Principios UNIDROIT a través de los laudos de arbitraje internacional de inversiones

The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law - UNIDROIT will start in 2023, in collaboration with the ICC Institute of World Business Law, a project that will evaluate the most appropriate rules in investment contracts in the light of the evolution of the contents of these contracts and international investment law in general. A fundamental part of the analysis will be the verification of the application of the UNIDROIT Principles to these contracts. In preparation for this project, this contribution describes the use that has been made so far of the Principles by arbitral tribunals whose awards are public, revealing how many of the Principles’ rules apply to investment contracts, for example in relation to the principle of good faith, situations of hardship, renegotiation of terms and the  calculation of damages. In addition, the arbitral awards commented upon, also reveal how they can be used as applicable law not only in case of specific choice of the parties, but also in case of lack of indication of applicable law, as well as a tool for interpreting national law. For these purposes, the awards described are divided in this contribution by category according to the role attributed to the Principles in each award. However, the same analysis can be read to verify, in relation to the investment contracts analyzed, which rules have been referred to and to what extent (and yet in some cases, for example when using the Principles to determine damages, in reality the latter have also been invoked in relation to investment treaties).The analysis provided in this contribution, which hopefully shall be expanded on the basis of the investment contracts subject of arbitration to which we shall be able to have access under the Project, can be considered as one of the starting points for the exercise that will be carried out in the coming months.El Instituto Internacional para la Unificación del Derecho Privado – UNIDROIT iniciará en 2023, en colaboración con el ICC Institute of World Business Law, un proyecto que evaluará las normas más adecuadas en los contratos de inversión a la luz de la evolución de los contenidos de estos contratos y el derecho a las inversiones en general. Parte fundamental del análisis será la verificación de la aplicación de los Principios de UNIDROIT a estos contratos. En preparación para este proyecto, la presente contribución describe el uso que se ha hecho hasta ahora de los Principios por los tribunales arbitrales cuyos laudos son públicos, lo que revela cuántas de las reglas de los Principios se aplican a los contratos de inversión, por ejemplo, en relación con el principio de buena fe, situaciones de excesiva onerosidad, renegociación de los términos y el cálculo de los daños. Además, los laudos arbitrales comentados también revelan cómo pueden ser utilizados como ley aplicable no sólo en caso de elección específica de las partes, sino también en caso de falta de indicación de la ley aplicable, así como una herramienta para interpretar la ley nacional. A estos efectos, los laudos descritos son divididos en esta contribución por categoría según la función que se le dé a los Principios en cada laudo. Sin embargo, el mismo análisis puede leerse para verificar a qué reglas se ha hecho referencia y en qué medida en relación con los contratos de inversión analizados (y sin embargo en algunos casos, por ejemplo, cuando se utilizan los Principios para determinar daños, en realidad estos últimos han también sido invocados en relación con un tratado de inversión). El análisis de esta contribución, que esperamos poder ampliar sobre la base del censo de todos los contratos de inversión que han sido objeto de arbitraje a los que podrá tener acceso en el Proyecto, puede ser considerado como uno de los puntos de partida para el ejercicio que se llevará a cabo en los próximos meses

