Showing papers by "Northampton Community College published in 1980"

Approximate String Matching

Abstract: Approximate matching of strings is reviewed with the aim of surveying techniques suitable for finding an item in a database when there may be a spelling mistake or other error in the keyword. The methods found are classified as either equivalence or similarity problems. Equivalence problems are seen to be readily solved using canonical forms. For sinuiarity problems difference measures are surveyed, with a full description of the wellestablmhed dynamic programming method relating this to the approach using probabilities and likelihoods. Searches for approximate matches in large sets using a difference function are seen to be an open problem still, though several promising ideas have been suggested. Approximate matching (error correction) during parsing is briefly reviewed.

The Effects of Offering a Middle Response Option with Opinion Questions

Abstract: A frequently encountered consideration in the construction of social survey opinion questions is whether respondents should be offered the choice of a middle response option that states a neutral response. This paper reports the results of six split-ballot tests in each of which a random half of the sample was offered the middle option and the other half was not. As in many earlier studies, the explicit offer of the middle option was found substantially to increase the proportion of respondents expressing a neutral response. An analysis of whether the size of this effect differed according to the socio-demographic subgroup of the respondent found few such interactions to be significant.

Squared paper in the nineteenth century: Instrument of science and engineering, and symbol of reform in mathematical education

Abstract: The paper traces the gradual adoption of squared paper from its exclusive use as a research tool in the early 19th century to its universal use for a variety of purposes in mathematical education by the end of the first decade of this century. Three underlying causal factors are explored—the growth of new educational philosophies; the development of science teaching and the associated need for mathematics correlation; and the growing demands of engineering and technical education. Whilst the focus on squared paper is a narrow one, it is argued that its adoption in education generally was symptomatic of a much wider transformation of mathematical curricula in response to various demands which, significantly, arose outside the academic mathematical community.

Pipeline repair kit

Abstract: A pipeline repairing kit comprising (a) a sealed, flexible envelope; (b) two removable means dividing said envelope into at least first, second and third compartments, said means being removable selectively to connect the first and second and third compartments without opening the sealed envelope; (c) measured quantities of the parts of a two-part curable resin system in the first and second compartments; and (d) an elongated flexible bandage member made of absorbent material disposed in said third compartment, said member including an integral closeable vent, whereby an elongated resin-soaked flexible bandage member adapted for wrapping around a pipeline can be provided by first removing the removable means between said first and second compartments to thereby mix the parts of the resin system, next removing the other removable means and bringing the mixed resin into intimate contact with said elongated flexible member, and then manually manipulating the envelope so as to thoroughly impregnate said bandage member with mixed resin before the envelope is opened.

Prevention of hydrogen embrittlement of metals in corrosive environments

Abstract: Metal substrates in corrosive environments such as gas and oil pipelines, are normally prone to embrittlement caused by absorption of the hydrogen which is cathodica11y evolved during various corrosion processes. This is sub-stantially prevented by providing an active substance in the vicinity of the metal substrate, and in electrical contact therewith, the active substance being one on which cathodic hydrogen evolution occurs in preference to the metal, thereby reducing the amount of hydrogen available for diffusion into the substrate, The active substrate is preferably a sulphide, for example FeS, or mixed sulphice for example NiCo2S4, and is advantageously applied as a coating on the surface of the substrate, a further coating of, for example, a thermosetting resin, preferably being employed for mechanical and environmental protection.

Change and Stability in the Ideology of Scottish Nationalism

Abstract: Changes in the nature of Scottish nationalist ideology over a 30-year period are studied by means of a content analysis of 90 documents from the Scottish Nationalist Party Frequency, position, and connectivity of themes within the ideology were measured It appears that the party is becoming less radical and less culturally and economically oriented The ideology is described as more complex, oppositional, and incestuous than formerly The retreat from militancy is seen to stem from a historic need to avoid division within the party and as a strategy to attract a broader range of voters This dilution of ideology is a major cause of the party's decline

An Open Evaluation of a 3-Day Course of Pivmecillinam (Ten 200 mg Tablets) in Women with Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis:

Abstract: One hundred and eighty-four women, with acute uncomplicated cystitis, received a 3-day course of pivmecillinam comprising an initial 400 mg (two tablets) dose, followed by 200 mg every 8 hours; a t...

Survey of elderly day hospital patients during a period of industrial action

Abstract: The effect of a six-week closure of an active day hospital for the elderly was studied. The ill-effects were not marked and the implications are discussed.

A Comparative Double-Blind Study of Tiaprofenic Acid and Aspirin in the Treatment of Muscular Rheumatism, Fibrositis, Sprains and Soft Tissue Injuries in General Practice

Abstract: Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of tiaprofenic acid 200 mg t.d.s. were compared with those of aspirin 600 mg t.d.s. in 100 patients in general practice suffering from muscular rheumatic pain, fibrositis, sprains and soft tissue injuries. Tiaprofenic acid was shown to be better than aspirin in relieving pain by clinical assessment although both drugs were equally effective according to patients daily assessment. It was not possible to demonstrate any anti-inflammatory action by reduction of swelling, but this was only present in 20% of patients initially. Side-effects, none serious, were similar in both groups.

