Principle of Legality and Its Relation with Customary Law in International Criminal Law

Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice(ICJ) is considered to be the provider of a list of reliable sources for international law. Paragraph (1) (b) of the Article introduces customary law as the general practice of States members of the international community recognized as law(opinio juris). Therefore, each argument regarding customary international law as a main formal source, should be in line with the requirements of the mentioned Article. Although, before the Statute became binding, the concepts stated in this Article were already enforceable, the concepts may not have the same meaning in modern international criminal law whose main objective to prosecute and punish individual criminals committing humanitarian and human rights violations. The main objective of the present article is to demonstrate the extent the requirements of the establishment of custom in Article 38, i.e State practice and opinio juris, is applicable to criminal customary law. To do this the statutes of international criminal tribunals for former Yugoslavia(ICTY) and Rwanda(ICTR), human rights documents and the case law of the international criminal tribunals are examined. It seems that Article 38 of the Statute cannot be strictly applied to international customary law in criminal cases particularly when it comes to the application of the principle of legality or nullum crimen, nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali as a defence in criminal prosecutions. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5p39

Prevalence of Home Smoking Bans and its Determinants in Families with Infants

Background Exposure to cigarette smoke has numerous health risks for infants and children. Home smoking ban is a simple way to reduce the detrimental impacts of cigarette smoke. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking bans in homes as well as associated factors in families with infants in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods This study was a population-based cross-sectional survey on 1,112 families with infants, selected through stratified-cluster sampling. In this study, a researcher made questionnaire including four parts: sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, smoking restrictions, and parental awareness and belief, was completed. The multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between smoking bans in homes and associated factors. Results Complete smoking ban in homes was 37.3%. In the multivariable logistic regression, cigarette smoking ban in homes was significantly higher for employed mothers (odds ratio [OR] = 3.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-7.2, P<0.001), for those who did not have any smoker friends or relatives (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3-4.4, P<0.001), for those smoking a smaller number of cigarettes (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.3, P=0.003), and for parents who concurred with the impacts of thirdhand cigarette smoke on infant health (OR = 4.7, 95% CI: 1.4-14.9, P<0.001). Conclusion This study indicates that complete smoking ban is not established in many households with infants in Iran. Furthermore, it is necessary to perform health interventions for reducing infant exposure to cigarette smoke, while considering the factors associated with smoking ban. Keyword

Effective factors on thermal conductivity of stochastic structures open cell metal foams

Effective thermal conductivity (ETC) is a considerable thermo-physical property in design, manufacturing, and usage of multifunctional equipment that benefit cellular structures such as open-cell metal foams. An accurate understanding of key parameters effecting on ETC is classified by: Analytical, Numerical and Experimental approaches. In this study, a comprehensive investigation based on mentioned approaches is presented and a comparison between various factors affecting ETC including porosity, pore size, temperature, pressure and shape factor is made. Porosity and pore size, as main morphological features of open-cell metal foams, indicate structural characterization of them. Increase of porosity and pore size resulted decrease of ETC. The temperature effects on ETC in case of temperatures lower than 250 °C is ignorable although for temperature higher than 500 °C with change of heat transfer mechanism temperature plays a primary role in determining ETC. Few studies have been made on pressure parameter that illustrated its effect on ETC is insignificant. Multiple manufacturing methods produce different topological structures so; the influence of shape factor on ETC requires more efforts to reach a better understanding. Finally, applicable techniques for measuring ETC are briefly discussed

