Digital Commons Network^™

A Proposal To Withhold Divorce Decrees On Grounds Of Equity, J. David Bleich

Articles

Throughout the medieval period, marriage was acknowledged by temporal rulers to be a religious matter governed by the ecclesiastic law of the Church which, to be sure, incorporated many principles of Roman law. Subsequent to the Reformation, the rulers of many European countries became disposed to regard marriage as a civil act, to withdraw marriage from the control of the church and to entrust it entirely to the state. The Napoleonic Code was the first example of a legal system that treated marriage as a purely civil act. The Napoleonic Code did not deny the religious element present in marriage …

A Review Of The Hl-93 Bridge Traffic Load Model Using An Extensive Wim Database, Cathal Leahy, Eugene J. Obrien, Bernard Enright, Donya Hajializadeh

Articles

HL-93, the current bridge traffic load model used in the United States, is examined here. Weigh-in-motion from 17 sites in 16 states, and containing 74 million truck records, is used to assess the level of consistency in the characteristic load effects implied by the HL-93 model. The load effects of bending moment and shear force are considered on single-lane and two-lane same-direction slab and girder bridges with a range of spans. It is found that the ratio of WIM-implied to HL-93 load effect varies considerably from one load effect to another. An alternative model is proposed which achieves improvements in …

Perception Based Misunderstandings In Human-Computer Dialogues, Niels Schütte, John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee

Articles

In a situated dialogue, misunderstandings may arise if the participants perceive or interpret the environment in different ways. In human-computer dialogue this may be due the sensor errors. We present an experiment system and a series of experiments in which we investigate this problem.

Resilient Digital Image Watermarking For Document Authentication, Jonathan Blackledge, Oleksandr Iakovenko

Articles

Abstract—We consider the applications of the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and then a Chirp coding method for producing a highly robust system for watermarking images using a block partitioning approach subject to a self-alignment strategy and bit error correction. The applications for the algorithms presented and the system developed include the copyright protection of images and Digital Right Management for image libraries, for example. However, the principal focus of the research reported in this paper is on the use of printscan and e-display-scan image authentication for use in e-tickets where QR code, for example, are embedded in a full colour …

A Review Of Psychometric Data Analysis And Applications In Modelling Of Academic Achievement In Tertiary Education, Geraldine Gray, Colm Mcguinness, Philip Owende, Aiden Carthy

Articles

Increasing college participation rates, and diversity in student population, is posing a challenge to colleges in their attempts to facilitate learners achieve their full academic potential. Learning analytics is an evolving discipline with capability for educational data analysis that could enable better understanding of learning process, and therefore mitigate these challenges. The outcome from such data analysis will be dependent on the range, type, and quality of available data and the type of analysis performed. This study reviewed factors that could be used to predict academic performance, but which are currently not systematically measured in tertiary education. It focused on …

Getting Started With Research " Beginning: Defining A Research Question And Preparing A Research Plan, Jacinta Browne

Articles

Research is the lifeblood of medicine with innovations being made in the different technologies used to diagnose and / or screen for the presence of disease or to deliver treatments with higher efficacy. Scientific publication is the network of vessels which delivers the lifeblood. The outputs of research provides us with tomorrows medicine. In this series of articles we will be discussing the different aspects of carrying out research from the conception of the research idea to publication in a peer reviewed journal with the cycle repeating again with new research ideas emerging from the research conducted.

Getting Started With Research " Writing-Up The Results Of Your Research", Jacinta Browne

Articles

This paper gives an overview of the considerations and practical aspects of writing-up the results of your research which may be of interest to those beginning their research career or simply carrying out a research project for the first time as part of an academic qualification. It outlines practical steps for both writing-up the results of your research as an academic report and thereafter disseminating your results more widely as a peer-reviewed scientific publication.

Getting Started With Research "Carrying Out Your Research Project", Jacinta Browne

Articles

This paper gives an overview of the considerations and practical aspects of carrying out a research project which may be of use to those beginning their research career or simply carrying out a research project for the first time as part of an academic qualification. It outlines practical steps for consideration in the day to day management of a research project and highlights areas which require particular consideration for a project to be completed successfully.

