AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

Natural-language generation (NLG) techniques can be used to automatically produce technical documentation from a domain knowledge base and linguistic and contextual models. We discuss this application of NLG technology from both a technical and a usefulness (costs and benefits) perspective. This discussion is based largely on our experiences with the Intelligent Documentation Advisory System (IDAS) documentation-generation project, and the reactions that various interested people from industry have had to IDAS. We hope that this summary of our experiences with IDAS and the lessons we have learned from it will be beneficial for other researchers who wish to build technical documentation-generation systems.     

Consequences of nonclassical measurement for the algorithmic description of continuous dynamical systems

Abstract

Continuous dynamical systems intuitively seem capable of more complex behavior than discrete systems. If analyzed in the framework of the traditional theory of computation, a.continuous dynamical system with countably many quasistable states has at least the computational power of a universal Turing machine. Such an analysis assumes, however, the classical notion of measurement. If measurement is viewed nonclassically, a continuous dynamical system cannot, even in principle, exhibit behavior that cannot be simulated by a universal Turing machine.     

Casting Architecture in an Expanding Horizon: Atacama Lab: 07

The search for "alternatives" can no longer rest in an avant-garde quest for singular originality. Rather than advancing narrower slivers of refinement alone, we must create patterns of practice that demonstrate the intricacy of expanding connections between the work of architects and planetary inhabitation by supporting new models that operate directly within the full complexities of our environment.     

Devolving Housing Policy and Practice in Northern Ireland 1998-2002

This paper reviews the effect of devolution on housing policy and practice in Northern Ireland. It outlines the history and context of devolution and housing policy in Northern Ireland, including the legacy and persistence of intense social conflict. Current devolution arrangements are reviewed, including the implications of enforced coalition for policy governance. The paper focuses on three dimensions of housing and housing-related policy development and implementation: social housing, especially the distinctive history and changing organisation of social housing provision; policies affecting the housing market, including the changing regime for spatial planning; and, regeneration and tenant participation. The paper argues that housing policy has tended to converge with policies in England, rather than moving towards a distinctively local agenda. Local political agendas remain dominated by disagreements over constitutional status thus policy formulation is determined more by officials than by elected politicians.     

<i>In vitro</i> effects of 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate on cell growth,morphology and cell cycle dynamics in the MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line

In the search for new and improved anticancer therapies, researchers have identified several potentially useful compounds. One of these agents is 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate (2ME-BM), a sulphamoylated derivative of 2-methoxyestradiol. The objective of this study was to evaluate 2ME-BM’s in vitro efficacy as antiproliferative agent in the MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line. Light- and fluorescent microscopy showed decreased cell density, increased apoptotic characteristics and significant ultrastructural aberrations indicative of autophagic cell death after 24 hours of exposure at a concentration of 0.4μM. In addition, mitotic indices revealed that 2ME-BM induces a G₂M block. The latter was confirmed by flow cytometric analyses where increased sub-G₁ and G₂ /M fractions, as well as an increase in cyclin B1 levels were observed. Further in vitro research into the mechanism of this potentially useful anticancer compound is thus warranted.     

Fatigue crack initiation detection by an infrared thermography method

In this paper, the study of the temperature variation during fatigue tests was carried out on different materials (steels and aluminium alloys). Tests were performed at ambient temperature using a piezoelectric fatigue system (20 kHz). The temperature field was measured on the surface of the specimen, by means of an infrared camera.
Just at the beginning of the test, it was observed that the temperature increased, followed by a stabilization which corresponds to the balance between dissipated energy associated with microplasticity and the energy lost by convection and radiation at the specimen surface and by conduction inside the specimen. At the crack initiation, the surface temperature suddenly increases (whatever the localization of the initiation), which allows the determination of the number of cycles at the crack initiation and the number of cycles devoted to the fatigue crack propagation. In the gigacycle fatigue domain, more than 92% of the total life is devoted to the initiation of the crack.
So, the study of the thermal dissipation during the test appears a promising method to improve the understanding of the damage and failure mechanism in fatigue and to determine the number of cycles at initiation.     

A systems theoretic view of computer integrated manufacturing

The global and specific characteristics of a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) architecture have far-reaching consequences for the general health of the production organization that applies the architecture. A theory is therefore needed to design ‘good’ CIM architectures. We argue that good CIM architectures specify unambiguously, at a high level of abstraction, and in generic terms a production organization as a configuration of components, while allowing us to understand how the components affect the performance of the production organization as a whole. We demonstrate a theory for designing CIM architectures for a production organization such that, in addition to realizing production targets, it can honour requests to change its product portfolio, production capacity, or production costs.     

SIMULTANEOUS INSTRUMENTAL MEASUREMENT OF FIRMNESS AND JUICINESS OF APPLE TISSUE DISCS

Discs of apple tissue were compressed to 75% of their original height. Throughout compression, the force-distance curve was collected and the electrical impedance of the discs was measured at two frequencies of alternating current—1 kHz and 1 MHz. Electrical impedance was separated into its resistive and reactive components, and at these particular frequencies changes in resistance predominated. Measurements at 1 kHz indicate the resistance of extracellular regions of the discs (ruptured cells as well as those regions external to the plasma membrane), while measurements at 1 MHz indicate the resistance of the entire disc (combined intracellular and extracellular regions). Juice was released from the discs as a result of damage to cells and the extrusion of cellular fluid into intercellular air spaces. This resulted in a decline in electrical resistance at 1 kHz, but little change to the resistance at 1 MHz. Changes in juice release as determined by electrical measurement were related to the mechanical properties of the discs. Generally, the release of juice occurred after the inflection point on the force-distance curves, but much earlier than mechanical failure (indicated by maximum force). The extent of tissue damage was determined from the relative decrease in resistance at 1 kHz, and was found to vary among apple cultivars and in response to fruit ripening.