Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Computer Science and Engineering. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-189). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38770

Data migration is common as information needs to be moved and transformed between services and applications. Performance in the context of speed is important and may have a crucial impact on the handling of data. Information can be sent in varying formats and XML is one of the more commonly used. The information that is sent can change in structure from time to time and these changes needs to be handled. The parsers’ ability to handle these changes are described as the property “adaptability”. The transformation of XML files is done with the use of parsing techniques. The parsing techniques have different approaches, for example event-based or memory-based. Each approach has its pros and cons. The aim of this study is to research how three different parsers handle parsing XML documents with varying structures in the context of performance. The chosen parsing techniques are SAX, DOM and VTD. SAX uses an event-based approach while DOM and VTD uses a memory-based. Implementation of the parsers have been made with the purpose to extract information from XML documents an adding it to an ArrayList. The results from this study show that the parsers differ in performance, where DOM overall is the slowest and SAX and VTD perform somewhat equal. Although there are differences in the performance between the parsers depending on what changes are made to the XML document.

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The major goal of information integration is to provide efficient and easy-to-use access to multiple heterogeneous data sources with a single query. At the same time, one of the current trends is to use standard technologies for implementing solutions to complex software problems. In this dissertation, I used XML and XQuery as the standard technologies and have developed an extended projection algorithm to provide a solution to the information integration problem. In order to demonstrate my solution, I implemented a prototype mediation system called Omphalos based on XML related technologies. The dissertation describes the architecture of the system, its metadata, and the process it uses to answer queries. The system uses XQuery expressions (termed metaqueries) to capture complex mappings between global schemas and data source schemas. The system then applies these metaqueries in order to rewrite a user query on a virtual global database (representing the integrated view of the heterogeneous data sources) to a query (termed an outsourced query) on the real data sources. An extended XML document projection algorithm was developed to increase the efficiency of selecting the relevant subset of data from an individual data source to answer the user query. The system applies the projection algorithm to decompose an outsourced query into atomic queries which are each executed on a single data source. I also developed an algorithm to generate integrating queries, which the system uses to compose the answers from the atomic queries into a single answer to the original user query. I present a proof of both the extended XML document projection algorithm and the query integration algorithm. An analysis of the efficiency of the new extended algorithm is also presented. Finally I describe a collaborative schema-matching tool that was implemented to facilitate maintaining metadata.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Extensible Markup Language (XML) has become the language of choice for any kind of data transfer between different business entities. Technologies based on XML like the Extensible Stylesheet Language, the Extensible Linking Language and SOAP add vital functionality and make the use of XML in many different business application scenarios possible. Companies that start employing XML as their format of choice for data exchange are often faced with the problem of different XML dialects within their company or with their business partners. This research project looks at the different solutions that are available for this problem and evaluates their appropriateness for certain scenarios. The first viable solution is employing the Extensible Stylesheet Language which allows for basic transformation on the basis of stylesheets. Companies that use this technology for simple conversion problems can either develop applications themselves or rely on tools from third-party vendors. For more advanced conversion needs a more flexible solution is appropriate. Custom made conversion frameworks developed by using a fourth generation programming language like Java offer the advantages of scalability by connecting more than one communication partner, platform-independency and a high degree of flexibility. Another option that will payoff in the future is the adherence to one of the developing industry XML standards. Such standards are mostly still in the development phase and have not been adopted widely yet. But once it becomes clear which standards are going to survive for each industry the adoption of such a standard will eliminate the need for any customised conversion and facilitate data exchange between business partners that adhere to the same standard. In general it is recommended to research existing XML standards before developing a proprietary one. When a proprietary format already exists the choice of the conversion tools and methods depends on the complexity of the transformation. Simple transformation needs can be solved by employing the XSLT technology while more advanced needs require the development of a customised conversion framework. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Extensible Markup Language (XML) het die taal van keuse geword vir enige soort van data oordraging tussen verskillende bedryfsentiteite. Tegnologie gebaseer op XML soos die Extensible Stylesheet Language, die Extensible Linking Language en Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) dra by tot betekenisvolle waardetoevoeging en maak die gebruik van XML in 'n groot verskeidenheid van besigheidstoepassings scenarios moontlik. Ondernemings wat XML as hul formaat van keuse vir data oordraging meer en meer begin gebruik, word dikwels met die probleem van verskillende XML dialekte intern tot hul onderneming sowel as ekstern tot hul sakevennote, gekonfronteer. Hierdie studie ontleed die verskillende oplossings wat beskikbaar is vir die probleem en evalueer dan die toepaslikheid vir sekere scenarios. Die eerste uitvoerbare oplossing is die gebruik van die Extensible Stylesheet Language wat toelaat vir basiese transformasie op die grondslag van stylblaaie. Ondernemings wat hierdie tegnologie vir eenvoudige omsettingsprobleme wil gebruik kan óf self toepassings ontwikkel of staatmaak op gereedskap vanaf derde party verskaffers. Vir meer gevorderde omsettingsbehoeftes is 'n meer buigsame oplossing geskik. Doelgemaakte omskakelingsraamwerke wat ontwikkel word deur gebruik te maak van 'n vierde generasie programmeringstaal soos JAVA bied die voordele van skalering deur meer as een kommunikasievennoot te konnekteer, platform onafhanklikheid en 'n hoë graad van buigsaamheid. Nog 'n opsie wat rendement in die toekoms kan lewer is om te bly by een van die ontwikkelende industrie XML standaarde. Sulke standaarde is meesal nog in die ontwikkelingsfase en word nog nie tot nou algemeen aanvaar nie. As dit egter begin duidelik word watter standaarde gaan oorleef vir elke industrie sal die aanvaarding van sulke standaarde die nodigheid vir doelgemaakte omskakeling elimineer en sal dit data uitruiling tussen sakevennote wat hou by dieselfde standaarde bevorder. In die algemeen word dit aanbeveel dat bestaande XML standaarde goed nagevors word alvorens 'n alleenreg een ontwikkel word. Wanneer 'n alleenregformaat alreeds bestaan sal die keuse van transformasiegereedskap en metodes afhang van die kompleksiteit van die transformasie. Eenvoudige transformeerde behoeftes kan bevredig word deur die XSLT tegnologie te gebruik, terwyl meer gevorderde behoeftes die ontwikkeling van 'n doelgemaakte omskakelingraamwerk sal benodig.

