Hard Copy Format Research Articles

The history of science, medicine and technology at Oxford

The history of science came early to Oxford. Its first champion was Robert T. Gunther, the son of a keeper of zoology at the British Museum and a graduate of Magdalen College who took a first there in the School of Natural Science in 1892, specializing in zoology ([figure 1][1]). As tutor in natural

Structural Shielding Design for Medical X‐Ray Imaging Facilities (2004) Report No. 147

This article reviews Structural Shielding Design for Medical X-Ray Imaging Facilities (2004) Report No. 147 ISBN 0-929600-83-5 Price: $100.00. NCRP Report No. 147 can be purchased in soft and hardcopy formats online at http://NCRPpublications.org. A 20 percent discount is available to AAPM members for all online purchases by entering the code aapm49147 at checkout.

DSP utilization in digital color printing

This article discusses the utilization of DSP techniques to digital printing systems, particularly in transforming multidimensional signals from electronic to hardcopy formats by utilizing digital printing solutions and controlling the marking engine that is at the heart of the electrophotographic system. Researchers and DSP practitioners are urged to share their vision on the novel use of signal processing algorithms to analyze, manipulate, and solve problems related to high-end digital printing.

Learning and teaching

Learning and teaching

On Hardiness and Other Pathways to Resilience.

On Hardiness and Other Pathways to Resilience.

Passages: 2006

Passages: 2006

A Whiter Shade of Grey: A new approach to archaeological grey literature using the XML version of the TEI Guidelines

This article has arisen through the author's interest in two contemporary issues within archaeology: the production and dissemination of grey literature and the potential of XML. Grey literature is examined, with specific reference to unpublished reports literature produced in the present climate of developer-funded archaeology in England. There are concerns about the accessibility of this literature, both from within and beyond the archaeological profession. The vast majority of reports are word-processed and then printed in hard-copy format for limited distribution. The original, digital document however, has largely been seen as a by-product. Awareness of the importance of these digital reports, and their preservation must be raised. Electronic means of delivery and dissemination via the World Wide Web offer huge potential and present opportunities for new ways of working. Archaeology is not alone in seeking to promote the accessibility of grey literature; indeed there are many disciplines that have created online initiatives aiming to do just this, utilising a variety of means and a range of electronic file formats. The use of XML technology appears to offer many advantages over traditional formats, such as word-processed, PDF and even (X)HTML files, particularly with regard to the manipulation and presentation of encoded electronic text. Increasingly, XML technology is being used for electronic delivery and dissemination and the pros and cons of so doing are discussed in this article. This theme has been developed by the author through a 'proof of concept' practical case study of three unpublished grey literature archaeology reports from the North Yorkshire Historic Environment Record. XML documents have been created from the original word-processed electronic reports by the manual application of XML markup, the methodology for which was devised following the XML version of the Text Encoding Initiative's TEI P4 Guidelines. The level of detail to which the reports' structure and content has been encoded has been influenced principally by a review of user needs identified by recent national surveys and the potential for export of data for the population of other heritage datasets. Through the application of CSS and XSL stylesheets, the case study demonstrates how the reports and their content may be displayed in different ways and how selected data may be extracted from the text for input into other systems, such as Historic Environment Records and the OASIS Project database. The author came to this project as a novice in the use of XML and XSLT, and learnt far more as the case study progressed. Whilst it has been possible to achieve the desired aims, it is acknowledged that this is just a starting point; more advanced users of XSLT will, no doubt, be able to produce more sophisticated ways of applying styling and transformation. Nevertheless, it is hoped that this exploration of the potential of archaeological document markup will encourage others to use and experiment with XML. The practical elements of this paper demonstrate how XML and XSLT have the power and flexibility to open up new possibilities for the presentation of grey literature on the Web, and for the repurposing of report content, above and beyond those achievable with the proprietary file formats favoured at present. There is national interest in, and call for, the development of new methods of electronic publication for archaeological reports; it is hoped that this article will contribute to this debate. This electronic publication has been grant-aided by English Heritage as part of its policy to explore new media publication. English Heritage logo Keywords: electronic publication, archaeology, grey literature, document markup, Text Encoding Initiative, XML, XSLT, CSS, digital preservation, World Wide Web, heritage management, metadata. This article will particularly interest: * academics, professionals and students of archaeology concerned with the electronic dissemination and presentation of archaeological grey literature and the use of XML for document markup * people outside archaeology interested in electronic publication and use of the XML version of the Text Encoding Initiative P4 Guidelines Key points: * considers how archaeology might take advantage of the possibilities offered by XML document markup for the electronic dissemination and presentation of archaeological grey literature, and how this might also assist in digital document preservation and the repurposing of document content for input into a variety of heritage datasets

