The Selection of Science Students at the College Level

In predicting scholarship in college practically every known fact about a student has been studied in an effort to find the variables most predictive of success. Age, height, weight, religion, father\u27s occupation, education of parents, and size of family have been extensively used to predict college success. Prediction through the use of tests has been studied in practically every college from the smallest junior college to the largest universities. The interest, and it has been tremendous, shown in the prediction of college success is closely related to the progress made in devising more accurate measurement devices. Beginning in 1917 with the mental testing of World War I servicemen, the testing movement with its increasing number and types of tests gave the colleges the evidence needed for prediction studies. Quickly following the development of mental tests came tests of personality, vocational interest, and specific aptitudes. The advances made in objective or new-type test construction led to widespread use of this type of test for measuring achievement at all educational levels

Scholastic Progress of Students Entering the Iowa State College with Low High School Averages

In the fall quarters of 1939 and 1940 students entering the Iowa State College directly from high school with averages below 1.5l1 were grouped together in a pre-admission guidance program. In the two years considered, ninety-six students with high school averages below 1.51 entered the Iowa State College. The program was the same for both years. The students included in the program were asked to be on the campus two days before regular freshman week began. During these two days they were given tests of scholastic ability, silent reading skills, English and mathematics achievement. Fall quarter class schedules were made out for the students based largely upon the test results and the students\u27 interests. The number of hours carried ranged from 11-14 hours. In no case were the students permitted to carry a normal load of 15-17 hours of class work. Nor were they given freshman mathematics and chemistry the first quarter. A special counselor who had no teaching duties and who could devote more time to counseling than is usually expected of the Iowa State College counselors, was assigned to the group. During the fall quarter this counselor devoted approximately twenty hours per week to individual counseling with the pre-admission students. He also met the group during the fall quarter for one hour twice a week in a combined study methods and remedial reading course

Vertebrate endothelial lipase: comparative studies of an ancient gene and protein in vertebrate evolution

Endothelial lipase (gene: LIPG; enzyme: EL) is one of three members of the triglyceride lipase family that contributes to lipoprotein degradation within the circulation system and plays a major role in HDL metabolism in the body. In this study, in silico methods were used to predict the amino acid sequences, secondary and tertiary structures, and gene locations for LIPG genes and encoded proteins using data from several vertebrate genome projects. LIPG is located on human chromosome 18 and is distinct from other human 'neutral lipase' genes, hepatic lipase (gene: LIPC; enzyme: HL) and lipoprotein lipase (gene: LPL; enzyme: LPL) examined. Vertebrate LIPG genes usually contained 10 coding exons located on the positive strand for most primates, as well as for horse, bovine, opossum, platypus and frog genomes. The rat LIPG gene however contained only 9 coding exons apparently due to the presence of a 'stop' codon' within exon 9. Vertebrate EL protein subunits shared 58-97% sequence identity as compared with 38-45% sequence identities with human HL and LPL. Four previously reported human EL N-glycosylation sites were predominantly conserved among the 10 potential N-glycosylation sites observed for the vertebrate EL sequences examined. Sequence alignments and identities for key EL amino acid residues were observed as well as conservation of predicted secondary and tertiary structures with those previously reported for horse pancreatic lipase (PL) (Bourne et al. 1994). Several potential sites for regulating LIPG gene expression were observed including CpG islands near the LIPG gene promoter and a predicted microRNA binding site near the 3'-untranslated region. Promoter regions containing functional polymorphisms that regulate HDL cholesterol in baboons were conserved among primates but not retained between primates and rodents. Phylogenetic analyses examined the relationships and potential evolutionary origins of the vertebrate LIPG gene subfamily with other neutral triglyceride lipase gene families, LIPC and LPL. It is apparent that the triglyceride lipase ancestral gene for the vertebrate LIPG gene predated the appearance of fish during vertebrate evolution[500 million years ago.Full Tex

Rate of Strength Decrease of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites during Fatigue

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65181/1/j.1151-2916.2000.tb01412.x.pd

Carcinogenicity of hexavalent chromium

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), a commonly used industrial metal, is a well known human lung carcinogen. Epidemiology and animal studies suggest that the particulate Cr(VI) compounds, specifically the water insoluble compounds, are the more potent carcinogens, however, the carcinogenic mechanism remains unknown. Here we summarize recent Cr(VI)-induced human tumour, in vivo, cell culture and in vitro studies and put the data into context with three major paradigms of carcinogenesis: multistage carcinogenesis, genomic instability, and epigenetic modifications. Based on these studies, we propose a mechanism for chromate carcinogenesis that is primarily driven by the genomic instability paradigm

ECONOMICALLY OPTIMAL WILDFIRE INTERVENTION REGIMES

Wildfires in the United States result in total damages and costs that are likely to exceed billions of dollars annually. Land managers and policy makers propose higher rates of prescribed burning and other kinds of vegetation management to reduce amounts of wildfire and the risks of catastrophic losses. A wildfire public welfare maximization function, using a wildfire production function estimated using a time series model of a panel of Florida counties, is employed to simulate the publicly optimal level of prescribed burning in an example county in Florida (Volusia). Evaluation of the production function reveals that prescribed fire is not associated with reduced catastrophic wildfire risks in Volusia County Florida, indicating a short-run elasticity of -0.16 and a long-run elasticity of wildfire with respect to prescribed fire of -0.07. Stochastic dominance is used to evaluate the optimal amount of prescribed fire most likely to maximize a measure of public welfare. Results of that analysis reveal that the optimal amount of annual prescribed fire is about 3 percent (9,000 acres/year) of the total forest area, which is very close to the actual average amount of prescribed burning (12,700 acres/year) between 1994-99.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

A Technique for Tensile Fatigue and Creep Testing of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramics

An experimental technique for the elevated temperature tensile fatigue and creep testing of fiber-reinforced ceramics is discussed. The experimental approach utilizes edge-loaded specimens with rectangular gage-sections. Novel furnace and grip designs which allow testing in air to 1500°C are provided. The specimen, furnace and grip designs discussed in the paper have been successfully used to test unidirectional and cross-ply SiCf/Si3N 4, SiCf/SiC, Cf/SiC and SiCf/calcium-aluminosilicate composites.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66679/2/10.1177_002199839202600608.pd