It is recognised that nowadays, users interact with large amounts of data that exist in disparate forms, and are stored under different settings. Moreover, it is true that the amount of structured and un-structured data outside a single well organised data management system is expanding rapidly. To address the recent challenges of managing large amounts of potentially distributed data, the vision of a dataspace was introduced. This data management paradigm aims at reducing the complexity behind the challenges of integrating heterogeneous data sources. Recently, efforts by the Linked Data (LD) community gave rise to a Web of Data (WoD) that interweaves with the current Web of documents in a way that it is useful for data consumption by both humans and computational agents. On the WoD, datasets are structured under a common data model and published as Web resources following a simple set of guidelines that enables them to be linked with other pieces of data, as well as, to be annotated with useful meta data that help determine their semantics. The WoD is an evolving open ecosystem including specialist publishers as well as community efforts aiming at re-publishing isolated databases as LD on the WoD, and annotating them with meta data. The WoD raises new opportunities and challenges. However, currently it mostly relies on manual efforts for integrating the large amounts of heterogeneous data sources on the WoD. This dissertation makes the case that several techniques from the dataspaces research area (aiming at on-demand integration of data sources in a pay-as-you-go fashion) can support the integration of heterogeneous WoD sources. In so doing, this dissertation explores the opportunities and identifies the challenges of adapting existing pay-as-you-go data integration techniques in the context of LD. More specifically, this dissertation makes the following contributions: (1) a case-study for identifying the challenges when existing pay-as-you-go data integration techniques are applied in a setting where data sources are LD; (2) a methodology that deals with the 'schema-less' nature of LD sources by automatically inferring a conceptual structure from a given RDF graph thus enabling downstream tasks, such as the identification of matches and the derivation of mappings, which are, both, essential for the automatic bootstrapping of a dataspace; and (3) a well-defined, principled methodology that builds on a Bayesian inference technique for reasoning under uncertainty to improve pay-as-you-go integration. Although the developed methodology is generic in being able to reason with different hypothesis, its effectiveness has only been explored on reducing the uncertain decisions made by string-based matchers during the matching stage of a dataspace system.

While finances are known to be a source of uncertainty for couples (Knobloch, 2008), the specific sources of financial ambiguity and the ways in which they are appraised and negotiated have not been explored. Framed by the lens of Uncertainty Management Theory (UMT; Brashers, 2001), the current study used face-to-face, semi-structured interviews of 40 diverse participants in married or cohabiting relationships to provide new insight into uncertainty management. The investigation uncovered the types of uncertainty experienced by participants (economic, personal, family, communication, and chronic), the ways in which people managed uncertainty (reducing, maintaining, and adapting to it through a variety of practical strategies), and barriers to uncertainty management (information, time management, sociocultural, and communication obstacles), shedding light on why people are (not) successful in managing their finances. Consistent with the tenets of UMT (Brashers, 2001), communication (or lack thereof) was critical to the process of uncertainty management, particularly with respect to reducing and maintaining uncertainty. However, this study uniquely found that collective negotiation of financial uncertainty was particularly salient. In many ways, financial uncertainty management can be conceptualized as a joint enterprise. Just as individuals negotiate uncertainty by seeking information through computer-mediated communication (e.g., the internet), mass media (e.g., magazines), and external interpersonal sources (e.g., financial advisors), this investigation found that people frequently negotiated their uncertainty with their romantic partner through communal coping. This study provides important insight into the ways in which financial uncertainty can influence people's communication, behavior, and relationships and proposes extending the theory to take into account the role that dyads, culture, and individual factors can play in shaping uncertainty management. / text

