Global Imagery Research Articles

Internationalisation with Chinese characteristics: exploring the paradox in students' experiences at Sino-foreign cooperative universities

ABSTRACT Although previous research has explored the impact of global and local forces on transnational higher education (TNHE) at a macro level, limited attention has been paid to students’ lived experiences navigating the mixed influences. To address the research gap, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 Chinese undergraduates enrolled in two Sino-foreign cooperative universities (SFCUs). From the theoretical lens of paradox, this study revealed the inherent tensions in the dynamic and hybrid educational practices at SFCUs, arising from the internationalisation of higher education with Chinese characteristics. The overlapping values of cosmopolitanism, nationalism, neoliberalism, and authoritarianism have repercussions on the programme structure, academic discourse, and university management. The findings indicate that students negotiated the tensions in various manners, including following the prevailing discourse, challenging the global imagery, and recognising the complexity of situation. The presence of conflicting influences led some students to develop hierarchical binary thinking towards knowledge and elicit ambivalent emotions towards institutions, while others achieved a wholeness of self through self-reflection. This study contributes to a new scholarly perspective on exploring students’ unique experiences in TNHE.

Geo-cultural and Political Dialogue between Pakistan and Turkey: Resetting the Diplomatic Pace for 'Soft Power' Regional and Global Imagery in a Changing World

Geo-cultural and Political Dialogue between Pakistan and Turkey: Resetting the Diplomatic Pace for 'Soft Power' Regional and Global Imagery in a Changing World

Mental practice for laparoscopic salpingectomy

Mental practice (MP) is a method of enhancing surgical training by rehearsal of a task without physical action. The primary objective of the study was to develop and validate a MP tool for laparoscopic salpingectomy (LS). An imagery script for LS was developed and used to facilitate a structured MP session for trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and expert gynaecologists across three teaching hospitals in the UK. A virtual platform was used for one trainee group to assess its feasibility compared to a face-to-face approach. Pre- and post-session assessments were conducted to evaluate the impact of the script on motivation, confidence, preparedness and quality of imagery and demonstrated a significant improvement in global imagery scores for both novice groups. The expert group scored significantly higher than the face-to-face novice group on all items both before and after MP, indicating construct validity. There were no significant differences demonstrated between the two novice groups, thus demonstrating the virtual platform to be a non-inferior approach – an important consideration in the current COVID era.

Geografia romanului românesc (1933-1947): străinătatea

This article analyzes the ways in which the Romanian novel published between 1933-1947 represents foreign cities, towns, peripheries, and villages in the fictional worlds. It asserts the democratization of the narrative universe through the planetary perspective of the novels and discusses the birth of the Global South imagery. The search was conducted on a corpus of 700 novels in the MDRR archive. The data is disposed through quantifying recurrences (the number of novels in which a city appears) and occurrences (the number of times a city appears) of foreign cities. This article deals with representations of Europe and the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia in the 1933-1947 Romanian novel. It separates three main categories (main cities, consolidation cities, and secondary cities) and shows the planetary distribution of space within the Romanian novel.

Digital terrain model elevation corrections using space-based imagery and ICESat-2 laser altimetry

The most prevalent global surface models are derived from space-based technologies. The spatial and temporal coverage of radar and imaging systems have significant advantage over other sensors and platforms. However, these systems are often are challenged in certain environmental conditions to produce accurate elevations as compared to what might achieved with laser altimetry. Radar derived DEM (Digital Elevation Model) elevation accuracy is often less in vegetated regions, as the wavelengths associated with radar mapping missions do not fully penetrate the canopy. Elevation errors are also substantial over dynamic topography. Correction models using airborne lidar reference datasets can be effective for localized studies to improve the DEM but often the data is not readily available or seasonally/temporally irrelevant. This work presents an automated method for correcting digital terrain models derived from the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) elevation products using NASA's newest Earth observing laser altimeter, the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2). ICESat-2 elevations, in concert with Landsat 8 (global imagery), create a model based correction strategy for the SRTM derived elevations using geographically correlated canopy cover and surface slope information. The results are validated at the study site using high-resolution, high fidelity airborne lidar datasets as a reference surface. The application of the correction model on the radar measurements results in nearly 50% improvement in elevation accuracy for this region. Additionally this established proof of concept provides a starting point for further research in how this method, with ICESat-2 data, can be extended to other environmental regions, other radar or image derived elevation products and inform future techniques for similar application at the global scale.

L'immaginario della prestazione.Percorsi di ricerca sulle nuove forme di soggettività = The imagery of performance. Research paths on new forms of subjectivity

The research path I am presenting here focuses on an analysis of the imagery of the Performance Society. This phrase is to be meant as the overall (re)-configuration of contemporary society. A new form of reality, in which the relationship between the individual and society is (re)-thought in market terms, according to a corporate management approach. A generative form of a new anthropology and of a new idea of subjectivity, of type. In this essay, the subject is investigated resorting to a phenomenological point of view; hence highlighting as having to be performative is, first and foremost, a norm (and a set of typified meanings) increasingly taken for granted by millions of individuals in the world. In this study, I have analysed some of the most relevant international publications focusing on self-management, namely that set of widely spread formulae which address the need for constant improvement that social actors experience in their daily performance. Moving from this analysis, I have tried to understand how the concept of subject is meant and represented, hereby contributing to produce – in the global imagery – more and more typical forms of subjectivity.

Mission-Long Recalibrated Science Quality Suomi NPP VIIRS Radiometric Dataset Using Advanced Algorithms for Time Series Studies

Suomi NPP has been successfully operating since its launch on 28 October 2011. As one of the major payloads, along with microwave and infrared sounders (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)), and ozone mapping/profiling (OMPS) instruments, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) has performed for well beyond its mission design life. Its data have been used for a variety of applications for nearly 30 environmental data products, including global imagery twice daily with 375 and 750 m resolutions, clouds, aerosol, cryosphere, ocean color and sea-surface temperature, a number of land products (vegetation, land-cover, fire and others), and geophysical and social economic studies with nightlights. During the early days of VIIRS operational calibration and data production, there were inconsistencies in both algorithms and calibration inputs, for several reasons. While these inconsistencies have less impact on nowcasting and near real-time applications, they introduce challenges for time series analysis due to calibration artifacts. To address this issue, we developed a comprehensive algorithm, and recalibrated and reprocessed the Suomi NPP VIIRS radiometric data that have been produced since the launch. In the recalibration, we resolved inconsistencies in the processing algorithms, terrain correction, straylight correction, and anomalies in the thermal bands. To improve the stability of the reflective solar bands, we developed a Kalman filtering model to incorporate onboard solar, lunar, desert site, inter-satellite calibration, and a deep convective cloud calibration methodology. We further developed and implemented the Solar Diffuser Surface Roughness Rayleigh Scattering model to account for the sensor responsivity degradation in the near infrared bands. The recalibrated dataset was validated using vicarious sites and alternative methods, and compared with independent processing from other organizations. The recalibrated radiometric dataset (namely, the level 1b or sensor data records) also incorporates a bias correction for the reflective solar bands, which not only addresses known calibration biases, but also allows alternative calibrations to be applied if so desired. The recalibrated data have been proven to be of high quality, with much improved stability (better than 0.3%) and accuracy (by up to 2%). The recalibrated radiance data are now available from 2012 to 2020 for users and will eventually be archived on the NOAA CLASS database.

