
topics-and-qrels.topics.adhoc.301-350.txt Maven / Gradle / Ivy
Number: 301
International Organized Crime
Description:
Identify organizations that participate in international criminal
activity, the activity, and, if possible, collaborating organizations
and the countries involved.
Narrative:
A relevant document must as a minimum identify the organization and the
type of illegal activity (e.g., Columbian cartel exporting cocaine).
Vague references to international drug trade without identification of
the organization(s) involved would not be relevant.
Number: 302
Poliomyelitis and Post-Polio
Description:
Is the disease of Poliomyelitis (polio) under control in the
world?
Narrative:
Relevant documents should contain data or outbreaks of the
polio disease (large or small scale), medical protection
against the disease, reports on what has been labeled as
"post-polio" problems. Of interest would be location of
the cases, how severe, as well as what is being done in
the "post-polio" area.
Number: 303
Hubble Telescope Achievements
Description:
Identify positive accomplishments of the Hubble telescope since it
was launched in 1991.
Narrative:
Documents are relevant that show the Hubble telescope has produced
new data, better quality data than previously available, data that
has increased human knowledge of the universe, or data that has led
to disproving previously existing theories or hypotheses. Documents
limited to the shortcomings of the telescope would be irrelevant.
Details of repairs or modifications to the telescope without
reference to positive achievements would not be relevant.
Number: 304
Endangered Species (Mammals)
Description:
Compile a list of mammals that are considered to be endangered,
identify their habitat and, if possible, specify what threatens them.
Narrative:
Any document identifying a mammal as endangered is relevant.
Statements of authorities disputing the endangered status would also
be relevant. A document containing information on habitat and
populations of a mammal identified elsewhere as endangered would also
be relevant even if the document at hand did not identify the species
as endangered. Generalized statements about endangered species
without reference to specific mammals would not be relevant.
Number: 305
Most Dangerous Vehicles
Description:
Which are the most crashworthy, and least crashworthy,
passenger vehicles?
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain information on the
crashworthiness of a given vehicle or vehicles that
can be used to draw a comparison with other vehicles.
The document will have to describe/compare vehicles,
not drivers. For instance, it should be expected
that vehicles preferred by 16-25 year-olds would be
involved in more crashes, because that age group is
involved in more crashes. I would view number of
fatalities per 100 crashes to be more revealing of
a vehicle's crashworthiness than the number of
crashes per 100,000 miles, for example.
Number: 306
African Civilian Deaths
Description:
How many civilian non-combatants have been killed in
the various civil wars in Africa?
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain specific casualty
information for a given area, country, or region.
It will cite numbers of civilian deaths caused
directly or indirectly by armed conflict.
Number: 307
New Hydroelectric Projects
Description:
Identify hydroelectric projects proposed or under construction by
country and location. Detailed description of nature, extent,
purpose, problems, and consequences is desirable.
Narrative:
Relevant documents would contain as a minimum a clear statement
that a hydroelectric project is planned or construction is under
way and the location of the project. Renovation of existing
facilities would be judged not relevant unless plans call for a
significant increase in acre-feet or reservoir or a marked change
in the environmental impact of the project. Arguments for and
against proposed projects are relevant as long as they are supported
by specifics, including as a minimum the name or location of the
project. A statement that an individual or organization is for or
against such projects in general would not be relevant. Proposals
or projects underway to dismantle existing facilities or drain
existing reservoirs are not relevant, nor are articles reporting a
decision to drop a proposed plan.
Number: 308
Implant Dentistry
Description:
What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of tooth implants?
Narrative:
A tooth replacement procedure, begun in the 1960s by Doctor
Branemark, is becoming more widely used today. It involves
the replacement of a lost tooth/teeth by an implantation
process which secures the fabricated tooth to a titanium post
with an adhesive resulting in a stable and sturdy denture
almost like the original. A relevant document will include
any clinical experiment, report, study, paper, or medical
discussion which describes the advantages or disadvantages of
tooth implant(s), conditions under which such a procedure is
favorable, denture comfort and function compared to false teeth,
bridge, or plate and comparative cost differential.
