Developing a goal-oriented SDI assessment approach using GIDEON - the Dutch SDI implementation strategy - as a case study

In 2008, the Dutch government approved the GIDEON document as a policy aiming at the implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in the Netherlands. The execution of GIDEON should take place by pursuing seven implementation strategies which lead to the achievement of the GIDEON goals. GIDEON also expresses the need to monitor the progress of implementing its strategies and realization of its goals. Currently, the work has been started on monitoring the GIDEON implementation strategies. However, there is still a lack of knowledge and methods to monitor GIDEON goals realization. The challenge is to come up with an approach to assess to what extent these goals are achieved. As a response to the challenge of assessing the GIDEON goals, this paper explores the possibility of using the Multi-view SDI assessment framework (Grus et al., 2007). This paper presents and discusses the method that applies the Multi-view SDI assessment framework, its indicators and measurement methods to create a GIDEON assessment approach. The method of creating a GIDEON assessment approach consists of several procedural steps: formulating specific GIDEON objectives, organizing a one-day workshop involving focus group of specific stakeholders responsible for creation and execution of NSDI, asking the workshop participants to select from a long list those indicators that best measure the achievement of each GIDEON goals. The key step of GIDEON approach is a one-day workshop. The workshop participants represented all organizations that cooperated and/or created GIDEON. The workshop consisted of two parts: first part explained the context of a challenge of assessing GIDEON, second part included participants activity to select and come to the consensus on the list of indicators that would best measure GIDEON goals realization. Additionally, the participants were asked to evaluate and express feedback on the usefulness of the method of creating GIDEON assessment approach. The results show that several indicators that relate to specific SDI goals could be selected by a significant number of workshop participants. The indicators that have been selected are not the final ones yet, but provide a guideline and form a base of what has to be measured when assessing GIDEON goals. Involving the representatives of all parties committed to GIDEON into the process of GIDEON assessment approach creation will strengthen its robustness and acceptance. The results of the feedback form filled by each participant show that the presented method is useful or very useful to create GIDEON assessment approach. Additionally, some of the participants provided already their own indicators which are very specific for Dutch SDI monitoring.The method presented in this research, assuming that SDI goals are defined and the organizations that participate in SDI creation are known, can be applied in any other country to develop country-specific and practical SDI assessment approach

«El castillo de Coca y su ornamentación».

Sin resume

Gene Losses during Human Origins

Pseudogenization is a widespread phenomenon in genome evolution, and it has been proposed to serve as an engine of evolutionary change, especially during human origins (the “less-is-more” hypothesis). However, there has been no comprehensive analysis of human-specific pseudogenes. Furthermore, it is unclear whether pseudogenization itself can be selectively favored and thus play an active role in human evolution. Here we conduct a comparative genomic analysis and a literature survey to identify 80 nonprocessed pseudogenes that were inactivated in the human lineage after its separation from the chimpanzee lineage. Many functions are involved among these genes, with chemoreception and immune response being outstandingly overrepresented, suggesting potential species-specific features in these aspects of human physiology. To explore the possibility of adaptive pseudogenization, we focus on CASPASE12, a cysteinyl aspartate proteinase participating in inflammatory and innate immune response to endotoxins. We provide population genetic evidence that the nearly complete fixation of a null allele at CASPASE12 has been driven by positive selection, probably because the null allele confers protection from severe sepsis. We estimate that the selective advantage of the null allele is about 0.9% and the pseudogenization started shortly before the out-of-Africa migration of modern humans. Interestingly, two other genes related to sepsis were also pseudogenized in humans, possibly by selection. These adaptive gene losses might have occurred because of changes in our environment or genetic background that altered the threat from or response to sepsis. The identification and analysis of human-specific pseudogenes open the door for understanding the roles of gene losses in human origins, and the demonstration that gene loss itself can be adaptive supports and extends the “less-is-more” hypothesis

The effects of smoling on some aspects of cognitive performance

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je istražiti hoće li konzumacija jedne cigarete poboljšati kognitivnu izvedbu u tri kognitivne domene–pažnji, radnom pamćenju i obradi vidno–prostornih podataka, tj. mentalnim rotacijama. Istraživanje je provedeno na 22 povremena pušača starosti od 19–29 godina koji su izjavili da puše manje od jedne cigarete dnevno. Za mjerenje izvedbe na zadatku pažnje, radnog pamćenja i mentalnih rotacija korišten je računalni program E–prime 2.0 koji je mjerio sudionikovo vrijeme reakcije i točnost na danom zadatku. Sudionik je iste zadatke rješavao četiri puta–prije i poslije tretmana u kontrolnom uvjetu i prije i poslije tretmana u eksperimentalnom uvjetu. U kontrolnom uvjetu tretman se sastojao od čaše vode koju su sudionici morali popiti, a u eksperimentalnom uvjetu tretman je bila cigareta koja je sadržavala 0.5 mg nikotina i 6 mg katrana i koju su sudionici morali popušiti. Pauza između kontrolnog i eksperimentalnog uvjeta bila je dva dana. Redoslijed uvjeta bio je rotiran. Nije utvrđen značajan utjecaj pušenja na vrijeme reakcije i točnost na zadacima pažnje, radnog pamćenja i mentalnih rotacija.The aim of this study was to examine if the smoking of one cigarette will improve cognitive performance in three cognitive domains–attention, working memory and visuospatial processing (which was measured using a mental rotation task). The study was conducted with 22 recreational smokers aged 19–29 who reported smoking less than 1 cigarette a day. Performance in attention, working memory and mental rotation tasks was assessed using a computer program E-prime 2.0. Reaction time rates and accuracy on given tasks were measured. Participants performed each task four times–before and after treatment in control condition and before and after treatment in experimental condition. In control condition the treatment consisted of a glass of water which participants had to drink, while in the experimental condition treatment was to smoke one cigarette containing 0.5 mg of nicotine and 6 mg of tar. Interval between control and experimental condition was two days. The order of conditions was counterbalanced. There were no significant effects of cigarette smoking on reaction time rates or accuracy on attention, working memory and mental rotation tasks

