The End-Users' Requirements of The Library of Arab International University (AIUL)

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has radically affected the way of accessing information and performing research in academic libraries. With the adoption of ICT, end-users’ requirements (EURs) have increased and changed. Thus, the main concern of academic libraries has shifted to address and accommodate these requirements. The purpose of this study is to identify EURs of the AIUL in Syria. Mixed methods approach, using questionnaires and interview, is adopted to collect data from different end-users’ groups; 228 of undergraduate students (USs), and 30 of academic staff (AS) participated in this study to understand their requirements of the AIUL. Furthermore, 8 academic librarians were involved in obtaining further understanding. Findings showed that EURs were high in terms of providing supportive IRs, experts, high-quality services and personal services. There was a difference on the EURs regarding their groups

Business Domain Modelling using an Integrated Framework

This paper presents an application of a “Systematic Soft Domain Driven Design Framework” as a soft systems approach to domain-driven design of information systems development. The framework combining techniques from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the Unified Modelling Language (UML), and an implementation pattern known as “Naked Objects”. This framework have been used in action research projects that have involved the investigation and modelling of business processes using object-oriented domain models and the implementation of software systems based on those domain models. Within this framework, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used as a guiding methodology to explore the problem situation and to develop the domain model using UML for the given business domain. The framework is proposed and evaluated in our previous works, and a real case study “Information Retrieval System for academic research” is used, in this paper, to show further practice and evaluation of the framework in different business domain. We argue that there are advantages from combining and using techniques from different methodologies in this way for business domain modelling. The framework is overviewed and justified as multimethodology using Mingers multimethodology ideas

The impact of library performance on students' satisfaction

This paper aims to assess undergraduate students’ satisfaction within the Arab International University (AIU). The results were addressed by conducting a questionnaire to a total of 228 of the undergraduate students of AIU, and by undertaken 8 interviews with the librarians involved to understand users’ expectations and requirements of the AIU. The findings showed: a) a statistical significance of students’ ability to find and use the information; b) a relationship between students' expectations and received materials; c) students were satisfied with library services’ quality in terms of accessibility; d) a relationship between providing the newest and valuable collections and students’ satisfaction; e) the most difficulties facing students were a lack of time and the ability to visit libraries; and f) the main services for students were borrowing books and references services. Furthermore, the findings illustrate statistically important differentiations on the satisfaction level on library collections between participants and faculties. A statistical significance between students’ profiles and their satisfactions was indicated in terms of selecting the information resources

The Impact of Digitisation Projects on the Work of Local Historians

Background: the methodology of historical research depends on a commitment to reporting and record keeping based on investigation of primary and secondary sources. This dependence on finding and assessing the reliability of information sources presents particular challenges to designers of information retrieval software intended to support historical research. Aim: this paper reports the results of a questionnaire distributed as the first phase of a research project intended to assess the information needs of historians working with original and/or digitised primary resources. We have been particularly interested in the work of “local” historians working with archives of local newspapers and with image collections that are in the process of being digitised. The prim ary aim at this stage was to discover whether these historians have a preference between original or digitised resources and to understand the reasons behind any preferences. In the longer term we aim to apply what we have learned to the development of a model of information seeking behaviour that can be used to guide the design of information retrieval applications supporting local historical research. Method: an online survey was distributed to historians in 43 universities in the UK. Results: The results show that historians make an interesting distinction between their preference for working with original documents and the greater “usefulness” of digitised resources. Conclusions: Historical research presents a number of unique challenges. Further research is needed into the unique aspects of the local historian’s information seeking behaviour. An important focus for this research will be the design of archival information retrieval systems that address these unique requirements

The Effect of Ocular Torsional Position on Perception of the Roll-tilt of Visual Stimuli

AbstractPerceived postural orientation during whole-body roll-tilt is commonly inferred from settings of a visual line to the perceived gravitational horizontal or vertical. This inference assumes that the change in ocular torsional position (ocular counterrolling) which occurs during roll-tilt has no effect on the perceived orientation of the visual stimulus. We investigated this assumption by measuring, during whole body roll-tilt stimulation, settings of a visual line and a somatosensory bar to the perceived gravitational horizontal and comparing the difference in these settings to the objectively measured ocular torsional position for each subject. Two stimulus paradigms were used: one where the subject was given a roll-tilt stimulus and the eye torted, the other where there was eye torsion without a roll-tilt stimulus. In both paradigms there was a very close relationship in magnitude and direction between the difference in the settings of the two perceptual indicators to gravitational horizontal and the objectively measured ocular torsion. We conclude that change in ocular torsional position alone changes the perceived orientation of a visual line. The corollary is that settings of a visual line cannot be used to infer perceived postural orientation directly. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Getting started with soil health testing in Missouri

"Recent public initiatives and USDA programs are putting a focus on producers to improve the health of their soils. Soil health is defined by the USDA-NRCS as "the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans." Soil health encompasses the biological, physical, and chemical aspects of soil function. Improving soil health will lead to a more sustainable agricultural system by protecting the soil resource while maintaining productivity and reducing environmental degradation. Current practices that producers can implement to improve their soil health include reduced tillage or no-till, cover crops, intercropping, manuring and more diverse crop rotations. Integration of livestock with cropping systems, such as grazing cover crops, can also boost soil health. Improving soil health may take time and will need to be monitored following appropriate sampling and testing protocols."--First page.Written by Stacy Zuber (formerly of the Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering), Kristen Veum (USDA Agricultural Research Service), Rob Myers (Center for Regenerative Agriculture), Newell Kitchen (USDA Agricultural Research Service), Donna Brandt (Soil Health Assessment Center), Steve Anderson (School of Natural Resources), Jordon Wade (School of Natural Resources)New 11/2021Includes bibliographical reference

Influence of Riding Experience on Glance Behavior, Brake Response Time and Deceleration Rates by Drivers and Motorcyclists

The focus of the research was to address the crash avoidance behaviors of drivers versus motorcyclists. Avoidance tasks include, attention maintenance and hazard anticipation measured with glance behaviors, and hazard mitigation measured with response times and deceleration. Specifically, where might the driver behavior be similar or different than that of a motorcyclist? The performances of 23participants were analyzed while they drove a car and rode a motorcycle over the same low-volume, open roads. Participants wore eye-tracking equipment used to record eye-glance information while the motorcycle and car were instrumented with an on-board accelerometer and GPS apparatus. Operators also responded by braking quickly to a stop when an LED, mounted in front of them, was illuminated. Motorcyclists spent less time glancing toward the road ahead and made fewer last-glances toward the direction of most threatening traffic before turning when riding the motorcycle, as opposed to when driving a car. Additionally, motorcyclists’ response times were similar to those when driving, yet motorcyclists decelerated less sharply compared to drivers. These results suggest that riders may be exposing themselves to unnecessary risk. Specifically, motorcyclists frequently failed to make proper glances and practice optimal riding techniques. The implication of these results relative to a training curriculum is discussed

Are Exercise Referral Schemes Associated With an Increase in Physical Activity? Observational Findings Using Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis From the National Referral Database

Objectives: To examine if exercise referral schemes (ERSs) are associated with meaningful changes in physical activity in a large cohort of individuals throughout England, Scotland, and Wales from The National Referral Database. Methods: Data were obtained from 5246 participants from 12 different ERSs, lasting 6–12 weeks. The preexercise referral scheme and changes from the preexercise to the postexercise referral scheme in self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores were examined. A 2-stage individual patient data meta-analysis was used to generate the effect estimates. Results: For the pre-ERS metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week, the estimate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 676 MET minutes per week (539 to 812). For the change in MET minutes per week, the estimate (95% CI) was an increase of 540 MET minutes per week (396 to 684). Changes in the total PA levels occurred as a result of increases in vigorous activity of 17 minutes (95% CI, 9 to 24), increases in moderate activity of 29 minutes (95% CI, 22 to 36), and reductions in sitting of −61 minutes (95% CI, −78 to −43), though little change in walking (−5 min; 95% CI, −14 to 5) was found. Conclusions: Most participants undergoing ERSs are already “moderately active.” Changes in PA behavior associated with participation are through increased moderate to vigorous PA and reduced sitting. However, this was insufficient to change the International Physical Activity Questionnaire category, and the participants were still “moderately active.