Media independent knowledge indexing and retrieval

Composing a multimedia presentation may require creation or generation of suitable images and video segments, as well as animation, sound, or special effects. Obtaining images or video sequences can be prohibitively expensive when costs of travel to location, equipment, staff, etc, are considered. Those problems can be alleviated with the use of pictorial and video digital libraries, such libraries require methods for comprehensive indexing and annotation of stored items and efficient retrieval tools.

We propose a system based on user oriented perceptions as they influence query formation in image and video retrieval. We present a method based on user dependent conceptual structures for creating and maintaining indexes to images and video sequences.

Disease costing methodology used in the Disease Costs and Impact Study 1993–94

Describes in detail the methodology used by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to measure health services use and expenditure for specific diseases and disease groups in Australia in 1993-94. A companion report, Health System Costs of Diseases and Injury in Australia 1993-94, provides estimates of the health system costs for each disease and injury group and area of expenditure. Other reports will provide detailed estimates for specific National Health Priority Areas - cancer, cardiovascular disease, injury, mental health and diabetes.

Health system costs of diseases and injury in Australia 1993-94 : an analysis of costs, service use and mortality for major disease and injury groups

Provides a systematic analysis of the health system use and costs associated with specific disease and injury groups in Australia in 1993-94. The estimates are presented in a consistent format and are derived using a methodology that ensures the results add across disease, age and sex groups to total Australian health expenditures for 1993-94.

Upgrading arc median shortest path problem for an urban transportation network

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for an upgrading arc median shortest path problem for a transportation network. The problem is to identify a set of nondominated paths that minimizes both upgrading cost and overall travel time of the entire network. These two objectives are realistic for transportation network problems, but of a conflicting and noncompensatory nature. In addition, unlike upgrading cost which is the sum of the arc costs on the path, overall travel time of the entire network cannot be expressed as a sum of arc travel times on the path. The proposed solution approach to the problem is based on heuristic labeling and exhaustive search techniques, in criteria space and solution space, respectively. The first approach labels each node in terms of upgrading cost, and deletes cyclic and infeasible paths in criteria space. The latter calculates the overall travel time of the entire network for each feasible path, deletes dominated paths on the basis of the objective vector and identifies a set of Pareto optimal paths in the solution space. The computational study, using two small-scale transportation networks, has demonstrated that the algorithm proposed herein is able to efficiently identify a set of nondominated median shortest paths, based on two conflicting and noncompensatory objectives.

Insights into international travel by students

Although research on international travelers abounds in the literature, international travel by students remains a neglected area of research. This article reports the findings from a survey of 370 university students in New Zealand. The survey identified student motives for undertaking international travel, the planning process, and the preferred destinations and methods of financing international trips. Logit models were developed and estimated for two important aspects of international travel by students. In addition, the study also included cross-cultural comparisons of travel behavior. The findings indicate that students traveling overseas represent a distinct market with specific needs and preferences. Travel behaviors vary significantly for different cultures and the article shows that it is possible to model such behaviors.