Treasure Hunt Questions and Information Sources
For each question, please provide a good citation for where you found the answer. If you used library materials, provide the call number and library in which it is located. If you used a database, indicate which database was used.
Take me to: question 1; question 2; question 3; question 4; question 5.
Question 1: You are investigating TOPIC and need to find some facts. (Hint: use handbooks, encyclopedias, or reports to answer these types of factual questions)
TOPIC: airplane accidents
- According to the National Transportation Safety Board, how many aviation accidents/incidents occurred in September 2006? Which accident/incident had the highest number of fatalities (provide the date, location, and number of fatalities)?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Look for the NTSB reports. NTSB Aviation Accident Database & Synopses.
Search for dates 9/1/2006 – 9/30-2006. Injury severity – fatal.
38 incidents/accidents
2 incidents had 154 fatalities each (mid air collision), 9/29/2006 Azevedo, Brazil
Citation: National Transportation Safey Board Aviation Accident Database & Synopses, http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp (searched for X and Y; accessed 9/11/2009)
- TOPIC: Fire behavior of upholstered furniture.
- What is the average time to flaming (smoldering-to-flame transition time) in minutes for mattresses and box springs? Commercial chairs?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Use knovel, search for “smoldering and flaming and time”. Find Fire Behavior of Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses, page 30, Table 2-1.
85 mins, 142 mins
Citation: Krasny, J.F.; Parker, W.J.; Babrauskas, V. (2001). Fire Behavior of Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses.. William Andrew Publishing/Noyes.
TOPIC: wind loads for a building
- According to the 1997 UBC, what is the formula to design for wind pressures?
- When determining wind loads, what is the advantage to the Normal-Force Method? What is the disadvantage to the Projected-Area Method?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Try knovel. Search for 1997 UBC wind. See Earthquake Engineering – Application to Design. Section 4.6
p =C e C q q s I w
where:
Ce = height, exposure, and gust factor coefficient
Cq =pressure coefficient subject to function, geometry, and location of structure or element
qs = basic wind pressure subject to basic wind speed
Iw =importance factor subject to occupancy or function of building
Normal-Force Method advantage: It is versatile and can be applied to structures of complex geometry, architectural projections, and irregularities. The 1997 UBC establishes no height or other limitations for its use and states that it ‘‘may be used for any structure.’’
Projected-Area Method Disadvantage: It can be used only up to 200 ft in height; usage for gabled rigid frames is not allowed.
Citation: Erdey, Charles K. Earthquake Engineering - Application to Design.. John Wiley & Sons. 2007
TOPIC: toxic gases
- What chemicals, when spilled into water, will create a toxic-by-inhalation (TIH) gas of phosphine (PH3)?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Try knovel. Search for TIH (or toxic and inhalation) and gas* and water. See 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook, Table of Water-Reactive Materials Which Produce Toxic Gases
Calcium Phosphide
Aluminum phosphide
Magnesium aluminum phosphide
Sodium phosphide
Magnesium phosphide
Potassium phosphide
Strontium phosphide
Aluminum phosphide pesticide
Citation: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook.. U.S. Department of Transportation.
TOPIC: fire alarms
- What is the minimum distance required between a heat-sensing fire detector and the ceiling or sidewall? If mounted on the wall what is the maximum recommended distance between the detector and the ceiling?
Answer: Look at the list of recommended books/handbooks/reports. Use the National Fire alarm code handbook (found at Rotch Library). Pg 69 (Section 2-2.2 Location in the section on heat-sensing fire detectors) shows a text and diagram of the requirements.
If mounted on the ceiling should be a minimum of four inches from the closest sidewall. If mounted on the wall, it should be between 4 and 12 inches from the ceiling.
Citation: National fire alarm code handbook. Quincy, Mass. : National Fire Protection Association, 1994.
TOPIC: disinfecting water so it can be reused.
- What are the characteristics of an ideal disinfectant of reclaimed water?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Search knovel for “ideal disinfectant”. Find Water Reuse – Issues, Technologies and Applications, and go to 11.1.1.
Alteration of solution
Availability
Deodorizing ability
Homogeneity
Interaction with extraneous
Noncorrosive and nonstaining
Nontoxic to higher forms of life
Penetration
Safety
Solubility
Stability
Toxicity to microorganisms
Toxicity at ambient
Citation: Asano, Takashi; Burton, Franklin L.; Leverenz, Harold L.; Tsuchihashi, Ryujiro; Tchobanoglous, George Water Reuse - Issues, Technologies, and Applications.. McGraw-Hill.
