Process model comparison based on cophenetic distance

The automated comparison of process models has received increasing attention in the last decade, due to the growing existence of process models and repositories, and the consequent need to assess similarities between the underlying processes. Current techniques for process model comparison are either structural (based on graph edit distances), or behavioural (through activity profiles or the analysis of the execution semantics). Accordingly, there is a gap between the quality of the information provided by these two families, i.e., structural techniques may be fast but inaccurate, whilst behavioural are accurate but complex. In this paper we present a novel technique, that is based on a well-known technique to compare labeled trees through the notion of Cophenetic distance. The technique lays between the two families of methods for comparing a process model: it has an structural nature, but can provide accurate information on the differences/similarities of two process models. The experimental evaluation on various benchmarks sets are reported, that position the proposed technique as a valuable tool for process model comparison.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Growth and flowering in Cyrtanthus elatus : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science at Massey University

Cyrtanthus elatus (Hilliard and Burtt, 1986), commonly called Vallota, is a bulbous plant native to the Southeastern Cape province of South Africa, bearing an inflorescence with several large, bell-shaped, red flowers. The bulb and flower morphology, plus development of the inflorescence is described and was similar to Eucharis and Hippeastrum. Sympodial growth of leaves and inflorescences occurred from meristematic cells at the centre of the basal plate. A terminal inflorescence was initiated after 5-7 leaves. Large bulbs (7 cm diameter) had 5 leaves per growth unit and up to 5 inflorescence buds. Temperature and light intensity influenced growth and development of C. elatus. Inflorescences were initiated over a range of temperatures (13-29°C). Vernalization was not required. Floral initiation was optimal from 21-29°C and development to anthesis was optimal at 25°C. Quality of florets was best at 21°C which resulted in larger, brighter, orangey-red flowers. Rates of floral initiation were not affected by shading (50%), however, shading resulted in a high level of inflorescence bud abortion, particularly at warm temperatures (mean 23°C). Inflorescences did not emerge under 50% shade. Scapes were longest at 21-25°C, light intensity 722µMm-2s-1 . Inflorescence quality was maintained in a simulated home environment and past the macrobud stage, was independent of inflorescence development. Fluctuating warm temperature (17-26°C) and high light intensity (784µMm-2s-1 ) resulted in maximum root, shoot and offset growth. Good quality plants can be produced year-round under warm conditions (17-26°C), with two inflorescences per year from mature bulbs. Scheduling is complicated by the lack of a vernalization requirement. Shading is not recommended during production, Shipment in the dark at the macrobud stage is possible without deterioration. C. elatus is suitable as a patio and as an indoor pot plant

Winterganzenbeleid: het roer om? : ex ante evaluatie kosteneffectiviteit opvangbeleid winterganzen

Deze studie laat zien wat de kosteneffectiviteit is van verschillende scenario’s en opties voor het winterganzenbeleid hebben. Vergeleken met voortzetting van het huidige beleid levert het afschaffen van de schadevergoeding voor ganzen buiten de foerageergebieden en het verminderen van ganzenpopulaties door afschot (populatieregulatie) de grootste besparingen op. Het stoppen met het huidige Beleidskader, dat wil zeggen geen foerageergebieden meer, geen verjaging door ondersteunend afschot en in het hele land de schade van ganzen vergoeden, levert ook aanzienlijke besparing op. Het draagvlak voor deze opties verschilt sterk tussen agrariërs, terreinbeheerders, wildbeheereenheden, dierenbeschermingsorganisaties en Vogelbescherming

A Real-Time Method for Detecting Temporary Process Variants in Event Log Data

During the execution of a business process, organizations or individual employees may introduce mistakes, as well as temporary or permanent changes to the process. Such mistakes and changes in the process can introduce anomalies and deviations in the event logs, which in turn introduce temporary and periodic process variants. Early identification of such deviations from the most common types of cases can help an organization to act on them. Keeping this problem in focus, we developed a method that can discover temporary and periodic changes to processes in event log data in real-time. The method classifies cases into common, periodic, temporary, and anomalous cases. The proposed method is evaluated using synthetic and real-world data with promising results

Origin of Listeria monocytogenes on meat products

Listeria monocytogenes is a relevant food safety hazard in ready to eat products. Inactivation during processing, prevention of recontamination and control of multiplication are the main instruments to secure the safety of meat products. Intensive microbiological monitoring of products and the production environment are valuable tools to assess the level of control in a meat processing plant. During the course of a year all isolates found during hygiene monitoring at a meat processing plant were stored at -70 degrees Celsius. A total of 94 L. monocytogenes isolates have been analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and were divided into 30 different types

Report of the Horse Mackerel Exchange and Workshop 2006

Following a recommendation from PGCCDBS, a workshop on age calibration of horse mackerel was carried out. The workshop was preceded by an exchange. The objectives were: to improve the quality of horse mackerel readings by international calibration. In particular, attempt to resolve the observed differences between countries. Estimate the accuracy and precision of the age readings before and after the intercalibration. Take into account differences between areas and methods. Training of new horse mackerel readers

Ontwikkeling van enkele mosselbanken in de Nederlandse Waddenzee; situatie 2010

In dit project wordt de lange termijnontwikkeling van mosselbanken, en de factoren die het al dan niet overleven van mosselbanken bepalen, onderzocht. Hiervoor worden door IMARES enkele individuele mosselbanken in detail bestudeerd. Drie mosselbanken worden sinds 1997 gevolgd, één sinds 1998, twee sinds 2002, één sinds 2003 en zeven mosselbanken worden sinds 2006 gevolgd. In deze rapportage wordt de ontwikkeling van deze veertien mosselbanken tot en met 2010 beschreven. De meeste mosselbanken uit het project bestaan inmiddels uit mosselen van meerdere jaarklassen. Uit de gegevens die gedurende de jaren zijn verzameld blijkt dat naarmate een mosselbank ouder wordt het percentage levende mosselen langzaam afneemt tot ongeveer 40%. De rest van het oppervlak van de mosselbank bestaat dan uit lege mosselschelpen, ingevangen schelpen van andere soorten, slakken, andere schelpdieren, pokken en macro-algen. De afname in levende mosselen op een mosselbank wordt voornamelijk veroorzaakt door stormen en predatie. Lokale, matige mosselbroedvallen op individuele mosselbanken kunnen de afnemende mosselpopulatie op de korte termijn in stand houden, maar af en toe optredende goede broedvallen zijn nodig voor lange termijnoverleving van een mosselbank. De laatste jaren zijn veel van de onderzochte mosselbanken bedekt geraakt met Japanse oesters. Toch zijn er tussen de oesters nog veel mosselen te vinden en kan gesproken worden van gemengde mosselbanken. De oesters in de mosselbanken lijken in sommige gevallen voor extra stevigheid te zorgen, hoewel er ook delen met oesters verdwijnen tijdens winterstormen