A Receiver-Driven Transport Protocol for the Web

In this paper, we present a receiver-oriented, request/response protocol for the Web that is compatible with the dynamics of TCP's congestion control algorithm. The protocol, called WebTP, is designed to be completely receiver-based in terms of transport initiation, flow-control and congestion-control. We propose a dual window-cum-rate based congestion control mechanism that is compatible with parallel TCP flows, and in fact interacts better with a congested network state. In support of our receiver-driven design, we developed a novel retransmission scheme that is robust to delay variations. The resulting flows achieve efficient network utilization and are qualitatively fair in their interaction amongst themselves and even with competing TCP flows. The paper also provides detailed simulation results to support the protocol design.     

A Bayesian Approach to the Argument From Ignorance.

In this paper, we re-examine a classic informal reasoning fallacy, the so-called argumentam ad ignorantiam. We argue that the structure of some versions of this argument parallels examples of inductive reasoning that are widely viewed as unproblematic. Viewed probabilistically, these versions of the argument from ignorance constitute a legitimate form of reasoning; the textbook examples are inductive arguments that are not unsound but simply weak, due to the nature of the premises and conclusions involved. In an experiment, we demonstrated some of the variables affecting the strength of the argument, and conclude with some general considerations towards an empirical theory of argument strength. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Temporal resolution using a breadth-first search algorithm

An approach to applying clausal resolution, a proof method well suited to mechanisation, to temporal logics has been developed by Fisher. The method involves translation to a normal form, classical style resolution within states, and temporal resolution between states. Not only has it been shown to be correct but as it consists of only one temporal resolution rule, it is particularly suitable as the basis of an automated temporal resolution theorem prover. As the application of the temporal resolution rule is the most costly part of the method, it is on this area that we focus. Detailed algorithms for abreadth‐first search approach to the application of this rule are presented. Correctness is shown and complexity given. Analysis of the behaviour of the algorithms is carried out and we explain why this approach is an improvement to others suggested. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of crystallinity and water absorption on the dynamic mechanical relaxation behaviour of polycaprolactone

The effect of the degree of crystallinity on the dynamic mechanical relaxation behaviour (flexural storage modulus and loss tangent) of polycaprolactone has been investigated. The degree of crystallinity was found to determine the temperature of the α‐relaxation process and the relaxation strength of the β‐relaxation. The increase in temperature of the α‐process has been ascribed to constrainment of the amorphous regions of the sample by the crystallites. In accordance with the observed effect of the degree of crystallinity, the origin of the dynamic mechanical β‐relaxation has been ascribed to the amorphous regions of the material. The intensity of the β‐process has also been found to depend on the moisture content, becoming more prominent when moisture is present. In addition, moisture has been shown to penetrate the crystalline regions of the sample over a relatively short timescale, as shown by infrared spectroscopy. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

EXPERIENCES WITH THE BRILLINGER SPECTRAL ESTIMATOR APPLIED TO SIMULATED IRREGULARLY OBSERVED PROCESSES

Abstract. Shannon interpolation is used to assign values from a readily simulated discrete time process to the times of a point process, simulated by Ogata's thinning technique. The result is a set of unequally spaced samples from a hypothetical continuous time process with spectrum equal to that of the discrete time process for frequencies |ω| ≤π/Δ and identically equal to zero for |ω| > π/Δ, where Δ is the discrete time step. The spectra are theoretically known both for the sampled process and for the sampling point process. We calculate Brillinger spectral estimates for examples of a process with autoregressive spectrum, sampled at the times of a Hawkes Self Exciting Point Process. The success of the Brillinger estimator is demonstrated but it is shown to have an inherently high variance. An approximate confidence interval is discussed.     

A rational analysis of the selection task as optimal data selection.

Human reasoning in hypothesis-testing tasks like P. C. Wason's (1968) selection task has been depicted as prone to systematic biases. However, performance on this task has been assessed against a now outmoded falsificationist philosophy of science. Therefore, the experimental data is reassessed in the light of a Bayesian model of optimal data selection in inductive hypothesis testing. The model provides a rational analysis (J. R. Anderson, 1990) of the selection task that fits well with people's performance on both abstract and thematic versions of the task. The model suggests that reasoning in these tasks may be rational rather than subject to systematic bias. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interlinking between Asia-Pacific University Web sites

An investigation into the pattern of international interlinking between Asia-Pacific university Web sites is described. AltaVista advanced searches were used for the data collection and network diagrams used to portray the results from four perspectives. It was found that each of the four angles allowed novel interpretations of the data, but that Australia and Japan were nevertheless clearly at the heart of the Web in the region, with Australia being a particularly common target of links and Japan having a more balanced profile of ingoing and outgoing hyperlinks. Interestingly, one of the perspectives mimicked an official grouping of less wealthy countries in the region whilst another contained the more developed countries, with Singapore and Thailand appearing in both. It was hypothesised that the nature of larger Web sites covered was qualitatively different from that of smaller ones, making the deduction of relationships between the hosting institutions difficult from the link counts alone. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Web Impact Factors for Australasian universities

In this paper we report on the results of an exploratory study of knowledge exchange between disciplines and subfields of science, based on bibliometric methods. The goal of this analysis is twofold. Firstly, we consider knowledge exchange between disciplines at a global level, by analysing cross-disciplinary citations in journal articles, based on the world publication output in 1999. Among others a central position of the Basic Life Sciences within the Life Sciences and of Physics within the Exact Sciences is shown. Limitations of analyses of interdisciplinary impact at the journal level are discussed. A second topic is a discussion of measures which may be used to quantify the rate of knowledge transfer between fields and the importance of work in a given field or for other disciplines. Two measures are applied, which appear to be proper indicators of impact of research on other fields. These indicators of interdisciplinary impact may be applied at other institutional levels as well. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Issues over high-speed non-invasive monitoring of railway trackbed

In recent years there has been an increase in the knowledge of, and need for, high-speed non-invasive monitoring of infrastructure. The various technologies involved, ground penetrating radar (GPR), infrared thermography, conductivity, etc. are becoming widely accepted as proven techniques to determine the condition of various structures from bridges and retaining walls to highways and railway lines.This paper will discuss the various applications of GPR and infrared thermography on the UK infrastructure, with concentration on the high-speed applications of these non-invasive techniques. This will lead into the limitations both on the style of the survey and the maximum speed obtainable while still recording sensible data. Calculations are undertaken to obtain the maximum speed of a radar survey as well as an infrared survey.