On Sharp Boundary Problem in Rule Based Expert Systems in the Medical Domain

Recently the application of the conventional rule based expert system of disease risk determination in medical domains has increased. However a major limitation to the effectiveness of the rule based expert SyStem approach is the sharp boundary problem that leads to underestimation or overestimation of boundary cases, which ultimately affects the accuracy of their recommendation.In this paper an expert driven approach is used to investigate the viability a fuzzy expert system in the determination of risk associated with coronary heart disease with regards to the sharp boundary problem in rule based expert system

CROSA: Context-aware cloud service ranking approach using online reviews based on sentiment analysis

[EN] The explosion of cloud services over the Internet has raised new challenges in cloud service selection and ranking. The existence of a great variety of offered cloud services made the users think deeply about the most appropriate services that meet their needs and at the same time are adaptable to their context. Nowadays, online reviews are used for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of finding useful product information, having impact on the consumers' decision-making process. In this context, the current paper suggests a context-aware cloud service ranking approach using online reviews and based on sentiment analysis (CROSA). Its main objective is to ease the cloud service selection. The CROSA approach analyzes sentiments associated with service measurement index (SMI)-based service properties for each alternative cloud service. Moreover, it enhances the cloud service decision-making by supporting fuzzy sentiments through the intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and PROMETHEE II. The experimental results presented in this paper show that this approach is efficient and performing.Ben-Abdallah, E.; Boukadi, K.; Lloret, J.; Hammami, M. (2021). CROSA: Context-aware cloud service ranking approach using online reviews based on sentiment analysis. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience. 33(7):1-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpe.5358S11633

Cluster management synergy valuation: Synthesis and illustration of a discounted cash flow synergy valuation model for cluster management organisations

The practice of cluster management has become an integral component to the modern cluster business environment. This research develops a framework for the valuation of synergies generated by a cluster management organisation (CMO) to be used as either a method of (ex-post) management evaluation or (ex-ante) for capital budgeting purposes. The theoretical framework is synthesised from clustering and business alliance (predominantly Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Joint Ventures (JV)), literature. The case of the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI) was used to inform model development and to illustrate practical application of the theoretical synergy valuation model. The case study found that the synergy valuation model faces problems with practical application due to the wide variety of activities commonly associated with CMO goals and objectives. It concludes that even though a synergy framework would provide a useful tool for evaluation and capital budgeting, further research is required to develop a more accurate method of impact estimation

Application of an automatically designed fuzzy logic decision support system to connection admission control in ATM networks

PhDAbstract not availabl

A Designer's Log: Case Studies in Instructional Design

Books and articles on instructional design in online learning abound but rarely do we get such a comprehensive picture of what instructional designers do, how they do it, and the problems they solve as their university changes. Power documents the emergence of an adapted instructional design model for transforming courses from single-mode to dual-mode instruction, making this designer’s log a unique contribution to the fi eld of online learning

Online development in the Nordic countries : a history of online information from the 1960s to the '00s and NORDINFO's role in its development

Some of the contributions to this book have previously been published as unedited manuscripts in 2007 at http://hdl.handle.net/1975/149

Critical Perspectives Sustainability of the on South African Civil Society Sector

This report presents the findings of a research and advocacy process that included consultative workshops with CSOs in all nine of South Africa's provinces, interviews with CSOs, politicians, government departments, the NLB, NDA and local funders. The report highlights the successes and ongoing problems associated with the NLB and the NDA. It locates them within a broader context of government unevenness, inefficiency and corruption

A New Settlement for the UK: A “Leap in the Dark”. Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings 39/2016

This paper examines the outcome of the negotiations for a new settlement concerning the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union. It reviews the nature and possible consequences of the “substantial changes” that were demanded in the areas of economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty, and immigration. We argue that the proposed arrangements do not amount to much and can prove harmful to the future of the EU. The paper is a follow-up to our analysis of the initial proposals, available under Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings, 38/2016