Health, Health Care, and Rights: A New Natural Law Theory Perspective

The article explores the use of the new natural law theory (NNLT) in determining what rights are associated with health care, if any, and how to realize such rights. NNLT\u27s vision of free choice leading to reasonable acts helps establish that health is a basic good which is a foundation of rights recognized by the state. It emphasizes that NNLT rules out collectivization of health care and any system that denies the state in providing a health care right

Health, Health Care, and Rights: A New Natural Law Theory Perspective

The article explores the use of the new natural law theory (NNLT) in determining what rights are associated with health care, if any, and how to realize such rights. NNLT\u27s vision of free choice leading to reasonable acts helps establish that health is a basic good which is a foundation of rights recognized by the state. It emphasizes that NNLT rules out collectivization of health care and any system that denies the state in providing a health care right

Introduction

The regulation of economic life, whether through law or politics, has been a fixture of daily life from time immemorial. Formal regulation occurs through a variety of formal devices, the efficacy of which is argued about by legal scholars, economists, policymakers, legislators, and governments. Even expressions like “to regulate” or “to deregulate” carry a range of political and even moral connotations, depending on who is using the phrase and how they are deploying it

The analysis and design of indicator reducing motions

Thesis (B.S.)--University of Illinois, 1912.Primarily typescript; portions of text are ms

Formation of submarine lava channel textures : insights from laboratory simulations

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2006. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (2006): B03104, doi:10.1029/2005JB003796.Laboratory simulations using polyethylene glycol (PEG) extruded at a constant rate and temperature into a tank with a uniform basal slope and filled with a cold sucrose solution generate channels that are defined by stationary levees and mobile flow interiors. These laboratory channels consistently display the following surface textures in the channel: smooth, folded, lineated, and chaotic. In the simulations, we can observe specific local conditions including flow rate, position within the channel, and time that combine to develop each texture. The textures in PEG flows form due to relative differences in shear forces between the PEG crust and the underlying liquid wax. Minimal shear forces form smooth crust, whereas folded crust forms when the shear is sufficiently high to cause ductile deformation. Brittle deformation of solid PEG creates a chaotic texture, and lineated crust results from shear forces along the channel-levee margin. We observe similar textures in submarine lava channels with sources at or near the Axial Summit Trough of the East Pacific Rise between 9° and 10°N. We mapped the surface textures of nine submarine lava channels using high-resolution digital images collected during camera tows. These textural maps, along with observations of the formation of similar features in analog flows, reveal important information about the mechanisms occurring across the channel during emplacement, including relative flow velocity and shear stress.The cruise was funded by a grant to WHOI from the National Science Foundation (NSF) OCE-9819261, with additional funding provided by WHOI thorough the Vetlesen Foundation. The PEG experiments were funded by NSF OCE-0425073 in a grant to Tracy Gregg

Isolation, identification and potential uses of sex pheromones for three pests of cotton in Australia

The Australian cotton industry is heavily dependent on chemical insecticides for pest control. As a result, a number of environmental issues involving off-farm movement of these pesticides have been raised for the industry. One of the key issues in meeting the challenges of growing cotton in tomorrow's world involves pest management in a more environmentally friendly way. This involves reduction of pesticide use and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) approaches. Introduction of transgenic cotton in recent years and application of insecticides targeting individual species has enabled a drastic reduction in pesticide use. This allows the numbers of important beneficial insects to build up, aiding in pest control. On the other hand, species like the green mirid (Creontiades dilutus), cotton tipworm (Crocidosema plebejana) and rough bollworm (Earias huegeliana), which were not major problems under intensive use of insecticides are forecast to be more significant pests, which will require a re-evaluation of IPM in cotton. One potential component of IPM involves the use of insect sex pheromones in mating disruption, monitoring, attract-and-kill and mass trapping. Pheromones could be used to predict oviposition on a field by field basis and also give useful indications of the overall abundance of the pests mentioned above. Identified pheromones therefore could be used in area-wide pest management schemes. Pheromones can also be used in attract-and-kill strategies or for mating disruption. Although the Australian cotton industry has not previously made significant use of these techniques, there are ecological reasons for believing that they may be more applicable to some emerging pests than to the key pests of cotton under previous pest management regimes, Helicoverpa spp. This project was carried out to identify the sex pheromones of three pests of cotton in Australia - the rough bollworm, cotton tipworm and green mirids, to test attractive blends and to investigate potential uses of their sex pheromones as part of the general IPM system of the Australian cotton industry

Dual function filtration and catalytic breakdown of organic pollutants in wastewater using ozonation with titania and alumina membranes

