bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applying UML for Designing Multidimensional Databases and OLAP Applications
Authors: Trujillo Juan , Lujan-Mora Sergio , Song Il-Yeol
Published: January 2011

Multidimensional (MD) modeling is the basis for Data warehouses (DW), multidimensional databases (MDB), and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) applications. In this chapter, we present how the Unified Modeling Language (UML) can be successfully used to represent both structural and dynamic properties of these systems at the conceptual level. The structure of the system is specified by means of a UML class diagram that considers the main properties of MD modeling with minimal use of constraints and extensions of the UML. If the system to be modeled is too complex, thereby leading us to a considerable number of classes and relationships, we sketch out how to use the package grouping mechanism provided by the UML to simplify the final model. Furthermore, we provide a UML-compliant class notation (called cube class) to represent OLAP initial user requirements. We also describe how we can use the UML state and interaction diagrams to model the behavior of a data warehouse system. We believe that our innovative approach provides a theoretical foundation for simplifying the conceptual design of multidimensional systems, and our examples illustrate the use of our approach.
A Run-Time Based Technique to Optimize Queries in Distributed Internet Databases
Authors: Khan Latifur , Ponnusamy Arunkumar , McLeod Dennis , Shahabi Cyrus
Published: January 2011

An adaptive probe-based optimization technique is developed and demonstrated in the context of an Internet-based distributed database environment. More and more common are database systems, which are distributed across servers communicating via the Internet where a query at a given site might require data from remote sites. Optimizing the response time of such queries is a challenging task due to the unpredictability of server performance and network traffic at the time of data shipment; this may result in the selection of an expensive query plan using a static query optimizer. We constructed an experimental setup consisting of two servers running the same DBMS connected via the Internet. Concentrating on join queries, we demonstrate how a static query optimizer might choose an expensive plan by mistake. This is due to the lack of a priori knowledge of the run-time environment, inaccurate statistical assumptions in size estimation, and neglecting the cost of remote method invocation. These shortcomings are addressed collectively by proposing a probing mechanism. Furthermore, we extend our mechanism with an adaptive technique that detects sub-optimality of a plan during query execution and attempts to switch to the cheapest plan while avoiding redundant work and imposing little overhead. We demonstrate that this probe technique can be extended in a client-server environment as a basis for choosing the right place for the execution of user defined functions (UDFs). An implementation of our run-time optimization technique for queries was constructed in the Java language and incorporated into an experimental setup. The results demonstrate the superiority of our probe-based optimization over a static optimization.
Performance Implications of Knowledge Discovery Techniques in Databases
Authors: Rajagopalan Balaji , Krovi Ravindra
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces knowledge discovery techniques as a means of identifying critical trends and patterns for business decision support. It suggests that effective implementation of these techniques requires a careful assessment of the various data mining tools and algorithms available. Both statistical and machine-learning based algorithms have been widely applied to discover knowledge from data. In this chapter we describe some of these algorithms and investigate their relative performance for classification problems. Simulation based results support the proposition that machine-learning algorithms outperform their statistical counterparts, albeit only under certain conditions. Further, the authors hope that the discussion on performance related issues will foster a better understanding of the application and appropriateness of knowledge discovery techniques.
Facial Expression and Gesture Analysis for Emotionally-Rich Man-Machine Interaction
Authors: Karpouzis Kostas , Raouzaiou Amaryllis , Drosopoulos Athanasios , Ioannou Spiros , Balomenos Themis , Tsapatsoulis Nicolas
Published: January 2011

This chapter presents a holistic approach to emotion modeling and analysis and their applications in Man-Machine Interaction applications. Beginning from a symbolic representation of human emotions found in this context, based on their expression via facial expressions and hand gestures, we show that it is possible to transform quantitative feature information from video sequences to an estimation of a user’s emotional state. While these features can be used for simple representation purposes, in our approach they are utilized to provide feedback on the users’ emotional state, hoping to provide next-generation interfaces that are able to recognize the emotional states of their users.
Analysis and Synthesis of Facial Expressions
Authors: Eisert Peter
Published: January 2011

In this chapter, the state-of-the-art in facial animation and expression analysis is reviewed and new techniques for the estimation of 3-D human motion, deformation, and facial expressions from monocular video sequences are presented. Since illumination has a considerable influence on the appearance of objects in a scene, methods for the derivation of photometric scene properties from images are also addressed. For a particular implementation, the potential of these analysis techniques is illustrated for applications like character animation and model-based video coding. Experiments have shown that the usage of 3-D computer models allows video transmissions at bit-rates of a few kbit/s, enabling a wide variety of new applications.
Engaging Adult Learners and Fostering Self-Directedness
Authors: Dooley Kim E. , Linder James R. , Dooley Larry M.
Published: January 2011

