Freedom of choice and the tobacco endgame

Endgame proposals strive for a tobacco-free (or at least cigarette-free) society. Some endgame proposals are radical and include, for example, a complete ban on cigarettes. Setting aside empirical worries, one worry is ethical: would such proposals not go too far in interfering with individual freedom? I argue that concerns around freedom do not speak against endgame proposals, including strong proposals such as a ban on cigarettes. I first argue that when balancing freedom with public health goals in tobacco control, the latter win out. But I also argue that, in principle, a concern with freedom itself already justifies endgame measures. First, such measures can increase people's lifetime freedom, that is, the freedom they have across their entire lives. Second, such measures can facilitate a better interpersonal distribution of freedom by increasing aggregate societal freedom and by reducing inequalities. Overall, freedom does not preclude strict tobacco control but supports it.     

Small-sample degrees of freedom for multi-component significance tests with multiple imputation for missing data

When performing multi-component significance tests with multiply-imputeddatasets, analysts can use a Wald-like test statistic and areference F-distribution. The currently employed degrees offreedom in the denominator of this F-distribution are derivedassuming an infinite sample size. For modest complete-data samplesizes, this degrees of freedom can be unrealistic; for example,it may exceed the complete-data degrees of freedom. This paperpresents an alternative denominator degrees of freedom thatis always less than or equal to the complete-data denominatordegrees of freedom, and equals the currently employed denominatordegrees of freedom for infinite sample sizes. Its advantagesover the currently employed degrees of freedom are illustratedwith a simulation.     

Germ-line engineering,freedom, and future generations

New technologies in germ–line engineering have raised many questions about obligations to future generations. In this article, I focus on the importance of increasing freedom and the equality of freedom for present and future generations, because these two ideals are necessary for a just society and because they are most threatened by the wide–scale privatisation of GLE technologies. However, there are ambiguities in applying these ideals to the issue of genetic technologies. I argue that Amartya Sen's capability theory can be used as a framework to ensure freedom and equality in the use of GLE technology. Capability theory articulates the goal of equalising real freedom by bringing all people up to a threshold of basic human capabilities. Sen's capability theory can clarify the proper moral goal of GLE insofar as this technology could be used to bring people up to certain basic human capabilities, thereby increasing their real freedom. And by increasing the freedom of those who lack basic human capabilities, GLE can aid in decreasing the inequalities of freedom among classes of people.     

Depolymerization of microtubules increases the motional freedom of molecular probes in cellular plasma membranes

Depolymerization of microtubules resulted in an increase in the motional freedom of molecular probes in the plasma membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressed by the order parameter, S, measured with two different lipid-soluble spin label probes, 5-doxyl stearic acid and 16-doxyl methylstearate. Treatment with a variety of microtubule-depolymerizing agents, including Colcemid, colchicine, vinblastine, podophyllotoxin, and griseofulvin, all had similar effects on motional freedom of the probes whereas beta-lumicolchicine was inactive. Several independent lines of evidence suggest that these changes in motional freedom of the probes were not the direct result of the interaction of these relatively hydrophobic drugs with the plasma membrane: the effects of the drugs were not immediate; the dose response of the Colcemid effect was the same as the dose response for depolymerization of microtubules; taxol, which stabilizes microtubules but does not affect motional freedom in the membranes, blocked the effect of Colcemid on motional freedom; a mutant cell line which is resistant to colchicine because of reduced uptake of the drug showed no effects of colchicine on probe motional freedom; and a Colcemid-resistant mutant cell line with an altered beta-tubulin showed no effect of Colcemid on motional freedom in the membrane. These results support the hypothesis that microtubules might affect, directly or indirectly, plasma membrane functions.     

