Road To The Poll: How The Wisconsin Voter ID Law of 2011 Is Disenfranchising Its Poor, Minority, and Elderly Citizens

The right to vote has been irrefutably established as one of the most treasured and fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens by the United States Constitution, and Wisconsin’s Act 23 (“Act 23”) violates this standard. In May 2011, the Wisconsin legislature passed this act, which mandated that any person attempting to vote in person or via absentee ballot had to present an approved form of government-issued photo identification. In application, Act 23 would fail to satisfy its main goal of preventing voter fraud because, had it not been enjoined in March 2012, the law would not have prevented any of the limited attempts at voter fraud that have already occurred in the state. In the modern era of jurisprudence, the U.S. Supreme Court has determined that this right is so fundamental that any attempt to limit or violate it must be met with an extraordinarily close and careful examination, and any such examination would find Act 23 to be unconstitutional. The process of obtaining a valid form of identification is a great burden for the state’s poor, minority and elderly citizens, and this burden is not met with a necessary and narrowly tailored law sufficient to justify the equal protection injuries inflicted on the voting population. Act 23 also violates the Twenty-Fourth Amendment by not offering a completely free form of identification for indigent citizens, thereby creating a poll tax. Lastly, the Wisconsin Constitution has a complete article on suffrage and on the conditions necessary for changing voting laws, which Act 23 fails to meet, rendering it unconstitutional at both the state and federal levels

In-service training for computer-aided design in building surveying

The investigation was undertaken firstly to identify, classify and assess requirements and methods for in-service training in the use of computer-aided design (CAD) systems in UK building surveying practice. The second purpose was to develop, test and assess alternative instructional methods for practitioners to acquire and develop capabilities for appropriate use of CAD. Requirements, opportunities and constraints were informed through discussion with practitioners, suppliers of CAD systems or associated services, and a postal survey of 50 UK building surveying practices. Collated information was considered within Romiszowski's (1984) framework for problem solving in the organisation. Conventional methods for CAD training in the UK construction industry, and relevant instructional theory, were investigated in a literature search. Alternative instructional models and methods were identified and developed through an action research methodology based upon Cohen and Manion (1989). Proposals were assessed conceptually using the first three of Popper's (1959) four tests for theories. Prototyping core components, substantially by computer-based methods, and classroom experiments with students of building surveying, or clients of the Leicester CAD Centre, both at De Montfort University, were used in place of Popper's fourth test. The research findings contribute detailed analysis of requirements, provision and constraints to a sparse knowledge base for use of CAD in building surveying. They also provide a critical review of conventional methods for developing users of the technology in this domain. Three core principles are proposed to guide the policies and actions of building surveying practices in relation to CAD, emphasising integration of staff development within an overall CAD strategy. An alternative instructional model, synthesised from results across the research programme, is recommended for developing relevant practical capabilities with CAD. Corresponding specifications are made for a hybrid of manual, interpersonal and computer-based methods for its implementation. The model is set in the context of wider considerations for effective use of CAD technology, and is independent of particular software systems, types of workplace and trainee. Theoretically the model is capable of rapidly enabling staff in any practice to apply relevant CAD hardware and software effectively to authentic tasks, and subsequently contribute to developing application methods in the workplace. In conjunction with recommended operational principles the alternative instructional model improves significantly upon conventional methods identified for in-service training in CAD by provision for strategic integration, system independence, and responsiveness to local requirements. The investigation concluded by identifying four foci for further research and development to overcome constraints on implementing the model by the methods prototyped. A fifth focus recommends investigation of an optimal model and methods to develop capabilities of staff in building surveying practices for appraising, implementing, managing and developing the use of CAD systems

Senseless Sentencing: The Uneven Application of the Career Offender Guidelines

Federal appellate courts are currently split on the definition of “controlled substance” in the career offender guideline, with one side using federal law to define the phrase, and the other side allowing standalone state law offenses to trigger the guideline. Allowing state law to define the phrase allows countless substances Congress never intended to penalize to be able to trigger one of the most severe penalties in the Sentencing Guidelines. This Note assesses the landscape of the circuit split and analyzes the arguments for and against federally defining “controlled substance offense.” This Note then proposes a novel way to resolve the circuit split using the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Labonte to federally define “controlled substance offense.

