title: Constructing a focused taxonomy from a document collection

authors: Medelyan, Olena

subjects: computer science

abstract: We describe a new method for constructing custom taxonomies from document collections. It involves identifying relevant concepts and entities in text; linking them to knowledge sources like Wikipedia, DBpedia, Freebase, and any supplied taxonomies from related domains; disambiguating conflicting concept mappings; and selecting semantic relations that best group them hierarchically. An RDF model supports interoperability of these steps, and also provides a flexible way of including existing NLP tools and further knowledge sources. From 2000 news articles we construct a custom taxonomy with 10,000 concepts and 12,700 relations, similar in structure to manually created counterparts. Evaluation by 15 human judges shows the precision to be 89% and 90% for concepts and relations respectively; recall was 75% with respect to a manually generated taxonomy for the same domain.

text: Constructing a focused taxonomy from a document collection We describe a new method for constructing custom taxonomies from document collections. It involves identifying relevant concepts and entities in text; linking them to knowledge sources like Wikipedia, DBpedia, Freebase, and any supplied taxonomies from related domains; disambiguating conflicting concept mappings; and selecting semantic relations that best group them hierarchically. An RDF model supports interoperability of these steps, and also provides a flexible way of including existing NLP tools and further knowledge sources. From 2000 news articles we construct a custom taxonomy with 10,000 concepts and 12,700 relations, similar in structure to manually created counterparts. Evaluation by 15 human judges shows the precision to be 89% and 90% for concepts and relations respectively; recall was 75% with respect to a manually generated taxonomy for the same domain.

year: 2013

title: Native Hawaiian Well-Being at Hawaiʻi Community College, An Initiative for Academic Success

authors: Wong-Wilson, Michelle Noe Noe

subjects: Native Hawaiian

abstract: This thesis investigates the relationship between a Native Hawaiian sense of well-being and student educational attainment at Hawaiʻi Community College in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. It is written in an indigenous, Native Hawaiian framework, which includes a Pono Hawaiʻi research methodology. In order for the reader to understand the important context in which Native Hawaiian sense of well-being and academic success intersects, the history of the people and their land must be understood.  Told through a very personal lens and indigenous narrative format, the story begins with a look at Native Hawaiian traditions of teaching and learning and the impact of historical events and introduction of Western educational ideology on the community.  It details the influence of American missionaries and the introduction of Christian religion on Hawaiian society.  The abrupt changes in societal structure marked first by the abolishment of an ancient Kapu system of laws, which had governed society for millennia, and the introduction of Western structures of governance in the form of a constitutional monarchy are investigated. 
The Hawaiian practices of Aʻo Aku, Aʻo Mai, Teaching and Learning, were severely impacted as American missionaries introduced the new writing system. I investigate the affect of major changes in the culture and community brought about by the introduction of the new written Hawaiian language and accompanied by a foreign Western educational framework.  The impact of the laws banning the teaching and speaking of Hawaiian in the public schools and playgrounds as well as the laws outlawing the dancing of hula in public had a severe and lasting effect on the community which continues to affect Native Hawaiians’ sense of well-being.  There is further discussion on the lasting effect of institutional barriers to success for Native Hawaiians who continue to languish behind their peers in educational attainment in public schools to this day.  A discussion of Native Hawaiian identity is introduced which sets the foundation for the genealogy of Native Hawaiian well-being theory. A survey based on research on Native Hawaiian Well-Being was employed at the college and the student participants’ educational records are compared to determine if there are potential indicators relating to success.  The results of the survey are discussed and analyzed.  Excerpts from kūkākūkā sessions with students, interviews conducted in an indigenous, Hawaiian framework of exchange, are incorporated into each analysis to provide context to the questions and responses.  Strategies which should be employed to support educational success for Native Hawaiians at the tertiary institution are discussed. Finally, a new model of well being, which clarifies the importance of the relationship of Native Hawaiians to the ʻāina or land, provides a stronger understanding of our worldview in hopes that this will empower educators and researchers to continue their work for the betterment of the lāhui, the Hawaiian Nation.

text: Native Hawaiian Well-Being at Hawaiʻi Community College, An Initiative for Academic Success This thesis investigates the relationship between a Native Hawaiian sense of well-being and student educational attainment at Hawaiʻi Community College in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. It is written in an indigenous, Native Hawaiian framework, which includes a Pono Hawaiʻi research methodology. In order for the reader to understand the important context in which Native Hawaiian sense of well-being and academic success intersects, the history of the people and their land must be understood.  Told through a very personal lens and indigenous narrative format, the story begins with a look at Native Hawaiian traditions of teaching and learning and the impact of historical events and introduction of Western educational ideology on the community.  It details the influence of American missionaries and the introduction of Christian religion on Hawaiian society.  The abrupt changes in societal structure marked first by the abolishment of an ancient Kapu system of laws, which had governed society for millennia, and the introduction of Western structures of governance in the form of a constitutional monarchy are investigated. 
The Hawaiian practices of Aʻo Aku, Aʻo Mai, Teaching and Learning, were severely impacted as American missionaries introduced the new writing system. I investigate the affect of major changes in the culture and community brought about by the introduction of the new written Hawaiian language and accompanied by a foreign Western educational framework.  The impact of the laws banning the teaching and speaking of Hawaiian in the public schools and playgrounds as well as the laws outlawing the dancing of hula in public had a severe and lasting effect on the community which continues to affect Native Hawaiians’ sense of well-being.  There is further discussion on the lasting effect of institutional barriers to success for Native Hawaiians who continue to languish behind their peers in educational attainment in public schools to this day.  A discussion of Native Hawaiian identity is introduced which sets the foundation for the genealogy of Native Hawaiian well-being theory. A survey based on research on Native Hawaiian Well-Being was employed at the college and the student participants’ educational records are compared to determine if there are potential indicators relating to success.  The results of the survey are discussed and analyzed.  Excerpts from kūkākūkā sessions with students, interviews conducted in an indigenous, Hawaiian framework of exchange, are incorporated into each analysis to provide context to the questions and responses.  Strategies which should be employed to support educational success for Native Hawaiians at the tertiary institution are discussed. Finally, a new model of well being, which clarifies the importance of the relationship of Native Hawaiians to the ʻāina or land, provides a stronger understanding of our worldview in hopes that this will empower educators and researchers to continue their work for the betterment of the lāhui, the Hawaiian Nation.

