Submitted by Geyciane Santos (geyciane_thamires@hotmail.com) on 2015-06-18T13:54:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Diego de Azevedo Rodrigues.pdf: 8601801 bytes, checksum: 6c2dde718a0b6857ac6e14fd715e240c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-19T21:02:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Diego de Azevedo Rodrigues.pdf: 8601801 bytes, checksum: 6c2dde718a0b6857ac6e14fd715e240c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-19T21:03:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Diego de Azevedo Rodrigues.pdf: 8601801 bytes, checksum: 6c2dde718a0b6857ac6e14fd715e240c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-19T21:03:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Diego de Azevedo Rodrigues.pdf: 8601801 bytes, checksum: 6c2dde718a0b6857ac6e14fd715e240c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-12 / FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / Given two database schemas within the same domain, the schema matching problem is the task of finding pairs of schema elements that have the same semantics for that domain. Usually, this task was performed manually by a specialist making it tedious and costly because the specialist should know the schemas and their domain. Currently this process is assisted by semi-automatic schema matching methods. Current, methods use some heuristics to generate matchings and many of them share a common modeling: they build a similarity matrix between the elements from functions called matchers and, based on the matrix values, decide according to a criterion which of the matchings are correct. This thesis presents an active-learning based method that uses the similarity matrix generated by the matchers, a machine learning algorithm and specialist interventions to generate matchings. The presented method di↵ers from others because it has no fixed heuristic and uses the specialist expertise only when necessary. In our experiments, we evaluate the proposed method against a baseline on two datasets: the first one was the same used by the baseline and the second containing schemas of a benchmark for schema integration. We show that baseline achieves good results on its original dataset, but its fixed strategy is not as e↵ective for other schemas. Moreover, the proposed method based on active learning is shown more consistent achieving, on average, F-measure value of 0.64. / Dados dois esquemas de bancos de dados pertencentes ao mesmo domíınio, o problema de Casamento de Esquemas consiste em encontrar pares de elementos desses esquemas que possuam a mesma semântica para aquele domínio. Tradicionalmente, tal tarefa era realizada manualmente por um especialista, tornando-a custosa e cansativa pois, este deveria conhecer bem os esquemas e o domíınio em que estes estavam inseridos. Atualmente, esse processo é assistido por métodos semi-automáticos de casamento de esquemas. Os métodos atuais utilizam diversas heurísticas para gerar os casamentos e muitos deles compartilham uma modelagem em comum: constroem uma matriz de similaridade entre os elementos a partir de funções chamadas matchers e, baseados nos valores dessa matriz, decidem segundo algum critério quais os casamentos válidos. Esta dissertação apresenta um método baseado em aprendizado ativo que utiliza a matriz de similaridade gerada pelos matchers e um algoritmo de aprendizagem de máquina, além de intervenções de um especialista, para gerar os casamentos. O método apresentado se diferencia dos outros por não possuir uma heurística fixa e por utilizar a experiência do especialista apenas quando necessário. Em nossos experimentos, avaliamos o método proposto contra um baseline em dois datasets: o primeiro que foi o mesmo utilizado pelo baseline e o segundo contendo esquemas propostos em um benchmark para integração de esquemas. Mostramos que o baseline alcança bons resultados no dataset em que foi originalmente testado, mas que sua estratégia fixa não é tão efetiva para outros esquemas. Por outro lado, o método baseado em aprendizado ativo que propomos se mostra consistente em ambos os datasets, alcançando, em média, um valor de medida-F igual a 0, 64.

Bancos de dados normalmente são projetados para atender a um domínio específico de uma aplicação, tornando o acesso aos dados limitado e uma tarefa árdua em relação à integração de bancos e compartilhamento de dados. Existem várias pesquisas no intuito de integrar dados, como a criação de softwares específicos para uma determinada aplicação e até soluções mais radicais como refazer todos os bancos de dados envolvidos, demonstrando que ainda existem questões em aberto e que a área está longe de atingir soluções definitivas. Este trabalho apresenta conceitos e estratégias para a integração de bancos de dados heterogêneos e a implementa na forma do DIGE, uma ferramenta para desenvolver sistemas de banco de dados integrando diferentes bancos de dados relacionais heterogêneos utilizando grades computacionais. O sistema criado permite o compartilhamento de acesso deixando os dados armazenados em seu local de origem, desta forma, usuários do sistema acessam os dados em outras instituições com a impressão de que os dados estão armazenados localmente. O programador da aplicação final pode acessar e manipular os dados de forma convencional utilizando a linguagem SQL sem se preocupar com a localização e o esquema de cada banco e o administrador do sistema pode adicionar ou remover bancos de forma facilitada sem a necessidade de solicitar alterações na aplicação final. / Databases are usually designed to support a specific application domain, thus making data-access and data-sharing a hard and arduous task when database integration is required. Therefore, research projects have been developed in order to integrate several and heterogeneous databases systems, such as specific-domain application tools or even more extreme solutions, as a complete database redefinition and redesign. Considering these open questions and with no definite answers, this work presents some concepts, strategies and an implementation for heterogeneous databases integration. In this implementation, the DIGE tool was developed to provide access to heterogeneous and geographically distributed databases, using Grid computing, which store locally its data, appearing to the user application, the data are stored locally. By this way, programmers can manipulate data using conventional SQL language with no concern about database location or its schema. Systems Administrators may also add or remove databases on the whole system without need to change the final user application.

Due to the successful application in internet related fields, Extensible Markup Language (XML) and its related technologies are being explored as a revolutionary software file format technology used to provide increased interoperability in the discrete-event simulation (DES) arena. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed an XML-based information model (XSD) called the Shop Data Model (SDM), which is used to describe the contents of a neutral file format (NFF) that is being promoted as a means to make manufacturing simulation technology more accessible to a larger group of potential customers. Using a two step process, this thesis evaluates the NIST SDM information model in terms of its ability to encapsulate the informational requirements of one vendor's simulation model information conceptually and syntactically in order to determine its ability to serve as an NFF for the DES industry. ProModel Corporation, a leading software vendor in the DES industry since 1988, serves as the test case for this evaluation. The first step in this evaluation is to map the contents of ProModel's information model over to an XML schema file (XSD). Next, the contents of this new XSD file are categorized and compared to the SDM information model in order to evaluate compatibility. After performing this comparison, observations are made in relation to the challenges that simulation vendors might encounter when implementing the proposed NIST SDM. Two groups of limitations are encountered which cause the NIST SDM to support less than a third of the ProModel XSD elements. These two groups of limitations are: paradigm differences between the two information models and limitations posed due to the incomplete status of the NIST SDM specification. Despite these limitations, this thesis shows by comparison that XML technology does not pose any limitation which would invalidate its ability to syntactically represent a common information model or associated XML NFF. While only 28% of the ProModel element are currently supported by the SDM, appropriate changes to the SDM would allow the information model to serve as a foundation upon which a common information model and neutral file format for the DES industry could be built using XML technologies.

The purpose of this research was to examine frame-of-reference (FOR) training retention in an assessment center (AC) rater training context. In this study, we extended Gorman and Rentsch’s (2009) research showing FOR training effects on performance schemas by examining the effects immediately after training and again after a two-week nonuse period. We examined the retention effects of FOR training on performance ratings and on performance schema accuracy. The results indicated that the FOR training condition, compared to a control condition, yielded performance ratings and performance schemas more similar to expert ratings and to an expert schema, respectively. FOR training also had positive effects on ratings and performance schema accuracy assessed two weeks after training. These results support and extend the theory of FOR training, which posits that the instructed theory of performance replaces the preexisting rater schemas (Lievens, 2001), and they contribute to the research on FOR training within AC contexts.

