From supramolecular chemistry to the nucleosome: studies in biomolecular recognition

This review highlights the author’s indirect path to research at the interface of supramolecular chemistry and chemical biology

Quality engineering as a profession.

Over the course of time, the profession of quality engineering has witnessed significant change, from its original emphasis on quality control and inspection to a more contemporary focus on upholding quality processes throughout the organization and its product realization activities. This paper describes the profession of quality engineering, exploring how today's quality engineers and quality professionals are certified individuals committed to upholding quality processes and principles while working with different dimensions of product development. It also discusses the future of the quality engineering profession and the future of the quality movement as a whole

Can Foot Exercises and Barefoot Weight Bearing Improve Foot Function in Participants with Flat Feet?

Background: Unexplored in individuals with flatfoot (FF) is the potential of foot specific exercise and barefoot weightbearing (BWB) to improve foot function. The purposes of this study were A. To evaluate whether exercise and BWB alter foot muscle structure in participants with FF B. To evaluate whether exercise and BWB alters foot and ankle function in participants with FF C. To compare foot muscle structure and foot and ankle function between participants with FF to controls with neutral foot posture prior to exercise. Methods: Twenty participants with FF and 12 participants with neutral foot posture participated. Participants with FF completed 8 weeks of 4 foot exercises and 2 hours of BWB. Pre and post-exercise tests included: A. Diagnostic ultrasound to quantify abductor hallucis cross sectional area (CSA) B. Embedded force plates to assess paper grip test (PGT) force C. Heel rise height and repetitions D. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), and qualitative data to capture potential benefits post-exercise.Control and FF data was compared pre-exercisewith independent t-tests. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA’s were used to compare participants with FF pre and post-exercise. The effect size index (ESI) was used to note the degree of improvement. Results: Participants with FF significantly improved in all variables except the FAAM. Muscle CSA increased from 0.27cm2 to 0.35cm2, a 12.9- 16.7% increase (P\u3c0.05).The PGT showed increased force post-exercise from 13.2N to 13.7N (P\u3c0.05). Post-exercise heel rise repetitions increased from 7.1-7.6 repetitions (P\u3c0.05).Compliance was 87.7% of prescribed exercises and 111% of time targeted for BWB. Conclusion: Foot specific exercises and BWB achieve sufficient training intensity to result in changes in foot function. The study confirms that training effects specific to the foot are achievable in participants with FF, and likely to patients with foot problems

Long term response of loblolly pine to colloidal phosphate

Three or six ounces of colloidal phosphate were applied either in planting hole or on soil surface while planting loblolly pine in East Texas. Combination of phosphate in the planting hole with NK on soil surface increased diameter growth for four years and the height growth for 18 years after planting

Data Torturing and the Misuse of Statistical Tools

Statistical concepts, methods, and tools are often used in the implementation of statistical thinking. Unfortunately, statistical tools are all too often misused by not applying them in the context of statistical thinking that focuses on processes, variation, and data. The consequences of this misuse may be ''data torturing'' or going beyond reasonable interpretation of the facts due to a misunderstanding of the processes creating the data or the misinterpretation of variability in the data. In the hope of averting future misuse and data torturing, examples are provided where the application of common statistical tools, in the absence of statistical thinking, provides deceptive results by not adequately representing the underlying process and variability. For each of the examples, a discussion is provided on how applying the concepts of statistical thinking may have prevented the data torturing. The lessons learned from these examples will provide an increased awareness of the potential for many statistical methods to mislead and a better understanding of how statistical thinking broadens and increases the effectiveness of statistical tools

The Role and Responsibility of New Media

Technologically driven changes in media presentation have changed the way high-profile court cases are presented to the public. Traditional news institutions strive to keep pace with bloggers without sacrificing established quality control methods, and the proliferation of cable news outlets has added to the din surrounding these cases. In Panel # 2: The Role and Responsibility of New Media, Professor James Salzman, the Samuel Fox Mordecai Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law, discusses the issues surrounding the emergence of new media with bloggers Marcy Wheeler and KC Johnson, and USA Today Executive Editor Kinsey Wilson. Questions/themes/discussion topics The role of document analysis, as opposed to reliance on human sources, in the new media Genre fluidity in the blogosphere Open source investigation Quality-control and accuracy in the non-institutional media Pseudonymity and anonymity among online bloggers and commentors Blogs as traditional media watchdogs Online outing of alleged sexual assault victims Will new media change media consumption habits