Beyond information extraction: The role of ontology in military report processing

Information extraction tools like SMES transform natural language into formal representation, e.g. into feature structures. Doing so, these tools exploit and apply linguistic knowledge about the syntactic and morphological regularities of the language used. However, these tools apply semantic as well as pragmatic knowledge only partially at best. Automatic processing of military reports has to result in a visualization of the reports content by map as well as in an actualization of the underlying database in order to allow for the actualization of the common operational picture. Normally, however, the information provided by the result of the information extraction is not explicit enough for visualization processes and database insertions. This originates from the reports themselves that are elliptical, ambiguous, and vague. In order to overcome this obstacle, the situational context and thus semantic and pragmatic aspects have to be taken into account. In the paper at hand, we present a system that uses an ontological module to integrate semantic and pragmatic knowledge. The result of the completion contains all the specifications to allow for a visualization of the report’s content on a map as well as for a database actualization

From Reports to Maps

In this paper, we will sketch a project in progress. The project aims at an application of a command and control system. The application is meant to process military reports written in natural language. It exploits computer linguistic techniques, especially information extraction and ontological augmentation. A prototype has already be completed. A real world application of report processing has to go beyond pure syntactic parsing. Semantic analysis is needed and the meaning of the report has to be constructed. Even more, the meaning has to be represented in a format such that it can be visualized within the so called ``common operational picture'' (COP). The COP is an interactive map displaying information. COP standards are provided by NATO. Since military operations of our days -- war operations as well as peace-keeping and nation building ones -- involve forces of many nations, the COP serves as main tool for synchronizing actions and plans. The paper at hand will provide some insights what kind of problems come along if language processing has to result in map visualization. It also will describe some solutions to overcome these problems

The IRIS THz/Infrared beamline at BESSY II

At BESSY II a large acceptance angle, multipurpose infrared beamline is available, comprising several end stations suitable for material and life science investigations. The beamline provides highly brilliant infrared radiation over the energy range from about 20,000 down to 30 cm-1 and even lower when BESSY II is run in the so-called low-a mode

Infrared evidence of a Slater metal-insulator transition in NaOsO3

The magnetically driven metal-insulator transition (MIT) was predicted by Slater in the fifties. Here a long-range antiferromagnetic (AF) order can open up a gap at the Brillouin electronic band boundary regardless of the Coulomb repulsion magnitude. However, while many low-dimensional organic conductors display evidence for an AF driven MIT, in three-dimensional (3D) systems the Slater MIT still remains elusive. We employ terahertz and infrared spectroscopy to investigate the MIT in the NaOsO3 3D antiferromagnet. From the optical conductivity analysis we find evidence for a continuous opening of the energy gap, whose temperature dependence can be well described in terms of a second order phase transition. The comparison between the experimental Drude spectral weight and the one calculated through Local Density Approximation (LDA) shows that electronic correlations play a limited role in the MIT. All the experimental evidence demonstrates that NaOsO3 is the first known 3D Slater insulator.Comment: 4 figure

Harmonizing BML Approaches: Grammars and Data Models for a BML Standard

Battle Management Language (BML) is being developed as an open standard that unambiguously formalizes and specifies Command and Control information, including orders and reports built upon precise representations of tasks. BML is a language specification, based on doctrine and consistent with Coalition standards. The goal of BML is to enable and improve the interoperability in the C2 area, especially by enabling also the military communication with simulation systems and future robotic forces. Although the need for BML is well documented, a SISO standard has still not been achieved. At present, there are two recommended approaches focusing on different aspects. In order to achieve a SISO standard, the SISO product development group for the development of BML has explored these approaches and presented three possible ways to achieve the standard. On the basis of these recommendations, Bundeswehr’s IT office asked supporters of both BML approaches to discuss possible compromises in order to get the best out of the approaches and to facilitate the definition of the standard. In this paper, a way forward is recommended and explained. In short, this compromise recommends using MBDE’s transactionals as constituents under the C2LG

Harmonizing BML Approaches: Grammars and Data Models for a BML Standard

Battle Management Language (BML) is being developed as an open standard that unambiguously formalizes and specifies Command and Control information, including orders and reports built upon precise representations of tasks. BML is a language specification, based on doctrine and consistent with Coalition standards. The goal of BML is to enable and improve the interoperability in the C2 area, especially by enabling also the military communication with simulation systems and future robotic forces. Although the need for BML is well documented, a SISO standard has still not been achieved. At present, there are two recommended approaches focusing on different aspects. In order to achieve a SISO standard, the SISO product development group for the development of BML has explored these approaches and presented three possible ways to achieve the standard. On the basis of these recommendations, Bundeswehr’s IT office asked supporters of both BML approaches to discuss possible compromises in order to get the best out of the approaches and to facilitate the definition of the standard. In this paper, a way forward is recommended and explained. In short, this compromise recommends using MBDE’s transactionals as constituents under the C2LG

In situ infrared imaging of the local orientation of cellulose fibrils in plant secondary cell walls

The mechanical and chemical properties of plant cell walls greatly rely on the supramolecular assembly of cellulose fibrils. To study the local orientation of cellulose in secondary plant cell walls, diffraction limited infrared (IR) micro-spectroscopic mapping experiments were conducted at different orientation of transverse leaf section of the grass Sorghum bicolor with respect to the polarization direction of the IR radiation. Two-dimensional maps, based on polarization-sensitive absorption bands of cellulose were obtained for different polarization angles. They reveal a significant degree of anisotropy of the cellulose macromolecules as well as of other biopolymers in sclerenchyma and xylem regions of the cross section. Quantification of the signals assigned to polarization sensitive vibrational modes allowed to determine the preferential orientation of the sub-micron cellulose fibrils in single cell walls. A sample of crystalline nano-cellulose comprising both a single microcrystal as well as unordered layers of nanocrystals was used for validation of the approach. The results demonstrate that diffraction limited IR micro-spectroscopy can be used to study hierarchically structured materials with complex anisotropic behavior.Peer Reviewe

Occurence of persistent environmental pollutants in freshwater

Freshwater pollution is a huge concern. Occurence of 2 groups of persistent pollutants with similar chemical properties (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microplastics) in Alqueva’s surface water were evaluated during 2021. Samples were collected, once per season, at 3 spots related to touristic activities. Biofilm presence on plastic and natural materials was monitored and compared.Funding: Infrared spectroscopy measurements were carried out at the IRISbeamline at the BESSY II electron storage ring operated by the HelmholtzZentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (Proposals No 202-10133-ST/ UR, 2020 and 212-10726-ST/UR, 2021). This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 730872. We thank INSA for financial support [2020DSA1756, 2020]N/

A Time Projection Chamber with GEM-Based Readout

For the International Large Detector concept at the planned International Linear Collider, the use of time projection chambers (TPC) with micro-pattern gas detector readout as the main tracking detector is investigated. In this paper, results from a prototype TPC, placed in a 1 T solenoidal field and read out with three independent GEM-based readout modules, are reported. The TPC was exposed to a 6 GeV electron beam at the DESY II synchrotron. The efficiency for reconstructing hits, the measurement of the drift velocity, the space point resolution and the control of field inhomogeneities are presented.Comment: 22 pages, 19 figure