Lucius Chittenden\u27s journey to the inside of the earth transcribed and annotated by Michael N. Stanton.

Occasional paper (University of Vermont. Center for Research on Vermont) ; #17. Introduction -- A note on the text -- [ To the inside of the Earth! ] -- The nebular hypothesis -- Chambers makes planets -- They plan the expedition -- Las diablos del Volcan -- A discussion concerning air and heat -- Appendix : the discussion -- A note on the transcriber and annotater

Opportunities and challenges of the U.S. dollar as an increasingly global currency: a Federal Reserve perspective

The rapid growth of demand for U.S. currency over the past two decades, especially the proportion estimated to be held abroad, has posed challenges for the Federal Reserve in meeting its congressionally mandated responsibilities for currency availability and distribution. Those challenges lie in making certain that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) prints adequate amounts of currency; that overseas distribution channels have sufficient capacity to distribute U.S. currency when and where it is needed; and that the integrity of U.S. currency is maintained by monitoring counterfeiting activity. In the process of meeting these challenges, the Federal Reserve has improved its methods of forecasting demand for U.S. currency, expanded currency distribution channels, and worked with the BEP and the U.S. Secret Service to protect against counterfeiting threats. This article gives an overview of the evolution of the Federal Reserve's responsibilities for U.S. currency, particularly in relation to the increase in foreign demand over the past two decades, and also discusses work on counterfeit deterrence.International finance ; Money ; Dollar, American

Liver ferritin in the protein deficient rat

A method for the isolation in high yield of the iron storage protein ferritin has been developed which has reduced to a minimum the chance of discriminating against either low iron or high iron ferritin. The procedure has "been applied to the study of ferritin metabolism in the livers of male and female rats during five weeks of protein deprivation.With males more ferritin iron was found in the livers of the protein deficient animals than the protein replete controls which was in accord with earlier work of other investigators. With females no difference in ferritin iron was observed between protein deficient and control animals. Both protein deficient males and females stored ferritin protein to approximately similar levels as those of the controls. Protein deficient males increased the average number of iron atoms per molecule of protein significantly above that of their protein replete counterparts, whereas the average iron content for protein deficient and normal females was similar. The average iron content of protein deficient males approached that of the females, A close relationship between liver ferritin iron and protein has been shown which substantiates other previously reported evidence for a sex difference in iron storage. Moreover it has been shown that in protein deficiency iron storage in the male closely resembles that of the female.A method for the isolation in high yield of the iron storage protein ferritin has been developed which has reduced to a minimum the chance of discriminating against either low iron or high iron ferritin. The procedure has been applied to the study of ferritin metabolism in the livers of male and female rats during five weeks of protein deprivation.With males more ferritin iron was found in the livers of the protein deficient animals than the protein replete controls which was in accord with earlier work of other investigators. With females no difference in ferritin iron was observed between protein deficient and control animals. Both protein deficient males and females stored ferritin protein to approximately similar levels as those of the controls. Protein deficient males increased the average number of iron atoms per molecule of protein significantly above that of their protein replete counter¬ parts, whereas the average iron content for protein deficient and normal females was similar. The average iron content of protein deficient males approached that of the females. A close relationship between liver ferritin iron and protein has been shown which substantiates other previously reported evidence for a sex difference in iron storage. Moreover it has been shown that in protein deficiency iron storage in the male closely resembles that of the female

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS OF SUCCESS FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN HIGH SCHOOL?

High schools suffer from poor performance in attendance, achievement, literacy development, and postsecondary outcomes. Teachers cannot redesign schools by trying harder; new models of collaboration and problem solving are key to transforming their schools. Professional learning communities (PLCs) with professional development in transformative learning, constructivist adult learning theories, and collaborative problem solving may provide the best answer for school change. What are the best processes and methods for high school teachers to transform their frames of reference to solve their common difficult dilemmas while changing their approach to problem solving to improve schools and student proficiency in standards? I collected data in a grounded theory study using interviews, observations, and interview/questionnaire from teachers within four professional learning communities in two low-performing high schools in a large urban district. I interviewed 22 participants while making observations of 9 PLC meetings part of a small learning community framework. Participants completed short responses to a three-item questionnaire at the end of the study. I noted three transformative experiences of participants within the PLCs. The majority of teacher participants believed that the most effective characteristics and components of PLCs was the opportunity to work together for the best learning experiences for their students. Nearly all of the teacher participants believed that the PLC could be a structure for critical reflection to occur for themselves and others. The results did show evidence of transformative learning and collaborative problem solving. Members of a learning community learned new frames of references through their participation in a modestly developed problem solving process and as a result of their own readiness and openness to changing their frame of reference developed from insights that evolved from shared group experiences. Without a clearly developed and maintained process, PLCs demonstrated less evident or developed elements of collaborative problem solving. Without strong direction and effective facilitators, teachers did not consistently and broadly use a collaborative problem solving process. A theoretical model of transformative learning and collaborative problem solving emerged that principals and leaders of high school redesign can use to better facilitate the changes being asked of their teachers

Common Ground: Exploring the intersection between information, technology, art and design

University research is becoming increasingly multidisciplinary in both the nature of the problems being investigated and the makeup of the teams of researchers that tackle these complex challenges. Information schools are in a unique position to participate across a range of these projects. This poster describes an initiative to discover potential areas for collaboration between Syracuse University???s iSchool and the College of Visual and Performing Arts, focusing on the synergies between information, technology, art and design

Self-assembly of ferromagnetic micro/nano-particles with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Magnetic particles offer an interesting platform for self-assembly, as their dipolar interactions and response to magnetic fields can be used to drive and manipulate assembly. Many magnetic particles used so far in these applications are quite simple in their properties, such as iron oxide particles or magnetic colloids. To grow the potential of magnetic self-assembly, more complex particles are being developed to increase the complexity and functionality of the assemblies. In this vein, this work has created magnetic particles based on thin films of CoFeB/Pt with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) to use for self-assembly. PMA films have been long developed for magnetic recording and computing applications, so they are well understood and optimized. Their high moment and strong anisotropy make them good candidates for a highly directional equilibrium self-assembly system. The particle construction was first optimized in films, looking at both the magnetic and structural properties needed for particles. The particles are then patterned from the film using top-down lithographic methods. Using top down methods, as opposed to the chemical synthesis methods used for most magnetic particles, is what allows the tuneable magnetic film properties to be transferred to particles. Once in liquid, the individual field response and interactions of the particles were analysed, to understand how they would best assemble. Then, the particles were assembled into 1D and 2D structures, which were then manipulated with magnetic fields to understand how these assemblies could be controlled and actuated. Assemblies of 3D structures on chip were also created and observed. These results demonstrate the fundamental assembly capabilities of the system and begin to show how it might be applied in microrobotics or micromachinery.Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trus

A Theoretical Application of Metaphor Research to the Film Industry

This paper explores the value of using metaphor based marketing research methods (most notably Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique) in the development and green-lighting processes of filmmaking. A review of literature reveals that even large blockbuster films lack any marketing research employed in the developmental stage. Audiences are extremely difficult to analyze when considering something as abstract and subjective as what makes a “good” film. Metaphor based marketing research methods (e.g. ZMET) offer a solution by examining the minds of consumers through language markers called metaphors. Using a metaphor based marketing technique early in a film’s development process may help to predict the success of a film as well as help to inform other marketing promotions for the film. The purpose of this study is to show how using an adaptation of ZMET will help film developers better predict the market potential for a project before the green-lighting phase

Modeled Red Spruce Distribution Response to Climatic Change in Monongahela National Forest

In Monongahela National Forest of West Virginia, red spruce grows in high-elevation island ecosystems that are particularly sensitive to changes in climatic conditions. The ecological niche modeling application Maxent was used to project the distribution response of red spruce to climatic change for the purposes of conservation planning. Red spruce distribution data was acquired from the United States Forest Service. Three sets of nineteen bioclimatic variables, corresponding to present, 2050, and 2080 conditions, were derived from 1961-1990 monthly temperature and precipitation means and the IPCC A2 emissions scenario of HadCM3. The modeling revealed rapidly diminishing red spruce habitat suitability from southwest to northeast, while the border region between Randolph and Pendleton Counties displayed consistent suitability over time. Conservation efforts for red spruce should focus in the areas projected to maintain habitat suitability in the longer term, while alternative species planting may be necessary elsewhere to preserve forest integrity

Copper-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Decarboxylation Reactions of Carboxylic Acids to Alkenes

