bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The elderly and undue influence inter vivos
Authors: Burns Fiona R
Published: April 2006

An important demographic and social trend is becoming indisputably evident in the UK. The population is ageing, and a clearly discernible group of elderly persons is growing. As this trend continues, it will be necessary to reconsider the effectiveness and application of the law from the perspective of the elderly claimant. While it has been recognised that there must be a legal scheme to oversee the care and protection of persons, including elders, who are unable to care for their interests due to severe disability, it is becoming evident that even elders who are apparently healthy and able may be vulnerable. Undue influence inter vivos is a significant legal doctrine upon which elderly people have relied in recent times to set aside gifs, contracts and guarantees which they (or their representatives) have considered in hindsight were not in their best interests. This paper seeks to provide an analysis of and contribute to an understanding of the doctrine of undue influence from the perspective of the elderly claimant in the UK. The paper considers actual and presumed undue influence and the impact of the House of Lords decision in Royal Bank of Scotland plc v Etridge (No2). It will be argued that the law of undue influence inter vivos is in transition from a nineteenth-century doctrine which did not confer a special legal status on the elderly to one which is applied in the context of an increasing recognition that the events leading up to the transaction and the circumstances of the case may indicate that elders need the relief which the doctrine affords. Nevertheless, the transition to a modem system of undue influence for the elderly is incomplete. There remain outstanding issues which need consideration before it can be said that there is a comprehensive or logically coherent approach to elders and undue influence.
Transplantation for transition — discussion on a concept around Russian reform of the law on reorganisation
Authors: Dahan Frederique , Dine Janet
Published: April 2006

This paper drawls on the experience of the authors during a TACIS project in Russia. Part of the project involved assisting Russian legal experts in drafting a law on the reorganisation of companies. The methodology adopted was split into three stages: identification of the concepts of reorganisation in different jurisdictions, the policy and economic context of the proposed reform and examination of the institutional background. At each of these stages it was necessary to discover the underlying cultural, economic and philosophical issues which were formative of laws in each of the five jurisdictions that were examined and offer a menu of possible solutions to the risk-balancing exercise which this area of law presents.
The loved ones: families, intimates and patient autonomy
Authors: O'Donovan Katherine , Gilbar Roy
Published: April 2006

Patient autonomy is one of the central values in medical ethics. It is generally understood as recognition of patients' rights as free individuals answerable only to themselves. This emphasis on the individual leaves open the question of the position of the patients' ‘loved ones’, that is of families and significant others. The authors examine this question in three areas of law and medical ethics. Organ donation offers an example of preference given by medical ethics to family views, notwithstanding an expressed wish of the deceased to donate, and the legal position protecting such a request. Decisions concerning the treatment of incompetent patients illustrate consideration for the family in medical ethics, but hesitations in both law and ethics in accepting family views once expressed. And the tension between the interests of patients and family members over the access to genetic information usually results in respecting the patient's right to confidentiality. This individualistic perception of autonomy, as adopted by medical law, overlooks the patient's relationships with others and is too narrow to face the complexities of human lives.
Agenda for a feminist legal curriculum
Authors: Auchmuty Rosemary
Published: April 2006

This paper contends that a feminist legal curriculum is necessary for legal education, and that it is also necessary for feminism. It argues that feminism is more than simply one of a number of useful critical perspectives, and that it must be located centrally within the law school and the legal curriculum in order to be effective. In accepting that a black-letter training has many merits and that the current core curriculum has value, the paper nevertheless suggests that both require substantive modifications and new critical dimensions. Specifically, to meet its obligations to our students, the legal curriculum needs to incorporate subjects relevant to women's experience, to make space for women's viewpoints and to offer feminist perspectives in every area of law - and these must be compulsory, not optional, additions. Finally, the paper concludes that implementation of such a curriculum is not only desirable, but also possible, and may indeed become a policy imperative as well as a feminist one.
Protecting the vulnerable: legality, harm and theft
Authors: Bogg Alan L , Stanton-lfe John
Published: April 2006

The law of theft, as understood in Gomez and Hinks, has been the occasion of almost unanimous academic condemnation and of robust dissenting opinions in the House of Lords. While much of the critical discussion is sophisticated and challenging, it is important that the baby is not to be expelled with the bathwater. We suggest that one argument in favour of the current position is that it offers distinct protection to some of the more vulnerable members of society. This advantage ought nevertheless to be sacrificed if it can be purchased only at the cost of violating the rule of law and the harm principle. But our examination of these ideas reveals that the price need not be paid. The rule of law contains not one idea, but a plurality of ideas, many of which support the current position. As for the harm principle, it is notable that Hinks does not castigate harmless behaviour; rather it attacks the wrong of exploitation. This raises many difficult issues, but we argue that unless such exploitative behaviour is explicitly addressed in Legislation, reforming the current ‘broad’ understanding of the law in favour of a ‘reductive’ account assimilating theft to non-voluntary transfers would be a retrograde step. In principle the new concern for protecting the vulnerable from exploitation is welcome.
Independent promises and the rescission of contracts
Authors: Black Oliver
Published: April 2006

