Digital Commons Network^™

Menthol Binding And Inhibition Of A7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, Abrar Ashoor, Jacob C. Nordman, Daniel Veltri, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Lina T. Al Kury, Yaroslav M. Shuba, Mohamed Magoub, Frank Christopher Howarth, Bassem Sadek, Amarda Shehu, Nadine Kabbani, Murat Oz

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Menthol is a common compound in pharmaceutical and commercial products and a popular additive to cigarettes. The molecular targets of menthol remain poorly defined. In this study we show an effect of menthol on the α7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor function. Using a two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, menthol was found to reversibly inhibit α7-nACh receptors heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Inhibition by menthol was not dependent on the membrane potential and did not involve endogenous Ca2+-dependent Cl− channels, since menthol inhibition remained unchanged by intracellular injection of the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA and perfusion with Ca2+-free bathing solution containing …

Quantum Cheshire Cats, Yakir Aharonov, Sandu Popescu, Daniel Rohrlich, Paul Skrzypczyk

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this paper we present a quantum Cheshire Cat. In a pre- and post-selected experiment we find the Cat in one place, and its grin in another. The Cat is a photon, while the grin is its circular polarization.

Inter- And Intra-Annual Variability Of Vegetation In The Northern Hemisphere And Its Association With Precursory Meteorological Factors, Boksoon Myoung, Yong-Sang Choi, Seungbum Hong, Seon Ki Park

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Determination of phenological variation is one of the most critical challenges in dynamic vegetation modeling, given the lack of a strong theoretical framework. Previous studies generally focused on the timing of a phenological event (e.g., bud-burst or onset of growing season) and its atmospheric prompts, but not on the interactive variations across phenological stages. This study, therefore, investigated the inter- and intra-annual variability existing in all the phenological stages and the relations of the variability with four meteorological variables (surface temperature (Ts), shortwave radiation (SW ), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and precipitation (PRCP)) using a 25-year (1982-2006) dataset of leaf …

In The News, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Commentary Managing Risk From Bears And Other Potentially Lethal Wildlife: Predictability, Accountability, And Liability, Stephen Stringham

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Commentary Rethinking Airport Land-Cover Paradigms: Agriculture, Grass, And Wildlife Hazards, Travis L. Devault, Michael J. Begier, Jerrold L. Belant, Bradley F. Blackwell, Richard A. Dolbeer, James A. Martin, Thomas W. Seamans, Brian E. Washburn

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Site Characteristics, Pinyon-Juniper Management, And Precipitation On Habitat Quality For Mule Deer In New Mexico, Louis C. Bender, Jon C. Boren, Heather Halbritter, Shad Cox

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wildlife enterprises are increasingly important to ranch income in the western United States. Habitat management practices that facilitate wildlife are needed for optimal management of multiple-use ranches, particularly for economically important species, such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), that are declining throughout much of their range. We tested the effects of vegetation cover type, site characteristics, pinyon-juniper management treatments, and precipitation on body condition and size of spring-summer-autumn (SSA) home ranges of mule deer to assess habitat quality on the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center (CRLRC), a multiple-use research ranch in east central New Mexico. Accrual of …

Reliability And Precision Of Pellet-Group Counts For Estimating Landscape-Level Deer Density, David Decalesta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This study provides hitherto unavailable methodology for reliably and precisely estimating deer density within forested landscapes, enabling quantitative rather than qualitative deer management. Reliability and precision of the deer pellet-group technique were evaluated in 1 small and 2 large forested landscapes. Density estimates, adjusted to reflect deer harvest and overwinter mortality, were compared with a drive count on the small landscape and with aerial counts using forward-looking infrared videography (FLIR) on the large landscapes. Estimates by 2 expert and 2 novice counters (range = 17.6 to 18.6 deer/km²) on the small landscape were not different from each other …

Jaguar And Puma Attacks On Livestock In Costa Rica, Ronit Amit, Elias José Gordillo-Chávez, Raquel Bone

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–felid conflicts threaten long-term conservation of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor). We interviewed ranchers from 50 ranches and inspected farms in northern Costa Rica that reported recent attacks on livestock by these 2 felids. We analyzed ranch characteristics, livestock management practices, details of predation, estimated market-value of economic losses, and ranchers’ perception of damage. Ranchers reported 81 felid attacks on livestock, including 60 head of cattle, 16 horses, 3 sheep, 1 pig, and 1 goat. Mean size of ranches was 233 km², and mean livestock herd size was 109, including cattle, horses, …