The value of research

Abstract: The remarks concern recent research in information retrieval, specifically on the design and evaluation of retrieval systems, and in both cases betray a feeling that much previous and present IR research is misdirected or irrelevant. (The fact that the two reviewers have quite different reasons for holding this view does not invalidate the point.) This feeling seems to me to be widespread in the profession, and I regret that good and useful research work may be ignored as a result. The first point concerns the remarks by B.C. Brookes on Van Rijsbergen’s chapter in Progress in Communication Sciences. Brookes makes the comment that recall is an inappropriate measure of retrieval performance because if a user reads 60% of the relevant documents, he will get 89% of the information. It is not clear from the review where the figure of 89% comes from, though it clearly depends on some strong assumptions about the degree of overlap or redundancy between documents. But in any case, recent IR research [1] has shown that it ’is not necessary to make such assumptions: on the basis of far weaker assumptions (that there may be some unspecified degree of redundancy), optiniising recall implies that total utility is also optimised. So recall is, after all, an appropriate measure, both for theoretical studies and for evaluation experiments. (I simplify somewhat but so does Brookes!) The second point concerns Jutta Sorensen’s review of Keen’s report on the evaluation of printed subject indexes. Sorensen claims to have gathered the impression that Keen was testing &dquo;live indexing systems&dquo;; she then expresses disappointment that ,this is not what he has done. I find it surprising that she got this impression: I could match her quote for quote, but two will suffice:

Particle Motions and the Dynamics of Korteweg-de Vries Solitons

Abstract: The particlelike behaviour of the soliton solutions of nonlinear evolution equations, raises the question as to whether there exists a representation, in terms of classical particles, which gives quantitative as well as qualitative information about the dynamics of these interacting solitary waveforms. In this paper we establish such a representation for Kortewcg·dc Vries (KdV) solitons by locating the particles at the poles of the n-soliton solutions when the latter are considered as functions over a complex domain. The representation is shown to be faithful and a detailed analysis is presented for the one- and two-soliton solutions. In these cases the pole motions accurately reflect the behaviour of the solitons; giving, respec­ tively, a uniform motion and a repulsive interaction. Furthermore, in the case of the two­ soliton solutions, the phase shifts calculated from the particle trajectories are the same as those obtained from an asymptotic analysis of the waveforms. Since the KdV is not Galilean invariant, in the strict sense, the mass-spectrum of the pole-particles is obtained from the waveforms using a phenomenologically defined mass density rather than the Hamiltonian density. This mass-spectrum is then used to compute the forces and potentials acting between two solitons and an interpretation of the manner in which this interaction takes place is also given. Finally, a brief discussion of related work on other solutions of the KdV is presented.

The decomposition of tolerance automata

Abstract: Tolerance automata are defined and a decomposition theory for such entities is sought. It is shown that two major procedures of the classical algebraic theory produce difficulties in the tolerance case. A weaker approach, employing the idea of inertial tolerance, is presented. Finally, an explicit example is given which illustrates both the difficulties encountered and the theorems proved in the text.

Fixed blots in tolerance automata

Abstract: We prove that every input chain of a finite l‐tolerance automaton with inertia whose state space has a non‐zero Euler characteristic has a fixed blot, i.e. maps to itself a set Σ of states with the property that every state of Σ is within tolerance of, or “indistinguishable” from, a given state.

On the Logic of Relations

Abstract: Summary The following paper is an attempt to deal with relations as elements of certain closed structures which I call relation schemata. A relation schema is essentially a lattice whose alements are m-ary relations over a domain of individuals. The approach is based upon methods well known from linear algebra and throws light upon some analogies between classic syllogistic and relational logic; it also suggests a natural way of extending classic syllogistic to a system of 42 syllogisms. Resume L'article suivant est une tentative de traiter les relations comme des elements de certaines structures fermees que j'appelle schemas relationnels. Un schema relationnel est essentiellement un treillis dont les elements sont des relations n-aires sur un domaine d'individus. L'essai s'inspire de methodes bien connues en algebre lineaire et eclaire des analogies entre la syllogistique classique et la logique relationnelle; il suggere aussi une maniere naturelle d'etendre cette syllogistique classique a un systeme a 42 syllogismes. Zusammenfassung Die folgende Arbeit versucht, Relationen als Elemente gewisser geschlossener Strukturen, die ich Relationenschemata nenne, darzustellen. Ein Relationenschema ist im wesentlichen ein Verband, dessen Elemente m-stellige Relationen ilber einern Individuenbereich sind. Die hier gegebene Darstellung beruht auf bekannten Methoden der linearen Algebra, weist ferner einige zwischen der klassischen Syllogistik und der Relationenlogik bestehende Analogien auf und legt eine naturliche Erweiterung der klassischen Syllogistik auf 42 Syllogismen nahe.

Um einen Tasso von außen bittend: Kunst und Dilettantismus am Musenhof von Ferrara

Abstract: Torquato Tasso gehort in den Zusammenhang von Goethes nachitalienischer Reflexion auf die Moglichkeiten von Dichtung unter den asthetischen und gesellschaftlichen Bedingungen eines Musenhofs. Die Kritik des Musenhofs, vor allem seines Literaturbegriffs, enthullt sich am deutlichsten im Lichte von Goethes Kritik des Dilettantismus.

A Cognitive-Augmented Approach To the Definition of Group Therapist Style

Abstract: It seems reasonable to postulate the possibility of a second generation of groups (see phase 6, Figure). An institution-based multi-disciplinary group, seeded with the most &dquo;advanced&dquo; and enthusiastic members of first generation groups might be set up, so that phase 1 of the second generation is much more sophisticated than phase 1 of the first generation. Graduates of this group then move into another department where the phase 2 group (more advanced than the first generation phase 2, because of its culturecarriers) will proceed to bring about cultural shift more rapidly.

A survey of psychiatric reports on potential special hospital patients.

Abstract: 189 letters written by consultants at Broadmoor Hospital about patients whom they had seen at the request of the Department of Health and Social Security, regarding suitability for admission, were studied for the presence or absence of comments about various aspects of the patients' social, criminal and psychiatric histories and current mental states. Social and psychiatric histories were similar for those who were accepted and rejected. A history of previous violence or of sexual violence was more common in the accepted group. Major differences were found in the current mental states described for the two groups of patients.