Restoring Accountability in Freedom of Expression Theory: Public Libel Law and Radical Whig Ideology

As leading common law jurisdictions grapple with the Internet’s impact on defamation law, comparative legal scholarship has revealed long-standing problems with its underlying theoretical justifications. Specifically, public libel doctrine is commonly supported by appeals to democratic theory in the abstract. Accountability concerns most relevant to adjudicating public libel cases are thus routinely overlooked. This article aims to diagnose the causes of these theoretical inaccuracies, describe their impact on public libel law, and translate their significance for law reform. Through exploring eighteenth-century libertarian thought, we highlight the foundational importance of accountability and the checking function rationale to democratic theory and governance. An analysis of competing democratic models demonstrates significant undertheorizing that poses several problems for contemporary political speech and public interest defenses. This article suggests that, before proceeding precipitously with Internet-inspired reforms, we might benefit from reflecting upon defamation law’s impact on all aspects of our democratic values

CHANGES IN RUNNING GAIT PARAMETERS DURING A 161 KM TRAIL RACE

The current study examined changes in running speed and technique during a 161 km trail race and their relationship to performance. Sixteen participants were video recorded during continuous running for each of the five 32 km loops of the race. Participant’s stride length (SL), stride rate (SR), and speed were calculated. Lap and finish times were also collated from the race results. All variables changed significantly during the race (i.e. Speed?, Lap time?, SL? and SR?). Increased consistency in stride rate and length across the five laps, as well as speed, correlated positively with performance. Increased stride length in laps one, two and four correlated positively with performance. Results indicated that fatigue during the race decreased both speed and SL. Better performers ran faster with a longer SL and were able to maintain their initial speed for longer

EFFECT OF RUNNING SPEED AND SURFACE INCLINATION ON MUSCLE ACTIVATION DURING TREADMILL RUNNING BY WOMEN

The current study examined muscle activity of the biceps femoris (BF), semimembranosus (ST), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), lateral gastrocnemius (GL), and medial gastrocnemius (GM) during treadmill running. Female college runners (n=15) ran at speeds of 1.79, 2.24, and 2.68 m·s-1 at 3 different grades of incline (0, 10, and 15%). Right leg Muscle activity was assessed via electromyography and normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Results indicated muscle activity increased with speed and grade except for SM which showed only grades of 0 and 15% being different; and that for GL and SM only 2.68 m·s-1 differed from other speeds. Muscles of the posterior thigh (BF and SM) were different from the posterior shank (GL and GM); while anterior thigh muscles (VL and VM) did not differ from the others. There were no differences in medial/lateral aspects

CONTACT TIME, JUMP HEIGHT, AND REACTIVE STRENGTH INDEX DURING DROP JUMPS IN WATER, ON PADDED AND NONPADDED CONDITIONS

Twelve athletes, who routinely used plyometric exercises, performed drop jumps from 46 cm in water, on padded (5 cm thick wrestling mat), and unpadded conditions. GRF obtained via force platform and video analysis of markers placed along the leg were used to compare contact time (CT), flight time (FT), jump height calculated from flight time (JHFT) and video data (JHVIDEO), and reactive strength index (RSI) from both calculation techniques (RSIFT and RSIVIDEO). One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA indicated significant difference in CT but not FT. Two-way Repeated Measures ANOVA indicated differences in calculation technique for JH and RSI. Results indicate faults in current technique used to sample CT and JH when comparing plyometrics in and out of water

VISUAL FLOW DOES NOT ALTER MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING TREADMILL WALKING OR RUNNING

The current study examined the effect of visual flow (patterns of visual movement of surroundings) on muscle activity during treadmill walking and running. Participants (n=14 walked (1 -39 m-s4) and ran (2.78 msl) in visual flow and control conditions. Activity of the vastus medalis (VM), biceps fernoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM ), gastrocnemius (GA), tibialis anterior (TA), erector spinae (ES), mtus abdominis (RA), and C4 paraspinal (C4) were assessed via electromyography (EMG) during each condition. Repeated Measures ANOVA revealed EMG differences (p < 0.05) between walking and running for RA, VM, GM, and BF. There were no differences in speeds for the other muscles, or across the visual conditions for any of the muscles. Visual flow does not alter muscle activity during walking or running

