Toward a European Bund. The Constitutionalism Deficit of Integration and How to Fix It

This dissertation examines the nature of the European political and legal order and evaluates it in light of the principles of liberal and democratic constitutionalism. The EU, I argue, has features of both an international organization and a heterarchical federation, or Bund, in which neither the units nor the center are sovereign and the member state peoples retain their independent political existence. Due to its peculiar hybrid character, the status quo has a constitutionalism deficit: enforcement of formal competence limits is weak, the legislative process is undemocratic, and the European Court of Justice wields too much unchecked power to elaborate the content of basic rights. Adequate reform would eliminate residual features of the international organization model and establish a proper Bund. The dissertation examines how this political form differs from a federal state and provides normative reasons to prefer a heterarchical solution. I further contend that in a possible future Bund, domestic parliaments should have a stronger oversight role. The European Parliament might then still have a supporting function, but direct election would no longer be useful and indeed counterproductive. Last, the dissertation argues that if a federal compact were agreed upon, the best ratification method would be to hold national conventions, similar to the state assemblies that ratified the US constitution. This procedure is superior to both a national referendum and a vote of the domestic parliament

Fallstudie Luise R. : Ein Fall von Hysterie

Luise R. war eine 25-jährige Patientin, die in den Jahren 1886/87 fünf Monate in der Anstalt Bellevue verbrachte. Die Patientin litt unter einer hysterischen Neurose mit Unfähigkeit zu stehen und zu gehen und mit sozialer Isolierung. Im Bellevue wurde versucht, sie durch soziale, geistige und körperliche Ertüchtigung und einen geregelten Tagesablauf aus ihrer Isolierung zu befreien und ihre Willenskraft zu stärken. Luise R. wurde auf Ebstein’sche Diät gesetzt, nahm warme Bäder und machte Geh- und Stehübungen. Auf ihren eigenen Wunsch hin und mit der Unterstützung ihres Vaters wurde sie gegen den Rat der Ärzte praktisch ungeheilt entlassen

Spray characteristics of diesel fuel containing dissolved CO2

The effect of adding CO2 to diesel fuel has been studied by several groups that used tailor-made injectionsystems to achieve notable low Sauter mean diameters (SMDs). In the present study, we use a real commercial fuel injection system and study the effect of the amount of dissolved CO2 on the resulting spray characteristics. In this case, when the mixture enters the injector and flows downstream through the variable cross-section passage toward the discharge orifice, partial nucleation of the dissolved gas is expected to occur at different locations along the duct, which transforms the mixture into tiny bubbles that grow fast downstream. When the mixture is driven out through the discharge orifice, these bubbles undergo arapid flashing process that results in an intensive disintegration of the liquid bulk into small droplets. Inthe present study, we present an experimental study of the atomization process of diesel fuel containing dissolved CO2 that occurs in steady flow conditions. An extensive study was performed to map the effect of the CO2 content on the spray SMD and droplet distribution at different locations downstream the discharge orifice. It is concluded that the atomization of diesel fuel containing dissolved CO2, is significantly promoted by the flash-boiling phenomenon, which results in low SMD sprays, low D0.1 droplets, a faster breakup mechanism, and a more uniform droplet size distributio

The Effect of Age on Decision Making During Unprotected Turns Across Oncoming Traffic

The present study examined whether age-related differences in quantitative measures of left-tum performance could explain older drivers\u27 increased susceptibility to crashing while making unprotected left turns across traffic. Older and younger adults made left turns across traffic in a driving simulator. Time to decide to turn, time to negotiate the turn, the size of the accepted gap, gap clearance, and time to collision with an oncoming vehicle were measured. Significant effects of age were found in decision time, turn time and gap size. A significant interaction between age group and the speed of oncoming traffic was obtained for decision time. Implications for older adult\u27s safety and future directions are discussed

