Wolfram Horstmann

Synaptic interactions increase optic flow specificity

Representations of optic flow are encoded in fly tangential neurons by pooling the signals of many retinotopically organized local motion‐sensitive inputs as well as of other tangential cells originating in the ipsi‐ and contralateral half of the brain. In the so called HSE cell, a neuron involved in optomotor course control, two contralateral input elements, the H1 and H2 cells, mediate distinct EPSPs. These EPSPs frequently elicit spike‐like depolarizations in the HSE cell. The synaptic transmission between the H2 and the HSE cell is analysed in detail and shown to be very reliable with respect to the amplitude and time‐course of the postsynaptic potential. As a consequence of its synaptic input, the HSE cell responds best to wide‐field motion, such as that generated on the eyes when the animal turns about its vertical body axis. It is shown that the specificity of the HSE cell for this type of optic flow is much enhanced if rapid membrane depolarizations, such as large‐amplitude EPSPs or spike‐like depolarizations, are taken into account rather than the average membrane potential.

Hierarchical classification of OAI metadata using the DDC taxonomy

In the area of digital library services, the access to subject-specific metadata of scholarly publications is of utmost interest. One of the most prevalent approaches for metadata exchange is the XML-based Open Archive Initiative (OAI) Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH). However, due to its loose requirements regarding metadata content there is no strict standard for consistent subject indexing specified, which is furthermore needed in the digital library domain. This contribution addresses the problem of automatic enhancement of OAI metadata by means of the most widely used universal classification schemes in libraries—the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). To be more specific, we automatically classify scientific documents according to the DDC taxonomy within three levels using a machine learning-based classifier that relies solely on OAI metadata records as the document representation. The results show an asymmetric distribution of documents across the hierarchical structure of the DDC taxonomy and issues of data sparseness. However, the performance of the classifier shows promising results on all three levels of the DDC.

Libraries and Data – Paradigm Shifts and Challenges

In a changing world, libraries have not only to keep in step with the developments but also to exert their influence as far as possible. Relevant developments congregate in the transformation of the library as a physical concept into a central learning and gathering place at the research campus, illustrating that the functional concept of a library is needed more than ever. As trusted advisers for the academia libraries can play a fundamental role in a time where more and more scholars are afraid of “information overload” and the definition of academic resources includes increasingly heterogeneous content types and new definitions of publishing. The new nature of tasks and content types ask for new services and new tools. The development and reliable maintenance of such services and tools are genuine tasks for libraries.

Libraries as e-infrastructure

Libraries have served as education and research infrastructures for centuries. In this paper, we will describe major opportunities and future challenges in the context of digital research and the »e-infrastructures« that are required for e-science. We will provide examples of current involvements and focus on the importance of cooperation at local, international, specifically European, and global scale. Bibliotheken fungieren seit Jahrhunderten als Bildungs- und Forschungsinfrastrukturen. In dem vorliegenden Aufsatz werden die Chancen und Herausforderungen von digitalen Forschungsumgebungen und von – fur die sogenannte E-Science benotigten – E-Infrastrukturen erortert. Es werden aktuelle Beispiele beschrieben; auserdem wird aufgezeigt, wie wichtig Kooperation auf lokaler, internationaler, speziell europaischer Ebene in diesem Zusammenhang ist.

From collecting to connecting – the role of libraries in Open Access

In the beginnings of Open Access, libraries were not directly involved. The Budapest Open Access Initiative had no representative of a major library among them (cf. Chan et al., 2002). The Berlin Declaration had the German library association as an initial signatory but still a systematic involvement of libraries worldwide was missing (Berliner Erklärung, 2003). However, first systematic accounts of the role of libraries were discussed (Suber, 2003). Predominantly, these started from the hope that Open Access would be a solution to the ‘serial crisis’, i.e. the negative spiral of price increases for academic journals introduced by publishers forcing a reduction of subscriptions by libraries, yielding, in turn, to increased pricing for journals since publishers wanted to keep revenues. Whether or not the serial crisis was (or is) the appropriate motivation for Open Access services in libraries remained controversial, even among the Open Access proponents (Bosc & Harnad, 2005). On the one side, rationales dominated that claimed to keep the publishing system largely untouched by putting copies of subscription journal articles in institutional and subject-based repositories, often called the Green route to Open Access or Open Access Archiving. On the other side, rationales that introduced direct forms publishing in journals or other formats dominated, often called Golden route to Open Access. The Golden route was either financed by pre-payment for an individual article (the so called “Author-Pays model”, later termed “Article Processing Charges”, APC) or through in-kind contributions of mostly public organisations financing free-of-charge Open Access journals (Björk et al., 2010).

„Bis morgen in der Bibliothek!“ – Entwicklungen für Lernorte an der SUB Göttingen

Education, science and work are changing dramatically. Students in particular realize the potential of working digital and collaboratively in groups and accordingly require environments other than mere traditional reading rooms. Rather than opting for ‘either-or’ solutions, libraries need to diversify the environments they offer. Göttingen State and University Library develops its learning environments, taking into particular account the trend of the library’s increasing importance as a permanent student working area and social center. This created 1,369 learning spaces, thereof 482 for individuals and 887 for group work.

Open Access international : lokale systeme, kooperative Netzwerke und visionäre Infrastrukturen

Ein groser Bereich von Open-Access-Aktivitaten setzt beim nachhaltigen Betriebskonzept auf lokal verteilte, offene digitale Inhaltsspeicher in Bibliotheken und anderen Infrastruktureinrichtungen einer Institution. Inhalte werden also lokal vorgehalten - Wissenschaftlern soll aber selbstverstandlich ein global umfassender Zugang auf Inhalte gewahrt werden. Suchmaschinen wie OAISTER, BASE oder auch Google Scholar ermoglichen dies derzeit in einem ersten Schritt. Um aber das Potenzial eines verteilten, kooperativen Inhaltsmanagements tatsachlich auszuschopfen und eine homogene Dateninfrastruktur zu etablieren, muss die lokale Datenhaltung hohen Qualitatsstandards genugen. Besonders in Europa arbeiten lokale Systeme daher in regionalen, nationalen oder internationalen Netzwerken zusammen, etwa DINI in Deutschland oder DRIVER in Europa. Eine homogene Dateninfrastruktur, die Inhalte im offenen Zugriff bereitstellt, ist die Voraussetzung dafur, dass uber das Internet Mehrwertfunktionen fur Wissenschaftler, etwa Annotation und Begutachtung oder Bearbeitung und Publikation aufgebaut werden konnen.