1,720,961 research outputs found
Indagini ambientali volte all’individuazione di siti e forme del paesaggio potenzialmente identificabili come Geoparchi Mondiali UNESCO
Full text linkIl tema del patrimonio geologico ha riscosso un gran interesse nel mondo scientifico nell’arco degli ultimi trent’anni, portando ad una serie di ricerche ed iniziative in tutto il mondo. Nonostante il crescente interesse, soltanto poche nazioni presentano un inventario del patrimonio geologico nazionale e la conoscenza del patrimonio geologico è generalmente frammentata ed incompleta, mostrando la necessità di strategie di geoconservazione. Un ruolo importante in questo campo è giocato dalla rete di Geoparchi Mondiali UNESCO, definiti come singole aree geografiche i cui siti e paesaggi di valore geologico internazionale vengono gestiti secondo un concetto olistico di protezione, educazione, sviluppo sostenibile. La presente ricerca di dottorato ha previsto l’individuazione e la valutazione di siti di interesse geologico e geomorfologico - geositi - attraverso quattro passaggi principali, con il risultato di una lista finale di geositi, nell’ambito dell’interesse espresso dal Ministero dell’Ambiente maltese. La metodologia di valutazione applicata combina patrimonio geologico con patrimonio culturale, il quale è in parte determinato dal contesto geomorfologico nel quale è inserito. La valutazione di caratteristiche geologiche è essenzialmente basata sul valore scientifico e dalla valutazione di valori addizionali che valorizzano la connessione tra patrimonio geologico e patrimonio culturale e naturalistico, come richiesto dalle direttive UNESCO per l’applicazione come Geoparco UNESCO. In aggiunta, questa tesi presenta una nuova metodologia quantitativa che permette di valutare il rischio di degrado connesso ai geositi, il quale è fondamentale per individuare le principali minacce alla loro integrità e per effettuare un corretto piano di monitoraggio e gestione. La metodologia è basata su tre criteri principali (i) vulnerabilità naturale, (ii) vulnerabilità antropica e (iii) uso pubblico. Questo approccio è importante per considerare gli effetti del cambiamento climatico che sono già in atto e il loro futuro impatto sui geositi. L’individuazione e valutazione di geositi e l’applicazione della nuova metodologia sul rischio di degrado sono state effettuate sull’arcipelago di Malta, situato nel cuore del Mediterraneo. Le Isole Maltesi, nonostante i crescenti livelli di popolazione e turismo, conservano paesaggi e siti di interesse geologico, spesso accompagnati da un elevato valore estetico. Scogliere, baie, spiagge sabbiose, sinkholes, grotte marine e terrestri sono alcuni degli eccezionali elementi geologici che concorrono alla creazione di paesaggi spettacolari che attirano un elevato numero di visitatori. Questi siti sono per lo più situati sulla costa dove il turismo è la principale attività economica. L’attività umana e i processi naturali possono causare impatti negativi che possono interessare direttamente i geositi e le aree circostanti. Malta è stata considerata come la perfetta area di studio poiché, nonostante la presenza di un ricco patrimonio geologico, manca di un inventario nazionale di geositi e per l’interesse mostrato dalla Commissione Nazionale UNESCO. Questa ricerca fornisce approfondimenti per la definizione di strategie mirate alla conservazione del patrimonio geologico e ad un turismo sostenibile e responsabile, che valorizzi anche il fiorente patrimonio geologico. Un turismo più attento e controllato, che sensibilizzi anche gli abitanti dell’isola al tema della sostenibilità, è di estrema importanza per il fatto che le Isole Maltesi presentano la maggior densità di popolazione di tutta Europa ed un considerevole flusso turistico che porta a un’elevata pressione antropica. Per concludere, la ricerca ha contribuito alla gestione dell’area di studio, anche in vista della sua candidatura come Geoparco Mondiale UNESCO.During the last 30 years there has been a growing scientific interest in topics related to geoheritage and a large set of related initiatives have emerged all around the world. Despite the increasing attention, only few countries have a national geoheritage inventory and the present knowledge about geological heritage is generally dispersed and incomplete justifying the establishment of a geoconservation strategy. An important role on this field is played by the UNESCO Global Geoparks, identified as single areas that comprise sites with international geological significance managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. This PhD research has foreseen the recognition and assessment of sites of geological and geomorphological interest, geosites, through four main stages, with the outcome of a final list of geosites, in the frame of the expression of interest made by the Ministry of Environment of Malta. The assessment methodology applied combines geological heritage with landscape cultural components that are partly determined by the geomorphological context in which they are inserted. The evaluation of geological features is essentially based on the scientific value considering different criteria, but additional values are also considered such as the links between geological heritage and all other aspects of the area's natural, cultural and intangible heritages, as required by the UNESCO guidelines to the application as UNESCO Geopark. Furthermore, this thesis presents an innovative quantitative methodology to assess the risk of degradation of geosites, fundamental to understand the threats affecting them and to schedule a correct monitoring and management plan