Number: 309
Rap and Crime
Description:
Evidence that rap music has a negative effect on young people.
Narrative:
The lyrics to Rap music are replete with words which degrade
women, glorify drug abuse, the killing of policemen and even
romanticize suicide. A crusade was begun a few years ago in
which the music industry was asked "to clean up its act"
because of the detrimental effect it was having upon teenagers.
There were some instances in which teenagers, who demonstrated
no sign of internal strife, committed suicide. The only clues
to their self-destruction were notes found near the bodies with
lyrics from Rap songs relating to suicide. A relevant item
should include any psychological study, evidence, poll,
documentation, or psychological opinion that Rap music has a
deleterious effect upon young people and has led to a discernible
change in personality, life style, crime, alteration of personality
or any other negative effect upon the psyche, mores, and culture
of teenagers.
Number: 310
Radio Waves and Brain Cancer
Description:
Evidence that radio waves from radio towers or car phones affect
brain cancer occurrence.
Narrative:
Persons living near radio towers and more recently persons using
car phones have been diagnosed with brain cancer. The argument
rages regarding the direct association of one with the other.
The incidence of cancer among the groups cited is considered, by
some, to be higher than that found in the normal population. A
relevant document includes any experiment with animals, statistical
study, articles, news items which report on the incidence of brain
cancer being higher/lower/same as those persons who live near a
radio tower and those using car phones as compared to those in the
general population.
Number: 311
Industrial Espionage
Description:
Document will discuss the theft of trade secrets along with
the sources of information: trade journals, business meetings,
data from Patent Offices, trade shows, or analysis of a
competitor's products.
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain specific information on the
theft of trade secrets on new or existing technology. Relevant
information includes, but is not limited to, espionage in the
highly competitive fashion industry, toy companies, drug firms,
and computer companies. An apparently legal way of stealing
company secrets is by using the Freedom of Information Act,
passed by the U.S. Congress in 1966 to help people and the
press get information for the public good. The law has often
been used instead by companies for private gain. Documents
discussing company counterespionage are also considered to be
relevant.
Number: 312
Hydroponics
Description:
Document will discuss the science of growing plants in
water or some substance other than soil.
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain specific information
on the necessary nutrients, experiments, types of
substrates, and/or any other pertinent facts related
to the science of hydroponics. Related information
includes, but is not limited to, the history of
hydroponics, advantages over standard soil agricultural
practices, or the approach of suspending roots in a
humid enclosure and spraying them periodically with a
nutrient solution to promote plant growth.
Number: 313
Magnetic Levitation-Maglev
Description:
Commercial uses of Magnetic Levitation.
Narrative:
A relevant document must contain Magnetic Levitation
or Maglev. It should be concerned with possible
commercial applications of this phenomenon to
include primarily mass transit, but also other
commercial applications such as Maglev flywheels
for cars. Discussions of superconductivity when
linked to Maglev and government support plans when
linked to Maglev are also relevant.
Number: 314
Marine Vegetation
Description:
Commercial harvesting of marine vegetation such as
algae, seaweed and kelp for food and drug purposes.
Narrative:
Recent research has shown that marine vegetation
is a valuable source of both food (human and animal)
and a potentially useful drug. This search will
focus primarily on these two uses. Also to be
considered relevant would be instances of other
possible commercial uses such as fertilizer, etc.
Number: 315
Unexplained Highway Accidents
Description:
How many fatal highway accidents are there each
year that are not resolved as to cause.
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain data relating to
highway accidents where the cause of the accident
cannot be determined. Typical of such accidents
would be those where one vehicle "suddenly swerves
into oncoming traffic."
Number: 316
Polygamy Polyandry Polygyny
Description:
A look at the roots and prevalence of polygamy
in the world today.
Narrative:
Polygamy is a form of marriage which permits a
person to have more than one husband or wife.