An Audit Of A Hospital-Based Doppler Ultrasound Quality Control Protocol Using A Commercial String Doppler Phantom, S. Cournane, Andrew Fagan, Jacinta Browne

Articles

Results from a four-year audit of a Doppler quality assurance (QA) program using a commercially available Doppler string phantom are presented. The suitability of the phantom was firstly determined and modifications were made to improve the reliability and quality of the measurements. QA of Doppler ultrasound equipment is very important as data obtained from these systems is used in patient management. It was found that if the braided-silk filament of the Doppler phantom was exchanged with an O-ring rubber filament and the velocity range below 50cm/s was avoided for Doppler quality control (QC) measurements, then the Maximum Velocity Accuracy (MVA) …

The Utility Of Deformable Image Registration For Small Artery Visualisation In Contrast-Enhanced Whole Body Mr Angiography, Daniel Foley, Jacinta Browne, Xiahai Zhuang, Barry Sheane, Dearbhail O'Driscoll, Daniel Cannon, Niall Sheehy, James Meaney, Andrew Fagan

Articles

Purpose;

An investigation was carried out into the effect of three image registration techniques on the diagnostic image quality of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) images.

Methods Whole-body CE-MRA data from the lower legs of 27 patients recruited onto a study of asymptomatic atherosclerosis were processed using three deformable image registration algorithms. The resultant diagnostic image quality was evaluated qualitatively in a clinical evaluation by four expert observers, and quantitatively by measuring contrast-to-noise ratios and volumes of blood vessels, and assessing the techniques’ ability to correct for varying degrees of motion.

Results The first registration algorithm (‘AIR’) introduced significant stenosis-mimicking …

Reducing Visual Deficits Caused By Refractive Errors In School And Preschool Children: Results Of A Pilot School Program In The Andean Region Of Apurimac, Peru, Sergio Latorre-Arteaga, Diana Gil-Gonzalez, Olga Enciso, Aoife Phelan, Angel Garcia-Munoz, Johannes Kohler

Articles

Background

Refractive error is defined as the inability of the eye to bring parallel rays of light into focus on the retina, resulting in nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (Hyperopia) or astigmatism. Uncorrected refractive error in children is associated with increased morbidity and reduced educational opportunities. Vision screening (VS) is a method for identifying children with visual impairment or eye conditions likely to lead to visual impairment.

Objective

To analyze the utility of vision screening conducted by teachers and to contribute to a better estimation of the prevalence of childhood refractive errors in Apurimac, Peru.

Design

A pilot vision screening program in …

Economic Valuation Of The Mortality Benefits Of A Regulation On So2 In 20 European Cities, Olivier Chanel, Susann Henschel, Patrick J. Goodman, Antonis Analitis, Richard W. Atkinson, Alain Le Tertre, Ariana Zeka, Sylivia Medina

Articles

Background: Since the 1970s, legislation has led to progress in tackling several air pollutants. We quantify the annual monetary benefits resulting from reductions in mortality from the year 2000 onwards following the implementation of three European Commission regulations to reduce the sulphur content in liquid fuels for vehicles. Methods: We first compute premature deaths attributable to these implementations for 20 European cities in the Aphekom project by using a two-stage health impact assessment method. We then justify our choice to only consider mortality effects as short-term effects. We rely on European studies when selecting the central value of …

Photocatalytic Activity Indicator Inks For Probing A Wide Range Of Surfaces, Suresh Pillai, Andrew Mills, James Hepburn, David Hazafy, Christopher O'Rourke, Nathan Wells, Josef Krysa, Michal Baudys, Martin Zlamal, Hana Bartkova, Claire E. Hill, Kim R. Winn, Morten E. Simonsen, Erik G. Sogaard, Swagata Banerjee, Rachel Fagan

Articles

Three photocatalyst inks based on the redox dyes, Resazurin (Rz), Basic Blue 66 (BB66) and Acid Violet 7 (AV7, are used to assess the photocatalytic activities of a variety of different materials, such as commercial paint, tiles and glass and laboratory made samples of sol-gel coated glass and paint, which collectively exhibit a wide range of activities that cannot currently be probed by any one of the existing ISO tests. Unlike the ISO tests, the ink tests are fast (typically < 10 min), simple to employ and inexpensive. Previous work indicates that the Rz ink test at least correlates linearly with other photocatalytic tests such as the photomineralisation of stearic acid. The average time to bleach 90% of the key RGB colour component of the ink (red for Rz and BB66 inks) and green for AV7 ink) is determined, ttb(90), for eight samples of each of the different materials tested. Five laboratories conducted the tests and the results revealed an average repeatability and reproducibility of: ca. 11% and ca 21%, respectively, which compare well with those reported for the current ISO tests. Additional work on commercial self-cleaning glass using an Rz ink showed that the change in the red component of the RGB image of the ink correlated linearly with that of the change of absorbance (at 608 nm) (as measured using UV/Vis spectroscopy) and the change in the a* component of the Lab colour analysis of the ink, as measured using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. As a consequence, all three methods generate the same ttb(90). The advantages of the RGB digital image analysis method are discussed briefly.