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-05T14:25:09Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DissertacaoAlfredo_rev_pos_defesa_2015-11-03 vDigital (1).pdf: 2027109 bytes, checksum: 01759177045949760cd95203c6ed1de9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-05T14:25:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DissertacaoAlfredo_rev_pos_defesa_2015-11-03 vDigital (1).pdf: 2027109 bytes, checksum: 01759177045949760cd95203c6ed1de9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-31 / Projetos de desenvolvimento de software têm se tornado cada vez mais complexos, motivados, principalmente, pelo alto grau de inovação e tecnologia empregada. Associado a esses elementos, a incerteza, que é caracterizada pela deficiência de informações relacionadas a um evento, sua compreensão, seu conhecimento, sua consequência, ou sua probabilidade, quase sempre presente em projetos de desenvolvimento de software colabora para os altos indicadores de insucesso em tais projetos, pois as abordagens tradicionais em gerenciamento de projetos não consideram um ambiente instável e sujeito a diversas fontes de incerteza. Esse trabalho tem por objetivo a elaboração de uma proposta, voltada para organizações de desenvolvimento de software, avaliar sua competência em gerir a incerteza. A proposta de avaliação definida foi fundamentada através de um trabalho teórico em que é sugerido um processo para gerir a incerteza em projetos de software. A construção da proposta de avaliação utilizou a abordagem GQM (Goal/Question/Metric), a partir da qual foram apresentadas métricas para auxiliar organizações a avaliarem suas práticas em gerir a incerteza no seu processo de desenvolvimento. Através de um estudo de caso desenvolvido, a proposta de avaliação foi demonstrada e aplicada. / Software development projects have become increasingly complex, motivated mainly by the high degree of innovation and technology used. Associated with these elements, the uncertainty, which is characterized by deficiency of information associated to an event, their understanding, their knowledge, their consequence or likelihood, often present in software development projects contributes to the high failure indicators in such projects because traditional approaches in project management do not consider an environment that is unstable and exposed to several sources of uncertainty. This work aims to elaborate a proposal geared to software development organizations to evaluate their competence in managing uncertainty. The evaluation proposal as defined was based on a theoretical study in which a process is advanced to manage the uncertainty in software projects. The construction of the evaluation proposal used the approach GQM (Goal/Question/ Metric), from which were presented metrics to help organizations assess their practices in managing uncertainty in the development process. Through a case study that was developed, the evaluation proposal was demonstrated and applied.

Caregivers for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) shoulder a remarkably complex burden as compared to other caregivers of elderly individuals. For long distance caregivers, geographical separation further compounds the problems experienced by AD caregivers, as they are isolated from family members and support networks. Both on-site and long-distance AD caregivers experience uncertainty; the findings from this study illustrate how AD caregivers manage the uncertainty of the disease and primary care, as well as how uncertainty differs between on-site and long-distance caregivers. AD caregiver (N = 13) interviews were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed using uncertainty management theory as a thematic lens. The analysis revealed that AD caregivers experience overwhelming feelings of burden, guilt, and doubt; however, these feelings manifest differently depending on caregiver type. The findings of this study demonstrate that sources for obtaining information regarding AD and caregiving were useful for on-site caregivers; however, the sources did not account for the needs of long-distance caregivers or the psychosocial needs of on-site caregivers. Furthermore, AD caregivers did not seek support or information about AD and caregiving from health care professionals. Implications for future research regarding long-distance and on-site AD caregiving are discussed.

Process innovation is an important topic in business research. It enables competitive advantages for companies if managed properly. It is previously acknowledged that uncertainty in process innovation is common and previously research show that it has a negative impact on process innovation projects, as it can cause a waste of resources for the company. For SME’s, where resources are limited, it is imperative that uncertainty do not affect process innovation projects negatively. Previous scholars do not identify sources of process innovation uncertainty in SME’s or how it can be managed, thus leave a gap in theory that is important to fill. The purpose of the study was to investigate how uncertainty in process innovation arises in an SME and how it can be reduced by an investigation on how SEO, as an instance of process innovation, was perceived before and after an implementation process and if a change in perception was related to uncertainty. A single case study with qualitative interviews, combined with an implementation process of SEO, was used to investigate the topic and generate in-depth knowledge. Our findings identify sources of process innovation uncertainty in SME’s, arising from either a resource perspective or from an organizational perspective. Furthermore, we suggest how to manage the identified sources of uncertainty through either information, communication or results. Organizations can use these findings to manage process innovation uncertainty before it arises, thus achieve successful process innovation.