Combination of Citalopram and Nortriptyline in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Double – Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective: The fact that some antidepressants with strong effects on serotonin reuptake blockade fail to relieve obsessive-compulsive symptoms has caused growing interest in investigating noradrenergic function in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) . In light of the above, we undertook a trial to investigate whether the combination of citalopram with nortriptyline is more effective in treating obsessive-compulsive symptoms than citalopram alone. Method: 40 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for OCD were included in the study. Patients were allocated in a random fashion: 20 patients to citalopram 40mg /day plus nortriptyline 50mg /day, and 20 patients to citalopram 40mg /day plus placebo. Results: Both protocols significantly decreased the scores of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) over the trial period, but the combination of citalopram and nortriptyline showed a significant superiority over citalopram alone in the treatment of OCD. Conclusion: As this study indicates, nortriptyline improves the efficacy of citalopram. In addition, a rapid onset of action is one of the advantages of this combination. This study supports further investigation of the noradrenergic&ndash; serotonergic hypothesis in OCD

Comparing the effects of intravenous injection and intranasal atomisation of detomidine in sheep

Abstract Background Detomidine is an α‐2 agonist sedative drug which reduces the release of norepinephrine in nerves. Administering this drug through intranasal (IN) route could cause direct transmission to the central nervous system. Therefore, IN administration of detomidine would decrease the side effects and the onset of sedation. Objectives In this study, IN administration of detomidine in sheep through an atomiser was compared to its IV administration. Methods Fifteen mature female sheep with an approximate weight of 49.53 ± 1.72 kg were used. They were randomly divided into three groups: (1) atomising 10 μg/kg (IND10); (2) IV 10 μg/kg (IVD) and (3) atomising 30 μg/kg (IND30). Following administration, vital signs, electrocardiographic components, sedative score and biochemistry profile were measured after 15, 30 and 60 min, which were compared with the baseline measures. Results Bradycardia and the percentage of reduction from the baseline value in the respiratory rate were lower in the IND10 group compared to those in the IVD group. There was no significant difference in terms of the temperature and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) among all the groups (p > 0.05). The level of cortisol declined in all the groups, and in the IND30 (60 min), it was significantly different with the baseline value. The level of glucose increased in all the groups compared to the baseline, which was not significant. Insulin concentration was reduced in all the groups, and in the IND30 group, it changed significantly 60 min after the drug administration. Sedation onset time was faster in the IV group. However, sedation scores between the two administration methods were not different, and only a dose‐dependent increase was found in the sedation score in the atomisation group. Conclusions Our findings revealed that IN atomisation of detomidine triggers similar sedation as its IV administration, which could be used as an alternative method

IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SURGERY (IJVS) Anesthesia and Sedation in Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) Following Intranasal Administration of Diazepam, Midazolam, Xylazine with or without Ketamine: Clinical Evaluation

Abstract Objective-This study aimed to compare sedation efficacy in intranasal administration of xylazine, diazepam and midazolam with or without ketamine in Chough. Design-To determine the sedation efficacy, an experimental in vivo study was employed. Animals-Seven healthy Choughs were examined in the current study. Procedures-With an interval of one week, seven healthy adult non domesticated Choughs of either genders, weighing 232.54±14.5 grams, were sedated or anesthetized by xylazine (8 mg/kg), diazepam (8mg/kg) and midazolam (8mg/kg)with or without Ketamine(30 mg/kg). Results-Fallowing intranasal administration of the subjects, sedation or anesthesia was produced in all groups. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-This study revealed that intranasal use of xylazine, diazepam and midazolame alone or combined with ketamine provides reliable sedation in Chough; however all anaesthesia protocols are not perfect to be used in surgical procedures

Evaluation of Depression and Mental Health Status in Women with Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition that affects up to one fifth of the women of reproductive age. The overall prevalence of the depressive disorders has been shown to be about 12% in a large multi-centric study of obstetric-gynecologic patients. This study was designed to evaluate the distribution of depression and mental health status in women with PCOS. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 100 women with PCOS who were selected among patients attending the gynecologic and obstetric clinics of two referral centers. They completed Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results: The prevalence of depression in women with PCOS was 45% according to BDI. According to GHQ-28, 30% of our patients were considered as possible cases of mental disorder. Conclusion: We found that the prevalence of depression was significantly high in women with PCOS. We believe that the treatment of PCOS must include psychological treatment to improve mental health status as well

