New Kinds Of Information Research Articles

Determining the weights of criteria in the ELECTRE type methods with a revised Simos' procedure

In a decision aiding context, knowing the preferences of the Decision Maker (DM) and determining weights of criteria are very hard questions. Several methods can be used to give an appropriate value to the weights of criteria. J. Simos proposed a very simple procedure, using a set of cards, allowing to determine indirectly numerical values for weights. The purpose of this paper is first to explain why the above method needs to be revised, and second, the revised version we propose. This new version takes into account a new kind of information from the DM and changes certain computing rules of the former method. A software has been implemented based on the revised Simos' procedure whose main features are presented in this paper. The new method has been applied to different real-life cases (public transportation problems, water resources problems, environment problems, etc); it proved to be successful.

Using software complexity measures to analyze algorithms—an experiment with the shortest-paths algorithms

In this paper, we apply different software complexity measures to a set of shortest-path algorithms. Our intention is to study what kind of new information about the algorithms the complexity measures (lines-of-code, Halstead's volume, and cyclomatic number) are able to give, to study which software complexity measures are the most useful ones in algorithm comparison, and to analyze when the software complexity comparisons are appropriate. The experiment indicates that the software complexity measures give a new dimension to empirical algorithm comparison. The results explicitly show the trade-off between speed and implementation complexity: a faster algorithm typically requires a more complex implementation. Different complexity measures correlate strongly. Therefore, even the simple lines-of-code measure gives useful results. As the software complexity measures are easy to calculate and since they give useful information, the study suggests that such measures should be included in empirical algorithm comparisons. Unfortunately, for meaningful results, all the algorithms have to be developed in the same fashion which makes the comparison of independent implementations difficult. [12pt] Scope and purpose For practical use an algorithm has to be fast and accurate as well as easy to implement, test, and maintain. In this work, we investigate whether software complexity measures could make the implementation aspects more explicit and allow algorithm comparisons also in this dimension. We calculate lines-of-code, Halstead's volume, and cyclomatic number measures for different shortest-path algorithms. We investigate if such measures are applicable to algorithm comparison and study what can be learned from algorithms when they are also compared in implementation dimension. The main purpose of the work is to understand if it is possible to explicitly measure the implementation complexity of an algorithm. Having such measures available would help the practitioner to choose the algorithm that best matches the need. The optimal algorithm for a given task would have adequate performance with minimal implementation complexity. For algorithm research implementation, complexity measures would offer a new analysis dimension and make easy implementation a parallel goal with algorithm performance.

Atropisomerism as a probe of restrictions to motion above and below the glass transition temperature of Polymers.

This short review and interpretation of work conducted in the authors' laboratory concerns the use of atropisomeric 1,1'-binaphthyl derivatives to gain information about the glassy properties of polymers. Bridged binaphthyls appended with oligophenyl paddles are found to yield a series of probes whose racemization kinetics reveal new kinds of information concerning the basis of the time scale and length scale for the restrictions to motion and the heterogeneity of the polymeric glassy state. Because the time scale of the racemization is slower than all other glass probes used previously, new kinds of information were gained for the first time below the glass transition temperature.

Structural analysis of coating film with ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering

The structure of magnetic coating films was analyzed by the ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) technique. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has been used to investigate the size, shape, and correlation of the nm sized structure. USAXS, with a measurable range extending to the µm order, can be used to analyze the submicron sized structure of paints and coating films. Preliminary USAXS experiments for a magnetic paint and magnetic coating films revealed that USAXS is useful to evaluate the structure of the particles in the paint and the films. Combined with other experimental methods, USAXS will provide a new kind of information about the structural analysis.

Reconciling schemas of disparate data sources

A data-integration system provides access to a multitude of data sources through a single mediated schema. A key bottleneck in building such systems has been the laborious manual construction of semantic mappings between the source schemas and the mediated schema. We describe LSD, a system that employs and extends current machine-learning techniques to semi-automatically find such mappings. LSD first asks the user to provide the semantic mappings for a small set of data sources, then uses these mappings together with the sources to train a set of learners. Each learner exploits a different type of information either in the source schemas or in their data. Once the learners have been trained, LSD finds semantic mappings for a new data source by applying the learners, then combining their predictions using a meta-learner. To further improve matching accuracy, we extend machine learning techniques so that LSD can incorporate domain constraints as an additional source of knowledge, and develop a novel learner that utilizes the structural information in XML documents. Our approach thus is distinguished in that it incorporates multiple types of knowledge. Importantly, its architecture is extensible to additional learners that may exploit new kinds of information. We describe a set of experiments on several real-world domains, and show that LSD proposes semantic mappings with a high degree of accuracy.

