Los libros electrónicos: la tercera ola de la revolución digital

After reference books and scientific journals, electronic books represent the next level of evolution in the digital revolution. Its presence in libraries and their level of knowledge on the part of users is still low. But the development of specific collections by the editors, the development of online distribution systems increasingly refining and improvements in portable reading devices (e-book readers) are causing a change in this situation, so being checked with a turnaround on the production and consumption of such documents

Active fault databases and seismic hazard calculations: a compromise between science and practice. Review of case studies from Spain

Since the Quaternary Active Faults Database of Iberia (QAFI) was released in February 2012 a number of studies aimed at producing seismic hazard assessments have made use of it. We will present a summary of the shortcomings and advantages that were faced when QAFI was considered in different seismic hazard studies. These include the production of the new official seismic hazard map of Spain, performed in the view of the foreseen adoption of Eurocode-8 throughout 2017. The QAFI database was considered as a complementary source of information for designing the seismogenic source-zone models used in the calculations, and particularly for the estimation of maximum magnitude distribution in each zone, as well as for assigning the predominant rupture mechanism based on style of faulting. We will also review the different results obtained by other studies that considered QAFI faults as independent seismogenic-sources in opposition to source-zones, revealing, on one hand, the crucial importance of data-reliability and, on the other, the very much influence that ground motion attenuation models have on the actual impact of fault-sources on hazard results. Finally, we will present briefly the updated version of the database (QAFI v.3, 2015), which includes an original scheme for evaluating the reliability of fault seismic parameters specifically devised to facilitate decision-making to seismic hazard practitioners

Diagnóstico del sistema de alimentación de combustible de un vehículo de inyección a gasolina

En este artículo se presenta el procedimiento a seguir para realizar un diagnóstico confiable del sistema de alimentación de combustible en un vehículo a inyección a gasolina para reducir tiempo de diagnóstico, tiempo y costo de la reparación y disminuir las emisiones contaminantes frente a un mal diagnóstico. Para esto se deben analizar los diferentes elementos que componen el sistema de alimentación de combustible de un vehículo a inyección, un orden específico, el sistema eléctrico, compuesto por la red de cables, conectores, el fusible y el relé de la bomba; la bomba y la red de conductos por los cuales se transporta el combustible, el tamiz, el riel de inyectores, la válvula limitadora de presión e inyectores

Trabajando con nuestros pacientes fumadores en atención primaria. Un análisis de coste-efectividad

ResumenObjetivoEl objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una evaluación económica de las intervenciones sobre tabaquismo en atención primaria.DiseñoAnálisis de coste-efectividad (ACE) comparando 2 estrategias de intervención: intensiva y breve.EmplazamientoPacientes de una consulta de medicina de familia en un centro de salud (CS) periurbano.ParticipantesTodas las historias con etiqueta de fumadores; 235 y 37 en el grupo de intervención breve e intensiva, respectivamente.IntervencionesLa intervención breve (IB) se realizó en el contexto de otro motivo de consulta (1-5 min). La intervención intensiva (II) fue exclusivamente para tabaquismo (10-15 min).Mediciones principalesLos datos de efectividad son obtenidos de la evaluación de la intervención sobre los fumadores de dicha consulta después de 6 años. Empleamos costes sanitarios directos. Excluimos fármacos, costes no sanitarios e indirectos. Aplicamos la tasa de coste-efectividad incremental (ICER) de las intervenciones breve, intensiva y total (breve+intensiva), comparando no intervenir con cada tipo de intervención e II respecto a la IB y análisis probabilístico para tratar la incertidumbre.ResultadosEl coste por paciente abstinente, globalmente, fue 406,74 €. Para la IB fue de 129,83 € y para la II, 1.034,99 €.ICER intervención total=498,87 €/paciente que deja de fumar.ICER IB=235,32 €/paciente que deja de fumar.ICER II=1.232,85 €/paciente que deja de fumar.ICER II/IB=7.772,25 €/paciente que deja de fumar.ConclusionesLas intervenciones sobre tabaquismo en AP son eficientes. Una propuesta para el abordaje del tabaquismo en AP, desde una perspectiva coste-efectiva, podría ser la IB sobre todos los fumadores e II sobre aquellos con más dificultad para abandonar.AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this work is to realize an economic evaluation of the smoking interventions in Primary Care (PC).DesignCost-Effectiveness Analysis comparing two intervention strategies; intensive and brief.SettingPatients in a general practitioner's list in a peri-urban Health Centre.ParticipantsAll the medical histories labelled as smokers; 235 and 37 in the group of brief and intensive intervention respectively.InterventionsThe brief intervention (BI) was made in the context of consultation for another purpose (1-5minutes). The intensive intervention (II) was exclusively for smoking consultation (10-15minutes).Main measurementsThe effectiveness data are obtained by the evaluation of intervention for smokers, in a general practitioner's list, after 6 years. We employ direct sanitary costs. We exclude drugs, non- sanitary and indirect costs. We apply the valuation of incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the brief interventions, intensive and total (brief+intensive) to compare not taking part with each type of intervention and II with regard to BI and probabilistic analysis to treat the uncertainty.ResultsThe total cost per abstinent patient was 406,74 €: 129,83 € for BI and 1.034,99 € for I.I.ICER Total intervention=€498, 87/patient who stops smoking.ICER BI=€235, 32/patient who stops smoking.ICER II=€1.232, 85/patient who stops smoking.ICER II/BI=€7.772,25/patient who stops smoking.ConclusionsSmoking interventions in PC are efficient. A proposal for smoking intervention in PC from an effective cost perspective could be an BI for smokers and an II on those who find more difficult to leave the habit

Active fault databases: building a bridge between earthquake geologists and seismic hazard practitioners, the case of the QAFI v.3 database

Active fault databases are a very powerful and useful tool in seismic hazard assessment, particularly when singular faults are considered seismogenic sources. Active fault databases are also a very relevant source of information for earth scientists, earthquake engineers and even teachers or journalists. Hence, active fault databases should be updated and thoroughly reviewed on a regular basis in order to keep a standard quality and uniformed criteria. Desirably, active fault databases should somehow indicate the quality of the geological data and, particularly, the reliability attributed to crucial fault-seismic parameters, such as maximum magnitude and recurrence interval. In this paper we explain how we tackled these issues during the process of updating and reviewing the Quaternary Active Fault Database of Iberia (QAFI) to its current version 3. We devote particular attention to describing the scheme devised for classifying the quality and representativeness of the geological evidence of Quaternary activity and the accuracy of the slip rate estimation in the database. Subsequently, we use this information as input for a straightforward rating of the level of reliability of maximum magnitude and recurrence interval fault seismic parameters. We conclude that QAFI v.3 is a much better database than version 2 either for proper use in seismic hazard applications or as an informative source for non-specialized users. However, we already envision new improvements for a future update

El libro electrónico en la biblioteca digital: modelos de negocio y políticas de precios

Comunicación presentada en las 4as. Jornadas BUCLE sobre bibliotecas universitarias, celebradas en Ávila los días 16 y 17 de septiembre de 2010.[ES] La aparición del libro electrónico (eBook) y los nuevos lectores electrónicos de libros (eReaders) más cómodos y mejor adaptados para la lectura gracias a innovaciones técnicas como las pantallas de de tinta electrónica que permiten una lectura cómoda sin aumentar la fatiga visual, su gran capacidad de almacenamiento y portabilidad, están revolucionando el mercado de la edición e incluso los hábitos de lectura. En este contexto, siguiendo el éxito obtenido por las revistas electrónicas, las bibliotecas han puesto grandes expectativas en disponer de colecciones de libros electrónicos en términos de actualización de contenidos, inmediatez de acceso y funcionalidad efectiva. Expectativas que a menudo no son coincidentes con las propuestas de los editores en términos de contenidos poco interesantes y actualizados, y limitaciones de acceso demasiado restrictivas (impresión, copia, descarga, funcionalidades). Los editores están Intentando perfilar modelos de negocio que compatibilice los intereses de todos los agentes concurrentes (autores, editores y lectores), Por su parte las bibliotecas científicas han acumulado una experiencia de casi una década en el modelo de negociación consorciada de recursos electrónicos, y puesta en servicio de recursos, que si bien es válida en muchos aspecto requiere de un modelo específico que atienda las peculiaridades del libro electrónico