TORRE VECCHIA ELEMENTI PER UN PROGETTO ARCHEOLOGICO

Nel presente saggio si comunica l\u27esistenza di un sito con resti tardoantichi e altomedievali nei pressi di Torre, nel Parentino. Dopo l\u27introduzione storica sulla genesi dell\u27abitato si passa alla descrizione del complesso e dei materiali rinvenuti. Nella seconda parte si rileva l\u27importanza del sito nella comprensione delle dinamiche insediative tra Romanità e Medioevo e si evidenzia il ricco potenziale di informazioni che potrebbe arrivare da uno scavo archeologico dell\u27intero complesso.Dva kilometra daleko od mjesta Stari Tar na Porestini pronadeni su astaci arheoloskog kompleksa iz kasnoantickog-ranosrednjovjekovnog razdoblja. Na rusevinama tog kompleksa podignut je srednjovjekovni Stari Tar, koji se spominje prvi put u carskoj diplomi iz 983. godine a napusten je u 15. stoljeéu. Kroz citavi Srednji vijek Tar i njegova okolica cinili su feudalno dobro porecke crkve. Kompleks je nastao na ostacima jednog antickog seoskog objekta od kojeg su ocuvani cisterna, rimska keramika i razna spolia. Sastavni je dio kasnoanticke-ranosrednjovjekovne strukture i crkvica sa polukruznom izbocenom apsidom sa tipologijom prisutnom na istarskom tlu jos od 6.-7. stoljeéa. U sklopu tih struktura pronadeni su kiparski fragmenti crkvene liturgijske opreme iz 8.-9. stoljeéa. U blizini se nalazi crkva Sv. Kriza, nekad posveéena Mariji; crkva se prvi puta spominje 1177. godine. Pronalazak fragmenta pleterne skulpture nagovjeséuje predromanicko podrijetlo prvobitne gradevine koja je mogia imati funkciju grobne crkve Starog Tara. Arheoloska istrazivanja na tom lokalitetu mogia bi razjasniti dinamike i promjene nastale u razdoblju izmedu Antiké i Srednjeg vijeka u Istri. Odlicno stanje ocuvanosti arhitektonskih struktura i slojeva mogio bi omoguéiti stjecanje brojnih i razliCitih podataka i rekonstrukciju procesa koji je doveo do napustanja "villae rusticae" i nastanka srednjovjekovnih naselja. Radi se o vaznoj tematici za nasa povijesna i arheoloska istrazivanja a koja je osnova za bolje shvaéanje prvotnih sastavnica istarskog Srednjeg vijeka

TORRE VECCHIA ELEMENTI PER UN PROGETTO ARCHEOLOGICO

Nel presente saggio si comunica l\u27esistenza di un sito con resti tardoantichi e altomedievali nei pressi di Torre, nel Parentino. Dopo l\u27introduzione storica sulla genesi dell\u27abitato si passa alla descrizione del complesso e dei materiali rinvenuti. Nella seconda parte si rileva l\u27importanza del sito nella comprensione delle dinamiche insediative tra Romanità e Medioevo e si evidenzia il ricco potenziale di informazioni che potrebbe arrivare da uno scavo archeologico dell\u27intero complesso.Dva kilometra daleko od mjesta Stari Tar na Porestini pronadeni su astaci arheoloskog kompleksa iz kasnoantickog-ranosrednjovjekovnog razdoblja. Na rusevinama tog kompleksa podignut je srednjovjekovni Stari Tar, koji se spominje prvi put u carskoj diplomi iz 983. godine a napusten je u 15. stoljeéu. Kroz citavi Srednji vijek Tar i njegova okolica cinili su feudalno dobro porecke crkve. Kompleks je nastao na ostacima jednog antickog seoskog objekta od kojeg su ocuvani cisterna, rimska keramika i razna spolia. Sastavni je dio kasnoanticke-ranosrednjovjekovne strukture i crkvica sa polukruznom izbocenom apsidom sa tipologijom prisutnom na istarskom tlu jos od 6.-7. stoljeéa. U sklopu tih struktura pronadeni su kiparski fragmenti crkvene liturgijske opreme iz 8.-9. stoljeéa. U blizini se nalazi crkva Sv. Kriza, nekad posveéena Mariji; crkva se prvi puta spominje 1177. godine. Pronalazak fragmenta pleterne skulpture nagovjeséuje predromanicko podrijetlo prvobitne gradevine koja je mogia imati funkciju grobne crkve Starog Tara. Arheoloska istrazivanja na tom lokalitetu mogia bi razjasniti dinamike i promjene nastale u razdoblju izmedu Antiké i Srednjeg vijeka u Istri. Odlicno stanje ocuvanosti arhitektonskih struktura i slojeva mogio bi omoguéiti stjecanje brojnih i razliCitih podataka i rekonstrukciju procesa koji je doveo do napustanja "villae rusticae" i nastanka srednjovjekovnih naselja. Radi se o vaznoj tematici za nasa povijesna i arheoloska istrazivanja a koja je osnova za bolje shvaéanje prvotnih sastavnica istarskog Srednjeg vijeka