Water recycling via treatment from industrial and/or municipal waste sources is one of the key strategies for resolving water shortages worldwide. Polymer membranes are effective at improving the water quality essential for recycling, but depend on regular cleaning and replacement. Pure ceramic membranes can reduce the cleaning need and last significantly longer in the same applications while possessing the possibility of operating in more aggressive environments not suitable for polymers. In the current work, filtration using a tubular ceramic membrane (�-Al2O3 or TiO2) was combined with ozonation to remove organic compounds present in a secondary effluent to enhance key quality features of the water (colour and total organic carbon, TOC) for its potential reuse. ‘Bare’ commercial �-Al2O3 filters (pore size ∼0.58 �m) were tested as a microfiltration membrane and compared with the more advanced catalytically active TiO2 layer that was formed by the sol–gel method. The presence of anatase with a 4 nm pore size at the membrane surface was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption. Filtration of the effluent over a 2 h period led to a reduction in flux to 45% and 60% of the initial values for the �-alumina and TiO2 membrane, respectively. However, a brief dose (2 min) of ozone at the start of the run resulted in reductions to only 70% of the initial flux for both membranes. It is likely that the oxide’s functional property facilitated the formation of hydroxyl (OH•) or other radicals on the membrane surface from ozone decomposition which targeted the breakdown of organic foulants thus inhibiting their deposition. Interestingly, the porous structure therefore acted in a synergistic, dual function mode to physically separate the particulates while also catalytically breaking down organic matter. The system also greatly improved the efficiency of membrane filtration for the reduction of colour, A254 (organics absorption at the wavelength of 254 nm) and TOC. The best performance came from combined ozonation (2 min ozonation time with an estimated applied ozone dose of 8 mg L−1) with the TiO2 membrane, which was able to reduce colour by 88%, A254 by 75% and TOC by 43%. It is clearly evident that a synergistic effect occurs with the process combination of ozonation and ceramic membrane filtration demonstrating the practical benefit of combining ceramic membrane filtration with conventional water ozonation

Assessment of the quality of existing patient educational tools focused on sudden cardiac arrest: a systematic evaluation by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Thought Leadership Alliance

Background Conveying contemporary treatment options for those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is challenging. The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the quality and usability of available patient educational tools relevant to SCA and its treatment options, such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). We hypothesized that this review would identify gaps in areas of information for the enhancement of patient education and decision-making materials. Methods We used a formal instrument to assess specific domains of content, development, and effectiveness of 18 available SCA and ICD educational tools. The multidisciplinary review panel included two electrophysiologists, two general cardiologists, a cardiac psychologist, a health services researcher, and a patient advocate. Results Of the 18 education tools, four were rated as “good, may need revisions, but sufficient for use�, 12 were rated as “marginal, needs revision prior to use�, and two were rated as “poor, inadequate for use�. None of the tools were rated as being of “very good� or “excellent� quality. Conclusion There appear to be opportunities to improve the quality and completeness of existing educational tools for patients with SCA and ICD. While many tools have been developed, they fall below current standards for supporting informed medical decision-making

Uncoupling of ATP-Mediated Calcium Signaling and Dysregulated Interleukin-6 Secretion in Dendritic Cells by Nanomolar Thimerosal

Dendritic cells (DCs), a rare cell type widely distributed in the soma, are potent antigen-presenting cells that initiate primary immune responses. DCs rely on intracellular redox state and calcium (Ca(2+)) signals for proper development and function, but the relationship between these two signaling systems is unclear. Thimerosal (THI) is a mercurial used to preserve vaccines and consumer products, and is used experimentally to induce Ca(2+) release from microsomal stores. We tested adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-mediated Ca(2+) responses of DCs transiently exposed to nanomolar THI. Transcriptional and immunocytochemical analyses show that murine myeloid immature DCs (IDCs) and mature DCs (MDCs) express inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca(2+) channels, known targets of THI. IDCs express the RyR1 isoform in a punctate distribution that is densest near plasma membranes and within dendritic processes, whereas IP(3)Rs are more generally distributed. RyR1 positively and negatively regulates purinergic signaling because ryanodine (Ry) blockade a) recruited 80% more ATP responders, b) shortened ATP-mediated Ca(2+) transients > 2-fold, and c) produced a delayed and persistent rise (≥ 2-fold) in baseline Ca(2+). THI (100 nM, 5 min) recruited more ATP responders, shortened the ATP-mediated Ca(2+) transient (≥ 1.4-fold), and produced a delayed rise (≥ 3-fold) in the Ca(2+) baseline, mimicking Ry. THI and Ry, in combination, produced additive effects leading to uncoupling of IP(3)R and RyR1 signals. THI altered ATP-mediated interleukin-6 secretion, initially enhancing the rate of cytokine secretion but suppressing cytokine secretion overall in DCs. DCs are exquisitely sensitive to THI, with one mechanism involving the uncoupling of positive and negative regulation of Ca(2+) signals contributed by RyR1