Går det att ta sig ur? En analys av automatiska förlängningar av avtal mellan näringsidkare och konsument

Automatiska förlängningar av avtal innebär att en ny bindningstid inträder om konsumenten inte senast vid viss tidpunkt säger upp avtalet. Att konsumentens passivitet är den omständighet som gör att den nya avtalstiden inträder, har bland annat gjort att sådana förlängningar jämförts med negativ avtalsbindning, vilket svensk rättsordning inte accepterar. Situationen är emellertid annorlunda när parterna från början har avtalat om att avtalet ska förlängas automatiskt. Marknadsdomstolen har också uttalat i MD 2009:30 att avtalsvillkor om automatisk förlängning av avtal inte utgör negativ avtalsbindning i egentlig avtalsrättslig mening. Avtalsvillkor om automatiska förlängningar har ändå bedömts vara oskäliga i avtal mellan näringsidkare och konsument i ett flertal fall, så väl civilrättsligt som marknadsrättsligt. I bedömningarna har ett krav på att näringsidkaren ska påminna konsumenten om uppsägning uppställts. Påminnelsen ska ske i rimlig tid och i lämplig form innan förlängningen inträder. I en promemoria, App to date, har ett förslag till lagstiftning lagts fram för att reglera förevarande automatiska förlängningar. Även detta förslag innehåller ett påminnelsekrav, samt en ytterligare möjlighet för konsumenten att komma ifrån en automatisk förlängning då någon påminnelse inte erhållits. Frågor som framträder är hur den svenska rättsordningen ser på avtalsvillkor om automatisk förlängning i avtal mellan näringsidkare och konsument, vilka omständigheter som är av betydelse vid en oskälighetsbedömning och varför. Andra frågor som uppkommer är om kravet på påminnelse och en kontroll genom praxis är en bra lösning eller om det behövs speciallagstiftning, kanske så som den i App to date, för att kontrollera villkor om automatisk förlängning. Slutsatsen blir att ett avtalsvillkor om automatisk förlängning av avtal mellan näringsidkare och konsument är oskäligt när villkoret stadgar att automatisk förlängning inträder för det fall konsumenten inte säger upp avtalet senast 30 dagar innan den ursprungliga avtalsperioden löpt ut, avtalet har löpt under en så lång tid som ett år, förlängningen görs med ett år, då förlängningen inte innebär några beaktansvärda fördelar för konsumenten (inte i konsumentens intresse), och konsumenten inte har påmints i rimlig tid och lämplig form om att uppsägning ska ske och om konsekvenserna av en utebliven sådan. Bedömningen enligt 36 § avtalslagen är som oftast i hög grad beroende av de särskilda omständigheterna i det enskilda fallet. Om Högsta domstolen inte tydligare uttalar sig om hur de olika omständigheterna värderas är det svårt att dra några användbara principiella slutsatser av domstolens domar. I brist på sådan vägledning kan speciallagstiftning av förutsebarhetsskäl vara önskvärd.Automatic extension of contracts means that time-limited contracts are automatically extended unless the consumer terminates the contract a certain amount of time before it is to expire. The fact that the consumer’s inactivity is the reason why the contract is being extended has even led to a comparison between such automatic extensions and an illegal form of contracting called negative contract binding. However, the situation is different when the parties already have concluded a contract that sets out what will happen when the fixed duration expires. The Market Court has also found, in MD 2009:30, that automatic extensions of contracts are not in fact negative contract binding in a strict contract law sense. Contract terms stating an automatic extension have yet been deemed unfair in consumer contracts in a number of cases, both in The Civil Courts and in The Market Court. The Courts have also stated that the trader has a duty to inform the consumer, in a reasonable time and in an appropriate form, before the extension occurs, that an automatic extension is due to take place. In the Inquiry, App to date, legislation has been proposed in order to control the present automatic extensions. The legislation states that the trader shall inform the consumer in writing that an extension is due to take place. If such information is not provided to the consumer, he/she has the right to terminate the contract. The issues that emerge in response to this, is if the Swedish legal system view such contract terms, stating an automatic extension, as unfair contract terms. And if they do so, what circumstances are of importance for the assessment and why. Other issues that emerge are if it is better to control such contract terms with general provisions prohibiting unfair contract terms, or if special legislation is needed. The conclusion is that a contract term stating an automatic extension of the contract, when the contract is concluded between a consumer and a trader, is unfair when the contract term states that the automatic extension occurs if the consumer does not terminate the agreement at least 30 days before the original contract periods’ end, the contract has proceeded for one year, the extension is done for at least another year, the extension does not bring any significant benefits to the consumer (not in the interest of the consumer ), and the consumer has not been reminded in a reasonable time and appropriate form that termination shall occur and the consequences of it not being terminated. The assessments are usually heavily dependent on the specific circumstances of the individual case. If the Supreme Court does not clearly rule on how the various circumstances of importance of the cases are measured, it is difficult to draw any useful conclusions of the judges. In the absence of such guidance, special legislation is needed out of foreseeability reasons

