Structure, Function, and Tort Law

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-79
Author(s):  
Dan Priel
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Tort Law ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
Causal Uncertainty ◽  
Popular View ◽  
And Function

AbstractA popular view among tort theorists is that an explanation of tort law must take account its “structure,” since this structure constitutes the law’s “self-understanding.” This view is used to both criticize competing functional accounts of tort law, especially economic ones, that are said to ignore tort law’s structure, and, more constructively, as a basis for explaining various tort doctrines. In this essay, I consider this argument closely and conclude that it is faulty. To be valid, one needs a non-question begging way of identifying the essence of tort law. I argue that law’s “self-understanding” can only make sense if it means the understanding of certain people. Examining those, I conclude that the claim of structuralists is false, for there are many people who take its function to be central. I then further show that if one wishes to understand the development of tort law’s doctrine one must take both structure and function into account. I demonstrate this claim by examining the development of the doctrine dealing with causal uncertainty and vicarious liability.

From Machine and Tape to Structure and Function: Formulation of a Reflexively Computing System

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Salzberg
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Computing System ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Static Information ◽  
Biochemical Systems ◽  
Uniform Medium ◽  
Simple Mapping ◽  
Function Relationship ◽  
And Function

The relationship between structure and function is explored via a system of labeled directed graph structures upon which a single elementary read/write rule is applied locally. Boundaries between static (information-carrying) and active (information-processing) objects, imposed by mandate of the rules or physics in earlier models, emerge instead as a result of a structure-function dynamic that is reflexive: objects may operate directly on their own structure. A representation of an arbitrary Turing machine is reproduced in terms of structural constraints by means of a simple mapping from tape squares and machine states to a uniform medium of nodes and links, establishing computation universality. Exploiting flexibility of the formulation, examples of other unconventional “self-computing” structures are demonstrated. A straightforward representation of a kinematic machine system based on the model devised by Laing is also reproduced in detail. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of their relation to other formal models of computation and construction. It is argued that reflexivity of the structure-function relationship is a critical informational dynamic in biochemical systems, overlooked in previous models but well captured by the proposed formulation.

scholarly journals Gradients of structure–function tethering across neocortex

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (42) ◽  
pp. 21219-21227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertha Vázquez-Rodríguez ◽  
Laura E. Suárez ◽  
Ross D. Markello ◽  
Golia Shafiei ◽  
Casey Paquola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Functional Networks ◽  
Functional Connection ◽  
Brain Structure And Function ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

The white matter architecture of the brain imparts a distinct signature on neuronal coactivation patterns. Interregional projections promote synchrony among distant neuronal populations, giving rise to richly patterned functional networks. A variety of statistical, communication, and biophysical models have been proposed to study the relationship between brain structure and function, but the link is not yet known. In the present report we seek to relate the structural and functional connection profiles of individual brain areas. We apply a simple multilinear model that incorporates information about spatial proximity, routing, and diffusion between brain regions to predict their functional connectivity. We find that structure–function relationships vary markedly across the neocortex. Structure and function correspond closely in unimodal, primary sensory, and motor regions, but diverge in transmodal cortex, particularly the default mode and salience networks. The divergence between structure and function systematically follows functional and cytoarchitectonic hierarchies. Altogether, the present results demonstrate that structural and functional networks do not align uniformly across the brain, but gradually uncouple in higher-order polysensory areas.

scholarly journals Is understanding the structure-function of microbial community of sludge suitable using DNA-based molecular methods?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Wang ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Jing Ma
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Excess Sludge ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Primary Sludge ◽  
Different Types ◽  
And Function

AbstractAnalysis the similarities between total and active microbial community is crucial to evaluate whether understanding the structure-function of microbial community of different types sludge is suitable using DNA-based molecular methods. In this study, procaryotic communities in different types sludge samples (including primary sludge, excess sludge, mixed sludge, and digested sludge) were evaluated using DNA-based and RNA-based Illumina MiSeq. Results showed that the similarities between total and active procaryotic communities of all different types sludge were considerable high. Meanwhile, the similarity in running sludge higher than that in idle sludge, because of the Jarccard’s coefficient of digested sludge was the highest in all types sludge samples. This study indicates that the DNA-based molecular biology technology could be applicable to profile procaryotic community structure and function in sludge samples, and this study adds the understanding of total and active procaryotic communities of sludge samples.

scholarly journals Evolutionary Features in the Structure and Function of Bacterial Toxins

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Kumar ◽  
Thomas M. Feltrup ◽  
Roshan V. Kukreja ◽  
Kruti B. Patel ◽  
Shuowei Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Protein Dynamics ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Bacterial Toxins ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Careful Study ◽  
Enzymatic Function ◽  
Evolutionary Features ◽  
And Function

