Markov models provide a useful representation of system behavioral actions and state observations, but they do not scale well. Utilizing a hierarchy and abstraction as in HHMMs improves scalability, but they are usually constructed manually using knowledge engineering techniques. In this paper, we introduce a new method of automatically constructing HHMMs and subsequent hierarchical POMDPs usin...

We report on the development of a robust parsing device which aims to provide a partial explanation for child language acquisition and help in the construction of better natural language processing systems. The backbone of the new approach is the synthesis of statistical and symbolic approaches to natural language.

Field construction can be planned, monitored, and controlled at two distinct levels: 1) the activity or schedule level; and 2) the operation or process level. Graphical 3D visualization can serve as an effective communication method at both levels. Several research efforts in visualizing construction are rooted in scheduling. They typically involve linking activity-based construction schedules ...

The objective of this project was to investigate the current state of the practice with regards to karst detection methods and current karst construction practices and to recommend the best practices for use by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). A comprehensive review of literature available on the subject was conducted. Various karst detection technologies were summarized with r...

Four methods for constructing anti-Pasch Steiner triple systems are developed. The first generalises a construction of Stinson and Wei to obtain a general singular direct product construction. The second generalises the Bose construction. The third employs a construction due to Lu. The fourth employs Wilson-type inflation techniques using Latin squares having no subsquares of order two. As a co...

In this analysis of the risk and return of stocks in the United States and global markets, we apply several portfolio construction and optimization techniques to U.S. and global stock universes. We find that (1) mean-variance techniques continue to produce portfolios capable of generating excess returns above transaction costs and statistically significant asset selection, (2) optimization tech...

Miss-ratio curve (MRC), or equivalently hit-ratio curve (HRC), construction techniques have recently gathered the attention of many researchers. Recent advancements have allowed for approximating these curves in constant time, allowing for online working-set-size (WSS) measurement. Techniques span the algorithmic design paradigm from classic dynamic programming to arti cial intelligence inspire...

In silico models for biochemical systems are usually built by extracting in vitro kinetic expressions for each enzyme-catalysed reaction from databases. This method, however, assumes that the enzyme kinetics measured in isolation will be the same as those in complex systems (in vivo). Also, these models require that all the kinetic expressions and all the reactions are known. If this knowledge ...