Investigating post-completion errors with the alloy analyzer

Post-completion errors are a particular kind of error found in interactive systems. This type of error occurs through the incorrect sequencing of goals and sub-goals, when the primary goal is achieved before all of the prequisite sub-goals have been satisfied. This paper shows how we can check for this property in a formal model of an interactive system. Specifically, we suggest that lightweight formal methods, such as the Alloy structural modelling language, are particulary well suited for this task. As a case study we develop two example interactive systems. The first is the ubiquitous chocolate machine, where both the chocolate and change must be delivered to the customer. The second model is of a typical cash machine and explores the problems of returning the cash and the cash card in the correct order. Both of these models are developed in the Alloy language

SPEECH DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH CLEFT LIP AND PALATE

This investigation presents the results of a longitudinal study into the phonetic and phonological development of children with cleft palate and cleft lip and palate from pre-speech to the age of 4;6. The aim of the project was to investigate the extent to which the cleft palate condition affects the nature and chronology of phonetic and phonological development. The investigation comprised two studies. Eight children were studied; five in Study 1 and three in Study 2. The aims of both studies were to determine the existence of any abnormal patterns in prespeech vocalisations, the relationship between phonetic and phonological patterns in the children's speech, the nature and extent of any delay in development and whether any delay or deviance could be attributed to physical, phonetic or phonological factors. In Study 2 the period between 1;6 and 3;0 was investigated more closely in order to determine whether there is a point at which it is possible to predict subsequent abnormal phonological development. Audio recordings were made prior to, and at regular intervals following, the operation to repair the palate. The pre-speech vocalisations were transcribed phonetically and classified using an auditory phonetic framework. The speech data were also transcribed phonetically. Phonetic inventories of the pre-speech vocalisations and speech were constructed. Phonological and word analyses were carried out on the speech data. The results of both studies confirm that there is phonetic deviance particularly in the pre-speech vocalisations of these subjects. In addition there appears to be a relationship between phonetic and phonological development in these cleft palate children. Characteristics associated with cleft palate speech patterns can be detected in the data of all the children but at different stages and to different extents. There are some common tendencies but there is considerable individual variation and it appears that each child has his/her own route for phonetic and phonological development.Special Trustees, Central Birmingham Health Authorit

The guide star catalog

Part 1 of the catalog presents an astronomical overview of the Guide Star Catalog, together with its history, the properties of its current implementation, and the prospects for enhancement. Part 2 presents the algorithms used in photometric and astrometric calibration of the catalog, as well as the analyses of the related errors. Part 3 presents the current structure and content, as well as future enhancements in this area. An overview of the forthcoming publications is given, both with regard to scientific papers and electronic media

Participation in the Development of UK Regulatory Policy for Pesticides

This thesis explores possible constraints on effective participation and the scope of alternatives considered by central policy makers, in a debate on the content of regulations to control pesticides. These aspects of the policy process were examined in a case study of the Food and Environment Protection Act (1985) and the Control of Pesticides Regulations (1986). Four issues affecting manufacture, marketing and use were examined in each of three chronological phases: pre-parliamentary, parliamentary and administrative. Interview data, interest group responses to two Government consultative documents and Hansard material were analysed. Key constraining factors framing the current debate were seen to encompass "situational" factors, which were historical (existing structures, past debates and views of long-standing central participants in the control system) or current (present procedures, time available and views of newer central participants), substantive or procedural. The operation and effects of such framing in the contemporary debate on the chosen issues are discussed

A Village in my Hand

Since its arrival, the cell phone has been transforming culture and the ways in which we live, exist and interact with life. With minimal access to telecommunications, since 2006 it has become ubiquitous in Samoa. Using observation and semi-structured interviews based within two villages in rural Samoa, this thesis has explored the influence of the cell phone upon Samoan daily lives. It investigates how it came to be in Samoa, what perceptions surround the cell phone and how it is seen to have contributed and influenced daily activities, culture and customs of villagers. Similar to research and literature into mobile telephony on other cultures, affordances provided through the cell phone such as micro coordination and increased connectedness are also being experienced in Samoa, reducing time and space and facilitating activities that required a fair amount of coordination into activities of micro-coordination, also creating greater access to economic opportunities, such as work and the possibility of entrepreneurship. Nonetheless it appears influences such as locality and social status seem to affect the degree of use for Samoans. The ability to have greater privacy provided by the cell phone in combination with being able to be perpetually in contact with others across time and space predominantly through communicative methods like SMS or texting seem to be challenging traditional expectations surrounding authority especially around familial relationships. What looks to be the difference between similar experiences in other cultures is the speed to which this technological affordance has been integrated within rural Samoa which had no previous telecommunication availability prior to 2006. This combined with the absolute social and customary expectations placed on the values of obedience, respect, love, selfless service and Christianity appears to be accentuating the ‘loss of parental control’. Traditional customs such as gift giving have been adapted by the service provider and transferred into the use and practice surrounding the cell phone into daily activity and use by Samoans resulting predominately in the transference of money but does also include the gifting of cell phones. Crossing multiple disciplines this thesis explores a number of topics surrounding the cell phone and highlights the need for further research establishing a primary base from which to build upon

