Expressions are very useful in a number of applications for describing the interest of the user in particular data items. Examples of such application domains include publish/subscribe, ecommerce, web site personalization. In recent work, database techniques have been utilized for efficiently matching large number of expressions with data. These techniques include storing expressions as data in the database and then indexing these expressions to quickly identify expressions that match a given data item. In this thesis a new model for expressions is presented that allows definition of richer expressions than provided in previous work. Implementation of this expression model is then described. The implementation includes sequential search as well as an indexing approach. The thesis then presents an experimental performance study that shows the benefit of the indexing approach.

A new high-resolution spatial discretization scheme is presented for use within the volume-ofluid (VOF) method. This scheme is an adaptation of the previously published boundary gradient maximization (BGM) scheme, with an extension for time-dependent solutions. The scheme does not explicitly reconstruct the interface, but rather resolves the values of the volume fraction in the area of the interface. The scheme is upwind biased to provide numerical stability, and the face values are limited to meet boundedness criteria and prevent variable overshoot. Unlike most other high-resolution schemes found in the literature, the proposed scheme does not use upwind-biased and downwind-biased “switching” to maintain stability. This thesis presents a number of test cases including 2-D and 3-D cases on both structured and unstructured grids. The results display the method’s ability to predict good shape of the volume fraction interface and resolve the volume fraction discontinuity.

Researchers have long studied the precursors to the reporting of deviant workplace acts. Previous research has often relied on descriptive studies utilizing survey research and/or simplistic models with one or two narrowly defined antecedents and demographic proxy variables. Results of these studies have resulted in inconsistent and even conflicting findings. The current study aimed to examine the causal antecedents of deviant act reporting in a more holistic way. Policy capturing was utilized to study intentions to report workplace deviant acts. Policy capturing is an idiographic approach where scenarios are used to establish the differential weighting of cues in judgment formation or behavioral intentions. Three causal antecedents were investigated. The locus of aggression and seriousness of the offense antecedents were based on the Robinson and Bennett (1995) typology of deviant acts. The third antecedent was the manipulation of the workplace offender (e.g., supervisor or peer). Subfacets of the Big Five characteristics previously found to be correlated with deviant behaviors were chosen for inclusion. Participants were educators or administrators in higher education and were asked to rate how likely they would be to report a deviant incident via two different reporting options (e.g., internal vs. external). Each participant completed several demographic items, three subfacet personality inventories, and 32 hypothetical scenarios. Hierarchical linear model was utilized for the analyses. Results showed support for the hypotheses predicting that the three situational cues would affect intentions to report. For the internal model, the three situational cues and two-way interactions accounted for a 48.2% reduction in error variance; a 52.3% reduction for the external model. The minor/serious situational cue had the highest relative cue weight for both reporting avenues. Personality variables had little effect on reporting intentions. The only significant result was found in the internal model where more cooperative individuals were more likely to report an infraction. This study serves as a baseline for future research on deviant act reporting. By utilizing the Robinson and Bennett (1995) typology, this research took an innovative approach to examining the reporting of acts within a classification system as opposed to previous studies which only examined specific behaviors. / Doctor of Philosophy / The interest in understanding deviant act reporting stems from the fact that deviant incidents are high, there are negative effects on other employees, and organizations can incur substantial financial ramifications. However, these acts are often not reported by other employees and, subsequently, behaviors are never addressed or rectified. Research in the area of reporting deviant acts has been inconsistent and has often lead to contradictory findings. The current study examined workplace deviant act reporting more holistically. A technique called policy capturing was utilized to determine which aspects of deviant acts are most likely to impact reporting intentions. Three aspects of the deviant act were examined. The locus of aggression (interpersonally directed vs. organizationally directed) and seriousness of the offense (minor vs. serious) were based on a typology of deviance developed by Robinson and Bennett (1995). The third aspect of the deviant act to be examined was the manipulation of the offender (supervisor of the witness or a peer of the witness). In addition, the impact of three personality aspects (cooperation, dutifulness and assertiveness) were examined. Participants were educators or administrators in higher education and the scenarios were based on potential scenarios applicable to this setting. Participants were asked to rate the likelihood they would report the deviant act either internally or externally. Results showed that all three aspects of the deviant act played a role in reporting intentions via both reporting channels. By far, the seriousness of the offense was the most important aspects in individuals' decision to report. Personality variables had little effect on reporting intentions with cooperative individuals being more likely to report an infraction through internal channels. This study serves as a baseline for future research on workplace deviant act reporting.

Published Article / The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between external markers typically used in external motion capturing devices and the true vertebral kinematics in the cervical spine. Twenty one healthy subjects were subjected to low dosage X-rays in five different positions, while radio opaque markers were attached to the skin at each vertebral level. Distance and angle parameters were constructed for vertebral prediction from skin surface markers. The causes of variation in these parameters were identified by investigating the correlations of these parameters with anthropometrical variables. Strong correlations of the parameters were observed in flexion, but in extension, especially full extension, the correlations were poor to insignificant. In neutral, half flexion, and full flexion it is possible to predict the vertebral position from surface markers by using the parameters and anthropometrical variables. In half extension this prediction is less accurate and in full extension alternative methods should be investigated for external motion capturing.

