307 research outputs found
Improving Primo Usability and Teachability with Help from the Users
In the aftermath of a consortium migration to a shared cloud-based resource management and discovery system, a small college library implemented a web usability test to uncover the kinds of difficulties students had with the new interface. Lessons learned from this study led to targeted changes, which simplified aspects of searching, but also enhanced the librariansâ ability to teach more effectively. The authors discuss the testing methods, results, and teaching opportunities, both realized and potential, which arose from implementing changes
Natural Resources Development on Indian Reservations: Overview of Tribal, State, and Federal Jurisdiction
RSS Feeds, Browsing and End-User Engagement
Despite the vast amount of research that has been devoted separately to the topics of browsing and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) aggregation architecture, little is known about how end-users engage with RSS feeds and how they browse while using a feed aggregate. This study explores the browsing behaviors end-users exhibit when using RSS and Atom feeds. The researcher analyzed end-usersâ browsing experiences and discusses browsing variations. The researcher observed, tested, and interviewed eighteen (N=18) undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee to determine how end-users engage with RSS feeds.
This study evaluates browsing using two variations of tasks, (1) an implicit task with no final goal and (2) an explicit task with a final goal. The researcher observed the participants complete the two tasks and conducted exit interviews, which addressed the end-usersâ experiences with Google Reader and provided further explanation of browsing behaviors. The researcher analyzed the browsing behaviors based upon Batesâ (2007) definitions and characteristics of browsing. The results of this exploratory research provide insights into end-user interaction with RSS feeds
Hunting The Most Distant Stars in the Milky Way: Methods and Initial Results
We present a new catalog of 404 M giant candidates found in the UKIRT
Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). The 2,400 deg available in the UKIDSS
Large Area Survey Data Release 8 resolve M giants through a volume four times
larger than that of the entire Two Micron All Sky Survey. Combining
near-infrared photometry with optical photometry and proper motions from the
Sloan Digital Sky Survey yields an M giant candidate catalog with less M dwarf
and quasar contamination than previous searches for similarly distant M giants.
Extensive follow-up spectroscopy of this sample will yield the first map of our
Galaxy's outermost reaches over a large area of sky. Our initial spectroscopic
follow-up of 30 bright candidates yielded the positive identification of
five M giants at distances kpc. Each of these confirmed M giants
have positions and velocities consistent with the Sagittarius stream. The
fainter M giant candidates in our sample have estimated photometric distances
kpc (assuming = 0.0), but require further spectroscopic
verification. The photometric distance estimates extend beyond the Milky Way's
virial radius, and increase by for each 0.5 dex decrease in assumed
. Given the number of M giant candidates, initial selection efficiency,
and volume surveyed, we loosely estimate that at least one additional
Sagittarius-like accretion event could have contributed to the hierarchical
build-up of the Milky Way's outer halo.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, emulateapj format. Accepted by A
Implementing a graduate nursing program at a distance through an urban-rural partnership.
The purposes of this poster presentation are to 1) describe the implementation of a masterâs of science in nursing (MSN) program by providing access to rigorous distance education to students living in rural Pennsylvania; 2) discuss building a critical mass of masterâs prepared advanced practice nurse experts in rural communities; and 3) share formative and summative evaluation information.
Through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing, the Jefferson School of Nursing (JSN) expanded its MSN program currently offered at the urban Philadelphia campus to the rural campus in Danville.
Using the methodologies of live web-casting and live video over the Internet, distance students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a live classroom setting rather than experience the static distance methodology of reading through lectures themselves. For example, during the clinical courses, the faculty teaches onsite in Philadelphia webcasting to students in their rural homes so that they can view and hear the lecture. These newer technologies make possible real-time faculty-student dialogue, student-to-student dialogue, and enhance socialization. Furthermore, the use of advanced technologies allows distance students to discuss with peers and faculty alike, in real time, the problems, successes, and questions which arise during class and clinical practica, thereby enhancing critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills.
