Hugh Lafollette’s theoretical justification of parental licensing hinges upon consideration of the harms associated with raising children. If we understand Lafollette’s stance as one in which the moral status of children is equal to that of other human beings, we must consider what such a commitment might require of social institutions such as the family. Unlike other licensing programs, I argue that Lafollette’s parental licensing program serves as a tool by which fair equality of opportunity can be acquired for those living within a given society. I attempt to demonstrate how the normative views as to the sovereignty of parents serve to discount the moral status of children, thus limiting the protections offered against child maltreatment. I will show how Lafollette’s theoretical justifications align with concerns addressed in John Stuart Mill’s harm principle and Rawlsian views as to the importance of access to fair equality of opportunity.

From alarm about the prospect of ‘twenty-four drinking’ to campaigns for a minimum price per unit, the last decade has shown that alcohol consumption is an inflammatory issue in this country. It has become commonplace to hear that drinking is ‘out of control’ and that it is a new and worsening problem largely unique to Britain. However, comparative research reveals that alcohol consumption in Britain is not unusually high and even a cursory glance at history shows that extreme bouts of alarm about drinking have been common on these shores since at least the eighteenth century. What is at the root of this national neurosis about alcohol? This thesis considers the historical development of both public attitudes to alcohol and laws relating to alcohol in England and Wales. Covering issues of crime, disorder, health and immorality, it investigates the various means through which alcohol has been constructed as a social problem through time. This qualitative focus on change and continuity in history allows for the attitudinal and legal impact of certain key developments to be assessed. Particular attention is paid to the Victorian temperance movement which, drawing especially on the ideas of Hunt and Ruonavaara, is characterised as a moral regulation project. It is argued that, although the temperance movement itself declined in the early twentieth century, the moral regulation project it initiated continues, in certain ways, to shape public attitudes towards drinking and the legal regulation of alcohol in the present day. Rather than being a response to contemporary behavioural trends, this thesis proposes that continuing anxieties, apparent in how we think about and regulate alcohol, are more usefully understood as a hangover from the Victorian period.

No description available.

O uso intensivo da tecnologia nuclear contribuiu para o aumento das preocupações com as questões ambientais e sua segurança, acabando por despertar o interesse em toda sociedade. No Brasil, as atividades nucleares são regulamentadas pelo Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA). A primeira resolução CONAMA, no 001/1986, estabeleceu que as atividades nucleares deveriam ser licenciadas pela agência ambiental brasileira, ou seja, pelo Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Renováveis (IBAMA), independentemente da obrigatoriedade do licenciamento pela Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CNEN). No licenciamento é preciso elaborar o Estudo de Impacto Ambiental (EIA), um conjunto de estudos realizados por especialistas de diversas áreas, com dados técnicos detalhados, e o Relatório de Impacto Ambiental (RIMA), que deve apresentar as conclusões do EIA de forma objetiva e adequado à sua compreensão. O principal mecanismo de participação direta da população na proteção da qualidade ambiental é a audiência pública. Ela tem como finalidade expor ao público as características do projeto e o conteúdo do EIA/RIMA. Durante a audiência pública os participantes podem fazer perguntas sobre o empreendimento e tirar dúvidas sobre como se dará o licenciamento. As audiências públicas são organizadas pelos empreendedores, consoante diretrizes emitidas pelo IBAMA. Sendo a audiência pública a etapa do licenciamento mais propícia a subjetividades, este trabalho é uma contribuição para a área a partir da avaliação crítica do modelo de audiência pública, atualmente adotado, para o licenciamento ambiental de instalações nucleares. / The intense use of nuclear technology has contributed an increase in concerns about environmental issues and safety, promoting the interest of society in the issue. In Brazil, nuclear activities are regulated by the Brazilian Environmental Council CONAMA. The first CONAMAs resolution nº 001/1986, establishes that the nuclear activities must be licensed by the Brazilian environmental agency, i.e., the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Resources - IBAMA, regardless of compulsory licensing by Brazilian Commission of Nuclear Energy - CNEN. Licensing is necessary to prepare the Environmental Impact Study - EIA, a set of studies performed by specialists from several areas with technical data in details, and the Environmental Impact Report - RIMA must reflect the EIA conclusions. This should be presented objectively and adequate to its understanding. The main mechanism of direct participation of the population in protecting the environmental quality is the public hearing. It aims to expose to the public the project characteristics and EIA and RIMA. During the Public Hearing, the participants may ask questions on enterprise and clarify doubts about how the licensing is. Public hearings are organized by entrepreneurs, according to guidelines issued by IBAMA. Whereas the public hearing is the most favorable licensing stage of the subjectivities, this study is a contribution to the area from the critical evaluation of the public hearing model currently adopted for the environmental licensing of nuclear.

