King's College, Aberdeen

About: King's College, Aberdeen is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Poison control & Sedimentary depositional environment. The organization has 712 authors who have published 918 publications receiving 25421 citations. The organization is also known as: King's College, Aberdeen & The University and King's College of Aberdeen.

Extracellular polymeric substances: quantification and use in erosion experiments

Abstract: Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is a generic term often applied to high molecular weight polymers implicated in the biostabilisation of natural sediments. Quantitative analysis of in situ EPS production rates and sediment contents has usually involved extraction of EPS in saline media prior to precipitation in alcohol and quantification against a glucose standard (phenol–sulphuric acid assay). Extracted and synthetic EPS has also been used to create engineered sediments for erosion experiments. This study investigated two steps in the EPS extraction procedure, saline extraction and alcohol precipitation. Comparisons of the effects of different extracted polymers were made in sediment erosion experiments using engineered sediments. Sediment EPS content decreased as the salinity of the extractant increased, with highest values obtained for extraction in fresh water. Potential errors were observed in the quantification of the soluble colloidal polymer fraction when divided into EPS and lower molecular weight polymers (LMW) as used in many studies. In erosion studies, 15 mg kg −1 of alcohol (IMS) extracted EPS polymer (in 5 g kg −1 IMS precipitate, equivalent to approximately 5 g salt kg −1 sediment dry weight) decreased the erosion threshold of cohesive sediments whereas 30 mg kg −1 (in 10 g kg −1 IMS precipitate, approximately 10 g salt kg −1 sediment dry weight) had no effect compared to controls. This could be due to the influence of EPS on water content: low levels of EPS did not bind but prevented desiccation, lowering sediment stability against controls. At higher EPS content, binding effects balanced water content effects. Salt alone (at 10 g kg −1 ) slightly increased the erosion threshold after a 6-h desiccation period. In comparison, carbohydrates produced without alcohol precipitation (rotary evaporation) increased the erosion threshold at both 0.5 and 1.0 g EPS kg −1 dry weight of sediment. It was concluded that the role of microphytobenthic polymers in biostabilisation of sediments is best determined through the study of natural intact sediment samples.

The semantic web as a Linguistic resource: opportunities for natural language generation

Abstract: This paper argues that, because the documents of the semantic web are created by human beings, they are actually much more like natural language documents than theory would have us believe. We present evidence that natural language words are used extensively and in complex ways in current ontologies. This leads to a number of dangers for the semantic web, but also opens up interesting new challenges for natural language processing. This is illustrated by our own work using natural language generation to present parts of ontologies.

The Burden of Proof

Abstract: Three main positions on the burden of proof compete for acceptance in current gospel research. The reasons generally given for assuming the burden of proof to be on the person affirming authenticity for any gospel portion cannot withstand close scrutiny. A Kantian argument, as well as analogy from secular historiography, suggest that the burden of proof is rather on the one who would deny authenticity. A mediating position which sees this debate as not profitable is well- intended but unhelpful. The criteria for authenticity and inauthenticity that one uses in detailed tradition-critical exegesis vary in important ways depending on the stance adopted on the burden of proof issue.

On Domino Insertion and Kazhdan–Lusztig Cells in Type Bn

Abstract: Based on empirical evidence obtained using the CHEVIE computer algebra system, we present a series of conjectures concerning the combinatorial description of the Kazhdan–Lusztig cells for type B n with unequal parameters. These conjectures form a far-reaching extension of the results of Bonnafe and Iancu obtained earlier in the so-called asymptotic case. We give some partial results in support of our conjectures.