Monthlong Intubated Patient with Life-Threatening COVID-19 and Cerebral Microbleeds Suffers Only Mild Cognitive Sequelae at 8-Month Follow-up: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: To elaborate on possible cognitive sequelae related to COVID-19, associated cerebrovascular injuries as well as the general consequences from intensive care. COVID-19 is known to have several, serious CNS-related consequences, but neuropsychological studies of severe COVID-19 are still rare. METHODS: M., a 45-year-old man, who survived a severe COVID-19 disease course including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), cerebral microbleeds, and 35 days of mechanical ventilation, is described. We elaborate on M's recovery and rehabilitation process from onset to the 8-month follow-up. The cognitive functions were evaluated with a comprehensive screening battery at 4 weeks after extubation and at the 8-month follow-up. RESULTS: Following extubation, M. was delirious, reported visual hallucinations, and had severe sleeping difficulties. At about 3 months after COVID-19 onset, M. showed mild to moderate deficits on tests measuring processing speed, working memory, and attention. At assessments at 8 months, M. performed better, with results above average on tests measuring learning, memory, word fluency, and visuospatial functions. Minor deficits were still found regarding logical reasoning, attention, executive functioning, and processing speed. There were no lingering psychiatric symptoms. While M. had returned to a part-time job, he was not able to resume previous work-tasks. CONCLUSION: This case-study demonstrates possible cognitive deficits after severe COVID-19 and emphasizes the need of a neuropsychological follow-up, with tests sensitive to minor deficits. The main findings of this report provide some support that the long-term prognosis for cognition in severe COVID-19 may be hopeful

Expression of 5-lipoxygenase and 15-lipoxygenase in rheumatoid arthritis synovium and effects of intraarticular glucocorticoids

The past years have witnessed tremendous progress in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic debilitating autoimmune disease mainly characterized by joint inflammation with progressive tissue destruction and loss of function. This condition affects 0.5-1% of the population, is associated with important co-morbidities and represents a heavy economical burden. New strategies, employing early and aggressive therapies with classical drugs or new agents, have resulted in impressive improvements in controlling disease activity. In some cases they even lead to clinical remission. Despite potent and efficient biological agents that specifically modulate distinct pathological pathways a large proportion of patients remain unresponsive to these therapies; drug-free remission is also difficult to achieve since attempting discontinuation of treatment usually results in disease flare. In rheumatoid arthritis joints there is a constant activation of complex networks of cytokines and factors mediating immune interactions and inflammation, in which prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) are important players and contributors to pathogenesis. Our research aimed to investigate the synovial expression of enzymes controlling prostaglandin E2 synthesis and degradation – cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2, microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase 1 (MPGES1) and 15-prostaglandin dihydrogenase (15-PGDH) as well as enzymes involved in leukotriene synthesis, such as 5-lipoxygenase (LO) and 15-LO. In addition, we evaluated how traditional and new therapies influence these pathways, by analyzing enzyme expression before and after systemic treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, rituximab or methotrexate, as well as before and after intra-articular treatment with glucocorticoids. We also evaluated the in vitro effects of TNF antagonists and glucocorticoids on synovial fluid cells and that of methotrexate on synovial fibroblasts. We demonstrated that synovial tissue from RA patients displayed an important expression of enzymes involved in the metabolism of PGE2, as well as 5-LO and 15-LO. MPGES1 and COX-2, the inflammation-inducible enzymes co-localized mainly in fibroblasts and macrophage-like cells and accounted for the local PGE2 production. Intra-articular glucocorticoids significantly reduced all enzymes involved in the PGE2 cascade – COX-1 and COX-2, MPGES1 and 15-PGDH, but also 5-LO, responsible for leukotriene formation. However, they did not influence the expression of 15-LO, an enzyme involved in the formation of both pro-and anti-inflammatory lipid mediators. Regarding the effects of TNF blockers, rituximab or methotrexate, they did not alter the expression profile of enzymes involved in PGE2 metabolism despite showing clinical efficiency in improving disease activity. Although anti-TNF agents reduced the in vitro expression of MPGES1 and COX-2 in synovial fluid cells, the lack of effect ex vivo in biopsies emphasized once again the differences between synovial compartments and possibly the difficulty in mimicking the micro-environment at the site of inflammation in vitro. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that potent anti-rheumatic drugs currently used in the clinic with good efficiency also leave inflammatory pathways un-affected, which may account for subclinical ongoing disease activity. Blocking the PGE2 pathway by using MPGES1 inhibitors as combination therapy may show benefit in dampening ongoing local inflammation