An urbanization monitoring dataset for world cultural heritage in the Belt and Road region

ABSTRACT World cultural heritage refers to properties recognized as having historical, social, and anthropological value. Global urbanization has changed the land cover, land use, transportation, landscape, and local environment in cities, and thus exposed World Heritage sites to risks induced by direct or indirect damaging factors. In this paper, an urbanization intensity index (UII) was developed to quantitatively measure urban dynamics in the vicinity of World Heritage sites. This index is based on three global Earth observation datasets, including a global human settlement layer, a global population grid product, and a global nighttime light imagery. Large UII values represent high urbanization levels and intensive human activities in the study area and vice versa. The assessment results show that the mean UII value at 79 world cultural heritage sites in the Belt and Road region increased from 0.26 in 2000 to 0.29 in 2015. The heritage sites were then classified into four types based on the change rates of UIIs. A total of seven heritage sites were identified as exposed to risks due to urban sprawl and infrastructure expansion. The UII dataset can be combined with UNESCO’s periodic reports and site-specific data to provide valuable information for international communities to develop heritage preservation policies. The dataset is available at http://www.dx.doi.org/10.11922/sciencedb.980.

Adaptive Contrast Enhancement of Optical Imagery Based on Level of Detail (LOD)

The viewing and sharing of remote sensing optical imagery through the World Wide Web is an efficient means for providing information to the general public and decision makers. Since clouds and hazes inevitably limit the contrast and deteriorate visual effects, only cloudless scenes are usually included and presented in existing web mapping services. This work proposes a level-of-detail (LOD) based enhancement approach to present satellite imagery with an adaptively enhanced contrast determined by its viewing LOD. Compared to existing web mapping services, this new approach provides a better visual effect as well as spectral details of satellite imagery for cases partially covered with clouds or cirrocumulus clouds. The full archive of global satellite imagery, either the existing one or the one collected in the future, can be utilized and shared through the Web with the processing proposed in this new approach.

Малые спутники в космической деятельности

Changes in space activities related to the practice of using small satellites are considered. The relatively low cost of development, production and launch in low Earth orbiting are explained due to transformation of small satellites into a mass product, available for using in the educational process, remote sensing, in meteorology, flight-testing new technologies, communication and internet distribution as well as space exploration. Small satellites constellations serve the need for systematic global imagery with minimal interval between observing any area of the Earth. Large constella- tions of satellites with radio-occultation equipment provide high-altitude profiles of atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity for assimilation in weather models. Small satellites will find applications beyond low earth orbits. It is planned to launch 6U CubeSat Sky Fire in the vicinity of the moon to study its surface with new infrared hardware. The projected orbit for Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway will be checked using CubeSat to meet the design requirements.

The local and global imagery of women in Russian advertising

AbstractRussian advertisements geared to women display both local and global tendencies. The alignment exists among the elements such as imagery of women and the promoted products, reason or ‘tickle’ advertising techniques, language usage, and value messages. The local imagery of women such as housewife and average woman are visually presented by all age groups and promote goods produced locally, use ‘reason’ explanations, deliver the spoken or written messages mostly in the Russian language, and reflect traditional Russian collectivistic values. The global imagery of women such as sexy beauties or ‘glocal’ imagery of women such as career woman and celebrity employ English only or code‐mixing of English and Russian in the name of the product, label and trade brand, text, slogan attention getter, and ending lines. The English language serves as a sign of modernity, high social status, and prestige and a ‘tickle’ strategy which is used when model‐looking young women promote foreign‐made goods.

THE DESIGN OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE EARTH IMAGERY AND RASTER DATA MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSING PLATFORM

This paper summarizes the general requirements and specific characteristics of both geospatial raster database management system and raster data processing platform from a domain-specific perspective as well as from a computing point of view. It also discusses the need of tight integration between the database system and the processing system. These requirements resulted in Oracle Spatial GeoRaster, a global scale and high performance earth imagery and raster data management and processing platform. The rationale, design, implementation, and benefits of Oracle Spatial GeoRaster are described. Basically, as a database management system, GeoRaster defines an integrated raster data model, supports image compression, data manipulation, general and spatial indices, content and context based queries and updates, versioning, concurrency, security, replication, standby, backup and recovery, multitenancy, and ETL. It provides high scalability using computer and storage clustering. As a raster data processing platform, GeoRaster provides basic operations, image processing, raster analytics, and data distribution featuring high performance computing (HPC). Specifically, HPC features include locality computing, concurrent processing, parallel processing, and in-memory computing. In addition, the APIs and the plug-in architecture are discussed.