Polyandry refers to one woman sharing two or
more husbands at the same time. Polygyny refers
to one man sharing two or more wives at the
same time. Primary focus of the search will be
the prevalence of these practices in the world
today and societal attitudes towards these
practices. Also relevant would be discussions
of the roots and practical sources of these
customs. A modern development in this area is
serial polygamy, a phrase coined to label the
practice of men who take a series of wives in
sequence as a solution to practical welfare,
considerations of child care, housing, etc.
Documents discussing serial polygamy will not
be considered relevant.
Number: 317
Unsolicited Faxes
Description:
Have regulations been passed by the FCC banning
junk facsimile (fax)? If so, are they effective?
Narrative:
Relevant documents will provide information on
the cost of junk fax transmitted to individuals
or businesses. Documents which contain laws or
regulations passed banning junk fax or articles
indicating the effectiveness or ineffectiveness
of these laws are relevant. Additionally, any
document showing where unsolicited/junk fax is
an invasion of privacy is also relevant.
Number: 318
Best Retirement Country
Description:
Aside from the United States, which country offers
the best living conditions and quality of life for
a U.S. retiree?
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain information describing
the living conditions and/or costs in one or more foreign
countries. It will provide information that a potential
retiree could use in deciding where to establish a
retirement home.
Number: 319
New Fuel Sources
Description:
What research is ongoing for new fuel sources.
Narrative:
Relevant documents will contain information on
the actual research being accomplished for new
fuel sources. Documents may also reveal company
(companies) involved in this research. Listing(s)
of possible new fuel sources is also of relevance.
Relevant documents can also show how much current
fuel sources are available, however, articles
which simply refer to current sources are not
relevant. Documents about nuclear power are
relevant only if they discuss new developments in
the nuclear field, such as the processing of spent
fuel to establish a new nuclear fuel system.
Number: 320
Undersea Fiber Optic Cable
Description:
Fiber optic link around the globe (Flag) will be
the world's longest undersea fiber optic cable.
Who's involved and how extensive is the technology
on this system. What problems exist?
Narrative:
Relevant documents will reference companies involved
in building the system or the technology needed for
such an endeavor. Of relevance also would be information
on the link up points of FLAG or landing sites or
interconnection with other telecommunication cables.
Relevant documents may reference any regulatory problems
with the system once constructed. A non-relevant
document would contain information on other fiber optic
systems currently in place.
Number: 321
Women in Parliaments
Description:
Pertinent documents will reflect the fact that women
continue to be poorly represented in parliaments
across the world, and the gap in political power
between the sexes is very wide, particularly in the
Third World.
Narrative:
Pertinent documents relating to this issue will
discuss the lack of representation by women, the
countries that mandate the inclusion of a certain
percentage of women in their legislatures, decreases
if any in female representation in legislatures, and
those countries in which there is no representation
of women.
Number: 322
International Art Crime
Description:
Isolate instances of fraud or embezzlement in the international
art trade.
Narrative:
A relevant document is any report that identifies an instance
of fraud or embezzlement in the international buying or selling
of art objects. Objects include paintings, jewelry, sculptures
and any other valuable works of art. Specific instances must be
identified for a document to be relevant; generalities are not
relevant.
Number: 323
Literary/Journalistic Plagiarism
Description:
Find instances of plagiarism in the literary and journalistic
worlds.
Narrative:
A relevant document will report any occasion or suspected instance
of plagiarism in the areas of either literature or journalism.
Relevant documents will also include such areas as doctorate and
master's theses and will encompass writings as well as the ideas
and concepts developed by some authors and taken or borrowed by
others without attribution.
Number: 324
Argentine/British Relations
Description:
Define Argentine and British international relations
Narrative:
It has been 15 years since the war between Argentina
and the United Kingdom in 1982 over sovereignty in the
Falkland Islands. A relevant report will describe
their relations after that period. Any kind of
international contact between the two countries is
relevant, to include commercial, economic, cultural,
diplomatic, or military exchanges. Negative reports
on the absence of such exchanges are also desirable.
Reports containing information on direct exchanges
between Argentina and the Falkland Islands are also
relevant.
