Describes the Western Washington University Periodic Search Agent for Protein Database Information or WWU Search Agent, a research project developed under the guidance of one of Western Washington University's biosciences professor.
Abstract This paper describes a recent initiative of the The National Center for Biotechnology Information, which is a national resource for molecular biology information. The project is known as Western Washington University Periodic Search Agent for Protein Database Information or WWU Search Agent. This web-based search engine browses and does periodic searches of the protein databases of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool or BLAST. The writer describes the benefits of this project, which include its interfacing with the NCBI BLAST and the continuous updates and enhancements done by NCBI on the system.
Includes Charts:
Chart - Content of Protein Sequence Databases
Fig. 1 - General Subsequence and Database Input Area
Figure 2 - Options for Advanced BLASTing Input Area
Figure 3 - Format input area for report outputs
From the Paper "The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) finds regions of local similarity between sequences. The program compares nucleotide or protein sequences to sequence databases and calculates the statistical significance of matches. BLAST can be used to infer functional and evolutionary relationships between sequences as well as help identify members of gene families. The summary of the Content of Protein Sequence Databases with the sequences they contain are as follows: (NCBI, 2006)"
Abstract The paper relates the origin of the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award (MBQA) award and the reason why it was instituted. It explains that the award is named after the quality-conscious man who served as US Secretary of Commerce 1981-1987 , and was established to recognize companies that demonstrate the highest possible level of excellence in their overall performance. The paper discusses the criteria necessary to qualify for the award and notes that the goal is to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, in order to yield positive business results.
From the Paper "The specific goals of the award's creation were to (1) promote an awareness of the importance of quality to competitiveness, (2) increase understanding about the level of quality required to achieve world-class recognition, and (3) foster the sharing of information about quality by world-class organizations. These goals are further advanced by requiring the award winners to communicate their quality strategies. The MBNQA examination criteria comprise seven functionally related major categories and 32 subcategories. A point allocation scheme emphasizes various categories and subcategories according to their relative contribution to the overall quality level of an organization. Examiners assess an organization's current quality practices and award points that reflect the organization's quality strengths and weaknesses in each of the seven categories."
Tags: Baldrige, health, care, performance, excellence
Abstract This paper discusses the history and constitutional development of the "Automobile Exception" to the search warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment which originated in 1924. The automobile exception allows police officers to search and seize a vehicle without a search warrant. It cites several relevant cases such as New York vs.Belton, California vs. Camey and their legal precedents.
From the Paper "A woman and a man are sitting on a park bench chatting. A police officer approaches and notices a syringe in the man's shirt pocket. The officer asks the man why he has a syringe, and the man replies that he uses it to take drugs. The officer seizes a handbag that is close to the woman; he proceeds to search the handbag and removes the contents including her wallet and identification. Under the current law, this search would violate the Fourth Amendment since the officer did not first obtain a search warrant. However, in Wyoming v. Houghton', the United States Supreme Court held that a similar search was not a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The only difference was that the man and woman were in an automobile, and the search fell under an exception to the Fourth Amendment, commonly called the automobile exception", which was created in 1924 in the case Carroll vs. The United States. The automobile exception is an exception to the Fourth Amendment which eliminates the need for a search warrant when there is probable cause to believe that an automobile contains contraband or instruments/evidence of criminal activity. This paper will examine the history of the automobile exception and important cases that have involved and shaped this constitutional exception."
Abstract This paper discusses the enterprise track and genomics track, two tracks that are the subject for analysis. The paper explains the purpose of the enterprise track is to study enterprise search, which means satisfying a user who is searching the data of an organization to complete some task. The purpose of the genomics track is to study retrieval tasks in a specific domain, specifically where the domain of interest is genomics data which is broadly construed to include not just gene sequences but also supporting documentation such as research papers, lab reports, etc.
Abstract The paper examines the drama "Six Character in Search of an Author", written by Luigi Pirandello, which is play within a play. The paper shows Pirandello's theme throughout the play that life is a script with people fixed to patterns that are evident in everyday workings of life and through the history of previous lives.
From the Paper "The drama Six Characters in Search of an Author, written by Luigi Pirandello, is a play within a play, full of reality philosophizing, which shows how people are real in the same way that characters are. These two themes are highly reflective on what it means to be a play, by comparing it to life, and what it means to be a person, by comparing what it means to be a character. The drama is an assemblage of a play, put together on the spot, when six characters enter another play's rehearsal in search of an author who will manifest their roles by writing a script to their drama. This is their one bent purpose in life, to live on the stage, in their world in which they are real. Though they seem alive, as they are in their search, they are not fulfilling the purpose of filling their roles. They need to tell their stories, they desire reaffirmation of existence and for this they need their fixed reality, the stage. Their script is this means of existence and acting the script out is a means of living or being real. People in the same way are doomed to be scripted; identical to characters, they live only within their fixed play, that which acts itself out from birth to death."
