Critically Analyzing Information: What do first-year students need to know?

Each year, the University Library System (ULS) provides over 70 library sessions to students enrolled in FP0001: Introduction to the Arts and Sciences. These sessions present a valuable opportunity to introduce foundational library and information literacy skills to first-year students that can be applied to almost any academic endeavor. Project leaders utilized evidence based curriculum development to create a more relevant and engaging 2017 library session, going beyond the traditional library orientation

El proyecto OCW de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid: aspectos organizativos, académicos, técnicos y jurídicos. El portal OCW-UC3M

13 págs.-- Publicado en: Boletín de la Asociación Andaluza de Bibliotecarios, t. 57, n. 4, Oct-Dic 2007.Durante años las universidades han utilizado Internet y otras tecnlologías digitales para desarrollar y proporcionar educación. Sin embargo, hasta hace poco, la mayoría de los contenidos didácticos en Internet estaban encerrados bajo una clave de acceso dentro de sistemas propietarios y, por tanto, inaccesibles para usuarios externos. El movimiento por los recursos académicos abiertos (OER) pretende vencer estas barreras, fomentando y posibilitando a la vez compartir libremente los contenidos.Las universidades tienen varias razones para estar involucradas en los proyectos de publicación de materiales didácticos en abierto: desde el argumento altruista de que compartir conocimiento es bueno y conforme a la tradición académica; o bien que es posible mejorar la calidad y reducir los costes de producción de contenidos mediante la posibilidad de compartir libremente éstos y su eventual reutilización. Por otro lado, resulta convincente para las relaciones públicas de la institución tener un proyecto de este tipo ya que supone un escaparate para atraer a nuevos estudiantes. Y asimismo, el acceso abierto a contenidos acelerará el desarollo de nuevos recursos de aprendizaje, estimulando la mejora e innovación de éstos.Publicad

Epidemiological Interactions between Urogenital and Intestinal Human Schistosomiasis in the Context of Praziquantel Treatment across Three West African Countries

© 2015 Knowles et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article

Red Parkes-Quasars: Evidence for Soft X-ray Absorption

The Parkes Half-Jansky Flat Spectrum Sample contains a large number of sources with unusually red optical-to-near-infrared continua. If this is to be interpreted as extinction by dust in the line-of-sight, then associated material might also give rise to absorption in the soft X-ray regime. This hypothesis is tested using broadband (0.1-2.4 keV) data from the {\it ROSAT} All-Sky Survey provided by Siebert et al. (1998). Significant ($>3\sigma$ confidence level) correlations between optical (and near-infrared)--to--soft X-ray continuum slope and optical extinction are found in the data, consistent with absorption by material with metallicity and a range in gas-to-dust ratio as observed in the local ISM. Under this simple model, the soft X-rays are absorbed at a level consistent with the range of extinctions ($0< A_{V}< 6$ magnitudes) implied by the observed optical reddening. Excess X-ray absorption by warm (ionised) gas, (ie. a `warm absorber') is not required.Comment: 23 pages of text, 3 figures, to appear in Jan 10 (1999) issue of The Astrophysical Journa

A QSO survey via optical variability and zero proper motion in the M92 field. IV. More QSOs due to improved photometry

We continue the QSO search in the 10 square degrees Schmidt field around M92 based on variability and proper motion (VPM) constraints. We have re-reduced 162 digitised B plates with a time-baseline of more than three decades and have considerably improved both the photometric accuracy and the star-galaxy separation at B>19. QSO candidates are selected and marked with one out of three degrees of priority based on the statistical significance of their measured variability and zero proper motion. Spectroscopic follow-up observations of 84 new candidates with B>19 revealed an additional 37 QSOs and 7 Seyfert1s. In particular, all 92 high-priority candidates are spectroscopically classified now; among them are 70 QSOs and 9 Seyfert1s (success rate 86%). We expect that 87% (55%) of all QSOs with B<19.0 (19.8) are contained in this high-priority subsample. For the combined sample of high-priority and medium-priority objects, a completeness of 89% is estimated up to B_lim=19.5. The sample of all AGNs detected in the framework of the VPM search in the M92 field contains now 95 QSOs and 14 Seyfert1s with B<19.9. Although the VPM QSOs were selected by completely different criteria, their properties do not significantly differ from those of QSOs found by more traditional optical survey techniques. In particular, the spectra and the optical broad band colours do not provide any hints on a substantial population of red QSOs up to the present survey limit.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Geochemistry of As-, F- and B-bearing waters in and around San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina, and implications for drinking and irrigation water quality

