An Enquiry in Comparative Jurisprudence: Similarity and Disparity Between Dharma, Li and Nomos.

This enquiry deals with comparative jurisprudence in a cross-cultural perspective. Three most prominent indigenous conceptions, the topoi of dharma, li, and nomos, are subsequently investigated and accordingly juxtaposed. Their formative and post-formative periods, the last roughly until between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D., are taken into consideration. No doubt, all three topoi represent significant world conceptions, a deeper understanding of which is prerequisite for an appropriate treatment. The enquiry commences with the Hindu Indian tradition of dharma avoiding as far as possible a descriptive vocabulary that is largely borrowed from an Occidental terminology; the same applies for the topos of li. Due to a still widely-observable ignorance of Hindu Indian jurisprudence, dharma figures in the centre of interest, and is therefore treated comparatively comprehensively. Next, considerable care is taken to focus on the Chinese li; and thirdly an essentially philosophic description of the ancient Greek topos of nomos is juxtaposed to the preceeding. As this implicit comparison reveals to an attentive observer, vague correspondences among fundamental disparities outweigh the similarity between the three topoi. Though dharma and li can be described as regulative ways of life, dharma is for India (Hinduism) what li is for China, and both are counterparts of what nomos was and became, the externally imposed constitutional (legal) order of society. After terminating the formative period, where a slight similarity exists in an imagination of order between nomos and dharma, while in China the imagination of harmony prevails instead, the topos of dharma is seen to be promoted under the presupposition of its provision of an overarching order, fit to work as an obligatory signpost through man's life, whereas the initial ritual and ceremonial li-conducts became after their extension into all social spheres the consolidated, socially created and accepted way of life

Der Beitrag von Senior Coachs zur Gründung, Entwicklung und Weitergabe von Unternehmen

Gemeinwohlorientiertes Handeln (Corporate Citizenship) ist nicht allein ein Anliegen aktiver Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer. Auch viele ehemalige Unternehmer und Führungskräfte betätigen sich weiterhin ehrenamtlich. Eine Variante ehrenamtlicher Tätigkeit wurde in dieser Studie näher analysiert, und zwar der Einsatz ehemaliger Unternehmer/Führungskräfte als sogenannte Senior Coachs, die ihr Wissen und ihre Erfahrungen honorarfrei an aktive Unternehmer und Existenzgründer weitergeben. Ziel ihrer Tätigkeit ist es, noch kaum erfahrenen Existenzgründern durch fachkundige Beratung zur Seite zu stehen, und der Führung von in die Krise geratenen Unternehmen Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe zu bieten. --

Survival of small populations under demographic stochasticity

We estimate the mean time to extinction of small populations in an environment with constant carrying capacity but under stochastic demography. In particular, we investigate the interaction of stochastic variation in fecundity and sex ratio under several different schemes of density dependent population growth regimes. The methods used include Markov chain theory, Monte Carlo simulations, and numerical simulations based on Markov chain theory. We find a strongly enhanced extinction risk if stochasticity in sex ratio and fluctuating population size act simultaneously as compared to the case where each mechanism acts alone. The distribution of extinction times deviates slightly from a geometric one, in particular for short extinction times. We also find that whether maximization of intrinsic growth rate decreases the risk of extinction or not depends strongly on the population regulation mechanism. If the population growth regime reduces populations above the carrying capacity to a size below the carrying capacity for large r (overshooting) then the extinction risk increases if the growth rate deviates from an optimal r-value

Observation of energetic terahertz pulses from relativistic solid density plasmas

We report the first experimental observation of terahertz (THz) radiation from the rear surface of a solid target while interacting with an intense laser pulse. Experimental and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that the observed THz radiation is mostly emitted at large angles to the target normal. Numerical results point out that a large part of the emission originates from a micron-scale plasma sheath at the rear surface of the target, which is also responsible for the ion acceleration. This opens a perspective for the application of THz radiation detection for on-site diagnostics of particle acceleration in laser-produced plasmas

Density dependent hadron field theory for hypernuclei

The Density Dependent Relativistic Hadron Field (DDRH) theory, previously introduced and applied to isospin nuclei, is extended to hypernuclei by including the octet hyperons. Infinite matter Dirac-Brueckner theory for octet baryons and the derivation of in-medium DDRH baryon-meson vertices is discussed. From the properties of Dirac-Brueckner interactions it is found that hyperon and nucleon self-energies and vertices are related by the ratios of free space coupling constants. This leads to simple scaling laws for the in-medium hyperon and nucleon vertices. The model is applied in relativistic DDRH mean-field calculations to singl$\Lambda nuclei. Free space N-Lambda T-matrix results are used for the scalar vertex. As the only free parameter the hyperon vector vertex scaling factor is adjusted to a selected set of hypernuclear data. Spectroscopic data of single Lambda hypernuclei over the full mass range are well described. The reduced Lambda spin-orbit splitting is reproduced and found to be related closely the medium dependence of scalar and vector interactions.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figure