A rule of English law is that, where a contract comprises promises that are independent of each other, neither party is entitled to rescind the contract for failure by the other to perform. This paper illuminates the rule by examining various versions of the independent/dependent distinction. On one account, it concerns the reason why someone gives a promise; on others, it concerns the conditionality of a promise. The account in terms of reasons conflicts with the doctrines of offer and acceptance and of consideration. All the conditional accounts provide a justification for the rule, but certain of them — in terms of external conditionality — unduly limit the availability of rescission. The others — in terms of internal conditionality — are therefore proposed. Assuming that an agreement is likewise modelled in terms of internal conditionality, one promise's being independent of another, where ‘independent’ is defined as proposed, is inconsistent with their constituting an agreement. The rule on rescission presupposes, however, that some independent promises constitute a contract. So this is a new reason to hold that, just as not all agreements are contracts, so not all contracts are agreements.
The moral narrative of criminal responsibility and the principled justification of tariffs for murder: Myra Hindley and Thompson and Venables
Authors: Gurnham David
Published: April 2006

This paper examines the role of retributivism as a principled justification for punishment in the context of the judicial tariff judgments on Myra Hindley and Thompson and Venables. The paper examines the development of retributivist theory from the foundational premise of liberal individualism to its contemporary understanding as a communication of public censure. It is argued that, against the background of legal judgment on tariff issues, retributivism cannot be meaningful in itself. Determining the retributive requirements of justice necessarily involves the construction of a moral narrative made up of both retributivist (retrospective) and consequentialist (prospective) elements.
Brave New World—The new Supreme Court and judicial appointments
Authors: Legg Thomas
Published: April 2006

First and foremost, I welcome the move to establish a new Supreme Court for the United Kingdom, separate from the House of Lords. I have favoured this for years, and I regard the Government's proposals as a real step forward. It is a piece of long-unfinished business nearly achieved by the mighty reformers of 1873-75. Their shades must rejoice to see it at last being tackled. All my other comments hereafter should be seen in that positive context.
Developing mechanisms for judicial accountability in the UK
Authors: Le Sueur Andrew
Published: April 2006

The ‘accountability revolution’ has lead to an expansion in the concept of accountability and the application of accountability practices to an ever-wider range of public authorities. In a mature democracy, those who exercise significant public power ought to hold themselves open to account, and judicial power should not be excluded from this imperative. In the UK, there are three schools of thought about accountability of judges. ‘Opponents’ argue that the notion of an ‘accountable judge’ is an oxymoron. ‘Re-conceptualists’ point out that courts already engage in a number of practices that make them accountable. The ‘radical’ claim is that new forms of accountability are needed. To understand the debate better, we need to map out types and levels of accountability. First, a distinction may be drawn between the personal accountability of individual judges and the accountability of courts as institutions. Secondly, we may differentiate formal mechanisms for securing accountability and informal, ‘non-state’ practices, including scrutiny of judgments and judges by the news media and academics. Thirdly, different levels of accountability may be identified, relating to the ‘probity’, ‘performance’, ‘process’ and ‘content’ of the judicial function. The final part of the paper considers the design of accountability mechanisms for a new UK Supreme Court.
Composing a judiciary: reflections on proposed reforms in the United Kingdom on how to change the voices of and the constituencies for judging
Authors: Resnik Judith
Published: April 2006

I sit an ocean and a legal culture away. Asked to comment on reforms in England and Wales, my response is shaped by knowledge of the legal system of the United States, which shares aspirations similar with and has been much influenced by the judicial system of England and Wales, but is also very different from it.

Yet judicial systems on both sides of the Atlantic (and in many other places) have to face difficult challenges. How can governments create, select, and equip a sufficient number of individual judges to respond to the tens of thousands of complainants who come before them?
Judicial authority in a changing South Africa
Authors: Corder Hugh
Published: April 2006

‘Our legal system cannot be outclassed … There are attacks, incriminations and accusations that our judgments in law are not objective and independent … To say our courts are just and impartial is not saying much. The truth is that there are no courts anywhere in the world whose judges' … integrity is higher than ours.’

H J Coetsee, Minister of Justice, 1986

‘The South African Constitution is different [from those which formalise an historical consensus of values]: it retains from the past only what is defensible and represents a decisive break from, and a ringing rejection of, that part of the past which is disgracefully racist, authoritarian, insular, and repressive, and a vigorous identification of and commitment to a democratic, universalistic, caring and aspirationally egalitarian ethos expressly articulated in the Constitution.’

