In response to the dearth of research focusing solely on immigrant fathers, we propose the Integrative Conceptual Model to investigate the psychological well-being of recent immigrant fathers from East Asia to the United States. This model addresses how multiple factors in the society (e.g., policy), work and community (e.g., employment), family (e.g., father-child and couple relationships), and individual (e.g., education) levels in the host and home countries are linked to East Asian immigrant fathers’ adaptation to their new environment. More specifically, we focus on the unique risk factors and protective factors to their adjustment, which are vital to the psychological well-being of recent immigrant fathers from East Asia. The Integrative Conceptual Model contributes to the limited fatherhood literature to help understand the multifaceted nature of immigrant fatherhood. Implications include creating culturally sensitive education and intervention programs for East Asian immigrant fathers.

The challenge of implementing and executing a legal contract in a machine has been gaining significant interest recently with the advent of blockchain, smart contracts, LegalTech and IoT technologies. Popular software engineering methods, including agile ones, are unsuitable for such outcome-critical software. Instead, formal specifications are crucial for implementing smart contracts to ensure they capture the intentions of stakeholders, also that their execution is compliant with the terms and conditions of the original natural-language legal contract. This thesis concerns supporting the semi-automatic generation of formal specifications of legal contracts written in Natural Language (NL). The main contribution is a framework, named Contratto, where the transformation process from NL to a formal specification is subdivided into 5 steps: (1) identification of ambiguous terms in the contract and manual disambiguation; (2) structural and semantic annotation of the legal contract; (3) discovery of relationships among the concepts identified in step (2); (4) formalization of the terms used in the NL text into a domain model; (5) generation of formal expressions that describe what should be implemented by programmers in a smart contract. A systematic literature review on the main topic of the thesis was performed to support the definition of the framework. Requirements were derived from standard business contracts for a preliminary implementation of tools that support the transformation process, particularly concerning step (2). A prototype environment was proposed to semi-automate the transformation process although significant manual intervention is required. The preliminary evaluation confirms that the annotation tool can perform the annotation as well as human annotators, albeit novice ones.

No description available.

Actualmente, la ingeniería de software ha propuesto múltiples técnicas para mejorar el desarrollo de software, sin embargo, la meta final no ha sido satisfecha. En muchos casos, el producto software no satisface las necesidades reales de los clientes finales del negocio donde el sistema operará. Uno de los problemas principales de los trabajos actuales es la carencia de un enfoque sistemático para mapear cada concepto de modelado del dominio del problema (modelos organizacionales), en sus correspondientes elementos conceptuales en el espacio de la solución (modelos conceptuales orientados a objetos). El principal objetivo de esta tesis es proveer un enfoque metodológico que permita generar modelos conceptuales y modelos de requisitos a partir de descripciones organizacionales. Se propone el uso de tres disciplinas, distintas pero complementarias (modelado organizacional, requisitos de software y modelado conceptual) para lograr este objetivo. La tesis describe un proceso de elicitación de requisitos que permite al usuario crear un modelo de negocios que representa la situación actual del negocio (requisitos tempranos). Nosotros consideramos que este modelo, el cual refleja la forma en la que se implementan actualmente los procesos de negocio, es la fuente correcta para determinar la funcionalidad esperada del sistema a desarrollar. Se propone también un proceso para identificar los elementos que son relevantes para ser automatizados a partir del modelo de negocio. Como resultado de este proceso se genera un modelo intermedio que representa los requisitos del sistema de software. Finalmente, presentamos un conjunto de guías sistemáticas para generar un esquema conceptual orientado a objetos a partir del modelo intermedio. Nosotros también exploramos, como solución alternativa, la generación de una especificación de requisitos tardíos a partir del modelo intermedio. / Martínez Rebollar, A. (2008). Conceptual schemas generation from organizacional model in an automatic software production process [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/3304

Для достижения высоких результатов предприятие должно внедрять программы благополучия, подразумевающие комплексный подход к сотруднику и его профессиональной деятельности. Люди не стремятся покидать предприятие, которое заботится о их личном благополучии, ценит их время и создает комфортные условия для работы. Цель магистерской диссертации заключается в изучении теоретических основ управления благополучием персонала организации, разработке концептуальной модели благополучия на рабочем месте и инструментария оценки индикаторов вовлеченности, лояльности, удовлетворенности трудом, проведении пилотного исследования уровня благополучия персонала и разработке практических рекомендаций по повышению уровня благополучия персонала исследуемого предприятия. Научная новизна заключается в создании нового подхода к оценке уровня благополучия персонала и в разработке практических рекомендаций по формированию системы благополучия персонала организации, направленной на достижение целей долгосрочного стабильного развития. / To achieve high results, an enterprise must implement well-being programs that imply an integrated approach to the employee and his professional activities. People do not tend to leave a company that cares about their personal well-being, values their time and creates comfortable working conditions. The purpose of the master's thesis is to study the theoretical foundations of managing the well-being of the organization's personnel, developing a conceptual model of well-being in the workplace and tools for assessing indicators of engagement, loyalty, job satisfaction, conducting a pilot study of the level of staff well-being and developing practical recommendations for increasing the level of well-being of the personnel of the enterprise under study. The scientific novelty lies in the creation of a new approach to assessing the level of personnel well-being and in the development of practical recommendations for creating a system of well-being for the organization’s personnel, aimed at achieving the goals of long-term sustainable development.

The relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performance were examined in East, West and South Ethiopia. The hypotheses were tested in a survey of N=162 leaders, managers and directors of primary coffee farmers cooperatives. The results of the test confirmed the overall positive relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performances. This study highlights and gives general view into how the role of leadership can significantly contribute to cooperatives business performances. The results and findings of the analysis indicated that leaders who are most effective at business performances are those who utilize leadership behavior and the skills and trainings required in the cooperatives business organizations. The study encourages further and comprehensive research into the interconnection between the role of leadership, education and skills of leaders, financial management knowledge and decision making competency. The study followed cross-sectional survey design, and employed evaluative quantitative analysis method. The analysis was based on primary data generated through a structured questionnaire distributed to the respondents. Responses to research statements were scaled and converted to analyze the quantitative data of dependent and independent variables based on the role of leadership and associated performance variables. The findings from correlation and multiple regressions in testing the hypotheses showed that there are significant and positive relationship between each of the five independent variables and a dependent variable of business performances. The study concluded that leadership role was very important in cooperatives business performance and, therefore, recommended that leaders of coffee farmers’ cooperatives organizations that wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their businesses performances need to implement the suggestions stated in the recommendation part of this study about the leadership roles. / Business Management / DBL

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / occurring most frequently. For the 217 large-error cases due to midlatitude influences, the most frequent error mechanisms were E-DCI (midlatitude), excessive response to vertical wind shear, excessive midlatitude cyclogenesis (E-MCG), insufficient midlatitude cyclogenesis (I-MCG), excessive midlatitude cyclolysis (E-MCL) and excessive midlatitude anticyclogenesis (E-MAG), which accounted for 68% of all large errors occurring in both NOGAPS and GFDN. Characteristics and symptoms of the erroneous forecast tracks and model fields are documented and illustrative case studies are presented. Proper identification and removal of the track forecast displaying an error mechanism could form a selective consensus that will be more accurate than a non-selective consensus. / Captain, United States Air Force

Text in English / Born at a time of abundance of technology, including new media, e-teens have their lives woven around the use of new media technologies to the extent that they virtually do everything with the aid of these technologies, including learning, playing, socialising and communicating. E-teens, besides, demonstrate marked expertise in the use of these technologies. Although there have been various studies done on this group of users supported by models and theories on the use, gratifications and appropriation of new media technologies, the premise of this study was on two assumptions. First, there are limited studies that have been conducted in the sub-Saharan African context, especially, Ghana. Second, most available theories and models that guide the study of e-teens’ use, appropriation and the use of new media technologies are generalized and do not sufficiently highlight the unique attributes and gratification needs that are tied to their developmental stage. In light of these assumptions, the study was undertaken to provide empirical evidence on the types of new media e-teens have access to; the types of new media used by e-teens in their scheme of things and e-teens’ purposes for using new media. It also sought to find out the gratifications sought and obtained from the use of new media technologies by e-teens; the key features of new media appropriation and experience among e-teens and to identify the features of new media technologies which are most appealing to e-teens. The other objective, which serves as the main contribution of this study, was to develop a conceptual model representing new media use and appropriation among e-teens, thereby filling the theoretical or conceptual gap that exists in this context. The study adopted a quantitative approach whereby data was collected using close-5ended questionnaires. The target population were teens from age 13 to 19 in senior high schools in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, selected using a simple random sampling. The results of the study show that, overall, the most popular new media technology that e-teens had access to and owned was the smartphone. Leading among the apps that e-teens found to be appealing were educational, entertainment and information/news, with communicative and participatory features of new media technologies appealing to e-teens highly. Also, educational, sociability and social inclusion, respectively, were the most popular gratifications sought and obtained by e-teens. It is submitted that social inclusion, educational and sociability gratifications are considered to be directly in line with the unique developmental needs of e-teens. However, it is recommended, among other things, that educational use of new media, which was one of the strong points for new media use, should be further encouraged as new media provides borderless opportunities forlearning. The researcher believes that the conceptual model for e-teen use and appropriation of new media technologies provide a firm ground for further research on topics related to this subject matter. To provide support and substance to the e-teen model, other researchers are encouraged to test and extend it where necessary. In conclusion, the findings provide evidence that new media technologies are highly appropriated by e-teens because the technologies help them meet their unique gratification needs. Therefore, the study recommends that, although new media use among e-teens can be encouraged, it is important to ensure proper usage, which will not be detrimental to them. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

The relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performance were examined in East, West and South Ethiopia. The hypotheses were tested in a survey of N=162 leaders, managers and directors of primary coffee farmers cooperatives. The results of the test confirmed the overall positive relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performances. This study highlights and gives general view into how the role of leadership can significantly contribute to cooperatives business performances. The results and findings of the analysis indicated that leaders who are most effective at business performances are those who utilize leadership behavior and the skills and trainings required in the cooperatives business organizations. The study encourages further and comprehensive research into the interconnection between the role of leadership, education and skills of leaders, financial management knowledge and decision making competency. The study followed cross-sectional survey design, and employed evaluative quantitative analysis method. The analysis was based on primary data generated through a structured questionnaire distributed to the respondents. Responses to research statements were scaled and converted to analyze the quantitative data of dependent and independent variables based on the role of leadership and associated performance variables. The findings from correlation and multiple regressions in testing the hypotheses showed that there are significant and positive relationship between each of the five independent variables and a dependent variable of business performances. The study concluded that leadership role was very important in cooperatives business performance and, therefore, recommended that leaders of coffee farmers’ cooperatives organizations that wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their businesses performances need to implement the suggestions stated in the recommendation part of this study about the leadership roles. / Business Management / DBL

所謂都市服務設施係指「提供社會、文化、經濟、政治與宗教等服務機能之都市設施」。但由於都市服務設施的種類與使用性質的不同，對都市環境或生活品質也產生不同的影響，有些對環境有正面的「迎毗」效果，有些卻會產生負面的「鄰避」效果，而有些則是迎毗效果與鄰避效果同時存在。 　　以往有關鄰避效果的研究，無論是國內外多只是就個案或是某類設施進行探討，在界定迎毗效果與鄰避效果時也過於主觀，因而對具有鄰避效果之設施的探討未盡完整。因此本研究運用環境行為的研究方法，以台北地方生活圈為研究範圍，自居民的接受意願與鄰避指數來界定鄰避效果，並尋求都市居民為何會對都市服務設施產生鄰避的心理或行為，以及影響鄰避的因素，最後驗證本研究所建立的都市服務設施鄰避效果之概念模式。 　　根據研究成果所獲得的結論與建議如下： 　　一、本研究所建立的「都市服務設施鄰避效果」概念模式有資訊、動機、環境態度、經驗、個人屬性、與都市階層等六個概念因子，而中介因子為接受意願。 　　二、根據都市居民的接受意願可以將都市服務設施劃分為「不願意接受」、「接受意願態度混雜」、與「願意接受」三個層級；而以鄰避指數度量鄰避效果，則可發現都市服務設施的鄰避效果依輕重程度可以劃分為四個等級：「不具鄰避效果」、「輕度鄰避效果」、「中度鄰避效果」、與「高度鄰避效果」。 　　三、大多數的環境認知與態度不會因受訪者所在的都市階層不同而受影響。而將環境認知與態度經因子分析操作後，各都市階層抽出的因子結構不甚相同，經調整後可得出四個影響都市服務設施接受意願的因子，分別是資訊、環境態度、動機、與經驗。此外，檢驗概念模式中的概念因子與接受意願的互動關係，發現除了經驗與都市階層二個因子與研究假設一致，其餘三個都與假設有所差異。 　　四、策略建議方面：建議從法規面、規劃者角色定位、土地使用規劃、及都市服務設施管理方面考慮改善鄰避效果之策略。 / Urban service facilities are those that provide "social, cultural, economic, political, and religious functions." Due to different types and functions, these facilities will have varied impacts on environment. Some are positive, and hence "YIMBY" (Yes-ln-My-Back-Yard) facilities; some are negative, and hence "NIMBY" (Not-ln-My-Back-Yard) facilities; some have both effects. 　　Previous studies dealing with NIMBY effects were mostly case studies or studies that focused on certain types of facilities. In addition, most previous studies were based on subjective concepts to define NIMBY effects. Therefore, this thesis adopts Environment-Behavior research method to study NIMBY effects of urban service facilities in Taipei area. Using the "willingness-to-accept" concept and the "NIMBY indicator," this thesis defines NIMBY effects of urban service facilities. This thesis also seeks to explore why citizens demonstrate NIMBY syndrome, and what factors affect NIMBY syndrome. The conceptual model of NIMBY effects is verified as well. 　　The conclusion and suggests are as follows: 　　1. The conceptual model of "NIMBY effects urban service facilities" consists of information, motivation, environmental attitudes, experience, personal attributes, and urban hierarchy. The intervening factor is the willingness to accept. 　　2. According to the willingness to accept, urban service facilities can be categorized as "not-willing-to-accept," "mixed attitudes," and "willing-to-accept." Using the NIMBY indicator concept to measure NIMBY effects, NIMBY effects can be classified as "no NIMBY effects," "small NIMBY effects," "moderate NIMBY effects," and "serious NIMBY effects." 　　3. Most environmental attitudes will not vary in different urban hierarchies. The results of factor structures of environmental attitudes are varied in different urban hierarchies. After adjustment, four factors influencing the willingness to accept urban service facilities can be extracted: information, environmental attitudes, motivation, and experience. In addition, in examining the relationships between the conceptual model and the willingness to accept, only experience and hierarchies are consistent with our hypotheses. 　　4. This thesis suggests four possible directions to mitigate NIMBY effects and the NIMBY syndrome: regulations, planners' roles, land use planning, and urban facility management.