Socio-Legal Studies in Germany and the UK: Theory and Methods

This Special Issue considers the situated and contextualized development of socio legal, or law and society, scholarship within two materially different legal and academic cultures, namely Germany and the United Kingdom, with a view to achieving a better understanding of why and how such differences in understanding and practice have arisen. The contributions are grouped into three themes. The first reflects upon the influence of institutional contexts and scholarly traditions in terms of the development of those approaches that come under the banner of socio legal studies. The second features contributions that adopt a comparative perspective in terms of selected areas of law, pointing to notably different approaches taken in Germany and the UK, and considering the development of these respective situations. The third looks at the key contemporary trends, theoretical applications, and methodological approaches taken within both countries’ socio legal academic contexts

Microlensing of Extended Stellar Sources

We investigate the feasibility of reconstructing the radial intensity profile of extended stellar sources by inverting their microlensed light curves. Using a simple, linear, limb darkening law as an illustration, we show that the intensity profile can be accurately determined, at least over the outer part of the stellar disc, with realistic light curve sampling and photometric errors. The principal requirement is that the impact parameter of the lens be less than or equal to the stellar radius. Thus, the analysis of microlensing events provides a powerful method for testing stellar atmosphere models.Comment: 4 pages LaTeX, to appear in New Astronomy Reviews - proceedings of the Oxford Workshop `Gravitational Lensing: Nature's Own Weighing Scales'. Uses elsart.cls. Paper also available at ftp://info.astro.gla.ac.uk/pub/martin/extended.p

Silicon isotopes in Antarctic sponges : an interlaboratory comparison

Cycling of deepwater silicon (Si) within the Southern Ocean, and its transport into other ocean basins, may be an important player in the uptake of atmospheric carbon, and global climate. Recent work has shown that the Si isotope (denoted by δ29Si or δ30Si) composition of deep sea sponges reflects the availability of dissolved Si during growth, and is a potential proxy for past deep and intermediate water silicic acid concentrations. As with any geochemical tool, it is essential to ensure analytical precision and accuracy, and consistency between methodologies and laboratories. Analytical bias may exist between laboratories, and sponge material may have matrix effects leading to offsets between samples and standards. Here, we report an interlaboratory evaluation of Si isotopes in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sponges. We review independent methods for measuring Si isotopes in sponge spicules. Our results show that separate subsamples of non-homogenized sponges measured by three methods yield isotopic values within analytical error for over 80% of specimens. The relationship between δ29Si and δ30Si in sponges is consistent with kinetic fractionation during biomineralization. Sponge Si isotope analyses show potential as palaeoceaongraphic archives, and we suggest Southern Ocean sponge material would form a useful additional reference standard for future spicule analyses

A comparative study of multiple imputation and subset correspondence analysis in dealing with missing data

Methods: Multiple imputation and subset correspondence analysis are applied to a set of child asthma data that is mainly categorical and suffers from non-response. Differences in the methods and in the outcomes they produce are studied. In addition, the inclusion of interactions in a subset correspondence analysis is illustrated. Results: Despite the vast differences in the two approaches, they yielded similar results in the identification of genetic, environmental and socio-economic factors that affect childhood asthma. A number of exposure related variables were found to be associated with the greater severity of asthma. It was also found that a finer distinction between the asthma severity levels and their associations with factors was possible with a subset correspondence analysis, compared to the multiple imputation approach. Conclusions: Both multiple imputation and subset correspondence analysis were able to identify several factors associated with childhood asthma while at the same time successfully managing the missing data. This offers the researcher a choice to select the method that best suits his/her study

Dynamic Compression Plating with Strategic Screw Fixation in Diaphyseal Transverse Fractures of the Radius: the Biomechanical Effect of Numbers of Screws

Introduction.Diaphyseal fracture of radius could compromise function unless adequately treated. Open reduction and internal fixation with six cortices of screw fixation on either side of the fracture is generally accepted as the best method of treatment. Unfortunately, a very high rate of refracture after plate removal has been observed for as high as up to 22%. Although a number of factors are thought to be the cause of such a high rate, such as the type of plate used, time from plating to plate removal, quality of reduction and compression achieved, type and duration of immobilization after plate removal, nevertheless, the stress riser from the screw holes is also considered as one of the important factor. In accordance with the stress riser from screw holes, number of screws introduced into bone played a very important role. The objective of this study is to biomechanically compare the load to failure between constructs for the treatment of diaphyseal transverse fractures of the radius in skeletally mature bone. Materials and methods. Sixteen skeletally mature human radii were retrieved, devoid of soft tissue including periosteum. Transverse osteotomy was done in each radius in its midpoint. In the control group, the radius was fixed with 6-holes 6-screws construct. In the test group, the radius was fixed with 6-holes 4-screws construct. All radii were fixed with 3.5mm mini Dynamic Compression Plates. They were then randomly divided into two groups, with each group consisted of four controls and four test specimens. Group I was tested in three-point bending force and group II was tested in axial compression force.Results.In the three-point bending test, the controls showed slightly higher load to failure but this value was not significant (p = 0.57). Meanwhile in the axial compression test, the test group showed higher load to failure with a p-value of 0.05 which was marginally significant.Conclusions.The 6-holes 6-screws construct showed higher load to failure when compared to the 6-holes 4-screws construct in terms of 3-point bending force although the value was not significant. In contrast, the 6-holes 4-screws construct showed a higher load to failure in terms of axial compression force and the value was deemed marginally significant. Furthermore, failure starting point in this experimental study was observed in the screw holes

Perancangan Dan Pembuatan Sistem Informasi Perpustakaan Pada Maple Leaf Centre

Maple Leaf Centre library still use manual way to borrow and return books. Maple Leaf Centre library has a software-based desktop application, but it is not used because it does not fit the needs of the library. In searching catalog system, user get difficulty to get information about library collection. In addition to the need to catalog search system, it is necessary also means proper circulation to facilitate the circulation of books and improve the quality of the library. In this final project, I'm developed the website of Library Information Systems.The design is developed by using Power Designer 15. Interface website is created by Macromedia Dreamweaver 8. The software is created by Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) and MySql for database server. Library Information System Applications for Maple Leaf Centre has been implemented include the manufacture admin and generate reports. That feature have been made include procurement module, collections processing, circulation (lending transaction, return transaction, extension transaction, reservation transaction and fines payment transactions), member area, and FAQ