User Experience - The Good, Bad, and Confusing

This presentation will take a look at how people interact with a library in a variety of different ways from in person to using its virtual resources. We will start off by talking about how we interact with things on a daily basis in our environments, such as using computers or looking at signs for navigation purposes. User Experience is often referred to UX and it is about how a person interacts with a product, application, website, service etc

INITIAL UNDERSTORY RESPONSE TO GAP-BASED REGENERATION METHODS FOR MATURE UPLAND OAK FORESTS

Problems with oak regeneration, and concerns by environmental and conservation organizations, are driving interest in longer rotations and in reproduction methods that retain the overstory for an extended time period. Clearcutting and shelterwood regeneration methods are providing mixed results for oak seedling development and recruitment due to the increased abundance of shade tolerant midstory species. The irregular group shelterwood (Femelschlag) system has been used in Central Europe to address these issues, and may provide the basis for a gap-based system in the Central Hardwood Forest Region. This study examines the two-year effects of a gap-based regeneration method featuring 60m diameter gaps (0.72 ac), and associated midstory removal 30m into the surrounding forest matrix, on natural oak and competitor tree species reproduction as well as on planted white oak seedlings (Quercus alba L.). In addition to seedling growth and survival, the study also characterizes the spatial patterning of light transmittance from gap centers into the forest matrix beyond gap margins. Results from this study can serve as a basis for oak management addressing recruitment issues and providing a regeneration method compatible with a range of forest ownership objectives

IKKα and IKKβ Regulation of DNA Damage-Induced Cleavage of Huntingtin

Background: Proteolysis of huntingtin (Htt) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD). However, the environmental cues and signaling pathways that regulate Htt proteolysis are poorly understood. One stimulus may be the DNA damage that accumulates in neurons over time, and the subsequent activation of signaling pathways such as those regulated by IκB kinase (IKK), which can influence neurodegeneration in HD. Methodology/Principal Findings: We asked whether DNA damage induces the proteolysis of Htt and if activation of IKK plays a role. We report that treatment of neurons with the DNA damaging agent etoposide or γ-irradiation promotes cleavage of wild type (WT) and mutant Htt, generating N-terminal fragments of 80–90 kDa. This event requires IKKβ and is suppressed by IKKα. Elevated levels of IKKα, or inhibition of IKKβ expression by a specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) or its activity by sodium salicylate, prevents Htt proteolysis and increases neuronal resistance to DNA damage. Moreover, IKKβ phosphorylates the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL, a modification known to reduce Bcl-xL levels, and activates caspases that can cleave Htt. When IKKβ expression is blocked, etoposide treatment does not decrease Bcl-xL and activation of caspases is diminished. Similar to silencing of IKKβ, increasing the level of Bcl-xL in neurons prevents etoposide-induced caspase activation and Htt proteolysis. Conclusions/Significance: These results indicate that DNA damage triggers cleavage of Htt and identify IKKβ as a prominent regulator. Moreover, IKKβ-dependent reduction of Bcl-xL is important in this process. Thus, inhibition of IKKβ may promote neuronal survival in HD as well as other DNA damage-induced neurodegenerative disorders

Invertebrate abundance and community composition on a split organic/conventional farm in Northern England : the effects of management, crop type and field boundary

PhD ThesisMany modern applications, from social networks to network security tools, rely upon the graph data model, using it as part of an offline analytics pipeline or, increasingly, for storing and querying data online, e.g. in a graph database management system (GDBMS). Unfortunately, effective horizontal scaling of this graph data reduces to the NP-Hard problem of “k-way balanced graph partitioning”. Owing to the problem’s importance, several practical approaches exist, producing quality graph partitionings. However, these existing systems are unsuitable for partitioning online graphs, either introducing unnecessary network latency during query processing, being unable to efficiently adapt to changing data and query workloads, or both. In this thesis we propose partitioning techniques which are efficient and sensitive to given query workloads, suitable for application to online graphs and query workloads. To incrementally adapt partitionings in response to workload change, we propose TAPER: a graph repartitioner. TAPER uses novel datastructures to compute the probability of expensive inter -partition traversals (ipt) from each vertex, given the current workload of path queries. Subsequently, it iteratively adjusts an initial partitioning by swapping selected vertices amongst partitions, heuristically maintaining low ipt and high partition quality with respect to that workload. Iterations are inexpensive thanks to time and space optimisations in the underlying datastructures. To incrementally create partitionings in response to graph growth, we propose Loom: a streaming graph partitioner. Loom uses another novel datastructure to detect common patterns of edge traversals when executing a given workload of pattern matching queries. Subsequently, it employs a probabilistic graph isomorphism method to incrementally and efficiently compare sub-graphs in the stream of graph updates, to these common patterns. Matches are assigned within individual partitions if possible, thereby also reducing ipt and increasing partitioning quality w.r.t the given workload. - i - Both partitioner and repartitioner are extensively evaluated with real/synthetic graph datasets and query workloads. The headline results include that TAPER can reduce ipt by upto 80% over a naive existing partitioning and can maintain this reduction in the event of workload change, through additional iterations. Meanwhile, Loom reduces ipt by upto 40% over a state of the art streaming graph partitioner

