Scout Report for Science & Engineering and KIDS Report
Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/sci-engr/1999/se-990414.html
KIDS Report
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/KIDS/archive/KIDS-990413.html
Volume 2, Number 15 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates nine resources on calcium depletion in the forest soils of ten states in the Eastern US. The April 13 issue of the KIDS Report, written by and for K-12 students, comes to us from students of North Woods Elementary School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This issue features Internet resources on architecture. [MD]
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LOCATORplus -- NLM
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/locatorplus/
Unveiled on April 12, the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) LOCATORplus is a Web catalog of the world's largest medical library, with over 5.3 million books and other materials. Bringing together previously disparate databases and information formerly available only to Library staff, the site allows users to search by a variety of specific fields and then email the results to themselves. Search returns are ranked by relevance and feature standard library catalog information as well as a link, in the case of electronic resources. LOCATORplus also offers tutorials on using the site and the NLM physical Reading Room and links to additional online catalogs and a variety of other authoritative online medical resources. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Thomas Jefferson Papers -- LOC
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mtjhtml/mtjhome.html
The Library of Congress American Memory Project (last discussed in the November 20, 1998 Scout Report) has begun to release digitized documents from the world's largest collection of original Thomas Jefferson papers. The collection, which will be comprised of approximately 83,000 images, will be released as nine Series or groupings, ranging in date from 1606 to 1827. The documents reflect Jefferson's broad intellectual and political interests and his central role in American politics from the second Continental Congress through his two terms as President, 1801-1809. The first release, about 20,000 images, "comprises the first installment of Series 1, General Correspondence, dating from 1621 through 1789, and all of Series 8, relating to Virginia history, from 1606-1737." Users may search the document images by keyword or browse by date (Series 1, Correspondence) or by volume (Series 8, Virginia Records). Additional resources include three special presentations: "The Contradictions of Thomas Jefferson," a Virginia Time Line, and a Thomas Jefferson Time Line. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) Updated IRS Site
http://trac.syr.edu/tracirs/index.html
TRAC, a nonpartisan "data gathering, data research and data distribution organization" located at Syracuse University (last reviewed in the October 24, 1997 Scout Report), has just updated its widely respected IRS Website. Drawing data from a variety of sources, TRAC has found that the primary IRS enforcement activities, including individual audits, corporate audits and the criminal prosecution of tax fraud, have declined substantially in the last few years. After free registration, users may read a summary of the new findings, view national trends and profiles in IRS enforcement, access detailed maps and tables about each of the 33 IRS administrative districts, compare taxation in their county with others, and read a few short essays on IRS enforcement policies and practices. Users may order additional detailed data from TRAC for a fee. [MD]
[Back to Contents]CalPhotos: California Plants & Habitats
http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/photos/flora/
The University of California Berkeley Digital Photo Project has made available this excellent collection of more than 20,000 color images of native and naturalized California plant species and habitats. More than a gallery, the site links each image to scientific information on that species in the CalFlora Database (described in the May 27, 1997 Scout Report for Science & Engineering). A series of options allows users to search or browse the image-base by common name, scientific name, location, county, or photographer and to specify type of picture, collection, or color. Search returns include multiple color images of each species, with hyperlinks to scientific or photographic information. This is a spectacular resource for researchers, students, and educators, alike. [LXP]
[Back to Contents]Esoterica: The Journal of Esoteric Studies
http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/
A relatively new transdisciplinary field that examines the interweavings of art, literature, early modern science, and religious studies, Esoteric Studies now has its own electronic, peer-reviewed journal. Sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University, Esoterica focuses on Western esoteric spiritual traditions, "ranging from Gnosticism and Hermeticism to alchemy, magic, Christian mysticism, Kabbala, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and other secret or semi-secret societies." This new journal will function as both an academic publication, featuring original scholarly articles, book reviews, and announcements, and as a research resource, offering short primary texts and links to special collections and archives. Some of the articles in the inaugural issue include "Western Esotericism and the Harmony Society," "Following Lucifer: Miltonic Evil as Gnostic Cabala," and "Things Done Wisely by a Wise Enchanter: Negotiating the Power of Words in the Thirteenth Century." Additional resources at the site include a list of recent doctoral dissertations in the field of Western Esotericism, teaching links, an image library. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Guide to Best Practice: Dublin Core -- CIMI
