This dissertation focuses on developing imaging informatics algorithms for clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) based on histopathological whole-slide images (WSIs). Currently, histopathological analysis is a common clinical procedure for diagnosing cancer presence, type, and progression. While diagnosing patients using biopsy slides, pathologists manually assess nuclear morphology. However, making decisions manually from a slide with millions of nuclei can be time-consuming and subjective. Researchers have proposed CDSSs that help in decision making but they have limited reproducibility. The development of robust CDSSs for WSIs faces several informatics challenges: (1) Lack of robust segmentation methods for histopathological images, (2) Semantic gap between quantitative information and pathologist’s knowledge, (3) Lack of batch-invariant imaging informatics methods, (4) Lack of knowledge models for capturing informative patterns in large WSIs, and (5) Lack of guidelines for optimizing and validating diagnostic models. I conducted advanced imaging informatics research to overcome these challenges and developed novel methods to extract information from WSIs, to model knowledge embedded in large histopathological datasets, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and to assist decision making with biological and clinical validation. I validated my methods for two applications: (1) diagnosis of histopathology-based endpoints such as subtype and grade and (2) prediction of clinical endpoints such as metastasis, stage, lymphnode spread, and survival. The statistically emergent feature subsets in the diagnostic models for histopathology-based endpoints were concordant with pathologists’ knowledge.

The present study aims to develop an analysis package for combining forecasts that are obtained from different forecast methods. The package is composed of three modules, namely, the data input module, the data analysis module and the combination module. In data input module, the data is entered and saved as an Excel file with the given name. In data analysis module, the program computes the forecasts of the selected methods and displays the forecast results, the mean absolute errors, the mean square errors and the mean absolute percentage errors of these methods. In combination module, the forecast results, computed in the data analysis module, are combined according to the selected combination methods. All the detailed calculations of the forecasts and the values assigned by the program to minimize the mean absolute deviations, the mean square errors and the mean absolute percentage errors are displayed under the columns of the related method on the Excel spreadsheet of the file.

It is agreed upon by many researchers that, although risk management (RM) is accepted as one of the critical success factors for construction projects, project participants generally do not have sufficient knowledge pertinent to risk management concept and the number of risk management support tools which facilitate the process is rather low. In order to facilitate risk management activities, decision support tools that will enable risk identification, analysis and response strategy formulation should be developed. Decision support tools are necessary for systematic identification of risks, scenario generation, proactive management of risk and integration of risk management activities with other project management functions such as planning, cost estimating and monitoring project success. The aim of this study is to introduce a conceptual risk management model and a prototype risk management decision support system (DSS) which is applicable to construction projects. The proposed decision support system, namely Integrated Risk Management System (IRMS), is designed to support the user at all phases of the risk management process and to integrate risk management activities with other project management functions in the bid preparation stage of international construction projects. A risk management process model has been developed as well as a risk information model so that IRMS can be used for systematic management of risk by all parties involved in a construction project. Major functions of IRMS include, risk identification by using a built-in Hierarchical Risk Breakdown Structure (HRBS), risk analysis by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, risk assessment by risk rating, risk re-assessment, response generation, risk monitoring and corporate memory. The applicability of the system has been tested by a real case study and its functionality has been demonstrated using the data associated with the case study.

In today&rsquo / s conditions, systems that surround individuals have evolved in structure such that, nature of variable interactions are much more complex and changing continuously. Logistics systems, which constitute an example for such systems, have also necessitated fast management and decision-making in a fast paced environment, under limited sources with the additional effect of increasing customer requirements and competition. These conditions require a dynamic analysis. In this study, system dynamics approach was shown to be a competent alternative to analyze complex and dynamic systems like logistics systems and its cost structure studied. A theoretical logistics model with a user interface is presented. Then the developed model implemented in an organization operating in aluminum industry by making the required modifications. A scenario analysis regarding a new investment decision studied. All analysis and modeling studies were carried out in Stella 6.0.1.

In this study, a specific decision support system is designed and developed for Production Planning and Marketing Department of an apparel company. The developed system involves two modules with user friendly interface or data input and query. The system is designed to provide support in the following fields of decision making / pre cost estimation, capacity planning, master production planning and production scheduling. A detailed analysis of the existing system is conducted and Microsoft Access is used for the development of software. The cost and benefits of the implementing the system are also discussed in addition to basics, sample reports and the user interface of the developed program.

This thesis has two distinct research threads. One thread examines the effectiveness of technology support on the performance of focus groups. Unlike previous research, the work described in this thesis addresses the fundamental issue that groups are social systems, and that comprehensive measurement of the effectiveness of group activities requires assessment of both the task-oriented and social aspects of the group activity. In this research, four different communication modes are used to compare group effectiveness. The second research thread in this thesis is the use of Systems Thinking, and specifically Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), as the framework for inquiring into the effects of technology support on group effectiveness. The strategy in this thesis for developing and evaluating hypotheses extends the general descriptions and guidance in the literature on using SSM for hypothesis testing. Systems thinking also provides the basis for examining the prevailing ???profile deviation??? view that the better the fit between the group task and the technology support the greater the group performance. Using the six perspectives of fit developed by Venkatraman (1989), the most common GSS models and other models developed to examine Task-Technology Fit (TTF) are analysed. The results show that group performance models are most often tested from a ???profile deviation??? perspective and TTF models developed from a profile deviation perspective claim to have predictive and descriptive validity for assessing the level of group performance. To assess whether an SSM based approach can improve the predictive and/or descriptive analysis of the impact of technology support on group work, a field experiment was conducted at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Twenty focus groups of officer cadets assessed their military training program using a GSS in one of four communication modes. The results showed little predictive or descriptive support for the profile deviation perspective of TTF when measuring the group???s overall effectiveness, task effectiveness, participant satisfaction or group relations. The alternative ???gestalt??? perspective, operationalised in this research by using SSM, provided a more comprehensive approach to examining the effectiveness of technology support for group work.

This study investigates the factors that influence appropriate use of audit support systems. Appropriate use is use of an audit support system in a manner consistent with how the audit firm expects the system to be used. Investigating appropriate use of audit support systems is important because the extent to which these systems can assist auditors achieve efficient and high quality audits depends on how auditors use them. Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) (DeSanctis and Poole, 1994) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) are combined to model the relationship between constructs hypothesised to increase the probability that audit support systems are used appropriately. The theoretical model decomposes two TPB antecedents, perceived normative pressure (or subjective norms) and perceived behavioural control, into the exogenous constructs hypothesised to influence whether audit support systems are used appropriately. Perceived normative pressure is decomposed into two socio-ideological control mechanisms, team and firm consensus on appropriation. Perceived behavioural control is decomposed into self-efficacy and two technocratic control mechanisms, perceived system restrictiveness and perceived audit review effectiveness. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis ( Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-242). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: Ioannis Tsanis. CD-ROM contains Appendices A-H (51 p.). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 297-307). Also available via World Wide Web.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.