Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of Decision Tree And Survival Analysis Techniques For Business Failure Prediction, Adrian Gepp

Adrian Gepp

Accurate business failure prediction models would be extremely valuable to many industry sectors, particularly in financial investment and lending. The potential value of such models has been recently emphasised by the extremely costly failure of high profile businesses in both Australia and overseas, such as HIH (Australia) and Enron (USA). Consequently, there has been a significant increase in interest in business failure prediction, from both industry and academia. Statistical models attempt to predict the failure or success of a business based on publicly available information about that business (or its industry and the overall economy), such as accounting ratios from …

Improved Peak Detection And Quantification Of Mass Spectrometry Data Acquired From Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption And Ionization By Denoising Spectra With The Undecimated Discrete Wavelet Transform, Kevin R. Coombes, Spiros Tsavachidis, Jeffrey S. Morris, Keith A. Baggerly, Henry M. Kuerer

Jeffrey S. Morris

Background: Mass spectrometry, especially surface enhanced laser desorption and ionization (SELDI) is increasingly being used to find disease-related proteomic patterns in complex mixtures of proteins derived from tissue samples or from easily obtained biological fluids such as serum, urine, or nipple aspirate fluid. Questions have been raised about the reproducibility and reliability of peak quantifications using this technology. For example, Yasui and colleagues opted to replace continuous measures of the size of a peak by a simple binary indicator of its presence or absence in their analysis of a set of spectra from prostate cancer patients.

Methods: We collected nipple …

From Tapes To Bits: The Changing Landscape Of Broadcasting, Veronika M. Megler, Luis Estrada

Veronika M. Megler

For more than a decade, IBM has been a leader in digital media technology, helping broadcast companies worldwide transition from analog to digital environments with a full slate of end-to-end solutions and services. This white paper discusses the evolution of the digital production environment in broadcasting, why the central storage-based model is outperforming other business models as the option of choice, and how to design and implement a scalable digital media infrastructure using IBM technology that simplifies digital video sharing and management. The IT-based infrastructure for broadcast production is particularly valuable as broadcasters transition to high-definition video production, where their …

The Centrality Of Awareness In The Formation Of User Behavioral Intention Toward Preventive Technologies In The Context Of Voluntary Use, Tamara Dinev, Qing Hu

Qing Hu

Little is known about user behavior toward what we call preventive computer technologies that have become increasingly important in the networked economy and society to secure data and systems from viruses, unauthorized access, disruptions, spyware, and similar harmful technologies. We present the results of a study of user behavior toward preventive technologies based on the frameworks of theory of planned behavior in the context of anti-spyware technologies. We find that the user awareness of the issues and threats from harmful technologies is a strong predictor of user behavioral intention toward the use of preventive technologies. In the presence of awareness, …

Online Teaching Practices (Both Best And Worst), Michael Nelson, Bhagyavati, Gail Miles, Amber Settle, Dale Shaffer, Jake Watts, Robert P. Webber

Amber Settle

A Fast Three-Step Phase-Shifting Algorithm, Peisen S. Huang, Song Zhang

Song Zhang

We propose a new three-step phase-shifting algorithm, which is much faster than the traditional three-step algorithm. We achieve the speed advantage by using a simple intensity ratio function to replace the arctangent function in the traditional algorithm. The phase error caused by this new algorithm is compensated for by use of a look-up-table (LUT). Our experimental results show that both the new algorithm and the traditional algorithm generate similar results, but the new algorithm is 3.4 times faster. By implementing this new algorithm in a high-resolution, real-time 3D shape measurement system, we were able to achieve a measurement speed of …

3-D Optical Measurement Using Phase Shifting Based Methods, Peisen S. Huang, Song Zhang

Song Zhang

We review some of our most recent works on 3-D shape measurement using the digital fringe projection and phase-shifting method. First, we introduce the measurement principle and phase-shifting algorithms. Then we discuss an effective method for phase error compensation and a novel idea for system calibration. Finally, we describe a 3-D shape measurement system for high-resolution, real-time 3-D shape acquisition, reconstruction and display.