The aim of this research is to investigate the phenomenon of business method patents in Europe. Not only the issue of patentability of business methods is discussed, but also the possible strategic use of these patents and patent applications is explored. For this purpose, a data set has been specifically created, including all the applications submitted in the class G06Q (namely data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervision or forecasting purpose) at the EPO. A quantitative analysis of the data has been performed, revealing the huge volume of business method patent applications (more than 34,000) filed at the EPO over the last 20 years. Equally, a continued interest of large companies in patenting business methods has been demonstrated. However, these empirical observations seem to be inconsistent with both the legal framework (most notably Article 52 EPC 2000 establishes that business methods are not patentable) and the low rate of acceptance of applications (only a small fraction of patents have eventually been granted) in the category of business methods at the EPO. All of this supports the hypothesis that firm demand for business method patent protection can be driven by strategic purposes, often resulting in inefficiencies in the market and reducing in competition. Hence, the research presented intends to highlight overcoming inefficiencies, as well as possible antidotes provided by the EU competition law. On this purpose, some of the common practices, such as hold-up or tacit collusion, are identified. At the same time, the beneficial effects of mutual licensing agreements are highlighted. In particular, the research examines the European legal framework on the technology transfer agreements. Their effectiveness in contrasting business method patents' strategic uses is analysed, particularly regarding reduction on competition. Based on this, the thesis argues ultimately that a wider opening in granting patent protection to business methods will not result in discouraging new entries in the field.

O uso intensivo da tecnologia nuclear contribuiu para o aumento das preocupações com as questões ambientais e sua segurança, acabando por despertar o interesse em toda sociedade. No Brasil, as atividades nucleares são regulamentadas pelo Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA). A primeira resolução CONAMA, no 001/1986, estabeleceu que as atividades nucleares deveriam ser licenciadas pela agência ambiental brasileira, ou seja, pelo Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Renováveis (IBAMA), independentemente da obrigatoriedade do licenciamento pela Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CNEN). No licenciamento é preciso elaborar o Estudo de Impacto Ambiental (EIA), um conjunto de estudos realizados por especialistas de diversas áreas, com dados técnicos detalhados, e o Relatório de Impacto Ambiental (RIMA), que deve apresentar as conclusões do EIA de forma objetiva e adequado à sua compreensão. O principal mecanismo de participação direta da população na proteção da qualidade ambiental é a audiência pública. Ela tem como finalidade expor ao público as características do projeto e o conteúdo do EIA/RIMA. Durante a audiência pública os participantes podem fazer perguntas sobre o empreendimento e tirar dúvidas sobre como se dará o licenciamento. As audiências públicas são organizadas pelos empreendedores, consoante diretrizes emitidas pelo IBAMA. Sendo a audiência pública a etapa do licenciamento mais propícia a subjetividades, este trabalho é uma contribuição para a área a partir da avaliação crítica do modelo de audiência pública, atualmente adotado, para o licenciamento ambiental de instalações nucleares. / The intense use of nuclear technology has contributed an increase in concerns about environmental issues and safety, promoting the interest of society in the issue. In Brazil, nuclear activities are regulated by the Brazilian Environmental Council CONAMA. The first CONAMAs resolution nº 001/1986, establishes that the nuclear activities must be licensed by the Brazilian environmental agency, i.e., the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Resources - IBAMA, regardless of compulsory licensing by Brazilian Commission of Nuclear Energy - CNEN. Licensing is necessary to prepare the Environmental Impact Study - EIA, a set of studies performed by specialists from several areas with technical data in details, and the Environmental Impact Report - RIMA must reflect the EIA conclusions. This should be presented objectively and adequate to its understanding. The main mechanism of direct participation of the population in protecting the environmental quality is the public hearing. It aims to expose to the public the project characteristics and EIA and RIMA. During the Public Hearing, the participants may ask questions on enterprise and clarify doubts about how the licensing is. Public hearings are organized by entrepreneurs, according to guidelines issued by IBAMA. Whereas the public hearing is the most favorable licensing stage of the subjectivities, this study is a contribution to the area from the critical evaluation of the public hearing model currently adopted for the environmental licensing of nuclear.