It is clear that educators rely on a variety of instructional methods to change learners’ behaviors. What is less clear is how distance learning educators can foster deeper and more meaningful learning by taking into account a learner’s unique background, experiences, competencies, learning styles, personality type, and levels of self-directedness. This is a challenge for those educators wishing to create a learner-centered instructional environment at a distance. How can educators avoid the trap of “teaching to the middle,” providing materials that are too challenging for some learners and too simple for others? How can educators identify learners’ dependency level/self-directedness?
Writing Instructional Objectives
Authors: Dooley Kim E. , Linder James R. , Dooley Larry M.
Published: January 2011

In the last chapter we discussed learner-centered instruction and gave you an overview of systematic instructional design. One of the first considerations after determining the needs of your audience, the potential learners, and the content to be delivered is to formulate instructional objectives. Instructional objectives are written by the instructor to guide the design process, and must consider distance education delivery strategies and principles of adult learning. Often these objectives will be negotiated with the learner so that they will meet their individual needs (e.g., learning contracts). Keeping in mind that learners have diverse learning needs and preferences, it is important to understand the three major domains of learning: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. Helping you to do so are guideposts to ensure that the instructional objectives are written so that they measure the intended outcomes. How do you write instructional objectives that are specific and measurable? Why is this important?
Delivery Technology
Authors: Dooley Kim E. , Linder James R. , Dooley Larry M. , Magnussen Walt
Published: January 2011

It is our belief that everyone should understand the basic technical lingo of the profession, so this chapter will give you an overview of the tools of the trade. A major consideration when developing a new course or program at a distance is the selection of the delivery technology. You may even have to decide upon specifications for equipment and modify existing space. In the previous section of the book, we explored the principles of instructional design needed to be successful in distance education. Now we will address technology knowledge and skills. You will gain an understanding of the technology being used in the instructional environment, as well as the server capacity for storing data. Of particular importance is the need for instructors and designers to understand that learners have variable access to and abilities with the delivery technologies. Moreover, instruction must be designed for multiplatform use and for future technology development. How do you select or design the learning interface? What combination of technologies and delivery strategies promote engagement and interaction? What are issues with bandwidth and access that impact both instructors and learners?
Site Structure and User Navigation
Authors: Herder Eelco , van Dijk Betsy
Published: January 2011

The analysis of the structure of Web sites and patterns of user navigation through these sites is gaining attention from different disciplines, as it enables unobtrusive discovery of user needs. In this chapter we give an overview of models, measures, and methods that can be used for analysis purposes as well as for user-adaptive navigation support. Specific attention is given to the problem of identifying users getting lost. We conclude with a discussion on various personalised navigation aids that benefit from the techniques presented in this chapter.
Adaptation Engineering in Adaptive Concept-Based System
Authors: Houben Geert-Jan , Aroyo Lora , De Bra Paul , Dicheva Darina
Published: January 2011

This chapter presents main issues and the state of the art of research on adaptation engineering in adaptive concept-based systems. Adaptive concept-based systems are characterised by the prominent role of concept structures, which makes content classification and conceptualisation play central roles in engineering. On top of these concept structures, adaptation is engineered in order to achieve personalisation of both the content and their presentation. For this presentation many systems use hypermedia structures, as that nicely supports the Web-based application. As a consequence, navigation adaptation is also a central issue in system design. Next to modelling domain and adaptation, it is necessary to model the user and what the system knows or assumes of the user. To discuss different approaches to these issues, we have identified three main classes of adaptive concept-based systems. Adaptive Web information systems build the more general class of data-intensive applications. We use the Hera design methodology to explain the properties of this class. The second class of systems is that of adaptive hypermedia systems. On the basis of the AHAM reference model and the AHA! system, we illustrate this class. The third class consists of adaptive task-based systems, for which we present AIMS as a representative.
The Extended Abstract Categorization Map (E-ACM)
Authors: Tobar Carlos Miguel , Marques Ricarte Ivan Luiz
Published: January 2011

