McKinley v Ministry of Defence

This is a re-imagined feminist judgment of the Irish Supreme Court in McKinley v Ministry of Defence [1992] 2 IR 33 which extended the right to bring an action for loss of consortium to a wife in relation to injuries sustained by her husband. Previously, the action could only be brought by a husband in relation to injuries sustained by his wife. While my judgment concurs with this outcome I offer an analysis which seeks to balance a need to compensate for losses practically incurred with a concern to erase from law the patriarchal traces of this old cause of action

Synthetic lethal analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans posterior embryonic patterning genes identifies conserved genetic interactions

Phenotypic robustness is evidenced when single-gene mutations do not result in an obvious phenotype. It has been suggested that such phenotypic stability results from 'buffering' activities of homologous genes as well as non-homologous genes acting in parallel pathways. One approach to characterizing mechanisms of phenotypic robustness is to identify genetic interactions, specifically, double mutants where buffering is compromised. To identify interactions among genes implicated in posterior patterning of the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, we measured synthetic lethality following RNA interference of 22 genes in 15 mutant strains. A pair of homologous T-box transcription factors (tbx-8 and tbx-9) is found to interact in both C. elegans and C. briggsae, indicating that their compensatory function is conserved. Furthermore, a muscle module is defined by transitive interactions between the MyoD homolog hlh-1, another basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, hnd-1, and the MADS-box transcription factor unc-120. Genetic interactions within a homologous set of genes involved in vertebrate myogenesis indicate broad conservation of the muscle module and suggest that other genetic modules identified in C. elegans will be conserved

Relating moisture ingress to component strength and stiffness for carbon-fibre composites.

Moisture diffusion studies were performed using unidirectional (UD) tape and quasiisotropic (QI) woven 5-harness satin fabric, carbon fibre reinforced (CFR) epoxy composite materials. Firstly the moisture constants, (i.e. diffusion coefficient, D[x], and equilibrium moisture content, M[max]) were experimentally derived at 70°C and 85% relative humidity (%RH), for the two CFR materials. To investigate moisture absorption as a function of %RH test coupons were conditioned to differing equilibrium moisture levels viz., 70°C/60%RH, 70°C/75%RH, 70°C/85%RH, and 70°C/95%RH. Also oven dry (OD) and as-received (AR) tests were performed for baseline comparison. The effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical behaviour was investigated; lamina properties were studied by measuring tension, compression, shear (inter/intralaminar) strength and stiffness of the UD material. This comprehensive set of testing provided quantitative relationships between moisture content and mechanical properties. The quasi-isotropic lay-up was then utilised to investigate multi-directional laminate lay-ups using open hole tension and compression testing. The experimental data showed that the uptake of moisture in both the materials studied was described well by Fick's Second Law and the properties most affected by moisture ingress were matrix-dominated properties. More specifically, the transverse tensile strength, F[t][2] was most affected by the ingress of moisture, with a near 50% reduction in strength when conditioned to equilibrium moisture content at 70°C/95%RH. Such information is a necessary prerequisite if improved design procedures are going to be developed in the future. The initial phase of testing produced mechanical property/moisture relationships that were employed to predict the strength and stiffness of the material containing specific moisture gradients through-the-thickness (TTT). To be able to predict mechanical properties with different moisture distribution, firstly moisture distribution TTT of the material was modelled using an analytical solution to Fick's Second Law. Then moisture content was considered on a ply-by-ply basis TTT of the laminate; reductions were applied to each individual ply property dependent on the moisture content using the experimentally derived relationships, essentially applying environmental knock-down factors (KEKDF'S) to each individual ply. Classical Laminate Analysis (CLA) was then performed using the Max Stress failure criteria in order to predict the overall laminate failure. A second phase of mechanical testing was then performed to validate these predictions. The mechanical property predictions compared well to the experimental data showing similar reductions in strength for a given profile of moisture in the laminate. The predicted strengths also fell within the measured standard deviation of the experimental data in a significant proportion of the results

L'impact de l'homophobie et de la violence homophobe sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires

Ce projet de recherche a été financé par le ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec (MELS) par l’entremise du programme d’Action concertée du Fonds québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) « Persévérance et réussite scolaires ». Le volet qualitatif a également bénéficié d’une subvention du Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH).Quatre rapports de recherche ont été publiés dans le cadre de ce projet : "La lutte contre l’homophobie en milieu scolaire : rapport descriptif des guides d’intervention disponibles au Québec", "L’homophobie à l’école secondaire au Québec : portrait de la situation, impacts et pistes de solution", "L’homophobie au collégial au Québec : portrait de la situation, impacts et pistes de solution" et "La transphobie en milieu scolaire au Québec", tous disponibles sur support électronique dans EDUQ.info.À partir d’une définition large de l’homophobie comme toute attitude ou tout geste négatifs envers ce qui est associé à l’homosexualité, le premier volet de cette recherche en explore les principales manifestations dans les établissements secondaires et collégiaux. Les élèves emploient-ils un langage homophobe? Quelles sont leurs attitudes envers l’homosexualité? Quelles sont la prévalence et les principales caractéristiques des incidents à caractère homophobe quant aux jeunes impliqués, aux contextes, aux réactions de l’entourage scolaire? Dans un second temps, l’étude examine les effets de l’homophobie sur les expériences scolaires des jeunes qui en sont victimes, ainsi que les stratégies d’adaptation des jeunes qui parviennent à persister et réussir à l’école malgré les difficultés rencontrées. En troisième lieu, l’on s’interroge sur les initiatives des acteurs déjà actifs dans la lutte contre l’homophobie ainsi que les outils et les modèles de pratiques d’intervention qu’ils ont développés. En documentant de façon concrète l’homophobie en milieu scolaire et ses impacts sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires, la présente étude veut contribuer à informer, à mobiliser et à outiller l’ensemble des acteurs du monde de l’éducation sur les conséquences négatives de l’homophobie, pour les jeunes des minorités sexuelles et ceux dont la non-conformité de genre est interprétée comme un indice d’une orientation sexuelle autre qu’hétérosexuelle.Résumé, rapport de recherche et annexes

