Enhancing an evolving tree-based text document visualization model with fuzzy c-Means clustering

An improved evolving model, i.e., Evolving Tree (ETree) with Fuzzy c-Means (FCM), is proposed for undertaking text document visualization problems in this study. ETree forms a hierarchical tree structure in which nodes (i.e., trunks) are allowed to grow and split into child nodes (i.e., leaves), and each node represents a cluster of documents. However, ETree adopts a relatively simple approach to split its nodes. Thus, FCM is adopted as an alternative to perform node splitting in ETree. An experimental study using articles from a flagship conference of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), i.e., Engineering Conference (ENCON), is conducted. The experimental results are analyzed and discussed, and the outcome shows that the proposed ETree-FCM model is effective for undertaking text document clustering and visualization problems.

Multichannel biomedical time series clustering via hierarchical probabilistic latent semantic analysis

Biomedical time series clustering that automatically groups a collection of time series according to their internal similarity is of importance for medical record management and inspection such as bio-signals archiving and retrieval. In this paper, a novel framework that automatically groups a set of unlabelled multichannel biomedical time series according to their internal structural similarity is proposed. Specifically, we treat a multichannel biomedical time series as a document and extract local segments from the time series as words. We extend a topic model, i.e., the Hierarchical probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis (H-pLSA), which was originally developed for visual motion analysis to cluster a set of unlabelled multichannel time series. The H-pLSA models each channel of the multichannel time series using a local pLSA in the first layer. The topics learned in the local pLSA are then fed to a global pLSA in the second layer to discover the categories of multichannel time series. Experiments on a dataset extracted from multichannel Electrocardiography (ECG) signals demonstrate that the proposed method performs better than previous state-of-the-art approaches and is relatively robust to the variations of parameters including length of local segments and dictionary size. Although the experimental evaluation used the multichannel ECG signals in a biometric scenario, the proposed algorithm is a universal framework for multichannel biomedical time series clustering according to their structural similarity, which has many applications in biomedical time series management.

Regularizing topic discovery in emrs with side information by using hierarchical bayesian models

We propose a novel hierarchical Bayesian framework, word-distance-dependent Chinese restaurant franchise (wd-dCRF) for topic discovery from a document corpus regularized by side information in the form of word-to-word relations, with an application on Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Typically, a EMRs dataset consists of several patients (documents) and each patient contains many diagnosis codes (words). We exploit the side information available in the form of a semantic tree structure among the diagnosis codes for semantically-coherent disease topic discovery. We introduce novel functions to compute word-to-word distances when side information is available in the form of tree structures. We derive an efficient inference method for the wddCRF using MCMC technique. We evaluate on a real world medical dataset consisting of about 1000 patients with PolyVascular disease. Compared with the popular topic analysis tool, hierarchical Dirichlet process (HDP), our model discovers topics which are superior in terms of both qualitative and quantitative measures.

Measuring Australia's well-being using hierarchical needs

A new approach to well-being measurement is presented in this paper based on multidimensional hierarchical human needs and motivation. This paper empirically applies this new measure of well-being to Australia for the period 1985–2000. This hierarchical approach is underpinned by a rigorous psychological theory of human motivation. Hierarchical human needs are classified into five categories. Eight indicators have been chosen to reflect these categories. A composite indicator of these eight indicators is calculated. This paper concludes that it is necessary to consider multidimensional human needs and motivation when analysing and seeking to improve well-being through economic and social development activities.

Phase behavior, crystallization, and hierarchical nanostructures in self-organized thermoset blends of epoxy resin and amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers

Nanostructured thermoset blends of bisphenol A-type epoxy resin (ER) and amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers were successfully prepared. Two samples of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer with different ethylene oxide (EO) contents, denoted as EO30 with 30 wt % EO content and EO80 with 80 wt % EO content, were used to form the self-organized thermoset blends of varying compositions using 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA) as curing agent. The phase behavior, crystallization, and morphology were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). It was found that macroscopic phase separation took place in the MDA-cured ER/EO30 blends containing 60-80 wt % EO30 triblock copolymer. The MDA-cured ER/EO30 blends with EO30 content up to 50 wt % do not show macroscopic phase separation but exhibit nanostructures on the order of 10-30 nm as revealed by both the TEM and SAXS studies. The AFM study further shows that the ER/EO30 blend at some composition displays structural inhomogeneity at two different nanoscales and is hierarchically nanostructured. The spherical PPO domains with an average size of about 10 nm are uniformly dispersed in the 80/20 ER/EO30 blend; meanwhile, a structural inhomogeneity on the order of 50-200 nm is observed. The ER/EO80 blends are not macroscopically phase-separated over the entire composition range because of the much higher PEO content of the EO80 triblock copolymer. However, the ER/EO80 blends show composition-dependent nanostructures on the order of 10-100 nm. The 80/20 ER/EO80 blend displays hierarchical structures at two different nanoscales, i.e., a bicontinuous microphase structure on the order of about 100 nm and spherical domains of 10-20 nm in diameter uniformly dispersed in both the continuous microphases. The blends with 60 wt % and higher EO80 content are completely volume-filled with spherulites. Bundles of PEO lamellae with spacing of 20-30 nm interwoven with a microphase structure on the order of about 100 nm are revealed by AFM study for the 30/70 ER/EO80 blend.

