Digital Commons Network^™

In Defense Of Prometheus: Some Ethical, Economic, And Regulatory Issues Of Sports Doping, Richard A. Posner

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No abstract provided.

Conflicts Of Interest In Health Care: Who Guards The Guardians?, Richard A. Epstein

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No abstract provided.

Defanging Irbs: Replacing Coercion With Information, Richard A. Epstein

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No abstract provided.

Science And Morality: Pragmatic Reflections On Rorty's 'Pragmatism', Brian Leiter

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No abstract provided.

Recovery In A Cynical Time - With Apologies To Eric Arthur Blair, Dale Goble

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No abstract provided.

Divorce Reform: Rights Protections In The New Swaziland, Tamar Ezer, Aisha Glasford, Elizabeth Hollander, Lakeisha Poole, Grant Rabenn, Alexandria Tindall

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No abstract provided.

The Paradox Of Hierarchy - Or Why We Always Choose The Tools Of The Master's House, Zanita E. Fenton

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No abstract provided.

Peer Review And Publication: Lessons For Lawyers, Susan Haack

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No abstract provided.

Due Process Traditionalism, Cass R. Sunstein

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In important cases, the Supreme Court has limited the scope of "substantive due process" by reference to tradition, but it has yet to explain why it has done so. Due process traditionalism might be defended in several distinctive ways. The most ambitious defense draws on a set of ideas associated with Edmund Burke and Friedrich Hayek, who suggested that traditions have special credentials by virtue of their acceptance by many minds. But this defense runs into three problems. Those who have participated in a tradition may not have accepted any relevant proposition; they might suffer from a systematic bias; and …

Unratified Treaties, Domestic Politics, And The U.S. Constitution, Curtis A. Bradley

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Many commentators who favor expansions in international law also favor restrictions on executive authority. What these commentators often fail to recognize is the potential for conflict between these two commitments. In this Article, I consider one example of this potential conflict: the effect under international law of signed but unratified treaties.

Under contemporary treaty practice, a nation’s signature of a treaty, especially a multilateral treaty, typically does not make the nation a party to the treaty. Rather, nations become parties to treaties by an act of ratification or accession, either by depositing an instrument of ratification or accession with a …

Domestic Agreements, Brian H. Bix

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In this Article I want to explore the treatment of certain domestic agreements in family law and to see what can be learned about law and families. It is a clich6, in discussions of family law and agreements, to point to Sir Henry Maine's famous quotation that society has moved "from Status to Contract."' I will not disappoint expectations here. The Maine quotation is usually offered ironically-and perhaps defiantly-in family law articles, as this is one area where status has stoutly, and largely successfully, resisted being overtaken by contract.

A Century Of Juvenile Justice: A Work In Progress Or A Revolution That Failed?, Barry C. Feld

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A century ago, Progressive reformers adopted a more modem construction of childhood as a developmental period of innocence, dependence, and vulnerability. They embraced a more scientific understanding of social control - positive criminology - and tried to identify the causes of crime and to treat, rather than to punish, offenders. Reformers combined the new vision of childhood with new insights into criminality to create a judicial-welfare alternative to the adult criminal process. Jurisdiction over dependent as well as delinquent children reflected juvenile courts' broader role as a child-saving welfare agency and not simply a "junior" criminal court.'

Laudatio: Pietro Trimarchi, Francesco Parisi

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No abstract provided.

Use Of The Mitsunobu Reaction In The Synthesis Of Orthogonally Protected A,B-Diaminopropionic Acids, Fintan Kelleher, Keith Ó Proinsias

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Orthogonally protected a,b-diaminopropionic acids have been synthesised in good yields by the reaction of N-trityl L-serine esters with N-substituted sulfonamides under Mitsunobu reaction conditions (DEAD, PPh₃, THF). The best isolated yields were obtained when N-Boc p-toluenesulfonamide was used as the nitrogen nucleophile precursor in the Mitsunobu reaction. Subsequently, the N-trityl group was efficiently replaced with the more stable allyloxycarbonyl (alloc) group.