Spring, stream and tap waters from in and around San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta, Argentina, were sampled to characterize their geochemical signatures, and to determine whether they pose a threat to human health and crops. The spring waters are typical of geothermal areas world-wide, in that they are Na-Cl waters with high concentrations of Astot, As(III), Li, B, HCO3, F and SiO2 (up to 9.49, 8.92, 13.1, 56.6, 1250, 7.30 and 57.2 mg L-1, respectively), and result from mixing of deep Na-Cl brines and meteoric HCO3-rich waters. Springs close to the town of San Antonio have higher concentrations of all elements, and are generally cooler, than springs in the Baños de Agua Caliente. Spring water chemistry is a result of mixing of deep Na-Cl brines and meteoric HCO3 waters. Stream waters are also Na-Cl type, and receive large inputs of all elements from the springs near San Antonio, but concentrations decrease downstream through the town of San Antonio due to mineral precipitation. The spring that is used as a drinking water source, and other springs in the area, have As, F and B concentrations in excess of WHO and Argentinian drinking water guidelines. Evaluation of the waters for irrigation purposes suggests that their high salinities and B concentrations may adversely affect crops. The waters may be improved for drinking and irrigation by dilution with cleaner meteoric waters, mineral precipitation or by use of commercial filters. Such recommendations could also be followed by other settlements that draw drinking and irrigation waters from geothermal sources

Absolute risk and risk factors for stroke mortality in patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD): population-based cohort study using data linkage

INTRODUCTION: People with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have up to 30-fold higher risk of stroke than the general population. OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors associated with stroke death in the ESKD population. METHODS: We identified all patients with incident ESKD in Australia (1980-2013) and New Zealand (1988-2012) from the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) registry. We ascertained underlying cause of death from data linkage with national death registries and risk factors from ANZDATA. Using a competing risks multivariable regression model, we estimated cumulative incidence of stroke and non-stroke deaths, and risk factors for stroke deaths (adjusted sub-HR, SHR). RESULTS: We included 60 823 people with ESKD. There were 941 stroke deaths and 33 377 non-stroke deaths during 381 874 person-years of follow-up. Overall, the cumulative incidence of stroke death was 0.9% and non-stroke death was 36.8% 5 years after starting ESKD treatment. The risk of stroke death was higher at older ages (SHR 1.92, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.55), in females (SHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.64), in people with cerebrovascular disease (SHR 2.39, 95% CI 1.99 to 2.87), with ESKD caused by hypertensive/renovascular disease (SHR 1.39, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.78) or polycystic kidney disease (SHR 1.38, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.90), with earlier year of ESKD treatment initiation (SHR 1.93, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.39) and receiving dialysis (transplant vs haemodialysis SHR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.84). CONCLUSION: Patients with ESKD with higher risk of stroke death are older, women, with cerebrovascular disease, with hypertensive/renovascular or polycystic kidney disease cause of ESKD, with earlier year of ESKD treatment and receiving dialysis. These groups may benefit from targeted stroke prevention interventions

AsteroidX: An Asteroid Exploration Simulation and Visualisation Tool

The use of multi-agent robotics for space exploration creates the need for verification and validation using formal methods and simulation-based testing of such systems. This paper presents an asteroid exploration simulation and visualisation tool that can facilitate agent research in an approximated space setting. The software is able to simulate and visualise multiple spacecrafts navigating a customisable asteroid field environment under the control of either user or agent commands and abiding to space physics constraints. A built-in autopilot system implements Lambert’s algorithm to allow autonomous orbital entry/transfer manoeuvres, and collision-free long-range path-finding if the objective is distant. A simulated scenario is described, involving two agents observing multiple asteroids during a debris strike