Financial forecasting using genetic algorithms

A new genetic-algorithm-b ased system is presented and applied to the task of predicting the future performances of individual stocks. The system, in its most general form, can be applied to any inductive machine-learning problem: given a database of examples, the system will return a general description applicable to examples both within and outside the database. This differs from traditional genetic algorithms, which perform optimization. The genetic algorithm system is compared to an established neural network system in the domain of financial forecasting, using the results from over 1600 stocks and roughly 5000 experiments. Synergy between the two systems is also examined. This study presents a new system that utilizes genetic algorithms (GAs) to predict the future performances of individual stocks. More generally, the system extends GAs from their traditional domain of optimization to inductive machine learning or classification. The overall learning system incorporates a GA, a niching method (for finding multiple solutions), and several other components (discussed in the section entitled Genetic Algorithms for Inductive Learning). Time-series forecasting is a special type of classification on which this stud

Suicidal Ideation and Associated Factors among School-Going Adolescents in Thailand

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and identify associations between suicidal ideation and indicators of psychosocial distress and social-environmental factors in Thai adolescents. Using data from the Thailand Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2008, we assessed the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its associated factors among adolescents (N = 2,758). Overall the prevalence of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was 8.8% (9.9% males and 7.7% females). Variables influenced the suicidal ideation in multivariable analysis were sadness (Odds Ratio = OR: 6.03; 95% Confidence Interval = CI (3.00–12.14), lack of parental attachment (OR = 2.26, CI = 1.09–4.67), current alcohol use (OR = 2.32, 1.21–4.44), and ever having had sexual intercourse (OR = 4.16, CI = 3.40–7.68). Psychosocial, health-risk behaviours and lack of protective factors appear to effect suicidal ideation in this youth population