Order-parameter fluctuations (OPF) in spin glasses: Monte Carlo simulations and exact results for small sizes

The use of parameters measuring order-parameter fluctuations (OPF) has been encouraged by the recent results reported in \cite{RS} which show that two of these parameters, $G$ and $G_c$, take universal values in the $\lim_{T\to 0}$. In this paper we present a detailed study of parameters measuring OPF for two mean-field models with and without time-reversal symmetry which exhibit different patterns of replica symmetry breaking below the transition: the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model with and without a field and the Ising p-spin glass (p=3). We give numerical results and analyze the consequences which replica equivalence imposes on these models in the infinite volume. We give evidence for the transition in each system and discuss the character of finite-size effects. Furthermore, a comparative study between this new family of parameters and the usual Binder cumulant analysis shows what kind of new information can be extracted from the finite $T$ behavior of these quantities. The two main outcomes of this work are: 1) Parameters measuring OPF give better estimates than the Binder cumulant for $T_c$ and even for very small systems they give evidence for the transition. 2) For systems with no time-reversal symmetry, parameters defined in terms of connected quantities are the proper ones to look at.

Analysis of negative magnetoresistance: Statistics of closed paths. II. Experiment

It is shown that a new kind of information can be extracted from the Fourier transform of negative magnetoresistance in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor structures. The procedure proposed provides the information on the area distribution function of closed paths and on the area dependence of the average length of closed paths. Based on this line of attack the method of analysis of the negative magnetoresistance is suggested. The method has been used to process the experimental data on negative magnetoresistance in 2D structures with different relations between the momentum and phase relaxation times. It is demonstrated this fact leads to distinction in the area dependence of the average length of closed paths.

The Companion to Irish traditional music

Companion to Irish Traditional Music is a landmark, easy to use A-Z format for studying, exploring and researching one of Ireland's most universally recognisable cultural expressions. Among the existing publications on Irish traditional music there are works of monumental initiative and deservedly enduring status. But the radical development in this music scene since the 1960s mark it now as an established part of Irish cultural life and demand new kinds of information. The commercial side of the music has evolved and consolidated, generating a new set of standards, popular music dynamics and significant music tourism. The music's expanding profile within the academic system too has created fresh approaches to playing and study, with a growth of academic research interest, and many major studies published or presently under way. In relevant and accessible ways The Companion uniquely draws together the oldness and newness in all of this: the practice and the study, the aesthetics and the analysis, the competing interests and diverse ideals. The editor Fintan Vallely is himself an accomplished musician and music writer. He has harnessed the expertise of some 200 specialists from all aspects of traditional music, who in more than half a million words and 300 images present the most comprehensive image of Irish traditional music ever assembled. This detailed mosaic is coloured by history, ideology, scholarship, virtuosity, romance, satisfaction, pride and internationalism, all appropriately flagged by the cover's use of Maclise's fabulously energetic Snap Apple Night. This second edition is not only revised but also greatly expanded, and has much new information, including material never before printed and unavailable elsewhere. In 1,750 individual articles and as many more sub-sections The Companion gives A-Z coverage of song, dance, instruments, bands, storytelling, technology, tunes and style, composition, organisations and promotion, education and transmission, collectors and archives, revival, broadcasting and recording, English, Scottish and Welsh music and song, and music in all Irish counties, Europe and the USA. This commentary and analysis is linked to an historical timeline which spans three millennia, and a publications listing that covers three centuries. Six hundred biographies detail the human endeavour of the field, documenting significant musicians, commentators, historians, promoters and composers, and extended entries cover major themes such as song, dance, education and the elements of style. Companion to Irish Traditional Music is a key reference for the interested enthusiast, session player and professional performer. It is also a profoundly comprehensive, one-stop resource for every library, school and home with an interest in the distinctive rituals, qualities and history of Irish culture. And it is a vital resource for all levels in education, particularly valuable at third level as both textbook and research resource. The book is uniquely backed by the provision of a parallel website, which guides structured exploration of the text and fully integrates it with the existing vast and magnificent range of traditional music internet resources.