Thesis (M.Ed. (Language Education)) --University of Limpopo, 2011. / This study investigated the effect of cultural background on comprehension of English texts by second language learners. The study specifically aimed at determining whether cultural background had any effect on comprehension of English texts by second language learners and whether the second language learners’ cultural background could help them comprehend unfamiliar texts. The background of the study in this mini dissertation was followed by the discussion on the literature available on this topic. This study followed a case study design which utilized 89 respondents from the Further Education and Training band of a rural secondary school in the north of Limpopo province. Data was obtained through the completion of questionnaires and answering of questions from a comprehension test based on English culture. The findings showed that there was no total comprehension of the text by learners who use English as a second language. Learners of English as a second language need to possess specific cultural schemata to comprehend texts that are unfamiliar to them. This study was informed by the schema theory. There is a significant effect of cultural background on the comprehension of English text by second language learners. KEY WORDS: Schema theory. Culture Comprehension. Cultural background

Cette thèse a pour thème l'étude les mécanismes neurocognitifs impliqués dans la détermination de la latéralité intrinsèque d'objets. Dans une première étude, nous avons montré qu'une projection de son propre schéma corporel sur un objet est nécessaire pour en différencier la gauche de la droite. Cette inscription corporelle fut observée aussi bien pour des stimuli humains que non humains, suggérant que la présence d'axes intrinsèques à l'objet est suffisante pour y permettre la projection du corps. Une seconde étude nous a permis de mieux comprendre les mécanismes neuronaux de l'inscription corporelle, en utilisant une tâche de comparaison de formes identiques ou miroir différemment orientées. Les stimuli étaient soit des corps humains, soit des assemblages de cubes. La magnetoencephalographie (MEG) révéla une implication du lobe pariétal supérieur gauche dans l'incarnation et la transformation spatiale des deux stimuli. Par ailleurs, une contribution de l'aire motrice supplémentaire fut observée dans le cas des cubes. Ainsi, nous proposons de considérer le lobe pariétal supérieur comme le substrat neural d'un émulateur utilisant le schéma corporel afin d'encoder la latéralité d'un objet et de prédire les conséquences visuelles d'une transformation spatiale. La contribution additionnelle de l'aire motrice supplémentaire a probablement facilité la transformation de formes non familières, par l'envoi d'une commande motrice à l'émulateur visant à accroître la cohérence de l'objet tourné mentalement. Ces interprétations supportent l'idée d'une cognition incarnée dans les actions corporelles. / The aim of this thesis was to study the neurocognitive mechanisms implicated in the determination of objects intrinsic handedness. In a first study, we evidenced that distinguishing the left from the right of an object requires a mental projection of the body schema onto the stimulus. This embodiment process occured for human and non human stimuli as well, suggesting that the mere presence of intrinsic axes on stimulus enables the bodily projection. In a second study, we explored the neural mechanisms underlying embodiment in a handedness shape matching task, using human bodies and cubes assemblies as stimuli with different orientations. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) revealed that the left superior parietal lobe participated in the embodiment and spatial transformation of both stimuli. In addition, we observed a contribution of the supplementary motor area for cube assemblies specifically. Therefore, we consider the superior parietal lobe as the neural substrate of an emulator processing the body schema to encode handedness and to predict the visual consequences of a spatial transformation. Besides, the additional contribution of the supplementary motor area probably helped the spatial transformation of unfamiliar shapes by backpropagating a motor command to the emulator to increase cohesiveness of the mentally rotated object. These interpretations support the grounding of cognition in bodily actions.

No description available.

