Intuitionistic fuzzy XML query matching and rewriting

With the emergence of XML as a standard for data representation, particularly on the web, the need for intelligent query languages that can operate on XML documents with structural heterogeneity has recently gained a lot of popularity. Traditional Information Retrieval and Database approaches have limitations when dealing with such scenarios. Therefore, fuzzy (flexible) approaches have become the predominant. In this thesis, we propose a new approach for approximate XML query matching and rewriting which aims at achieving soft matching of XML queries with XML data sources following different schemas. Unlike traditional querying approaches, which require exact matching, the proposed approach makes use of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Trees to achieve approximate (soft) query matching. Through this new approach, not only the exact answer of a query, but also approximate answers are retrieved. Furthermore, partial results can be obtained from multiple data sources and merged together to produce a single answer to a query. The proposed approach introduced a new tree similarity measure that considers the minimum and maximum degrees of similarity/inclusion of trees that are based on arc matching. New techniques for soft node and arc matching were presented for matching queries against data sources with highly varied structures. A prototype was developed to test the proposed ideas and it proved the ability to achieve approximate matching for pattern queries with a number of XML schemas and rewrite the original query so that it obtain results from the underlying data sources. This has been achieved through several novel algorithms which were tested and proved efficiency and low CPU/Memory cost even for big number of data sources

LIPIcs, Volume 277, GIScience 2023, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 277, GIScience 2023, Complete Volum

Semantic discovery and reuse of business process patterns

Patterns currently play an important role in modern information systems (IS) development and their use has mainly been restricted to the design and implementation phases of the development lifecycle. Given the increasing significance of business modelling in IS development, patterns have the potential of providing a viable solution for promoting reusability of recurrent generalized models in the very early stages of development. As a statement of research-in-progress this paper focuses on business process patterns and proposes an initial methodological framework for the discovery and reuse of business process patterns within the IS development lifecycle. The framework borrows ideas from the domain engineering literature and proposes the use of semantics to drive both the discovery of patterns as well as their reuse

12th International Conference on Geographic Information Science: GIScience 2023, September 12–15, 2023, Leeds, UK

No abstract available

Informatics for Health 2017 : advancing both science and practice

Conference report, The Informatics for Health congress, 24-26 April 2017, in Manchester, UK.Introduction : The Informatics for Health congress, 24-26 April 2017, in Manchester, UK, brought together the Medical Informatics Europe (MIE) conference and the Farr Institute International Conference. This special issue of the Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics contains 113 presentation abstracts and 149 poster abstracts from the congress. Discussion : The twin programmes of “Big Data” and “Digital Health” are not always joined up by coherent policy and investment priorities. Substantial global investment in health IT and data science has led to sound progress but highly variable outcomes. Society needs an approach that brings together the science and the practice of health informatics. The goal is multi-level Learning Health Systems that consume and intelligently act upon both patient data and organizational intervention outcomes. Conclusions : Informatics for Health demonstrated the art of the possible, seen in the breadth and depth of our contributions. We call upon policy makers, research funders and programme leaders to learn from this joined-up approach.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Enhancing DWH models with the utilisation of multiple hierarchical schemata

Data Warehouse (DWH) Models are based on static dimensions having single hierarchies. With the evolution of World Wide Web, including external knowledge can enrich those models and provide better results of data analysis. Therefore, it would be useful to have intelligent transformation utilities that can mine various data structures and extract useful knowledge participating in the construction of flexible DWH models. This paper proposes a new approach towards intelligent transformation utilities that will allow the utilisation of multiple hierarchical schemata when defining the dimensions of data-warehouses. By allowing a particular dimension to have multiple but semantically close definitions, we allow same users to query same data with the aid of different semantics. To put it differently users are allowed to change or refine the axis of analysis with respect to a particular query, in their effort to achieve a more meaningful answer. We make use of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic to soften the rules of calculating the similarity between different hierarchies which in turn is used to decide if the hierarchies can be included in the definition of data warehouse dimension. Data transformations are used to transform the data from one hierarchy to another. With the aid of external data, some sort of estimation is used to estimate values of new hierarchy levels and then based on the user's request the desired hierarchy is used to view an OLAP cube

The motivations, possibilities and constrains of flexible housing practices in the UK and Turkey

Housing has, in different contexts, become a volatile issue under the pressure of different forces of change such as social, economic and cultural pressures that influence households’ needs in their dwellings, and if it is not able to respond to these changes this would actually reduce the useful life of the buildings. This research seeks to highlight the concept of “flexible housing” to reveal its importance in producing creative options that can accommodate households’ changing needs in their dwellings over time. This is a particularly important consideration with regard to developing countries such as Syria, that are witnessing a widespread transformation of their housing stock, given the rapid process of change, economic, social, cultural, etc., which has marked the last decade. The research is concerned with flexible housing practices in two different countries: the UK as a developed country that has different flexible housing practices and a policy and regulatory environment that is more relevant to flexible housing provision, and Turkey as a developing country in the Middle East region with some flexible housing experience, but with a policy context relating less to flexible housing. This research aims to discover the motivations, possibilities and constraints of different flexible housing design approaches and how the policy and regulatory environment may affect practice, which could provide lessons on policy and practice for further application of flexible housing indifferent contexts, including Syria. The research first examined the national planning policy in both UK contexts, England and Scotland, to discover how the policy context at strategic level could potentially underpin the provision of flexible housing; second, it examined the national housing standards to assess the extent to which the regulatory environment promotes flexible design solutions for housing in this context. Little evidence was found to indicate that planning policy promotes flexibility in housing design at strategic level in either context. Moreover, in terms of guidance or regulation, there was little relating to what the research identifies as flexible design criteria. As a focus for the exploration of the motivations, possibilities and constraints of flexible design approaches, the research identified four flexible housing projects, two in each of the selected countries, all of which represent a particular cultural and design context, and policy and regulatory environment. The research evaluated the flexible design of these projects through assessing physical aspects including the plan, construction and services, and social aspects relating to use and the user, and also investigated the cost implications of incorporating and delivering flexibility. The empirical work indicated that the demand of households for housing that can accept change and the developer’s desire to build in best practice are the key motivations for implementing flexibility initiatives in housing design. Policy can play a role in driving flexible housing practices, but this is insufficient if the requirements are not mandatory. The potential to increase the size of the plan can lead to best practice for flexibility in the plan and in use. The construction methods need to support flexibility by providing separation between the main structure and the infill elements, allowing clear space between structural elements and using light materials and non- specialist forms of construction for infill parts. It is concluded that the incorporation of flexibility is likely to increase building costs, which may impact on the providers’ willingness to build with flexibility. Finally, raising market awareness in regard to building performance is important in making flexible housing deliverable on the market