Search behaviour before and after search success

Why do users continue searching after reviewing all relevant documents with which they could have completed a work task? If we knew the answer, then a search system may be able to help users learn about their current search processes, which in turn may enable them to make the whole search process more efficient, leading to greater effectiveness and user satisfaction. This paper is a first step towards solving this problem. Using a previously collected data set, we identified the point of success and hence task completion, and investigated the search behaviour before and after users had accessed all relevant documents for answering assigned tasks. We used a set of search behaviour actions derived from Marchionini's (1995) Information Seeking Process model, and modeled the distribution of these actions throughout the entire search process, comparing actions before and after success could have been attained. Our results suggest that six defined actions, namely user-submitted query, system-suggested query, forward to items, evaluate relevant items, reflect, and answer appeared to change according to the stage of the entire search process. Also, users have notably distinct patterns before and after search success was obtained, but not realised by the user. Not all action were affected; user-submitted query and system-suggested query appeared to be unaffected by time in post-success case and presuccess case, respectively

Towards building a standard dataset for Arabic keyphrase extraction evaluation

Keyphrases are short phrases that best represent a document content. They can be useful in a variety of applications, including document summarization and retrieval models. In this paper, we introduce the first dataset of keyphrases for an Arabic document collection, obtained by means of crowdsourcing. We experimentally evaluate different crowdsourced answer aggregation strategies and validate their performances against expert annotations to evaluate the quality of our dataset. We report about our experimental results, the dataset features

The Thiol-Rich Interlayer in the Shell/Core Architecture of Mussel Byssal Threads.

The mussel byssus thread is an extremely tough core-shelled fiber that dissipates substantial amounts of energy during tensile loading. The mechanical performance of the shell is critically reliant on 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine's (Dopa) ability to form reversible iron-catecholate complexes at pH 8. However, the formation of these coordinate cross-links is undercut by Dopa's oxidation to Dopa-quinone, a spontaneous process at seawater conditions. The large mechanical mismatch between the cuticle and the core lends itself to further complications. Despite these challenges, the mussel byssus thread performs its tethering function over long periods of time. Here, we address these two major questions: (1) how does the mussel slow/prevent oxidation in the cuticle, and (2) how is the mechanical mismatch at the core/shell interface mitigated? By combining a number of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques we have discerned a previously undescribed layer. Our results indicate this interlayer is thiol rich and thus will be called the thiol-rich interlayer (TRL). We propose the TRL serves as a long-lasting redox reservoir as well as a mechanical barrier

The role of alexithymia in the development of functional motor symptoms (conversion disorder).

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms leading to the development of functional motor symptoms (FMS) are of pathophysiological and clinical relevance, yet are poorly understood. AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether impaired emotional processing at the cognitive level (alexithymia) is present in patients affected by FMS. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a population of patients with FMS and in two control groups (patients with organic movement disorders (OMD) and healthy volunteers). METHODS: 55 patients with FMS, 33 patients affected by OMD and 34 healthy volunteers were recruited. The assessment included the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes' Test and the Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders. RESULTS: Alexithymia was present in 34.5% of patients with FMS, 9.1% with OMD and 5.9% of the healthy volunteers, which was significantly higher in the FMS group (χ(2) (2)=14.129, p<0.001), even after controlling for the severity of symptoms of depression. Group differences in mean scores were observed on both the difficulty identifying feelings and difficulty describing feelings dimensions of the TAS-20, whereas the externally orientated thinking subscale score was similar across the three groups. Regarding personality disorder, χ(2) analysis showed a significantly higher prominence of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) in the FMS group (χ(2) (2)=16.217, p<0.001) and 71.4% of those with OCPD also reached threshold criteria for alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: Because alexithymia is a mental state denoting the inability to identify emotions at a cognitive level, one hypothesis is that some patients misattribute autonomic symptoms of anxiety, for example, tremor, paraesthesiae, paralysis, to that of a physical illness. Further work is required to understand the contribution of OCPD to the development of FMS

Fraud in Commodity Futures Trading--An Examination of the Investor\u27s Remedies

This Note examines the various avenues of redress available to the defrauded commodity futures investor. Initially, an examination of two remedies expressly provided in the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA)--reparations and arbitration--demonstrates their current inefficiencies and inadequacies. Next, the Note considers the possibility of recovery under the antifraud provision of the Securities Exchange Act and argues that such a cause of action should still be available when the investor can show that the particular discretionary trading account is a security. Finally, a discussion of an implied private right of action for violations of the antifraud provision of the CEA reveals much confusion and dispute about its existence and concludes that it should not be permitted at the present time. Ultimately, this Note suggests that the uncertainty surrounding these possible methods of recovery demands that Congress give further consideration to these issues

TOpic: rare and special cases, the real "Strange cases"

Introduction: The bladder hernia represents approximately 1-3% of all inguinal hernias, where patients aged more than 50 years have a higher incidence (10%). Many factors contribute to the development of a bladder hernia, including the presence of a urinary outlet obstruction causing chronic bladder distention, the loss of bladder tone, pericystitis, the perivesical bladder fat protrusion and the obesity

Probabilistic Quantum Logic Operations Using Polarizing Beam Splitters

It has previously been shown that probabilistic quantum logic operations can be performed using linear optical elements, additional photons (ancilla), and post-selection based on the output of single-photon detectors. Here we describe the operation of several quantum logic operations of an elementary nature, including a quantum parity check and a quantum encoder, and we show how they can be combined to implement a controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate. All of these gates can be constructed using polarizing beam splitters that completely transmit one state of polarization and totally reflect the orthogonal state of polarization, which allows a simple explanation of each operation. We also describe a polarizing beam splitter implementation of a CNOT gate that is closely analogous to the quantum teleportation technique previously suggested by Gottesman and Chuang [Nature 402, p.390 (1999)]. Finally, our approach has the interesting feature that it makes practical use of a quantum-eraser technique.Comment: 9 pages, RevTex; Submitted to Phys. Rev. A; additional references inlcude

FashionBrain Project: A Vision for Understanding Europe's Fashion Data Universe

A core business in the fashion industry is the understanding and prediction of customer needs and trends. Search engines and social networks are at the same time a fundamental bridge and a costly middleman between the customer’s purchase intention and the retailer. To better exploit Europe’s distinctive characteristics e.g., multiple languages, fashion and cultural differences, it is pivotal to reduce retailers’ dependence to search engines. This goal can be achieved by harnessing various data channels (manufacturers and distribution networks, online shops, large retailers, social media, market observers, call centers, press/magazines etc.) that retailers can leverage in order to gain more insight about potential buyers, and on the industry trends as a whole. This can enable the creation of novel on-line shopping experiences, the detection of influencers, and the prediction of upcoming fashion trends. In this paper, we provide an overview of the main research challenges and an analysis of the most promising technological solutions that we are investigating in the FashionBrain project

Quantum computing with mixed states

We discuss a model for quantum computing with initially mixed states. Although such a computer is known to be less powerful than a quantum computer operating with pure (entangled) states, it may efficiently solve some problems for which no efficient classical algorithms are known. We suggest a new implementation of quantum computation with initially mixed states in which an algorithm realization is achieved by means of optimal basis independent transformations of qubits.Comment: 2 figures, 52 reference