title: Adaptive prediction interval for data stream regression

authors: Sun, Yibin

subjects: computer science

abstract: Prediction Interval (PI) is a powerful technique for quantifying the uncertainty of regression tasks. However, research on PI for data streams has not received much attention. Moreover, traditional PI-generating approaches are not directly applicable due to the dynamic and evolving nature of data streams. This paper presents AdaPI (ADAptive Prediction Interval), a novel method that can automatically adjust the interval width by an appropriate amount according to historical information to converge the coverage to a user-defined percentage. AdaPI can be applied to any streaming PI technique as a postprocessing step. This paper develops an incremental variant of the pervasive Mean and Variance Estimation (MVE) method for use with AdaPI. An empirical evaluation over a set of standard streaming regression tasks demonstrates AdaPI’s ability to generate compact prediction intervals with a coverage close to the desired level, outperforming alternative methods.

text: Adaptive prediction interval for data stream regression Prediction Interval (PI) is a powerful technique for quantifying the uncertainty of regression tasks. However, research on PI for data streams has not received much attention. Moreover, traditional PI-generating approaches are not directly applicable due to the dynamic and evolving nature of data streams. This paper presents AdaPI (ADAptive Prediction Interval), a novel method that can automatically adjust the interval width by an appropriate amount according to historical information to converge the coverage to a user-defined percentage. AdaPI can be applied to any streaming PI technique as a postprocessing step. This paper develops an incremental variant of the pervasive Mean and Variance Estimation (MVE) method for use with AdaPI. An empirical evaluation over a set of standard streaming regression tasks demonstrates AdaPI’s ability to generate compact prediction intervals with a coverage close to the desired level, outperforming alternative methods.

year: 2024

title: Workaholism: how does it impact on people’s lives?

authors: McMillan, Lynley H.W.

abstract: Although there appears to be considerable popular interest in workaholism, scientific understanding of the construct is very limited. Paradoxically, although many argue that the personal cost of workaholism to workers, families and friends is enormous, these people’s perspectives do not appear to have been analysed using formal scientific paradigms (Scott, Moore, Miceli, 1997). The present research considers the construct of workaholism in its impact on people’s lives. The thesis comprises six chapters that outline data from three separate studies. The theoretical perspective involves interaction theory, where workaholism is hypothesised to arise from a personal tendency toward workaholic behaviour that is activated and maintained by reinforcing stimuli. The epistemological perspective involves applied research in a naturalistic setting, using triangulated, quantitative data within a contrasted-group design (i.e., workaholics, non-workaholics). Time diaries were used to assess the impact of workaholism on the allocation of time to ‘outside-work’ activities such as sleeping and exercising. Together, the data validated the two-factor measure of workaholism, corroborated the theoretically based definition, and showed that workaholism was distinct from four generic ethics (work, achievement, leisure, and time) and three specific constructs (obsessive thinking, compulsive finishing and delayed gratification). Workaholism scores were stable across time and held a consistent temporal relationship to work and leisure behaviours and intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being. Additionally, while workaholics evidenced differing work and leisure patterns to non-workaholics, they experienced similar health status, pleasure and relationship satisfaction. Thus, workaholism impacted on peoples’ choices about time allocated to work and non-work activities, but it was not necessarily harmful. These data are congruent with interaction theory, support the inductively generated definition of workaholism, and thereby provide a conceptual springboard for evolving future research designs. In sum, the research advances contemporary knowledge about workaholism in five ways (a) by providing one of the first systematic analyses of workaholism using data from multivariate sources, (b) by generating longitudinal New Zealand data from contrasted groups, (c) by analysing significant others’ perceptions of workaholism, (d) generating an empirically based operational definition, and (e) by adapting innovative measurement methods from other fields (e.g., time diaries) for use in workaholism research.

text: Workaholism: how does it impact on people’s lives? Although there appears to be considerable popular interest in workaholism, scientific understanding of the construct is very limited. Paradoxically, although many argue that the personal cost of workaholism to workers, families and friends is enormous, these people’s perspectives do not appear to have been analysed using formal scientific paradigms (Scott, Moore, Miceli, 1997). The present research considers the construct of workaholism in its impact on people’s lives. The thesis comprises six chapters that outline data from three separate studies. The theoretical perspective involves interaction theory, where workaholism is hypothesised to arise from a personal tendency toward workaholic behaviour that is activated and maintained by reinforcing stimuli. The epistemological perspective involves applied research in a naturalistic setting, using triangulated, quantitative data within a contrasted-group design (i.e., workaholics, non-workaholics). Time diaries were used to assess the impact of workaholism on the allocation of time to ‘outside-work’ activities such as sleeping and exercising. Together, the data validated the two-factor measure of workaholism, corroborated the theoretically based definition, and showed that workaholism was distinct from four generic ethics (work, achievement, leisure, and time) and three specific constructs (obsessive thinking, compulsive finishing and delayed gratification). Workaholism scores were stable across time and held a consistent temporal relationship to work and leisure behaviours and intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being. Additionally, while workaholics evidenced differing work and leisure patterns to non-workaholics, they experienced similar health status, pleasure and relationship satisfaction. Thus, workaholism impacted on peoples’ choices about time allocated to work and non-work activities, but it was not necessarily harmful. These data are congruent with interaction theory, support the inductively generated definition of workaholism, and thereby provide a conceptual springboard for evolving future research designs. In sum, the research advances contemporary knowledge about workaholism in five ways (a) by providing one of the first systematic analyses of workaholism using data from multivariate sources, (b) by generating longitudinal New Zealand data from contrasted groups, (c) by analysing significant others’ perceptions of workaholism, (d) generating an empirically based operational definition, and (e) by adapting innovative measurement methods from other fields (e.g., time diaries) for use in workaholism research.