Justice Mahomed, Constitutional Court, 1995

Debates about the proper role and limits of judicial authority in the state are unusually heated, enduring and inconclusive. Talk about judicial review, the democratic deficit, the counter-majoritarian difficulty and the separation of powers matters, because what is at stake is the formal identification of the ultimate forum for political decision-making in a constitutional democracy.
Students, mental health and citizenship
Authors: Harris Neville
Published: April 2006

This paper examines the developing and complex legal relationship between universities and students, or would-be students, who have mental health problems. Discussion takes account of the wider social and policy contexts, including the extent of mental ill-health among the student population, the market for higher education, and government policies towards universities. It contends that the legal position of students with mental health problems demonstrates that there is a need for the relationship between students and universities to be conceptualised with reference to the citizenship ideal rather than the consumer paradigm with which it has tended to become associated in public policy terms.
The reform of gambling and the future of insurance law
Authors: Davey James
Published: April 2006

Recent government proposals seeking to the reform of the law of gambling are likely to have unintended consequences for the law of insurance. This paper considers the likely impact of the judicial enforcement of wagers on the divisions between insurance and gambling and, in particular, the doctrine of insurable interest.
Scotland and parliamentary sovereignty
Authors: Little Gavin
Published: April 2006

The authority of the classic Diceyan approach to parliamentary sovereignty has, as is well known, been called into question as a result of the UK's membership of the EU and human rights legislation. However, this paper focuses on the implications of Scottish devolution for the orthodox doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty. The constitution, and the legislative supremacy of Westminster within it, remains a controversial political issue in Scotland. Accordingly, rather than hypothesising inductively from constitutional doctrine, consideration is given to the nature of the interaction between the socio-political forces which underlie Scottish devolution and the concept of parliamentary sovereignty. It is contended that the foundations of the Scottish political order have shifted in a way which is already presenting significant challenges. Moreover, looking to the future, the pressure on the orthodox Diceyan approach is likely to intensify over time. In this context, it is questionable whether constitutional conventions of the sort which are already evolving or the possible development by the courts of more formal constitutional norms will, in the long term, be able to reconcile parliamentary sovereignty with Scottish political reality. Indeed, it is argued that — from a Scottish perspective at least — the viability of classic, Diceyan parliamentary sovereignty as a meaningful constitutional doctrine will be called into question in the years to come.
Our legal lives as men, women and persons
Authors: Naffine Ngaire
Published: April 2006

To be recognised as a legal person is to be individualised: it is to be rendered a separate and distinct being, the unitary bearer of rights and duties. By contrast, to be assigned a legal sex is to be grouped with others, to be placed within one of only two sexes, as either a man or a woman, a necessarily crude dichotomy. It is to be legally defined by the characteristics we are said to share with half the human population rather than regarded as an individual in our own right. This paper entails a critical comparative analysis of the legal concept of person and the legal concept of sex: of maleness or femaleness. It questions the logic and defensibility of this double characterisation of our legal lives. How can law reconcile its deep commitment to individualism with its persisting commitment to a two-sex system?
Creditors and the concept of ‘family home’: a functional analysis
Authors: Fox Lorna
Published: April 2006

The concept of home has attracted considerable critical attention in recent decades across a broad range of social science disciplines. Analysis of ‘home meanings’ provides important evidence of the values which people attach to property that they occupy as a home. This evidence could be utilised to argue that home represents a site of special significance, deserving some additional protection in law, over and above other property types. Where such arguments have been considered in English law, the tendency has been to confer special status on the family home rather than on home per se. This article identifies several weaknesses, both practical and conceptual, with the application of ‘family home’ analysis in the context of creditor/occupier disputes. The article proceeds to consider whether ‘family home’ is sufficiently attractive as a central organising concept in policy discourse to outweigh the specific criticisms outlined. An alternative and, it is argued, more desirable solution would be to approach the issue of security of tenure in the owner-occupied home from a more individualistic, rather than family-centric, perspective.
Law, health and the European Union
Authors: Hervey Tamara K , McHale Jean V
Published: April 2006

How does the European Union (EU) affect health law in its member states? Having defined ‘health law’, this article takes a multilevel governance perspective of the EU und its legal order, aid considers, through selected examples, the various modes of governance used by the EU applicable in the health law field. The article presents a spectrum of five different types of effect that the EU has on health law: strong effect from health-specific measures; strong effect from general measures; marginal effect; slow convergence effect; little prospect for effect.
Laïcité and the banning of the ‘hijab’ in France
Authors: Idriss Mohammad Mazher
Published: April 2006

In Spring 2004 the French Parliament agreed to the passing of a Bill named ‘Application of the Principle of Secularity’. The new law was brought into effect on 2 September 2004, banning all ‘ostentatious’ religious symbols in state schools and the enactment denies Muslim schoolgirls the right to wear the ‘hijab’ (or the traditional Muslim headscarf) in French public schools. The new enactment has stirred controversy within the Islamic world where many have considered the law to be an example of ‘Islamophobia’ and the West's intolerance towards the religion of Islam. This article aims to understand the historical background and the rationale of the ban on religious symbols in French state schools and seeks to examine some of the main criticisms of the new law.
Landscape level analysis of mountain pine beetle in British Columbia, Canada: spatiotemporal development and spatial synchrony within the present outbreak
Authors: Aukema Brian H. , Carroll Allan L. , Zhu Jun , Raffa Kenneth F. , Sickley Theodore A. , Taylor Stephen W.
Published: April 2006