非人灵长类饲养与管理过程中的福利保障

实验动物饲养管理和福利保障的问题已越来越被国际社会所关注.与发达国家相比,中国对实验动物福利的研究及大众化意识则相对滞后.中国作为世界上最大的实验灵长类动物的饲养与出口国,每年遭受的国际贸易损失始终位居全球首位.为此,本文引入了实验灵长类福利的"5个自由"理论:1)动物有避免干渴、饥饿和营养不良等不利因素影响的自由;2)动物有获得舒适生活条件的自由;3)动物有脱离痛苦、受伤和疾病骚扰的自由;4)动物有表达自然行为的自由;5)动物有脱离恐惧和心理压力的自由.在上述理论的基础上,提高实验动物福利应具体从饲养的物理环境、营养供给、饲养管理、繁殖管理及饲养环境的多样性等几方面着手.通过总结国际与此相关的研究进展,旨为中国相关研究提供素材和为完善国内现行的法规及标准提出一些思路.     

Oculomotor control: Listing's law and all that

Previously, eye positions were characterized by the direction of sight, which has two degrees of freedom for conjugate movements and three degrees of freedom for vergent movements. Several groups have recently presented reliable data and unconventional models on binocular coordination, where all three degrees of freedom for one or both eyes have been taken into account. The results illustrate Bernstein's principle that in order to simplify control, the brain establishes unique relations between the target and motor space, in which non-Euclidean geometry of rotations is observed.     

Contribution of changes in translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom to the energy of complex formation of aromatic ligands with DNA

A method for calculation and analysis of the contribution of changes in translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom to the energy of complex formation of aromatic compounds with DNA duplex has been developed. The results of calculations of the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, ΔS) indicate that changes in the translational and rotational degrees of freedom destabilize, and changes in the vibrational degree of freedom stabilize the complexes, the energy contribution from the movements under consideration being predominantly of entropic character. It is shown that the energy components of changes in translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom are in the main comparable with the experimentally determined thermodynamic parameters, which requires consideration of these components in the energy analysis of complex formation of aromatic molecules with DNA. It has been found that the total contribution of changes in translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom to the Gibbs energy of complexing of aromatic molecules with DNA can be assumed to be on the average the same for different ligands and equal to 8.2 kcal/mol.     

A note on a possible mathematical approach to the theory of individual freedom

As suggested in previous publications, freedom may be defined quantitatively as a restriction upon the choice of a number of activities. If the choice is determined by maximizing the satisfaction function, it is suggested that freedom may be defined in terms of the satisfaction function. If an individual is isolated and no physical restrictions limit his choice of activities, he is free to choose any activity in an amount which maximizes his satisfaction. This isolated state may be considered therefore as that of maximum freedom. If the individual interacts with another, he will choose different amounts of his object of satisfaction depending on whether he behaves egoistically or altruistically. But in either case the value chosen will not maximize his satisfaction function considered alone. A simple analytical expression is suggested as a measure of freedom in this case, and some problems which arise from this suggestion are mentioned.     

Flexibility and Repeatability of Finger Movements During Typing: Analysis of Multiple Degrees of Freedom

The kinematics of the hand and fingers were studied during various keystrokes in typing. These movements were defined by 17 degrees of freedom of motion, and methods were developed to identify simplifying strategies inthe execution of the task. Most of the analysis was restrictedto the 11 degrees of freedom of the fingers, neglecting thumband wrist motion. Temporal characteristics of the motion weredefined by computing principal components, and it was found thatonly a few (two to four) principal components were needed tocharacterize motion of each of the degrees of freedom.Hierarchical relationships among patterns within and betweendifferent degrees of freedom were identified using clusteranalysis. There was a considerable amount of consistency eachtime a given keystroke was executed by a subject, and thisrepeatability may imply a reduction in the number of degrees offreedom independently controlled by the nervous system. However,there also appears to be considerable flexibility in thecoordination of the many joints of the hand when examined acrossdifferent keys and across different subjects.     

Determination of the number of degrees of freedom of the trapeziometacarpal joint–An in vitro study

