Self-supervised automated wrapper generation for weblog data extraction

Data extraction from the web is notoriously hard. Of the types of resources available on the web, weblogs are becoming increasingly important due to the continued growth of the blogosphere, but remain poorly explored. Past approaches to data extraction from weblogs have often involved manual intervention and suffer from low scalability. This paper proposes a fully automated information extraction methodology based on the use of web feeds and processing of HTML. The approach includes a model for generating a wrapper that exploits web feeds for deriving a set of extraction rules automatically. Instead of performing a pairwise comparison between posts, the model matches the values of the web feeds against their corresponding HTML elements retrieved from multiple weblog posts. It adopts a probabilistic approach for deriving a set of rules and automating the process of wrapper generation. An evaluation of the model is conducted on a dataset of 2,393 posts and the results (92% accuracy) show that the proposed technique enables robust extraction of weblog properties and can be applied across the blogosphere for applications such as improved information retrieval and more robust web preservation initiatives

Approaching Mechanization of Plant Micropropagation

Investigations of materials and methods for growing plant tissue in a continual-flow, liquid nutrient medium as an alternative to semisolid agar medium have been made. Enhanced growth of plant tissue on microporouspolypropylene membranes floating on a liquid nutrient has been demonstrated. Moreover, in vitro plantlets on the microporous membrane are free from entanglement with the support matrix and readily available to mechanizedhandling. Trained growth of plantlets through polypropylene netting shows potential for mechanization by mass handling (separation, singulation, and transfer) of plant tissue cultures

Field evaluation and performance of capacitance probes for automated drip irrigation of watermelons

a b s t r a c t Continuous, real-time monitoring of soil-moisture is essential to effective and efficient water management in an automated drip irrigation system. The primary objectives of this 3-year (2008-2010) field study were to demonstrate the utility of multi-sensor capacitance probes (MCP) to automate high frequency drip irrigation in watermelons [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum. & Nak.] production and to determine irrigation set points as percent soil water content depletion. Irrigation water treatments of 15% available water depletion (AWD), 50% AWD and No water application (fertigation only) were tested in sandy Coastal Plain soils in South Carolina. Multi-sensor capacitance probes (MCPs) monitored soil water status in the top 50 cm profile and automatically triggered short (30-60 min) duration irrigation water cycles whenever the average 0-30 cm profile soil water content reached the irrigation set points. During peak crop water use and on hot days, four to seven irrigation events per day were necessary to meet crop water needs and minimize leaching in the sandy fields. The tactical irrigation scheduling capability offered via MCPs in an automated mode was highly advantageous. The short but frequent irrigation water cycles reduced water movement below the root zone (0-30 cm). The 15% AWD irrigation water treatment showed a significant yield increase of 44% and 18.4% during 2008 and 45% and 40% during 2010 compared to No Water Application and 50% AWD irrigation water treatments respectively. The MCP factory calibration was as good as on-site calibration and was sufficiently accurate for irrigation scheduling. Published by Elsevier B.V