Sunday, February 24, 2008

The Latest from Science Online Magazine

Have a quick look at the latest two issues of Science Online Magazine, which were published on 15th & 22nd of February 2008. Please note, that I select only some of the titles. Click on the links to access the UJ full-text issues.
22 February 2008Vol 319, Issue 5866, Pages 1005-1123
* News of the Week
- SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING: Harvard Faculty Votes to Make Open Access Its Default Mode
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: Lawmakers Claim Great Lakes Report Was 'Suppressed'
- AIDS RESEARCH: Microbicide Fails to Protect Against HIV
- SPECIES CONSERVATION: Tigers in Decline, Indian Survey Finds
- AAAS ANNUAL MEETING: How Human Intelligence Evolved--Is It Science or 'Paleofantasy'?
* News Focus
- EDUCATION: A New Bottom Line For School Science
- EVOLUTION: Crossing the Divide
- GEOLOGY: Japan's Ocean Drilling Vessel Debuts to Rave Reviews
* Letters
- The Legitimacy of Genetic Ancestry Tests
- Soil Erosion: A Carbon Sink or Source?
* Perspectives
- CANCER: A Skin Cancer Virus?
- MATERIALS SCIENCE: The Cutting Edge of Plasma Etching
- MATERIALS SCIENCE: Bioinspired Structural Materials
* Brevia
- Juvenile Hormone Regulates Butterfly Larval Pattern Switches
* Reports
- Bioinspired Design and Assembly of Platelet Reinforced Polymer Films
- Atomic-Scale Chemical Imaging of Composition and Bonding by Aberration-Corrected Microscopy
- Extending Earthquakes' Reach Through Cascading
- Human-Induced Changes in the Hydrology of the Western United States
* Technical Comments
- Comment on "International Conservation Policy Delivers Benefits for Birds in Europe"
15 February 2008Vol 319, Issue 5865, Pages 873-969
* News of the Week
- ASTRONOMY: Alien Planetary System Looks a Lot Like Home
- ECOLOGY: Senate Bill Would Scale Up Forest Restoration
- GLOBAL WARMING: Another Side to the Climate-Cloud Conundrum Finally Revealed
* News Focus
- ENDANGERED SPECIES: Wolves at the Door of a More Dangerous World
- CHEMISTRY: Framework Materials Grab CO2 and Researchers' Attention
- DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS: In South Africa, XDR TB and HIV Prove a Deadly Combination
- DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS: Research Project Mimics TB Transmission
- JOINT MATHEMATICS MEETING: Number Theorists' Big Cover-Up Proves Harder Than It Looks
* Letters
- Climate Change: A Titanic Challenge
- A Nobel Lesson: The Grant Behind the Prize
- Making Sense of Scrambled Genomes
* Policy Forum
- TOXICOLOGY: Transforming Environmental Health Protection
* Perspectives
- MATERIALS SCIENCE: Making Strong Fibers
- ECOLOGY: Green with Complexity
* Reports
- Electron-Driven Acid-Base Chemistry: Proton Transfer from Hydrogen Chloride to Ammonia
- Rogue Mantle Helium and Neon
- A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems
- Effects of Predator Hunting Mode on Grassland Ecosystem Function
- The Critical Importance of Retrieval for Learning
* Technical Comments
- Comment on "The Latitudinal Gradient in Recent Speciation and Extinction Rates of Birds and Mammals"

