An information-theoretic approach to the written transmission of old English

Information theory offers a means for analyzing some constraints on the reading and copying process in Old English. Entropy for strings of various lengths offers a baseline measure of the uncertainty involved in transmission of Old English texts, while avoiding the pitfalls of applying models of modern reading to early medieval practice. Analysis of lengthy prose and verse texts in Old English revealed uniformly high values for entropy at all string lengths. High entropies may be the result of the language's irregular orthography, poetic koiné, and several dialects and imply that the language may have been easy to write but difficult to read. The low redundancy of the language which its high entropy values indicate suggests that the reader of Old English played an enhanced role in decoding a text and may provide an explanation for the high variability in the transmission of Old English verse.Katherine O'Brien O 'Keeffe is Professor of English at Texas A&M University and a co-director of its Interdisciplinary Group for Historical Literary Study.William Rundell is Professor of Mathematics at Texas A&M University.     

A λ-unifiability test for set theory

We present a semi-decision algorithm for the unifiability of two set-theoretic formulas modulo -reduction. The algorithm is based on the approach developed by G. Huet for type theory, but requires additional measures because formulas in set theory are not all normalizable. We present the algorithm in an Ada-like pseudocode, and then prove two theorems that show the completeness and correctness of the procedure. We conclude by showing that -unification is not a complete quantifier substitution method for set theory-unlile first-order unification and first-order logic. In this respect set theory is similar to type theory (higher-order logic).This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under award number ISI-8560438. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.     

Two new characteristic parameters for runoff computation

A method capable of estimating the hydrograph from a prescribed storm for a practical mild slope upstream catchment is proposed. This method makes use of two new characteristic parameters, andS, in conjunction with the kinematic wave equation to compute lateral inflows of the main stream of the catchment. The depth profile of overland flow at any instant within the catchment and hydrograph at any location can be easily found. Lag times for individual lateral inflows are then considered and are linearly combined to obtain the hydrograph at the outlet of the catchment or depth profile of the main stream at any instant. The validity of the excess rainfall-surface runoff linear relationship in this study has also been verified with Tatsunokuchiyama catchment, and it shows good results for this computed runoff.     

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本文把与井简直接连通的大裂缝及井筒定义为“裂缝—井筒系统”,通过气体状态方程的变换和续流总量的计算,探索出井底大裂缝的容积及其储量的计算方法。     

CLP(ℜ) and some electrical engineering problems

The Constraint Logic Programming Scheme defines a class of languages designed for programming with constraints using a logic programming approach. These languages are soundly based on a unified framework of formal semantics. In particular, as an instance of this scheme with real arithmetic constraints, the CLP() language facilitates and encourages a concise and declarative style of programming for problems involving a mix of numeric and non-numeric computation.In this paper we illustrate the practical applicability of CLP() with examples of programs to solve electrical engineering problems. This field is particularly rich in problems that are complex and largely numeric, enabling us to demonstrate a number of the unique features of CLP(). A detailed look at some of the more important programming techniques highlights the ability of CLP() to support well-known, powerful techniques from constraint programming. Our thesis is that CLP() is an embodiment of these techniques in a language that is more general, elegant and versatile than the earlier languages, and yet is practical.An earlier version of this paper appeared in the proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Logic Programming, Melbourne, May 1987. Much of this work was carried out while the authors were at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.     

A Universal Method of Scientific Inquiry

A paradigm of scientific discovery is defined within a first-order logical framework. Within this paradigm, the concept of successful scientific inquiry is formalized and investigated. Among other results, it is shown that a simple method of scientific inquiry is universal in the sense that it leads to success on every problem for which success is in principle possible.     

Rapid software integration using structured methods

In this paper we discuss an approach to organizing the integration of 110,000 lines of C, SQL, Assembler, and microcode distributed over a network of 36 processors of four types so that it could be accomplished in six months. The software runs on a test system architecture consisting of a LAN-based workstation group and a set of VME-based embedded processors. By using structured methodology, parallelism in the integration process was achieved. The necessary stub tools were identified and developed before integration began. The principles followed and experiences of integrating the system are discussed.     

From ethnographic record to system design

This paper explores the issues involved in moving from ethnographic explorations of work in context to a practical contribution to system design. It does so using the example of an interdisciplinary research project involving sociologists and computer scientists in the domain of air traffic control systems. It forms a pair with another paper (Sommerville et al., 1992) exploring these questions from the perspective of our computer science partners. We characterise ethnography as a research method, and consider the differences between undertaking it for strictly sociological or anthropological purposes by contrast with interdisciplinary and design purposes. We summarise some of our results in ethnographic explications of the work of air traffic controllers, and the sociality which it manifests. We describe the dialogues involved in rendering these observations informative for systems design, and the mutual translations implied in attempting to reconcile sociological with software engineering questions about supporting the work. We conclude by specifying some features of cooperative work which an engineering approach is in danger of overlooking; the ways, and limits, in which ethnographers can form a bridge between users and designers; and some of the conflicts of interest entrained in generating technical change.The research is funded by the UK MRC/SERC/ESRC Cognitive Science/HCI Initiative with the title Social Analysis of Control Systems for HCI Design, grant number SPG 8931598. The computer science partners are Professor Ian Sommerville, Dr Tom Rodden, Dr Pete Sawyer and Mr Richard Bentley. Thanks are due to Val King, Kjeldt Schmidt, Ian Sommerville and Tom Rodden for very helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper.     

凝固过程中的颗粒推斥

颗粒推斥是材料在固液相变过程中的基础问题之一，界面自由能的传统理论难以解释在金属基复合材料制备过程中的颗粒推斥现象，作者提出了固液界面前沿的流体流动是颗粒推斥的主要原因之一，并给出颗粒滚动及颗粒速度两种作用机制，推导出颗粒推斥条件判据，并以实验验证流体流动的作用机制及颗粒推斥理论判据。     

一种新的位错运动理论及对材料动态力学行为的描述

通过对位错在晶格内运动的动力学过程的全面分析。本文提出了一种考虑到粘性阻尼效应和热激活的位错集体运动统一理论。其特点是可用一简单的方程对从低速到高速运动的大量位错的平均行为进行统一描述。对ＫＣｌ晶体的典型实验怕拟合发现理论描述与实验结果相当一致。