This chapter presents the Extended Abstract Categorisation Map, which provides a conceptual tool to evaluate the coverage of adaptive hypermedia methods, concerning their modelling mechanisms. The design of modern hypermedia systems requires an integrated approach contemplating modelling principles, evaluation frameworks, and reference models. Several approaches and methods exist, but it is difficult to comprehend how they complement or interfere among themselves during a design effort. The E-ACM considers the relationship among four complementary modelling perspectives related to adaptive hypermedia design: services, traditional concerns, abstraction levels, and goal conditions. In this chapter, the E-ACM is used to compare modelling mechanisms of two adaptive authoring systems. It could also be used to support the application of designing methods and mechanisms. The proposed map is a step towards the integration of modelling perspectives that are not usually combined.
Hierarchical Profiling, Scoring and Applications in Bioinformatics
Authors: Liao Li
Published: January 2011

Recently, clustering and classification methods have seen many applications in bioinformatics. Some are simply straightforward applications of existing techniques, but most have been adapted to cope with peculiar features of the biological data. Many biological data take a form of vectors, whose components correspond to attributes characterizing the biological entities being studied. Comparing these vectors, aka profiles, are a crucial step for most clustering and classification methods. We review the recent developments related to hierarchical profiling where the attributes are not independent, but rather are correlated in a hierarchy. Hierarchical profiling arises in a wide range of bioinformatics problems, including protein homology detection, protein family classification, and metabolic pathway clustering. We discuss in detail several clustering and classification methods where hierarchical correlations are tackled in effective and efficient ways, by incorporation of domain-specific knowledge. Relations to other statistical learning methods and more potential applications are also discussed.
DNA Sequence Visualization
Authors: Chang Hsuan T.
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces various visualization (i.e., graphical representation) schemes of symbolic DNA sequences, which are basically represented by character strings in conventional sequence databases. Several visualization schemes are reviewed and their characterizations are summarized for comparison. Moreover, further potential applications based on the visualized sequences are discussed. By understanding the visualization process, the researchers will be able to analyze DNA sequences by designing signal processing algorithms for specific purposes such as sequence alignment, feature extraction, and sequence clustering, etc.
Algorithmic Aspects of Protein Threading
Authors: Akutsu Tatsuya
Published: January 2011

This chapter provides an overview of computational problems and techniques for protein threading. Protein threading is one of the most powerful approaches to protein structure prediction, where protein structure prediction is to infer three-dimensional (3-D) protein structure for a given protein sequence. Protein threading can be modeled as an optimization problem. Optimal solutions can be obtained in polynomial time using simple dynamic programming algorithms if profile type score functions are employed. However, this problem is computationally hard (NP-hard) if score functions include pairwise interaction preferences between amino acid residues. Therefore, various algorithms have been developed for finding optimal or near-optimal solutions. This chapter explains the ideas employed in these algorithms. This chapter also gives brief explanations of related problems: protein threading with constraints, comparison of RNA secondary structures and protein structure alignment.
Joint Discriminatory Gene Selection for Molecular Classification of Cancer
Authors: Zhang Junying
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces gene selection approaches in microarray data analysis for two purposes: cancer classification and tissue heterogeneity correction and hence is divided into two respective parts. In the first part, we search for jointly discriminatory genes which are most responsible to classification of tissue samples for diagnosis. In the second part, we study tissue heterogeneity correction techniques, in which independent component analysis is applied to tissue samples with the expression levels of only selected genes, the genes which are functionally independent and/or jointly discriminatory; we also employ non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to computationally decompose molecular signatures based on the fact that the expression values in microarray profiling are non-negative. Throughout the chapter, a real world gene expression profile data was used for experiments, which consists of 88 tissue samples of 2308 effective gene expressions obtained from 88 patients of 4 different neuroblastoma and non-hodgkin lymphoma cell tumors.
Differential Association Rules
Authors: Besemann Christopher , Denton Anne , Yekkirala Ajay , Hutchison Ron , Anderson Marc
Published: January 2011