A study of business education in the secondary schools of England and Wales

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University, 1958

Technology education, science and science education : exploring the relationship

In this paper the nature of technology education in relation to science and science education is explored. Ways forward are indicated for both technology and science in the curriculum so that the two areas can be mutually supportive. In the 1990s, when curriculum writers were attempting to provide technology a unique place in the curriculum, they tended to downplay the relationship between technology and science. One reason for this tendency derives from a perception that science is an academic and elitist discipline and technology is well served by emphasizing the distance between the two. The other reason is perhaps political, that science, by virtue of its status in the community, and the status of its special type of knowledge, would be in a position, if allowed, to subsume the new subject. There are philosophical and historical precedents that justify such a concern. In tracing the historical relationships between science and technology, in professional practice, in philosophical positioning, and in school curriculum, we inevitably need to deal with the politics of school subjects.The position taken in this paper is that science and technology are different, both in their epistemological foundations, and in the nature of the professional communities and the concerns of individual practitioners within the two areas. In clarifying these differences the essential nature of technology and of science are illuminated. The paper also explores ways in which the two areas can benefit from each other&rsquo;s existence in the curriculum, and ways of approaching teaching that both clarifies the special nature of each type of knowledge, and allows them to be mutually supportive. This may necessitate a reconstruction of the nature of school science.<br /

An evaluation of professional supervision for teachers

The authors report here on a small-scale evaluation, largely qualitative, of a professional supervision project of six supervision groups mounted in four primary schools in one London borough. Place2Think provided the supervision which ran monthly over six months. The purpose was to find out the extent to which teachers found supervision useful and to understand more about how supervision was used to inform future action

Yellow fever in the Felicianas: the epidemic of 1878 and its effects upon the residents of these rural parishes

This research documents the spread of yellow fever across the rural Louisiana parishes of East Feliciana and West Feliciana in 1878 and examines the reactions and responses of the residents to medical, social and economic stresses produced by that epidemic. Descriptive details highlight the variability of individual ideas and mindsets at play against the backdrop of accepted paradigms, belief systems and current technology. In 1878 the Aëdes aegypti mosquito had not yet been identified as the vector of the arbovirus (arthropod borne virus) that causes yellow fever. A short history of yellow fever in the United States and a discussion of the vector and the arbovirus are included to clarify the advance of the disease. Quarantines of the towns and villages of the Felicianas prohibited burial of yellow fever victims in community cemeteries and official records for these two rural parishes were rarely available at the parish, state, or federal level. Information was drawn primarily from texts, journals and newspapers of the time. Notations from the 1878 journal of Henry Marston, a resident of Clinton, Louisiana, were invaluable. The advance of yellow fever into East and West Feliciana is outlined from the first reported cases in New Orleans in May of 1878. The records of each parish are examined separately and the information gathered is combined and analyzed

Information for pregnant women about caesarean birth

BACKGROUND: Information is routinely given to pregnant women, but information about caesarean birth may be inadequate. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of information about caesarean birth. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth register, CENTRAL (26 November 2002), MEDLINE [online via PubMed 1966-] and the Web of Science citation database [1995-] (20 September 2002), and reference lists of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials, non-randomised clinical trials and controlled before-and-after studies of information given to pregnant women about caesarean birth. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Missing and further data were sought from trial authors unsuccessfully. Analyses were based on 'intention to treat'. Relative risk and confidence intervals were calculated and reported. Consumer reviewers commented on adequacy of information reported in each study. MAIN RESULTS: Two randomised controlled trials involving 1451 women met the inclusion criteria. Both studies aimed to reduce caesarean births by encouraging women to attempt vaginal delivery. One used a program of prenatal education and support, and the other cognitive therapy to reduce fear. Results were not combined because of differences in the study populations. Non-clinical outcomes were ascertained in both studies through questionnaires, but were subject to rates of loss to follow-up exceeding 10%. A number of important outcomes cannot be reported: knowledge or understanding; decisional conflict; and women's perceptions: of their ability to discuss care with clinicians or family/friends, of whether information needs were met, and of satisfaction with decision-making. Neither study assessed women's perception of participation in decision-making about caesarean birth, but Fraser 1997, who examined the effect of study participation on decision making, found that women in the intervention group were more likely to consider that attempting vaginal birth was easier (51% compared to 28% in control group), or more difficult (10% compared to 6%). These results could be affected by the attrition rate of 11%, and are possibly subject to bias. Neither intervention used in these trials made any difference to clinical outcomes. About 70% or more women attempted vaginal delivery in both trials, yet caesarean delivery rates exceeded 40%, at least 10% higher than was hoped. There was no significant difference between control and intervention groups for any of the outcomes measured: vaginal birth, elective/scheduled caesarean, and attempted vaginal delivery. Outcome data, although similar for both groups, were not sufficient to compare maternal and neonatal morbidity or neonatal mortality. There was no difference in the psychological outcomes for the intervention and control groups reported by either of the included trials. Consumer reviewers said information for women considering a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) should include: risks of VBAC and elective caesarean; warning signs in labour; philosophy and policies of hospital and staff; strategies to improve chances of success; and information about probability of success with specific care givers. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Research has focussed on encouraging women to attempt vaginal delivery. Trials of interventions to encourage women to attempt vaginal birth showed no effect, but shortcomings in study design mean that the evidence is inconclusive. Further research on this topic is urgently needed