ISI Web of Knowledge: New Interface

Click on the picture to enlarge
The ISI Web of Knowledge databases have been given a "makeover" - a new interface! For couple of weeks we have been straggling with access and now we know why. So what is NEW? How can you search this new features? I find this interface user-friendly and easy to use and navigate. It does have RSS feeds, which are useful addition to the database. The availability of simultaneous multiple ISI databases will help researchers to have in-depth search results.
The main features of ISI new interface are:
1. You have an option to either search:
>ALL DATABASES
>SELECT A DATABASE ( Science Citation Index, Currents Contents Connect & Journal Citation Report: JCR) or search
>ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ( Web search tools - Thomson Scientific WebPlus; Web sites - ISIHighlyCited.com, Biology Browser, Index to Organism Names, in-cites, ResearcherID.com, Science Watch, Special Topics & Thomson Scientific). These products and Web sites provide a variety of data and analysis relevant to research.
2. Advanced Search Option
> You have three fields where you can type your: TOPIC/KEYWORD, TITLE, AUTHOR, PUBLICATION NAME or YEAR PUBLISHED. These you select from the drop down menu next to the search box. You can add additional fields if you need more.
> To help you find the right TOPIC/KEYWORD next to the search box have an icon "magnifying glass" or TOPIC INDEX. If you CLICK on that it will take you to the next screen where you can use the browse feature to locate terms to add to your query. Instructions are available.
> You can LIMIT your search to specific years requirements - Latest (current) week, all years, latest 5 years, etc.
> On the RIGHT side of the searching screen you can find more information on the available databases, you can CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE - once you register you can save and manage your references, save and run searches, create alerts and RSS feeds, choose your start page. My ResearcherID is a website where invited researchers can register for a unique researcher ID number. At this site, users can:
* Update their profile information
* Build their publication list using Web of Science search services or uploading a file
* Select to make their profile public or private.
3. Search Results Screen
>Sort Results option: Publication Date, Relevence, First Author & Source Title >Number of Results per page option (find it at the bottom of the results page): 10, 25, 50 >Refine Results option -If there are too many results you can narrow your search by typing additional keyword. You can also refine your search by: General Categories; Subject Areas, Document Type, Author, Source Title, Publication year & Language. For more REFINE search options use: Analyse Results. The system produces a report showing the values in ranked order. >Print, E-mail, Add to Marked list, Save to EndNote options options >If you Click on the TITLE of the individual record you can read the Abstract; have an interactive links to the Author's works; Cited by option; Related Records; Record References, View Additional Information; You can EXPORT the record to EndNote and other Reference software. Under each record you can see options: Links & Full-text.
4. Search History option
You can view your previous search results. You can combined the with the Boolean Operators (AND & OR) to narrow your results to suit your search query.

5. Marked List option
You can view a list with your MARKED records

6. My Cited Articles Alert
In order to create/access My Cited Articles List, you must sign in or register. Benefits of creating My Cited Articles List:
* You will receive an
e-mail alert each time an article on the list is cited in a new article
* You will be able to receive an
RSS feed to view new articles that cite articles on the list
* You can
add an article to the list from its full record page
* You will be able to access your selected articles from any computer at the institution

7. My Journal List
In order to create My Journal List, you must sign in or register. Benefits of creating My Journal List:
* You can receive e-mail alerts of the latest Table of Contents for your selected journals.
* You will be able to receive RSS feeds of the latest Table of Contents for your selected journals.
* You will be able to access your selected journals from any computer at the institution.
* You can open the latest Table of Contents for your selected journals directly from the ISI Web of Knowledge home page.

8. My Saved Searches
In order to access your Search Histories saved to the ISI Web of Knowledge Server, you must sign in. Benefits of saving search histories on the ISI Web of Knowledge Server:
* E-mail alerts can be created from your saved search histories.
* RSS feeds can be created from your saved search histories.
* You will be able to access your saved histories from any computer at the institution.
* You can open saved histories directly from the ISI Web of Knowledge home page.

9. My EndNote Web (RefWorks is not available)
In order to create and access your EndNote Web Library, you must sign in or register. Benefits of creating an EndNote Web Library:
* You can add references to your EndNote Web Library directly from Web of Science and other ISI Web of Knowledge products.
* You can organize references in folders for access and use at any time--collections are retained between sessions.
* You can create formatted reference lists in a variety of publishing styles.
* You will be able to access your EndNote Web Library from any computer at the institution.

10. Help menu
Every time you need help with searches or any other menu option, click on HELP ( top right on the screen).
Contact the Library for any assistance you need

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Royal Society

The Royal Society is the independent scientific Academy of the UK and the Commonwealth, dedicated to promoting excellence in science. It supports many top young scientists, engineers and technologists. It influences science policy, it debates scientific issues with the public and much more. It is an independent, charitable body which derives its authoritative status from its 1400 Fellows and Foreign Members.
The following information is available on their website:
* Information about the Society
* What they do:
-
Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation
- Increase access to the best science internationally
- Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice
- Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery
- Invigorate science and mathematics education
* Science News (the latest Royal Society press releases; archives)
* Events Diary (information on forthcoming events)
* Science Issues (Topical issues on which the Royal Society has conducted a study, issued a science brief, held a meeting, issued a press release...)(http://royalsociety.org/landing.asp?id=6)
- Animals in research (Along with the great majority of the scientific community, the Royal Society considers that the benefits arising from scientific research which uses animals justifies their use)
- Climate change (Policy reports, statements, facts and fictions about climate change, etc.)
- Energy (Governments face the major challenge of providing a secure, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply. Crucially this includes making significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions)
- Environment (Economic analysis, Sustainable Development, Chemicals & the Environment)
- Synthetic Biology (An area of research that can broadly be described as the design and construction of novel artificial biological pathways, organisms or devices, or the redesign of existing natural biological systems)
- Nanoscience and nanotechnology (Nanotechnologies involve studying and working with matter on an ultra-small scale. One nanometre is one-millionth of a millimetre and a single human hair is around 80,000 nanometres in width)
* Publishing (This site provides a range of services and facilities including access to the Society’s journals, news of recently published science) http://publishing.royalsociety.org/index.cfm?page=1041
The Royal Society publishes seven, high quality peer-reviewed journals covering: biological and physical sciences; history and philosophy of science; and cross-disciplinary research at the interface between the physical and life sciences.
- You can get access access to the JOURNALS from the "Publisher" website
- Sign-up for e-mail alert
- Submit NEW article or REVISED version for publication
- Submit a referee report
- Obtain "submittion guides" containing information on how to submit an article to these journals
The following journals are published by the Royal Society:
P.S.: Articles are free one year after publication (from 1997) for B side journals and after 2 years for A side journals. There are now over 8000 free articles available to all. Table of contents, abstracts and email alerting are available free of charge to all. The journal content is fully searchable.
> Biology Letters ( Full-text: 2003 - 1 year embargo)
> Journal of the Royal Society Interface ( Full-text: 2004, 2005, 2006-partially)
> Notes and Records (Full-text: 1997 - 1 year embargo)
> Philosophical Transactions A (Full-text: 1997 - 2 years embargo)
> Philosophical Transactions B (Full-text: 1997 - 1 year embargo)
> Proceedings A (Full-text: 1997 - 2 year embargo)
> Proceedings B (Full-text: 19997 - 1 year embargo)
> Bibliographical Memoirs and Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society ( Full-text: 1997 - 1 year embargo)

Golonka: E-Math, E-Physics, E-Chemistry for Africa

Have you heard about Golonka initiative for Africa?
The aim of the Golonka is to co-ordinate the efforts to make an African consortium for e-journals and databases. The main purpose is to promote the use of Open Access journals and other scientific resources, as well as being a platform for consortia building.
Currently, Golonka provide access to:
* E-Math Africa (
http://math.golonka.se)
* E-Physics Africa (
http://physics.golonka.se)
* E-Chemistry Africa (
http://chemistry.golonka.se)
These three websites will provide you with information on: Statistical Pan African Society (SPAS); Mentoring African Research in Mathematics; European Math Departments support African colleagues; Free ACD/ChemSketch Licenses to All Academic Institutions. You can subscribe to an e-mail alerts with news about access to databases and journals.
The following resources are available on each website:
- Links to: Societies, Academies & Institutions;
- Databases and Search Engines
- Reprints
- E-books ( number of full-text books/textbooks available on the Internet)
- Free Journal Archives, Open access and African e-journals ( 431 journals - Maths, Applied Maths, Statistics, IT, etc.)( 81 journals - Chemistry)(96 journals - Physics)
These "portals" to Maths, Physics & Chemistry resources will definitely be of use to undergraduates and postgraduates students. It will be useful for research, learning & teaching purposes.

Dialog (Thomson Scientific) Alerts

Dialog alerts
As a Dialog customer, you’re eligible for our special
alert setup service . Utilize our expert search staff – at no charge – to assist with setting up alerts on your most business-critical strategies. You’ll be the first to know of essential information that will keep you at the forefront of your industry and eliminate hours of research time. You can also have teammates included in your distribution, at your specified frequency, so you’re all in the know. Whether you’re short on time, staff or lack expertise in a specific area, your Dialog search team is ready to help. Visit www.scientific.thomson.com/forms/alerts to request a confidential alert setup consultation -- and, make sure you’re one of the first to know.

Wiley InterScience: 5000 online books in 2008

Wiley-Blackwell is pleased to announce that over the next few months approximately 1500 books from the former Blackwell Publishing will be incorporated into the OnlineBooks™ program on Wiley InterScience. This milestone in the integration of content from the two publishing operations will dramatically expand the scope of the online book offering on Wiley InterScience, and enable your library and user community to search and access, on one platform, a vast repository of prestigious monographs across the sciences and humanities:
The Blackwell Publishing books will include:
* 600 books in Social Science and the Humanities
* 300 books covering many Medical disciplines, including evidence-based medicine
* 650 books in Life Science, Construction, Nursing, Food Science and Technology, Agriculture and Forestry, Aquaculture, and Applied arts
In addition, in early 2008 another 400 titles from Wiley-VCH will be added to Wiley InterScience, predominantly in Physics, Chemistry, Material Sciences and Life Sciences.
Your institution can license OnlineBooks for a subscription or for a one-time fee, on a title-by-title basis, with a custom starter package of 20 titles.
DOWNLOAD SPREADSHEETS:

UKSG Searials-eNews

Some of the topics in the UKSG Searials-eNews in the last three issues were:
22 Feb 2008, no. 164
* Harvard Faculty adopts open access requirement
Harvard University's arts and sciences faculty has approved a plan that will post finished academic papers online free, unless scholars specifically decide to opt out of the open access programme. While other institutions have similar repositories for their faculty's work, Harvard's is unique for making online publication the default option. The policy will allow Harvard authors to publish in any journal that permits posting online after publication.

* What does Higher Education want from Publishers?
The purpose of this well-attended conference was to review the future of the textbook - a campaign which the Publishers Association has promoted since 2003. There were a number of highlights to the day, which started with an impressive overview of academic publishing and university concerns. Students and academics from Manchester Metropolitan University gave their views on how they wanted to use textbook material. The
presentations from the conference are available online.
8 Feb 2008, no 163:
* Researchers of the future: underskilled?
Discussion on the report about the so-called "Google Generation" - Information Behaviour of the Researcher of the Future
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/slais/research/ciber/downloads/
The report counters the common assumption that the 'Google Generation' - young people born or brought up in the Internet age - is the most adept at using the web. "Our verdict: This is a dangerous myth. Digital literacies and information literacies do not go hand in hand. A careful look at the literature over the past 25 years finds no improvement (or deterioration) in young people's information skills."
The report claims that, although young people demonstrate an ease and familiarity with computers, they rely on the most basic search tools and do not possess the critical and analytical skills to asses the information that they find on the web.
The report calls for libraries to respond urgently to the changing needs of researchers and other users and to understand the new means of searching and navigating information. Learning what researchers want and need is crucial if libraries are not to become obsolete - libraries and information services need to become "much more e-consumer-friendly and less stodgy and intellectual".
* Academics want to improve peer review
A study involving 3,000 authors, reviewers and editors has been written up in a new report by Mark Waring Consulting called Peer review in scholarly journals: perspective of the scholarly community - an international study. The full report, Peer review in scholarly journals: perspective of the scholarly community - an international study, can be accessed on the
Publishing Research Consortium website. A summary report, Peer review: benefits, perceptions, and alternatives, is also available.
* The Royal Society chooses HighWire
HighWire Press and the Royal Society have announced a new partnership in the provision of the independent scientific academy's publications online. All content of the Society's eight periodicals, some dating back as early as 1665, will be live on HighWire's e-publishing platform from 2009.
* Nature Publishing launches Nature India
Nature Publishing has announced the launch of Nature India, a new website highlighting the best scientific research from researchers based in India.
25 Jan 2008, no. 162:
* The issue of identity for institutions and individuals:
Thomson Scientific has launched ResearcherID.com, a web environment which enables researchers to create stable personal identifiers to present their works and manage public presentation of their personal metrics. Each individual identification (ID) number will act as a digital 'calling card' that the researcher can place anywhere, such as a personal home page, a CV, or a university page. The identifier links to a personal workspace that automatically updates citation data, user-generated tags and keywords, and professional information that can be shared with the public or kept for personal monitoring.
ResearcherID.com ensures an accurate record of a researcher's output and attribution, providing a gateway for colleagues to pinpoint not only that researcher's published work, but also the researcher as a potential collaborator. Web of Science users will be able to create identifiers and workspaces to share publicly, with wider availability via trusted sponsors in the future.
* IEEE continues to update legacy content
Originally promised to be 180,000 documents large, the IEEE Xplore legacy collection has topped 237,286 documents as IEEE continues to complete its vision to provide the first volume, first issue release of all its technology journals.

University of Pretoria Bookfest, 5-8 March 2008

You are invited to attend the festival of books, which mark the University of Pretoria Centenary. As part of its centenary celebrations, the University of Pretoria (UP) through the aegis of its Library Services, is hosting the BookFest and the 1st South African e-Book Fair from 05-08 March 2008 in Pretoria.
The 4-day programme includes:
1. Writers in Dialogue - a programme which features a wide range of South African authors, including UP alumni. This line-up includes Fred Khumalo, Sindiwe Magona, Chris Mann, Darryl Accone, PG du Plessis, Helene de Kock, Buti Skhosana, Joan Hambidge, Jaco Jacobs, Anzil Kulsen, and many others. Shimmer Chinodya, the 2007 Noma Award winner for Publishing in Africa will also be present.
2. The eBook Phenomenon
The eBook Phenomenon: A New Chapter: A symposium will be held on Friday, March 07 2008 that addresses the emerging electronic book environment and its impact on print media and publishing. Mark Carden of MyiLibrary will be the keynote speaker. The 1st SA eBook Fair - Twelve international publishers will introduce their latest eBook collections and present a virtual exhibition of eBooks. Cost: R 100
Registration at:
http://www.bookfest.up.ac.za/symposium_registration.htm
3. TUKSbooks and UniverCity - a display of 1000 books by UP staff and students published during its century. This programme also includes a series of talks by various experts.
4. Future Leaders at Play - a stimulating programme of activities for local schools, children and youth which will include the participation of children's authors and illustrators.
5. Exhibitions by local and international publishers and booksellers.
6. Sunset and lunch-time concerts by the university choirs and orchestra, rap poets, street musicians, museum collections and art exhibitions will add to the festivities.
This Bookfest is being sponsored by Elsevier, EBSCO, Blackwell's Book Services, Swets, Protea Boekhuis, KWP Argitekte and OCLC.
Direct link to the programme:
http://www.bookfest.up.ac.za/programme.htm

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Electronic Books @ UJ Library

It seems we always pay more attention to the electronic journals available through the Library databases, and forget that we also subscribe to a number of electronic books. The e-books relevant to the Sciences are:
Reference E-Books:
* AccessScience - McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology
* Combined Chemical Dictionary: Search through all these dictionaries: Dictionary of Organic Compounds; Dictionary of Natural Products; Dictionary of Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds; Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents; Dictionary of Analytical Reagents.
* Encyclopedia of Energy: Environmental issues, Global issues, Nuclear power, Renewable & Alternative sources, Sustainable Development, Policy issues, etc.
* Oxford English Dictionary
* Oxford Reference Online
- Biological Sciences: Dictionary of Animal Behaviour, Dictionary of Biology, Dictionary of Genetics, Dictionary of Plant Sciences, Dictionary of Zoology, New Encyclopedia of Birds, Encyclopedia of Underwater Life, Dictionary of Scientists
- Computing: A Dictionary of Computing, A Dictionary of Internet, A Dictionary of Weights, Measures and Units
- Earth and Environmental Sciences: A Dictionary of Earth Sciences, The Oxford Companion to the Earth, A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation, A Dictionary of Geography, The Oxford Companion to the Garden, A Dictionary of Weather
- Natural History: The Encyclopedia of Mammals
- Physical Sciences & Mathematics: A Dictionary of Astronomy, A Dictionary of Chemistry, The Concised Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics, A Dictionary of Physics, A Dictionary of Space Exploration, A Dictionary of Statistics
Electronic books:
* SAFARI Books Online: Full-text subscription to over 300 Computer Science e-books. The books can be re-selected on regular basis. The subjects covered are: Applied Sciences; Artificial Intellegence, Computer Science, Databases, Human-Computer Interaction, Hadware, Software, Programming, Internet/Online, etc.
* REFEREX: The Library subscribes to "Electronics & Electical" and " Mechanical & Material" books. The following topics/books can be useful to Sciences: Applied Mathematics (7); Computer Networks & Communications (34), Communications & Signal Processing (32), Software (26), Atomic and Molecular physics, and Optics (15), Electical Power & Distribution (11), Computer Graphics & Computer-Aided Design (10), Energy Engineering & PowerTechnology (9), Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (7), Information Systems (6), Computer Interfacing (6), Computer Science Applications (5), Computational Applications and Mathematics (5), Environmental Engineering (8), Environmental Sciences (7), Management of Technology & Innovation (5), etc.
* Engineering Digital Library: McGraw-Hill Engineering Online (NEW in 2008). It features 209 titles. Search per Topics, Sections or Keywords. Some of the topics relevant to Sciences are:
- Bio Engineering: Bioinformatics, BioMed Instrumentation & Devices, Bioprocessing, Biotechnology (Bio-Optics, Robotics), Environmental (Erosion Control, Waste Treatment, Water Resource Management)
- Chemical Engineering: Catalyst & Reactions, Chem Plant Engineering & Equipment, Fluid & Particle Dynamics, General Chemical Engineering (Fluid Mechanics, Mathematics, Physical & Chemical data, Thermodynamics), Process Chemistry & Technology, Transport Processes (Energy & Heat transfer, Energy Balance Flows)
- Communication Engineering: Networking and Broadband, Optical Communication, Telephony, VoIP, Wireless.
- Electrical Engineering: Circuits, Electromagnetics, Optics, Power & Electricity (Batteries, Power generation, Renewable Power Sources)
- Engineering Maths & Science: Calculus, Eng. Maths basics, Mathematical Theories, Numerical Methods, Statistical Methods.
- Environmental engineering: Atmospheric Resource Mgmt, Environmental Planning & Mgmt (Bio-monitoring, Impact Analysis, Risk Assessment), Hydrology & Water Resources (Wastewater Mgmt, Water Quality Mgmt, Groundwater modeling), Land Resource Mgmt (Land use, Soil & Water Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring & Preservation), Legislation & Regulation (Air, Solid waste, Water), The Built Environment (Sustainable Development, Impact on Climate & Ecology, Energy in BE), Waste Mgmt (Recycling, Solid Waste disposal, Toxic Waste)
- Material Science & Engineering: Physics/Chemistry of Materials
* CRC EngNetBase: Engineering e- handbooks:
- CivilEngineeringNetBase
- Electrical EngineeringNetBase: Power Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Image Analysis, Computer-aided power systems, Emerging Communication Technologies, MATLAB simulations, MEMS handbook, Optical Imaging, Power transformers, Wireless Internet
- Mechanical EngineeringNetBase: Advanced Mathematics, Air Pollution control technology, Energy Management, Energy Efficiency, Fluid Dynamics, Renewable Resources & Renewable Energy
- TellecomunicationsNetBase: Modern tellecomunications, Internet Security, etc.
It seems a lot of the Engineering collections contained very useful books for the Sciences Departments. Make use of them and advise your students also to read them online. All books are available 24/7.
This blog provides direct access to these e-books.

