High Spatial Resolution KAO Far-Infrared Observations of the Central Regions of Infrared-Bright Galaxies

We present new high spatial resolution Kuiper Airborne Observatory 50 micron and/or 100 micron data for 11 infrared-bright galaxies. We also tabulate previously published KAO data for 11 other galaxies, along with the IRAS data for the bulges of M 31 and M 81. We find that L(FIR)/L(B) and L(FIR)/L(H) correlate with CO (1 - 0) intensity and tau(100). Galaxies with optical or near-infrared signatures of OB stars in their central regions have higher values of I(CO) and tau(100), as well as higher far-infrared surface brightnesses and L(FIR)/L(B) and L(FIR)/L(H) ratios. L(FIR)/L(H(alpha)) does not correlate strongly with CO and tau(100). These results support a scenario in which OB stars dominate dust heating in the more active galaxies and older stars are important in quiescent bulges.Comment: 45 pages, to appear in Ap.J. vol. 468 (Sept. 1996). 17 postscript figures and 10 postscript tables available at ftp://ipac.caltech.edu/science/bsmith/ka

The challenges of risk management in diversified financial companies

In recent years, financial institutions and their supervisors have placed increased emphasis on the importance of measuring and managing risk on a firmwide basis—a coordinated process referred to as consolidated risk management. Although the benefits of this type of risk management are widely acknowledged, few if any financial firms have fully developed systems in place today, suggesting that significant obstacles have led them to manage risk in a more segmented fashion. In this article, the authors examine the economic rationale behind consolidated risk management. Their goal is to detail some of the key issues that supervisors and practitioners have confronted in assessing and developing consolidated risk management systems. In doing so, the authors clarify why implementing consolidated risk management involves significant conceptual and practical difficulties. They also suggest areas in which additional research could help resolve some of these difficulties.Risk management ; Financial institutions ; Bank supervision

Notch Signalling and Cellular Fate Choices: A Short Review

During mammalian central nervous system (CNS) development, an enormous variety of cell types are generated. This cell diversity is due in part to asymmetrical cell division. Asymmetrical segregation of Numb, a cell-determinant protein, can result in the differential activation of the Notch pathway. The Notch pathway defines one of the few fundamental signalling pathways that govern metazoan development. Notch signals link the fate decisions of one cell to those of its neighbours. Notch activation has a profound effect on many aspects of nervous system development. Here we present a brief overview of Notch signalling and reiterate some relevant questions relating to the Notch pathway

Laboratory guide to early life history stages of northeast Pacific fishes

This laboratory guide presents taxonomic information on eggs and larvae of fishes of the Northeast Pacific Ocean (north of California) and the eastern Bering Sea. Included are early-life-history series, illustrations, and comparative descriptions of 232 species expected to spawn here, out of a total 627 species known to occur in marine waters of this area. Meristic and general life-history data are included, as well as diagnostic characters to help identify eggs and larvae. Most of this information has been gleaned from literature, with the addition of 200 previously unpublished illustrations. (PDF file contains 654 pages.

Literature-Based Preschool Activities using a Modified Whole Language Approach

A review of the literature revealed higher academic expectations by today\u27s teachers of kindergarten children than in the past. To prepare students more completely to meet these expectations fourteen preschool activities related to children\u27s literature and based on a modified whole language approach were developed. The varied activities were designed to be used by teachers or parents of preschool children in order to better prepare the children to enter kindergarten with an exposure to, basic understanding of, and appreciation of children\u27s literature

The Gender Gap in NAEP Fourth-, Eighth-, and Twelfth-Grade Reading Scores Across the Years 1992-2003

This paper presents a secondary analysis of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) dataset. The study explores differences in the NAEP fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade reading scores by students\u27 gender across the years 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003. The study used the NAEP National Public School data. The statistically significant (p.\u3c.01 with effect size measured by Cohen\u27s d) differences in reading scores by gender were consistent across grade level and years with females scoring higher than males. A discussion of the calculation and reporting of effect size with NAEP data is included as well as implications for the No Child Left Behind goals of closing the gap. This paper presents the argument that the \u27child left behind\u27 in reading is very likely to be male--from elementary school through university

The Relationship between Teachers\u27 Years-of-Teaching and Students\u27 Mathematics Achievement

This study examined differences in student achievement on the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Mathematics Test by their teachers’ years-of-experience teaching mathematics. Data examined were mean scale scores of fourth and eighth grades in five sample groups: national (public and private school students combined), national public school students, and Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas public school students. These states were chosen because of their statewide systematic school reform efforts. The research question was: Are mathematics scores of students of more experienced mathematics teachers higher than those of students of less experienced teachers? The National Assessment of Educational Progress data include years-ofteaching mathematics experience with five categories: 2 years or less, 3-5 years, 8-10 years, 11- 24 years, and 25 years or more. The NAEP Data Tool was used to create descriptive tables of mean scale scores across categories and to test for statistically significant differences. Effect size was calculated by the researcher. Statistically significant differences (p \u3c .01) in the eighth grade scores were found to be related to teaching experience in national, national public, Kentucky, and Texas samples, but not in the Tennessee sample. These results indicated that the students of teachers with more years of experience teaching mathematics had higher mathematics scores on the eighth grade 2000 NAEP Mathematics Test. However, the effect sizes were either very small or small (ranging from .08 to .39)

A Complex Variables Techniques for Approximating the Derivatives of Real-Valued Functions.

The numerical solution of an n-th order differential equation relies on an accurate approximation of the derivative. A standard method of approximating the derivative of a real-valued function f at a point Xo is to use the central difference formula f \u27 (xo) [f (x, + h) - f (x, - h)] / 2h . An error analysis of this formula shows that the truncation error is 0(h2) while the round off error is 0(h-1). A major dilemma in using this formula is the fact that using a small h increases the round off error. In this thesis, a method of approximating the derivative of real-valued functions via complex variables is presented. This method avoids the high round off error inherent in the standard method. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the power of this method of approximation

Interview with Beverly Sherman by Andrea L’Hommedieu

Biographical NoteBeverly (Marshall) Sherman was born in 1937 in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, to Ruth and Norris Marshall. She attended the University of Michigan and the University of Southern Maine. She had slight involvement in Mitchell’s 1982 U.S. Senate campaign and was more deeply involved with events and fund-raising for his 1988 Senate reelection campaign. She also worked with Mitchell’s staff to organize several events, including visits from President Clinton and New York Governor Cuomo, as well as the “thank you” event in Maine upon Senator Mitchell’s retirement announcement. SummaryInterview includes discussion of: family and educational background; Old Orchard Beach; description of George Mitchell in 1981-1982; frugality in the state field offices; U.S. Senate campaigns (1982 and 1988); Bill Clinton’s visit to Maine and organizing the event; Senator Mitchell’s retirement and the “thank you” event; Boys and Girls Club and cribbage story; and the Mitchell Institute