Report on Provisional Ballots and American Elections

Both empirical and anecdotal data indicate that the use of provisional ballots in U.S. elections is a mixed bag. On the one hand, providing voters whose eligibility is unclear with an opportunity to cast a provisional ballot might prevent many voters from being disenfranchised. Indeed, the evidence from several states (for example, in California provisional ballots were estimated to be 5.8% of all ballots cast in 2008) indicates that the incidence of disputed eligibility can be quite substantial, and that provisional balloting options are substantively important. On the other hand, those states with provisional balloting systems may be less likely to seek to improve their registration, voter list, and election administration procedures, as provisional ballots provide a “fail-safe” option. We assume that the goal here is to (a) reduce incidences in which voter eligibility is at issue, and (b) provide an opportunity for all eligible voters to participate. In light of these goals, we recommend the best practices identified in the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s 2010 report on provisional voting: improving voter outreach/communication, adding to staff and poll worker training, encouraging more consistent and comprehensive Election Day management procedures, and strengthening procedures for offering and counting provisional ballots as well as upgrading post-election statistical systems. These recommendations respect differences between and amongst the states, but provide a pathway for achieving consistency within states and improving voting procedures across the board. We also recommend that provisional ballot procedures are consistent within a given state, that younger voters be targeted for outreach, that provisional voting data be integrated into the voter lists and analyzed to inform outreach, and that both Election Day and (especially) post-election procedures for using and counting provisional ballots be strictly defined, understood, and implemented by election administrators

God bring you safely to our arms again : Song

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Cover Cropping and Strip Tillage to Improve Crop Performance and Food Safety in Muskmelon Production

There is a growing interest among growers to utilize production techniques that reduce soil erosion, minimize nutrient leaching, suppress weed emergence, and build soil quality and organic matter. Cover crops are now being widely used by both conventional and organic growers to accomplish these tasks and also to maintain high soil fertility. Cover crops have a profound impact on soil quality by adding to the soil organic matter pool, enhancing soil structure and fertility, improving soil water holding capacity, reducing the loss of nutrients and sediments in surface run-off, and suppressing weed populations. Additional benefits from cover crops include reduction of insect and disease spread, enhanced microbiological attack of soil pathogens, increase in soil microbial biomass, and biological activity

Place learning overrides innate behaviors in Drosophila

Animals in a natural environment confront many sensory cues. Some of these cues bias behavioral decisions independent of experience, and action selection can reveal a stimulus–response (S–R) connection. However, in a changing environment it would be a benefit for an animal to update behavioral action selection based on experience, and learning might modify even strong S–R relationships. How animals use learning to modify S–R relationships is a largely open question. Three sensory stimuli, air, light, and gravity sources were presented to individual Drosophila melanogaster in both naïve and place conditioning situations. Flies were tested for a potential modification of the S–R relationships of anemotaxis, phototaxis, and negative gravitaxis by a contingency that associated place with high temperature. With two stimuli, significant S–R relationships were abandoned when the cue was in conflict with the place learning contingency. The role of the dunce (dnc) cAMP-phosphodiesterase and the rutabaga (rut) adenylyl cyclase were examined in all conditions. Both dnc1 and rut2080 mutant flies failed to display significant S–R relationships with two attractive cues, and have characteristically lower conditioning scores under most conditions. Thus, learning can have profound effects on separate native S–R relationships in multiple contexts, and mutation of the dnc and rut genes reveal complex effects on behavior.</jats:p

Shoulder impingement syndrome in athletes

This issue of eMedRef provides information to clinicians on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics of shoulder impingement syndrome in athletes

God Bring You Safely to Our arms again

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Novel Fabrication of Un-coated Super-hydrophobic Aluminum via Pulsed Electrochemical Surface Modification

AbstractSuper-hydrophobic and super-hydrophilic aluminum (Al) surfaces were fabricated via electrochemical surface modification (ECSM) in neutral NaClO3 electrolyte without the addition of secondary chemical coatings. The effects of processing time and applied potential on the surface roughness and wettability were studied. The aluminum surface was characterized using stylus profilometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Wettability was evaluated using Sessile Drop Test and a high resolution camera. Results show that surfaces obtained hierarchical rough features and super-hydrophilic behavior after pulse electrochemical machining. Heat treatment at 200°C transitioned the substrates to exhibit super-hydrophobic behavior due to the removal of all moisture from within the micro- and nano-meter scale features on the aluminum surfaces, allowing for the reformation of a natural passivation (oxide) layer with atmospheric interaction. The method proposed in this study for producing super-hydrophobic aluminum surfaces does not require the use of acid or base etching or chemical coatings, such as flouroalkylsilane (FAS). Experimental results reveal increase in contact angle, with increase in applied potential, and decrease in sliding angle

Which drugs are best when aggressive Alzheimer's patients need medication?

Atypical antipsychotics are an effective short-term (6-12 weeks) treatment for aggressive behavior in patients with Alzheimer's disease because they consistently decrease aggression scores (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, multiple randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). However, evidence of drug-related deaths in patients taking these drugs mandates weighing the benefits against the risks. SSRIs may be a safer, effective alternative (SOR: B, limited studies). Evidence for the efficacy of antiepileptic agents is conflicting (SOR: C, inconsistent patient-oriented evidence). Valproate is ineffective for treating aggression (SOR: C, very small RCT). No data exist to guide long-term medication use. All available studies lasted no longer than 12 weeks. Nonpharmacologic therapy should be the first-line treatment for aggression in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Consider drug therapy for patients who pose an imminent threat to themselves or others

Appetite Suppressants as Adjuncts for Weight Loss

Phentermine and diethylpropion are appetite suppressants approved for use in the United States as adjuncts in the treatment of obesity. These agents demonstrate a modest weight loss benefit when combined with dietary modifications and exercise. (Strength of Recommendation: B, based on a randomized trial and a meta-analysis.) No current evidence is available on the long-term risks and benefits of these medications, or the most appropriate time to initiate appetite suppressant therapy as part of a comprehensive weight management program