Science in China Series F: Information Sciences

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LI Wei Beihang University Beijing 100191, China AIMS AND SCOPE Science in China Series F: Information Sciences, an academic journal cosponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, an intemational journal with emphasis on scientific findings in China, publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants on man and other forms of life. The effects may be measured with pharmacological, biochemical, pathological, and immunological techniques. The journal also publishes reports dealing with the entry, transport, and fate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the biosphere, and their impact on human health and well-being. Papers describing biochemical, pharmacological, pathological, toxicological and immunological studies of pharmaceuticals （biotechnological products） are also welcome.

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, an intemational journal with emphasis on scientific findings in China, publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants on man and other forms of life. The effects may be measured with pharmacological, biochemical, pathological, and immunological techniques. The journal also publishes reports dealing with the entry, transport, and fate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the biosphere, and their impact on human health and well-being. Papers describing biochemical, pharmacological, pathological, toxicological and immunological studies of pharmaceuticals （biotechnological products） are also welcome.

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, an international journal with emphasis on scientific findings in China, publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants on man and other forms of life. The effects may be measured with pharmacological, biochemical, pathological, and immunological techniques. The journal also publishes reports dealing ~ith the entry, transport, and fate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the biosphere, and their impact on human health and well-being. Papers describing biochemical, pharmacological, pathological, toxicological and immunological studies of pharmaceuticals （biotechnological products） are also welcome.

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences,an international journal with special emphasis on scientificfindings in China,publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants onman and other forms of life.The effects may be measured with pharmacological,biochemical,pathological,and immunological techniques.The journal also publishes reports dealing with the entry,transport,andfate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the biosphere,and their impact on human health andwell-being.Papers describing biochemical,pharmacological,pathological,and immunological studies ofpharmaceuticals that might facilitate the interpretation of toxic effects of environmental pollutants are also

New Perspective for the Philosophy of Science： Re-Construction and Definition of New Branches ＆ Hierarchy of Sciences

In this work, author evaluated past theories and perspectives behind the definitions of science and/or branches of science. Also some of the philosophers of science and their specific philosophical interests were expressed. Author considered some type of interactions between some disciplines to determine, to solve the philosophical/scientific problems and to define the possible solutions. The purposes of this article are： （i） to define new synthesis method, （ii） to define new perspective for the philosophy of science, （iii） to define relation between new philosophy perspective and philosophy of science, （iv） to define and organize name, number, relations, and correct structure between special science branches and philosophy of science, （v） to define necessary and sufficient number of branches for philosophy of science, （vi） to define and express the importance and place of new philosophy of science perspective in the new system, （vii） to extend the definition/limits of philosophy of science, （viii） to re-define meanings of some philosophical/scientific theories, （ix） to define systematic solution for the conflicts, problems, confusions about philosophy of science, sciences and branches of science, （x） to define new branches of science, （xi） to re-construct branches and hierarchy of science, （xii） to define new theories about science and branches of science. Author considered R-Synthesis as a method for the evaluation oftbe philosophy, philosophy of science, sciences and branches of science. This R-Synthesis includes evaluation of eight categories of general/specific perspective, 21-dimensions, and 12 general subjects （with related scope and contents） for the past 12,000 years. It is a kind of synthesis of science and non-science, physical science and non-physical science, religious science and non-religious science, and others. In this article, author defined 27 possible definitive/certain result cases for this new synthesis. Author defined the possible formation stages shortly to express new disciplines, new constructional and/or complementary theories. These theories are considered to define 21 major effective disciplines. New philosophy perspective is defined （R-Philosophy） shortly. New perspective and sub branches are defined for the philosophy of science. Major sciences are defined due to new basic philosophies. 42-basic components are defined for each science branch. New and/or re-constructed sciences, branches of science, basic sciences, and new hierarchy of science are defined with figure. Electromagnetic sciences, information sciences, and system sciences are defined specifically. Hybrid Sciences, New Era Science, and Ideal Scientific System are defined with general/specific figure. Relation between the some old branches and new branches of science was expressed generally due to new perspective of philosophy of science.

Hazards Assessment of Regional Debris Flows Based on Geographic Information Science

Supported by the spatial analysis feature of geographic information science and assessment model of regional debris flows, hazards degrees of the debris flows in the Upper Yangtze River Watershed （UYRW） are divided into five grades based on grid cell. The area of no danger, light danger, medium danger, severe danger and extreme severe danger regions respectively are 278 000, 288 000, 217 000, 127 000, 15 000 km^2. Furthermore, the counties in the UYRW are classified into four classes based on the hazards degrees in each county. The number of severe danger, medium danger, light danger and no danger counties respectively are 49, 82, 77 and 105. The assessment results will be provided for the hazards forecasting and mitigation in the UYRW and ongoing regionalization of Main Function Regions in China as data and technique framework.

