What can AI do for you?

Simply put, most organizations do not know how to approach the incorporation of AI into their businesses, and few are knowledgeable enough to understand which concepts are applicable to their business models. Doing nothing and waiting is not an option: Mahidar and Davenport (2018) argue that companies that try to play catch-up will ultimately lose to those who invested and began learning early. But how do we bridge the gap between skepticism and adoption? We propose a toolkit, inclusive of people, processes, and technologies, to help companies with discovery and readiness to start their AI journey. Our toolkit will deliver specific and actionable answers to the operative question: What can AI do for you

A Langmuir approach on monolayer interactions to investigate surface active peptides

The Langmuir Blodgett apparatus provides a versatile system for studying the interfacial properties of peptides and peptide-membrane interactions under controlled conditions. Using amphiphilic α-helical peptides to highlight studies undertaken, here we discuss the use of this system to provide information on the surface activity of peptides and describe the insights these studies give into biological functio

On the Estimation of Systematic Uncertainties of Star Formation Histories

In most star formation history (SFH) measurements, the reported uncertainties are those due to effects whose sizes can be readily measured: Poisson noise, adopted distance and extinction, and binning choices in the solution itself. However, the largest source of error, systematics in the adopted isochrones, is usually ignored and very rarely explicitly incorporated into the uncertainties. I propose a process by which estimates of the uncertainties due to evolutionary models can be incorporated into the SFH uncertainties. This process relies on application of shifts in temperature and luminosity, the sizes of which must be calibrated for the data being analyzed. While there are inherent limitations, the ability to estimate the effect of systematic errors and include them in the overall uncertainty is significant. Effects of this are most notable in the case of shallow photometry, with which SFH measurements rely on evolved stars.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, ApJ in pres

Data Visualization Tools for Archives and Special Collections

As archivists, we often view ourselves as stewards of the collections, preserving materials for other researchers to use. We arrange, describe, and promote the items, but it’s not always within our job descriptions to interpret the materials we work with or to create new knowledge. Yet data visualization, or any effort that helps users see data in a visual way, can be an easy and accessible way to promote collections. This article highlights data visualization tools archivists have begun to use to enhance their digital holdings. Each tool requires a different level of technical expertise, but many are user-friendly and offer a great opportunity for archivists and users to engage with collections in new ways

Perceptions of Transactional and Transformational Leaders According to Gender

The lack of females occupying leadership positions in the modern workplace has prompted the research of this study. In order to better understand the perceptions that exist regarding successful leadership, this study was conducted with the intention of understanding individual leadership style through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, which measures transactional and transformational leadership styles (Bass and Avolio, 1993). 64 male and female participants, made up of 36 students and 28 individuals in the workforce ages 18-61 with an average age of 31 answered 21 questions to assess their leadership style and 1 to measure who they perceived as a successful leader, with responses coded by gender of responder and response. This study aimed to assess whether males identified more with transactional leadership and females with transformational leadership style, which would confirm current research conducted in the field. The Chi Squared statistical analysis test results showed that 72.4% of males displayed transformational leadership styles, along with 82.9% of females displaying this same style, which showed a lack of significance between gender and difference in leadership style. However, in response to the question asking to identify a successful leader, results showed that most individuals of both gender wrote down a male leader

Balsa Wood Bridge

Faculty at Central Washington University proposed a challenge to mechanical engineering students that could be accomplished in an in-home setting. The goal was to create a balsa wood bridge, weighing no more than 85 grams, that can support a load over an open span and raise above its resting position by means of a mechanical system. To produce a successful solution to the problem, a vertical lift bridge was created consisting of two lifting towers and a load bearing bridge. Using equations of static equilibrium and strength of materials, the required width for each member was determined. Project requirements were accounted for with multiple supporting analysis on various parts in the design. The contents of each structure were limited strictly to balsa wood and glue, by evaluating both the tensile and shearing strength of each, stress concentrations were identified and mitigated. The construction of the device was achieved by setting up multiple fixtures to manufacture and join each component of the assembly. Testing is achieved with multiple nondestructive procedures first, followed by a final load bearing test. The device when tested can successfully raise and lower through use of the articulating components. When at rest the device can support the static testing load of 20kg and meets the weight requirement at 84.4 grams