Multiculturalism and moderate secularism

What is sometimes talked about as the ‘post-secular’ or a ‘crisis of secularism’ is, in Western Europe, quite crucially to do with the reality of multiculturalism. By which I mean not just the fact of new ethno-religious diversity but the presence of a multiculturalist approach to this diversity, namely: the idea that equality must be extended from uniformity of treatment to include respect for difference; recognition of public/private interdependence rather than dichotomized as in classical liberalism; the public recognition and institutional accommodation of minorities; the reversal of marginalisation and a remaking of national citizenship so that all can have a sense of belonging to it. I think that equality requires that this ethno-cultural multiculturalism should be extended to include state-religion connexions in Western Europe, which I characterise as ‘moderate secularism’, based on the idea that political authority should not be subordinated to religious authority yet religion can be a public good which the state should assist in realising or utilising. I discuss here three multiculturalist approaches that contend this multiculturalising of moderate secularism is not the way forward. One excludes religious groups and secularism from the scope of multiculturalism (Kymlicka); another largely limits itself to opposing the ‘othering’ of groups such as Jews and Muslims (Jansen); and the third argues that moderate secularism is the problem not the solution (Bhargava)

Multi-pass absorption spectroscopy for H₂O₂ detection using a CW DFB-QCL

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection was demonstrated with multi-pass absorption spectroscopy using a commercial 76-m astigmatic multi-pass absorption cell. An ∼7.73-μm continuous wave, distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (CW DFB-QCL) was employed for targeting a strong H2O2 line (1296.2 cm-1) in the fundamental absorption band. Wavelength modulation spectroscopy combined with a second harmonic detection technique was utilized to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. By optimizing the pressure inside the multi-pass cell and the wavelength modulation depth, a minimum detection limit (1σ) of 13.4 ppbv was achieved for H2O2 with a 2-s sampling time. From an Allan-Werle deviation plot, the detection limit could be improved to 1.5 ppbv with an averaging time of 200 s. Interference effects of atmospheric air components are also discussed.</jats:p

Quantum cascade laser-based multipass absorption system for hydrogen peroxide detection

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a relevant molecular trace gas species, that is related to the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere, the production of radical species such as OH, the generation of sulfate aerosol via oxidation of S(IV) to S(VI), and the formation of acid rain. The detection of atmospheric H2O2 involves specific challenges due to its high reactivity and low concentration (ppbv to sub-ppbv level). Traditional methods for measuring atmospheric H2O2 concentration are often based on wet-chemistry methods that require a transfer from the gas- to liquid-phase for a subsequent determination by techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, which can lead to problems such as sampling artifacts and interference by other atmospheric constituents. A quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy-based system for the measurement of atmospheric H2O2 with a detection limit of 75 ppb for 1-s integration time was previously reported. In this paper, an updated H2O2 detection system based on long-optical-path-length absorption spectroscopy by using a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (DFB-QCL) will be described. A 7.73-μm CW-DFB-QCL and a thermoelectrically cooled infrared detector, optimized for a wavelength of 8 μm, are employed for theH2O2 sensor system. A commercial astigmatic Herriott multi-pass cell with an effective optical path-length of 76 m is utilized for the reported QCL multipass absorption system. Wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) with second harmonic detection is used for enhancing the signal-to-noise-ratio. A minimum detection limit of 13.4 ppb is achieved with a 2 s sampling time. Based on an Allan-Werle deviation analysis the minimum detection limit can be improved to 1.5 ppb when using an averaging time of 300 s

Full-length myocilin (MYOC) protein is purified from mammalian cells as a dimer

Myocilin (MYOC) is the gene with mutations most commonly observed in glaucoma patients. MYOC protein collected from patients and analyzed under non-reducing conditions suggests that MYOC is not normally found in a monomeric form. MYOC was first reported almost 20 years ago; however, a technical challenge still faced by researchers is an inability to isolate full-length MYOC protein for experimental purposes. Herein we describe two methods by which to isolate sufficient quantities of full-length MYOC protein from mammalian cells. Analytical size exclusion chromatography of isolated full-length MYOC protein indicated that it is predominantly dimeric and we propose a structure for the MYOC dimer. By sharing methods to obtain full-length MYOC protein, we hope to provide researchers with a tool that has previously not been available. The ultimate goal of MYOC research is to understand this target so we can help the patient that carries a MYOC mutation retain vision and maintain quality of life

Cooking up a Deal: Negotiation Recipes for Success

If forced to be concise and pithy, what would a room full of negotiation scholars cook up? The compilation of recipes was in response to the request for each person’s own definition of negotiation effectiveness put in the form of a recipe. Not only is this interesting in terms of seeing the similarities and differences among this leading and diverse group of scholars, the exercise itself is one that can easily be replicated in negotiation or dispute resolution classes. It forces each participant to think about (a) ingredients; (b) amount of each; and (c) the order in which each skill is utilized. Have fun cooking up your own favorite dish

Antiviral pressure exerted by HIV-l-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) during primary infection demonstrated by rapid selection of CTL escape virus

The HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is temporally associated with the decline in viremia during primary HIV-1 infection, but definitive evidence that it is of importance in virus containment has been lacking. Here we show that in a patient whose early CTL response was focused on a highly immunodominant epitope in gp 160, there was rapid elimination of the transmitted virus strain and selection for a virus population bearing amino acid changes at a single residue within this epitope, which conferred escape from recognition by epitope-specific CTL. The magnitude (> 100-fold), kinetics (30-72 days from onset of symptoms) and genetic pathways of virus escape from CTL pressure were comparable to virus escape from antiretroviral therapy, indicating the biological significance of the CTL response in vivo. One aim of HIV-1 vaccines should thus be to elicit strong CTL responses against multiple codominant viral epitopes