Is there a Social Contract between the Firm and Community: Revisiting the Philosophy of Corporate Social Responsibility

In this study, I demonstrated that there is a corporate social contract between firms and their host communities. The implication is that the idea of the social contract places corporate social responsibility (CSR) on a conditional pivot, whereby the host communities have to fulfil their own side of the contract in order to merit CSR projects. I examined the implication of the social contract for corrupt and unaccountable host communities. I based my analysis on two philosophical frameworks, namely: one, Constructive Approach CSR (CA-CSR), and two, Restorative Approach CSR (RA-CSR). CA-CSR is hinged on the deontological and utilitarian moral frameworks, while RA-CSR is based on the restorative justice framework. Further, I developed ‘CSR Calculus’ (V = f1+n + K) to determine the value of CSR-due for a host community, in response to Milton Friedman questions of arbitrariness in the formulation of CSR projects. I also demonstrated how the CSR Calculus can be applied to determine the value of CSR owed communities by Micro, Small and Medium scale Enterprises (MSMEs). Finally, I used the ethic ‘leave a better community’ derived from the Annang proverb – Assidsip ye Akwot-kwot ete yak mfin ami afon akan mkpong (Assidsip and Akwot-kwot say make today better than yesterday) to signpost the corporate social contract and demonstrated why it is essential for every firm to commission and decommission its operations in socially responsible manner such that it can bequeath a better future society

Effect of root canal irrigant (sodium hypochlorite & saline) delivery at different temperatures and durations on pre-load and cyclic-loading surface-strain of anatomically different premolars

Aim: To evaluate the effect of NaOCl (5%) and saline (control) irrigant delivery at different temperatures and durations on pre-load and cyclic-loading tooth-surface-strain (TSS) on anatomically different premolars. Methodology: Single-rooted premolars (n = 36), root-canal-prepared in standard manner, were randomly allocated to six irrigation groups: (A1) NaOCl-21 °C; (A2) NaOCl-60 °C; (A3) saline-21 °C then NaOCl-21 °C; (A4) saline-60 °C then NaOCl-21 °C; (A5) saline-21 °C then NaOCl-60 °C; (A6) saline-60 °C then NaOCl-60 °C. A1-2 received nine 10-min irrigation periods (IP) with NaOCl; A3-6 received nine 10-min IP with saline, followed by 9 IP with NaOCl at different temperature combinations. Premolars (n = 56) with single, fused or double roots prepared by standard protocol, were stratified and randomly allocated to: (B1) saline-21 °C; (B2) saline-80 °C; (B3) NaOCl-21 °C; (B4) NaOCl-80 °C. TSS (μє) was recorded pre-irrigation, post-irrigation and pre-load for each IP and during cyclic loading 2 min after each IP, over 30–274 min, using strain-gauges. Generalised linear mixed models were used for analysis. Results: Baseline TSS in double-rooted premolars was significantly (p=0.001) lower than in single/fused-rooted-premolars; and affected by mesial-wall-thickness (p=0.005). There was significant increase in loading-TSS (μє) after NaOCl-21 °C irrigation (p=0.01) but decrease after NaOCl-60 °C irrigation (p=0.001). TSS also increased significantly (p = 0.005) after Saline-80 °C irrigation. Pre-load “strain-shift” was noted only upon first saline delivery but every-time with NaOCl. Strain-shift negatively influenced loading-TSS after saline or NaOCl irrigation (A3-6) but was only significant for saline-21 °C. Conclusions: Tooth anatomy significantly affected its strain characteristics, exhibiting limits within which strain changes occurred. Intra-canal introduction of saline or NaOCl caused non-random strain shifts without loading. Irrigation with NaOCl-21 °C increased loading tooth strain, as did saline-80 °C or NaOCl-80 °C but NaOCl-60 °C decreased it. A “chain-link” model was proposed to explain the findings and tooth biomechanics

Numerical modeling of concrete masonry walls strengthened by fiber reinforced polymers under lateral loads