This urban-rural partnership addresses increasing demands for educating greater numbers of masterâs prepared advanced practice nurses to work in north and central rural Pennsylvania thus promoting access to health care in rural underserved communities
The Most Distant Stars in the Milky Way
We report on the discovery of the most distant Milky Way (MW) stars known to
date: ULAS J001535.72015549.6 and ULAS J074417.48253233.0. These stars
were selected as M giant candidates based on their infrared and optical colors
and lack of proper motions. We spectroscopically confirmed them as outer halo
giants using the MMT/Red Channel spectrograph. Both stars have large estimated
distances, with ULAS J001535.72015549.6 at kpc and ULAS
J074417.48253233.0 at 238 64 kpc, making them the first MW stars
discovered beyond 200 kpc. ULAS J001535.72015549.6 and ULAS
J074417.48253233.0 are both moving away from the Galactic center at km s and km s, respectively. Using their
distances and kinematics, we considered possible origins such as: tidal
stripping from a dwarf galaxy, ejection from the MW's disk, or membership in an
undetected dwarf galaxy. These M giants, along with two inner halo giants that
were also confirmed during this campaign, are the first to map largely
unexplored regions of our Galaxy's outer halo.Comment: Accepted and in print by ApJL. Seven pages, 2 figure
Herbicide-Resistant Soybeans in Arkansas: Lessons Learned and Future Direction
In Arkansas Delta soybean production, glyphosate resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth has significantly impacted weed management. The incidence of herbicide resistant (HR) weeds has farreaching crop science, economic, and communications implications, which have been explored by the corresponding expertise of our research team members to form a comprehensive literature review. The review was used to develop policy recommendations to address current and future HR genetically modified (GM) crop use and the associated issues. The review of crop science research indicated an overall increase in herbicide application, as well as an increase in weed management programs focused around glyphosate rather than the application of multiple herbicides. The review also revealed some management methods have potential to resolve the problem, including alternating herbicide application, avoiding sub-lethal rates, using âburn downâ herbicides prior to planting, crop rotation, tillage, and zero tolerance weed policies. The use of fewer herbicides rather than multiple types creates a monopolistic edge for the companies producing those few herbicides, allowing greater market control. Crisis communication methods, including developing internal readiness, conducting needs assessments, developing a relevant message, and conveying the message through appropriate channels, can be used to develop a response to the issue that will best communicate necessary information to the target audience. The team used these findings to formulate policy recommendations, which include management, economic, and communication plans that may provide a starting point to address the issue
Implementing a Practice Doctorate Program at a Distance through an Urban-Rural Partnership
The purposes of this poster presentation are to 1) describe the implementation of a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program by providing access to rigorous distance education to students living in rural Pennsylvania; 2) discuss building a critical mass of doctorally prepared advanced practice nurse experts in both urban and rural communities; and 3) share formative and summative evaluation information.
Through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing, the Jefferson School of Nursing (JSN) expanded its DNP program currently offered at the urban Philadelphia campus to the rural campus in Danville. Using the methodologies of live web-casting and live video over the Internet, distance students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a live classroom setting rather than experience the static distance methodology of reading through lectures themselves. For example, during the applied biostatistics course, the faculty teaches onsite in Philadelphia projecting the SPSS and the database on screen so that students on both campuses can simultaneously view, hear, and interact with the discussion. There is a doctorally prepared faculty member onsite in Danville as a resource for the students.
These newer technologies make possible real-time faculty-student dialogue, student-to-student dialogue, and enhance socialization. Furthermore, the use of advanced technologies allows distance students to discuss with peers and faculty alike, in real time, the problems, successes, and questions which arise during class and clinical practica, thereby enhancing critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills.
This unique urban-rural partnership, made possible through advanced technologies, addresses increasing demands for educating greater numbers of doctorally prepared advanced practice nurses to work in north and central rural Pennsylvania, thus promoting access to health care in rural underserved communities. Other than in academia, there are no doctorally prepared advanced practice nurses employed in practice in the area
Minimum Distance and Parameter Ranges of Locally Recoverable Codes with Availability from Fiber Products of Curves
We construct families of locally recoverable codes with availability using fiber products of curves, determine the exact minimum distance of many
families, and prove a general theorem for minimum distance of such codes. The
paper concludes with an exploration of parameters of codes from these families
and the fiber product construction more generally. We show that fiber product
codes can achieve arbitrarily large rate and arbitrarily small relative defect,
and compare to known bounds and important constructions from the literature
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