Toxins can function both as a harmful and therapeutic molecule, depending on their concentrations. The diversity in their function allows us to ask some very pertinent questions related to their origin and roles: (a) What makes them such effective molecules? (b) Are there evolutionary features encoded within the structures of the toxins for their function? (c) Is structural hierarchy in the toxins important for maintaining their structure and function? (d) Do protein dynamics play a role in the function of toxins? and (e) Do the evolutionary connections to these unique features and functions provide the fundamental points in driving evolution? In light of the growing evidence in structural biology, it would be appropriate to suggest that protein dynamics and flexibility play a much bigger role in the function of the toxin than the structure itself. Discovery of IDPs (intrinsically disorder proteins), multifunctionality, and the concept of native aggregation are shaking the paradigm of the requirement of a fixed three-dimensional structure for the protein’s function. Growing evidence supporting the above concepts allow us to redesign the structure-function aspects of the protein molecules. An evolutionary model is necessary and needs to be developed to study these important aspects. The criteria for a well-defined model would be: (a) diversity in structure and function, (b) unique functionality, and (c) must belong to a family to define the evolutionary relationships. All these characteristics are largely fulfilled by bacterial toxins. Bacterial toxins are diverse and widely distributed in all three forms of life (Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes). Some of the unique characteristics include structural folding, sequence and functional combination of domains, targeting a cellular process to execute their function, and most importantly their flexibility and dynamics. In this work, we summarize certain unique aspects of bacterial toxins, including role of structure in defining toxin function, uniqueness in their enzymatic function, and interaction with their substrates and other proteins. Finally, we have discussed the evolutionary aspects of toxins in detail, which will help us rethink the current evolutionary theories. A careful study, and appropriate interpretations, will provide answers to several questions related to the structure-function relationship of proteins, in general. Additionally, this will also allow us to refine the current evolution theories.

scholarly journals Form, Structure, and Function: How Plants vs. Animals Solve Physical Problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-819
Author(s):  
Ulrike K Müller ◽  
Simon Poppinga
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
International Research ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Structural Systems ◽  
Advanced Imaging ◽  
Lotus Effect ◽  
Physical Problems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Function

Synopsis Plants and animals have evolved solutions for a wide range of mechanical problems, such as adhesion and dispersal. Several of these solutions have been sources for bio-inspiration, like the Lotus Effect for self-cleaning surfaces or Velcro for adhesion. This symposium brought together plant and animal biomechanics researchers who tackle similar problems in different systems under the unifying theme of structure–function relations with relevance to bio-inspiration. For both communities it holds true that the structural systems, which have evolved in the respective organisms to address the mechanical challenges mentioned above, are often highly complex. This requires interdisciplinary research involving “classical” experimental biology approaches in combination with advanced imaging methods and computational modeling. The transfer of such systems into biomimetic technical materials and structures comes with even more challenges, like scalability issues and applicability. Having brought all these topics under one umbrella, this symposium presented the forefront of biophysical basic and application-oriented international research with the goal of facilitation knowledge transfer across systems and disciplines.

scholarly journals Recent insights into the structure and function of Mitofusins in mitochondrial fusion

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mickael M Cohen ◽  
David Tareste
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Transmembrane Domains ◽  
Mitochondrial Fusion ◽  
Heptad Repeat ◽  
Mitochondrial Membranes ◽  
Function Data ◽  
And Function

Mitochondria undergo frequent fusion and fission events to adapt their morphology to cellular needs. Homotypic docking and fusion of outer mitochondrial membranes are controlled by Mitofusins, a set of large membrane-anchored GTPase proteins belonging to the dynamin superfamily. Mitofusins include, in addition to their GTPase and transmembrane domains, two heptad repeat domains, HR1 and HR2. All four regions are crucial for Mitofusin function, but their precise contribution to mitochondrial docking and fusion events has remained elusive until very recently. In this commentary, we first give an overview of the established strategies employed by various protein machineries distinct from Mitofusins to mediate membrane fusion. We then present recent structure–function data on Mitofusins that provide important novel insights into their mode of action in mitochondrial fusion.

scholarly journals Transporter oligomerisation: roles in structure and function

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 433-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Cecchetti ◽  
Euan Pyle ◽  
Bernadette Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Membrane Transporters ◽  
Major Facilitator Superfamily ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Major Facilitator ◽  
And Function

Abstract Oligomerisation is a key feature of integral membrane transporters with roles in structure, function and stability. In this review, we cover some very recent advances in our understanding of how oligomerisation affects these key transporter features, with emphasis on a few groups of transporters, including the nucleobase ascorbate transporters, neurotransmitter sodium symporters and major facilitator superfamily members.

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