Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Type II diabetes mellitus, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), is an insidious and protracted major health concern in the United States. Risk factors include age, obesity, genetic predisposition and physical inactivity. The purpose of this instructional laboratory was to give Pharm D. students practical experience with animal handling, blood drawing and the use of the glucometer to understand the pathophysiologic principles in NIDDM. These principles were demonstrated in the laboratory by using obese and lean ZDF rats, a genetic strain predisposed to NIDDM. Upon housing, obese female ZDF rats were fed a high fat diet for 4-6 weeks, which induces NIDDM in these animals. Animals were fasted for 16 hours before lab and given a bolus dose of glucose (2ml/kg -60% glucose solution) by gavage. Blood taken from locally anesthetized tails of dosed rats were tested for glucose at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes using commercially available glucometers. Students plotted blood glucose levels of each rat over 120 minutes and observed higher glucose levels in obese ZDF rats at all time points, when compared to lean controls. Glucose levels of lean rats returned to baseline by 120 minutes. Glucose levels of obese rats failed to return to pre-glucose administration levels in this time frame. Some preparation and expertise in handling of animals was required, but as a visual demonstration of NIDDM, this laboratory proved to be an excellent teaching tool for our students to explain this major health issue.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: When policy issues involve complex technical questions, demonstrations are more likely to marshal charts, graphs, models, and simulations than to mobilize popular movements in the streets. In this paper we analyze PowerPoint demonstrations, the most ubiquitous form of digital demonstrations. Our first set of demonstrations are the PowerPoint representations made in December 2002 by the seven finalist architectural teams in the Innovative Design competition for rebuilding the World Trade Center. Our second case occurred some blocks away, several months later: Colin Powell’s PowerPoint demonstration at the United Nations. We argue that Edward Tufte’s denunciation of PowerPoint does not capture the cognitive style made possible by the affordances of this pervasive new technology and that our cases do not fit into Harry Collins’s distinction between experiments, demonstrations, and epidictic displays of virtuosity. We develop new concepts to highlight the spatial and temporal properties of digital forms of persuasion.

Supporting Publications:
Supporting Document

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and the state administrative court of North Rhine-Westphalia repeatedly sparred over neo-Nazi demonstrations. Bans of neo-Nazi rallies were routinely overruled by the FCC. Even after a decision of the FCC’s full First Senate in 2004, the administrative court continued to prohibit rallies, squarely defying FCC precedent. The underlying question is how much freedom of speech can neo-Nazis in Germany claim? The criminal code prohibits certain types of speech. According to the state administrative court, the articulation of certain antidemocratic ideas outside the scope of criminally prohibited speech nevertheless expresses ideas contradicting human dignity. This warrants prohibiting demonstrations that would provide a forum for disseminating such ideas. The FCC, however, finds that the rejection of these ideas by the majority does not justify bans on neo-Nazi rallies. As long as they fall short of criminally prohibited speech, even objectionable ideas may be publicly articulated. The FCC has been characterized as the guardian of German democracy. The paper examines how the FCC has positioned itself as the relatively more liberal, “speech-permissive” body. Delineating the scope of constitutionally permissible public discourse, it has taken the stance that the open articulation of ideas fosters democracy as long as the ideas do not fall within criminally prohibited categories. Thus it is widening the field of public discourse in awarding a higher degree of faith in democracy. The similar controversy in the United States surrounding the Nazi march at Skokie, Illinois, will be used as a comparative case.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Gutmann and Thompson argue that justice requires that citizens demonstrate moral respect toward a position (even when they think it morally wrong) on any issue that is not deliberatively certain.  I argue that such a claim is untenable in politics.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In the fall of 2005, NIJ launched the DNA Expansion Demonstration Program in five sites. The study employs a random-controlled design to assess the contributions that DNA makes to solving high volume serious crimes and to identify cost-effective practices for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing DNA evidence in such cases. The program is being evaluated by the Urban Institute. This presentation will focus on the findings from the first year of the evaluation.