Building A Classification Cascade For Visual Identification From One Example, Andras Ferencz, Erik G. Learned-Miller, Jitendra Malik

Erik G Learned-Miller

Object identification (OID) is specialized recognition where the category is known (e.g. cars) and the algorithm recognizes an object's exact identity (e.g. Bob's BMW). Two special challenges characterize OID. (1) Interclass variation is often small (many cars look alike) and may be dwarfed by illumination or pose changes. (2) There may be many classes but few or just one positive "training" examples per class. Due to (1), a solution must locate possibly subtle object-specific salient features (a door handle) while avoiding distracting ones (a specular highlight). However, (2) rules out direct techniques of feature selection. We describe an online algorithm …

Graduate Student Satisfaction With An Online Discrete Mathematics Course, Amber Settle, Chad Settle

Amber Settle

Can A Divorced Mom/Dad Take Care Of The Child?, Vijay Dialani

Vijay Dialani

The Future Of Journal Publishing, Gordon C. Tibbitts

Gordon C. Tibbitts III

The seminar helped publishing neophytes understand where they can add value. It also focused on the challenges of the day and likely challenges in the future. Some predictions include a complete move to e-journals, article-at-a-time publishing, an increase in "meta" articles, and the demise of general search engine prominence.

Google Scholar: Experiences Ideas And Plans, Gordon C. Tibbitts

Gordon C. Tibbitts III

This presentation is based on a synthesis of lessons learned in working with Google on the development of Google Scholar. A convergence of needs and developments bolstered support for federated searching, a greater number of publishers providing Google access to crawl their content, and the emergence of Google Scholar as a strong tool overshadowing any effort by publishers to launch a cooperative scholarly search engine. This presentation surveys what Google Scholar is currently use and what users are saying about it. Some found the inaccuracies and ubiquity of lower quality content troublesome. Opportunities to improve coverage, search stability (search results …

Usability Over Time, Valerie Mendoza, David G. Novick

David G. Novick

Testing of usability could perhaps be more accurately described as testing of learnability. We know more about the problems of novice users than we know of the problems of experienced users. To understand how these problems differ, and to understand how usability problems change as users change from novice to experienced, we conducted a longitudinal study of usability among middle-school teachers creating Web sites. The study looked at the use both the use of documentation and the underlying software, tracking the causes and extent of user frustration over eight weeks. We validated a categorization scheme for frustration episodes. We found …

Phase Error Compensation For A 3-D Shape Measurement System Based On The Phase-Shifting Method, Song Zhang, Peisen S. Huang

Song Zhang

This paper describes a novel phase error compensation method for reducing the measurement error caused by non-sinusoidal waveforms in the phase-shifting method. For 3D shape measurement systems using commercial video projectors, the non-sinusoidal nature of the projected fringe patterns as a result of the nonlinear gamma curve of the projectors causes significant phase measurement error and therefore shape measurement error. The proposed phase error compensation method is based on our finding that the phase error due to the non-sinusoidal waveform of the fringe patterns depends only on the nonlinearity of the projector's gamma curve. Therefore, if the projector's gamma curve …

Root Causes Of Lost Time And User Stress In A Simple Dialog System, Nigel Ward, Anais Rivera, Karen Ward, David G. Novick

David G. Novick

As a priority-setting exercise, we compared interactions between users and a simple spoken dialog system to interactions between users and a human operator. We observed usability events, places in which system behavior differed from human behavior, and for each we noted the impact, root causes, and prospects for improvement. We suggest some priority issues for research, involving not only such core areas as speech recognition and synthesis and language understanding and generation, but also less-studied topics such as adaptive or flexible timeouts, turn-taking and speaking rate.

Co-Generation Of Text And Graphics, David G. Novick, Brian Lowe

David G. Novick

content in documentation, it is possible to produce both text and graphics from a single common source. One approach to co-generation of text and graphics uses a single logical specification; a second approach starts with CAD-based representation and produces a corresponding textual account. This paper explores these two different approaches, reports the results of using prototypes embodying the approaches to represent simple figures, and discusses issues that were identified through use of the prototypes. While it appears feasible to co-generate text and graphics automatically, the process raises deep issues of design of communications, including the intent of the producer of …

Using Containers To Enforce Smart Constraints For Performance In Industrial Systems, Scott A. Hissam, Gabriel A. Moreno, Kurt C. Wallnau

Gabriel A. Moreno

The Pros And Cons Of Rfid In Supply Chain Management, K. Michael, L. Mccathie

Associate Professor Katina Michael

No abstract provided.

Library World Wide Web Sites At Medium-Sized Universities : A Re-Examination, Bradley P. Tolppanen, Joan Miller, Martha H. Wooden, Lori M. Tolppanen

Bradley P. Tolppanen

No abstract provided.

Criteria Analysis And Validation Of The Reliability Of Web Services-Oriented Systems,, Jia Zhang, Liang-Jie Zhang

Jia Zhang

No abstract provided.