The Latest from Science Online Magazine

Have a quick look at the latest two issues of Science Online Magazine, which were published on 1st & 8th of February 2008. Click on the links to access the UJ full-text issues.
8 February 2008, Topic: "Cities", Vol. 319 (#5864) Pages 681-860
This special issue is dedicated to "Cities":
- Reimagining Cities
* News:
- China's Living Laboratory in Urbanization
- Durban's Poor Get Water Services Long Denied
- Pipe Dreams Come True
- Rebuilt From Ruins, a Water Utility Turns Clean and Pure
- Living in the Danger Zone
- Unclogging Urban Arteries
- Imagining a City Where (Electrical) Resistance Is Futile
- Money--With Strings--to Fight Poverty
* Perspectives:
- The Urban Transformation of the Developing World
- Health and Urban Living
- The Size, Scale, and Shape of Cities
* Reviews:
- Global Change and the Ecology of Cities
- Urbanization and the Wealth of Nations
* News of the Week:
- AFRICA: Kenyan Scientists Endure Violent Unrest, University Closings
- BIOCHEMISTRY: Lifting the Veil on Traditional Chinese Medicine
* News focus:
- U.S. BUDGET 2009: A Science Budget of Choices and Chances
- SOLAR ENERGY: Can the Upstarts Top Silicon?
- WILDLIFE BIOLOGY: Berkeley Hyenas Face an Uncertain Future
* Policy Forum:
- SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Climate Change--the Chinese Challenge
* Perspectives:
- GENETICS: Dwarfism, Where Pericentrin Gains Stature
- IMMUNOLOGY: The Right Resident Bugs
- CHEMISTRY: Taking a Selective Bite Out of Methane
1 February 2008Vol. 319 (#5863) Pages 545-738
* News of the Week:
- ENERGY RESEARCH: DOE's Disappointing Budget Makes It Harder to Stick to the Basics
- CHEMISTRY: DNA Assembles Materials From the Ground Up
- DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY: Aging of the Ovary Linked to PTEN Pathway
* News Focus:
- CELL Biology
- NASA
- CLIMATE CHANGE: The Big Thaw Reaches Mongolia's Pristine North
* Policy Forum:
- CLIMATE CHANGE: Stationarity Is Dead: Whither Water Management?
* Perspectives:
- IMMUNOLOGY: The Toll of Cathepsin K Deficiency
- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY: The Art of Assembly
- MATERIALS SCIENCE: Glass Surfaces Not So Glassy
- MATERIALS SCIENCE: Nanowires in Nanoelectronics
- MATERIALS SCIENCE: Toward Flexible Batteries
- CLIMATE: Food Security Under Climate Change
- PHYSICS: Amplifying a Tiny Optical Effect

Essential Science Indicators

In "Essential Science Indicators" website you will find the latest comments & interviews from the authors of the "Hot Papers"- January 2008. Some of the topics are on Environment/Ecology, Physics, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Mathematics, Computer Science & Agricultural Science.
You can also view the "Fast Breaking Papers" from December 2007 in Geosciences, Immunology, Microbiology, Biology & Biochemistry, etc.
Select from a list the available "Archived Special Topics", with information on Hot Papers, Top Authors, Top Institutions, Top Nations, Top Journals over 10 years period: Air Pollution (2005); Artificial Neural Networks (Dec 2007); Assymetric Catalysis (Jan 2006); Comets (Feb 2005); Coral Reef Ecology (Sep 2004); Earthquakes (Sep 2003); Global Warming (Sep 2006); Microfluidic Devices (Sep 2007); Nanocrystals (Mar 2007); Solar Cells (May 2007); Volcanoes (Dec 2004)
Read about "Fast Moving Fronts" - January 2008 and "Emerging Research Fronts" - December 2007
This site will be useful to all, for keeping you informed about the latest and past research in your areas.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

NRF: 2007 Facts & Figures

In 2007 the National Research Foundation published its evaluation and rating research figures. It says "Universities should aspire to have at least 25% of their academic staff rated by the NRF to be regarded as a research-intensive university".
* In 2005 the top 10 Universities in SA in terms of percentage of their research/instruction staff with a valid NRF rating are: UCT, Stellenbosh, WITS, Rhodes, UWC, UFS, UP, NWU, UKZN, Nelson Mandela.
* According to the report in 2006 the number of rated researchers in Natural Sciences & Engineering were: UCT - 196; UP- 154; Stellenbosh - 151; WITS - 135; UKZN - 102; NWU - 56; UJ- 41, etc.
* The rated researchers in various rating categories per subject area in Natural Sciences & Engineering for 2006 are: Animal & Veterinary Sciences - 183; Health Sciences - 180; Engineering - 156; Mathematical Sciences - 139; Physics - 109; Earth Sciences - 98; Chemistry - 92; Plant Sciences - 89; Macrobiology and Plant Pathology - 68; Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology - 63; Forestry & Agricultural Sciences - 26.
* Percentage per rated researchers at institutions (2005), UJ- with 64 rated researchers and 917 professional/research professionals take the 11th place with 7.0%, compared to UCT - 31,6; Stellenbosh - 26.9; WITS - 16.9; UP - 11,2, etc.
Clich on the TITLE to access the full report. Find more information on: Nuts and Bolts of NRF Evaluation and Rating; The vital role of Expert reviewers; rationale for obtaining an NRF rating, How to apply for evaluation and rating, etc.

Library trainings for the Sciences Departments at APK

The following library trainings were sheduled for February for the Faculty of Science students (P.Kovatcheva, pkovatcheva@uj.ac.za) :
4th Feb, 8.30-10.00h, Zoology, Masters (3)
5th Feb, 14.00-15.30h, Parasitology, 2nd year
5th Feb, 15.30-16.20h, IT, 2nd year
5th Feb, 16.30-17.20h, IT, 2nd year
6th Feb, 9.30-11.00h, Biochemistry, 2nd year
7th Feb, 9.30-11.00h, Biochemistry, 2nd year
7th Feb, 14.30-15.20h, IT, 3rd year
7th Feb, 14.30-15.20h, IT, 3rd year
9th Feb, 9.00-12.00, Geography, Masters
11th Feb, 11.30-12.55h, Geology, 3rd year
11th Feb, 15.30-17.30h, Geography, Honours
12th Feb, 9.00-11.00h, Zoology, Honours
13th Feb, 13.00-15.00h, Physics, 3rd year + Honours
20th Feb, 15.30-16.30h, IT, Honours
20th Feb, 16.35-17.35h, IT, Honours
19th, 25th & 26th Feb, 15.30-16.30h - Geography, SET 1st year visit time
For 1st year students, the Library provides four training courses during February & March:
* How to use UJ Library Catalogue;
* How to find information;
* How to search Full-text databases;
* How to search Bibliographic database
Time: 8.30-9.30h; 10.30-11.30h; 14.00-15.00h daily.
Booking: At the entrance of the APK Library entrance
Please, advice your 1st year students to attend these trainings at times, which accomodates them.
All trainings will be held at Library computer room (SSIT), Level 1.