Contributions to unsupervised and supervised learning with applications in digital image processing

311 p. : il.

Sampling and learning the Mallows and Generalized Mallows models under the Cayley distance

[EN]The Mallows and Generalized Mallows models are compact yet powerful and natural ways of representing a probability distribution over the space of permutations. In this paper we deal with the problems of sampling and learning (estimating) such distributions when the metric on permutations is the Cayley distance. We propose new methods for both operations, whose performance is shown through several experiments. We also introduce novel procedures to count and randomly generate permutations at a given Cayley distance both with and without certain structural restrictions. An application in the field of biology is given to motivate the interest of this model.

Sampling and learning the Mallows and Weighted Mallows models under the Hamming distance

[EN]In this paper we deal with distributions over permutation spaces. The Mallows model is the mode l in use. The associated distance for permutations is the Hamming distance.

Sampling and learning the Mallows model under the Ulam distance

[EN]In this paper we deal with probability distributions over permutation spaces. The Probability model in use is the Mallows model. The distance for permutations that the model uses in the Ulam distance.

Learning and management skills: the internationalization of Grupo Arcor. Analysis from a process-based approach

This paper analyzes the path of the international expansion of Grupo Arcor, an Argentine multinational company specializing in confectionery. The objective is to entify corporate strategies and business learning that led this Latin American firm to establish itself as one of the leading manufacturers in confectionery industry ,particularly in the 21st Century. The analysis is primarily qualitative in order to identify the economic dimension as a determinant in the internationalization process; a processbased approach from the Uppsala Model is used for this. However, the study is also complemented with a regression analysis to test if the firm was driven to expand internationally by the expectations on the degree of globalization of the industry and the accumulation of experience in foreign markets, and if the company was influenced by psychic distance in choosing the location of its investment; given the influence of these variables in Grupo Arcor business strategies. Our findings suggest that Grupo Arcor, was able to become global due to strategies such as vertical integration, diversification of products and geographical markets (based on psychic distance) and indeed some strategies were consequence of the globalization of the sector and the accumulation of experience in foreign markets.