and nanofluidics, the book includes as much interdisciplinary knowledge as possible. It provides the fundamental science background for newcomers and advanced techniques and concepts for experienced researchers and professionals

LIPIcs, Volume 251, ITCS 2023, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 251, ITCS 2023, Complete Volum

Drug Delivery Technology Development in Canada

Canada continues to have a rich history of ground-breaking research in drug delivery within academic institutions, pharmaceutical industry and the biotechnology community