Structured text retrieval by means of affordances and genre.

This paper offers a proposal for some preliminary research on the retrieval of structured text, such as extensible mark-up language (XML). We believe that capturing the way in which a reader perceives the meaning of documents, especially genres of text, may have implications for information retrieval (IR) and in particular, for cognitive IR and relevance. Previous research on shallow features of structured text has shown that categorization by form is possible. Gibsons theory of affordances and genre offer the reader the meaning and purpose - through structure - of a text, before the reader has even begun to read it, and should therefore provide a good basis for the deep skimming and categorization of texts. We believe that Gibsons affordances will aid the user to locate, examine and utilize shallow or deep features of genres and retrieve relevant output. Our proposal puts forward two hypotheses, with a list of research questions to test them, and culminates in experiments involving the studies of human categorization behaviour when viewing the structures of emails and web documents. Finally, we will examine the effectiveness of adding structural layout cues to a Yahoo discussion forum (currently only a bag-of-words), which is rich in structure, but only searchable through a Boolean search engine

Supernovas and the Polynesian Canoe

The body of archaeological and other evidence tells us that the Polynesian race arose following ocean migrations from Asia via Melanesia through Fiji to Tonga and Samoa, probably reaching the Marquesas Islands near or before the birth of Christ. Subsequent migrations populated the other islands of the Eastern Pacific (Finney 1994). These events, extending over a period of some two thousand years, involved impressive feats of ocean passage, employing a growing body of knowledge of currents, winds, and above all, stellar navigation. The early navigators, capable of sailing against the wind, operated primarily in the near-equatorial latitudes, and are known to have employed a system of stellar reference involving the horizon and the local zenith. The rising and setting directions of stars were used to set and hold courses, and stars passing overhead at night were used as locators for certain islands (Finney 1994, Lewis 1994).</p

Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa

Bibliography: leaves 188-216.The main objectives of this study were to examine, by means of beach seine netting, the composition, abundance and size structure of fish assemblages frequenting surf-zone habitats in the south-western Cape, South Africa, to investigate temporal and spatial variations in these assemblages in relation to physical environmental parameters, and to assess the importance of this habitat as a nursery and feeding ground for littoral fish. In all, 54 fish species from 29 families were recorded, with three species (Atherina breviceps, Liza richardsonii and Rhabdosargus globiceps) dominating numerically. Two separate surveys were designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the factors influencing spatial variability in the composition abundance and community structure of the surf fish assemblages in this region. In the first, surf ichthyofaunal assemblages at 11 localities, selected to encompass as wide a range of physical parameters as possible, were sampled at monthly intervals for a period of two years. Results of this study indicated that the degree of wave exposure, the presence of emergent rock on the shore and turbidity were responsible for most of the spatial variability in abundance and community structure observed. In the second survey, samples were collected at eight localities spanning an exposure gradient from highly exposed, open ocean beaches to extremely sheltered marine sandy beaches, in order to isolate and carefully examine the influences of wave exposure on surf fish assemblages. Two important trends were evident in the abundance and community structure of teleost catches in this study. Overall abundance increased markedly as wave exposure decreased, while highest species richness and diversity, and lowest dominance were recorded at intermediate levels of exposure

What is the influence of genre during the perception of structured text for retrieval and search?

This thesis presents an investigation into the high value of structured text (or form) in the context of genre within Information Retrieval. In particular, how are these structured texts perceived and why are they not more heavily used within Information Retrieval & Search communities? The main motivation is to show the features in which people can exploit genre within Information Search & Retrieval, in particular, categorisation and search tasks. To do this, it was vital to record and analyse how and why this was done during typical tasks. The literature review highlighted two previous studies (Toms & Campbell 1999a; Watt 2009) which have reported pilot studies consisting of genre categorisation and information searching. Both studies and other findings within the literature review inspired the work contained within this thesis. Genre is notoriously hard to define, but a very useful framework of Purpose and Form, developed by Yates & Orlikowski (1992), was utilised to design two user studies for the research reported within the thesis. The two studies consisted of, first, a categorisation task (e-mails), and second, a set of six simulated situations in Wikipedia, both of which collected quantitative data from eye tracking experiments as well as qualitative user data. The results of both studies showed the extent to which the participants utilised the form features of the stimuli presented, in particular, how these were used, which ocular behaviours (skimming or scanning) and actual features were used, and which were the most important. The main contributions to research made by this thesis were, first of all, that the task-based user evaluations employing simulated search scenarios revealed how and why users make decisions while interacting with the textual features of structure and layout within a discourse community, and, secondly, an extensive evaluation of the quantitative data revealed the features that were used by the participants in the user studies and the effects of the interpretation of genre in the search and categorisation process as well as the perceptual processes used in the various communities. This will be of benefit for the re-development of information systems. As far as is known, this is the first detailed and systematic investigation into the types of features, value of form, perception of features, and layout of genre using eye tracking in online communities, such as Wikipedia