Large dams are critical infrastructures whose failure could produce high economic and social consequences. For this reason, in recent years, the application of quantitative risk analysis to inform dam safety governance has risen significantly worldwide. This thesis is focused in how computed quantitative risk results can be useful to inform dam safety management. It proposes different methods and metrics to deal with the two key issues identified in this process: how risk results can be managed to prioritize potential investments and how uncertainty should be considered in quantitative risk models to inform decision making. Firstly, it is demonstrated that risk reduction indicators are a useful tool to obtain prioritization sequences of potential safety investments, especially in portfolios with a high number of dams. Different indicators for dam safety are assessed, analyzing their relation with equity and efficiency principles. Secondly, it is proposed to consider explicitly and independently natural and epistemic uncertainty in quantitative risk models for dams, following the recommendations developed by other industries. Specifically, a procedure is developed to separate both types of uncertainty in the fragility analysis for the sliding failure mode of gravity dams. Finally, both issues are combined to propose different metrics that analyze the effect of epistemic uncertainty in the prioritization of investments based on risk results. These metrics allow considering the convenience of conducting additional uncertainty reduction actions, like site tests, surveys or more detailed analysis. / Las grandes presas son infraestructuras críticas cuyo fallo puede producir importantes consecuencias económicas y sociales. Por este motivo, en los últimos años la aplicación de técnicas de análisis de riesgos para informar a la gobernanza de la seguridad de presas se ha extendido por todo el mundo. La presente tesis se centra en analizar cómo los resultados calculados de riesgo pueden ser útiles para la toma de decisiones en seguridad de presas. Para ello, se proponen diferentes métodos e indicadores que tratan los dos principales problemas identificados en este proceso: cómo gestionar los resultados de riesgo para priorizar potenciales inversiones en seguridad y cómo debe ser considerada la incertidumbre en los modelos de riesgo para orientar a la toma de decisiones. En primer lugar, se muestra como los indicadores de reducción de riesgo son una herramienta útil y eficaz para obtener secuencias de priorización de potenciales medidas de reducción de riesgo, especialmente en la gestión conjunta de grandes grupos de presas. Por ello, los diferentes indicadores para la gestión de la seguridad de presas son evaluados, analizando su relación con los principios de eficiencia y equidad. En segundo lugar, se propone considerar la incertidumbre epistémica y la incertidumbre natural de forma independiente dentro de los modelos de riesgo cuantitativos para presas, siguiendo las recomendaciones de otras industrias. En particular, se propone un procedimiento para separar ambos tipos de incertidumbre en el análisis del modo de fallo por deslizamiento en presas de gravedad. Finalmente, ambos puntos se combinan para proponer diferentes índices que analicen la influencia de la incertidumbre epistémica sobre las secuencias de priorización obtenidas mediante indicadores de reducción de riesgo, y por lo tanto, sobre la toma de decisiones. De esta forma, estos índices permiten analizar la necesidad de realizar acciones adicionales para reducir la incertidumbre epistémica, como ensayos, sondeos o estudios detallados. / Les grans preses son infraestructures crítiques que si fallen poden produir importants conseqüències econòmiques i socials. Per aquest motiu, en el últims anys la aplicació de tècniques d'anàlisis de rics per a informar a la governança de seguretat de preses s'ha estès per tot el món. Aquesta tesi es centra en analitzar com els resultats calculats de risc poden ser útils per a prendre decisions en seguretat de preses. Per a això, es proposen diferents mètodes i indicadors que tracten el dos principals problemes identificats en aquest procés: com gestionar els resultats de risc per a prioritzar potencials inversions en seguretat i com el models de risc han de considerar la incertesa per a orientar a la presa de decisions. En primer lloc, es mostra com el indicadors de reducció de riscs son una ferramenta útil i eficaç per a obtindré seqüències de priorització de potencials mesures de reducció de risc, especialment en la gestió conjunta de grans grups de preses. Per això, els diferents indicadors per a la gestió de la seguretat de preses son avaluats, analitzant la seua relació amb els principis d'eficiència i equitat. En segon lloc, es proposa considerar la incertesa natural i la incertesa epistèmica de forma independent dintre del models quantitatius de risc per a preses, seguint les recomanacions d'altres industries. En particular, es proposa un procediment per a separar el dos tipus d'incertesa en el anàlisis del fall per lliscament en preses de gravetat. Finalment, el dos punts es combinen per a proposar índexs que analitzen la influència de la incertesa epistèmica sobre les seqüencies de priorització de mesures obtingudes amb els indicadors de reducció de risc, y per tant, sobre la presa de decisions. D'aquesta forma, aquests índexs permeten analitzar la necessitat de realitzar acciones per a reduir la incertesa, como assajos, sondejos geotècnics o estudis de detall. / Morales Torres, A. (2017). Evaluation of the impact of risk reduction indicators and epistemic uncertainty in dam safety governance [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/79739 / TESIS

