Only to define “information” seemed insufficient to elucidate “information” so its effect was considered. A reasonable classification method of information by function cannot be found in the traditional classification scheme. The author commented on the classification, and pointed out that information affects things by being instantly absorbed, and that circumstances influence the impacts of information on its receiver. He studied how the circumstances cause to influence impacts. Setting hypothesis that “information” is equal to a light beam cast to objects, he explained the effect of information when it is accepted by a receiver. The functions of information are always the same while effects of information vary according to receivers.

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NEPHIS (NEsted PHrase Indexing System) is an easy and economical computer system which generates permuted index. The permutation rule of NEPHIS is based on the hierarchical and syntactic realtionship of noun phrases nested in an input string. The followings are discussed : (1) the procedures of NEPHIS coding and the computer algorithm ; (2) the concept of embedding as a basis of syntactic rule in NEPHIS, which is common to that of similar types of string indexing system, such as PRECIS and Relational Indexing ; (3) the present feature of string indexing and its origin ; and (4) NEPHIS coding of titles in comparison with KWOC Index. Some problems in semantic and syntactic analysis in NEPHIS are also discussed.

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The organization, the number of workers and the budget scale at the present status of NLM are introduced. The services (collecting, cataloging, indexing, information retrieval, photocopying and reading services, R&D and so on) are outlined based on the statistical data.

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Kanagawa Prefecture opened the Technology Information Center on the first in this April. The major services are provision of information, technical counselling, information exchange and making information network. The Center aims at the regional information center which plays the role as the core of the information network linking small and medium enterprises in the Prefecture. The background of Technology Information Center plan and characteristics of the services are described.

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JOIS, DIALOG, PATOLIS, and NEEDS-IR, which are external data bases, have been available through terminals connected by public communication line. In-house data bases, such as technical reports and patents, have also been available by use of microfische searching equipment. There was some time lag in the introduction of these data bases and it was only recently that the search service became fully prepared. The comparison of keywords and commands among individual information retrieval systems, and the ratio of utilization of each system are described.

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