On the Anonymization of Workflow Provenance without Compromising the Transparency of Lineage

Workflows have been adopted in several scientific fields as a tool for the specification and execution of scientific experiments. In addition to automating the execution of experiments, workflow systems often include capabilities to record provenance information, which contains, among other things, data records used and generated by the workflow as a whole but also by its component modules. It is widely recognized that provenance information can be useful for the interpretation, verification, and re-use of workflow results, justifying its sharing and publication among scientists. However, workflow execution in some branches of science can manipulate sensitive datasets that contain information about individuals. To address this problem, we investigate, in this article, the problem of anonymizing the provenance of workflows. In doing so, we consider a popular class of workflows in which component modules use and generate collections of data records as a result of their invocation, as opposed to a single data record. The solution we propose offers guarantees of confidentiality without compromising lineage information, which provides transparency as to the relationships between the data records used and generated by the workflow modules. We provide algorithmic solutions that show how the provenance of a single module and an entire workflow can be anonymized and present the results of experiments that we conducted for their evaluation.

Solving multiple linear regression problem using artificial neural network

<span>Multiple linear regressions are an important tool used to find the relationship between a set of variables used in various scientific experiments. In this article we are going to introduce a simple method of solving a multiple rectilinear regressions (MLR) problem that uses an artificial neural network to find the accurate and expected output from MLR problem. Different artificial neural network (ANN) types with different architecture will be tested, the error between the target outputs and the calculated ANN outputs will be investigated. A recommendation of using a certain type of ANN based on the experimental results will be raised.</span>

End-to-End provenance representation for the understandability and reproducibility of scientific experiments using a semantic approach

Background The advancement of science and technologies play an immense role in the way scientific experiments are being conducted. Understanding how experiments are performed and how results are derived has become significantly more complex with the recent explosive growth of heterogeneous research data and methods. Therefore, it is important that the provenance of results is tracked, described, and managed throughout the research lifecycle starting from the beginning of an experiment to its end to ensure reproducibility of results described in publications. However, there is a lack of interoperable representation of end-to-end provenance of scientific experiments that interlinks data, processing steps, and results from an experiment’s computational and non-computational processes. Results We present the “REPRODUCE-ME” data model and ontology to describe the end-to-end provenance of scientific experiments by extending existing standards in the semantic web. The ontology brings together different aspects of the provenance of scientific studies by interlinking non-computational data and steps with computational data and steps to achieve understandability and reproducibility. We explain the important classes and properties of the ontology and how they are mapped to existing ontologies like PROV-O and P-Plan. The ontology is evaluated by answering competency questions over the knowledge base of scientific experiments consisting of computational and non-computational data and steps. Conclusion We have designed and developed an interoperable way to represent the complete path of a scientific experiment consisting of computational and non-computational steps. We have applied and evaluated our approach to a set of scientific experiments in different subject domains like computational science, biological imaging, and microscopy.

SciNote troubleshooting protocol v1

This protocol was designed for testing out the SciNote integration with protocols.io - not to be used for actual scientific experiments.

«CHERNOMOR»: TO THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LONGEST EXPERIMENT

The work is devoted to a brief description of the preparation and conduct series of scientific experiments in the underwater laboratory “Chernomor” during the period of 1967–1972. The experiments were carried out at the depths from 8 to 30 meters. The place of the experiments is the Southern Branch of the Institute of Oceanology (Gelendzhik). It was unique experiments in the duration of a person’s stay underwater. The maximum depth for “Chernomor” was identified, the optimal methods of organizing work in underwater inhabited houses and the permissible depths for the use of nitrogen-oxygen breathing mixtures were determined. Specialized medical and physiological research was carried out to develop a methodology for the selection and training of aquanauts for future scientific crews. “Chernomor” was the only underwater house in the world that served on the seabed for five seasons in a row. More than 50 scientists from all over the country worked in it in different crews. The work is a tribute to the memory of all enthusiasts and dreamers: designers and developers, engineers and technicians, divers and scientists, everyone involved in those unforgettable events.

Elicitation of Medicinal Plants In Vivo—Is It a Realistic Tool? The Effect of Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid on Lamiaceae Species

Salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJa) are prominent phytohormones that are involved in stress reactions. Both compounds may influence the biosynthesis of secondary compounds; however, scientific experiments in vivo are rare and contradictive. This paper reports on a study on the elicitation of volatiles and total phenolics (TPC) by MeJa and SA. The subjects were four Lamiaceae species studied in open field conditions in Budapest (Hungary). According to the results, both elicitors provoked specific responses in each plant species depending on the dosage applied and the parameter studied; 2 mM of SA stimulated essential oil (EO) accumulation in marjoram and peppermint, while in hyssop 0.1 mM was optimal. MeJa proved to be effective only in marjoram and in basil. In marjoram, cis-sabinene hydrate was decreased and in hyssop, isopinocamphone was increased by both dosages of SA. In peppermint, pulegone content was reduced by 2 mM SA, but no significant change of the major components of basil EO was detected. SA was successful in increasing TPC and antioxidant activity (AC) in three of the experimental species, but not in hyssop. In marjoram, only 0.1 mM induced TPC and eventually AC, while in peppermint and basil both dosages of SA were effective. Optimalisation of the treatments is suggested in further in vivo experiments.

Enabling the sustainable space era by developing the infrastructure for a space economy

The world is changing fast, and so is the space sector. Planning for large scientific experiments two decades ahead may no longer be the most sensible approach. I develop the argument that large science experiments are becoming comparable to terrestrial civil infrastructures in terms of cost. As a result, these should incorporate plans for a return on investment (or impact, not necessarily economic), require a different approach for inter-division coordination within the European Space Agency (ESA), and a broader participation of all society stakeholders (civil society representatives, and the broader public). Defining which experiments will be relevant two decades ahead adds rigidity and quenches creativity to the development of cutting edge science and technology. This is likely to discourage both senior and earlier career professionals into supporting such long-term (and often precarious) plans. A more sensible strategy would be increasing the rate of smaller well understood experiments, engage more society sectors in the development of a truly space-bound infrastructure, and formulate a strategy more in tune with the challenges faced by our society and planet. We argue that such strategy would lead to equally large -even larger- scale experiments in the same time-scale, while providing economic returns and a common sense of purpose. A basic but aggressive road map is outlined.

A Importância das Demonstrações Químicas para a Feira de Ciências na Escola

Resumo As feiras de Ciências são ferramentas muito relevantes no processo de ensino-aprendizagem para o aluno, pois possibilitam a compreensão de conceitos estudados, em sala de aula, por meio de demonstrações experimentais. Desse modo, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo demonstrar experimentos químicos envolvendo a contextualização e a interdisciplinaridade da feira de Ciências na Escola Estadual Plínio Ramos Coelho. Para atender ao objetivo do trabalho foi realizada a feira de ciências no evento intitulado “III Mostra do Saber”, quatro bolsistas do PIBID ficaram responsáveis por confeccionar e executar seus experimentos demonstrativos, sendo todos na área da Química, com intuito de contribuir no processo ensino -aprendizagem dos alunos e sociedade presente no evento, além de envolver a contextualização da cientificidade com o cotidiano também abrange a interação comunidade/escola e professor/aluno. Os resultados obtidos foram satisfatórios, pois os bolsistas do PIBID, alunos da escola e comunidade, em geral, trocaram experiências por meio dos experimentos realizados na Feira de Ciências, proporcionando assim mais conhecimento para todos os participantes. Por fim, conclui-se que por meio do projeto realizado é possível relacionar e compreender conteúdos vistos anteriormente, em sala de aula, por meio de demonstrações químicas, reforçando interações entre comunidade e escola e aproximando mais professor e aluno.Palavras-chave: Experimentos Científicos. PIBID. Química. Abstract Science fairs are relevant tools in the student's teaching-learning process, as they enable the understanding of concepts studied in the classroom through experimental demonstrations. Thus, this project aimed to demonstrate chemical experiments involving the contextualization and interdisciplinarity of the science fair at the Plínio Ramos Coelho State School. To meet the project objective, the science fair was held at the event entitled “III Mostra do Saber”, four PIBID scholarship holders were responsible for making and executing their demonstration experiments, all of them in the chemistry area, in order to contribute to the teaching-learning process of students and society present at the event, in addition to involving the scientificity contextualization with everyday life, it also encompasses the interaction with community / school and teacher / student. The results obtained were satisfactory, since the PIBID scholarship holders, students from the school and the community in general exchanged experiences through the experiments carried out at the science fair, thus providing more knowledge for all the participants. Finally, it is concluded that through the project carried out it is possible to relate and understand content previously seen in the classroom through chemical demonstrations, reinforcing interactions between community and school and bringing the teacher and student closer. Keywords: Scientific Experiments. PIBID. Chemistry.

Virtual Reality Safety Limitations

Virtual reality is currently a phenomenon that is transmitted from the scientific field to real life more and more, and its application can be observed in several sectors. This technology provides a whole new perspective on various areas that we, as ordinary mortals, would find very difficult to reach. It allows us to see and even feel things, that are often very difficult to reach in real life. Starting with various simulations of dangerous work activities and ending with complicated scientific experiments, virtual reality provides a wide utilization, that pushes the boundaries of research and human capabilities further again. But is VR suitable for anyone, is it safe enough? Does VR have any limitations that make it impossible for it to be fully exploited and put into practice?

The psychosociology of advertising. About visual ads. Pro Universitaria Publishing House, Bucharest, 2021. Septimiu Chelcea

This publication follows nearly a decade of a second edition of the book entitled: „The Psychosociology of Advertising. About visual aids”. Today, when it comes to visual advertising, a revision of the text is required. The pace of knowledge in all fields is accelerating: new theories are constantly emerging, hypotheses are being put forward and a wealth of observational facts and results of scientific experiments is being disseminated through books and journals in print and online. It is nearly impossible for any single human being to understand the universe of knowledge. What we can expect is to get as clear a picture as possible of our area of research, but never a complete understanding of it.