Eruptive herbivores can exert profound landscape level influences. For example, the ongoing mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia, Canada, has resulted in mortality of mature lodgepole pine over >7 million ha. Analysis of the spatio‐temporal pattern of spread can lend insights into the processes initiating and/or sustaining such phenomena. We present a landscape level analysis of the development of the current outbreak. Aerial survey assessments of tree mortality, projected onto discrete 12×12 km cells, were used as a proxy for insect population density. We examined whether the outbreak potentially originated from an epicenter and spread, or whether multiple localized populations erupted simultaneously at spatially disjunct locations. An aspatial cluster analysis of time series from 1990 to 2003 revealed four distinct time series patterns. Each time series demonstrated a general progression of increasing mountain pine beetle populations. Plotting the geographical locations of each temporal pattern revealed that the outbreak occurred first in an area of west‐central British Columbia, and then in an area to the east. The plot further revealed many localized infestations erupted in geographically disjunct areas, especially in the southern portion of the province. Autologistic regression analyses indicated a significant, positive association between areas where the outbreak first occurred and conservation lands. For example, the delineated area of west‐central British Columbia is comprised of three conservation parks and adjacent working forest. We further examined how population synchrony declines with distance at different population levels. Examination of the spatial dependence of temporal synchrony in population fluctuations during early, incipient years (i.e. 1990–1996) suggested that outbreaking mountain pine beetle populations are largely independent at scales >200 km during non‐epidemic periods. However, during epidemic years (i.e. 1999–2003), populations were clearly synchronous across the entire province, even at distances of up to 900 km. The epicentral pattern of population development can be used to identify and prioritize adjacent landscape units for both reactive and proactive management strategies intended to minimize mountain pine beetle impacts.
Reefs of the Deep: The Biology and Geology of Cold-Water Coral Ecosystems
Authors: Roberts J. Murray , Wheeler Andrew J. , Freiwald André
Published: April 2006

Coral reefs are generally associated with shallow tropical seas; however, recent deep-ocean exploration using advanced acoustics and submersibles has revealed unexpectedly widespread and diverse coral ecosystems in deep waters on continental shelves, slopes, seamounts, and ridge systems around the world. Advances reviewed here include the use of corals as paleoclimatic archives and their biogeological functioning, biodiversity, and biogeography. Threats to these fragile, long-lived, and rich ecosystems are mounting: The impacts of deep-water trawling are already widespread, and effects of ocean acidification are potentially devastating.
Response to Comment on "Reconstructing Past Climate from Noisy Data"
Authors: von Storch Hans , Zorita Eduardo , Jones Julie M. , Gonzalez-Rouco Fidel , Tett Simon F. B.
Published: April 2006

We implemented a proxy-based method for reconstructing temperatures in the past millennium in simulations with two climate models using the pseudoproxy approach. We show results for detrended and nondetrended calibration using white-noise and red-noise pseudoproxies with realistic noise levels. In all cases, the method underestimates the low-frequency variability of the simulated Northern Hemisphere temperature.
Biologically Inspired Artificial Compound Eyes
Authors: Jeong Ki-Hun , Kim Jaeyoun , Lee Luke P.
Published: April 2006

This work presents the fabrication of biologically inspired artificial compound eyes. The artificial ommatidium, like that of an insect's compound eyes, consists of a refractive polymer microlens, a light-guiding polymer cone, and a self-aligned waveguide to collect light with a small angular acceptance. The ommatidia are omnidirectionally arranged along a hemispherical polymer dome such that they provide a wide field of view similar to that of a natural compound eye. The spherical configuration of the microlenses is accomplished by reconfigurable microtemplating, that is, polymer replication using the deformed elastomer membrane with microlens patterns. The formation of polymer waveguides self-aligned with microlenses is also realized by a self-writing process in a photosensitive polymer resin. The angular acceptance is directly measured by three-dimensional optical sectioning with a confocal microscope, and the detailed optical characteristics are studied in comparison with a natural compound eye.
Iron-Rich Post-Perovskite and the Origin of Ultralow-Velocity Zones
Authors: Mao Wendy L. , Mao Ho-kwang , Sturhahn Wolfgang , Zhao Jiyong , Prakapenka Vitali B. , Meng Yue , Shu Jinfu , Fei Yingwei , Hemley Russell J.
Published: April 2006

The boundary layer between the crystalline silicate lower mantle and the liquid iron core contains regions with ultralow seismic velocities. Such low compressional and shear wave velocities and high Poisson's ratio are also observed experimentally in post-perovskite silicate phase containing up to 40 mol% FeSiO
3
endmember. The iron-rich post-perovskite silicate is stable at the pressure-temperature and chemical environment of the core-mantle boundary and can be formed by core-mantle reaction. Mantle dynamics may lead to further accumulation of this material into the ultralow-velocity patches that are observable by seismology.
Autophagic Fungal Cell Death Is Necessary for Infection by the Rice Blast Fungus
Authors: Veneault-Fourrey Claire , Barooah Madhumita , Egan Martin , Wakley Gavin , Talbot Nicholas J.
Published: April 2006