http://www.cimi.org/documents/meta_peerreview_announce.html
The Consortium for the Computer Interchange of Museum Information (CIMI) has released a beta version of its "Guide to Best Practice: Dublin Core." The content of the guide is based on the recommendations of a group of eighteen organizations that participated in a testbed project to assess the useability, ease of learning, and adequacy of the Dublin Core (DC) metadata element set when applied to the description of museum and cultural heritage resources. The guide defines each DC metadata element and "presents a brief discussion of tricks, traps, and issues associated with each element along with a range of sample values." The Guide to Best Practice is based on DC 1.0 as it was documented in RFC 2413 (reviewed in the September 11, 1998 Scout Report). CIMI is a membership organization that "encourages an open standards-based approach to the management and delivery of digital museum information." [AG]
[Back to Contents]The Berlin Airlift
http://www.whistlestop.org/study_collections/berlin_airlift/large/berlin_airlift.htm
This new addition to the Harry S. Truman Library's digital archives (see the July 17, 1998 Scout Report) commemorates the 1948-49 Berlin airlift, with primary documents, photos, and excerpts from a history of the airlift. The site features thirteen collections of primary materials, including declassified CIA reports and State Department research folders, Cabinet meeting minutes, letters, and press conference transcripts. Each collection offers basic information on the documents (author, recipient, date, number of pages, etc.), a brief summary, and a link to digitized images. The featured secondary text excerpts, from D.M. Giangreco and Robert E. Griffin, Airbridge to Berlin -- The Berlin Crisis of 1948, its Origins and Aftermath, are arranged in topical sections and offer a helpful and concise background and overview of the political and social aspects of the airlift. Finally, the Photo Gallery contains over 100 images from the airlift, listed by caption. While some scholars will undoubtedly appreciate online access to the original documents, the site's blend of primary and secondary sources make it an excellent supplement to a university or advanced secondary school course. [MD]
[Back to Contents]NHGRI Glossary of Genetic Terms [RealPlayer, .pdf]
http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/DIR/VIP/Glossary/
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/
Both students and general users will appreciate this glossary, which is designed to help people with non-scientific backgrounds "to better understand the terms and concepts behind genetic research." Provided by NHGRI, which oversees the National Institutes of Health's role in the Human Genome Project (see the March 26, 1999 Scout Report), the glossary offers phonetic spelling, a brief definition, a detailed explanation from a scientist in RealAudio format, related terms, and in some cases an illustration, for almost 150 genetic terms. Users may search the glossary by keyword or phrase or browse alphabetically. The NHGRI homepage offers links to related research centers, projects, and other genomic and genetic resources. [MD]
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FamilySearch
http://www.familysearch.org/
Although still in beta phase, this impressive new genealogical resource from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) has immediately received the attention and praise of genealogical researchers. The providers have not publicly stated whether the site will offer access to the entirety of their 2 billion name genealogical record repository, but it already contains over 300 million names in two indexes, searchable by ancestor name. Users may also search a host of other genealogy Websites and the site's own SourceGuide of research outlines by keyword. In addition, the site offers a large collection of browseable and searchable categories of genealogical research sites, such as Census and Lists, Land and Property, Migration, Military, Vital Records, and others. Registered users can collaborate with others working on similar projects, add Websites, and have their research preserved in The Pedigree Resource File. While the Internet already holds a multitude of family research sites, when it is complete, FamilySearch will almost certainly be regarded as the first and most comprehensive place to begin a search for one's ancestors. [MD]
[Back to Contents]the terrorist and the superpower -- PBS [RealPlayer]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/