In this chapter, we discuss the use of differential association rules to study the annotations of proteins in one or more interaction networks. Using this technique, we find the differences in the annotations of interacting proteins in a network. We extend the concept to compare annotations of interacting proteins across different definitions of interaction networks. Both cases reveal instances of rules that explain known and unknown characteristics of the network(s). By taking advantage of such data mining techniques, a large number of interesting patterns can be effectively explored that otherwise would not be.
Mining BioLiterature
Authors: Couto Francisco M. , Silva Mario J.
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces the use of Text Mining in scientific literature for biological research, with a special focus on automatic gene and protein annotation. This field became recently a major topic in Bioinformatics, motivated by the opportunity brought by tapping the BioLiterature with automatic text processing software. The chapter describes the main approaches adopted and analyzes systems that have been developed for automatically annotating genes or proteins. To illustrate how text-mining tools fit in biological databases curation processes, the chapter presents a tool that assists protein annotation. Besides the promising advances of Text Mining of BioLiterature, many problems need to be addressed. This chapter presents the main open problems in using text-mining tools for automatic annotation of genes and proteins, and discusses how a more efficient integration of existing domain knowledge can improve the performance of these tools.
Dynamic Enterprise Modeling for Knowledge Worker Industries
Authors: McKeachie I.
Published: January 2011

This chapter presents a case study of the empirical development and implementation of a commercially successful enterprise modeling framework and associated constructs. We discuss the objectives from a practical business and management viewpoint and provide a guide for implementation of the empirical framework in real enterprises. An integrated approach was found to be essential quite early in the empirical development for successful outcomes to be obtained. What is offered as novel is the successful integration of standard theoretical frameworks with empirical business and management models, including areas that previously have not been covered in an integrated fashion, such as strategic management capability, the ability to integrate the framework with various management paradigms and partial automation of model data capture.
Competence Management for Business Integration
Authors: Houe R.
Published: January 2011

Business integration requires that each partner can guarantee not only the quality of its products, but also the qualification and competence of its workforce. Usual models, like those included in the Human Resource Management modules of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, are not sufficient in highly constrained domains like aeronautics. We show in this chapter how a generic competence management model has had to be modified and enlarged to satisfy such constraints. On the base of this model, software has been developed that is currently being implemented in three sites belonging to two companies. We shall show how such software may allow, on one hand, to guarantee that only competent people have been involved in the various steps of the manufacturing process, but also to improve the way operational competences are managed in the company.
Business Integration in the Insurance Industry
Authors: Amorim V. , Santana S.
Published: January 2011

The insurance business bases heavily on data, information and knowledge processing. Hence, entities in the business need great connectivity and articulation between themselves. Information and Communication Technologies and Information Systems can provide that connectivity, both intra- and interorganizations, making it possible for participants to come closer and dialog better, reducing response times and costs, improving service to clients and, possibly, creating new business opportunities. In this chapter, we investigate, by means of a case study, how far the business of an intermediary integrates with other entities, using an electronic business platform built on Internet technologies. The conclusions drawn cannot be generalized to the whole industry. However, we firmly believe that they expose the problems faced by intermediaries and insurance companies in this industry all over the world when trying to integrate their business, and offer how the problems can be overcome so partners can fully benefit from the opportunities identified.
SCOntology
Authors: Gonnet Silvio , Vegetti Marcela , Leone Horacio , Henning Gabriela
Published: January 2011

This contribution points out the various challenges associated to Supply Chain Management (SCM). SCM involves coordinating and integrating material, information and money flows, both within and across several companies. The integration of these flows is perceived in quite distinct ways by different communities, raising some semantics-related problems. To assist organizations in achieving a unified view of the Supply Chain (SC), a new ontology, named SCOntology, is introduced in this chapter. SCOntology is a framework to formally describe a SC at various abstraction levels, by sharing a precise meaning of the information exchanged during communication among the many stakeholders involved in the SC. Moreover, SCOntology provides a foundation for the specification of information logistics processes and also sets the grounds for measuring and evaluating a SC by stating different metrics and performance-related concepts.
Business Information Integration from XML and Relational Databases Sources
Authors: Fermoso Garcia A. M.
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces different alternatives to store and manage jointly relational and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data sources. Nowadays, businesses are transformed in e business and have to manage large data volumes and from heterogeneous sources. To manage large amounts of information, Database Management Systems (DBMS) continue to be one of the most used tools, and the most extended model is the relational one. On the other side, XML has reached the de facto standard to present and exchange information between businesses on the Web. Therefore, it could be necessary to use tools as mediators to integrate these two different data to a common format like XML, since it is the main data format on the Web. First, a classification of the main tools and systems where this problem is handled is made, with their advantages and disadvantages. The objective will be to propose a new system to solve the integration business information problem.
Blended ICT Models for Use in Higher Education
Authors: Drossos L. , Vassiliadis B. , Stefani A. , Xenos M.
Published: January 2011

