Analysis of the effectiveness of industrial R and D

The criteria used by private industry in evaluating and selecting proposed research and development projects for implementation, and also in determining which R and D facilities are to be acquired were investigated. Conceptual and practical issues inherent in any quantitative analysis of the contribution of R and D to economic growth were identified in order to assist NASA in developing approaches for analzying the economic implication of its own R and D efforts

Weed Control for Reduced Tillage Systems

PDF pages:

The Utilization of Polymerase Chain Reaction, DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics in Identifying Plant Species

Bioinformatics and DNA barcoding is a process used to identify plants, animals, and fungi. DNA barcoding in plants utilizes a key variable region in the genome, the RuBisCo large subunit (RbcL) on Chloroplast DNA. Once the DNA is extracted, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifies that region and that sample is sent off for sequencing. Bioinformatics and DNA barcoding helps taxonomists determine the sequence of the RbcL gene as well as obtain a unique barcode that can be used to identify plants. Several plant species from our local campus were sequenced and identified using the previously described methods

An Examination of Long-Term Working Memory Capacity

The purpose of this research was to explore experts’ memory capacity and the strategies experts use to achieve that capacity. Expert air traffic controllers were asked to recall traffic information during two radar and two nonradar scenarios. During radar scenarios, air traffic information was communicated aurally and displayed visually. During nonradar scenarios, air traffic information was communicated aurally only. Qualitative recall data assessment revealed an average capacity of five to eight aircraft in radar scenarios and three to six in nonradar scenarios, with two to three details recalled for most recalled aircraft. Recalled details and order of detail recall were highly consistent across experts, which suggest that aircraft details were organized and stored within larger conceptual knowledge structures. Recall patterns were additionally suggestive of frames containing slots designated for holding specific data types, structures described by Klein’s Data/Frame Model of Sensemaking. The extent of information recalled and its organization are additionally consistent with the use of long term working memory to extend working memory capacity; however, they do not rule out the use of working memory alone. Differences between radar and nonradar conditions were observed. Greater overall recall and greater and earlier recall of certain data-tag elements were observed in radar scenarios. In nonradar scenarios, greater and earlier recall of assigned actions were observed. Evaluation of experts’ descriptions of their recall processes suggested primarily visuospatial information encoding in both conditions and a lack of support for differences in the use of visuospatial or verbal encoding

Phylogenetic Relationships Among the One-Flowered, Determinate Genera of Bambuseae (Poaceae: Bambusoideae)

Bambuseae (woody bamboos), one of two tribes recognized within Bambusoideae (true bamboos), comprise over 90% of the diversity of the subfamily, yet monophyly of the tribe is generally only moderately supported, and phylogenetic relationships within the tribe are poorly understood. In addition, there appears to be some level of conflict between morphological and molecular data within the tribe. We conducted a parsimony analysis of 43 species of Bambuseae, three of Olyreae (herbaceous bamboos), and two outgroup taxa using morphological and plastid rpl16 intron sequence data to (1) further test the monophyly of Bambuseae, (2) test the monophyly of Chusqueinae and Hickelinae (the two one-flowered, determinate subtribes), and (3) examine the apparent conflict between molecular and morphological data sets in the determinate, one-flowered genera of Bambuseae. We recovered a monophyletic Bambusoideae, Bambuseae, Olyreae, and Chusqueinae, although support for Bambuseae remained moderate. Our results suggest that the morphological similarities between Chusqueinae and Hickelinae are homoplasious, but robust resolution of relationships among the major lineages of woody bamboos is still wanting

Why growth equals power - and why it shouldn't : constructing visions of China

When discussing the success of China's transition from socialism, there is a tendency to focus on growth figures as an indication of performance. Whilst these figures are indeed impressive, we should not confuse growth with development and assume that the former necessarily automatically generates the latter. Much has been done to reduce poverty in China, but the task is not as complete as some observers would suggest; particularly in terms of access to health, education and welfare, and also in dealing with relative (rather than absolute) depravation and poverty. Visions of China have been constructed that exaggerate Chinese development and power in the global system partly to serve political interests, but partly due to the failure to consider the relationship between growth and development, partly due to the failure to disaggregate who gets what in China, and partly due to the persistence of inter-national conceptions of globalised production, trade, and financial flows

Justifications for the Probation Sanction Among Residents of Virginia--Cool or Un-Cool?

Perhaps as evidence of a growing cultural gap between our students and ourselves, one of the authors was recently amused when a student asked whether probation was a cool sanction. In this study, we begin an investigation into how cool the probation sanction is in the eyes of residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Specifically, we use data from a telephone survey of 840 registered voters to explore three questions. First, how often would they recommend the probation sanction in comparison to other sanctions? Second, how do they justify the sanction relative to justifications for other sanctions? Finally, are their justifications and sentencing recommendations consistent across crimes? We address these questions in this study to see whether the sanction is cool or uncool. In the review of literature, we discuss punishment justifications in general and probation as a punitive experience