Understanding the role of information systems pilots: evaluation, legitimization and experimentation

In this paper, we seek to draw attention to the piloting stage of information systems (IS) in organizations. We argue that this stage has been neglected by IS scholars. To illustrate this argument, we draw on previous research and examine and review the pilot process across a number of studies undertaken with police forces in the United Kingdom. The studies reveal a different process of piloting than is outlined in the traditional IS and design literature. The findings indicate that results of the pilot (including laboratory and field measurements) are open to interpretation by organizational actors. We discuss the concept of legitimization of the technology being piloted and its role in the success of the pilot phase

Developing activity theory in information studies (DATIS)

Over the last two decades the use of Activity Theory has grown within the field of information studies. However, while there is a budding community, the use and development of Activity Theory in information studies remains underdeveloped and fragmented. This community building workshop provides an opportunity to: (1) introduce information scholars to the basic conceptual premises of Activity Theory focusing on the use, development and contribution of Activity Theory; (2) provide a forum to extend the development of Activity Theory; and (3) It will also provide a networking opportunity for scholars already utilizing activity theory and an opportunity to discuss the contributions iSchool scholars can make to the wider Activity Theory community. The aim of the afternoon session is to both stimulate discourse and advance the use of the theory. A 500-word position paper is due 4th of March

Obstetric outcomes for women with severe mental illness : 10 years of experience in a tertiary multidisciplinary antenatal clinic

Purpose This study aims to describe 10 years of antenatal care and outcomes for women with a severe mental illness (SMI). Methods A retrospective cohort study of 420 completed pregnancy records over the last 10 years (2007-2017). Findings were compared to the Western Australian (WA) pregnancy data. Antenatal attendance, demographic, obstetric, neonatal and psychosocial variables were analysed using t tests, chi(2)(,) ANOVA and odds ratio (OR). Results Overall, women with a SMI had high rates of comorbidity (47%), antenatal complications, and preterm birth at 12.6% compared to WA mothers (p <0.001). Those with schizophrenia were at highest risk with increased risk of threatened preterm labour OR 8.25 (95% CI 4.64-14.65), gestational diabetes OR 3.59 (95% CI 2.18-5.91) and reduced likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth OR 0.46 (95% CI 0.29-0.71). Late presentation and antenatal attendance for women with SMI were significantly associated with maternal substance use, psychiatric admission during pregnancy, and child welfare involvement. Women with schizophrenia had significantly lower attendance rates at scheduled antenatal care (ANC) appointments than those with bipolar disease (87.1% vs 94%, p = 0.003). Conclusion Obstetric outcomes are poorer for women with SMI compared to the general population. They have higher rates of medical comorbidities, lifestyle and psychosocial risks factors that are known to contribute to poor obstetric outcomes. Effective delivery of regular and appropriate ANC is essential in addressing these multifactorial risks. Targeted strategies addressing comprehensive medical management, preterm birth prevention, lifestyle modifications and increased psychosocial support could improve both short- and long-term outcomes for these women and their children.Peer reviewe

A computational model for microbial colonisation of an antifouling surface

Biofouling of marine surfaces such as ship hulls is a major industrial problem. Antifouling (AF) paints delay the onset of biofouling by releasing biocidal chemicals. We present a computational model for microbial colonization of a biocide-releasing AF surface. Our model accounts for random arrival from the ocean of microorganisms with different biocide resistance levels, biocide-dependent proliferation or killing, and a transition to a biofilm state. Our computer simulations support a picture in which biocide-resistant microorganisms initially form a loosely attached layer that eventually transitions to a growing biofilm. Once the growing biofilm is established, immigrating microorganisms are shielded from the biocide, allowing more biocide-susceptible strains to proliferate. In our model, colonization of the AF surface is highly stochastic. The waiting time before the biofilm establishes is exponentially distributed, suggesting a Poisson process. The waiting time depends exponentially on both the concentration of biocide at the surface and the rate of arrival of resistant microorganisms from the ocean. Taken together our results suggest that biofouling of AF surfaces may be intrinsically stochastic and hence unpredictable, but immigration of more biocide-resistant species, as well as the biological transition to biofilm physiology, may be important factors controlling the time to biofilm establishment

BGC-val: a model- and grid-independent Python toolkit to evaluate marine biogeochemical models