The impact of psychological stress and trauma on later-life cognitive function and dementia

Dementia is an increasing global issue, currently affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. This number is predicted to increase to 82 million by the year 2030, due to the ageing global population. Theoretically, preventing late-onset dementia may seem extremely difficult as the greatest risk factor, age, is unmodifiable. However, it is estimated that a third of dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed by removing or reducing modifiable risk factors. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic stress, which may ari

The Homestead of James Taylor White II: Historical, Archaeological, and Geophysical Investigations at Two Proposed Safety Rest Areas, Interstate Highway (IH) 10, Chambers County, Texas

Personnel from Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI), Moore Archeological Consulting, Inc. (MAC), and the University of Mississippi conducted archaeological and geophysical investigations at the locations of two proposed safety rest areas on opposite sides of Interstate Highway (IH) 10 in Chambers County, Texas. The research was carried out from late August 2006 until late February 2007, under contract to the Environmental Affairs Division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). MAC archaeologists had previously examined the two rest area tracts in 2001. Their research indicated that the north tract contained a late-nineteenth- through early-twentieth-century cemetery, identified as the Broussard Cemetery site (41CH370). Buried within the cemetery are the remains of several members of the locally prominent White family and relatives. The south tract included the remains of a below-ground cistern that likely marked the location of the main house associated with the homestead and ranch of James Taylor White II. It was estimated that this house location, labeled the White Family Cistern site (41CH371), was occupied from ca. 1854 until sometime in the early 1900s. The field investigations examined three specific areas within the two tracts: (1) A small 20-by-45-m area situated about 10 m north of the Broussard Cemetery site where a truck-entrance road is to be built. It was considered possible that unmarked graves located outside the cemetery proper might be present in that area. (2) A 40-by-40-m area within the south tract where MAC personnel had located a piece of whiteware during their earlier investigations. It was thought that a possible outbuilding related to the White homestead might be present in that area. (3) A 110-by-115-m area in the south tract where the main house and most of the White family occupation occurred. The area in the north tract was examined by ground-penetrating radar, resistivity surveys and mechanical stripping of anomalies recognized by the geophysical research. The small square area in the south tract was examined by systematic shovel tests. The large area in the south tract was investigated by systematic shovel tests, a metal detector survey, a geophysical search that included magnetometer and electromagnetic susceptibility surveys, a limited ground-truth assessment of selected anomalies that had been identified by the geophysical surveys, mechanical stripping of other anomalies recognized by the geophysical research, plus the controlled excavation of a few small units in locations where the stripping uncovered potential cultural features. Overall, the various investigations identified the location, orientation, and dimensions of the White family house and its associated kitchen, a rich sheet midden situated to the rear of the house, and several possible outbuildings located to the sides of the structure. Numerous artifacts indicative of the period of suspected occupation were collected, including hundreds of pieces of metal, ceramic fragments, and glass. A few animal bones and plant remains also were obtained. Although the present study did not call for a detailed analysis of these items, such should prove useful in the future. Given these results, it is clear that site 41CH371 is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Additional archaeological investigations at selected portions of the site are recommended, along with further archival and historical research. Accordingly, construction of the rest area in the south tract should be delayed until the recommended investigations are completed. The small area examined in the north tract near site 41CH370 failed to yield any evidence of burials. Since the cemetery itself will be avoided during construction, no further archaeological work is considered necessary in the north tract. Thus, construction of the rest area within the north tract may proceed as planned

The homeodomain protein PAL-1 specifies a lineage-specific regulatory network in the C. elegans embryo

Maternal and zygotic activities of the homeodomain protein PAL-1 specify the identity and maintain the development of the multipotent C blastomere lineage in the C. elegans embryo. To identify PAL-1 regulatory target genes, we used microarrays to compare transcript abundance in wild-type embryos with mutant embryos lacking a C blastomere and to mutant embryos with extra C blastomeres. pal-1-dependent C-lineage expression was verified for select candidate target genes by reporter gene analysis, though many of the target genes are expressed in additional lineages as well. The set of validated target genes includes 12 transcription factors, an uncharacterized wingless ligand and five uncharacterized genes. Phenotypic analysis demonstrates that the identified PAL-1 target genes affect specification, differentiation and morphogenesis of C-lineage cells. In particular, we show that cell fate-specific genes (or tissue identity genes) and a posterior HOX gene are activated in lineage-specific fashion. Transcription of targets is initiated in four temporal phases, which together with their spatial expression patterns leads to a model of the regulatory network specified by PAL-1

La lutte contre l’homophobie en milieu scolaire : rapport descriptif des guides d’intervention disponibles au Québec

Les résultats présentés dans ce rapport sont tirés de la recherche « Impact de l’homophobie et de la violence homophobe sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires », financée par le ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec (MELS) par l’entremise du programme d’Action concertée du Fonds québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) « Persévérance et réussite scolaires ». Le volet qualitatif de la recherche a également bénéficié d’une subvention du Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH).Trois autres rapports de recherche ont été publiés dans le cadre de ce projet : "L’homophobie à l’école secondaire au Québec : portrait de la situation, impacts et pistes de solution", "L’homophobie au collégial au Québec : portrait de la situation, impacts et pistes de solution" et "La transphobie en milieu scolaire au Québec", tous disponibles sur support électronique dans EDUQ.info