bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Study of the Manipulability of Single Transferable Voting
Authors: Walsh Toby
Published: February 2025

Voting is a simple mechanism to combine together the preferences of multiple agents. Agents may try to manipulate the result of voting by mis-reporting their preferences. One barrier that might exist to such manipulation is computational complexity. In particular, it has been shown that it is NP-hard to compute how to manipulate a number of different voting rules. However, NP-hardness only bounds the worst-case complexity. Recent theoretical results suggest that manipulation may often be easy in practice. In this paper, we study empirically the manipulability of single transferable voting (STV) to determine if computational complexity is really a barrier to manipulation. STV was one of the first voting rules shown to be NP-hard. It also appears one of the harder voting rules to manipulate. We sample a number of distributions of votes including uniform and real world elections. In almost every election in our experiments, it was easy to compute how a single agent could manipulate the election or to prove that manipulation by a single agent was impossible.
Complexity of Axiom Pinpointing in the DL-Lite Family of Description Logics
Authors: Peñaloza Rafael  , Sertkaya Barış
Published: February 2025

We investigate the complexity of axiom pinpointing for different members of the DL-Lite family of Description Logics. More precisely, we consider the problem of enumerating all minimal subsets of a given DL-Lite knowledge base that have a given consequence. We show that for the DL-Liteℋcore, DL-Liteℋkromand DL-Liteℋ𝒩hornfragments such minimal subsets are efficiently enumerable with polynomial delay, but for the DL-Liteboolfragment they cannot be enumerated in output polynomial time unless P = NP. We also show that interestingly, for the DL-Liteℋ𝒩horn
A Unified Framework for Non-standard Reasoning Services in Description Logics
Authors: Colucci Simona  , Di Noia Tommaso  , Di Sciascio Eugenio  , Donini Francesco M.  , Ragone Azzurra
Published: February 2025

Non-standard reasoning in Description Logics (DLs) comprises computing a Least Common Subsumer (LCS), a Concept Difference, a Concept Unifier, or an Interpolant Concept, to name a few. Although some reasoning services have been unified already (e.g., LCS and Most Specific Concept), the definition of non-standard problems and the computation that solve them are very different from each other. We propose to unify the definitions of non-standard services as special Second-order sentences in DLs; when the solution concepts are optimal with respect to some preferences, a fixpoint replaces the Second-order quantification. Moreover, we propose to combine the well-known Tableaux calculi for DLs with rules that compute substitutions of Concept Variables. We prove soundness and completeness of the combined calculus and we give a sufficient condition for termination, which covers some non-trivial cases.
Propagation of Opinions in Structural Graphs
Authors: Osman Nardine  , Sierra Carles  , Sabater-Mir Jordi
Published: February 2025

Trust and reputation measures are crucial in distributed open systems where agents need to decide whom or what to choose. Existing work has overlooked the impact of an entity's position in its structural graph and its effect on the propagation of trust in such graphs. This paper presents an algorithm for the propagation of reputation in structural graphs. It allows agents to infer their opinion about unfamiliar entities based on their view of related entities. The proposed mechanism focuses on the “part of” relation to illustrate how reputation may flow (or propagate) from one entity to another. The paper bases its reputation measures on opinions, which it defines as probability distributions over an evaluation space, providing a rich representation of opinions.
Continuous Conditional Random Fields for Regression in Remote Sensing
Authors: Radosavljevic Vladan  , Vucetic Slobodan  , Obradovic Zoran
Published: February 2025

Conditional random fields (CRF) are widely used for predicting output variables that have some internal structure. Most of the CRF research has been done on structured classification where the outputs are discrete. In this study we propose a CRF probabilistic model for structured regression that uses multiple non-structured predictors as its features. We construct features as squared prediction errors and show that this results in a Gaussian predictor. Learning becomes a convex optimization problem leading to a global solution for a set of parameters. Inference can be conveniently conducted through matrix computation. Experimental results on the remote sensing problem of estimating Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) provide strong evidence that the proposed CRF model successfully exploits the inherent spatio-temporal properties of AOD data. The experiments revealed that CRF are more accurate than the baseline neural network and domain-based predictors.
Reasoning in Argumentation Frameworks of Bounded Clique-Width
Authors: Dvořák Wolfgang  , Szeider Stefan  , Woltran Stefan
Published: February 2025

Most computational problems in the area of abstract argumentation are intractable, thus identifying tractable fragments and developing efficient algorithms for such fragments are important objectives towards practically efficient argumentation systems. One approach to tractability is to view abstract argumentation frameworks (AFs) as directed graphs and bound certain graph parameters. In particular, Dunne showed that many problems can be solved in linear time for AFs of bounded treewidth. In this paper we consider the graph-parameter clique-width, which is more general than treewidth. An additional advantage of clique-width over treewidth is that it applies well to directed graphs and takes the orientation of edges into account. We first give theoretical tractability results for AFs of bounded clique-width and then introduce dynamic-programming algorithms for credulous and skeptical reasoning.
Information Processing Redux
Authors: Di Sciullo Anna Maria
Published: February 2025

This paper shows that current operating natural language information processing systems fail to process the core properties of natural languages. While some advances have been made for the incorporation of lexical knowledge in these systems, much remains to be done. We point out at the limits of current information extraction and information retrieval systems, and suggest ways in which they can be improved.
Verbalizing Ontologies in Controlled Baltic Languages
Authors: Grūzītis Normunds  , Nešpore Gunta  , Saulīte Baiba
Published: February 2025

Controlled natural languages (mostly English-based) recently have emerged as seemingly informal supplementary means for OWL ontology authoring, if compared to the formal notations that are used by professional knowledge engineers. In this paper we present by examples controlled Latvian language that has been designed to be compliant with the state of the art Attempto Controlled English. We also discuss relation with controlled Lithuanian language that is being designed in parallel.
Difficulty Rating of Sokoban Puzzle
Authors: Jarušek Petr  , Pelánek Radek
Published: February 2025

Sokoban puzzle is very challenging problem for both humans and computers. It also illustrates differences between human and artificial intelligence – different problems are difficult for humans and for computers. Whereas algorithmic techniques for Sokoban solving have been intensively studied by previous research, factors determining difficulty for humans have not been sufficiently explained so far. We describe two methods for difficulty rating of Sokoban puzzle – a problem decomposition metric and a computational model which simulates human traversal of a state space. We evaluate these metrics on large scale data on human solving (2000 problems solved, 785 hour of problem solving activity).
Practitioners View on Domain Specific Business Process Modeling
Authors: Bicevskis Janis  , Cerina-Berzina Jana  , Karnitis Girts  , Lace Lelde  , Medvedis Inga  , Nesterovs Sergejs
Published: February 2025

Practitioners view on modeling with domain specific languages is presented in this paper. It is shown, that unlike general-purpose modeling languages, domain specific languages provide means for concise representation of semantics of the particular business domain, enabling development of consistent and expressive business process models. Resulting models can be used not only as specifications for information systems, but also for generation of implementation artifacts, creating documentation, testing and for other purposes. Thus one of the most principal goals of model driven architecture – the development of model-based information system – is achieved.
Innovations in Public Governance in the Western World
Authors: Anttiroiko Ari-Veikko  , Bailey Stephen J.  , Valkama Pekka
Published: February 2025

In this book we discuss innovations in public governance. Public governance is about coordination and the use of various forms of institutional arrangements in the policy-making and related processes to pursue collective interest. As this book provides highlights from two continents and various societal contexts, we pay special attention to contextual differences and global interactions. The approach applied in this book can thus be called contextual in the sense that innovations in public governance are discussed in their societal and political contexts.
State-Level Health Care Reform and Innovation in the United States: the Experience of Massachusetts
Authors: Baron Jennifer F.
Published: February 2025

In 2006, Massachusetts signed a landmark health care reform bill aiming to make it the first US state to achieve universal health care coverage. A second bill followed in 2008 that sought to curb rising health care costs and improve quality of care. Key elements of the reforms included the creation of two new insurance programs: Commonwealth Care, offering subsidized coverage via private health plans to lowincome individuals; and Commonwealth Choice, offering unsubsidized private coverage to individuals and small businesses. A new independent state agency known as the Commonwealth Connector Authority was developed to oversee both insurance programs. Employers with 11 or more employees were required to offer to pay a “fair and reasonable” portion of their workers' health insurance premiums, or pay a per employee fee. Among the most controversial aspects of the reform was the introduction of an individual insurance mandate, requiring all adults to obtain health insurance or pay a fine via their state income taxes. Some aspects of these reforms, including a major role for the private sector and emphasis on performance measurement, embody principles of the governance and New Managerialism or New Public Management (NPM) theories that have gained popularity in recent decades. With regard to results of the reform, by 2009, more than 97% of Massachusetts residents were believed to have health insurance, the highest proportion of insured individuals in any US state. Although still in its early stages, the Massachusetts plan was commonly cited as a possible starting point for broader, national health care reform efforts.
Contextual Aspects of Innovations in Public Governance in Asia
Authors: Anttiroiko Ari-Veikko  , Bailey Stephen J.  , Valkama Pekka
Published: February 2025

