Measuring informatization: A longitudinal cross-national exploration

This project focuses on the exploration and operationalization of informatization. It is a cross-national, longitudinal investigation into the degree of informatization of fifty-nine countries over an eight year period, as well as an initial look into potential correlates. The project mostly uses data from the World Bank, United Nations and International Telecommunications Union. With the help of factor analysis I construct an indicator, the Relative Informatization Index, which allows for the scoring and ranking of countries based on their degree of informatization. Using multiple regressions, I also identify several correlates. Measuring Informatization: A longitudinal cross-national exploration fills a gap in the literature and offers a heuristic tool for policy makers who wish to evaluate a country\u27s degree of informatization, and its relative progress over time

Fusion of Viral Proteins Apoptin and PCV-1 VP3 C-Terminus: A Study of Localization and Induced Specific Apoptosis of Carcinogenic Cells

Viral proteins Apoptin and PCV-1 VP3 selectively cause apoptosis in cancerous cells. The first 315 bps of PCV-1 VP3 share homology with apoptin, the second 306 bps (Tail), are non-homologous to apoptin. Apoptin undergoes nuclear localization in cancerous cells, where PCV-1 VP3 is cytoplasmically localized, due to a strong nuclear export sequence in the ‘Tail”. To determine if nuclear localization was necessary for apoptin to induce apotosis, the “Tail” of PCV-1 VP3 was fused to apoptin. The fused protein was transfected into H1299 lung cancer cells. Localization and apoptosis studies were done. It was found that the fused protein localized to the cytoplasm but did not induce apoptosis, implying that nuclear localization may be a critical step in the induction of apoptosis by apoptin

Effective Communication of Science and Engineering Breakthroughs to the Public: A Tool for Science and Engineering Professionals

The goal of our research was to gain an understanding of the problems of misinformation, linguistic misinterpretation, public comprehension, scientific justification, and audience gauging in presentation of research to the public. Surveys and Interviews were our primary means of gathering data. Language was one of the largest factors in misinterpretation. There is much discrepancy between what people think is a valid source and what the scientific community recognizes as a valid source. Ways of presenting data that scientists find easy to understand may be easily misunderstood by members of the public. These problems can often be avoided by properly tailoring one's presentation to one's audience