Knowledge is considered important for the survival and growth of an enterprise. Currently knowledge is stored in various places including the bottom drawers of employees. The human being is considered to be the most important knowledge provider. Over the years knowledge based systems (KBS) have been developed to capture and nurture the knowledge of domain experts. However, such systems were considered to be separate and different from the traditional information systems development. Many KBS development projects have failed. The main causes for such failures have been recognised as the difficulties associated with the process of knowledge elicitation, in particular the techniques and methods employed. On the other hand, the main emphasis of information systems development has been in the areas of data and information capture relating to transaction based systems. For knowledge to be effectively captured and nurtured it is necessary for knowledge to be part of the information systems development activity. This thesis reports on a process of investigation and analysis conducted into the areas of information, knowledge and the overlapping areas. This research advocates a hybrid approach, where knowledge and information capture to be considered as one in a unified environment. A meta-schema design based on Formal Object Role Modelling (FORM), independent of implementation details, is introduced for this purpose. This is considered to be a key contribution of this research activity. Both information and knowledge is expected to be captured through this approach. Meta data types are provided for the capture of business rules and they form part of the knowledge base of an organisation. The integration of knowledge with data and information is also described. XML is recognised by many as the preferred data interchange language and it is investigated for the purpose of rule interchange. This approach is expected to enable organisations to interchange business rules and their meta-data, in addition to data and their schema. During interchange rules can be interpreted and applied by receiving systems, thus providing a basis for intelligent behaviour. With the emergence of new technologies such as the Internet the modelling of an enterprise as a series of business processes has gained prominence. Enterprises are moving towards integration, establishing well-described business processes within and across enterprises, to include their customers and suppliers. The purpose is to derive a common set of objectives and benefit from potential economic efficiencies. The suggested meta-schema design can be used in the early phases of requirements elicitation to specify, communicate, comprehend and refine various artefacts. This is expected to encourage domain experts and knowledge analysts work towards describing each business process and their interactions. Existing business processes can be documented and business efficiencies can be achieved through a process of refinement. The meta-schema design allows for a ?systems view? and sharing of such views, thus enabling domain experts to focus on their area of specialisation whilst having an understanding of other business areas and their facts. The design also allows for synchronisation of mental models of experts and the knowledge analyst. This has been a major issue with KBS development and one of the main reasons for the failure of such projects. The intention of this research is to provide a facility to overcome this issue. The natural language based FORM encourages verbalisation of the domain, hence increasing the understanding and comprehension of available business facts.

The thesis investigated the social and symbolic significance of acquiring a 'music education' through the taking of piano tuition and external public music examinations. It aimed to discover why the learning of the piano and the certification of musical attainment are so prevalent and revered among Malaysian music students. Its purpose was to unravel the socio-cultural raison d'etre of this approach to music education through the creation of a metatheoretical schema, which is premised upon the theories of symbolic interactionist, George Herbert Mead, music analyst, Heinrich Schenker and social theorist, George Ritzer. Central to the argument in this instance is the symbolic significance associated with the act of playing the piano. The investigation attempted to determine if this 'act' conveyed a symbolic meaning that is peculiar to a specific cultural vista. It further examined the degree to which this practice represented both a validation and a sense of conformity to social norms in the continuity and stability of an expanding middle class society in Malaysia. The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) is the largest of the five main external public music examination boards that operate in Malaysia. Since 1948, over one million candidates have enrolled for ABRSM examinations in Malaysia and a team of approximately thirty ABRSM examiners visit Malaysia for three months every year. The majority of the candidates are pianists. Given such large numbers of piano candidates, one might expect a healthy development of musical talent in the country with aspiring pianists eager to demonstrate their musical prowess. However, this does not seem to be the case. On the contrary, there appears to be a curious lacuna between the growing number of students who enrol for external public music examinations and the seemingly lack of interest in public music making and the honing of general musicianship skills. The thesis hence examined the symbolic meaning of this socio-rausicological phenomena.

The thesis investigated the social and symbolic significance of acquiring a 'music education' through the taking of piano tuition and external public music examinations. It aimed to discover why the learning of the piano and the certification of musical attainment are so prevalent and revered among Malaysian music students. Its purpose was to unravel the socio-cultural raison d'etre of this approach to music education through the creation of a metatheoretical schema, which is premised upon the theories of symbolic interactionist, George Herbert Mead, music analyst, Heinrich Schenker and social theorist, George Ritzer. Central to the argument in this instance is the symbolic significance associated with the act of playing the piano. The investigation attempted to determine if this 'act' conveyed a symbolic meaning that is peculiar to a specific cultural vista. It further examined the degree to which this practice represented both a validation and a sense of conformity to social norms in the continuity and stability of an expanding middle class society in Malaysia. The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) is the largest of the five main external public music examination boards that operate in Malaysia. Since 1948, over one million candidates have enrolled for ABRSM examinations in Malaysia and a team of approximately thirty ABRSM examiners visit Malaysia for three months every year. The majority of the candidates are pianists. Given such large numbers of piano candidates, one might expect a healthy development of musical talent in the country with aspiring pianists eager to demonstrate their musical prowess. However, this does not seem to be the case. On the contrary, there appears to be a curious lacuna between the growing number of students who enrol for external public music examinations and the seemingly lack of interest in public music making and the honing of general musicianship skills. The thesis hence examined the symbolic meaning of this socio-musicological phenomena.