An- und Abreicherung von Schwermetallen in derRhizosphäre und deren Entzug durch landwirtschaftliche Kulturpflanzen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Aspekte einer Phytosanierung

In Klimakammer- und Gewächshausversuchen wurde mit Rhizoboxen bzw. Pflanzgefäßen das Verhalten von Cd, Cu, Pb und Zn in der Rhizosphäre von Feldsalat, Spinat, Weizen, Sonnenblume, Salat und Senf untersucht. Ziel der Untersuchungen war es, Ab- und Anreicherungsprozesse von SM in der Rhizosphäre zu erfassen und Erklärungen für die variablen Rhizosphärenprofile der SM zu finden. Dabei zeigte sich, dass die H2O-extrahierbare bzw. Citronensäure-extrahierbare Cd-, Pb- und Zn-Fraktion häufig in der Rhizosphäre verarmt wurde, während bei Cu typischerweise Anreicherungen beobachtet wurden. Anders verhielt es sich bei der mittels NH4NO3-Extraktion charakterisierten mobilen SM-Fraktion. Hier konnte eine Anreicherung für alle untersuchten SM im wurzelnahen Boden nachgewiesen werden. Einzig bei Weizen wurde auch bei dieser Extraktion für Zn eine Abreicherung gefunden. Diese Variabilität in der Profilausbildung ist vermutlich auf die unterschiedliche Nährstoffaufnahme bei Monokotylen und Dikotylen zurückzuführen. H2O- und Citronensäure-Extraktion unterschätzen dabei häufig den pflanzlichen Entzug, während mit der NH4NO3-Extraktion der Entzug gewöhnlich überschätzt wird. Für Cd, Cu und Pb scheint die Nachlieferung bei Verarmung der wasserextrahierbaren Fraktion aus der mobilen Fraktion zu kommen. Es gibt Hinweise, dass die organisch gebundene Fraktion bei Cu und Pb ebenfalls an einer Nachlieferung beteiligt ist. Für Zn scheinen die lösliche und die mobile Fraktion meist nicht ausreichend für die pflanzliche Ernährung. Hier kommt es zu einer Nachlieferung aus entweder der in Mn-Oxiden okkludierten Fraktion oder ebenfalls aus der organisch gebundenen Fraktion. Lösliche Zn-Organo-Komplexe sind für dikotyle Pflanzen als nicht verfügbar anzusehen. Die Düngungsstrategie ist in besonderem Maße geeignet, einen Einfluss auf die Bioverfügbarkeit der SM auszuüben. Im Vergleich zu einer ungedüngten Variante werden die löslichen und mobilen SM-Gehalte - mit Ausnahme des Cu - vermutlich durch Phosphat beeinflusst. Eine 6 mmolare EDTA-Gabe resultierte bei Feldsalat in einer Hyperakkumulation von Cd.Accumulation and depletion of heavy metals in the rhizosphere and their removal by agricultural crops with particular regard to the aspects of phytoremediation In growth chamber and greenhouse experiments the attitude of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the rhizosphere of lettuce, spinach, wheat, sunflower and Indian mustard was explored using different techniques to collect rhizosphere soil. The aim of the study was to conceive accumulation and depletion processes of heavy metals in the rhizosphere and to decide an explication for the wide variability of rhizosphere profiles. It was shown, that commonly the H2O- and citric acid-extractable fractions of Cd, Pb and Zn were depleted in the rhizosphere, whereas for Cu typically accumulations were observed. The results of the NH4NO3-extraction, characterizing the mobile heavy metal-fraction, were reciprocally. Except for Zn, which was depleted in the rhizosphere of wheat for all other tested heavy metals an accumulation in the soil close to the roots was observed. This seems to be linked with the varying nutrient acquisition strategy of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. The extraction with H2O and citric acid, respectively, often underestimate the plant removal, whilst the NH4NO3-extraction commonly overestimates the removal of heavy metals. After depletion of the H2O-extractable fraction of Cd, Cu and Pb there seems to be an additional delivery from the mobile fraction. There is evidence that the organic bound fractions of Cu and Pb were also involved in the additional delivery. The soluble and mobile fraction of Zn do often not cover the demand of the plant. The additional delivery appears to be derived either from the fraction occluded in Mn-Oxides or also from the organic bound fraction. Soluble Zn-organic complexes seem to be not available to dicotyledonous plants. The fertilization strategy is notably applicable to influence the bioavailability of heavy metals in soils. As compared with an unfertilized treatment the impairment of the soluble and mobile heavy metal content - except for Cu - in soils is presumably influenced by phosphate. The application of 6 mM EDTA resulted in a hyperaccumulation of Cd by lettuce