The Role Of E-Portfolios In Finance Studies: A Cross-Country Study., Lucia Morales, Amparo Soler-Dominguez Dr., Valentina Tarkovska

Articles

This study explores the use of ePortfolios as an efficient assessment tool to support students pursuing a Business degree, where Finance is a major component. We conducted an analysis on the role of ePortfolios in Higher Education at Technological University Dublin (Republic of Ireland) and at Universitat Jaume I (Spain) for undergraduate studies. Our findings suggest that ePortfolios could be used to facilitate and enhance students self-regulated learning experiences where the role of the instructor is fundamental at early stages—to ensure that the learning process comply with basic academic standards—and diminishes as students become familiar with their course requirements, the …

Enhancing Student's Learning With E-Portfolios In Financial Disciplines., Lucia Morales, Amparo Soler-Dominguez Dr., Valentina Tarkovska

Articles

This study explores the contribution ePortfolios can make to the learning process when they are implemented in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), specifically in financial subjects. The idiosyncrasy of this particular discipline and the technical difficulties arising during the course require resourc es that can keep students engaged and constructively consolidate the contents learnt. The ePortfolio successfully performs these functions. Additionally, ePortfolio use promotes self- regulated learning, ultimately facilitating comprehension and enjoyment of the financial environment. Our findings suggest that students prefer to be more active in the classroom, and the learning-by-doing approach therefore appears to be more effective in technical …

Processing Thinprep Cervical Cytological Samples For Raman Spectroscopic Analysis, Franck Bonnier, Damien Traynor, Padraig Kearney, Colin Clarke, Peter Knief, Cara Martin, John J. O'Leary, Hugh J. Byrne, Fiona Lyng

Articles

Raman microspectroscopy has been proven to be a promising technique for diagnosis and early detection of pathologies. The data collected delivers a chemical fingerprint allowing the identification of specific biomarkers indicating the presence of abnormalities. Label free, fast and cost effective, Raman spectroscopy has already been proposed as the new generation of diagnostic tool with a strong potential but has not emerged in the medical field as yet. Notably, it is crucial to improve and adapt the protocols used to reach suitable reproducibility for screening large cohorts of patients. In this study, it is demonstrated that the variability existing in …

The Potential For Energy Reduction In Uk Commercial Offices Through Effective Management And Behaviour Change, Mark Mulville, Keith Jones, Gesche Huebner

Articles

eneral office equipment can be responsible for a significant proportion of overall electrical energy consumption in UK offices and this is predicted to rise significantly over the coming years [Webber, C. A., Roberson, J. A., Brown, R. E., Payne, C. T., Nordman, B., & Koomey, J. G. (2001). Field surveys of office equipment operating patterns. Berkley: CA: Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory]. As a significant contributor to overall energy use, this equipment has a corresponding cost and carbon impact. The legally binding requirements of the climate change act [Department of Energy and Climate Change. (2008 Department of Energy and …

Words Worth Price And Value, Tom Dunne

Articles

TOM DUNNE explains the terms used in relation to the valuation of property, and the need for common understanding among all parties using those terms. -

Alabama's Mirror: The People's Crusade For Civil Rights Introduction, Steven H. Hobbs

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No abstract provided.

Legal And Ethical Issues In The Prediction Of Recidivism, Michael Tonry

Articles

Use of predictions of recidivism is ubiquitous in American criminal justice systems from pretrial detention to parole release and proceeds largely oblivious to fundamental ethical problems that were widely recognized and examined in the 1970s. They include the false positive problem that most people predicted to commit acts of serious violence would not, and their confinement for that reason is unjustified, that common use of fixed characteristics such as age and gender punish people for matters over which they have no control is per se unjust, that commonly used socioeconomic factors such as marital status, employment, education, and living discrimination, …

Taxing Manufactured Homes, Ann Burkhart

Articles

Manufactured homes are the most important form of unsubsidized affordable housing in this country. They are home to more than twenty-two million people. The residents are predominantly lower-income, including a large proportion of older people. Yet the costs of purchasing and living in a manufactured home are unnecessarily high, because state law incorrectly categorizes the great majority of them as personal property, rather than as real property.To correct this problem, the Uniform Law Commission recently promulgated the Uniform Manufactured Housing Act, which provides a process for converting manufactured homes from personal to real property. The act is designed to lower …