A comparison study of biologically inspired propulsion systems for an autonomous underwater vehicle

The field of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) has increased dramatically in size and scope over the past two decades. Application areas for AUVs are numerous and varied; from deep sea exploration, to pipeline surveillance to mine clearing. However, one limiting factor with the current technology is the duration of missions that can be undertaken and one contributing factor to this is the efficiency of the propulsion system, which is usually based on marine propellers. As fish are highly efficient swimmers greater propulsive efficiency may be possible by mimicking their fish tail propulsion system. The main concept behind this work was therefore to investigate whether a biomimetic fish-like propulsion system is a viable propulsion system for an underwater vehicle and to determine experimentally the efficiency benefits of using such a system. There have been numerous studies into biomimetic fish like propulsion systems and robotic fish in the past with many claims being made as to the benefits of a fish like propulsion system over conventional marine propulsion systems. These claims include increased efficiency and greater manoeuvrability. However, there is little published experimental data to characterise the propulsive efficiency of a fish like propulsive system. Also, very few direct experimental comparisons have been made between biomimetic and conventional propulsion systems. This work attempts to address these issues by directly comparing experimentally a biomimetic underwater propulsion system to a conventional propulsion system to allow for a better understanding of the potential benefits of the biomimetic system. This work is split into three parts. Firstly, the design and development of a novel prototype vehicle called the RoboSalmon is covered. This vehicle has a biomimetic tendon drive propulsion system which utilizes one servo motor for actuation and has a suite of onboard sensors and a data logger. The second part of this work focuses on the development of a mathematical model of the RoboSalmon vehicle to allow for a better understanding of the dynamics of the system. Simulation results from this model are compared to the experimental results and show good correlation. The final part of the work presents the experimental results obtained comparing the RoboSalmon prototype with the biomimetic tail system to the propeller and rudder system. These experiments include a study into the straight swimming performance, recoil motion, start up transients and power consumption. For forward swimming the maximum surge velocity of the RoboSalmon was 0.18ms-1 and at this velocity the biomimetic system was found to be more efficient than the propeller system. When manoeuvring the biomimetic system was found to have a significantly reduced turning radius. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the main findings from each aspect of the work, covering the benefits obtained from using the tendon drive system in terms of efficiencies and manoeuvring performance. The limitations of the system are also discussed and suggestions for further work are included

Alcohol Excise Taxes and their Effects on the Community

Objectives: This study examines the association of an additional excise tax on alcoholic beverages in Georgetown, Kentucky with alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. Evaluate the additional benefits of the excise tax on the community of Georgetown, Kentucky. Methods: Using an interrupted time series design, this study compares alcohol-related crash statistics from two similar cities based on 126 months of data from the Kentucky State Police. Analyses included linear regression and Poisson models to evaluate the data in each city to determine population-wide results. Results: Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes immediately declined (-12.5%) in Georgetown following the implementation of the excise tax and remained below the previous rates for the remainder of the study. Excise taxes on alcohol produced revenue that can be used in a variety of ways to improve the community. Conclusions: An increase in alcohol taxes was associated with reduced mortality and could provide greater financial opportunities for cities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky

An agent-based model of energy in social networks

We present a family of simulation models of agents with energy from social interactions. We take the concept of “energy” from social network analysts Cross & Parker, from Collins’s micro-sociology of interaction rituals, and from the social psychologists Ryan & Deci’s studies on intrinsic motivation. We use simulation models as “tools for thinking” about what energy is, and how it relates to the take up of ideas, the formation of cultural groups and the performance of work. Our models also provide insight into phenomena from studies of “communities of practice”, social capital and computer models of networks. Baker & Quinn have also developed simulations of agents with energy, and so we offer a critique of those. We develop our models as extensions of the Axelrod Cultural Model. Our family of energy models include those that ascribe “emotional energy” variously to individual agents, to agents’ individual attributes, and to agents’ memories of interactions rituals. Agents obtain energy payoffs from interactions based variously on their sense of autonomy, belongingness and competence. We compare the behaviour of each model and choice of payoff function through experiments to test claims derived from Cross & Parker: namely that “energisers” cause greater take up of their ideas, cause larger cultural groups to form around them, and raise the problem-solving performance of the agent population. We demonstrate this first claim for several model scenarios, but fail to find scenarios where the second two hold. We then conduct experiments to relate the capabilities of energisers to tasks of: disseminating ideas to otherwise homogeneous groups, and; spanning boundaries across cultural divides between groups. In all experiments we find two factors play critical roles in determining the diffusion and homogenisation of culture: the decay of energy charges on memories, and; the initial number of cultural traits in the population

