Some uses of porous nickel in biotechnology

Imperial Users onl

Precluding the Treasure Hunt: How the World Bank Group Can Help Investors Circumnavigate Sovereign Immunity Obstacles to ICSID Award Execution

This Comment highlights the frustrating road that investors travel in search of assets when states do not honor arbitration awards and discusses how the World Bank Group can unify investor–state arbitrations to preclude such hollow victories for investors. Part II introduces the contemporary framework of investor–state arbitration, including an overview of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID or the Centre), a summary of the scope of noncompliance with investor–state arbitration awards, and the unique ICSID enforcement mechanism used to address challenges to awards and noncompliance. Part III provides examples of the challenges investors face in award execution proceedings in various jurisdictions with respect to amorphous sovereign immunity laws, and highlights the need for a non-judicial solution to the issue of award noncompliance. Part IV explores the feasibility of using the World Bank Group affiliates to alleviate the need to seek out assets of recalcitrant states in efforts to satisfy arbitration awards. Part V concludes

How to set up government-led national hygiene communication campaigns to combat COVID-19: a strategic blueprint.

While large-scale changes in population behaviour are required to reduce the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus, the emergency context is not conducive to the sort of careful communications planning that would normally be required to meet such a task. Rapid strategic communications planning in a pandemic by governments is, however, possible and necessary. Steps include setting up a dedicated communications task force, mobilising partners and resources, developing a creative brief and theory of change and overseeing the creation, testing, roll out and revision of content. In this short guide, we argue that a minimum of strategic planning can be undertaken rapidly, and that good use can be made of simple principles of behaviour change, even during pandemics. Our aim here is to provide a blueprint that governments and their partners, especially in low-income settings, can follow to design, coordinate and resource national communications efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic immediately and for the longer term

Electrochemically initiated release: exploring new modalities for controlled drug release

A series of naphthoquinone-aminophenol derivatives have been synthesized on the basis that their conjugation with a suitable drug candidate could provide a means through which the latter could be released upon the imposition of an appropriate oxidation potential. The approach is based on a three component assembly in which the naphthoquinone redox centre serves as a reporter unit allowing electrochemical interrogation without release of the drug. The central aminophenol serves as the tether to which the drug is linked via an ether bond. Upon oxidation of the aminophenol - ether component, transition of the latter to quinone imine results in the release of the drug. The electrochemical properties of the model system are investigated and the impact of the release process on the functional groups intrinsic to the drug component is critically considered

Abdominal wall paresis as a complication of laparoscopic surgery

Purpose: Abdominal wall nerve injury as a result of trocar placement for laparoscopic surgery is rare. We intend to discuss causes of abdominal wall paresis as well as relevant anatomy. Methods: A review of the nerve supply of the abdominal wall is illustrated with a rare case of a patient presenting with paresis of the internal oblique muscle due to a trocar lesion of the right iliohypogastric nerve after laparoscopic appendectomy. Results: Trocar placement in the upper lateral abdomen can damage the subcostal nerve (Th12), caudal intercostal nerves (Th7-11) and ventral rami of the thoracic nerves (Th7-12). Trocar placement in the lower abdomen can damage the ilioinguinal (L1 or L2) and iliohypogastric nerves (Th12-L1). Pareses of abdominal muscles due to trocar placement are rare due to overlap in innervation and relatively small sizes of trocar incisions. Conclusion: Knowledge of the anatomy of the abdominal wall is mandatory in order to avoid the injury of important structures during trocar placement

Information Display Protocol

Objective: Human Factors Engineers and air traffic control Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developed a protocol to support in decisions on how to present needed information on the en route controller\u2019s visual displays. The protocol provides guidance for determining the criticality of the information and uses this criticality to determine where and how the information should be displayed. Background: Human Factors Engineers and air traffic control SMEs developed and validated the protocol with current and upcoming FAA Next Generation Air Transportation System informational items and scenarios. Application: The model provides a systematic method for integrating the informational needs of controllers and supports the decision process for designing air traffic control displays