Teaching geography with literary mapping: A didactic experiment

The relationship between maps and literature has long been debated from both narrative and geographical perspectives. At the core of this contribution are so-called reader generated mappings, mapping practices performed after the reading of a literary text. The aim of this article is to suggest possible didactic directions for teaching geography through geo-visualisations based on the reading of literary texts. In particular, this research draws from the results of a literary mapping workshop attended by students during an introductory human geography course at the University of Padua (Italy). Focusing on one of the literary mappings performed by the students, namely the mapping of a short story written by the Italian writer Mario Rigoni Stern, a deductive process is used to understand the possible future potentialities of literary mapping in didactics. Analysing the students\u2019 literary maps, this article aims to direct attention to literary mapping practices as constellations of learning moments to exploit. The reading of the text, the envisioning and creation of the map are here explored as the steps of a complex practice capable of visually developing geographical knowledge

Online Personal Data Processing and EU Data Protection Reform. CEPS Task Force Report, April 2013

This report sheds light on the fundamental questions and underlying tensions between current policy objectives, compliance strategies and global trends in online personal data processing, assessing the existing and future framework in terms of effective regulation and public policy. Based on the discussions among the members of the CEPS Digital Forum and independent research carried out by the rapporteurs, policy conclusions are derived with the aim of making EU data protection policy more fit for purpose in today’s online technological context. This report constructively engages with the EU data protection framework, but does not provide a textual analysis of the EU data protection reform proposal as such

Sub-GeV Dark Matter Detection with Electron Recoils in Carbon Nanotubes

Directional detection of Dark Matter particles (DM) in the MeV mass range could be accomplished by studying electron recoils in large arrays of parallel carbon nanotubes. In a scattering process with a lattice electron, a DM particle might transfer sufficient energy to eject it from the nanotube surface. An external electric field is added to drive the electron from the open ends of the array to the detection region. The anisotropic response of this detection scheme, as a function of the orientation of the target with respect to the DM wind, is calculated, and it is concluded that no direct measurement of the electron ejection angle is needed to explore significant regions of the light DM exclusion plot. A compact sensor, in which the cathode element is substituted with a dense array of parallel carbon nanotubes, could serve as the basic detection unit.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; updated and improved version to appear in Phys. Lett.

Antitrust and regulation in the European Union: selected topics

With the Communication on Smart Regulation issued in October 2010, the European Commission tried to foster a better management of the whole policy cycle. According to that Communication, amending policy proposals must be preceded by an ex post assessment of the current situation, allowing \u2015closing the policy cycle\u2016. This paper tries to answer the question whether the EU Impact Assessments System is fit to steer and close the policy cycle, and what is the relation between ex ante IA and ex post evaluations \u2015on the ground\u2016 so far. This is done via a macro and micro analysis, based on scorecard approach and three case studies, comparing the EU IA system performance with a theoretical benchmark derived from the EU policy document and process. The paper concludes that the EU Impact Assessment system, as it is currently designed and implemented, it is not yet fit to steer and close the policy cycle. To achieve this goal, all the analytical and empirical layers of the policy cycle should be fully dealt with since the ex ante phase

As the EU gears up to reform data protection rules, the rift between individuals and companies over online personal data processing is gaping.

The EU is currently seeking to replace its nearly two decade old policy on data protection for the Internet, social networking and smartphone age. Its proposed reforms seek to deliver better data protection, legal certainty and trust, with the aim of enhancing the EU’s competitiveness. Kristina Irion and Giacomo Luchetta discuss their new report on Online Personal Data Processing and EU Data Protection Reform, arguing that the reforms may fail due to the real risks of the politicisation of data protection, the still fragmented nature of regulations on electronic privacy, and a lack of innovative elements in the proposals

Preliminary data on the occurrence of marine turtles in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (SP, Brazil)

Although marine turtles have always been observed by divers, there are few scientific works on marine turtles in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (PEMLS). Diurnal (bimonthly) and nocturnal (biannual) surveys were conducted between 2013 and 2015 for a more comprehensive study, totalizing 42 hours of diurnal observations and the capture of 41 turtles during nocturnal dives. During the diurnal surveys, visual observations were made from two land based sites (Paredão da Face Sul and Portinho). The numbers of heads (heads observed whether they are of the same turtle or not) and turtles (individuals observed in groups) were counted. The results showed the presence of marine turtles throughout the year. More turtles were observed from Paredão da Face Sul than from Portinho, the latter being a more sheltered point and a site preferred by divers. The nocturnal surveys consisted of the capture of turtles through scuba diving so they could be measured and weighed and tagged according to the guide-lines of the TAMAR project. Four nocturnal surveys were conducted and in the last survey three tagged turtles were captured, two of them having been tagged during this study. The measurements of these turtles indicated their growth during the study period.The present survey also highlighted the importance of the PEMLS as a feeding area for juvenile marine turtles.Apesar de serem muito observadas por mergulhadores, poucos trabalhos científicos foram realizados com as tartarugas marinhas no Parque Estadual Marinho da Laje de Santos (PEMLS). No período entre 2013 e 2015 campanhas diurnas e noturnas foram realizadas para maior abrangência deste estudo, totalizando 42 horas de observações e 41 tartarugas capturadas em mergulhos noturnos. Nas campanhas diurnas foram realizadas observações em dois pontos fixos: Paredão da Face Sul e Portinho. Foram contabilizadas as cabeças (número de cabeças observadas, independentemente de serem do mesmo animal ou não) e tartarugas (indivíduos únicos, geralmente observados em grupos). De acordo com os resultados, pôde-se notar a presença de tartarugas marinhas ao longo de todo o ano. Foram observados mais tartarugas no lado do Paredão da Face Sul do que no Portinho, sendo este último ponto mais abrigado e local de preferência dos mergulhadores. Já as campanhas noturnas consistiram na captura de tartarugas através de mergulho autônomo para que as mesmas fossem medidas, pesadas e anilhadas conforme orientação do Projeto TAMAR. Foram realizadas quatro campanhas noturnas, sendo que na última campanha, houve captura de três tartarugas anilhadas, incluindo dois exemplares previamente marcados pela nossa equipe. Os resultados indicaram crescimento das tartarugas no período de estudo. O presente levantamento evidenciou a elevada importância do PEMLS como área de alimentação de tartarugas marinhas juvenis