The effect of shaft flexibility on junior golfers' performance

The aims of this study were to examine the effect of shaft flexibility on the performance of junior golfers and to determine whether there is a relationship between golfers' physical characteristics (16 anthropometric measures, age, experience, strength), performance and shaft flexibility. We assessed the performance of 30 male golfers, aged 7–10 years, with three 7-iron golf clubs of different shaft flexibility at a driving range. The performance parameters measured for equipment evaluation were ball distance achieved, shot dispersion and impact position of the ball on the clubface. The results suggest that there is no particular shaft flex suitable for the age group considered and that experience, strength and arm span are the significant factors when selecting optimal shaft flexibility for children.     

Early detection of fungal biomass on library materials

Library materials are susceptible to fungal deterioration. The paper constituents of archival materials are subjected to harmful physical and chemical processes as they are slowly consumed by fungi. Remediation of fungal contamination can be costly and risk further damage to fragile or previously degraded materials. Early detection of fungal growth would permit the use of relatively noninvasive treatments to remediate fungal contamination of artifacts before visible or lasting damage has occurred. Current methods used for the detection of microbial biomass, such as colony counts, microscopic biovolume estimation, and ergosterol analysis are expensive, time consuming, or are inappropriate for use with fungi. Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52) activity provides a rapid and reliable means of fungal detection on a variety of cultural heritage materials. Adapted for use on archival materials, fluorogenic 4-Methylumbelliferyl (MUF) labeled substrate N-acetyl-Beta-D-glucosamine (NAG) was used to detect fungal beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity. The fluorescence generated by minute quantities of fungi was quickly detected at an early stage of growth. The sensitivity of the assay was comparable to other biochemical techniques. The fluorometric assay was well-suited for early detection of fungal biomass on paper and assessment of the effectiveness of common remediation practices.     

Telecommunications

Mitchell L. Moss, ed. Telecommunications and Productivity (Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley Advanced Book Program, 1981—price not given)

William C. House, ed. Electronic Communications Systems (Petrocelli Batks, 1101 State Rd–Bldg D, Princeton, N.J. 08540 —$25.00)     

The Internet Backbone and the American Metropolis

Despite the rapid growth of advanced telecommunications services, there is a lack of knowledge about the geographic diffusion of these new technologies. The Internet presents an important challenge to communications researchers, as it threatens to redefine the production and delivery of vital services including finance, retailing, and education. This article seeks to address the gap in the current literature by analyzing the development of Internet backbone networks in the United States between 1997 and 1999. We focus upon the intermetropolitan links that have provided transcontinental data transport services since the demise of the federally subsidized networks deployed in the 1970s and 1980s. We find that a select group of seven highly interconnected metropolitan areas consistently dominated the geography of national data networks, despite massive investment in this infrastructure over the study period. Furthermore, while prosperous and internationally oriented American cities lead the nation in adopting and deploying Internet technologies, interior regions and economically distressed cities have failed to keep up. As information-based industries and services account for an increasing share of economic activity, this evidence suggests that the Internet may aggravate the economic disparities among regions, rather than level them. Although the capacity of the backbone system has slowly diffused throughout the metropolitan system, the geographic structure of interconnecting links has changed little. Finally, the continued persistence of the metropolis as the center for telecommunications networks illustrates the need for a more sophisticated understanding of the interaction between societies and technological innovations.     

要么发表成果,要么淘汰出局-大学图书馆员的两难困境?

本文考察了发表学术成果的要求对图书馆员获得长期或连续聘用的影响。在对已有文献进行回顾后 ,作者提供了对研究型的、能授予博士或硕士学位的大学进行调查的结果。在 690所答复调查的学校中 ,5 4.3 %实行了长期馆员 (tenure -tracklibrarian)聘用制。其中 ,超过 60 %的学校要求馆员必须发表学术成果 ,3 4 .6%的学校鼓励馆员发表学术成果。在这 3 74所学校中 ,92 .2 %的馆员在为期三年的长期聘用考核中获得通过。作者还对没有通过考核的馆员及据信是为避开考核而辞职的馆员的情况作了分析。