International Legal Scholarship in Canada

International law scholarship in Canada is largely limited to a small group of decentralized writers facing a vast and ill-defined field. In those areas in which significant work has been undertaken - the law of the sea, for example - Canadian scholarship is limited by a commitment to a national perspective rather than a recognition of the interests of the global community. The work is largely descriptive, and avoids a deeper theoretical analysis. International law is seen as a fringe discipline, and is presently unable to support the specialized effort necessary to produce the fundamental research that is badly needed if the significance of the area is to be recognize

Spin and orbital moments of ultra-thin Fe films on various semiconductor surfaces

The magnetic moments of ultrathin Fe films on three different III-V semiconductor substrates, namely GaAs, InAs and In0.2Ga0.8As have been measured with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at room temperature to assess their relative merits as combinations suitable for next-generation spintronic devices. The results revealed rather similar spin moments and orbital moments for the three systems, suggesting the relationship between film and semiconductor lattice parameters to be less critical to magnetic moments than magnetic anisotropy

Polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit k_v1.4 by interacting with positively charged extracellular pore residues

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate voltage-gated K(+) channel inactivation by an unknown site and mechanism. The effects of ω-6 and ω-3 PUFAs were investigated on the heterologously expressed K(v)1.4 channel. PUFAs inhibited wild-type K(v)1.4 during repetitive pulsing as a result of slowing of recovery from inactivation. In a mutant K(v)1.4 channel lacking N-type inactivation, PUFAs reversibly enhanced C-type inactivation (K(d), 15–43 μM). C-type inactivation was affected by extracellular H(+) and K(+) as well as PUFAs and there was an interaction among the three: the effect of PUFAs was reversed during acidosis and abolished on raising K(+). Replacement of two positively charged residues in the extracellular pore (H508 and K532) abolished the effects of the PUFAs (and extracellular H(+) and K(+)) on C-type inactivation but had no effect on the lipoelectric modulation of voltage sensor activation, suggesting two separable interaction sites/mechanisms of action of PUFAs. Charge calculations suggest that the acidic head group of the PUFAs raises the pK(a) of H508 and this reduces the K(+) occupancy of the selectivity filter, stabilizing the C-type inactivated state

Strategy for Expanding Nutrition Professionals’ Competency: A Pilot Case Study in Dissemination and Implementation Science Training

Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) science trainings are essential to build knowledge among a variety of current and future health professionals. The objective of this study was to pilot-test and assess implementation of a nutrition-specific D&I science training. Participants (students enrolled in nutrition and public health programs) completed pre/post surveys and exit interviews. Descriptive statistics and a qualitative thematic analysis used deductive coding; in which coding and theme development are directed by existing concepts. Initial coding was completed by one researcher and validated by an additional researcher to describe and provide examples of the categories the Kirkpatrick Model and Implementation Outcomes Framework. The evaluation of the training was positively supported through the Kirkpatrick Scale results (mean scores between 6.94 ± 1.7 (Learning) and 7.35 ± 1.9 (Reaction)) and qualitative findings (increased confidence in D&I science and positive feedback on active learning strategies (application-based learning, mentorship, and discussions). Participants (n=8) described the learning activities (case studies, discussions, projects), the structure of the course (flipped classroom, content, learning strategies), the setting (hybrid, online), and mentorship (continuous feedback on assignments) as enabling effective implementation, which reflects with positive Implementation Outcome findings (3.59 ± 1.26, appropriateness score 3.94 ± 0.85, and feasibility score of 4.09 ± 0.67). These findings support positive implementation feasibility and program evaluation. Future studies need to compare changes in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among current or future nutrition professionals before and after completing this training

Torsion and vibration-torsion levels of the S1 and ground cation electronic states of para-fluorotoluene

We investigate the low-energy transitions (0–570 cm-1) of the S1 state of para-fluorotoluene (pFT) using a combination of resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and zero-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. By using various S1 states as intermediate levels, we obtain zero-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) spectra. The differing activity observed allows detailed assignments to be made of both the cation and S1 low-energy levels. The assignments are in line with the recently-published work on toluene from the Lawrance group [J. Chem. Phys. 143, 044313 (2015)], which considered vibration-torsion coupling in depth for the S1 state of toluene. In addition, we investigate whether two bands that occur in the range 390–420 cm-1 are the result of a Fermi resonance; we present evidence for weak coupling between various vibrations and torsions that contribute to this region. This work has led to the identification of a number of misassignments in the literature, and these are corrected