Structural Graph-based Metamodel Matching

Data integration has been, and still is, a challenge for applications processing multiple heterogeneous data sources. Across the domains of schemas, ontologies, and metamodels, this imposes the need for mapping specifications, i.e. the task of discovering semantic correspondences between elements. Support for the development of such mappings has been researched, producing matching systems that automatically propose mapping suggestions. However, especially in the context of metamodel matching the result quality of state of the art matching techniques leaves room for improvement. Although the traditional approach of pair-wise element comparison works on smaller data sets, its quadratic complexity leads to poor runtime and memory performance and eventually to the inability to match, when applied on real-world data. The work presented in this thesis seeks to address these shortcomings. Thereby, we take advantage of the graph structure of metamodels. Consequently, we derive a planar graph edit distance as metamodel similarity metric and mining-based matching to make use of redundant information. We also propose a planar graph-based partitioning to cope with large-scale matching. These techniques are then evaluated using real-world mappings from SAP business integration scenarios and the MDA community. The results demonstrate improvement in quality and managed runtime and memory consumption for large-scale metamodel matching

MergePoint: A Graphical Web-App for merging HTTP-Endpoints and IoT-Platform Models

More and more devices are connected to Internet of Things Platforms in various application domains. The resulting device integration effort is moderated by the concrete integration syntax and the technical abilities of the device integrator. Therefore, researchers from various communities have been investigating and designing component coupling architectures to achieve interoperability for more than 30 years. Emerging Smart Home scenarios challenges classical integration approaches as no single formal integration standard exists. In this paper we introduce a reference architecture called MergePoint that automates HTTP-Endpoint integration with smart home platforms such as openHAB in a plug-and-play manner. Based on a prototypical system implementation, our empirical evaluation demonstrates that average integration time can be reduced by 78% and average tool usability score is increased by 65% compared to textual integration approaches. MergePoint can serve as a reference implementation for practitioners that want to automate the integration between HTTP-Endpoints and IoT Platform Models