Residual air inflated systems for CubeSats

This paper presents a case for the use of residual air inflated (RAI) structures on CubeSat platforms, focusing on the development of a high altitude, de-orbiting device that utilises this deployment method. Residual air inflation relies on small pockets of air, trapped within a sealed membrane, expanding when the structure is exposed to vacuum. This expansion of trapped air then inflates the membrane. The application of this deployment method for a technology demonstrator, to be flown on a European sounding rocket in March 2014, shall be discussed. The demonstrator is a proposed passive, high altitude, end-of-life, deorbiting system that utilises solar radiation pressure. The development of this device from analysis and design through to construction shall be covered with the particular challenges present on a CubeSat platform discussed. The paper shall conclude by proposing possible applications of CubeSat based RAI structures and deployment mechanisms, focusing on the potential for deployment mechanisms and debris capture structures

Eigenvector-based community detection for identifying information hubs in neuronal networks

Eigenvectors of networked systems are known to reveal central, well-connected, network vertices. Here we expand upon the known applications of eigenvectors to define well-connected communities where each is associated with a prominent vertex. This form of community detection provides an analytical approach for analysing the dynamics of information flow in a network. When applied to the neuronal network of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, known circuitry can be identified as separate eigenvector-based communities. For the macaque's neuronal network, community detection can expose the hippocampus as an information hub; this result contradicts current thinking that the analysis of static graphs cannot reveal such insights. The application of community detection on a large scale human connectome (around 1.8 million vertices) reveals the most prominent information carrying pathways present during a magnetic resonance imaging scan. We demonstrate that these pathways can act as an effective unique identifier for a subject's brain by assessing the number of matching pathways present in any two connectomes

Achieving excellence in customer relationship management

This report covers the work of the Cranfield CRM Research Forum for the first year of its operation. Directed and funded by a group of organisations across many sectors, the goals of the Forum are to enable excellence in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) by defining and understanding this important management process. The work of the Forum is based upon a research programme that includes both primary and secondary research. The secondary research was used to synthesise a generic model of CRM which broadly but accurately describes the management process better than previous models. This model allows practitioners to understand and create the necessary preconditions for successful CRM in any organisation. It also makes explicit the inputs, outputs and connectivity of the four sub-processes of CRM. The primary research involved the in-depth, qualitative study of eight exemplar companies in B2B and B2C sectors, in both products and services. This phase revealed that effective CRM operates within a CRM eco-system defined by both market and organisationally based factors. Awareness of this eco-system allows organisations to avoid wasteful investment in CRM when it is not appropriate to their business situation. The primary research further revealed the evolution of the basic CRM process into five sub-species, each of which was optimally adapted to its particular place in the CRM eco-system. Understanding of this differentiation allows practitioners to define the optimal CRM process for their own situation. This report is in two parts: Firstly, a management report summarising the results of the research; secondly a manual based upon the work. The manual, including software tools, facilitates the development of a CRM process optimised for the particular market and organisational conditions of the reader

Profitability and risk evaluation of novel perennial pasture systems for livestock producers in the high rainfall zone: Context, Approach and Preliminary Results

The decision to invest in pasture improvement raises various questions for the livestock grazier, with the most pertinent being about the potential returns and risks. In the high rainfall zone of south-west Victoria, researchers have trialled novel perennial pasture systems with the aim of substantially increasing on-farm profits whilst simultaneously improving environmental outcomes. Results from the Hamilton EverGraze® proof site have shown potential to greatly improve livestock production. Promotion of the pasture technology is the next step. Key to this process is developing information about profitability and risk regarding the decision to invest in the new pasture. To help meet this need a model of a representative mixed livestock farm system for the region has been developed to generate information about profit, cash wealth and risk to aid extension and help inform decisions. The farm is comprised of a wool and meat producing sheep system and a beef enterprise. Using the model, the performance of two of the novel pasture systems can be evaluated against current practice, and compared to determine which of the two is the most beneficial EverGraze® option for the future. The risk associated with the pasture decision is assessed by considering different price structures and seasonal outcomes, and evaluating these effects on net benefits. Discounted cash flows, net present values and internal rates of return are estimated for the alternative systems, which include the effects of this price and seasonal variability. Preliminary results have been calculated, however further work is needed to confirm these. The method and results of the analysis provide information that is valuable for farm decisions about investing in a new pasture system and provide a basis for future economic analyses at the case study site and elsewhere.Farm Management,