to conserve the geoheritage relevance. The methodology is based on three main criteria (i) natural vulnerability, (ii) anthropic vulnerability and (iii) public use. The risk-based approach proposed is also important to tackle the effects of climate change already in act and to assess their future impact on the geosites. The recognition and assessment of geosites and the application of the new degradation risk methodology have been conducted on the Maltese Islands, located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. The archipelago, despite having a steadily increasing growth in population and tourism, still conserves geological and geomorphological features of great relevance and interest both for their contribution to the understanding of the geological processes acting through time on landscapes and for their aesthetic importance. Coastal cliffs, bays, sandy beaches, sinkholes, caves are some of the most outstanding geological and geomorphological features of the Maltese Islands, creating an outstanding landscape which is an attraction for a number of visitors. These are mostly concentrated in coastal areas, where the main economic activity is tourism. Human activities and natural processes may cause negative impacts that act directly on specific sites of particular value or large areas of the territory. Malta was considered the most suitable location to conduct the research due to the fact that, despite the rich geological heritage, lacks a complete national inventory of geosites and in relation to interest shown also by the UNESCO National Commission. This research provides insights for the definition of strategies aimed at the conservation of geoheritage elements and the development of a sustainable and responsible tourism, which also enhances the rich geological heritage of these areas, by encouraging the knowledge and understanding the landscape and its evolution. Such measures are of current relevance, due to the fact that the Maltese Islands have the highest population density in Europe and annually receive a considerable tourist influx, which result in a high degree of human pressure. In addition, the research has contributed to the management of the studied area, also in the view of a UNESCO Geopark nomination
Geoheritage Degradation Risk Assessment: Methodologies and Insights
Full text linkOver the past 25 years, geoconservation studies and interest in geoheritage have grown significantly. However, the assessment of degradation risks associated with geosites remains less explored. This aspect is crucial for the effective management and conservation of geosites, which face pressure from natural and human factors. In many countries, geosites are at risk of degradation or loss due to the lack of a systematic inventory and inadequate management. Therefore, evaluating and monitoring degradation risks is a priority for the scientific community. Common investigation schemes and approaches for recognizing and preventing threats to geosites are still lacking. This paper presents the first systematic literature review on degradation risk and related terms. Through an extensive search of widely used literature databases, 130 papers were selected and analyzed. The findings highlight a growing focus on quantitative approaches for the assessment of geoheritage degradation risk, with most research conducted at local scales, while identifying climate change as an underexplored yet critical factor. Future priorities include refining spatial and temporal scales, understanding degradation processes, and fostering global collaboration to improve conservation strategies
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Inventory and Quantitative Assessment of Geosites in the Southern Sector of the Island of Malta
Full text linkThe island of Malta, despite its small size, boasts a great variety of landscapes and landforms, offering a wide range of geological and geomorphological features of great interest. The identification and assessment of geosites can contribute to the preservation, protection, and promotion of this rich geodiversity. In addition, geosites have a high potential of attracting geotourists, thus also contributing to the development of the local economy. Tourism plays a key role for the Maltese Islands, with Malta’s tourism direct contribution to GDP being among the highest in Europe. Thus, geotourism could represent a significant resource for Malta, though it has yet to receive the attention and recognition it deserves. Within this framework, this work aims to highlight the role of geoheritage and geotourism as potential resources for the enhancement of sustainable tourism and geoconservation in the southern sector of Malta. This region of Malta receives less visitors compared with the northern sector of the island, which is popular for its sandy beaches. To this end, potential geosites were inventoried and quantitatively assessed using a commonly applied methodology tailored to the local setting. The results of this evaluation let to identify 18 potential geosites that can be recognized as both parts of the Maltese natural heritage and tourist resources. Among these 18 sites, we identified four priority geosites which could be incorporated into a potential geotourism route to also highlight the valuable elements of the cultural heritage located in the vicinity. Moreover, the assessment methodology, applied for the first time in the investigated area, has proven to be a valuable support for geosite identification and can be extended to other Maltese regions
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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