Utilization of Modified CoreGRID Ontology in an Agent-based Grid Resource Management System

isbn 978-1-880843-75-8International audienceThe Agents in Grid project is devoted to the de-velopment of an agent-based intelligent high-level Grid middleware. In the proposed system, all data process-ing is ontology-driven, and initially was based on an in-house developed mini-ontology of the Grid. Our recent analysis has indicated that we should adapt and utilize the Grid ontology developed within the framework of the CoreGRID project. This note outlines how we have modified and extended the CoreGRID ontology to fulfill the needs of our approac

The ephemeral landscape of sunrise as a tourists’ motivating factor for night-time ascents of Babia Góra

The aim of the study was to verify changeability of the sunrise ephemeral landscape observed from the peak of Babia Góra and to confirm that it acted as a tourist attraction. Every sunrise during summer holidays weekends was observed from Babia Góra peak and described. The data about the weather conditions and number of tourists were collected. Survey interviews with randomly selected tourists who had seen sunrise (269) were conducted in order to obtain information about their motivations for night-time ascents of Babia Góra. The changeability of the ephemeral landscape of sunrise was proved. Most of the tourists who have visited Babia Góra at dawn (84%) agreed that the will to observe the sunrise was one of motivating factors for them, however they pointed out many others, as well

Sunrise as a tourist attraction in the context of tourist motivation theory : a case study of the peak of Babia Góra (Western Carpathians)

Tourist ascents of mountain peaks before sunrise are increasingly popular. Babia Góra (Western Carpathians) is a peak on the Polish-Slovak border frequently visited by a great number of tourists at sunrise. The main objective of our research, based on the case study of Babia Gora, was to answer a more general question whether the sunrise can be considered a tourist attraction. The research included the observation and description of every sunrise at summer holiday weekends during 2012 from the peak of Babia Góra as well as the collection of data on the number of tourists and weather conditions. Survey interviews, using questionnaire, with randomly selected hikers present on the peak of Babia Góra at sunrise (269) were conducted. The investigation showed that during summer holiday sunrises there were a maximum of 130 people on the summit of Babia Góra at the same time. Most of the surveyed people (84%) agreed that the opportunity to observe the sunrise was one of the pull factors for them. This confirms the hypothesis that sunrise constitutes a tourist attraction

The typology of natural ephemeral landscapes in the context of the preceding research

Autorzy podjęli problematykę krajobrazów efemerycznych pochodzenia naturalnego, które współtworzone są przez zjawiska przyrodnicze o dużej nieregularności i krótkotrwałości występowania. Celem opracowania było usystematyzowanie dotychczasowego stanu wiedzy w tym zakresie w oparciu o autorską typologię krajobrazów efemerycznych. z przeglądu literatury wynika, że stopień rozpoznania krajobrazów efemerycznych wciąż pozostaje niewystarczający. Skoncentrowanie badaczy na wybranych zjawiskach krótkotrwałych uniemożliwia kompleksowe spojrzenie na badany krajobraz. Tymczasem krajobrazy efemeryczne percypowane są całościowo i mogą stanowić ważną atrakcję turystyczną.Although the relations between landscape and certain human activities are well recognised in landscape ecology literature, main emphasis is put on stable landscape features. This article, by contrast, focuses on ephemeral landscapes which are defined as the ones consisted of phenomena and features of a changeable character (Brassley 1998). It can be assumed that the phenomena, even of same type, construct a different ephemeral landscape each time. However, despite their evanescence and irregular occurrence (Palang et al.2007), they still need to be investigated due to their significant role in perception of the whole landscape and its evaluation for different functions (Brassley 1998). The article also refers to substantial theoretical connotations of landscape ephemera and multi-sensory model of perception. The link can be easily recognised in tourism management because a complexity of several landscape ephemera’s features strongly influences visitor preferences of certain regions (Huang 2013). Due to stated selective and superficial recognition of the problem, authors’ main aim was to propose a novel typology of natural-caused landscape ephemera based on a detailed literature review. in the typology, the visually dominant genetic factor criterion was used. Therefore, there were distinguished landscape ephemera mainly connected with: (1) astronomical factors, (2) weather conditions, (3) endogenic, (4) geomorphologic, (5) hydrological processes, (6) biological and (7) joint ephemeral factors (tab. 1). The typology also reflects different economic and social roles of landscapes assigned to particular groups – e.g. astronomical phenomena, due to their relatively higher predictability, can constitute a core of specific tourist products, while endogenic ones are often perceived as a danger and disruption of a trip ( Yang et al. 2008). The authors confirmed considerable inequality in a recognition degree of landscape ephemera of different types. Symptomatically, there are only a few works which present an issue in a complex way. The stress is often put on the short-lasting phenomena itself while there are some durable processes (e.g. aeolian) which can also subconstruct certain landscape ephemera (e.g. ripplemarks). Undoubtedly, there are still many cognitive gaps connected with presented subject which are strongly needed to be filled because of its potential applied role. An influence of landscape ephemera on creating local identity and resident’s embeddedness is of an example