Diagnostic accuracy of Fischer Senoscan Digital Mammography versus screen-film mammography in a diagnostic mammography population 1

Rationale and objectives To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Fischer Senoscan Digital Mammography System with that of standard screen-film mammography in a population of women presenting for screening or diagnostic mammography. Materials and methods Enrollment of patients took place at six different breast-imaging centers between 1997 and 1999. A total of 247 cases were selected for inclusion in the final reader study. All known cancer cases were included (111) from all six participating sites representing 45% of the total cases. The remaining 136 cases (55%) were randomly selected from all available benign or negative cases from three of the six sites. A complete case consisted of both a (unilateral or bilateral) digital and screen-film mammogram of the same patient. Eight radiologists interpreted the cases in laser-printed digital and screen-film hardcopy formats. The study was designed to detect differences of 0.05 in the ROC area under the curve (AUC) between digital and screen-film radiologist interpretation performance. Results The average AUC for the Senoscan digital was 0.715 for the 8 readers. The average AUC for screen-film was 0.765. The difference AUC of −0.05 falls within the 95% confidence interval (−0.101, 0.002). The average sensitivity was 66% and specificity 67% for SenoScan full-field digital mammography. The average screen-film mammography sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion No statistically significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the Fischer Senoscan and screen-film mammography was detected in this study.

Accommodating field-dependence

In a previous study, it was found that field-independent learners performed significantly better than field-dependent learners in a web based and in a computerised text-based environment. It was decided to adapt both a web interface and a traditional text to accommodate the Field-dependent learner so as to try to reduce the disparity in performance with Field-independents. Seventy Information Systems students were initially assessed for Field-dependence/Field-independence cognitive style using the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). The group of students was divided up randomly into two halves. In Session one, group 1 studied using a Web interface Modules 1 - 9 of an Introductory Course in Artificial Intelligence. Group 2 studied the same material in hard copy form only (Text). All studied the material for one hour per week for six weeks. They were then assessed in a one-hour exam. After a period of 7 weeks, in Session 2, Group 1 studied Modules 10 - 18 using Text while group two studied the same material using the Web interface. The results showed that the performance of Field-dependent individuals, be it in text or web, to be comparable to Field-independents.

Visual Materials for Oil Spill Responders: The Florida Power & Light Experience

ABSTRACT The use of visual materials is critical for oil spill responders to evaluate the magnitude of potential oil spill impacts. Florida Power & Light has developed extensive visual resources to prepare and support oil spill responders. These resources come in both electronic and hard copy formats. This paper describes these resources including digital aerial photos, surface photos, digital ortho-photos, satellite imagery, surface and aerial digital video, and a host of mapping products (NOAA Nautical Charts, State Boater Guides, etc.). The paper also addresses how these resources are obtained, updated and have been utilized at Corporate and US Coast Guard oil spill drills. Florida Power & Light has fourteen oil storage facilities that have extensive visual resources available to responders. Most of these facilities have up to 200 digital photos that are georeferenced and available to responders in electronic and hard copy photo albums. The incorporation of digital video has also greatly improved responders understanding of area characteristics and deployment opportunities.

