Automated schema matching techniques: an exploratory study

Manual schema matching is a problem for many database applications that use multiple data sources including data warehousing and e-commerce applications. Current research attempts to address this problem by developing algorithms to automate aspects of the schema-matching task. In this paper, an approach using an external dictionary facilitates automated discovery of the semantic meaning of database schema terms. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the performance and accuracy of five schema-matching techniques with the proposed approach, called SemMA. The proposed approach and results are compared with two existing semi-automated schema-matching approaches and suggestions for future research are made

2008-2009 Master Class - Ellen Rose (Viola)

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_masterclasses/1103/thumbnail.jp

Hyper Attention and the Rise of the Antinarrative: Reconsidering the Future of Narrativity

An unchallenged certainty often expressed in narratology discourse is that narrative, as a defining aspect of humanity, will remain fundamentally untouched by the emergence of new technologies. This essay challenges that assumption by considering the consequences for narrativity of the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of hyper attention, which appears to be related to online computer use. Specifically, this paper suggests that the emergent cognitive style of hyper attention is linked to both a declining ability and willingness to engage with traditional narrative structures and the rise of the antinarrative, a nonform that eschews such conventions as plot, character development, and resolution

The effect of roasting on the chemical composition of pork loin

Typescript, etc

Effectiveness and Feasibility of In-office versus Smartphone Text-delivered Nutrition Education in the College Setting: A Mixed-methods Pilot Study

Often, being away from home for the first time, coupled with limited knowledge regarding healthy eating behaviors, leads to poor food choices and an increased risk of obesity among college-aged young adults. These college students are prone to high-calorie diets and limited physical activity, putting them at risk for obesity, a physiologically, psychologically, and financially costly epidemic in the United States. College students use their cellular phones over eight and a half hours a day and cell phones are their primary means of information consumption outside of the classroom, suggesting that the phones would be a useful tool to provide nutrition education to this at-risk population. This mixed-methods randomized-controlled trial took place over eight weeks, between 9/15/15 and 12/2/15. The primary aims of this study were to assess the effectiveness and feasibility between an educational nutrition intervention delivered via smartphone texts and a traditional in-office setting for 18-22-year-old, overweight college students at the Sonoma State University Student Health Center. Using simple randomization, participants were assigned to one of two groups: text, or in-office. Participants in the in-office group received one-on-one nutrition counseling framed within the social cognitive theory by a registered nurse at the study onset, week two, and week four. Participants in the text group received the same information, broken up into weekly text messages with links to websites, YouTube, and explanations of content. Participant characteristics, including weight, height, and health behaviors (hours of sleep a night, number of fruits and vegetables per day), were assessed at the study onset (T1) and again at week two (T2), week four (T3), and week eight (T4). All participants were invited to take part in an in-depth, qualitative, face-to-face interview at the end of the study (T4). Nine participants completed both the trial and interviews. Two-thirds (66.7%, n=6) were in the text group, 66.7% (n=6) were female, 33.3% (n=3) were minorities, 66.7% lived on- campus, and 44.4% (n=4) took part in the university’s on-campus meal plan. No statistically significant differences were noted in participant characteristics, or health behaviors between the two groups throughout the study. Although no statistical significance was noted between the two groups with regard to weight change, the text group’s mean weight decreased from 188.25(sd=25.03) pounds to 184.58(sd=24.67) pounds while the in-office group’s mean weight increased from 254.00(sd=90.15) to 257.00(sd=94.14) pounds. Weight loss in the text group should be further evaluated as it may hold clinical significance for effectiveness of the intervention. Through qualitative interviews exploring participants’ experiences, four major themes emerged. All participants in the text group (n=6) stated that they felt there was a need for their method of education, they felt their method was effective, they would recommend their method, and their health behaviors changed positively. For the in-office group, all participants (n=3) said there was a need for their method of education, 67% (n=2) said it was effective, all would recommend it, and 67% stated that they changed their behaviors. Both the quantitative and qualitative findings of this study hold clinical significance as to the effectiveness and feasibility of text messages as a means of providing nutrition education in the college setting. Future research with larger sample sizes and a longer-term study are recommended for more statistical power and to determine the long-term benefits of these methods of nutrition education

