Forfeiting legal protections to prevent crime?

In many ways, policing is a noteworthy feature of the field of criminal law. Its diverse mandate includes ensuring public order, and preventing and investigating crime. Though these roles have been traditionally managed as distinct functions, as prevention subsumes the others they are becoming more closely aligned in practice. This contribution will assess the role that AI has played in strengthening the mandate for crime prevention. It will argue that AI has been a critical tool in advancing crime prevention, but its use has outpaced legal processes and individuals may face violations of their legal interests in a legal framework ill-equipped for countering robust crime prevention measures. The article will ultimately advocate the expanding and strengthening of the legal protections afforded to criminal suspects in preventative investigations, while also addressing the way in which AI alters the enforcement of legal standards.O policiamento é, de muitas formas, uma dimensão relevante no âmbito do Direito Criminal. Os seus diversos mandatos incluem manter a ordem pública, prevenir e investigar crimes. Apesar destes papéis terem sido tradicionalmente tratados enquanto funções diferentes, como a prevenção inclui os outros, têm-se tornado, na prática, mais estreitamente alinhados. Este contributo irá servir para avaliar o papel que a AI (inteligência artificial) tem desempenhado no reforço do mandato para a prevenção do crime. Pode-se argumentar que a AI tem sido um instrumento crítico para o desenvolvimento da prevenção criminal, mas o seu uso ultrapassou os processos legais e os indivíduos podem enfrentar as violações dos seus interesses num quadro legal mal equipado para combater medidas robustas de prevenção criminal. Por fim, o artigo irá defender a expansão e reforço da proteção legal concedida aos suspeitos nas investigações preventivas, enquanto aborda também o modo como AI altera a aplicação dos padrões legais

The Effects on 3D Printed Molds on Metal Castings

Additive manufacture of sand molds via binder jetting enables the casting of complex metal geometries. Various material systems have been created for 3D printing of sand molds; however, a formal study of the materials’ effects on cast products has not yet been conducted. In this paper the authors investigate potential differences in material properties (microstructure, porosity, mechanical strength) of A356 – T6 castings resulting from two different commercially available 3D printing media. In addition, the material properties of cast products from traditional “no-bake” silica sand is used as a basis for comparison of castings produced by the 3D printed molds.Mechanical Engineerin

Geographic distribution and genetic diversity of the Ehrlichia sp. from Panola Mountain in Amblyomma americanum

Background: A novel Ehrlichia, closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium, was recently discovered from Panola Mountain State Park, GA, USA. We conducted a study to determine if this agent was recently introduced into the United States. Methods: We developed a sensitive PCR assay based on the conserved gltA (citrate synthase) gene and tested DNA samples extracted from 1964 field-collected and 1835 human-biting Amblyomma americanum from 23 eastern states of the USA. Results: The novel agent was detected in 36 ticks collected from 10 states between 1998 and 2006. Infected ticks were collected both from vegetation (n = 14, 0.7%) and from humans (n = 22, 1.2%). Fragments of the conserved gltA gene and the variable map1 gene were sequenced from positive samples. Two distinct clades, with 10.5% nucleic acid divergence over the 730 bp map1 sequence, were identified. Conclusion: These data suggest that the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia was not recently introduced to the United States; this agent has an extensive distribution throughout the range of its tick vector, has been present in some locations for several years, and displays genetic variability. Furthermore, people in several states were exposed to this agent through the bite of infected ticks, underscoring the potential public health risk of this emerging ehrlichiosis

Contrasting Patterns of Selection on the Size and Coloration of a Female Plumage Ornament in Common Yellowthroats

Females often possess ornaments that appear smaller and duller than homologous traits in males. These ornaments may arise as nonfunctional by-products of sexual selection in males and cause negative viability or fecundity selection in females in proportion to the cost of their production and maintenance. Alternatively, female ornaments may function as signals of quality that are maintained by sexual or social selection. In a 4-year study of 83 female common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) and their 222 young, we found strong viability and fecundity selection on the yellow bib, a carotenoid-based plumage ornament that is a target of sexual selection in males. Females with larger bibs were older, larger and more fecund than females with smaller bibs. However, bib size positively covaried with bib total brightness and carotenoid chroma, aspects of bib coloration that were under negative viability and fecundity selection. Females with more colourful bibs laid fewer eggs in their first clutch, were more likely to suffer total brood loss due to predation and were less likely to return to the study area. Selection against bib coloration limits the value of bib size as a quality indicator in females and may constrain the elaboration of bib attributes in males

Learning about pain from others: an observational learning account

Although direct experience and verbal instruction are important sources in the development of pain-related beliefs and behaviors, accumulating evidence indicates that observation of others in pain may be equally as important. Taking a contemporary view on learning as a starting point, we discuss available evidence on observational learning in the context of pain, highlight its importance for both development and management of chronic pain problems, and discuss potential moderators of observational learning effects. We argue that the capacity to understand and appreciate the experience of another person is fundamental to observational learning, including use of this information to establish the association between pain and antecedent or consequent stimuli. A main objective of this paper is to stimulate research on the role of learning about pain from others. Several lines for further research, including clinical applications, are delineated. Perspective: Based upon a contemporary view on learning, this focus article delineates how pain-related beliefs and behaviors may be learnt by observing others. It is discussed how further research on the acquisition of pain-related beliefs/behaviors might further our understanding of pain and disability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract