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This work aims to investigate the sensitivity of ranking performance with respect to the topic distribution of queries selected for ranking evaluation.

The authors reweight queries used in two TREC tasks to make them match three real background topic distributions, and show that the performance rankings of retrieval systems are quite different.

It is found that search engines tend to perform similarly on queries about the same topic; and search engine performance is sensitive to the topic distribution of queries used in evaluation.

Using experiments with multiple real‐world query logs, the paper demonstrates weaknesses in the current evaluation model of retrieval systems.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a means to improve the accessibility of files across different delivery platforms, making it possible to use a single search modality. The paper shows that both peer‐to‐peer file sharing networks and the worldwide web provide extensive information resources, and either network may contain data that satisfy a searcher's information need.

The paper proposes a gateway between the worldwide web and peer‐to‐peer networks that permits searchers on one side to be able to seamlessly search and retrieve files on the other side of the gateway. The design and prototype implementation of such a gateway to Gnutella is detailed, along with access statistics from test deployments and lessons learned.

The prototype implementation was found to demonstrate the feasibility of a seamless gateway between the Gnutella network and the worldwide web. Gnutella users saw millions of web search results and initiated retrievals via the gateway without knowing the source of the information or having to leave their Gnutella applications. Analysis of file retrieval logs showed that Gnutella search results lose value (to the original searcher) if delayed by more than a few seconds.

The implementation is a prototype, fielded for only a few months within the Gnutella network. Future implementations need cooperation with a web search service, and ideally would connect to multiple services for different types of queries.

Deployment of the gateway architecture described would be of use to searchers and of value to content providers.

This paper's approach makes information in other networks seamlessly searchable and accessible.

The purpose of this paper is statistical examination of nearly 7,000 web directories and an analysis of factors which affect their quality measured by PageRank.

The authors analysed 6,821 directories registered at www.katalogiseo.info/. The following information about the directories was examined: the year of registration on the website, the directory’s PageRank value, the existence of an active IP address, backlink requests, a fee charged for submission to the directory, as well as directory moderation and subject. Statistical analyses were performed with the use of Microsoft Excel, version 2010, and R software, version 3.0.0. The PageRank values were collected with a software written in Python.

The study has shown a gradual increase in popularity of directories as one of the basic tools in search engine optimisation. The analysis has indicated a relatively high percentage of spam web directories. The evidence of this is the number of directories with undetermined PageRank values. The study revealed that careful management of a directory and its subject have key impact on directory quality measured by PageRank.

Relatively few publications focus on the problem of web directories which represent a very large group of websites created solely to manipulate web search engine rankings. This paper discusses the phenomenon of web directories, reveals the percentage of spam directories, and factors which affect their quality measured by PageRank.

The purpose of this investigation is to identify, evaluate, integrate and summarize relevant and qualified papers through conducting a systematic literature review (SLR) on the application of recommender systems (RSs) to suggest a scholarly publication venue for researcher's paper.

To identify the relevant papers published up to August 11, 2018, an SLR study on four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore and ScienceDirect) was conducted. We pursued the guidelines presented by Kitchenham and Charters (2007) for performing SLRs in software engineering. The papers were analyzed based on data sources, RSs classes, techniques/methods/algorithms, datasets, evaluation methodologies and metrics, as well as future directions.

A total of 32 papers were identified. The most data sources exploited in these papers were textual (title/abstract/keywords) and co-authorship data. The RS classes in the selected papers were almost equally used. DBLP was the main dataset utilized. Cosine similarity, social network analysis (SNA) and term frequency–inverse document frequency (TF–IDF) algorithm were frequently used. In terms of evaluation methodologies, 24 papers applied only offline evaluations. Furthermore, precision, accuracy and recall metrics were the popular performance metrics. In the reviewed papers, “use more datasets” and “new algorithms” were frequently mentioned in the future work part as well as conclusions.

Given that a review study has not been conducted in this area, this paper can provide an insight into the current status in this area and may also contribute to future research in this field.

High-altitude ice crystals (HAICs) are causing one in-flight event or more per month for commercial aircraft. The effects include preventing air data probes (pitot pressure and total air temperature in particular) from functioning correctly and causing engines to roll back and shut down. The purpose of this study is to describe the process used by the National Research Council Canada (NRC) to develop and test a particle detection probe (PDP). The probe mounts on the fuselage of aircraft to sense and quantify the ice crystals in the environment.

The probe was demonstrated on the NRC Convair and Airbus A340 research aircraft as part of the European Union HAIC programme. The probe was ruggedised, adapted for easy installation in standard aircraft fittings and tested in a variety of conditions for longevity and endurance.

Efforts to achieve the safety requirements for flight on aircraft are discussed. The challenges, surprises and opportunities for testing on which the development group is capitalised are also presented.

It was demonstrated that the detectors gave signals proportional to the ice crystal content of clouds, and results demonstrating the functionality of the probe are presented.

This paper describes the multi-year process of developing the NRC PDP from a test cell sensor for detecting engine exhaust contaminants on an aircraft ice crystal detection probe. The work included over 20 flight tests on NRC aircraft and the Airbus HAIC test programme.

In the first decades of ICT adoption, Whites traditionally had higher levels of Internet access and usage. We examine whether race remains a factor in Internet usage, among a group presumed to be digital natives – middle school students.

A survey was administered to a racially/ethnically diverse sample of students in a mid-Atlantic school district including White, Hispanic, African American, and Asian/Pacific Islander. The survey sought to measure time spent engaged in varying Internet activities and related sociodemographic factors.

The analyses indicate that Whites do not have higher levels of Internet usage, and in many cases racial minority youth are more engaged in Internet activities than Whites. This holds true when accounting for a number of sociodemographic and background factors that are known to affect Internet usage.

This chapter adds to the evidence that within the United States the digital divide has become more about the “other dimensions” such as how the Internet is used, rather than merely access or ownership (e.g., first level digital divide issues) at the middle school level.

This chapter will be beneficial to researchers who study the digital divide and those who seek to understand the myriad uses of computers among youth. It will also be beneficial for those who seek to integrate computer interventions in schools. This study includes one of the most diverse samples of middle school students in the United States. The results suggest that there are multiple dimensions to the digital divide and that patterns of use are changing among middle school youth.

This paper aims to analyse the nature and extent of convergence within the literature of the narrative turn in narrative accounting research.

The paper offers an actor–network–theoretic perspective drawing on Latour’s theory of citation and Shwed and Bearman’s development of that theory to analyse patterns of convergence.

The paper finds that across the exemplars of narrative turn research examined, there is only a limited level of epistemic engagement so that exemplars achieve their status without undergoing trials of strength.

The paper argues that the resources of the relevant academic community are spread so thinly that each seam – each research question, methodology or method and research context – is mined by no more than a small handful of researchers unable to generate a meaningful volume of contestation. Steps are suggested to better focus research activity.

The use of Latour’s theory of citation to analyse patterns of convergence in accounting research is innovative. The paper proposes a substantial change in the community’s approach to narrative turn research on accounting narratives.

Aslib Council have received with regret the resignation of Mr George H. Davison on his retirement from The United Steel Companies Ltd in June 1964. Mr Davison is well known to members for his indefatigable services to information work in general, and in particular to the Aslib Northern Branch, of which he has been an officer since its inauguration and in recent years its Chairman. His professional writing has been prolific. He has served on several Aslib committees, and on Council since 1959.

Heads up BCI's Metal Finishing Division. Brian Garner (47) has been appointed chairman of the Metal Finishing Division of Brent Chemicals International PLC. He is currently managing director of Pyrene Chemical Services, Britain's leading supplier of pretreatment chemicals and a major company within the Brent Chemicals International group. He joined Pyrene in 1976 as marketing director, becoming managing director in 1980.

An obvious way to improve acquisition performance is to avoid completing value-destroying acquisitions. However, once announced, manager motivations often focus on completing acquisitions. The authors develop how external governance actors can interpret acquisition characteristics and make counter-signals that acquiring firm managers could use to improve acquisition outcomes. The authors specifically develop how managers may react to counter-signals by shareholders, media, analysts, and short sellers. While there is limited research considering these external governance actors, evidence suggests that managers’ reactions to these actors may vary. A more integrated assessment of external governance actors’ influence on acquisition completion offers an opportunity to better understand acquisition processes and performance.