scholarly journals Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility - Improving the Taxonomic Coverage and Deepening the Information Content Through Collaboration

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari Lahti ◽  
Liselott Skarp
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Distributed Information ◽  
The Status ◽  
High Level ◽  
Biodiversity Information

The Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility FinBIF (LINK: species.fi), operational since late 2016, is one of the more recent examples of comprehensive, all-inclusive national biodiversity research infrastructures. FinBIF integrates a wide array of biodiversity information approaches under the same umbrella. These include species information Fig. 1 (e.g. descriptions, photos and administrative attributes); citizen science platforms enabling recording, managing and sharing of observation data; an e-learning environment for species identification; management and sharing of restricted data among authorities; building a national DNA barcode reference library and linking it to species occurrence data; community-driven species identification support; large-scale and multi-technology digitisation of natural history collections; and IUCN Red Listing to conduct a periodic national assesment of the status of the threatened species. To improve the taxonomic coverage and the content of species information, FinBIF is starting a process to collaborate with the species information community at large, in order to collate already existing but not yet openly distributed information. This also means digitisation of information from analogue sources. In addition, the attempt is to join forces with Scandinavian counterparts, namely Artdatabanken (LINK: https://www.artdatabanken.se/) and Artsdatabanken (LINK: https://www.artsdatabanken.no/), for more efficient knowledge exchange within the countries sharing the same biogeographical region and thus similar species composition. The aim is also to reach politically high level agreement for deeper and wider commitment to collaborate in compiling, digitising and sharing relevant biodiversity information over the national borders.

scholarly journals FinBIF: An all-embracing, integrated, cross-sectoral biodiversity data infrastructure

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Schulman ◽  
Aino Juslén ◽  
Kari Lahti
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Biodiversity Data ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Biodiversity Information

The service model of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is being implemented in an increasing number of national biodiversity (BD) data services. While GBIF already shares >109 data points, national initiatives are an essential component: increase in GBIF-mediated data relies on national data mobilisation and GBIF is not optimised to support local use. The Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF), initiated in 2012 and operational since late 2016, is one of the more recent examples of national BD research infrastructures (RIs) – and arguably among the most comprehensive. Here, we describe FinBIF’s development and service integration, and provide a model approach for the construction of all-inclusive national BD RIs. FinBIF integrates a wide array of BD RI approaches under the same umbrella. These include large-scale and multi-technology digitisation of natural history collections; building a national DNA barcode reference library and linking it to species occurrence data; citizen science platforms enabling recording, managing and sharing of observation data; management and sharing of restricted data among authorities; community-driven species identification support; an e-learning environment for species identification; and IUCN Red Listing (Fig. 1). FinBIF’s aims are to accelerate digitisation, mobilisation, and distribution of biodiversity data and to boost their use in research and education, environmental administration, and the private sector. The core functionalities of FinBIF were built in a 3.5-year project (01/2015–06/2018) by a consortium of four university-based natural history collection facilities led by the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus. Close to 30% of the total funding was granted through the Finnish Research Infrastructures programme (FIRI) governed by the national research council and based on scientific excellence. Government funds for productivity enhancement in state administration covered c.40 % of the development and the rest was self-financed by the implementing consortium of organisations that have both a research and an education mission. The cross-sectoral scope of FinBIF has led to rapid uptake and a broad user base of its functionalities and services. Not only researchers but also administrative authorities, various enterprises and a large number of private citizens show a significant interest in the RI (Table 1). FinBIF is now in its second construction cycle (2019–2022), funded through the FIRI programme and, thus, focused on researcher services. The work programme includes integration of tools for data management in ecological restoration and e-Lab tools for spatial analyses, morphometric analysis of 3D images, species identification from sound recordings, and metagenomics analyses.

scholarly journals Environmental DNA (eDNA) Metabarcoding in the Fish Market and Nearby Seafood Restaurants in Taiwan Reveals the Underestimation of Fish Species Diversity in Seafood

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1132
Author(s):  
Hung-Tai Lee ◽  
Cheng-Hsin Liao ◽  
Te-Hua Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Universal Primers ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
Fish Market ◽  
Fish Species Identification

