Belgium: Land cover 2012. Country fact sheet

Overview of land cover & change 2006-2012

Challenges of Using E-learning Management Systems faced by the Academic Staff in Distance Based Institutions from Developing Countries: A Case Study of the Open University of Tanzania

A study was carried out at selected centres of The Open University ofTanzania (OUT) to find out how lecturers use the E-learning Management System (ELMS) and the problems that they encounter when using the ELMS. Based on the general hypothesis of the use of Information Systems, different methodologies were used to find out the factors that lead to the inefficient use of the ELMS at OUT. Results were analyzed and evaluated and challenges of the usage of the ELMS at OUT established. The paper concludes by giving general recommendations and future work which need to be done to make sure that the academic staff utilize the ELMS effectively

Policy Issues and Consequences of Environmental Tax Reform Implementation in the Czech Republic

Optimal policy design should maximize environmental benefits and minimize negative impacts of the environmental tax reform (ETR) on economy and society. Both researchers and policy makers are interested in potential impacts of ETR implementation as perceived by the relevant stakeholders. Qualitative research methodology was used for answering the key research questions. The aim of this paper is (1) to bring a brief information on the history of introducing environmental charges and taxes in the Czech Republic, (2) to bring an overview of the main results of qualitative research focused on ETR perceptions conducted abroad, (3) to discover practical barriers and obstacles in the process of ETR implementation in the Czech Republic perceived by key stakeholders and (4) to make an attempt on formulation of recommendations for the ETR implementation process in the Czech Republic

Nature-based solutions for urban development and tourism

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how nature-based solutions (NBS) are being used in city areas to improve environmental conditions and increase tourism. This research examines the drivers behind, and impacts of, the application of NBS in city redevelopment projects for tourism. NBS is a term that refers to the use of flora and fauna ecosystems as an approach to resolve problems faced by society. Design/methodology/approach: An interdisciplinary research methodology has been developed to examine the relationship between city NBS and tourism; the methods include a literature review of contemporary practice, field observations and thematic textual analysis from digital archives. The research methodology uses a combined empirical and desk-based analysis of five case studies cites. Findings: NBS, as part of city redevelopment projects, is now a strategic aim of many cities globally to re-brand, re-vision and re-orientate themselves to be more hospitable, liveable and attractive to tourists and visitors. Practical implications: City redevelopment projects are incorporating NBS to address climate change as well as local environmental issues such as disaster resilience whilst simultaneously delivering social and economic benefits. Social implications: The research reveals that NBS can deliver benefits to human wellbeing, tourism, economic vitality as well as more sustainable models of urban development. Originality/value: The research reveals for the first time how NBS is being used as a driver for increasing tourism globally. The research is highly original as it examines a new topic in tourism studies, the role of NBS in relation to city tourism

Environmental screening tools for assessment of infrastructure plans based on biodiversity preservation and global warming (PEIT, Spain).

Most Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) research has been concerned with SEA as a procedure, and there have been relatively few developments and tests of analytical methodologies. The first stage of the SEA is the ‘screening’, which is the process whereby a decision is taken on whether or not SEA is required for a particular programme or plan. The effectiveness of screening and SEA procedures will depend on how well the assessment fits into the planning from the early stages of the decision-making process. However, it is difficult to prepare the environmental screening for an infrastructure plan involving a whole country. To be useful, such methodologies must be fast and simple. We have developed two screening tools which would make it possible to estimate promptly the overall impact an infrastructure plan might have on biodiversity and global warming for a whole country, in order to generate planning alternatives, and to determine whether or not SEA is required for a particular infrastructure plan

KOULUN MONIAMMATILLINEN YHTEISTYÖ LUOKAN- JA ERITYISOPETTAJAOPISKELIJOIDEN NÄKÖKULMASTA

Tutkimus tarkastelee luokanopettajaopiskelijoiden ja erityisopettajaopiskelijoiden näkemyksiä moniammatillisesta yhteistyöstä. Tavoitteena on tutkia opiskelijoiden valmiuksia, motivaatiota ja asennetta opettaa inklusiivisessa koulussa, jossa erityisopetuksen oppilaat integroidaan yleisopetuksen luokkiin. Määrälliseen tutkimukseen vastasi yhteensä 246 Turun yliopiston opettajaopiskelijaa, joista 140 oli luokanopettajaopiskelijoita ja 106 erityisopettajaopiskelijoita. Tutkimuksen aineisto kerättiin sähköisesti kesällä 2018 ja analysoitiin syksyllä 2018. Kysymyslomake sisälsi 56 väittämää, joihin vastattiin viisiportaisella Likert-asteikolla. Teoriaosuudessa käsitellään tutkimukselle tärkeät käsitteet, kuten moniammatillinen yhteistyö, inkluusio, motivaatio, asenne ja kouluhyvinvointi. Tutkimus perustuu Konun (2002) kouluhyvinvointimalliin, jossa yksilön ominaisuudet mahdollistavat moniammatillisen yhteistyön, mikä tukee koulun hyvinvointia. Tutkimuksen tuloksista ilmenee luokanopettajaopiskelijoiden puutteelliset valmiudet opettaa tehostetun ja erityisen tuen oppilaita yleisopetuksen luokkiin integroituina. Aineistoa käsiteltäessä pystyttiin toteamaan, että erityisopettajaopiskelijat suhtautuvat luokanopettajaopiskelijoita myönteisemmin moniammatilliseen yhteistyöhön. Erityisopettajaopiskelijat kokivat omat henkilökohtaiset valmiutensa, asenteen ja motivaation inkluusion periaatteiden mukaan opettamista tukevina

On Security and reliability using cooperative transmissions in sensor networks

Cooperative transmissions have received recent attention and research papers have demonstrated their benefits for wireless networks. Such benefits include improving the reliability of links through diversity and/or increasing the reach of a link compared to a single transmitter transmitting to a single receiver (single-input single-output or SISO). In one form of cooperative transmissions, multiple nodes can act as virtual antenna elements and provide diversity gain or range improvement using space-time coding. In a multi-hop ad hoc or sensor network, a source node can make use of its neighbors as relays with itself to reach an intermediate node with greater reliability or at a larger distance than otherwise possible. The intermediate node will use its neighbors in a similar manner and this process continues till the destination is reached. Thus, for the same reliability of a link as SISO, the number of hops between a source and destination may be reduced using cooperative transmissions as each hop spans a larger distance. However, the presence of ma-licious or compromised nodes in the network impacts the benefits obtained with cooperative transmissions. Using more relays can increase the reach of a link, but if one or more relays are malicious, the transmission may fail. However, the relationships between the number of relays, the number of hops, and success probabilities are not trivial to determine. In this paper, we analyze this problem to understand the conditions under which cooperative transmissions fare better or worse than SISO transmissions. We take into consideration additional parameters such as the path-loss exponent and provide a framework that allows us to evaluate the conditions when cooperative transmissions are better than SISO transmissions. This analysis provides insights that can be employed before resorting to simulations or experimentation. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Glomerular disease and acute kidney injury in Sudan: Demographics, histological diagnosis and outcome

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a relatively common clinical condition, associated with high rates of mortality. Although there is extensive literature on the nature and consequence of AKI in the developed world, much less is known in the developing world and more specifically in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Objectives. To describe the demographics, histological diagnosis and clinical course of patients presenting with AKI to a single centre in Sudan.Methods. Retrospective data were collected on 100 consecutive patients with AKI and an active urinary sediment, who underwent diagnostic native percutaneous renal biopsy.Results. The mean (standard deviation) age of those biopsied was 33.6 (14.1) years of age, with a preponderance (58%) of females. The most common clinical  indications for biopsy were AKI associated with haematuria and proteinuria (72%), AKI and proteinuria (22.5%) or AKI and haematuria (5%). The frequencies of the most common primary glomerulonephritides (GN) were focal segmental GN (15%) and mesangiocapillary GN (8%). Lupus nephritis was the most frequent secondary GN associated with AKI (31%) and the most common overall histological diagnosis. Peak creatinine, but not oliguria, at presentation predicted likelihood of remaining dialysis-dependent. Age at presentation but not baseline renal function by  estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), was associated with the likelihood of having residual chronic kidney disease following an episode of AKI.Conclusions. The data suggested differences in the pattern of intrinsic  renal/glomerular disease leading to AKI to those published and mainly derived from the developed world and patients in SSA

The UK Transport Carbon Model : An integrated life cycle approach to explore low carbon futures

Peer reviewedPostprin