In this book we discuss innovations in public governance in Asian countries. Our approach is contextual, innovations being discussed in their societal, political and administrative contexts with a special focus on both conditions for innovativeness and innovations actually introduced in various Asian countries. The purpose of these innovations is to bring about radical governance improvements, promote citizen participation and utilize private sector organizations in the provision of public services. Innovativeness in Asian countries seems to be heavily constrained by unique historical developments, diverse cultural features, developmental orientation and authoritarianism. The potential for innovation in public governance is huge but it is unlikely that it can be fully harnessed before further democratization takes place, before a determined attempt to develop good governance and before support of local creativity.
Digital Beijing: Successful Innovation in e-Government in China
Authors: Song Junjie  , Zeng Jianqiu
Published: February 2025

In accordance with the Digital China strategy, the Mayor of Beijing declared in 1999 that Beijing Municipal Government (BMG) would launch the Digital Beijing plan. Digital Beijing aimed at building up an advanced and comprehensive information platform to support Beijing's sustainable development, as well as creating a public information space for government, enterprises and citizens to interact and to share knowledge. Digital Beijing changes the conception of traditional administration and contributed to the reengineering of organization structures of BMG. As a result, e-government, to some extent, promoted ‘quantitative management’ in governmental administration, supervision and service. However, the transaction capability of e-government in the future will largely depend on the result of horizontal connections. Due to a great number of databases serving individual agencies or even offices, it is necessary to continue to invest in setting up the mechanisms of sharing and maintaining information resources.
Adaptive Recall in Hippocampus
Authors: Howard Michael D.  , Bhattacharyya Rajan  , O'Reilly Randall C.  , Ascoli Giorgio  , Fellous Jean-Marc
Published: February 2025

Complementary learning systems (CLS) theory describes how the hippocampal and cortical contributions to recognition memory are a direct result of their architectural and computational specializations. In this paper we model a further refinement of CLS that features separate handling of inputs from the dorsal and ventral posterior cortices, and present a possible mechanism for adaptive recall in hippocampus based on several research findings that have not previously been related to each other. This model suggests how we are able to recognize familiar objects in unfamiliar settings.
Natural Human Robot Meta-communication through the Integration of Android's Sensors with Environment Embedded Sensors
Authors: Balistreri Giuseppe  , Nishio Shuichi  , Sorbello Rosario  , Chella Antonio  , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: February 2025

Building robots that closely resemble humans allows us to study phenomena that cannot be studied using mechanical-looking robots in our daily human-to-human natural interactions. This is supported by the fact that human-like devices can more easily elicit the same kind of responses that people use in their natural interactions. However, several studies support the close and complex relationship existing between outer appearance and the behavior by the robot. Yet, human-like appearance, as Masahiro Mori observed, is not enough to give a positive impression. The robot has to behave closely to humans, and is to have a sense of perception that enables it to communicate with humans. Our past experience with android “Geminoid HI-1” demonstrated that the sensors equipping the robot are not enough to perform human-like communication, mainly because of a limited sensing range. To overcome this problem, we endowed the environment around the robot with perceptive capabilities by embedding sensors such as cameras into it. This paper reports a preliminary study about the improvement of the controlling system by integrating cameras in the surrounding environment, so that the android ca be given human-like perception. The integration of the development of androids and the investigations of human behaviors constitute a new research area merging engineering and cognitive sciences.
Rapid Prototyping of a Cognitive System for Pediatric Telephone Triage Tutoring
Authors: Boicu Mihai
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the development of a prototype cognitive system for tutoring pediatric telephone triage to resident doctors. The cognitive system is built through a spiral development methodology by using the Disciple learning agent shell. This illustrates solutions to challenges encountered in developing cognitive systems in new domains with a low budget, including prioritizing the development, reuse of general purpose modules, and experimentation-driven development.
Detection of Characteristic Co-Occurrence Words from News Articles on the Web
Authors: Xiao Feng  , Noro Tomoya  , Tokuda Takehiro
Published: February 2025

A large number of news articles are published on the Web every day, and demand of discovering news articles on new/important topics has been growing. In this paper, we present a method for detecting characteristic words co-occurring with a target word (characteristic co-occurrence words) to help users find important topics related to the target word. The method divides news articles published in a certain period of time into two groups by whether the target word is included or not, then computes score of each word co-occurring with the target word in some news articles by counting the number of news articles including the co-occurring word for each of the news article groups. We can detect characteristic co-occurrence words more effectively by clustering news articles in advance and computing the score only in clusters which news articles including the target word belong to.
Visual Connections: the Power of the Visual in the Policy Process in Two Dutch Cases
Authors: Moody Rebecca  , Bekkers Victor
Published: February 2025