Consumption Of Whole Cottonseed By White-Tailed Deer And Nontarget Species, Benjamin D. Taylor, Eddie Lyons, Dale Rollins, Cody B. Scott, James E. Huston, Charles A. Taylor

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Supplementing diets of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with pelleted rations is an increasingly common practice aimed at increasing deer antler size on rangelands in Texas. Feed loss to consumption by various nontarget species (e.g., raccoons [Procyon lotor] and feral pigs [Sus scrofa]) raises both ecological and economic concerns. Whole cottonseed is a feedstuff that may afford a more targeted supplemental feeding effort. Accordingly, we determined: (1) consumption rates of whole cottonseed by feral pigs and raccoons in captivity; and (2) species visitation at feed sites and preference for whole cottonseed relative to whole corn …

Deer-Activated Bioacoustic Frightening Device Deters White-Tailed Deer, Aaron M. Hildreth, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) damage urban and suburban plantings, as well as crops and stored feed. We tested the efficacy of a frightening device that played pre-recorded distress calls of adult female white-tailed deer when activated by an infrared motion sensor for a period of 13 days. This deer-activated bioacoustic frightening device reduced deer entry into protected sites by 99% (δ = -558, P = 0.09) and bait consumption by 100% (δ = -75, P = 0.06). The frightening device that we evaluated demonstrated potential for reducing damage in disturbed environments and agricultural settings.

Toward An Understanding Of Beaver Management As Human And Beaver Densities Increase, William F. Siemer, Sandra A. Jonker, Daniel J. Decker, John F. Organ

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Estimates of beaver (Castor canadensis) density play an important role in wildlife managers’ decisions about beaver population management, because managers anticipate higher incidence of problem complaints when a beaver population increases. To manage the impacts of beavers in an urbanizing landscape, managers need better information on changes in stakeholder beliefs and attitudes as beaver and human densities reach high levels. We conducted additional analysis of data collected in 2002 through mail surveys of residents in New York and Massachusetts to test hypothesized relationships between beaver density and damage experience, attitudes toward beavers, and norms about beaver management actions. …

Putting Local Knowledge And Context To Work For Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation, Corrine Noel Knapp, James Cochran, F. Stuart Chapin Iii, Gary Kofinas, Nathan Sayre

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Successful conservation requires adequate understanding of focal species and ecology, practices that may assist species survival, and a community of people willing and able to conserve the species. For many species at risk, we operate with imperfect knowledge in complex conservation contexts. In this case study involving the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus), we interviewed 26 community-defined local experts, including both those with and without related academic degrees, to assess the utility of local knowledge for understanding and informing conservation opportunities.This project suggests several benefits of integrating local knowledge that apply specifically to rare and endemic populations, including the …

Stakeholder Contemporary Knowledge Needs Regarding The Potential Effects Of Tall Structures On Sage-Grouse, Terry A. Messmer, Robert Hasenyager, James Burruss, Sherry Liguori

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 required all state and federal agencies to grant utilities access permits to promote reliable, renewable energy production and transmission. Contemporary transmission relies largely on above-ground electric transmission structures and lines. The construction, operation, and maintenance of tall structures, such as power lines, communication towers, wind turbines, and other installations and their associated activities in sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.) habitats were identified as a conservation threat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its decision to designate greater sage-grouse (C. urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) as a candidate species for protection under the Endangered …

Recommended Management Strategies To Limit Anthropogenic Noise Impacts On Greater Sage-Grouse In Wyoming, Gail L. Patricelli, Jessica L. Blickley, Stacie L. Hooper

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Recent research has demonstrated that noise from natural gas development negatively impacts sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) abundance, stress levels, and behaviors. Other types of anthropogenic noise sources are similar to gas-development noise and, thus, the response by sage-grouse is likely to be similar. The results of research suggest that effective management of the natural soundscape is critical to the conservation and protection of sage-grouse. The goals of this review are to discuss current approaches in the management of new and existing noise sources in Wyoming and recommend research priorities for establishing effective noise management strategies. We make 4 interim …

Do Artificial Nests Simulate Nest Success Of Greater Sage-Grouse?, Jonathan B. Dinkins, Michael R. Conover, Scott T. Mabray