Preservice Music Teacher Electronic Portfolios Integrating Reflection and Technology

Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of teaching portfolios inteacher education. Teacher educators have reported that the process of developing portfolios canhelp preservice teachers better understand the complexities of teaching, make connectionsbetween classroom learning and field experiences, and develop into flexible and reflectivepractitioners (Carroll, Potthoff, & Huber, 1996; Krause, 1996; McKinney, 1998). The research specific to electronic forms of portfolio development is just beginning to appear;however, there seems to be a great deal of promise in the digital format (McKinney, 1998;Milman, 1999; Polonoli, 2000). Many of the same benefits are reported with electronicportfolios as with the more traditional hard-copy format. Students reflect about themselves, theirwork as students, and their future in the teaching profession through their work in developingelectronic teaching portfolios (Milman, 1999; Polonoli, 2000). In addition, there are specificadvantages to using a digital format. McKinney (1998) reported that the “nonlinear nature ofmultimedia software allowed [students] to more easily show connections, and technologysupported the ability to personalize the way they showed their learning” (p. 94). Polonoli (2000)echoed McKinney’s findings and stated that the digital portfolio was a “unique vehicle” thatallowed students to express themselves and show what they could do. These early reports alsoindicate that the electronic medium can facilitate storage and makes it easier for students andfaculty to access the information (McKinney, 1998). One component of electronic portfolios thatDownloaded from jmt.sagepub.com

Bibliographies and Notes as a Separate Online Publication: A Novel Trend in Support of Scholarly Publishing

The economics of scholarly publishing have been affected in a number of ways by the Internet as both a reference tool and a publishing medium. The low costs and convenience of online serial subscriptions, research databases and scanned full-text reproductions are of great value to scholars. Voluminous compendiums like the Dictionary of Canadian Biography are also now available electronically, notably on CD-ROM, indexed and fully searchable. On the other hand, monographs and edited volumes usually appear in their traditional print format. A novel variation, however, has emerged: online access to a book's academic apparatus, exemplified by this year's release, The University of Toronto: A History - Notes. This structural separation serves up a less costly, hence more accessible monograph, while the endnotes may be consulted gratis via the Web or shelved in hardcopy format beside the book in archives and libraries. But some have perceived a downside. The merits of this innovation were hotly debated through two New York Times articles, an anthology chapter, and the listserv of North American scholarly publishers. This article summarizes the pros and cons.

The Nimic Energetic Materials Compendium (EMC)

Building on an earlier document published in hard copy form by the NATO Insensitive Munitions Information Centre (NIMIC) in 1994, the NIMIC staff is continuing work on a database of energetic ingredients and formulations that have application in munitions systems. This compendium contains descriptive information, performance data, mechanical properties, and results of hazard assessment and insensitive munitions (IM) testing. The new edition of the Energetic Materials Compendium (EMC), produced in electronic format, is currently available to NIMIC member nations and contains information on ingredients and high explosives. Currently, details on over 200 high explosive formulations that exhibit reduced vulnerability are included, along with information on more commonly used formulations provided for comparison. The process of expanding and updating the information that has already been compiled will be an on going task in order to keep this tool current. Updates will be provided at regular intervals on the latest ingredients, in the form of data sheets, and formulations. A new section concerning solid rocket propellant formulations is also being developed. Due to the sensitivity of information on rocket propellants, some of the information included is generic in nature and relates in some cases to propellant "families" rather than individual formulations. We envision the use of the EMC as a tool particularly for weapons system developers and formulators to aid in the selection of insensitive energetic material to meet their specific needs. It is hoped that the EMC will become a valuable reference tool for anyone looking for information on international energetic material formulations.