This companion site to a recent PBS Frontline (produced in collaboration with the New York Times) offers one of the most balanced and thoughtful investigations available to date of suspected terrorist organizer Osama Bin Laden. A wealthy Saudi Arabian exile with a $5 million bounty on his head, Bin Laden has been charged with directing the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa (see the August 18, 1998 Scout Report for Social Sciences). However, this report reveals that his role and power may be exaggerated by US officials and also raises pointed questions about the evidence used to justify retaliatory missile strikes. With interviews, analysis, and a transcript and video segment from a May 1998 interview with Bin Laden, the site offers a critical review of his life experiences, motives, and current activities. The site also explores the stories of two men indicted for the East Africa embassy bombings, the FBI investigation of the bombings and the missile strikes, and the fallout among Muslims in America. In addition to the interviews, transcripts, and op-ed pieces featured throughout the site, links are also provided to related Times articles and official documents. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The 1999 Pulitzer Prize Winners [.pdf]
http://www.pulitzer.org/year/1999/
The 1999 Pulitzer Prize winners in American journalism, letters, drama, and music were announced on April 12 by the Pulitzer Prize Board at Columbia University. The Associated Press, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal each collected two Prizes, the most prestigious award for American journalism, and Duke Ellington was recognized, in the centennial year of his birth, with a Special Award for his "indelible contribution to art and culture." The official Pulitzer site lists the winners and offers one-sentence summaries of the work of the winners and finalists in the fourteen journalism sub-categories. The letters, drama, and music categories also mention finalists. Official press releases from the Prize Board are available in .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Centerwatch
http://www.centerwatch.com/
Designed for both patients and researchers, this site offers a large collection of resources on clinical trials. Patients interested in participating in a clinical trial may browse a listing of over 7,500 trials recruiting patients, organized by disease category and then broken down by state. Each trial profile contains a description of the study, eligibility requirements, and contact information. Additional patient resources include background information on clinical research, research headlines (free registration required for some sources), an index of government-funded clinical research studies being conducted by the various National Institutes of Health at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, a listing of newly approved drug therapies (1995-99), and an email notification service which alerts subscribers to new postings in up to eight therapeutic areas. Resources for researchers and industry professionals include research center profiles (by therapeutic area or geographic region), industry provider profiles, industry news, and career and educational opportunities. [MD]
[Back to Contents]MOWA: Museum of Web Art
http://www.mowa.org/home.html
Founded in 1997 by Amy Stone, the Museum of Web Art is dedicated to presenting the art of the Web in its own environment. MOWA is a bright, clean, easily navigated Web exhibition space primarily showing works probably best categorized as graphic design or commercial art. Look at the North Gallery exhibition of buttons, the East Gallery visitor counters, South Gallery wallpaper, or Classic Promos in the West Gallery for illustration. The special exhibit in Linker Hall right now is Gateways, interactive Website opening pages. Exhibitions are accompanied by guides, which you can open in another browser window, to keep handy while you view. The museum also has a kids wing currently featuring Susan Finley's animated stories, The Lizzys. At a time when others are lamenting the ephemeral nature of much of what we see on the Web, MOWA is archiving the best it. [DS]
[Back to Contents]Firstview
http://www.firstview.com/home.html
Would-be fashion mavens and design students will happily while away the hours at this site, which features tens of thousands of photos from recent fashion collections by the world's top designers. Although users must pay to view the most recent collections (one hour passwords are available for a reasonable fee), all of the past seasons' shows (including Spring 1999), totalling thousands of images, are available for free. Fashion collections are grouped in three categories, Men's, Women's, and Shoes & Accessories. Users can browse by designer name within each category and then call up large collections of thumbnailed runway photos. The site also hosts a calendar of upcoming and past fashion shows in Milan, Paris, London, and New York, and users may register with Firstview to receive updates on new collections. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Fortune 500
http://www.pathfinder.com/fortune/fortune500/
Forbes 500s
http://www.forbes.com/tool/toolbox/forbes500s/
Company watchers take note, Fortune and Forbes magazines have recently released their 1999 lists of the largest American public corporations. The Fortune 500 ranking is based on annual revenue, while the Forbes 500s is based on sales, profits, assets, and market value. Both listings offer several browsing features, background information on the included companies, and analysis of corporate performance in general. [MD]
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StarOffice 5.0 Personal Edition
