Developing a forest data portal to support multi-scale decision making

Forests play a pivotal role in timber production, maintenance and development of biodiversity and in carbon sequestration and storage in the context of the Kyoto Protocol. Policy makers and forest experts therefore require reliable information on forest extent, type and change for management, planning and modeling purposes. It is becoming increasingly clear that such forest information is frequently inconsistent and unharmonised between countries and continents. This research paper presents a forest information portal that has been developed in line with the GEOSS and INSPIRE frameworks. The web portal provides access to forest resources data at a variety of spatial scales, from global through to regional and local, as well as providing analytical capabilities for monitoring and validating forest change. The system also allows for the utilisation of forest data and processing services within other thematic areas. The web portal has been developed using open standards to facilitate accessibility, interoperability and data transfer.

ASPICO: Advanced Scientific Portal for International Cooperation on Digital Cultural Conten

* This research is partially supported by a grant (bourse Lavoisier) from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères).

One Approach to Knowledge Mapping for International Student Portal

* The work is partly supported by RFFI grant 08-07-00062-a

Specifics in Applying Agile Software Methodologies in Portal Solutions

Agile methodologies are becoming more popular in the software development process nowadays. The iterative development lifecycle, openness to frequent changes, tight cooperation with the client and among the software engineers are turning into more and more effective practices and respond to a higher extend to the current business needs. It is natural to raise the question which methodology is the most suitable for use when starting and managing a project. This depends on many factors—product characteristics, technologies used, client’s and developer’s experience, project type. A systematic analysis of the most common problems appearing when developing a particular type of projects—public portal solutions, is proposed. In the case at hand a very close interaction with various types of end users is observed. This is a prerequisite for permanent changes during the development and support cycles, which makes them ideal candidates for using an agile methodology. We will compare the ways in which each methodology addresses the specific problems arising and will finish with ranking them according to their relevance. This might help the project manager in choosing one or a combination of the methodologies.

Share.TEC Portal: How the Metadata Repositories of Educational Resources Meet the Users’ Expectations

This is an extended version of an article presented at the Second International Conference on Software, Services and Semantic Technologies, Sofia, Bulgaria, 11–12 September 2010.

Análise do uso do Portal de Periódicos da CAPES na perspectiva de mestres e doutores formados pelo Programa de Pós-graduação em Administração da UFRN

The Brazilian CAPES Journal Portal aims to provide Information in Science and Technology (IST) for academic users. Thus, it is considered a relevant instrument for post-graduation dynamics and the country´s Science and Technology (S&T) development. Despite its importance, there are still few studies that focus on the policy analysis and efficiency of these resources. This research aims to fill in this gap once it proposes an analysis of the use of the CAPES Journal Portal done on behalf of the master´s and doctoral alumni of the Post Graduate Program in Management (PPGA) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). The operationalization of the research´s main objective was possible through the specific objectives: characterize graduate profile as CAPES Journal Portal users b) identify motivation for the use of CAPES Journal Portal c) detect graduate satisfaction degree in information seeking done at CAPES Journal Portal d) verify graduate satisfaction regarding the use of the CAPES Journal Portal e) verify the use of the information that is obtained by graduates in the development of their academic activities. The research is of descriptive nature employing a mixed methodological strategy in which quantitative approach predominates. Data collection was done through a web survey questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis was made possible through the use of a statistical method. As for qualitative analysis, there was use of the Brenda Dervin´s sense-making approach as well as content analysis in open ended questions. The research samples were composed by 90 graduate students who had defended their dissertation/thesis in the PPGA program at UFRN in the time span of 2010-2013. This represented by 88% of this population. As for user profile, the analysis has made evident that there are no quantitative differences related to gender. There is predominance of male graduates that were aged 26 to 30 years old. As for female graduates, the great majority were 31 o 35 years old. Most graduates had Master´s degree scholarship in order to support their study. It was also seen that the great majority claim to use the Portal during their post graduation studies. The main reasons responsible for non use was: preference for the use of other data bases and lack of knowledge regarding the Portal. It was observed that the most used information resources were theses and dissertations. Data also indicate preference for complete text. Those who have used the Portal also claimed to have used other electronic information fonts in order to fulfill their information needs. The information fonts that were researched outside in the Portal were monographs, dissertations and thesis. Scielo was the most used information font. Results reveal that access and use of the Portal has been done in a regular manner during post graduation studies. But on the other hand, graduates also make use of other electronic information fonts in order to meet their information needs. The study also confirmed the important mission performed by the Portal regarding Brazilian scientific communication production. This was seen even though users have reported the need for improvement in some aspects such as: periodic training in order to promote, encourage and teach more effective use of the portal; investment aiming the expansion of Social Sciences Collection in the Portal as well as the need to implement continuous evaluation process related to user satisfaction in regarding the services provided.