A characterization of Volunteered Geographic Information

This paper characterizes the Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) phenomenon and explores comprehensively its relation with SDI. The SDI component view is used as common framework for describing the main characteristics of VGI and as framework for exploring VGI and SDI relation. Openstreetmap, Wikiloc, 360.org, Wikimapia and Eye on earth are evaluated to indentify general characteristics of VGI initiatives and discuss differences and similarities between VGI and SDI. Despite differences between VGI and SDI similarities can be identified. Characteristics of all SDI components have been identified in the VGI case studies. Despite differences between VGI and SDI similarities can be identified. Characteristics of all SDI components have been identified in the VGI case studies

EFFECT OF STERILIZATION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COLLAGEN-BASED COMPOSITE TUBES

In this study, composite tubes were manufactured from biological collagenous matrix and reinforcing polyester mesh. The effect of sterilization on mechanical properties of this structure was evaluated using inflation-extension tests. Samples were exposed to two types of sterilization (ethylene oxide and gamma irradiation). The control (non-sterilized) samples were also tested. The closed thick walled tube model was used in order to compute stresses within sterilized and control specimens. It was found that the process of sterilization (especially irradiation) dramatically affects the final mechanical properties of the material. These findings should be taken into account when such collagenous material is assumed to be used in tissue engineering

The effects of smoling on some aspects of cognitive performance

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je istražiti hoće li konzumacija jedne cigarete poboljšati kognitivnu izvedbu u tri kognitivne domene–pažnji, radnom pamćenju i obradi vidno–prostornih podataka, tj. mentalnim rotacijama. Istraživanje je provedeno na 22 povremena pušača starosti od 19–29 godina koji su izjavili da puše manje od jedne cigarete dnevno. Za mjerenje izvedbe na zadatku pažnje, radnog pamćenja i mentalnih rotacija korišten je računalni program E–prime 2.0 koji je mjerio sudionikovo vrijeme reakcije i točnost na danom zadatku. Sudionik je iste zadatke rješavao četiri puta–prije i poslije tretmana u kontrolnom uvjetu i prije i poslije tretmana u eksperimentalnom uvjetu. U kontrolnom uvjetu tretman se sastojao od čaše vode koju su sudionici morali popiti, a u eksperimentalnom uvjetu tretman je bila cigareta koja je sadržavala 0.5 mg nikotina i 6 mg katrana i koju su sudionici morali popušiti. Pauza između kontrolnog i eksperimentalnog uvjeta bila je dva dana. Redoslijed uvjeta bio je rotiran. Nije utvrđen značajan utjecaj pušenja na vrijeme reakcije i točnost na zadacima pažnje, radnog pamćenja i mentalnih rotacija.The aim of this study was to examine if the smoking of one cigarette will improve cognitive performance in three cognitive domains–attention, working memory and visuospatial processing (which was measured using a mental rotation task). The study was conducted with 22 recreational smokers aged 19–29 who reported smoking less than 1 cigarette a day. Performance in attention, working memory and mental rotation tasks was assessed using a computer program E-prime 2.0. Reaction time rates and accuracy on given tasks were measured. Participants performed each task four times–before and after treatment in control condition and before and after treatment in experimental condition. In control condition the treatment consisted of a glass of water which participants had to drink, while in the experimental condition treatment was to smoke one cigarette containing 0.5 mg of nicotine and 6 mg of tar. Interval between control and experimental condition was two days. The order of conditions was counterbalanced. There were no significant effects of cigarette smoking on reaction time rates or accuracy on attention, working memory and mental rotation tasks

The Microevolution of V1r Vomeronasal Receptor Genes in Mice

Vomeronasal sensitivity is important for detecting intraspecific pheromonal cues as well as environmental odorants and is involved in mating, social interaction, and other daily activities of many vertebrates. Two large families of seven-transmembrane G-protein–coupled receptors, V1rs and V2rs, bind to various ligands to initiate vomeronasal signal transduction. Although the macroevolution of V1r and V2r genes has been well characterized throughout vertebrates, especially mammals, little is known about their microevolutionary patterns, which hampers a clear understanding of the evolutionary forces behind the rapid evolutionary turnover of V1r and V2r genes and the great diversity in receptor repertoire across species. Furthermore, the role of divergent vomeronasal perception in enhancing premating isolation and maintaining species identity has not been evaluated. Here we sequenced 44 V1r genes and 25 presumably neutral noncoding regions in 14 wild-caught mice belonging to Mus musculus and M. domesticus, two closely related species with strong yet incomplete reproductive isolation. We found that nucleotide changes in V1rs are generally under weak purifying selection and that only ∼5% of V1rs may have been subject to positive selection that promotes nonsynonymous substitutions. Consistent with the low functional constraints on V1rs, 18 of the 44 V1rs have null alleles segregating in one or both species. Together, our results demonstrate that, despite occasional actions of positive selection, the evolution of V1rs is in a large part shaped by purifying selection and random drift. These findings have broad implications for understanding the driving forces of rapid gene turnovers that are often observed in the evolution of large gene families