Information Science Roles in the Emerging Field of Data Science

There has long been discussion about the distinctions of library science,information science,and informatics,and how these areas differ and overlap with computer science.Today the term data science is emerging that generates excitement and questions about how it relates to and differs from these other areas of study.

A comparative study of information diffusion in weblogs and microblogs based on social network analysis

Purpose: This paper intends to explore a quantitative method for investigating the characteristics of information diffusion through social media like weblogs and microblogs.By using the social network analysis methods,we attempt to analyze the different characteristics of information diffusion in weblogs and microblogs as well as the possible reasons of these differences.Design/methodology/approach: Using the social network analysis methods,this paper carries out an empirical study by taking the Chinese weblogs and microblogs in the field of Library and Information Science(LIS) as the research sample and employing measures such as network density,core/peripheral structure and centrality.Findings: Firstly,both bloggers and microbloggers maintain weak ties,and both of their social networks display a small-world effect. Secondly,compared with weblog users,microblog users are more interconnected,more equal and more capable of developing relationships with people outside their own social networks. Thirdly,the microblogging social network is more conducive to information diffusion than the blogging network,because of their differences in functions and the information flow mechanism. Finally,the communication mode emerged with microblogging,with the characteristics of micro-content,multi-channel information dissemination,dense and decentralized social network and content aggregation,will be one of the trends in the development of the information exchange platform in the future.Research limitations: The sample size needs to be increased so that samples are more representative. Errors may exist during the data collection. Moreover,the individual-level characteristics of the samples as well as the types of information exchanged need to be further studied.Practical implications: This preliminary study explores the characteristics of information diffusion in the network environment and verifies the feasibility of conducting a quantitative analysis of information diffusion through social media. In addition,it provides insight into the characteristics of information diffusion in weblogs and microblogs and the possible reasons of these differences.Originality/value: We have analyzed the characteristics of information diffusion in weblogs and microblogs by using the social network analysis methods. This research will be useful for a quantitative analysis of the underlying mechanisms of information flow through social media in the network environment.

An Introduction to the School of Information Science and Technology of BIT

The School of Information Science and Technology inBeijing Institute of Technology(BIT)was established July 2002by merging the former Department of Computer Science andEngineering, Department of Automatic Control,Department ofOptical Engineering and Department of Electronic Engineering.As a significant organizational reform in the university to fit inwith developments in higher education as well as in science andtechnology;the organizational reform was taken in order to

What Does Information Science Offer for Data Science Research?:A Review of Data and Information Ethics Literature

This paper reviews literature pertaining to the development of data science as a discipline,current issues with data bias and ethics,and the role that the discipline of information science may play in addressing these concerns.Information science research and researchers have much to offer for data science,owing to their background as transdisciplinary scholars who apply human-centered and social-behavioral perspectives to issues within natural science disciplines.Information science researchers have already contributed to a humanistic approach to data ethics within the literature and an emphasis on data science within information schools all but ensures that this literature will continue to grow in coming decades.This review article serves as a reference for the history,current progress,and potential future directions of data ethics research within the corpus of information science literature.

Understanding Big Data for Industrial Innovation and Design:The Missing Information Systems Perspective

This paper identifies a need to complement the current rich technical and mathematical research agenda on big data with a more information systems and information science strand, which focuses on the business value of big data. An agenda of research for information systems would explore motives for using big data in real organizational contexts, and consider proposed benefits, such as increased effectiveness and efficiency, production of high-quality products/services, creation of added business value, and stimulation of innovation and design. Impacts of such research on the academic community, the industrial and business world, and policy-makers are discussed.

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, an international journal with special emphasis on scientific findings in China, publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants on man and other forms of life. The effects may be measured with pharmacological, biochemical. pathological, and immunological techniques. The journal also publishes reports dealing with the entry, transport. and fate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the biosphere, and their impact on human health and well-being. Papers describing biochemical, pharmacological, pathological, and immunological studies of

INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, an international journal with emphasis on scientific findings in China, publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants on man and other forms of life. The effects may be measured with pharmacological, biochemical, pathological, and immunological techniques. The journal also publishes reports dealing with the entry, transport, and fate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the biosphere, and their impact on human health and well-being. Papers describing biochemical, pharmacological, pathological, toxicological and immunological studies of pharmaceuticals （biotechnological products） are also welcome.

INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, an international journal with emphasis on scientific findings in China, publishes articles dealing with biologic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants on man and other forms of life.