title: Applying machine learning to programming by demonstration

authors: Paynter, Gordon W.

subjects: computer science

abstract: ‘Familiar’ is a tool that helps end-users automate iterative tasks in their applications by showing examples of what they want to do. It observes the user’s actions, predicts what they will do next, and then offers to complete their task. Familiar learns in two ways. First, it creates a model, based on data gathered from training tasks, that selects the best prediction from among several candidates. Experiments show that decision trees outperform heuristic methods, and can be further improved by incrementally updating the classifier at task time. Second, it uses decision stumps inferred from analogous examples in the event trace to predict the parameters of conditional rules. Because data is sparse—for most users balk at giving more than a few training examples—permutation tests are used to calculate the statistical significance of each stump, successfully eliminating bias towards attributes with many different values.

text: Applying machine learning to programming by demonstration ‘Familiar’ is a tool that helps end-users automate iterative tasks in their applications by showing examples of what they want to do. It observes the user’s actions, predicts what they will do next, and then offers to complete their task. Familiar learns in two ways. First, it creates a model, based on data gathered from training tasks, that selects the best prediction from among several candidates. Experiments show that decision trees outperform heuristic methods, and can be further improved by incrementally updating the classifier at task time. Second, it uses decision stumps inferred from analogous examples in the event trace to predict the parameters of conditional rules. Because data is sparse—for most users balk at giving more than a few training examples—permutation tests are used to calculate the statistical significance of each stump, successfully eliminating bias towards attributes with many different values.

year: 2004

title: Are real interest rates of EU association countries characterized by non-linear convergence?

authors: Holmes, Mark J.

subjects: real interest parity

abstract: In this study, we concurrently test for nonlinearity (threshold) effects and non-stationarity (unit roots) in real interest rate differentials. Using data for the ten accession countries that joined the EU in 2004, we find evidence of strong nonlinear effects. Long-run real interest rate parity has held for some of the sample, but subject to two different stationary regimes. Other countries are characterized with partial unit root behaviour insofar as differentials switch between alternative regimes of stationary and non-stationary behaviour.

text: Are real interest rates of EU association countries characterized by non-linear convergence? In this study, we concurrently test for nonlinearity (threshold) effects and non-stationarity (unit roots) in real interest rate differentials. Using data for the ten accession countries that joined the EU in 2004, we find evidence of strong nonlinear effects. Long-run real interest rate parity has held for some of the sample, but subject to two different stationary regimes. Other countries are characterized with partial unit root behaviour insofar as differentials switch between alternative regimes of stationary and non-stationary behaviour.

year: 2009

title: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Academic mentor's perspectives

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori students

abstract: To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
As an integral component of the Te Rau Puawai programme and as a specialised
source of support, academic mentors were identified as an important group to receive
comment from. This report documents the evaluative exchange that occurred by way
of email questionnaire, that we had with 18 out of 46 academic mentors of Te Rau
Puawai bursars in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences responded to our
questionnaire.

text: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Academic mentor's perspectives To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
As an integral component of the Te Rau Puawai programme and as a specialised
source of support, academic mentors were identified as an important group to receive
comment from. This report documents the evaluative exchange that occurred by way
of email questionnaire, that we had with 18 out of 46 academic mentors of Te Rau
Puawai bursars in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences responded to our
questionnaire.

year: 2002-05-01