Three Regions within Acta Promote Arp2/3 Complex-Mediated Actin Nucleation and Listeria monocytogenes Motility

The Listeria monocytogenes ActA protein induces actin-based motility by enhancing the actin nucleating activity of the host Arp2/3 complex. Using systematic truncation analysis, we identified a 136-residue NH2-terminal fragment that was fully active in stimulating nucleation in vitro. Further deletion analysis demonstrated that this fragment contains three regions, which are important for nucleation and share functional and/or limited sequence similarity with host WASP family proteins: an acidic stretch, an actin monomer–binding region, and a cofilin homology sequence. To determine the contribution of each region to actin-based motility, we compared the biochemical activities of ActA derivatives with the phenotypes of corresponding mutant bacteria in cells. The acidic stretch functions to increase the efficiency of actin nucleation, the rate and frequency of motility, and the effectiveness of cell–cell spread. The monomer-binding region is required for actin nucleation in vitro, but not for actin polymerization or motility in infected cells, suggesting that redundant mechanisms may exist to recruit monomer in host cytosol. The cofilin homology sequence is critical for stimulating actin nucleation with the Arp2/3 complex in vitro, and is essential for actin polymerization and motility in cells. These data demonstrate that each region contributes to actin-based motility, and that the cofilin homology sequence plays a principal role in activation of the Arp2/3 complex, and is an essential determinant of L. monocytogenes pathogenesis

Fyn-Binding Protein (Fyb)/Slp-76–Associated Protein (Slap), Ena/Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein (Vasp) Proteins and the Arp2/3 Complex Link T Cell Receptor (Tcr) Signaling to the Actin Cytoskeleton

T cell receptor (TCR)-driven activation of helper T cells induces a rapid polarization of their cytoskeleton towards bound antigen presenting cells (APCs). We have identified the Fyn- and SLP-76–associated protein Fyb/SLAP as a new ligand for Ena/ vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) homology 1 (EVH1) domains. Upon TCR engagement, Fyb/SLAP localizes at the interface between T cells and anti-CD3–coated beads, where Evl, a member of the Ena/VASP family, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and the Arp2/3 complex are also found. In addition, Fyb/SLAP is restricted to lamellipodia of spreading platelets. In activated T cells, Fyb/SLAP associates with Ena/VASP family proteins and is present within biochemical complexes containing WASP, Nck, and SLP-76. Inhibition of binding between Fyb/SLAP and Ena/VASP proteins or WASP and the Arp2/3 complex impairs TCR-dependent actin rearrangement, suggesting that these interactions play a key role in linking T cell signaling to remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton

Histogram Domain Ordering for Path Selectivity Estimation

We aim to improve the accuracy of path selectivity estimation in graph databases by intelligently ordering the domain of a histogram used for estimation. This problem has not, to our knowledge, received adequate attention in the research community. We present a novel framework for the systematic study of path ordering strategies in histogram construction and use. In this framework, we introduce new ordering strategies which we experimentally demonstrate lead to significant improvement of the accuracy of path selectivity estimation over current strategies. These positive results highlight the fundamental role that domain ordering plays in the design of effective histograms for efficient and scalable graph query processing

Cohort Profile: Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration (ART-CC)

The advent of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 1996 resulted in fewer patients experiencing clinical events, so that some prognostic analyses of individual cohort studies of human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals had low statistical power. Because of this, the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration (ART-CC) of HIV cohort studies in Europe and North America was established in 2000, with the aim of studying the prognosis for clinical events in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the mortality of adult patients treated for HIV-1 infection. In 2002, the ART-CC collected data on more than 12,000 patients in 13 cohorts who had begun combination ART between 1995 and 2001. Subsequent updates took place in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. The ART-CC data base now includes data on more than 70 000 patients participating in 19 cohorts who began treatment before the end of 2009. Data are collected on patient demographics (e.g. sex, age, assumed transmission group, race/ethnicity, geographical origin), HIV biomarkers (e.g. CD4 cell count, plasma viral load of HIV-1), ART regimen, dates and types of AIDS events, and dates and causes of death. In recent years, additional data on co-infections such as hepatitis C; risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and drug use; non-HIV biomarkers such as haemoglobin and liver enzymes; and adherence to ART have been collected whenever available. The data remain the property of the contributing cohorts, whose representatives manage the ART-CC via the steering committee of the Collaboration. External collaboration is welcomed. Details of contacts are given on the ART-CC website (www.art-cohort-collaboration.org