The Influence of Concurrent Visual Feedback During Treadmill Training in Parkinson’s Disease

Walking is an exercise that has been thought to benefit Parkinson’s disease (PD). In a laboratory setting treadmills have been employed to successfully improve certain aspects of gait in PD (Cakit et al., 2007, Fisher et al., 2008, Herman et al., 2007, Miyai et al., 2000, Miyai et al., 2002, Pohl et al., 2003). Research has also indicated that walking with visual cues can improve aspects of gait that are impaired in PD (Azulay et al., 1999, Bagely et al., 1997, Nieuwboer et al., 2007), however, the integration of visual cues and treadmill training has yet to be studied. Thus, the purpose of this thesis was to determine the effect of treadmill training in PD, with and without the availability of concurrent visual feedback. The first chapter was focused on identifying previous exercise strategies that have been utilized in PD. Since a multitude of exercise interventions have been investigated, an evaluation of previous literature included analysis of a number of critical factors including: frequency, intensity and duration of training, the participant sample size, and outcome measures employed. Further, a review of recent PD aerobic testing and training studies guided the development of the current treadmill testing and training protocols. The second chapter examines the influence of 12 weeks of treadmill training with and without concurrent visual feedback on PD motor symptom severity, physiological efficiency and gait responses at baseline, immediately after training and again six weeks later. Findings showed that the motor symptom severity scores worsened immediately after training and remained unchanged six weeks later. However, improvements in aerobic efficiency were found immediately after treadmill training that remained improved at six weeks post training. Similarly, the spatio-temporal characteristics of gait improved immediately after treadmill training and were also maintained at six weeks post training. Overall, immediately after treadmill training with concurrent visual feedback greater gait and aerobic improvements were found that did not wear off when compared to training without this feedback. The results of this study suggest that treadmill training does not improve motor symptom severity. However, treadmill training as a rehabilitative strategy can offer aerobic and gait improvements in PD. The third chapter examines the influence of 12 weeks of treadmill training in PD with and without concurrent visual feedback on the rate of perceived exertion, mean arterial pressure, timed up-and-go and Layfayette pegboard times at baseline, immediately after training and at follow up six weeks later. Across the assessments findings showed not only did the mean arterial pressure lower for both groups but also faster pegboard insertion and removal times were found. Further, trends indicated that with each successive assessment period all participants subjectively reported lower levels of required exertion for each workload and were also faster at the timed up-and-go test. Overall, regardless of group no detectable differences in the functional and clinical outcomes were found. However, after the treadmill training, decreased blood pressure along with faster fine motor control speeds indicated the range of potential benefits that can be attained from this form of training. The last chapter summarizes the principle findings of this thesis that include the physiological efficiency responses, the spatio-temporal gait changes, the motor symptom severity evaluations and the clinical and functional outcomes assessed. This chapter reviews the significant findings and intriguing trends found across the three evaluation periods that included pre-test, post-test and at follow up six weeks after training was completed. These findings are interpreted to provide a platform for the continued investigation of the effects of treadmill training in PD. Similarly, the limitations that occurred were also reviewed to emphasize the necessary considerations for future work in this area. Finally to appropriately conclude and ensure the findings are easily understood, take-home messages were provided to simplify the complex nature of this study. Treadmill training has benefits to offer the PD population that include greater aerobic efficiency and corresponding improvements in gait, however this form of exercise was not successful in motor symptom severity improvement

"She is my teacher and if it was not for her I would be dead" : exploration of rural South African Community Health Worker's informational and mediating roles in the home

This thesis seeks to fill the gap in the literature by exploring CHW IEC roles through: a protocol for the Health Information in the Home (HIH) study of the quality of IEC services by Community Care Workers; a structured literature review of the current state of the evidence and a journal manuscript based on the HIH study findings