ObjectiveMost of the studies about trapeziometacarpal joint assume that it exhibits only two independent degrees of freedom, but the experimental or theoretical support for considering a two-degrees of freedom model is not always clear.Materials and methodsTherefore, an in vitro kinematic study has been designed to demonstrate, from experimental data, that only two of the trapeziometacarpal degrees of freedom (i.e., flexion/extension and adduction/abduction) are non-null and independent. Several movements of maximal amplitude in flexion, abduction and circumduction have been realized and the relative position and orientation of the segment coordinate system embedded on the first metacarpal with respect to that embedded on the trapezium have been collected using electromagnetic sensors. The trapeziometacarpal rotations have been described using a joint coordinate system and the joint displacements have been evaluated on the axes of this coordinate system.ResultsThe root mean square (RMS) values of the joint displacement components have been found small enough to assume that the trapeziometacarpal joint has no translation degrees of freedom. A paraboloid coupling equation has been found between the internal/external rotation angle and the two other, flexion/extension and adduction/abduction, angles.ConclusionThus, this study demonstrates that the trapeziometacarpal joint has only two independent rotational degrees of freedom, and further, the described methodology could also be used to determine the coupling laws between degrees of freedom of various joints.     

Involvement of erythrocyte skeletal proteins in the modulation of membrane fluidity by phenothiazines

The effects of phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, chlorpromazine sulfoxide, and trifluoperazine) and antimitotic drugs (colchicine and vinblastine) on the erythrocyte membrane have been investigated. Chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine induced a dose-dependent increase in the freedom of motion of stearic acid spin-labels bound to both intact erythrocytes and ghosts, but did not affect the freedom of motion of stearic acids bound to vesicles depleted of spectrin and actin or of ghosts resealed with anti-spectrin antibodies. Further, chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine were able to eliminate a protein 4.1 dependent membrane thermal transition detected by stearic acid spin-labels at 8.5 +/- 1.5 degrees C. Antimitotic drugs and chlorpromazine sulfoxide did not change either the freedom of motion of stearic acid spin-labels or the 8.5 degrees C membrane thermal transition. Results indicate the involvement of skeletal proteins as possible membrane target sites of biologically active phenothiazines and suggest that the control of stearic acid spin-label freedom of motion is mediated by the spectrin-actin network and the proteins that link the skeletal network to the membrane.     

Reproductive justice: Non-interference or non-domination?

The reproductive justice movement started by black women’s rights activists made its way into the academic literature as an intersectional approach to women’s reproductive autonomy. While there are many scholars who now employ the term ‘reproductive justice’ in their research, few have taken up the task of explaining what ‘justice’ entails in reproductive justice. In this paper I take up part of this work and attempt to clarify the relevant kind of freedom an adequate theory of reproductive justice would postulate. To do so, I compare two approaches to reproductive freedom: an approach based on freedom as non-interference and an approach based on freedom as non-domination. I then argue that the non-domination approach better fits the ideals of the reproductive justice movement as set forth by its founders and should be treated as one of the necessary conditions in any non-ideal account of reproductive justice. Towards the end, I single out epistemic non-domination as crucial in shaping the narrative around reproductive justice.     

Conformational flexibility in physiologically active amines.

Physiologically active amines are flexible molecules which could use this conformational freedom to adapt their shapes when binding to receptor molecules. Calculations of conformational freedom indicate which substituted analogues could serve as experimental tests of the hypothesis that the flexibility of the natural transmitters is an essential feature of activity.     

Parentalité et Individualité

The concept of parenthood needs to be redefined in relation to the new uses of sexuality and reproduction. Exclusively from the view of point of personal freedom, a “parent” is any person who has chosen to define himself/herself in this way with reference to the existence of another individual, whoipso facto benefits from this same freedom, limiting his/her own freedom. This redefinition is derived from an unlimited right to parenthood for any individual who chooses parenthood, an unlimited right to abortion for any unwanted pregnancy, and absolute prohibition of abortion for congenital malformations.     

A light weight compliant hand mechanism with high degrees of freedom

This paper presents the design and prototyping of an inherently compliant lightweight hand mechanism. The hand mechanism itself has 15 degrees of freedom and five fingers. Although the degrees of freedom in each finger are coupled, reducing the number of independent degrees of freedom to 5, the 15 degrees of freedom of the hand could potentially be individually actuated. Each joint consists of a novel flexing mechanism that is based on the loading of a compression spring in the axial and transverse direction via a cable and conduit system. Currently, a bench top version of the prototype is being developed; the three joints of each finger are coupled together to simplify the control system. The current control scheme under investigation simulates a control scheme where myoelectric signals in the wrist flexor and extensor muscles are converted in to x and y coordinates on a control scheme chart. Static load-deformation analysis of finger segments is studied based on a 3-dimensional model without taking the stiffener into account, and the experiment validates the simulation.     

