Assessing the Potential Involutionary Effects of New Copyright Laws: A Techno-legal Analysis Based on the Impact of Web 3.0 on Copyright Protection

As Internet technology evolves, legal professionals and academics must stay current and adapt to these inevitable technological changes. This article investigates the extensive influence of the latest version of the World Wide Web (the Web)—Web 3.0—on copyright laws based on a techno-legal analysis that considers the opportunities and challenges of this new technology. The principal version of copyright laws, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), was enacted in 1998 during the Web 1.0 era, signifying an impending need for appropriate updates in the new Web 3.0 era. This article traces the historical development of U.S. copyright laws by positing it has undergone three phases: illegalization, institutionalization, and criminalization. The article then explores the possible development of new legal frameworks to address the unique challenges of Web 3.0 and the formulation of novel technical solutions in the new phase of decentralization. The article also assesses the possible involutionary effects of new copyright laws that can detrimentally impact privacy, freedom of speech, and fair competition on the Internet. Finally, this article provides recommendations for establishing new copyright laws’ parameters in the forthcoming decentralization phase

Explorations of structure and choice in taxing capital gains: New Zealand tax experts' perspectives

This study explores the key issues, aspects, and attributes concerning capital gains tax (CGT) to enable the formulation of policy guidelines that might be used if a CGT were considered in New Zealand. It contends that the development of the New Zealand’s policy on taxing capital gains has continued in a somewhat ad hoc and inconsistent fashion. The lack of a uniform approach to capital gains taxation has resulted in detailed, but complex, legislation which leads to “policy inconsistencies and unintended incentives built into the tax structure” (Oliver, 2001, pp. 80 – 81). The study bridges the divide between theoretical analysis of CGT and implementation issues on operating a CGT. It attempts to address one primary research question and an associated secondary question. The primary research question is: should capital gains be taxed more comprehensively than at present? As a start, it examines the two important issues surrounding income definition and the capital/income distinction. In this regard, the research first attempts to identify the definition(s) of capital gains from the New Zealand perspective(s). This is followed by investigating the key areas of the tax system in order to seek the best way of taxing capital gains. This study also attempts to address the secondary research question, i.e., why (or why not) do the tax experts favour (or oppose) a comprehensive CGT? In this respect, this study identifies 23 factors/issues that are related to the tax experts’ attitudes towards a particular form of a CGT model (i.e., current hybrid approach, a realisation-based CGT or an accrual-based CGT). A mixed-methods design has been adopted in this study involving both a quantitative (survey) and a qualitative (interview) method in analysing the data to determine the tax experts’ overall perceptions of a CGT in New Zealand and the CGT adoption factors which influenced them. One important finding of the comparative analyses was that all tax experts generally agreed that the lack of a comprehensive CGT could provide more significant tax planning opportunities. However, many tax experts did not support the comprehensive income concept as they disagreed with the benefits derived from the gains in horizontal equity through adopting a CGT. This study has identified several important policy issues and reviewed their implication for the adoption of a CGT in New Zealand. The finding of the study revealed that the tax experts strongly supported the exemption of the gains on disposal of a taxpayer’s main residence and the tax preference for inflation adjustment. Another important policy issue is the implementation of an accrual-based CGT. Most tax experts considered a realisation-based CGT would be better than an accrual one. In particular, they were concerned about the liquidity problems and the compliance costs involved in an accrual-based CGT regime i.e., the annual valuation of all assets. These findings represent a first step towards a theoretical CGT framework. It is hoped that the knowledge gained in this study would give a greater understanding into the practical decision-making process that could result in a better public acceptance for a tax reform

Land Laws and Foreign Direct Investment in Myanmar: Why American Investors Need to Reconsider the Customary Rights of Smallholder Farmers

This article looks into the issue of the government’s usage of land laws to release land from the smallholder farmers in Myanmar, which is considered not just a matter of striking a delicate balance between an individual’s customary rights of land tenure versus the need for more efficient land redistribution to sustain the country's economic development, but also about how social stability of the rural villages in Myanmar are uprooted when the agricultural livelihood and homes of those smallholder farmers are taken away by the government’s new land policies, and how cultivation flexibility and labor employment of small-scale agriculture have been sacrificed for the introduction of large-scale farming. Given the ample investment opportunities available at both ends of the supply chain in Myanmar, American investors have to be aware of the need to sustain their corporate social responsibilities by avoiding unnecessary suffering being done to smallholder farmers in Myanmar when their lands have been confiscated to accommodate the spatial needs of foreign direct investment (FDI). This article provides recommendations to help American investors maintain their ethical stance and reputation when operating their cross-border businesses in Myanmar

