The Strict Liability Principle and the Human Rights of the Athlete in Doping Cases

Athletes who achieve extraordinary feats on the pitch stir up the imagination and enjoy a unique position within society. However, laurels received one day, may be just as quickly snatched back the next if it becomes known that the athlete achieved his or her exceptional performance with the aid of doping. Manipulating the body by the use of substances and methods that unnaturally enhance athletic performance is considered a violation of several fundamental principles related to sport. The arguments by which sports organisations have sought to justify their fight against doping have been discussed in Chapter 1. Doping is considered a health risk, but also a threat to both athletes@ integrity and that of sport as a whole, and consequently, given the position in society occupied by sport, of that of society itself. None of these arguments, however, is entirely convincing. Perhaps this is why many sports organisations have declined to state reasons for their anti-doping policies in their anti-doping regulations. The fight against doping in sport is considered self-evident and the arguments which are advanced in its favour merely serve to illustrate this fact. It was only a relatively short time ago that the systematic fight against doping in sport through legal rules began. As a separate body of disciplinary law besides their regular disciplinary rules the sports organisations established special anti-doping regulations for the prosecution and punishment of doping offences. As opposed to under general disciplinary law where unwritten minimum standards usually apply, the disciplinary law of doping uses detailed material rules which define the act of doping and the way in which it is to be punished. As such, the disciplinary law concerning doping resembles the statutory disciplinary rules that exist for certain professions, but is also comparable to public punitive law. What sets disciplinary doping law apart however is that the material rules do not aim to regulate the actual exercise of a profession, but are based on the ideological aspects which prevail in the environment where an athlete's activities take place. In disciplinary doping law, for example, there are hardly any examples of professional error, but rather of acts which undermine the image and ethics of the sport. This is an aspect which it has in common with criminal law. Disciplinary doping law which mainly aims to regulate the relevant offences and their prosecution and punishment should therefore be organised along the same lines as criminal law and entitle athletes to certain rights to counter the demands of the collective. This is necessary, as in sport the interests of the collective are often valued above those of the individual

Should the UK Join the Euro Zone? Evidence from a Synthetic OCA Assessment

Based on optimal currency area theories, this paper applies the empirical methodology of structural VAR to revisit the question of whether UK should join or not the Euro zone. Correlations of effective exchange rates between UK and US on one side and between UK and its major European partners (Germany and France) on the other side are first estimated. Correlations between macro-structural shocks are then estimated and results of both approaches are combined to provide conclusions on the appropriateness of a floating regime of the British Pound or of the integration to the Euro zone. A dynamic analysis shows that UK structural evolution over the period 1970-2008 tends to favor the option of integration to the Euro zone. These results have to be qualified by taking into account the specific position of UK with London as a global financial center and political issues which dominate the debate.Sterling Pound, Euro, Optimal Currency Area

Different Paths, Same Destination: A Case Study of the 2002 Amendment to the Education Act for Chinese Minorities in Malaysia

This article describes the effects and implications of the 2002 Amendment to the Education Act for the ethnic Chinese community, through exploring the challenges that the policy pose for Chinese school and education, as well as investigating the responses of the different stakeholders in Chinese community toward the change in policy. A case study approach was adopted for this study. Surveys (of students and parents), discussions with educators, and document analysis of textbooks and newspapers were carried out. Findings indicated that this policy had negative implications for mother tongue education in Malaysia, resulting in a huge overhaul of the Chinese primary school and educational system. This assimilatory policy seeks to undermine the maintenance of ethnic Chinese minority’s heritage and identity. Cet article décrit les effets et les implications soulevés par l’amendement de la Loi Educative en 2002 pour la communauté chinoise. Il explore de ce fait les défis que cette loi pose aux écoles et à l’éducation chinoise en général, et explique les solutions que les différents acteurs de la communauté chinoise ont adoptées afin de répondre aux changements que cette loi implique. La recherche repose sur une étude de cas, raison pour laquelle l’auteure a effectué des sondages auprès des étudiants et des parents, a mené des discussions avec les professeurs et a analysé des livres de cours et quelques journaux. Ses recherches ont démontré que cette loi avait des implications négatives pour l’éducation en langue native en Malaisie, ce qui a mené à une restructuration importante non seulement de l’école primaire chinoise mais également du système éducatif dans son ensemble. Cette politique d’assimilation cherche à affaiblir la présence des minorités ethniques chinoises et leur identité