Information-transfer is a tradition in higher education; in the information transfer model knowledge is passed from the experts (tutors) to the learners (students) by means of lectures and text books. The hope of increasing the educational impact by using impressive tools based on ICT has the serious disadvantage of increased cost. We argue that new, low-cost educational models based on constructivism can be used in parallel with traditional learning introducing a blended (or enhanced) learning approach. In such a blended environment, organizational, educational and technological issues need to be considered as a whole. We introduce a light-weight blended educational model based on cooperation and experimentation. We describe the educational background, introduce a development framework and briefly discuss its quality aspects based on the ISO standard.
The KARPE Model Revisited – An Updated Investigation for Differentiating Teaching and Learning with Technology in Higher Education
Authors: Tomei Lawrence A.
Published: January 2011

Since 1996, the K-A-RPE Model has served to differentiate teaching and learning of technology. It is offered here as an archetype for other institutions seeking to develop their own comprehensive technology program. Knowledge, Application, Research, Practice, and Evaluation (K-A-RPE) offer the necessary dichotomy among instructional technology programs for undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral candidates. Similar to other more well-known taxonomies, the K-A-RPE Model is progressive and assumes mastery and competency at previous levels. Readers are exposed to the ISTE technology standards for teachers as well as how particular institutions implement the set of competencies in their individual programs of study. By establishing how technology skills are addressed in higher education, readers will be able to transfer the KARPE Model to new initiates at all levels of instructional technology education, business, and corporate as well as traditional education.
TRAKS Model
Authors: Srivastava Shirish C. , Teo Thompson S.H.
Published: January 2011

Introduction of new information technology (IT) in organizations is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for organizational success. The effective adoption and use of IT by organizations is dependent to a large measure on the strategic planning for using the technology, including long-term planning for training the organizational members. Despite the strategic nature of technology training in organizations, most existing studies on technology training address only the operational issues e.g. training needs assessment, learning, delivery methods, etc. The strategic concerns of IT training for enhancing business productivity are largely not addressed by the current literature. To address this gap, we explore the strategic role of IT training in hierarchical organizations. We synthesize various ideas in the literature on change management, training needs analysis and IT adoption to evolve a ‘strategic IT training framework’ for hierarchical organizations, namely the TRAKS model. The proposed framework recognizes the differences in IT training requirements for different levels of employees. Further, the model suggests tracking training requirements based on attitudes, knowledge, and skills for different segments of employees and planning training accordingly. The study provides an actionable and comprehensive tool, which can be used for systematically planning IT training for enhancing productivity of organizations.
Technology Assisted Problem Packages For Engineering
Authors: Sidhu S. Manjit , Ramesh S.
Published: January 2011

This work presents the development of technology-assisted problem solving (TAPS) packages at University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). This project is the further work of the development of interactive multimedia based packages targeted for students having problems in understanding the subject of Engineering Mechanics Dynamics. One facet of the project is the development of Engineering Mechanics Dynamics problems for core undergraduate engineering courses. This paper discusses the development of an interactive multimedia environment for solving relative motion of a rigid body using rotating axes. More specifically this article outlines the framework used to develop the multimedia package, highlighting our multimedia design process and philosophy.
Perceptions of Laptop Initiatives
Authors: Changchit Chuleeporn , Cutshall Robert , Elwood Susan
Published: January 2011

Parallel to advancements in information technology usage, there are increasing demands for basic computer skills at minimum from today’s college graduates. As a consequence, many colleges and universities have chosen to stimulate campus laptop initiatives as a way to provide their students opportunities to grow their computer skills and experiences. However, the success of laptop programs is very much dependent on the degree to which students and faculty are accepting a laptop environment and are willing to implement such programs. Defining which conception factors are necessary is essential for successful implementation. This study examines such factors by focusing on university student perceptions of required laptop programs in order to distinguish which factors they perceive as important. In understanding what factors encourage student support of laptop initiatives, such programs can be made more useful to students as well as more beneficial to universities.
Using Indices of Student Satisfaction to Assess an MIS Program
Authors: Chrysler Earl , Van Auken Stuart
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a methodology by which Management Information Systems (MIS) alumni evaluate the content of courses and their satisfaction with an entire MIS program. The approach can be used to assess the relevancy of an MIS curriculum. By way of clarification, a Management Information Systems (MIS) program prepares its graduates to be effective in the tasks necessary to design, program and implement systems that will provide management with timely, accurate and useful information for decision making. This is in contrast to Computer Science (CS) programs that prepare their graduates to be knowledgeable in the technical aspects of computer hardware and operating systems software. This study first determines if there are any differences in the evaluations of the content of required MIS courses by alumni based upon whether the graduate was using their first year on the job or one’s current position as a frame of reference. Next, a factor analysis is performed, using the scores earned by specific courses, to reduce the content value of specific courses into specific factors, thus simplifying understanding of the type of learning that is taking place. A factor analysis is performed both for course content scores during one’s first year on the job and, again, in one’s current position. Using a global measure of satisfaction with the entire MIS program, the course content factor scores are then regressed against a student’s satisfaction with the entire MIS program. This regression analysis is performed, once again, for both one’s first year on the job and in one’s current position. The implications for evaluating the effectiveness of an MIS curriculum are presented and discussed.
How Students Learned in Creating Electronic Portfolios
Authors: Wang Shuyan , Turner Sandra
Published: January 2011

