Interaction and basic rights in an international perspective: an introduction

The effective enjoyment of basic rights largely depends on communicative processes and other forms of social interaction. Traditional conceptions of basic rights do not explicitly address this relevance of social interaction, though. Legal conceptions of basic rights rather focus on the right to a particular discretionary, but isolated and individual behaviour. This article points out the different established dimensions of basic rights protection and points out the relevance of social interaction for the enjoyment of basic rights as well as the legal consequences in different jurisdictions.

     

Variability of cannabinoid findings in blood

Cannabis products have been administered for many centuries; today, cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug all over the world. Nevertheless, the interpretation of cannabis findings in blood with regard to consumption behaviour and/or estimating the elapsed time since the last cannabis use is still a very challenging task. A wide variation of pharmacokinetic parameters has been observed even in experimental studies. Different chemical structures of precursors, smoking dynamics, pyrolysis of phytocannabinoids and frequency of drug use affect the amount of THC absorbed. Polymorphic enzymes are involved in phase-I-metabolism of THC. Pharmacological effects of other cannabinoids or medication on the pharmacokinetics of THC have not yet been studied in detail. Hydrolysis of cannabis conjugates may occur during storage of blood samples and processing of specimens for analysis; knowledge on the stability of cannabinoids in forensic specimens is still poor. Whether determination of cannabinoid conjugates may be useful is a matter of further consideration. At present, the broad variation of pharmacokinetic parameters and the limiting factors discussed in the present paper should be taken into account when using data from experimental studies for interpretation of analytical results in forensic case work.     

Simple clearing technique as species determination tool in blowfly larvae

A simple clearing technique is presented by which species specific structures and organs of blowfly larvae can easily be visualized and displayed without any danger of mechanical damages or dislocations of delicate formations and without fixation of the object.     

Computer assisted modeling of ethyl sulfate pharmacokinetics

For 12 volunteers of a drinking experiment the concentration–time-courses of ethyl sulfate (EtS) and ethanol were simulated and fitted to the experimental data. The concentration–time-courses were described with the same mathematical model as previously used for ethyl glucuronide (EtG). The kinetic model based on the following assumptions and simplifications: a velocity constant k_form for the first order formation of ethyl sulfate from ethanol and an exponential elimination constant k_el. The mean values (and standard deviations) obtained for k_form and k_el were 0.00052 h^?1 (0.00014) and 0.561 h^?1 (0.131), respectively. Using the ranges of these parameters it is possible to calculate minimum and maximum serum concentrations of EtS based on stated ethanol doses and drinking times. The comparison of calculated and measured concentrations can prove the plausibility of alleged ethanol consumption and add evidence to the retrospective calculation of ethanol concentrations based on EtG concentrations.     

Wiedereinsetzung in den vorigen Stand bei Organisationsverschulden des Verteidigers; Rechtsmittelfrist bei Urteils- ohne HV-Protokollszustellung

Trifft der Verteidiger im Falle von in seiner Kanzlei unüblicher mündlicher Rechtsmittelanmeldung keine besonderen Vorkehrungen, um sein Personal auf diesen Umstand und die damit im Zusammenhang stehende Eintragung der Rechtsmittelfrist nach Zustellung der schriftlichen Urteilsausfertigung hinzuweisen, so hat er für Organisationsverschulden innerhalb seiner Kanzlei und damit ein Versehen nicht blo? minderen Grades einzustehen, weshalb die Wiedereinsetzung in den vorigen Stand gegen die Vers?umung der Ausführungsfrist nicht zul?ssig ist. Die Zustellung der schriftlichen Urteilsabschrift bewirkt auch dann den Beginn der Rechtsmittelausführungsfrist, wenn das HV-Protokoll entgegen § 271 Abs 6 letzter Satz StPO (noch) nicht zugestellt wurde. Die Nichtzustellung des HV-Protokolls kann aber einen berechtigten Grund für die Wiedereinsetzung in den vorigen Stand darstellen.     

Scale,Scope, and Structure in the Community Chorus Industry

Choral music is the leading form of public participation in the arts in the United States. This article describes choral music from an organizational perspective, using a strategic management framework to examine total market scale, scope of activity, and internal structure. While many tens of thousands of choruses are embedded in educational and religious institutions, this article focuses on independent, community-based choruses. Data from public and private sources, including the leading national service organization for choruses, shows that an estimated 3,000 of these choruses operate in the U.S. They are typically organized along club models, with significant contributions to finances and governance made by chorus singers. Summary data in the article show variation in governance and program activity within budget ranges and among chorus types including professional, symphonic, volunteer, and children/youth.     

The European Parliament Elections of June 2004: Still Second-Order?

A quarter of a century ago the first series of European Parliament elections were characterised as second-order national elections. Much has changed since, which might have had an impact upon this diagnosis. In this article the central assumptions and predictions of the second-order elections model are restated and evaluated against the outcome of the 2004 European Parliament election and a post-election survey. Surprisingly enough, the findings confirm the persisting second-order nature of EP elections for Western Europe. Matters look very different, however, in the eight new Central and East European member countries.