Estudo da usabilidade do portal do aluno do SIGAA Mobile Android da UFRN: identificando diretrizes de interface a serem utilizadas como recomendações no processo de desenvolvimento das funcionalidades deste sistema

Avaliação de usabilidade é um processo importante durante o desenvolvimento de um software, seja ele para um sistema web ou mobile. No caso de um sistema mobile, o custo é bastante oneroso, tanto no que se refere à mão de obra especializada, como de recursos tecnológicos utilizados, tornando essa avaliação de usabilidade ainda mais importante. Além disso, as versões webdos sistemas SIG da UFRN já estão consolidadas e com uma grande aceitação, fazendo com que suas versões mobile tenham, ainda mais, a preocupação de lançar um produto de boa qualidade para manter essa credibilidade dos sistemas SIG , tanto na UFRN, como nas demais instituições que utilizam esses sistemas. Com este trabalho, buscou-se identificar algumas diretrizes de interface que possam ser utilizadas no processo de desenvolvimento dos sistemas SIG Mobile, mais especificamente o SIGAA Mobile, de modo a facilitar o desenvolvimento de novas funcionalidades voltadas para estes sistemas. Para isso, foi realizada uma avaliação de usabilidade no Portal do Aluno do SIGAA Mobile Android, tomando como base padrões de interface já existentes na literatura. Posteriormente, foi aplicado um questionário com os usuários do sistema para coletar as opiniões e sugestões dos mesmos. De posse de todos esses dados coletados, foi possível definir algumas diretrizes de interface a serem seguidas como recomendações no processo de desenvolvimento dos sistemas SIG Mobile.

WEBJORNALISMO COLABORATIVO - A PRESENÇA DOS USUÁRIOS NO CONTEÚDO INFORMATIVO DO PORTAL R7

Este estudo procura verificar como ocorre a colaboração dos usuários no conteúdo informativo do Portal R7, a partir da nova configuração da internet, a web 2.0, criada em 2004. O termo web 2.0 surgiu para qualificar uma segunda geração de comunidades e serviços, em um ambiente de interação e participação que engloba diversas linguagens. Com o crescimento da adesão à tecnologia digital, algumas barreiras que limitavam a colaboração nos conteúdos informativos foram superadas e o ambiente comunicacional tornou-se um espaço de intercâmbio para experiências e práticas do cotidiano. Nesse cenário, os internautas passam a ter uma relação mais aproximativa nos processos midiáticos presentes no suporte digital, no qual o cidadão pode se expressar, ter maior visibilidade e se relacionar a partir do momento em que ele produz, publica e compartilha qualquer tipo de conteúdo, seja de caráter informativo ou de entretenimento. A revisão bibliográfica abrangeu autores como Ciro Marcondes Filho, José Marques de Melo, Nelson Traquina, Alex Primo, Ana Brambilla, Marcelo Träsel, Raquel Recuero, Polyana Ferrari, Squirra, entre outros. O método de investigação utilizado é o qualitativo, por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória descritiva, do tipo estudo de caso. Os instrumentos para a investigação foram a observação direta assistemática e a entrevista semiestruturada (ou semiaberta). O principal resultado obtido é que o webjornalismo colaborativo no Portal R7 é prioritariamente induzido pelas redes sociais, especialmente o Facebook e o Twitter, inspirado no “call for action”, como estratégia para chamar à colaboração. As práticas jornalísticas estão intrinsicamente dependentes da ação do usuário, sendo que o jornalista agrega às práticas de checagem uma nova etapa, a de relacionamento com o usuário do Portal, para agregar e fidelizar a audiência, valorizando a colaboração em todas as etapas de produção.

Clinical Outcomes in 3343 Children and Adults with Rheumatic Heart Disease from 14 Low and Middle Income Countries: 2-Year Follow-up of the Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Registry (the REMEDY study)

BACKGROUND: -There are few contemporary data on the mortality and morbidity associated with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) or information on their predictors. We report the two year follow-up of individuals with RHD from 14 low and middle income countries in Africa and Asia.

METHODS: -Between January 2010 and November 2012, we enrolled 3343 patients from 25 centers in 14 countries and followed them for two years to assess mortality, congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), recurrent acute rheumatic fever (ARF), and infective endocarditis (IE).

