99 research outputs found
Chimpanzee Rights: The Philosophers' Brief
In December 2013, the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) filed a petition for a common law writ of habeas corpus in the New York State Supreme Court on behalf of Tommy, a chimpanzee living alone in a cage in a shed in rural New York (Barlow, 2017). Under animal welfare laws, Tommyâs owners, the Laverys, were doing nothing illegal by keeping him in those conditions. Nonetheless, the NhRP argued that given the cognitive, social, and emotional capacities of chimpanzees, Tommyâs confinement constituted a profound wrong that demanded remedy by the courts. Soon thereafter, the NhRP filed habeas corpus petitions on behalf of Kiko, another chimpanzee housed alone in Niagara Falls, and Hercules and Leo, two chimpanzees held in
research facilities at Stony Brook University. Thus began the legal struggle to move these chimpanzees from captivity to a sanctuary, an effort that has led the NhRP to argue in multiple courts before multiple judges. The central point of contention has been whether Tommy, Kiko, Hercules, and Leo have legal rights. To date, no judge has been willing to issue a writ of habeas corpus on their behalf. Such a ruling would mean that these chimpanzees have rights that confinement might violate. Instead, the judges have argued that chimpanzees cannot be bearers of legal rights because they are not, and cannot be persons. In this book we argue that chimpanzees are persons because they are autonomous
Positive Organisational Psychology 2.0: Embracing The Technological Revolution
Positive Organisational Psychology (POP) has experienced significant growth in the past two decades, contributing to our understanding of work-related well-being and performance. However, the discipline is now on the cusp of a new wave of research and innovation that may reshape its discourse. This paper introduces the concept of âPositive Organisational Psychology 2.0â (POP 2.0) as an evidence-based, data-driven field that utilizes technological advancements and human-centred design to understand and enhance positive characteristics of individuals, organisations, and society for optimal psychological functioning, wellbeing, and performance. The paper begins with an overview of POPâs emergence, highlighting its key characteristics and exploring the factors behind its rapid growth and declining relevance. We then conceptualize POP 2.0, outline its defining features, and advocate for a broader scope, expanded focal audience, enhanced methodologies, and transformative role shifts for practitioners. We conclude by outlining opportunities, challenges and perspectives for the next wave of innovative research
Synaptotagmin-1 membrane binding is driven by the C2B domain and assisted cooperatively by the C2A domain
Synaptotagmin interaction with anionic lipid (phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylinositol) containing membranes, both in the absence and presence of calcium ions (Ca2+), is critical to its central role in orchestrating neurotransmitter release. The molecular surfaces involved, namely the conserved polylysine motif in the C2B domain and Ca2+-binding aliphatic loops on both C2A and C2B domains, are known. Here we use surface force apparatus combined with systematic mutational analysis of the functional surfaces to directly measure Syt1-membrane interaction and fully map the site-binding energetics of Syt1 both in the absence and presence of Ca2+. By correlating energetics data with the molecular rearrangements measured during confinement, we find that both C2 domains cooperate in membrane binding, with the C2B domain functioning as the main energetic driver, and the C2A domain acting as a facilitator.Fil: Gruget, ClĂ©mence. Ecole Normale SupĂ©rieure; FranciaFil: Bello, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de HistologĂa y EmbriologĂa de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MĂ©dicas. Instituto de HistologĂa y EmbriologĂa de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Coleman, Jeff. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Krishnakumar, Shyam S.. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Perez, Eric. Ecole Normale SupĂ©rieure; FranciaFil: Rothman, James E.. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Pincet, Frederic. Ecole Normale SupĂ©rieure; Francia. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Donaldson, Stephen H.. Ecole Normale SupĂ©rieure; Franci
Bach-flat asymptotically locally Euclidean metrics
We obtain a volume growth and curvature decay result for various classes of
complete, noncompact Riemannian metrics in dimension 4; in particular our
method applies to anti-self-dual or Kahler metrics with zero scalar curvature,
and metrics with harmonic curvature. Similar results are known for Einstein
metrics, but our analysis differs from the Einstein case in that (1) we
consider more generally a fourth order system in the metric, and (2) we do not
assume any pointwise Ricci curvature bound.Comment: 54 pages; final versio
A high-power Schottky diode frequency multiplier chain at 360 GHz for Gyro-TWA applications
A high-power Schottky diode frequency multiplier chain at 360 GHz, with a 3 dB bandwidth above 20 GHz is presented. The cascaded frequency doublers show peak efficiencies of 35% and 23% at 180 and 354 GHz, respectively. While the 180 GHz doubler generates a maximum power of 69 mW at 300 mW input, the second stage doubler delivers 12 mW output at 360 GHz. Both doublers consist of low parasitic GaAs Schottky diode circuits optimized to handle high input powers, and neither exhibit saturation at the highest applied power
Rabbits, stoats and the predator problem: Why a strong animal rights position need not call for human intervention to protect prey from predators
Animal rights positions face the âpredator problemâ: the suggestion that if the rights of nonhuman animals are to be protected, then we are obliged to interfere in natural ecosystems to protect prey from predators. Generally, rather than embracing this conclusion, animal ethicists have rejected it, basing this objection on a number of different arguments. This paper considers but challenges three such arguments, before defending a fourth possibility. Rejected are Peter Singerâs suggestion that interference will lead to more harm than good, Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlickaâs suggestion that respect for nonhuman sovereignty necessitates non-interference in normal circumstances, and Alasdair Cochraneâs solution based on the claim that predators cannot survive without killing prey. The possibility defended builds upon Tom Reganâs suggestion that predators, as moral patients but not moral agents, cannot violate the rights of their prey, and so the rights of the prey, while they do exist, do not call for intervention. This idea is developed by a consideration of how moral agents can be more or less responsible for a given event, and defended against criticisms offered by thinkers including Alasdair Cochrane and Dale Jamieson
Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation
Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5â11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70â185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055â1,540 Tg C in the upper 1âm of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1â3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12â21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation
© 2019, The Author(s). Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5â11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70â185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055â1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1â3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12â21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation
Unidad de excelencia MarĂa de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5-11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70-185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055-1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1-3.1 Tg CO-e yr, increasing annual CO emissions from land use change in Australia by 12-21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The consumer scam: an agency-theoretic approach
Despite the extensive body of literature that aims to explain the phenomenon of consumer scams, the structure of information in scam relationships remains relatively understudied. The purpose of this article is to develop an agency-theoretical approach to the study of information in perpetrator-victim interactions. Drawing a distinction between failures of observation and failures of judgement in the pre-contract phase, we introduce a typology and a set of propositions that explain the severity of adverse selection problems in three classes of scam relationships. Our analysis provides a novel, systematic explanation of the structure of information that facilitates scam victimisation, while also enabling critical scrutiny of a core assumption in agency theory regarding contract design. We highlight the role of scam perpetrators as agents who have access to private information and exercise considerable control over the terms and design of scam relationships. Focusing on the consumer scam context, we question a theoretical assumption, largely taken for granted in the agency literature, that contact design is necessarily in the purview of the uninformed principal
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