Rice blast is caused by the fungus
Magnaporthe grisea
, which elaborates specialized infection cells called appressoria to penetrate the tough outer cuticle of the rice plant
Oryza sativa
. We found that the formation of an appressorium required, sequentially, the completion of mitosis, nuclear migration, and death of the conidium (fungal spore) from which the infection originated. Genetic intervention during mitosis prevented both appressorium development and conidium death. Impairment of autophagy, by the targeted mutation of the
MgATG8
gene, arrested conidial cell death but rendered the fungus nonpathogenic. Thus, the initiation of rice blast requires autophagic cell death of the conidium.
Optical Spectroscopy of Individual Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes of Defined Chiral Structure
Authors: Sfeir Matthew Y. , Beetz Tobias , Wang Feng , Huang Limin , Huang X. M. Henry , Huang Mingyuan , Hone J. , O'Brien Stephen , Misewich J. A. , Heinz Tony F. , Wu Lijun , Zhu Yimei , Brus Louis E.
Published: April 2006

We simultaneously determined the physical structure and optical transition energies of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes by combining electron diffraction with Rayleigh scattering spectroscopy. These results test fundamental features of the excited electronic states of carbon nanotubes. We directly verified the systematic changes in transition energies of semiconducting nanotubes as a function of their chirality and observed predicted energy splittings of optical transitions in metallic nanotubes.
Santorini Eruption Radiocarbon Dated to 1627-1600 B.C.
Authors: Friedrich Walter L. , Kromer Bernd , Friedrich Michael , Heinemeier Jan , Pfeiffer Tom , Talamo Sahra
Published: April 2006

Precise and direct dating of the Minoan eruption of Santorini (Thera) in Greece, a global Bronze Age time marker, has been made possible by the unique find of an olive tree, buried alive in life position by the tephra (pumice and ashes) on Santorini. We applied so-called radiocarbon wiggle-matching to a carbon-14 sequence of tree-ring segments to constrain the eruption date to the range 1627‐1600 B.C. with 95.4% probability. Our result is in the range of previous, less precise, and less direct results of several scientific dating methods, but it is a century earlier than the date derived from traditional Egyptian chronologies.
Chronology for the Aegean Late Bronze Age 1700-1400 B.C.
Authors: Manning Sturt W. , Ramsey Christopher Bronk , Kutschera Walter , Higham Thomas , Kromer Bernd , Steier Peter , Wild Eva M.
Published: April 2006

Radiocarbon (carbon-14) data from the Aegean Bronze Age 1700–1400 B.C. show that the Santorini (Thera) eruption must have occurred in the late 17th century B.C. By using carbon-14 dates from the surrounding region, cultural phases, and Bayesian statistical analysis, we established a chronology for the initial Aegean Late Bronze Age cultural phases (Late Minoan IA, IB, and II). This chronology contrasts with conventional archaeological dates and cultural synthesis: stretching out the Late Minoan IA, IB, and II phases by ∼100 years and requiring reassessment of standard interpretations of associations between the Egyptian and Near Eastern historical dates and phases and those in the Aegean and Cyprus in the mid–second millennium B.C.
Haptoglobin polymorphism in a HIV-1 seropositive Brazilian population
Authors: Zaccariotto T R , Rosim E T , Melo D , Garcia P M D , Munhoz R R , Aoki F H , de Fatima Sonati M
Published: April 2006

Background:Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma protein with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Three main genotypes/phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp2-1, Hp2-2) show distinctive efficiencies in their activities and have been related to susceptibility and outcome in different diseases, including HIV infection.

Objective:To compare Hp genotype distribution between HIV-1 seropositive patients and healthy controls.

Methods:387 Brazilian HIV-1 seropositive patients, subclassified as A, B, and C according to the Centers for Disease Control, were compared with 142 healthy controls. The influence of the polymorphism on iron status (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation), acute phase proteins (Hp, C reactive protein, fibrinogen, albumin), the HIV-1 viral load, and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts was examined.

Results:Apart from finding lower Hp concentrations among individuals with genotype Hp2-2, no other significant difference was observed.

Conclusions:No association was found between Hp genotype and either HIV status or indices of HIV progression.
Targeted screening for genetic haemochromatosis: a combined phenotype/genotype approach
Authors: Bhavnani M , Lloyd D , Marples J , Pendry K , Worwood M
Published: April 2006

Objective:To evaluate the clinical utility of a targeted screening approach for the detection of genetic haemochromatosis.

Methods:Screening by measuring fasting serum transferrin saturation (TS) and gene testing was carried out in patients in whom a raised serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) activity and raised random serum TS had been found on routine blood testing.

Results:During the 29 month study period, 32 patients homozygous for the C282Y genotype were detected from a catchment population of 330 000 by screening blood samples referred initially for routine laboratory liver function tests. By comparison, during the same period of time and within the same population, only seven patients were found by clinical suspicion alone. The patients in the study, after treatment by venesection, have shown both clinical and biochemical improvement.