The use of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) for the seismic retrofit of masonry walls is on the rise. Design formulae are available to estimate the lateral load capacity of the strengthened walls. However, recent experimental data from tests conducted on full scale concrete masonry walls under cyclic lateral loads have shown that these design capacities have not been reached because of the occurrence of other failure modes not accounted for in the design formulae. The limiting failure mode in all test samples referred to in this work was due to premature compression failure of the masonry units at the wall toe. The main goal of the current study is to develop a simple numerical model that can be readily used by practicing engineers to predict accurate levels of design capacities for strengthened masonry walls subjected to lateral loading. The numerical model needs only be sophisticated enough to provide the necessary basic information required for design purposes. A simple and efficient finite element model of the masonry wall was devised using the software package ABACUS/STANDARD. In particular, the model uses a layered shell element which allows the modeling of the masonry in addition to the FRP laminates or strips. The analysis is performed under constant vertical gravity load with monotonically increased lateral load until wall failure. Appropriate mesh sizes, boundary conditions, restraints, modeling of steel reinforcement, and the no-compression criterion for the laminates are evaluated and their effects are illustrated. Finally, a comparison between the numerical lateral loads at failure of the walls with those observed experimentally, for the different strengthening models that were tested in the laboratory, is made. Having confirmed the validity of the theoretical model, other FRP retrofit techniques are also investigated. The simple finite element model provided lateral capacities, for the investigated type and configuration of the masonry walls, which are most consistent with the experimentally observed values, yet significantly lower than predicted by the design formulae currently in use by practicing engineers

The Watkins Company v. Estate of Storms Clerk\u27s Record Dckt. 43649

https://digitalcommons.law.uidaho.edu/idaho_supreme_court_record_briefs/7122/thumbnail.jp

Restoring the Rule of Law through Department of Justice Reform

As the nation’s principal law enforcement agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ) plays a unique role in protecting U.S. democracy. Even though the attorney general is appointed by the president and serves at the president’s pleasure, a recognition of the comparable independence of the DOJ from the political priorities of the rest of the executive branch has been critical for maintaining the department’s integrity and credibility over the course of its roughly 150-year history. The DOJ powerfully reinforces both rule of law norms and democratic governance when it faithfully conforms to law and ethics. But the flip side is also true: The DOJ is particularly well situated to corrupt the rule of law when it bends legal principles to suit political aims. This chapter elaborates on a report the authors produced as co-chairs of a bipartisan working group organized in 2020 by the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Issued in October of 2020, the Report examines the tenure of former Attorney General William Barr and the functioning of the DOJ under his leadership. A core theme that arose across the many different areas of DOJ activity in that period was the degree to which the Department had become politicized and the profound effect that this had on the rule of law for the country as a whole. As this Chapter makes clear, politicization within the DOJ is not new. Over the course of the past twenty years, one can observe a wide range of DOJ functions where the effects of politicization are apparent. These include the prosecutorial functions of United States attorneys, legal advice to the Executive Branch from the Office of Legal Counsel, the supervisory role of the Attorney General, Congressional oversight of DOJ and compliance with Congressional subpoenas, appointment of independent special counsels for politically sensitive investigations and DOJ investigations of the intelligence community. This chapter includes specific suggestions for reform of DOJ to restore the law enforcement mission that is so critical to upholding the rule of law

Assembly Committee on Public Safety: 2012 Legislative Summary

MEMBERS Tom Ammiano, Chair Steve Knight, Vice Chair Gilbert Cedillo, Member Curt Hagman, Member Holly J. Mitchell, Member Nancy Skinner, Member COMMITTEE STAFF Gregory Pagan, Chief Counsel Gabriel Caswell, Counsel Sandy Uribe, Counsel Stella Y. Choe, Counsel Sue Highland, Committee Secretary Elizabeth V. Potter, Committee Secretar

Assembly Committee on Public Safety: 2012 Legislative Summary

MEMBERS Tom Ammiano, Chair Steve Knight, Vice Chair Gilbert Cedillo, Member Curt Hagman, Member Holly J. Mitchell, Member Nancy Skinner, Member COMMITTEE STAFF Gregory Pagan, Chief Counsel Gabriel Caswell, Counsel Sandy Uribe, Counsel Stella Y. Choe, Counsel Sue Highland, Committee Secretary Elizabeth V. Potter, Committee Secretar