Learn by Doing: Website UX Research for Academic Libraries

Series of UX assessment studies, evaluating and improving the Robert E. Kennedy Library\u27s digital landscape of front-facing web interfaces, discovery platforms, and virtual portals. Objectives include understanding the unique needs and behaviors of REKL website’s target users and discovering the challenges and barriers that are experienced when using the website

Impacts on Web Presence

A case study on adventures in branding, site redesign, and user engagement as a response to the pandemic and the changing needs of users, sharing experiences in gathering input and support from students and other employees in order to meet the needs of their users and improve accessibility

STATUS REPORT FOR MOISTURE EFFECTS ON COMPACTION OF FIBERBOARD IN A 9975 SHIPPING PACKAGE

Compaction of lower layers in the fiberboard overpack has been observed in 9975 packages that contain elevated moisture. Lab testing has resulted in a better understanding of the relationship between the fiberboard moisture level and compaction of the lower fiberboard assembly, and the behavior of the fiberboard during transport. In laboratory tests, higher moisture content has been shown to correspond to higher total compaction of fiberboard material, greater rate of compaction, and continued compaction over a longer period of time. In addition, laboratory tests have shown that the application of a dynamic load results in higher fiberboard compaction. The test conditions and sample geometric/loading configurations were chosen to simulate the regulatory requirements for 9975 package input dynamic loading. Dynamic testing was conducted over a period of six months to acquire immediate and cumulative changes in geometric data for various moisture levels. Currently, one sample set has undergone a complete dynamic test regimen, while testing of another set is still in-progress. The dynamic input, data acquisition, test effects on sample dynamic parameters, and interim results from this test program are summarized and compared to regulatory specifications for dynamic loading. This will provide a basis from which to evaluate the impact of moisture and fiberboard compaction on the safety basis for transportation (Safety Analysis Report for Packaging) and storage (facility Documented Safety Analysis) at the Savannah River Site (SRS)

Discussion of "Test Characteristics of a Combined Pump-Turbine Model with Wicket Gates"

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Optimization and Application of Jet-Freezing

Cryofixation is considered to be the best method for immobilizing biological material in its natural state. In jet-freezing, the specimen typically is sandwiched between two carriers and kept in place while a coolant is moved very rapidly against the opposite surfaces. The JFD 030 jet-freezing device has been used to optimize the operating parameters. The course of the temperature in place of a specimen was measured with thermocouples and recorded by an IBM-compatible personal computer using a specifically developed software program. Mean cooling rates, over the temperature range of 273K to 173K, achievable with different cryogens, including the non-flammable HCFC 124 (SUVA 124-CHClFCF3), were measured under a variety of conditions. The freezing capability of the JFD 030 was evaluated by analyzing transmission electron microscopic results obtained from freeze-substituted plant cells and freeze-fractured cosmetic emulsions. Jet-freezing, despite its limits in freezing thick specimens, can be applied to cell suspensions as well as to semi-thin sections by the use of thin Ti supports, a higher pressure of the nitrogen gas or by a brief pretreatment with a cryoprotectant (e.g., sucrose). In addition, with the non-flammable HCFC 124 in combination with the thin Ti supports, freezing rates similar to those achievable with propane and standard copper supports can be reached giving researchers the chance to use jet-freezing without the dangerous propane

BL Lac X-ray Spectra: simpler than we thought

We report results from {\it XMM-Newton} observations of thirteen X-ray bright BL Lacertae objects, selected from the {\it Einstein} Slew Survey sample. The spectra are generally well fit by power-law models, with four objects having hard ($\alpha<1; F_\nu \propto \nu^{-\alpha}$) spectra that indicates synchrotron peaks at $>5$ keV. None of our spectra show line features, indicating that soft X-ray absorption ``notches'' must be rare amongst BL Lacs, rather than common or ubiquitous as had previously been asserted. We find significant curvature in most of the spectra. This curvature is almost certainly intrinsic, as it appears nearly constant from 0.5 to 6 keV, an observation which is inconsistent with the small columns seen in these sources.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; to be published in proceedings of the Cozumel meeting on "Multiwavelength Surveys for AGN", Cozumel 200