The effect of aqueous extract of Prunus dulcis on tibial bone healing in the rabbit

Abstract Background Bone fractures are medical emergencies that require prompt intervention to help return bone to its normal function. Various methods and treatments have been utilized to increase the speed and efficiency of bone repair. This study aimed to investigate the treatment effects of Prunus dulcis aqueous extract on tibial bone healing in rabbits. Methods All animals were distributed in five groups with six rats in each group, including the sham group, the control group in which tibial lesion was made and received distilled water, treatment groups with 150 mg kg−1, 300 mg kg−1 doses of Prunus dulcis extract, and osteocare treated group. Biochemical blood factors including calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (on days 0, 10, 30, and 50), biomarkers of oxidative stress such as GPx, CAT, and MDA (on days 10 and 30), radiological evaluation, histopathological parameters, and osteocalcin immunohistochemical expression were assessed. Results The data showed calcium levels in the treatment groups increased significantly from day 10 to day 50, respectively, and blood phosphorus levels decreased from day 10 to day 50 in the treatment groups. Alkaline phosphatase initially increased and then decreased in treatment groups. In the treatment groups, GPx and CAT levels significantly increased, and the serum amount of MDA reduced. The best antioxidant results were related to the extract-treated group with a higher dose. Radiographic score was significantly higher in the treatment groups than the control group on day 30. Based on the pathological findings, the healing occurred faster in the extract-treated group with a higher dose. Osteocalcin expression was significantly higher in the control group than that in the treatment groups. Conclusions Treatment with Prunus dulcis extract with a dosage of 300 mg/kg accelerated tibial bone healing in rabbits. Graphical abstrac

Sexual dysfunction in Obsessive-Compulsive disorder

Background: Although sexual dysfunction is a common problem in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there are sparse clinical research on the study of the correlation between OCD subtypes and different phases of sexual response cycle. This study was undertaken to assess sexual function and its different phases in a group of Iranian patients with OCD. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The subjects consisted of 56 married OCD patients (36 female, 20 male) who suffered from OCD according to a psychiatric interview and DSM-IV questionnaire based on structured clinical interview for DSM (SCID). Patients were between 18 to 50 year age that had been referred to the outpatient clinic of Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital and three private psychiatric clinics in Tehran (from September 2011 to February 2013). Five Questionnaires were used in this study: Iranian validated form of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) and a questionnaire which has provided demographic data and other relevant information regarding sexual function and OCD. Results: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among female was 80.6% and the frequency of disorders in different subscales of FSFI including sexual desire, sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and sexual pain were 50%, 58.3%, 36.1%, 44.4%, 41.7% and 52.8% respectively. Sexual disorder is reported in 25% of male OCD patients which subscales' evaluation of IIEF shows low sexual desire in 10%, erectile disorder in 20%, orgasmic disorder in 25%, sexual dissatisfaction in 40% and 50% decreased in the total sore of IIEF. Moreover, the correlation coefficients between the total score of OCI-R with erectile and satisfaction subscales of IIEF were statistically significant. The score of washing subscale in OCI-R and sexual satisfaction was significantly correlated. Conclusion: High prevalence of sexual dysfunction in OCD women and significant correlation between male sexual dysfunction and OCD (r= -481.0 between total score of OCI-R with erectile dysfunction and r= -458.0 between total score of OCI-R and sexual satisfaction) could confirm a relation between OCD and sexual disorders. So, evaluation of sexual function in all patients with OCD is recommended

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in a group of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients in Iran

Objective: The main goal of this research is the assessment of sexual dysfunction in a group of OCD patients in Iran.Method: The participants were 36 women and 20 men (between 18 to 50 years old) who suffered from OCD based on both psychiatric interview and DSM-IV questionnaire (SCID). They were referred to Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital and 3 private clinics in Tehran from 2011 to 2013. The following questionnaires were filled in this descriptive cross-sectional study: FSFI, IIEF, MOCI, OCI-R and a demographic questionnaire.</p