The problem of determining whether a document is about a loosely defined topic is at the core of text Information Retrieval (IR). An automatic IR system should be able to determine if a document is likely to convey information on a topic. In most cases, it has to do it solely based on measure- ments of the use of terms in the document (lexical measurements). In this work a novel scheme for measuring and representing lexical information from text documents is proposed. This scheme is inspired by the concept of ideal measurement as is described by Quantum Theory (QT). We apply it to Information Retrieval through formal analogies between text processing and physical measurements. The main contribution of this work is the development of a complete mathematical scheme to describe lexical measurements. These measurements encompass current ways of repre- senting text, but also completely new representation schemes for it. For example, this quantum-like representation includes logical features such as non-Boolean behaviour that has been suggested to be a fundamental issue when extracting information from natural language text. This scheme also provides a formal unification of logical, probabilistic and geometric approaches to the IR problem. From the concepts and structures in this scheme of lexical measurement, and using the principle of uncertain conditional, an “Aboutness Witness” is defined as a transformation that can detect docu- ments that are relevant to a query. Mathematical properties of the Aboutness Witness are described in detail and related to other concepts from Information Retrieval. A practical application of this concept is also developed for ad hoc retrieval tasks, and is evaluated with standard collections. Even though the introduction of the model instantiated here does not lead to substantial perfor- mance improvements, it is shown how it can be extended and improved, as well as how it can generate a whole range of radically new models and methodologies. This work opens a number of research possibilities both theoretical and experimental, like new representations for documents in Hilbert spaces or other forms, methodologies for term weighting to be used either within the proposed framework or independently, ways to extend existing methodologies, and a new range of operator-based methods for several tasks in IR.

Searching for information is a recurring problem that almost everyone has faced at some point. Being in a library looking for a book, searching through newspapers and magazines for an old article or searching through emails for an old conversation with a colleague are some examples of the searching activity. These are some of the many situations where someone; the “user”; has some vague idea of the information he is looking for; an “information need”; and is searching through a large number of documents, emails or articles; “information items”; to find the most “relevant” item for his purpose. In this thesis we study the problem of retrieving images from large image archives. We consider two different approaches for image retrieval. The first approach is content based image retrieval where the user is searching images using a query image. The second approach is semantic retrieval where the users expresses his query using keywords. We proposed a unified framework to treat both approaches using generative probabilistic models in order to rank and classify images with respect to user queries. The methodology presented in this Thesis is evaluated on a real image collection and compared against state of the art methods.

Master of Science / Department of Computing and Information Sciences / William Hsu / This thesis examines automated genre classification in literature. The approach described uses text based comparison of book summaries to examine if word similarity is a feasible method for identifying genre types. Genres help users form impressions of what form a text will take. Knowing the genre of a literary work provides librarians, information scientists, and other users of a text collection with a summative guide to its form, its possible content, and what its members are about without having to peruse individual topic titles. This makes automatically generating genre labels a potentially useful tool in sorting unmarked text collections or searching the web. This thesis provides a brief overview of the problems faced by researchers wishing to automate genre classification as well as the current work in the field. My own methodology will also be discussed. I implemented two basic methods for labeling genre. The results collected using them will be covered, as well as future work and improvements to the project that I wish to implement.

This is the thesis (critical appraisal) component of a PhD by Published Works. The overall submission was a portfolio of ten published papers supported by a critical appraisal focusing on two key areas: an exploration of the roles that Health Information Professionals (HIPs) can play within evidence based practice (EBP) and an exploration of the effectiveness and impact of the traditional supportive role played by HIPs within EBP. The published papers are listed and referenced within this document but not contained within it. The majority are available elsewhere within the University of Salford Institutional Repository. Drawing on a model developed from the library literature, the thesis highlights a wide range of supportive and active roles that HIPs can potentially play within EBP. This model is informed and illuminated by the studies within the portfolio that demonstrate how the author has fulfilled a wide range of these roles in practice, and identified a new role within systematic reviews in health and social care. This demonstrates that HIPs can transfer their skills outside their traditional library and information practice domain, thus extending their role and offering a range of professional opportunities. Using a varied range of research methodologies, the thesis also explores the effectiveness and impact of the contribution made by HIPs when using traditional skills to support EBP. Two models are used to illustrate the outcomes to which HIPs contribute. These include improving search skills and providing evidence which can, over the longer term, contribute to policy making and patient care. At present the weight of the evidence presented to support these links is weak. Methodological issues and future research that needs to be addressed to improve the strength of the evidence base are therefore highlighted and discussed.

Printing has been one of Scotland's most significant industries since it was introduced over 500 years ago but remained for much of the period, a local industry. The Scottish publishing and printing industries in the nineteenth century left many documentary traces, but most research has concentrated on large urban centres such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, with regional centres of print production all but ignored. In the nineteenth century, these local print economies served the business, administrative, political and leisure needs of an increasingly urbanised Scotland. My research is focused on the operation of the support structures and networks which developed among operative printers in Scotland's regional print centres from around 1830 to the end of the nineteenth century. As a case study I have selected the Royal Burgh of Dumfries, the most important market town in south-west Scotland, which was also a stop on the route between central Scotland and the industrial centres of Lancashire, and further south to London. A local printing industry developed during the eighteenth century, and by 1830 Dumfries was the home of a range of businesses in the printing and allied trades. The examination of the local print economy investigates the businesses and organisations engaged in print production and distribution in the local area, the technologies which were in use, and the material record of the town. The individual 'print trade lives' are considered in some detail, looking at the range and variety of career patterns in the industry. The options for a larger study of print networks based on trade records are also considered. Sources for the study include local and regional trade society records, business records, trade journals and other publications, and contemporary (mainly local) newspapers. It also draws on technological manuals and other secondary material in Edinburgh Napier University's Edward Clark Collection.

Orientador: Eduardo Ismael Murguia Marañon / Banca: Mariângela Spotti Lopes Fujita / Banca: Eliana Serrão Alves Mey / Resumo: Trata-se de um estudo acerca dos sistemas de classificação bibliográfica, especificamente a Classificação Decimal de Dewey (CDD), um dos instrumentos de organização da informação mais utilizados em bibliotecas generalistas do Brasil e do mundo. Estudos recentes têm demonstrado que tais instrumentos não são neutros em relação a valores e aspectos culturais. Tais instrumentos são investigados à luz de uma segunda temática, a paz, e compreende os recentes avanços na concepção do conceito de paz e seus desdobramentos nos campos teórico e prático: a área de Estudos para Paz e o movimento de Cultura de Paz. Tem como objetivo investigar o tratamento dado à temática da paz na CDD. Especificamente, buscou-se verificar e analisar os conceitos de paz, o movimento denominado Cultura de Paz e o campo teórico Estudos para Paz nas 21ª e 22ª edições da Classificação Decimal de Dewey. Estas proposições pretendem responder aos seguintes questionamentos: está a CDD apta para lidar adequadamente com a organização de documentos cujos conteúdos se referem, primeiro, ao conceito de paz, em sua acepção geral; segundo, ao campo de Estudos para Paz; e, terceiro, ao movimento Cultura de Paz? Discute-se, ainda, a relação de influência mútua entre as sociedades e as classificações bibliográficas. Tratar-se de pesquisa teórica e exploratória, devido aos objetivos e à aproximação das temáticas propostos. Os procedimentos metodológicos e técnicos de pesquisa empregados foram o levantamento bibliográfico e a análise documental. A análise dos dados confirmou a hipótese inicial de que a Classificação Decimal de Dewey não está apta a lidar com os temas relativos ao conceito de paz, ao movimento social denominado Cultura de Paz e ao campo de Estudos para Paz. Por fim, considera-se que a Classificação Decimal de Dewey tem contribuído, ainda que de maneira bastante sutil, para a perpetuação de uma Cultura da Guerra. / Abstract: It is treated of a study concerning the systems of bibliographical classification, specifically the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), one of the instruments of Knowledge Organization more used in generalists libraries in Brazil and in the world. Recent studies have been demonstrating that such instruments are not neutral in relation to values and cultural aspects. Such instruments are investigated to the light of a second theme, the peace, and it comprises the recent progress in the peace concept and their unfoldings in the theoretical and practical fields: the area of Peace Research and the Culture of Peace movement. It has as objective to verify and to analyze the treatment given to the theme of the peace in DDC. Specifically, it was looked for to verify and to analyze the peace concepts, the movement denominated Culture of Peace and the theoretical field Studies for Paz in the 21st and 22nd editions of the Dewey Decimal Classification. These propositions intend to answer to the following questions: is it DDC capable to work appropriately with the organization of documents whose contents refer, first, to the peace concept, in its general meaning; second, to the Peace Research field; and, third, to Culture of Peace Movement? It is discussed, still, the relationship of mutual influence between the societies and the bibliographical classifications. It's about theoretical and exploratory research, due to the objectives and to the approach of the themes proposed. The methodological and technical procedures of research used were the bibliographical review and the documental analysis. The analysis of the data confirmed the initial hypothesis that the Dewey Decimal Classification is not capable to work with themes relatives to the peace concept, to social movement denominated Culture of Peace and to the Peace Research field. Finally, it is considered that the Dewey Decimal Classification... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Music collections available to listeners have grown at a dramatic pace, now spanning tens of millions of tracks. Interacting with a music retrieval system can thus be overwhelming, with users offered ‘too-much-choice’. The level of engagement required for such retrieval interactions can be inappropriate, such as in mobile or multitasking contexts. Music recommender systems are widely employed to address this issue, however tend toward the opposite extreme of disempowering users and suffer from issues of subjectivity and confounds, such as the equalisation of tracks. This challenge and the styles of retrieval interaction involved are characterised in terms of user engagement in music retrieval, and the relationships between existing conceptualisations of user engagement is explored. Using listening histories and work from music psychology, a set of engagement-stratified profiles of listening behaviour are developed. A dataset comprising the playlists of thousands of users is used to contribute a user-centric approach to feature selection. The challenge of designing music retrieval for different levels of user engagement is first explored with a proof of concept, low engagement music retrieval system enabling users to casually retrieve music by tapping its rhythm as a query. The design methodology is then generalised with an engagement-dependent system, allowing users to denote their level of engagement and thus the specificity of their music queries. The engagement-dependent retrieval interaction is then explored as a component in a commercial music system. This thesis contributes the engagement-stratified profiles and metrics of listening behaviour, a corresponding design methodology for interaction, and presents a set of research and commercial applications for music retrieval.

