Structuring a research infrastructure: A study of the rise and fall of a large-scale distributed biobank facility

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Larsson ◽  
Carl Savage ◽  
Mats Brommels ◽  
Pauline Mattsson
Keyword(s):  
Power Analysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Parallel Processes ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
National Champions ◽  
The Eu

This study analyses the perceived key interests, importance, influences and participation of different actors in harmonizing the processes and mechanisms of a distributed research infrastructure. It investigates the EU-funded initiative, BioBanking and Molecular Resource Infrastructure in Sweden (BBMRI.se), which seeks to harmonize the biobanking standards. The study interviews multiple actors involved throughout the development process. Their responses are analysed via a framework based on the IIED Stakeholder Power Analysis Tool. The BBMRI.se formation was facilitated by two parallel processes, with domestic and European/foreign origin, with leading scientists becoming ‘National Champions’. The respondents joined the organization under the premise that it would be a collaborative endeavour, but they were disappointed to learn the deliberative elements were more prevalent. In conclusion, the resulting autonomous structure caused disarray, while also fuelling interpersonal differences, ultimately leading to the closure of the infrastructure. Hence, it is necessary to clearly identify potential collaborative and deliberative elements already at the outset while also securing wider forms of communication between the participating actors, when establishing distributed research infrastructures. Moreover, while prior literature suggests that research infrastructures counteracts fragmentation, these results illustrate that this is not the case for this distributed research infrastructure.

GERI – The emerging Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaana Bäck ◽  
Werner Kutsch ◽  
Michael Mirtl
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Decadal Scale ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Access To Data

<p>Ecosystem Research Infrastructures around the world have been designed, constructed, and are now operational as a distributed effort. The common goal is to address research questions that require long-term ecosystem observations and other service components at national to continental scales, which cannot be tackled in the framework of single and time limited projects.  By design, these Research Infrastructures capture data and provide a wider range of services including access to data and well instrumented research sites. The coevolution of supporting infrastructures and ecological sciences has developed into new science disciplines such as macrosystems ecology, whereby large-scale and multi-decadal-scale ecological processes are being explored. </p><p>Governments, decision-makers, researchers and the public have all recognized that the global economy, quality of life, and the environment are intrinsically intertwined and that ecosystem services ultimately depend on resilient ecological processes. These have been altered and threatened by various components of Global Change, e.g. land degradation, global warming and species loss. These threats are the unintended result of increasing anthropogenic activities and have the potential to change the fundamental trajectory of mankind.  This creates a unique challenge never before faced by society or science—how best to provide a sustainable economic future while understanding and globally managing a changing environment and human health upon which it relies.</p><p>The increasing number of Research Infrastructures around the globe now provides a unique and historical opportunity to respond to this challenge. Six major ecosystem Research Infrastructures (SAEON/South Africa, TERN/Australia, CERN/China, NEON/USA, ICOS/Europe, eLTER/Europe) have started federating to tackle the programmatic work needed for concerted operation and the provisioning of interoperable data and services. This Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure (GERI) will be presented with a focus on the involved programmatic challenges and the GERI science rationale.</p>

scholarly journals Digital Research Infrastructure

2021 ◽  
pp. 67-76
Author(s):  
Maik Stührenberg ◽  
Oliver Schonefeld ◽  
Andreas Witt
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Information Infrastructure ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Legal Infrastructure ◽  
Digital Research

AbstractDigital research infrastructures can be divided into four categories: large equipment, IT infrastructure, social infrastructure, and information infrastructure. Modern research institutions often employ both IT infrastructure and information infrastructure, such as databases or large-scale research data. In addition, information infrastructure depends to some extent on IT infrastructure. In this paper, we discuss the IT, information, and legal infrastructure issues that research institutions face.

scholarly journals Biological & Geological Collections as a Research Infrastructure: A Dutch case

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Banki ◽  
Letty Stupers ◽  
Marijn Prins
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Digital Collections ◽  
Biodiversity Research ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Biodiversity Information

Within the Netherlands, large scale digitization efforts of natural science collections have taken place in recent years. This has led to a wealth of digital information on natural science collections. Still, large quantities of collection data remain untapped and undigitized. The usage of all these digital collections data as driver for science and society remains underexplored. Especially important, is the opportunity for such data to be combined and/or enriched with other data types with the aim to empower different user groups. A consortium of Dutch partners has committed themselves in working together to make biological and geological collections into a joint research infrastructure, underpinning other research infrastructures and scientific uses also beyond the biodiversity research domain. This consortium combines the Dutch contribution to the Distributed Systems of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo), LifeWatch, the Catalogue of Life and the Global Biodiversity Information facility, under the coordination of the Netherlands Biodiversity Information Facility. As part of a preparatory project for DiSSCo, funded by the Dutch science council, we connected the different users groups of collection managers (data providers), scientists (end-users), IT-specialists and policymakers. With collection managers we explored how to move towards an overview of all natural science collections in the Netherlands. In addition, we studied to what extent collection holdings of different musea could be combined, managed, and shared into one research infrastructure. Using a research data management cycle perspective, we surveyed and interviewed the Dutch research community for the barriers and opportunities in using natural science collections and related data. The outcomes of the project should lead to the next steps in creating a more comprehensive and inclusive biodiversity research data infrastructure in the Netherlands that interacts seamlessly with existing international research infrastructures, including DiSSCo.

