Ontology mapping: a logic-based approach with applications in selected domains

In advent of the Semantic Web and recent standardization efforts, Ontology has quickly become a popular and core semantic technology. Ontology is seen as a solution provider to knowledge based systems. It facilitates tasks such as knowledge sharing, reuse and intelligent processing by computer agents. A key problem addressed by Ontology is the semantic interoperability problem. Interoperability in general is a common problem in different domain applications and semantic interoperability is the hardest and an ongoing research problem. It is required for systems to exchange knowledge and having the meaning of the knowledge accurately and automatically interpreted by the receiving systems. The innovation is to allow knowledge to be consumed and used accurately in a way that is not foreseen by the original creator. While Ontology promotes semantic interoperability across systems by unifying their knowledge bases through consensual understanding, common engineering and processing practices, it does not solve the semantic interoperability problem at the global level. As individuals are increasingly empowered with tools, ontologies will eventually be created more easily and rapidly at a near individual scale. Global semantic interoperability between heterogeneous ontologies created by small groups of individuals will then be required. Ontology mapping is a mechanism for providing semantic bridges between ontologies. While ontology mapping promotes semantic interoperability across ontologies, it is seen as the solution provider to the global semantic interoperability problem. However, there is no single ontology mapping solution that caters for all problem scenarios. Different applications would require different mapping techniques. In this thesis, we analyze the relations between ontology, semantic interoperability and ontology mapping, and promote an ontology-based semantic interoperability solution. We propose a novel ontology mapping approach namely, OntoMogic. It is based on first order logic and model theory. OntoMogic supports approximate mapping and produces structures (approximate entity correspondence) that represent alignment results between concepts. OntoMogic has been implemented as a coherent system and is applied in different application scenarios. We present case studies in the network configuration, security intrusion detection and IT governance & compliance management domain. The full process of ontology engineering to mapping has been demonstrated to promote ontology-based semantic interoperability

Service-learning model at Lingnan University : development strategies and outcome assessment

Background: The Service-Learning and Research Scheme (SLRS) is the showcase of Lingnan’s Service-Learning model, which is the manifestation of Lingnan University’s Liberal Arts education and mission “Education for Service”. The scheme was a pilot project, from 2004 to 2005, which led to the development of a Universitywide protocol for Service-Learning at Lingnan University. Aims: This paper highlights the processes and the strategies of incorporating Service-Learning into courses, based on the experiences in Lingnan University. Implementation and evaluation models are suggested to provide a framework for other interested parties to apply Service-Learning in their learning and teaching. Results: This is a descriptive analysis, associating outcome measurement (three outcomes: “ABC” quality– Adaptability, Brainpower and Creativity) through the process of Service-Learning. Evaluation contents and guidelines for doing Service-Learning are developed based on the past experience in doing Service-Learning at Lingnan. The research element procedures offer instructors with guidance as well as a well-defined protocol and evaluation for Service-Learning programs in Lingnan. Conclusion: In consolidating the above experience and in detailing the validity of the Lingnan Model of Service-Learning, a manual is produced documenting our efforts. This is the first manual which can be the protocol of applying Service-Learning in higher education for students’ whole-person development

A report on an exploratory study on visual conditions of older people living in public housing

HOPE worldwide (HWW) has been a chartered charity organization in Hong Kong since 1993, with its focus on organizing service programmes in China and Hong Kong. Volunteers for Seniors Day (formerly Hope for Seniors Day) is one of the many programmes initiated by HWW to meet the urgent needs of the growing ageing population in Hong Kong. Starting in 1996, volunteers from corporations and social organizations have been recruited for Volunteers for Seniors Days on an annual basis. Since 2000, the programme has been jointly organized with the Housing Authority to provide cleaning and painting services to single elderly tenants living in public housing estates. It also helps to build relationships between the volunteers and the elderly people in the community. Over the past nine years, the programme has served over 5,300 single elderly people and mobilized more than 20,000 volunteers to participate. In the survey conducted by HWW during Volunteers for Seniors Day 2004, we found that there were up to 40.1% and 49.6% of the single elderly living in public housing estates suffering from various kinds of eye diseases and poor eyesight respectively. The prevalence of eye diseases and poor eyesight would result in a high percentage of falls and thereby affect their functional activities of daily living (ADL). In fact, most of the eye diseases are curable with early detection and treatment, and elderly people with poor eyesight may need minor home adaptation e.g. handrails or night lights to prevent home accidents. According to a study by the Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology of Chinese University, exercise is important to the elderly and can strengthen their low-limb and upper-limb muscles, which in turn prevents falls at home or on the street. Due to the above findings, HWW cooperated with Housing Authority to initiate a pilot programme to help identify the eye diseases as well as provide public health education to the elderly in 30 public estates in the second half of 2004. Health care professionals provided training to 150 volunteers on eye care knowledge and simple eye screening tests that could be carried out in road shows in shopping arcades of public housing estates. In addition, experienced ophthalmologists or optometrists were present to answer elderly participants’ inquiries on eye health and delivered health information during the kick-off ceremony and road shows in the shopping arcades. The programme had the following objectives: To enhance the awareness of eye health and eye diseases of the elderly through 30 public eye screenings at public housing arcades; To carry out a survey on the visual conditions of elderly living in public housing; and To foster partnership between government, NGO and business sectors in promoting the health of the elderly in the community

