Extending functional databases for use in text-intensive applications

This thesis continues research exploring the benefits of using functional databases based around the functional data model for advanced database applications-particularly those supporting investigative systems. This is a growing generic application domain covering areas such as criminal and military intelligence, which are characterised by significant data complexity, large data sets and the need for high performance, interactive use. An experimental functional database language was developed to provide the requisite semantic richness. However, heavy use in a practical context has shown that language extensions and implementation improvements are required-especially in the crucial areas of string matching and graph traversal. In addition, an implementation on multiprocessor, parallel architectures is essential to meet the performance needs arising from existing and projected database sizes in the chosen application area. [Continues.

A Study of Espoused Corporate Cultural Factors and Their Relationship with Business Success

Reshoring of manufacturing companies is vital to the United States’ economy. Although one may assume that all of the business reshored will be large companies, statistics show that small businesses comprise the largest share of the U.S. economy. Small businesses make up 99.7% employer firms. Yet, 80% of entrepreneurs and small businesses who start will fail within the first 18 months. This study defines the key success variables of the espoused culture for selected Fortune 500 companies that could be used by entrepreneurs and small businesses to emulate their continued successes. The method to define the key success variables was to define the espoused culture of manufacturing companies with Standard Industrial Classification major group codes 29 (Petroleum Refining and Related Industries), 35 (Industrial and Commercial Machinery and Computer Equipment), and 37 (Transportation Equipment). Espoused culture is a company’s vision, mission, and values. Forty percent of the companies had a mission statement and 65% had a vision statement, 92.5% had values listed on their company’s website. Companies that have a published mission had an increase in revenue and profit by 5.5% and 11.8%, respectively. Companies that have published core values had an increase in revenue and profit by 37.9% and 48.8%, respectively. Companies that have a published vision had an increase in revenue and profit by 39.3 and 23.3%, respectively. The variables determine correlation of employee indicators and financial performance. The regression analysis showed variables that would be best at predicting profit and revenue. These five variables were Customer Focus; Benefits and People; External Focus and Shareholders; Value, Financial, and Profits; and lastly Innovations, Learning, and Technologies. From the espoused culture, culture types defined as Clan, Adhocracy, Market, or Hierarchy were identified. Any mix of culture can have success in revenue and profit. Yet, not all culture types lead to success in employee morale. From the culture analysis, companies that had a Market culture had the lowest leadership measurement and employee indicators. A Clan blend culture had the highest employee morale and leadership measurement. This research has discovered the impact of many variables and their correlation to company success

Comparison of Three Methods of Placement and Advisement into Freshmen Mathematics Courses and the Effect on Eventual Degree Completion

Statement of the Problem The national six-year graduation rate is less than 60 percent. This alarming yet consistent feature of higher education has led researchers like Bean (1980), Tinto (1975, 1993), Astin (1993), Adelman (1999), Braxton (2000) and DesJardins (2002) to create a body of research which attempts to explain the causes of student attrition and suggest possible interventions. Learning Communities and Freshman Experience courses are two efforts to improve retention which are derived from this research. The purpose of this study was to test portions of Tinto’s longitudinal model of institutional departure that relates academic fit to persistence and degree completion. The study examined placement testing and advising procedures and the effects these procedures have on eventual degree completion. The results of this study should inform the academic community about the efficacy of using a placement test to promote academic fit for first time freshmen enrolled in mathematics courses. Method This quantitative study was an ex-post facto, quasi experimental design which compared three procedures for placement into the initial college mathematics course and the impact on retention and eventual degree completion. The data for this study was obtained from existing data sources. Logistic regression was used to compare the three placement methods and the effect on the odds of eventual degree completion. Results While the placement instrument did provide some useful information for placement decisions about some courses, it does not provide as much information as other available measures, in particular, the high school history expressed as the grade point average. Quality point production at the end of the first year was found to be a strong predictor of eventual graduation. The results suggest that for each one unit increase in the quality points earned the odds of graduation are 1.042 times better. Statistically significant differences were found in the efficacy of the different placement methods; however these differences were overshadowed by the effect of the introduction of a new mathematics course. The average grade in the initial collegiate math class for the groups in this study has risen from a low of 1.87 to 2.37 after the introduction of Math Modeling to the curriculum

Digital document imaging systems: An overview and guide

This is an aid to NASA managers in planning the selection of a Digital Document Imaging System (DDIS) as a possible solution for document information processing and storage. Intended to serve as a manager's guide, this document contains basic information on digital imaging systems, technology, equipment standards, issues of interoperability and interconnectivity, and issues related to selecting appropriate imaging equipment based upon well defined needs

Control of MNC\u27s Environmental Performance and the Challenges of Subsidiary Network Dimensions

The trend of green consumerism and increased standardization of environmental regulations has driven multinational corporations (MNCs) to seek standardization of environmental practices or at least seek to be associated with such behavior. In fact, many firms are seeking to free ride on this global green movement, without having the actual ecological footprint to substantiate their environmental claims. While scholars have articulated the benefits from such optimization of uniform global green operations, the challenges for MNCs to control and implement such operations are understudied. For firms to translate environmental commitment to actual performance, the obstacles are substantial, particularly for the MNC. This is attributed to headquarters’ (HQ) control challenges (1) in managing core elements of the corporate environmental management (CEM) process and specifically matching verbal commitment and policy with ecological performance and by (2) the fact that the MNC operates in multiple markets and the HQ is required to implement policy across complex subsidiary networks consisting of diverse and distant units. Drawing from the literature on HQ challenges of MNC management and control, this study examines (1) how core components of the CEM process impact optimization of global environmental performance (GEP) and then uses network theory to examine how (2) a subsidiary network’s dimensions can present challenges to the implementation of green management policies. It presents a framework for CEM which includes (1) MNCs’ Verbal environmental commitment, (2) green policy Management which guides standards for operations, (3) actual environmental Performance reflected in a firm’s ecological footprint and (4) corporate environmental Reputation (VMPR). Then it explains how an MNC’s key subsidiary network dimensions (density, diversity, and dispersion) create challenges that hinder the relationship between green policy management and actual environmental performance. It combines content analysis, multiple regression, and post-hoc hierarchal cluster analysis to study US manufacturing MNCs. The findings support a positive significant effect of verbal environmental commitment and green policy management on actual global environmental performance and environmental reputation, as well as a direct impact of verbal environmental commitment on green policy management. Unexpectedly, network dimensions were not found to moderate the relationship between green management policy and GEP

Final Report of the DAUFIN project

DAUFIN = Data Assimulation within Unifying Framework for Improved river basiN modeling (EC 5th framework Project