Schema merging is the process of incorporating data models into an integrated, consistent schema from which query solutions satisfying all incorporated models can be derived. The efficiency of such a process is reliant on the effective semantic representation of the chosen data models, as well as the mapping relationships between the elements of the source data models. Consider a scenario where, as a result of company mergers or acquisitions, a number of related, but possible disparate data marts need to be integrated into a global data warehouse. The ability to retrieve data across these disparate, but related, data marts poses an important challenge. Intuitively, forming an all-inclusive data warehouse includes the tedious tasks of identifying related fact and dimension table attributes, as well as the design of a schema merge algorithm for the integration. Additionally, the evaluation of the combined set of correct answers to queries, likely to be independently posed to such data marts, becomes difficult to achieve. Model management refers to a high-level, abstract programming language designed to efficiently manipulate schemas and mappings. Particularly, model management operations such as match, compose mappings, apply functions and merge, offer a way to handle the above-mentioned data integration problem within the domain of data warehousing. In this research, we introduce a methodology for the integration of star schema source data marts into a single consolidated data warehouse based on model management. In our methodology, we discuss the development of three (3) main streamlined steps to facilitate the generation of a global data warehouse. That is, we adopt techniques for deriving attribute correspondences, and for schema mapping discovery. Finally, we formulate and design a merge algorithm, based on multidimensional star schemas; which is primarily the core contribution of this research. Our approach focuses on delivering a polynomial time solution needed for the expected volume of data and its associated large-scale query processing. The experimental evaluation shows that an integrated schema, alongside instance data, can be derived based on the type of mappings adopted in the mapping discovery step. The adoption of Global-And-Local-As-View (GLAV) mapping models delivered a maximally-contained or exact representation of all fact and dimensional instance data tuples needed in query processing on the integrated data warehouse. Additionally, different forms of conflicts, such as semantic conflicts for related or unrelated dimension entities, and descriptive conflicts for differing attribute data types, were encountered and resolved in the developed solution. Finally, this research has highlighted some critical and inherent issues regarding functional dependencies in mapping models, integrity constraints at the source data marts, and multi-valued dimension attributes. These issues were encountered during the integration of the source data marts, as it has been the case of evaluating the queries processed on the merged data warehouse as against that on the independent data marts.

The present study focuses on 24 personal narratives told by eight highly proficient bilingual L1-Russian, L2-English speakers (NRS) in comparison to 24 personal narratives told by eight native English speakers (NES) in an effort to not only discover any structural differences that may be revealed through statistical analysis, but also to discover evidence of previously documented Russian and American cultural schema in the narratives through qualitative inquiry and narrative analysis. Although much has been written concerning Russian culture, cross-linguistic differences between Russian and English, and Russian English language learners these concepts have never been synthesized and applied to a study of Russian-English bilingual narratives in English in order to discover if the cultural schema and linguistic tendencies from L1 are maintained in the second language. The statistical structural analysis included in this study did not reveal any differences between the NES and NRS narratives. On the other hand qualitative analysis of cultural schemas revealed significant transfer of Russian cultural schema in the Native Russian Speaker participants' L2 narrative production. The Russian speakers were found to maintain their distinctly Russian emotional expression. Influence of cultural schema on L2 production was also visible in the thematic differences between the two sets of stories. The NES responses to each prompt were thematically quite similar, and differed noticeably from the themes of the NRS stories. Similarly, Hofstede's dimensions of national culture also revealed some differences between the two groups. However, theRussian cultural schema proposed by Croft, triplicity, was not found to be moreprominent in the NRS narratives than in the NES ones. In conclusion, the Native Russian Speakers in this study showed significant transfer of their L1 cultural schema when speaking their L2. The findings of this study have revealed the high likelihood of influence and transfer of cultural schema, even when bilingual English language speakers have achieved a very high level of English language mastery. However, this cultural influence on L2 production does not impinge on competence of bilingual speakers when speaking English.

