Description:
We study topical and sub-topical functions (i.e., functions f : Rn → R = [-∞, +∞] which are increasing in the natural partial ordering of Rn and additively homogeneous, respectively additively sub-homogeneous), and downward sets (i.e., subsets of ℝn which contain, along with each element, all smaller elements), in the framework of abstract convex analysis, with the aid of the additive min-type coupling function
Description:
This paper reports some preliminary results of a small pilot survey of University of Ballarat students' knowledge of Youth Allowance rates and eligibility criteria and of their attitudes towards the appropriateness of some of the obligations currently placed on young people in receipt of Youth Allowance. Thus it was asked, do students, who may themselves be experiencing poverty, agree with the current range of government imposed obligations on young job seekers?
Description:
Global optimization-based techniques are studied in order to increase the accuracy of medical diagnosis and prognosis with data from various databases. First, we discuss feature selection, the problem of determining the most informative features for classification in the databases under consideration. Then, we apply a technique based on convex and global optimization for classification in these databases. The third application of this technique is a method that calculates centers of clusters to predict when breast cancer is likely to recur in patients for which cancer has been removed. The technique achieves high accuracy with these databases. Better classifiers will lead to improved assistance in making medical diagnostic and prognostic decisions.
Description:
The purpose of this research was to determine if 5 weeks of resistance training for the shoulder and hip flexor muscles produces improvements in vertical jumping (VJ) performance. Twenty-eight men were assessed on tests of shoulder power, leg extensor muscle function, and VJ performance using jumps performed from a standing position, a 3-stride run-up, and double- and single-leg takeoffs. A shoulder and hip flexor training group (n = 14) improved significantly more than a nontraining control group (n = 12) in shoulder power and 2 VJ performance tests, but not in the tests of leg extensor muscle function. It was concluded that the arm swing and free-leg drive significantly influence VJ performance and, therefore, VJ tests are not valid for assessment of leg extensor muscle function.
Description:
"This research project examines the links between spiritual practice and visual art. More specifically, the research examines the relationship between the repetition of a mantra, the repetition of an image and the repetition of a stich.
Description:
"This research project examines the links between spiritual practice and visual art. More specifically, the research examines the relationship between the repetition of a mantra, the repetition of an image and the repetition of a stich.
Description:
The research reported here utilised in depth interviews to investigate the contingent element of self-esteem and its underlying reasons in one Chinese individual living in a collectivist orientated culture. The results suggest this individual demonstrated some characteristics of contingent self-esteem. This may be attributed to such influences as: parents and significant others, educational experiences and the collectivist culture. It reveals a connection between a highly controlling parenting style and education in a collective culture and the development of the contingent part of self-esteem. Both positive and negative effects are identified in relation to the development of the contingent part of self-esteem. The interviewee is revealed as a person who has a strong sense of discipline, obligation and responsibility to his family and society, and who simultaneously experiences a substantial mental challenge and stress, due to constant external social comparisons and evaluations of self.
Description:
The research reported here utilised in depth interviews to investigate the contingent element of self-esteem and its underlying reasons in one Chinese individual living in a collectivist orientated culture. The results suggest this individual demonstrated some characteristics of contingent self-esteem. This may be attributed to such influences as: parents and significant others, educational experiences and the collectivist culture. It reveals a connection between a highly controlling parenting style and education in a collective culture and the development of the contingent part of self-esteem. Both positive and negative effects are identified in relation to the development of the contingent part of self-esteem. The interviewee is revealed as a person who has a strong sense of discipline, obligation and responsibility to his family and society, and who simultaneously experiences a substantial mental challenge and stress, due to constant external social comparisons and evaluations of self.
Description:
"This thesis presents a new approach to cognitive diagnosis within the domain of algebra that has greater power than existing techniques."
Description:
"This thesis presents a new approach to cognitive diagnosis within the domain of algebra that has greater power than existing techniques."
Description:
"The work in this thesis investigates whether a computational story model can be formulated that can overcome the limitations of existing story models and also interact with stories in multiple ways, similar to the ways in which people interact with them."
Description:
"The work in this thesis investigates whether a computational story model can be formulated that can overcome the limitations of existing story models and also interact with stories in multiple ways, similar to the ways in which people interact with them."
Description:
"The purpose of this thesis is to develop and study new techniques for the mathematical modeling of dynamical systems and to apply these techniques to data classification problems. This approach is based on the notion of a fuzzy derivative. The main aim of the thesis is to examine this notion in data classification."
Description:
"The purpose of this thesis is to develop and study new techniques for the mathematical modeling of dynamical systems and to apply these techniques to data classification problems. This approach is based on the notion of a fuzzy derivative. The main aim of the thesis is to examine this notion in data classification."
Description:
In this paper is presented an hybrid algorithm for finding the absolute extreme point of a multimodal scalar function of many variables. The algorithm is suitable when the objective function is expensive to compute, the computation can be affected by noise and/or partial derivatives cannot be calculated. The method used is a genetic modification of a previous algorithm based on the Prices method. All information about behavior of objective function collected on previous iterates are used to chose new evaluation points. The genetic part of the algorithm is very effective to escape from local attractors of the algorithm and assures convergence in probability to the global optimum. The proposed algorithm has been tested on a large set of multimodal test problems outperforming both the modified Prices algorithm and classical genetic approach.
Description:
In this paper, we propose a new method for the unconstrained minimization of a function presented as a difference of two convex functions. This method is based on continuous approximations to the Demyanov-Rubinov quasidifferential. First, a terminating algorithm for the computation of a descent direction of the objective function is described. Then we present a minimization algorithm and study its convergence. An implementable version of this algorithm is discussed. Finally, we report the results of preliminary numerical experiments.
Description:
A method of truncated codifferential descent for minimizing continuously codifferentiable functions is suggested. The convergence of the method is studied. Results of numerical experiments are presented. Application of the suggested method for the solution of some problems of cluster analysis are discussed. In numerical experiments Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer database was used.
Description:
This paper presents a model of knowledge acquisition from definitions of data, information and knowledge. The model asserts that knowledge cannot exist outside of the human brain, and that any expression of the knowledge requires it to be transformed into information to be communicated outside of the brain. The model asserts that information is acquired through the sensors to the brain where it is processed with prior knowledge and that new knowledge can be created from the processing of information within the brain only. From a discussion of this model in the context of alternative viewpoints, it is concluded that the future focus for knowledge management should be toward human resource strategies that leverage human-intellectual capital within firms and for the dissemination and sharing of important information that promotes creativity and innovation within and between employees.