Freedom of Conscience in Health Care: Distinctions and Limits

The widespread emergence of innumerable technologies within health care has complicated the choices facing caregivers and their patients. The escalation of knowledge and technical innovation has been accompanied by an erosion of moral and ethical consensus among health providers that is reflected in the abandonment of the Hippocratic Oath as the immutable bedrock of medical ethics. Ethical conflicts arise when the values of health professionals collide with the expressed wishes of patients or the dictates of regulatory bodies and administrators. Increasing attempts by groups outside of the medical profession to limit freedom of conscience for health providers has raised concern and consternation among some health professionals. The personal and professional impact of health professionals surrendering freedom of conscience and participating in actions they deem malevolent or unethical has not been adequately studied and may not be inconsequential when considering the recognized impact of other circumstances of coerced complicity. We argue that the distinction between the two ways that freedom of conscience is exercised (avoiding a perceived evil and seeking a perceived good) provides a rational basis for a principled limitation of this fundamental freedom.     

For An Anthropology Of Ethics And Freedom

There cannot be a developed and sustained anthropology of ethics without there being also an ethnographic and theoretical interest – hitherto largely absent from anthropology – in freedom. A possible way of studying ethics and freedom comparatively and ethnographically is suggested, and illustrated using some brief comments on Jainism.     

Rabies in Ireland: a precarious freedom

The prolonged freedom from rabies enjoyed by Ireland is based on both its island location and the rigid enforcement of national legislation. The yachting tourist and the increased level of shipping activity in ports and harbours are a major threat of disease introduction. Mass media publicity and public awareness are the main safeguards necessary to protect the freedom of our island.     

Intermarriage and Jewish identity: The implications for pluralism and assimilation in American society*

Born across racial lines, Cedric Dover and Barack Obama both came to identify with the African American community. By contrasting the lives and ideas of two mixed-race individuals, one born in Calcutta and the other in Hawaii, this article examines cosmopolitanism, racial formation and the promise of the ‘post-racial’. A ‘Eurasian’ intellectual born in Calcutta in 1904, Dover developed a coloured cosmopolitanism that mirrors in revealing ways Obama's approach to race. Both men embraced blackness while transcending the boundaries of race and nation. Dover and Obama developed a conception of race as freedom – not freedom from race or of a particular race, but the freedom to embrace race without sacrificing other affiliations.     

“The Simulacra of Morality”: Islamic Veiling, Religious Politics and the Limits of Liberalism

On December 17, 2003, French President Jaques Chirac went on television to explain the immediate necessity of passing a law recently proposed by the Stasi commission. This commission had been empowered to explore the failures of the last thirty years of French immigration policy in terms of integration. It had also been specifically instructed to investigate threats to the concept of laicite, the rigorous French version of secularism and the separation of the Church and the State. Chirac explained that, following the commission’s advice as well as that of numerous experts, he had centered on a policy to deal with these issues: We shall do so by bringing to life the principle of secularism, which is a pillar of our constitution. It expresses our wish to live together in respect, dialogue and tolerance. Secularism guarantees freedom of conscience. It protects the freedom to believe or not to believe. He then expanded upon what this freedom requires: It is the neutrality of the public sphere which enables the harmonious existence side by side of different religions. Like all freedoms, the freedom to express one’s faith can only have limits in the freedom of others, and in the compliance with rules of life in society. Religious freedom, which our country respects and protects, must not be abused, it must not call general rules into question, and it must not infringe the freedom of belief of others. Finally, Chirac, building to a rhetorical climax, came to the essence of the new law which had provoked so much commentary around the world: In all conscience, it is my view that the wearing of clothes or of symbols which conspicuously demonstrate religious affiliations must be banned in state schools. The hypothesis which I wish to advance is that in the actual world in which we inhabit the language of morality is in the same state of grave disorder as the language of natural science is in the imaginary world which I described. What we possess are the fragments of a conceptual scheme... we posses indeed simulacra of morality... but we have lost our comprehension, both theoretical and practical, of morality.