유전 질환이 의심되는 국내 미진단 소아 환자들의 임상적, 사회인구학적 특성 분석 및 질환 진단 연구

학위논문(박사) -- 서울대학교대학원 : 의과대학 의학과, 2022. 8. 채종희.Background: Rare diseases (RDs) usually require convoluted assessment and life-long medical care, which cause excessive medical cost and social burden. Many countries launched a nationwide research program for RDs reflecting their characteristic medical system, based on advancement of genetic technologies. In Korea, a research program for undiagnosed RDs have been launched in 2017. This study is aimed to analyze the result of clinical workflow, and review the clinical and social characteristics of pediatric patients enrolled to the Korean Undiagnosed Disease Program (KUDP). Methods: Undiagnosed patients under 18 years old and suspected to have genetic etiologies were screened from the KUDP cohort. Sequential diagnostic process, final diagnosis, and further validation was decided and conducted to identify molecular basis of patients. Clinical and demographic data of all patients were reviewed and analyzed. All patients were classified into 3 groups based on initial clinical assessment, to identify patients’ characteristics and estimate of the value of the study. The patients who had specific clinical diagnosis which can be confirmed by targeted testing was defined as Group I. Patients diagnosed with certain disease categories, with genetic or phenotypic heterogeneity, were defined as Group II. Group III was defined as patients with an uncategorized or atypical disease thus far. Results: Among the 666 patients who participated in the KUDP between Jan 2017 to Dec 2021, 606 patients were finally enrolled in this study. The Group I, II, and III accounted 6.8% (41/606 patients), 74.9% (454/606) and 18.3% (111/606) respectively. The average age of symptom onset was 1.4 years old and most patients (504/606, 83.2%) started diagnostic evaluation within 6 months from the point of symptom onset. About three quarters of patients (447/606, 73.8%) complaint neurologic symptom as their main feature. Patients underwent 6.1 kinds of diagnostic tests (range, 1-14) at 1.4 tertiary hospital (range, 0-5), and spent more than 3 years before the KUDP admission on average. Enrolled patients had customized and stepwise diagnostic evaluation including multi-disciplinary consultation, chromosomal microarray, targeted test for single gene, exome sequencing (ES), RNA sequencing, and various non-genetic tests. Confirmative diagnoses were obtained in 327 patients (54.0%). Diagnoses were made by next-generation sequencing for 275 patients (84.1%) and other genetic testing for 44 patients (13.4%). Eight patients (2.4%) were finally diagnosed by nongenetic tests. Nine patients were diagnosed with reanalysis of ES data. The proportion of patients who had prior ES has increased over years because of cost reduction and easy accessibility. This group, however, showed similar diagnostic yield (50.4%) compared with overall cohort (54.0%), which suggested importance of in-depth phenotyping and trio-based data analyses. For remained patients undiagnosed, candidate genes were screened with a collaboration of the KUDP functional core laboratories. As a result, functional validations have completed on 4 genes and continued on 6 candidates. Conclusions: This study solved underprivileged pediatric patients with RDs and figured out overall medical environment in Korea. The favorable outcome was a result of superior clinical workflow and supporting functional core laboratories, which are quite challenging to maintain in practice. The study proved constant need for the national RD program, although its detail such as inclusion criteria or contents of diagnostic process should be revised with advancement of RD practice.연구 배경: 희귀질환은 일반적으로 진단 과정이 지난하고 평생에 걸친 관리가 필요한 경우가 많아, 과도한 의료 비용 및 사회적 부담을 야기한다. 유전학적 기법의 발전에 힘입어, 여러 나라에서는 각국의 의료제도를 반영한 국가 차원의 희귀질환 연구 프로그램을 운영하기 시작하였다. 대한민국의 경우 2017년에 미진단 희귀질환자에 대한 연구 프로그램을 시작하여 현재까지 운영 중에 있다. 본 연구는 현재까지 한국 미진단 프로그램에 등록된 소아 환자들을 대상으로 환자들의 임상적, 사회인구학적 특성을 확인하고 프로그램 운영 결과를 분석하여 국내 소아 희귀질환자 진료 현황 및 한국 미진단 프로그램운영의 의의에 대해 고찰하고자 한다 연구 방법: 한국 미진단 프로그램에 등록된 18세 미만의 유전적 원인이 의심되는 희귀질환자를 대상으로 하였다. 환자들의 분자 진단을 위한 단계적 검사, 검사 결과의 확인 및 최종 진단, 추가 검증 등을 개별적으로 진행하고, 동시에 임상적, 사회학적 정보를 수집하여 진단 검사 결과와 함께 분석하였다. 환자의 특성 파악과 미진단 프로그램의 효과 분석을 위해 모든 환자는 초기 임상 진단에 따라 세 그룹으로 분류하였다. 단일 검사로 확인 가능한 특징적인 질환으로 판단되는 환자는 그룹 1, 임상적, 유전학적 다양성을 보여 비교적 광범위한 검사가 필요한 질환군이 의심되는 경우 그룹 2, 현재까지의 의학 정보로는 진단 추정이 어렵거나 기존의 임상상과 다른 비전형적 특성을 보이는 경우 그룹 3으로 정의하였다. 연구 결과: 2017년 1월부터 2021년 12월까지 한국 미진단 프로그램에 등록된 666명의 환자 가운데 606명이 본 연구에 최종적으로 포함되었다. 이 중 41명(6.8%)의 환자는 그룹 1, 454명(74.9%)은 그룹 2, 그리고 111명(18.3%)은 그룹 3으로 분류되었다. 환자들의 평균 증상 발현 나이는 1.4세였으며 504명(83.2%)의 환자는 증상 발현시점으로부터 6개월 이내 진단을 위한 첫 진료를 받았다. 전체 환자의 73.8% (447명)는 신경학적 증상을 주요 증상으로 보고하였다. 환자들은 본 연구 참여 전 약 3년에 걸쳐 평균 1.4군데의 병원에서 6.1가지의 진단 검사를 시행한 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구에서 환자들은 서로 다른 진단 검사를 단계적으로 시행받았고, 이 검사에는 염색체마이크로어레이, 단일유전자 검사, 전장엑솜검사, RNA 염기서열분석검사, 특수 생화학 검사, 면역 항체 검사 등이 포함되었다. 606명 중 327명이 최종적으로 진단받았고 (진단율 54.0%) 이 중 84.1% (275례)는 차세대염기서열검사를 통해 확인되었다. 그 외 44명(13.4%)은 다른 종류의 유전자검사로, 8명(2.4%)는 비유전자검사등을 통해 비유전성 희귀질환으로 최종 진단되었다. 전장엑솜검사로 진단된 환자 중 9명은 초기 결과 분석에서는 결론을 내리지 못하였으나, 데이터 재분석을 통해 추가로 진단되었다. 지속적인 검사 비용 감소등을 통해 본 연구 등록 전 이미 진단 검사의 일환으로 전장엑솜검사를 시행했던 환자의 비율이 지속적으로 높아지고 있으며 기존 전장엑솜검사 후에도 진단을 받지 못하여 연구에 등록한 환자 그룹에서도 전체와 비슷한 50%의 진단율을 보여 진단 검사 자체보다 환자에 대한 다각적이고 전문적인 접근이 중요함을 시사하였다. 임상 진단 검사를 수행한 후에도 진단받지 못한 환자군의 경우 한국미진단프로그램 기능연구팀과 협력하여 지금까지 알려지지 않은 후보 유전자를 선정하고 이 중 4례에 대해 기능연구를 완료하여 환자에 대한 추가 진단이 가능하였고 6례에 대해서도 연구 중에 있다. 결론: 본 연구를 통하여 현재까지 진단받지 못한 희귀유전질환이 의심되는 소아 환자를 대상으로 반 수 이상의 환자에서 질환 원인을 규명하였고 한편으로 국내 소아 희귀질환자의 진료 환경을 확인하였다. 국내 상급의료기관 접근성은 매우 높고 여러 종류의 유전자 검사도 폭넓게 시행되고 있으나, 일반 진료 환경에서는 지속적인 진단 검사 진행 및 연구 수행이 어렵다. 이러한 문제의 해결을 위해서는 우수한 진단역량을 갖춘 희귀질환 전문진료팀 및 기능연구팀의 뒷받침이 필요하다. 따라서 소아희귀질환의 지속 가능한 연구를 위한 국가차원의 지원이 필요하며, 여기에는 진료 환경의 변화와 발전에 따라 세부 내용의 변경이 수반되어야 하겠다.Introduction 1 Materials and Methods 3 Results 15 Discussion 39 Conclusion 47 References 48 Abstract in Korean 53박

Solving heterogeneity for a successful service market

Diese Dissertation ist im Kontext eines neuen Paradigmas im Software Engineering mit dem Namen On-The-Fly Computing entstanden. OTF Computing basiert auf der Idee von spezialisierten On-The-Fly Märkten. OTF Märkte haben unterschiedliche Eigenschaften und die Marktakteure in diesen Märkten benutzen verschiedene Modellierungstechniken für das Service Engineering. Diese Unterschiede resultieren in Heterogenität und erschweren deshalb die Ausführung von automatisierten Marktoperationen, da Servicebeschreibungen nicht automatisch miteinander verglichen werden können. Für das beschriebene Problem bietet diese Dissertation eine Lösung um einen erfolgreichen OTF Markt zu ermöglichen. Für die Vergleichbarkeit von Servicebeschreibungen in einem OTF Markt wird eine formale Zwischenrepräsentation (Kernsprache) eingeführt. Die Marktoperationen werden auf Basis der Kernsprache definiert, die die optimale Ausführung der automatisierten Marktoperationen in einem OTF Markt unterstützt. Der erste Beitrag dieser Dissertation ist der Ansatz Language Optimizer (LOpt). LOpt nutzt als Basis eine Kernsprache, die strukturelle, verhaltensbezogene und nicht-funktionale Serviceeigenschaften beinhaltet. LOpt konfiguriert diese Sprache basierend auf formalisierten Markteigenschaften und einer Wissensbasis mit Konfigurationsexpertise, um eine optimale Kernsprache zur Servicespezifikation im jeweiligen OTF Markt zu erstellen. Der zweite Beitrag dieser Dissertation ist die Anwendung des Model Transformation By-Example Ansatzes um den Marktakteuren ohne Expertise im Sprachdesign Transformationen von ihren proprietären Sprachen in die optimale Kernsprache zu ermöglichen. Der beschriebene Ansatz generiert Transformationen auf Basis von Beispielabbildungen zwischen Servicebeschreibungen zweier Sprachen. Dabei wird die Idee genetischer Algorithmen angewendet.This PhD thesis is written in the context of a new software development paradigm called On-The-Fly Computing. It is based on the idea of specialized service markets called On-The-Fly (OTF) markets. OTF markets have different properties and their participants use different modeling techniques to perform the activity of service engineering. Such differences result in heterogeneity in OTF markets and complicate the execution of automated market operations like service matching as service specifications cannot be automatically compared with each other. This PhD thesis proposes a solution to cope with the mentioned heterogeneity to foster the success of OTF markets and the OTF Computing paradigm. In order to achieve the comparability of specifications in an OTF market, a formal intermediate representation called core language is introduced. Automated market operations are defined on a core language that optimally supports the execution of these operations in this market. The first contribution of this PhD thesis is the approach language Optimizer (LOpt), which supports the systematic design of a service specification language optimal for the execution of automated market operations in an OTF market. LOpt uses a comprehensive core language covering various structural, behavioral, and non-functional service properties. LOpt performs a configuration of this language based on formalized market properties and a knowledge base containing the configuration expertise. The second contribution of this PhD thesis is the application of the Model Transformations By-Example technique to define transformations from proprietary specification languages of market actors to the optimal core language. The approach generates transformations based on example mappings between concrete specifications in both languages given by market actors. ...by Svetlana Arifulina, M.Sc. ; Thesis Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Gregor Engels and Jun. Prof. Dr. Heiko HamannTag der Verteidigung: 08.12.2016Universität Paderborn, Univ., Dissertation, 201

Poverty, possessions and proper living : constructing and contesting propriety in Soweto and Lusaka City

Bibliography: 131-137.Recent material culture theory points out how material possessions are woven into the fabric of lives, shaping social relations and texturing people's meanings and interpretation of their world. This study embarks on exploring aspects of this objected fabric, in the context of urban working black South Africans, living in three different township suburbs in Gauteng, in four differing housing circumstances, in the mid-1990s and in the midst of much uncertainty of what the future might hold for poor urban residents. Drawing on participant observation, ethnographic interviews, and household and appliance ownership surveys, the study explores the ways in which domestic objects- appliances specifically - function symbolically for a set of people living in Soweto formal houses, backyard shacks, an informal settlement and in Lusaka City site-and -service settlement on the West Rand, in Gauteng, South Africa. I examine symbolic constructions and creations in these people's homes, gleaning some of the meaning people attributed to particular modes of equipping their homes, and how aspects of their image of themselves and each other were presented, acted out, created, 'conversationed', contested and negotiated through material goods

Annual Report 2011-2012

https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/govpubs-tn-labor-workforce-development-annual-report/1008/thumbnail.jp

A Step Forward or Just a Sidestep? Year Five of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Digital Age

Over the past five years, the Supreme Court of Canada has released a series of decisions meant to bring section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms into the Digital Age. These decisions acknowledged the unique privacy interests that people have in the information stored on their digital devices and the potential for modern technology to eviscerate privacy if the law of search and seizure does not keep pace with technological development. There is a danger, however, that recent victories for privacy in the courts will be illusory unless the courts develop additional manner of search limits on the search and seizure of digital devices. In the case of searches conducted pursuant to a search warrant, this article suggests that the only way to achieve the appropriate balance between law enforcement needs and privacy rights is for issuing justices to impose a set of search protocols that constrain and limit the scope of the search. Outside the search warrant context (i.e., where the police conduct a warrantless search of a digital device pursuant to the “search-incident-to-arrest” power), this article suggests that the only way to protect privacy interests, and to achieve meaningful after-the-fact judicial review, is to require that police electronically record all warrantless searches of digital devices

From red to green, green to amber, and back to red: A critque of South African layout planning

A document providing layout planning and engineering service guidelines, which has become known as the “red book”, was recently prepared by the CSIR and issued by the Department of National Housing. The guidelines in the “red book” relating to layout planning are based upon: (1) errone­ous assumptions around levels of car ownership, fiscal resources, the antici­pation of road functions and the func­tional linkages of households, (2) a narrow set of concerns around motor car access, pedestrian safety and the creation of spatially defined communi­ties, and (3) inappropriate layout planning concepts in the form of neighbourhood cells, functional road hierarchies and closed road geome­tries. The current South African con­text necessitates a reformulation of these guidelines. As the metaphorical title of the paper suggests, the “red book” has not changed considerably from its preceding “blue” and “green” books, and concerns relating to traffic remain paramount. There is a need for layout planning guidelines which prioritise place making, public trans­port and pedestrian access, the inte­gration of urban environments, the facilitation of economic opportunity, and a more collective and systemic approach to facility and service provi­sion

Gender, Politics, Market Segmentation, and Taste: Adult Contemporary Radio at the End of the Twentieth Century

This dissertation explores issues of gender politics, market segmentation, and taste through an examination of the contributions of several artists who have achieved Adult Contemporary (AC) chart success. The scope of the project is limited to a period when many artists who figured prominently in both the broader mainstream of American popular music and the more specific Adult Contemporary category were most commercially viable: from the mid-1980s through the 1990s. My contention is that, as gender politics and gendered social norms continued to change in the United States at this time, Adult Contemporary – the chart, the format, and the associated music – was an important, if overlooked or even trivialized, arena in which these shifting gender dynamics played out. This dissertation explores the significance of the Adult Contemporary format at the end of the twentieth century through analysis of chart performance, artist image, musical works, marketing, and contextual factors. By documenting these relevant social, political, economic, and musical factors, the notable role of a format and of artists neglected by scholars becomes clear. I explore these issues in the form of lengthy case studies. Examinations of how Adult Contemporary artists such as Michael Bolton, Wilson Phillips, Matchbox Twenty, David Gray, and Mariah Carey were produced and marketed, and how their music was disseminated, illustrate record and radio industry strategies for negotiating the musical, political, and social climate of this period. Significantly, musical and lyrical analyses of songs successful on AC stations, and many of their accompanying promotional videos highlight messages about musical genre, gender, race, and age. This dissertation ultimately demonstrates that Adult Contemporary-oriented music figured significantly in the culture wars, second and third wave feminism, expressions of masculinity, Generation-X struggles, postmodern identity, and market segmentation. This study also illustrates how the record and radio industries have managed audience composition and behavior to effectively and more predictably produce and market music in the United States. This dissertation argues that, amid broader social determinations for taste, the record industry, radio programmers, and Billboard chart compilers and writers have helped to make and reinforce certain assumptions about who listens to which music and why they do so. In addition, critics have weighed in on what different musical genres and artists have offered and for whom, often assigning higher value to music associated with certain genres, socio-political associations, and listeners while claiming over-commercialization, irrelevance, aesthetic insignificance, and bad taste for much other music