Conclusions:The study shows that from a population of patients in whom a routine liver function profile had been requested, it is possible to detect subjects homozygous for the C282Y HFE genotype who have clinical or biochemical markers of iron overload.
An audit of the indications for the reporting of blood films: results from the National Pathology Benchmarking Study
Authors: Galloway M J , Osgerby J C
Published: April 2006

Background:The National Pathology Benchmarking Review has completed seven years of analysis of the workload of haematology laboratories in the United Kingdom.

Objective:To audit criteria that laboratories use for preparing blood films against guidelines published by the International Consensus Group for Haematology Review.

Methods:Each laboratory completed a standard questionnaire about the number of blood counts and blood films done each year. Information was collected on the criteria that were used for preparing a blood film and the manufacturer of the equipment used to carry out the full blood count.

Results:46 NHS trusts (93 laboratory sites) participated in the study. There was wide variation in the criteria used for preparing blood films when compared with the consensus guidelines. The variation in practice appeared to be irrespective of the type of hospital or the manufacturer of the equipment used for the blood count.

Conclusions:There is a wide range in laboratory practice in preparing blood films. The publication of the consensus guidelines should help to standardise practice in this area. The next step in the study is to determine what the film review rate should be if these guidelines are implemented. This will then provide a benchmark of good practice which laboratories can use to assess their performance.
THE PAPILIONACEOUS ALKALOIDS: IX. NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF THE ALKALOIDS OF THE α-ISOSPARTEINE GROUP
Authors: Marion Léo , Turcotte François , Ouellet Jacques
Published: April 2006

The species of Lupinus under investigation has been found to contain five alkaloids: l-α-isosparteine, d-α-isolupanine, d-thermopsine, l-sparteine and d-lupanine. The first three had not heretofore been reported as occurring in nature. Both d-α-isolupanine and d-thermopsine can be converted by hydrogenation into l-α-isosparteine and are both structurally related to this stereoisomer of sparteine.
GELSEMINE: III. REDUCTION WITH LITHIUM ALUMINUM HYDRIDE
Authors: Kates Morris , Marion Léo
Published: April 2006

The infrared absorption spectrum of gelsemine indicates the presence of a carbonyl group. Reduction of the alkaloid with lithium aluminum hydride converts the carbonyl not to a secondary alcohol, but to a methylene group, thus indicating that the carbonyl is present in a lactamic grouping. The reduced base shows the properties of a substituted aniline. Since gelsemine has been shown to yield 3-ethylindole on dehydrogenation with selenium and since the N-atom involved in the lactamic group cannot be the strongly basic nitrogen, gelsemine must contain an oxindole grouping. Furthermore, 3-monosubstituted oxindoles are converted by lithium aluminum hydride to 3-substituted indoles, whereas gelsemine under the same conditions gives rise to a dihydroindole. Therefore, the alkaloid must contain a 3, 3-disubstituted oxindole grouping.
THE REDUCTION OF NITROGLYCERIN WITH TITANOUS SULPHATE
Authors: Fainer P.
Published: April 2006

A study of the reduction of nitroglycerin with titanous sulphate has been carried out. The results indicate that for each mole of nitroglycerin reduced, 18 moles of titanous ion are oxidized, two moles of ammonia, one-half mole of nitrogen trioxide, and one mole of glycerol are formed. It has been shown that the reduction takes place first to 1,3-dinitro-2-nitrosoglycerin which, after hydrolysis to 1, 3-dinitroglycerin, is reduced to glycerol with the probable intermediate formation of 1, 3-dinitrosoglycerin. The determination of nitroglycerin by the Shankster and Wilde method is more accurate when 70% acetic acid is substituted for methanol as the solvent for nitroglycerin.
SYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS FROM SUBSTITUTED CYANOACETIC ESTERS
Authors: Gagnon Paul E. , Boivin Paul A. , Craig Hugh M.
Published: April 2006

The Darapsky degradation, by which a carbethoxy group is replaced by an amino group, has been applied successfully to substituted cyanoacetic esters for the preparation of 10 amino acids. The esters were formed by condensation of ethyl cyanoacetate with alkyl or arylalkyl halides. The hydrazides were obtained by treatment of the esters with hydrazine hydrate and identified by their anisal derivatives. Diazotization of the hydrazides gave rise to azides. These were transformed into carbethoxyaminonitriles by refluxing with absolute ethanol. The urethanes, on acid hydrolysis, yielded the amino acids. The following amino acids were synthesized: DL-β-methylleucine, DL-α-amino-β-methylisoheptanoic acid, DL-α-amino-β-cyclohexylpropionic acid, DL-C-o-methylcyclohexylglycine, DL-C-m-methylcyclohexylglycine, DL-C-p-methylcyclohexylglycine, DL-C-o-xylylglycine, DL-C-m-xylylglycine, DL-C-p-xylylglycine, DL-p-ethylalanine.
Synthesis of Some Phenanthridine Derivatives
Authors: Edmiston W. E. , Wiesner K.
Published: April 2006

not available
EXCHANGE REACTIONS OF IODIDE ION WITH AROMATIC IODIDES
Authors: Kristjanson A. M. , Winkler C. A.
Published: April 2006