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are important building blocks in the production of linear low-density polyethylene, a plastic used in products such as shrink wraps, plastic bags, tubing, plasticizers, among others. Commercial methods for generating LAOs utilize ethylene oligomerization, but this method is reliant on fossil fuels and leads to unselective product formation. Synthesis of LAOs from renewable resources, namely carboxylic acids, by decarbonylative dehydration strategies has been well studied, however, this method has inherent drawbacks rooted in the formation of internal olefin side-products through isomerization pathways. With the goal of avoiding internal isomerization, this thesis explores a dehydrogenative decarboxylation strategy for conversion of carboxylic acids to alpha-olefins. The first chapter outlines traditional methods for linear alpha olefin generation and discusses well-developed methods for the use of carboxylic acids as feedstocks. The second chapter details the development of a new copper-catalyzed dehydrogenative decarboxylation reaction of carboxylic acids to styrenes. A series of mechanistic experiments indicate that the reaction proceeds via benzylic deprotonation and subsequent radical decarboxylation; a pathway that is distinct from mechanisms implicated in related decarboxylative elimination reactions. Chapter 3 explores the selective dehydrogenation of carboxylic acids and methyl esters to cinnamic acids and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. This chapter outlines a broad survey of reactivity, highlighting the role of the oxidant in dictating product formation, styrene via decarboxylation and alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds through dehydrogenation. The final chapter describes exploration of reaction conditions for the copper-catalyzed decarboxylation of substituted cinnamic acids. The chapter also describes our ongoing efforts towards identifying the key reaction parameters necessary for efficient product formation

Embedded Metapragmatics and Lying Politicians

A metapragmatic expression denotes an event of speaking. An embedded metapragmatic construction embeds one metapragmatic expression within another, as in Bush said Clinton lied. This article reports that embedded metapragmatic constructions, when used in television news coverage of U.S. political campaigns, most often predicate on the topic of lying. Simple metapragmatic constructions in this news coverage rarely describe lying, but embedded metapragmatic constructions often do. The article suggests two explanations. First, embedded metapragmatic constructions provide particularly rich opportunities for characterizing and evaluating the quoted speakers. Second, these constructions allow the reporter to make highly charged evaluations of the second embedded speaker, while placing the responsibility for such evaluations on the first embedded speaker. The article provides evidence to support these hypotheses, using as data the embedded metapragmatic constructions uttered on weekday newscasts on two networks, in the two months preceding the U.S. presidential elections in 1992 and 1996. In recent years reporters have become increasingly bold in accusing politicians of lies and other moral transgressions (Wilson, 1990 and Patterson, 1993). Patterson documents how this adversarial and accusatory stance by the press has increased over the past four decades. In the 1960 US presidential campaign, for instance, 75% of stories about the candidates reported good news. By the 1992 US presidential campaign this figure had fallen to 40%. At the same time, however, the press still claims to be even-handed in reporting on politicians (Davis and Walton, 1983 and Waugh, 1995). Mainstream reporters do not want to express clear bias toward one political party, nor do they want to make unsubstantiated accusations. Reporters thus face a delicate situation when handling partly-substantiated allegations about politicians\u27 lies or other moral transgressions - a situation which they face regularly in contemporary US political campaigns. The press wants to report this kind of story, but they do not themselves want to be accused of bias or of making unwarranted allegations. This article describes how reporters sometimes solve this problem with recourse to a particular type of linguistic construction, which we have called embedded metapragmatics (Locher and Wortham, 1994). In an embedded metapragmatic construction the speaker reports what one speaker says about another\u27s language use, as when a reporter says Bush claimed that Clinton lied . This article provides evidence that reporters often use such embedded metapragmatic constructions to report allegations about politicians\u27 lies and other moral transgressions. We explain this fact by describing how the construction allows reporters to express allegations against politicians without themselves taking responsibility for those allegations. When the accusation of lying is placed in the mouth of the embedded speaker (Bush\u27s mouth, in the example above), the reporter becomes in Goffman (1979)\u27s terms merely the animator uttering the message and not the principal responsible for the content of the accusation. The article fleshes out this account of embedded metapragmatics and politicians\u27 lies by examining television network news coverage of the 1992 and 1996 US presidential campaigns. The first section of the article describes our approach to the social functions of language, which draws heavily on Bakhtin, and gives a more formal account of embedded metapragmatic constructions. The second section first describes the methods we used in collecting and analyzing network news coverage of the 1992 and 1996 US presidential campaigns. This section then reports the central result from our data analysis - that almost half the embedded metapragmatic constructions used by reporters describe events of lying or other moral transgressions by politicians - and presents two hypotheses to explain this finding. This section goes on to describe a more specific pattern in the data that shows how reporters use embedded metapragmatic constructions to avoid responsibility for accusations about political lies: the verb of lying virtually always appears in the second embedded slot. That is, reporters almost never make statements like Bush lied about Clinton\u27s claim , but they often make statements like Bush claimed that Clinton lied . The last section draws conclusions about the ubiquitous social functions of language use and how these affect political reporting