Image databases: Problems and perspectives

With the increasing number of computer graphics, image processing, and pattern recognition applications, economical storage, efficient representation and manipulation, and powerful and flexible query languages for retrieval of image data are of paramount importance. These and related issues pertinent to image data bases are examined

Overview of Digital Library Components and Developments

Digital libraries are being built upon a firm foundation of prior work as the high-end information systems of the future. A component architecture approach is becoming popular, with well established support for key components like the repository, especially through the Open Archives Initiative. We consider digital objects, metadata, harvesting, indexing, searching, browsing, rights management, linking, and powerful interfaces. Flexible interaction will be possible through a variety of architectures, using buses, agents, and other technologies. The field as a whole is undergoing rapid growth, supported by advances in storage, processing, networking, algorithms, and interaction. There are many initiatives and developments, including those supporting education, and these will certainly be of benefit in Latin America

The Impact of Cognitive and Socio-Demographics factors at meetings during Software Development Process.

Most of the important decisions are taken at team meetings during software development process (SDP) and the way of thinking of project leader plays an important role in achieving quality objectives at these team meetings. Considering this important issue, this paper investigates the impact of cognitive and socio-demographic factors on manager's simple thinking style towards improving the quality of team meetings in SDP.We have performed experimentations among Information and Communication Technologies' (ICT) senior professionals and managers from government and private sector organizations for this purpose. The hypotheses have been developed under different empirical categories and then statistical analysis techniques have been used to draw inferences. The results indicate that "type of team meetings", "project leader's cognitive characteristics" and "adoption of a cognitive model at team meetings" have statistically significant impact on manager's simple thinking in terms of improving productivity and contribution of team meetings

Focal Spot, Spring 1998

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1078/thumbnail.jp

Imagine your perfect park: how would it be? A qualitative study on the preferences, barriers and facilitators of green spaces' use by adolescents in a southern European urban context

Os espaços verdes são elementos essenciais das cidades. Estes espaços contribuem significativamente para a saúde e bem-estar dos adolescentes no meio urbano, constituindo modos de intervenção custo-efetiva para a redução das iniquidades em saúde e a transformação de cidades resilientes às alterações climáticas. No que concerne o planeamento e design dos espaços verdes urbanos, as necessidades e interesses dos adolescentes tendem a ser negligenciados. Foi objetivo deste estudo identificar facilitadores, barreiras e promotores de uso de espaços verdes urbanos pelos adolescentes da Área Metropolitana do Porto. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo com recolha de dados através de grupos focais. Os participantes foram selecionados da coorte Geração XXI (G21) e foram estratificados de acordo com estatuto socioeconómico. Os dados foram analisados tematicamente, usando-se uma abordagem dedutivo-indutiva. A proximidade e multifuncionalidade dos espaços verdes urbanos foram os facilitadores de uso mais citados pelos adolescentes; enquanto que elevada pressão de visitantes, falta de vegetação e falta de manutenção foram identificados como importantes barreiras. Os adolescentes destacaram a necessidade de aumentar em número e tamanho os espaços verdes na Área Metropolitana do Porto, potenciando simultaneamente a sua multifuncionalidade através da provisão de equipamentos.Green spaces are an essential element in cities. They can significantly contribute to adolescents' health and wellbeing in the urban setting, being at the same time a cost-effective intervention to reduce health inequities and contributing to climate-resilient cities. Adolescents needs and desires regarding the planning and design of urban green spaces tend to be neglected. We aimed to identify facilitators, barriers and promoters of use of urban green spaces by adolescents in the Porto Metropolitan Area. A focus group design was used. Participants were selected from the Generation XXI cohort (G21) and were stratified according to their socioeconomic status. Data were analyzed thematically using a deductive-inductive approach. Proximity and multifunctionality of urban green spaces were the most cited facilitators of use, by adolescents; whilst high visitors' pressure, lack of vegetation and lack of maintenance were identified as important barriers. Adolescents enhance the need to increase the number and size of urban green spaces in the Porto Metropolitan Aera, while potentiating their multifunctionality by means of equipment provision

Focal Spot, Winter 2004/2005

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1098/thumbnail.jp

An EAI based integration solution for science and research outcomes information management

Open Access articleIn this paper we present an Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) based proposal for research outcomes information management. The proposal is contextualized in terms of national and international science and research outcomes information management, corresponding supporting information systems and ecosystems. Information systems interoperability problems, approaches, technologies and tools are presented and applied to the research outcomes information management case. A business and technological perspective is provided, including the conceptual analysis and modelling, an integration solution based in a Domain-Specific Language (DSL) and the orchestration engine to execute the proposed solution. For illustrative purposes, the role and information system needs of a research unit is assumed as the representative case

Focal Spot, Spring 1997

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/focal_spot_archives/1075/thumbnail.jp