Number: 325
Cult Lifestyles
Description:
Describe a cult by name and identify the cult members'
activities in their everyday life.
Narrative:
A relevant document would include the name of the cult
and offer information about the members' lifestyles.
It may include how they dress or what they do to attain
the ultimate goal of the organization. A relevant
document may tell what they eat or how they contribute
to the cult. Just the mention of the existence of a
cult by name with no other clarifying information would
not be relevant.
Number: 326
Ferry Sinkings
Description:
Any report of a ferry sinking where 100 or more people
lost their lives.
Narrative:
To be relevant, a document must identify a ferry that
has sunk causing the death of 100 or more humans. It
must identify the ferry by name or place where the
sinking occurred. Details of the cause of the sinking
would be helpful but are not necessary to be relevant.
A reference to a ferry sinking without the number of
deaths would not be relevant.
Number: 327
Modern Slavery
Description:
Identify a country or a city where there is evidence
of human slavery being practiced in the eighties or
nineties.
Narrative:
A relevant document would present evidence of current
slavery practices being carried out. It would identify
a specific country or city and give some information on
who the slaves are, or who was buying or selling them,
and for what purposes they were being used. References
to slavery being carried out several years ago would not
be relevant.
Number: 328
Pope Beatifications
Description:
Identify an individual that has been beatified by the Pope.
Narrative:
To be relevant, the document must include the person's name
as well as the person's deeds or actions that led to the
recognition by the Pope. It must also include when such
actions or deeds occurred by giving the year or period
of time, i.e., "late 17th century".
Number: 329
Mexican Air Pollution
Description:
Mexico City has the worst air pollution in the
world. Pertinent Documents would contain the
specific steps Mexican authorities have taken
to combat this deplorable situation.
Narrative:
Relevant documents would discuss the steps the
Mexican Government has taken to alleviate the
air pollution in Mexico City. Steps such as
reducing the number of automobiles in the city,
encouraging the use of mass public transportation,
and creating new mass transportation systems are
relevant, among others. Mention of any new
methods in the design stage would also be
appropriate.
Number: 330
Iran-Iraq Cooperation
Description:
This query is looking for examples of cooperation or
friendly ties between Iran and Iraq, or ways in which
the two countries could be considered allies.
Narrative:
A relevant document would mention such things as mutually
beneficial economic, military, religious, or social
relations; cooperation on border control or treatment of
minorities; collaboration in getting around trade sanctions
placed upon either country, etc. (Any mention of the
possible return of the airplanes Iraq flew to Iran during
the Gulf War would also be relevant).
Number: 331
World Bank Criticism
Description:
What criticisms have been made of World Bank policies,
activities or personnel?
Narrative:
This query is looking for any instances where the
World Bank has been accused of things like not being
responsive to the unique problems of individual countries,
of being too strict in its policies, of pursuing agendas
that are biased because of their benefits to western
countries, of being no longer useful or practical, of
its personnel being difficult to work with, etc.
Number: 332
Income Tax Evasion
Description:
This query is looking for investigations that have
targeted evaders of U.S. income tax.
Narrative:
A relevant document would mention investigations
either in the U.S. or abroad of people suspected of
evading U.S. income tax laws. Of particular interest
are investigations involving revenue from illegal
activities, as a strategy to bring known or suspected
criminals to justice.
Number: 333
Antibiotics Bacteria Disease
Description:
Determine the reasons why bacteria seems to be winning
the war against antibiotics and rendering antibiotics
now less effective in treating diseases than they were
in the past.
Narrative:
A relevant document will address the questions of how
and why, and to what degree, bacteria are able to fend
off the curative effects of antibiotics. Overuse of
antibiotics, as well as the increasing use of antibiotics
in promoting the growth of crops and animals whose food
products are meant for human consumption have played roles
in creating a situation where every known bacteria-generated
disease now has versions that resist at least one of the
more than 100 antibiotics now in use.
Number: 334
Export Controls Cryptography
Description:
Determine the usefulness and effectiveness of
continuing to maintain export controls on
encryption software.