The biogeochemical evaluation toolkit, BGC-val, is a model- and grid-independent Python toolkit that has been built to evaluate marine biogeochemical models using a simple interface. Here, we present the ideas that motivated the development of the BGC-val software framework, introduce the code structure, and show some applications of the toolkit using model results from the Fifth Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). A brief outline of how to access and install the repository is presented in Appendix A, but the specific details on how to use the toolkit are kept in the code repository. The key ideas that directed the toolkit design were model and grid independence, front-loading analysis functions and regional masking, interruptibility, and ease of use. We present each of these goals, why they were important, and what we did to address them. We also present an outline of the code structure of the toolkit illustrated with example plots produced by the toolkit. After describing BGC-val, we use the toolkit to investigate the performance of the marine physical and biogeochemical quantities of the CMIP5 models and highlight some predictions about the future state of the marine ecosystem under a business-as-usual CO2 concentration scenario (RCP8.5)

Geothermal Energy Utilisation -Ireland Country Update

ABSTRACT Geothermal energy in Ireland is dominated by the exploitation of low temperature resources for space heating using heat pumps. Domestic ground source heat pumps installations for space heating and domestic hot water are the principal application despite a decline in the number of domestic installations between 2010 and 2014. The slower but steady increase in the number of heat pump units installed in Ireland between 2010 and 2014 accounts for a total of 177 MWt installed capacity (a 13 MWt increase from the WGC 2010 report). The recent difficult economic situation and the end of the dedicated financial support for domestic ground source heat pumps has resulted in fewer systems being installed during this period, with the main deployment attributed to large scale open and closed loop ground source systems with individual installed capacities of up to 2 MWt in size. Since the initial exploration drilling on the southern margin of the Dublin Basin, the deep geothermal energy sector has progressed very slowly. Despite encouraging results from 2D seismic reflection surveys at the Newcastle project and planning for the first deep geothermal electricity plant being granted in late 2010, the lack of subsidies for geothermal electricity generation and the holdup in the implementation of a legislative framework for licensing deep geothermal resource exploration and development have stalled the sector. Extensive research aimed at better understanding deep geothermal resources in different geological settings in Ireland is being undertaken. A number of initiatives to stimulate a sustainable future development of the shallow geothermal energy sector in Ireland are being implemented. These are aimed at tackling some of the barriers to the future development of the geothermal sector that have been identified. Technical guideline documentation and new interactive mapping of the shallow geothermal resources and their potential for deployment in Ireland are being developed with a view to providing standards for system installation and increasing public awareness amongst users and local authorities about shallow geothermal energy potential. The structure of a national database of ground source systems is being developed with a view to improving the reporting of shallow geothermal energy installations in Ireland. New comprehensive training initiatives and certification for industry stakeholders involved in design and installation of systems are currently being undertaken

IL-17A both initiates, via IFNγ suppression, and limits the pulmonary type 2 immune response to nematode infection

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Structural overshoot of tree growth with climate variability and the global spectrum of drought-induced forest dieback

Ongoing climate change poses significant threats to plant function and distribution. Increased temperatures and altered precipitation regimes amplify drought frequency and intensity, elevating plant stress and mortality. Large-scale forest mortality events will have far-reaching impacts on carbon and hydrological cycling, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. However, biogeographical theory and global vegetation models poorly represent recent forest die-off patterns. Furthermore, since trees are sessile and long-lived, their responses to climate extremes are substantially dependent on historical factors. We show that periods of favourable climatic and management conditions that facilitate abundant tree growth can lead to structural overshoot of above-ground tree biomass due to a subsequent temporal mismatch between water demand and availability. When environmental favourability declines, increases in water and temperature stress that are protracted, rapid, or both, drive a gradient of tree structural responses that can modify forest self-thinning relationships. Responses ranging from premature leaf senescence and partial canopy dieback to whole-tree mortality reduce canopy leaf area during the stress period, and for a lagged recovery window thereafter. Such temporal mismatches of water requirements from availability can occur at local to regional scales throughout a species geographical range. Since climate change projections predict large future fluctuations in both wet and dry conditions, we expect forests to become increasingly structurally mismatched to water availability and thus over-built during more stressful episodes. By accounting for the historical context of biomass development, our approach can explain previously problematic aspects of large-scale forest mortality, such as why it can occur throughout the range of a species and yet still be locally highly variable, and why some events seem readily attributable to an ongoing drought while others do not. This refined understanding can facilitate better projections of structural overshoot responses, enabling improved prediction of changes to forest distribution and function from regional to global scales

