Federated information retrieval is a technique for searching multiple text collections simultaneously. Queries are submitted to a subset of collections that are most likely to return relevant answers. The results returned by selected collections are integrated and merged into a single list. Federated search is preferred over centralized search alternatives in many environments. For example, commercial search engines such as Google cannot index uncrawlable hidden web collections; federated information retrieval systems can search the contents of hidden web collections without crawling. In enterprise environments, where each organization maintains an independent search engine, federated search techniques can provide parallel search over multiple collections. There are three major challenges in federated search. For each query, a subset of collections that are most likely to return relevant documents are selected. This creates the collection selection problem. To be able to select suitable collections, federated information retrieval systems acquire some knowledge about the contents of each collection, creating the collection representation problem. The results returned from the selected collections are merged before the final presentation to the user. This final step is the result merging problem. In this thesis, we propose new approaches for each of these problems. Our suggested methods, for collection representation, collection selection, and result merging, outperform state-of-the-art techniques in most cases. We also propose novel methods for estimating the number of documents in collections, and for pruning unnecessary information from collection representations sets. Although management of document duplication has been cited as one of the major problems in federated search, prior research in this area often assumes that collections are free of overlap. We investigate the effectiveness of federated search on overlapped collections, and propose new methods for maximizing the number of distinct relevant documents in the final merged results. In summary, this thesis introduces several new contributions to the field of federated information retrieval, including practical solutions to some historically unsolved problems in federated search, such as document duplication management. We test our techniques on multiple testbeds that simulate both hidden web and enterprise search environments.

The travel distribution industry is growing. While traditional distribution channels such as online travel agencies and physical stores are decreasing in revenues, metasearch companies are receiving greater attention from consumers. However, metasearch companies face challenges even with an increasing market. Offering a proposition with a business model that revolves around pay per click and advertisements, you are in need of large amount of traffic. To understand the consumer behaviour has never been more critical. It is about increasing the ability to create a rich customer experience. In order to do so, companies are in need of understanding how to interact with consumers. The interaction is mainly occurring through touchpoints. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to investigate how the current identified most relevant digital touchpoints are having impact on the consumers opinion of metasearch websites in the travel distribution industry. By doing so, we contribute to marketing theory, method and practices. The importance of certain touchpoints and to find out if they have the same relevance when the purchase itself is excluded. Focus is being towards factors that metasearch companies see as undiscovered. A quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 148 respondents. The result not only gave new insight in terms of touchpoints relevance in metasearch industries but also a theoretical ground for future research.

This thesis provides comprehensive insight into the current status of e-commerce usage among chosen small and medium sized hotels in South Bohemian region. The main objective is to prepare the instruments and proposals for the use of e-commerce tools for online sale in a particular hotel. In the theoretical part the concepts associated with areas of tourism, hospitality, marketing, internet, internet marketing and e-commerce are defined. In the practical part are evaluated results of a survey of usage of e-commerce tools in selected small and medium sized hotels within South Bohemia region. This is followed by characterization and description of the current state of the selected hotel, its comparison with similar subjects. Based on the information gained, last section contains appropriate suggestions.

