Punishment and penal activity : the expansion of legal fines and fees in Texas from 1985 to 2015

Across the United States, legal fines and fees generate millions of dollars per year in revenue despite widening the net of criminalization and increasing penal severity for poorer individuals. Unlike in other penal policy domains, legal fines and fees represent an ambiguously defined form of punishment that has received bipartisan support. Understudied is how legal fines and fees have become an increasingly preferred policy choice among state-level political actors. In this study, I use archival data on legal statutes and legislative sessions in Texas – home to one of the largest prison and jail system in the U.S. – to investigate the development of legal fines and fees across a 30-year period. I use insights from socio-political and legal theories to offer a comprehensive analysis of the structure of legislative policy networks and the development of legal fines and fees legislation. I demonstrate that both liberal and conservative political actors facilitated the passage of legal debt legislation. Furthermore, I consider the role of legislative testimony to show the association between testimony and the rate of legislation on legal fines and fees. I discuss the implications of my findings for understanding how policy networks and legislative activity are related to criminal justice outcomes and are influenced by a variety of social actors. My study contributes to theoretical explanations on the roles of state actors in developing policies that become increasingly implicated in social inequalities.Sociolog

Reservoir modeling of New Albany Shale

The intent of this study is to reassess the potential of New Albany Shale formation using a novel and integrated workflow, which incorporates field production data and well logs using a series of traditional reservoir engineering analyses complemented by artificial intelligence & data mining techniques. The model developed using this technology is a full filed model and its objective is to predict future reservoir/well performance in order to recommend field development strategies.;The impact of different reservoir characteristics such as matrix porosity, matrix permeability, initial reservoir pressure and pay thickness as well as the length and the orientation of horizontal wells on gas production in New Albany Shale have been presented.;The study was conducted using publicly available numerical model, specifically developed to simulate gas production from naturally fractured reservoirs.;The study focuses on several New Albany Shale (NAS) wells in Western Kentucky. Production from these wells is analyzed and history matched. During the history matching process, natural fracture length, density and orientations as well as fracture bedding of the New Albany Shale are modeled.;Sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the impact of reservoir characteristics and natural fracture aperture, density and length on gas production, using information found in the literature and outcrops and by performing sensitivity analysis on key reservoir and fracture parameters.;Then, the history-matched results of 87 NAS wells have been used to develop a full field reservoir model using an integrated workflow, named Top-Down, Intelligent Reservoir Modeling. In this integrated workflow unlike traditional reservoir simulation and modeling, we do not start from building a geo-cellular model. Top-Down intelligent reservoir modeling starts by analyzing the production data using traditional reservoir engineering techniques such as Decline Curve Analysis, Type Curve Matching, Single-well History Matching, Volumetric Reserve Estimation and Recovery Factor. These analyses are performed on individual wells in a multi-well New Albany Shale gas reservoir in Western Kentucky that has a reasonable production history. Data driven techniques are used to develop single-well predictive models from the production history and the well logs (and any other available geologic and petrophysical data).;Upon completion of the abovementioned analyses a large database is generated. This database includes a large number of spatio-temporal snap shots of reservoir behavior. Artificial intelligence and data mining techniques are used to fuse all these information into a cohesive reservoir model. The reservoir model is calibrated (history matched) using the production history of the most recent set of wells that have been drilled in the field. The calibrated reservoir model is utilized for predictive purposes to identify the most effective field development strategies including locations of infill wells, remaining reserves, and under-performer wells. Capabilities of this new technique, ease of use and much shorter development and analysis time are advantages of Top-Down modeling as compared to the traditional simulation and modeling.;In addition, 31 recently drilled well in Christian county Western Kentucky-Halley\u27s Mills quadrangle have been used to perform Top-down modeling. Zone manager feature of Geographix software is used. The available production data are going to be the attributes in this feature. The contours are generated and the results have been compared with the result of Top-down modeling (Fuzzy pattern recognition). Structural map, isopach map and the other geological map has been generated using Geographix.;Additionally, in order to indentify the effect of horizontal lateral length on well productivity from New Albany Shale, fracture network has been regenerated in order to represent the distribution of natural fracture in that formation

