Description: This report discusses the Comparative Assessment of Peer Review (CAPR) project outcomes. Public funding agencies are required to demonstrate accountability to their government funders (e.g., Congress) as well as to the public. Some agencies - including the US National Science Foundation (NSF) - have used broader societal impacts criteria as part of the review process of grant proposals in order to connect scientific research to societal needs. But these agencies have often encountered questions from scientists and engineers for how to integrate such demands for broader societal impacts into their research proposals. In an effort to help clarify the idea of broader impacts, in 2010 NSF and Congress proposed a list of national needs that NSF-funded research would be required to meet. But was this the best solution? This report discusses the authors' research.

Description: This article discusses the experimental and predicted solubilities of 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid in select organic solvents of varying polarity and hydrogen-bonding character. Abstract: Experimental solubilities are reported for 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid dissolved in 16 alcohol, 5 alkyl alkanoate, 5 alkoxyalcohol and 6 ether solvents. The measured solubility data were correlated with the Abraham solvation parameter model. Mathematical expressions based on the Abraham model predicted the observed molar solubilities to within 0.083 log units.

Description: This article discusses the precautionary and proactionary principles in relation to policy making. Abstract: This essay explores the relationship between knowledge (in the form of scientific risk assessment) and action (in the form of technological innovation) as they come together in policy, which itself is both a kind of knowing and acting. It first illustrates the dilemma of timely action in the face of uncertain unintended consequences. It then introduces the precautionary and proactionary principles as different alignments of knowledge and action within the policymaking process. The essay next considers a cynical and a hopeful reading of the role of these principles in public policy debates. We argue that the two principles, despite initial appearances, are not all that different when it comes to formulating public policy. We also suggest that principles in general can be used either to guide our actions, or to determine them for us. We argue that allowing principles to predetermine our actions undermines the sense of autonomy necessary for true action.

Description: This presentation is part of the faculty lecture series UNT Speaks Out on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. In this presentation, Bert Hayslip, Regents Professor in the Department of Psychology, will discuss caregiving for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Description: This article discusses the solubility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pure and organic solvent mixtures. Abstract: This work updates Vols. 54, 58, and 59 in the IUPAC Solubility Data Series and presents solubility data for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon solutes dissolved in binary organic solvent mixtures. Published solubility data for anthracene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, phenothiazine, and pyrene that appeared in the primary literature between 1995 to the end of 2011 are compiled and critically evaluated. Experimental solubility data for 360 different solute-binary solvent systems are included in the volume. Solubility data published prior to 1995 were contained in three earlier volumes (Vols. 54, 58, and 59) and are not repeated in this volume.