MalStone: Towards A Benchmark for Analytics on Large Data Clouds

Developing data mining algorithms that are suitable for cloud computing platforms is currently an active area of research, as is developing cloud computing platforms appropriate for data mining. Currently, the most common benchmark for cloud computing is the Terasort (and related) benchmarks. Although the Terasort Benchmark is quite useful, it was not designed for data mining per se. In this paper, we introduce a benchmark called MalStone that is specifically designed to measure the performance of cloud computing middleware that supports the type of data intensive computing common when building data mining models. We also introduce MalGen, which is a utility for generating data on clouds that can be used with MalStone

Examining the Collegiate Experiences of African American Males with Same Race Mentors

African American males have a more meaningful college experience when they are mentored with people with whom they can culturally relate (Brown, 2013; Moore & Tolliver, 2010). Although studies indicate African American males who had same race mentors display higher self-efficacy (Stefon, 2011), improved graduation rates (U.S. Department of Education, 2017), and a more positive college experience (Chen, Ingram & Davis, 2014), additional research in this area is needed. Using a phenomenological approach, this qualitative study sought to determine the impact having a same race mentor had on the collegiate experiences of five African American males who successfully graduated from colleges in Georgia. Data collected through semi-structured interviews addressed the overarching research question: What are the perceptions of African American male college students regarding the impact of same race mentor relationships on their college experience? and the two sub-questions related to this study: 1) To what extent did having a same race mentor affect the African American male college students’ persistence in college?; 2) To what extent did having a same race mentor affect the African American male college students’ self-efficacy regarding feeling as though they belong in the higher education environment? The participants shared that same race mentor relationships improved their college experience through providing intentional guidance and support

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Self-Report and Performance-Based Measures of Physical Function in Adult Women

Obesity has a negative impact on physical function; however, little is known about limitations in physical function across BMI categories using both self-report and performance-based measures. Furthermore, the impact of BMI on the measurement of function has not been explored. PURPOSE: To assess physical function in adult women across BMI categories using self-report and performance-based measures and determine the influence of BMI on the relation of self-report and performance-based measures. METHODS: 50 sedentary females (10 in each BMI category: normal weight, overweight, and class 1, 2, and 3 obese) aged 51.2 ± 5.4 years participated. Assessments included demographics, past medical history, physical activity level, BMI, waist circumference, body composition, and self-report and performance-based measures of physical function. Correlation coefficients were computed between BMI and the measures of physical function. Physical function was compared between BMI categories using analysis of variance. The influence of BMI on the relation of self-report and performance-based measures was analyzed by computing correlation coefficients between the measures for the non-obese and obese and by using linear regression. Furthermore, questions from the self-report measure were compared to similar tasks on the performance-based measure for the non-obese and the obese. RESULTS: As BMI increased, physical function decreased on self-report and performance-based measures (all p <.01). Compared to those that were normal weight and overweight, the obese had poorer physical function on both types of measures (all p < .01). A large percentage of participants in the obese groups reported changes in how or how often they performed functional activities. While the performance-based and self-report measures of function were moderately correlated in the sample (p < .001), the association between the measures was significantly stronger for the non-obese compared to the obese. Compared to the non-obese, a greater number of individuals with obesity performed differently on walking tests compared to their report. CONCLUSIONS: High BMI had an adverse effect on common every-day functional tasks in adult women. Compared to those that are normal weight and overweight, individuals with obesity had the greatest impairments in physical function and tended to less accurately depict physical function abilities

TWO ESSAYS ON HOUSING: USING HEDONIC AND QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL METHODS IN (DIS)AMENITY VALUATION WITH HOUSING DATA: THE CASE OF COMMUNICATION ANTENNAS, AND THE VALUE OF BRAND NAME FRANCHISES COMPARED TO LOCAL REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE FIRMS

This dissertation consists of two essays on housing, the first on estimation strategies for the valuation of a local disamenity and the second on the structure of the market for the services of real estate brokers. The purpose of the first essay is to apply hedonic and quasi-experimental methods to measure the value of any disamenity caused by communication antennas. Crucial to unbiased estimates is accounting for both endogenous antenna location and changes in unobservable housing and neighborhood characteristics. Spatial fixed effects are used to control for unobservable characteristics that can influence the location decisions of residents and the location of antennas. Panel data techniques are used to address both time invariant and time varying unobservables and to account for possible changes in the hedonic price function after construction of a nearby antenna. The estimates indicate that houses near communication antennas sell less than comparable houses not located near a communication antenna, and also highlight a shortcoming of applying the difference-in-differences technique to value a local disamenity when houses are affected by the presence of multiple sites. The second essay compares the performance of brand name franchised and independent real estate brokers with respect to list price, sales price, time on the market, and prevalence in areas with more out-of-state buyers using techniques that control for the different types of agents that choose to affiliate with franchised real estate brokerage firms. The results indicate that most of the difference in the sales price and the time it takes to locate a buyer can be explained by the types of agents that choose to affiliate with franchised brokerage firms, and that on average weaker agents choose to affiliate with franchised real estate firms. In addition, there is an indication that properties in areas with larger shares of out-of-state residents are more likely to be sold by a franchised broker. This result is consistent with the industrial organization literature on franchising that says franchising should be more prevalent in areas where consumers are less familiar with the local market

The National Rural Social Work Caucus: 32 Years of Achievement

The author presents a brief history of the Rural Social Work Caucus and outlines some of its important contributions

Continuing to build community in qualitative research

YesThis short paper celebrates the tenth year Anniversary of QROM by highlighting the importance of continuing to build community and support for qualitative researchers across the world. It also elaborates the relationship between the journal and the biennial international Qualitative Research in Management conference. The paper aims to discuss these issues

Some observations on the puzzling world of self-regulation and depletion

AbstractThis paper identifies problems with ego depletion theory including failures to replicate, non-support for glucose as a mediator, the stress on single replication studies rather than replication with variation, the failure to document generalizability, the stress on physical as opposed to psychological moderators and mediators, and the overemphasis on deduction as the core scientific method