SEM-EDS and X-ray micro computed tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)

Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture

SEM-EDS and X-ray micro Computed Tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)

Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture

Resource Management in Grids: Overview and a discussion of a possible approach for an Agent-Based Middleware

14 pagesInternational audienceResource management and job scheduling are important research issues in computational grids. When software agents are used as resource managers and brokers in the Grid a number of additional issues and possible approaches materialize. The aim of this chapter is twofold. First, we discuss traditional job scheduling in grids, and when agents are utilized as grid middleware. Second, we use this as a context for discussion of how job scheduling can be done in the agent-based system under development

Results of aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and moderate functional mitral regurgitation

Background: Referral and admission echocardiography (ECHO) in patients scheduled for aortic valve replacement (AVR) with aortic stenosis (AS) may differ in the assessment of moderate functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Aims: Our study was to determine the truly moderate-FMR and evaluate its impact on survival. Methods: We conducted an observational study of patients referred for AVR with AS and up to moderate FMR, between 2014 and 2019. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) no/mild (N-FMR); (2) moderate-FMR on one ECHO (either at referral or admission) termed incidental (I-FMR); (3) moderate FMR in two studies (both at referral and admission) termed permanent (PM-FMR). Results: The referral and admission assessment were performed median 35 days apart. Of the 679 elective patients who underwent elective isolated AVR, 516 patients had N-FMR, 102 patients had I-FMR, and 61 patients had PM-FMR. Median follow-up was 46 months (22.5–58.5); max 73.3. 30-day mortality was 2.5% vs. 1% vs. 8.2% (N-FMR vs. I-FMR vs. PM-FMR, respectively; P = 0.01). Five-year survival was 84.1% in N-FMR vs. 88.5% in I-FMR vs. 60.6% in PM-FMR group, where was the lowest (P <0.001). In multivariable modeling PM-FMR increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.88 [1.05–3.37]; P = 0.03). The I-FMR had no effect on mortality (HR, 0.67 [0.32–1.37]; P = 0.28). Five-year survival after excluding 30-day mortality was 86.3% vs. 89.4% vs. 66.0%; (N-FMR vs. I-FMR vs. PM-FMR, respectively; P = 0.02). The PM-FMR increased late mortality (HR, 2.17 [1.14–4.15]; P = 0.01). Conclusions: In patients undergoing isolated AVR for AS, the presence of permanent moderate FMR significantly impacts 30-day and mid-term survival

Wokół zagadnień trwałej ochrony zasobów cyfrowych

Słowo wstępne: "Cyfrowe kolekcje wartościowych dokumentów powstają w wyniku procesów elektronicznego publikowania oraz digitalizacji materiałów analogowych. Są one świadectwem dorobku polskiej działalności naukowej i kulturowej. Digitalizacja upowszechnia się w instytucjach pamięci jako forma zabezpieczenia zagrożonych zniszczeniem oryginalnych materiałów. Oficyny wydawnicze coraz częściej publikują treści naukowe w cyfrowej postaci, rezygnując z wersji drukowanych. Instytuty naukowe i badawcze oraz uczelnie wyższe tworzą instytucjonalne repozytoria, pozwalające na szybkie i samodzielne udostępnianie publiczności wyników prowadzonych prac badawczych. Powstające w ten sposób cyfrowe zasoby współtworzą światowe dziedzictwo. Podlegają one trwałej ochronie z myślą o potrzebach obecnych i przyszłych użytkowników."(...

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world\u27s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (−0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications