DSpace@Cambridge: implementing long-term digital preservation

This article describes one approach towards digital preservation and long-term accessibility of content in DSpace@Cambridge anno 2005.DSpace@Cambridge is an institutional archive set up to deal with the long-term preservation of information in a wide range of formats over an indefinite period of time. In this paper we look at some long-term digital preservation strategies, as they are currently implemented in our archive. We describe the value of documentation of file format specifications for future data accessibility. We examine the impact and usefulness of constant concurrent data migration to several different formats. We illustrate our approach with case studies of applying these principles to chemical and archeological scientific data

A workflow for digitalization projects

More and more institutions want to convert their traditional content to digital formats. In such pro jects the digitalization and metadata stages often happen asynchronously. This paper identifies the importance of frequent cross-verification of both. We suggest a workflow to formalise this process, and a possible technical implementation to automate this workflow

Sectoral energy- and labour-productivity convergence

This paper provides an empirical analysis of convergence patterns for energy- and labour-productivity developments at a detailed sectoral level for 14 OECD countries, covering the period 1970-1997. Cross-country differences of energy-productivity levels are shown to be substantially larger than cross-country differences of labour-productivity levels at all levels of sectoral aggregation. A s-convergence analysis shows that the development of cross-country variation in productivity performance depends on the level of aggregation. Both patterns of international productivity convergence and divergence exist across sectors. Using a panel-data approach, we find in most sectors energy productivity to grow relatively fast in countries with relatively low initial productivity levels, while in several sectors this is also true for labour productivity. This evidence of ß-convergence supports the hypothesis that lagging countries tend to catch up with technological leaders, in particular in terms of energy productivity. Moreover, the results show that convergence is conditional rather than unconditional, meaning that productivity levels converge to country-specific steady states. Searching for the fundamentals determining cross-country productivity differentials reveals a positive productivity effect of energy prices and economies of scale in several sectors, while wages, investment share, openness and specialisation play only a very limited role in explaining (cross-country differences in) energy- and labour-productivity growth.

Mean and fluctuating suspended sediment concentration measurements using ADV

The present experimental research looks for ways to improve fine sediment transport measurements with ADV by further investigating the factors influencing the backscatter intensity of the acoustic wave. The optimal instrument settings are determined in order to maximally extend the region of increasing response to fine suspended sediments in the sampling volume and a spectral correction is used to obtain turbulent sediment concentration fluctuations

Energy-intensity developments for 19 OECD countries and 51 sectors

This paper presents stylized facts on energy-intensity developments for 19 OECD countries and 51 sectors over the period 1980âËâ2005. A principal aim of this paper is to introduce and discuss a new database that combines the recently launched ‘EU KLEMS Growth and Productivity Accounts’ with physical-energy data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). We do so by means of an empirical analysis consisting of the following components at various levels of sectoral detail. First, we document per country the growth rates of energy use, value added and energy intensity (i.e. the ratio of energy use to value added). Second, we compare levels of energy intensity across countries and analyze the evolution of the observed cross-country differences over time. Third, by means of a decomposition analysis we calculate for each country to what extent aggregate energy-intensity trends can be explained from, respectively, shifts in the underlying sectoral structure and efficiency improvements within individual sectors. Finally, we identify issues and areas of research within the field of energy economics where these data may be applied fruitfully.

Dutch Sectoral Energy Intensity Developments in International Perspective, 1987–2005

This paper makes use of a new dataset to investigate energy intensity developments in the Netherlands over the period 1987–2005, in comparison with 18 other OECD countries. A key feature of our analysis is that we combine this cross-country perspective with a high level of sector detail, covering 51 sectors. Particularly innovative is our evaluation of energy intensity developments in a wide range of Service sectors. We find that between 1987 and 2005 energy intensity in the Netherlands decreased on average with 0.9% points per year at the aggregate economy level and with 0.2% points at the aggregate manufacturing sector level, whereas it increased with 0.4% points at the aggregate Service sector level. This performance is considerably below the OECD average, and has been especially poor between 1987 and 1995. In terms of energy intensity levels, performance of the Netherlands is close to the OECD average at the aggregate economy level and in Manufacturing. In Services, the energy intensity level in the Netherlands was about 50% lower than the OECD average in 1987, but this lead has almost disappeared by 2005. Finally, we find that in the Manufacturing sector, between 1987 and 2005, about half of the energy efficiency improvements were undone by a shift towards a more energy-intensive industry structure, most notably through growth of the Chemical sector. In the Service sector, on the contrary, shifts in the underlying sector structure helped in slowing down energy intensity increase by about one-third between 1987 and 2005. �

Effect of bed roughness on the mixing layers in a 90° asymmetrical confluence

In this paper, the mixing layer between the two incoming flows in a 90 degree, asymmetrical open channel confluence is investigated. Specific attention is given towards looking into the effect of bed roughness on the flow patterns in the confluence. This analysis is performed in a Serret-Frenet type axis system, in order to come up with a more convenient way of representing the measurement data. The effects on the velocity distribution, velocity difference over the mixing layer, width and location of the mixing layer are studied, and found to be influenced