The exchange reactions of iodide ion with o- and p-nitroiodobenzene in the temperature range about 170°–238°C were apparently second order with activation energies of approximately 29 and 33.5 kcal. per mole respectively. In the same temperature range the exchange of iodide ion with iodobenzene and m-nitroiodobenzene appeared to be first order reactions, with activation energies of approximately 25 kcal. per mole.
THE SYNTHESIS OF SOME STEREOISOMERIC DERIVATIVES OF DECAHYDRONAPHTHALENE
Authors: Zlatkis A. , Smith E. A.
Published: April 2006

Both racemic forms of trans 2-chlorodecalin have been prepared and separated in pure form. The reaction between these chlorodecalins and ethylmagnesium bromide has been studied and two racemates of trans 2-ethyl decalin have been isolated. Some progress has been made in the preparation of the 9-chlorodecalins. A new method for converting cis decalin to trans decalin rapidly in high yield using tertiary butyl chloride and anhydrous aluminum chloride is indicated.
C13 ISOTOPE EFFECT IN THE DECARBOXYLATION OF NORMAL MALONIC ACID
Authors: Lindsay J. G. , Bourns A. N. , Thode H. G.
Published: April 2006

An investigation has been made of the relative rates of decarboxylation of two isotopic species of malonic acid, one containing only C12 carbon atoms and the other containing a C13 in a carboxyl position. Two effects were observed using malonic acid containing a normal abundance of C13—(1) a 3.3% faster rate of reaction for the molecule containing only C12 carbon atoms; (2) a 2% greater probability of rupture of a C12–C12 bond than a C12–C13 bond in the molecule containing a C13 carbon. The latter effect was found to be independent of temperature. The magnitude of the isotope effect is in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions.
THE ESTIMATION OF SOME 17-ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED STEROIDS WITH THE ZINC CHLORIDE – ACETYL CHLORIDE (TSHUGAEV) REAGENT AND A POSTULATED REACTION MECHANISM
Authors: Cox R. H. , Spencer E. Y.
Published: April 2006

The reactivity of a number of 17-alkyl-substituted steroids toward the zinc chloride – acetyl chloride (Tshugaev) reagent has been investigated. Maximum absorption values of reaction products were determined spectrophotometrically. A general parallelism between the Liebermann–Burchard (sulphuric acid-acetic anhydride) and the Tshugaev reagent was confirmed except in the case of 5: 6 unsaturated 7-ketosteroids, which reacted to the latter reagent only. Arguments against currently suggested mechanisms for the Liebermann–Burchard reaction are presented, and a new mechanism for color production is postulated which involves ring cleavage. Experimental support is offered.
STUDY OF NITRATION OF N,N′-DISUBSTITUTED HYDRAZINES
Authors: Picard Jean P. , Boivin Jean L.
Published: April 2006

The nitration of N, N′-disubstituted hydrazines (RNH–NHR) by means of nitric acid – acetic anhydride mixtures has been found to yield, in most cases, the azo derivatives (RN = NR). For example, when R = CH3, (CH3)2(CN)C, CH3CO, or C2H5OCO, azo derivatives were formed. When R = HCO, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides were evolved. An exception was observed with N, N′-dibenzoylhydrazine which, under the same conditions, yielded the N, N′-dinitro-N, N′-dibenzoylhydrazine.
VORONOI DIAGRAMS FOR A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK ON THE EUCLIDEAN PLANE
Authors: BAE SANG WON , CHWA KYUNG-YONG
Published: April 2006

This paper investigates geometric and algorithmic properties of the Voronoi diagram for a transportation network on the Euclidean plane. In the presence of a transportation network, the distance is measured as the length of the shortest (time) path. In doing so, we introduce a needle, a generalized Voronoi site. We present an O(nm2+ m3+ nm log n) algorithm to compute the Voronoi diagram for a transportation network on the Euclidean plane, where n is the number of given sites and m is the complexity of the given transportation network. Moreover, in the case that the roads in a transportation network have only a constant number of directions and speeds, we propose two algorithms; one needs O(nm + m2+ n log n) time with O(m(n + m)) space and the other O(nm log n + m2log m) time with O(n + m) space.
SUPERIMPOSING VORONOI COMPLEXES FOR SHAPE DEFORMATION
Authors: CHEN CHAO , CHENG HO-LUN
Published: April 2006

Edelsbrunner et al. defined a framework of shape deformations with shapes bounded by skin manifold. We prove that the infinitely many synthesized shapes in the deformation sequence share finitely many common Voronoi complexes. Therefore, we propose a new algorithm to compute the common Voronoi complexes efficiently for the deformations, and use these common complexes to compute the synthesized shapes in real time. This makes generating, visualizing, and customizing shape deformations feasible.
GENERALIZED GEOMETRIC APPROACHES FOR LEAF SEQUENCING PROBLEMS IN RADIATION THERAPY
Authors: CHEN DANNY Z. , HU XIAOBO X. , LUAN SHUANG , NAQVI SHAHID A. , WANG CHAO , YU CEDRIC X.
Published: April 2006

