Information Retrieval List Digest 208 (April 11, 1994) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/irld/irld-208 IRLIST Digest ISSN 1064-6965 April 11, 1994 Volume XI, Number 15 Issue 208 ********************************************************** I. QUERIES A. Requests for Information 1. Seeking a Locator Device II. JOBS 1. Berlin Fellowship III. NOTICES B. Meetings 1. NAFIPS '94 2. ISCIS IX 3. PhysComp '94 IV. PROJECTS A. Abstracts 1. IR-Related Dissertation Abstracts ********************************************************** I. QUERIES I.A.1. Fr: Robert Burns Re: Seeking a locator device Does anyone know of an existing device or current research on a device, that could be applied to the following application? If so, please reply directly to the contact at the end of this note instead of this newsgroup. Thanks in advance for your kind attention to this request for information. WANTED: Portable, wireless, 3-axis locator device ACCURACY: Optimal: 1 centimeter or less; Acceptable: 10 centimeters USER: Quality Assurance inspector on large airplane assembly line APPLICATION DESCRIPTION: A Quality Aassurance (QA) inspector visually determines that a repair must be made at a specific location on an airplane. The location must be recorded with sufficient fidelity that a repair mechanic can subsequently locate the problem easily and precisely. Ideally, the QA inspector would point a wand at the problem location, press a button on the wand or portable belt pack, and the x,y,z coordinates of the wand would be transmitted to a nearby microcomputer. The computer, in turn, would map the x,y,z coordinates to the location terminology recognized by the airplane industry (a very non-trivial task). After transmitting the location to the computer, the inspector would then transmit to the computer information that describes the nature of the problem and the required corrective action. Send any information to: Jim Crozier Email: rcburns@atc.boeing.com Fax: 206-393-7805 Voice: 206-393-7769 ********************************************************** II. JOBS II.1. Fr: Thorsten Re: Fellowship Berlin Humboldt--Universitat zu Berlin Institute for Theoretical Physics Research Fellowships Research fellowships in the field Theory and Application of Evolution Algorithms are available for graduate students seeking Ph.D. degree in Physics. Applicants should have interests in one ore more of the fields: genetic algorithms or genetic programming, parallel programming and numerical methods, evolution of biosequences, topological cellular automata, self-organizing algorithms. The positions are for one year with the possibility of renewal for additional two years. Salary is according to 1/2 BAT--O IIa. Please send your application via e-mail as soon as possible, but no later than May 1, 1994 to thorsten@pmmh.espci.fr or via ordinary mail to Prof. W. Ebeling, Humboldt--Universitat zu Berlin, Institut fur Physik, D--10115 Berlin, Germany. ********************************************************** III. NOTICES III.B.1. Fr: Maria Zemankova Re: NAFIPS'94 NAFIPS/IFIS/NASA '94 December 18-21, 1994 Sheraton Gunther Hotel in San Antonio, Texas International Joint Conference of The North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society Biannual Conference The Industrial Fuzzy Control and Intelligent Systems Conference AND The NASA Joint Technology Workshop on Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic THEME: Application of Fuzzy Logic in Complex Systems. TOPICS of interest include but are not limited to Fuzzy Control * Fuzzy Databases and Fuzzy Information Retrieval * Fuzzy Decision Making and Optimization * Fuzzy Expert Systems * Fuzzy Logic and AI * Fuzzy Mathematics * Fuzzy Neuro Systems * Fuzzy Modeling and Identification * Fuzzy Pattern Recognition * Adaptive Fuzzy Systems * Evolutionary Computation. PAPERS of interest also include but are not limited to theoretical research and applications in the following areas: Manufacturing * Transportation * Energy * Health Care * Environment * Biomedical Systems * Information Processing. Authors must submit six (6) printed copies of their complete papers (not exceeding 2000 words) to either program chair listed below. Professor Larry Hall Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, ENB 118 4202 E. Fowler Ave. University of South Florida Tampa, FL 33620 Phone: (813)974-4195/Fax: (813)974-5456 E-mail: hall@csee.usf.edu Professor Hao Ying Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics University of Texas Medical Branch 449 Administration Building, Route A23 Galveston, TX 77555-0123 Phone: (409)772-8415/Fax: (409)772-6424 E-mail: hying@beach.utmb.edu Accepted papers will be allocated six (6) pages in the conference proceedings. The