Scientific Data Application Profile Scoping Study

This study was undertaken by UKOLN on behalf of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) in the period April to September 2008. Application profiles are metadata schemata which consist of data elements drawn from one or more namespaces, optimized for a particular local application. They offer a way for particular communities to base the interoperability specifications they create and use for their digital material on established open standards. This offers the potential for digital materials to be accessed, used and curated effectively both within and beyond the communities in which they were created. The JISC recognized the need to undertake a scoping study to investigate metadata application profile requirements for scientific data in relation to digital repositories, and specifically concerning descriptive metadata to support resource discovery and other functions such as preservation. This followed on from the development of the Scholarly Works Application Profile (SWAP) undertaken within the JISC Digital Repositories Programme and led by Andy Powell (Eduserv Foundation) and Julie Allinson (RRT UKOLN) on behalf of the JISC. Aims and Objectives 1.To assess whether a single metadata AP for research data, or a small number thereof, would improve resource discovery or discovery-to-delivery in any useful or significant way. 2.If so, then to:a.assess whether the development of such AP(s) is practical and if so, how much effort it would take; b.scope a community uptake strategy that is likely to be successful, identifying the main barriers and key stakeholders. 3.Otherwise, to investigate how best to improve cross-discipline, cross-community discovery-to-delivery for research data, and make recommendations to the JISC and others as appropriate. Approach The Study used a broad conception of what constitutes scientific data, namely data gathered, collated, structured and analysed using a recognizably scientific method, with a bias towards quantitative methods. The approach taken was to map out the landscape of existing data centres, repositories and associated projects, and conduct a survey of the discovery-to-delivery metadata they use or have defined, alongside any insights they have gained from working with this metadata. This was followed up by a series of unstructured interviews, discussing use cases for a Scientific Data Application Profile, and how widely a single profile might be applied. On the latter point, matters of granularity, the experimental/measurement contrast, the quantitative/qualitative contrast, the raw/derived data contrast, and the homogeneous/heterogeneous data collection contrast were discussed. The Study report was loosely structured according to the Singapore Framework for Dublin Core Application Profiles, and in turn considered: the possible use cases for a Scientific Data Application Profile; existing domain models that could either be used or adapted for use within such a profile; and a comparison existing metadata profiles and standards to identify candidate elements for inclusion in the description set profile for scientific data. The report also considered how the application profile might be implemented, its relationship to other application profiles, the alternatives to constructing a Scientific Data Application Profile, the development effort required, and what could be done to encourage uptake in the community. The conclusions of the Study were validated through a reference group of stakeholders.

Optical Remote Sensing of Coastal Habitats, Moss Landing, California, 9-11 January, 2006: workshop proceedings

The Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT) Workshop on Optical Remote Sensing of Coastal Habitats was convened January 9-11, 2006 at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Moss Landing, California, sponsored by the ACT West Coast regional partnership comprised of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). The "Optical Remote Sensing of Coastal Habitats" (ORS) Workshop completes ACT'S Remote Sensing Technology series by building upon the success of ACT'S West Coast Regional Partner Workshop "Acoustic Remote Sensing Technologies for Coastal Imaging and Resource Assessment" (ACT 04-07). Drs. Paul Bissett of the Florida Environmental Research Institute (FERI) and Scott McClean of Satlantic, Inc. were the ORS workshop co-chairs. Invited participants were selected to provide a uniform representation of the academic researchers, private sector product developers, and existing and potential data product users from the resource management community to enable development of broad consensus opinions on the role of ORS technologies in coastal resource assessment and management. The workshop was organized to examine the current state of multi- and hyper-spectral imaging technologies with the intent to assess the current limits on their routine application for habitat classification and resource monitoring of coastal watersheds, nearshore shallow water environments, and adjacent optically deep waters. Breakout discussions focused on the capabilities, advantages ,and limitations of the different technologies (e.g., spectral & spatial resolution), as well as practical issues related to instrument and platform availability, reliability, hardware, software, and technical skill levels required to exploit the data products generated by these instruments. Specifically, the participants were charged to address the following: (1) Identify the types of ORS data products currently used for coastal resource assessment and how they can assist coastal managers in fulfilling their regulatory and management responsibilities; (2) Identify barriers and challenges to the application of ORS technologies in management and research activities; (3) Recommend a series of community actions to overcome identified barriers and challenges. Plenary presentations by Drs. Curtiss 0. Davis (Oregon State University) and Stephan Lataille (ITRES Research, Ltd.) provided background summaries on the varieties of ORS technologies available, deployment platform options, and tradeoffs for application of ORS data products with specific applications to the assessment of coastal zone water quality and habitat characterization. Dr. Jim Aiken (CASIX) described how multiscale ground-truth measurements were essential for developing robust assessment of modeled biogeochemical interpretations derived from optically based earth observation data sets. While continuing improvements in sensor spectral resolution, signal to noise and dynamic range coupled with sensor-integrated GPS, improved processing algorithms for georectification, and atmospheric correction have made ORS data products invaluable synoptic tools for oceanographic research, their adoption as management tools has lagged. Seth Blitch (Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve) described the obvious needs for, yet substantial challenges hindering the adoption of advanced spectroscopic imaging data products to supplement the current dominance of digital ortho-quad imagery by the resource management community, especially when they impinge on regulatory issues. (pdf contains 32 pages)