This case study investigated the learning experiences that occurred during students’ development of culminating electronic portfolios for a Master of Education in Computer Education and Technology program. The meaning that students gave to their learning experiences and the problems they encountered were also investigated in order to understand how students learn in a technology-enriched learning environment. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observations, and document analyses from seven M.Ed. students before, during, and after developing electronic portfolios. Findings indicate that creating electronic portfolios supports students’ mastery of technology-related knowledge and promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students reported that they learned not only “by doing,” but also from peers through collaboration, from reflection on their artifacts, and from synthesizing their electronic portfolios.
Semantic Integration and Knowledge Discovery for Environmental Research
Authors: Chen Zhiyuan
Published: January 2011

Environmental research and knowledge discovery both require extensive use of data stored in various sources and created in different ways for diverse purposes. We describe a new metadata approach to elicit semantic information from environmental data and implement semantics-based techniques to assist users in integrating, navigating, and mining multiple environmental data sources. Our system contains specifications of various environmental data sources and the relationships that are formed among them. User requests are augmented with semantically related data sources and automatically presented as a visual semantic network. In addition, we present a methodology for data navigation and pattern discovery using multi-resolution browsing and data mining. The data semantics are captured and utilized in terms of their patterns and trends at multiple levels of resolution. We present the efficacy of our methodology through experimental results.
Using Decision Trees to Predict Crime Reporting
Authors: Gutierrez Juliette
Published: January 2011

Crime reports are used to find criminals, prevent further violations, identify problems causing crimes and allocate government resources. Unfortunately, many crimes go unreported. The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) comprises data about incidents, victims, suspects and if the incident was reported or not. Current research using the NCVS is limited to statistical techniques resulting in a limited ‘view’ of the data. Our goal is to use decision trees to predict when crime is reported or not. We compare decision trees that are built based on domain knowledge with those created with three variable selection methods. We conclude that using decision trees leads to the discovery of several new variables to research further.
A Model for Estimating the Savings from Dimensional vs. Keyword Search
Authors: Corral Karen , Schuff David , St. Louis Robert D. , Turetken Ozgur
Published: January 2011

Inefficient and ineffective search is widely recognized as a problem for businesses. The shortcomings of keyword searches have been elaborated upon by many authors, and many enhancements to keyword searches have been proposed. To date, however, no one has provided a quantitative model or systematic process for evaluating the savings that accrue from enhanced search procedures. This paper presents a model for estimating the total cost to a company of relying on keyword searches versus a dimensional search approach. The model is based on the Zipf-Mandelbrot law in quantitative linguistics. Our analysis of the model shows that a surprisingly small number of searches are required to justify the cost associated with encoding the metadata necessary to support a dimensional search engine. The results imply that it is cost effective for almost any business organization to implement a dimensional search strategy.
Understanding Organizational Transformation from IT Implementations
Authors: Ariyachandra T. , Dong L.
Published: January 2011

Past evidence suggests that organizational transformation from IT implementations is rare. Data warehousing promises to be one advanced information technology that could produce transformation. Based on the stages of growth theory and adaptive structuration theory (AST), this paper attempts to understand how data warehousing could lead to organizational transformation by studying a data warehouse’s growth in an organization. In particular, the benchmark variables for data warehousing stages of growth are examined using adaptive structuration theory to explain organizational transformation that takes account into unique organizational situations.
Discriminant Criteria for Pattern Classification
Authors: Zhang David , Song Fengxi , Xu Yong , Liang Zhizhen
Published: January 2011