published_or_final_version / Computer Science / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

臺灣電子病歷內容基本格式 (Taiwan Electronic Medical Record Template, TMT)是參考國際相關標準之後，專為臺灣本土需求而設計的電子病歷標準。為了進一步評估TMT的實用性與實施上可能遭遇到的問題，衛生署於民國96年推動了「建構以病人為中心之電子病歷跨院資訊交換環境案」，目前已完成參與該專案各醫院的實地測試工作。 在檢視專案執行的結果後，我們發現TMT資訊系統有三項主要的缺點：一、TMT病歷標準不易閱讀，難以撰寫從醫院醫療資訊系統彙總TMT所需資料的指令集；二、製作TMT系統所須的設定檔程序過於繁複，不但時間攏長而且容易出錯；三、線上實際產生個別病患的TMT資料的時間過長，執行效能有待提昇。有鑑於此，我們設計並實作了一套適用於TMT標準的電子病歷文件產生工具，我們重新設計了規格文件檔及輔助設定檔，並提供了Schema Processor自動化工具產生這些檔案；同時，我們也改進了病歷資料彙總程序，搭配高便利性的設定檔，病歷文件產生工具在執行效能上了有明顯的改善。 在詳細、完整的規格文件檔協助下，資訊人員能更快的了解病歷標準架構及撰寫病歷資料查詢語法，以利產出正確的電子病歷文件；透過自動化工具的輔助，簡化了設定檔的製作程序，改善了耗時且容易出錯的缺點；相較於目前的TMT系統，我們的工具執行效能提昇了80%以上，產出電子病歷文件的時間只要原來的五分之一。 / The Taiwan Electronic Medical Record Template (TMT) proposed by Taiwan Association for Medical Informatics (TAMI) aims to provide a suite of standard forms that will become the common basis for developing electronic medical record (EMR) systems in Taiwan. It is specified in the XML standard for facilitating data interchange. In order to further assess the usefulness of TMT, in 2007 the Department of Health lauched the project "Building of an Information Exchange Environment for Cross-Hospital Digital Medical Record" to put the TMT to a filed test. There are in total eleven hospitals in the project and they all successfully implemented a significant subset of TMT using their hospital information systems (HIS). / However, towards the end of the project, we have identified three major shortcomings of the content aggregator for TMT provided by the TAMI: First, as the TMT Schema is rather complex, it is very difficult for hospital IT staff to prepare the required query instructions to retrieve the data stored in the HIS database. Although there is a XML data mapping tool provided to simplify the mapping process, we found that it did not ease the mapping task as the TAMI staff had expected. Second, the configuration files for preparing a patient’s EMR are too complicated, making the implementation process not only long time but also error-prone. Third, the time required to produce a single sheet of TMT is much longer than planned. There is an urgent need to improve the performance of the content aggregator. / Therefore, we propose to re-engineer the content aggregator of TMT for retrieving the required data from the HIS database. Specifically, we redesigned the specification document files and configuration files, and provided a Schema Processor tool to generate these files in a semi-automatically manner. As a result, the IT staff of hospitals can more quickly understand the structure of TMT Schema and prepare the query instructions effectively. Finally, with the powerful configuration files, our TMT document generator runs much faster than the existing one. According to our experimental results, it enhances the performance of generating a TMT sheet more than 80 percent.