Ice skate blade alignment mechanism

A blade alignment mechanism for an ice skate including a clamp for releasably securing the blade assembly to a skating boot in a trial position. The clamp includes a first member secured to the boot at a point remote from the screw apertures in the front or rear flanges, and a second member attached to the first member and disposed to contact one of the flanges to hold it in a trial position. The second member includes an enlarged adjustment opening that allows side-to-side and fore-and-aft adjustment of the second member with respect to the first member. The first and second members are locked into the selected trial position by tightening a threaded fastener that draws contacting serrated faces of the first and second members together. Thus, the blade assembly is releasably attached to the boot in a trial position for trial use by the skater

The Debate over the Corporeality of Demons in England, c. 1670-1700

According to Walter Stephens, witch-theorists in the fifteenth century developed the witchcraft belief of demon copulation in order to prove the existence of demons and therefore the existence of God. In England, during the mid-seventeenth century, Cartesian and materialist philosophies spread. These new philosophies stated there was nothing in the world but corporeal substances, and these substances had to conform to natural law. This, the philosophers argued, meant witchcraft was impossible. Certain other philosophers believed a denial of any incorporeal substance would lead to atheism, and so used witchcraft as proof of incorporeal spirits to refute what they felt was a growing atheism in the world. By examining this debate we can better understand the decline of witchcraft. This debate between corporeal and incorporeal was part of the larger debate over the existence of witchcraft. It occurred at a time in England when the persecution of witches was declining. Using witchcraft as proof of incorporeal substances was one of the last uses of witchcraft before it disappeared as a valid belief. Therefore, a better understanding of this debate adds to a better understanding of witchcraft during its decline

Group Supervision Attitudes: Supervisory Practices Fostering Resistance to Adoption of Evidence-Based Practices

The focus of this study was to qualitatively evaluate worker’s attitudes about clinical supervision. It is believed that poor attitudes toward clinical supervision can create barriers during supervision sessions. Fifty-one participants within a social services organization completed an open-ended questionnaire regarding their clinical supervision experiences. Results suggest four key areas which appear to be strong factors in workers’ experiences and attitudes regarding group supervision: a. facilitator’s skill level; b. creativity; c. utilization of technology; and d. applicability. For organizations interested in overcoming potential barriers to adopting best practices, effectively addressing workers’ negative attitudes toward group supervision would be a worthy endeavor

Mythlore Art Portfolio I

Psyche from C. S. Lewis\u27 Till We Have Faces by Patrick Wynne. This piece was the front cover for Mythlore 39. Psyche is the central figure, holding the lamp, while her sisters are in the lower corners. Eros spreds his arms over all. Pat has been doing artwork for Mythlore for several years and continues to contribute fine pieces. He currently lives in Fosston, Minnesota. The Mistress of the Silver Moon from George MacDonald\u27s The Princess and Curdie by Nancy-Lou Patterson. This piece was the front cover for Mythlore 21. The picture presents a moment of revelation for Curdie. Nancy-Lou is the Reviews Editor for Mythlore as well as contributing artwork from time to time. Her recently published fantasy Apple Staff and Silver Crown contains many of her own illustrations. She currently lives in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Trothplight at Cerin Amroth from J. R.R. Tolkien\u27s The Lord of the Rings by Paula DiSante. This piece was the back cover for Mythlore 45. The scene depicts Arwen and Aragorn in Lothlorien. Paula\u27s particular interest is in doing illustrations of Tolkien\u27s works. From Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, she is preparing to do graduate studies in film. The Meditation of Mordred from Charles Williams\u27 The Region of the Summer Stars by Sarah Beach. This piece was the back cover for Mythlore 39. Mordred is encircled by two key phrases from the poem. Sarah is Associate Editor for Mythlore and also contributes the Mythopoesis column. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California. The Triskelion by Patrick Wynne is the Society\u27s emblem. It served as the front cover for Mythlore 35

Ecology of a reintroduced population of paddlefish, Polyodon Spathula, in Lake Texoma

A reintroduction of paddlefish in Lake Texoma began in 1999 but subsequent annual surveys showed this population below that produced from other similar reintroductions in Oklahoma. To determine the current status of this population, 30 paddlefish were implanted with ultrasonic transmitters in 2008 and 2009 to determine their distribution and movements in the lake. Log-likelihood chi square tests and selection ratios were used to determine which areas of the lake paddlefish selected for and against. Linear home range was also calculated for each season and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences in seasons. The main tributaries of the lake were also monitored during the spring of 2007 to document spawning migrations. In addition, a stratified random sampling design was used to collect paddlefish with gill nets to estimate total abundance by modified Schnabel mark-recapture methods. Population characteristics such as growth and mortality were also determined from the netting data. Paddlefish in Lake Texoma selected for the upper Red River arm and against the lower lake in both 2007 and 2008 as indicated by selection ratios. Linear home range was not different among seasons P = 0.18 or between years P = 0.13. Paddlefish had an annual linear home range from 5.97 to 61.44 km with a mean of 37.41 km. The paddlefish population was estimated at 1,346 (95% CIs: 701-4,925), and 1,761 (95% CIs: 869-8,610) fish in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Paddlefish exhibited growth similar to other Oklahoma populations although mortality estimates of approximately 40% are higher than most other unexploited populations. Paddlefish migrated up the Washita River during the spring of 2007, although no reproductive activity or verification of naturally produced fish was documented. The success of the Lake Texoma paddlefish population will be highly dependant on adequate inflow to support successful natural reproduction.Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Managemen