Relevant Issues Regarding The Delivery Of Database Courses Through Distance Education

This paper discusses the issues that were involved in the development of two online database courses at The Metropolitan State College of Denver.  These courses are CMS 3060 Database Management Systems and CMS 4060 Advanced Database Management Systems.  In addition to the issues apparent in the development of regular courses, technology driven courses provide a special set of problems.  This paper examines the integration of a remote relational database management system (Oracle) into an online course.  Also, the paper discusses the use of the PC based Oracle Developer 2000 product in an online course

A Logistic Approach To Predicting Student Success In Online Database Courses

This paper examines the affects of reading comprehension on the performance of online students in a beginning database management class.  Reading comprehension is measured by the results of a Cloze Test administered online to the students during the first week of classes.  Using data collected from 2002 through 2008, the significance of the Cloze Test score is analyzed with respect to the three different assessment methods used in the class as well as to the overall average score of the students in the class.  The data are tested using a binary logistic model that analyzes the data on a success (improvement) or failure (no improvement) basis.  The analysis finds that reading comprehension has a significant impact on the scores students earn on examinations and on the final class average.  However, the reading comprehension score has no significant impact on assessments that are more under the control of the student such as online open-book quizzes and projects

Volatility forecasting in the Chinese commodity futures market with intraday data

Given the unique institutional regulations in the Chinese commodity futures market as well as the characteristics of the data it generates, we utilize contracts with three months to delivery, the most liquid contract series, to systematically explore volatility forecasting for aluminum, copper, fuel oil, and sugar at the daily and three intraday sampling frequencies. We adopt popular volatility models in the literature and assess the forecasts obtained via these models against alternative proxies for the true volatility. Our results suggest that the long memory property is an essential feature in the commodity futures volatility dynamics and that the ARFIMA model consistently produces the best forecasts or forecasts not inferior to the best in statistical terms

Deletion of chromosome 4q predicts outcome in Stage II colon cancer patients

Background: Around 30% of all stage II colon cancer patients will relapse and die of their disease. At present no objective parameters to identify high-risk stage II colon cancer patients, who will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, have been established. With traditional histopathological features definition of high-risk stage II colon cancer patients is inaccurate. Therefore more objective and robust markers for prediction of relapse are needed. DNA copy number aberrations have proven to be robust prognostic markers, but have not yet been investigated for this specific group of patients. The aim of the present study was to identify chromosomal aberrations that can predict relapse of tumor in patients with stage II colon cancer

Local Luminous Infrared Galaxies: Spatially resolved mid-infrared observations with Spitzer/IRS

Luminous Infrared (IR) Galaxies (LIRGs) are an important cosmological class of galaxies as they are the main contributors to the co-moving star formation rate density of the universe at z=1. In this paper we present a GTO Spitzer IRS program aimed to obtain spectral mapping of a sample of 14 local (d<76Mpc) LIRGs. The data cubes map, at least, the central 20arcsec x 20arcsec to 30arcsec x 30arcsec regions of the galaxies, and use all four IRS modules covering the full 5-38micron spectral range. The final goal of this project is to characterize fully the mid-IR properties of local LIRGs as a first step to understanding their more distant counterparts. In this paper we present the first results of this GTO program. The IRS spectral mapping data allow us to build spectral maps of the bright mid-IR emission lines (e.g., [NeII], [NeIII], [SIII], H_2), continuum, the 6.2 and 11.3micron PAH features, and the 9.7micron silicate feature, as well as to extract 1D spectra for regions of interest in each galaxy. The IRS data are used to obtain spatially resolved measurements of the extinction using the 9.7micron silicate feature, and to trace star forming regions using the neon lines and the PAH features. We also investigate a number of AGN indicators, including the presence of high excitation emission lines and a strong dust continuum emission at around 6micron. We finally use the integrated Spitzer/IRS spectra as templates of local LIRGs. We discuss several possible uses for these templates, including the calibration of the star formation rate of IR-bright galaxies at high redshift. We also predict the intensities of the brightest mid-IR emission lines for LIRGs as a function of redshift, and compare them with the expected sensitivities of future space IR missions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Advances in Space Researc

Integrated genomic characterization of oesophageal carcinoma

Oesophageal cancers are prominent worldwide; however, there are few targeted therapies and survival rates for these cancers remain dismal. Here we performed a comprehensive molecular analysis of 164 carcinomas of the oesophagus derived from Western and Eastern populations. Beyond known histopathological and epidemiologic distinctions, molecular features differentiated oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas from oesophageal adenocarcinomas. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas resembled squamous carcinomas of other organs more than they did oesophageal adenocarcinomas. Our analyses identified three molecular subclasses of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas, but none showed evidence for an aetiological role of human papillomavirus. Squamous cell carcinomas showed frequent genomic amplifications of CCND1 and SOX2 and/or TP63, whereas ERBB2, VEGFA and GATA4 and GATA6 were more commonly amplified in adenocarcinomas. Oesophageal adenocarcinomas strongly resembled the chromosomally unstable variant of gastric adenocarcinoma, suggesting that these cancers could be considered a single disease entity. However, some molecular features, including DNA hypermethylation, occurred disproportionally in oesophageal adenocarcinomas. These data provide a framework to facilitate more rational categorization of these tumours and a foundation for new therapies

The CCP4 suite : integrative software for macromolecular crystallography

The Collaborative Computational Project No. 4 (CCP4) is a UK-led international collective with a mission to develop, test, distribute and promote software for macromolecular crystallography. The CCP4 suite is a multiplatform collection of programs brought together by familiar execution routines, a set of common libraries and graphical interfaces. The CCP4 suite has experienced several considerable changes since its last reference article, involving new infrastructure, original programs and graphical interfaces. This article, which is intended as a general literature citation for the use of the CCP4 software suite in structure determination, will guide the reader through such transformations, offering a general overview of the new features and outlining future developments. As such, it aims to highlight the individual programs that comprise the suite and to provide the latest references to them for perusal by crystallographers around the world

George W. Garman letter to John J. Garman, April 24, 1889

Mr. Garman discusses land purchase and values.Transcripts provided by previous owner

Evolution Of The Millennium Bug In Accounting Based Systems

The year 2000 problem has serious consequences for accountants today and will continue to impact accounting based systems for several years to come.  Year 2000 problems will potentially disrupt calculations of all kinds.  The problem is not limited to just software, but extends to computer hardware and, in fact, any device that uses a microprocessor with date fields such as computerized cash registers and network routers.  Accountants need to protect themselves and their clients from year 2000 related systems crashes.  This article provides an overview of what the year 2000 problem is and provides some recommendations for dealing with it.  In general, all businesses (clients, CPA firms, and software venders) should get a written statement confirming year 2000 compliance from the maker of any device they use, sell, or suppor