Visual representations of events occur more often in our daily lives, more and more technologies have been developed to create and distribute these visual instances. The question we ask ourselves in this chapter is how these visual representations, or visual events, can account for greater connectivity in the policy process but also in the relation between citizens and government. In order to answer this question two cases will be reviewed in which a visual reconstruction has been made of a negative event. Conclusions will show that indeed visual events can account for greater connectivity but that this occurs under certain conditions.
Fragmentation and Interconnection in Public Safety Governance in the Netherlands, Belgium and England
Authors: Prins Ruth  , Cachet Lex  , Ponsaers Paul  , Hughes Gordon
Published: February 2025

During the last decades of the 20th century, crime rates rose rapidly and complex public safety problems evolved. New actors and organizations from public and private sectors have tried to help governments to satisfy an ever increasing need for public safety. This has resulted in a fragmented policy domain including multiple actors dealing with a wide variety of public safety problems. Consequently, an urgent need for interconnection has emerged. This has led to various mechanisms for coordination of actors, goals and accountability on both administrative and political levels. The chapter describes these seemingly contradictory trends of almost simultaneous fragmentation and interconnection in local public safety governance in the Netherlands, Belgium and England.
Situating Public Governance within Complex Settings: the Experiences of Social Services Managers in Sweden and Britain
Authors: Ellison Marion  , Berg Elisabeth  , Barry Jim  , Chandler John
Published: February 2025

This chapter critically examines the implications of the recent reconfiguration of the role of the social service manager in Sweden and Britain. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with social service managers and social work practitioners the chapter focusses upon the dual relationship between fragmentation and interconnectedness within new public governance and management. Whilst locating the potential of connective capacities of new public governance within distinct political, economic and governance settings, the chapter also reveals the capacity of social work to engage actively with civil society and so respond rapidly to changing political and economic conditions at national and transnational level.
Killing Mutants Effectively a Search Based Approach
Authors: Papadakis Mike  , Malevris Nicos
Published: February 2025

Despite the evidence that search based testing techniques can effectively automate the test case generation process, little has been done in the context of mutation testing. In this paper an automatic mutation based test case generation framework is proposed. The framework uses a novel dynamic execution scheme in order to both introduce mutants and to effectively guide the search towards killing them. A novel fitness function and its integration with a dynamically adjusted mechanism are proposed. Experimentation with a hill climbing approach reveals its power when compared against a previously proposed one and random testing.
A Multi-Hypothesis Monitoring Architecture: Application to Ambulatory Physiology
Authors: Vettier Benoît  , Amate Laure  , Garbay Catherine
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we propose a normative Multi-Agent System to handle uncertainty in a monitoring application. It is based on the assertion that no single most-likely situation should be considered, thus requiring the management of multiple concurrent hypotheses. A decision is then made by comparing these hypothesized situations to requirements and expectations, thus detecting potential problems. This system uses a large knowledge base of interconnected situation models on several levels of abstraction. It is centered around the need to constantly reconsider which hypotheses should be evaluated, with regards to both the current data from the sensors and wider requirements in terms of efficiency and specific focus from an expected scenario. We propose both a generic concept, and a more specific system for human health monitoring, using ambulatory physiological sensors.
When intelligence is just a matter of copying
Authors: Correa William  , Prade Henri  , Richard Gilles
Published: February 2025

The paper investigates a general approach that allows us to solve IQ tests based on Raven's progressive matrices automatically. The 3 × 3 Raven matrices exhibit 8 geometric pictures displayed in 8 cells of the matrix, which have to be logically completed with a 9th picture to be put in the remaining empty matrix cell. In these tests, a set of candidate pictures for the solution is also given. The suggested approach is based on a logical view of analogical proportions (i.e., statements of the form “A is to B as C is to D”). The reading of Raven matrices in terms of such proportions can be applied to a feature-based description of the pictures, but also, in a number of cases, to a very low level representation, i.e., the pixel level. It appears that the analogical proportion reading just amounts here to a recopy of patterns of feature values that already appear in the data (after checking that there is no conflicting patterns). Implementing this principle, the proposed algorithm computes the 9th picture, without the help of any set of candidate solutions, but only on the basis of the 8 known cells of the Raven matrices. A comparison with other approaches is provided, and we emphasize the generality of the approach which is able to provide a simple and uniform mechanism applicable in many situations.
SAT vs. Search for Qualitative Temporal Reasoning
Authors: Huang Jinbo
Published: February 2025

Empirical data from recent work has indicated that SAT-based solvers can outperform native search-based solvers on certain classes of problems in qualitative temporal reasoning, particularly over the Interval Algebra (IA). The present work shows that, for reasoning with IA, SAT strictly dominates search in theoretical power: (1) We present a SAT encoding of IA that simulates the use of tractable subsets in native solvers. (2) We show that the refutation of any inconsistent IA network can always be done by SAT (via our new encoding) as efficiently as by native search. (3) We exhibit a class of IA networks that provably require exponential time to refute by native search, but can be refuted by SAT in polynomial time.
DL-Lite with Attributes and Datatypes
Authors: Artale Alessandro  , Ryzhikov Vladislav  , Kontchakov Roman
Published: February 2025

We extend the DL-Lite languages by means of attributes and datatypes. Attributes—a notion borrowed from data models— associate concrete values from datatypes to abstract objects and in this way complement roles, which describe relationships between abstract objects. The extended languages remain tractable (with a notable exception) even though they contain both existential and (a limited form of) universal quantification. We present complexity results for two most important reasoning problems in DL-Lite: combined complexity of knowledge base satisfiability and data complexity of positive existential query answering.
The Development of Decisional DNA DIGITAL TV
Authors: Zhang Haoxi  , Sanin Cesar  , Szczerbicki Edward
Published: February 2025

This paper presents integration of the concept of Decisional DNA Digital TV with Smart TV. The integration provides the Digital TV viewer with smart assistance that helps to watch TV shows according to the viewer’s habit discovered through past viewing experience. Decisional DNA is a domainindependent, flexible, and standard experiential knowledge representation structure that allows its domains to acquire, reuse, evolve, and share knowledge in an easy and standard way. The presented approach demonstrates how the Decisional DNA-based systems can be integrated with Digital TV technique, and how it captures and reuses the TV viewer’s watching experience. Illustrative test of the suggested approach is presented in the paper with a set of experiments.
Person Identification Based on Lattice Computing k-Nearest-Neighbor Fingerprint Classification
Authors: Pachidis Theodore  , Kaburlasos Vassilis G.
Published: February 2025

This work presents a novel Lattice Computing (LC) approach for person identification based on biometric data including fingerprints. In particular, this work, first, engages conventional techniques for fingerprint image preprocessing towards inducing distributions of fingerprint minutiae, moreover an induced distribution is represented by an Intervals’ Number (IN). Second, it employs a kNN classifier in a metric lattice of INs. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated comparatively by computational experiments using a software developed for the needs of this work. The far reaching potential of the proposed approach is discussed.
A framework for handling fuzzy temporal events
Authors: Fernández-Leal Ángel  , Álvarez-Estevez Diego  , Fernández-Pastoriza José María  , Moret-Bonillo Vicente
Published: February 2025

We present a prototype for implementing a framework for handling temporal information using the CTCN (Causal Temporal Constraint Networks) model as the representational schema. In this prototype, named FTAE (Fuzzy Temporal Analysis of Events), the information is structured—according to its characteristics and temporal granularity—in terms of different interpretation contexts that are connected to each other via an inference mechanism that handles imprecision in temporal objects using a fuzzy logic paradigm.
Support System for Creating Communication Opportunities Using SNS in Community of Japanese College Students
Authors: Itou Junko  , Kanai Hiroto  , Munemori Jun
Published: February 2025

We propose a support system to create opportunities of communication in community of Japanese college students using Android phones and SNS. It is difficult to get to know a community member and to find an opportunity of communication with the member who is not a close friend even if he/she belongs to the same community. In our system, users register their interests freely in the form of tags and the system presents a list of the tags on the displays of their Android phones so as to trigger communication with each others. In addition, the users can always easily understand what a community member on campus takes interest in, by viewing the information of only log-on users displayed on the users’ Android phones. As a result of an experiment, it revealed that displaying a list of the log-on users’ information improved the motivation to try to find an opportunity of communication willingly. Furthermore, the form of tags was effective for the person who had high motivation for communication.
Mood Identification in Bulletin Board System with Word Characteristic Dictionary
Authors: Hamaoka Shuhei  , Sunayama Wataru
Published: February 2025

Today, online communication tools, such as e-mail, bulletin board systems, and social network services, are frequently used in daily life. In particular, bulletin board systems are used not only as communication tools, but also as a knowledge database that includes the conclusions of discussions. Therefore, opinion exchange and information retrievals should be supported so that we can take part in communications comfortably and pleasantly obtain effective information. However, some bulletin board systems may be unpleasant because of hurtful comments that are posted anonymously. In this paper, a system that identifies communication moods in bulletin board systems is proposed. The system evaluates the mood and tone in sequential comments related to each topic and outputs these evaluations to the users. Users can therefore easily identify the emotional tone of a communication by viewing the output of the system.
SPECT Computer-Aided Diagnosis System based on the Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Gallix A.  , Górriz J.M.  , Ramírez J.  , Illán I.A.  , Lang E.W.
Published: February 2025

In this paper we propose a novel method for brain SPECT image feature extraction based on the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). The proposed method applied to assist the diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease (AD) selects the most discriminant voxels for classification from the transformed EMD feature space. In particular, high-frequency components of the EMD transformation are found to retain regional differences in functional activity which is characteristic of AD. The EMD represents a fully data-driven, unsupervised and additive signal decomposition and does not need any a priori defined basis system. Several experiments were carried out on a balanced SPECT database collected from the “Virgen de las Nieves” Hospital in Granada (Spain), containing 96 recordings and yielding up to 100% accuracy in separating AD and normal controls, and then outperforming recently proposed CAD systems.
Teleology in Knowledge Mapping
Authors: Krbálek Pavel  , Vacek Miloš
Published: February 2025

Teleology comes from the Greek term telos, in English purpose. According to Aristotle, each object has a final purpose for its being. Human knowledge is also associated with such a purpose. The teleological analysis of knowledge management processes and knowledge types is a new approach to mapping organizational knowledge, especially in academic environment. In this paper, we show advantages of this procedure in application of teleology on the corporate knowledge market. Effectiveness of business processes depends on a level of knowledge management maturity in an organization. Knowledge holders and other employees are the company’s key assets to approach this maturity. Teleological perspective of knowledge mapping can be used effectively through social network activities such as collaborative filtering of content.
A Learning Based Evolutionary Algorithm For Distributed Multi-Depot VRP
Authors: Soeanu A.  , Ray S.  , Debbabi M.  , Berger J.  , Boukhtouta A.
Published: February 2025

Solving multi-depot vehicle routing problem (MDVRP) in centralized setting has known scalability issues. This paper presents an innovative multi-agent and multi-round reinforcement learning procedure over adaptive elitist solutions selected from an evolving population pool, to near optimally solve MDVRP in a distributed setting. The paper contribution is threefold: First, it illustrates an effective solution finding procedure for MDVRP with limited information sharing in a realistic setup of agent’s control over depot and fleet. Second, it elaborates an agent-centric heuristic algorithm to navigate the solution space toward near-optimality based on elitist selection. In this context, a dynamic weighted probability distribution template generator is used to evolve increasingly better representative fractions of the solution population. Finally, it presents noteworthy results by applying the procedure on known MDVRP problem instances. The results are analyzed to assess solution quality.
A Customized Dependency Tree Kernel for Effective Sentiment Classification
Authors: Sun Zhou  , Gu Chao  , Li Chunping
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a kernel over dependency trees for sentiment classification. In order to classify a text as positive or negative, syntactic and word dependency information should be exploited besides words. Dependency parse trees, generated by automatic sentence parser, contain much syntactic information which would be helpful for sentiment classification. On the other hand, dependency trees contain word dependency information of sentences, and give a deeper understanding of natural language than BOW (bag-of-word) and n-gram schemas. In this paper, we present an approach which exploits such syntactic and word dependency information for sentiment classification. Our approach achieves good performance. We also compared the dependency tree kernel we proposed with some other tree kernels.
Genetic Algorithm Solving Orienteering Problem in Large Networks
Authors: Karbowska-Chilińska Joanna  , Koszelew Jolanta  , Ostrowski Krzysztof  , Zabielski Paweł
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes an effective genetic algorithm (GA) with inserting as well as removing mutation so as to solve the Orienteering Problem (OP). In order to obtain improved results we have taken into consideration not only the total profit but also the travel length for the given path. The computer experiments that have been conducted on a large transport network (approximately 900 vertices) present better solutions in comparison to the well-known Guided Local Search (GLS) method. It should be stated that GA is significantly faster than GLS.
Mechanism Design for Argumentation-based Persuasion
Authors: Fan Xiuyi  , Toni Francesca
Published: February 2025

Recently we have seen a few development in argumentation-based dialogue systems, but there is less research in understanding agents' strategic behaviour in dialogues. We study agent strategies by linking a specific form of argumentation-based dialogues and mechanism design. Specifically, focusing on persuasion dialogues, we show how dialogues can be mapped to concepts in mechanism design. We prove that a “truthful” and “thorough” dialogue strategy is a dominant strategy under specific conditions. We also prove that a mechanism using this dialogue strategy implements a “persuasion social choice function” we define. These results show the validity of the proposed strategies for agents in persuasion and the feasibility of studying persuasion with mechanism design techniques.
Making Sense of Macro- and Micro-Argumentation in Policy-Deliberation: Visualisation Techniques and Representation Formats
Authors: Benn Neil  , Macintosh Ann
Published: February 2025