Since the 1980s, two paradigms have dominated the representation of formatted electronic documents: flowable and fixed. Flowable formats, such as HTML, EPUB, or those used by word processors, allow documents to scale to any arbitrary page size, but typographical compromises must be made since the layout is computed in real time, and is re-computed each time the document is displayed. Conversely, fixed formats such as SVG or PDF are afforded the potential for arbitrarily complex typography, but are constrained to the fixed layout that is set at the time of creation. With the recent surge in popularity of low-powered portable reading devices -- from tablets to e-readers to mobile phones -- there is an expectation that documents should scale to any size, maintain their high-quality typography, and not provide unnecessary strain on an already overloaded battery. This thesis defines a novel paradigm for electronic document representation -- the Malleable Document -- whereby documents are partially typeset at the time of creation, leaving enough flexibility that their content can be flowed to arbitrary page sizes with minimal computation. One tradeoff encountered is that of increased file size, and this is addressed with a bespoke, computationally-light compression scheme. A sample implementation is presented that transforms documents from a source format into Malleable Document format, alongside a lightweight display engine that enables the documents to be viewed and resized on a wide range of devices, mobile and otherwise. Reviews of the technical aspects and a user study to evaluate the quality of the system's rendering and layout show that the Malleable Document paradigm is a promising alternative to both fixed and flowable formats, and builds upon the best of both approaches.

The emergence of mobile technologies and social media applications has led to a shift in the emergency/disaster related communication environment. Citizens are playing an increasingly important role in providing real time information to emergency organizations. This shift has resulted in an expectation by the public that emergency management (EM) organizations monitor and respond to calls for help disseminated via these applications. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which Florida EM agencies have incorporated the monitoring of social media into their organizational processes. The state of social media use in Florida is under researched. In this explanatory sequential design study, Florida EM personnel was surveyed using the CNA Analyst/National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) survey (Su et. al, 2012) on the use of social media in EM. Subsequently, a subset of respondents was interviewed to determine to what extent they have incorporated the monitoring of social media into their organizational processes. Several recommendations can be made related to the use of social media in emergency management in Florida. Each of these is discussed in detail: 1.) Reverse mentoring programs; 2.) Development of social media policies; 3.) Continue to attend trainings and conferences; 4.) Explore promising practices; and 5.) Social marketing campaigns for citizens. Overall, it appears that Florida has an immature yet evolving system for use of social media in emergency management. While Florida EM agencies are knowledgeable about social media in general, they lack policies, systems, and staff to take full advantage of social media as a tool in emergency management. As more training is offered, and promising practices are shared, systems will likely continue to evolve. The evolution of systems within agencies will depend largely on leadership attitudes, organizational policies, and staffing resources.

This study investigated computer users’ help-seeking behaviors within the context of accomplishing a novel and challenging computer task. In addition, this study examined how different help-seeking behavioral variables relate to both personal factors and outcome measures in an exploratory manner. Finally, a structural model examined the effect of personal factors on task performance through the mediating function of help-seeking effectiveness. A total of 67 undergraduate students participated in the study. Participants were asked to perform a challenging task in Microsoft Word. The usability software MORAE was used to record the interactions between participants and computer systems. Participants had access to five help sources: “F1 help,” “reference book,” “the Web,” “video tutorial,” and “lab assistant,” which differ in media type (electronic vs. non-electronic) and interactivity levels (high vs. low). This study found that participants showed a wide range of help-seeking behaviors. Some participants were more active in seeking help than others. Participants also engaged in different help-seeking patterns when using different help sources. A dominant help-seeking strategy was to stay with the same source used in the previous help-seeking episode. Help-seeking behavior affected task performances, but personal factors had no significant effect on help seeking or task performances. Based on the findings, the research value of this study, its practical implications, its limitations, and future research directions are discussed.