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This chapter uncovers the destabilizing and transformative dimensions of a legal process commonly described as assimilation. Lawyers working on behalf of a marginalized group often argue that the group merits inclusion in dominant institutions, and they do so by casting the group as like the majority. Scholars have criticized claims of this kind for affirming the status quo and muting significant differences of the excluded group. Yet, this chapter shows how these claims may also disrupt the status quo, transform dominant institutions, and convert distinctive features of the excluded group into more widely shared legal norms. This dynamic is observed in the context of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, and specifically through attention to three phases of LGBT advocacy: (1) claims to parental recognition of unmarried same-sex parents, (2) claims to marriage, and (3) claims regarding the consequences of marriage for same-sex parents. The analysis shows how claims that appeared assimilationist – demanding inclusion in marriage and parenthood by arguing that same-sex couples are similarly situated to their different-sex counterparts – subtly challenged and reshaped legal norms governing parenthood, including marital parenthood. While this chapter focuses on LGBT claims, it uncovers a dynamic that may exist in other settings.

Reproducible images of human fingertips' induced glow (Kirlian radiation) were captured despite extremely unstable nature of living systems' emission. The matrix of correlations between fingertips' radiation in the electromagnetic field of high frequency and systemic features of human organism has been studied.

Weak natural emission of biological object is enhanced and transformed into visual images by gas discharge processes, which proceed in the electromagnetic field of high frequency. Such secondary radiation was found to be reproducible only when special polyethylene membrane is placed between the glass surface of the camera screen and target fingertip (or other living object). Resulting images of fingertips' discharge coronas provide comprehencible information on the whole living system.

Present research resulted in the discovery of previously unknown phenomenon, which turned out to be specific for living systems. It is demonstrated that Kirlian radiation of fingertips can display almost exact replicas (holograms) of organism's internal organs and tissues. Each part of the body is able to provide holographic information on any problematic element of dynamic system. Holodiffractional nature of discovered phenomenon has been confirmed experimentally.

The discovery of new natural phenomenon represents a major step forward regarding both theoretical disciplines and practical biomedicine. Secondary holodiffractional radiation of body parts provides previously unavailable information on dynamic organization of the whole living system. Bioholographic information is already widely used for diagnostics of body/mind pathology.

This research aims to examine the effect of spokesperson facial symmetry on advertisement attitude, brand attitude and purchase intention and the mediating role of source authenticity on attitudinal and behavioral judgments.

Two studies were undertaken. Study 1 examined the effect of facial symmetry on source authenticity and endorsement effectiveness. Study 2 investigated the influence of the authentic facial cues of freckles and moles on source authenticity and advertisement attitude, brand attitude and purchase intention.

Findings indicate that source authenticity is the mechanism that explains attitudinal and behavioral judgments toward advertisements featuring asymmetrical spokespeople. The phenomenon observed is due to a proposed source authenticity overgeneralization effect, whereby spokespeople with asymmetrical faces are perceived as more genuine and real which, subsequently, results in more positive attitude toward the advertisement, attitude toward the brand and greater purchase intention than advertisements featuring spokespeople with symmetrical faces. The addition of authentic (biological) facial cues (i.e. freckles and moles) on spokespeople with a symmetrical facial structure, however, can heighten perceptions of source authenticity and the manifestation of the source authenticity overgeneralization effect.

This research has implications for marketing managers in the selection and depiction of spokespeople in their advertisements. However, this research is limited, as it only examines the facial feature characteristics of symmetry, freckles, and moles.

This research shows that an asymmetrical facial structure can positively influence source, attitudinal and behavioral judgments. This research also identifies that although symmetrical facial structures dilute source- and endorsement-based judgments, the addition of authentic facial cues, freckles and moles, can reverse the negative effects and enhance perceptions of source authenticity, attitude toward the advertisement, attitude toward the brand and purchase intentions.

The following article looks at the biological weapons problem from different perspectives to evaluate the international threat of biological weapons from both a legal perspective and a regulatory perspective. Biological weapons fall into a category all their own with unique characteristics as weapons of mass destruction in which suggestions for new directions should be explored with respect to historical failures. Biological weapons regulation is currently predicated on a certain legal framework, and through that a presentation is shown by a synthesized approach to biological weapons control.

Depressive disorder has been defined by increasingly specific neurophysiological mechanisms and features during the past two decades. At the same time, depression has grown into an epidemic proportion and become a major public health problem. Consequently, the scope of depressive experience and conduct has also widened and the meaning of depression has multiplied and become equivocal. This chapter analyses how this tension is handled in current Western mental health care. The focus of the study is the role of neuroscientific views in mental health reasoning and practice. The empirical case is the mental health discussion in Finland from the late 1980s to the present day. The analysis of the historical change in understandings of depression in Finnish psychiatry and mental health care provides a view of the relevance of neuroscientific models in defining depressive illness and outlining diagnostic and treatment practices. Moreover, the analysis brings forth the relationship of neuroscientific concepts to other ways of defining depression – epidemiology, diagnostic classification, psychodynamic and other psychological theories – within clinical reasoning. A conclusion to be drawn from the analysis of the Finnish case is that neurobiological concepts of depression have only limited influence on the ways in which the disorder is conceived within the practical context of mental health care. It seems that the idea of depression as a multi-factorial disorder remains a good enough conceptual framework for clinical practice. Even the influence of neurosciences on treatment is still somewhat marginal. Within current practices of depression management, it is not the brain that is treated but risks, symptoms, and persons.

This study aims at a biometric verification based on facial profile images for mobile security. The modern technology of mobile Internet devices and smart phones such as the iPhone series and Galaxy phone series has revealed the development of information technology of input and output devices as high-definition multimedia interface. The development of information technology requires novel biometric verification for personal identification or authentication in mobile security, especially in Internet banking and mobile Internet access. Our study deals with a biometric verification based on facial profile images for mobile security.

The product of cellphones with built-in cameras gives us the opportunity of the biometric verification to recognize faces, fingerprints and biological features without any other special devices. Our study focuses on recognizing the left and right facial profile images as well as the front facial images as a biometric verification of personal identification and authentication for mobile security, which can be captured by smart phone devices such as iPhone 4 and Galaxy S2.

As the recognition technique of the facial profile images for a biometric verification in mobile security is a very simple, relatively easy to use and inexpensive, it can be easily applied to personal mobile phone identification and authentication instead of passwords, keys or other methods. The biometric system can also be used as one of multiple verification techniques for personal recognition in a multimodal biometric system. Our experimental data are taken from persons of all ages, ranging from children to senior citizens.

As the recognition technique of the facial profile images for a biometric verification in mobile security is very simple, relatively easy to use and inexpensive, it can be easily applied to personal mobile phone identification and authentication instead of passwords, keys or other methods. The biometric system can also be used as one of multiple verification techniques for personal recognition in a multimodal biometric system. Our experimental data are taken from persons of all ages, ranging from children to senior citizens.

This paper describes the design of a scalable bio‐mimetic framework that addresses several key issues of autonomous agents in the functional management domain of complex Ubiquitous Service‐Oriented Networks.We propose an autonomous network service management platform ‐ SwarmingNet, which is motivated by observations of the swarm intelligence in biological systems (e.g., Termite, Ant/Bees colonies, or Locusts ). In this SwarmingNet architecture, the required network service processes are implemented by a group of highly diverse and autonomic objects. These objects are called TeleService Solons (TSSs) as elements of TeleService Holons (TSHs), analoguous to individual insects as members of the whole colony. A single TSS is only able to pursue simple behaviors and interactions with local neighbors, on the contrary, a group of TSSs have the capabilities of fulfilling the complex tasks relating to service discovery and service activation.We simulate a service configuration process for a Multimedia Messaging Service, and a performance comparison between the bio‐agents and normal agents is analyzed. Finally, we conclude that through bio‐swarming intelligence behaviors, this infrastructure develops the enhanced self‐X capabilities which give IP networks advantages of instinctive compatibility, efficiency and scalability.

Resource use policy based on standard (neoclassical) economic theory is driven by the assumption that “getting the prices right” is the key to sustainable resource use. Although most neo‐classical economists now agree that market prices may substantially undervalue biological features, the prevailing view is that “correct” market prices can be established through enlightened intervention in private markets. Using the examples of the Atlantic bluefin tuna, the American bison, and the passenger pigeon, we show that neither very high nor very low prices can ensure the survival of a particular species. With these cases as background, we compare and contrast three policy approaches to sustainability: weak sustainability, strong sustainability and Georgescu‐Roegen’s concept of a viable technology.

This article presents an analysis of empirical literature on classroom assessment of students’ multimodal compositions to characterize the field and make recommendations for teachers and researchers.

An interpretive synthesis of the literature related to practices and possibilities for assessing students’ multimodal compositions.

Findings present three overarching types of studies across the body of literature on assessment of student multimodal compositions: reshaping educational practices, promoting multiliteracies approaches to learning and evaluating students’ understanding and competence. These studies’ recommendations range along a continuum of more to less structural changes to “what counts” in classrooms.

This review only considers studies published in English from 2000to 2019. Future studies could extend these parameters.

This analysis of the literature on assessing student multimodal compositions highlights foundational differences across studies’ purposes and offers guidance for educations seeking to revise their practices, whether their goals are more theoretical/philosophical, oriented toward reshaping classroom practice or focused on ways of measuring student understanding.

Rethinking assessment can reshape educational practices to be more equitable, more theoretically commensurate with teachers’ beliefs and/or include more thorough and accurate measures of student understanding. Changes to any or all of these facets of educational practices can lead to continued discussion and change regarding the role of multimodal composition in teaching and learning.

This study fills a gap in the literature by considering what empirical studies suggest about why, how and what to assess with regard to multimodal compositions.

This study aims to investigate unripe carob pod as a source of antioxidant molecules useful in the eco-friendly synthesis of a gelatin conjugate. This one was involved in the preparation of gummies able to produce remarkable human health benefits.

Eco-friendly strategies (ultrasound-assisted extraction, low temperatures and eco-friendly solvents) were employed in the extraction of active molecules. Antioxidant molecules were involved in the grafting reaction with gelatin chains (ascorbic acid/hydrogen peroxide couple as initiator system). Gelatin conjugate represents a useful material able to prepare gummies with remarkable rheological and antioxidant performances over time.

Experimental results confirmed that the green approach allowed the achievement of extracts with remarkable antioxidant properties due to the presence of phenolic moieties. Gelatin conjugate synthesis preserved these functionalities, usefully exploited in the preparation of gummies with significant structural and biological features.

Compared to the literature data the preparation of the gummies with outstanding biological properties was performed by employing functional gelatin synthesized by an eco-friendly approach.