Exploring the Effects of Geocaching on Understanding Natural Resources and History

Abstract Since 2000, geocaching has been enjoyed by enthusiasts who wish to combine technology with a love for the outdoors. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine if geocaching can contribute to a participant’s understanding of natural resources and history. To comprehend these effects, a study was conducted at Minnesota’s Wild River State Park in the summer of 2010. Four volunteer participants were recruited for in-depth interviews and qualitative inquiry was employed to learn about their geocaching experience and collect their responses. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the interview data and identify possible geocaching effects based on participants’ perceptions. Six main categories were identified including learning, enjoyment, new attractions, constraints, economic benefits, and damage to the environment. Findings suggest that participants believed that their knowledge of park history and natural resources increased through geocaching. Recommendations, based on the findings, were given to park managers and the Minnesota DNR

On the Unusual Amber Coloration of Nanoporous Sol-gel Processed Al-doped Silica Glass: An Experimental Study

Silica is the most abundant component on the earth’s surface. It plays an important role in many natural processes. Silica is also a critical material for a wide range of technical applications such as in optics and electronics. In this work, we discuss our recent experimental observation of the unusual amber coloration of aluminum doped sol-gel glass that has not been reported in the past. We characterized Al-doped sol-gel glasses, prepared at different sintering temperature, using a plethora of techniques to investigate the origin of this unusual coloration and to understand their structural and chemical properties. We used these experimental results to test a number of possible coloring mechanisms. The results suggested this coloring is likely caused by temperature-dependent aluminum-associated defect centers associated with different amorphous-to-crystalline ratios of the annealed sol-gel silica glass structures

Comparing different methods of learning in the development of social accountability and CanMEDS roles in medical students

Abstract Objective: Medical students at the University of British Columbia undertake a population health course that aims to cultivate social accountability and CanMEDS roles. Students choose between Discussion Group Option (DGO), Community Service Learning Option (CSLO), or Self-Directed Project Option (SDPO). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these three different learning options in developing social accountability and CanMEDS roles in medical students. Methods: Expert consultation and literature review were undertaken to develop a self-report survey. Students who had completed the course from 2009 to 2013 were surveyed. The results were analyzed to evaluate differences between groups. Results: We recruited 168 participants with equal representation from each option. CSLO and SDPO students reported greater development of social accountability and CanMEDS roles from the course compared to DGO students. In addition, CSLO and SDPO students reported greater academic output and satisfaction from their experience. Conclusion: Students who participated in community-based or project-based learning reported significantly better acquisition of social accountability and CanMEDS roles compared to students who engaged in group discussion.  Résumé Objectif: Les étudiants en médecine de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique suivent un cours sur la santé de la population qui vise à cultiver la responsabilité sociale et les rôles CanMEDS. Les étudiants choisissent entre l’option de discussion de groupe (DGO, de l’anglais), l’option d’apprentissage par l’engagement communautaire (CSLO, de l’anglais) ou l’option de projet autonome (SDPO, de l’anglais). L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’efficacité de ces trois options d’apprentissage différentes pour le développement de la responsabilité sociale et des rôles CanMEDS chez les étudiants en médecine. Méthodes: Des consultations d’experts et une revue de la littérature ont été entreprises afin de concevoir un sondage d’autodéclaration. Les étudiants ayant complété le cours de 2009 à 2013 ont été interrogés. Les résultats ont été analysés afin d’évaluer les différences entre les groupes. Résultats: Nous avons recruté 168 participants, avec une représentation égale pour chaque option. Les étudiants des groupes CSLO et SDPO ont déclaré plus de développement de leur sens de responsabilité sociale et des rôles CanMEDS à la suite du cours, en comparaison aux étudiants du groupe DGO. De plus, les étudiants des groupes CSLO et SDPO ont rapporté un plus grand nombre de réalisations scolaires et une meilleure satisfaction par rapport à leur expérience. Conclusion: Les étudiants qui ont participé à l’apprentissage par l’engagement communautaire ou par l’entremise d’un projet autonome ont rapporté une acquisition nettement meilleure de la responsabilité sociale et des rôles CanMEDS, en comparaison aux étudiants qui ont participé à une discussion de groupe.

