A neural networks learning algorithm for minor component analysis and its convergence analysis

The eigenvector associated with the smallest eigenvalue of the autocorrelation matrix of input signals is called minor component. Minor component analysis (MCA) is a statistical approach for extracting minor component from input signals and has been applied in many fields of signal processing and data analysis. In this letter, we propose a neural networks learning algorithm for estimating adaptively minor component from input signals. Dynamics of the proposed algorithm are analyzed via a deterministic discrete time (DDT) method. Some sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee convergence of the proposed algorithm.

Predicting IHRM strategy and practice decisions : development of the IHRM orientation typology

International human resource management (IHRM) is becoming increasingly fundamental to organisational success, as globalisation forces demand organisations to design and implement a global strategy. One of the most critical choices faced by IHRM practitioners is whether and when an organisation should adapt its human resource policies and practices to the local context (localisation). A typology of International Human Resource Management Orientations (IHRMO) that clarifies what IHRMO’s are and what they entail is developed from a review of the literature on localisation and globalisation, convergence and divergence and Perlmutter’s management typology. Additionally, two theoretical models are developed that predict which IHRM orientation identified in the typology should be adopted. The article takes a step towards elucidating effective IHRM strategy and practice decision-making by showing that culture and institutional pressures, amongst other tings, do make a difference.

Online banking vs. bricks & mortar - or a hybrid model? A preliminary investigation of Australian and Indian banks

Deregulation, innovations in mobile and wireless technologies and media convergence, together with the rapid diffusion of the Internet, have opened up strategic business opportunities in the financial sector. With deregulation removing entry barriers, an increasing number of online banks are threatening the market share of ‘bricks and mortar’ banks. To survive this competition, and to leverage the new opportunities of online and mobile banking facilitated by the Internet, many banks have adapted a hybrid, ‘clicks and mortar’ model, to increase their profitability while reducing transaction costs. In this paper, we report the results of a preliminary analysis based on a few major banks in Australia and India, two diverse economies, to reveal some interesting insights.

Conceptual complexity and apparent contradictions in mathematics language

The article explores the conceptual complexity and apparent contradictions in the language of mathematics and suggests ways to handle these problems. Mathematics, as described the author, is a formal, artificially constructed language. One problem arises from the changes of gradient and rates of change of gradient, continuous functions. Conceptual conflicts also arise when least upperbounds and greatest lower-bounds in discussing sequences and series, convergence and limits are considered.

A multiple population genetic algorithm and its application in fuzzy controller

Genetic Algorithm is an important optimization technique, though its application in Fuzzy system is usually limited by problems like local optimal and premature convergence. With an aim to improve the performance of simple Genetic Algorithm, we propose a multi-population genetic algorithm MP-GA which uses two populations collaborating with each other, and apply it to fuzzy controller design to optimize its control rules. The simulation results of Inverted Pendulum demonstrate the effectiveness of this proposed method.

Double horizons : shifting figure and ground in some Australian photography

Using immune genetic algorithm to optimize the reactive power

A novel algorithm, immune genetic algorithm (IGA) is proposed for reactive power optimization of power system. While retaining excellent characteristics of genetic algorithm (GA), through imitating the biological immune system, the algorithm evaluates and selects the optimal solutions by the affinities between antigens and antibodies. With the regulation of the activating and suppressing of antibodies, IGA can achieve the dynamic balance between individual diversity and population convergence, and avoid getting into the local optimal solution. The proposed IGA is applied to the IEEE 30-bus system, and the results show that it is superior to the GA with good population convergence and fast computing speed.

The Australian screen producer in transition

The role of the screen producer is ramifying. Not only are there numerous producer categories, but the screen producer function is also found on a continuum across film, television, advertising, corporate video and the burgeoning digital media sector. In recent years, fundamental changes to distribution and consumption practices and technologies should have had a correlate impact on screen production practices and on the role of existing screen producers. At the same time, new and recent producers are learning and practising their craft in af ield that has already been transformed by digitization and media convergence. Our analysis of the work, experience and outlook of screen producers in this chapter is based on data collected in the Australian Screen Producer Survey (ASPS), a nationwide survey conducted by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, the media marketing firm Bergent Research and the Centre for Screen Business at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2008/2009 and 2011.2 We analyse the results to better understand the practice of screen production in a period of industry transition, and to recognize the persistence of established production cultures that serve to distinguish different industry sectors.

Are regional incomes in Malaysia converging?

This paper analyses patterns in regional inequality within and between Malaysia's 14 states, drawing upon estimates of Kuznets/Williamson curves, σ- and β-convergence and spatial spillovers. The path of regional inequality contradicts Kuznets predictions. Regional inequality initially fell but has subsequently risen with further economic development. While Malaysian governments have been successful at reducing poverty, they have been unable to curtail regional inequality in the long run. © 2014 The Author(s).

A novel Physarum-Based ant colony system for solving the real-world traveling salesman problem

The solutions to Traveling Salesman Problem can be widely applied in many real-world problems. Ant colony optimization algorithms can provide an approximate solution to a Traveling Salesman Problem. However, most ant colony optimization algorithms suffer premature convergence and low convergence rate. With these observations in mind, a novel ant colony system is proposed, which employs the unique feature of critical tubes reserved in the Physaurm-inspired mathematical model. A series of experiments are conducted, which are consolidated by two realworld Traveling Salesman Problems. The experimental results show that the proposed new ant colony system outperforms classical ant colony system, genetic algorithm, and particle swarm optimization algorithm in efficiency and robustness.

A rank-based ant system algorithm for solving 0/1 knapsack problem

The 0/1 Knapsack Problem (KP), which is a classical NP-complete problem, has been widely applied to solving many real world problems. Ant system (AS), as one of the earliest ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms, provides approximate solutions to 0/1 KPs. However, there are some shortcomings such as low efficiency and premature convergence in most AS algorithms. In order to overcome the shortcomings of AS, this paper proposes a rank-based AS algorithm, denoted as RAS to solve 0/1 KP. Taking advantages of the ranked ants with a higher profit, the pheromone of items will be updated with better solutions in RAS. Experimental results in different datasets show that this new kind of AS algorithm can obtain a higher efficiency and robustness when solving 0/1 KP.

What is convergence and how will it affect my life?

Convergence is a revolutionary and evolutionary form of journalism that is emerging in many parts of the world. As a student graduating from a journalism program in the early 21 st century, you need to know about convergence because it is likely to influence the way your career evolves. Over the course of the next decade, you probably will work in several media platforms, perhaps with different companies, but also possibly with the same company but doing varied forms of journalism. All journalists need to know how to tell stories in all media, and how to write appropriately for those media, as preparation for this new era.

Biotechnology and governance in Australia and Sweden: path dependency or instutional convergence?

The development of new generic technologies occurs within traditional structures of industry-government interaction, but also unleashes a process of 'creative destruction' generating new institutional patterns. This article, focusing on biotechnology, describes and compares policy processes and institutional arrangements in Australia and Sweden. The Swedish biotechnology sector displays a pattern of fragmentation and relatively weak state steering. Australia, by contrast, has implemented a set of comparatively coordinated regulatory and other measures to foster the growth of biotechnology. This observation contradicts the characterisation of Sweden as a 'strong state' economy, and challenges the depiction of Australia as lacking in state steering capacity. The relative open-endedness of the search in these countries for a mode of regulation of biotechnology suggests that the role of the state in economic restructuring today is fundamentally distinct from that of earlier periods.