Diffusion of scientific credits and the ranking of scientists

Recently, the abundance of digital data enabled the implementation of graph based ranking algorithms that provide system level analysis for ranking publications and authors. Here we take advantage of the entire Physical Review publication archive (1893-2006) to construct authors' networks where weighted edges, as measured from opportunely normalized citation counts, define a proxy for the mechanism of scientific credit transfer. On this network we define a ranking method based on a diffusion algorithm that mimics the spreading of scientific credits on the network. We compare the results obtained with our algorithm with those obtained by local measures such as the citation count and provide a statistical analysis of the assignment of major career awards in the area of Physics. A web site where the algorithm is made available to perform customized rank analysis can be found at the address http://www.physauthorsrank.orgComment: Revised version. 11 pages, 10 figures, 1 table. The portal to compute the rankings of scientists is at http://www.physauthorsrank.or

Linking Research and Teaching: an Applied Soft Systems Methodology Case Study

This paper links research and teaching through an applied Soft Systems Methodology case study. The case study focuses on the redevelopment of a Research and Professional Skills module to provide support for international postgraduate students through the use of formative feedback with the aim of increasing academic research skills and confidence. The stages of the Soft Systems Methodology were used as a structure for the redevelopment of module content and assessment. It proved to be a valuable tool for identifying complex issues, a basis for discussion and debate from which an enhanced understanding was gained and a successful solution implemented together with a case study that could be utilised for teaching Soft Systems Methodology concepts. Changes to the module were very successful and resulted in significantly higher grades and a higher pass rate

Farm hygiene

Citation: Shirley, Garfield L. Farm hygiene. Senior thesis, Kansas State Agricultural College, 1905.Morse Department of Special CollectionsIntroduction: Hygiene is a science closely related to physiology, which is concerned with the conditions favorable to healthy action of the various parts of the body. Parkes has defined hygiene, "As the art of preserving health". "It aims at rendering growth more perfect, decay less rapid, life more vigorous, and death more remote". The importance of hygienic conditions of the livestock of the farm has not been recognized, as yet only by the veterinary profession and some of our more progressive farmers. There probably are a great many farmers who realize that certain conditions) and cleanliness are necessary, but the real value in dollars and cents of purely sanitary surroundings is appreciated by few. There is that old idea still among some that anything is good enough for animals, and especially is this idea true of swine. In fact, swine are the cleanliest animals on the farm if they have a chance to keep clean. The importance of sanitary conditions for animals may be demonstrated by showing what hygienic conditions have done for the human race. Some of the best dairymen have realized the significance of sanitary conditions, and as a result they receive double the price for their milk. Most farmers will admit that dark hot steaming stables, filled with putrid and irritating gases, are certainly not an adjunct to health. Our greatest hygienic achievements have been accomplished in the army where by aid of the law, certain diseases have practically been eradicated. By introduction of the sanitary reform into the French Army, a saving of 90,000 pounds per annum results in the purchase of horses alone. It does not cost very much more to have things, as they should be than to have them in an unhealthy condition. There are certain guiding principles in sanitary science, which we should understand. If our knowledge is to be based on a scientific foundation, we must understand the examination of air, food, water, soil, etc, act

United States Trade Flows for Selected Categories of Specialty Crops and the General Policy Implication

International Relations/Trade,

United States Trade Flows for Selected Categories of Specialty Crops

Nationally, Florida ranked second in farm cash receipt from all crops and second, based on value, in vegetable production (USDA, 2003). It also ranked fourteenth out of all the states with respect to agricultural exports with its top exports, fruits and vegetables, falling within the category of specialty crops. According to the USDA (2003), Florida's agricultural exports helped to boost farm prices and income and supported approximately 17,000 jobs both on and off farm in 2001. As such, its agricultural exports are important to Florida's agricultural and statewide economy. From a Florida farm cash receipts perspective, increased imports could undermine revenue earnings from specialty crop production, especially if there is not a comparable growth in the exports of these crops. This report covered the period 1991 to 2002 and examined trade flows for selected specialty crops deemed important to Florida's agriculture. Overall, the US had a relatively high import level of the selected specialty crops. This was apparent from the widening trade gaps and the declining surpluses experienced by all commodities, with the exception of oranges and strawberries. CANMEX was the dominant supplier of vegetables, and growing imports from this group drove the growing vegetable trade deficit. With respect to fruits, CANMEX was also a dominant supplier and affected trade balances however, many of the declining fruit trade balances were due to declining exports to markets such as Asia and the Europe. CANMEX played a major role in the trade of foliage and floriculture but did not dominate the trade. Over the period 1991 to 2002 there were changes in the trade flows of the selected vegetables, fruits and foliage and floriculture. Two noticeable trends were the concentration of trade with CANMEX, especially with respect to vegetable exports and declining exports to Asia and Europe. Also noticeable were declining trade balances experienced by the majority of the commodities in this study. With free trade agreements, an increased inflow of goods is expected as trade barriers are lowered. Preparing for additional imports resulting from expanded regional free trade agreements in the western hemisphere requires the commitment of additional resources toward the expansion of existing markets and the development of potentially new markets.Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade,

A Scaffolded Approach to Teaching Research Skills to Postgraduate Students.

A recent re-validation of Postgraduate Awards and a move from fifteen to twenty credit modules provided an opportunity to re-think and restructure modules. This research looks at one specific module titled Research and Professional Skills which was restructured to implement a scaffolded approach to delivering the module aimed at increasing the students’ confidence as well as their academic research skills. This research has shown that postgraduate students may have had little research experience during their undergraduate studies and that appropriate scaffolding is needed to support them developing research skills and has resulted in the formulation of a six step framework for developing postgraduate research skills

Is your EPL attractive? Classification of publications through download statistics

Here we consider the download statistics of EPL publications. We find that papers in the journal are characterised by fast accumulations of downloads during the first couple of months after publication, followed by slower rates thereafter, behaviour which can be represented by a model with predictive power. We also find that individual papers can be classified in various ways, allowing us to compare categories for open-access and non-open-access papers. For example, for the latter publications, which comprise the bulk of EPL papers, a small proportion (2%) display intense bursts of download activity, possibly following an extended period of less remarkable behaviour. About 18% have an especially high degree of attractiveness over and above what is typical for the journal. One can also classify the ageing of attractiveness by examining download half-lives. Approximately 18% have strong interest initially, waning in time. A further 20% exhibit "delayed recognition" with relatively late spurs in download activity. Although open-access papers enjoy more downloads on average, the proportions falling into each category are similar.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in EP

Distribution of cells responsive to 5-HT6 receptor antagonist-induced hypophagia

Open Access funded by Medical Research CouncilPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Bounds and Inequalities Relating h-Index, g-Index, e-Index and Generalized Impact Factor

Finding relationships among different indices such as h-index, g-index, e-index, and generalized impact factor is a challenging task. In this paper, we describe some bounds and inequalities relating h-index, g-index, e-index, and generalized impact factor. We derive the bounds and inequalities relating these indexing parameters from their basic definitions and without assuming any continuous model to be followed by any of them.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 5 table