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited / Adopting Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) are key steps to accommodate the evolution of Internet technologies. While HTTP is already a proven standard communication protocol responsible for the rapid expansion of the World Wide Web, XML provides general mechanisms for determining validatable documents and addresses several deficiencies of HTML regarding diverse document structure and content. XML and HTTP together provide many of the essential capabilities associated with database engines. The Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (MOVES) Institute of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is continuing to build a database of 3D tactical scenarios and using X3D and VRML tools. The configuration parameters and statistical results of these scenarios are XML documents. For a better understanding and usability of these results by the end users, a Webbased application stores and manipulates these XML document. This thesis develops a server-side application that can store, serve, and annotate tactical scenarios for X3D operational visualization and anti-terrorist training by using XML and HTTP technologies. The experimental demonstration for this work is the prototypical Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) simulation model developed by Lieutenant James W. Harney, USN, using Extensible 3D Graphics (X3D)/ Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) models. / Captain, Tunisian Army

by Yuen Lok-tin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-95). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / 摘要 --- p.III / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.V / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VI / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.VIII / LIST OF TABLES --- p.IX / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objectives --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization --- p.4 / Chapter 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW & THEORETICAL FOUNDATION --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1 --- "Data, Information and Knowledge" --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Knowledge Management --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Information Transparency and Efficiency --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Transparency --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Efficiency --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4 --- extensible markup language (XML) --- p.14 / Chapter 3 --- DIGITAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND ISSUES --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- Managing Financial Information on the Internet --- p.17 / Chapter 3.2 --- Existing Electronic Financial Filing Systems --- p.20 / Chapter 3.3 --- Financial Document Disclosure Model --- p.21 / Chapter 3.4 --- Interaction Between Information Producers and Consumers --- p.23 / Chapter 3.5 --- Gluing All Together --- p.26 / Chapter 4 --- IDEAL ELECTRONIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE SYSTEM --- p.27 / Chapter 4.1 --- Structure and Representation of Knowledge --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2 --- Content Creation --- p.33 / Chapter 5 --- PROPOSED APPROACH --- p.36 / Chapter 5.1 --- Preliminary XML Data Dictionary --- p.36 / Chapter 5.2 --- Creation of XML Tags --- p.40 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Statistical Information Retrieval --- p.41 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Accounting and Auditing Practice --- p.43 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Investors´ةFeedback --- p.44 / Chapter 5.3 --- Value-Added Services --- p.45 / Chapter 6 --- DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ELFFS-XML --- p.49 / Chapter 6.1 --- Stages of ELFFS-XML --- p.49 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Information Creation --- p.49 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Information Collection/Storage --- p.50 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Knowledge Generation --- p.51 / Chapter 6.1.4 --- Knowledge Dissemination/Presentation --- p.52 / Chapter 6.1.5 --- Feedback --- p.52 / Chapter 6.2 --- Components of ELFFS-XML --- p.53 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Data Source Abstraction Layer --- p.55 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Storage Abstraction Layer --- p.57 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Logic Layer --- p.61 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Presentation Layer --- p.63 / Chapter 7 --- EVALUATING ELFFS-XML --- p.66 / Chapter 7.1 --- Comparison with Other Financial Information Disclosure Systems --- p.66 / Chapter 7.2 --- Users' Evaluation --- p.70 / Chapter 7.3 --- Systems Efficiency --- p.71 / Chapter 7.4 --- XML Tag Generation Approach Performance Evaluation --- p.73 / Chapter 8 --- CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RESEARCH --- p.78 / APPENDIX I SURVEY ON INVESTMENT PATTERN --- p.80 / APPENDIX II CORE ELFFS-XML DTD --- p.84 / APPENDIX III PERFORMANCE RELATED XML TAGS --- p.86 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.88