RESULTS: -Vital status at 24 months was known for 2960 (88.5%) patients. Two thirds were female. Although patients were young (median age 28 years, interquartile range 18 to 40), the two year case fatality rate was high (500 deaths, 16.9%). Mortality rate was 116.3/1000 patient-years in the first year and 65.4/1000 patient-years in the second year. Median age at death was 28.7 years. Independent predictors of death were severe valve disease (hazard ratio (HR) 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.80-3.11), CHF (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.70-2.72), New York Heart Association functional class III/IV (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.32-2.10), atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.10-1.78) and older age (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.02 per year increase) at enrolment. Post-primary education (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.85) and female sex (HR 0.65, 95%CI 0.52-0.80) were associated with lower risk of death. 204 (6.9%) had new CHF (incidence, 38.42/1000 patient-years), 46 (1.6%) had a stroke or TIA (8.45/1000 patient-years), 19 (0.6%) had ARF (3.49/1000 patient-years), and 20 (0.7%) had IE (3.65/1000 patient-years). Previous stroke and older age were independent predictors of stroke/TIA or systemic embolism. Patients from low and lower-middle income countries had significantly higher age- and sex-adjusted mortality compared to patients from upper-middle income countries. Valve surgery was significantly more common in upper-middle income than in lower-middle- or low-income countries.

CONCLUSIONS: -Patients with clinical RHD have high mortality and morbidity despite being young; those from low and lower-middle income countries had a poorer prognosis associated with advanced disease and low education. Programs focused on early detection and treatment of clinical RHD are required to improve outcomes.

Relatório de Projeto de Licanciatura. O portal da ADECO

A gestão das organizações não governamentais (ONG’s) apresenta dificuldades peculiares devido a falta de financiamento, o que dificulta a contratação de recursos humanos qualificados e a aquisição de ferramentas de gestão adequadas. Mesmo sem prosseguirem fins lucrativos, estas instituições procuram novas formas de gerir sua estrutura organizacional procurando atingir a missão e os objetivos definidos no seu planeamento. A ADECO - Associação para Defesa do Consumidor - é uma ONG de intervenção cívica e de solidariedade social na defesa dos legítimos interesses de todos os consumidores, e em particular, dos seus associados. Este trabalho propõe o desenvolvimento de um Sistema de Informação Web para a ADECO, que permita automatizar, simplificar e agilizar a informação através de duas vertentes: a pública e a privada. A vertente privada trata da gestão dos seus sócios e suas reclamações e a vertente pública do desenvolvimento de um Site para apresentação de informações, de notícias, e de áudios e vídeos dos programas transmitidos nos órgãos de comunicação social locais. O sistema foi desenvolvido na linguagem PHP, com o auxílio dos Framewoks Codeigniter e Bootstrap e a base de dados criada em MySql, utilizando o sistema de gestão de base de dados (SGBD), Phpmyadmin.

Utilidad de la embolización esplénica en pacientes con trombopenia e hipertensión portal

Programa de doctorado: Avances en Medicina Interna. La fecha de publicación es la fecha de lectura

Rediseño de un portal web universitario aplicando patrones de accesibilidad. Derribando barreras para usuarios con discapacidad visual

Sin lugar a dudas, la WWW y las TICs se han convertido en el medio de interacción por excelencia entre la sociedad y sus ciudadanos y tanto las organizaciones públicas como privadas, tienen hoy la posibilidad de desplegar sus actividades a través de la Web. En particular, la educación universitaria es uno de los dominios dónde se pueden explotar los beneficios de estos recursos tecnológicos para contribuir a la atención integral del estudiante. Sin embargo, las mayoría de los Portales Web universitarios no son accesibles a toda su comunidad de usuarios (alumnos, docentes y no-docentes, entre otros), ya que no contemplan las necesidades de acceso e interacción de personas con capacidades diferentes. En este trabajo, proponemos un proceso dirigido por Patrones de Accesibilidad para el rediseño de Portales Web universitarios, con el objetivo de derribar barreras para usuarios con discapacidad visual. El enfoque se implementa en un caso de estudio real: el Portal Web de la Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral (UNPA). Los resultados obtenidos se obtienen aplicando, tanto al Portal Web original como al Portal Web rediseñado, recomendaciones de Accesibilidad y numerosas herramientas de evaluación automática y manual proveniente de organismos reconocidos a nivel internacional.