Bridging Units And Business Incubation In A Technology Research Lab, Arcot Desai Narasimhalu

Arcot Desai NARASIMHALU

This paper describes a new model of incubation practices at Singapore’s Kent Ridge Digital Labs from 1998 till 2002. The model deviates from previously known models where by research institutions including institutions of higher learning license their technologies to companies or entrepreneurs who wished to either productize the technology or start a new company using the technology. The model was successfully applied towards the creation of more than fifteen start ups. These start ups attracted significant investments from venture capitalists from Singapore and elsewhere. Several of these companies are still in business.

Testing First: Emphasizing Testing In Early Programming Courses, Will Marrero, Amber Settle

Amber Settle

A Case For Exhaustive Optimization, Sanza Kazadi, Michele Lee, Lauren Lee

Sanza Kazadi

Web Services Quality Testing, Jia Zhang, Liang-Jie Zhang

Jia Zhang

No abstract provided.

Innovation Cube: Triggers, Drivers And Enablers For Successful Innovations, Arcot Desai Narasimhalu

Arcot Desai NARASIMHALU

Research on innovation has explained the relationships between institutions of higher learning, companies and the markets from both market driven and resource driven perspectives. However, innovation still remains more of an art than a science. Key researchers have lamented that it is difficult for most companies to scan the market place to identify new innovation opportunities. This paper describes a framework called Innovation Cube that is the building block for helping companies identify new innovation opportunities. This cube is constructed using three attribute-pairs called drivers, triggers and enablers of innovation. The paper discusses examples of the types of innovations represented …

Real-Time Business Intelligence In Multi-Agent Adaptive Supply Networks, Gavin Finnie, Jeffrey Barker

Jeffrey Barker

The increasing speed and complexity of inter-organisational communication in supply networks requires effective automation. Multi-agent systems have been proposed as a possible solution. However, the information needs of the agent, particularly in responding to any variation from the norm, are similar to a human in the same position.

This paper reviews the concepts of Business Intelligence (BI) and Real-Time Enterprises (RTE) and looks at the need for BI in dynamic information management. A multi-agent framework is described and case-based reasoning investigated as a reasoning paradigm capable of responding to the need for business intelligence. A CBR approach is proposed with …

Importance Of Perceptual Representation In The Visual Control Of Action, Jack M. Loomis, Andrew C. Beall, Jonathan W. Kelly, Kristen L. Macuga

Jonathan W. Kelly

In recent years, many experiments have demonstrated that optic flow is sufficient for visually controlled action, with the suggestion that perceptual representations of 3-D space are superfluous. In contrast, recent research in our lab indicates that some visually controlled actions, including some thought to be based on optic flow, are indeed mediated by perceptual representations. For example, we have demonstrated that people are able to perform complex spatial behaviors, like walking, driving, and object interception, in virtual environments which are rendered visible solely by cyclopean stimulation (random-dot cinematograms). In such situations, the absence of any retinal optic flow that is …

Google Scholar: The Next Big Thing?, Gordon C. Tibbitts

Gordon C. Tibbitts III

The question of whether Google Scholar is the next big thing is really not answerable. After enabling Google Scholar to crawl publishers proprietary content publishers have learned Google is an unusual partner when it comes to copyright and partnership. Second, nothing is free. Third, stakeholders (researchers, students, librarians, etc.) have differing views of quality. Fourth, branding and attribution of content in a big search engine space will be difficult, and, more critically, may only be achievable collectively. Finally, it is evident that incomplete search services such as Google Scholar need an integrative strategy in order to retain value.

A Service-Oriented Multimedia Componentization Model, Jia Zhang, Liang-Jie Zhang, Francis Quek, Jen-Yao Chung

Jia Zhang

As Web services become more and more popular, how to manage multimedia Web services that can be composed as value-added service solutions remains challenging. This paper presents a service-oriented multimedia componentization model to support Quality of Service (QoS)-centered, device-independent multimedia Web services, which seamlessly incorporates cuttingedge technologies relating to Web services. A multimedia Web service is divided into control flow and data flow, each can be delivered via different infrastructures and channels. Enhancements are proposed to facilitate Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Composite Capability/Preference Profiles (CC/PP) protocols to improve their flexibility to serve multimedia Web services. We present a …

How To Survive And Thrive In A Search Engine Culture, Gordon C. Tibbitts

Gordon C. Tibbitts III

A comparison of CrossRef Search and Google Scholar. It's essential to have a strategy when working with Google. Proprietary "vertical" search engines such as CrossRef will have a place even with the strength of an engine like Google Scholar (and Google search in general).