scholarly journals European Concept of Research Infrastructure Development: the Possibility to Adapt the Experience of EU Scientific Infrastructures Formation for Use in Russia

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
E. V. Tarasova ◽  
A. A. Balyakin ◽  
D. V. Mun
Keyword(s):  
Practical Experience ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Scientific Infrastructure ◽  
Large Research ◽  
The Eu

In the article, the authors examine objects of scientific infrastructure, identify four types of large research infrastructures and analyze their functioning. Particular attention has paid to the study of practical experience and the specifics of organizing the work of research infrastructures in the EU, including the category of collective use of megascienceclass scientific complexes. The authors draw conclusions and recommendations on the use of the EU’s positive experience in this area for the organization of research infrastructure in Russia.

THE SOME QUESTIONS OF AUTONOMOUS MOTION AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND-MOBILE ROBOTIC COMPLEXES FOR UKRAINIAN GROUND FORCESE

2019 ◽  
pp. 53-58
Author(s):  
О. Кravchuk ◽  
V. Symonenkov ◽  
I. Symonenkova ◽  
O. Hryhorev
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Distributed Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Highly Effective ◽  
Information Management Systems ◽  
Robotic Devices ◽  
Principles And Standards ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Eu

Today, more than forty countries of the world are engaged in the development of military-purpose robots. A number of unique mobile robots with a wide range of capabilities are already being used by combat and intelligence units of the Armed forces of the developed world countries to conduct battlefield intelligence and support tactical groups. At present, the issue of using the latest information technology in the field of military robotics is thoroughly investigated, and the creation of highly effective information management systems in the land-mobile robotic complexes has acquired a new phase associated with the use of distributed information and sensory systems and consists in the transition from application of separate sensors and devices to the construction of modular information subsystems, which provide the availability of various data sources and complex methods of information processing. The purpose of the article is to investigate the ways to increase the autonomy of the land-mobile robotic complexes using in a non-deterministic conditions of modern combat. Relevance of researches is connected with the necessity of creation of highly effective information and control systems in the perspective robotic means for the needs of Land Forces of Ukraine. The development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine management system based on the criteria adopted by the EU and NATO member states is one of the main directions of increasing the effectiveness of the use of forces (forces), which involves achieving the principles and standards necessary for Ukraine to become a member of the EU and NATO. The inherent features of achieving these criteria will be the transition to a reduction of tasks of the combined-arms units and the large-scale use of high-precision weapons and land remote-controlled robotic devices. According to the views of the leading specialists in the field of robotics, the automation of information subsystems and components of the land-mobile robotic complexes can increase safety, reliability, error-tolerance and the effectiveness of the use of robotic means by standardizing the necessary actions with minimal human intervention, that is, a significant increase in the autonomy of the land-mobile robotic complexes for the needs of Land Forces of Ukraine.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Models of Farms in the European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4772
Author(s):  
Hanna Klikocka ◽  
Aneta Zakrzewska ◽  
Piotr Chojnacki
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Agricultural Income ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
Standard Output ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Eu

The article describes and sets the definition of different farm models under the categories of being family, small, and large-scale commercial farms. The distinction was based on the structure of the workforce and the relationship between agricultural income and the minimum wage. Family farms were dominated by the farming family providing the labour and their income per capita exceeded the net minimum wage in the country. The larger commercial farms feature a predominance of hired labour. Based on surveys, it was found that in 2016 in the EU-28 there were 10,467,000 farms (EU-13—57.3%, EU-15—42.7%). They carried out agricultural activities on an area of 173,338,000 ha (EU-13—28.5%, EU-15—71.5%). Countries of the EU-28 generated a standard output (SO) amounting to EUR 364,118,827,100 (EU-13—17.2% and EU-15—82.8%). After the delimitation, it was shown that small farming (70.8%) was the predominant form of management in the European Union (EU-13—88.2% and EU-15—79.8%) compared to family farming (18.4%) (EU-13—10.5% and EU-15—29%). In most EU countries the largest share of land resources pertains to small farms (35.6%) and family farms (38.6%) (UAA—utilised agricultural area of farms).

scholarly journals PRISMS-Fatigue computational framework for fatigue analysis in polycrystalline metals and alloys

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammadreza Yaghoobi ◽  
Krzysztof S. Stopka ◽  
Aaditya Lakshmanan ◽  
Veera Sundararaghavan ◽  
John E. Allison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Metals And Alloys ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Computational Framework ◽  
Crystal Plasticity Finite Element ◽  
Polycrystalline Metals ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Open Source Framework