Using Digital Information Technologies to Provide Envirothon Educational Materials to Contestants

Envirothon is a relatively new international contest pertaining to the environment with primary emphasis on aquatics, soil, wildlife, and forestry. Facing voluminous amounts of varying sized materials, escalating costs of production, difficulties in ensuring uniform visual quality of materials, and challenges in distributing materials in a timely manner, the Arkansas Envirothon Steering Committee set a goal to create high-quality instructional materials that would meet the needs of contestants and coaches at a minimal cost. This article describes the process undertaken to develop and deliver the first known digitized set of Envirothon instructional materials. A review of three viable means to provide materials (hard copy, CD, and web format) resulted in the development of an Arkansas Envirothon CD and website. The CD is expected to be the primary means of delivering materials to students and coaches; the website is maintained to provide access to timely information, such as contest announcements, and to provide material access for high-speed modem users. The process of converting from hard copy to digitized delivery of materials is time-consuming, tedious, and labor intensive. However, early feedback indicates that this process was worthwhile; it has resulted in new tools that will be more easily managed in the future. Envirothon is found on the Internet at http://www.uaex.edu/envirothon/ (verified 14 Mar. 2002).

The Species Plantarum Project, an international collaborative initiative for higher plant taxonomy

SummaryBrummitt, R. K., Castroviejo, S., Chikuni, A. C., Orchard A. E., Smith, G. F. & Wagner, W. L.: The Species Plantarum Project, an international collaborative initiative for higher plant taxonomy. – Taxon 50: 1217–1230. 2001. – ISSN 0040–0262.Basic understanding of the higher plant resources of the world for the successful management of biodiversity requires international collaboration and the setting up of a global taxonomic database. Botanists at all levels should be involved in the taxonomic work, and biologists and conservationists need to be actively aware of the need for such work on a global basis. The database must include census, descriptive, and identification aspects. At present, existing available information is haphazardly distributed on library shelves and inadequately organised. Published data on threatened species have been shown to be hopelessly inaccurate. National and regional Floras may often portray a false perspective of the plants they include. The world's botanists have to organise themselves to pool their information, and substantial international funding is needed to support this. The Species Plantarum Project, set up in 1995 under the International Organisation for Plant Information affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), aims to overcome “the taxonomic impediment”, and is currently seeking appropriate funding. It responds to the priorities highlighted in the work programme being developed under the Global Taxonomy Initiative of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The project has an international Steering Committee representing all regions of the world, and aims to develop a further network of collaborators. Publication of data will be in both hard copy and electronic form. Instructions to contributors and accounts of five relatively small families have already been published in hard copy, and accounts of two further families totalling nearly 1000 species are in press. Future plans emphasise the need for capacity building in floristic work throughout the world. The project now invites the collaboration of taxonomists throughout the community, but the future of the project is dependent on funding being made available.

Buckets: A new digital library technology for preserving NASA research

A fundamental task of research organizations is the preservation and dissemination of their intellectual output. Historically, this has been accomplished with hard copy formats through a multitiered approach of using the open literature, self-publishing, and an array of cooperative libraries and depositories. It can be argued that the historical approach is less than optimal with respect to results achieved and resources expended. However, there have been recent advances in the area of digital libraries (DLs) that address some of the shortcomings of traditional hard copy preservation and dissemination. One of these technologies is “buckets,” an aggregative, intelligent construct for publishing. Buckets exist within the “Smart Object, Dumb Archive” (SODA) DL model, which can be summarized as promoting the importance and responsibility of individual information objects and reducing the role of traditional archives and database systems. The goal is that smart objects will be independent of and more resilient to the transient nature of information systems. This paper examines the motivation for buckets and SODA, as well as discussing some initial experiences in using these DL technologies in some US government research laboratories in NASA, the Air Force, and the Department of Energy.

A Customer Care Charter: the theory and practice of customer care for law librarians as suppliers of services as well as customers

How does a supplier of information products, whether in an electronic or hardcopy format, go about keeping a customer happy when that customer happens to be a law librarian? The challenge of providing excellent service is of as much interest to the law librarian as a provider of services as it is to him or her as a consumer of services. For the session entitled “I can't get no satisfaction?” a panel of speakers was created consisting of David Smalley (Commercial Director at Lawtel), Paul Baker (Executive Director, Operations at Butterworths) and Pippa Hall (Customer Services Manager at Sweet & Maxwell). The panel was asked to focus on customer care and how it might be improved. As leading players in the field of customer care within the legal information sector how have they dealt with the issues of billing and customer support and how have they communicated with those customers that have raised problems? Do the speakers see a role for law librarians in the process of product development? How do the speakers see their products developing in the future and how do they expect future developments to be communicated to law librarians in the future?

