Why project management is critical to achieving the SDGs and how this can be achieved

This paper seeks to understand how projects can make an increased impact on the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDSs). The paper proposes Creating Shared Value as a synergistic method of achieving economic business success on projects, whilst also delivering wider benefits to society and the environment. The use of this ‘Triple Bottom Line’ can link SDGs to normative project success criteria. The paper provides a comparative study of literature with synthesis of findings and development of a conceptual model to guide future research

Early carboniferous brachiopod faunas from the Baoshan block, west Yunnan, southwest China

38 brachiopod species in 27 genera and subgenera are described from the Yudong Formation in the Shidian-Baoshan area, west Yunnan, southwest China. New taxa include two new subgenera: Unispirifer (Septimispirifer) and Brachythyrina (Longathyrina), and seven new species: Eomarginifera yunnanensis, Marginatia cylindrica, Unispirifer (Unispirifer) xiangshanensis, Unispirifer (Septimispirifer) wafangjieensis, Brachythyrina (Brachythyrina) transversa, Brachythyrina (Longathyrina) baoshanensis, and Girtyella wafangjieensis. Based on the described material and constraints from associated coral and conodont faunas, the age of the brachiopod fauna from the Yudon Formation is considered late Tournaisian (Early Carboniferous), with a possibility extending into earlyViseacutean.<br /

Extended Query Refinement for Content-Based Access to Large Medical Image Databases

The differentiating characteristics of text versus images and their impact on large medical image databases intended to allow content-based indexing and retrieval have recently been explored. For the design of powerful user interfaces, we propose a grouping of the various mechanisms into four classes: (i) output modules, (ii) parameter modules, (iii) transaction modules, and (iv) process modules, all of which being controlled by a detailed query logging. Relevance feedback by the physician loops the input, search, and output sequence and is commonly accepted to be most effective for query refinement. Our modular concept provides two additional loops of interaction. Based on the detailed logging of user interaction, an inner loop allows to step back to any previous answer that was given by the system during the interactive session. Boolean linkage of successive queries is provided by an outer loop. Nonetheless, the entire data flow is still controlled within a single web page by means of simple decision rules that are implemented only using push buttons, which can be handled most easily. Our approach is exemplified by means of an application for content-based access to medical images of similar modality, orientation, and body region using global features that model gray scale, texture, structure and global shape characteristics. The three nested loops for interaction provide a maximum of flexibility within a minimum of complexity. The resulting extended query refinement has a significant impact for content-based image retrieval in medical applications (IRMA)

Abstract IRMA – Content-Based Image Retrieval in Medical Applications

The impact of content-based access to medical images is frequently reported but existing systems are designed for only a particular modality or context of diagnosis. Contrarily, our concept of image retrieval in medical applications (IRMA) aims at a general structure for semantic content analysis that is suitable for numerous applications in case-based reasoning or evidence-based medicine. Within IRMA, stepwise processing results in six layers of information modeling (raw data layer, registered data layer, feature layer, scheme layer, object layer, knowledge layer) incorporating medical expert knowledge. At the scheme layer, medical images are represented by a hierarchical structure of ellipses (blobs) describing image regions. Hence, image retrieval transforms to graph matching. The multilayer processing is implemented using a distributed system designed with only three core elements. The central database holds program sources, processing schemes, images, features, and blob trees; the scheduler balances distributed computing by addressing daemons running on all connected workstations; and the web server provides graphical user interfaces for data entry and retrieval

Silicified Mississippian Brachiopods from Muhua, Southern China: Rhynchonellides, Athyridides, Spiriferides, Spiriferinides, and Terebratulides

The second part of the monograph of the silicified brachiopod fauna from the Muhua Formation concludes with the descriptions of 36 species belonging to 32 genera and 22 families. Eighteen species are reported in open nomenclature. Two new rhynchonellide species are described: Coledium bruntoni sp. nov. and Pleuropugnoides calcaris sp. nov. The described brachiopod fauna is dominated by spiriferides (16 species), rhynchonellides (9 species), and athyridides (7 species), while spiriferinides and terebratulides are represented by 1 and 3 species, respectively. The brachiopod fauna from the Muhua Formation is characterised by remarkably high species diversity. Together with those species described in the first part of the monograph the fauna includes 69 species. The study of the brachiopod faunal dynamics during the late Famennian-late Tournaisian in southern China reveals that after a decline in the generic diversity at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary (D C boundary event), the Early Tournaisian brachiopod fauna shows slight impoverishment. In the middle Tournaisian the brachiopod fauna from South China shows an explosive increase in diversity on generic level which is well exemplified by the material from Muhua. The brachiopod fauna from the Muhua Formation represents a fully recovered high diversity fauna consisting of forms representing a wide spectrum of attachment strategies as well as highly specialised forms (e.g., micromorphs) adapted to special kinds of ecological niches. Numerous evidence of the biotic interaction between brachiopods and other co-occurring fauna have been revealed in the material from Muhua. These are drill holes of predatory origin, borings made on dead shells as post-mortem infestation, shell damages and malformations, and parasitic infestations.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000299303900012&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701PaleontologySCI(E)6ARTICLE4793-8425