Narrative:
Relevant documents will argue for or against
continuing to make encryption software subject to
export controls. Since 1993 quality encryption
software to ensure the secrecy of communications
has been available, but the U.S. Government has
considered such software to be subject to the same
export controls as munitions, and has sought to
restrict the export of encryption software unless
it contains a device which could allow the U.S. to
read the underlying messages. Business interests
say that this will make it impossible for U.S. producers
to compete in the international market.
Number: 335
Adoptive Biological Parents
Description:
Identify the problems, and solutions to those problems,
which arise in the relationships among biological
parents, adoptive parents, and the child or children
involved.
Narrative:
A relevant document will report on court procedures
and decisions which affect the rights of biological
parents, adoptive parents, as well as the adopted
child. Problems arise when the biological parents
of a child given up for adoption decide that they
or he/she would like to reclaim the child against
the wishes of the adoptive parents. Problems also
arise when the adopted child tries to identify and
contact the biological parents, but find the way
blocked by sealed court orders.
Number: 336
Black Bear Attacks
Description:
A relevant document would discuss the frequency
of vicious black bear attacks worldwide and the
possible causes for this savage behavior.
Narrative:
It has been reported that food or cosmetics
sometimes attract hungry black bears, causing
them to viciously attack humans. Relevant
documents would include the aforementioned
causes as well as speculation preferably from
the scientific community as to other possible
causes of vicious attacks by black bears. A
relevant document would also detail steps
taken or new methods devised by wildlife
officials to control and/or modify the
savageness of the black bear.
Number: 337
Viral Hepatitis
Description:
What research has been done on viral hepatitis
and what progress has been made in its treatment?
Narrative:
A relevant document might include any of the
following information:
-- A medical procedure used in the treatment of
hepatitis.
-- Ongoing research in vaccines, including the
identity of the strain of hepatitis.
-- How hepatitis affects the body's immune system.
-- Third World countries' reports on control of
the disease.
Number: 338
Risk of Aspirin
Description:
What adverse effects have people experienced while taking
aspirin repeatedly?
Narrative:
A relevant document should identify any adverse effects
experienced from the repeated use of aspirin. Possible
effects might include intestinal bleeding, inflammation
of the stomach, or various forms of ulcers. The purpose
of the individual's repeated aspirin use should also
be stated.
Number: 339
Alzheimer's Drug Treatment
Description:
What drugs are being used in the treatment of
Alzheimer's Disease and how successful are they?
Narrative:
A relevant document should name a drug used in
the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and also
its manufacturer, and should give some indication
of the drug's success or failure.
Number: 340
Land Mine Ban
Description:
Identify any actions being taken to propel the
nations of the world toward a treaty banning
the production, transfer and use of land mines.
Narrative:
Brought about by various conflicts, there are an
estimated 100 million land mines buried in 60
countries with thousands of acres of land made
unusable. It is estimated that every 22 minutes
a man, woman or child is killed or maimed by a
land mine. Identify any actions being taken to
propel the nations of the world toward a treaty
banning the production, transfer and use of land
mines. Also, of interest, would be identification
of actions being undertaken to sanitize the thousands
of acres now made unusable due to use of these mines.
Number: 341
Airport Security
Description:
A relevant document would discuss how effective
government orders to better scrutinize passengers
and luggage on international flights and to step
up screening of all carry-on baggage has been.
Narrative:
A relevant document would contain reports on what
new steps airports worldwide have taken to better
scrutinize passengers and their luggage on
international flights and to step up screening of
all carry-on baggage. With the increase in
international terrorism and in the wake of the
TWA Flight 800 disaster, articles on airport
security relating in particular to additional
steps taken by airports to increase flight safety
would be relevant. The mere mention of enhanced
security does not constitute relevance. Additional
steps refer to something beyond just passenger
and carry-on screening using the normal methods.
Examples of new steps would be additional personnel,
sophisticated monitoring and screening devices,
and extraordinary measures to check luggage in the
baggage compartment.
