The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996: Poison Pills for Legal Immigrants

Former president Ronald Reagan\u27s vision of America as this shining city ended Thursday, August 23, 1996, when President Bill Clinton signed his name to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, considered the most farreaching welfare reform package in history. Although the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save over $57 billion between fiscal year 1997 and fiscal year 2002, this welfare reform package profoundly impacts immigrants, particularly legal immigrants. Overall 44$23.8 billion) stems from denying public assistance benefits to legal immigrants. This new welfare legislation directly conflicts with United States immigration policies. The federal government\u27s need to cut costs, the politicians\u27 finding immigrants as an easy target on whom to place the burden of cutting costs, as well as the desire to deter unwanted immigrants will ultimately undermine this country\u27s ability to remain effectively competitive in the international market for valuable immigrants. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the effects of the Act and the impacts upon both immigrants and non-immigrants. In order to assess the far-reaching implications of the immigration provisions on America\u27s future, the motivation behind these changes must be explored. Primarily, this paper focuses upon the differential treatment that PRWORA affords to citizens versus non-citizens as well as the long-term effects on U.S. immigration policies

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996: Poison Pills for Legal Immigrants

Former president Ronald Reagan\u27s vision of America as this shining city ended Thursday, August 23, 1996, when President Bill Clinton signed his name to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, considered the most farreaching welfare reform package in history. Although the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save over $57 billion between fiscal year 1997 and fiscal year 2002, this welfare reform package profoundly impacts immigrants, particularly legal immigrants. Overall 44$23.8 billion) stems from denying public assistance benefits to legal immigrants. This new welfare legislation directly conflicts with United States immigration policies. The federal government\u27s need to cut costs, the politicians\u27 finding immigrants as an easy target on whom to place the burden of cutting costs, as well as the desire to deter unwanted immigrants will ultimately undermine this country\u27s ability to remain effectively competitive in the international market for valuable immigrants. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the effects of the Act and the impacts upon both immigrants and non-immigrants. In order to assess the far-reaching implications of the immigration provisions on America\u27s future, the motivation behind these changes must be explored. Primarily, this paper focuses upon the differential treatment that PRWORA affords to citizens versus non-citizens as well as the long-term effects on U.S. immigration policies

A New Project ECHO focused on Clinical Research in development by the NNE-CTR

I diagram presented for the project by the NNE-CTRhttps://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/lambrew-retreat-2021/1034/thumbnail.jp

Paper-based enzymatic microfluidic fuel cell: From a two-stream flow device to a single-stream lateral flow strip

This work presents a first approach towards the development of a cost-effective enzymatic paper-based glucose/O2 microfluidic fuel cell in which fluid transport is based on capillary action. A first fuel cell configuration consists of a Y-shaped paper device with the fuel and the oxidant flowing in parallel over carbon paper electrodes modified with bioelectrocatalytic enzymes. The anode consists of a ferrocenium-based polyethyleneimine polymer linked to glucose oxidase (GOx/Fc-C6-LPEI), while the cathode contains a mixture of laccase, anthracene-modified multiwall carbon nanotubes, and tetrabutylammonium bromide-modified Nafion (MWCNTs/laccase/TBAB-Nafion). Subsequently, the Y-shaped configuration is improved to use a single solution containing both, the anolyte and the catholyte. Thus, the electrolytes pHs of the fuel and the oxidant solutions are adapted to an intermediate pH of 5.5. Finally, the fuel cell is run with this single solution obtaining a maximum open circuit of 0.55 ± 0.04 V and a maximum current and power density of 225 ± 17 μA cm−2 and 24 ± 5 μW cm−2, respectively. Hence, a power source closer to a commercial application (similar to conventional lateral flow test strips) is developed and successfully operated. This system can be used to supply the energy required to power microelectronics demanding low power consumption.F. Javier del Campo acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy through the DADDi2 project (TEC2013-48506-C3). Juan Pablo Esquivel would like to thank the support from Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (APPOCS-328144) within the 7th European Community Framework Programme. Shelley D. Minteer and Fabien Giroud would like to thank the National Science Foundation (CHE-1057597) for funding. Neus Sabaté acknowledges funding from the European H2020 Framework Programme (Grant Agreement 648518 - SUPERCELL - ERC 2014 CoG).Peer reviewe

Prey availability and intraguild competition regulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of a modified large carnivore guild

