Toward a definition of “bibliometrics”

The definitions of the term bibliometrics as used in the literature are examined and evaluated. Most such definitions are held to be too broad. A new definition is proposed; then its advantages and possible defects pointed out. A crucial question is whether Zipf's law of word occurrence should be considered a part of this particular sub-discipline.     

A validation study of “LEXIMAPPE”

Clusters of normalized title-words in two sets of patent data in the food-sector (from 1985 and 1989, respectively) are analyzed in terms of their underlying document and word structures. The clusters were generated by using the system LEXIMAPPE of the Paris School of Mines. Both input and output data were kindly made available for validation purposes. Analysis of the data shows that the centrality and the density of the clusters produced by LEXIMAPPE are primarily dependent on the number of word occurrences in the corresponding parts of the input matrix. While the clusters are kept approximately equal in terms of the number of words (with a maximum of 10), they vary widely in terms of the number of word occurrences in the underlying document sets. Centrality and density vary correspondingly. The contribution of the smallest cluster to the reduction of uncertainty in the prediction of the document structure is even smaller than that of 77 (other) single words. In the dynamic analysis, I found significant stability where LEXIMAPPE indicated major changes. However, like every clustering algorithm LEXIMAPPE is based on specific assumptions which may lead to specific results that cannot be simulated by using other methods. Researchers who base their results on LEXIMAPPE should be aware of the peculiarities specific to this system.     

Quantitative estimation of “big” and “little” science interrelation

Qantitative analysis of the interrelation of big and little science on the example of Research and Development of higher education in the USA has been made. The difference in the growth rates of big and little science is explained with the help of scientometric index of capital expenditures per researcher. An attempt has been made to compare the dynamics of efficiency of big and little science on the base of mean duration of a research project. Possibilities of an alternative index of a relative amount of preliminary researches (preprojects) are pointed out.     

Calibration of objective noise-meters by means of “standard” noises

Conclusions 1)The adopted spectral parameter provides the possibility of solving theoretical and practical problems in noise measurements of a complicated spectral composition, 2) Methods of calculating and measuring this parameter by means of an ordinary noise-meter are provided, 3) calibration of noise-meters by means of standard noises provides the possibility of correcting noise-meter readings with satisfactory accuracy when the spectral composition of the noise is unknown, which is not the case with conventional methods of calibration.     

Measuring “publications output” and “publications impact” of faculty members of a university chemistry department

The publication and citation records of a group of 34 senior members of the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology over the period 1980–90 have been analyzed under the contention that dealing with a small group makes it possible for one to pay adequate attention to the methodology of the measurement and analysis processes. Choosing the most suitable index for measuring Publications Output has been considered in detail; it is suggested that it is essential to make allowances for both the number of co-authors and for the lengths of publications in order to obtain a more valid measure than is provided by a simple count of equally-weighted publications. Analogously it is argued that simple citation counts provide an inadequate measure of the impact that publications make on the group outside the authors' immediate circle and thus that it is necessary to subtract self citations and divide the credit for a citation among the co-authors of the publication. Results of the analysis show that in agreement with all previous findings a few members (perhaps less than 20%) produce more than half the publications and receive more than half the citations of the Group as a whole.     

Review of stress corrosion cracking of pipeline steels in “low” and “high” pH solutions

This paper reviews the current understanding of the mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking of pipeline steels. The similarities, the differences and the influencing factors are considered for the high pH stress corrosion cracking caused by a concentrated bicarbonate-carbonate solution, and for the low pH stress corrosion cracking due to a diluter solution. For high pH stress corrosion cracking, it is well accepted that the mechanism involves anodic dissolution for crack initiation and propagation. In contrast, it has been suggested that the low pH stress corrosion cracking is associated with the dissolution of the crack tip and sides, accompanied by the ingress of hydrogen into the pipeline steel. But the precise influence of hydrogen on the mechanism needs to be further studied.     

“Design of Experiments” for the Identification of Linear Dynamic Systems

One of the most important problems in direct digital controller design is to determine the process model from the sampled data. Goodness of the control depends considerably on the accuracy of the identified model. This paper investigates how to generate optimal input signal series for the identification of linear discrete-time systems in order to improve the accuracy of estimates. The determinant of the covariance matrix or of the inverse of the information matrix is considered as a measure of the error in the parameter estimates. Very simple methods are presented for the minimization of these criteria in case of an amplitude constrained input signal.     

Hydrodynamic theory of the “Struya” former-flowmeter

We have formulated the fundamentals of the hydrodynamic theory of the “Struya” former-flowmeter — a device for measuring the fluid flow rate and forming a homogeneous flow and a representative sample for subsequent qualitative analysis of the fluid medium composition. On the basis of the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations, computer simulation of the flow of a viscous medium in the “Struya” former has been carried out. Models of homogeneous flow of a single incompressible fluid and of inhomogeneous flow of a two-phase dispersive fluid have been considered. Numerical calculations have confirmed the high characteristics of the “Struya” former which, as compared to the standard restrictions, has the lowest level of hydraulic losses and the highest accuracy of differential pressure formation. Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 82, No. 2, pp. 308–319, March–April, 2009.     

A Brief Introduction of the Monthly Journal of “Measurement Technique”

The first of this journal was published in June,1957 and it has become a nation-wide technical journal in China, Now it is edited by the Information Service of the State Bureau of Metrology. The papers dealed with the following problems will be earried in the journal:     

“Practical” components of vectors and tensors

A concept of “practical” components for general vectors and tensors is introduced which provides a more versatile and useful alternative to the traditional physical components.Practical components have direct application in practical analysis. They give the magnitude of measurable quantities in orthogonal directions orientated as required to the given vector and tensor coordinates whether these are orthogonal or oblique.The algebra of practical components is well ordered and complements that of formal tensor theory. Although attention is directed to three- and two-dimensional vectors and tensors as encountered in structural mechanics, both the concept and method are valid for n-dimensional space as well as for other branches of mathematical physics.     

Measurement of small holes by means of the “magic eye”

Conclusions Estimation of the errors in measuring diameters of small holes by means of a universal microscope and a magic eye has shown that it is the most accurate contact method and can be recommended for measuring holes of the first grade of accuracy.