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2007 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2007 1. Completed a three-year Gulf sturgeon population study on the Escambia River, Florida. The population was estimated at 451 fish. 2. Implemented the Gulf Striped Bass Restoration Plan by coordinating the 24th Annual Morone Workshop, leading the technical committee, transporting broodfish, coordinating stocking on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system, and evaluating post-stocking success. 3. Completed a survey to document the extent of aquatic resources, recreational fishing opportunities, and fishery management needs on Department of Defense (DoD) facilities located in Region 4. 4. Continued a project in the Apalachicola River to describe the effects of exceptional drought conditions on freshwater mussel recovery. 5. Initiated a study to locate extant populations of the federally endangered Ochlockonee moccasinshell in the Ochlockonee River Basin. We documented the first live individuals in 14 years. 6. Completed a five-year status review for seven threatened and endangered freshwater mussels in the NEG drainages. 7. Restored Mill Creek to improve habitat for the endangered Okaloosa darter by removing six fish passage barriers and creating approximately 3,000 linear feet of new and regenerated stream channel with floodplain and native vegetation. 8. Completed a fish passage project that connected about 5 miles of habitat in Little Rocky Creek, Eglin Air Force Base, to benefit the Okaloosa darter. 9. Completed a threats analysis to aquatic species in the Chipola River watershed using GIS stream data, aerial imagery, and land cover data. 10. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resource conservation needs and opportunities, including National Fishing Week, Earth Day, several festivals, and school outreach.

Dramatické texty přeložené a cenzurované ve frankistickém Španělsku (šedesátá léta): divadlo a film jako kontrolovaná představení

Texto en checo. Editora de la obra Petra Vavroušová.

Identifying social determinants of urban low carbon transitions: the case of energy transition in Bilbao, Basque Country

33 p.

Cosplay: identidades na hipermodernidade

O cosplay traduzido como brincar de fantasiar é uma atividade realizada por algumas pessoas em eventos que reúnem admiradores de desenhos animados e histórias em quadrinhos japonesas. Alguns de seus participantes vestem-se como os personagens veiculados nesses meios e são chamados de cosplayers. Diferente de um baile à fantasia, lá eles podem interpretar os personagens e, normalmente, a escolha é feita com base na identificação com estes. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal compreender o fenômeno cosplay, como parte do mundo hipermoderno, que vem atraindo um crescente número de adeptos no Brasil, e que vêm a fazer parte da identidade de alguns desses jovens. Para isso, apresento um breve panorama sobre o contexto atual marcado por novas tecnologias, difusão do consumo, mudanças nas relações familiares, diluição das barreiras físicas e aumento das fontes de informação, que provocaram profundas mudanças nos modos de ser e agir no mundo. Destaco também a importância do papel do consumo, pois com a degradação das estruturas tradicionais que proporcionavam bases estáveis nas quais se apoiavam as identidades, estas foram se tornando incertas e fluidas e, assim, o mundo se prontifica a oferecer uma variedade enorme de objetos de consumo para constituí-la. Como o cosplay envolve o processo de identificação com os personagens do entretenimento japonês, apresento algumas características das histórias em quadrinhos japonesas que são considerados atrativos deste material, e discuto a questão da juventude e identidade, e a importância do imaginário, fatos marcantes deste fenômeno. A fim de entender mais essa dinâmica formou-se um grupo focal com cinco cosplayers, entre 16 e 21 anos, moradores do Rio de Janeiro, que contribuíram significativamente para a discussão de todo o trabalho. Além do divertimento e do aumento das habilidades na confecção das vestimentas, o reconhecimento social apareceu como uma das motivações para realização dos cosplays. Esse dado reitera a importância das interações no processo de formação da pessoa. Um outro dado relevante apontado foi que através de identificação com alguns personagens, os cosplayers acabam questionando suas próprias atitudes, reforçando com isso, o papel ativo desses jovens no consumo dos produtos midiáticos

