Extension Educators Can Use Internet GIS and Related Technologies

A variety of Internet GIS tools can support Extension\u27s educational programming focused on land use planning and related issues. According to our Web-based survey, Extension educators have a high degree of interest in Internet GIS and related technologies, but limited exposure to or experience with these resources. Our experience suggests that workshops, supported with printed materials and Internet resources, appear effective in helping educators use these tools. Most educators have access to limited support services. Using these technologies requires a broad understanding of many different and disparate concepts, but many contemporary tools are designed to minimize this concern

Mathematical Modeling of a Sociological and Hydrologic Decision System

The general goal of this study was to develop a functional model of the sociological and related hydrologic elements in flood control decision-making. Conceptual system models were developed for the hydrologic system and for the sociological system. The sociological variables were identified as they related to the steps in the process of the model. Following the conceptual decision process model the social elements of the model were calibrated from data obtained from field studies and mathematical equations were developed and tested. Finally simulations of the process were run. After adjustments were made the model was found to function. Several methodological factors were devised to make the model more realistic and operable. These were: 1) Distortion Factors, which are differences that exists between various actual situations and perception of these situations; 2)Importance Factors, which are measures of the relative degrees of importance of each of the major characteristics of a proposal such as economic, aesthetic, effectiveness, etc,; 3) Acceptance Functions, defined as a combination of the perceived value of a characteristic and the Importance Factors; 4) Expansion Effect, which provides for changes in behavior related to values that are in a latent state of unimportance to a state of high importance stimulating high level action; 5) Threshold Levels, that determine the point between no activity and public action. These concepts permit the model to adjust to changes in social behavior related to the social structure of the decision process. The system provides for the function of social values as they relate to the social structures and the hydrologic components

Modeling the Total Hydrologic-Sociologic Flow System of Urban Areas - Phase II

Introduction and Overview: This is an interim report on Phase II of the three phase study. The objectives covered in this phase were: 1. To gather social and hydrologic data needed to calibrate and test the model. 2. The expand the physical model to include the rural part of the watersheds. 3. To test and improve techniques of the logical linking of the hydrologic and sociologic systems. 4. To begin adapting the model to the computer. During the second phase for the hydrologic component of the model major emphasis was placed on the expansion of the hydrologic area and the collection and analysis of additional physical data. The major emphasis for the sociologic part of the model was on the gathering of social data by the re-designing and testing of an improved research instrument (schedule or questionaire_ and administration of this schedule to a random sample of the general population in the urbanized area. The urbanized area is related to the physical hydrologic area of the study. The data were collected to improve the basic methodology and conceptualizations for linking the hydrologic and sociologic systems together in one model. Division of this report: Section II of this interim report deals with development of the physical component of they hydrologic-sociologic model. It describes the expansion of the hydrologic to include the rural parts of the watershed and tests for validation of they physical submodel. Section III review the ype of work done in Phase II of the sociological work. This consisted of: (1) reviewing the accomplishments and limitations of the first phase; (2) redesigning the questionaire to correct deficiencies in the one used in the first study, to measure additional variables throught to perhaps be relevant to the problem, and where desireable, to adapt them to the general population of the area rather than to specialized populations; (3) pretesting of component parts of the revised schedule; (4) drawing of a random sample from the population; (5) interviewing of the sample; (6) coding and processing of data for analysis; and (7) preliminary analysis of the results of the data. Progress made in the mathematical formulations of social elements is vital. The refinement of meaurement of the population data for use in the model is of central importance since the effectiveness of the testing, verification, and consequent improvement of the model depends on the accuracy of the measurement of the variables involved. Section IV shows some details on the work performed in interrelating the sociologic and hydrologic components of the model, and on one possible mathematical formulation which shows some of the interrelationships between these components. It is hoped that the formulation achieved will be useful to planners, not only in increased understanding of the total system, but also in the analysis of the merits of flood-control proposals relative to the social characteristics of particular areas. Section V discusses the purposes of the work in Phase II and the objectives expected to be met during the coming phase

A Preliminary Model of the Hydrologic-Sociologic Flow System of an Urban Area

This report describes the first phase of a larger study which is directed toward the development of a general technique for analyzing and solving urban metropolitan hydrologic problems through a joint consideration of both the physical and social dimensions. This report is limited to the preliminary work of identification of social variables, the first steps in assigning mathematical values to them, and developing a mathematical format for these variables. In addition, the physical-hydrologic system is identified for purposes of clarifying the elements in that system. The ultimate objective of the entire study is directed toward discovering a theoretical and generally applicable mathematical model of both the physical and social dimensions involved in metropolitan flooding problems

500-Fold Amplification of Small Molecule Circularly Polarised Luminescence through Circularly Polarised FRET

Strongly dissymmetric circularly polarised (CP) luminescence from small organic molecules could transform a range of technologies, such as display devices. However, highly dissymmetric emission is usually not possible with small organic molecules, which typically give dissymmetric factors of photoluminescence (gPL) less than 10−2. Here we describe an almost 103-fold chiroptical amplification of a π-extended superhelicene when embedded in an achiral conjugated polymer matrix. This combination increases the |gPL| of the superhelicene from approximately 3×10−4 in solution to 0.15 in a blend film in the solid-state. We propose that the amplification arises not simply through a chiral environment effect, but instead due to electrodynamic coupling between the electric and magnetic transition dipoles of the polymer donor and superhelicene acceptor, and subsequent CP Förster resonance energy transfer. We show that this amplification effect holds across several achiral polymer hosts and thus represents a simple and versatile approach to enhance the g-factors of small organic molecules

Sensitivity of a national coronial database for monitoring unnatural deaths among ex-prisoners in Australia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The period immediately after release from custody is a time of marked vulnerability and increased risk of death for ex-prisoners. Despite this, there is currently no routine, national system for monitoring ex-prisoner mortality in Australia. This study subsequently aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of Australia's National Coroners Information System (NCIS) for identifying reportable deaths among prisoners and ex-prisoners.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Prisoner and ex-prisoner deaths identified through an independent search of the NCIS were compared with 'gold standard' records of prisoner and ex-prisoner deaths, generated from a national monitoring system and a state-based record linkage study, respectively. Of 294 known deaths in custody from 2001-2007, an independent search of the NCIS identified 229, giving a sensitivity of 77.9% (72.8%-82.3%). Of 677 known deaths among ex-prisoners from 2001-2007, an independent search of the NCIS identified 37, giving a sensitivity of 5.5% (4.0-7.4%). Ex-prisoner deaths that were detected were disproportionately drug-related, occurring within the first four weeks post-release, among younger prisoners and among those with more than two prior prison admissions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although a search of the NCIS detected the majority of reportable deaths among prisoners, it was only able to detect a small minority of reportable deaths among ex-prisoners. This suggests that the NCIS is not effective for monitoring mortality among ex-prisoners in Australia. Given the elevated rates of mortality among ex-prisoners in Australia and elsewhere, there remains an urgent need to establish a process for routine monitoring of ex-prisoner mortality, preferably through record linkage.</p

500-fold amplification of small molecule circularly polarised luminescence through circularly polarised FRET

Strongly dissymmetric circularly polarised (CP) luminescence from small organic molecules could transform a range of technologies, such as display devices. However, highly dissymmetric emission is usually not possible with small organic molecules, which typically give dissymmetric factors of photoluminescence (gPL) less than 10-2. Here we describe an almost 103-fold chiroptical amplification of a π-extended superhelicene when embedded in an achiral conjugated polymer matrix. This combination increases the |gPL| of the superhelicene from approximately 3 × 10-4 in solution to 0.15 in a blend film in the solid-state. We propose that the amplification arises not simply through a chiral environment effect, but instead due to electrodynamic coupling between the electric and magnetic transition dipoles of the polymer donor and superhelicene acceptor, and subsequent CP Förster resonance energy transfer. We show that this amplification effect holds across several achiral polymer hosts and thus represents a simple and versatile approach to enhance the g-factors of small organic molecules