New records of myxomycetes from high-elevation areas of Mexico and Guatemala

Surveys of four high-elevation study areas in central Mexico and northwestern Guatemala were carried out to obtain baseline information on the species of myxomycetes present. All study areas were sampled in 2006 and 2007. Both specimens that had fruited in the field and those obtained from moist chamber cultures in the laboratory were considered. The myxomycetes recorded included seven species that represented new records for Mexico and 35 species that were new for Guatemala. Five of these were new records for the Neotropics. A list of these species and information on the microhabitats in which they occurred is provided. This relatively limited study clearly demonstrates that high-elevation areas in the Neotropics are still undersampled for myxomycetes. For the majority of countries in the region, there are still information gaps relating to distribution patterns of myxomycetes. In the context of biodiversity conservation, it is important to continue studying groups of organisms such as myxomycetes in the rapidly changing Neotropical ecosystems.National Science Foundation/[DEB-0316284]/NSF/Estados UnidosUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

RELIABILITY OF KNEE JOINT MEASURES IN A CUTTING MOVEMENT

Eight female soccer athletes performed six horizontal jump and cut maneuvers onto two AMTI force platforms. 3D kinematic analysis of 22 marked body landmarks coupled with ground reaction forces (GRF) were analyzed for peak knee flexion and valgus angles, GRF, and knee abduction moments with repeated measures ANOVA. Analysis indicated no significant difference between trials (p > 0.05). Average measures Intraclass Correlation Coefficients resulted in values of r = 0.71 to 0.99. Results indicate good reliability for flexion angles and excellent reliability for valgus angles, GRF, and knee abduction moments

EFFECT OF ACUTE FEEDBACK ON KNEE ANGLE AND MOMENTS DURING A HORIZONTAL LAND AND CUT MANEUVER

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of acute feedback and preferred plant leg on peak knee flexion and valgus angle, ground reaction force (GRF), and abduction moment of the knee during a horizontal land and cut maneuver. Eight division II women soccer players randomly performed horizontal landing and cutting maneuvers: 3 left and 3 right cuts pre- and post-feedback. Feedback was provided according to previous research. ANOVA revealed lower knee valgus angles for the feedback and preferred plant leg conditions (p0.05). There were no differences in GRF or knee abduction moment. Acute feedback may decrease knee valgus angle during cutting tasks, but does not appear to acutely alter other measures that are thought to decrease ACL injury risk

New additions to the myxobiota of Costa Rica

The most recent checklist of myxomycetes from Costa Rica reported 208 species for the country. Informational gaps detected in that work and a sustained survey effort since the publication of the checklist increased the number of species to 218. In the study reported herein, we identified seven species not previously known from Costa Rica. In addition to increasing the number of species recorded to 225, this work also provided important information relating to potential distribution, ecological preferences and the role of isolation techniques for biodiversity surveys of myxomycetes. The fact that a region with only 0.05% of the terrestrial surface of the Earth accounts for approximately 25% of the global biodiversity of myxomycetes, even with the technical limitations of the isolation methods used up to date, shows one more time that this group of organisms is not only well established in terrestrial environments but widely distributed in the Neotropics.Universidad de Cost Rica/[731-B4-072]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Cost Rica/[731-B5-044]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Cost Rica/[731-B0-896]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ingeniería::Instituto Investigaciones en Ingeniería (INII)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Mixomicetos em ecótonos florestais de bosques temperados e tropicais