Submitted by Edineia Teixeira (edineia.teixeira@unioeste.br) on 2018-02-20T19:22:50Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Daniel_Loureiro2016.pdf: 1821297 bytes, checksum: 807990a1e6fc8114c5f56efed0175fd9 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-20T19:22:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Daniel_Loureiro2016.pdf: 1821297 bytes, checksum: 807990a1e6fc8114c5f56efed0175fd9 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Considering the concern, arising from the initial teacher education, to understand how the mathematical contents have been addressed, in different methodologies and different perspectives, the argumentative text reflects the interest in illuminating the darkness of sensitizes us. Thus, we combine the theme - content approach - to Mathematical Modeling in Mathematics Education tendency. This, in turn, has gained importance in recent years, which can be verified by the diversity of events that the academic and scientific community has promoted, in addition to a variety of publications and technical works - dissertations and theses - produced under this guidance. The Interest in the trend can be justified by their dynamism, by alternatives provided through different conceptions, the reflections developed within the research group and studies that reveal ways that have not been covered. In this sense, taking into account our initial motivation and the tendency in question, it is appropriate to establish a relationship of coexistence, that is, we seek to investigate the approach of mathematical content in activities of Mathematical Modeling. Therefore, we chose to look at the activities of the Educational Development Program - PDE, understanding that research here is still incipient. Therefore, our research is based on the question "What is shows the approach of mathematical content in the didactic and pedagogical production of PDE teachers, who presented the main theme, the Mathematical Modeling?" We emphasize that the research thins to the qualitative way of proceeding, supported by a variety of procedures. The position assumed by us is the phenomenological-hermeneutics, as we seek to go-tothing- same, look at the phenomenon as it manifests itself. The way to go is illuminated from our question and this leads us to the work done by PDE teachers, more precisely the final articles. We emphasize, however, we seek those who bring in their scope the development of mathematical modeling practices, as these can be understood as a means by which we are able to access our research object - approach to mathematical content -, to this, our research takes on a metasearch character, that is, research that focuses on the research. It is worth mentioning that the developed analyzes were performed from the Atlas T.i. software which is characterized as a qualitative analysis tool. We point out that their dynamics depends "solely" the stance taken by the researcher. Taking into account the stance taken by us and the "tools" available for analysis, we seek the -epoché- reductions that culminate in large convergences - categories - which have been described and, as a result, interpreted in a metatext, seeking all what proved to be the categories in the light of our question. In this direction, it proved different aspects of the content approach to Modeling activities. These aspects say, effective approaches in the appropriation of knowledge is realized, both with respect to the teacher and the student. But they also say, innocuous approaches, even disfigured. When shown, the approach of the content comes from the PDE teacher's relationship with the supervisor, the literature used in Mathematical Modeling in Mathematics Education, the resources used to address the Mathematical content, understanding of own Mathematical Modeling and other aspects of working with content in Modeling activities. / Considerando a preocupação, advinda da formação inicial, em compreender como vêm sendo abordados os conteúdos matemáticos, em diferentes metodologias e sobre diferentes perspectivas, o texto dissertativo apresentado reflete o interesse em iluminar a obscuridade do que nos sensibiliza. Assim, aliamos a temática – abordagem de conteúdo – à tendência da Modelagem Matemática na Educação Matemática. Essa, por sua vez, tem ganhado importância nos últimos anos, o que pode ser verificado pela diversidade de eventos que a comunidade acadêmica e científica tem promovido, além de uma diversidade de publicações e trabalhos técnicos - dissertações e teses - produzidos sob essa orientação. O interesse pela tendência pode se justificar pela sua dinamicidade, pelas alternativas proporcionadas através de diferentes concepções, pelas reflexões desenvolvidas no interior do grupo de pesquisa a que somos vinculados e pelos estudos desenvolvidos e que revelam caminhos que ainda não foram percorridos. Nesse sentido, levando-se em conta nossa motivação inicial e a tendência em questão, é conveniente estabelecer uma relação de coexistência, ou seja, buscamos investigar a abordagem de conteúdos matemáticos em atividades desenvolvidas à luz da Modelagem Matemática. Para tanto, optamos por lançar olhar para as atividades desenvolvidas no âmago do Programa de Desenvolvimento Educacional – PDE, entendendo que pesquisas nesse sentido são ainda incipientes. Para tanto, nossa pesquisa se sustenta na interrogação “O que se mostra da abordagem dos conteúdos matemáticos nas produções didático-pedagógicas dos professores PDE, que apresentaram como temática principal, o trabalho com Modelagem Matemática?”. Destacamos que a pesquisa afina-se ao modo qualitativo de proceder, apoiada numa diversidade de procedimentos. A postura por nós assumida é a fenomenológica-hermenêutica, já que buscamos ir-à-coisa-mesma, olhar o fenômeno tal como ele se manifesta. O caminho a ser trilhado é iluminado a partir de nossa interrogação e essa nos direciona para os trabalhos desenvolvidos pelos professores PDE, mais precisamente os artigos finais. Enfatizamos, porém, que buscamos aqueles que trazem em seu escopo o desenvolvimento de práticas de Modelagem Matemática, já que esses podem ser entendidos como um meio pelo qual temos a possibilidade de acessar nosso objeto de pesquisa – abordagem dos conteúdos matemáticos –, frente a isso, nossa pesquisa assume um caráter de metapesquisa, ou seja, a pesquisa que incide sobre a pesquisa. Cabe mencionar que as análises desenvolvidas foram efetuadas a partir do software Atlas t.i. o qual é caracterizado como uma ferramenta de análise qualitativa. Destacamos que a sua dinamicidade depende “única e exclusivamente” da postura assumida pelo pesquisador. Levando-se em conta a postura assumida por nós e o “ferramental” disponível para análise, buscamos as reduções – epoché – que culminam em grandes convergências – categorias –, que foram descritas e, na sequência, interpretadas em um metatexto, buscando a totalidade daquilo que se mostrou das categorias à luz de nossa interrogação. Nessa direção, revelou-se diferentes aspectos sobre a abordagem dos conteúdos em atividades de modelagem. Esses aspectos dizem, de abordagens efetivas, em que a apropriação do conhecimento se concretiza, tanto no que tange ao professor quanto ao aluno. Porém, dizem também, de abordagens inócuas, até mesmo descaracterizadas. Ao que se mostra, a abordagem dos conteúdos é oriunda da relação do professor PDE com o orientador, da literatura utilizada em Modelagem Matemática na Educação Matemática, dos recursos utilizados para a abordagem dos conteúdos matemáticos, da compreensão da própria Modelagem Matemática e, de outros aspectos no trabalho com conteúdos em atividades de modelagem.

