Louis de La Forge and the ‘Non-Transfer Argument’ for Occasionalism

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Reduction of the median mandibulotomy with the fixed mandibular implant

A technique is presented whereby a median mandibulotomy of an atrophic edentulous mandible is performed to gain access to an oropharyngeal tumor and is subsequently reapproximated with a four-pin FMI. The procedure allows reduction of the osteotomy site and provides intraoral implants that increase the stability and retentive properties of a mandibular prosthesis

SeaLab Advanced Information Retrieval

Information Retrieval is a well established interdisciplinary topic in which machine learning, computational linguistic, computer programming and data mining merge together. SLAIR stands for SeaLab Advanced Information Retrieval and is an efficient software architecture that embeds these issues in a unique framework. SLAIR is expandable both from the data format and algorithm point of view. A pluggable notion of distance between documents drives the subsequent clustering/classification machinery; moreover SLAIR is explicitly designed to manage large scale text mining problems. The demo will be focused on the versatility of the framework; the main goal is to show how the different metrics provided by SLAIR can enhance clustering/classification ability and eventually lead to different views of the underlying textual dat

Operative Assessment of Predicted Generalization Errors on Non-Stationary Distributions in Data-Intensive Applications

Data-intensive applications use empirical methods to extract consistent information from huge samples. When applied to classification tasks, their aim is to optimize accuracy on unseen data hence a reliable prediction of the generalization error is of paramount importance. Theoretical models, such as Statistical Learning Theory, and empirical estimations, such as cross-validation, can both fit data-mining classification domains very well, provided some crucial assumptions are verified in advance. In particular, the stationary distribution of the observed data is critical, although it is sometimes overlooked in practice. The paper formulates an operative criterion to verify the stationary assumption; the method applies to both theoretical and practical predictions of generalization errors. The analysis addresses the specific case of clustering-based classifiers; the K-Winner Machine (KWM) model is used as a reference for its known theoretical bounds; cross-validation provides an empirical counterpart for practical comparison. The criterion, based on efficient unsupervised clustering-based probability distribution estimation, is tested experimentally on a set of different, data-intensive applications, including: intrusion detection for computer-network security, optical character recognition, text mining and pedestrian detection. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach to efficiently detect non stationarity

AN ANALYST-ADAPTIVE APPROACH TO FOCUSED CRAWLERS

The paper presents a general methodology to implement a flexible Focused Crawler for investigation purposes, monitoring, and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). The resulting tool is specifically aimed to fit the operational requirements of law-enforcement agencies and intelligence analyst. The architecture of the semantic Focused Crawler features static flexibility in the definition of desired concepts, used metrics, and crawling strategy; in addition, the method is capable to learn (and adapt to) the analyst's expectations at runtime . The user may instruct the crawler with a binary feedback (yes/no) about the current performance of the surfing process, and the crawling engine progressively refines the expected targets accordingly. The method implementation is based on an existing text-mining environment, integrated with semantic networks and ontologies. Experimental results witness the effectiveness of the adaptive mechanism

Characterization of the major apolipoproteins secreted by two human hepatoma cell lines.

Two newly described human hepatoma derived cell lines, Hep G2 and Hep 3B [Knowles, B. B., Howe, C. C., & Aden, D. P. (1980) Science (Washington, D.C.) 209, 497-499], synthesize and secrete into the culture medium most of the major plasma apoproteins (apoA-I, apoA-II, apoB, apoC-II, apoC-III, and apoE). The synthesized apoproteins were identified by direct two-dimensional gel analysis of the culture medium or by two-dimensional analysis following purification of the apoproteins by ultracentrifugation or immunoprecipitation. We found that the apoA-I synthesized by both of the hepatoma cell lines consists of two isoproteins designated 2 and 3 which are more basic than the major plasma apoA-I isoproteins designated 4 and 5. The apoE synthesized by both cell lines is composed mainly of an array of isoproteins with increasingly higher molecular weights and lower isoelectric points as compared to those of the major apoE isoproteins found in plasma. These precursors of apoE are converted to the major apoE isoproteins upon treatment with Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase and represent sialo apoE isoproteins. ApoA-II, apoC-II, apoC-III-1, and apoC-III-2 correspond to the protein forms present in plasma. The human hepatoma cell lines (Hep G2 and Hep 3B) provide a unique model for studies of the regulation of human apoprotein and lipoprotein synthesis and catabolism

Innovative thermal and acoustic insulation foam by using recycled ceramic shell and expandable styrofoam (EPS) wastes

Ceramic foams were produced using ceramic shell (mullite source), an industrial solid waste from the precision casting process, and expandable styrofoams, EPS (d 50 &lt; 1 mm) as pore former, envisaging thermal and acoustic insulation applications. Physical, chemical, structural properties of the selected raw materials (wastes) were characterized. The influence of the amount and morphology of the EPS powder beads on the microstructure, thermal conductivity, acoustic absorption and compressive strength of ceramic shell foams were evaluated. Batches containing well mixed ceramic shell powder (d 50 &lt; 2 µm), EPS beads, in different proportions (from 10 to 70 vol%), were added as pore forming agent, and BonderPlus® (Na 2 SiO 3 solution) were uniaxially pressed at 20 MPa, dried and fired in controlled conditions. The experimental results showed that homogeneous microstructures of elongated and interconnected pores with sizes between 115 and 1200 µm can be obtained. These connections exhibit a significant impact on the thermal/sound absorption properties, as a consequence of the interaction between air molecules within the pores through the passage of the thermal/sound wave. Ceramic shell foams (containing 70 vol% of EPS powder beads) featured porosities up to 77%, thermal conductivity of 0.061 W/mK, sound absorption coefficient of ∼0.9 (3 kHz), and excellent compressive strength ∼5.4 MPa. In addition, the use of ceramic shells wastes for the manufacture of acoustic and thermal insulators with suitable microstructural characteristics is a great sustainable opportunity, since with the use of this refractory waste, is possible to avoid the release to the atmosphere of about 3.1 kg of CO 2 per kg of manufactured material