Deaf Ni-Vanuatu and their signs: A sociolinguistic study

<p>This thesis provides the first documentation and description of the signs created and used by deaf individuals in Vanuatu. The specific aims of this research were as follows: to establish the sociolinguistic context experienced by deaf people in Vanuatu; to identify the repertoire and characteristics of signs used by the deaf participants; to compare features of participants’ individual signs with the characteristics of home signs and emerging sign languages; and to consider the degree of similarity and potential similarity of signs between participants and how this reflects individuals’ opportunities for contact with other deaf people and signing interlocutors. The limitations of this study are that field methodology for data collection was developed in situ as conditions allowed. The sociolinguistic context for deaf Ni-Vanuatu confirms that language isolation leads to marginalisation from community and society. The study established that these home sign lexicons were limited in quantity and conceptual range, and that shared background knowledge was essential for comprehension. Overall, 22 handshapes were documented, and the predominant handshapes unmarked. Most participants preferred handling strategy for depicting signs. Some evidence of noun-verb distinction was noted in the repertoire of some participants. However, across this range of formational characteristics, results showed significant individual variations. Furthermore, multiple barriers have precluded development of a shared sign language and any form of deaf community.</p>

Deaf Ni-Vanuatu and their signs: A sociolinguistic study

<p>This thesis provides the first documentation and description of the signs created and used by deaf individuals in Vanuatu. The specific aims of this research were as follows: to establish the sociolinguistic context experienced by deaf people in Vanuatu; to identify the repertoire and characteristics of signs used by the deaf participants; to compare features of participants’ individual signs with the characteristics of home signs and emerging sign languages; and to consider the degree of similarity and potential similarity of signs between participants and how this reflects individuals’ opportunities for contact with other deaf people and signing interlocutors. The limitations of this study are that field methodology for data collection was developed in situ as conditions allowed. The sociolinguistic context for deaf Ni-Vanuatu confirms that language isolation leads to marginalisation from community and society. The study established that these home sign lexicons were limited in quantity and conceptual range, and that shared background knowledge was essential for comprehension. Overall, 22 handshapes were documented, and the predominant handshapes unmarked. Most participants preferred handling strategy for depicting signs. Some evidence of noun-verb distinction was noted in the repertoire of some participants. However, across this range of formational characteristics, results showed significant individual variations. Furthermore, multiple barriers have precluded development of a shared sign language and any form of deaf community.</p>

Achieving the best method to classify Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis: a systematic review

Background: Chronic Rhinosinusitis is currently classified into eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic, according to the histologic quantification of the number of eosinophils in nasal mucosa biopsy. There is a lack of unanimous histopathologic criteria and methodology for this classification and no consensus regarding a cut-off point for Eosinophils per High power field. Methodology: A systematic electronic search was performed on BVS, PUBMED, PUBMED PMC, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, EMBASE, COCHRANE and PROQUEST databases looking for studies that reported a cut point for classification of Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis (eCRS), and data concerning methodology of classification was extracted. Results: We identified 142 studies that reported 29 different cut-off values for classification of eCRS, and different methods of histologic analysis. Out of these studies 13 reported their own methodology to establish the cut-off point, and used different reference standards as polyp recurrence, asthma and allergy, immunocytochemistry, quality of life index, standard deviation of the control population and cluster analysis. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to determine a precise cut-off point, especially international multicentered cluster analysis. Moreover, methodologic standardization of biopsy and analysis is needed to certify comparable results. Multiple biopsy sites, densest cellular infiltration area examination and oral steroids restriction at least four weeks before sampling are advisable.

Application of quantitative electromagnetic technology to asses coating integrity of pipelines in México

There are several surface inspection methods to evaluate the integrity of the pipe coating, obtaining acceptable qualitative results in some soil types and low complexity pipeline systems. However, these methods do not determine the necessary parameters for a quantitative evaluation of coating quality. The Mexican Petroleum Institute has developed Surface Electromagnetic Pipeline Inspection (SEMPI) technology for the quantitative assessment of buried pipeline coating integrity. SEMPI is a theory-based technology that enables the development of instrumentation, field methodology, as well as data processing and interpretation techniques. The application of SEMPI consists of two stages: regional and local. The regional stage includes magnetic field, voltage and, soil resistivity (rs) measurements, where the main result is the determination of the electrical resistance of the coating (Tc) along the pipeline as an indicating parameter of the coating quality. A scale signalized from Tc data allows classifying the quality of pipe coating as good (green), fair (yellow) and poor (red). The local stage includes detailed electric field measurements of on anomalous pipeline sections (Tc < 50 Ohm.m2), locating damage in the coating with a detection accuracy of the ± 0.5 m. The equivalent unlined (holiday) area per meter of the inspected pipeline is calculated during the local stage. This work presents successful results from the implementation of regional and local stages of SEMPI technology in two pipelines located in the southeast region of Mexico.

THE ERBIL PLAIN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS, 2012–2020

The Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey (EPAS) investigates settlement and land use from the Neolithic to the present in the Erbil Governorate of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which includes a large portion of the core of the Assyrian Empire. In seven field seasons, it has documented a broad settlement landscape in a region of great social and political importance, especially in the Bronze and Iron Ages, including 728 archaeological sites. Its field methodology combines traditional surface collection with the use of historical aerial and satellite photographs, mobile GIS, and UAV (drone) photogrammetry. Preliminary results show some unexpected patterns: a high density of culturally Uruk settlements in the fourth millennium B.C., variable urban morphologies in the Early Bronze Age; and large but low-density settlements at the end of the Sasanian period or the early Islamic period. The project is explicitly testing several hypotheses about centralized Neo-Assyrian landscape planning in the imperial core. These hypotheses appear to be confirmed, although the situation was more complex than in surrounding provinces, probably due to the longer history of continuous settlement.

Structure from Motion and Archaeological Excavation: Experiences of the Via Consolare Project in Pompeii

The last decade of advances in Image-Based Modeling (IBM) data acquisition based on Structure from Motion (SfM) have made it possible as never before to record excavated archaeological deposits, historical architectural remains, artifacts, and geographical surroundings in the field. Armed only with digital cameras and low-cost or open-source software, researchers can now produce accurate point clouds of millions of points, capturing archaeological information in high-resolution detail. But what changes will IBM really bring to the standards, requirements, and expectations of practical field methodology for projects operating on shoe-string budgets? Since 2010, the Via Consolare Project, a small archaeological research project from a State level University, has employed an entirely open-source and “free for academic use” IBM pipeline to record a variety of archaeological features in Insula VII 6 and the “Villa delle Colonne a mosaico” in Pompeii. Ranging from surviving architecture, to rubble fill layers, to the interiors of inaccessible cisterns and drains, this work has been carried out in preparation for the eventual coordination of these data into a 3D GIS of all recorded stratigraphy. Rarely were sufficient resources available for dedicated equipment or personnel to be devoted to this task. While practical implementation, even in a low-budget excavation environment, has confirmed that this technology can indeed augment archaeological field documentation and provide investigation opportunities that would otherwise be impossible, it failed to replace traditional handdrafted recording techniques and was found to present significant challenges and a number of hidden costs. This emphasizes a need for appropriate and cautious planning in implementation, especially in projects with limited means.

A METHODOLOGY FOR EXAMINING GEOTOURISM POTENTIAL AT THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA

In contrast to Europe, Asia and South America where geotourism is actively pursued, geotourism activities in South Africa have not to-date been a focus of tourism products. The purpose of this paper is to propose a field methodology that can be used to assess the potential for geotourism development. Existing procedures to establish geotourism site potential are reviewed and a new methodology that accounts for more characteristics than currently found in documented methods is proposed. This consists of three phases: creating a standardised manner of inventorying the sites; standardising field rank scoring for each site by geotourism value, cultural value, ecological sensitivity, accessibility, de velopment requirements, currently available academic literature, and, developing a final multi-site database assisting the South African National Parks to preserve geoheritage sites. Based on previous studies, the Kruger National Park has geoheritage sites that could form the basis for geotourism development: therefore, the methodology was piloted in its northern regions at well-known geoheritage sites. The findings of this study intend to assist the South African National Parks, local community leaders, the private sector (including existing tour operators) and government departments in achieving a national database of geoheritage sites to ultimately be associated with sustainable tourism activity led by local communities.

CEUTA snowy plover open access data - COMMENTARY

Eberhart-Phillips et al. (2020, Scientific Data 7: 149) recently published a data-paper CeutaOPEN. However, the publication has significant shortcomings: the article does not explain the history nor the context of the project, it did not give credit to the developers of field methodology and data structure, and fails to acknowledge key contributions to the project. We request correcting these shortcomings.

Mensurações de campo para disponibilidade e demanda hídrica de agricultura irrigada familiar na bacia hidrográfica do Córrego Sujo – Teresópolis (RJ)

A aplicação de mensurações de campo para compreensão da disponibilidade e demanda hídrica na bacia hidrográfica do Córrego Sujo é o escopo deste trabalho. Desta forma, a bacia em questão se situa em Teresópolis-RJ, possui 54 km2 e é caracterizada pela ocupação agrícola familiar, organizada em pequenas e médias propriedades, que utilizam sistemas de irrigação por aspersão para execução dos turnos de rega. As mensurações ocorreram ao longo de 2009 e para conhecer a disponibilidade hídrica da bacia, o estudo contou com três estações plúvio-fluviométricas, que permitiram a coleta diária de dados, que foram associados as medições de vazão no canal. E para estimar a demanda de água pela agricultura, foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de campo específica, que possibilitou quantificar a entrada de água diretamente para o cultivo. Os resultados se mostraram satisfatórios e indicaram na relação demanda-disponibilidade significativo uso da água pela agricultura irrigada, o que se agrava no período de vazão mínima, ocorrendo situações de déficit hídrico. O mês de agosto se apresentou como o mais crítico, acentuando disputas pelo recurso o que atesta a necessidade de intervenção que garanta o acesso justo e compartilhado da água na bacia. Field measurements for availability and demand of water in a family irrigated agriculture in the Córrego Sujo basin – Teresópolis (RJ) A B S T R A C TThis study evaluates water availability and demand in the Córrego Sujo watershed through field measurements. This 54 km2 basin is located in Teresópolis-RJ and is characterized by family agricultural operations organized into small and medium-sized properties that use sprinkler irrigation. Field measurements were collected throughout 2009. Three pluvio-fluviometric stations were surveyed daily and this data related with channel flow measurements aimed to know the water availability of the basin. To estimate the water demand for agriculture, a specific field methodology was developed, made it possible to quantify the inflow of water directly into the crop. The results indicated a substantial use of water by irrigated agriculture operations in relation to demand and availability, which worsens during periods of minimum flow and causes occasional water deficits. August was the most critical month of demand, with increased disputes over water resources. This finding confirms the need for intervention that ensures fair and shared access to water in the basin.Keywords: Water use, Availability, Olericulture, Irrigation, River Basin.

An alternative method for field analysis in inhomogeneous domains

Purpose This paper aims to solve inhomogeneous dielectric problems by matching boundary conditions at the interfaces among homogeneous subdomains. The capabilities of Hilbert transform computations are deeply investigated in the case of limited numbers of samples, and a refined model is presented by means of investigating accuracies in a case study with three subdomains. Design/methodology/approach The accuracies, refined by Richardson extrapolation to zero error, are compared to finite element (FEM) and finite difference methods. The boundary matching procedures can be easily applied to the results of a previous Schwarz–Christoffel (SC) conformal mapping stage in SC + BC procedures, to cope with field singularities or with open boundary problems. Findings The proposed field computations are of general interest both for electrostatic and magnetostatic field analysis and optimization. They can be useful as comparison tools for FEM results or when severe field singularities can impair the accuracies of other methods. Research limitations/implications This static field methodology, of course, can be used to analyse transverse electro magnetic (TEM) or quasi-TEM propagation modes. It is possible that, in some case, these may make a contribution to the analysis of axis symmetrical problems. Originality/value The most relevant result is the possible introduction of SC + BC computations as a standard tool for solving inhomogeneous dielectric field problems.