Asian Values, Asian Democracy

“Asian values” is more than the articulation of cultural difference; its propositions of “Asian Capitalism” and “Asian Democracy” indicate a project to legitimise particular economic and political structures that have come under challenge. While capitalism and authoritarianism may have elective affinity, the “end of history” thesis argues that contradictions in late-capitalism would threaten authoritarianism and propel societies towards liberal democracy. Singapore’s “Asian Democracy” is significant in its ability to detour at history’s end and to re-amalgamate authoritarianism with (late)-capitalism. “Asian Values,” by emphasising communitarianism and consensus over conflict, creates a normative centre that guides media policy, civil society and inter-personal interactions. Good Asian citizens value prosperity over Western dreams (of non-consensual democracy). They also subordinate personal whims to the good of the community - the “silent (Asian) majority.” By allowing ideological pluralism without fragmentation, “Asian values” de-legitimises dissent and legitimises authoritarianism. The Singapore one-party government’s hegemony is based less on belief than on rhetorical compliance, which is produced through a combination of consent, consensus and coercion. Coercion (authoritarianism) is tolerated or consented to upon a consensus that it is worthwhile to trade freedom for prosperity and that there are no viable alternatives. Fuelled by personal desire for prosperity and pressurised by social expectations, citizens privatise/subordinate their dissent, producing an aura of public support for the government. This appearance of ideological unity crucially accords one-party governments the legitimacy to claim to represent the nation and deny multi-party representation. Despite the importance of economic legitimacy to the Singapore government, an economic crisis is not necessarily an ideological/hegemonic crisis because it is the hope rather than the reality of prosperity that sustains its hegemony. This relative autonomy from economic conditions, together with its anti-pluralism nature and its claim of cultural legitimacy makes “Asian Values” a superlative ideology for the evolution of government authoritarianism into soft/popular authoritarianism, thereby enabling Asian Democracy to carve a new trajectory and spark off a resurgent of authoritarianism

DIFFERENT PATHS, SAME DESTINATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE 2002 AMENDMENT TO THE EDUCATION ACT FOR CHINESE MINORITIES IN MALAYSIA

In 2002, the Government of Malaysia amended the Education Act. The amendment replaces the use of mother tongue with English, as medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science. Its main objective is to raise the standards of English in Malaysia, in acknowledgement of English language’s premier position in global information- technology and trade. However, this amendment of the medium-of- instruction, contravened the rights of the ethnic Chinese minority (as enshrined in the Malaysia’s Federal Constitution), in regard to access to education in Chinese. Thus, this study focuses on the effects and implications of the 2002 Amendment to the Education Act for the ethnic Chinese community, through exploring the challenges that the policy pose for Chinese school and education, as well as investigating the responses of the different stakeholders in Chinese community toward the change in education policy. To gain answers to the outcomes that the change in policy had on Chinese education, schools and the community, a case study approach was adopted. Surveys (of students and parents) were used as the main data collection tool, supplemented by discussions with educators and document analysis of textbooks and newspapers. The study concludes with recommendations for improving the planning and implementation of the 2002 Amendment to the Education Act (which is due for a review after 2008), and offers suggestions for future research in education policies for minorities, and particularly, the ethnic Chinese

Identification of Causal Factors of Peel-Pulp Splitting and Peeling Difficulty Disorders in ‘Mas’ Banana [Musa Sapientum Cv. Mas (Aa)]

‘Mas’ banana is among the most favoured of all the local dessert bananas because of its fascinating golden peel and light orange, aromatic and sweet pulp. However, this dessert cultivar was found to be susceptible to peel-pulp splitting disorder (PPSD) and peeling difficulty disorders (PDD). Thus, study was conducted to identify the causal factors of PPSD and PDD of Mas banana during fruit development and ripening, respectively. Incidence of PPSD and the physical characteristics of the fruits were determined at harvest dates of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 weeks after flower emergence (WAFE) for three fruiting seasons (FS1, FS2 and FS3). Chemical characteristics and nutrient contents in PPSD and normal fruits harvested at 6, 7, 8 and 9 WAFE were determined. The anatomical characteristics of the PPSD and normal fruits were also studied. Incidence of PPSD was found to be the most severe at FS3 which was a rainy season after a drought season. Incidence of PPSD was significantly (P≤0.05) and positively correlated to fruit circumference, pulp weight and pulp to peel ratio. This suggested that the increase in fruit splitting was related to a rapid increase in fruit size. Significant (P≤0.05) increases in pulp moisture content and significantly (P≤0.05) higher peel moisture content of PPSD fruits suggested that rapid increase in pulp volume had put stress on the peel and caused the fruit to split. Significantly lower peel calcium in PPSD fruits also suggested that PPSD was a Ca-deficiency disorder which had caused a lower cell wall turgidity and intercellular strength in the fruits. Results obtained for soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity and pH of the fruits indicated that the fruits had achieved harvest maturity at 6 to 7 WAFE. As shown in the scanning electron micrographs (SEM), the intercellular space of PPSD fruits had been fully occupied due to the rapid cell expansion, imposing stress on the peel which rendered the fruit to split. Occurrence of PDD was determined on fruits ripened at three levels of RH (high – 90 ± 5%, medium – 70 ± 5 %, low – 50 ± 5 %) during 5 to 8 ripening days. The corresponding quality and anatomical characteristics of the fruits in relation to PDD were also determined. Fruits ripened at low and medium RH conditions manifested PDD. There was an advanced ripening in fruits ripened at low RH as compared to fruits ripened at medium and high RH. This was shown by the significant (P≤0.05) linear and quadratic relationships between peel colour (L* and C*) and ripening day. Occurrence of PDD was significantly (P≤0.05) and positively correlated to weight loss and sugar: acid, but was negatively correlated to peel thickness and peel moisture content. These indicated that PDD increased with an increase in moisture loss when ripened at RH lower than 70%. SEM showed that severe water loss in fruits caused the cells to contract and loss turgor, resulting in loss of cell wall turgidity and reduced intercellular spaces. Thus, peelpulp transition layer was not readily separated from the outermost layer of the pulp because of absence of intercellular spaces to facilitate peeling

Construção e caracterização de eletrodos modificados por nanopartículas de hexcianoferrato de cobre

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Marcio VidottiCo-orientador : Prof. Dr. Hebert WinnischoferDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Exatas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química. Defesa: Curitiba, 26/03/2015Inclui referências : f. 79-94Resumo: Os hexacianometalatos de metais de transição são uma classe distinta de compostos, conhecidos principalmente por formarem sólidos estendidos portadores de cavidades zeolíticas capazes de comportar diferentes moléculas em seu interior. Devido à atividade eletrocatalítica de tais materiais, eletrodos modificados por Azul da Prússia (AP) e análogos possuem a capacidade de quantificar H2O2 em baixos valores de potencial, minimizando o efeito de possíveis interferentes. Dessa maneira, a alta seletividade de tais dispositivos chama atenção pela sua aplicabilidade. Neste trabalho, nanopartículas (NPs) de hexacianoferrato(II) de cobre (Cuhcf(II)) foram sintetizadas e caracterizadas, visando a confecção de eletrodos modificados pela técnica de camada por camada (LbL). A suspensão contendo as NPs de Cuhcf(II) foi caracterizada por espectroscopia no ultravioleta-visível e potencial Zeta. Constatou-se que as NPs possuem um excesso de cargas superficiais negativo, Potencial-? = -38,4 mV, necessário para a construção de eletrodos pela técnica de LbL e estabilização da suspensão. Imagens de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão revelaram que o tamanho médio das NPs é de 15 ± 2 nm quando dispersas, como também foi observado aglomerados com microestruturas porosas. Análises de difração de Raio-X de pó mostraram que o material possui estrutura cristalina cúbica do tipo face centrada, concordante com o grupo espacial ????3? ??, analogamente ao AP. A partir de análises quantitativas por espectroscopia no ultravioleta-visível, verificou-se que a estequiometria média dos materiais é K1,310Cu1,345[Fe(CN)6], evidenciando a importância de íons K+ na estabilização de cargas na estrutura cristalina do Cuhcf(II). Eletrodos modificados por LbL foram confeccionados com sucesso, sendo que um perfil eletroquímico inédito foi observado para estes sistemas. Imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de força atômica revelam que os filmes possuem boa homogeneidade. A partir de análises de espectroscopia na região do infravermelho por transformada de Fourier por reflectância especular observou-se comportamento anisotrópico nos filmes modificados pela técnica de LbL, característica nunca antes reportado na literatura. Palavas-chave: hexacianoferrato de cobre, layer-by-layer, análogo de Azul da Prússia, eletrocatálise, reflectância especular.Abstract: The Prussian Blue (PB) and its analogues are a distinct class of compounds known to form extended solids that have zeolitic cavities capable of bear different kinds of molecules. Because of the electrocatalytic activity of such materials, PB analogues modified electrodes are capable for H2O2 quantization in low potentials values, thus avoiding many interfering. Therefore, the high selectivity of such devices draws attention to their applicability, since a wide variety of biosensors can be built. In this work, copper hexacyanoferrate(II) (Cuhcf(II)) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and characterized, aiming the construction of Layer-by- Layer (LbL) modified electrodes. The suspension containing the NPs was characterized by Uv- Vis spectroscopy and Zeta Potential. It was found that the NPs have an excess of negative surface charge, ?-potential = -38,4 mV, required to the construction of LbL modified electrodes and electrostatic stabilization of the suspension. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the NPs have a mean size of 15,07 ± 2,35 nm when dispersed, but also revealed that they tend to agglomerate to form microporous structures. The X-ray diffraction powder analysis showed that the material has a face cubic centered type crystal structure, with ????3? ?? spatial group, like PB. Through ultra-violet spectroscopy the average stoichiometric K1,310Cu1,345[Fe(CN)6] for the material was determined, indicating that K+ ions are important in the charge balance of the Cuhcf(II). LbL modified electrodes were successfully assembled and showed a novel electrochemfical behavior. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images showed that the film has a good homogeneity throughout the whole electrode. Specular reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed an anisotropic behavior of the LbL modified electrodes with Cuhcf(II), never reported before in the literature. Key-words: copper hexacyanoferrate, layer-by-layer, Prussian Blue analogue, electrocatalysis, specular reflectance

Chemistry and cytotoxic activity of essential oil from the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri

GCMS analysis of the essential oil from the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri detected twenty components. Allo-aromadendrene was present as the most abundant component. Two other major constituents are α-gurjunene and β-eudesmene. The volatile oil exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against SNU-1, Hep G2, NCI-H23, K562, Raji, IMR-32 and SK-MEL-28 cells