Surface Treatment and Adhesive Bonding of Commercial PVC

The bonding of rigid PVC to a plasticised PVC film using a reactive hot melt polyurethane adhesive has been investigated in order to improve the stability and durability of the bonding between the PVC and the adhesive. (The primers used to modify the surface of rigid PVC are mainly solvent-based products, either methylene chloride based or methyl ethyl ketone based). With Adhesion Promoters, such concerns are environmental (High VOC emissions and clean-up costs), introductions of dirt, high maintenance costs, and safety. Chlorinated solvents, most commonly used in Adhesion Promoters, are highly flammable and toxic which in turn is dangerous to plant and personnel alike. These solvent-based products were band by European Union environment agency in2011. Alternative surface modification technique should replace the solvent prima to modify the surface of the commercial PVC. Consequently the flame treatment technique was employed to modify the surface of the commercial PVC before bonding to a plasticised PVC film by using a reactive hot melt polyurethane adhesive. Before surface modification of the PVCs, the PVC samples were investigated by employing surface analysis’s techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements (CAM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and DMA. In order to avoid the damage of the PVC samples while they expose to X-ray irradiation. Initially, XPS and EDX were employed in a X-ray degradation study of PVC to determine the maximum time a PVC sample can be exposed to an X-ray source where X-ray has minimum effect on the surface of PVC. The samples used in the degradation study were pure PVC (drop cast in THF on to aluminium foil to produce a PVC film as reference) and three industrial PVC blends. EDX analysis of a pure PVC specimen exposed to an X-ray source showed 5% degradation after ten minutes X-ray exposure. Additionally, a further degradation study was undertaken in which a 1mm diameter gold disc was sputter coated on to PVC sample surfaces. This study revealed that the PVC concentration decreased due to Xray degradation, however, the Au/C ratio remained constant suggesting there was no redisposition of C on to the PVC samples. A liquid propane gas (LPG) based flame treatment was used to modify the surface of rigid PVC (Veka) to improve its wettability and its adhesive properties. The surface properties and chemistry of the modified surface were characterised by CAM, XPS and AFM. Results show that the LPG flame treatment of the PVC (Veka and Rehau) produces both morphological and compositional changes of the surface. LPG flame treatment of the PVC V and R resulted in an increase in the surface free energy of the PVC surface. CAM result for the LPG flame treated PVC showed increased wettability of the PVC sample. The ultra-low-angle microtomy (ULAM) technique was developed to impart a ultra-low –angle taper through polymeric multilayers at ambient temperatures. Here the ULAM technique has been enhanced by in situ cooling of the samples using a cryo-stage (C-ULAM). XPS line scan analysis across a UV primer/PVC interface exposed using C-ULAM indicates penetration of UV primer in to the PVC formulation. XPS line scan analysis of C-ULAM exposed PU/PVC and PVC/PU/PVC interfaces shows penetration of PU in to PVC formulation. The UV primer shows greater penetration in to the PVC (ΔZ = 8nm) than reactive hot melt PU adhesive (ΔZ = 5nm) due to its application in the liquid phase at ambient temperature. The penetration of PU in to the PVC increased after LPG flame treatment of the PVC due to changing surface roughness of PVC by flame treatment. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) was employed to investigate effect of LPG flame treatment on the mechanical property of the PVC samples, nineteen months after surface modification of PVCs samples by LPG flame treatment. The DMA results indicate that when the PVC sample treated by flame while the release agent is on the surface of the PVC, the release agent and PVC promote a strong bond and therefore become one solid sample together. The result was indicated that, an increase of 10% in storage modulus, from 8083 MPa for samples without RA to 8822 MPa for samples with RA. These results are in agreement with the results from AFM analysis. By comparing the result of the tan delta of PVC-V with release agent before and after flame treatment, it can be seen that the effect of flame treatment on tan delta profile is not significant. Also the temperature value at tan delta peak indicates the value of glass transition temperature. The fact that this has not significantly changed indicates that the nature of the material has not changed after the flame treatment. In order to study the mechanical property of sandwich layer samples, made of (Rigid PVC/PU adhesive/ Plasticised PVC), with different curing system the Dynamic mechanical analysis (Three point bending/ DMA) of all sandwich layer samples were carried out nineteen months after they have bonded together. The result obtained from DMA results shows 10% increase on loss modules test of sandwich layers, which bonded while prima was applied on the surface of the PVC

KIR2DS3 is associated with protection against acute myeloid leukemia

Background: Interaction between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules is important for regulation of natural killer (NK) cell function. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of compound KIR-HLA genotype on susceptibility to acute leukemia. Methods: Cohorts of Iranian patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n=40) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL; n=38) were genotyped for seventeen KIR genes and their three major HLA class I ligand groups (C1, C2, Bw4) by a combined polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) assay. The results were compared with those of 200 healthy control individuals. Results: We found a significantly decreased frequency of KIR2DS3 in AML patients compared to control group (12.5 vs. 38, odds ratio=0.23, p=0.0018). Also, the KIR3DS1 was less common in AML group than controls (27.5 vs. 44.5, p=0.0465, not significant after correction). Other analyses including KIR genotypes, distribution and balance of inhibitory and activating KIR+HLA combinations, and coinheritance of activating KIR genes with inhibitory KIR+HLA pairs were not significantly different between leukemia patients and the control group. However, in AML patients a trend toward less activating and more inhibitory KIR-HLA state was observed. Interestingly, this situation was not found in ALL patients and inhibition enhancement through increase of HLA ligands and inhibitory combinations was the main feature in this group. Conclusion: Our findings may suggest a mechanism for escape of leukemic cells from NK cell immunity

Coupling Numerical Simulation and Pattern Recognition to Model Production and Evaluate Carbon Dioxide Injection in Shale Gas Reservoir