year: 2016

title: Effects of lake trophic state and seasonal cycling on production and bioaccumulation of methylmercury in Te Arawa Lakes

authors: Chong, Grace-Lynn

abstract: There are natural sources of Mercury in New Zealand, primarily derived from volcanic activity and geothermal vents. Mercury (Hg) and its organic derivative, methylmercury (MeHg), are highly toxic to both the environment and human health. Of particular concern is the ability of MeHg to bioaccumulate in aquatic food webs, leading to increased toxicity in higher trophic organisms. Given that fish constitute a significant component of the local diet, comprehensive monitoring of Hg and MeHg concentrations is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies. Such efforts are critical to controlling Hg contamination in the environment and aquatic biota, as well as informing the public about lakes with elevated mercury levels. Previous Hg studies in New Zealand have been limited in scope, with monitoring efforts focused on only a few lakes rather than a comprehensive assessment across multiple ecosystems. Additionally, most existing research has primarily examined elemental Hg, with limited investigation into the distribution and bioavailability of MeHg.   

This study aims to comprehensively assess Hg and MeHg concentrations in 11 lakes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The study assessed Hg and MeHg concentrations in lake water and aquatic biota, including trout, crayfish (koura), and mussels (kakahi). To achieve this, Hg and MeHg in the water were measured using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers, while tissue analyses determined Hg, MeHg and additional trace elements in the selected species. The findings of this study are expected to clarify the distribution and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg within lake ecosystems and to elucidate their transfer through the aquatic food web. These results will provide a scientific basis for assessing ecological and human health risks associated with mercury exposure, particularly for culturally and recreationally important species. The outcomes will inform lake management and monitoring strategies by identifying key pathways of mercury uptake and potential bioindicator species, and may guide the development of targeted mitigation measures, such as catchment management or advisories on species consumption. Collectively, this research will support evidence-based decision-making for freshwater ecosystem protection and long-term contaminant management.  

The results of this study revealed that total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in trout, koura, and kakahi from Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, and Rotomahana exceeded WHO recommended safety thresholds. This study also found that a substantial proportion of THg was comprised of MeHg, which was predominantly accumulated in muscle tissue, whereas THg was primarily concentrated in the liver. The findings further indicated that eutrophication, lake stratification and hypolimnetic anoxia contribute to the enhanced production and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg within these aquatic systems. Additionally, selenium (Se) demonstrated a potential protective effect against MeHg toxicity in aquatic organisms.

text: Effects of lake trophic state and seasonal cycling on production and bioaccumulation of methylmercury in Te Arawa Lakes There are natural sources of Mercury in New Zealand, primarily derived from volcanic activity and geothermal vents. Mercury (Hg) and its organic derivative, methylmercury (MeHg), are highly toxic to both the environment and human health. Of particular concern is the ability of MeHg to bioaccumulate in aquatic food webs, leading to increased toxicity in higher trophic organisms. Given that fish constitute a significant component of the local diet, comprehensive monitoring of Hg and MeHg concentrations is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies. Such efforts are critical to controlling Hg contamination in the environment and aquatic biota, as well as informing the public about lakes with elevated mercury levels. Previous Hg studies in New Zealand have been limited in scope, with monitoring efforts focused on only a few lakes rather than a comprehensive assessment across multiple ecosystems. Additionally, most existing research has primarily examined elemental Hg, with limited investigation into the distribution and bioavailability of MeHg.   

This study aims to comprehensively assess Hg and MeHg concentrations in 11 lakes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The study assessed Hg and MeHg concentrations in lake water and aquatic biota, including trout, crayfish (koura), and mussels (kakahi). To achieve this, Hg and MeHg in the water were measured using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers, while tissue analyses determined Hg, MeHg and additional trace elements in the selected species. The findings of this study are expected to clarify the distribution and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg within lake ecosystems and to elucidate their transfer through the aquatic food web. These results will provide a scientific basis for assessing ecological and human health risks associated with mercury exposure, particularly for culturally and recreationally important species. The outcomes will inform lake management and monitoring strategies by identifying key pathways of mercury uptake and potential bioindicator species, and may guide the development of targeted mitigation measures, such as catchment management or advisories on species consumption. Collectively, this research will support evidence-based decision-making for freshwater ecosystem protection and long-term contaminant management.  

The results of this study revealed that total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in trout, koura, and kakahi from Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, and Rotomahana exceeded WHO recommended safety thresholds. This study also found that a substantial proportion of THg was comprised of MeHg, which was predominantly accumulated in muscle tissue, whereas THg was primarily concentrated in the liver. The findings further indicated that eutrophication, lake stratification and hypolimnetic anoxia contribute to the enhanced production and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg within these aquatic systems. Additionally, selenium (Se) demonstrated a potential protective effect against MeHg toxicity in aquatic organisms.

year: 2025