A detecção é um fator que afeta a magnitude estimada de fauna atropelada, informação relevante nos estudos e trabalhos de biologia da conservação. Em rodovias, a estimativa da detecção é afetada por diferentes elementos, como os tipos de pavimento; os atributos das carcaças; as particularidades dos diferentes observadores e o método utilizado para aferição. Nosso trabalho avalia essas questões, especifica o esforço amostral e corrige a estimativa de fauna atropelada em relação à detecção. Encontramos diferença na estimativa de detecção entre os diferentes pavimentos; entre as carcaças similares e contrastantes ao substrato; entre os diferentes observadores e verificamos que através do monitoramento a pé não se detecta a totalidade das carcaças. Esses resultados e a estimativa de fauna atropelada corrigida comprovam a importância da aferição da detecção antes e depois da pavimentação das rodovias, através de método experimental. Sendo que o experimento deve contemplar a implantação de diferentes carcaças e ser realizado pelas equipes que participaram dos monitoramentos de fauna. / Detection is a factor that affects the estimated magnitude of the roadkill and is relevant information in biological conservation studies. In roads, the detection estimation is affected by many factors, such as type of paving, the carcasses traits, the particularities of different observers and the method used for measurement. Our study evaluates these questions, specify the sample effort and correct the roadkill magnitude in relation to detection. We found differences in the estimation of detection between the different kinds of paving, between carcasses similar to the paving and between those contrasting to the substrate. We also found differences between different observers and thus monitoring by walking does not detect all carcasses. These results and the roadkill magnitude corrected demonstrate the importance of the standardization of the detection before and after the paving of roads, via experimental methods. However, the experiment should include the implementation of different substrates and should be carried out by the teams that have already participated in the monitoring of fauna.

The goal of this project was to determine the key regulators of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) potency as part of a cell-based therapy to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs is dictated by multiple, interacting conditions that take place during the biomanufacturing of these cells, as well as after they are transplanted. Variables such as the source of MSCs and the inflammatory cues in their microenvironment are critical regulators of potency that can be manipulated and optimized prior to their use for an enhanced cell-based therapy. Herein, I took a systematic approach to isolating a single variable in the microenvironment of MSCs to determine its effect on the key immunomodulatory enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). I then manipulated these variables and applied them across multiple MSC donors to determine how their effect varied between cells isolated from different individuals. Finally, I conducted an in vitro potency assay with MSCs and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) to determine how enhanced IDO due to these variables translated to immune suppression for an enhanced cell product. Upon transplantion, different disease settings have altered microenvironments that can hinder the efficacy of an MSC therapy. The microenvironment in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) has elevated levels of the fatty acid palmitate which shifts the phenotype of MSCs from immune suppressive to pro-inflammatory. I demonstrated that manipulating the microenvironment of MSCs to enhance IDO protein concentration prior to transplant reverses the pro-inflammatory effects of palmitate and restores immune suppression by MSCs. My finding was that the appropriate environmental cues, along with a potent donor, yields a cell-based therapy that can overcome challenges in many disease settings such as obesity and T2D.

Cell signaling pathways are frequently used in multiple tissue and stage-specific contexts during multicellular development. The integration of these signaling pathways by transcriptional enhancers controls the tissue specific gene expression necessary for proper development. Enhancers are segments of DNA that interpret developmental signals to produce patterns of gene expression. A set of operational rules defines how different enhancers targeted by the same signals interpret and act on these signals. Using the Drosophila model system, my thesis work focuses on determining the operational rules used by developmental enhancers that integrate the Notch signaling pathway with other pathways. During development, the Notch signaling pathway in used to pattern cell territories involved in cell fate determination, and plays a role in differentiation. I first used a computational approach to identify a set of candidate Notch-target enhancers. From this set I carefully studied one specific enhancer from the nab gene that integrates the Notch and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathways in the developing wing. This nab enhancer is a part of a cluster of enhancers that work together to drive the global nab expression pattern during development. Each of these enhancers drives the expected expression patterns as well as atypical expression patterns, which are silenced by adjacent enhancers. These results suggest that Notch targeted enhancers are involved in both tissue specific gene activation and gene silencing.

隨著技術的發展應用，新技術的研發成本越來越高，許多開發中國家，受 限於研究人才、設備、經費、及原有技術水準落後等因素的影響，較難從 事自行開發技術的工作，因此經由先進國家或是多國企業引入所需之技術 ，就成為開發中國家發展經濟、促進工業化的過程中，取得技術的重要方 式。國際間技術移轉的方式，主要為外人直接投資及技術授權。以外人直 接投資的方式而言，國外廠商對地主國企業的經營及技術擁有高度的控制 權，這使得許多國家諸如日本、歐洲國家及開發中國家中之較進步的幾個 國家，均比較偏好用技術授權的方式來引入技術。技術授權為一複雜而多 變的技術移轉活動，合作雙方的權利義務則完全依雙方所簽訂的契約來規 範，整個技術引進的過程包括對技術、合作產品銷售之評估，與授權者接 洽、談判、簽約，及進行技術移轉等。在這繁複的過程中可得到二項重要 的結果，一是技術權利金或技術報酬金的高低水準，此為被授權者使用技 術所需支付的成本代價；另一則為技術授權的執行績效，此為被授權者與 外國廠商進行技術授權時所能獲取的利益。由於此二部份是國內廠商在參 與技術授權時所最關切的問題，因此本研究針對技術權利金及授權績效的 影響因素作一深入的探討。本文的研究目的有三：一、探討影響技術權利 金水準之影響因素及其效果；二、分析授權績效之影響因素及其效果；三 、研究技術權利金與授權績效間之關係。