Is end user productivity an oxymoron?

The primary goal of end user computing is to increase the productivity of the end user. By using information technology the end users have changed the scope and depth of their job tasks, making productivity changes hard to measure

The inner dark matter distribution of the Cosmic Horseshoe (J1148+1930) with gravitational lensing and dynamics

We present a detailed analysis of the inner mass structure of the Cosmic Horseshoe (J1148+1930) strong gravitational lens system observed with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). In addition to the spectacular Einstein ring, this systems shows a radial arc. We obtained the redshift of the radial arc counter image $z_\text{s,r} = 1.961 \pm 0.001$ from Gemini observations. To disentangle the dark and luminous matter, we consider three different profiles for the dark matter distribution: a power-law profile, the NFW, and a generalized version of the NFW profile. For the luminous matter distribution, we base it on the observed light distribution that is fitted with three components: a point mass for the central light component resembling an active galactic nucleus, and the remaining two extended light components scaled by a constant M/L. To constrain the model further, we include published velocity dispersion measurements of the lens galaxy and perform a self-consistent lensing and axisymmetric Jeans dynamical modeling. Our model fits well to the observations including the radial arc, independent of the dark matter profile. Depending on the dark matter profile, we get a dark matter fraction between 60 % and 70 %. With our composite mass model we find that the radial arc helps to constrain the inner dark matter distribution of the Cosmic Hoseshoe independently of the dark matter profile.Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures, 8 tables, submitted to A&

End users\u27 perceptions concerning computer applications implemented in broadcast stations

In an era of limited resources, organizations must scrutinize every purchase carefully. A critical and sometimes very expensive purchase is for computer hardware and software. The reasons for the purchase are generally given as productivity improvements or personnel reductions. However, assessment of why computer applications are really implemented from the end users\u27 perspective has not been reported. In order to answer questions to justify expenditures it would be helpful to understand how end users perceive the reasons for implementation of computer applications in their stations. To this end a questionnaire was sent to all broadcast radio and TV stations in the State of Wisconsin. The end users (station managers) were requested to identify reasons for present computer application implementations and areas of implementations for future use. The results of this study compare type of computer being used and station characteristics with a checklist of reasons for computer application implementations in the broadcast industry. This research begins the identification of other factors that are Justifiable reasons for computer application implementations. In doing this, end users can broaden the how, why, what, and when of their computer application purchases. We all believe that the computer is a tool to help us do our jobs better, but what does that mean and how can we document these feelings? Or as Jon Van (I99I) and G. P. Zachary (1991) have stated, are we really getting what we expected from the computer applications we have implemented? This research study does not pretend to completely answer these or other questions in this area. However, it is a beginning and valuable research that needs to be augmented

Silicon-on-ceramic process: Silicon sheet growth and device development for the large-area silicon sheet task of the low-cost solar array project

The technical feasibility of producing solar cell quality sheet silicon to meet the DOE 1986 cost goal of 70 cents/watt was investigated. The silicon on ceramic approach is to coat a low cost ceramic substrate with large grain polycrystalline silicon by unidirectional solidification of molten silicon. Results and accomplishments are summarized

Analyzing the Efficiency of Horizontal Photovoltaic Cells in Various Climate Regions

This research presents the development of linear regression models to predict horizontal photovoltaic power output. We collected a dataset from 14 global Department of Defense (DoD) installations over a timeframe of one year using an experimental apparatus, resulting in 24,179 usable data points. We developed a linear model to predict power output, which incorporated site-specific weather and geographical characteristics, along with Köppen-Geiger climate classifications in order to determine the effect of adding climate to the model. After performing a Wald test between the full model and a reduced model without Köppen-Geiger climate variables, it was determined that including Köppen-Geiger climate variables improved the model’s ability to account for horizontal photovoltaic power variation by 3%. Although adding Köppen-Geiger variables provided added value when modeling the training dataset, these variables were less effective in predicting the validation dataset. From the analysis, the ideal Köppen-Geiger region was determined to be a warm temperate main classification, a fully humid precipitation classification and a warm summer temperature classification. This region possessed a 30% greater average power production than the mean value of the base climate classification. We found that the cost-effectiveness of a photovoltaic array depends on Köppen-Geiger climate regions, in addition to weather characteristics and the orientation of the array

Pseudomyxoma-type Invasion in Gastrointestinal Adenocarcinomas of Endometrium and Cervix: A Report of 2 Cases

Summary: This paper presents a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical report of 2 gastrointestinal-type tumors, one in the endometrium and the other in the cervix. Both showed extensive invasion into the pelvic structures with acellular mucin, identical to pseudomyxoma but in the absence of appendiceal or ovarian tumors. Case 1 was an 81- yr-old female with a Stage III endometrial gastrointestinal-type adenocarcinoma who had had an endometrial polyp with intestinal metaplasia 4 yr previously. Case 2 was a 68-yr-old female with Stage IIIB endocervical gastrointestinal-type adenocarcinoma. Both were associated with a pseudomyxoma type of invasion, which in the endometrial case was transmural through the myometrium, and in the cervical case involved parametria, pelvic floor, and lymph nodes. Immunohistochemically, both tumors had a gastrointestinal phenotype coexpressing cytokeratins 7 and 20, CDX2, villin, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 and were negative for human papillomavirus, analyzed by realtime polymerase chain reaction. The first case exemplifies intestinal endometrial metaplasia as a precursor lesion of the rare gastrointestinal type of adenocarcinoma and also proves its progression into carcinoma. The second case exemplifies the highly aggressive nature of cervical invasion forming mucin lakes. Extensive pseudomyxoma in the uterus and cervix was associated with high clinical stages with marked lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastase

Weather-related Construction Delays in a Changing Climate: A Systematic State-of-the-art Review

Adverse weather delays forty-five percent of construction projects worldwide, costing project owners and contractors billions of dollars in additional expenses and lost revenue each year. Additionally, changes in climate are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of weather conditions that cause these construction delays. Researchers have investigated the effect of weather on several aspects of construction. Still, no previous study comprehensively (1) identifies and quantifies the risks weather imposes on construction projects, (2) categorizes modeling and simulation approaches developed, and (3) summarizes mitigation strategies and adaptation techniques to provide best management practices for the construction industry. This paper accomplishes these goals through a systematic state-of-the-art review of 3207 articles published between 1972 and October 2020. This review identified extreme temperatures, precipitation, and high winds as the most impactful weather conditions on construction. Despite the prevalence of climate-focused delay studies, existing research fails to account for future climate in the modeling and identification of delay mitigation strategies. Accordingly, planners and project managers can use this research to identify weather-vulnerable activities, account for changing climate in projects, and build administrative or organizational capacity to assist in mitigating weather delays in construction. The cumulative contribution of this review will enable sustainable construction scheduling that is robust to a changing climate

Alimentación, ocio y cultura en el pazo de Goiáns en el siglo XVIII

Actas de la XII Reunión Científica de la Fundación Española de Historia Moderna, celebrada en la Universidad de León en 19-21 de junio de 2012. José Manuel Vázquez Lijó, Universidad de Coruña ([email protected])En esta comunicación se analizan algunos aspectos del micro cosmos cultural de un pazo gallego, el de Goiáns, cuya excepcional ubicación a orillas de la ría de Arousa dota de alto valor añadido a este solar con espacios singulares como pesquera y embarcadero. Los inventarios de bienes de la casa informan de varios indicadores culturales de las elites (libros, juegos, obras artísticas, instrumentos musicales) y otros, como la alimentación, pueden estudiarse gracias a la documentación contable. El breve esplendor material del pazo parece datarse a mediados del siglo XVIII coincidiendo con la exitosa promoción social de los señores de Goiáns y sus hijos consecuencia de un cúmulo de factores (relaciones familiares, poder económico, bodas ventajosas, educación privilegiada…). La carrera militar de los sucesivos dueños les obligó a residir allí donde ejercían estos empleos y Goiáns pasó a ser una segunda residencia, cada vez más vacía de vida y de muebles, convirtiéndose a partir de la década de 1820 en un simple centro de administración de rentas.Peer reviewe