Psychopathological Burden among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to the Pre-Pandemic Period

This retrospective observational study on hospital staff requesting an “application visit” (from 2017 to 2022) at the Occupational Medicine department aimed at comparing a “pre-COVID group” (2017–2019) with a “COVID group” (2020–2022) regarding (a) sociodemographic data (i.e., age, sex, occupation, years of employment at the hospital), (b) rate and type of psychiatric diagnoses in both groups and rate of psychiatric diagnoses per subject, and (c) rate of drug/psychotherapeutic prescriptions. Two hundred and five healthcare workers (F = 73.7%; mean age = 50.7 ± 10.33) were visited. Compared with the pre-COVID group, healthcare workers evaluated during COVID-19 were significantly younger and reported fewer years of employment at the hospital. Although rates of primary psychiatric diagnoses were similar in both samples, an increased number of psychopathologies per subject and associated treatment prescriptions in the COVID group was observed. In the COVID group, 61% had one psychiatric diagnosis, and 28% had 2+ psychiatric diagnoses, compared with 83.8% and 6.7% of pre-COVID. Furthermore, 56.2%/1.9% in pre-COVID and 73%/6% in the COVID group were prescribed drugs/psychotherapy, respectively. The findings of the present study highlighted an increase in both younger workers’ requests and psychiatric comorbidities during the pandemic, representing a burden on the Italian healthcare system. It is thus relevant to address the mental health challenges of healthcare workers accordingly

comparison of online and offline methods for measuring fine secondary inorganic ions and carbonaceous aerosols in the central mediterranean area

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Chemical Composition of Fine and Coarse Aerosol Particles in the Central Mediterranean Area during Dust and Non-Dust Conditions

A two-month field campaign was carried out from May to June 2010 at a remote site (Trisaia ENEA Research Centre) in the Southern Italy aiming to identify and quantify the changes of aerosol chemical composition in the presence of Saharan dust. The 24-hr PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) filter samples were analyzed by mass, carbonaceous species, inorganic ions and elemental composition. Saharan dust transport events were identified with two approaches: one recommended by EC (2011) and one based on indicators derived from measurements. Three indicators were used: PM_(2.5)/PM_(10) mass concentrations ratio, Ca/Al ratio and Al concentration. Based on these criteria, four Saharan dust transport events were identified, but only one had elevated dust concentration and leaded to an exceedance of the European short-term (24 hour) limit value of 50 μg/m^3 for PM_(10) (June 16^(th)). The comparison of chemical composition of fine and coarse aerosol fractions during dust and non-dust conditions shows that the presence of dust increases NH_4 and nssSO_4 concentrations in the fine fraction and NO_3 and nssSO_4 concentrations in the coarse fraction. OC and EC concentrations also increase in the fine fraction during dust transport. The uptake of primary and secondary species, inorganic and organic, by dust particles changes their composition and, thus, their properties and this may have implications for human health and climate change