Antibody Therapy Targeting Cancer-Specific Cell Surface Antigen AGR2

For anterior gradient 2 (AGR2), normal cells express the intracellular form iAGR2 localized to the endoplasmic reticulum while cancer cells express the extracellular form eAGR2 localized on the cell surface and secreted. Antibodies targeting eAGR2+ cancer cells for eradication will spare normal cells. Two AGR2 monoclonal antibodies, P1G4 and P3A5, were shown to recognize specifically eAGR2+ pancreatic tumors implanted in mice. In addition, P1G4 showed enhancement in drug inhibition of tumor growth. Human:mouse chimeric antibodies of IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 were generated for both antibodies. These human IgG were shown to lyse eAGR2+ prostate cancer cells in vitro with human serum. AGR2 has an important function in distal spread of cancer cells, and is highly expressed in prostate, pancreatic, bladder metastases. Therefore, immunotherapy based on AGR2 antibody-mediated ADCC and CDC is highly promising. Cancer specificity of eAGR2 predicts possibly minimal collateral damage to healthy tissues and organs. Moreover, AGR2 therapy, once fully developed and approved, can be used to treat other solid tumors since AGR2 is an adenocarcinoma antigen found in many common malignancies

To What Extent Does Ericsson Adapt Their Organisational Culture When Opening A Branch in A New Culture?

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) is a Swedish telecom company with branches all over the world. It is not a secret that a company with branches in several diverse cultures has to decide what extent the organization will go in adapting the host culture into the new branch. This essay will focus on Ericsson and a few cases on how well Ericsson decided to incorporate host cultures into their organization. The cases picked will mainly be in Asia due to the greater cultural difference between the Asian host culture and their European home culture

Aberrant Lymphatic Endothelial Progenitors in Lymphatic Malformation Development

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are vascular anomalies thought to arise from dysregulated lymphangiogenesis. These lesions impose a significant burden of disease on affected individuals. LM pathobiology is poorly understood, hindering the development of effective treatments. In the present studies, immunostaining of LM tissues revealed that endothelial cells lining aberrant lymphatic vessels and cells in the surrounding stroma expressed the stem cell marker, CD133, and the lymphatic endothelial protein, podoplanin. Isolated patient-derived CD133+ LM cells expressed stem cell genes (NANOG, Oct4), circulating endothelial cell precursor proteins (CD90, CD146, c-Kit, VEGFR-2), and lymphatic endothelial proteins (podoplanin, VEGFR-3). Consistent with a progenitor cell identity, CD133+ LM cells were multipotent and could be differentiated into fat, bone, smooth muscle, and lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro. CD133+ cells were compared to CD133− cells isolated from LM fluids. CD133− LM cells had lower expression of stem cell genes, but expressed circulating endothelial precursor proteins and high levels of lymphatic endothelial proteins, VE-cadherin, CD31, podoplanin, VEGFR-3 and Prox1. CD133− LM cells were not multipotent, consistent with a differentiated lymphatic endothelial cell phenotype. In a mouse xenograft model, CD133+ LM cells differentiated into lymphatic endothelial cells that formed irregularly dilated lymphatic channels, phenocopying human LMs. In vivo, CD133+ LM cells acquired expression of differentiated lymphatic endothelial cell proteins, podoplanin, LYVE1, Prox1, and VEGFR-3, comparable to expression found in LM patient tissues. Taken together, these data identify a novel LM progenitor cell population that differentiates to form the abnormal lymphatic structures characteristic of these lesions, recapitulating the human LM phenotype. This LM progenitor cell population may contribute to the clinically refractory behavior of LMs

Biophysical Studies of Bacterial Topoisomerases Substantiate Their Binding Modes to an Inhibitor

AbstractBacterial DNA topoisomerases are essential for bacterial growth and are attractive, important targets for developing antibacterial drugs. Consequently, different potent inhibitors that target bacterial topoisomerases have been developed. However, the development of potent broad-spectrum inhibitors against both Gram-positive (G+) and Gram-negative (G−) bacteria has proven challenging. In this study, we carried out biophysical studies to better understand the molecular interactions between a potent bis-pyridylurea inhibitor and the active domains of the E-subunits of topoisomerase IV (ParE) from a G+ strain (Streptococcus pneumoniae (sParE)) and a G− strain (Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pParE)). NMR results demonstrated that the inhibitor forms a tight complex with ParEs and the resulting complexes adopt structural conformations similar to those observed for free ParEs in solution. Further chemical-shift perturbation experiments and NOE analyses indicated that there are four regions in ParE that are important for inhibitor binding, namely, α2, the loop between β2 and α3, and the β2 and β6 strands. Surface plasmon resonance showed that this inhibitor binds to sParE with a higher KD than pParE. Point mutations in α2 of ParE, such as A52S (sParE), affected its binding affinity with the inhibitor. Taken together, these results provide a better understanding of the development of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents