BlogForever D2.6: Data Extraction Methodology

This report outlines an inquiry into the area of web data extraction, conducted within the context of blog preservation. The report reviews theoretical advances and practical developments for implementing data extraction. The inquiry is extended through an experiment that demonstrates the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing some of the suggested approaches. More specifically, the report discusses an approach based on unsupervised machine learning that employs the RSS feeds and HTML representations of blogs. It outlines the possibilities of extracting semantics available in blogs and demonstrates the benefits of exploiting available standards such as microformats and microdata. The report proceeds to propose a methodology for extracting and processing blog data to further inform the design and development of the BlogForever platform

Comment on The Evidence for a Pentaquark and Kinematic Reflections

The Regge exchange model used by Dzierba et al. is shown to be questionable, since the pion pole term is not allowed. Hence the Regge amplitudes in their calculation are exaggerated. The amount of kinematic reflection in the mass spectrum of the (nK+) system, which is one decay channel of a possible pentaquark, is not well justified in the fitting procedure used by Dzierba et al., as shown by comparison with the (K+K-) invariant mass spectrum, which is one decay channel of the a_2 and f_2 tensor mesons. While kinematic reflections are still a concern in some papers that have presented evidence for the pentaquark, better quantitative calculations are needed to demonstrate the significance of this effect.Comment: Comment submitted to Phys. Rev. D (no figures

BlogForever D2.4: Weblog spider prototype and associated methodology

The purpose of this document is to present the evaluation of different solutions for capturing blogs, established methodology and to describe the developed blog spider prototype

Innovative approaches to the organization of social service of elderly people in a management of the social work : regional experience

The article is devoted to a problem of formation of new system of social service, relevant for Russia, covering a general population. In these conditions the new tasks are set for management of social work. They are connected with creation and introduction in practice of social work of new technologies of work with elderly people who will be directed not only to the solution of the existing social problems, but promoting involvement of pensioners in a "active" old age. At the description of regional experiment of Krasnoyarsk Region on introduction of innovative technologies the analysis and synthesis, logical and complex approaches are used to assessment of level of social service of the elderly. In work, it is shown that the faces of the senior generation are the unprotected social group of the population of Russia. By the way it is added also the financial problems. As a solution of this problem, innovative approach is offered to the organization of social service of the elderly in management of social work of Krasnoyarsk Region. The regional experience will promote the choice of optimal model of management of social work.peer-reviewe

Integrative Teaching of Mathematics as a Means of a Forming Modern Economist

Introduction: A modern specialist in practically any field should not only possess professional expertise but also have a good command of modern computer technologies and main mathematical methods of data modeling and processing. It is employers’ requirements and, at the same time, students’ demands to receive this exact type of education. The study examines various ideas of educator-researchers striving to change the educational process to match the new goals. Meanwhile, the authors place the main emphasis on teaching mathematics. Drawing on the experience of teaching at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, the authors propose an integrative model of teaching mathematics that utilizes the contextual approach and content-based teaching. Materials and Methods: The main methods of the study are the analysis of scientific works and pedagogical modeling based on the following methodological approaches: competency-based, integrative, activity-based, as well as the concept of the zone of proximal development. The authors place special importance on the contextual approach and content-based teaching. Results: The analysis of works confirms the significance and relevance of interdisciplinary courses. The necessary modernization of the educational process and its contents is based on the integrative approach. The contextual approach is increasingly used in higher education to reinforce professional orientation. As for content-based education, it is currently used only in foreign language teaching. Within this study, the authors propose an integrative model of teaching mathematics at economics universities. To enforce the focus on the application in basic student training, the contextual approach is utilized which allows giving professional substance to the content of an educational course. The second part of the model is content-based teaching. The authors enhance its potential uses and believe that studying interconnected subjects together allows one to show common patterns and makes the educational process more efficient, intensive and mindful. Discussion and Conclusions: The relevance of having command of mathematical methods and computer technologies for multidisciplinary specialists makes it possible to generalize the creative model by adding various professional contexts

BlogForever D5.3: User Questionnaires and Reports

This report presents the feedback gathered from third party users during the BlogForever Case Studies. Therefore, the research framework is defined and the case studies results are presented, followed by a summary of conclusions and remarks

BlogForever D5.2: Implementation of Case Studies

This document presents the internal and external testing results for the BlogForever case studies. The evaluation of the BlogForever implementation process is tabulated under the most relevant themes and aspects obtained within the testing processes. The case studies provide relevant feedback for the sustainability of the platform in terms of potential users’ needs and relevant information on the possible long term impact

Experimental Outlook for the Pentaquark

A critical look is taken at both positive and null evidence for the $\Theta^+$ pentaquark. Potential problems with experiments will be discussed and the question of what conclusion can be drawn from both the positive and the null results is examined. First the question of existence of the $\Theta^+$ pentaquark is considered, followed by a discussion of new experiments that are either planned or in progress to answer questions about its mass, width and isospin. Finally, indirect evidence for the parity of the $\Theta^+$ is examined, and suggestions for experiments to measure its parity directly are given.Comment: MESON2004 conference proceedings, 10 pages, 1 figur

Culture, role and group work: A Social network analysis perspective on an online collaborative course

This paper discusses the patterns of network dynamics within a multicultural online collaborative learning environment. It analyses the interaction of participants (both students and facilitators) within a discussion board that was established as part of a 3-month online collaborative course. The study employs longitudinal probabilistic social network analysis (SNA) to identify the patterns and trends within the network. It conjectures and tests a set of hypotheses concerning the tendencies towards homophily/heterophily and preferential attachment. The paper presents identified interaction network patterns in relation to cultural differences. It also evaluates network dynamics by considering participant roles and group work in the course under study. Results of social network analyses are reported along with measures of statistical confidence in findings. The potential for extending exploratory SNA methods and visualisation techniques in educational research are discussed here

Production of Theta(1540) and Xi Pentaquark States in Proton-Proton Interactions

The production of strange pentaquark states (e.g. Theta baryons and Xi^-- states) in hadronic interactions within a Gribov-Regge approach is explored. In this approach the Theta^+(1540) and the Xi Pentaquark are produced by disintegration of remnants formed by the exchange of pomerons between the two protons. We predict the rapidity and transverse momentum distributions as well as the 4 pi multiplicity of the Theta^+, Xi^--, Xi^-, Xi^0 and Xi^+ for sqrt{s} = 17 GeV (SPS) and 200 GeV (RHIC). For both energies more than 10^{-3} Theta^+ and more than 10^{-5} Xi per pp event should be observed by the present experiments.Comment: Predictions for Xi Pentaquarks added. Phys. Lett. B in prin