Towards a relation extraction framework for cyber-security concepts

In order to assist security analysts in obtaining information pertaining to their network, such as novel vulnerabilities, exploits, or patches, information retrieval methods tailored to the security domain are needed. As labeled text data is scarce and expensive, we follow developments in semi-supervised Natural Language Processing and implement a bootstrapping algorithm for extracting security entities and their relationships from text. The algorithm requires little input data, specifically, a few relations or patterns (heuristics for identifying relations), and incorporates an active learning component which queries the user on the most important decisions to prevent drifting from the desired relations. Preliminary testing on a small corpus shows promising results, obtaining precision of .82.Comment: 4 pages in Cyber & Information Security Research Conference 2015, AC

An Ultraviolet-Selected Galaxy Redshift Survey - II: The Physical Nature of Star Formation in an Enlarged Sample

We present further spectroscopic observations for a sample of galaxies selected in the vacuum ultraviolet (UV) at 2000 \AA from the FOCA balloon-borne imaging camera of Milliard et al. (1992). This work represents an extension of the initial study of Treyer et al. (1998). Our enlarged catalogue contains 433 sources; 273 of these are galaxies, nearly all with redshifts z=0-0.4. Nebular emission line measurements are available for 216 galaxies, allowing us to address issues of reddening and metallicity. The UV and Halpha luminosity functions strengthen our earlier assertions that the local volume-averaged star formation rate is higher than indicated from earlier surveys. Moreover, internally within our sample, we do not find a steep rise in the UV luminosity density with redshift over 0<z<0.4. Our data is more consistent with a modest evolutionary trend as suggested by recent redshift survey results. We find no evidence for a significant number of AGN in our sample. We find the UV flux indicates a consistently higher mean star formation rate than that implied by the Halpha luminosity for typical constant or declining star formation histories. Following Glazebrook et al. (1999), we interpret this discrepancy in terms of a starburst model for our UV-luminous sources. Whilst we can explain most of our observations in this way, there remains a small population with extreme UV-optical colours which cannot be understood.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Possible mechanism for achieving glass-like thermal conductivities in crystals with off-center atoms

In the filled Ga/Ge clathrate, Eu and Sr are off-center in site 2 but Ba is on-center. All three filler atoms (Ba,Eu,Sr) have low temperature Einstein modes; yet only for the Eu and Sr systems is there a large dip in the thermal conductivity, attributed to the Einstein modes. No dip is observed for Ba. Here we argue that it is the off-center displacement that is crucial for understanding this unexplained difference in behavior. It enhances the coupling between the "rattler" motion and the lattice phonons for the Eu and Sr systems, and turns on/off another scattering mechanism (for 1K < T < 20K) produced by the presence/absence of off-center sites. The random occupation of different off-center sites produces a high density of symmetry-breaking defects which scatters phonons. It may also be important for improving our understanding of other glassy systems.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure (2 parts) -- v2: intro broadened; strengthened arguments regarding need for additional phonon scattering mechanis

Individual response to three types of nonlethal weapons

This study investigates behavioral reactions to three types of nonlethal weapons (NLWs) used by the U.S. military. We provided participants with simulated situations involving military use of NLWs, and asked them to predict how they would react. We found variations in response according to weapon type. In general, individuals were unlikely to aggress or disperse, although these reactions were mediated by demographic factors. It may be important for Army officials to know the behavioral effects of NLWs in order to use them effectively

Geochemical Endmembers preserved in Gale Crater: A tale of two mudstones and their compositional differences according to ChemCam

Gale crater contains two fine-grained mudstone sedimentary units: The Sheepbed mudstone member, and the Murray formation mud-stones. These mudstones formed as part of an ancient fluviolacustrine system. The NASA Curiosity rover has analysed these mudstone units using the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam), Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) onboard instrument suites. Subsequent mineralogical analyses have uncovered a wide geochemical and mineralogical diversity across and within these two mudstone formations. This study aims to determine the principal cause (alteration or source region) of this geochemical variation through a statistical analysis of the ChemCam dataset up to sol 1482, including the lower to middle Murray formation

Identification of the Beagle 2 lander on Mars

The 2003 Beagle 2 Mars lander has been identified in Isidis Planitia at 90.43° E, 11.53° N, close to the predicted target of 90.50° E, 11.53° N. Beagle 2 was an exobiology lander designed to look for isotopic and compositional signs of life on Mars, as part of the European Space Agency Mars Express (MEX) mission. The 2004 recalculation of the original landing ellipse from a 3-sigma major axis from 174 km to 57 km, and the acquisition of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) imagery at 30 cm per pixel across the target region, led to the initial identification of the lander in 2014. Following this, more HiRISE images, giving a total of 15, including red and blue-green colours, were obtained over the area of interest and searched, which allowed sub-pixel imaging using super high-resolution techniques. The size (approx. 1.5 m), distinctive multilobed shape, high reflectivity relative to the local terrain, specular reflections, and location close to the centre of the planned landing ellipse led to the identification of the Beagle 2 lander. The shape of the imaged lander, although to some extent masked by the specular reflections in the various images, is consistent with deployment of the lander lid and then some or all solar panels. Failure to fully deploy the panels-which may have been caused by damage during landing-would have prohibited communication between the lander and MEX and commencement of science operations. This implies that the main part of the entry, descent and landing sequence, the ejection from MEX, atmospheric entry and parachute deployment, and landing worked as planned with perhaps only the final full panel deployment failing

Nutritional Management Post-AI to Enhance Pregnancy Outcomes

Effective replacement heifer development is a critical segment of the integrated management program in an efficient beef cow production system. The most critical factor determining the success of any heifer development program is nutrition. Most efforts are concentrated in providing the right amount and quality of feed to achieve gains from 1.5 to 2.0 lb/day, so heifers can reach 65% of their mature BW by the day of breeding. Approximately 80% of the U.S. cow-herds are spring calving, which means that producers utilizing estrous synchronization and AI are keeping their heifers in a feedlot environment until heifers are inseminated. Immediately following AI, heifers are typically moved to pasture. It is known that maternal recognition of pregnancy takes place around d 15 - 17 post-insemination and that transporting animals near this time compromises conception rates. However, moving heifers within the first 5 days post-insemination does not cause this reduction. Although, research suggests that conception rates are compromised when heifers are placed on early growth pasture forages. We hypothesized that feeding this high moisture pasture forage at turnout is limiting DMI which in turn causes a temporary energy deficiency that results in temporary heifer weight loss during the critical stages of early embryonic development and maternal recognition of pregnancy. Therefore, it is beneficial to ensure heifers maintain the same plane of nutrition after breeding, at least until day 25 when the embryo should be completely attached to the uterus. If this is true, maintaining a positive plane of nutrition on heifers after breeding will increase 1st service conception rates, improving herd fertility and longevity