Schema integration is the task of integrating several local schemata into one global database schema. It is a complex, error-prone and time consuming task. Problems arise in recognizing and resolving problems, such as differences and similarities, between two schemata. Problems also arise in integrating static and dynamic schemata. In this thesis, three research topics are addressed: Maintaining Vocabulary in Schema Integration, Integration of Static Schemata and Integration of Static and Dynamic Schemata, while applying the notation in the Enterprise Modeling approach. In Maintaining Vocabulary in Schema Integration an analysis of what semantic loss is and why it occurs in schema integration is conducted. Semantic loss is a problem that should be avoided because both concepts and dependencies might be lost. In the thesis, it is argued that concepts and dependencies should be retained as long as possible in the schemata. This should facilitate user involvement since the users’ vocabulary is retained even after resolving similarities and differences between two schemata. In Integration of Static Schemata two methods are developed. These methods facilitate recognition and resolution of similarities and differences between two conceptual database schemata.  By applying the first method, problems between two schemata can be recognized that otherwise could pass unnoticed; by applying the second method, problems can be resolved without causing semantic loss by retaining concepts and dependencies in the schemata. In Integration of Static and Dynamic Schemata a method on how to integrate static and dynamic schemata is developed. In the method, focus is put on pre- and post-conditions and how to map these to states and state changes in the database. By applying the method, states that are important for the database can be designed and integrated into the conceptual database schema. Also, by applying the method, active database rules can be designed and integrated into the conceptual database schema.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a relatively rare autoimmune disease with no known aetiology or cure. In addition to numerous physical symptoms, those living with SLE have also been shown to experience significant emotional and psychosocial difficulties. There has been little psychological research into SLE despite the rapidly increasing interest in health psychology and quality of life issues over the last two decades. One such issue that has commanded particular attention is that of cognitive bias in individuals with chronic pain and/or chronic illness. Cognitive bias toward illness-related information is theorised to indicate the presence of an illness self-schema, and is a valuable tool of investigation as it permits access to a level of cognitive structure that is inaccessible via self-report instruments. The primary focus of the present study is to investigate recall bias for pain- and illness-related words in SLE patients. This bias is explored relative to the recall of neutral words and depression-related words, and also relative to the responses of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls. Two hypotheses are proposed: firstly, that bias is related to disease activity; and secondly, that bias is related to the combination of illness and depression. The findings provide support for the second hypothesis, with the additional caveat that the nature of the pain/illness stimuli used is important in determining the presence of cognitive bias. No recall bias for illness-related words as a whole was found in any of the groups, nor was there evidence of a recall bias in the SLE and RA patients when they were divided according to depression status. However, when the illness words were examined separately according to �sensory pain� and �disability-related� words, a clear bias for disability words was found in the depressed patient group. It is concluded that there is a relationship between depression in chronically ill individuals, and the way in which such individuals process disability-related words. In accordance with the schema-enmeshment model (Pincus & Morley, 2001), it is suggested that both a pain-schema and an illness-schema exist, and it is when these two schemas become enmeshed with the self-schema that depression occurs in chronic pain/chronically ill patients. The cognitive bias assessment paradigm adopted in this study-one that is typically used in similar investigations-is lengthy, requires sophisticated equipment and can be difficult to interpret on an individual level. The present study investigates the relationship between cognitive biases in SLE patients and a recently-developed task, PRISM, which appears to symbolise the enmeshment of illness-, pain- and self-schemas. Analyses confirmed that recall of negative illness words was the only independent predictor of PRISM scores. This suggests that PRISM, a quick and easy task to administer, may have considerable usefulness as a clinical tool to assess information relevant to the enmeshment of illness- and self-schema. A greater understanding of schema and the processing styles of chronically ill patients will allow for more effective psychological treatment such that quality of life can be improved.

Doctor of Clinical Psychology/ Master of Science (DCP/ MSc) / A number of international studies reveal high prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within homeless populations. Recent research on PTSD indicates that cognitive responses to trauma are critical in determining who develops the disorder. In Australia, a number of studies indicate exceptionally high rates of trauma experience among homeless adults, yet PTSD has not been investigated in this cohort. Therefore, the primary aim of this project was to improve understanding of PTSD and related cognitions in a sample of homeless adults in Sydney. The project attempts to determine the prevalence of PTSD and its onset in relation to homelessness (Study One) and also explores the role of cognitions in PTSD (Study Two). The sample consisted of seventy homeless men and women aged 18 to 73 years, who were randomly sampled through eight homeless services. A computer-assisted face-to-face structured clinical interview was conducted for each participant. The majority of the sample stated that they had experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime (98.2%). The twelve-month prevalence of PTSD was higher among homeless adults in Sydney in comparison to the Australian general population (41.1% versus 1.5%). In 59.1% of cases, the onset of PTSD was found to have occurred before the age of the first reported homeless episode. In a comparison of those with and without a current diagnosis of PTSD, it was found that those with PTSD scored significantly higher overall on measures of posttraumatic cognitions and early maladaptive schemas. In particular, this group scored higher on schemas that centre on the world being entirely dangerous and the self being totally inept. A mediational analysis showed that when trauma and mental health care were controlled, the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and PTSD symptom severity was mediated by posttraumatic cognitions. It was concluded that homeless adults in Sydney frequently experience trauma and PTSD, which typically precedes homelessness. It was also concluded that among homeless adults, posttraumatic cognitions and early maladaptive schemas appear to play an important role in PTSD and may be associated with symptom severity. These findings have implications for public policy on homelessness and mental health, homeless service provision, PTSD theory, and PTSD treatment for homeless adults.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2007 / Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Social Work. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-92).

Thesis (M.A.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-57).

Zugl.: Köln, Univ., Diss., 2007

Zugl.: Bamberg, Univ., Diss., 2005.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2002--Kassel. / Lizenzpflichtig.