Increased Mitochondrial Mass In Cells With Functionally Compromised Mitochondria After Exposure To Both Direct Y Radiation And Bystander Factors, Sharon Nugent, Carmel Mothersill, C. Seymour, B. Mcclean, Fiona Lyng, James Murphy

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The bystander effect describes radiation-like damage in unirradiated cells either in the vicinity of irradiated cells or exposed to medium from irradiated cells. This study aimed to further characterize the poorly understood mitochondrial response to both direct irradiation and bystander factor(s) in human keratinocytes (HPV-G) and Chinese hamster ovarian cells (CHO-K1). Oxygen consumption rates were determined during periods of state 4, state 3 and uncoupled respiration. Mitochondrial mass was determined using MitoTracker FM. CHO-K1 cells showed significantly reduced oxygen consumption rates 4 h after exposure to 5 Gy direct radiation and irradiated cell conditioned medium (ICCM) and an apparent recovery …

In Vitro Toxicity Evaluation Of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes On Human A549 Lung Cells, Maria Davoren, Eva Herzog, Alan Casey, Benjamin Cottineau, Gordon Chambers, Hugh Byrne, Fiona Lyng

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This paper describes the in vitro cytotoxicity assessment of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) on A549 cells, a human lung cell line. Cellular viability was determined using the alamar blue (AB), neutral red (NR) and MTT assays, which evaluated metabolic, lyso-somal and mitochondrial activity respectively. In addition, the total protein content of the cells was measured using the coomassie bril-liant (CB) blue assay. Supernatants were also assayed for Adenylate Kinase (AK) release and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) which indicated a loss of cell membrane integrity and an in Xammation response respectively.

Vibrational Spectroscopy For Pathology From Biochemical Analysis To Diagnostic Tool, Fiona Lyng, Eoghan O'Faolain, J. Conroy, Aidan Meade, Peter Knief, Brendan Duffy, M. Hunter, J. Byrne, P. Kelehan, Hugh Byrne

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Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide with 80% of cases arising in the developing world. The mortality associated with cervical cancer can be reduced if this disease is detected at the early stages of development or at the pre-malignant state (cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, CIN). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool to detect biochemical changes accompanying cervical cancer progression. Raman spectra were acquired from proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates in order to gain an insight into the biochemical composition of cells and tissues. Spectra …

Famous Trademarks And The Rational Basis For Protecting Irrational Beliefs, J. Shahar Dillbary

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Contrary to the traditional view, this article argues that mega-brands are neither economic evils nor limited to imparting information about the products they adom. It also rejects the view that famous marks persuade "snobs" to "irrationally" pay more for the same physical product they could have purchased for less. Rather, it adopts the view that in purchasing a branded good, the consumer is actually purchasing a bundle of three prod- ucts: a physical product, information about the physical product, and an intangible product, such as fame, prestige, peace of mind, or a pleasant feel- ing. This article explores the demand …

Effects Of Mutations In The Helix G Region Of Horseradish Peroxidase, Barry Ryan, CiaráN Ó'FáGáIn

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Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) has long attracted intense research interest and is used in many biotechnological fields, including diagnostics, biosensors and biocatalysis. Enhancement of HRP catalytic activity and/or stability would further increase its usefulness. Based on prior art, we substituted solvent-exposed lysine and glutamic acid residues near the proximal helix G (Lys 232, 241; Glu 238, 239) and between helices F and F’ (Lys 174). Three single mutants (K232N, K232F, K241N) demonstrated increased stabilities against heat (up to two-fold) and solvents (up to four-fold). Stability gains are likely due to improved hydrogen bonding and space-fill characteristics introduced by the relevant substitution. …

Chlamydia Trachomatis Detection In Cervical Preservcyt Specimens From An Irish Urban Female Population, Helen Keegan, Fergus Ryan, Alison Malkin, M. Griffin, Helen Lambkin

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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in urban women undergoing routine cervical cytological screening and to investigate the relationship with age, cytology, smoking status and concurrent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Methods: A total of 996 women (age range 16–69 years) attending general practitioners for routine liquid-based cervical smear screening in the Dublin area were recruited in the study of prevalence of C. trachomatis. Informed consent was obtained and liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens were sent for cytological screening. DNA was extracted from residual LBC and tested …

Peroxisomes Contain A Specific Phytanoly-Coa/Pristanoyl-Coa Thioesterase Acting As A Novel Auxiliary Enzyme In Alpha-And Beta-Oxidation Of Methyl-Branched Fatty Acids In Mouse, Maria Westin, Mary Hunt, Stefan Alexson

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Phytanic acid and pristanic acid are derived from phytol, which enter the body via the diet. Phytanic acid contains a methyl group in position three and therefore cannot undergo b-oxidation directly, but instead must first undergo a-oxidation to pristanic acid, which then enters b-oxidation. Both these pathways occur in peroxisomes, and in this study we have identified a novel peroxisomal acyl-CoA thioesterase, named ACOT6, which we show is specifically involved in phytanic acid and pristanic acid metabolism. Sequence analysis of ACOT6 revealed a putative peroxisomal targeting signal at the C-terminal end, and cellular localization experiments verified it as a peroxisomal …

Nitrocellulose As A General Tool For Fungal Slide Mounts, David Barry, Cecilia Chan, Gwilym A. Williams

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No abstract provided.

Constitutional Patriotism, Citizenship And Belonging In America And Germany, David Abraham

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No abstract provided.

Why Do We Ask The Same Questions - The Triple Helix Dilemma Revisited Symposium: Legal Information And The Development Of American Law: Further Thinking About The Thoughts Of Robert C. Berring, Richard Delgado, Jean Stefancic

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No abstract provided.

Non-Proliferation Law And The United Nations System: Resolution 1540 And The Limits Of The Power Of The Security Council Current Legal Developments, Daniel H. Joyner

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No abstract provided.

Intermodal Transportation Network Custom Evaluators For Environmental Policy Analysis, J. Scott Hawker, Aaron Falzarano, Sai Ketha

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We are leveraging the power of GIS-based transportation network analysis to provide tools for public policy analysts to understand the environmental impact trade-offs of intermodal transportation networks that integrate truck, rail, and inter-coastal waterway modes of transportation. We will describe the environmental policy analysis problem, the intermodal network model, and the creation of environmental network attributes and custom attribute evaluators. We will describe what drove our choice to use C# and the Microsoft .NET framework to design and develop evaluators that access external data from relational databases and that have their own evaluator configuration user interfaces. We will conclude with …

Holmes V. South Carolina Upholds Trial By Jury, Samuel R. Gross

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Bobby Lee Holmes was convicted of a brutal rape-murder and sentenced to death. The only evidence that connected him to the crime was forensic: a palm print, and blood and fiber evidence. (Biological samples taken from the victim for two rape kits were compromised and yielded no identifiable evidence.) Holmes claimed that the state's forensic evidence was planted and mishandled, and that the rape and murder were committed by another man, Jimmy McCaw White. At a pretrial hearing three witnesses testified that they saw White near the victim's house at about the time of the crime, and four others testified …

Innovation Held Hostage: Has Federal Intervention Stifled Efforts To Reform The Child Welfare System?, Vivek Sankaran

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The past thirty years have been marked by an increased federalization of child welfare law, which, like other areas of family law, traditionally remained within the sole purview of state legislatures. Despite increased oversight by the federal government, outcomes for foster children remain unacceptably poor The number of children in foster care has more than doubled over the past twenty-five years and reports of suspected maltreatment have skyrocketed. Children continue to stay too long in care and have too many placements. Case workers assigned to work with families and attorneys representing parents and children are overwhelmed and rarely provide meaningful …

Application Of Soft Computing Techniques To Estimate The Effective Young's Modulus Of Thin Film Materials, Ajay Pasupuleti, Ferat Sahin

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This research aims at characterizing and predicting the Young’s Modulus of thin film materials that are utilized in Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Recent studies indicate that the mechanical properties such as Young’s Modulus of thin films are significantly different from the bulk values. Due to the lack of proper understanding of the physics in the micro-scale domain the state-of-art estimation techniques are unreliable and often unfit for use for predicating the mechanical behavior of slight modifications of existing designs as well as new designs. This disadvantage limits the MEMS designers to physical prototyping which is cost ineffective and time consuming. As …

Decision Theoretic Agent Design For Personal Rapid Transit Systems, Iheanyi Umez-Eronini, Ferat Sahin

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This paper details a learning decision-theoretic intelligent agent designed to solve the problem of guiding vehicles in the context of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). The intelligent agents are designed using Bayesian Decision Networks. The agents are designed to utilize the known methods of machine learning with Bayesian Networks (BN): parameter learning and structure learning. In addition, a new method of machine learning with BNs, termed utility learning in this paper, is introduced. BN software for Matlab is used to realize the proposed agent. Additional software is written to simulate the PRT problem using various intelligent agents that utilize one or …