Development narratives, media and women in Pakistan: shifts and continuities

The influences of globalization and global imagery are redefining Pakistani women’s social roles and identities. This article seeks to explore the ways in which media representations of Pakistani women are understood to represent broader international development discourses. By focusing on development narratives with regard to women’s empowerment and, their social and political positioning, and by looking at the visual and linguistic representations, images and portrayals of women, this article aims to capture the competing discourses of femininities offered on the cable television channels in Pakistan. For instance, while a drama like Uraan (Flight), shown on the most popular channel, Geo, may depict an independent career woman exercising her autonomy and freedom in decision-making, thus illustrating a clear departure from patriarchal structures, it simultaneously, offers ambivalent or competing discourses on femininities. How these images are received and interpreted is captured through focus group data of women discussing media representations. This data provides useful insights into the ongoing constructions of their selfhood and identity in relation to these media representations.

Visuals in Turkish pop: the subversive role of cultural hybrids

Globalisation brings with it fears of cultural imperialism and a global mass culture from the West. This article contends that global imagery in the promotion of Turkish popular music actually enhances difference within Turkey. Global images are employed alongside Turkish ones to create an array of cross-cultural hybrids which Turkish viewers may read as expressions of cultural, political and social difference. A social semiotic approach is used on a sample of visuals from three genres of popular music. Analysis is complemented with an historical and social contextualisation in order to enhance understanding of how images blend the global with the ‘local’ in different ways to enable a medium of protest. Here is a case where global images are an integral part of hybrids which express dissent to national social and political issues.

Increasing the accessibility of acoustic data through global access and imagery

Abstract The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses water column sonar data to assess physical and biological characteristics from the ocean surface to the seabed. Acoustic surveys produce large volumes of data that can deliver valuable information beyond their original collection purpose if the data are properly managed, discoverable, and accessible to the public. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, in partnership with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and the University of Colorado, have created a national archive for water column sonar data to help achieve these goals. Through these efforts, over 21 TB of sonar data are now publicly available. Raw sonar files are difficult to interpret due to their size, complexity, and proprietary format. In order for users to understand the quality and composition of large volumes of archived data more easily, several visualization products were explored. Three processing methods were applied to multifrequency single-beam data (Simrad EK60) collected off the US northwest coast between 2007 and 2013. One method illustrates these complex data in a single image using a novel colour scale [multifrequency single-beam imaging (MFSBI)], another examines the nautical area scattering coefficients between two frequencies (ΔNASC), and the third indices the data into acoustic classifications [multifrequency indicator (MFI)]. The ability to apply the algorithms efficiently to multiyear datasets was explored. MFSBI proved effective at conveying the composition of the data and was easily adaptable to automated processing. ΔNASC, which required manual seabed corrections, illustrated a generalized pattern for changes in the water column across the shelf. MFI provided an empirically based statistical approach but will require more effort in the near term to evaluate and assess the accuracy and precision of each classification. Overall, spatio-temporal patterns of the acoustic backscatter identified large interannual variations in composition with the continental shelf break often playing a key role in attracting biological assemblages.

Assessment of Topographical Disorientation: First Application of New Tests and Case Report

A right posterior cerebral lesion can lead to an inability to orient and can consequently interfere with daily-life autonomy. Despite the wide literature about navigation abilities, it is still difficult to assess topographical disorientation (TD) because of the interindividual specificity of spatial knowledge and the diversity of symptoms. We describe here a set of new tests evaluating spatial cognition in a patient with TD presenting difficulties in navigating inside the hospital and in his hometown more than 3 years after his diffuse ischemic right Sylvian stroke. These tests assess mental imagery (global and specifically spatial imagery), perspective change, and the ability to recall spatial relations in familiar environments. The evaluation revealed difficulties with all the tests (but not in global mental imagery) in this patient when compared with matched controls. Hence, these new tests seem specific and affected by a right hemispheric lesion. The observed deficits can explain, at least partially, the spatial orientation difficulties experienced by this patient in the hospital and familiar environments. In conclusion, these tests could be appropriate tools for the assessment of visuospatial and spatial processes.