Effective conservation management requires an understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics driving large carnivore density and resource partitioning. In African ecosystems, reduced prey populations and the loss of competing guild members, most notably lion (Panthera leo), are expected to increase the levels of competition between remaining carnivores. Consequently, intraguild relationships can be altered, potentially increasing the risk of further population decline. Kasungu National Park (KNP), Malawi, is an example of a conservation area that has experienced large‐scale reductions in both carnivore and prey populations, leaving a resident large carnivore guild consisting of only leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Here, we quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of these two species and their degree of association, using a combination of co‐detection modeling, time‐to‐event analyses, and temporal activity patterns from camera trap data. The detection of leopard and spotted hyena was significantly associated with the detection of preferred prey and competing carnivores, increasing the likelihood of species interaction. Temporal analyses revealed sex‐specific differences in temporal activity, with female leopard activity patterns significantly different to those of spotted hyena and male conspecifics. Heightened risk of interaction with interspecific competitors and male conspecifics may have resulted in female leopards adopting temporal avoidance strategies to facilitate coexistence. Female leopard behavioral adaptations increased overall activity levels and diurnal activity rates, with potential consequences for overall fitness and exposure to sources of mortality. As both species are currently found at low densities in KNP, increased risk of competitive interactions, which infer a reduction in fitness, could have significant implications for large carnivore demographics. The protection of remaining prey populations is necessary to mitigate interspecific competition and avoid further alterations to the large carnivore guild

Cooling-dominated cracking in thermally stressed volcanic rocks

Most studies of thermally induced cracking in rocks have focused on the generation of cracks formed during heating and thermal expansion. Both the nature and the mechanism of crack formation during cooling are hypothesized to be different from those formed during heating. We present in situ acoustic emission data recorded as a proxy for crack damage evolution in a series of heating and cooling experiments on samples of basalt and dacite. Results show that both the rate and the energy of acoustic emission are consistently much higher during cooling than during heating. Seismic velocity comparisons and crack morphology analysis of our heated and cooled samples support the contemporaneous acoustic emission data and also indicate that thermal cracking is largely isotropic. These new data are important for assessing the contribution of cooling-induced damage within volcanic structures and layers such as dikes, sills, and lava flows

Tomato: a crop species amenable to improvement by cellular and molecular methods

Tomato is a crop plant with a relatively small DNA content per haploid genome and a well developed genetics. Plant regeneration from explants and protoplasts is feasable which led to the development of efficient transformation procedures. In view of the current data, the isolation of useful mutants at the cellular level probably will be of limited value in the genetic improvement of tomato. Protoplast fusion may lead to novel combinations of organelle and nuclear DNA (cybrids), whereas this technique also provides a means of introducing genetic information from alien species into tomato. Important developments have come from molecular approaches. Following the construction of an RFLP map, these RFLP markers can be used in tomato to tag quantitative traits bred in from related species. Both RFLP's and transposons are in the process of being used to clone desired genes for which no gene products are known. Cloned genes can be introduced and potentially improve specific properties of tomato especially those controlled by single genes. Recent results suggest that, in principle, phenotypic mutants can be created for cloned and characterized genes and will prove their value in further improving the cultivated tomato.

Crop updates 2006 - Farming Systems

This session covers nineteen papers from different authors: SOIL AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT 1. Inve$tigating fertili$er inve$tment, Wayne Pluske, Nutrient Management Systems 2. KASM, the potassium in Agricultural System Model,Bill Bowden and Craig Scanlan, DAWA Northam and UWA, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences 3. Long term productivity and economic benefits of subsurface acidity management from surface and subsurface liming, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey and Peter Tozer, Department of Agriculture 4. Furrow and ridges to prevent waterlogging, Dr Derk Bakker, Department of Agriculture 5. Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in Western Australia, Louise Barton1, David Gatter2, Renee Buck1, Daniel Murphy1, Christoph Hinz1and Bill Porter2 1School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture GROWER DECISIONS 6. Managing the unmanageable, Bill Bowden Department of Agriculture 7. Review of climate model summaries reported in Department of Agriculture’s Season Outlook, Meredith Fairbanks, Department of Agriculture 8. Mapping the frost risk in Western Australia, Nicolyn Short and Ian Foster, Department of Agriculture 9. .35 kg/ha.day and other myths, James Fisher, Doug Abrecht and Mario D’Antuono, Department of Agriculture 10. Gaining with growers – Lessons from a successful alliance of WA Grower Groups, Tracey M. Gianatti, Grower Group Alliance 11. WA Agribusiness Trial Network Roundup – 2005, Paul Carmody, Local Farmer Group Network, UWA 12. Drivers of no-till adoption, Frank D’Emdenabc, Rick Llewellynabdand Michael Burtonb,aCRC Australian Weed Management; bSchool of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UWA. cDepartment of Agriculture, dCSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Adelaide PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, PRECISION AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY 13. Maintaining wheat and lupin yields using phase pastures and shielded sprayers to manage increasing herbicide resistance, Caroline Peek, Nadine Eva, Chris Carter and Megan Abrahams, Department of Agriculture 14. Analaysis of a wheat-pasture rotation in the 330mm annual rainfall zone using the STEP model, Andrew Blake and Caroline Peek, Department of Agriculture 15. Response to winter drought by wheat on shallow soil with low seeding rate and wide row spacing, Paul Blackwell1, Sylvain Pottier2and Bill Bowden1 1 Department of Agriculture; 2Esitpa (France) 16. How much yield variation do you need to justify zoning inputs? Michael Robertson and Greg Lyle, CSIRO Floreat, Bill Bowden, Department of Agriculture; Lisa Brennan, CSIRO Brisbane 17. Automatic guidance and wheat row position: On-row versus between-row seeding at various rates of banded P fertilisers, Tony J. Vyn1, Simon Teakle2, Peter Norris3and Paul Blackwell4,1Purdue University, USA; 2Landmark; 3Agronomy for Profit; 4 Department of Agriculture 18. Assessing the sustainability of high production systems (Avon Agricultural Systems Project), Jeff Russell and James Fisher, Department of Agriculture, Roy Murray-Prior and Deb Pritchard, Muresk Institute; Mike Collins, ex WANTFA, 19. The application of precision agriculture techniques to assess the effectiveness of raised beds on saline land in WA, Derk Bakker, Greg Hamilton, Rob Hetherington, Andrew Van Burgel and Cliff Spann, Department of Agricultur

Understanding business process management: implications for theory and practice

Draft version published as a discussion paper. Final version published in British Journal of Management © British Academy of Management. Available online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/This paper presents an empirically validated framework of business process management (BPM) to enable the pursuit of BPM theory. Phase 1 of the research focused on the development of an initial framework of BPM, derived from a synthesis of current literature. This comprised five key themes, subsequently categorized as 'application components' of BPM. The empirical validation of the framework was approached through case-based research, utilizing semi-structured interviews with managers of a large financial services organization, to explore the dimensions of the framework. The results suggest that, in addition to confirming the five 'application components' of the initial framework, three additional 'conceptual components' are important. These concepts differentiate BPM from other process management activities, and suggest that developing a prerequisite 'process mindset' is a fundamental component of a BPM approach

Evolution of the patellar sesamoid bone in mammals

The patella is a sesamoid bone located in the major extensor tendon of the knee joint, in the hindlimb of many tetrapods. Although numerous aspects of knee morphology are ancient and conserved among most tetrapods, the evolutionary occurrence of an ossified patella is highly variable. Among extant (crown clade) groups it is found in most birds, most lizards, the monotreme mammals and almost all placental mammals, but it is absent in most marsupial mammals as well as many reptiles. Here, we integrate data from the literature and first-hand studies of fossil and recent skeletal remains to reconstruct the evolution of the mammalian patella. We infer that bony patellae most likely evolved between four and six times in crown group Mammalia: in monotremes, in the extinct multituberculates, in one or more stem-mammal genera outside of therian or eutherian mammals and up to three times in therian mammals. Furthermore, an ossified patella was lost several times in mammals, not including those with absent hindlimbs: once or more in marsupials (with some re-acquisition) and at least once in bats. Our inferences about patellar evolution in mammals are reciprocally informed by the existence of several human genetic conditions in which the patella is either absent or severely reduced. Clearly, development of the patella is under close genomic control, although its responsiveness to its mechanical environment is also important (and perhaps variable among taxa). Where a bony patella is present it plays an important role in hindlimb function, especially in resisting gravity by providing an enhanced lever system for the knee joint. Yet the evolutionary origins, persistence and modifications of a patella in diverse groups with widely varying habits and habitats—from digging to running to aquatic, small or large body sizes, bipeds or quadrupeds—remain complex and perplexing, impeding a conclusive synthesis of form, function, development and genetics across mammalian evolution. This meta-analysis takes an initial step toward such a synthesis by collating available data and elucidating areas of promising future inquiry