http://www.sun.com/products/staroffice/5.2/index.html
StarOffice 5.0 Personal Edition, published by Star Division, GmbH, is one of the most useful and satisfying free software products available. StarOffice is a suite of productivity software modeled on Microsoft's office suite. StarOffice's many tools -- a spreadsheet, a word processor, a database, an email client, a Web browser, and more -- are all well-designed and easily useable by anyone familiar with Microsoft products. The suite also offers a high degree of compatibility with Microsoft products including the handy ability to view and edit documents and spreadsheets created in any Microsoft Office version. The word processor features one of the best (and only) WYSIWYG HTML editors useable on a Unix platform, a very pleasant find. Not only is there a version of StarOffice that runs on Linux, Solaris, OS/2, and Win95/98/NT, but the software is free for personal use. The software is fairly heavyweight and requires a large amount of both memory and disk space, but it's usefulness far outweighs those drawbacks. Anyone dismayed with high cost software or frustrated by their inability to use Microsoft-compatible documents in Linux or Solaris will greatly appreciate StarOffice 5.0. [CL]
[Back to Contents]Quicktime for Java
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtjava/
Apple and Sun have recently brought together two of the most widely used technologies on the Internet: Quicktime and Java. Java developers can now take full advantage of Quicktime's media capabilities on both Macintosh and Windows machines. This site offers instructions and downloads for installing Quicktime for Java; an overview, reference material, sample code, and applets; and a short list of third party developers using Quicktime for Java. [MD]
[Back to Contents]PC Magazine 1999 Utility Guide
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/utilities99/index.html
PC Magazine Online has recently released its 1999 guide to the best PC utilities. Organized in fifteen categories, the reviews feature links to the companies' sites and to related sites or articles. Users can also view the Editor's Choice of top utilities and obtain demo or full share- or freeware copies for themselves in the Download Center. [MD]
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Breast Cancer Studies Raise Doubts Over Bone Marrow Transplants
Interim Results of Large Trials of High-Dose Chemotherapy With Bone Marrow or Stem Cell Transplants for Breast Cancer -- NCI [.pdf]
http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov/NCI_CANCER_TRIALS/zones/TrialInfo/News/brca/index.html
The Role of High-Dose Chemotherapy and Bone Marrow Transplant or Peripheral Stem-Cell Support in the Treatment of Breast Cancer -- ASCO
http://www.asco.org/prof/me/html/f_plenab.htm
Breast Cancer and Bone Marrow Transplantation -- ACS
http://www2.cancer.org/crcNews/pr_body.cfm?ct=5&id=001_04151999_0
http://www.cancer.org/media/story/041599a.html
Breast Cancer -- NPR [RealPlayer]
http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/archives/1999/990415.atc.html
On April 15, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released long-awaited preliminary results of five studies on bone marrow transplants for women with advanced breast cancer. Considered a last resort, the painful and costly procedure involves ultrahigh doses of chemotherapy which destroy the patient's bone marrow which must then be replaced by a transplant or marrow-restoring stem cells. Four of the five studies found no difference in survival rates of patients who had high-dose chemotherapy with transplants, and those who had lower doses of chemotherapy. The fifth study, from South Africa, did find a benefit for women with positive lymph nodes. Critics of the transplant therapy argue that the studies show thousands of women have needlessly undergone excruciating and expensive procedures. However, because the five studies are so different, attacking tumors in different ways and involving women in different stages of breast cancer, the NCI and others have asserted that this is far from the last word on the subject, and the NCI has plans to fund fifteen additional studies. The NCI CancerTrials site (reviewed in the May 15, 1998 Scout Report) features a press release on the findings, questions and answers, a listing of current clinical trials, and a February 1998 article reviewing research to date. The ASCO site offers an excellent overview of the trials and results, with key terms and definitions, an introduction to bone marrow transplants in breast and other cancers, recommendations for patients and doctors, and implications for insurance coverage. The two sites from the American Cancer Society (ACS) include background, commentary on the recent findings, and a position statement regarding insurance reimbursement and future research. On April 15, National Public Radio's All Things Considered featured a seven-minute report on the research findings. Users can find the report (RealAudio format) at the site, fifth from the top. More breast cancer resources can be found the Scout Report Signpost, the Scout Report's database. These include Breast Cancer Answers, Cancer Care, Inc., and the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project. [MD]
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Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the National Science Foundation.
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