Seafood, especially in traditional food Taiwan, is rarely sourced from a fixed species and routinely from similar species depending on their availability. Hence, the species composition of seafood can be complicated. While a DNA-based approach has been routinely utilized for species identification, a large scale of seafood identification in fish markets and restaurants could be challenging (e.g., elevated cost and time-consuming only for a limited number of species identification). In the present study, we aimed to identify the majority of fish species potentially consumed in fish markets and nearby seafood restaurants using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Four eDNA samplings from a local fish market and nearby seafood restaurants were conducted using Sterivex cartridges. Nineteen universal primers previously validated for fish species identification were utilized to amplify the fragments of mitochondrial DNA (12S, COI, ND5) of species in eDNA samples and sequenced with NovaSeq 6000 sequencing. A total of 153 fish species have been identified based on 417 fish related operational taxonomic units (OTUs) generated from 50,534,995 reads. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) further showed the differences in fish species between the sampling times and sampling sites. Of these fish species, 22 chondrichthyan fish, 14 Anguilliformes species, and 15 Serranidae species were respectively associated with smoked sharks, braised moray eels, and grouper fish soups. To our best knowledge, this work represents the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of a large scale of seafood identification using eDNA metabarcoding approach. Our findings also imply the species diversity in traditional seafood might be seriously underestimated and crucial for the conservation and management of marine resources.

scholarly journals EARTH OBSERVATION-SUPPORTED SERVICE PLATFORM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROVISION OF THEMATIC INFORMATION ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT – THE TEP-URBAN PROJECT

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B8 ◽  
pp. 1379-1384
Author(s):  
T. Esch ◽  
H. Asamer ◽  
M. Boettcher ◽  
F. Brito ◽  
A. Hirner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
The Status ◽  
Thematic Information ◽  
Earth Observation Data ◽  
Urban Project ◽  
High Level

The Sentinel fleet will provide a so-far unique coverage with Earth observation data and therewith new opportunities for the implementation of methodologies to generate innovative geo-information products and services. It is here where the TEP Urban project is supposed to initiate a step change by providing an open and participatory platform based on modern ICT technologies and services that enables any interested user to easily exploit Earth observation data pools, in particular those of the Sentinel missions, and derive thematic information on the status and development of the built environment from these data. Key component of TEP Urban project is the implementation of a web-based platform employing distributed high-level computing infrastructures and providing key functionalities for i) high-performance access to satellite imagery and derived thematic data, ii) modular and generic state-of-the art pre-processing, analysis, and visualization techniques, iii) customized development and dissemination of algorithms, products and services, and iv) networking and communication. This contribution introduces the main facts about the TEP Urban project, including a description of the general objectives, the platform systems design and functionalities, and the preliminary portfolio products and services available at the TEP Urban platform.

scholarly journals Bhutan’s Challenges in Biodiversity Informatics

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Choki Gyeltshen ◽  
Sangay Dema
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Coordination Mechanism ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Biodiversity Data ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Status ◽  
Biodiversity Information

Access to reliable and updated data and information on the status of biodiversity for effective conservation and sustainable use has been one of the major challenges in Bhutan. The current scenario of inaccessibility is due to the fact that biodiversity inventories and documentation are carried out within the context of individual projects and institutions, guided by their specific objectives and collection standards, often in isolation. More critical is the fact that these data hardly get shared nor are they easily accessible, resulting in either duplication of efforts or underutilization of the existing data. It has been duly noted that despite the global recognition of Bhutan’s protected areas system and its conservation achievements, information on the existing biodiversity of these protected areas is not easily accessible. There is also inadequate information on the critical biodiverse areas of the country, making it difficult to make informed decisions for either initiating developmental activities or prioritizing the area for conservation. These gaps are acknowledged and discussed in national documents (NBSAP 2014). In order to provide easy access to comprehensive biodiversity data and information of the country and to ensure the judicious use of our scarce resources, there is a compelling need to establish a coordination mechanism for sharing data on a common platform, not only to overcome the existing gaps but also to enable consolidation and analysis of the data in order to generate information for broader use such as conservation planning or education. Thus in 1994, Bhutan, along with the South-South Cooperation (PSC 2009), which included Benin and Costa Rica, initiated a basic biodiversity information system in each country, funded by the Kingdom of Netherlands. In 2008, the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) developed a web-based biodiversity portal, which was subsequently upgraded to the status of a national biodiversity information clearing house in 2010. However, because of the vastness and variety of biodiversity data, it was not feasible for a single agency to collect as well as curate these vast data. Thus, in early 2013, the Centre proposed the formation of a consortium to manage biodiversity data through a strengthened and an improved version of a web-based portal. In addition, this initiative to form a consortium amongst different biodiversity stakeholders, was also to address the issue of duplicative efforts in developing and managing isolated information systems and databases. The Bhutan Biodiversity Portal (www.biodiversity.bt) was launched on 17th December 2013. Currently, the observation data has crossed 63,000 of all taxa owing mostly to the efforts of a mass campaign across the country. However, one of the major challenges is the availability of active taxonmic curators especially for the understudied taxonomic groups such as invertebrates. In addition, some users prefer social media over the portal due to its user-friendliness.