program committee will also select high quality papers submitted for possible publication in special issues of International Journal of Approximate Reasoning (IJAR) and International Journal of Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems (IFS). IMPORTANT DATES: Paper Submission May 15, 1994 Author Notification July 7, 1994 Final Manuscripts Due September 15, 1994 Early Registration October 25, 1994 ********** III.B.2. Fr: Ugur Halici Re: ISCIS IX ISCIS IX (International Symposium on Computer and Information Sciences-9) November 7 - 9, 1994, Antalya, Turkey ORGANIZED BY Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey IN COOPERATION WITH IEEE Computer Society IEEE Turkey Chapter Turkey Section CONFERENCE CHAIR: Selahattin Kuru, Bogazici U. TOPICS OF INTEREST: - Theoretical Computer Science - Computer Architecture and Systems - Artificial Intelligence - Neural Networks - Computer Graphics - Image Processing and Pattern Recognition - Real Time Computing - Performance Modeling - Computer Networks - Parallel Processing and Parallel Algorithms - Software Engineering - Databases and Information Retrieval - Programming Languages - Distributed Systems ISCIS IX is the nineth of a series of meetings which have brought together computer scientists and engineers from many countries. This year, the special theme of the conference is "High Performance Computing", highlighting contributions from leading researchers who are working on software and hardware systems to achieve high performance in different fields of computer and information sciences. During the conference, there will be invited speeches and special sessions on different aspects of high performance computing. This year's conference will be held in a resort hotel in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Antalya, in a region rich in natural as well as historical sites. PAPER SUBMISSION: Please submit four copies (one camera ready and three copies) of the full paper (in English) limited to 8 pages by May 31, 1994 to: ISCIS IX - Department of Computer Engineering Bogazici University Bebek 80815, Istanbul, TURKEY E-mail: iscis@trboun.bitnet Tel: +90 (212) 263 1540 ext. 1323 Fax: +90 (212) 265 8488 Paper Format: on A4 or letter size paper with single space, single column, one inch margins on all four sides. The first page should have a two inch margin at the top. Centered at the top of the first page should be the complete title of the paper, author(s), affiliation(s), mailing and e-mail address(es), then the abstract, not exceeding 15 lines, followed by the text. In an accompanying letter, the following should be included: full title of the paper, author name(s), mailing address(es), telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address(es) of the author(s) indicating the presenter and technical session names (1st and 2nd choices) to be selected from the list of topics given above. Authors will be notified of the decisions by August 15, 1994. Accepted papers will be published in the symposium proceedings. INVITED SESSIONS: The symposium welcomes proposals for invited sessions especially on high performance computing issues. The proposals should be sent by May 31, 1994 to the above address. The organizer for each invited session should submit a title, a brief description of the relevance of the session to the conference, and a maximum of four invited full papers for review. Organizers and authors will be notified of decisions by August 15, 1994. ********** III.B.3. Fr: Bhanu Kapoor Re: PhysComp '94 Workshop on Physics and Computation, PhysComp `94, This Decade and Beyond November 17 - 20, 1994, Dallas, Texas Sponsored by Dallas IEEE Computer Society Sponsored by ONR/ARPA Corporate Sponsor: Texas Instruments Incorporated The Workshop on Physics and Computation, PhysComp `94 will seek to explore the intimate relationship emerging between Modern Physics and Computation Theory. One commonly held view is that information laws are dependent on the laws of physics. Another emerging view is that the universe would not work without information primitives underlying physical laws. Both of these views conclude that physics and information/computation are linked together at a very fundamental level. Understanding the convergence of computation and physics will lead to a better understanding of using physical mechanisms as computing engines, and also lead to a better understanding of how the universe is organized. This field will become increasingly important to the computing industry as the post-shrink era approaches and the energy consumption, complexity, and computational horsepower requirements continue to exceed the computing engines we are able to design or build. This workshop will emphasize solutions that are applicable during this decade as well as longer term ideas. PhysComp `94 has been extended an additional day over PhysComp `92 to allow invited panel sessions speakers and submitted papers that discuss architectures for nano-electronic systems. Papers are requested on other physics and computing topics such as limits of computing, practical reversible computers, nano-electronics, energetics of computing, Cellular Automata, analog computing, quantum cryptography, optical computing, molecular computing, quantum logic, etc. Generally we are interested in papers that unify Computation (Algorithms, Architecture, Information Theory, Automatic Learning, Tele/Communication Theory, Simulation, etc) with Physics (Discrete models, Entropy, Complexity, Quantum Theory, Thermodynamics, Energy/mass, Relativity, Gravity, etc). The goal of this workshop is to establish stronger links between participants from various backgrounds as well as to educate professionals interested in these topics. The keynote speaker for PhysComp '94 will be Professor Carver Mead of California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. His current focus and teachings are in the area of VLSI design, ultra-concurrent systems, physics of computation, and the construction of silicon models of neural systems. SUBMISSION: Please surface mail five copies of your preliminary paper (10 pages maximum) or 5 page extended abstract by Monday May 23, 1994 to: Wolfgang Porod PhysComp `94 Program Co-chairman Dept. Electrical Engineering email: porod@graz.ee.nd.edu University of Notre Dame Phone: 219/631-6376 Notre Dame, IN 46556 FAX: 219/631-4393 Notification of acceptance will be mailed by Friday July 1, 1994. The technical committee will group submissions into relevant topics, and select papers and panel members. Papers will be accepted for long talks and short talks. Panel sessions and poster sessions may also be organized based on papers submitted. The proceedings will be prepared thru IEEE Computer Society Press in time to be distributed at the workshop. SCHEDULE: Monday May 23: Preliminary version of papers due at Notre Dame Friday July 1: Notification of acceptance for papers mailed Friday July 8: Author Kits mailed to accepted authors Tuesday Sept 6: Final papers due at IEEE press, registration starts Monday Oct 17: Early registration fee of $180 cutoff date Wednesday Nov 16: Out of town arrival, registration, & reception Thursday Nov 17 thru Sunday Nov 20 (noon): PhysComp `94 ********************************************************** IV. PROJECTS IV.A.1. Fr: Susanne M. Humphrey Re: Selected IR-Related Dissertation Abstracts The following are citations selected by title and abstract as being related to Information Retrieval (IR), resulting from a computer search, using BRS Information Technologies, of the Dissertation Abstracts Online database produced by University Microfilms International (UMI). Included are UMI order number, title, author, degree, year, institution; number of pages, one or more Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI) subject descriptors chosen by the author, and abstract. Unless otherwise specified, paper or microform copies of dissertations may be ordered from University Microfilms International, Dissertation Copies, Post Office Box 1764, Ann Arbor, MI 48106; telephone for U.S. (except Michigan, Hawaii, Alaska): 1-800-521-3042, for Canada: 1-800-268-6090. Price lists and other ordering and shipping information are in the introduction to the published DAI. An alternate source for copies is sometimes provided. Dissertation titles and abstracts contained here are published with permission of University Microfilms International, publishers of Dissertation Abstracts International (copyright by University Microfilms International), and may not be reproduced without their prior permission. matches may be considered similar. Ranking on similarity is done using the database taxonomy, by which similar instances become members of the same class. Relative similarity is determined by depth in the taxonomy. Overall, this thesis has applied machine learning techniques (learning from observation) that are based on psychological principles of category formation to the difficult problems of schema design, evolution and integration, and imprecise querying in database systems. AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-06798. AU OLIVER, NEAL CONRAD. TI A SUBLANGUAGE BASED MEDICAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR GERMAN. IN New York University Ph.D. 1992, 281 pages. SO DAI v54(01), SecB, pp333. DE Computer Science. Language, Linguistics. Artificial Intelligence. AB The major accomplishments reported in this thesis are: (1) The development of a computer grammar for a nontrivial sublanguage of German. This grammar, using the LSP (Linguistic String Processor) grammar formalism, solves a number of parsing problems arising in free word order languages such as German. (2) The development of an LSP-based information system that obtains semantic representations of texts in a medical sublanguage of German. (3) The confirmation of the sublanguage hypothesis (explained below). In LSP grammar theory, sentences in a language are derived from a collection of basic sentence types. The basic sentence types are described in terms of the major syntactic classes (e.g., noun, verb, adjective) of the language. Sentences are derived from these basic sentences by the insertion of optional structures called adjuncts, by conjoining, and by substituting words in the major classes. Insertion, conjoining, and substitution are constrained by co-occurrence restrictions between elements in the derived syntactic structures. The restrictions subcategorize the major word classes into subclasses that may co-occur in sentences according to the co-occurrence restrictions. The sublanguage hypothesis elaborates LSP grammar theory in the following way. In a particular domain of discourse, the subcategorization of the major word classes reflects the underlying semantics of the domain. The basic sentence types of the language, represented by sublanguage subclasses instead of major word classes, can function as data structures (called information formats) representing the information of the domain. The LSP Medical Language Processor (LSP/MLP) is an information retrieval/information extraction system based on sublanguage and information formatting. It processes sentences in the English sublanguage of clinical reporting into information formats, which are in turn are converted into database update records for a relational database. The information formats are derived from sublanguage co-occurrence information obtained from a corpus of discharge summaries. The German information formatting system implemented in this work processes German Arztbriefe (doctor letters) of cancer surgery patients into information formats. It confirms the sublanguage hypothesis because it re-uses the sublanguage information (co-occurrence information and formats) of the English LSP/MLP system in an equivalent sublanguage, showing that the sublanguage information reflects the semantics of the domain. AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-15708. AU OSTERTAG, EDUARDO JENKINS. TI A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE REUSE. IN University of Maryland College Park Ph.D. 1992, 206 pages. SO DAI v54(01), SecB, pp333. DE Computer Science. AB Software reuse has been claimed to be one of the most promising approaches to enhance programmer productivity and software quality. One of the problems to be addressed to achieve high software reuse is organizing databases of software experience, in which information on software products and processes is stored and organized to enhance reuse. This dissertation presents a system to define and construct such databases called the Extensible Description Formalism (EDF). The formalism is a generalization of the faceted index approach to classification in the sense that is provides facilities to define facets, terms, and object descriptions. Unlike the faceted approach, objects in EDF can be described in terms of different sets of facets and in terms of other object descriptions. This allows a software library to contain different classes of objects, to represent various types of relations among these classes, and to refine classification schemes by adding more detail supporting a growing application domain and reducing the impact of initial domain analysis. EDF incorporates a similarity-based retrieval mechanism that helps a reuser locate candidate reuse objects that best match the specifications of a target object. Similarity between two objects is quantified by a non-negative magnitude called similarity distance, which represents the estimated amount of effort required to construct one given the other. Because of this, similarity distances are not necessarily symmetric. EDF was designed to overcome the limitations of software reuse library systems based on controlled vocabularies. In particular, EDF provides a specification language based on concepts of set theory capable of representing a rich variety of software and non-software domains; it provides a retrieval mechanism based on exact matches and similarity metrics which can be customized to specific domains; and it provides a mechanism for defining and ensuring certain semantic relations between attribute values. 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