8 research outputs found

    Inequitable Sentencing for Possession of Child Pornography: A Failure to Distinguish Voyeurs from Pederasts

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    This Note identifies several infirmities of United States Sentencing Guideline section 2 G2.2, the sentencing scheme for possession of child pornography. The production and web-based dissemination of child pornography images has increased substantially over the past decade. The Department of Justice has aggressively prosecuted these crimes under the rationale that (r) possession of child pornography leads to contact offenses, (2) demand drives supply, and (3) the mere availability of an image or video constitutes continued and indirect abuse of the child depicted. In light of these and other concerns, Congress has enacted dramatic increases in the potential sentences for possessors of child pornography. In this Note, I argue that the Sentencing Commission should amend the guidelines for possession of child pornography because empirical evidence calls into question the asserted link between possession of child pornography and future sexual assaults of children. Moreover, the guidelines fail to consider the nature of internet downloading, and thus most of the enhancements are actually a core facet of basic possession. Numerous federal district courts have taken note of these deficiencies and have sentenced defendants below the applicable guideline ranges. Though the Supreme Court\u27s recent decisions in Rita and Kim brough permit trial courts to disregard sentencing guidelines that lack empirical support, most courts still rely heavily on the guidelines to impose lengthy sentences. Accordingly, I propose that the Sentencing Commission amend section 2 G2.2 in a manner that reflects the tenuous connection between possession and contact offenses, as well as the realities of internet use

    Patterns of Haemoproteus Beckeri Parasitism in the Gray Catbird (Dumatella Carolinensis) During the Breeding Season

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    We determined the prevalence and intensity of blood parasites in breeding gray catbirds (Dumatella carolinensis) at Killbuck Wildlife Area in Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio (USA) from June through August 2000. Of 98 catbirds sampled, 40 (40.8%) had detectable infections of Haemoproteus beckeri. Overall prevalence of H. beckeri in this population is high relative to that reported in earlier blood parasite surveys of both breeding and migrant catbirds. Mean intensity of H. beckeri infection did not vary significantly between young and old birds or among sampling periods. We found no effect of age on prevalence or intensity of H. beckeri infection. Older birds were not more likely to be infected than younger birds, despite longer exposure to arthropod vectors. Prevalence varied significantly with season and was highest in June and lowest in August. This pattern also was observed in older birds sampled repeatedly. This seasonal variation may reflect both newly acquired infections and chronic infections relapsing in response to hormonal changes associated with breeding. Evidence of transmission was observed in the single hatching year bird that lacked detectable infection in early summer, but demonstrated a very high intensity infection in late summer. These observations provide supportive evidence that hematozoa infections are acquired on the breeding grounds during the first year of life and relapse during the breeding season in subsequent years

    Monoaminergic Antidepressants in the Relief of Pain: Potential Therapeutic Utility of Triple Reuptake Inhibitors (TRIs)

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    Over 75% of depressed patients suffer from painful symptoms predicting a greater severity and a less favorable outcome of depression. Imaging, anatomical and functional studies have demonstrated the existence of common brain structures, neuronal pathways and neurotransmitters in depression and pain. In particular, the ascending serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways originating from the raphe nuclei and the locus coeruleus; respectively, send projections to the limbic system. Such pathways control many of the psychological functions that are disturbed in depression and in the perception of pain. On the other hand, the descending pathways, from monoaminergic nuclei to the spinal cord, are specifically implicated in the inhibition of nociception providing rationale for the use of serotonin (5-HT) and/or norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, NRIs, SNRIs), in the relief of pain. Compelling evidence suggests that dopamine (DA) is also involved in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Indeed, recent insights have demonstrated a central role for DA in analgesia through an action at both the spinal and suprasinal levels including brain regions such as the periaqueductal grey (PAG), the thalamus, the basal ganglia and the limbic system. In this context, dopaminergic antidepressants (i.e., containing dopaminergic activity), such as bupropion, nomifensine and more recently triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs), might represent new promising therapeutic tools in the treatment of painful symptoms with depression. Nevertheless, whether the addition of the dopaminergic component produces more robust effects than single- or dual-acting agents, has yet to be demonstrated. This article reviews the main pathways regulating pain transmission in relation with the monoaminergic systems. It then focuses on the current knowledge regarding the in vivo pharmacological properties and mechanism of action of monoaminergic antidepressants including SSRIs, NRIs, SNRIs and TRIs. Finally, a synthesis of the preclinical studies supporting the efficacy of these antidepressants in analgesia is also addressed in order to highlight the relative contribution of 5-HT, NE and DA to nociception
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