Dublin City University at the TREC 2006 terabyte track

For the 2006 Terabyte track in TREC, Dublin City University’s participation was focussed on the ad hoc search task. As per the pervious two years [7, 4], our experiments on the Terabyte track have concentrated on the evaluation of a sorted inverted index, the aim of which is to sort the postings within each posting list in such a way, that allows only a limited number of postings to be processed from each list, while at the same time minimising the loss of effectiveness in terms of query precision. This is done using the Físréal search system, developed at Dublin City University [4, 8]

Top subset retrieval on large collections using sorted indices

In this poster we describe alternative inverted index structures that reduce the time required to process queries, produce a higher query throughput and still return high quality results to the end user. We give results based upon the TREC Terabyte dataset showing improvements that these indices give in terms of effectiveness and efficiency

Dublin City University at the TREC 2005 terabyte track

For the 2005 Terabyte track in TREC Dublin City University participated in all three tasks: Adhoc, E±ciency and Named Page Finding. Our runs for TREC in all tasks were primarily focussed on the application of "Top Subset Retrieval" to the Terabyte Track. This retrieval utilises different types of sorted inverted indices so that less documents are processed in order to reduce query times, and is done so in a way that minimises loss of effectiveness in terms of query precision. We also compare a distributed version of our Físréal search system [1][2] against the same system deployed on a single machine

The regional distribution of public expendictures in the UK : an exposition and critique of the Barnett formula

The Barnett formula is the official basis upon which increments to public funds are allocated to the devolved regions of the UK for those parts of the budget that are administered locally. There is considerable controversy surrounding the implications of its strict application for the relevant regions. The existing literature focuses primarily on the equity of the spatial changes to government per capita expenditure that would accompany such a change. In contrast, in this paper we attempt to quantify the system-wide economic consequences-the real, relative resource squeeze that accompanies the financial relative squeeze-on one devolved region, Scotland. The analysis uses a multisectoral regional computable general equilibrium modelling approach. We highlight the importance of population endogeneity, particularly since the population proportions used in the formula are now regularly updated

An investigation into the adoption of CDIO in distance learning

The Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate Initiative (CDIO) uses integrated learning to develop deep learning of the disciplinary knowledge base whilst simultaneously developing personal, interpersonal, product, process and system building skills. This is achieved through active and experiential learning methods that expose students to experiences engineers will encounter in their profession. These are incorporated not only in the design-build-test experiences that form a crucial part of a CDIO programme but also in discipline focused studies. Active and experiential learning methods are, of course, more difficult to incorporate into distance education. This paper investigates these difficulties and the implications in providing a programme that best achieves the goals of the CDIO approach through contemporary distance education methods. First, the key issues of adopting the CDIO approach in conventional oncampus courses are considered with reference to the development of the CDIO engineering programmes at the University of Liverpool. The different models of distance based delivery of engineering programmes provided by the Open University in the UK, and Deakin University and the University of Southern Queensland in Australia are then presented and issues that may present obstacles to the future adoption of the CDIO approach in these programmes are discussed. The effectiveness and suitability of various solutions to foreseen difficulties in delivering CDIO programmes through distance education are then considered. These include the further development, increased use and interinstitutional sharing of technology based facilities such as Internet facilitated access to laboratory facilities and computer aided learning (CAL) laboratory simulations, on campus workshops, and the development of a virtual engineering enterprise

The State of Jordanian Women's Organizations - Five Years Beyond the Arab Spring

This paper explores the failure of women's organizations to effect the improvement of the status of Jordanian women during the Arab Spring. Through an examination of the regime's political liberalization strategy, leadership failures within women's organizations, and international donor influence on programmatic focus, the underlying explanation for this failure is found to be rooted in the historical depoliticization of women in Jordan. This is tested in the context of the Arab Spring through an analysis of the results of popular protests, proposed electoral law reforms, and efforts to amend the Jordanian constitution. The paper draws in part on a large collection of interviews and a focus group conducted in Jordan during the spring/summer of 2012, as well as analysis of primary documents from the government and a variety of women's organizations in Jordan

The environmental "trade balance" between Scotland and the rest of the UK : an inter-regional input-output and SAM analysis