Geothermal Development in Malawi -a Country Update

ABSTRACT Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa, has major electricity generating difficulties, due to limited conventional fossil fuel resources and an over reliance on one form of electricity generation, viz. hydroelectricity, with very low generation capacity. Due to its location within the East African Rift System (EARS), one of the hottest geothermal zones in the world, it is endowed with significant potential geothermal energy resources. In recent decades, there has been major global growth in geothermal energy utilization, both in direct utilization applications and in electricity generation. However, despite its favourable location, Malawi has been slow in harnessing its potentially significant geothermal resources. Geological investigations of the Malawi sector of the EARS indicates that the Malawi Rift is controlled by N-S rift parallel normal faults, that also control upwards migration of the geothermal waters feeding hot springs, which occur along the length of the rift. The hot springs with the most potential for electricity generation occurs mainly in the northern half of the country and are thought to be sourced from porous sedimentary reservoirs at depth, either deeply buried young Neogene rift floor deposits or older Karoo sandstones, occurring in fault-bound basins within the Precambrian framework of the country. A recent investigation to catalogue all of the hot springs in Malawi has led to the identification of 15 previously undocumented springs including the third hottest spring recorded in the investigation. This exercise has resulted in the delineation of 6 or 7 groups of springs with appropriate temperatures and geological settings that suggest a potential for electricity generation. These merit further detailed surface geological, geophysical and geochemical exploration and monitoring, which should be undertaken, prior to any decisions on drilling. Other lower temperature hot springs in the country have the potential for utilisation for various direct applications, which could bring major benefits to local communities. Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) is positive to support Malawi in coming up with proper legal frameworks in geothermal development while the World Bank, under the Energy Sector Support Programme (ESSP), is supporting in the development of Terms of Reference for pre-feasibility studies in geothermal development. Some reputable international institutions, through their fact finding missions, have also made advances to assist in the exercise. Major challenges hindering geothermal development in Malawi have been the absence of both technical and financial capacity, and the lack of government leadership in spearheading an assessment of the geothermal resources of the country. This has resulted in a spirit of individualism, coupled with an absence of collaborative cooperation between government agencies, research organisations and institutes of higher learning, which has led to a failure to share information, consequent duplication of tasks and unnecessary waste of resources. The Government of Malawi claims to have instituted a geothermal working group, consisting of all the stakeholders from government, industry, research organisations and teaching institutions which seems to be non-existent due to its non-functionality. Malawi also needs to develop its technical capacity through specialized geothermal training programmes such as the United Nations University -Geothermal Training Program (UNU-GTP) in Iceland and the Postgraduate Certificate in Geothermal Energy Technology (PGCertGeothermTech) at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. With support from UNU -GTP and Government of Kenya, eleven Malawians have undergone a three week course in surface exploration of geothermal resources and one underwent a six month training fellowship to study geothermal and geological exploration while another one underwent a six month training fellowship to study geothermal utilization

IL-17A both initiates, via IFNγ suppression, and limits the pulmonary type-2 immune response to nematode infection

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis is a well-defined model of type-2 immunity but the early lung-migrating phase is dominated by innate IL-17A production. In this study, we confirm previous observations that Il17a-KO mice infected with N. brasiliensis exhibit an impaired type-2 immune response. Transcriptional profiling of the lung on day 2 of N. brasiliensis infection revealed an increased Ifng signature in Il17a-KO mice confirmed by enhanced IFNγ protein production in lung lymphocyte populations. Depletion of early IFNγ rescued type-2 immune responses in the Il17a-KO mice demonstrating that IL-17A-mediated suppression of IFNγ promotes type-2 immunity. Notably, later in infection, once the type-2 response was established, IL-17A limited the magnitude of the type-2 response. IL-17A regulation of type-2 immunity was lung-specific and infection with Trichuris muris revealed that IL-17A promotes a type-2 immune response in the lung even when infection is restricted to the intestine. Together our data reveal IL-17A as a major regulator of pulmonary type-2 immunity such that IL-17A supports early development of a protective type-2 response by suppression of IFNγ but subsequently limits excessive type-2 responses. A failure of this feedback loop may contribute to conditions such as severe asthma, characterised by combined elevation of IL-17 and type-2 cytokines