Towards Operationalizing Driver Distraction

Driver distraction has been the subject of much research interest and scientific inquiry. Operationalizing driver distraction is a complex task—one that is necessary for advancing both science and public policy in this domain. While many operational definitions can be gathered from the literature, gaps are common. In order to fill such gaps, 21 experts reviewed 55 driver distraction definitions in the literature. Aided by the results of a pre-workshop questionnaire the experts narrowed these definitions. The Regan et al. (2011) definition of driver distraction was agreed to at a workshop. Subsidiary terms related to this definition were defined to improve clarity and applicability of the definition. It is hoped that a consistent and agreed definition of driver distraction and its associated terms will advance scientific progress in understanding and measuring driver distraction

Exploring endoperoxides as a new entry for the synthesis of branched azasugars

A new class of nitrogen-containing endoperoxides were synthesised by a photochemical [4 + 2]-cycloaddition between a diene and singlet oxygen. The endoperoxides were dihydroxylated and protected to provide a series of endoperoxide building blocks for organic synthesis, with potential use as precursors for the synthesis of branched azasugars. Preliminary exploration of the chemistry of these building blocks provided access to a variety of derivatives including tetrahydrofurans, epoxides and protected amino-tetraols

Health-related Quality of Life in Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy: short-term effects, long-term effects and predictors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The impact of Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB, 11-Gauge) upon Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) remains an open field. This study aims to: i) assess short-term (4 days after VABB) responses in terms of HRQoL after VABB, ii) evaluate long-term (18 months after VABB) responses, if any, and iii) examine whether these responses are modified by a variety of possible predictors (anthropometric, sociodemographic, lifestyle habits, breast-related parameters, reproductive history, VABB-related features and complications, seasonality).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study included 102 eligible patients undergoing VABB and having benign lesions. A variable number of cores (24-96 cores) has been excised. HRQoL was assessed by EQ-5D and SF-36^®questionnaires: i) in the morning of the VABB procedure day (baseline measurement), ii) four days after VABB (early post-biopsy measurement) and iii) 18 months after VABB (late post-biopsy measurement). Statistical analysis comprised two steps: i. evaluation of differences in EQ-5D/SF-36 dimensions and calculated scores (baseline versus early post-biopsy measurement and baseline versus late post-biopsy measurement) and ii. assessment of predictors through multivariate linear, logistic, ordinal logistic regression, as appropriate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At baseline patients presented with considerable anxiety (EQ-5D anxiety/depression dimension, EQ-5D TTO/VAS indices, SF-36 Mental Health dimension). At the early post-biopsy measurement women exhibited deterioration in Usual Activities (EQ-5D) and Role Functioning-Physical dimensions. At the late measurement women exhibited pain (EQ-5D pain/discomfort and SF-36 Bodily Pain), deterioration in Physical Functioning (SF-36 PF) and overall SF-36 Physical Component Scale (PCS). Mastalgia, older age and lower income emerged as significant predictors for baseline anxiety, whereas seasonality modified early activities-related responses. Pain seemed idiosyncratic.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The HRQoL profile of patients suggests that VABB exerts effects prior to its performance at a psychological level, immediately after its performance at a functioning-physical level and entails long-term effects associated with pain.</p