1998 and Beyond in New Caledonia: At Freedom\u27s Gate?

This article examines the upcoming 1998 referendum on self-determination in New Caledonia through the larger contextual lens of French historical involvement in the territory. The article addresses the impact French colonization has had on Kanak culture, legal institutions, social organization and economic livelihood. The historical policies of the French government are canvassed by exploring the manner in which France manipulated the legal process and political institutions it created in New Caledonia to entrench colonial control. The article concludes that the process of decolonization is unlikely to be completed in the near future. Finally, the article discusses the potential consequences for France and the international community of French non-compliance with its international legal obligations

Thinking beyond health to motivate dietary change: piloting a vegan healthy eating program for obesity management

This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a novel approach to facilitating dietary change and weight loss in obese adults by presenting vegan environmental, health and farm animal treatment information in a 6 week, group-based, educational nutrition program (called a vegan healthy eating program). Twenty-nine (29) medically stable, obese adults were recruited from 3 ambulatory care clinics at UCSF and enrolled using partial randomization into one of two serially occurring intervention groups (Group 1 n=14, followed by Group 2 n=15). A delayed intervention control group (n=9) was used, consisting of participants enrolled in Group 2 who were available for collection of baseline measures prior to the start of Group 1s intervention. All intervention participants provided data immediately following their vegan healthy eating program (2 months post baseline) and again at 3 and 9 months post baseline. 10% of initial contacts (29 patients) met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were enrolled; 25 participants were retained at 3 months, 20 at 9 months. Mean intervention session satisfaction as measured by anonymous surveys using a 1-7 Likert scale (1=extremely unsatisfied, 7=extremely satisfied) was 6.2 (SD=1.1). Statistically significant reductions in calories from animal products, percent fat, cholesterol and increases in the recommended food score, fruits and vegetable servings were observed within the intervention group only, at all timepoints. Mean weight change was +2.8 lbs (3.0, n=8, p=0.035) in control participants after 4.3 weeks, and -3.4 lbs (5.0, n=25, p=0.002), -5.9 lbs (7.7, n=25, p=0.001), and -8.8 lbs (14.2, n=20, p=0.012) after 7.3, 15.6 and 41.7 weeks in intervention participants, respectively. In conclusion, this vegan healthy eating program demonstrated good feasibility, high satisfaction, and facilitated a shift towards a plant-based diet and modest, progressive short-term weight loss among intervention participants

Torts - Non-delegable Duty - Automobile Owner Is Liable Under a Non-delegable Duty For the Negligence of an Independent Contractor Who Failed to Maintain Her Brakes in Compliance With the Vehicle Code. Maloney v. Rath (Cal. 1968)

This recent case discusses Maloney v. Rath (Cal. 1968

Torts - Mental Distress - Defendant Is Liable for Negligently Inflicted Emotional Distress Suffered by a Foreseeable Plaintiff Who is Outside the Zone of Danger. Dillon v. Legg (Cal. 1968)

This recent case discusses Dillon v. Legg (Cal. 1968)

Non-Hermitian description of a superconducting phase qubit measurement

We present an approach based on a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian to describe the process of measurement by tunneling of a phase qubit state. We derive simple analytical expressions which describe the dynamics of measurement, and compare our results with those experimentally available.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Suppression of Intensity Fluctuations in Free Space High-Speed Optical Communication Based on Spectral Encoding of a Partially Coherent Beam

A new concept of a free-space, high-speed (Gbps) optical communication system based on spectral encoding of radiation from a broadband pulsed laser is developed. It is shown that, in combination with the use of partially coherent laser beams and a relatively slow photosensor, scintillations can be suppressed by orders of magnitude for distances of more than 10 km. We also consider the spectral encoding of radiation from a LED as a gigabit rate solution of the "last mile" problem and rapid-deployment systems for disaster recovery.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure