Using SPICES for a better service consumption

In this poster we present SPICES (Semantic Platform for the Interaction and Consumption of Enriched Services), a Web based tool that automates the process of consuming a Web service by making use of the semantic annotations that describe them. SPICES supports both traditional WSDL services and RESTful ones and offers end-users the possibility of interacting with them in an easy yet personalised manner, without the need of advanced technical skills -which were traditionally required-, being the complexity that lies underneath hidden to them. SPICES is being developed within the European project SOA4All

Investigating homeostatic disruption by constitutive signals during biological ageing

PhD ThesisAgeing and disease can be understood in terms of a loss in biological homeostasis. This will often manifest as a constitutive elevation in the basal levels of biological entities. Examples include chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances and oxidative stress. The ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cause molecular damage has meant that chronic oxidative stress has been mostly studied from the point of view of being a source of toxicity to the cell. However, the known duality of ROS molecules as both damaging agents and cellular redox signals implies another perspective in the study of sustained oxidative stress. This is a perspective of studying oxidative stress as a constitutive signal within the cell. In this work a computational modelling approach is undertaken to examine how chronic oxidative stress can interfere with signal processing by redox signalling pathways in the cell. A primary outcome of this study is that constitutive signals can give rise to a ‘molecular habituation’ effect that can prime for a gradual loss of biological function. Experimental results obtained highlight the difficulties in testing for this effect in cell lines exposed to oxidative stress. However, further analysis suggests this phenomenon is likely to occur in different signalling pathways exposed to persistent signals and potentially at different levels of biological organisation.Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA) and through them, Arthritis Research UK and the Medical Research Counc

Using semantics for automating the authentication of Web APIs

Recent technology developments in the area of services on the Web are marked by the proliferation of Web applications and APIs. The implementation and evolution of applications based on Web APIs is, however, hampered by the lack of automation that can be achieved with current technologies. Research on semantic Web services is there fore trying to adapt the principles and technologies that were devised for traditional Web services, to deal with this new kind of services. In this paper we show that currently more than 80% of the Web APIs require some form of authentication. Therefore authentication plays a major role for Web API invocation and should not be neglected in the context of mashups and composite data applications. We present a thorough analysis carried out over a body of publicly available APIs that determines the most commonly used authentication approaches. In the light of these results, we propose an ontology for the semantic annotation of Web API authentication information and demonstrate how it can be used to create semantic Web API descriptions. We evaluate the applicability of our approach by providing a prototypical implementation, which uses authentication annotations as the basis for automated service invocation

Environmental management of soil biodiversity and ecosystems for productive and sustainable agriculture

It is well-known that there is a need for technical assessments to advise farmers, policy-makers and planners on indicators and methods for the assessment and monitoring of soil health and functions. These should focus on improving knowledge: on the roles and importance of diverse soil organisms in providing key goods and services; and on the positive and negative impacts of existing and new agricultural technologies and management practices

Strategies for management of water resources for maintaining the ecological functions of wetlands

The purpose of management strategies is to support a better allocation of water to the wetlands resources so that they can receive enough water, in quality, quantity and timeliness suitable to continue to provide their goods and services. The following strategic guidelines are explained below: Sustainability as a goal. Adequate water has to be provided to wetlands to sustain the functioning of these ecosystems, respecting their natural dynamics for the benefit of future generations. Where water requirements are not known, or where the impact of reducing water allocation to wetlands is unclear, the precautionary approachshould be applied. The wetland ecosystem is the resource base from which water is derived. It should be managed to protect the resource base in order to provide goods and services in a sustainable manner. This requires sufficient water allocation to maintain wetland ecosystem structure and function. This is directly compatible with the “wise use” concept embodied in the Ramsar Convention, which has been defined by the Conference of the Parties as “the sustainable utilisation of wetlands for the benefit of mankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem”. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3620

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) for sustainable development

Water is an essential resource for sustainable development, however it is not often taken into account. In order to find effective and lasting solutions to the problems related to water resources, it is required a new form of governance and management paradigm. This new paradigm is included into the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which has been defined by Global Water Partnership GWP , as "a process which promotes the coordinated management and development of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems"

Integrated water resources management: restoration of water quality in water resources from developing countries

Water is most essential but scarce resource in developing countries. Presently the quality & the availability of the fresh water resources is the most pressing of the many environmental challenges on the national horizon. The stress on water resources is from multiple sources and the impacts can take diverse forms. Geometric increase in population coupled with rapid urbanization, industrialization and agricultural development has resulted in high impact on quality and quantity of water in developing countries. The situation warrants immediate redressal through radically improved water resource and water quality management strategies. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3162