As mentioned in Chapter II, there are two kinds of LDA approaches: classification- oriented LDA and feature extraction-oriented LDA. In most chapters of this session of the book, we focus our attention on the feature extraction aspect of LDA for SSS problems. On the other hand,, with this chapter we present our studies on the pattern classification aspect of LDA for SSS problems. In this chapter, we present three novel classification-oriented linear discriminant criteria. The first one is large margin linear projection (LMLP) which makes full use of the characteristic of the SSS problems. The second one is the minimum norm minimum squared-error criterion which is a modification of the minimum squared-error discriminant criterion. The third one is the maximum scatter difference which is a modification of the Fisher discriminant criterion.
Parameterized Discriminant Analysis Methods
Authors: Zhang David , Song Fengxi , Xu Yong , Liang Zhizhen
Published: January 2011

In this chapter, we mainly present three kinds of weighted LDA methods. In Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, we respectively present parameterized direct linear discriminant analysis, weighted nullspace linear discriminant analysis and weighted LDA in the range of within-class scatter matrix. We offer a brief summery of the chapter in Section 5.4.
Tensor Space
Authors: Zhang David , Song Fengxi , Xu Yong , Liang Zhizhen
Published: January 2011

In this chapter, we first give the background materials for developing tensor discrimination technologies in Section 7.1. Section 7.2 introduces some basic notations in tensor space. Section 7.3 discusses several tensor decomposition methods. Section 7.4 introduces the tensor rank.
Matching Score Level Fusion
Authors: Zhang David , Song Fengxi , Xu Yong , Liang Zhizhen
Published: January 2011

With this chapter we aims at describing several basic aspects of matching score level fusion. Section 14.1 provides a description of basic characteristics of matching score fusion in the form of introduction. Section 14.2 shows a number of matching score fusion rules. Section 14.3 surveys several typical normalization procedures of raw matching scores. Section 14.4 gives an example of matching score level fusion method. Finally, Section 14.5 provides several brief comments on matching score fusion.
FOOM - Functional and Object-Oriented Methodology for Analysis and Design of Information Systems
Authors: Shoval Peretz , Kabeli Judith
Published: January 2011

FOOM is an integrated methodology for analysis and design of information systems, which combines the two essential software-engineering paradigms: the functional- (or process-) oriented approach and the object-oriented (OO) approach. In FOOM, system analysis includes both functional and data modeling activities, thereby producing both a functional model and a data model. These activities can be performed either by starting with functional analysis and continuing with data modeling, or vice versa. FOOM products of the analysis phase include: a) a hierarchy of OO-DFDs (object-oriented data flow diagrams), and b) an initial object schema, which can be created directly from the user requirements specification or from an entity-relationship diagram (ERD) that is mapped to that object schema. System design is performed according to the OO approach. The products of the design phase include: a) a complete object schema, consisting of the classes and their relationships, attributes, and method interfaces; b) object classes for the menus, forms and reports; and c) a behavior schema, which consists of detailed descriptions of the methods and the application transactions, expressed in pseudo-code and message diagrams. The seamless transition from analysis to design is attributed to ADISSA methodology, which facilitates the design of the menus, forms and reports classes, and the system behavior schema, from DFDs and the application transactions.
Object-Process Methodology Applied to Modeling Credit Card Transactions
Authors: Dori Dov
Published: January 2011

Object-Process Methodology (OPM) is a system development and specification approach that combines the major system aspects–function, structure and behavior–within a single graphic and textual model. Having applied OPM in a variety of domains, this chapter specifies an electronic commerce system in a hierarchical manner, at the top of which are the processes of managing a generic product supply chain before and after the product is manufactured. Focusing on the post-product supply chain management, we gradually refine the details of the fundamental, almost “classical” electronic commerce interaction between the retailer and the end-customer, namely payment over the Internet using the customer’s credit card. The specification results in a set of Object-Process Diagrams and a corresponding equivalent set of Object-Process Language sentences. The synergy of combining structure and behavior within a single formal model, expressed both graphically and textually, yields a highly expressive system modeling and specification tool. The comprehensive, unambiguous treatment of this basic electronic commerce process is formal, yet intuitive and clear, suggesting that OPM is a prime candidate for becoming a common standard vehicle for defining, specifying, and analyzing electronic commerce and supply chain management systems.
A Case Study of the Use of the Viable System Model in the Organization of Software Development
Authors: Kawalek Peter , Wastell David
Published: January 2011