Forecasting and Assessing the Mobility Effects of Teleservices: Scenario Approach

The information society is approaching; everything will change. New technology could enable commuters to decrease their number of physical trips. As a result of all kinds of new information and communication technology (ICT) services, it will be possible to live in the countryside and remain working in the city, 200 km (124 mi) away. The literature, especially scientific and empirical sources, however, tempers these expectations. The effects are limited, and there could be substantial side effects in the opposite direction, which could nullify the substitution effect. Given the discrepancies between expectations, one of the most important aspects of forecasting teleservices is uncertainty. This high uncertainty combined with high expectations often results in quasiaccurate forecasts or oversimplified speculation. The most important restriction in the many forecasts is the lack of complete and consistent future scenarios. A study that tried to address these restrictions by developing a scenario approach is reported. The approach is elaborated, using telecommuting as a case study. The study’s main conclusion is the confirmation that it is possible and useful to incorporate ICT services such as telecommuting into a scenario approach. The outcomes have additional value compared with estimates from literature because the magnitude of possible effects is considered instead of quasiaccurate predictions, the estimates are based on realistic and consistent societal scenarios, and the use of an operational transport model makes it possible to include second-order effects such as induced travel.

Specific issues in health risk assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals and international activities

Specific issues in health risk assessment of EDCs and correlated international activities thereof are discussed. Risk characterization is a synthesis of all information including hazard assessment, dose-response relationship, and exposure information to identify clearly the strengths and weaknesses of the database, the criteria applied to evaluation and validation of all aspects of methodology, and the conclusions reached from the review of scientific information. In the case of EDCs, new models need to be developed taking into account possible new kinds of information, e.g., effects of EDCs on gene activation in response to hormonal challenge or effects on receptor expression. Such models should also account for homeostatic adaptive responses and consider the possibility of having windows of exposure for given effects. Work to compile and harmonize the definitions and terms appropriate to endocrine disruption will be conducted within the joint IPCS/DECD project on harmonization of risk/hazard assessment terminology reviews. The ICPS is the process of preparing a “State of the Science” report, and is implementing a global inventory of ongoing research on ECDs.

Voltage-sensitive dyes for monitoring multineuronal activity in the intact central nervous system.

Optical monitoring of activity provides new kinds of information about brain function. Two examples are discussed in this article. First, the spike activity of many individual neurons in small ganglia can be determined. Second, the spatiotemporal characteristics of coherent activity in the brain can be directly measured. This article discusses both general characteristics of optical measurements (sources of noise) as well as more methodological aspects related to voltage-sensitive dye measurements from the nervous system.

The internet as a new distribution channel of scientific grey literature: The case of Italian WWW servers

The enormous range of information sources and communication services available on the Internet today recalls the information explosion and information overload that characterizes this century. We are certainly facing new kinds of information and communication patterns, based on direct electronic communication between end-users among themselves and/or between end-users and information sources. Moreover, this new channel of communication provides the opportunity to distribute different types of information, which in some cases are available only in a networked environment. The aim of this article is to analyze whether this new scenario has stimulated the production and the direct distribution of grey literature as well as changing its “traditional” features. The starting point of the study are the Italian WWW servers of the National Research Council.

TRANSFORMING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TWENTY‐FIRST CENTURY: TOWARDS ONE‐STOP SERVICES AND THE CLIENT GROUP PRINCIPLE?

The creation of the new Social Security Benefits Agency in 1991 coincided with the final installation in local offices of the first Operational Strategy computer systems, which automated large parts of social security benefits administration. Since then the agency has refocused its strategic thinking towards a ten‐year development programme which is centred around plans for‘one‐stop’benefits delivery. The article shows why this programme is dependent on‘informatization’‐ the generation from, and application to, social security administration of new kinds of information, made possible by information and communications technologies (icts). It assesses the feasibility and implications of informatizing benefits administration and the likely effects of continuing pressures to reduce administrative costs. It argues that, whilst the agency will become more customer focused, the practical outcomes are likely to be two‐edged for claimants. At a policy level, informatization will reinforce political pressures to rationalize and target the benefits system, especially if information‐management problems are controlled by a shift to the client group principle.

Molecular genetics for the paediatrician: clinical aspects

Several hundred disease genes have now been mapped and an increasing number isolated. Thousands remain to be characterized. Not surprisingly, initial efforts were focused on common and important Mendelian diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, Fragile-X mental retardation and less common but high-profile diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, neurocutaneous syndromes neurofibromatosis Type 1 and tuberous sclerosis and myotonic dystrophy. All these disease genes have been isolated. Efforts have now shifted towards rarer diseases with potentially interesting biology, the uncommon Mendelian varieties of common multifactorial diseases, direct analysis of those diseases which have 'complex' inheritance and the molecular dissection of chromosomal disorders. A comprehensive review is beyond the scope of this article, so a number of diseases have been selected including some under investigation in our laboratory which illustrate the kind of new information which is emerging.

