252 research outputs found
Digital libraries: What do users want?
This is the post-print version of the Article of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2006 EmeraldPurpose â The purpose of this study is to determine user suggestions for digital libraries' functionality and features.
Design/methodology/approach â A survey was conducted as part of this study, in which users' suggestions for digital libraries were solicited, as well as their ranking opinions on a range of suggested digital library features. Findings â The study revealed that, regardless of users' information technology (IT) backgrounds, their expectations of digital libraries' functionality are the same. However, based on users' previous experiences with digital libraries, their requirements with respect to specific features may change. Practical implications â Involving users in digital library design should be an integral step in the process of building a digital library â in addition to the classic roles of evaluation and testing. Originality/value â In previous digital library user studies, users were involved implicitly (e.g. observed) or explicitly (e.g. diary notes). However, they were never asked to suggest digital library features or functionalities, as this was left to usability and domain experts. This study approached digital library design from a new perspective, giving users an opportunity to express their suggestions on future functionality and features of digital libraries. Moreover, in contrast to previous work, this study has explicitly taken into account the IT abilities of those interacting with a digital library
A study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding prevention of dengue fever in children among mothers in paediatric medical wards at Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Egmore , Chennai-08
INTRODUCTION:
Over the past 10-15 years, next to diarrheal disease and acute respiratory infection, dengue fever has become a leading cause of hospitalization and deaths, among children in the South East Asian region. The Incidence of this fever is variable and it depends on the geographical region and the density of mosquito borne diseases in a region. Dengue Fever is a fatal disease; therefore, the global population should pay attention on changing behaviour for maintaining housing and community environment. In order to accomplish self-care, they should adjust their concept and practice of daily living.
TITLE:
âA study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding prevention of dengue fever in children among mothers in paediatric medical wards at Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Egmore , Chennai-08â
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the pre-test and post-test level of knowledge of mothers regarding prevention and control of Dengue Fever and to evaluate the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme and to find an association between the post -test knowledge with their selected socio demographic variables.
METHODS AND MATERIALS:
A True experimental design was chosen. Probability Simple random sampling-technique was used to select the sample. 100 mothers were chosen for the sample. Modified structure knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the mothersâ knowledge level.
RESULTS:
In Experiment group, at the pre-test level mothers are having 46.47% of knowledge score and after the test they are having 83.33%. So they gained 37.06% after structured teaching programme. In control group, at the pre-test level mothers are having 47.33% of knowledge score and in post-test they are having 49.60%. So they have gained only 2.27% without structured teaching programme.
CONCLUSION:
Statistical significance was calculated by using chi square test and student independent t-test. So structured teaching programme regarding prevention of dengue fever in children has significant impact in improving the knowledge score among mothers
Central Charge Reduction and Spacetime Statistics in the Fractional Superstring
Fractional superstrings in the tensor-product formulation experience
``internal projections'' which reduce their effective central charges. Simple
expressions for the characters of the resulting effective worldsheet theory are
found. All states in the effective theory can be consistently assigned definite
spacetime statistics. The projection to the effective theory is shown to be
described by the action of a dimension-three current in the original
tensor-product theory.Comment: 11 pages (LaTeX), CLNS 92/1168, McGill/92-41 (minor typos corrected
QoE of cross-modally mapped Mulsemedia: an assessment using eye gaze and heart rate
A great deal of research effort has been put in exploring crossmodal correspondences in the field of cognitive science which refer to the systematic associations frequently made between different sensory modalities (e.g. high pitch is matched with angular shapes). However, the possibilities cross-modality opens in the digital world have been relatively unexplored. Therefore, we consider that studying the plasticity and the effects of crossmodal correspondences in a mulsemedia setup can bring novel insights about improving the human-computer dialogue and experience. Mulsemedia refers to the combination of three or more senses to create immersive experiences. In our experiments, users were shown six video clips associated with certain visual features based on color, brightness, and shape. We examined if the pairing with crossmodal matching sound and the corresponding auto-generated haptic effect, and smell would lead to an enhanced user QoE. For this, we used an eye-tracking device as well as a heart rate monitor wristband to capture usersâ eye gaze and heart rate whilst they were experiencing mulsemedia. After each video clip, we asked the users to complete an on-screen questionnaire with a set of questions related to smell, sound and haptic effects targeting their enjoyment and perception of the experiment. Accordingly, the eye gaze and heart rate results showed significant influence of the cross-modally mapped multisensorial effects on the usersâ QoE. Our results highlight that when the olfactory content is crossmodally congruent with the visual content, the visual attention of the users seems shifted towards the correspondent visual feature. Crosmodally matched media is also shown to result in an enhanced QoE compared to a video only condition
The shock compression of microorganism-loaded broths and emulsions: Experiments and simulations