About the necessity of the linguacultural aspect in teaching English

В статье на примере отдельных английских и русских фразеологизмов иллюстрируется репродукция в языке, в частности, в его фразеологическом фонде, культурологических особенностей, обусловленных экстралингвистическими факторами. Подчеркивается необходимость изучения определенного языка с обязательным учетом лингвокультурологического аспекта.The article illustrates the reproduction of cultural features in a language, in particular, in its phraseological fund, due to extralinguistic factors, on the example of the English and Russian phraseological units. The necessity of studying a certain language with the obligatory consideration of the linguoculturological aspect is emphasized

Differences in diagnostic patterns of obstructive airway disease between areas and sex in Sweden and Finland-the Nordic EpiLung study

Objective:To investigate the current prevalence of physician-diagnosed obstructive airway diseases by respiratory symptoms and by sex in Sweden and Finland. Method:In 2016, a postal questionnaire was answered by 34,072 randomly selected adults in four study areas: Vastra Gotaland and Norrbotten in Sweden, and Seinajoki-Vaasa and Helsinki in Finland. Results:The prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in Norrbotten (13.2%), Seinajoki-Vaasa (14.8%) and Helsinki (14.4%) than in Vastra Gotaland (10.7%), and physician-diagnosed asthma was highest in Norrbotten (13.0%) and least in Vastra Gotaland (10.1%). Chronic productive cough was most common in the Finnish areas (7.7-8.2% versus 6.3-6.7%) while the prevalence of physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis (CB) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) varied between 1.7 and 2.7% in the four areas. Among individuals with respiratory symptoms, the prevalence of asthma was most common in Norrbotten, while a diagnosis of COPD or CB was most common in Vastra Gotaland and Seinajoki-Vaasa. More women than men with respiratory symptoms reported a diagnosis of asthma in Sweden and Seinajoki-Vaasa but there were no sex differences in Helsinki. In Sweden, more women than men with symptoms of cough or phlegm reported a diagnosis of CB or COPD, while in Finland the opposite was found. Conclusion:The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and corresponding diagnoses varied between and within the countries. The proportion reporting a diagnosis of obstructive airway disease among individuals with respiratory symptoms varied, indicating differences in diagnostic patterns both between areas and by sex.Peer reviewe

Perceptions of the appropriate response to norm violation in 57 societies

An Author Correction to this article: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22955-x.Norm enforcement may be important for resolving conflicts and promoting cooperation. However, little is known about how preferred responses to norm violations vary across cultures and across domains. In a preregistered study of 57 countries (using convenience samples of 22,863 students and non-students), we measured perceptions of the appropriateness of various responses to a violation of a cooperative norm and to atypical social behaviors. Our findings highlight both cultural universals and cultural variation. We find a universal negative relation between appropriateness ratings of norm violations and appropriateness ratings of responses in the form of confrontation, social ostracism and gossip. Moreover, we find the country variation in the appropriateness of sanctions to be consistent across different norm violations but not across different sanctions. Specifically, in those countries where use of physical confrontation and social ostracism is rated as less appropriate, gossip is rated as more appropriate.Peer reviewe

Large expert-curated database for benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search

Document recommendation systems for locating relevant literature have mostly relied on methods developed a decade ago. This is largely due to the lack of a large offline gold-standard benchmark of relevant documents that cover a variety of research fields such that newly developed literature search techniques can be compared, improved and translated into practice. To overcome this bottleneck, we have established the RElevant LIterature SearcH consortium consisting of more than 1500 scientists from 84 countries, who have collectively annotated the relevance of over 180 000 PubMed-listed articles with regard to their respective seed (input) article/s. The majority of annotations were contributed by highly experienced, original authors of the seed articles. The collected data cover 76% of all unique PubMed Medical Subject Headings descriptors. No systematic biases were observed across different experience levels, research fields or time spent on annotations. More importantly, annotations of the same document pairs contributed by different scientists were highly concordant. We further show that the three representative baseline methods used to generate recommended articles for evaluation (Okapi Best Matching 25, Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency and PubMed Related Articles) had similar overall performances. Additionally, we found that these methods each tend to produce distinct collections of recommended articles, suggesting that a hybrid method may be required to completely capture all relevant articles. The established database server located at https://relishdb.ict.griffith.edu.au is freely available for the downloading of annotation data and the blind testing of new methods. We expect that this benchmark will be useful for stimulating the development of new powerful techniques for title and title/abstract-based search engines for relevant articles in biomedical research.Peer reviewe

Kvinnors upplevelse av missfall : En litteraturstudie

Validerat; 20110611 (anonymous