Tim J. Brailsford

Translation techniques in cross-language information retrieval

Cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) is an active sub-domain of information retrieval (IR). Like IR, CLIR is centered on the search for documents and for information contained within those documents. Unlike IR, CLIR must reconcile queries and documents that are written in different languages. The usual solution to this mismatch involves translating the query and/or the documents before performing the search. Translation is therefore a pivotal activity for CLIR engines. Over the last 15 years, the CLIR community has developed a wide range of techniques and models supporting free text translation. This article presents an overview of those techniques, with a special emphasis on recent developments.

Reappraising cognitive styles in adaptive web applications

The mechanisms for personalisation used in web applications are currently the subject of much debate amongst researchers from many diverse subject areas. One of the most contemporary ideas for user modelling in web applications is that of cognitive styles, where a users psychological preferences are assessed stored in a database and then used to provide personalised content and/or links. We describe user trials of a case study that utilises visual-verbal preferences in an adaptive web-based educational system (AWBES). Students in this trial were assessed by the Felder-Solomon Inventory of Learning Styles (ILS) instrument, and their preferences were used as a means of content personalisation.Contrary to previous findings by other researchers, we found no significant differences in performance between matched and mismatched students. Conclusions are drawn about the value and validity of using cognitive styles as a way of modelling user preferences in educational web applications.

Personally tailored teaching in WHURLE using conditional transclusion

The emergence of Technology Based Learning has generated a number of pedagogic problems related to learner diversity.. In this paper we present an interim snapshot of a prototype XSLT / XML hypermedia learning environment able to respond adaptively to individual learner profiles using conditional transclusion.

Evaluating Learning Style Personalization in Adaptive Systems: Quantitative Methods and Approaches

It is a widely held assumption that learning style is a useful model for quantifying user characteristics for effective personalized learning. We set out to challenge this assumption by discussing the current state of the art, in relation to quantitative evaluations of such systems and also the methodologies that should be employed in such evaluations. We present two case studies that provide rigorous and quantitative evaluations of learning-style-adapted e-learning environments. We believe that the null results of both these studies indicate a limited usefulness in terms of learning styles for user modeling and suggest that alternative characteristics or techniques might provide a more beneficial experience to users.

The dynamics of trickle infections with Heligmosomoides polygyrus in syngeneic strains of mice

NIH, CBA, SWR and C57B1/10 mice were repeatedly infected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus, using doses of 10-50 larvae at frequencies of 2-16 days. NIH and SWR mice regulated the worm burdens at a stable dose-dependent level for a period of several weeks, following which expulsion occurred and immunity to subsequent re-infection was established. This regulation did not occur in CBA or C57B1/10 mice, and was inhibited by cortisone treatment. Evidence was found to suggest that regulation is the result of an immune response directed against the late larval stages of the parasite, shortly after their emergence into the lumen of the gut. The frequency of infection was an important factor in determining the course of infection. Frequently infected mice expelled the parasites more rapidly than mice infected with the same total number of larvae in fewer less frequent doses.

A Hybrid Technique for English-Chinese Cross Language Information Retrieval

In this article we describe a hybrid technique for dictionary-based query translation suitable for English-Chinese cross language information retrieval. This technique marries a graph-based model for the resolution of candidate term ambiguity with a pattern-based method for the translation of out-of-vocabulary (OOV) terms. We evaluate the performance of this hybrid technique in an experiment using several NTCIR test collections. Experimental results indicate a substantial increase in retrieval effectiveness over various baseline systems incorporating machine- and dictionary-based translation.

Pluggable user models for adaptive hypermedia in education

Most adaptive hypermedia systems used in education implement a single user model - inevitably originally designed for a specific set of circumstances. In this paper we describe an architecture that makes use of XML pipelines to facilitate the implementation of different user models.

The dynamics of trickle infections with Ancylostoma ceylanicum in inbred hamsters

Trickle infections with a hamster-adapted strain of the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum were studied by administering doses of 5-30 larvae twice weekly to inbred DSN hamsters. The worm burdens were regulated at very low levels, and this was found to be independent of the size of the infective dose. It is likely that there is some turnover of adult worms during trickle infection, as larvae of all stages were recovered from most time-points. This regulation is immunologically mediated and both the worm burdens and fecundity were increased in hamsters that were immunosuppressed by cortisone treatment. A trickle infection regime also induced a 67% protective immunity to a single subsequent challenge. The resistance that occurred during trickle infections was, however, incomplete, and some worms were found to survive in hamsters that had been repeatedly infected for over 10 weeks. Thus, although hamsters are capable of regulating the infection, some worms are capable of surviving the host immune effectors.

LLAMA: automatic hypertext generation utilizing language models

Manual hypertext construction is labour intensive and prone to error. Robust systems capable of automatic hypertext generation (AHG) could be of direct benefit to those individuals responsible for hypertext authoring. In this paper we propose a novel technique for the autonomous creation of hypertext which is dependent upon language models. This work is strongly influenced by those algorithms which process the hyperlinked structure of a corpus in an attempt to find authoritative sources. The algorithm was evaluated by experimental comparison with human hypertext authors, and we found that both approaches produced broadly similar results.

The ethical and social implications of personalization technologies for e-learning

Personalization in information systems can be considered beneficial but also ethically and socially harmful. Like many other technologies, the uptake of personalization has been rapid, with inadequate consideration given to its effects. Personalization in e-learning systems also has potential for both harmful and beneficial outcomes, but less is known about its effects. The ethical and social hazards include privacy compromise, lack of control, reduced individual capability, and the commodification of education. Personalization is appearing in many systems already; thus, these hazards may already be occurring. Solutions, more research and community discussion of the issues are needed.