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Artificial nests have been used to study factors affecting nest success because researchers can manipulate them more than natural bird nests. Many researchers have questioned the validity of generalizing the results from artificial nests onto naturally occurring nests. Other studies have assessed the validity of artificial nest studies by simultaneously comparing overall depredation or daily survival rates, depredation timing, predator species, or habitat characteristics of artificial and natural nests. To evaluate how well artificial nests simulated nest success of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sagegrouse), we used the unique approach of monitoring artificial nests (n = 69) placed …

Automated Extraction And Classification Of Time-Frequency Contours In Humpback Vocalizations, Hui Ou, Whitlow W.L. Au, Lisa M. Zurk, Marc O. Lammers

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A time-frequency contour extraction and classification algorithm was created to analyze humpback whale vocalizations. The algorithm automatically extracted contours of whale vocalization units by searching for gray-level discontinuities in the spectrogram images. The unit-to-unit similarity was quantified by cross-correlating the contour lines. A library of distinctive humpback units was then generated by applying an unsupervised, cluster-based learning algorithm. The purpose of this study was to provide a fast and automated feature selection tool to describe the vocal signatures of animal groups. This approach could benefit a variety of applications such as species description, identification, and evolution of song structures. The …

Intelligent Modeling And Verification, Gangming Luo, Graziano Chesi, Xiaoyu Song, Xiaojing Yang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

System modeling tends to have many complex features, and uncertainties often lead to numerous complications and influence many important aspects related to its applications. Intelligent modeling merges mathematical and computer based approaches, and it utilizes pioneering new scientific methods and cutting-edge technologies.

Monitoring Microbial Diversity Of A Full-Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant In Dubai, Munawwar Ali Khan, Javeria Mohsin, Sultan Mohammad Faheem

All Works

In this study, fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) technique was employedfor monitoring the microbial community in the activated sludge system of a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant in Dubai over a period of one year. A total of 96 activated sludge mixed liquor samples were characterized using ribosomal RNA (16S and 23S rRNA) targeted oligonucleotide probes for defined phylogenetic groups of bacteria. Several filamentous and non-filamentous bacteriawere predominantly found throughout the study period in all activated sludge mixed liquor samples. The bacterial species belonging to High G+C group were detected in both branched and single cell morphotypes. The previously published genus …

Distinguishing Probability Weighting From Risk Misperceptions In Field Data, Levon Barseghyan, Francesca Molinari, Ted O'Donoghue, Joshua C. Teitelbaum

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The paper outlines a strategy for distinguishing rank-dependent probability weighting from systematic risk misperceptions in field data. Our strategy relies on singling out a field environment with two key properties: (i) the objects of choice are money lotteries with more than two outcomes and (ii) the ranking of outcomes differs across lotteries. We first present an abstract model of risky choice that elucidates the identification problem and our strategy. The model has numerous applications, including insurance choices and gambling. We then consider the application of insurance deductible choices and illustrate our strategy using simulated data.

Narratives Of The European Crisis And The Future Of (Social) Europe, Philomila Tsoukala

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This article examines two distinct types of narratives prevalent in academic writing and popular press regarding the causes of the crisis in Europe. The first type, a morality tale, attributes the crisis to profligate southern states that refused to abide by the strictures of the Stability and Growth Pact. The second type is focused on the structural reasons for the crisis, emphasizing the nature of the European Union as a non-optimal currency area, and the euro as a factor in the creation of trade imbalances and competitiveness problems within the euro zone. Each type of narrative suggests a different type …

Judges As Bad Reviewers: Fair Use And Epistemological Humility, Rebecca Tushnet

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The future of fair use depends on whether judges act like bad reviewers, or whether they behave differently in interpreting challenged works than they do in almost every other aspect of judging. Ordinarily, judges are asked to produce definitive answers about the meanings of texts. But when it comes to literary judgments, the bad reviewer is the one who insists that a work has only one meaning, and announces the bottom line as if it were an absolute. A good reviewer explains the sources of her judgment, making room for other interpretations. This is also what is necessary to a …

Top 10 Law School Home Pages Of 2012, Roger V. Skalbeck, Matthew L. Zimmerman

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

For a fourth consecutive year, every website home page of every ABA-accredited law school is evaluated and ranked based on objective criteria. The goal is to identify well-executed sites adopting best practices. For the 2012 report, twenty-six elements are evaluated across these three categories: Design Patterns and Metadata, Accessibility and Validation, & Marketing and Communications. For 2012, there are four new elements, two prior elements have been combined, and one element was dropped.

