Improving the learning of Boolean queries by means of a multiobjective IQBE evolutionary algorithm

The Inductive Query By Example (IQBE) paradigm allows a system to automatically derive queries for a specific Information Retrieval System (IRS). Classic IRSs based on this paradigm [Smith, M., & Smith, M. (1997). The use of genetic programming to build Boolean queries for text retrieval through relevance feedback. Journal of Information Science, 23(6), 423–431] generate a single solution (Boolean query) in each run, that with the best fitness value, which is usually based on a weighted combination of the basic performance criteria, precision and recall.     

Clinico-Biochemical indexing of calcium urolithiasis on the basis of urinary citrate to calcium ratio and inhibition of mineralisation of urinary stone forming minerals by human urine

Urinary citric acid and calcium levels have been estimated in the urine of 20 normal healthy persons as well as 12 urinary stone patients. Inhibition efficiency of these urine samples towards the mineralisation of urinary stone forming minerals, viz., calcium phosphate, oxalate or carbonate, has been studied in an experimental model. Statistical correlation of the above data has been made by computing the coefficient of determination and unexplained variance. Clinico-biochemical indexing of calcium urolithiasis risk factor has been attempted in the light of the data.     

Method evaluation of an enzymatic method for serum creatinine

Selecting the correct method for routine analysis by ‘method evaluation’ is an important component of quality assurance. It is a step-wise procedure that evaluates various analytical parameters like accuracy, precision etc of the given method. Finally reference intervals are established for selected population. We evaluated an enzymatic method for serum creatinine. The results show that it is an acceptable method based on the above mentioned criteria.     

On the geometry of the smallest circle enclosing a finite set of points

A number of numerical codes have been written for the problem of finding the circle of smallest radius in the Euclidean plane that encloses a finite set P of points, but these do not give much insight into the geometry of this circle. We investigate geometric properties of the minimal circle that may be useful in the theoretical analysis of applications. We show that a circle C enclosing P is minimal if and only if it is rigid in the sense that it cannot be translated while still enclosing P. We show that the center of the minimal circle is in the convex hull of P. We use this rigidity result and an analysis of the case of three points to find sharp estimates on the diameter of the minimal circle in terms of the diameter of P.     

Optimal pruning for tree-structured vector quantization

Tree-structured vector quantization (VQ) is a technique designed to represent a codebook that simplifies encoding as well as vector quantizer design. Most design algorithms for tree-structured VQ used in the past are based on heuristics that successively partition the input space. Recently, Chou, Lookabaugh and Gray proposed a tree-pruning heuristic in which a given initial tree is pruned backwards according to certain optimization criterion. We define the notion of an optimal pruned tree subject to a cost constraint and study the computational complexity of finding such an optimal tree for various cost functions. Under the assumption that all trees are equally probable, we show that, on the average, the number of pruned trees in a given tree is exponential in the number of leaves. Furthermore, we prove that finding an optimal pruned tree subject to constraints such as entropy or the expected-depth is NP-hard. However, we show that when the constraint is the number of leaves, the problem can be solved in polynomial time. We develop an algorithm to find the optimal pruned tree in O(nk) time, where n is the size of the initial tree and kis the constraint size.     

Integrated MSS effects: An empirical health care investigation

Since accurate decisions are required for effective management, much research has focused on information systems that support decision making. Recently, this research has engendered frameworks, such as the management support system (MSS), that are designed to provide comprehensive and integrated support for the decision making process. Few, if any, studies have empirically measured the effects of these frameworks on decision making. This article offers empirical evidence on MSS effectiveness. It overviews the decision making process, presents an MSS for supporting the process, and assesses the influences of the MSS on the process and outcomes of health care decision making. The paper also examines the implications of the analyses for information systems research and health care practice.