Lon L. Fuller,Gustav Radbruch,and the “positivist” theses

For helpful suggestions and criticism I am grateful to Delf Buchwald (Göttingen), Malte Dießelhorst (Göttingen), Ralf Dreier (Göttingen), Bonnie Litschewski Paulson (Göttingen and St. Louis), Martin Schulte (Münster), Alexander Somek (Vienna), and Kenneth I. Winston (Boston). In correspondence, Walter Ott (Zurich) and Carola Vulpius (Dresden) responded in a most helpful way to my queries.     

An exploration of the “Spinback” phenomenon

This paper examines nine cases of “spinback,” the flow back to laboratories of technical advantage from technology transfer activities. The benefits revealed in the cases are discussed and assessed for their value to the participating laboratories and the scientists involved. The objective of this study was to explore and test the feasibility of undertaking a comprehensive study of the value of spinback in order to encourage support for technology transfer activities by middle management in a laboratory. Spinback is defined as the phenomenon by which scientists’ and engineers’ participation in technology utilization activities results in a technically valuable flow back to their laboratories or organizations, thereby increasing or improving techical capability. It was anticipated that this exploration would provide evidence that the phenomenon does occur, with important consequences for the organization.     

A report of an international collaborative experiment to demonstrate the uniformity obtainable using DNA profiling techniques.

This paper describes a collaborative exercise intended to demonstrate whether uniformity of DNA profile results could be achieved between different European laboratories. It was shown that this goal can be obtained provided that a common protocol is followed (specifically the use of a common electrophoretic buffer as being the most important parameter). Generally, lower molecular weight loci (with lower molecular weight fragments) such as YNH24 perform better than higher molecular weight loci such as MS43a. The results of the exercise are discussed in relation to the objectives of the European DNA profiling group (EDNAP).     

Threatening and otherwise inappropriate letters to members of the United States Congress

The authors examine the characteristics of threatening and otherwise inappropriate communications sent to members of the U.S. Congress by a sample of 86 subjects, 20 of whom threatened assassination. We quote excerpts from these letters and provide quantitative data on such variables as the volume, duration, form, and appearance of such communications; the enclosures; the subjects' perceived relationships to the recipients; the thematic content of the communications; and the messages and threats communicated. Comparisons between 43 subjects who pursued encounters with members of Congress and 43 who did not revealed 17 factors associated with such pursuit. In this population, threateners were significantly less likely to pursue an encounter than inappropriate letter writers who did not threaten, regardless of the type of threat or the harm threatened. Inappropriate letters to members of Congress are compared with those directed to Hollywood celebrities. Mentally disordered persons writing to public figures often mention and sometimes threaten public figures other than those to whom the letters are addressed, which raises important issues regarding notification of endangered third parties and the sharing of information among protective agencies.     

The use of phosphate buffered saline for the recovery of cells and spermatozoa from swabs.

In the forensic science laboratory, the recovery of spermatozoa from vaginal swabs, or vaginal cells from penile swabs, can help determine if sexual intercourse may have taken place. There are several methods used to recover spermatozoa and cells from the swabs before visualisation on a microscope slide and most of these methods use water. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) is a non-toxic solution used in many biological laboratories. Unlike water, PBS prevents cells rupturing or shrivelling up due to osmosis. This study demonstrates that PBS can be used for the extraction of spermatozoa and cells from swabs and that PBS does not affect subsequent DNA profiling.     

Judicial Procedures as Instruments of Political Control: Congress's Strategic Use of Citizen Suits

Citizen suit provisions, which give proregulatory interests access to the federal courts, can be used by Congress to increase the courts' role in regulatory policy. I analyze 284 environmental regulation bills reported favorably out of committee and show that committee support for citizen suits is a function of the committee's policy goals and the political context in which the bills are generated. These findings indicate that Congress deliberately uses judicial procedures as instruments of political control and that scholars examining judicial policymaking must include legislative goals in the list of explanatory factors.     

柔嫩艾美球虫杨凌株表面抗原SAG10基因的克隆与原核表达

从柔嫩艾美球虫第二代裂殖子总RNA中扩增EtSAG10基因,与pGEM-T Easy载体连接后转化大肠杆菌(E.coli)DH5α,筛选阳性克隆,扩增不含N端信号肽的编码序列,分别插入表达载体pET-32a( )和pMAL-c2X,转化至E.coliRosetta,以IPTG诱导表达。结果表明,pET-32a( )-EtSAG10在E.coliRosetta中的表达产物约占菌体总蛋白的43%,融合蛋白分子质量约为47 ku,以包涵体形式存在;而pMAL-c2X-EtSAG10在E.coliRosetta中表达的重组蛋白为可溶性,表达产物约占菌体总蛋白的35%,融合蛋白分子质量约为69 ku。以表达的可溶性EtSAG10重组蛋白100μg/只肌肉注射免疫雏鸡,攻虫后以盲肠病变计分、盲肠卵囊数(OPG)、相对增重率和抗球虫指数(ACI)评价,免疫组相对盲肠卵囊产量为47.7%,抗球虫指数由86.79提高至152.13。提示,重组表达的EtSAG10可诱导雏鸡产生一定的抗球虫免疫保护。     

Microbial Sampling and Data Interpretation for Problematic Buildings: Considerations for Construction Related Environmental Claims

Bioaerosol data is often used in cases of building mold infestation alleging damage or adverse health effects upon occupants, despite the lack of consistent sampling and analytical protocols and numerical health-based standards. The most fundamental problem in these scenarios is defining a “significant” difference between a suspect indoor environment and the reference environment, regardless of the type of sampling and analysis utilized. Data interpretation focused upon differences in absolute numerical concentrations of fungi is subject to wide differences in expert opinion. On the other hand, an objective quantification of differences can be expressed in terms of probability and better meets criteria established in evidentiary rules.