Massive multi-cluster, multi-stage hydraulic fractures have significantly increased the complexity of the flow behavior in shale. This has translated into multiple challenges in the modeling of production from shale wells. Most commonly used numerical techniques for modeling production from shale wells are Explicit Hydraulic Fracture (EHF) and Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV). Model setup for the EHF technique is long and laborious and its implementation is computationally expensive, such that it becomes impractical to model beyond a single pad. On the other hand, identifying the extent and conductivity of SRV is a challenging proposition. SRV technique is commonly used to simplify the modeling and the history matching process. In this dissertation, an integrated workflow, which demonstrates a quantitative platform to model shale gas production through capturing the essential characteristics of shale gas reservoirs, is developed. A dual porosity/ compositional simulation model with explicit hydraulic fractures is developed for a pad with six horizontal laterals and 169 clusters of hydraulic fractures in the Marcellus shale reservoir. This pad is history matched using three years of production history. The history-matched model is used to develop Next-generation shale proxy model (data-driven shale proxy model) at the hydraulic fracture cluster level, using pattern recognition technology. Data-driven shale proxy model provides highly accurate simulation results for the methane production in a second, thus making a comprehensive analysis of production from shale a practical and feasible option. The history-matched and depleted Marcellus shale gas reservoir simulation model is used to perform a feasibility study to evaluate CO2 injection process for the purpose of production enhancement and CO2 storage by coupling numerical simulation and pattern recognition capabilities of Artificial Intelligence. Data-driven shale proxy model for CO2 Enhance Gas Recovery and Storage (CO2-EGR&S) is developed, which is capable of accurately replicating the generated injection and production profiles from the numerical simulation model for each cluster/stage and horizontal lateral. Coupled use of the deterministic reservoir model with Data-driven shale proxy model is served as a novel screening and optimization tool in evaluating the viability of residual gas recovery and CO2 storage in depleted (or near-depleted) shale gas formations. It allows running the model in real time and making the uncertainty quantification possible for CO2-EGR&S process

Wilson Center for Science and Justice - Plea Tracking Project

The Wilson Center for Science and Justice plea tracking work aims to shed light on plea bargaining processes and how prosecutors us their discretion to resolve cases without a trial

Durham Plea Tracker

The Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke University School of Law and the Durham County District Attorney's Office began a collaborative, data-driven effort to better understand the plea negotiation process

Vpliv nalaganja prahu na pridelek in njegove komponente pri soji

This study aimed to characterize if dust sprayed on soybean foliage impacts its yield and yield component characteristics. In 2017 and 2018, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] was planted using a factorial randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plants were sprayed with a 20 g m-2 of dust at four stages of the growth cycle, including third-node, the beginning of flowering, the beginning of podding, and the beginning of seed formation. Dust spraying was then continued twice weekly until the late full seed stage. Plant measurements included yield, yield components, stomatal conductance, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase antioxidant enzymes activities. Results showed that depending on the time of application, the dust coverage created a range of yield loss in soybeans, most likely due to a reduction in stomatal conductance, grains plant-1 and 100-seed mass. Therefore, soybean fields that are regularly exposed to dust might be subjected to reduced yield.Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti, če nalaganje prahu na listje soje vpliva na njen pridelek in njegove komponente. V letih 2017 in 2018 je bila posejana soja [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] v popolnem faktorskem poskusu s tremi ponovitvami. Rastline so bile posipane z 20 g m-2 prahu v štirih razvojnih fazah, ob pojavu tretjega nodija, v začetku cvetenja, v začetku razvoja strokov, in v začetku tvorbe semen. Prašenje je potekalo dvakrat tedensko do dokončnega razvoja semen. Meritve na rastlinah so obsegale meritev pridelka in njegovih komponent, prevodnost rež, in meritve aktivnosti antioksidacijskih encimov peroksidaze in superoksid dismutase. Rezultati so pokazali, da je odvisno od časa nanosa prah zmanjšal pridelek soje, najverjetneje zaradi zmanjšanja prevodnosti rež, zmanjšanja števila zrna na rastlino in mase stotih semen. Zaključimo lahko, da se zmanjša pridelek soje na poljih, ki so redno izpostavljena prašenju

17β-estradiol stimulates generation of reactive species oxygen and nitric oxide in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells (OVCAR 3)

Background: Experimental and epidemiological evidence supports a role for steroid hormones in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Among steroid hormones, 17β-estradiol (E2) has the most potent effect on proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. Objectives: In the present study, we investigated the effect of E2 on production of ROS and NO in ovarian cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line (OVCAR-3) was cultured and treated with various concentrations of E2, antioxidants (N-acetyle cysteine and Ebselen) and ICI182780 as an estrogen receptor antagonist. MTT test was performed to evaluate cell viability. NO and ROS levels were measured by Griess and DCFH-DA methods, respectively. Results: ROS levels as well as NO levels were increased in OVCAR-3 cells treated with E2. The increase in ROS production was in parallel with increased cell viability which indicates that estrogen-induced ROS can participate in cancer progression. ICI182780 abolished E2-induced ROS production. Progesterone was also effective in reducing ROS and NO generation. Conclusions: NO and ROS are important molecules in signaling networks in cell. These molecules can be used as therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of ovary cancer and other estrogen-induced malignancies. © 2015, Iranian Journal of Cancer Prevention