Acessibilidade para surdos, na cibercultura: os cotidianos nas redes e na educação superior online

No atual cenário sóciotécnico, com a expansão das tecnologias digitais em rede, novos espaçostempos culturais estão se formando. A cibercultura tem possibilitado, e potencializado, lógicas outras de valorização e participação dos indivíduos que, agora podem, sobretudo, produzir conteúdos e informações. Neste contexto, os surdos estão se apropriando e habitando os diferentes ambientes da internet. Mesmo nos espaços que não tenham sido pensados e preparados para o acesso dos internautas surdos, eles estão lançando mão de suas táticas de praticantes e estão se autorizando nas redes. Isso tem favorecido a inclusão de pessoas com deficiência nas mais diversas áreas, dentre elas, a educação superior. Em consonância com os princípios da educação inclusiva, a legislação brasileira assegura o direito dos estudantes surdos de receber instrução em sua primeira língua, e prevê que sejam garantidas as condições adequadas de ensino, inclusive no ensino superior, presencial ou à distância. Considerando a diversidade dentrofora da escola, e tendo em vista que o acesso à educação, informação e comunicação é um direito inerente a todos; abordamos em nossa pesquisa os aspectos legais, tecnológicos e pedagógicos envolvidos em nossa busca por garantir acessibilidade à educação superior online para um estudante surdo. Tendo como pressupostos a abordagem multirreferencial (Ardoino), da pesquisa-formação (Macedo, Santos, Josso) e as pesquisas nos/dos/com os cotidianos (Certeau, Alves, Oliveira), nossa pesquisa aborda os princípios de acessibilidade e usabilidade na web (Ferreira e Nunes), bem como nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem. Acompanhamos, ao longo de dois semestres letivos, um estudante surdo, e com baixa visão, matriculado no curso de Pedagogia à Distância da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), em parceria com o Consórcio Cederj. Nossa pesquisa procurou responder, dentre outras questões: Como tornar acessível, para os surdos, um curso de graduação à distância? Quais são as adaptações que o Cederj já garante aos estudantes surdos? Quais são as adaptações necessárias para se promover a inclusão efetiva das pessoas surdas nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem, ultrapassando a mera tradução de materiais didáticos e promovendo Educação online? Como resultados, apresentamos os principais obstáculos à efetiva inclusão desse estudante; suas táticas e usos para transpor as barreiras encontradas; além de sugestões de interfaces online, conteúdos e situações de aprendizagem para desenho didático acessíveis nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem.

LIBRAS e português no letramento de surdos e ouvintes: a experiência do Sarau Bilíngue

