Geoscience after IT: Part J. Human requirements that shape the evolving geoscience information system

The geoscience record is constrained by the limitations of human thought and of the technology for handling information. IT can lead us away from the tyranny of older technology, but to find the right path, we need to understand our own limitations. Language, images, data and mathematical models, are tools for expressing and recording our ideas. Backed by intuition, they enable us to think in various modes, to build knowledge from information and create models as artificial views of a real world. Markup languages may accommodate more flexible and better connected records, and the object-oriented approach may help to match IT more closely to our thought processes

Improving Energy Efficiency in Collection Storage in Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas, PF-271970-20.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries a Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Implementation Grant to complete the second phase of a multi-phased approach to update the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) in the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, which houses the University’s archival and special collections. The current award allowed KU Libraries to implement some of the energy-saving recommendations proposed by the Image Permanence Institute, previously hired by KU Libraries with funds from a NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Planning Grant. The focus of the current Implementation Grant was to replace pneumatically controlled reheats in collection areas of the building (approximately two-thirds of the building’s area) with modern electric reheats, variable air volume (VAV) dampers, and new direct digital controls (DDC) as a first step in eventually replacing the entire air handling system that dates to 1968. While the AHU in Spencer Library provides cooled, filtered, and some degree of humidity-controlled air to the building, all heating and dehumidification comes from the electric reheats installed in ducts throughout the building. Testing and balancing of the system was completed before installation in order to garner a more complete picture of airflow throughout the building, as well as detailed information about the functionality of each heater. Collected data informed the installation of thirty-five heaters in collection storage areas, which took place after some delays due to the pandemic. After installation, a second testing and balancing operation was conducted to test the efficacy of the new heaters. Environmental monitoring for temperature and relative humidity was conducted throughout the granting period and continues. The ultimate goal of the long-term project was to better preserve our collections while also finding ways to save energy.National Endowment for the Humanitie

White Paper to the National Endowment for the Humanities: PF-20161213: Improving the Physical Environment in Spencer Research Library, October 2017-March 2019

Award PF-20161213The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the University of Kansas Libraries a grant of $50,000 under the Sustaining Cultural Collections program to engage consultants from Image Permanence Institute (IPI), Rochester Institute of Technology, for an 18-month period to collect and analyze data on the environmental conditions within the Kenneth Spencer Research Library collection storage and staff areas. The consultants were required to report results of their research and recommendations at the end of the contract period. The University of Kansas Libraries assembled an Environmental Management Team to engage in a thorough planning process with the IPI consultants in order to identify problems and determine feasible, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solutions for the fifty-year old Kenneth Spencer Research Library and its heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, dating from construction. The ultimate goals of the project were to better preserve the collections and the facility itself while, if possible, reducing the environmental impact of the building’s operations. The project proceeded smoothly during the entire grant period, with no omissions or significant changes to the proposed plan. The consultants planned three visits to the University campus to evaluate the building and its HVAC system and to communicate with University staff from the physical plant and the Libraries. Robust communication ensued among Library and University staff and the consultants throughout the contract period.National Endowment for the Humanitie

Small Business Financing: Survey Evidence in West Texas

We investigate the financial sources of small firms through a survey of sample firms from West Texas. Evidence shows that the two most common start-up financing alternatives are personal savings and commercial bank loans. Commercial banks remain the most popular source of financing for present and future needs, followed by leasing companies and credit unions. Informal types of financing such as business credit cards, and trade credit are used in addition to lines of credit for transaction and working capital purposes. Firms typically review their financial performance monthly and use common cash balances as the primary financial tool

Survey Research in Finance: Views from Journal Editors

We survey editors from 15 core and 35 non-core finance journals to learn their views about specific issues involving survey research. Based on responses from 25 editors, none of their journals has an established policy involving the publication of survey research. The evidence shows that survey-based manuscripts typically go through the same review process as other manuscripts. However, editors of core versus non-core journals have mixed views about the role that survey research should play in the finance literature. The editors provide their views about the strengths and weaknesses of survey research as well as topic areas that would benefit from using this approach. A review of a finance journals shows that the publication of survey-based papers is an infrequent event for most journals

Survey Research in Finance: Views from Journal Editors

We survey editors from 15 core and 35 non-core finance journals to learn their views about specific issues involving survey research. Based on responses from 25 editors, none of their journals has an established policy involving the publication of survey research. The evidence shows that survey-based manuscripts typically go through the same review process as other manuscripts. However, editors of core versus non-core journals have mixed views about the role that survey research should play in the finance literature. The editors provide their views about the strengths and weaknesses of survey research as well as topic areas that would benefit from using this approach. A review of a finance journals shows that the publication of survey-based papers is an infrequent event for most journals

Stock Repurchases And False Signals

Each year many firms repurchase shares of their common stock. Research evidence shows that when firms announce the repurchase of common stock, their share prices typically rise.  Numerous studies attribute these increases to a signaling effect.  But some firms that announce their intention of repurchasing shares of common stock either repurchase no shares at all or repurchase fewer shares than initially announced. Although the practice of firms intentionally announcing the repurchase of more shares than they expect to repurchase is illegal, the expected increase in share prices may give firms an incentive to make such false announcements. This study surveys top financial executives to learn the extent that firms repurchase fewer shares than announced, identify the reasons for this activity, and learn how managers view this activity.  We surveyed 642 firms that conducted common stock repurchases from January 1998 to September 1999.  Based on 218 responses, we find that while managers are uncertain about the legality of this activity, they believe that the intentional repurchase of fewer shares than announced is unethical, sends a false signal to the market, and damages the firm’s credibility with its stockholders.  Managers also believe that firms repurchasing fewer shares than announced should publicly reveal both the reason for not repurchasing all shares and the amount by which the repurchase fell short of the firm’s announced intentions.  Despite these beliefs, managers report that repurchasing fewer shares than announced is a common practice

Differential Tolerance of Winter Wheats to, and the Efficacy of Bromus Control Herbicides

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the tolerance of 86 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars to cyanazine, ethiozin, and metribuzin. Among the more cyanazine and ethiozin tolerant hard red winter wheats with known pedigrees, their pedigrees included 'Hope' and/or 'Cheyenne' parentage. However, the cultivars more sensitive to ethiozin, notably those with 'Vona' parentage, were not consistently sensitive to cyanazine. Among the white wheats, based on yield data, 'Hill 81' and 'Lewjain' were distinctly more sensitive to metribuzin and ethiozin than four other cultivars. As with the above classes of wheat, visual injury on the soft red wheats did not consistently correlate with yield reductions. In contrast to the hard red wheats, as a class the soft red wheats were generally more sensitive to cyanazine than ethiozin. Nomenclature: Cyanazine, 2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-1,3,5- triazin-2-yllaminol-2-methylpropanenitrile; ethiozin3 , 4-amino-6-(1,1- dimethylethyl)-3-(ethylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one; metribuzin, 4- amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one; cheat, Bromus secalinus L. #4 BROSE; winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Additional lndex words: BAY SMY 1500, cheat, hard red winter wheat, soft red winter wheat, white winter wheat.Agronom

How Norwegian Managers View Dividend Policy

We report the results of a 2004 survey from managers of dividend-paying Norwegian firms listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange about their views on dividend policy. Specifically, we identify the most important factors in making dividend policy decisions and managers\u27 views about various dividend-related issues. The most important determinants of a firm\u27s dividend policy are the level of current and expected future earnings, stability of earnings, current degree of financial leverage, and liquidity constraints. No significant correlation exists between the overall rankings of factors influencing dividend policy between Norwegian and U.S. managers. Norwegian managers express mixed views about whether a firm\u27s dividend policy affects firm value. Respondents point to the possible role of dividend policy as a signaling mechanism. No support exists for the tax-preference explanation for paying dividends