Malleable Constitutions: Reflections on State Constitutional Reform

While the U.S. Constitution is difficult to amend, most states constitutions are much easier to amend. This essay explores the implications of easily amended constitutions on the nature and quality of government. Theoretically, malleable constitutions can be more innovative and responsive to changes in society; however, they also are more likely to become another venue in which interest-group policy conflicts are played out and less likely to reflect serious deliberation among both government officials and voters. Highly stable constitutions can provide more durable protection of individual rights and other benefits based on the stability of government institutions. Our review of the experiences of state governance under malleable constitutions concludes that states can capture the benefits of both stability and malleability, and thereby improve their quality of constitutional governance, by establishing a brighter line between easy to accomplish amendments and more difficult to accomplish constitutional revisions and replacements. In particular, we recommend that constitutional provisions that establish individual political and human rights should be changed only through the revision process, while provisions about the details of governance institutions should be subject to change by an easier amendment process.Constitutional Reform, Government Stability, Human Rights

{Bis[2-(diphenyl­phosphino)eth­yl]phenyl­phosphine-κ3 P,P′,P′′}chloridoplatinium(II) hexa­fluoridophosphate

In the title compound, [PtCl(C34H33P3)]PF6, the PtII cation adopts a distorted square-planar PtClP3 geometry, arising from the P,P′,P′′-tridentate triphos ligand and a chloride ion. Four of the F atoms of the PF6 − anion are disordered over two sets of positions in a 0.614 (17):0.386 (17) ratio

Cassini atmospheric chemistry mapper. Volume 1. Investigation and technical plan

The Cassini Atmospheric Chemistry Mapper (ACM) enables a broad range of atmospheric science investigations for Saturn and Titan by providing high spectral and spatial resolution mapping and occultation capabilities at 3 and 5 microns. ACM can directly address the major atmospheric science objectives for Saturn and for Titan, as defined by the Announcement of Opportunity, with pivotal diagnostic measurements not accessible to any other proposed Cassini instrument. ACM determines mixing ratios for atmospheric molecules from spectral line profiles for an important and extensive volume of the atmosphere of Saturn (and Jupiter). Spatial and vertical profiles of disequilibrium species abundances define Saturn's deep atmosphere, its chemistry, and its vertical transport phenomena. ACM spectral maps provide a unique means to interpret atmospheric conditions in the deep (approximately 1000 bar) atmosphere of Saturn. Deep chemistry and vertical transport is inferred from the vertical and horizontal distribution of a series of disequilibrium species. Solar occultations provide a method to bridge the altitude range in Saturn's (and Titan's) atmosphere that is not accessible to radio science, thermal infrared, and UV spectroscopy with temperature measurements to plus or minus 2K from the analysis of molecular line ratios and to attain an high sensitivity for low-abundance chemical species in the very large column densities that may be achieved during occultations for Saturn. For Titan, ACM solar occultations yield very well resolved (1/6 scale height) vertical mixing ratios column abundances for atmospheric molecular constituents. Occultations also provide for detecting abundant species very high in the upper atmosphere, while at greater depths, detecting the isotopes of C and O, constraining the production mechanisms, and/or sources for the above species. ACM measures the vertical and horizontal distribution of aerosols via their opacity at 3 microns and, particularly, at 5 microns. ACM recovers spatially-resolved atmospheric temperatures in Titan's troposphere via 3- and 5-microns spectral transitions. Together, the mixing ratio profiles and the aerosol distributions are utilized to investigate the photochemistry of the stratosphere and consequent formation processes for aerosols. Finally, ring opacities, observed during solar occultations and in reflected sunlight, provide a measurement of the particle size and distribution of ring material. ACM will be the first high spectral resolution mapping spectrometer on an outer planet mission for atmospheric studies while retaining a high resolution spatial mapping capability. ACM, thus, opens an entirely new range of orbital scientific studies of the origin, physio-chemical evolution and structure of the Saturn and Titan atmospheres. ACM provides high angular resolution spectral maps, viewing nadir and near-limb thermal radiation and reflected sunlight; sounds planetary limbs, spatially resolving vertical profiles to several atmospheric scale heights; and measures solar occultations, mapping both atmospheres and rings. ACM's high spectral and spatial resolution mapping capability is achieved with a simplified Fourier Transform spectrometer with a no-moving parts, physically compact design. ACM's simplicity guarantees an inherent stability essential for reliable performance throughout the lengthy Cassini Orbiter mission

Chemistry and Pharmacokinetics of Gallium Maltolate, a Compound With High Oral Gallium Bioavailability

Gallium maltolate, tris(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-onato)gallium (GaM), is an orally active gallium compound for therapeutic use. It is moderately soluble in water (10.7 ± 0.9 mg/mL at 25∘C) with an octanol partition coefficient of 0.41±0.08. The molecule is electrically neutral in aqueous solution at neutral pH; a dilute aqueous solution (2.5 ×10−-5 M) showed little dissociation at pH 5.5-8.0. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis found the GaM molecule to consist of three maltolate ligands bidentately bound to a central gallium atom in a propeller-like arrangement, with one of the ligands disordered in two possible orientations. The compound is orthorhombic, space group Pbca, unit cell a = 16.675(3), b = 12.034(2), c = 18.435(2) Å at 158K. GaM was administered to healthy human volunteers at single doses of 100, 200, 300, and 500 mg (three subjects per dose). GaM was very well tolerated. Oral absorption of Ga into plasma was fairly rapid (absorption half life = 0.8-2.0h), with a central compartment excretion half life of 17-21h. Absorption appeared dose proportional over the dosage range studied. Estimated oral gallium bioavailability was approximately 25-57%, based on comparison with published data on intravenous gallium nitrate. Urinary Ga excretion following oral GaM administration was approximately 2% of the administered dose over 72h, in contrast to 49-94% urinary Ga excretion over 24h following i.v. gallium nitrate administration. We suggest that oral administration of GaM results in nearly all plasma gallium being bound to transferrin, whereas i.v. administration of gallium nitrate results in formation of considerable plasma gallate [Ga(OH)4−], which is rapidly excreted in the urine. These data support the continued investigation of GaM as an orally active therapeutic gallium compound

[Diphenyldi(pyrazol-1-yl)methane]­dinitratocobalt(II)

In the title compound, [Co(NO3)2(C19H16N4)], the diphenyl­dipyrazolylmethane ligand coordinates to CoII in a bidentate fashion forming a six-membered ring with an approximate boat configuration. The mean planes of the two pyrazolyl rings are separated by an angle of 39.6 (2)°. The coordination at the CoII center is best described as distorted octa­hedral with two NO3 − anions serving as bidentate ligands for charge balance. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the two nitrate rings is 85.0 (1)° and that between the mean planes of the two phenyl rings is 73.7 (1)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O and intra­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen-bond inter­actions

Stroke saturation on a MEMS deformable mirror for woofer-tweeter adaptive optics

High-contrast imaging of extrasolar planet candidates around a main-sequence star has recently been realized from the ground using current adaptive optics (AO) systems. Advancing such observations will be a task for the Gemini Planet Imager, an upcoming "extreme" AO instrument. High-order "tweeter" and low-order "woofer" deformable mirrors (DMs) will supply a >90%-Strehl correction, a specialized coronagraph will suppress the stellar flux, and any planets can then be imaged in the "dark hole" region. Residual wavefront error scatters light into the DM-controlled dark hole, making planets difficult to image above the noise. It is crucial in this regard that the high-density tweeter, a micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) DM, have sufficient stroke to deform to the shapes required by atmospheric turbulence. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the rate and circumstance of saturation, i.e. stroke insufficiency. A 1024-actuator 1.5-um-stroke MEMS device was empirically tested with software Kolmogorov-turbulence screens of r_0=10-15cm. The MEMS when solitary suffered saturation ~4% of the time. Simulating a woofer DM with ~5-10 actuators across a 5-m primary mitigated MEMS saturation occurrence to a fraction of a percent. While no adjacent actuators were saturated at opposing positions, mid-to-high-spatial-frequency stroke did saturate more frequently than expected, implying that correlations through the influence functions are important. Analytical models underpredict the stroke requirements, so empirical studies are important.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

2-(Thio­phen-2-yl)-1-(thio­phen-2-ylmeth­yl)-1H-benzimidazole

In the title compound, C16H12N2S2, the thio­phene groups are rotationally disordered over two sets of sites, by approximately 180°, with occupancy ratios of 0.916 (2):0.084 (2) and 0.903 (2):0.097 (2). The major components of the thio­phene and methyl­ene substituted thio­phene rings are canted by 24.06 (12) and 85.07 (10)°, respectively, from the benzimidazole ring system plane and the dihedral angle between the major component thio­phene ring planes is 84.90 (14)°. In the crystal, there is a weak C—H⋯N hydrogen bond which links mol­ecules into chains

Bis(1,4,7-trithia­cyclo­nona­ne)nickel(II) bis­(tetra­fluorido­borate) nitro­methane disolvate

The homoleptic thio­ether title complex, [Ni(C6H12S3)2](BF4)2·2CH3NO2, shows the expeced hexa­kis­(thio­ether) octa­hedral environment around the NiII atom. It crystallized as two crystallographically independent complex cations, [Ni(9S3)2]2+ (9S3 = 1,4,7-trithia­cyclo­nona­ne), within the unit cell where each NiII lies on an inversion center. In addition to the complex cations, there are two crystallographically independent BF4 − anions present to balance the charge, and each shows disorder along a pseudo-C 3 axis with ratios of 0.53 (2):0.47 (2) and 0.55 (2):0.45 (2). Two nitro­methane solvent mol­ecules per complex cation are also present in the unit cell

Здоров'я як життєва цінність

Не можна не відзначити все зростаючий останнім часом інтерес до здорового способу життя. Рано чи пізно починаєш замислюватися, що спосіб життя, який зараз ведеш, не кращим чином позначається на здоров'ї, тому тема здорового способу життя є актуальною. Найчастіше людина починає замислюватися про свій спосіб життя і здоров'я, коли наздоганяє якась проблема, з'являється хвороба чи нездужання. Турбота про своє здоров'я не має бути проблемою, турбота про своє здоров'я повинна бути образом життя, про що свідчать 7 найважливіших правил здорового способу життя