O presente estudo investiga os posicionamentos e a agência de participantes de um Sarau Bilíngue. O Sarau é uma proposta didática / pedagógica, desenvolvida no Curso Bilíngue de Pedagogia do Instituto Nacional de Educação de Surdos INES e visa integrar surdos e ouvintes, de forma lúdica, proporcionando práticas de letramento que envolvem dramatizações, traduções e adaptações de textos da língua portuguesa para LIBRAS, contribuindo para o acesso à literatura e à música, o rompimento de barreiras e a quebra de preconceitos mediada pela arte. O estudo tem caráter interdisciplinar e de cunho etnográfico, dialogando com os campos da Sociologia, Ciências Sociais, Fonoaudiologia, Educação, Surdez e localizando-se na área da Linguística Aplicada. É realizado a partir de uma entrevista de grupo, analisada qualitativa e interpretativamente. A análise é desenvolvida à luz dos conceitos de posicionamento (DAVID e HARRÉ,1999), agência (AHEARN, 2001) e construções identitárias (HALL, 2006; CASTELLS, 1999) sinalizados por pistas lexicais. A análise mostra os posicionamentos, agência e construções identitárias emergentes durante a entrevista e como contribuem para a construção do letramento (GEE, 1990; KLEIMAN, 2005) dos participantes a partir de sua participação em um Sarau Bilíngue

Estudo Experimental da Camada de Cobertura do Aterro Morro do Céu, Niterói - RJ.

Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os conceitos de solos não saturados e descreve os diversos tipos de camada de cobertura usadas em aterro de resíduos sólidos urbanos. Apresenta trabalhos científicos que contemplam curvas características de solos tropicais brasileiros. Caracteriza o solo usado antigamente como camada de cobertura do Aterro Morro do Céu e este solo com adição de 5% de bentonita. Determina a curva característica desses dois solos pelo Método do Papel Filtro e pela Placa de Sucção e, em seguida, Placa de Pressão. As curvas obtidas por esses métodos apresentaram diferenças. A adição da bentonita no solo teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho do mesmo. O solo com adição de bentonita apresentou maior plasticidade, menor permeabilidade e maior capacidade de retenção de água no solo. Apresenta a modelagem de camadas monolíticas, camadas monolíticas evapotranspirativas, barreiras capilares, barreiras capilares evapotranspirativas através do uso do Programa VADOSE/W como ferramenta para aferição.

Análises genéticas de carcaças de atobá marrom, Sula leucogaster (Boddaert, 1783), da região centro-norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

A região da Bacia de Campos está exposta a diversas atividades antrópicas, que interferem diretamente no funcionamento do ecossistêmico marinho. O estudo da fauna marinha na costa centro-norte fluminense mostra grande relevância, diversas aves marinhas residem ou passam grande parte de seu período migratório ao longo da Bacia de Campos, entre elas está Sula leucogaster (Boddaert, 1783). Embora essas aves sejam altamente móveis, suas populações apresentam uma estrutura populacional genética robusta. Com o intuito de verificar a estruturação e as relações evolutivas da população de Sula leucogaster na Bacia de Campos foram recolhidas 91 amostras de encalhe e os dados gerados para esta região foram comparados com dados já publicados de outras bacias oceânicas. A partir da região controle do DNA mitocondrial foram gerados 26 haplótipos, todos exclusivos da Bacia de Campos, muitos raros e apenas oito possuíram frequência comum. As análises mostraram que a população da Bacia de Campos é um estoque genético de Sula leucogaster. Tal fato pode ser atribuído ao comportamento filopátrico e ao hábito costeiro dessa espécie que impede o fluxo gênico entre populações. Além disso, a população da Bacia de Campos detém baixa variabilidade genética e possivelmente está sofrendo efeito gargalo ou seleção purificadora, corroborados por valores do teste Fu, o que é comum para espécies que se dividem em subpopulações. Os dados filogenéticos demonstram um contato recente entre as populações da Bacia de Campos e da ilha de Ascensão. As condições oceanográficas também têm influência na estruturação de populações de Sula leucogaster, visto que a ausência de barreiras e a proximidade geográfica poderiam favorecer contato secundário com o Mar do Caribe, fato não evidenciado nas análises. Sendo assim, a divergência de populações nessa espécie e a baixa variabilidade genética são fatores preocupantes para a manutenção da população de atobás marrons em uma área de grande impacto ambiental

