title: Document DNA: Distributed Content-Centered Provenance Data Tracking

authors: Rinck, Michael

subjects: Provenance Data

abstract: This thesis presents a new content-centered approach to provenance data tracking: the Document DNA. 

Knowledge workers are overwhelmed as they find it hard to structure, maintain, and find re-used content within their digital workspace. This issue is aggravated by the growing amount of digital data knowledge workers need to maintain.

This thesis introduces a concept for tracing the evolution of text-based content across documents in the digital work space, without the need for a centralized tracking system. Our concept is inspired by the DNA common to life forms.

We present an analysis and comparison of research undertaken to support knowledge workers and review provenance data tracking systems. Provenance data has been used for data security, databases and to track knowledge workers' interactions with digital content. However, very little research is available on the usefulness of provenance data for knowledge workers. Furthermore, current provenance data research is based on central systems and tracks provenance at the file level.

We conducted three user studies to explore current issues knowledge workers face when working with digital content. The first study examined current knowledge workers' problems when re-using digital content. The second study examined to what extend the issues detected in our first study are addressed by document management systems. We found that document management systems do not fully address these issues, and that not all knowledge workers make use of the document management system available to them. The third study examined reasons for low user saturation of available document management systems. As a result of these three studies we identified task categories and a variety of related issues.

Driven by these findings, we developed a conceptual model for Document DNA, which tracks the provenance of data used in the identified tasks. To show the effectiveness of our approach, we created a software prototype and conducted a realistic user study. Our software prototype is a Microsoft Word Add-In that tracks the evolution of content included in Microsoft Word documents. In our final user study, participants executed example tasks gathered from real knowledge workers with and without the support of our software prototype. The results of our study confirm that the Document DNA successfully addresses the issues identified. The participants were significantly faster when performing the tasks using the software prototype; most participants using traditional methods failed to identify the provenance of the data, whereas the majority of participants using the software prototype succeeded.

text: Document DNA: Distributed Content-Centered Provenance Data Tracking This thesis presents a new content-centered approach to provenance data tracking: the Document DNA. 

Knowledge workers are overwhelmed as they find it hard to structure, maintain, and find re-used content within their digital workspace. This issue is aggravated by the growing amount of digital data knowledge workers need to maintain.

This thesis introduces a concept for tracing the evolution of text-based content across documents in the digital work space, without the need for a centralized tracking system. Our concept is inspired by the DNA common to life forms.

We present an analysis and comparison of research undertaken to support knowledge workers and review provenance data tracking systems. Provenance data has been used for data security, databases and to track knowledge workers' interactions with digital content. However, very little research is available on the usefulness of provenance data for knowledge workers. Furthermore, current provenance data research is based on central systems and tracks provenance at the file level.

We conducted three user studies to explore current issues knowledge workers face when working with digital content. The first study examined current knowledge workers' problems when re-using digital content. The second study examined to what extend the issues detected in our first study are addressed by document management systems. We found that document management systems do not fully address these issues, and that not all knowledge workers make use of the document management system available to them. The third study examined reasons for low user saturation of available document management systems. As a result of these three studies we identified task categories and a variety of related issues.

Driven by these findings, we developed a conceptual model for Document DNA, which tracks the provenance of data used in the identified tasks. To show the effectiveness of our approach, we created a software prototype and conducted a realistic user study. Our software prototype is a Microsoft Word Add-In that tracks the evolution of content included in Microsoft Word documents. In our final user study, participants executed example tasks gathered from real knowledge workers with and without the support of our software prototype. The results of our study confirm that the Document DNA successfully addresses the issues identified. The participants were significantly faster when performing the tasks using the software prototype; most participants using traditional methods failed to identify the provenance of the data, whereas the majority of participants using the software prototype succeeded.

year: 2015

title: Antibacterial Ti-Mn-Cu alloys for biomedical applications

authors: Alqattan, Mohammad

subjects: titanium alloys

abstract: Titanium alloys are common biomedical materials due to their biocompatibility and mechanical performance. However, titanium alloys are expensive and, unless surface treated, generally cannot prevent surgical infections related to bacteria which can damage the integrity of the implant. In this study, new titanium alloys were developed via powder metallurgy and the addition of manganese and copper, respectively, aiming to limit the manufacturing costs and induce new functionality on the materials including antibacterial response. The addition of manganese and copper to titanium significantly changes the behaviour of the Ti-Mn-Cu alloys leading to the successful stabilization of the beta titanium phase, great refinement of the typical lamellar structure, and achievement of materials with low level of porosity. Consequently, it is found that the mechanical performance and the antibacterial efficacy are enhanced by the addition of a higher amount of alloying elements. The manufactured Ti-Mn-Cu alloys fulfil the requirements for structural biomedical implants and have antibacterial response making them potential candidates for permanent medical implants.

text: Antibacterial Ti-Mn-Cu alloys for biomedical applications Titanium alloys are common biomedical materials due to their biocompatibility and mechanical performance. However, titanium alloys are expensive and, unless surface treated, generally cannot prevent surgical infections related to bacteria which can damage the integrity of the implant. In this study, new titanium alloys were developed via powder metallurgy and the addition of manganese and copper, respectively, aiming to limit the manufacturing costs and induce new functionality on the materials including antibacterial response. The addition of manganese and copper to titanium significantly changes the behaviour of the Ti-Mn-Cu alloys leading to the successful stabilization of the beta titanium phase, great refinement of the typical lamellar structure, and achievement of materials with low level of porosity. Consequently, it is found that the mechanical performance and the antibacterial efficacy are enhanced by the addition of a higher amount of alloying elements. The manufactured Ti-Mn-Cu alloys fulfil the requirements for structural biomedical implants and have antibacterial response making them potential candidates for permanent medical implants.

year: 2020

title: Cultural knowledge and identity for wellbeing and success: Trying to make the connections in the north of New Zealand.

authors: Hohepa, Margie Kahukura

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This paper argues that secure cultural identity is essential to wellbeing and cultural identity is important to Māori youth participation and success. The roles of community and schools in developing secure cultural identity are increasingly complex, as both become increasingly more culturally and ethnically diverse in many parts of the world.
The paper discusses findings from student survey data from a 2 year project ‘Te Wehi Nui a Mamao: Maximising the potential of tribal marae and regional language among youth', which began in July 2008, supported by funding from New Zealand's Foundation of Research, Science and Technology. This project aims to strengthen the relevance of tribal marae and regional Maori language among Maori youth, which are identified as important to Māori cultural identity.
Inter-generational transfer of tribal marae knowledge and language is becoming more compromised. Many cultural values are defined on marae. Tribal leaders have long been concerned about disconnections between Māori youth and tribal marae, poor knowledge of regional dialect and the potential negative consequences for full participation in society. .It appears that Māori youth are disconnected from regional language dialects and marae knowledge now more than ever. Reconnecting Māori youth with these two sources of tribal identity is the key to the purpose of this project.

text: Cultural knowledge and identity for wellbeing and success: Trying to make the connections in the north of New Zealand. This paper argues that secure cultural identity is essential to wellbeing and cultural identity is important to Māori youth participation and success. The roles of community and schools in developing secure cultural identity are increasingly complex, as both become increasingly more culturally and ethnically diverse in many parts of the world.
The paper discusses findings from student survey data from a 2 year project ‘Te Wehi Nui a Mamao: Maximising the potential of tribal marae and regional language among youth', which began in July 2008, supported by funding from New Zealand's Foundation of Research, Science and Technology. This project aims to strengthen the relevance of tribal marae and regional Maori language among Maori youth, which are identified as important to Māori cultural identity.
Inter-generational transfer of tribal marae knowledge and language is becoming more compromised. Many cultural values are defined on marae. Tribal leaders have long been concerned about disconnections between Māori youth and tribal marae, poor knowledge of regional dialect and the potential negative consequences for full participation in society. .It appears that Māori youth are disconnected from regional language dialects and marae knowledge now more than ever. Reconnecting Māori youth with these two sources of tribal identity is the key to the purpose of this project.

year: 2010