AbstractThe PRISMS-Fatigue open-source framework for simulation-based analysis of microstructural influences on fatigue resistance for polycrystalline metals and alloys is presented here. The framework uses the crystal plasticity finite element method as its microstructure analysis tool and provides a highly efficient, scalable, flexible, and easy-to-use ICME community platform. The PRISMS-Fatigue framework is linked to different open-source software to instantiate microstructures, compute the material response, and assess fatigue indicator parameters. The performance of PRISMS-Fatigue is benchmarked against a similar framework implemented using ABAQUS. Results indicate that the multilevel parallelism scheme of PRISMS-Fatigue is more efficient and scalable than ABAQUS for large-scale fatigue simulations. The performance and flexibility of this framework is demonstrated with various examples that assess the driving force for fatigue crack formation of microstructures with different crystallographic textures, grain morphologies, and grain numbers, and under different multiaxial strain states, strain magnitudes, and boundary conditions.

scholarly journals Robots for Elderly Care in the Home: A Landscape Analysis and Co-Design Toolkit

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Bardaro ◽  
Alessio Antonini ◽  
Enrico Motta
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Robotic Platform ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Healthcare Interventions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

AbstractOver the last two decades, several deployments of robots for in-house assistance of older adults have been trialled. However, these solutions are mostly prototypes and remain unused in real-life scenarios. In this work, we review the historical and current landscape of the field, to try and understand why robots have yet to succeed as personal assistants in daily life. Our analysis focuses on two complementary aspects: the capabilities of the physical platform and the logic of the deployment. The former analysis shows regularities in hardware configurations and functionalities, leading to the definition of a set of six application-level capabilities (exploration, identification, remote control, communication, manipulation, and digital situatedness). The latter focuses on the impact of robots on the daily life of users and categorises the deployment of robots for healthcare interventions using three types of services: support, mitigation, and response. Our investigation reveals that the value of healthcare interventions is limited by a stagnation of functionalities and a disconnection between the robotic platform and the design of the intervention. To address this issue, we propose a novel co-design toolkit, which uses an ecological framework for robot interventions in the healthcare domain. Our approach connects robot capabilities with known geriatric factors, to create a holistic view encompassing both the physical platform and the logic of the deployment. As a case study-based validation, we discuss the use of the toolkit in the pre-design of the robotic platform for an pilot intervention, part of the EU large-scale pilot of the EU H2020 GATEKEEPER project.

scholarly journals An intelligent management system for aquaponics

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-350
Author(s):  
Divas Karimanzira ◽  
Thomas Rauschenbach
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Optimum Conditions ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Water Recirculation ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Intelligent Management ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Aquaculture Production ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Population rise, climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, and food security require efficient and sustainable food production. Aquaponics is a highly efficient way of farming and is becoming increasingly popular. However, large scale aquaponics still lack stability, standardization and proof of economical profitability. The EU-INAPRO project helps to overcome these limitations by introducing digitization, enhanced technology, and developing standardized modular scalable solutions and demonstrating the viability of large aquaponics. INAPRO is based on an innovation a double water recirculation system (DRAPS), one for fish, and the other one for crops. In DRAPS, optimum conditions can be set up individually for fish and crops to increase productivity of both. Moreover, the integration of digital technologies and data management in the aquaculture production and processing systems will enable full traceability and transparency in the processes, increasing consumers’ trust in aquaculture products. In this paper, the innovations and the digitization approach will be introduced and explained and the key benefits of the system will be emphasized.

scholarly journals Characterization of Pharmaceutical Tablets Using UV Hyperspectral Imaging as a Rapid Line to Line Analysis Tool

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4436
Author(s):  
Mohammad Al Ktash ◽  
Mona Stefanakis ◽  
Barbara Boldrini ◽  
Edwin Ostertag ◽  
Marc Brecht
Keyword(s):  
Hyperspectral Imaging ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Hyperspectral Data ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Sample Set

A laboratory prototype for hyperspectral imaging in ultra-violet (UV) region from 225 to 400 nm was developed and used to rapidly characterize active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in tablets. The APIs are ibuprofen (IBU), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and paracetamol (PAR). Two sample sets were used for a comparison purpose. Sample set one comprises tablets of 100% API and sample set two consists of commercially available painkiller tablets. Reference measurements were performed on the pure APIs in liquid solutions (transmission) and in solid phase (reflection) using a commercial UV spectrometer. The spectroscopic part of the prototype is based on a pushbroom imager that contains a spectrograph and charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The tablets were scanned on a conveyor belt that is positioned inside a tunnel made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in order to increase the homogeneity of illumination at the sample position. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to differentiate the hyperspectral data of the drug samples. The first two PCs are sufficient to completely separate all samples. The rugged design of the prototype opens new possibilities for further development of this technique towards real large-scale application.

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