Information Retrieval List Digest 215 (May 30) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/irld/irld-215 6.1 May 30, 1994 Volume XI, Number 22 Issue 215 ********************************************************** III. NOTICES B. Publications 1. German Society for Computer Science: HIM '95 IV. PROJECTS A. Abstracts 1. IR-Related Dissertation Abstracts ********************************************************** III. NOTICES III.B.1. From: ritt@inf-wiss.ivp.uni-konstanz.de (Marc Rittberger) Re: German Society for Computer Science: Hypertext-IR-Multimedia (HIM) '95 German Society for Computer Science Hypertext - Information Retrieval - Multimedia: HIM'95 5-7 April 1995 Information Science, University of Konstanz More and more the requirements placed on modern information systems from the system's and the user's point of view do not allow a separate view of problems. Hence the special interest groups 'Hypertext' (4.9.1), 'Information Retrieval' (2.5.4/4.9.3) and 'Multimediate electronic documents' (4.9.2) within the German Society for Computer Science (GI), the Austrian Computer Society (VCG), the Swiss Society of Computer Scientists (SI) and the Academic Association for Information Science (HI) will hold a joint conference with focus on hypertext (HT), information retrieval (IR) and multimedia (MM). HIM'95 continues a successful series of meetings in German-speaking countries: It is the fifth hypertext conference (following Basel, Darmstadt, Graz and Zuerich), the second information retrieval-meeting after Regensburg and the second meeting of the special interest group 'multimediate electronic documents'. Contributions that are specialized as well as those along interdisciplinary lines are welcome in the form of papers, posters and tutorials for all parts and aspects of hypertext, information retrieval and multimedia. We strongly encourage the demonstration of systems during and in addition to the papers. Of course this does not imply exclusion of mainly theoretical papers. The meeting emphasizes the following issues: Models for HT, IR and MM * Systems' architecture and implementation * Applications of HT, IR and MM-systems * Standards for interfaces, exchange formats and query languages * Content representation in HT, IR and MM-systems * Cognitive aspects in the use of HT, IR and MM-systems * Authoring systems * Structure and administration of document sets * Distributed and open HT, IR and MM-systems * Requirements on large HT, IR and MM-systems * Database support of HT, IR and MM-systems * Cooperative, adaptive and knowledge based methods * Interaction and user interfaces * Quality, acceptance and evaluation * HT, IR and MM-systems as means of information management SCHEDULE: Now: e-mail to ritt@inf-wiss.uni-konstanz.de to join the e-mail conference list. CALL FOR PAPERS: 1 Nov 1994: Please submit a provisional paper (max. 15 pages), four copies, including title, abstract and full text, to the chairperson. Conference languages are German and English. 1 Jan 1995: Authors will be notified and receive script guidelines. 15 Feb 1995: Please submit camera ready paper. Proceedings will be published by Universitaetsverlag Konstanz. CALL FOR POSTERS: Opportunity is given to present works on theory and practice as posters. The organizers welcome your proposals by 1 Nov 1994. CALL FOR TUTORIALS: Tutorials on the meeting's topics may be held. Those willing to be tutors are kindly requested to contact the organizers before 1 Oct 1994. CHAIR: R. Kuhlen (Univ. Konstanz) Universitaet Konstanz Informationswissenschaft Postfach 5560 D-78434 Konstanz Tel: ~49-7531-882878 Fax: ~49-7531-882601 EMAIL: kuhlen@inf-wiss.uni-konstanz.de GENERAL ORGANIZATION AND INFORMATION: Marc Rittberger Universitaet Konstanz Informationswissenschaft Postfach 5560 D-78434 Konstanz Tel: ~49-7531-883595 Fax: ~49-7531-882601 EMAIL: ritt@inf-wiss.uni-konstanz.de Local organization is with the Society for Appplied Information Science (Gesellschaft f. Angewandte Informationswissenschaft Konstanz e.V.) and the Department of Information Science of the University of Konstanz. ********************************************************** 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. AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-26538. AU PHAN, DUNG HUU DOUGLAS. TI THE PRIMITIVE-COMPOSITE (P-C) APPROACH: A METHODOLOGY FOR DEVELOPING SHARABLE OBJECT-ORIENTED DATA REPRESENTATIONS FOR FACILITY ENGINEERING INTEGRATION. IN Stanford University Ph.D. 1993, 382 pages. SO DAI v54(05), SecB, pp2641. DE Engineering, Civil. Computer Science. Information Science. AB In a facility engineering process, large amounts of data must be communicated between different participants and computer applications across various life-cycle phases. Effective communication of this data is vital to maintaining work productivity, minimizing costs, and ensuring high engineering quality. However, communicating this data is often difficult because users (i.e., participants or applications) have different needs for the facility data and thus use different data representations. Data in different representations cannot be communicated directly between these users. Research in data integration focuses on improving the compatibility of data and data representations within the same process. Data modeling is an important issue in such research. This dissertation reports on research in modeling data in facility engineering for the purpose of supporting data integration. The research described here involves the development of a methodology, the Primitive-Composite (or P-C) Approach, for analyzing a given facility engineering domain and for designing a common object-oriented schema for that domain (or "domain primitive schema"). This approach includes four phases: (1) Preliminary Domain Study, (2) Functional Analysis, (3) Domain Entities Analysis and (4) Domain Schema Design. In addition, this approach incorporates the requirements and criteria