This paper describes work on the use of argumentation tools and techniques to support the policy-deliberation process. The paper first surveys existing research in this area. As will be shown, most research focusses on either the microargumentation or the macro-argumentation aspects of policy-deliberation. However, we claim here that ideally argumentation approaches in policy-deliberation settings should account for both levels together. To this end, this paper introduces a prototype Web-based tool for making sense of both macro-argumentation and micro-argumentation in policy-deliberation, particularly through the use of sophisticated argument visualisation techniques. The paper also describes initial steps towards an RDF specification that combines both macro- and micro-argumentation, which will allow the Web tool to act as an RDF repository for policy-deliberation arguments, with links to the rest of the emerging Linked-Data Web.
Local surveillance in a global world: Zooming in on the proliferation of CCTV in Catalonia
Authors: Galdon Clavell Gemma
Published: February 2025

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems are a growing phenomenon in most Western countries and a fixed item on security agendas in urban environments around the world. But while several authors have studied the proliferation of CCTV from a comparative perspective, in most cases the analysis is focused at the national level, assuming that local processes are no more than the locus of implementation of national agendas. Moreover, issues related to political configurations and reconfigurations, historical factors and internal dynamics of power have seldom been tackled, and some of the assumptions about proliferation patterns in the most widely researched areas have become general assumptions. The new empirical research findings presented in this article offer a detailed and empirically evidenced account of the political and policy environment surrounding the uptake of video surveillance in Catalonia and suggests that zooming in on local processes adds complexity to the understanding of the process of CCTV proliferation at the global level. Specifically, the article addresses: the role of local/global interaction in the emergence of CCTV as a new orthodoxy, the relationship between video surveillance and economic and commercial pressures on urban restructuring, the role of party politics and political ideologies in surveillance policy, and the specific articulation of the interaction between video surveillance and urban disorder. The article ends by exploring both local narratives and global-local policy dynamics, concluding that there is a need to conduct further research on the specific ways in which CCTV policy travels through borders and between the scales of government, and the processes by which it becomes embedded in diverse geographic, political and institutional settings.
Zooming in on ‘heterotopia’: CCTV-operator practices at Schiphol Airport
Authors: Wagenaar Pieter  , Boersma Kees
Published: February 2025

Airports are places that are heavily surveilled by different (technical) means, including CCTV (Closed Circuit Television). So far, the literature on CCTV has not paid much attention to the practices behind the screens of the CCTV monitors at airports. In this article, we present an in-depth, ethnographic study of the use of CCTV in the Military Police's control room at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We find that, since nobody is ‘at home’ at Schiphol, surveillance through CCTV is a challenge for the police. The operators in the control room are constantly struggling with the question how to spot deviance in a situation where they believe normal behavior does not exist. Our study shows that the categories for singling out the abnormal identified by Norris and Goold are rarely used by the Military Police at Schiphol. Instead, they heavily rely on routine, transmitted, and retrospective surveillance.
Eastern promise? East London transformations and the state of surveillance
Authors: Fussey Pete
Published: February 2025

Largely catalysed by hosting the XXX Summer Olympic Games, East London is currently experiencing significant urban regeneration at a rate not seen since the period of post-war reconstruction. In doing so, a series of processes that serve to heighten the intensity of cameras in this already saturated video surveillance landscape are occurring. At the same time, these developments, whilst affecting East London, demonstrate a number of key issues, debates and crises germane to the dissemination and operation of video surveillance across the UK as a whole. These include the intensification and cohesion of video surveillance networks; the role of CCTV in urban regeneration schemes; tensions between disparate applications of CCTV and aspirations for a coherent regulatory framework; and, crucially, how CCTV can be justified at a time of severe economic crisis. The paper explores these issues via the identification and analysis of three broad processes operating in East London: the ‘additionality’ of Olympic-related surveillance measures; the centripetal surveillance-pull of Olympic-related regeneration programmes; and the co-option and integration of extant CCTV facilities. The strong emphasis on surveillant economies of scale and the integration of existing surveillance infrastructures invite reflection on post-Foucauldian theorisations of networked ‘societies of control’.
An Idea of Improvement Decision Tree Learning Using Cluster Analysis
Authors: Amanuma Saori  , Kurematsu Masaki  , Fujita Hamido
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we proposed an idea of improvement of a decision tree learning algorithm using cluster analysis. We classify data set based on two relations. One is the relation between each class and each attribute and the other is the relation between attributes. First relation is used in a traditional decision tree algorithm and second relation is used in cluster analysis. Using second relation is our point in this approach. In order to evaluate our approach, we did an experiment using data set in machine learning repositories. Experimental result show the possibility that our approach is better than a traditional decision tree learning algorithm.
An Innovative Approach to Environmental Issues: the Growth of a Green Market Modeled by System Dynamics
Authors: Guizzi Guido  , Murino Teresa  , Romano Elpidio
Published: February 2025

