title: Clustering performance on evolving data streams: Assessing algorithms and evaluation measures within MOA

authors: Kranen, Philipp

subjects: data streams

abstract: In today's applications, evolving data streams are ubiquitous. Stream clustering algorithms were introduced to gain useful knowledge from these streams in real-time. The quality of the obtained clusterings, i.e. how good they reflect the data, can be assessed by evaluation measures. A multitude of stream clustering algorithms and evaluation measures for clusterings were introduced in the literature, however, until now there is no general tool for a direct comparison of the different algorithms or the evaluation measures. In our demo, we present a novel experimental framework for both tasks. It offers the means for extensive evaluation and visualization and is an extension of the Massive Online Analysis (MOA) software environment released under the GNU GPL License.

text: Clustering performance on evolving data streams: Assessing algorithms and evaluation measures within MOA In today's applications, evolving data streams are ubiquitous. Stream clustering algorithms were introduced to gain useful knowledge from these streams in real-time. The quality of the obtained clusterings, i.e. how good they reflect the data, can be assessed by evaluation measures. A multitude of stream clustering algorithms and evaluation measures for clusterings were introduced in the literature, however, until now there is no general tool for a direct comparison of the different algorithms or the evaluation measures. In our demo, we present a novel experimental framework for both tasks. It offers the means for extensive evaluation and visualization and is an extension of the Massive Online Analysis (MOA) software environment released under the GNU GPL License.

year: 2010

title: Quantifying functionality of buildings to natural hazards

authors: Mayer, Bethany

abstract: Continued functionality of critical infrastructure systems shortly after an earthquake is expected. However, experience has shown that this is often not the case. Building with limited or no structural damage may still experience significant non-structural damage or be impacted by surrounding and interconnected infrastructural failures that can a sustained and substantial impact on the operability of the building. A method to rapidly identify how damage, outages, or blockages are linked to drops in functional performance measures for the people and organisations is being developed for hospitals and will be further expanded to other building occupancies and infrastructure including commercial buildings, critical facilities, and housing. Immediate understanding of damage and the subsequent effects of the damage can provide instant feedback on the level of operational functionality. This poster show how this is currently being implemented for hospitals and how this work can be extended to other buildings. Functionality is determined through the use of risk analysis tools that help to quantitatively define probabilities of building and organisational functionality. The project aims to take a holistic view of a building’s performance, considering the physical and spatial factors of damage, use and needs of the structure, and interconnected interdependencies.

text: Quantifying functionality of buildings to natural hazards Continued functionality of critical infrastructure systems shortly after an earthquake is expected. However, experience has shown that this is often not the case. Building with limited or no structural damage may still experience significant non-structural damage or be impacted by surrounding and interconnected infrastructural failures that can a sustained and substantial impact on the operability of the building. A method to rapidly identify how damage, outages, or blockages are linked to drops in functional performance measures for the people and organisations is being developed for hospitals and will be further expanded to other building occupancies and infrastructure including commercial buildings, critical facilities, and housing. Immediate understanding of damage and the subsequent effects of the damage can provide instant feedback on the level of operational functionality. This poster show how this is currently being implemented for hospitals and how this work can be extended to other buildings. Functionality is determined through the use of risk analysis tools that help to quantitatively define probabilities of building and organisational functionality. The project aims to take a holistic view of a building’s performance, considering the physical and spatial factors of damage, use and needs of the structure, and interconnected interdependencies.

year: 2021

title: Ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival in New Zealand: which factors contribute?

authors: Tin Tin, Sandar

subjects: Breast cancer

abstract: Background: New Zealand has major ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival with Maori (indigenous people) and Pacific women (immigrants or descended from immigrants from Pacific Islands) faring much worse than other ethnic groups. This paper identified underlying factors and assessed their relative contribution to this risk differential. 
Methods: This study involved all women who were diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in two health regions, covering about 40% of the national population, between January 2000 and June 2014. Maori and Pacific patients were compared with other ethnic groups in terms of demographics, mode of diagnosis, disease factors and treatment factors. Cox regression modelling was performed with stepwise adjustments, and hazards of excess mortality from breast cancer for Maori and Pacific patients were assessed. 
Results: Of the 13,657 patients who were included in this analysis, 1281 (9.4%) were Maori, and 897 (6.6%) were Pacific women. Compared to other ethnic groups, they were younger, more likely to reside in deprived neighbourhoods and to have co-morbidities, and less likely to be diagnosed through screening and with early stage cancer, to be treated in a private care facility, to receive timely cancer treatment, and to receive breast conserving surgery. They had a higher risk of excess mortality from breast cancer (age and year of diagnosis adjusted hazard ratio: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.51-2.04 for Maori and 1.97; 95% CI: 1.67-2.32 for Pacific women), of which 75% and 99% respectively were explained by baseline differences. The most important contributor was late stage at diagnosis. Other contributors included neighbourhood deprivation, mode of diagnosis, type of health care facility where primary cancer treatment was undertaken and type of loco-regional therapy. 
Conclusions: Late diagnosis, deprivation and differential access to and quality of cancer care services were the key contributors to ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival in New Zealand. Our findings underscore the need for a greater equity focus along the breast cancer care pathway, with an emphasis on improving access to early diagnosis for Maori and Pacific women.

text: Ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival in New Zealand: which factors contribute? Background: New Zealand has major ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival with Maori (indigenous people) and Pacific women (immigrants or descended from immigrants from Pacific Islands) faring much worse than other ethnic groups. This paper identified underlying factors and assessed their relative contribution to this risk differential. 
Methods: This study involved all women who were diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in two health regions, covering about 40% of the national population, between January 2000 and June 2014. Maori and Pacific patients were compared with other ethnic groups in terms of demographics, mode of diagnosis, disease factors and treatment factors. Cox regression modelling was performed with stepwise adjustments, and hazards of excess mortality from breast cancer for Maori and Pacific patients were assessed. 
Results: Of the 13,657 patients who were included in this analysis, 1281 (9.4%) were Maori, and 897 (6.6%) were Pacific women. Compared to other ethnic groups, they were younger, more likely to reside in deprived neighbourhoods and to have co-morbidities, and less likely to be diagnosed through screening and with early stage cancer, to be treated in a private care facility, to receive timely cancer treatment, and to receive breast conserving surgery. They had a higher risk of excess mortality from breast cancer (age and year of diagnosis adjusted hazard ratio: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.51-2.04 for Maori and 1.97; 95% CI: 1.67-2.32 for Pacific women), of which 75% and 99% respectively were explained by baseline differences. The most important contributor was late stage at diagnosis. Other contributors included neighbourhood deprivation, mode of diagnosis, type of health care facility where primary cancer treatment was undertaken and type of loco-regional therapy. 
Conclusions: Late diagnosis, deprivation and differential access to and quality of cancer care services were the key contributors to ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival in New Zealand. Our findings underscore the need for a greater equity focus along the breast cancer care pathway, with an emphasis on improving access to early diagnosis for Maori and Pacific women.

year: 2018