Managers within firms seek to align their portfolio of capabilities to best respond to their competitive environment. Processes used by firms to acquire resources, bundle those resources into capabilities, and then leverage those capabilities to obtain competitive advantage are of interest to scholars and practitioners alike. In this study I explore the bundling process and how firms create advantage from its use in different environmental conditions. Using policy capturing survey techniques analyzed with hierarchial linear modeling while manipulating environmental contexts of dynamism, munificence, and punctuated threats, I observe how firms vary their resource bundling processes to create advantage and improve performance. For each combination of environmental condition, hypotheses are presented and tested with respect to firm response. Due to a lack of differentiation between the three bundling sub-processes, several proposed hypotheses were not testable and thus, unsupported. Current theory details three bundling sub-processes; however, I demonstrate evidence that fewer or greater numbers of sub-processes may be required to capture the bundling process. Other evidence suggests that firms do alter bundling sub-processes in response to changing conditions of munificence, but fail to do so during punctuated events.

Zugl.: Kassel, Univ., Diss., 2008

Shock capturing has been a challenge for computational fluid dynamicists over the years. This article deals with discontinuous Galerkin method to solve the hyperbolic equations in which solutions may develop discontinuities in finite time. The high order discontinuous Galerkin method combining the basis of finite volume and finite element methods has shown a lot of attractive features for a wide range of applications. Various techniques proposed in the literature to deal with discontinuities basically reduce the order of interpolation in the region around these discontinuities. The accuracy of the scheme therefore may be degraded in the vicinity of the shock. The proposed method resolves the discontinuities presented in the solution by applying viscosity into the shock-containing elements. The discontinuity is spread over a distance and is well approximated in the space of interpolation functions. The technique of adding viscosity to the system and the indicator based on the expansion coefficients of the solution are presented. A number of numerical examples in one and two dimensions is carried out to show the capability of the scheme for shock capturing. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Techniques for the industrial implementation of emerging semantic technologies are presented in this research. Every new design, project, and procedure within a company generates a considerable amount of new information and important knowledge. Furthermore, a tremendous amount of legacy knowledge already exists within companies in electronic and non-electronic formats. All of this generated knowledge results in the need for tools and techniques to represent, structure, and reuse this knowledge. Researchers have spent considerable time and effort developing semantic knowledge management systems, with anticipation that these tools will address these knowledge management needs. However, little has been done to implement these systems within an industrial setting. In this thesis, we identify five main requirements for the development of an industry-ready, semantic knowledge management system, and we discuss how each of these requirements can be methodically addressed. The five requirements include the incorporation of legacy information, the ease of new knowledge management software adoption, the robustness of the software to support multiple file types and allow for the sharing of information across platforms, the security of the stored information, and the ease of use of the user interface. In collaboration with Raytheon, a defense and aerospace systems company, we developed and demonstrated a novel approach for the successful adoption of semantic abilities by a commercial company. Salient features of this work include a new tool, the e-Design MemoExtractor Software Tool, custom designed to mine and capture company information, a Raytheon-specific ontology extension to the e-Design Framework, and a novel semantic environment in the form of a customized semantic media wiki SMW+. The advantages of this approach and the associated research issues are discussed in the context of the industrial case study with Raytheon.

This thesis explores the connection between Architecture and mental- health. This fast-paced world has led to people dealing with large amounts of stress. There comes a time when one needs to be distracted from their day-to-day tasks that affect their mental health. This thesis not only looks at how to divert individuals/ capture their attention for an extended period but also at providing comfort and a place where one can rest. The project also deals with human perception- When an architectural project heightens a user's visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory senses, the user is more present in the space. The brain tries to interpret the images, smells, or sounds being heard. Hence, Focusing on an experiential journey/ submersive experience that plays with one's senses becomes crucial. Explorations are a large part of the thesis, after which decisions have been made to design the pavilion and the screens. There was only one question in mind "How can I design a place that allows people to De-stress? / Master of Architecture / This thesis explores the connection between Architecture and mental- health. This fast-paced world has led to people dealing with large amounts of stress. There comes a time when one needs to be distracted from their day-to-day tasks that affect their mental health. This thesis not only looks at how to divert individuals/ capture their attention for an extended period but also at providing comfort and a place where one can rest. The project also deals with human perception- When an architectural project heightens a user's visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory senses, the user is more present in the space. The brain tries to interpret the images, smells, or sounds being heard. Hence, Focusing on an experiential journey/ submersive experience that plays with one's senses becomes crucial. Explorations are a large part of the thesis, after which decisions have been made to design the pavilion and the screens. There was only one question in mind "How can I design a place that allows people to De-stress?

This study investigated the impact of diversity on the decision to trust at team formation when no history or prior relationship exists. The study consisted of two phases: 1) a selection phase and 2) a policy capturing phase. The first phase consisted of demographics, propensity to trust, and prejudice scales that were used to select participants for phase 2. The second phase consisted of a full factorial design, policy capturing study which consisted of 64 scenarios which varied the level (i.e., high and low) of 6 variables: cultural diversity, attribution, perceptions of risk, trustworthiness, third party information, and role clarity. The policy capturing study was used to identify the weights given to these variables when deciding whether or not to trust a new team member. Propensity to trust scores and prejudice ratings were used as moderators of the relationships between these 6 variables and the decision to trust. Findings showed that there was a strong moderating affect of the diversity of the simulated team member on the participant's decision to trust. However, there was no direct relationship between diversity and the decision to trust. The weight given to each variable, as well as the interaction of variables, was different based on the diversity of the new team member. Findings suggest that when forming teams, the diversity of new team members will impact what factors individuals consider in deciding to trust that other person. In addition to future research needs, the impact of these results is discussed in terms of both training and selection in teams.