Web page clustering : a hyperlink-based similarity and matrix-based hierarchical algorithms

This paper proposes a hyperlink-based web page similarity measurement and two matrix-based hierarchical web page clustering algorithms. The web page similarity measurement incorporates hyperlink transitivity and page importance within the concerned web page space. One clustering algorithm takes cluster overlapping into account, another one does not. These algorithxms do not require predefined similarity thresholds for clustering, and are independent of the page order. The primary evaluations show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in clustering improvement.

Interpersonal trust and formal controls in hierarchical relationships

This paper examines the influence of the level of interpersonal trust between superior and subordinate managers on the control behaviour of the former. On the basis of a questionnaire survey and interviews of senior managers from business organisations in Sri Lanka, and a survey of managers in Beijing-China the study explores the control behaviour of superior managers when their trust in a subordinate is high or low. Sri Lanka and China, societies in which the dependence on interpersonal trust is believed to be high, were chosen for the study to maximise the effect of interpersonal trust.

The findings of this study indicate that a superior’s high (low) trust in a subordinate is associated with a low (high) level of monitoring and a high (low) level of social interactions. The hypothesis that a superior’s high (low) level of trust is associated with a low (high) level of reliance on formal control was supported only in the Sri Lankan sample. These findings are at least indicative of control behaviour of superior managers in Sri Lanka and China and possibly of other countries in Asia. An understanding of the trust-sensitive control behaviour of managers in this region is particularly important for designing and implementing effective control systems for international organizations operating in the region.

A maximal frequent itemset approach for web document clustering

To efficiently and yet accurately cluster Web documents is of great interests to Web users and is a key component of the searching accuracy of a Web search engine. To achieve this, this paper introduces a new approach for the clustering of Web documents, which is called maximal frequent itemset (MFI) approach. Iterative clustering algorithms, such as K-means and expectation-maximization (EM), are sensitive to their initial conditions. MFI approach firstly locates the center points of high density clusters precisely. These center points then are used as initial points for the K-means algorithm. Our experimental results tested on 3 Web document sets show that our MFI approach outperforms the other methods we compared in most cases, particularly in the case of large number of categories in Web document sets.

An immune network approach for web document clustering

The human immune system provides inspiration for solving a wide range of innovative problems. In this paper, we propse an immune network based approach for web document clustering. All the immune cells in the network competitively recognize the antigens (web documents) which are presented to the network one by one. The interaction between immune cells and an antigen leads to an augment of the network through the clonal selection and somatic mutation of the stimulated immune cells, while the interaction among immune cells results in a network compression. The structure of the immune network is well maintained by learning and self-regularity. We use a public web document data set to test the effectiveness of our method and compare it with other approaches. The experimental results demonstrate that the most striking advantage of immune-based data clustering is its adaptation in dynamic environment and the capability of finding new clusters automatically.

Preparing construction project managers to document professional growth

Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Building is renowned for producing graduates who possess relevant attributes that make them job ready for the building and construction industry. Graduate destination surveys indicate that in the last eight (8) years, 100% of all Infrastructure Logistics (Construction and Facility Management) course graduates found relevant employment. This success is a direct result of a curriculum that is responsive to industry needs alongside educational methodology that focuses on excellent teaching and research while seeking new ways of developing and delivering courses.

The Infrastructure Logistics course prepares graduates to successfully compete in today’s global job market, and allows them to showcase relevant knowledge and skills that are critical in seeking and sustaining employment. Traditionally, tailored resumes served this purpose; however, in many professional fields, professional portfolios are now becoming a more desirable way of providing a summary of relevant attributes alongside evidence of professional abilities.

Sustaining employment, appraisals, and applying for a promotion are often subject to adequate evidence of professional standards and growth. Professional bodies require records of contribution to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) schemes; and accrediting organisations require professionals applying for professional registration to provide documented evidence of their relevant experience and abilities. The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM 2007) requires candidates wanting to become Registered Project Managers (RegPM) to demonstrate their current work-based experience and competencies.

This paper reports on a teaching strategy adopted in the Project Management (PM) stream, offered as part of Infrastructure Logistic courses. The teaching strategy is based on a combination of constructivism theory of learning, problem and project based learning, and active learning. The strategy requires systematic reflection and conscious creation of documented evidence of PM attributes and competences in the form of a portfolio.

Preliminary results of action research monitoring the effectiveness of systematic reflection indicate that students respond very positively to the idea of professional journals and professional portfolios. Preliminary results also indicate that students accept reflection and conscious documentation of their achievements as an integral part of their study and future practice.

Hierarchical relationship between values, lifestyles, possessions and food consumption among Beijing adult population

A representative sample (N=801) of the Beijing adult population was used to empirically test and validate a proposed hierarchical model of relationships between values, lifestyles, possessions and food consumption. The theoretical contribution of the present study is the development and an empirically supported paradigm, which explains consumers' consumption behaviour. A further outcome is the substantiation of a pathway model involving hierarchical relationship between values, lifestyle, and demographic variables on material possessions and food consumption.

Impact of image organizations on multimedia document retrieval

In this paper we compare ranking effectiveness of heterogeneous multimedia document retrieval when different image organizations are used for formulating queries. The quality of image queries depends on the organization of images used to make queries which in turn significantly impacts retrieval precision. CBIR (content based information retrieval) needs an effective and efficient organization of images including user interface which must be part of the configuration parameters of image retrieval research.