The Right to Happiness between Legal Basis and Judicial Practice: A Comparative Constitutional Study

happiness, in fact, is something that is sought inside the man’s body, which makes it searched for and studied as a psychological and philosophical matter, not a legal one. However, this matter is aroused in the western legal jurisprudence a long time ago in terms of acknowledging it as one of the human rights. In reality, we can say that the supposed purpose of every law and every right embodies in achieving happiness for man. In other words, we can say that law and right are originally created for man’s happiness. In this research, we tried our best to tackle the matter of happiness from a legal point of view. And whether it is possible to look at it today, not as a feeling or a sensation that philosophers and sociologists care about, nor a far-reached and impossible-to-imagine idea as a worth-taking right for man, but as a legal right protected by a lawsuit. At the start of the 18th Century, happiness gradually began to appear in the human rights related legal texts, then in the constitutions. Since the American Independence Declaration in 1776, that stated happiness is an original right for a person and can’t be ill-used. Then, appeared in the two declarations of the French human rights in 1789 and 1793, which regarded happiness as a target for community. Then appeared in the constitutions of Japan, North and South Korea, Turkey, Niger, Bhutan Kingdom and Egypt. Then, appeared recently when the UAE issued new local legislations in 2020. Happiness started to indulge in legal texts that represent the top of the legislative pyramid in many countries. Today, happiness stands high (as a human right) in more than 20 countries, and this number increases if we considered constitutions that included it away from the frame of rights. In addition, a lot of countries started targeting happiness in their economic and developing programs. The UAE was the first in the world to set up a Ministry of Happiness in 2016. Constitutional judiciary was not far from that legislative development in terms of the right of happiness. Although there wasn’t an obvious and direct judicial obligation for that right till date, judiciary in many countries has become more open to accept lawsuits based on the constitutional reference of that right, especially in confirmation of other rights, either mentioned in the constitutional text or not. Also, constitutional judiciary in various countries accepted lawsuits regarding that right on the basis of setting up a balance between public and private interest for the pleasure of people and for guaranteeing the respect of other basic rights of individuals

CONTROL OF BROWEN ROT ON SOME STONE FRUITS DURING STORAGE USING SOME SALTS AND INDUCING RESISTANCE

Brown rot disease of Canino apricots and FlordaPrince peaches is a major serious decay disease during cold storage in Egypt and worldwide, Infection of stone fruits may occur during blooming until harvest harvest which cause decay during cold storage. The effect of fungicide safe alternatives, (Chemical salts and Inducing resistance). The effect of fungicide safe alternatives, i.e. sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, potassium sorbate, potassium silicate,boric acid and salicylic acid, on growth of Monilinia laxa M. fructigena and Monilinia sp. as major pathogens on apricots and peaches ,was investigated at different concentrations ranged from 1000 ppm to 5000 ppm amended in PDA in vitro. Sodium bicarbonate at 1000 ppm completely suppressed the growth of the three isolates of Monilinia spp., Calcium chloride at 1000 ppm to 5000 ppm, did not show any suppression of M. laxa or Monilinia sp., while it suppressed M. fructigena when used at ≥4000 ppm. Potassium silicate did not show considerable effectiveness against different tested isolates of Monilinia spp. IC50 values (chemical concentration that reduce fungal growth to 50%) of sodium bicarbonate, potassium sorbate and salicylic acid on M. fructigena were less than 1000 ppm. On M. laxa, only sodium bicarbonate showed IC50 less than 1000 ppm, while the IC50 values of potassium sorbate and boric acid were less than 2000 ppm. Regarding Monilinia sp. sodium bicarbonate and potassium sorbate IC50 values were less than 1000 ppm. Generally, sodium bicarbonate, potassium sorbate and salicylic acid showed IC50 values less than 1000 ppm, 2000 ppm, and 3000 ppm, respectively.   These salts and inducers at 3000 ppm, were used as three preharvest sprays starting at growth stage no. 64 and then repeated twice at 10 days intervals in orchard located at Qualyubia and Ismailia, during seasons 2015 and 2016. These salts and acids were also adopted at 3000 ppm on naturally infected or artificially inoculated fruits after harvest at growth stage no. 81 during season 2016. Sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, potassium sorbate and boric acid were the most effective treatments to control brown rot disease on apricots and peaches during cold storage at 0oC and 90% RH for 15 days and 30 days, either these chemicals were sprayed preharvest or adopted after harvest. These treatments maintained fruit quality regarding firmness and acidity

Peri-urban agriculture: lessons learnt from Jakarta and Addis Ababa

The 21st century has been called the urban century, as most of the human population is now living in urban areas. Current and future urbanization is mostly taking place at great speed in the Global South. The challenges are enormous and request different models of urbanization as developed in the Global North. High levels of informality and poverty will not go away in the decades to come, while capacity will remain limited to adequately provide urban dwellers with basic infrastructure and economic opportunities. Grave economic shocks and environmental disasters such as experienced in both the Jakarta and Addis Ababa urban regions are likely to remain features of these regions. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to strengthen the resilience of these cities in the best possible ways. The continued existence of agriculture in and near urban areas is an important means for this purpose that, however, is still poorly, or at best intermittently, acknowledged by politicians and urban planners, who are inspired by visions of “modern” cities where agriculture is rather a negligible activity

Molecular marker dissection of stem rust resistance in Nebraska bread wheat germplasm

Stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) is a major disease of wheat. To understand the genetic basis of stem rust resistance in Nebraska winter wheat, a set of 330 genotypes representing two nurseries (DUP2015 and TRP2015) were evaluated for resistance to a Nebraska stem rust race (QFCSC) in two replications. The TRP2015 nursery was also evaluated for its resistance to an additional 13 stem rust races. The analysis of variance revealed significant variation among genotypes in both populations for stem rust resistance. Nine stem rust genes, Sr6, Sr31, Sr1RSAmigo, Sr24, Sr36, SrTmp, Sr7b, Sr9b, and Sr38, were expected and genotyped using gene-specific markers. The results of genetic analysis confirmed the presence of seven stem rust resistance genes. One genotype (NE15680) contained target alleles for five stem rust resistance genes and had a high level of stem rust resistance against different races. Single marker analysis indicated that Sr24 and Sr38 were highly significantly associated with stem rust resistance in the DUP2015 and TRP2015 nurseries, respectively. Linkage disequilibrium analysis identified the presence of 17 SNPs in high linkage with the Sr38-specific marker. These SNPs potentially tagging the Sr38 gene could be used in marker-assisted selection after validating them in additional genetic backgrounds

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research