Exploring geographical dispersion in Thailand-based food supply chain (FSC)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the key influential factors and their implications on food supply chain (FSC) location decisions from a Thailand-based manufacturer's view. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 21 case studies were conducted with eight Thailand-based food manufacturers. In each case, key influential factors were observed along with their implications on upstream and downstream FSC location decisions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and documentations. Data reduction and data display in tables were used to help data analysis of the case studies. Findings: This exploratory research found that, in the food industry, FSC geographical dispersion pattern could be determined by four factors: perishability, value density, economic-political forces, and technological forces. Technological forces were found as an enabler for FSC geographical dispersion whereas the other three factors could be both barriers and enablers. The implications of these four influential factors drive FSC towards four key patterns of FSC geographical dispersion: local supply chain (SC), supply-proximity SC, market-proximity SC, and international SC. Additionally, the strategy of the firm was found to also be an influential factor in determining FSC geographical dispersion. Research limitations/implications: Despite conducting 21 cases, the findings in this research are based on a relatively small sample, given the large size of the industry. More case evidence from a broader range of food product market and supply items, particularly ones that have significantly different patterns of FSC geographical dispersions would have been insightful. The consideration of additional influential factors such as labour movement between developing countries, currency fluctuations and labour costs, would also enrich the framework as well as improve the quality and validity of the research findings. The different strategies employed by the case companies and their implications on FSC location decisions should also be further investigated along with cases outside Thailand, to provide a more comprehensive view of FSC geographical location decisions. Practical implications: This paper provides insights how FSC is geographically located in both supply-side and demand-side from a manufacturing firm's view. The findings can also provide SC managers and researchers a better understanding of their FSCs. Originality/value: This research bridges the existing gap in the literature, explaining the geographical dispersion of SC particularly in the food industry where the characteristics are very specific, by exploring the internationalization ability of Thailand-based FSC and generalizing the key influential factors - perishability (lead time), value density, economic-political forces, market opportunities, and technological advancements. Four key patterns of FSC internationalization emerged from the case studies. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Strengthening effectiveness of policy directives of the LVFO Council of Ministers on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Research was done to assess the dissemination and implementation by the Fisheries Department, Local Govemments and beach management units and the awareness, acceptance and compliance among fishers to the CoM Directives on management of Lake Victoria fisheries. Conducted by the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), the research focused on the implementation and effectiveness of measures following the LYFO Council of Ministers (CoM) Directives for improved management of the fisheries of Lake Victoria, with particular reference to the 2009 CoM Directives as a case study, it was established that many of the Directives have not been implemented. In cases where the directives were implemented, their effectiveness remains questionable. While steps were taken to disseminate and implement the Directives, there were some challenges, including the unclear legal status of the directives, limited dissemination materials and poor methods of dissemination, language barriers and inadequate resources for enforcement.

Engineering as a tool for improving human habitat

The conventional approaches to poverty alleviation in the slums entail a cocktail of interventions in health, education, governance and physical improvements, often stretching the scarce resources far and thin. Driven by the 'poverty' mindset, physical measures such as minimal paving, public water posts and community latrines actually brand the slums apart instead of assimilating them into the urban infrastructure fabric. The concept of Slum Networking proposes comprehensive water and environmental sanitation infrastructure as the central and catalytic leverage for holistic development. At costs less than the conventional 'slum' solutions, it tries to penetrate a high quality urban infrastructure net deeply into the slums to assimilate them into the city rather than lock them in as disadvantaged islands. Further, it transcends resource barriers and 'aid' through innovative partnerships and the latent resource mobilisation potential of the so-called 'poor'. This paper examines Slum Networking as implemented in Sanjaynagar in Ahmedabad, India and compares it with a similar settlement with no interventions in Ahmedabad. It assesses the knock-on impact of physical infrastructure on health, education and poverty. Finally, it evaluates the multiplier effect of physical infrastructure and the partnerships on the subsequent investments by the community in its own shelter and habitat. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Efficient hole transport in asymmetric coupled InGaN multiple quantum wells

InGaN based light emitting devices (LEDs) with asymmetric coupled quantum wells (AS-QWs) and conventional symmetric coupled quantum wells (CS-QWs) active structures were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition technique. The LEDs with AS-QWs active region show improved light emission intensity and reduced forward voltage compared with LEDs with CS-QWs active region. Based on the electroluminescence measurements and the devices structure analysis, it can be concluded that these improvements are mainly attributed to the efficient hole tunneling through barriers and consequently the uniform distribution of carriers in the AS-QWs. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3254232]