Public speaking has been found to be one of the greatest fears people face in their lifetime. Students, in particular, may feel extremely nervous about public speaking or the anticipated event of speaking to an audience. The purpose of this research study is twofold: (1) investigate the contemplative practice of mindfulness meditation, and (2) to understand the experiences of students who practice mindfulness meditation while enrolled (or previously enrolled) in a Public Speaking course at a community college. Data was collected using a Transcendental Phenomenology methodological approach. Moreover, methods used included open-ended, semi-structured interviews as well as descriptive field notes. Qualitative data was transcribed, coded and categorized into salient thematic findings. The findings of this study detail students’ perceptions about the use of mindfulness meditation. This study informs Public Speaking practitioners about how to proactively manage anxiety and uncertainty by employing contemplative practices to increase successful communication outcomes.

The purpose of these two studies was to examine two factors that may influence the effects of uncertainty on information processing. The first factor is the positioning of uncertainty relative to a target of judgment, and how this affects people’s judgment processing. The second factor had to do with the degree to which uncertainty signals active goal conflict or not. In the first study, 145 participants with a mean age of 19.51 were induced with uncertainty either before or after information about the target accused of illegal behavior. The results demonstrated that uncertainty before information produced higher guilt judgments of the target and uncertainty after information produced lower guilt judgments towards the target, but only in a subset of conditions. The second study, with 121 participants and a mean age was 19.58, primed participants with one of two different goals. It then induced uncertainty threat which either was or was not relevant to the primed goal, and asked participants to make judgments based on information given about the target as in Study 1. The results revealed that for women, but not for men, uncertainty threat produced stronger guilt judgments when the uncertainty was relevant to the primed goal. Together, these results indicate that both the positioning and goal relevance of uncertainty may impact its effect on information processing.

Individuals with chronic illnesses must manage long-term uncertainty and decision making as they cope with the ways the illness influences almost every aspect of their lives. In the context of pediatric illnesses, parents assume the burden of uncertainty management and decision making during the diagnosis and treatment of their child’s illness. It is common for children with complex chronic illnesses to see multiple specialists for the treatment of their condition. The first visit to a specialist is often more elaborate than a routine primary care visit. While previous research has explored parents’ decision making and uncertainty management during a child’s diagnosis and during end-of-life care, less is known about these experiences during the long-term management of a chronic illness through the care of multiple specialists. The aim of the current study was to explore uncertainty and decision making during parents’ first visit to a multidisciplinary clinic for the care of their child’s complex chronic illness. Data were collected through survey measures and semi-structured interviews with 30 parents after their first visit to a vascular anomaly clinic at a large Midwestern children’s hospital. The results suggest parents’ communication with the team of specialists helps them reappraise uncertainty, engage in effective uncertainty management, and feel validated in their decision making. However, the findings also indicate that parents face multiple uncertainty management dilemmas, including not wanting certain types of information, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information they receive, and having different information preferences than their spouses. Ultimately, the results also have important implications for existing uncertainty theories and their application to parents’ uncertainty experiences.

This research is conducted to formulate a framework for project risk management by evaluating the current understanding and practices. It examines the risk management processes provided by the various standards, frameworks and guidelines available globally. The research argues that the existence of varying risk management standards, frameworks and guidelines is not an assurance that organisations will adopt their principles and processes. Furthermore, these documents do not provide sufficient information concerning the understanding of the concept of risk and uncertainty and their management. To accomplish this goal, it became necessary for the research to reach an understanding about the concepts and fundamental issues of risk and uncertainty management. This research also sought to know how organisations in different industries manage risks and uncertainties for their projects. This research was confined to the study of the understanding and practices of PRM by established or influential organisations in aerospace and aviation, oil, gas and petrochemical, power, telecommunication as well as construction industries with matching criteria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an ‘aide-memoire’ with managers involved in the management of project risks to document the current practices of risk management. Thematic analyses were used to compress and summarise the large amount of data into internally consistent understandings of risk and uncertainty. Based on the results, the research proposes a structure that explains the current understanding of the concepts of risk and uncertainty as well as an outline process framework for conducting risk management for industry use. Practically, risk and uncertainty are found to be interrelated whereby and they happen as an outcome of each other’s occurrence. The proposed framework consists of six major steps which incorporated the purposes and activities within, providing a better understanding of how risk can be managed. This research contributes theoretically, methodologically and practically to project risk management body of knowledge.