950 research outputs found
Molecular genetics and mechanisms of pigmentation and melanoma
No full textEver since man domesticated the first wild animals several thousand years ago, many species have been living in close relationship with humans, being objects for our requests and wishes about any kind of phenotypic traits. As a result, we have by selective breeding created a fascinating spectrum of phenotypes within most species we have domesticated. The broad aim of this thesis has been to investigate the molecular mechanisms causing different colour and pattern phenotypes in domestic animals. In more detail, the mutation causing Greying with age and melanoma in horses and the mutations leading to the Sex-linked barring feather pattern in the domestic chicken have been studied. Grey horses are born any colour, but gradually loose their hair pigmentation and usually become white by the age of 6-8 years. The pigmentation loss only affects the hair, and the skin stays dark throughout life. Melanomas and vitiligo-like depigmentation frequently occur among Grey horses, and it is claimed that 70-80% of Grey horses older than 15 years have melanocytic lesions. The Sex-linked barring pattern in chickens is characterized by black and white stripes on the feathers. Similar barring patterns are found among many bird species, such as the peregrine falcon and the zebra finch. The mutation causing Sex-linked barring has previously been mapped to the q arm of chromosome Z, which explains why the homogametic (ZZ) sex in chickens, males, develop a broader barring pattern. In this thesis, the mutations causing both traits are identified, and their functional properties are investigated. The mutation causing Greying with age and melanoma in horses was identified as a 4.6 kb intronic duplication in the gene STX17, not previously linked either to pigmentation or melanoma. Moreover, it could be shown that the mutation in STX17 has an elevated copy number in melanoma DNA, and that it contains a strong melanocyte specific activating regulatory element residing a MITF binding site. This finding sheds further light on the intriguing molecular processes of melanoma development. The mutations linked to Sex-linked barring could be mapped to the CDKN2A/B tumour suppressor locus, a genetic region commonly associated with familiar forms of melanoma and also implied in the molecular mechanisms of pigmentation regulation
Barring dangerous speech declared wrong by author
No full textHortense Binderup reviews the ideas of Dr. Alexander Meiklejohn in his new book about free speech and self-government. Dr. Meiklejohn believes that no censorship should exist in a democracy, and that the power of public intelligence is enough. The author notes that the thoughts put forward in this book do not go along with the current political actions of the FBI and House Un-American Activities Committee. The author agrees with the ideas put forth in the book
Reforming the Iowa Civil Justice System, January 30, 2012
No full textExecutive Summary
I. Survey
The Task Force conducted a wide-ranging survey of more than 9,000 licensed Iowa attorneys and judges to obtain their input on a variety of civil justice system topics. The survey results helped inform the Task Force of problem areas in Iowa’s civil justice system.
II. Two-Tier Justice System
The Task Force recommends a pilot program based on a two-tier civil justice system. A two-tier system would streamline litigation processes—including rules of evidence and discovery disclosures—and reduce litigation costs of certain cases falling below a threshold dollar value.
III. One Judge/One Case and Date Certain for Trial
Some jurisdictions in Iowa have adopted one judge/one case and date certain for trial in certain cases. The assignment of one judge to each case for the life of the matter and the establishment of dates certain for civil trials could enhance Iowans’ access to the courts, improve judicial management, promote consistency and adherence to deadlines, and reduce discovery excesses.
IV. Discovery Processes
Reforms addressing inefficient discovery processes will reduce delays in
and costs of litigation. Such measures include adopting an aspirational
purpose for discovery rules to “secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive
determination of every action,” holding discovery proportional to the
size and nature of the case, requiring initial disclosures, limiting the
number of expert witnesses, and enforcing existing rules.
V. Expert Witness Fees
The Task Force acknowledges the probable need to revisit the statutory
additional daily compensation limit for expert witness fees. Leaving the
compensation level to the discretion of the trial court is one potential
solution.
VI. Jurors
Additions to the standard juror questionnaire would provide a better
understanding of the potential jurors’ backgrounds and suitability for
jury service. The Task Force encourages adoption of more modern juror
educational materials and video. Rehabilitation of prospective jurors
who express an unwillingness or inability to be fair should include a
presumption of dismissal.
VII. Video and Teleconferencing Options
When court resources are constrained both by limited numbers of personnel and budget cuts, it is logical to look to video and teleconferencing technology to streamline the court process and reduce costs. The judicial branch should embrace technological developments in ways that will not compromise the fairness, dignity, solemnity, and decorum of judicial proceedings.
VIII. Court-Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR)
Litigants and practitioners in Iowa are generally satisfied with the current use of private, voluntary ADR for civil cases. There is concern, however, that maintaining the status quo may have steep future costs. Court-annexed ADR is an important aspect of any justice system reform effort, and the Task Force perceives benefits and detriments to reforming this aspect of the Iowa civil justice system.
IX. Relaxed Requirement of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
A rule authorizing parties to waive findings of fact and conclusions of law could expedite resolution of nonjury civil cases.
X. Business (Specialty) Courts
Specialty business courts have achieved widespread support across
the country. In addition, specialty courts provide excellent vehicles for
implementing or piloting other court innovations that may be useful
in a broader court system context. A business specialty court should
be and could be piloted in Iowa within the existing court system
framework of the Iowa Judicial Branch.
Appendix included as a separate document, is 176 pages
Cartel damages claims and the passing-on defense.
No full textWe develop a general economic framework for computing cartel damages claims by purchaser plaintiffs. We decompose the lost profits from the cartel in three parts: the direct cost effect (or anticompetitive price overcharge), the pass-on effect and the usually neglected output effect. The pass-on effect is the extent to which the plaintiff passes on the price overcharge by raising its own price, and the output effect is the lost business resulting from this passing-on. We subsequently introduce various models of imperfect competition for the plaintiffs industry. This enables us to evaluate the relative importance of the cost, pass-on and output effects. We show that an adjusted passing-on defense (i.e. accounting for the output effect) is justified under a wide variety of circumstances, provided that sufficiently many .firms in the plaintiff’s market are affected by the cartel. We derive exact discounts to the direct cost effect, which depend on relatively easy-to-observe variables, such as the pass-on rate, the number of firms, the number of firms affected by the cartel, and/or the market shares. We finally extend our framework to assess the cartel’s total harm, further demonstrating the crucial importance of the output effect. Our results are particularly relevant in light of the recent developments by U.S. and European antitrust authorities to make cartel damages claims more in line with actually lost profits.Investment; Pricing; Decisions; Decision; Transport; Economy; Claim;
UMTA\u27s Privatization Directive: Legal and Regulatory Obstacles Barring Opportunities for the Private Sector to Serve Transit Demand in Southwestern Pennsylvania
No full textA recent policy statement issued by the United States Department of Transportation Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA), which has become known as the Privatization Directive, attempts to encourage public transit providers to fully and fairly consider the potential of private enterprise in providing mass transportation services by revitalizing three provisions of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended (UMT Act). The author assesses the merits of this policy by identifying the various legal and regulatory obstacles barring opportunities for the private sector to serve mass transportation demands in the southwestern Pennsylvania region. By examining existing federal and state legislation governing private sector involvement in public transit operations, the writer identifies the legal and regulatory impediments to increased opportunities for private enterprise and recommends legislative reforms which may be necessary for public transit agencies to comply with UMTA\u27s private sector participation policy
O GOZO ABSOLUTO E A CASTRAÇÃO:: ALGUMAS IMPLICAÇÕES COM O LAÇO SOCIAL
No full textResumo: O presente artigo reflete sobre as implicações entre o gozo, a castração e o laço social, tomando como subsídios para a argumentação o pensamento de Freud, sobretudo a tese desenvolvida em Totem e tabu (1913) na qual sustenta, por meio do mito do pai da horda, a ideia de passagem do estado de natureza ao estado de cultura, de modo a demonstrar que o barramento do gozo absoluto, mediante mecanismos de castração, cria as condições psíquicas para a sustentação do laço social.
Palavras-chave: Freud; gozo; castração; laço social.
Abstract: This article discusses about the implications among the enjoyment, the castration and the social bonds. We take Freud’s theory to develop our point, especially his thesis about Totem and Taboo (1913). In this book, the author maintains, through the father’s place in the myth of the primal horde, in order to demonstrate the barring of absolute enjoyment throughout the principle of castration, that the passage from state of nature to state of culture produce psychic conditions to keep the social bond.
Keywords: Freud; enjoyment; castration; social bond
Preventing coronary heart disease: prospects, politics and policies
No full textDrawing on the disciplines of sociology, politics and epidemiology,the author analyses Governmental and other policies for the prevention of heart disease and looks at the feasisbility of such policies and obstacles barring their adoption
Litigious Consequences of Rulings Terminating the Legal Proceedings before the Main Trial
No full textThe article discusses two important questions regarding the subject matter
from the litigious angle, namely whether the rulings bringing the legal proceedings
to an end before the main trial are barring the way to deliver a judgement or
they altogether end the proceedings regarding the given case.
The author is of an opinion that the analysed rulings are barring the way to
deliver a judgement i. e. they end the proceedings, still the judgement can be
passed in new legal proceedings properly instituted or in the court of competent
justice. The way to deliver a judgement is not barred by these decisions in an
identical way. Rulings of termination, of lack of jurisdiction or of conditional
quashing of criminal proceedings are finally barring the way to pass a judgement
in the given court. While rulings returning the case to complete preparatory
proceedings are barring that way only temporarily. The author observes that the
rulings of quashing and of conditional quashing of the criminal proceeding reveal
traits of decisions terminating the proceedings regarding the case in hand. The
decisions end the primary proceedings in the sense that they preclude any possibility
of going further through the usual channels of instances.Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/201
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