Ftc V. Actavis, Inc.: When Is The Rule Of Reason Not The Rule Of Reason?, Thomas F. Cotter

Articles

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in FTC v. Actavis, Inc. brings some resolution to the decade-long dispute over the level of antitrust scrutiny that is appropriate for evaluating the legality of "reverse-payment" or "pay-for-delay" agreements settling pharmaceutical patent infringement litigation between brand-name and generic drug companies. Writing for a 5-3 majority in Actavis, Justice Breyer rejected both the scope-of-the-patent test and the presumptive illegality approach, and held instead that courts should review reverse-payment settlements under the rule of reason. Or say the opinion states. In reality, the Court appears to have all but in name adopted the presumptive illegality …

Tenure, The Aberrant Consumer Contract, James J. White

Articles

This symposium concerns asymmetric contracts, usually contracts where one party has great power and the other has little. The papers deal generally with contracts between consumers who get a “take it or leave it” offer and corporations such as Hertz, Microsoft, Verizon, and General Motors who draft the contracts according to their wishes. In almost all of these asymmetric contracts the stronger (corporations) writes the terms and presents them to the weaker (consumers) for signing without negotiation. Indeed the corporate agent with whom the consumer deals (e.g., the person at the Hertz desk) has no authority to change the contract …

Suitability And Repeatability Of A Photostress Recovery Test Device, The Macular Degeneration Detector (Mdd-2), For Diabetes And Diabetic Retinopathy Assessment., James Loughman, Matthew Ratzlaff, Brittany Foerg, Paul Connell

Articles

Background: Diabetic retinopathy can result in impaired photostress recovery time despite normal visual acuity and fundoscopic appearance. The Macular Degeneration Detector (MDD-2) is a novel flash photostress recovery time device. In this study, we examine the repeatability of the MDD-2 in normal and diabetic subjects. Methods: One hundred and ninety one (90 women, 101 men) subjects were recruited and divided into 1 of the 3 study groups (normal controls, n = 40; diabetes no retinopathy, n = 98; nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, n = 53). Photostress recovery time was measured three times in the study eye using the MDD-2, each measurement …

The Development Of A Public Optometry System In Mozambique: A Cost Benefit Analysis, James Loughman, Stephen Thompson, Geoff Harris, Luigi Bilotto, Jorge Ferrao, Kovin Naidoo

Articles

Background: The economic burden of uncorrected refractive error (URE) is thought to be high in Mozambique, largely as a consequence of the lack of resources and systems to tackle this largely avoidable problem. The Mozambique Eyecare Project (MEP) has established the first optometry training and human resource deployment initiative to address the burden of URE in Lusophone Africa. The nature of the MEP programme provides the opportunity to determine, using Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), whether investing in the establishment and delivery of a comprehensive system for optometry human resource development and public sector deployment is economically justifiable for Lusophone Africa. …

Class Actions And Justiciability, Sergio J. Campos

Articles

A lingering issue in class action law concerns the case or controversy requirement of Article III, otherwise known as the requirement of justiciability. For purposes of justiciability doctrines such as standing, mootness, and ripeness, is the class action brought by all class members, some class members, or just the class representative?

This Article argues that the answer should be none of the above-it should be the class attorney. This Article first shows that the function of the class action is to assign dispositive control of, and a partial beneficial interest in, the class members' claims to the class attorney. Put …

Compelled Disclosures, Caroline Mala Corbin

Articles

Courts have faced a wave of compelled disclosure cases recently. By government mandate, tobacco manufacturers must include graphic warnings on their cigarette packages, doctors must show and describe ultrasound images of fetuses to women seeking to abort them, and crisis pregnancy centers must disclose that they do not provide contraception or abortion services. Although applying the same compelled speech doctrine to similar issues, appeals courts have reached very different results in challenges to these laws. Drawing from First Amendment theory, this Article first identifies why compelled disclosures undermine free speech values. It then applies those insights to the specific examples …

Compliance And Claim Funding: Testing The Borders Of Lawyers' Monopoly And The Unauthorized Practice Of Law, Michele M. Destefano

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No abstract provided.

Criminalizing Revenge Porn, Danielle Citron, Mary Anne Franks

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No abstract provided.

Citizens United And Social Welfare Organizations: The Tangled Relationships Among Guidance, Compliance, And Enforcement, Frances R. Hill

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No abstract provided.