Describes a technique whereby qualitatively correct models of differentially rotating degenerate stars may be constructed by simple methods available to undergraduate students. (Author/JN)

Introduces a model for estimating the amount of revenue a typical student will bring to an institution of higher education. The model uses event history analysis to analyze the length of time a typical student will remain enrolled, and then uses this estimate in combination with tuition numbers to arrive at revenue estimates. (EV)

Discusses term weighting formulae and their use for selecting new terms to enhance a search statement and for weighting the terms for retrieval purposes once selected. The Swets model of information retrieval system performance is described, an approach to term selection is presented, and future research is suggested. (five references) (LRW)

Proposes and explains a modification of the mixed Poisson model for library circulations which takes into account the periods when a book is out on loan and therefore unavailable for borrowing. Highlights include frequency of circulation distributions; negative binomial distribution; and examples of the model at two universities. (Contains 34…

Examines the information communication process and proposes a fuzzy commonality model for improving communication systems. Topics discussed include components of an electronic information programing and processing system and the flow of the formation and transfer of information, including DOS (disk operating system) commands, computer programing…

Introduces a cost-benefit transfer model which considers a performer's perception of need, sensibility, and effort to determine the likelihood of putting to use an idea learned in training. The model predicts use through a mathematical formula: the product of need and sensibility divided by effort. Case evidence of academic physicians are cited in…

Several hierarchical classes models can be considered for the modeling of three-way three-mode binary data, including the INDCLAS model (Leenen, Van Mechelen, De Boeck, and Rosenberg, 1999), the Tucker3-HICLAS model (Ceulemans,VanMechelen, and Leenen, 2003), the Tucker2-HICLAS model (Ceulemans and Van Mechelen, 2004), and the Tucker1-HICLAS model…

Analyzes student progress within the framework of models of choice based on experiences at the Open University (United Kingdom). Investigates why students choose to continue studying in light of their success or failure in previous study and suggests that mathematical models need to be further developed to assist in this field. (Author/LRW)

Explains how a competition-based connectionist model for diagnostic problem-solving is adapted to information retrieval. Topics include probabilistic causal networks; Bayesian networks; the neural network model; empirical studies of test collections that evaluated retrieval performance; precision results; and the use of a thesaurus to provide…

Representing the work of a Task Force on Community College Finance established by the California State Legislature, this report recommends criteria and standards for the implementation of a new program-based funding mechanism for the state's community colleges. After reviewing the legislative mandate for the implementation of program-based…

Discussed is the classical partition function for the ideal gas and how it differs from the exact value for bosons or fermions in the classical regime. The differences in the two values are negligible hence the classical treatment leads in the end to correct answers for all observables. (Author/DS)

Discussion of information retrieval and relevance focuses on mutual information, a measure which represents the relation between two words. A model of a natural-language information-retrieval system that is based on a two-level document-ranking method using mutual information is presented, and a Korean encyclopedia test collection is explained.…

Examines the process of information transmission in adaptive, viable organizational systems. Beer's viable system model is used to explain a system's information requirement at each time of the adaptation process, the source of this information, and the effect of information transmission on a system's cohesion. Four hypotheses are stated and…

Describes a theoretical development to explain the shadow patterns of an object exposed to an extended light source while held at varying distances from a screen. The theoretical model is found to be accurate in comparison with experimental results. (MDH)