This chapter considers the usefulness of the Viable System Model (VSM) in the study of organizational adaptation. The VSM is a rigorous organizational model that was developed from the study of cybernetics and has been given considerable attention by management science research. The chapter presents a longitudinal case study that focuses upon a software development team. The VSM was useful in diagnosing the likely consequences of different organizational designs and in prescribing an alternative solution.
Changing the Face of War through Telemedicine and Mobile E-Commerce
Authors: Rodger James A. , Pendharkar Parag C. , Khosrow-Pour Mehdi
Published: January 2011

The general perspective of this chapter is designed to relate the rationale used by the Department of Defense (DoD) for the military to adapt the principles of e-commerce to Telemedicine to meet increasing global crises, and to find ways to more effectively manage manpower and time. A mobile telemedicine package has been developed by the Department of Defense to collect and transmit near-real-time, far-forward medical data and to assess how this Web-based capability enhances medical management of the battlespace. Telemedicine has been successful in resolving uncertain organizational and technological military deficiencies and in improving medical communications and information management. The deployable, mobile teams are the centerpieces of this telemedicine package. These teams have the capability of inserting essential networking and communications capabilities into austere theaters and establishing an immediate means for enhancing health protection, collaborative planning, situational awareness, and strategic decision-making through Web-based Internet applications.
Information Analysis in UML and ORM
Authors: Halpin Terry
Published: January 2011

Since its adoption by the Object Management Group as a language for object-oriented analysis and design, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) has become widely used for designing object-oriented code. However, UML has had only minimal adoption among practitioners for the purposes of information analysis and database design. One main reason for this is that the class diagrams used in UML for data modeling provide only weak, and awkward, support for the kinds of business rules found in data-intensive applications. Moreover, UML’s graphical language does not lend itself readily to verbalization and multiple instantiation for validating data models with domain experts. These defects can be remedied by using a fact-oriented approach for information analysis, from which UML class diagrams may be derived. Object-Role Modeling (ORM) is currently the most popular fact-oriented modeling approach. This chapter examines the relative strengths and weaknesses of UML and ORM for conceptual data modeling, and indicates how models in one notation can be translated into the other.
The Role of Use Cases in the UML
Authors: Dobing Brian , Parsons Jeffrey
Published: January 2011

A use case is a description of a sequence of actions constituting a complete task or transaction in an application. Use cases were first proposed by Jacobson (1987) and have since been incorporated as one of the key modeling constructs in the UML (Booch, Jacobson, & Rumbaugh, 1999) and the Unified Software Development Process (Jacobson, Booch, & Rumbaugh, 1999). This chapter traces the development of use cases, and identifies a number of problems with both their application and theoretical underpinnings. From an application perspective, the use-case concept is marked by a high degree of variety in the level of abstraction versus implementation detail advocated by various authors. In addition, use cases are promoted as a primary mechanism for identifying objects in an application, even though they focus on processes rather than objects. Moreover, there is an apparent inconsistency between the so-called naturalness of object models and the commonly held view that use cases should be the primary means of communicating and verifying requirements with users. From a theoretical standpoint, the introduction of implementation issues in use cases can be seen as prematurely anchoring the analysis to particular implementation decisions. In addition, the fragmentation of objects across use cases creates conceptual difficulties in developing a comprehensive class diagram from a set of use cases. Moreover, the role of categorization in human thinking suggests that class diagrams may serve directly as a good mechanism for communicating and verifying application requirements with users. We conclude by outlining a framework for further empirical research to resolve issues raised in our analysis.
Study on Reconstruction of Fitting Women Clothing Bodice by Bias Structure Line
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhang Zu Fang
Published: January 2011

In terms of clothing silhouette, the design of structure lines for fitting clothing were studied, and the feasibility of reconstruction of clothing was discussed, which aimed at combining functionality and decoration to incarnate the creativity in structure design[1]. Bias structure lines used in fitting clothing bodice were chosen to study in this thesis. The bodice of fitting clothing was studied in structure, shape and relationship with wearer from aspects of patterns, production, appearance and comfort. The following conclusions could be drawn: bias structure lines could be used to reconstruct bodice of fitting clothing, and had easy construction, less fabric, good comfort and appearance.
The Inheritance and Innovation of Embroidery in Modern Silk Dress Design
Authors: Wang Xin , Zheng Rong Rong
Published: January 2011

Today, the fashion designer’s concern for reconstruction design of fabric attains a new level. The embroidery, always be viewed as a traditional deep processing skill for silk, is still an important method of reconstruction for silk in nowadays fashion design. This paper mainly deals with the inheritance and innovation of embroidery in modern silk dress design.