scholarly journals How can health services establish digital health learning ecosystems? A qualitative evaluation of a national digital health transformation programme in England (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Cresswell ◽  
Aziz Sheikh ◽  
Bryony Dean Franklin ◽  
Marta Krasuska Krasuska ◽  
Hung The Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Inductive Methods ◽  
Learning Ecosystem ◽  
High Level

BACKGROUND The English Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) Programme is one of the first concerted efforts to create a digital health learning ecosystem across a national health service. OBJECTIVE To explore mechanisms supporting or inhibiting exchange of inter-organisational digital transformation knowledge. METHODS We conducted a formative qualitative evaluation of the GDE Programme. We used semi-structured interviews with clinical, technical and managerial staff, national programme managers and network leaders; non-participant observations of knowledge transfer activities through attending meetings, workshops and conferences; and documentary analysis of policy documents. Data were thematically analysed drawing on a theory-informed sociotechnical coding framework. We used a mixture of deductive and inductive methods, supported by NVivo software to facilitate coding. RESULTS We conducted 341 one-to-one and 116 group interviews, observed 86 meetings, and analysed 245 documents in 36 participating provider organisations. We also conducted 56 high-level interviews with policymakers and vendors; 84 observations of national meetings, workshops, and conferences; and analysed 80 national documents. Formal processes put in place by the GDE Programme to initiate and reinforce knowledge transfer and learning have accelerated the growth of informal knowledge networking and helped establish the foundations of a learning ecosystem. However, formal networks were most effective where supported by informal networking. Benefits of networking were enhanced (and costs reduced) by geographical proximity, shared culture and context, common technological functionality, regional and strategic alignments, and professional agendas. CONCLUSIONS Strategic decision makers can stimulate effective knowledge transfer in large-scale digital health transformation initiatives. Knowledge exchange is most effective when sustained through informal networking driven by mutual benefits of sharing knowledge and learning. Policy interventions to enhance incentives and reduce barriers to sharing across the ecosystem may be more productive than promoting particular knowledge transfer mechanisms.

scholarly journals EARTH OBSERVATION-SUPPORTED SERVICE PLATFORM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROVISION OF THEMATIC INFORMATION ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT – THE TEP-URBAN PROJECT

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B8 ◽  
pp. 1379-1384
Author(s):  
T. Esch ◽  
H. Asamer ◽  
M. Boettcher ◽  
F. Brito ◽  
A. Hirner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
The Status ◽  
Thematic Information ◽  
Earth Observation Data ◽  
Urban Project ◽  
High Level

The Sentinel fleet will provide a so-far unique coverage with Earth observation data and therewith new opportunities for the implementation of methodologies to generate innovative geo-information products and services. It is here where the TEP Urban project is supposed to initiate a step change by providing an open and participatory platform based on modern ICT technologies and services that enables any interested user to easily exploit Earth observation data pools, in particular those of the Sentinel missions, and derive thematic information on the status and development of the built environment from these data. Key component of TEP Urban project is the implementation of a web-based platform employing distributed high-level computing infrastructures and providing key functionalities for i) high-performance access to satellite imagery and derived thematic data, ii) modular and generic state-of-the art pre-processing, analysis, and visualization techniques, iii) customized development and dissemination of algorithms, products and services, and iv) networking and communication. This contribution introduces the main facts about the TEP Urban project, including a description of the general objectives, the platform systems design and functionalities, and the preliminary portfolio products and services available at the TEP Urban platform.

scholarly journals DNA barcoding data release for Coleoptera from the Gunung Halimun canopy fogging workpackage of the Indonesian Biodiversity Information System (IndoBioSys) project

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Cancian de Araujo ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Olga Schmidt ◽  
Thomas von Rintelen ◽  
Kristina von Rintelen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Index Number ◽  
Diversity Assessment ◽  
Data Release ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Canopy Fogging ◽  
Biodiversity Information