Abstract This paper analyzes the company Jurox in light of the eight attributes listed as characteristics of ?excellent? companies as quoted in the book "In Search of Excellence" by T.J. Peters and R.H. Waterman. These attributes are: a bias for action; closeness to the customer; autonomy and entrepreneurship; productivity through people; a hands-on, value-driven approach; sticking to the purpose; a simple form with lean staff and simultaneous loose-tight properties. It evaluates how Jurox fulfills each attribute in turn and concludes that company is partly ?excellent? but needs improvement in some aspects.
From the Paper "The second characteristic of an "excellent" company is that they are close to the customer. Jurox has this approach with customer satisfaction one of the major targets. The company is also focused on developing relationships with customers. This involves an information technology customer service system that records details about the customers. Customer service staff are trained in communication and relationship building so that relationships can develop. The customer service staff, as well as taking orders, ask for feedback about the products and service. The customer service staff are also trained in marketing and part of their job is to provide information from the customer to the marketing department."
Abstract The author explains the advantages of a student nurse inputting job research into an Excel spreadsheet. The author describes how she researches hospitals of interest in Ohio and North Carolina, developing a spreadsheet using data obtained from the American Hospital Directory website. The author writes how she gained an understanding of Microsoft Excel by entering data, running formulas and creating graphs and charts. The graphs and worksheets are included with the paper.
From the Paper "The job prospects for new graduates vary with each specialization. The demand for employees differs in each field. One field where the job market is going exponentially is the field of nursing. By the year 2020, there will be an estimated shortage of 800,000 nurses (Johnson & Johnson, 2007). Nurses are needed not only in hospitals, but in home health agencies, long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, managed care centers, and in community health. The high demand for nurses also makes it easier for recent nursing school graduates to break into a career in nursing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations; job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough RNs" (U.S. Department of Labor, 2006). This is excellent news for the nursing student and recent nursing graduates but where does one start?"
Abstract This paper discusses how, contrary to most film remakes, Stacy Keach does an excellent job of turning "Six Characters in Search of an Author " into a film version that preserves Pirandello's original storyline without any compromise. The paper explains that Keach's transformation of the play does not compromise the underlining plot because most of the changes involve only visual aspects. The paper also examines how, through his changes in the setting of the theatre, casting of the characters, and interpretation of Pirandello's stage directions, Keach is able to successfully transform the play into a well thought out film that preserves the plot while directing it toward a new television audience.
From the Paper "When Pirandello wrote the play, he was writing it toward an audience in a theatre audience. Since he was writing a play within a play, it seems logical that he would choose the setting to be in a theatre. When Keach was creating a film version of the play, he was creating this for a television audience. Because he was trying to relate to a television audience and not a theatre audience, like Pirandello, Keach chose the setting to be a television studio. Each and every aspect of these stage directions are easily compatible for making a film, which made it very simple for the director to transform the play. "
Abstract The paper reviews relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning opinions and recommendations for improving business excellence through the pursuit of corporate quality. The paper examines the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model that ensures the customer's opinion of quality remains the focus of the organization. The paper discusses how leadership must commit to a continual evaluation and improvement of the people, products and processes it uses to provide customers with a quality-based experience.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background
EFQM Excellence Model
Small Organizations
Mid-size Organizations
Large Organizations
Conclusion
From the Paper "A major factor in a customer's perception of value is the sense of quality they experience. Quality has an impressive lineage dating back to the Pyramids of antiquity. Egyptian builders exemplified many of today's best quality practices: results oriented, customer focused, and constancy of purpose focused on processes and facts. Providing quality products has remained constant through the ages. Medieval guilds produced lasting, reliable products. Their apprentice programs ensured proprietary trade secrets were passed down only to the competent. Strict performance standards were achieved before the title "Master Craftsman" was bestowed. Quality suffered during the Industrial Revolution when lower unit cost became the focus. Then and now, customers demand better quality. Inferior products lose market share. Yet, more than market share can be lost when product quality suffers."