Service-learning and research scheme : the Lingnan model

This Manual is a product of Lingnan University’s pilot SLRS. It aims to provide a framework for interested parties to organize or refine a range of Service-Learning Programs and to develop a comprehensive set of validating instruments that can be used to assess the effectiveness of the SLRS from the varying perspectives of students, course instructors, social service agency supervisors and program coordinators. The specific objectives of this Manual are: (i) To provide useful reference information on Service-Learning to interested parties at Lingnan University and other tertiary institutions. (ii) To provide definitions of the structures, contents and processes of the Lingnan model of Service-Learning (SLRS) and guidance to support implementation. (iii) To provide a set of validation instruments, as developed by Lingnan, for evaluating the effectiveness of the SLRS from the perspective of participants. (iv) To share the summary results of the evaluation of Lingnan’s SLRS pilot. This is the first manual of its kind for running a Service-Learning scheme with the unique characteristics of liberal arts education in Hong Kong.https://commons.ln.edu.hk/osl_book/1004/thumbnail.jp

Impact de la salinité sur la diversité floristique dans la vallée de Bakhala (Fatick, Sénégal)

La salinité fait peser de graves menaces sur l’équilibre des écosystèmes de toutes les zones agroécologiques du Sénégal, principalement dans le bassin arachidier et en Casamance. La déposition de sel dans le sol est un processus naturel, bien que les activités anthropiques et la sécheresse aient accéléré le processus de salinisation des terres. Ainsi, la restauration des terres est devenue un défi majeur pour le bien-être des populations et la durabilité de leurs activités socio-économiques. C’est dans cette optique que cette étude a été menée pour évaluer l’effet des ouvrages de réhabilitation des terres salées sur les paramètres physico-chimiques du sol et la structure de la flore et de la végétation dans la vallée de Bakhala. Ainsi, pour se faire, des échantillons composites de sol ont été prélevés dans la vallée de Bakhala suivant des transects puis acheminés au laboratoire Sols-Eaux-Plantes du CNRA/ISRA de Bambey où ils ont subi une analyse des paramètres physico-chimiques et l’inventaire de la flore et de la végétation selon la méthode de Braun-Blanquet a été réalisé. Les résultats révèlent que les sols de la vallée de Bakhala sont extrêmement acides (pH = 3,88 à 4,84) avec des niveaux de salinité faible en amont de digue 1 (150 à 328,7 μS/cm) et très élevé au niveau des autres transects (766 à 6486 μS/cm). Des textures sableuses, limono-sablo-argileuses et limono-sableuses ont été déterminées. L’étude de flore a permis de recenser 66 espèces appartenant à 55 genres et 20 familles avec une dominance des dicotylédones (71,21%). Les Fabaceae et les Poaceae regroupent près de la moitié des espèces de cette flore avec une nette dominance des thérophytes. Cette étude montre un effet répressif de la salinité sur la diversité floristique. Ainsi une dissemblance de la diversité floristique en fonction du gradient de salinité est notée. Les espèces telles que Blumea aurita et Enteropogon prieurii sont communes à tous les transects alors que l’espèce Cyperus longus a été uniquement rencontrée en aval de la digue intermédiaire. Ainsi cette étude reflète une distribution de la diversité floristique en fonction du gradient de salinité

Role of Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators in Reducing Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are neurodegenerative disorders that affect millions of individuals worldwide. As incidence of these conditions increases with age, there will undoubtedly be an increased prevalence of cases in the near future. Neuroinflammation is a hallmark in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and prevention or resolution of chronic neuroinflammation may represent a novel approach to treatment. The present review highlights the potential of the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)- derived mediators (Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators—SPM) in neurodegenerative disorders. PUFA-derived SPM are biosynthesized in response to chemicals produced from acute inflammatory responses. Preclinical studies from both AD and PD models suggest a dysregulation of SPM and their receptors in neurological disorders. Decreased SPM may be due to inadequate substrate, an imbalance between SPM and proinflammatory mediators or a disruption in SPM synthesis. SPMs hold great promise for neuroprotection in AD by altering expression of pro-inflammatory genes, modulating macrophage function, serving as a biomarker for AD status, and promoting resolution of neuroinflammation. In PD, data suggest SPM are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, inhibit microglial activation and decrease induced markers of inflammation, possibly as a result of their ability to downregulate NFκB signaling pathways. Several in vivo and in vitro studies suggest a benefit from administration of SPMs in both neurodegenerative disorders. However, extrapolation of these outcomes to humans is difficult as no models are able to replicate all features of AD or PD. Minimal data evaluating these PUFAderived metabolites in humans with neurodegenerative disorders are available and a gap in knowledge exists regarding behavior of SPM and their receptors in patients with these conditions. There is also large gap in our knowledge regarding which lipid mediator would be most effective in which model of AD or PD and how dietary intake or supplementation can impact SPM levels. Future direction should include focused, translational efforts to investigate SPM as an add-on (in addition to standard treatment) or as standalone agents in patients with neurodegenerative disorders