TOPIC: dust explosions
- Find a table of the explosive characteristics of different dusts. What is the minimum igniting energy, J for coffee? The ignition temperature of a wheat flour dust cloud (degrees C)? The minimum explosive concentration (oz/ft3) for brewers malt?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Use knovel, search for “explosive characteristics dusts”. Find Marks’ Standard Handbook.
.160, 440, .055
Citation: Avallone, Eugene A.; Baumeister, Theodore; Sadegh, Ali M. Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (11th Edition). McGraw-Hill. 2007
TOPIC: waterproof materials
- Find a table of thermal and water vapour resistance of combat clothing materials.What is the thermal resistance (Rct) for polyester fleece? What is the water vapour resistance (Ret) for a windproof field jacket?
ANSWER: Look on course page for handbooks. Use knovel, search for “explosive characteristics dusts”. Find Textiles for Protection or Handbook of Technical Textiles.
.13, 4.8
Citation: Scott, Richard A. Textiles for Protection. Woodhead Publishing. 2005
Or: Horrocks, A.R.; Anand, S.C. (2000). Handbook of Technical Textiles. Woodhead Publishing.
Question 2:. You are trying to determine the size of the market for your revolutionary new product, which will …
- How many TOPIC were sold in LOCATION in 2008?
- How many TOPIC were sold in the USA in 2008?
A1 – wound treatments / Canada (retail value rsp in C$ mn) = 83.3
B1 USA (retail value rsp in US$ mn) = 699.9
A2 – air treatment products / croatia (retail volume in units) = 31800 (or 31.8)
B2 USA (retail volume in units) = 71410200 (or 71410.2)
A3 – liquid soap / Australia (retail volume in litres) = 6,187,700
B3 USA (retail volume in litres)= 64,123,400
A4 – standard eye care/ Thailand (Retail value RSP in Bt mn) = 109.1
B4 USA (retail value rsp in US$ mn) = 514.6
A5 – topical germicidals/antiseptics (retail value RSP in ARS mn)/ Aregntina = 68.7
B5 USA (retail value RSP in US$ mn) = 578.7
What % of households in LOCATION owned/ has access to a TOPIC in 2008?
Population with access to polio immunizations
A6 Chad – 36%
B6 Botswana – 97%
Number of hospitals and clinics
A7 in China = 109164.6
B7 In USA = 5721.7
Number of inpatient beds
A8 in China (‘000)= 3490.0
B8 In USA= 936.7
SOURCES
GMID – Global Market Information Database (http://libraries.mit.edu/get/euro)
Geography = whichever country they need
(HINT: browse categories by selecting the orange Select Search button in the top left corner
FOR TOPICS 1-5
-> Menu Search -> Industries -> Consumer Markets
->Domestic Electrical Appliances
Small electrical appliances – air treatment products
->Cosmetics and toiletries
Bath and shower products - Liquid soap
-> OTC Healthcare,
Medicate skin care
Topical germicidals/antiseptics
Eye Care
Antibiotic eye care
Wound treatments
FOR TOPICS 7-8
Countries and consumers – Health - Medical Services –
population with access to polio immunizations
Number of hospitals and clinics
Number of inpatient beds
Question 3: You need to find a partner to help develop and commercialize (hopefully) your new product idea. An industry expert has suggested to you that COMPANY X, one of the largest TOPIC in the world and a publicly-owned company, might be a potential partner. Before contacting them, learn more about COMPANY X.
i) Uncover the following facts about the company’s operations:
a) The year when the company was founded (or change of control)
b) The address of their US headquarters
c) Total # of employees worldwide
d) Latest revenue (sales) figures
e) Were they profitable last year? How much was their profit or loss? (Hint: Look for “Net Income” or “Total Net Income”)
f) The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for their primary industry
ii) Find a news article about the company published in the past year. Provide a good citation for the article and include the name of the bibliographic database where you found the article.
ANSWER:
Go to course page. Look for “Researching Companies” tab.
- Look for the box “Looking up a company” with databases on finding financials, addresses, etc on a company. Can use any, but Hoovers is recommended.
- Look for box of databases “Finding news about a company”. Select a database and search.