The 3-D static leaf sequencing (SLS) problem arises in radiation therapy for cancer treatments, aiming to deliver a prescribed radiation dose to a target tumor accurately and efficiently. The treatment time and machine delivery error are two crucial factors to the solution (i.e., a treatment plan) for the SLS problem. In this paper, we prove that the 3-D SLS problem is NP-hard, and present the first ever algorithm for the 3-D SLS problem that can determine a tradeoff between the treatment time and machine delivery error (also called the "tongue-and-groove" error in medical literature). Our new 3-D SLS algorithm with error control gives the users (e.g., physicians) the option of specifying a machine delivery error bound, and subject to the given error bound, the algorithm computes a treatment plan with the minimum treatment time. We formulate the SLS problem with error control as computing a k-weight shortest path in a directed graph and build the graph by computing g-matchings and minimum cost flows. Further, we extend our 3-D SLS algorithm to all the popular radiotherapy machine models with different constraints. In our extensions, we model the SLS problems for some of the radiotherapy systems as computing a minimum g-path cover of a directed acyclic graph. We implemented our new 3-D SLS algorithm suite and conducted an extensive comparison study with commercial planning systems and well-known algorithms in medical literature. Some of our experimental results based on real medical data are presented.
SUBWORD COMPLEXITY OF PROFINITE WORDS AND SUBGROUPS OF FREE PROFINITE SEMIGROUPS
Authors: ALMEIDA J. , VOLKOV M. V.
Published: April 2006

We study free profinite subgroups of free profinite semigroups of the same rank using, as main tools, iterated continuous endomorphisms, subword complexity, and the associated entropy. Main results include a general scheme to produce such subgroups and a proof that the complement of the minimal ideal in a free profinite semigroup on more than one generator is closed under all implicit operations that do not lie in the minimal ideal and even under their infinite iteration.
MULTIPLICITIES IN THE MIXED TRACE COCHARACTER SEQUENCE OF TWO 3 × 3 MATRICES
Authors: DRENSKY VESSELIN , GENOV GEORGI K. , VALENTI ANGELA
Published: April 2006

We find explicitly the multiplicities in the (mixed) trace cocharacter sequence of two 3 × 3 matrices over a field of characteristic 0 and show that asymptotically they behave as polynomials of seventh degree. As a consequence we obtain also the multiplicities of certain irreducible characters in the cocharacter sequence of the polynomial identities of 3 × 3 matrices.
LACK OF COLLISION IN A SIMPLIFIED 1D MODEL FOR FLUID–SOLID INTERACTION
Authors: VÁZQUEZ JUAN LUIS , ZUAZUA ENRIQUE
Published: April 2006

In this paper we consider a simplified model for fluid–solid interaction in one space dimension. The fluid is assumed to be governed by the viscous Burgers equation. It is coupled with a finite number of solid masses in the form of point particles, which share the velocity of the fluid and are accelerated by the jump in velocity gradient of the fluid on both sides, which replaces here the standard pressure jump of Navier–Stokes models. We prove global existence and uniqueness of solutions. This requires proving that the solid particles never collide in finite time, a key fact that follows from suitable a priori estimates together with uniqueness results for ordinary differential equations.

We also describe the asymptotic behavior of solutions as t → ∞, extending previous results established for a single solid mass. The evolution of the relative position of the particles is examined in terms of the strength of the convection term.

The possible 2D analogues of these results in the context of Navier–Stokes equations are open problems.
FINITE DIFFERENCE SCHEMES FOR A CERTAIN NONLINEAR PARABOLIC SYSTEM
Authors: MORIOKA HOMARE , TANI ATUSI
Published: April 2006

This paper is devoted to study the global existence of a solution of bounded variation to the initial value problem for a system of conservation laws with artificial viscosity. The method of finite difference schemes of implicit type is used. We prove that the difference approximations converge to a weak solution of the problem. Moreover, this weak solution is really a classical solution according to the Oleĭnik's argument.
ON THE ROBIN PROBLEM FOR STOKES AND NAVIER–STOKES SYSTEMS
Authors: RUSSO REMIGIO , TARTAGLIONE ALFONSINA
Published: April 2006

The Robin problem for Stokes and Navier–Stokes systems is considered in a Lipschitz domain with a compact boundary. By making use of the boundary layer potentials approach, it is proved that for Stokes system this problem admits a very weak solution under suitable assumptions on the boundary datum. A similar result is proved for the Navier–Stokes system, provided that the datum is "sufficiently small".
DIFFUSION APPROXIMATION FOR TRANSPORT PROCESSES WITH GENERAL REFLECTION BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: COSTANTINI CRISTINA , KURTZ THOMAS G.
Published: April 2006

Diffusion approximations are obtained for space inhomogeneous linear transport models with reflection boundary conditions. The collision kernel is not required to satisfy any balance condition and the scattering kernel on the boundary is general enough to include all examples of boundary conditions known to the authors (with conservation of the number of particles) and, in addition, to model the Debye sheath. The mathematical approach does not rely on Hilbert expansions, but rather on martingale and stochastic averaging techniques.