Abstract This paper discusses that the Constitution of the United States provides protection from illegal search and seizure through the Fourth Amendment, but the Fourth Amendment is written in such a way that it can be vague when it comes to what is and what is not a legal search and seizure. The author points out that searches and seizures must have reasonable reasons for being requested and for being authorized and conducted; when a search is allowed, it must be backed by affirmations or oaths that explain why the search is being requested. The paper concludes that any time one studies issues of the Fourth Amendment rights to be protected from search and seizure that is unreasonable, it is important to understand that the case may look very similar to others, but may be completely different when the facts are examined.
From the Paper "The judges who ruled in each case commented that if the jacket had been locked in a briefcase within the van it might have called to question the driver's ability to consent to a search. This was an interesting ruling especially since previous cases regarding similar issues have been decided I favor of the government as well as against the government and its claim to the right to search possessions within a stopped vehicle."
Abstract This paper defines what a search engine is and explains how various search engines work. There is a search engine glossary which provides an explanation of the various search methods and an evaluation of some of the bigger search engines on the Internet.
From the Paper "As defined by an online encyclopedia called Webopedia, a search engine is "a program that searches documents for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. Although search engine is really a general class of programs, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Alta Vista and Excite that enable users to search for documents on the World Wide Web and USENET newsgroups"1. In a logistical sense, a search engine acts like a warehouse. The following demonstrates how web pages are found and indexed, then stored like inventory until a user requests the keyword(s) or subject found in those particular web pages."
Abstract This paper explains that, in the United States, to search private property in their criminal investigations, the police are normally required to have a written search warrant. The author points out the very strict guidelines for search warrants, which were created to protect individual citizens from unwarranted abuses by the police and the justice system. The paper states that the hysterical reaction of the authorities and society to the events of 9/11 has resulted in a significant change regarding the criminal justice system and its rules so that searches, warrants and their concomitant rules have become flexible and arbitrary.
Table of Contents:
Requirements and Procedures
Exceptions
Additional Types of Search Warrants
9/11 Issues and Concerns
From the Paper "Blood samples are normally required in situations where endangerment is caused by an over-indulgence in substances such as drugs or alcohol. Driving under the influence, for example, is such a situation. Surreptitious surveillance is also an issue that is under the control of courts and would be a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms if conduced without a warrant. As will be seen, this has become an extremely controversial issue in the United States."
Abstract Since its beginning, search engines have quickly moved from being used by high end researchers to very young students. This paper discusses how they are becoming an increasingly popular form of sourcing information. It discusses the advantages and argues that while the benefits of using search engines are paramount, an important question to ask is it being effectively and fruitfully used. Therefore, since students are the dominant users of information, they should be properly guided and educated regarding its uses. While search engine could be disadvantageous in certain areas and could mislead users, the advantages are numerous. It concludes that the use of search engines definitely have been a milestone in the history of education.
From the Paper "The accelerated growth of the World Wide Web has turned the Internet into a huge and immense information storehouse (Brown, 1997). The web has become an incredible resource for almost every kind of information need. For many people doing research or finding an answer to a question simply involves going to a web search engine. Search engines have become the fundamental part of information seeking on the Internet."
This article looks at the history of the Search and Seizure Law, known currently in the United States as law under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
Abstract This paper examines the history and interpretation of the Search and Seizure Law. The writer discusses how such a law emerged and explains that those wishing to protect their property and privacy against unreasonable search and seizure have often battled governments, courts, employers, secular groups, and even one another in a struggle between the rights of the individual and the rights of the general public and legal systems. Yet while individuals struggle to retain their right to privacy and rights against unreasonable search and seizure, the United States Court system has consistently narrowed these rights. The writer maintains that it is this history of conflict that has led to the current interpretations of the search and seizure law, and has made these issues some of the most important in the United States culture today.
From the Paper "According to Roman culture, the house was under special protection of the household gods. Anyone who reached the fireplace of a house was offered the protection of the gods. Even Cicero discussed the concept of the home as a protected asylum, when he stated that the house of a citizen was to be defended since in was "a place of refuge so sacred to all men that to be dragged from thence is unlawful" (Lasson, 15).
However, it is in these Roman times that one can begin to see the shift to allow for certain types of search and seizure within a court of law. While individual persons were responsible for their own prosecution against others, they were still given a warrant, which allowed them full rights to gather evidence. This "evidence" included all papers and documents relating to the case, and was obtained through a search of the home of the accused, or through a search of any other home (Lasson, 16). As one can see, the ambiguousness of the warrant for search and seizure allowed the prosecution to search anyone, and seize any documents they felt "necessary"."