1) Pfizer Inc. (a pharmaceutical company)
- 1849
- 235 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017-5755
- 81,800
- $48,296.0 million (or, $48.296 billion)
- Profit of $8,104.0 million
- 2834: Pharmaceutical preparations
2) Merck & Co., Inc. (a pharmaceutical company)
- 1986
- 1 Merck Dr., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100
- 55,200
- $23,850.3 million (or, $23.850 billion)
- Profit of $7,808.4
- 2834: Pharmaceutical preparations
3) Genzyme Corporation (a biotechnology firm)
- 1981
- 500 Kendall St., Cambridge, MA 02142
- 11,000
- $4,605.0 million (or, $4.605 billion)
- Profit of $421.1 million
- 2836: Biological products exc. Diagnostic
- 2006
- 1 Park Plaza, Nashville, TN 37203
- 191,000
- $28,374.0 million (or, $28.374 billion)
- Profit of $673.0 million
- 8062: General medical & surgical hospitals
5) Tyco International Ltd. (a diversified health and safety products company)
- 1998
- 9 Roszel Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540
- 113,000
- $20,199.0 million (or, $20.199 billion)
- Profit of $1,553.0 million
- 9224: Fire protection
6) Oshkosh Corporation (a fire and emergency vehicle manufacturer)
- 1917
- 2307 Oregon St., Oshkosh, WI 54902
- 14,000
- $7,138.3 million (or, $7.138 billion)
- Profit of $79.3 million
- 3711: Motor vehicles and car bodies
7) Federal Signal Corporation (a safety and security systems company)
- 1901
- 1415 W. 22nd St., Ste. 1100, Oak Brook, IL 60523-2004
- 3,300
- $958.8 million
- Loss of ($95.6 million)
- 3537: Industrial trucks and tractors
8) Medtronic Inc. (a defibrillator and medical device manufacturer)
- 1949
- 710 Medtronic Pkwy., Minneapolis, MN 55432-5604
- 41,000
- $14,599.0 million (or, $14.599 billion)
- $2,169.0 million
- 3845: Electromedical equipment
Question 4: You would like to learn more about TOPIC, and you know that the right book can provide a good summary on this topic.
Find a general book on TOPIC, available in the MIT Libraries. Provide a good citation for the book, include the library call # at the end of the citation and which library has the item (Dewey, Rotch, Barker etc.). Also include if this book is available on the shelf (according to Barton) and include the day/time this was checked. Electronic books are allowed. If you select an electronic book, provide the Online Ed. URL and the service provider (Books24x7, netlibrary, GPO access, etc.).
TOPICS:
1 natural disasters
2 early response systems
3 emergency policies
4 communication during a crisis/emergency
5 wildfires
6 flood prevention or control
7 landslides
8 epidemics
ANSWERS: use Barton to find books
To find more specific information, you want to read a scholarly article on the narrower topic of TOPIC. Find an English language journal article on this topic published in 2000-2009. Provide a good citation for the article, and include the bibliographic database you found the article citation in.
- Does MIT have a subscription to this journal for the year that the article was published? If yes, in which library is it held?
1 disaster prediction or prevention
2 first/early responders in a medical emergency
3 networks/telecommunications in emergency policies
4 coordination and communication after a disaster
5 erosion as a result of fighting wildfires
6 flash flood warning, awareness, or prevention
7 the effect landslides have on coastal regions
8 vaccinations as a preventative measure
ANSWERS: can be found in Compendex, PubMed, Avery, GeoRef, WebofScience (depends on topic)
Question 5: You want to make sure your design or project idea is unique before you take it to a company or customer for production. Check the patent literature, and find one granted (not an application) United States technical patent for:
- fire escape ladder
- spray disinfectants
- earthquake proof bed
- bomb shelter
- water rescue vehicle
- portable water filtration
- handheld power generator
- emergency medical kit
- What is the patent title?
- What is the patent number? (tip: numbers starting with D are design patents, not technical patents)
- What is the primary classification code (number and name, e.g. 446/486: Amusement Devices: Toys/ Resilient toy or actuator)?
- Who is the assignee? The inventor?
ANSWER: Go to the Patents tab on the course page, which directs you to the Patents research guide. Select any patent database and do a search, but it is helpful to learn more about patents by viewing the videos or reading the pages provided.
TIP: google patents will link from the classification code to its place in the USPTO schedule to determine the name of the classification code