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in sustainable development that could be regarded both as new constraint and opportunity to achieve a competitive advantage. Several tools like the implementation of an Environmental Management system, the adoption of Life Cycle assessment and Eco-Labelling may be used in order to enhance companies' competitiveness. In this context, policy makers are challenged to design effective policies and organizations for exploiting the opportunities that increasing environmental awareness provides. In order to make this task easier a holistic and systemic approach based on modeling may be used, so that users understand both structure and dynamics of complex systems in which they are in.
Geoinformational Database of Lithuanian Toponyms
Authors: Kačinaitė-Vrubliauskienė Dalia
Published: February 2025

Geoinformational database of Lithuanian Toponyms serves several goals: to foster scientific research and purposes of applied science (1), to satisfy practical needs of inhabitants (2), to preserve Lithuanian toponyms as a cultural heritage (3). It is the first database in Lithuania that jointly provides linguistic and geographic information about the toponyms.
Constructive Phases of Theory Since 1998
Authors: Snellen Ig  , Thaens Marcel
Published: February 2025

This book tries to determine what ICT developments in public administration of the last 10–15 years have been. As point of departure we choose the speed of the succession of theoretical approaches represented by the “phases of theories” which appeared since 1998. Three different ‘mini-theories’ are explored: e-Government, i-Government and m-Government. The concepts which form the core and the basic content of the three mini-theories emerge from different competing perspectives.
Plus Ça Change? ICT and Structural Change in Government
Authors: Bannister Frank
Published: February 2025

Notwithstanding the expansion in the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in and by governments, the impact of technology per se on modes of governance and government structures has been modest. ICT has enabled and facilitated such change, but there is little evidence that the presence or availability of ICT has itself led to any radical change. A key reason for this is technology ambivalence, i.e. technology, while it may not be value free, does not in itself predetermine directions, structures or modes for governance. The question of whether future technology is likely have a more profound effect on the way states are governed is explored.
Maturity Models in the Age of Digital Diversity: Beyond the Layne & Lee Legacy
Authors: Andersen Kim Normann  , Henriksen Helle Zinner  , Medaglia Rony
Published: February 2025

This chapter proposes a reorientation of the e-government maturity models by focusing on the activities rather than on the formal organizational structures and have the citizens as the key stakeholder for future e-government investments. We draw upon a discussion on the limitations of the popular e-government maturity model by Layne and Lee [1] included in the proposal of the Public Sector Process Rebuilding (PPR) model [2, 3]. The adoption and adaptation of Web 2.0 platforms and location-based services, and the parallel extension of conventional technologies as SMS and web-based self-services, challenge the view that e-government is focused in a formal organizational span of control. We propose a refined operationalization of the PPR maturity model, arguing that the activities and individual workers within the public sector and the citizens using and co-producing the public services will be the vehicle of change.
Digital Democracy: Vision and Reality
Authors: van Dijk Jan A.G.M.
Published: February 2025

Digital media have made a strong appeal to people wanting to improve democracy right from the start. Four waves of utopian visions of the last 25 years are described. The concept of digital democracy is defined. Subsequently, six views of both representative and direct democracy are distinguished that favor particular applications of digital media in politics and government. The next paragraph makes an inventory of the claims and achievements of 25 years of attempts to realize digital democracy in the field of information provision, online discussion and decision making. It appears that information provision is the best realized claim. The final part of this chapter is about eParticipation in politics and policy. It discusses both government- and citizen-centric applications. Citizencentric applications appear to be the most successful. Generally speaking, eparticipation has not been successfully incorporated in institutional politics and government.
Emergence of Information, Communication and Language
Authors: Henno Jaak
Published: February 2025

We live in “Age of Information”, but we still do not understand well, what Information is and what are its properties. Is there some kind of Information conservation law similar to conservation laws for energy and matter or does Information behave like a nuclear reaction, feeding itself and trying all the time to propagate further? In order to understand Information better we should consider principles which have guided the best producer and consumer of information – life and especially its highest form – Man. Memory, storing information about their environment and ability to replicate allows living things to change the thermodynamical balance of their environment – they decrease disorder (entropy) in their population while increasing it in their environment. Man invented for collecting information (thus also increasing entropy in environment) a totally new tool – language, which moved the process from the level of individual entities to the level of the whole Mankind. Language is the Mankind's model of the world, which reflects word structure and (in the limit) converges to a similar structure, i.e. has entropy close to the entropy of the world which it describes.