En este trabajo de investigación se desarrollará el plan de negocios de Medifácil, una nueva empresa que busca ingresar al mercado de aplicaciones móviles con su metabuscador de productos farmacéuticos. La constante innovación tecnológica ha contribuido con el incremento de emprendimientos que se apoyan en la tecnología para brindar soluciones virtuales a las personas. Ese es el caso del sector farmacéutico, pues debido a la pandemia de la Covid-19, las farmacias y boticas han implementado o mejorado sus aplicaciones móviles y webs para atender la necesidad de adquirir medicamentos sin salir de casa. Sin embargo, si bien existen empresas de venta y reparto de medicinas en el mercado, estas presentan inconvenientes con respecto a la falta de stock, o el largo tiempo que les toma a los clientes comparar los precios entre farmacias. Por esa razón, Medifácil trae una propuesta que mitigará esos inconvenientes y mejorará la experiencia de búsqueda y compra de medicamentos. Así, en una sola aplicación se podrá buscar el medicamento requerido y el metabuscador listará las farmacias y boticas que cuenten con stock en tiempo real, para que se puedan comparar los precios y se elija la mejor opción para el consumidor. Medifácil se podrá descargar gratis en los mercados oficiales de Google y Apple, por lo que la principal fuente de ingresos provendrá de una comisión cobrada a cada farmacia y botica afiliada que concrete ventas gracias a la redirección del metabuscador. Inicialmente, la cobertura será en Lima Metropolitana y hasta 40 kilómetros alrededor, pero se proyecta ingresar a La Libertad y Arequipa luego en el tercer año de operación. Se requiere de un socio inversionista que aporte el 30% del capital equivalente a S/ 45,382. Este, servirá para cubrir todos los gastos de la puesta en marcha del negocio, y se recuperará en menos de dos años. / This research work will develop the business plan of Medifácil, a new company that seeks to enter the mobile applications market with its metasearch for pharmaceutical products. The constant technological innovation has contributed to the increase of ventures that rely on technology to provide virtual solutions to people. This is the case of the pharmaceutical sector, because due to the Covid-19 pandemic, pharmacies and drug stores have implemented or improved their mobile applications and websites to cover the need to purchase medicines without leaving home. However, although there are companies that sell and distribute medicines in the market, they have problems with regards to shortage of stock, or the long time it takes for customers to compare prices between pharmacies. For that reason, Medifácil brings a proposal that will mitigate these problems and improve the experience of searching and buying medicines. According to that, in a single application the required drug can be searched, and the metasearch will list the pharmacies and drugstores that have stock in real time, so that prices can be compared, and the costumer can choose the best option. Medifácil can be downloaded for free in the official Google and Apple markets, so the main source of income will come from a commission charged to each affiliated pharmacy and drugstore that makes sales thanks to the redirection of the metasearch. At the beginning, the coverage will be in Metropolitan Lima and up to 40 kilometers around, but it is planned to enter La Libertad and Arequipa in the third year of operation. An investor partner is required to contribute 30% of the capital equivalent to S / 45,382. This will be used to cover all the expenses of the start-up of the business and will be recovered in less than two years. / Trabajo de investigación

En los últimos meses, el mundo entero ha estado viviendo una crisis viral autodenominada coronavirus (COVID-19), a causa de su efecto, se han realizado diferentes medidas de prevención como ,principalmente, el distanciamiento físico. Esto ha llevado a que muchas personas, debido a la nueva adaptación de trabajo, tengan que quedarse en casa laborando. En una encuesta generada en los últimos meses, el 75% de las personas, anhelaba salir de casa como solían hacerlo, salir de viaje o recorrer lugares fuera de su entorno habitual en un corto tiempo para así despejarse y reducir el estrés del día a día. Asimismo, durante estos meses muchos sectores se han visto afectados, en el caso del Perú, el sector con mayor impacto negativo fue el del Turismo teniendo como repercusión bajas en la economía en cuanto a ingresos. Sin embargo, gracias a los avances tecnológicos, se ha podido constatar que ya existen vacunas que comenzarán a aplicarse en un corto tiempo, asimismo, el gobierno está comenzando a tener planes de acción para reinsertar el sector turismo con las medidas correspondientes al mercado. Por este motivo, este trabajo de investigación se basó en proponer una alternativa de idea de negocio en donde las personas pueden realizar viajes cortos usando una página que les brinde información de agencias con diferentes alternativas de diversión de lugares cercanos, de forma rápida, sencilla y segura / In recent months, the whole world has been experiencing a viral crisis called coronavirus (COVID-19), because of its effect, different prevention measures have been carried out, mainly physical distancing. This has led to many people Due to the new work adaptation; they have to stay at home working. In a survey generated in recent months, 75% of people longed to leave home as they used to, go on a trip or visit places outside their usual environment in a short time to clear up and reduce the stress of day to day Likewise, it is important to note that during these months many sectors have been affected, and in the case of Peru, the sector with the greatest negative impact was Tourism, also having a low impact on the economy in terms of income. Thanks to technological advances, it has been possible to verify that there are already vaccines that will begin to be applied in a short time, likewise, the government is beginning to have action plans to reinsert the tourism sector with the measures corresponding to the market. For this reason, this research work was based on proposing an alternative business idea where people can make short trips using a page that provides information on agencies with different alternatives for fun in nearby places, quickly, easily and safe. / Trabajo de investigación