We use an inter-regional input-output (IO) and social accounting matrix (SAM) pollution attribution framework to serve as a platform for sub-national environmental attribution and trade balance analysis. While the existence of significant data problems mean that the quantitative results of this study should be regarded as provisional, the inter-regional economy-environment IO and SAM framework for Scotland and the rest of the UK (RUK) allows an illustrative analysis of some very important issues. There are two key findings. The first is that there are large environmental spillovers between the regions of the UK. This has implications in terms of the devolution of responsibility for achieving targets for reductions in emissions levels and the need for policy co-ordination between the UK national and devolved governments. The second finding is that whilst Scotland runs an economic trade deficit with RUK, the environmental trade balance relationship for the main greenhouse gas, CO2, runs in the opposite direction. In other words, the findings of this study suggest the existence of a CO2 trade surplus between Scotland and the rest of the UK. This suggests that Scotland is bearing a net loss in terms of pollutants as a result of inter-union trade. However, if Scotland can carry out key activities, such as electricity generation, using less polluting technology, it is better for the UK as a whole if this type of relationship exists. Thus, the environmental trade balance is an important part of the devolution settlement

Isochrones for Old (> 5 Gyr) Stars and Stellar Populations. I. Models for −2.4≤-2.4 \le [Fe/H] ≤+0.6\le +0.6, 0.25≤Y≤0.330.25 \le Y \le 0.33, and −0.4≤-0.4 \le [α\alpha\Fe] ≤+0.4\le +0.4

Canonical grids of stellar evolutionary sequences have been computed for the helium mass-fraction abundances $Y = 0.25$, $0.29$, and $0.33$, and for iron abundances that vary from $-2.4$ to $+0.4$ (in 0.2 dex increments) when [$\alpha$/Fe] $= +0.4$, or for the ranges $-2.0 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le +0.6$, $-1.8 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le +0.6$ when [$\alpha$/Fe] $= 0.0$ and $-0.4$, respectively. The grids, which consist of tracks for masses from $0.12 {{\cal M}_\odot}$ to $1.1$-$1.5 {{\cal M}_\odot}$ (depending on the metallicity) are based on up-to-date physics, including the gravitational settling of helium (but not metals diffusion). Interpolation software is provided to generate isochrones for arbitrary ages between $\approx 5$ and $15$ Gyr and any values of $Y$, [$\alpha$/Fe], and [Fe/H] within the aforementioned ranges. Comparisons of isochrones with published color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for the open clusters M67 ([Fe/H] $\approx 0.0$) and NGC 6791 ([Fe/H] $\approx 0.3$) and for four of the metal-poor globular clusters (47 Tuc, M3, M5, and M92) indicate that the models for the observed metallicities do a reasonably good job of reproducing the locations and slopes of the cluster main sequences and giant branches. The same conclusion is reached from a consideration of plots of nearby subdwarfs that have accurate Hipparcos parallaxes and metallicities in the range $-2.0 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le -1.0$ on various CMDs and on the ($\log T_{\rm eff},\,M_V$)-diagram. A relatively hot temperature scale similar to that derived in recent calibrations of the infrared flux method is favored by both the isochrones and the adopted color transformations, which are based on the latest MARCS model atmospheres.Comment: 55 pages, including 1 table and 18 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Constructing cities, deconstructing scaling laws

Cities can be characterised and modelled through different urban measures. Consistency within these observables is crucial in order to advance towards a science of cities. Bettencourt et al have proposed that many of these urban measures can be predicted through universal scaling laws. We develop a framework to consistently define cities, using commuting to work and population density thresholds, and construct thousands of realisations of systems of cities with different boundaries for England and Wales. These serve as a laboratory for the scaling analysis of a large set of urban indicators. The analysis shows that population size alone does not provide enough information to describe or predict the state of a city as previously proposed, indicating that the expected scaling laws are not corroborated. We found that most urban indicators scale linearly with city size regardless of the definition of the urban boundaries. However, when non-linear correlations are present, the exponent fluctuates considerably.Comment: Accepted for publication, Journal of the Royal Society Interfac