Mathematical models of bipolar disorder

We use limit cycle oscillators to model bipolar II disorder, which is characterized by alternating hypomanic and depressive episodes and afflicts about 1% of the United States adult population. We consider two non-linear oscillator models of a single bipolar patient. In both frameworks, we begin with an untreated individual and examine the mathematical effects and resulting biological consequences of treatment. We also briefly consider the dynamics of interacting bipolar II individuals using weakly-coupled, weakly-damped harmonic oscillators. We discuss how the proposed models can be used as a framework for refined models that incorporate additional biological data. We conclude with a discussion of possible generalizations of our work, as there are several biologically-motivated extensions that can be readily incorporated into the series of models presented here

Resonant Cyclotron Radiation Transfer Model Fits to Spectra from Gamma-Ray Burst GRB870303

We demonstrate that models of resonant cyclotron radiation transfer in a strong field (i.e. cyclotron scattering) can account for spectral lines seen at two epochs, denoted S1 and S2, in the Ginga data for GRB870303. Using a generalized version of the Monte Carlo code of Wang et al. (1988,1989b), we model line formation by injecting continuum photons into a static plane-parallel slab of electrons threaded by a strong neutron star magnetic field (~ 10^12 G) which may be oriented at an arbitrary angle relative to the slab normal. We examine two source geometries, which we denote "1-0" and "1-1," with the numbers representing the relative electron column densities above and below the continuum photon source plane. We compare azimuthally symmetric models, i.e. models in which the magnetic field is parallel to the slab normal, with models having more general magnetic field orientations. If the bursting source has a simple dipole field, these two model classes represent line formation at the magnetic pole, or elsewhere on the stellar surface. We find that the data of S1 and S2, considered individually, are consistent with both geometries, and with all magnetic field orientations, with the exception that the S1 data clearly favor line formation away from a polar cap in the 1-1 geometry, with the best-fit model placing the line-forming region at the magnetic equator. Within both geometries, fits to the combined (S1+S2) data marginally favor models which feature equatorial line formation, and in which the observer's orientation with respect to the slab changes between the two epochs. We interpret this change as being due to neutron star rotation, and we place limits on the rotation period.Comment: LaTeX2e (aastex.cls included); 45 pages text, 17 figures (on 21 pages); accepted by ApJ (to be published 1 Nov 1999, v. 525

Individual 'trace' in knowledge space : a novel design approach for human-systems interaction

Data mining design is an approach through which system operational improvements in the search and retrieval of data activity can be augmented. This study explores optimisation processes, including data harvest, analytics and visualisation plus covers a wide range of efforts, including identifying the growing need of ‘making-sense’ of data which requires contextual understanding. In both cyberspace and physical world experiences the exploring of challenges and linkages between the cyber-physical knowledge spaces in data are emerging with excessive amounts of raw data. Possibilities to improve User-interface-design through better visualisation infographics in this study propose a novel mapping approach called ‘Trace’ in the Knowledge Space enabling design opportunities that help articulate unique human-system interaction, which provide potential in re-imagining and re-structuring uses of interaction and user-experience. These experienced through the design, use and context of languages enabling the building of new interactive apparatus, algorithms and dynamics in collective intelligence

Dysregulated NK cell PLCγ2 signaling and activity in juvenile dermatomyositis

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a debilitating pediatric autoimmune disease manifesting with characteristic rash and muscle weakness. To delineate signaling abnormalities in JDM, mass cytometry was performed with PBMCs from treatment-naive JDM patients and controls. NK cell percentages were lower while frequencies of naive B cells and naive CD4+ T cells were higher in JDM patients than in controls. These cell frequency differences were attenuated with cessation of active disease. A large number of signaling differences were identified in treatment-naive JDM patients compared with controls. Classification models incorporating feature selection demonstrated that differences in phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) phosphorylation comprised 10 of 12 features (i.e., phosphoprotein in a specific immune cell subset) distinguishing the 2 groups. Because NK cells represented 5 of these 12 features, further studies focused on the PLCγ2 pathway in NK cells, which is responsible for stimulating calcium flux and cytotoxic granule movement. No differences were detected in upstream signaling or total PLCγ2 protein levels. Hypophosphorylation of PLCγ2 and downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 were partially attenuated with cessation of active disease. PLCγ2 hypophosphorylation in treatment-naive JDM patients resulted in decreased calcium flux. The identification of dysregulation of PLCγ2 phosphorylation and decreased calcium flux in NK cells provides potential mechanistic insight into JDM pathogenesis