Number: 342
Diplomatic Expulsion
Description:
The end of the Cold War seems to have intensified
economic competition and has started to generate
serious friction between nations as attempts are
made by diplomatic personnel to acquire sensitive
trade and technology information or to obtain
information on highly classified industrial projects.
Identify instances where attempts have been made
by personnel with diplomatic status to obtain
information of this nature.
Narrative:
Identify instances where attempts have been made
by personnel with diplomatic status to obtain
information of this nature. Of interest would be
the country(s) involved, the information hopefully
acquired, or if the exposure resulted in expulsion
of diplomatic personnel.
Number: 343
Police Deaths
Description:
Identify instances where a civilian policeman has
been killed either during performance of his duty
or because of other association with this occupation,
e.g., killed for the gun, to keep from testifying,
etc.
Narrative:
Whatever the reason, be it a breakdown in family values
or loss of respect for an authoritative figure, there
seems to have been a substantial increase in the number
of policemen being killed. Identify instances where a
civilian policeman has been killed either during
performance of his duty or because of other association
with this occupation, e.g., killed for the gun, to keep
from testifying, etc. Military police or foreign
military-type personnel considered policemen should not
be considered relevant.
Number: 344
Abuses of E-Mail
Description:
The availability of E-mail to many people through their
job or school affiliation has allowed for many efficiencies
in communications but also has provided the opportunity for
abuses. What steps have been taken world-wide by those
bearing the cost of E-mail to prevent excesses?
Narrative:
To be relevant, a document will concern dissatisfaction by
an entity paying for the cost of electronic mail. Particularly
sought are items which relate to system users (such as employees)
who abuse the system by engaging in communications of the type
not related to the payer's desired use of the system.
Number: 345
Overseas Tobacco Sales
Description:
Health studies primarily in the U.S. have caused reductions
in tobacco sales here, but the economic impact has caused
U.S. tobacco companies to look overseas for customers.
What impact have the health and economic factors had overseas?
Narrative:
To be relevant, an item will discuss either an increase or
decrease in the sales of U.S. tobacco products overseas, and
attribute this to health findings or more aggressive marketing
by U.S. companies or the foreign companies they own or cooperate
with.
Number: 346
Educational Standards
Description:
There has long been a call for standards in U.S. education,
these calls frequently citing the superiority of foreign
school systems. Are there many countries outside the U.S.
which have standards for pre-teen students? If so, which
are those countries and what standards have been set?
Narrative:
To be relevant, an item will specify the foreign country
which has adopted standards for children up to the age of
12 and more specifically give some detail of what the
standards are (e.g., computer training, 2 years of foreign
language).
Number: 347
Wildlife Extinction
Description:
The spotted owl episode in America highlighted U.S. efforts
to prevent the extinction of wildlife species. What is not
well known is the effort of other countries to prevent the
demise of species native to their countries. What other
countries have begun efforts to prevent such declines?
Narrative:
A relevant item will specify the country, the involved
species, and steps taken to save the species.
Number: 348
Agoraphobia
Description:
Is the fear of open or public places (Agoraphobia) a
widespread disorder or relatively unknown?
Narrative:
Relevant documents contain data on this physical/mental
disorder, including information on the person affected,
profession of the individual, impact on the life work of
the individual, as well as any data on how these
individuals cope with this disorder.
Number: 349
Metabolism
Description:
Document will discuss the chemical reactions
necessary to keep living cells healthy and/or
producing energy.
Narrative:
A relevant document will contain specific information
on the catabolic and anabolic reactions of the metabolic
process. Relevant information includes, but is not
limited to, the reactions occurring in metabolism,
biochemical processes (Glycolysis or Krebs cycle for
production of energy), and disorders associated with
the metabolic rate.
Number: 350
Health and Computer Terminals
Description:
Is it hazardous to the health of individuals to work
with computer terminals on a daily basis?
Narrative:
Relevant documents would contain any information that
expands on any physical disorder/problems that may be
associated with the daily working with computer terminals.
Such things as carpel tunnel, cataracts, and fatigue have
been said to be associated, but how widespread are these or
other problems and what is being done to alleviate any
health problems.
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