year: 2002

title: Te karanga tūturu o maieke:  Ngāti Kuri women’s taiao geographies

authors: Ringham, Sandra Lee

subjects: Māori and Indigenous geographies

abstract: This research examines the relationships, identities and sense of belonging of Māori women of within the Ngāti Kuri iwi (tribe) and te taiao (the natural world, environment, nature, country) in Te Hiku o te Ika, Far North, Aotearoa New Zealand. It shows how Ngāti Kuri women and te taiao are embedded in - yet also resist - colonial and patriarchal discourses. 
The Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine theoretical framework decolonises and transforms the ways in which Māori women have been represented and marginalised. Pūrākau (storywork) as a theory and methodology ensures Ngāti Kuri women’s stories are told by them and for them. Indigenous relational geography is woven into the theoretical framework to further understand Indigenous relationships to place and diverse feelings of belonging and responsibility.
Whakawhiti kōrero (research conversations), wānanga (workshops) and tipi haere (mobile wānanga) were carried out with 19 Ngāti Kuri women. Approximately 40 people from the iwi and / or scientific communities contribute to the thesis through the initiatives of the Ngāti Kuri Relationship Working Group (NKRWG), the Auckland War Memorial Museum and other research partners and as conservationists. 
Findings are organised around three themes: identities; relationships; and a sense of belonging. The first theme introduces Ngāti Kuri women’s identities as leaders and drivers of change, disrupting and dismantling the intersection of patriarchal and colonial discourse. The pūrākau of Maieke, a founding ancestress of Ngāti Kuri, brings to light the reclamation and transformation of Māori women’s identities and geographies, as defined by participants. Pre-colonisation Ngāti Kuri women had the capacity and authority to become a governing force in the daily lives of the iwi. The second theme highlights colonial and patriarchal naming of our world. Ngāti Kuri women are reconfiguring relationships and representation through the scientific naming of taonga (culturally valuable objects and species). Values and principles of kaitiakitanga (inherited guardianship) and whakawhanaugatanga (relating well to others) guide the naming process. The third theme focuses on participants’ reflections and understandings of the ways in which they sense place and feelings of belonging. Participants’ engagement with te taiao - through singing, storying and sensing place – highlights the way te taiao re-centres and transforms Ngāti Kuri women’s relationships and experiences of belonging to iwi homelands.
Importantly, the thesis concludes with a discussion of the challenges, successes and actions of Ngāti Kuri women as they continue to strive for tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), social and environmental well-being. I conceptualise new geographies that account for, and celebrate, uniquely Ngāti Kuri understandings of identities, relationships and feelings of belonging. Finally, a short creative story ends the thesis in order to show the transformative power of Ngāti Kuri women’s te taiao experiences.

text: Te karanga tūturu o maieke:  Ngāti Kuri women’s taiao geographies This research examines the relationships, identities and sense of belonging of Māori women of within the Ngāti Kuri iwi (tribe) and te taiao (the natural world, environment, nature, country) in Te Hiku o te Ika, Far North, Aotearoa New Zealand. It shows how Ngāti Kuri women and te taiao are embedded in - yet also resist - colonial and patriarchal discourses. 
The Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine theoretical framework decolonises and transforms the ways in which Māori women have been represented and marginalised. Pūrākau (storywork) as a theory and methodology ensures Ngāti Kuri women’s stories are told by them and for them. Indigenous relational geography is woven into the theoretical framework to further understand Indigenous relationships to place and diverse feelings of belonging and responsibility.
Whakawhiti kōrero (research conversations), wānanga (workshops) and tipi haere (mobile wānanga) were carried out with 19 Ngāti Kuri women. Approximately 40 people from the iwi and / or scientific communities contribute to the thesis through the initiatives of the Ngāti Kuri Relationship Working Group (NKRWG), the Auckland War Memorial Museum and other research partners and as conservationists. 
Findings are organised around three themes: identities; relationships; and a sense of belonging. The first theme introduces Ngāti Kuri women’s identities as leaders and drivers of change, disrupting and dismantling the intersection of patriarchal and colonial discourse. The pūrākau of Maieke, a founding ancestress of Ngāti Kuri, brings to light the reclamation and transformation of Māori women’s identities and geographies, as defined by participants. Pre-colonisation Ngāti Kuri women had the capacity and authority to become a governing force in the daily lives of the iwi. The second theme highlights colonial and patriarchal naming of our world. Ngāti Kuri women are reconfiguring relationships and representation through the scientific naming of taonga (culturally valuable objects and species). Values and principles of kaitiakitanga (inherited guardianship) and whakawhanaugatanga (relating well to others) guide the naming process. The third theme focuses on participants’ reflections and understandings of the ways in which they sense place and feelings of belonging. Participants’ engagement with te taiao - through singing, storying and sensing place – highlights the way te taiao re-centres and transforms Ngāti Kuri women’s relationships and experiences of belonging to iwi homelands.
Importantly, the thesis concludes with a discussion of the challenges, successes and actions of Ngāti Kuri women as they continue to strive for tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), social and environmental well-being. I conceptualise new geographies that account for, and celebrate, uniquely Ngāti Kuri understandings of identities, relationships and feelings of belonging. Finally, a short creative story ends the thesis in order to show the transformative power of Ngāti Kuri women’s te taiao experiences.

year: 2022