Domesticating the Global

ABSTRACTIn Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, vernacular commercial signage—often hand painted by local sign writers—has evolved in conversation with sweeping economic privatization and liberalization initiatives enacted since the 1990s. Many of Lusaka's sign writers employ tactics that visually link their work to globally dominant design practices as they simultaneously imbue global brand imagery with Zambian specificity. Hinging upon visual and historical analysis of locally made commercial signs, in conversation with the macro- and micro-processes of globalization, this article examines these tactics of improvisation and appropriation to investigate how they both reflect and shape contemporary Zambian narratives of locality and cosmopolitanism. By harnessing powerful brand imagery for individual and community interests as well as public and private institutions, Lusaka's sign writers have repositioned seemingly marginal vernacular practices at the center of everyday cultural production in the globalized economy.

Bringing an ecological view of change to Landsat‐based remote sensing

When characterizing the processes that shape ecosystems, ecologists increasingly use the unique perspective offered by repeat observations of remotely sensed imagery. However, the concept of change embodied in much of the traditional remote‐sensing literature was primarily limited to capturing large or extreme changes occurring in natural systems, omitting many more subtle processes of interest to ecologists. Recent technical advances have led to a fundamental shift toward an ecological view of change. Although this conceptual shift began with coarser‐scale global imagery, it has now reached users of Landsat imagery, since these datasets have temporal and spatial characteristics appropriate to many ecological questions. We argue that this ecologically relevant perspective of change allows the novel characterization of important dynamic processes, including disturbances, long‐term trends, cyclical functions, and feedbacks, and that these improvements are already facilitating our understanding of critical driving forces, such as climate change, ecological interactions, and economic pressures.

Spatially varying SAR models and Bayesian inference for high-resolution lattice data

We discuss a new class of spatially varying, simultaneous autoregressive (SVSAR) models motivated by interests in flexible, non-stationary spatial modelling scalable to higher dimensions. SVSAR models are hierarchical Markov random fields extending traditional SAR models. We develop Bayesian analysis using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods of SVSAR models, with extensions to spatio-temporal contexts to address problems of data assimilation in computer models. A motivating application in atmospheric science concerns global CO emissions where prediction from computer models is assessed and refined based on high-resolution global satellite imagery data. Application to synthetic and real CO data sets demonstrates the potential of SVSAR models in flexibly representing inhomogeneous spatial processes on lattices, and their ability to improve estimation and prediction of spatial fields. The SVSAR approach is computationally attractive in even very large problems; computational efficiencies are enabled by exploiting sparsity of high-dimensional precision matrices.

GETTING CLOSER?

Drawing on the idea that citizen images of crisis events can function as “ruptures” within mainstream journalistic narratives—instances in which distant others can speak and be heard—this article examines from a dual perspective how the global citizen images (photographs and videos) embedded in Finnish print and broadcast coverage of the Arab uprisings and the Japan tsunami disaster facilitate the construction of cosmopolitan imagination. Specifically it explores, first, how emotional proximity is constructed through the conventions of citizen images that break with the aesthetics of professional photojournalism, and, second, how professional journalists see the role of amateur images in their work of reporting distant crises. The analysis identifies four defining characteristics of the aesthetics of citizen images—unconstructedness, unconventional framing, mobility and embodied collectivity—which may invite enhanced affective engagement and reflection. Moreover, it reveals that the increasing significance of global citizen imagery prompts renewed internal reflection on established journalistic practices and norms, but this is not accompanied by a new consideration on the relationship between journalists and their audiences, on journalism as a resource for cosmopolitan attitudes.