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.     

Effect of Proteolytic Bacteria in the Natural Fermentation of Corn to Increase its Nutritive Value

There was no significant difference in % relative nutritive value, lysine or tryptophan levels between natural lactic fermentations of Costa Rican corn meal fermented with tap water of pH 7.2 and 5.3 However, the fermented values were all significantly (P<0.05) higher than nonfermented values. Most of the increase in % relative nutritive value occurred in the first 48 hr. Free essential amino acids increased and the amino acid balance changed during typical fermentations. Proteolytic bacteria decreased after 3 days of the fermentation and declined to a few cells per ml by the 4th day. Proteolysis decreased by the second day of natural lactic fermentation.     

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.     

Bioavailability of Zinc in Fermented Soybeans

The bioavailability of zinc in soybean meal fermented by lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAPB) and by Rhizopus oligosporus in tempeh fermentation was evaluated with the rat bioassay, using the slope ratio method and log total femur zinc or weight gain versus zinc intake as response parameters. Fermentation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the RBV of zinc from 73.0% in boiled non-fermented soybeans (pH 6.7) to 84.5% in boiled LAPB fermented soybeans. The highest RBV (95.3%) was found in the autoclaved and LAPB fermented product (pH 6.5). Rhizopus oligosporus fermentation resulted in a RBV of 89.0%. Thus, fermentation in the processing of soybeans will improve zinc bioavailability in this food.     

Use of Candida tropicalis ATCC 9968 to Adjust the pH of a Natural Lactic Acid Fermentation of Cornmeal

After 3 days of a natural lactic acid fermentation of whole kernel cornmeal, the pH was 3.78 with a titratable acidity of 0.91% at 32°C (1:4 w/v solids to water). These solids were diluted (1:12 w/v), autocalved at 121°C for 15 min and fermented with C. tropicalis for 7 days at 32°C, bringing the pH to 6.5 and 0.03% acidity. After both fermentations, the % relative nutritive value increased significantly (from 74.09% to 81.22%) and so did riboflavin (from 0.22 to 0.56 mg/100g). Both thiamin and niacin decreased significantly (0.42 to 0.20 mg/100g and 2.13 to 1.94 mg/100g, respectively).