By carefully selecting flyer plate thickness and the geometry of a target capsule for
bacterial broths and emulsions, we have successfully subjected the contents of the capsule to
simultaneous shock and dynamic compression when subjected to a flyer-plate impact
experiment. The capsules were designed to be recovered intact so that post experimental
analysis could be done on the contents. ANSYSÂź AUTODYN hydrocode simulations were
carried out to interrogate the deformation of the cover plate and the wave propagation in the
fluid. Accordingly, we have shown that microorganisms such as Escherichia coli,
Enterococcus faecalis and Zygosaccharomyces bailii are not affected by this type of loading
regime. However, by introducing a cavity behind the broth we were able to observe limited
kill in the yeast sample. Further, on using this latter technique with emulsions it was shown
that greater emulsification of an oil-based emulsion occurred due to the cavitation that was
introduced
Applying a values-based decision process to facilitate co-management of threatened species in Aotearoa New Zealand
Ko koe ki tÄnÄ, ko ahau ki tÄnai kÄ«wai o te kete (you at that, and I at this handle of the basket). This MÄori (New Zealanders of indigenous descent) saying conveys the principle of cooperationâwe achieve more through working together, rather than separately. Despite decades of calls to rectify cultural imbalance in conservation, threatened species management still relies overwhelmingly on ideas from Western science and on top-down implementation. Values-based approaches to decision making can be used to integrate indigenous peoplesâ values into species conservation in a more meaningful way. We used such a values-based method, structured decision making, to develop comanagement of pekapeka (Mystacina tuberculata) (short-tailed bat) and tara iti (Sternula nereis davisae) (Fairy Tern) between MÄori and PÄkehÄ (New Zealanders of European descent). We implemented this framework in a series of workshops in which facilitated discussions were used to gather expert knowledge to predict outcomes and make management recommendations. For both species, stakeholders clearly stated their values as fundamental objectives from the start, which allowed alternative strategies to be devised that naturally addressed their diverse values, including mÄtauranga MÄori (MÄori knowledge and perspectives). On this shared basis, all partners willingly engaged in the process, and decisions were largely agreed to by all. Most expectations of conflicts between values of Western science and MÄori culture were unfounded. Where required, positive compromises were made by jointly developing alternative strategies. The values-based process successfully taha wairua taha tangata (brought both worlds together to achieve the objective) through codeveloped recovery strategies. This approach challenges the traditional model of scientists first preparing management plans focused on biological objectives, then consulting indigenous groups for approval. We recommend values-based approaches, such as structured decision making, as powerful methods for development of comanagement conservation plans between different peoples
Analytic curves in algebraic varieties over number fields
We establish algebraicity criteria for formal germs of curves in algebraic
varieties over number fields and apply them to derive a rationality criterion
for formal germs of functions, which extends the classical rationality theorems
of Borel-Dwork and P\'olya-Bertrandias valid over the projective line to
arbitrary algebraic curves over a number field.
The formulation and the proof of these criteria involve some basic notions in
Arakelov geometry, combined with complex and rigid analytic geometry (notably,
potential theory over complex and -adic curves). We also discuss geometric
analogues, pertaining to the algebraic geometry of projective surfaces, of
these arithmetic criteria.Comment: 55 pages. To appear in "Algebra, Arithmetic, and Geometry: In Honor
of Y.i. Manin", Y. Tschinkel & Yu. Manin editors, Birkh\"auser, 200
Duality in Non-Trivially Compactified Heterotic Strings
We study the implications of duality symmetry on the analyticity properties
of the partition function as it depends upon the compactification length. In
order to obtain non-trivial compactifications, we give a physical prescription
to get the Helmholtz free energy for any heterotic string supersymmetric or
not. After proving that the free energy is always invariant under the duality
transformation and getting the zero temperature
theory whose partition function corresponds to the Helmholtz potential, we show
that the self-dual point is a generic singularity
as the Hagedorn one. The main difference between these two critical
compactification radii is that the term producing the singularity at the
self-dual point is finite for any . We see that this behavior at
actually implies a loss of degrees of freedom below that point.Comment: (Preprint No. FTUAM-92/12) 17 page
Service evaluation of a nurse-led dental anxiety management service for adult patients
Objective: Evaluate patientsâ and professionalsâ experiences of a Nurse-led Dental Anxiety Management Service (NDAMS). Design: Service evaluation. Setting: The NDAMS operates as part of Sheffield Salaried Primary Dental Care Service. Subjects and methods: Questionnaire survey of anxious patients and qualitative interviews with patients and professionals Interventions: Dental nurses delivered low-level psychological interventions as part of an Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) for dental anxiety. Main outcome Measures: Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaires were completed by patients prior to and following NDAM. Results: A total of 187 patients were assessed as suitable for NDAM (mean age= 33.7, 77% female) and 33 had completed it at the time of the service evaluation. Of those patients who had completed the intervention significant improvements in dental anxiety and OHRQoL were reported. Professionals highlighted the importance of integrated working, adequate support and training and assessing the suitability of patients for NDAM. Conclusion: ICPs that combine pharmacological and psychological management approaches can help meet the needs of dentally anxious patients, however, early identification of patients most likely to benefit from psychological intervention should be a priority
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