The lack of standardization in the production, organization and dissemination of information in documentation centers and institutions alike, as a result from the digitization of collections and their availability on the internet has called for integration efforts. The sheer availability of multimedia content has fostered the development of many distinct and, most of the time, independent metadata standards for its description. This study aims at presenting and comparing the existing standards of metadata, vocabularies and ontologies for multimedia annotation and also tries to offer a synthetic overview of its main strengths and weaknesses, aiding efforts for semantic integration and enhancing the findability of available multimedia resources on the web. We also aim at unveiling the characteristics that could, should and are perhaps not being highlighted in the characterization of multimedia resources.

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This paper focuses on data science in digital cultural heritage in Brazil, where there is a lack of systematized information and curated databases for the integrated organization of documentary knowledge. Thus, the aim was to systematically map the different forms of information organization and representation applied to objects from collections belonging to institutions affiliated with the federal government's Special Department of Culture. This diagnosis is then used to discuss the requirements of devising strategies that favor a better data science information infrastructure to reuse information on Brazil's cultural heritage.Content analysis was used to identify analytical categories and obtain a broader understanding of the documentary sources of these institutions in order to extract, analyze, and interpret the data involved. A total of 215 hyperlinks that can be considered cultural collections of the institutions studied were identified, representing 2,537,921 cultural heritage items. The results show that the online publication of Brazil's digital cultural heritage is limited in terms of technology, copyright licensing, and established information organization practices. This paper provides a conceptual and analytical view to discuss the requirements for formulating strategies aimed at building a data science information infrastructure of Brazilian digital cultural collections that serves as future projects.

Introdução: A escalada na abertura de dados governamentais é um fenômeno originado a partir de extensos debates sobre a modernização do Estado, aliado à evolução tecnológica. Na literatura, constata-se uma carência de pesquisas científicas de ordem teórica e prática que apresentem cenários mais atualizados a respeito de iniciativas de abertura de dados governamentais, principalmente em ações de organização da informação nesse segmento, tanto no Brasil quanto no exterior. Objetiva apresentar antecedentes e movimento histórico de abertura de dados, além do panorama atual de iniciativas em alguns países continentais, evidenciando estágios e contribuições relevantes às discussões sobre desafios e oportunidades para seus governos. Método: Constitui uma pesquisa qualitativa, de cunho exploratório e descritivo, empregando técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental para uma revisão sistemática de cenários de dados abertos governamentais tanto no Brasil quanto em outras esferas internacionais. Resultados: Destaca as contribuições teóricas e metodológicas das Ciências da Informação e da Computação nos principais desafios mapeados na pesquisa, além do declínio de nações como os EUA e Reino Unido, outrora líderes do movimento, e a ascensão de novos protagonistas, como Coréia do Sul, França, Irlanda e Espanha, também apresentando o atual cenário brasileiro. Conclusão: Evidencia que um dos principais êxitos na abertura de dados incide na forma como os governos estão lidando com a Política de Dados Abertos Governamentais, e que aspectos internos de governança estão afetando a publicação de dados na rede, conforme preceitos do movimento aberto recomendados na literatura.

Background. Recent studies have explored the potential for using biochar as a soil amendment in agriculture. However, it can also be used as a gentle remediation option for contaminant reduction. Biochar is a by-product obtained from the pyrolysis of biomass (organic matter). It is known for its long-lasting chemical properties, wide surface area values, and carbon-richness, which make it an efficient method for the immobilization of organic and inorganic contaminants such as heavy metals. Objective. The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficiency of biochar, obtained from the gasification of corncob, for the immobilization of lead in contaminated soils. Methods. In the present study, biochar from corncob was used as an amendment for soil contaminated with lead (extracted from the municipality of Malambo, Colombia) in order to estimate its ability to immobilize leaching lead. A comparison laboratory test applied a modified biochar produced with a 10% hydrogen peroxide chemical treatment. In addition, a pot experiment was done with both biochar by sowing seeds of Pennisetum clandestinum for 33 days. During this period, plant growth was measured for the different amendments of biochar concentrations. Results. Laboratory tests indicated that unmodified biochar obtained a maximum retention of 61.46% of lead, while the modified biochar obtained only 44.53% retention. In the pot experiments, the modified biochar indicated high germination and growth of seeds (up to 89.8%). Conclusions. Although the lead immobilization in soil was positive for both cases, the use of soil with high concentrations of lead (167.62 g/kg) does not indicate biochar's effectiveness for purposes of comparison with the current United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) limit value (400 ppm for bare soil in urban play areas). Therefore, further studies are recommended using soil with lower lead concentration levels. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests. One author is an employee of Pure Earth.