SPEIR: developing a common information environment in Scotland

Purpose - To report on the work of the SPEIR project and indicate its relevance beyond the Scottish information environment. SPEIR was funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council to identify, research, and develop the elements of an internationally interoperable Scottish Common Information Environment (SCIE) for Library, Museum and Archive domain information services, and to determine the best path for future progress. A key focus was to determine the distributed information infrastructure requirements of a pilot Scottish Cultural Portal being developed in parallel with the SPEIR work, building on existing pilot initiatives such as the CAIRNS distributed catalogue and landscaper, the SCONE collections database, the SCAMP staff portal and an embryonic organisational infrastructure based on the Confederation of Scottish Mini-cooperatives (CoSMiC). Design/methodology/approach - A series of practical pilots was undertaken. These were underpinned by relevant desk and field research and conducted within an overarching holistic approach to developing the distributed environment. Practical implications - Key outcomes included the creation of a single upgraded integrated service incorporating an extended distributed catalogue, collections database, and landscaper, the creation of a pilot distributed digital library, the development of open-URL-based facilities to permit portals to incorporate 'canned searches' of the catalogue, the collections database, the SDDL, and other compatible services, an illustrative pilot Scottish terminology mapping service, and various organisational infrastructure and professional support improvements. Originality/value - The embryonic technical and organisational infrastructure reported may provide a model for other small countries (or regions within larger countries) seeking a coherent approach to the development of an interoperable information environment

'NOF-Digi' : putting UK culture online

This article describes a major digitisation programme aimed at improving online access to cultural resources from the UK's museums, libraries and galleries for lifelong learners and others. The programme provides free access to important areas of the country's diverse cultural, artistic, and community resources. The article describes the programme, highlights some of the projects, and looks at areas where improvements to programme coordination might have been made. At time of writing, most of the projects are still in progress

Use of Bridges as Day Roosts by Bats in Southern Illinois

From May through July 2001, and June through August 2002 we surveyed 232 bridges in 9 southern Illinois counties for the presence of roosting bats. Fifteen bridges (6.5%) had bats roosting at the time they were surveyed. We encountered big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) most frequently. Eastern pipestrelles (Pipestrellus subflavus), little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), and northern long-eared bats (M. septentrionalis) also were found roosting under bridges. The number of bats per bridge ranged from 1 to \u3e100. Bats occurred in four of the five types of bridge designs surveyed. Of the 15 bridges with bats, 11 were rechecked at a later date to determine continuity of use. Seven of the 11 (63.6%) were being used by bats when rechecked. From this, we derived an estimated usage rate of 23.6 bridges (15/0.636) during the study, or about 10% of the 232 bridges surveyed. We could not determine relationships between bat presence and habitat features around bridges

Competing Pairing Symmetries in a Generalized Two-Orbital Model for the Pnictides

We introduce and study an extended "t-U-J" two-orbital model for the pnictides that includes Heisenberg terms deduced from the strong coupling expansion. Including these J terms explicitly allows us to enhance the strength of the (pi, 0)-(0, pi) spin order which favors the presence of tightly bound pairing states even in the small clusters that are here exactly diagonalized. The A1g and B2g pairing symmetries are found to compete in the realistic spin-ordered and metallic regime. The dynamical pairing susceptibility additionally unveils low-lying B1g states, suggesting that small changes in parameters may render any of the three channels stable.Comment: submitted PRL 10/5/1

Registration of a Validated Mechanical Atlas of Middle Ear for Surgical Simulation

International audienceThis paper is centered on the development of a new train- ing and rehearsal simulation system for middle ear surgery. First, we have developed and validated a mechanical atlas based on finite element method of the human middle ear. The atlas is based on a microMRI. Its mechanical behavior computed in real-time has been successfully val- idated. In addition, we propose a method for the registration of the mechanical atlas on patient imagery. The simulation can be used for a rehearsal surgery with the geometrical anatomy of a given patient and with mechanical data that are validated. Moreover, this process does not necessitate a complete re-built of the model

A Judge’s Experiences and Reflections on Restoring Community

Our nation and our people are strongly but fairly evenly divided. Both sides claim the high ground. Too many of us irrationally despise and demonize one another, including those we have never met. Even for those of us with the mind, heart, and will to do so, the challenge of helping to mitigate the division and demonization looms large. It is a daunting, but consuming task. Judges, especially appellate court and supreme court judges, are among those best able to help calm this social and cultural storm. Why is that so? Because judges are role models for those in and out of the legal profession, and they are our nation’s neutrals, cloaked with community standing, credibility, prestige, and power. I humbly and respectfully suggest we judges share a duty, which we can pursue in ethical ways, to leverage our temporary, lofty circumstances to help rekindle good will, common sense, and common decency among our conflicted factions.

A Vision of the Future of Appellate Practice and Process

Technology is changing appellate practice in two different ways. The first, is increasing efficiency. Technology is also changing the scope and direction of traditional appellate practice and process

A Vision of the Future of Appellate Practice and Process

Technology is changing appellate practice in two different ways. The first, is increasing efficiency. Technology is also changing the scope and direction of traditional appellate practice and process