We present the results of a DNA barcoding pipeline that was established as part of the German-Indonesian IndobioSys project - Indonesian Biodiversity Information System. Our data release provides the first large-scale diversity assessment of Indonesian coleoptera obtained by canopy fogging. The project combined extensive fieldwork with databasing, DNA barcode based species delineation and the release of results in collaboration with Indonesian counterparts, aimed at supporting further analyses of the data. Canopy fogging on 28 trees was undertaken at two different sites, Cikaniki and Gunung Botol, in the south-eastern area of the Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park in West Java, Indonesia. In total, 7,447 specimens of Coleoptera were processed, of which 3,836 specimens produced DNA barcode sequences that were longer than 300 bp. A total of 3,750 specimens were assigned a Barcode Index Number (BIN), including 2,013 specimens from Cikaniki and 1,737 specimens from Gunung Botol. The 747 BINs, that were obtained, represented 39 families of Coleoptera. The distribution of specimens with BINs per tree was quite heterogeneous in both sites even in terms of the abundance of specimens or diversity of BINs. The specimen distribution per taxon was heterogeneous as well. Some 416 specimens could not be identified to family level, corresponding to 72 BINs that lack a family level identification. The data have shown a large heterogeneity in terms of abundance and distribution of BINs between sites, trees and families of Coleoptera. From the total of 747 BINs that were recovered, 421 (56%) are exclusive from a single tree. Although the two study sites were in close proximity and separated by a distance of only about five kilometres, the number of shared BINs between sites is low, with 81 of the 747 BINs. With this data release, we expect to shed some light on the largely hidden diversity in the canopy of tropical forests in Indonesia and elsewhere.

STATUS OF BOREXINO

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 3895-3907
Author(s):  
◽  
ALDO IANNI
Keyword(s):  
Solar Neutrino ◽  
Count Rate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Neutrino Flux ◽  
Solar Neutrinos ◽  
Neutrino Detector ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Status ◽  
High Level

Borexino is a real-time solar neutrino detector under commissioning at the Gran Sasso underground laboratories (Italy). The main goal of the experiment is the spectroscopy of sub-MeV solar neutrinos focusing on the measurement of the 7 Be neutrino flux on Earth. In order to achieve such a goal Borexino has developed a new technology for large-scale low-count rate experiments. This paper reviews the status of the experiment and the strategy adopted to reach a high level of radiopurity. Besides its primary task Borexino will also be able to search for SuperNova neutrinos, non-standard neutrinos properties and neutrino from the Earth.

Social inequality in the evolution of human societies

2019 ◽  
pp. 98-120
Author(s):  
Georgi Derluguian
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Mass Violence ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Tangible Assets ◽  
Transition To Agriculture ◽  
New Institutions ◽  
High Level ◽  
Political Economic

The author develops ideas about the origin of social inequality during the evolution of human societies and reflects on the possibilities of its overcoming. What makes human beings different from other primates is a high level of egalitarianism and altruism, which contributed to more successful adaptability of human collectives at early stages of the development of society. The transition to agriculture, coupled with substantially increasing population density, was marked by the emergence and institutionalisation of social inequality based on the inequality of tangible assets and symbolic wealth. Then, new institutions of warfare came into existence, and they were aimed at conquering and enslaving the neighbours engaged in productive labour. While exercising control over nature, people also established and strengthened their power over other people. Chiefdom as a new type of polity came into being. Elementary forms of power (political, economic and ideological) served as a basis for the formation of early states. The societies in those states were characterised by social inequality and cruelties, including slavery, mass violence and numerous victims. Nowadays, the old elementary forms of power that are inherent in personalistic chiefdom are still functioning along with modern institutions of public and private bureaucracy. This constitutes the key contradiction of our time, which is the juxtaposition of individual despotic power and public infrastructural one. However, society is evolving towards an ever more efficient combination of social initiatives with the sustainability and viability of large-scale organisations.

Modeling and design of role engineering in development of access control for dynamic information systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Poniszewska-Marańda
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Dynamic Information ◽  
Minimal Set ◽  
Distributed Information ◽  
Heterogeneous Information ◽  
System Protection ◽  
Level Model ◽  
Model Independent ◽  
Role Concept ◽  
High Level

Abstract Nowadays, the growth and complexity of functionalities of current information systems, especially dynamic, distributed and heterogeneous information systems, makes the design and creation of such systems a difficult task and at the same time, strategic for businesses. A very important stage of data protection in an information system is the creation of a high level model, independent of the software, satisfying the needs of system protection and security. The process of role engineering, i.e. the identification of roles and setting up in an organization is a complex task. The paper presents the modeling and design stages in the process of role engineering in the aspect of security schema development for information systems, in particular for dynamic, distributed information systems, based on the role concept and the usage concept. Such a schema is created first of all during the design phase of a system. Two actors should cooperate with each other in this creation process, the application developer and the security administrator, to determine the minimal set of user’s roles in agreement with the security constraints that guarantee the global security coherence of the system.

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