Search and Discovery Tools for Astronomical On-line Resources and Services

A growing number of astronomical resources and data or information services are made available through the Internet. However valuable information is frequently hidden in a deluge of non-pertinent or non up-to-date documents. At a first level, compilations of astronomical resources provide help for selecting relevant sites. Combining yellow-page services and meta-databases of active pointers may be an efficient solution to the data retrieval problem. Responses generated by submission of queries to a set of heterogeneous resources are difficult to merge or cross-match, because different data providers generally use different data formats: new endeavors are under way to tackle this problem. We review the technical challenges involved in trying to provide general search and discovery tools, and to integrate them through upper level interfaces.Comment: 7 pages, 2 Postscript figures; to be published in A&A

Re-phrasing turf-human relations: opening space to imagine more polite practices with turfgrasses

2021 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.This thesis aims to induce wonder and cooperation towards enacting turfgrass formations and discourses in more reciprocal ways. I amplify Kenneth Burke's take on rhetoric as the art of inducing cooperation, but extend this definition to everyday multispecies relations. In the midst of increasingly unpredictable and unstable climatic conditions, it's imperative to collaborate creatively across disciplines, but also with the biotic relations we co-create worlds with. As a scholar in rhetoric and composition, I perform a discursive analysis on an aspect or slice of the myriad discourses enabling and constraining turfgrass practices. I use rhetorical and social studies methods to analyze thirteen scientific articles on turf from the International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. My qualitative research is undergirded by interdisciplinary theories that emphasize material relations and historical conditions. My findings let me theorize that turf is a complex assemblage, currently governed and enacted according to anthropocentric aesthetic principles of aboveground turf canopy quality, uniformity and performance. From this grounded theory, I hope to open space towards cultivating other ways of knowing and attending to turfgrass assemblages that might sustain diverse relations and lifeways. Our interconnected futures depend on a shared ability to respond and become response-able with multispecies others

An investigation into the use of existing public-private partnerships models in the Zambian water and sanitation sector

A PPP concept has become one of the preferred strategic option used world over in the delivery of public services though still considered as a developing concept. In this study, it has been used as a tool for value addition and enhancement of service delivery as opposed to it being a financing strategy. The aim of the research was “to investigate into the use of existing PPP Models in the Zambian Water and Sanitation Sector (WSS) for increased effectiveness.” A quantitative research methodology was used to investigate the extent to which existing PPP Models could increase effectiveness through dimensions of cost, time and quality. Descriptive statistics and content analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Results indicate that all the existing PPP Models can be used to increase effectiveness of dimensions of cost, time and quality though at different levels of impact based on mean values. A Conceptual Beta Model has been developed based on the adopted existing PPP Models, the independent factors of cost, time and quality and peripheral aspects that arose from the interview survey. The sample was drawn from existing water utility companies, councils and other related stakeholders in Zambia. The data collection included literature review, questionnaires and follow up semi-structured interviews with PPP experts in Zambia. A Conceptual Alpha Model was first developed and subjected to further research prior to developing a Conceptual Beta Model. The Conceptual Beta Model aims to provide a basis for existing PPP Model increased effectiveness in the Water and Sanitation Sector and has been proposed for operationalization. The study provides a greater understanding of how existing PPP Models can be used to increase effectiveness through dimensions of cost, time and quality thereby providing tangible benefits in as far as the provision of water and sanitation services in Zambia is concerned

Interoperability tools for the Virtual Observatory

Interoperability is one of the key issues in the current efforts to build the Virtual Observatory. We present here some of the tools which already contribute to the efficient exchange of information between archives, databases, and journals.Comment: To appear in Proc. SPIE Conf. vol. 4477, Astronomical Data Analysis, San Diego, August 200

Limites das infraestruturas coletivas para apoio a valorização dos produtos da agricultura familiar no território Aguas Emendadas

O trabalho examina a contribuição do Programa de Desenvolvimento Territorial do MDA-SDT para apoio a valorização econômica dos produtos da agricultura familiar no território Aguas Emendadas que reúne 11 municípios dos estados de Goiás e Minas Gerais e o Distrito Federal (11 regiões administrativas). Uma das prioridades das respostas tem sido o apoio à transformação e a comercialização dos produtos da agricultura familiar. De fato a grande maioria dos projetos financiados pelo Programa de Desenvolvimento Sustentável dos Territórios Rurais (PDSTR) no Território Aguas Emendadas, é destinada ao apoio à comercialização. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a capacidade de resposta desses projetos as metas iniciais de apoio à valorização econômica e comercialização da produção dos agricultores familiares. A metodologia apoia-se numa pesquisa sobre a elaboração e implementação de sete projetos do TAE, conduzida a partir do cruzamento entre analise de documentos e arquivos e entrevistas de diversos atores de cada um desses projetos (agricultores beneficiados, técnicos ou agentes públicos envolvidos nessas ações). Os resultados mostram um aproveitamento bastante limitado desses projetos, que consistem essencialmente em infraestruturas e equipamentos coletivos. (Résumé d'auteur

Lack of Correlation Between Natural Pelvic Tilt Angle with Hip Range of Motion, and Hip Muscle Torque Ratio

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(1): 594-605, 2021. Excessive anterior and posterior pelvic tilts (PT) angles are associated with overuse injuries of the lower limbs and of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. There is a lack of evidence that correlates anterior and posterior PT angles with limited hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER), and hip muscles torque ratios. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between averaged anterior/posterior PT angle in standing position and hip IR and ER range of motion (ROM), hip adductors and abductors (Add/Abd) torque ratio, and hip flexors and extensors (Flexor/Extensor) torque ratio. Twenty-six healthy participants participated in this study, fifteen females (22.0 ± 2.8 yrs, 163.5 ± 7.5 cm, 65.9 ± 10.4 kg) and eleven males (22.0 ± 2.2 yrs, 178.5 ± 4.5 cm, 78.4 ± 8.7 kg). Hip muscle torques were collected with an isokinetic dynamometer, five trials at 30 degrees per second (deg· s-1) and at 60 deg· s-1. The measurement of PT in standing natural position and hip IR and ER ROM in functional weight-bearing lunge position were recorded, using a 3D Motion Analysis System. There were no significant correlations between PT angle and hip IR and ER (p ≥ 0.05), no significant correlations between PT angle and hip Add/Abd torque ratio (p \u3e 0.05), and no significant correlations between PT angle and hip Flexor/Extensor torque ratio (p \u3e 0.05). The measurement of PT angle in standing natural position was not associated with hip IR and ER ROM and hip Add/Abd and Flexor/Extensor torque ratios, in healthy population

The ALADIN Interactive Sky Atlas

The Aladin interactive sky atlas, developed at CDS, is a service providing simultaneous access to digitized images of the sky, astronomical catalogues, and databases. The driving motivation is to facilitate direct, visual comparison of observational data at any wavelength with images of the optical sky, and with reference catalogues. The set of available sky images consists of the STScI Digitized Sky Surveys, completed with high resolution images of crowded regions scanned at the MAMA facility in Paris. A Java WWW interface to the system is available at: http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/Comment: 8 pages, 3 Postscript figures; to be published in A&