A Comparative Approach: Denial of Justice in NAFTA Chapter 11 and the European Convention on Human Rights

Denial ofjustice is an important concept in international law that holds states accountable for administering justice in a fundamentally inadequate way. While denial of justice is one of the oldest concepts in international law, it remains ambiguous. This thesis seeks to provide normative content to the term ‘denial of justice.’ It does this by employing a comparative methodological approach that compares the denial of justice standard contained in Art. 1105 NAFTA with the fair trial guarantees embodied in Art. 6 ECHR. This comparison exposes essential similarities between investment law and human rights law (origin, function, purpose, and substantive provisions) but it also reveals important distinctions between the two systems (textual, scope and coverage, and relationship with domestic courts). The research findings support the conclusion that NAFTA Chapter 11 tribunals should use human rights norms to interpret the denial ofjustice standard but that such interpretative approach warrants cautio

Is citizen science a tool for public engagement?

BACKGROUND Citizen science projects are those that involve non-scientist volunteers in the scientific process, for example, in data collection, project design, data analysis, or co-creation (Bonney et al., 2016). Citizen science is therefore often described as ‘engaging’ or ‘empowering’ the ‘public’ although it is unclear whether the projects are truly designed to do so. AIMS Our research aimed to explore how scientists perceived citizen science and interacted with their volunteers. DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 Australian biologists, using qualitative thematic coding methods to analyse the data (Fereday & Muir-Cochrane, 2006) RESULTS Almost all participants defined citizen science as involving non-scientists in data collection. This definition acted as a barrier for scientists who did not see how citizen science could suit their research objectives. Biologists who had experience running citizen science projects felt that volunteers benefitted from the partnership, but recognised that most volunteers already had a high level of existing engagement with science. CONCLUSIONS While interviewees perceived many societal and experiential benefits of contributory citizen science, deliberate design is needed to realise the full potential of citizen science for public engagement. REFERENCES Bonney, R., Phillips, T.B., Ballard, H.L. & Enck, J.W. (2016). ‘Can citizen science enhance public understanding of science?’. Public Understanding of Science, 25(1), 2-16. Fereday, J. & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). ‘Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development’. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(1), 80-92

A Rare Presentation of Plasmablastic Lymphoma in a HIV-negative Male Status-post Liver Transplantation

Introduction: Plasmablastic lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, rarely presents as a retroperitoneal mass.  There are no case reports in the literature of plasmablastic lymphoma presenting in living, HIV-negative patient status post liver transplantation.Presentation of Case: We report the case of a 63 year-old HIV-negative male status post liver transplant who presented with weakness and obstructive uropathy. Imaging showed a large mass in the retroperitonium. Biopsy revealed plasmablastic lymphoma. CHOP therapy was initiated and after six cycles, the retroperitoneal mass regressed in size; however, cytology from pleural fluid revealed that the disease remained. It has been 9 months since initial diagnosis and he was started on salvage chemotherapy with ESHAP however he subsequently developed a treatment related myelodysplastic syndrome with trisomy 12.Conclusions: The present case is used to explore the presentation and treatment of plasmablastic lymphoma, and to review the literature concerning the rarity of this disease in the setting of a HIV-negative patient status post solid organ transplantation

Exploring scientists’ perceptions of citizen science for public engagement with science

It is often assumed that citizen science is inherently participatory in nature. However, citizen science projects exist along a continuum from data contribution to full co-creation. We invited 19 biologists to explore their conceptions of citizen science. Almost all participants defined citizen science as involving non-scientists in data collection. This definition acted as a barrier for scientists who did not see how citizen science could suit their research objectives. While interviewees perceived many societal and experiential benefits of contributory citizen science, deliberate design is needed to realise the full potential of citizen science for public engagemen

Doodle Health: A Crowdsourcing Game for the Co-design and Testing of Pictographs to Reduce Disparities in Healthcare Communication

Supplementing patient education content with pictographs can improve the comprehension and recall of information, especially patients with low health literacy. Pictograph design and testing, however, are costly and time consuming. We created a Web-based game, Doodle Health, for crowdsourcing the drawing and validation of pictographs. The objective of this pilot study was to test the usability of the game and its appeal to healthcare consumers. The chief purpose of the game is to involve a diverse population in the co-design and evaluation of pictographs. We conducted a community-based focus group to inform the game design. Game designers, health sciences librarians, informatics researchers, clinicians, and community members participated in two Design Box meetings. The results of the meetings were used to create the Doodle Health crowdsourcing game. The game was presented and tested at two public fairs. Initial testing indicates crowdsourcing is a promising approach to pictograph development and testing for relevancy and comprehension. Over 596 drawings were collected and 1,758 guesses were performed to date with 70-90% accuracies, which are satisfactorily high

Exploration of short food supply chain practices, challenges, and opportunities: A case study of local farm markets in Dorset county, England.

Purpose: The research investigates the practices, challenges, and opportunities within Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) and Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) through a case study of local farm markets in Dorset County, England. Research Approach: Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observations across seven local farm markets to gather in-depth insights from 22 participants, including farmers, vendors, and market administrators. Findings: The findings reveal the historical evolution and current practices of local farm markets, highlighting the motivations for participation, including economic incentives, social interaction, and community engagement. Key challenges identified are inconsistent participation, logistical difficulties, competition from supermarkets, and limited online presence. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced marketing strategies, infrastructure improvements, and robust online platforms to capitalize on existing opportunities. Originality: This research offers a unique examination of SFSCs within the specific context of Dorset County, integrating multiple theoretical perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of local food systems. Practical Impact: The insights gained will inform strategies for improving the sustainability and resilience of local food systems. The proposed development of a hybrid food hub model aims to integrate local farm markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA), online marketplaces, and community kitchens/fridges to enhance food distribution and community engagement