CiteULike and Connotea: 2.0 tool for discovery of scientific information

Social reference managers automate repetitive and tedious tasks such as literature management, offering an alternative to search engines and traditional databases for social mediation and scientific discovery. In this study we reflect upon the implications of social tagging processes for personal bibliographic management in the 2.0 environment, and we study two of the most famous applications, although still little known and employed in Spain: CiteULike y Connotea

Evaluation of an expert system for the generation of speech and language therapy plans

Background: Speech and language pathologists (SLPs) deal with a wide spectrum of disorders, arising from many different conditions, that affect voice, speech, language, and swallowing capabilities in different ways. Therefore, the outcomes of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) are highly dependent on the accurate, consistent, and complete design of personalized therapy plans. However, SLPs often have very limited time to work with their patients and to browse the large (and growing) catalogue of activities and specific exercises that can be put into therapy plans. As a consequence, many plans are suboptimal and fail to address the specific needs of each patient. Objective: We aimed to evaluate an expert system that automatically generates plans for speech and language therapy, containing semiannual activities in the five areas of hearing, oral structure and function, linguistic formulation, expressive language and articulation, and receptive language. The goal was to assess whether the expert system speeds up the SLPs’ work and leads to more accurate, consistent, and complete therapy plans for their patients. Methods: We examined the evaluation results of the SPELTA expert system in supporting the decision making of 4 SLPs treating children in three special education institutions in Ecuador. The expert system was first trained with data from 117 cases, including medical data; diagnosis for voice, speech, language and swallowing capabilities; and therapy plans created manually by the SLPs. It was then used to automatically generate new therapy plans for 13 new patients. The SLPs were finally asked to evaluate the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of those plans. A four-fold cross-validation experiment was also run on the original corpus of 117 cases in order to assess the significance of the results. Results: The evaluation showed that 87% of the outputs provided by the SPELTA expert system were considered valid therapy plans for the different areas. The SLPs rated the overall accuracy, consistency, and completeness of the proposed activities with 4.65, 4.6, and 4.6 points (to a maximum of 5), respectively. The ratings for the subplans generated for the areas of hearing, oral structure and function, and linguistic formulation were nearly perfect, whereas the subplans for expressive language and articulation and for receptive language failed to deal properly with some of the subject cases. Overall, the SLPs indicated that over 90% of the subplans generated automatically were “better than” or “as good as” what the SLPs would have created manually if given the average time they can devote to the task. The cross-validation experiment yielded very similar results. Conclusions: The results show that the SPELTA expert system provides valuable input for SLPs to design proper therapy plans for their patients, in a shorter time and considering a larger set of activities than proceeding manually. The algorithms worked well even in the presence of a sparse corpus, and the evidence suggests that the system will become more reliable as it is trained with more subjects.Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo RegionalXunta de GaliciaMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. TIN2013-42774-

Generation reference management software: comparative analysis of RefWorks, EndNote web and Zotero

Reference managing tools are one of the most useful devices for researchers and librarians due to their ability to compile, storeand format information related to different products, sources and types of records. In recent years a new generation of reference-managing software has appeared. These new tools include applications from the new technological context that have contributed to reinforcing their capacity and potential. An overview of these tools and their applications is offered. We also makes a comparative analysis of the different products with a view to highlighting their strengths as well as the elements that could be improved in each tool