For 2012, forty-six schools now use the HTML5 doctype, which is up from thirteen in 2011 and just one in 2010. Eighteen schools achieve perfect scores in …

Performance Anxiety: Copyright Embodied And Disembodied, Rebecca Tushnet

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The primary economic and cultural significance of copyright today comes from works and rights that weren’t contemplated by the Framers of the Constitution’s Copyright Clause. Performance—both as protected work and as right—is where much of copyright’s expansion has had its greatest impact, as new technologies have made it possible to fix performances in records and films and as cultural change has propelled recorded music and audiovisual works to the forefront of the copyright industries. Yet copyright has never fully conceptualized performance, and this has led to persistent confusion about what copyright protects.

One key problem of performance from copyright’s perspective …

Egypt's New Constitution: The Islamist Difference, Lama Abu-Odeh

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The paper discusses the distributional impact of the rules of the new Egyptian constitution (2012). It specifically addresses the way such rules, substantive and (potentially) procedural, can influence Egyptian law's identity and the underlying relations between the state and individuals and among individuals themselves that such identity implies.

Towards A Framework Convention On Global Health: A Transformative Agenda For Global Health Justice, Lawrence O. Gostin, Eric A. Friedman

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

International law has responded weakly to the inequities in health care, public health, and the broader determinates of health that collectively cause the greatest loss of lives and human potential every year. Approximately one-third of global deaths can be attributed to enduring and unconscionable inequities. Despite significant progress in improving global health over the past several decades, these inequities persist. Current global governance for health is inadequate to the task of resolving these inequities, from lack of accountability and enforcement to inadequate funding and the absence of leadership required to respond to the threats to health that arise from other …

Grades Matter; Legal Writing Grades Matter Most, Jessica L. Clark

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

In this study of 380 students in a law school’s 2011 graduating class, the data demonstrates a strong correlation between high performance in legal writing courses and high performance in non-legal writing courses. There is also a strong correlation at the opposite end: low performers in legal writing courses are low performers in non-legal writing courses. This article provides the hard data to support the significance of writing skills by demonstrating the correlation between performance in legal writing courses and performance in other law school courses by comparing grades and Grade Point Averages (GPAs). Of course grades and GPA data …

Stochastic Constraint, Neal K. Katyal

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This essay reviews Power and Constraint: The Accountable Presidency After 9/11 by Jack Goldsmith (2012).

With The Terror Presidency, Professor Jack Goldsmith wrote, hands down, the very best analysis of the national security issues surrounding President George W. Bush's tenure. In Power and Constraint: The Accountable Presidency After 9/11, Goldsmith returns to the same set of problems, but adopts a different tack. He argues that the modern wartime Executive is constrained in new ways beyond the traditional system of checks and balances, and that these new constraints combine to create an effective system that checks executive power. Though …

Poor People Lose: Gideon And The Critique Of Rights, Paul D. Butler

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

A low income person is more likely to be prosecuted and imprisoned post-Gideon than pre-Gideon. Poor people lose in American criminal justice not because they have ineffective lawyers but because they are selectively targeted by police, prosecutors, and law makers. The critique of rights suggests that rights are indeterminate and regressive. Gideon demonstrates this critique: it has not improved the situation of most poor people, and in some ways has worsened their plight. Gideon provides a degree of legitimacy for the status quo. Even full enforcement of Gideon would not significantly improve the loser status of low-income …

Drones And Cognitive Dissonance, Rosa Brooks

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

There’s something about drones that makes sane people crazy. Is it those lean, futurist profiles? The activities drone technologies enable? Or perhaps it’s just the word itself–drone–a mindless, unpleasant, dissonant thrum. Whatever the cause, drones seem to produce an unusual kind of cognitive dissonance in many people.

Some demonize drones, denouncing them for causing civilian deaths or enabling long-distance killing, even as they ignore the fact that the same (or worse) could be said of many other weapons delivery systems. Others glorify them as a low-cost way to “take out terrorists,” despite the strategic vacuum in which most …