GIS applications for the investigation of hydrometeorological and biochemical conditions of coastal areas

The paper discusses the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the aspects of marine environmental research, as approached by Russian and Greek groups. The scientific teams apply the same GIS platform in both cases, but with a different orientation, according to the particular driving forces of the projects involved.In general, the Russian team manipulates GIS as a subsystem of problem-oriented applications in order to enlarge the possibilities to run non-standard user programs. The subsystem of problem-oriented applications (POA) is designed for the following: (1) analysis of data and information to implement applied tasks; (2) preparation of output information products of the system in the form of hard and electronic copies in accordance with the required formats; and (3) dissemination of information products according to the users requirements. The Greek group focuses on the GIS use as a tool for joining different layers of spatial information in the marine area under investigation. Also, incorporated in the GIS is the drainage basin that supplies the marine area with water, sediment load and also human derived substances. Layers of hypsometry, bathymetry, hydrography, river network, roads, cities, satellite images etc., have been introduced into the system, obtaining significant feedback information. Also, there are developed the relations of the former layers with the marine sampling stations network and the database that describes the station's properties.The two groups benefit particularly by the exchange of ideas and methods, as different consideration is undertaken to resolve marine research issues.

461 Multimedia Dissemination On and Off Campus of Two Landscape Horticulture Courses

We developed two courses, sustainable landscaping and landscape water conservation, to meet time-constrained students on campus and place-bound students off campus. Lecture material consisting of text, slides, drawings, and some video were assembled digitally using presentation software. Each course was broken into nine to10 units by topic matter, and each unit consisted of 50 to 100 individual “slides” containing visuals, text, and audio narration. The lecture material was then packaged for student consumption onto videotape and CD-ROM, and on the Web (without audio) and as hard copy. Students taking the course received a course reader of the lecture material in hard copy and CD format. Contact with the instructor was through e-mail and a threaded newsgroup on the Web. All testing was with take-home quizzes and an exam. These courses had 700 to 800 slides averaging 1 min of narration per slide, equaling 12 to 14 h of audio. Assembly time for 1 h of narration, or about 60 slides, was 20 to 30 h. These courses are taught live in a classroom, where the presentation time is doubled compared to audio narration, alternate years, and have been available every term on an arranged basis. Survey results of 40 students to date taking the course on an arranged basis, obtaining lecture material mainly through CD-ROM, showed that by a 6:1 margin, their learning experience was overall positive. However, by a 19:1 margin, students would have preferred to have taken the course with live classroom instruction. Developing digital courses such as these is only feasible if a faculty member has unequivocal and ample administrative and financial support, and is only cost-effective if there is sufficient student demand outside of conventional scheduling.

Physical access to primary health care in Andean Bolivia

Limited physical access to primary health care is a major factor contributing to the poor health of populations in developing countries, particularly in mountain areas with rugged topography, harsh climates and extensive socioeconomic barriers. Assessing physical access to primary health care is an important exercise for health care planners and policy makers. The development of geographic information system (GIS) technology has greatly improved this assessment process in industrialized countries where digital cartographic data are widely available. In developing countries — particularly in mountain areas, however, detailed cartographic data, even in hardcopy form, are nonexistent, inaccurate or severely lacking. This paper uses GIS technology to assess physical access to primary health care in a remote and impoverished region of Andean Bolivia. In addition, it proposes an alternative model of health personnel distribution to maximize physical accessibility. Methods involved extensive fieldwork in the region, utilizing GPS (global positioning system) technology in the development of the GIS and gathering other pertinent health data for the study. Satellite imagery also contributed to the development of the GIS and in the modeling process. The results indicate significant variation in physical access to primary health care across the three study sites. More importantly, this paper highlights the use of GIS technology as a powerful tool in improving physical accessibility in mountain areas of developing countries.