Open Data for Global Science

The global science system stands at a critical juncture. On the one hand, it is overwhelmed by a hidden avalanche of ephemeral bits that are central components of modern research and of the emerging ‘cyberinfrastructure’4 for e-Science.5 The rational management and exploitation of this cascade of digital assets offers boundless opportunities for research and applications. On the other hand, the ability to access and use this rising flood of data seems to lag behind, despite the rapidly growing capabilities of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to make much more effective use of those data. As long as the attention for data policies and data management by researchers, their organisations and their funders does not catch up with the rapidly changing research environment, the research policy and funding entities in many cases will perpetuate the systemic inefficiencies, and the resulting loss or underutilisation of valuable data resources derived from public investments. There is thus an urgent need for rationalised national strategies and more coherent international arrangements for sustainable access to public research data, both to data produced directly by government entities and to data generated in academic and not-for-profit institutions with public funding. In this chapter, we examine some of the implications of the ‘data driven’ research and possible ways to overcome existing barriers to accessibility of public research data. Our perspective is framed in the context of the predominantly publicly funded global science system. We begin by reviewing the growing role of digital data in research and outlining the roles of stakeholders in the research community in developing data access regimes. We then discuss the hidden costs of closed data systems, the benefits and limitations of openness as the default principle for data access, and the emerging open access models that are beginning to form digitally networked commons. We conclude by examining the rationale and requirements for developing overarching international principles from the top down, as well as flexible, common-use contractual templates from the bottom up, to establish data access regimes founded on a presumption of openness, with the goal of better capturing the benefits from the existing and future scientific data assets. The ‘Principles and Guidelines for Access to Research Data from Public Funding’ from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), reported on in another article by Pilat and Fukasaku,6 are the most important recent example of the high-level (inter)governmental approach. The common-use licenses promoted by the Science Commons are a leading example of flexible arrangements originating within the community. Finally, we should emphasise that we focus almost exclusively on the policy—the institutional, socioeconomic, and legal aspects of data access—rather than on the technical and management practicalities that are also important, but beyond the scope of this article

Characteristics of Different Systems for the Solar Drying of Crops

Solar dryers are used to enable the preservation of agricultural crops, food processing industries for dehydration of fruits and vegetables, fish and meat drying, dairy industries for production of milk powder, seasoning of wood and timber, textile industries for drying of textile materials. The fundamental concepts and contexts of their use to dry crops is discussed in the chapter. It is shown that solar drying is the outcome of complex interactions particular between the intensity and duration of solar energy, the prevailing ambient relative humidity and temperature, the characteristics of the particular crop and its pre-preparation and the design and operation of the solar dryer

Promoting community socio-ecological sustainability through technology: A case study from Chile

The importance of community learning in effecting social change towards ecological sustainability has been recognised for some time. More recently, the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to promote socio-ecological sustainability has been shown to have potential in community education for sustainable development (ESD). The effective design and use of technology for community learning implies an understanding of a range of cross- dimensional factors including: socio-cultural characteristics and needs of the target audience; considerations of available and culturally responsive types of technology; and non-formal pedagogical ESD strategies for community empowerment. In addition, both technology itself and social communities are dynamically evolving and complex entities. This article presents a case study which evaluated the potential of ICT for promoting ecological literacy and action competence amongst community members in southern Chile. The case study addressed the ecological deterioration of a lake, which is having deep social, economic, recreational and cultural implications locally. The authors’ research involved developing a theoret- ical framework for the design, implementation and use of ICT for community learning for sustainability. The framework was based on key ideas from ESD, ICT and community education, and was underpinned by a systems thinking approach to account for the dynamism and complexity of such settings. Activity theory provided a frame to address overarching socio-cultural elements when using technology as a mediating tool for community learning. The authors’ findings suggest that the use of an ICT tool, such as a website, can enhance ecological literacy in relation to a local socio-ecological issue

A força de preensão manual é boa preditora do desempenho funcional de idosos frágeis: um estudo correlacional múltiplo The hand-grip forecasts the functional performance of fragile elder subjects: a multiple-correlation study

A força de preensão manual (FPM) associa-se com a funcionalidade de idosos, mas há dúvidas sobre o valor dessa relação em todas as situações. O estudo observou a correlação entre FPM de idosos residentes em instituições de cuidados permanentes (asilos) e o desempenho funcional (DF) em tarefas específicas e inespecíficas para as mãos. Participaram 12 homens (70±6 anos; 64±9 kg; 160±10 cm) e sete mulheres (77±11 anos; 49±10 kg; 147±10 cm). A FPM foi medida com dinamômetro hidráulico. As tarefas motoras propostas foram: caminhar 10 m na velocidade máxima (C10), timed up & go test (TUGT), colocar e retirar chave de fechadura (TCCF) e tirar e recolocar lâmpada em um bocal (TCLB). O teste de Wilcoxon revelou que os homens apresentaram melhores desempenhos que as mulheres em todos as medidas, exceto IMC, TCCF e TCLB (p<0,05). Os coeficientes de Spearman revelaram que três testes apresentaram correlações significativas com a FPM: TRLB (r = -0,54; p = 0,018); TUGT (r = -0,67; p = 0,002) e C10 (r = -0,69; p = 0,001). A correlação múltipla entre a FPM e o conjunto dos testes revelou-se igualmente significativa (R-múltiplo = 0,66; p<0,04). Conclui-se que a FPM pode ser uma boa preditora do desempenho em tarefas motoras em idosos frágeis, investindo-se de potencial para apreciação da funcionalidade como um todo, enquanto variável de exposição epidemiológica.<br>Hand-grip strength (HGS) has been used to predict functional limitation in the elderly. However, this relationship in all situations is doubtful. The purpose of the study was to observe the association between HGS and functional performance (FP), in specific and not specific tasks among 19 long-term home elderly residents, 12 men (70±6 yrs; 64±9 kg; 160±10 cm) and 7 women (77±11 yrs; 49±10 kg; 147±10 cm). HGS was measured by a hydraulic hand dynamometer. The FP was measured by the time to perform the following tasks: 1) habitual gait speed (HGS); 2) timed up & go test (TUGT); 3) opening a lock with a key (OLK); 4) to take off and put in a light bulb (TPB). The Wilcoxon test revealed that men were better than women in all measurements except for the IMC, OLK and TPL (p<0.05). The Spearman coefficients showed significant correlation between HGS and three FP tests: TPL (r=-.54; p=.018); TUGT (r=-.67; p=.002) and HGS (r=-.69; p=.001). The multiple correlation showed good correlation between the HGS and all FP tests (R=.66; R²=.44; p<.04). These results suggest that HGS may be a good predictor for FP, especially for fragile and institutionalized elderly subjects, having a good potential as an epidemiologic exposition variable to forecast functional performance