Towards a Responsible Land Administration Curriculum

In line with the GLTN focus on strengthening land policy, improving global knowledge, and strengthening capacity of partners, the GLTN Secretariat engaged ITC (University of Twente) to explore the feasibility of the design and development of curricula in Responsible Land Administration. The general objective is to strengthen the capacity of higher education and other relevant networks or institutions globally and provide quality undergraduate and post-graduate courses on the theme of pro-poor, gender responsive land tools. In inception phase representatives from ITC and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in consultation with GLTN secretariat, guided by the project’s general objective, developed a framework with overall approach. The main output was a curriculum design entitled ”Teaching Essentials for Responsible Land Administration” with a course title “Responsible Land Administration 101” was created and distributed for review and comments. A final report included a brief outline of a draft curriculum and recommendations for next phase/s of curriculum development. This preliminary work forms the basis for the next stage of development, which is coordinated by RMIT University and University of East London under project 2 of the GLTN Research and Training Cluster. This project aims to develop detailed outlines for each of the 6 Modules, and commence development of full curricula. Based on the original design by ITC expanded outlines for each Module have been developed and it is on these that we are seeking expert input with key stakeholders. In November 2016, an expert group meeting (EGM) was held at the University of East London. The EGM was organized by GLTN partners UN-Habitat, the University of East London and RMIT University. A total of 18 experts, from various countries and academic and professional disciplines within the land sector, discussed and agreed on next steps in the production of a structured knowledge base to support the development and delivery of the curriculum. The potential users include any land-related academic program and self-study courses with potential for certification. This EGM has established a firm foundation for the development of the structured knowledge base, which is planned for completion during 2017. Six modules are planned, including an introductory, module on responsible land administration, plus five substantial modules covering the key subject areas of access to land & land tenure security, land management & planning, land policy & regulatory frameworks, land based financing / land value sharing, and responsible land administration and information

Human spaceflight: to infertility and beyond

Garrett-Bakelman FE et al, demonstrated a spectrum of molecular and physiological changes attributed to spaceflight in their recently published “NASA Twins Study”.1 During his 340 days in space onboard the International Space Station (ISS), one of a pair of monozygotic twins was not only challenged by noise, isolation, hypoxia, and alterations in the circadian rhythm, but more importantly the exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) and microgravity. Terrestrials are subjected constantly to surface gravity and most if not all physiological processes have adapted accordingly. It is therefore easy to envisage that weightlessness can have consequences for space travellers.

Complete moduli of cubic threefolds and their intermediate Jacobians

The intermediate Jacobian map, which associates to a smooth cubic threefold its intermediate Jacobian, does not extend to the GIT compactification of the space of cubic threefolds, not even as a map to the Satake compactification of the moduli space of principally polarized abelian fivefolds. A much better "wonderful" compactification of the space of cubic threefolds was constructed by the first and fourth authors --- it has a modular interpretation, and divisorial normal crossing boundary. We prove that the intermediate Jacobian map extends to a morphism from the wonderful compactification to the second Voronoi toroidal compactification of the moduli of principally polarized abelian fivefolds --- the first and fourth author previously showed that it extends to the Satake compactification. Since the second Voronoi compactification has a modular interpretation, our extended intermediate Jacobian map encodes all of the geometric information about the degenerations of intermediate Jacobians, and allows for the study of the geometry of cubic threefolds via degeneration techniques. As one application we give a complete classification of all degenerations of intermediate Jacobians of cubic threefolds of torus rank 1 and 2.Comment: 56 pages; v2: multiple updates and clarification in response to detailed referee's comment

First Measurements with NeXtRAD, a Polarimetric X/L Band Radar Network

NeXtRAD is a fully polarimetric, X/L Band radar network. It is a development of the older NetRAD system and builds on the experience gained with extensive deployments of NetRAD for sea clutter and target measurements. In this paper we will report on the first measurements with NeXtRAD, looking primarily at sea clutter and some targets, as well as early attempts at calibration using corner reflectors, and an assessment of the polarimetric response of the system. We also highlight innovations allowing for efficient data manipulation post measurement campaigns, as well as the plans for the coming years with this system

Storms drive outgassing of CO2 in the subpolar Southern Ocean

The subpolar Southern Ocean is a critical region where CO2 outgassing influences the global mean air-sea CO2 flux (FCO2). However, the processes controlling the outgassing remain elusive. We show, using a multi-glider dataset combining FCO2 and ocean turbulence, that the air-sea gradient of CO2 (∆pCO2) is modulated by synoptic storm-driven ocean variability (20 µatm, 1–10 days) through two processes. Ekman transport explains 60% of the variability, and entrainment drives strong episodic CO2 outgassing events of 2–4 mol m−2 yr−1. Extrapolation across the subpolar Southern Ocean using a process model shows how ocean fronts spatially modulate synoptic variability in ∆pCO2 (6 µatm2 average) and how spatial variations in stratification influence synoptic entrainment of deeper carbon into the mixed layer (3.5 mol m−2 yr−1 average). These results not only constrain aliased-driven uncertainties in FCO2 but also the effects of synoptic variability on slower seasonal or longer ocean physics-carbon dynamics.publishedVersio

Top 10 research questions to promote physical activity in bipolar disorders: A consensus statement from the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Mental Health

Background: Research has only recently started to consider the importance and applicability of physical activity (PA) for people with bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of the current study is to highlight 10 pertinent PA research questions in people with BD. Methods: The International Organization of Physical Therapy in Mental Health executed a consultation with all National organizations (n=13) to identify the most salient questions to guide future research on PA in BD. Results: We identified the following 10 questions: (1) What are the benefits of PA for people with BD? (2) What are the most prominent safety issues for PA prescription in BD? (3) What is the optimal PA prescription for people with BD? (4) What are the key barriers to PA among people with BD? (5) What are the most effective motivational strategies for ensuring PA adoption and maintenance in BD? (6) How do we translate PA research into community practice? (7) If one treatment goal is increased physical activity, what type of professionals are needed as part of a multidisciplinary team? (8) How do we incorporate PA as a vital sign in clinical practice? (9) How can we prevent sedentary behavior in BD? (10) What is the most appropriate PA assessment method? Limitations: We did not consult people with BD. Conclusions: Addressing these questions is critical for developing evidence-based approaches for promoting and sustaining an active lifestyle in BD. Ultimately, achieving this will reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and improve the quality of life of this population

Financial Accounting 3B

Exam paper for second semester: Financial Accounting 3