Building a family ontology to meet consistency criteria

Semantic web is an extension of the current web in which the existing information on the web are organized and encoded more meaningfully using ontology language, thus enabling effective communication among machines and humans. Ontology is the backbone of the semantic web that contributes to knowledge sharing among intended parties over distributed systems around the world. In the past few years, semantic web has been widely accepted by a variety of fields for better knowledge representation, communication, sharing and reasoning on the web. Now, there are existing genealogical ontologies proposed by different groups of researchers once semantic web has emerged as third generation of the web. However, existing ontologies still lack certain important concepts and properties to support the domain of family relations. This may lead to the inability of the ontology to deliver full potential of exchanging family history information among all interested parties. Moreover, existing ontologies do not employ the full potential of SWRL rules to reason the individuals within the ontology. The main aim of this research is to build a new Family Ontology which obeys the consistency criteria. Consistency checking ensures there are no contradictory concepts found within the resulting ontology. The consistency of Family Ontology will be evaluated using FACT++, HermiT and Pellet reasoners. By augmenting the additional axioms and testing the resulting ontology thoroughly using reasoner tools, the proposed Family Ontology is expected to achieve a consistency of 100%.This research is meaningful and significant to all humans since everyone has his or her own unique family history. The proposed ontology also facilitates effective and efficient communication among all intended parties since shared vocabularies and standards are employed by the proposed ontology

Optimization and synchronization of programmable quantum communication channels

Quantum applications transmit and receive data through quantum and classical communication channels. Channel capacity, the distance and the photon path between transmitting and receiving parties and the speed of the computation links play an essential role in timely synchronization and delivery of information using classical and quantum channels. In this study, we analyze and optimize the parameters of the communication channels needed for the quantum application to successfully operate. We also develop algorithms for synchronizing data delivery on classical and quantum channels.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Mental health clients confirm the value of occupation in building competence and self-identity

Engagement in occupation is proposed to enhance health and wellbeing. To date, few studies have demonstrated this in relation to people with mental health problems. This study aimed to evaluate occupational therapy’s beliefs in the restorative powers of occupation from the perspective of people with enduring mental health problems living in the community. Qualitative research methods were used in two mental health day service settings: a workshop, where woodwork was provided as a medium for creative therapy, and a drop-in facility. Participant observation was undertaken over 10 sessions and, during six in-depth interviews, the clients were asked about their occupational experiences and whether they had perceived any benefits from engagement in occupation. Content and inductive analysis as well as concept mapping of the data resulted in emergent themes and subthemes. Occupation was identified both as a means for building competence through the acquisition of skills, coping with challenges and achieving success and as a medium for developing self-identity through the drive to create, feelings of usefulness and engendering a sense of self. These themes help to support the need for an increase in the provision of meaningful occupation for people with enduring mental health problems. However, further research is required to develop and corroborate the findings

Epidemiology and economic impact of Johne's disease in Irish dairy herds

End of project reportThis project addressed two aspects of an emerging infectious disease of Irish cattle; the epidemiology and the economic impacts of Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis). Though this disease has been present in Irish cattle herds for decades, only since the introduction of the Single European Market in 1992 has it become more widespread. In addition to this change in the epidemiology of the disease in Irish cattle, there is increasing evidence that the causative organism, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) may be implicated in a human illness, Crohn’s disease, though proof of a zoonotic link is currently disputed (Tremblay, 2004). Against this background a collaborative research project was set up by Teagasc and funded by Irish dairy farmers