Ridden with Controversy: Applying the Public Forum Doctrine to Public Transit Advertising

This Note tackles the application of the First Amendment to public transit advertising. Under the current judicial framework, the First Amendment is filtered through the public forum doctrine when discussing the rights of citizens to utilize government property for expressive purposes. The Note will argue that public transit advertising constitutes a designated public forum in most (if not all) cases. That characterization would force any content-based restrictions to be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest. The natural result is a significant expansion of access to public transit advertising by interested parties. If the U.S. Supreme Court were to grant certiorari to resolve the circuit split, as it declined to do in 2016, it should hold that most public transit systems are categorically a designated public forum. Part I discusses the origins of, and the basic approach to, application of the public forum doctrine. Part II discusses the majority approach of circuit courts, finding that public transit systems are a designated public forum. Part III discusses the minority approach of circuit courts, asserting that public transit systems are a non-public forum. Part IV discusses the government speech doctrine in the context of public transit advertising, including the extent to which it is applicable in that context. Part V discusses the issue of the captive audience and potential avenues to distinguish controversial public transit advertising from other types of offensive content. The Conclusion provides a clear overview of the four-part majority approach and cleanly integrates the major issues of government speech and captivity into the overall analysis. This abstract has been adapted from the author\u27s introduction

Hydrodynamic modeling of partial dikes

International audienceDue to lack of space, the city of Monaco has extended over the sea, by land reclaiming. The bordering waterdepths are now so deep that the city has been considering building housings set on jacket types of struc tures. These constructions would have to be protected from sea waves, by so-called "partial dikes". An example of such partial dikes is the BYBOP caisson that was installed recently at the mouth of Port Hercule. Its shape was optimized through systematic model tests. Quite noticeable are the slanted parts that protrude both on the up-wave and down-wave sides. The appendix on the lee-side was found to have quite a strong effect on the reduction of the transmission coeffcient

Impact of three-dimensional standing waves on a flat horizontal plate

International audienceA set-up is designed in order to study the wave impact on structures. These structures can be the stern part of cruiser, a fixed structure as a pier or the roof of LNG-tank. The traveling waves impact was already studied by Smith et al. (1998) but it seems difficult to elaborate a model except some empirical formulæ linking the drop height, the wavelength and the wave steepness. Barrholm (2001) as well studied the travelling wave impact underneath decks of platforms. His modelling is based on a two-dimensional Wagner model where the determination of the wetted surface is not a simple task. Here a simplified impact phenomenon is investigated since standing waves are generated

Assessment of RNAi-induced silencing in banana (Musa spp.)

In plants, RNA- based gene silencing mediated by small RNAs functions at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level to negatively regulate target genes, repetitive sequences, viral RNAs and/or transposon elements. Post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) or the RNA interference (RNAi) approach has been achieved in a wide range of plant species for inhibiting the expression of target genes by generating double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). However, to our knowledge, successful RNAi-application to knock-down endogenous genes has not been reported in the important staple food crop banana

OVI, NV and CIV in the Galactic Halo: II. Velocity-Resolved Observations with Hubble and FUSE

We present a survey of NV and OVI (and where available CIV) in the Galactic halo, using data from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) along 34 sightlines. These ions are usually produced in nonequilibrium processes such as shocks, evaporative interfaces, or rapidly cooling gas, and thus trace the dynamics of the interstellar medium. Searching for global trends in integrated and velocity-resolved column density ratios, we find large variations in most measures, with some evidence for a systematic trend of higher ionization (lower NV/OVI column density ratio) at larger positive line-of-sight velocities. The slopes of log[N(NV)/N(OVI)] per unit velocity range from -0.015 to +0.005, with a mean of -0.0032+/-0.0022(r)+/-0.0014(sys) dex/(km/s). We compare this dataset with models of velocity-resolved high-ion signatures of several common physical structures. The dispersion of the ratios, OVI/NV/CIV, supports the growing belief that no single model can account for hot halo gas, and in fact some models predict much stronger trends than are observed. It is important to understand the signatures of different physical structures to interpret specific lines of sight and future global surveys.Comment: ApJ in press 43 pages, 22 fig

The burden of critical illness in hospitalized children in low- and middle-income countries: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The majority of childhood deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many of these deaths are avoidable with basic critical care interventions. Quantifying the burden of pediatric critical illness in LMICs is essential for targeting interventions to reduce childhood mortality. OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden of hospitalization and mortality associated with acute pediatric critical illness in LMICs through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. DATA SOURCES AND SEARCH STRATEGY: We will identify eligible studies by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and LILACS using MeSH terms and keywords. Results will be limited to infants or children (ages \u3e28 days to 12 years) hospitalized in LMICs and publications in English, Spanish, or French. Publications with non-original data (e.g., comments, editorials, letters, notes, conference materials) will be excluded. STUDY SELECTION: We will include observational studies published since January 1, 2005, that meet all eligibility criteria and for which a full text can be located. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction will include information related to study characteristics, hospital characteristics, underlying population characteristics, patient population characteristics, and outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: We will extract and report data on study, hospital, and patient characteristics; outcomes; and risk of bias. We will report the causes of admission and mortality by region, country income level, and age. We will report or calculate the case fatality rate (CFR) for each diagnosis when data allow. CONCLUSIONS: By understanding the burden of pediatric critical illness in LMICs, we can advocate for resources and inform resource allocation and investment decisions to improve the management and outcomes of children with acute pediatric critical illness in LMICs