The Meanings of the Logical Constants in Deontic Logic

If deontic logic is to cast light on any of the normative sciences, such as legal reasoning, then certain problems regarding its logical constants must be faced. Recent studies in the area of deontic logic have tended to assume that it is our responses to the "paradoxes" of deontic implication which are fundamental to resolving problems with the use of deontic logic to investigate various branches of normative reasoning. In this paper I wish to show that the paradoxes are of secondary importance; that they are merely by-products of the central issue, namely the ability of certain syntactic forms to embody natural language structures used in reasoning about norms. An investigation of modal syntax is proffered as the best starting-point from which to tackle the questions that still dog the legitimacy of deontic logic. Part I provides some philosophical background to the discussion of deontic logical constants. Part II addresses in greater detail issues concerning the representation of normative concepts; and Part III offers a few remarks on the general issue of deontic logic's fruitfulness as an analytical tool.     

DNA analysis of digested tomato seeds in stomach contents

Examination of stomach contents is one of the important steps in medical legal autopsy. Vegetative materials such as stems, roots, and seeds in stomach contents can be valuable evidence for providing investigative leads in death investigation. Currently, the identification of plant materials relies on microscopic and morphologic examination. We have found that many seeds are often protected from acid degradation during stomach digestion by their tough exterior seed coat. Tomato seeds were selected as a model system to assess DNA analysis and plant variety marker identification. The DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism method was performed to determine if the DNA obtained from single seeds could be used for PCR analysis. From the amplified fragment length polymorphism results, some candidate markers for individualizing seeds from morphologically distinct tomatoes were identified. These data on DNA analysis of tomato seeds indicate amplified fragment length polymorphism is a viable procedure for the individualization of seeds from stomach contents in forensic investigations.     

The Possibility of Deontic Logic

A recent series of papers, sparked off by a note by Robert Walter (1996), has rekindled the debate over the possibility of creating a logic of normative concepts. The debate correctly centres on ways in which Jørgensen’s dilemma might be resolved (Jørgensen 1937–8), since a means of resolving that dilemma is the only apparently available way in which to establish that a logic of norms is possible. Two separate questions require answers: (i) what is the correct way in which to regard Jørgensen’s dilemma; and (ii) how should one face that dilemma? I shall argue that traditional responses to the first question are inadequate, and I shall then try to expose as flawed two recent attempts to resolve the dilemma. Finally, I shall relate my conclusions in the earlier part of the paper to the wider question of whether a logic of normative concepts is, after all, a possibility.     

Professional Cities: Accredited Agencies,Government Structure,and Rational Choice

Accreditation, long used to signal quality among hospitals and universities, has been available to police, fire, and public works departments since the late 1980s. For public service departments, accreditation is a voluntary process that demands significant organizational resources without a guaranteed outcome. Why would city officials devote scarce resources to such an endeavor? Two explanations are examined. First, accreditation may be a rational response to a history of trouble or the potential for future crisis. Second, municipalities may use accreditation to build a reputation for professional administration of public services. The authors use Poisson regression to test these explanations on a new data set of midsize cities .     

A novel approach to condom lubricant analysis: In-situ analysis of swabs by FT-Raman Spectroscopy and its effects on DNA analysis

Current methods for the analysis of swabs for condom lubricants require a portion of the swab to be extracted. This requirement causes issues for those who require the swab for DNA extraction. A novel method is presented that facilitates analysis of the swab without the need for extraction. The method was shown to be equivalent to the traditional methods in terms of its sensitivity and discriminating power.The impact of the method on subsequent DNA extraction of swabs was assessed and no detrimental effects were observed.The method was used to conduct a survey of the current market for the supply of condoms in the UK. 90% of the UK condom market consists of condoms lubricated with PDMS.     

The treatment of prisoners: International standards and case law

Objective. In some countries questions are asked about the extent to which human rights should be applied to those who have been detained in prison, particularly if they have been convicted of a criminal offence. However, the international human rights treaties and instruments are quite clear that detained persons are entitled to all human rights that are not expressly removed by the fact of their detention. Method. This article describes in detail what these standards are and how they apply to imprisonment. It also considers how these issues have been interpreted judicially by the European Court of Human Rights and the lessons to be learned from its increasing body of case law. Conclusion. All those who are involved in the management of prisons or who deal in any way with prisoners must always bear in mind ‘the inherent dignity of the human person’. This obligation applies particularly to psychologists and others who develop programmes and other activities aimed at influencing the future behaviour of prisoners.