Five years of designing wireless sensor networks in the Doñana Biological Reserve (Spain): an applications approach

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are a technology that is becoming very popular for many applications, and environmental monitoring is one of its most important application areas. This technology solves the lack of flexibility of wired sensor installations and, at the same time, reduces the deployment costs. To demonstrate the advantages of WSN technology, for the last five years we have been deploying some prototypes in the Doñana Biological Reserve, which is an important protected area in Southern Spain. These prototypes not only evaluate the technology, but also solve some of the monitoring problems that have been raised by biologists working in Doñana. This paper presents a review of the work that has been developed during these five years. Here, we demonstrate the enormous potential of using machine learning in wireless sensor networks for environmental and animal monitoring because this approach increases the amount of useful information and reduces the effort that is required by biologists in an environmental monitoring task

Status Gizi Balita Di Kabupaten Bogor Pada Krisis Ekonomi

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDERFIVE YEARS CHILDREN DURING ECONOMIC CRISIS AT BOGOR DISTRICT.Background: The relationships between nutritional status, growth and development of vital organ have been published else where. The increasing of body weight and height can be used as indicators of good nutritional status of ctildren under five of age. The prevalence of severe malnutrition of children under five years lends to increase. Vitamin A deficiency and anemia were also still problems in Indonesia. The periodic information about nutritional status of children less than five years of age is important.Method: The assessment of nutritional status of under five children had been conducted in the area of 10 Puskesmas in Kabupaten Bogor. The selection of these areas based on the survey in 1992. Data collection was carried out twice in April 1999 and November 1999. The assessment included vitamin A status, anthropometry and hemoglobin level.Results: The result shows there was no case of xerophthalmia among the children. However, analysis shows that 7.3% children under five of age have serum vitamin A level below 10 ug/dl in April 1999 and 6.8 in November 1999.The prevalence of severe malnutrition based on weight for age tend to increase 3.1% (in 1992), 3.9% (in April 1999), and 4.4% (in November 1999). The prevalence of underweight significantly increased (p<0.05) from 11.4% to 24%. The prevalence of wasting also shows significantly increased both at 0-23 months and 24-60 months of age from 4.7% to 13.9% and 6.3 to 11.6% respectively. The prevalence of stunting not significantly increased. The prevalence of anemia increased from 41.7% in 1992 to 48.7% in April 1999 and 49.2% in November 1999. However, the increase was not significant statistically

Using five-minute bird counts to study magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) impacts on other birds in New Zealand

We used five-minute bird counts to investigate whether introduced Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) influence the abundance of other birds in rural New Zealand. Over 3 years, magpies were removed from five c. 900-ha study blocks, one in each of Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Southland. Birds were counted in both the treatment blocks and paired non-treatment blocks for the 3 years of removal and also 1 year before. To minimise problems raised elsewhere with index counts we (1) selected treatment blocks and count stations using randomisation procedures, (2) used trained observers who spent equal time in paired treatment and non-treatment blocks, and (3) counted all blocks at the same time of year and only in good weather. On average, 548 magpies were removed from each treatment block each year, with magpie counts reduced by 76% relative to non-treatment blocks. Our results suggest magpies may restrict the movements of some birds (including kererū and tūī) in rural areas, but are less important than pest mammals at limiting population abundance at a landscape scale. We submit that five-minute bird counts were appropriate for our objectives, but that more research to examine their relationship to absolute densities is needed

Drink wise, age well; reducing alcohol related harm among people over 50: a study protocol

Background: Evidence suggests that the use of alcohol among older adults (defined as those aged 50+) has increased in recent years, with people aged 55-64 now more likely to exceed the recommended weekly guidelines than any other age group. Methods/ design: This is a quasi-experimental study with a before-after design. A postal questionnaire will be sent to 76,000 people aged 50 and over registered with a general practice in five different 'demonstration' (intervention) and control areas in the UK. Multiple interventions will then be delivered in demonstration areas across the UK. At the end of the programme, a postal questionnaire will be sent to the same individuals who completed it pre-programme to establish if there has been a reduction in alcohol use, at-risk drinking and alcohol related problems. Qualitative interviews with clients and staff will explore how the interventions were experienced; how they may work to bring about change and to identify areas for practice improvements. Discussion: This study protocol describes a multi-level, multi-intervention prevention-to-treatment programme which aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in people aged 50 and over

A Meta-model of Alignment

The literature on IS alignment is extensive, has developed significantly in the last twenty-five years, and is itself based on fifteen years of prior work exploring the strategic possibilities of information systems. Several important models have now been developed, but it is not always clear how they relate to each other. This can be problematic for practitioners, as it is not clear how, and indeed when, alignment can benefit an organization. It can be problematic for academics, in that gaps and areas for further research cannot be systematically identified. Furthermore, most alignment studies are motivated by two considerations that have themselves changed over time. First, IS alignment can bring strategic benefits to an organization, and second, alignment is consistently ranked highly as a key issue for IS managers. Over twenty-five years, there have been several key developments in strategic theory, and the issues being addressed by IS managers have changed significantly. This article addresses both problems by providing a meta-model of alignment studies, based on their relationship to different strategic theories. It populates the meta-model with examples of previous studies and demonstrates how it can be used by practitioners and academics

Socioeconomic characteristics, family structure and trajectories of children's psychosocial problems in a period of social transition

Data from the Czech part of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood offer a unique opportunity to examine a period of changing socioeconomic structure of the country. Our aim was to analyse the association between socioeconomic status, family structure and children’s psychosocial problems at the age of 7, 11, 15 and 18 years in 3,261 subjects and compare our results with findings from western settings. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and its five subscales were used to assess individual problem areas (emotional symptoms, peer problems, hyperactivity, conduct problems) and prosocial behaviour. Socioeconomic status was represented by maternal education and three forms of family structure were identified: nuclear family, new partner family and single parent family. The SDQ subscale score over time was modelled as a quadratic growth curve using a linear mixed-effects model. Maternal university education was associated with a faster decline in problems over time for all five SDQ subscales. Problems in children from nuclear families were found to be significantly lower than in children from single parent families for all SDQ subscales with the exception of peer problems. Compared to nuclear families, children from new partner families scored significantly higher in hyperactivity and conduct problems subscales. The nuclear family structure and higher maternal education have been identified as protective factors for children’s psychosocial problems, in agreement with findings from western settings. Adopting a longitudinal perspective was shown as essential for providing a more complex view of children’s psychosocial problems over time

Socioeconomic characteristics, family structure and trajectories of children's psychosocial problems in a period of social transition

Data from the Czech part of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood offer a unique opportunity to examine a period of changing socioeconomic structure of the country. Our aim was to analyse the association between socioeconomic status, family structure and children's psychosocial problems at the age of 7, 11, 15 and 18 years in 3,261 subjects and compare our results with findings from western settings. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and its five subscales were used to assess individual problem areas (emotional symptoms, peer problems, hyperactivity, conduct problems) and prosocial behaviour. Socioeconomic status was represented by maternal education and three forms of family structure were identified: nuclear family, new partner family and single parent family. The SDQ subscale score over time was modelled as a quadratic growth curve using a linear mixed-effects model. Maternal university education was associated with a faster decline in problems over time for all five SDQ subscales. Problems in children from nuclear families were found to be significantly lower than in children from single parent families for all SDQ subscales with the exception of peer problems. Compared to nuclear families, children from new partner families scored significantly higher in hyperactivity and conduct problems subscales. The nuclear family structure and higher maternal education have been identified as protective factors for children's psychosocial problems, in agreement with findings from western settings. Adopting a longitudinal perspective was shown as essential for providing a more complex view of children's psychosocial problems over time

Onboard shuttle on-line software requirements system: Prototype

The prototype discussed here was developed as proof of a concept for a system which could support high volumes of requirements documents with integrated text and graphics; the solution proposed here could be extended to other projects whose goal is to place paper documents in an electronic system for viewing and printing purposes. The technical problems (such as conversion of documentation between word processors, management of a variety of graphics file formats, and difficulties involved in scanning integrated text and graphics) would be very similar for other systems of this type. Indeed, technological advances in areas such as scanning hardware and software and display terminals insure that some of the problems encountered here will be solved in the near-term (less than five years). Examples of these solvable problems include automated input of integrated text and graphics, errors in the recognition process, and the loss of image information which results from the digitization process. The solution developed for the Online Software Requirements System is modular and allows hardware and software components to be upgraded or replaced as industry solutions mature. The extensive commercial software content allows the NASA customer to apply resources to solving the problem and maintaining documents

A Five Year Financial Projection of Dieterich Community Unit #30

The basic purpose for this paper was to study important financial information pertaining to Dieterich Community Unit #30 School District from the recent past, and the present, and to use the data to project the financial position of the district over a five year period starting in 1978-79 and ending in 1983-84. The paper was not intended as a true research project which used considerable statistical information but rather a project that might produce information very useful to the institution in financial areas in the next few years. The information and data used in the study were produced primarily from financial reports and audits of the district. A great amount of information was received through conversations with the superintendent of schools in the Dieterich system and other significant people. Some important information was received by completing an energy audit in the district. The energy audit gave considerable insight into overusage of electricity and possible solutions to energy problems. The information was compiled from these financial reports and projected using the most recent government inflation estimates according to government economists. The projections were used to complete five year financial standing in the form of school budgetary statements. These budgets, although not included in the finished paper, were totally completed and were the basis for the final estimates of the financial position of the district. The major findings of the study were a slowly increasing debt which over a five year period could approach $900,000. Due to improved policies, spending procedures, and new sources of income, the district should improve its income during the next five years by approximately$300,000. Added to the $900,000 deficit that has been projected, the balance at the end of the five year period would show approximately$600,000 indebtedness. These findings would offer a variety of possible solutions or partial solutions. The most reasonable would seem to be a tax referendum. If the taxpayers of the district are not willing to support the small district , it is likely the school will be absorbed by surrounding larger districts