Key Issues: A Round Table Discussion

We have taken part to an exceptionally rich colloquium, characterized by a large amount of information in all fields of physics, and a remarkable collection of observational data. Our understanding of what is going on inside the stars has changed in a radical manner during the last years, on one side because the observations are bringing new kinds of information, and on the other side because theory in its development is taking into account a number of processes, some of them having been completely ignored only ten years ago.It is impossible to draw here a complete list of problems. There are many cases where some inconsistency could be found in the theory itself or some contradiction between observational data and theory. I recommended that such a list should be drawn carefully. The participants to the round table discussion will give their contribution, helping to open the way to new fields of research and to new discoveries.

Opportunities to improve hydrologic data

Hydrologic data collection over scales from centimeters to continents, from minutes to years is difficult and expensive, so hydrologic models usually conceptualize processes based on simple, often homogeneous, views of nature. This forced oversimplification impedes scientific understanding and management of water resources. As the focus of hydrologic research shifts to larger regional and global scales, the collection, management, distribution, and analysis of data will improve so that models and data can each drive and direct the other. Better models illuminate the type and quantity of data needed to test hypotheses. Better data permit development and validation of more complete models and new hypotheses. Coordinated hydrologic experiments (such as the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment) and remote sensing of hydrologic parameters examine hydrologic variables at these larger scales, and isotope geochemistry, paleohydrology, and biological methods allow analysis and retrieval of new kinds of information. Improvements in the management and accessibility of data will make them more easily available to hydrologic scientists.

Auger photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation

The technique of Auger photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS) using synchrotron radiation is discussed. Technical considerations and experimental details are emphasized. Results from Cu(100), Ta(100), and Al(111) are presented to show the kinds of new information that APECS can provide.

Scalp heat flux in postmature and in growth-retarded fetuses

Postterm and growth-retarded fetuses share a common problem which can be characterized by a discrepancy between the supply of oxygen and nutrients to, and the demand of the fetus. But, this "insufficient" placental exchange function may also extend to and affect its thermal homeostasis; e.g. when the capacity of convective (placenta) pathways is shifted towards conductive (surface) pathways for heat loss. Therefore, fetal scalp heat flux measurements, where heat serves as an intrinsic tracer for metabolic activity and placental exchange function, promised a new kind of information. In 81 pregnant women during labor we measured fetal scalp heat flux by means of an heat flux transducer attached to the fetal head and after the cervix had dilated to 3 cm. In the healthy fetuses we found a positive linear relationship between scalp heat flux and different anthropometric variables such as body length (r = 0.432, n = 65, P less than 0.01), head circumference and gestational age. In comparison, postmature and growth-retarded fetuses showed higher heat flux values than appropriately grown fetuses of the same length head size and gestational age. Moreover, in those fetuses scalp heat flux decreased by approximately 4 watt/m2 during the second stage and differed in this regard from the control group who showed stable values during labor and delivery. We conclude that scalp heat flux measurements may indicate disturbances of placental exchange before acute hypoxia occurs.

3D modeling using an extended cell enumeration representation

3D imaging offers the opportunity to gather new kinds of information for diagnosis and therapy. In order to access this information efficiently we need a model for the integration of knowledge which is extracted from the images. In this paper we present such a model for the description of image information as well as results of image analysis and manipulation. The purpose of the model is its application in computer assisted treatment planning. Therefore, we present a volume representation based on discrete 3D space to map the model on the computer. The representation is an extension of the well-known cell enumeration (CE) representation. We show how to transfer information into this representation and how to access the represented information. We give examples of applications in the planning of radiation therapy, stereotaxy and plastic surgery.

The Tinkertoy graphical programming environment

The Tinkertoy graphical interface to Lisp is described, in which programs are 'built' rather than written, out of icons and flexible interconnections. It represents a computer/user interface that can easily exceed the interaction speed of the best text-based language editors and command languages. It also provides a consistent framework for interaction across both editing and command execution. Moreover, because programs are represented graphically, structures that do not naturally conform to the text medium can be clearly described, the new kinds of information can be incorporated into programs and program elements.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>