First results from the Njord device for space related plasma experiments

Conference web site at https://physics.anu.edu.au/cpf/sp3/ipels2007/.The Njord device at Aurolab, University of Tromsø, has been constructed to carry out experiments on instabilities and heating in plasma flows and beams, with relevance to near-Earth space plasmas. For plasma production, Njord combines a 13.56 MHz RF source with a Double Plasma chamber equipped with filaments along the walls. The source is equipped dwith two coils operated at 0-6A, providing magnetic field of up to 150 G. A third coil (the guide coil) is operated at 0-40 A, to increase plasma density in the main chamber. The first RF plasmas were produced October 2006. For the initial characterization of the plasma, a RF-compensated probe was constructed and tested, and measurements were compared with results from a double probe system. Plasmas have been produced applying RF power from 300-900 W, and at pressures from 3x10-4-1x10-3 mbar. Axial profiles of density, temperature and plasma potential were obtained down-stream from the middle of the source for a distance of 23 cm, and radial profiles were obtained 15 cm downstream from the edge of the source. In the present poster, we report the construction of the device and the results from the first measurements

Coaching journeys: longitudinal experiences from professional football in Great Britain

The aim of this research was to consider the coaching journeys of eight experienced professional football coaches. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted over two data points, a decade apart, and analysed thematically. Findings explored the coaches’ longitudinal professional playing and coaching experiences, including their learning and development and engagement with formal coach education over four decades. The coaches’ narratives highlighted how their biographies had shaped their identities, learning and practice. Each coach emphasised the importance of experiential learning, learning from other coaches, practicing in diverse coaching domains and the ongoing nature of learning. Data highlighted limitations in formal decontextualised coach education and “fast-tracking”. Findings also illustrated something of the changing nature and demands of coaching and how the coaches have adjusted their practice in order to meet the contemporary demands and expectations of their athletes. The coaches reported they required greater education and support around this area. Coaches’ journeys are an under-utilised resource and have implications for future coaching practice, coach learning and coach education development

Possible Application of Non-Testing Methods in Setting Environmental Quality Standards (EQS)

The Water Framework Directive is one of the most important pieces of European environmental legislation in recent years, requiring all inland and coastal waters to achieve good status by 2015. Article 16 of the Directive describes how and by when Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for pollutants should be developed, and states that pollutants presenting a significant risk to or via water should be identified by the European Commission and classified as priority substances, with the most hazardous of these classified as priority hazardous substances. Generation of ecotoxicity test data is one option for filling gaps when deriving EQS but there are also options that avoid testing, such as the use of (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationships ([Q]SARs), Quantitative Structure-Property Relationships (QSPRs), Activity-Activity Relationships (AARs), Quantitative Structure Activity-Activity Relationships, or read-across from similar substances. All of these non-testing methods are based on the idea that properties (including biological activities) of a chemical substance depend on its intrinsic nature and can be directly predicted from its molecular structure and inferred from the properties of similar compounds whose activities are known. This report explores application of the widely used and freely available EPIWIN suite of QSARs, particularly the ecotoxicity software ECOSAR, for derivation of EQS under the WFD. The predictive ability of these QSARs is examined using the 33 priority substances in the Water Framework Directive Daughter Directive on Priority Substances, plus the additional substances recommended for inclusion by the European Parliament, as representative substances for EQS derivation. We also investigated use of the OECD QSAR Application Toolbox version 1 for read across of data. We address the following questions: 1. How effective are the QSARs in EPIWIN at identifying the selected substances as Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) or very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB)? These substances would potentially be classifiable as priority hazardous substances and would also require consideration of sediment toxicity and secondary poisoning through the food chain. 2. How accurate and precise is ECOSAR at estimating acute and chronic toxicity for fish, invertebrates and algae for these substances? 3. How similar are EQS for these substances based on measured data and ECOSAR estimates? 4. To what extent is the most sensitive trophic group accurately predicted by ECOSAR for acute or chronic exposure? 5. Can a formal approach for defining similarity for read-across help to group substances in a defensible way that increases the amount of data available overall for EQS derivation? The following conclusions and recommendations apply generally on the assumption that the substances analysed in this report are representative of the types of substances for which EQS may also need to be set in the future.JRC.I.3-Consumer products safety and qualit