Conflicts of Interest and Institutional Litigants

This paper uses techniques borrowed from the field of game theory to describe rational bargaining among institutional litigants, and explains how the results, while often not leading to the rational outcome in a given case, do rationally serve a more general strategy. The paper then reviews the law on conflicts of interests and concludes that such conflicts—as between attorney and client, and among clients—will often result when institutional litigants bargain. The paper continues with a review on the law of waiver and provides a basis to accommodate the conflicts of interests. That accommodation however will often not be practical, and so conflicts of interests will often result. I conclude with a suggestion that the rules of professional responsibility be modified

The Opinion of Machines

With the two goals of providing (a) an introduction to the technology of neural networks and (b) an argument for the admissibility of machine opinion, this Article introduces the technology by first looking at the relatively familiar operation of technology-assisted review (TAR) of documents in a typical case. The Article then outlines the extensive application of neural networks in the real world, which is used later to argue that systems trusted in the field should be trusted in court. The Article then turns to the law of evidence, focusing on the rules governing the admissibility of computer-stored and computer-generated data, including animations and simulations. The theme of those sections is, again, that reliability drives admissibility. This sets the stage for the Article’s central contention, made through four arguments, that the output of neural networks be admissible in court. The Article ends by invoking the need for meaningful cross-examination, setting out the risks—and so the likely targets of that crossexamination—which attend the admission of opinions generated by neural networks

Micron-sized atom traps made from magneto-optical thin films

We have produced magnetic patterns suitable for trapping and manipulating neutral atoms on a $1 \mu$m length scale. The required patterns are made in Co/Pt thin films on a silicon substrate, using the heat from a focussed laser beam to induce controlled domain reversal. In this way we draw lines and "paint" shaped areas of reversed magnetization with sub-micron resolution. These structures produce magnetic microtraps above the surface that are suitable for holding rubidium atoms with trap frequencies as high as ~1 MHz.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Heavy Metal, Organochlorine Pesticide and Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination in Arctic Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus Parryi) in Northern Alaska

Heavy metal and organochlorine (OC) concentrations including organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), were determined in arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryi) from three sites in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska in 1991-93. Heavy metals were present in most squirrel livers collected, with concentrations of trace elements (As, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Pb) averaging below 1 micro g/g wet weight. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'-DDE, gamma hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH), trans-nonachlor, and PCBs 138, 153, and 170 were the most frequently detected OCs in fat and liver. Average concentrations of individual OC analytes were below 20 ng/g wet weight in liver and below 15 ng/g wet weight in fat. Rank correlations indicate that concentrations of heavy metals and of OCs accumulate in concert with one another (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn; PCBs 138, 170, and 180). Although heavy metal and OC concentrations are low relative to other areas and other arctic species, the occurrence of these compounds illustrates the global pervasiveness of persistent organic compounds and the potential for bioaccumulation in the terrestrial arctic food web.De 1991 à 1993, on a mesuré les concentrations en métaux lourds et en organochlorés, y compris des pesticides organochlorés et des congénères du diphényle polychloré (PCB), chez le spermophile arctique (Spermophilus parryi) à trois endroits situés dans la chaîne de Brooks de l'Alaska septentrional. On a trouvé des métaux lourds dans la plupart des foies de spermophiles prélevés, avec des concentrations en éléments traces (As, Cd, Hg, Ni et Pb) inférieures en moyenne à 1 µg/g de poids frais. L'hexachlorobenzène (HCB), le p,p'-DDE, l'hexachlorocyclohexane gamma (HCH-gamma), le trans-nonachlore et les PCB 138, 153 et 170 étaient les organochlorés les plus fréquemment détectés dans le tissu adipeux et le foie. Les concentrations moyennes des organochlorés analysés individuellement étaient inférieures à 20 ng/g de poids frais pour le foie et à 15 ng/g de poids frais pour le tissu adipeux. Les corrélations de rang révèlent que les concentrations en métaux lourds augmentent de concert avec celles en organochlorés (As, Cd, Cu et Zn; PCB 138, 170 et 180). Bien que les concentrations en métaux lourds et en organochlorés soient faibles par rapport à celles d'autres régions et à celles d'autres espèces arctiques, la présence de ces composés illustre l'omniprésence planétaire de composés organiques persistants et le potentiel pour une accumulation biologique dans le réseau trophique terrestre de l'Arctique

Seizure activity and brain damage in a model of focal non-convulsive <i>status epilepticus</i>

Aims: Focal non-convulsive status epilepticus (FncSE) is a common emergency condition that may present as the first epileptic manifestation. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that de novo FncSE should be promptly treated to improve post-status outcome. Whether seizure activity occurring during the course of the FncSE contributes to ensuing brain damage has not been demonstrated unequivocally and is here addressed. Methods: We used continuous video-EEG monitoring to characterise an acute experimental FncSE model induced by unilateral intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid (KA) in guinea pigs. Immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression analysis were utilised to detect and quantify brain injury, 3-days and 1-month after FncSE. Results: Seizure activity occurring during the course of FncSE involved both hippocampi equally. Neuronal loss, blood-brain barrier permeability changes, gliosis and up-regulation of inflammation, activity-induced and astrocyte-specific genes were observed in the KA-injected hippocampus. Diazepam treatment reduced FncSE duration and KA-induced neuropathological damage. In the contralateral hippocampus, transient and possibly reversible gliosis with increase of aquaporin-4 and Kir4.1 genes were observed 3 days post-KA. No tissue injury and gene expression changes were found 1-month after FncSE. Conclusions: In our model, focal seizures occurring during FncSE worsen ipsilateral KA-induced tissue damage. FncSE only transiently activated glia in regions remote from KA-injection, suggesting that seizure activity during FncSE without local pathogenic co-factors does not promote long-lasting detrimental changes in the brain. These findings demonstrate that in our experimental model, brain damage remains circumscribed to the area where the primary cause (KA) of the FncSE acts. Our study emphasises the need to use antiepileptic drugs to contain local damage induced by focal seizures that occur during FncSE