Collaboration in the Semantic Grid: a Basis for e-Learning

The CoAKTinG project aims to advance the state of the art in collaborative mediated spaces for the Semantic Grid. This paper presents an overview of the hypertext and knowledge based tools which have been deployed to augment existing collaborative environments, and the ontology which is used to exchange structure, promote enhanced process tracking, and aid navigation of resources before, after, and while a collaboration occurs. While the primary focus of the project has been supporting e-Science, this paper also explores the similarities and application of CoAKTinG technologies as part of a human-centred design approach to e-Learning

Diverse perceptions of smart spaces

This is the era of smart technology and of ‘smart’ as a meme, so we have run three workshops to examine the ‘smart’ meme and the exploitation of smart environments. The literature relating to smart spaces focuses primarily on technologies and their capabilities. Our three workshops demonstrated that we require a stronger user focus if we are advantageously to exploit spaces ascribed as smart: we examined the concept of smartness from a variety of perspectives, in collaboration with a broad range of contributors. We have prepared this monograph mainly to report on the third workshop, held at Bournemouth University in April 2012, but do also consider the lessons learned from all three. We conclude with a roadmap for a fourth (and final) workshop, which is intended to emphasise the overarching importance of the humans using the spac

The Virtual Block Interface: A Flexible Alternative to the Conventional Virtual Memory Framework

Computers continue to diversify with respect to system designs, emerging memory technologies, and application memory demands. Unfortunately, continually adapting the conventional virtual memory framework to each possible system configuration is challenging, and often results in performance loss or requires non-trivial workarounds. To address these challenges, we propose a new virtual memory framework, the Virtual Block Interface (VBI). We design VBI based on the key idea that delegating memory management duties to hardware can reduce the overheads and software complexity associated with virtual memory. VBI introduces a set of variable-sized virtual blocks (VBs) to applications. Each VB is a contiguous region of the globally-visible VBI address space, and an application can allocate each semantically meaningful unit of information (e.g., a data structure) in a separate VB. VBI decouples access protection from memory allocation and address translation. While the OS controls which programs have access to which VBs, dedicated hardware in the memory controller manages the physical memory allocation and address translation of the VBs. This approach enables several architectural optimizations to (1) efficiently and flexibly cater to different and increasingly diverse system configurations, and (2) eliminate key inefficiencies of conventional virtual memory. We demonstrate the benefits of VBI with two important use cases: (1) reducing the overheads of address translation (for both native execution and virtual machine environments), as VBI reduces the number of translation requests and associated memory accesses; and (2) two heterogeneous main memory architectures, where VBI increases the effectiveness of managing fast memory regions. For both cases, VBI significanttly improves performance over conventional virtual memory

Case study: obesity, genital oedema and lower limb compression bandaging

The purpose of this article is to present an evidenced based rationale for lymphoedema compression bandaging one aspect of treatment for a patient with complex lower limb lymphoedema. The current health care climate requires treatment decisions to be transparent based on the best available evidence. The challenge faced by community nurses is to formulate treatment plans which incorporate the patients’ preferences and best utilise limited resources provided by clinical environments. The article appraises research in order to formulate a suitable treatment plan and provides discussion and reflection regarding the challenges faced by the nursing profession in achieving evidence based practice. Evidence based practice is beneficial in formulating patient centred and cost effective treatment plans, developing competence is not straightforward, however clinical guidelines can provide much needed guidance

Youth Reproductive Health in Nepal: Is Participation the Answer?

Discusses the processes and results of a multi-year research study by ICRW, EngenderHealth, and Nepali partners, which tested the effectiveness of the participatory approach in defining and addressing the reproductive health concerns of adolescents

Excellence in cities : city learning centres : an evaluation of the first year

The network of City Learning Centres (CLCs) is one element of the Excellence in Cities (EiC) programme run by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). CLCs have been set up to provide learning opportunities based on information and communication technology (ICT) for pupils and teachers in schools and for the wider community. - CLCs are intended to: • improve access to and use of the latest educational technology for pupils, teachers and the community • improve attainment levels through use of that technology • reduce truancy from school • improve the quality of teaching and learning and act as test-beds for innovation and new ways of working