Ecotones are interesting portions of forests where microorganisms can be studied for monitoring and diversity purposes. Given the faster life cycle of these organisms, their study in such a context is important to develop models that allow us to understand adaptive microbial dynamics. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of myxomycetes present in the leaf litter layer in different geographical locations representing both temperate and tropical systems, using an experimental approach within the ecotones produced by sharp forest edges. Employing the moist chamber technique and three ecological indicators (species richness, diversity, and number of records, as a proxy for abundance) associated with the reproductive phase of the life cycle of myxomycetes, the present study summarized the potential effect of both temperate and tropical ecotones on the distribution of these organisms. Data from 26 locations in six countries showed that all indicators were higher in temperate than in tropical forests and that most differences could be explained by ecological effects. The overall influence of the ecotone on myxomycetes was opposite in temperate and tropical forests, but the data collected for both types of forests showed similarities that could be explained by comparable mathematical models. These results suggested that, with the methods used herein, ecotones do affect ecological patterns of myxomycetes, but the intensity and directionality of such an effect differ depending on the forest type involved.Los ecotonos son porciones interesantes del bosque donde los microorganismos pueden ser estudiados para efectos de monitoreo de la diversidad. Debido a su ciclo de vida rápido, estos organismos pueden ser importantes modelos para comprender la dinámica adaptativa microbiana. El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue evaluar la dinámica de los mixomicetes presentes en la capa de hojarasca en diferentes sitios asociados con sistemas templados y tropicales, por medio de una estrategia experimental, dentro de los ecotonos producidos por los bordes boscosos marcados. Con el uso de la técnica de cámara húmeda y con base en tres indicadores ecológicos (riqueza de especies, diversidad y número de registros, como una aproximación de abundancia) asociados con la fase reproductiva del ciclo de vida de los mixomicetes, el presente estudio resume el efecto potencial de ecotonos templados y tropicales en la distribución de estos organismos. Los datos de 26 sitios en seis países mostraron que todos los indicadores fueron más altos en ecotonos templados y que la mayoría de las diferencias pueden ser explicadas por efectos ecológicos. La influencia de estos sobre los mixomicetes fue opuesta en bosques templados y tropicales, pero los datos acumulados para ambos tipos de bosque mostraron similitudes que pueden ser explicadas por modelos matemáticos comparables. Estos resultados sugieren que, con los métodos usados acá, los ecotonos afectan los patrones ecológicos de los mixomicetes, pero la intensidad y la direccionalidad de tal efecto depende del tipo de bosque.Os ecótonos são parcelas interessantes da floreta em que os micro-organismos podem ser estudados com o objetivo de monitoramento da diversidade. Devido ao seu rápido ciclo de vida, estes organismos podem ser importantes modelos para a compreensão da dinâmica adaptativa microbiana. O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a dinâmica dos mixomicetos presentes na camada de folhagem em diferentes lugares associados aos sistemas temperados e tropicais, mediante uma estratégia experimental, dentro dos ecótonos produzidos pelas margens arborizadas marcadas. Com a utilização da técnica de câmara úmida e com base em três indicadores ecológicos (riqueza de espécies, diversidade e número de registros, como uma aproximação de abundância) associados à fase reprodutiva do ciclo de vida dos mixomicetos, o presente estudo resume o efeito potencial de ecótonos temperados e tropicais na distribuição destes organismos. Os dados de 26 locais em seis países mostraram que todos os indicadores foram mais altos em ecótonos temperados e que a maioria das diferenças podem ser explicadas por efeitos ecológicos. A influência destes sobre os mixomicetos foi oposta em florestas temperados e tropicais, porém os dados acumulados para ambos os tipos de florestas mostraram semelhanças que podem ser explicadas por modelos matemáticos comparáveis. Tais resultados sugerem que, com os métodos usados aqui, os ecótonos afetam os padrões ecológicos dos mixomicetos, mas a intensidade e a direcionalidade de tal efeito depende do tipo de floresta.Universidad de Costa Rica/[731-B5-062]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[731-B7-721]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ingeniería::Instituto Investigaciones en Ingeniería (INII)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ingeniería::Facultad de Ingeniería::Escuela de Ingeniería de Biosistema