for designing the schema and offers the modeling tools used in the phases, leading to the development of a schema meeting the requirements. These modeling tools also provide the elements (i.e., concepts, graphical representations, operations, rules, etc.) necessary for building Computer-Aided Software Engineering tools with which a designer can model facility data using the P-C Approach. The resulting primitive schema can be shared among multiple users and across life-cycle phases within the domain. Specifically, the primitive schema can support customization of multiple user views and can be extended to accommodate evolving life-cycle phases. Further, this schema is rich in content, representing form, function, and behavior of the design objects in the domain. The P-C Approach was applied to the domain of electrical transmission towers. It was also tested in this domain. A database of a selected tower was implemented using a commercial object-oriented database management system. AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-25594. AU TANG, QIN. TI A DYNAMIC VISUALIZATION APPROACH TO THE EXPLORATION OF AREA-BASED, SPATIAL-TEMPORAL DATA. IN The Ohio State University Ph.D. 1993, 225 pages. SO DAI v54(05), SecA, pp1908. DE Geography. Computer Science. Statistics. Remote Sensing. AB The objective of this research is to develop a methodology for the exploration of area-based, spatial-temporal data to help the analyst obtain insights into the data under investigation. The methodology is based on the combination of the concept of exploratory data analysis and scientific visualization techniques. This research has been carried out at three levels: developing a conceptual framework for spatial data exploration using visualization techniques, developing a series of visualization methods to facilitate the exploration, and implementing a pilot operational system to demonstrate the methodology and to provide a platform for evaluating the methodology. This dissertation first identifies the characteristics of a visualization system for spatial data exploration. It also distinguishes the exploratory displays from the conventional cartographic displays. A strategy to transfer traditional mapping methods to meet the requirements of visualization for spatial exploration is suggested. Five visualization tools, termed as modules, have been developed. Each of these modules performs specific tasks for the exploration. The integration of multiple modules gives the analyst more power to explore the data. All of the modules are based on the strong interaction between the analyst and the visualization system. The Interactive Viewing Module provides several functions to help the analyst better interpret the displays generated by other modules. The Geographic Brushing Module is for the investigation of geographic correlation. The Alternagraphic Display Module is designed for the investigation of multiple geographic distributions. The Area Masking Module provides the capability of visualizing geographical movement with choroplethic representation. The Temporal Browsing/Brushing Module is aimed at investigating the temporal aspect of the database using "animated browsing" and "brushing." An experimental system has been implemented. It demonstrates the procedures to design the system, to implement the visualization modules, and to use the system. The experiment also reveals some technical constraints on the implementation of the methodology. This research demonstrates that using visualization techniques for the exploration of spatial-temporal data presents an effective approach to enhancing our capability to understand huge amounts of spatial data. It can be used to enhance the analytical functionality of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-27456. AU LIEBSCHER, PETER. TI INFORMATION-SEEKING IN HYPERTEXT: MULTIPLE ACCESS METHODS IN A FULL-TEXT HYPERTEXT DATABASE. IN University of Maryland College Park Ph.D. 1993, 267 pages. SO DAI v54(05), SecA, pp1576. DE Information Science. Library Science. AB This study focussed on the interaction between users, the system, and tasks during information retrieval in a full-text hypertext system. It drew on mental model theory to examine the users' views of information retrieval systems and how these views affected their information-seeking behavior in a hypertext system offering multiple access methods. The access methods provided for this study were an alphabetical index, an hierarchical subject index, Boolean string search, and a network browser. Eleven undergraduate participants and one expert in hypertext systems were given a number of tasks and were observed intensively and individually over five sessions, each lasting approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Access methods were used individually for the first four sessions. For the final session, all four access methods were available. Participants were given a total of 22 information retrieval tasks. Because the study was exploratory, no hypothesis testing was done. Eleven research questions served to guide the design of the protocols and the observations themselves. Results indicate that undergraduate users of new hypertext information systems use elements of existing mental models for information systems as they interact with the new system. Benefits are quick learnability of system syntax and the ability to apply known information-seeking strategies in the new environment. Drawbacks are inefficient or failed searches due to misapplication of mental models for familiar systems. String search proved to be the overwhelming choice of access method for hands-on retrieval tasks. Selection of string search was independent of task. Principal reasons for selection of string search were a desire to do word, rather than conceptual searches and to minimize the amount of text scanned/read. Hypertext features, such as text embedded highlighted links, were also used to minimize reading. User characteristics, such as subject knowledge, computer experience, and gender, rather than task characteristics, were factors in selection of access method. Overall, participants were successful in their retrieval tasks, but more successful using string search and the network browser than using the indexes. However, success was often attained through serendipitous browsing which indicates that the relatively small size of the database was also a factor. AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-20056. AU LIU, SONGQIAO. TI THE AUTOMATIC DECOMPOSITION OF DDC SYNTHESIZED NUMBERS. IN University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. 1993, 246 pages. SO DAI v54(05), SecA, pp1578. DE Library Science. Information Science. AB Much literature has been written speculating upon how classification can be used in online catalogs to improve information retrieval. While some empirical studies have been done exploring whether the direct use of traditional classification schemes designed for a manual environment is effective and efficient in the online environment, none has manipulated these manual classifications in such a way as to take full advantage of the power of both the classification and computer. It has been suggested by some authors, such as Wajenberg and Drabenstott, that this power could be realized if the individual components of synthesized DDC numbers could be identified and indexed. This study looks at the feasibility of automatically decomposing DDC synthesized numbers and the implications of such decomposition for information retrieval. The following two research questions were posed for this study: (1) Is it possible to decompose synthesized DDC numbers into component numbers accurately by the computer. (2) How can the decomposition of DDC synthesized numbers improve information storage and retrieval. After an analysis of the instructions for synthesizing numbers in the main class Arts (700) and all DDC Tables, 17 decomposition rules were defined, 13 covering the Add Notes and four the Standard Subdivisions. 1,701 DDC synthesized numbers were decomposed by a computer system called DND (Dewey Number Decomposer), developed by the researcher. From the 1,701 numbers, 600 were randomly selected for examination by three judges, each evaluating 200 numbers. The decomposition success rate was 100% and it was concluded that synthesized DDC numbers can be accurately decomposed automatically. The study has implications for information retrieval, expert systems for assigning DDC numbers, automatic indexing, switching language development, enhancing classifiers' work, teaching library school students, and providing quality control for DDC number assignments. These implications were explored using a prototype retrieval system. AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG93-29159. AU SEO, EUN-GYOUNG. TI AN EXPERIMENT IN AUTOMATIC INDEXING WITH KOREAN TEXTS: A COMPARISON OF SYNTACTICO-STATISTICAL AND MANUAL METHODS. IN University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Ph.D. 1993, 294 pages. SO DAI v54(05), SecA, pp1578. DE Library Science. Computer Science. AB This study was undertaken in order to develop practical automatic indexing techniques suitable for Korean natural language texts. The study had four purposes: to develop an automatic indexing system for Korean texts, to evaluate the efficiency of the automatic indexing system as compared with a manual indexing system, to compare the effectiveness of weighting algorithms, and to investigate the effect of abstract length. The basic method of this automatic indexing system was to determine the syntactic category of each text word by dictionary look-up, and then to match sequences of category symbols against a dictionary of acceptable patterns. Sequences of text words that matched one of the patterns in the dictionary were extracted as content identifiers. Finally, the system selected highly ranked content identifiers from each document based on statistical (frequency of occurrence) information. For this experimental study, the Korean text database was constructed manually based on 100 long abstracts and 200 short abstracts covering business subjects. The study assessed how well the set of index terms produced by an automatic indexing technique reflects the major topics described in an indexed document. For the evaluation, a manual index term list was constructed by consultation between two indexers as an external standard to obtain normalized values. The experimental results showed that the performance of the automatic syntactico-statistical indexing system was comparable to that of other studies which have compared automatic indexing with manual indexing. The WDF system performed better than the IDF system in terms of the ability to present all the correct content identifiers, and the system produced more correct content identifiers in the short abstract group. As a whole, many significant concepts represented in the abstract and recognized by human indexers have been effectively extracted automatically. The extracted concept forms are for the most part comparable to those of manual indexing. Possible enhancements of the automatic syntactico-statistical indexing system are identified which could lead to improved indexing performance. ********************************************************** IRLIST Digest is distributed from the University of California, Division of Library Automation, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA. 94612-3550. Send subscription requests to: LISTSERV@UCOP.EDU Send submissions to IRLIST to: IR-L@UCOP.EDU Or send subscription requests and submissions to: NANCY.GUSACK@UCOP.EDU Editorial Staff: Clifford Lynch clifford.lynch@ucop.edu Nancy Gusack nancy.gusack@ucop.edu Mary Engle mary.engle@ucop.edu The IRLIST Archives is now set up for anonymous FTP, as well as via the LISTSERV. 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