Making Meaningful Maps in a Geographic Information System

Learning objectives: Understand the basic steps of gathering, organizing, and analyzing spatial data in a GIS software program. Know the elements necessary and how to make a meaningful map product. Use ArcGIS Pro Software. Many of us use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in our everyday lives without even knowing it. The last time you used Google maps to get to a desired destination, you used GIS. Google is using spatial information about distance, speed limits, and traffic, in order to perform calculations that, ultimately, direct you to your destination along the fastest path. In general, GIS is a framework for gathering, organizing, and analyzing spatial data. By arranging spatial information into coincident layers, GIS software can help reveal deeper insights into patterns and relationships – not only where occurrences and processes of interest are happening, but also why. By visualizing data through maps, GIS users can make smarter decisions. In this introductory workshop, participants will learn the basic steps for gathering, organizing, and analyzing spatial data that are necessary to create a meaningful final map product using the ArcGIS Pro software program. Note: This is a 75 minute workshop! Skill levels for attendees: Little to no experience Software requirements: Non

Without Geography, You’re Nowhere: History and Applications of GIS (Library Workshop)

Learning objectives: Know the history and basic terminology of the field of GIS. Be able to interpret and assess the quality of maps produced by a GIS. Understand the process of displaying basic spatial data in a GIS software program. Description: Many of us use GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, in our everyday lives without even knowing it: when was the last time you used Google maps to get to a desired destination? Google is using spatial information about distance, speed limits, and traffic, in order to perform calculations that, ultimately, direct you to your destination along the fastest path. In general, GIS is a framework for gathering, organizing, and analyzing spatial data. By arranging spatial information into coincident layers, GIS software can help reveal deeper insights into patterns and relationships – not only where occurrences and processes of interest are happening, but also why. By visualizing data though maps, GIS users can make smarter decisions. For example, maps and GIS analyses provided vital information for tracking the progressive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the Earth. However, maps can also be manipulated through the users’ choice of symbology and classification methods in order to (dis)advantage particular groups of people. In this workshop, participants will learn the history and basic terminology of the GIS field, be able to interpret examples of “good” and “bad” maps produced by GIS, and have an understanding of how to display basic spatial data in a GIS. Skill levels for attendees: Little to no experience Software requirements: Non

Eyes in the Sky: An Introduction to Remote Sensing

Learning objectives: Understand basic definitions and common applications of remote sensing technology Know how to acquire freely available remotely sensed imagery Learn how remotely sensed data can be used to visualize different land covers on Earth’s surface in a GIS Description: Remote sensing is defined as the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object. This means that the human eye taking in visible light reflected by objects is technically remote sensing! But the science of remote sensing is generally based on the scanning of the Earth by satellite or aircraft in order to obtain information, usually electromagnetic radiation, about the surface. For example, certain waves of radiation (specifically, microwaves) can be used to distinguish between clouds, sea ice and ocean water. Or, the relationship between certain waves of light (red and infrared) can inform on the health of plants. Essentially, remote sensing uses the electromagnetic spectrum to distinguish between, and measure changing conditions of, different land covers on Earth. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of remote sensing science and technology, common applications of remote sensing, how to acquire remotely sensed imagery and use spectral information to highlight properties of different land covers on Earth’s surface in a Geographic Information System. Skill levels for attendees: Little to no experience Software requirements: Non

Research Agenda for Studying Open Source II: View Through the Lens of Referent Discipline Theories

In a companion paper [Niederman et al., 2006] we presented a multi-level research agenda for studying information systems using open source software. This paper examines open source in terms of MIS and referent discipline theories that are the base needed for rigorous study of the research agenda

A Research Agenda for Studying Open Source I: A Multi-Level Framework

This paper presents a research agenda for studying information systems using open source software A multi-level research model is developed at five discrete levels of analysis: (1) the artifact; (2) the individual; (3) the team, project, and community; (4) the organization; and (5) society. Each level is discussed in terms of key issues within the level. Examples are based on prior research. In a companion paper, [Niederman, et al 2006], we view the agenda through the lens of referent discipline theories

#MaskMadness: The contributions of perceived stigma, context, and mask-wearing on mental health

Although ample evidence has supported its preventative role in reducing the spread of COVID-19, mask-wearing during the pandemic has been politicized such that noncompliance with mask-wearing recommendations has increased. Our poster will present data collected during the early weeks of the pandemic. In this poster we report the results of a moderated mediation that analyzes the mediating role of mask-wearing in the relationship between perceived stigma about mask-wearing and mental health. We further expect that the proportion of other people who are wearing masks will moderate the relationship between perceived stigma and mask-wearing

The RNA binding specificity of human APOBEC3 proteins resembles that of HIV-1 nucleocapsid

The APOBEC3 (A3) cytidine deaminases are antiretroviral proteins, whose targets include human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Their incorporation into viral particles is critical for antiviral activity and is driven by interactions with the RNA molecules that are packaged into virions. However, it is unclear whether A3 proteins preferentially target RNA molecules that are destined to be packaged and if so, how. Using cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (CLIP-seq), we determined the RNA binding preferences of the A3F, A3G and A3H proteins. We found that A3 proteins bind preferentially to RNA segments with particular properties, both in cells and in virions. Specifically, A3 proteins target RNA sequences that are G-rich and/or A-rich and are not scanned by ribosomes during translation. Comparative analyses of HIV-1 Gag, nucleocapsid (NC) and A3 RNA binding to HIV-1 RNA in cells and virions revealed the striking finding that A3 proteins partially mimic the RNA binding specificity of the HIV-1 NC protein. These findings suggest a model for A3 incorporation into HIV-1 virions in which an NC-like RNA binding specificity is determined by nucleotide composition rather than sequence. This model reconciles the promiscuity of A3 RNA binding that has been observed in previous studies with a presumed advantage that would accompany selective binding to RNAs that are destined to be packaged into virions

Doxycycline alters metabolism and proliferation of human cell lines.

The tetracycline antibiotics are widely used in biomedical research as mediators of inducible gene expression systems. Despite many known effects of tetracyclines on mammalian cells-including inhibition of the mitochondrial ribosome-there have been few reports on potential off-target effects at concentrations commonly used in inducible systems. Here, we report that in human cell lines, commonly used concentrations of doxycycline change gene expression patterns and concomitantly shift metabolism towards a more glycolytic phenotype, evidenced by increased lactate secretion and reduced oxygen consumption. We also show that these concentrations are sufficient to slow proliferation. These findings suggest that researchers using doxycycline in inducible expression systems should design appropriate controls to account for potential confounding effects of the drug on cellular metabolism

Highly accurate retinotopic maps of the physiological blind spot in human visual cortex

The physiological blind spot is a naturally occurring scotoma corresponding with the optic disc in the retina of each eye. Even during monocular viewing, observers are usually oblivious to the scotoma, in part because the visual system extrapolates information from the surrounding area. Unfortunately, studying this visual field region with neuroimaging has proven difficult, as it occupies only a small part of retinotopic cortex. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a novel data-driven method for mapping the retinotopic organization in and around the blind spot representation in V1. Our approach allowed for highly accurate reconstructions of the extent of an observer’s blind spot, and out-performed conventional model-based analyses. This method opens exciting opportunities to study the plasticity of receptive fields after visual field loss, and our data add to evidence suggesting that the neural circuitry responsible for impressions of perceptual completion across the physiological blind spot most likely involves regions of extrastriate cortex—beyond V1