Transforming spreadsheets with data noodles

© 2016 IEEE.Data wrangling is the term used by data scientists for the work of re-organising data into a new structure, before work starts on reporting or analysis. We present a prototype that applies programming by example methods to data wrangling in spreadsheets. The Data Noodles system guides the user through constructing a simple example that illustrates how they would like their spreadsheet to look. A transformation program is then synthesised and executed to produce the final reshaped spreadsheet

Barriers to the secondary use of data in critical care

Purpose: We explore the challenges of the secondary use of data in clinical information systems (CIS) which critical care units in the National Health Service (England) are facing. Methods: We conducted an online survey of Critical Care Units in England regarding their practices in collecting and using clinical information systems and data. Results: Critical care units use CIS’s typically independently of hospital information systems and focus mainly on using data for auditing, management reporting and research. Respondents reported that extracting data from their CIS was difficult and that they would use stored data more if it were easier to access. Data extraction takes time and who extracts data, the training they receive and the tools they use affect the extraction and use of data. Conclusion: A number of key challenges affects the secondary use of data in critical care: a lack of integration of information systems within critical care and across departments; barriers to accessing data; mismatched data tools and user requests. Data are predominantly used for reporting and research with less emphasis on using data to inform clinical practice

A Formative Assessment of the Vulnerability Context of Three Indigenous Communities in Rural Ecuador for Improved Intervention Design

Nearly 20 % of the current world population are small-scale producers living in rural areas who rely on agriculture and related activities to support their families (IFAD, 2016; World Bank, 2008). Despite the almost 76 billion USD of official development assistance committed to agriculture improvement projects and associated activities over the past decade, many of the intended beneficiaries remain poor and struggle to meet their basic needs. The lack of success in addressing rural poverty highlights the need for quality research focused on understanding what type of intervention/s could help rural communities sustainably improve their livelihood security. The goal of this dissertation is to conduct a formative participatory assessment of the contextual facilitators and barriers to livelihood security in Guangaje Centro, Tingo Pucará, and Curinge, three rural indigenous communities in the Andes of Ecuador. Using mixed methods, the dissertation examines a range of factors, including economic and natural resource trends and the impact of seasonality on income and food availability, that are believed to be contributing to the diminished resiliency and increased livelihood vulnerability of the three study communities. Study findings indicate that soil degradation linked to land overuse and erosion have led to decreasing agriculture production and economic hardship. Current planting and harvesting cycles suggest the likelihood of close to 10 months of food insecurity and increased climatic variability has exacerbated already existing periods of seasonal hunger. These issues are compounded by the fact that households have limited human, physical, and financial assets, which limits their resiliency during times of stress or shock. This challenging dynamic is believed to have negatively impacted the health of young children and their mothers and forced many community members to migrate to cities in search of work. The cultural changes associated with migration have led many participants to feel that they are losing their identity as indigenous people. Based on these findings, the author determined that an intervention centered on addressing the challenges of land overuse/soil fertility and increased climate variability through agroecology, improved water retention, and crop storage is likely to be acceptable, appropriate and feasible in the current context and positively impact the long-term resiliency of the study communities

2019/2020 Robert E. Kennedy Library Annual Report

Last when we re-branded our annual report as “Inside 35,” we had no idea that this year, Kennedy Library’s accomplishments would be realized largely outside 35. Since March 17, Building 35 has closed its doors to the campus community. Nevertheless, the Kennedy Library team has been successful in maintaining and supporting the Learn by Doing spirit, despite social distancing and remote work conditions

Feasibility of Ghana’s commodities exchange with respect to current crop yield and warehousing facilities

Thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University College, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, April 2013The Government of Ghana has committed to establishment of the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) to create orderly, transparent, and efficient marketing system for its key commodities with the objectives of promoting agricultural investment, enhancing productivity, encouraging market access and fair returns for smallholder farmers, and facilitating the formalization of informal agricultural trading activities. This dissertation was conducted to determine the whether the current crop yields and available warehousing facilities would support the commencement of the proposed Agricultural commodities exchange that is to be established in Ghana. The study was conducted by collecting data from key players involved in the establishment of the exchange. People interviews include representatives from Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Buffer Stock Company, Ghana Grains Council and Securities and Exchange Commission. The research findings revealed that Ghana's crop yield is capable of supporting the exchange, however her warehousing facilities are in dearth and as such the government should invest in quality warehousing for the commodities.Ashesi University Colleg

No. 08: The Urban Food System of Windhoek, Namibia

The surprisingly high rate of supermarket patronage in low-income areas of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital and largest city, is at odds with conventional wisdom that supermarkets in African cities are primarily patronized by middle and high-income residents and therefore target their neighbourhoods. What is happening in Namibia and other Southern African countries that make supermarkets so much more accessible to the urban poor? What are they buying at supermarkets and how frequently do they shop there? Further, what is the impact of supermarket expansion on informal food vendors? This report, which presents the findings of the South African Supermarkets in Growing African Cities project research in 2016-2017 in Windhoek, looks at the evidence and tries to answer these questions and others. The research and policy debate on the relationship between the supermarket revolution and food security is also discussed. Here, the issues include whether supermarket supply chains and procurement practices mitigate rural food insecurity through providing new market opportunities for smallholder farmers; the impact of supermarkets on the food security and consumption patterns of residents of African cities; and the relationship between supermarket expansion and governance of the food system, particularly at the local level

No. 26: The Supermarket Revolution and Food Security in Namibia

The surprisingly high rate of supermarket patronage in low-income areas of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital and largest city, is at odds with conventional wisdom that supermarkets in African cities are primarily patronized by middle and high-income residents and therefore target their neighbourhoods. What is happening in Namibia and other Southern African countries that make supermarkets so much more accessible to the urban poor? What are they buying at supermarkets and how frequently do they shop there? Further, what is the impact of supermarket expansion on informal food vendors? This report, which presents the findings from the South African Supermarkets in Growing African Cities project research in 2016-2017 in Windhoek, looks at the evidence and tries to answer these questions and others. The research and policy debate on the relationship between the supermarket revolution and food security is also discussed. Here, the issues include whether supermarket supply chains and procurement practices mitigate rural food insecurity through providing new market opportunities for smallholder farmers; the impact of supermarkets on the food security and consumption patterns of residents of African cities; and the relationship between supermarket expansion and governance of the food system, particularly at the local level

The role of family income and other factors in understanding the food and eating practices of young people in the UK: A mixed methods approach

In the UK there are well recognised socio-economic inequalities in diet and health. However, research about dietary inequalities rarely focuses on young people. Whilst some qualitative research has studied how low-income families manage food and eating, less has examined or compared young people’s food practices in more affluent families. This study takes a mixed methods approach to examine the role of family income and other factors in understanding the food and eating practices of young people (aged 11 – 16 years) in higher-income and lower-income families at home and school. To examine the relationship with young people’s diet quality, secondary analyses of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS; 2008/09 - 2013/14) was carried out. To explore the ways in which young people’s diets and food practices are shaped by different contexts, the study employed a case approach using a range of qualitative methods with young people in six higher and 30 lower-income families from one inner London borough. Quantitative analyses of the NDNS show that as household income increases young people’s diet quality also increases. Other factors also appeared to be important: family food purchasing, the young person’s sex, takeaway consumption and mothers’ employment. The qualitative analyses of cases found that lower family income generally constrained the household food budget, limiting young people’s access to quality fresh food. In contrast, higher family income meant families spent more on food and young people had greater access to more nutritious foods. Mothers’ working hours and family food practices related to parental ethnicity were also important. Whilst challenges of bringing together the different data and analyses are noted, it is argued that, in combination, they provide a fuller and more nuanced picture of the ways in which income and other factors influence the diets and food practices of young people

Spartan Daily, September 21, 1995

Volume 105, Issue 15https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/8730/thumbnail.jp