Promoting Librarian-Faculty Collaboration to Advance Information Literacy: Hanover College's Pilot Program

In 2005, a team from Hanover College (Academic Dean, Library Director, Faculty member) took part in Transformation of the College Library, a workshop offered by The Council of Independent Colleges. The focus of the meeting, advancing Information Literacy, culminated in participating instructions outlining an actionable plan for implementing/improving these important standards on their campus. As a result, the Duggan Library at Hanover College formed a year-long pilot program designed to support faculty wishing to incorporate information literacy concepts into their courses. During the Winter term of 2006, the Library completed a series of classes with topics ranging from research assignment development, to plagiarism and web technology. The remainder of the pilot program includes a session on evaluation followed by a campus-wide forum in January 2007 as Hanover considers the next steps in the Information Literacy initiative

A Limit on the Metallicity of Compact High Velocity Clouds

There is a fortuitous coincidence in the positions of the quasar TonS210 and the compact H I high velocity cloud CHVC224.0-83.4-197 on the sky. Using Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer observations of the metal-line absorption in this cloud and sensitive H I 21cm emission observations obtained with the multibeam system at Parkes Observatory, we determine a metallicity of (O/H) <0.46 solar at a confidence of 3 sigma. The metallicity of the high velocity gas is consistent with either an extragalactic or Magellanic Cloud origin, but is not consistent with a location inside the Milky Way unless the chemical history of the gas is considerably different from that of the interstellar medium in the Galactic disk and halo. Combined with measurements of highly ionized species (C III and O VI) at high velocities, this metallicity limit indicates that the cloud has a substantial halo of ionized gas; there is as much ionized gas as neutral gas directly along the Ton S210 sight line. We suggest several observational tests that would improve the metallicity determination substantially and help to distinguish between possible origins for the high velocity gas. Additional observations of this sight line would be valuable since the number of compact HVCs positioned in front of background sources bright enough for high resolution absorption-line studies is extremely limited.Comment: 15 pages, 3 postscript figures + 1 JPEG figure (reduced from postscript for size considerations), accepted for publication in ApJ (June 2002

Characterization of wild and captive baboon gut microbiota and their antibiotic resistomes

Antibiotic exposure results in acute and persistent shifts in the composition and function of microbial communities associated with vertebrate hosts. However, little is known about the state of these communities in the era before the widespread introduction of antibiotics into clinical and agricultural practice. We characterized the fecal microbiota and antibiotic resistomes of wild and captive baboon populations to understand the effect of human exposure and to understand how the primate microbiota may have been altered during the antibiotic era. We used culture-independent and bioinformatics methods to identify functional resistance genes in the guts of wild and captive baboons and show that exposure to humans is associated with changes in microbiota composition and resistome expansion compared to wild baboon groups. Our results suggest that captivity and lifestyle changes associated with human contact can lead to marked changes in the ecology of primate gut communities.Environmental microbes have harbored the capacity for antibiotic production for millions of years, spanning the evolution of humans and other vertebrates. However, the industrial-scale use of antibiotics in clinical and agricultural practice over the past century has led to a substantial increase in exposure of these agents to human and environmental microbiota. This perturbation is predicted to alter the ecology of microbial communities and to promote the evolution and transfer of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. We studied wild and captive baboon populations to understand the effects of exposure to humans and human activities (e.g., antibiotic therapy) on the composition of the primate fecal microbiota and the antibiotic-resistant genes that it collectively harbors (the “resistome”). Using a culture-independent metagenomic approach, we identified functional antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiota of wild and captive baboon groups and saw marked variation in microbiota architecture and resistomes across habitats and lifeways. Our results support the view that antibiotic resistance is an ancient feature of gut microbial communities and that sharing habitats with humans may have important effects on the structure and function of the primate microbiota

Ultraviolet Imaging Polarimetry of the Large Magellanic Cloud. II. Models

Motivated by new sounding-rocket wide-field polarimetric images of the Large Magellanic Cloud, we have used a three-dimensional Monte Carlo radiation transfer code to investigate the escape of near-ultraviolet photons from young stellar associations embedded within a disk of dusty material (i.e. a galaxy). As photons propagate through the disk, they may be scattered or absorbed by dust. Scattered photons are polarized and tracked until they escape to be observed; absorbed photons heat the dust, which radiates isotropically in the far-infrared, where the galaxy is optically thin. The code produces four output images: near- UV and far-IR flux, and near-UV images in the linear Stokes parameters Q and U. From these images we construct simulated UV polarization maps of the LMC. We use these maps to place constraints on the star + dust geometry of the LMC and the optical properties of its dust grains. By tuning the model input parameters to produce maps that match the observed polarization maps, we derive information about the inclination of the LMC disk to the plane of the sky, and about the scattering phase function g. We compute a grid of models with i = 28 deg., 36 deg., and 45 deg., and g = 0.64, 0.70, 0.77, 0.83, and 0.90. The model which best reproduces the observed polarization maps has i = 36 +2/-5 degrees and g ~0.7. Because of the low signal-to-noise in the data, we cannot place firm constraints on the value of g. The highly inclined models do not match the observed centro-symmetric polarization patterns around bright OB associations, or the distribution of polarization values. Our models approximately reproduce the observed ultraviolet photopolarimetry of the western side of the LMC; however, the output images depend on many input parameters and are nonunique.Comment: Accepted to AJ. 20 pages, 7 figure

Traditional Financial Institutions and Rural Enterprises in Nigeria: The Case of Ogoni Land

This paper examines the role of the traditional financial institutions (TFIs) in the development of micro and small scale enterprises (MSEs) in Ogoni land. The methodology adopted for the study is based on the Paired Observation Test (POT). By adopting an empirical analysis of field data, the paper sought to ascertain the role of some forms of TFIs (the Osusu scheme) in the growth and development of MSEs. The assessment is based on analysis of the involvement of MSEs operators in the Osusu scheme, their total turnover on investments and number of people employed after six years of involvement in the scheme. It also reviews the strengths and challenges of the system in Ogoni and offers some suggestions for strengthening it. Relying on the paired observation test, the results of the study indicates that TFIs generally contributes to the development of the MSEs in Ogoni. However, the Osusu system favours the development of organized MSEs than unorganized MSEs. The study identifies self-regulation as the major setback on the efficacy of TFIs in fostering the growth of MSEs in Ogoni and recommends a system of regulation that may replicate that of the Association of Micro-finance Banks of Nigeria. Increased awareness, periodic supervision and monitoring of the activities of the TFIs are also recommended

Monetary Policy Instability in Nigeria: A Rational Expectation Approach

This paper aims at evaluating the efficacy of monetary policy in controlling macroeconomic instability in Nigeria. The analysis performed is based on a rational expectation framework that incorporates the fiscal role of exchange rate. Using annual data spanning from 1980 to 2010, the study affirms that the effort of monetary policy in Nigeria aimed at influencing the finance of government fiscal deficit through the determination of the inflation-tax rate affects both the rate of inflation and the real exchange rate, thereby causing volatility in these rates. The policy import of the paper is that monetary policy should be set in such a way that the objective it seeks to achieve is well defined and articulated

Estimating Extent of Mortality Associated with the Douglas-Fir Beetle in the Central and Northern Rockies

Data collected from Douglas-fir stands infected by the Douglas-fir beetle in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Utah, were used to develop models to estimate amount of mortality in terms of basal area killed. Models were built using stepwise linear regression and regression tree approaches. Linear regression models using initial Douglas-fir basal area were built for all study sites but produce low precision estimates. Regression tree models using initial Douglas-fir basal area of stand density index or both were also build for all sites. Regression tree models provide a more realistic approach to estimate potential mortality by creating more homogenous mortality classes with reduced variance. The models developed provide land managers with a basis for determining the potential mortality should a Douglas-fir beetle outbreak develop

Bark Beetle and Wood Borer Infestation in the Greater Yellowstone Area During Four Postfire Years

Extensive surveys of bark beetles and wood bores in the Greater Yellowstone area were conducted in 1991 through 1993. The study objectives were to determine the effect of delayed tree mortality following the 1988 fires on mosaics of fire-killed and green tree stands, the relationship between fire injury and subsequent infestation, and the effect of insect buildup in fire injured trees on infestation rates for uninjured trees. Surveys were conducted adjacent to roads, and plots wee selected randomly. In 1991, 321 plots were measured, 198 plots in 1992, and 127 plots in 1993. Insects killed 12.6 percent of the Douglas-fir, 17.9 percent of the lodgepole pine, 6.6 percent of the Engelmann spruce, 7.5 percent of the subalpine fire, and 2.8 percent of the whitebark pine. Delayed mortality attributed to fire injury accounted for more mortality than insects. Both types of mortality greatly altered the original fire-killed/green tree mosaics that were apparent immediately after the 1988 fires. Insect infestation was strongly and positively correlated with the percent of the basal circumference of the tree that was fire killed in the species, except in Engelmann spruce where infestation peaked in the middle fire-injury class. Infestation in Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and Engelmann spruce increased through 1992 then declined in 1993. Although it cannot be said with certainty that insects built up in fire-injured trees and then caused increased infestation of uninjured trees, the high level of infestation suggests this is the case

Globular Cluster and Galaxy Formation: M31, the Milky Way and Implications for Globular Cluster Systems of Spiral Galaxies

The globular cluster (GC) systems of the Milky Way and of our neighboring spiral galaxy, M31, comprise 2 distinct entities, differing in 3 respects. 1. M31 has young GCs, ages from ~100 Myr to 5 Gyr old, as well as old globular clusters. No such young GCs are known in the Milky Way. 2. We confirm that the oldest M31 GCs have much higher nitrogen abundances than do Galactic GCs at equivalent metallicities. 3. Morrison et al. found M31 has a subcomponent of GCs that follow closely the disk rotation curve of M31. Such a GC system in our own Galaxy has yet to be found. These data are interpreted in terms of the hierarchical-clustering-merging (HCM) paradigm for galaxy formation. We infer that M31 has absorbed more of its dwarf systems than has the Milky Way. This inference has 3 implications: 1. All spiral galaxies likely differ in their GC properties, depending on how many companions each galaxy has, and when the parent galaxy absorbs them. The the Milky Way ties down one end of this spectrum, as almost all of its GCs were absorbed 10-12 Gyr ago. 2. It suggests that young GCs are preferentially formed in the dwarf companions of parent galaxies, and then absorbed by the parent galaxy during mergers. 3. Young GCs seen in tidally-interacting galaxies might come from dwarf companions of these galaxies, rather than be made a-new in the tidal interaction. There is no ready explanation for the marked difference in nitrogen abundance for old M31 GCs relative to the oldest Galactic GCs. The predictions made by Li & Burstein regarding the origin of nitrogen abundance in globular clusters are consistent with what is found for the old M31 GCs compared to that for the two 5 Gyr-old M31 GCs.Comment: to be published in ApJ, Oct 2004; 13 pages of text, 2 tables, 7 postscript figure

Permanent mountain pine beetle population trend plots : an update, 1985

This report includes information obtained in both 1983 and 1984. Beginning in 1983, only four of the original six permanent plot locations in the State would be revisited. The two in the southwestern part of the State--Centennial Valley and Madison River--were not visited because of reduced beetle populations and 111.1 increased logging. No update in 1984 was issed; however, data collected in the remaining plot locations showed Murr Creek to be the only one with significant beetle populations in 1983. There, new attacks averaged 21 per acre compared with just over seven in 1982. In 1984, attacks declined to 6.9 per acre. In the Dunsire Creek area in 1983, attacks increased fourfold to 4.1 per acre, up from 0.9 per acre in 1982. They increased once again in 1984, to 12.4 per acre. No new attacks were recorded in either the Boulder Creek or Spotted Bear plots in 1983. For that reason, those two areas were not visited in 1984. I anticipate monitoring all four plot areas in 1985