Clinical correlates of “pure” essential tremor: the TITAN study

BackgroundTo date, there are no large studies delineating the clinical correlates of “pure” essential tremor (ET) according to its new definition.MethodsFrom the ITAlian tremor Network (TITAN) database, we extracted data from patients with a diagnosis of “pure” ET and excluded those with other tremor classifications, including ET-plus, focal, and task-specific tremor, which were formerly considered parts of the ET spectrum.ResultsOut of 653 subjects recruited in the TITAN study by January 2022, the data of 208 (31.8%) “pure” ET patients (86M/122F) were analyzed. The distribution of age at onset was found to be bimodal. The proportion of familial cases by the age-at-onset class of 20 years showed significant differences, with sporadic cases representing the large majority of the class with an age at onset above 60 years. Patients with a positive family history of tremor had a younger onset and were more likely to have leg involvement than sporadic patients despite a similar disease duration. Early-onset and late-onset cases were different in terms of tremor distribution at onset and tremor severity, likely as a function of longer disease duration, yet without differences in terms of quality of life, which suggests a relatively benign progression. Treatment patterns and outcomes revealed that up to 40% of the sample was unsatisfied with the current pharmacological options.DiscussionThe findings reported in the study provide new insights, especially with regard to a possible inversed sex distribution, and to the genetic backgrounds of “pure” ET, given that familial cases were evenly distributed across age-at-onset classes of 20 years. Deep clinical profiling of “pure” ET, for instance, according to age at onset, might increase the clinical value of this syndrome in identifying pathogenetic hypotheses and therapeutic strategies

Associations between depressive symptoms and disease progression in older patients with chronic kidney disease: results of the EQUAL study

Background Depressive symptoms are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage kidney disease; however, few small studies have examined this association in patients with earlier phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied associations between baseline depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced CKD and examined whether these associations differed depending on sex. Methods CKD patients (>= 65 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate <= 20 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) were included from a European multicentre prospective cohort between 2012 and 2019. Depressive symptoms were measured by the five-item Mental Health Inventory (cut-off <= 70; 0-100 scale). Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to study associations between depressive symptoms and time to dialysis initiation, all-cause mortality and these outcomes combined. A joint model was used to study the association between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time. Analyses were adjusted for potential baseline confounders. Results Overall kidney function decline in 1326 patients was -0.12 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/month. A total of 515 patients showed depressive symptoms. No significant association was found between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time (P = 0.08). Unlike women, men with depressive symptoms had an increased mortality rate compared with those without symptoms [adjusted hazard ratio 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.93)]. Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with a higher hazard of dialysis initiation, or with the combined outcome (i.e. dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality). Conclusions There was no significant association between depressive symptoms at baseline and decline in kidney function over time in older patients with advanced CKD. Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a higher mortality rate in men

The Payment Services Directive: Pitfalls between the Acquis Communautaire and National Implementation. ECRI Research Reports No. 9, 2 March 2009

The Payment Services Directive (PSD) was published in late 2007, constituting the legal basis for the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The industry initiative launched on 28 January 2008 aims at replacing fragmented national markets for payment services with one integrated system. Although deadlines for both the transposition of the PSD into national law and the full availability for SEPA standards are set, many questions lack clear answers and need to be addressed accordingly. Given the numerous directives and different regulations affecting payment service providers, the partial duplication and interlinking between the various provisions are prone to creating a legislative labyrinth. This ECRI Research Report attempts to address the main concerns, as it tests the PSD against some of the most advanced payment business models, and to offer a comprehensive evaluation of the Community regulation of payment services within SEPA. While evidencing a number of critical issues in the reading and implementation of the PSD, the paper looks at this ambitious and challenging exercise of the European institutions and presents a number of provocative considerations that it is hoped will be of general value

Multilateral Interchange Fees: Competition and regulation in light of recent legislative developments. ECRI Research Report No. 14, 31 January 2014

Two-sided payment card markets generate costs that have to be distributed among the participating actors. For this purpose, payment card networks set an interchange fee, which is the fee paid by the merchant’s bank to the cardholder’s bank per transaction. While in recent years many antitrust authorities all over the world - including the European Commission - have opened proceedings against card brands in order to verify whether agreements to collectively establish the level of interchange fees are anticompetitive, the Reserve Bank of Australia – as a regulator - has directly tried to address market failures by lowering the level of interchange fees and changing some network rules. The US has followed with new legislation on financial consumer protection, which also intervenes on interchange fees. This has opened a strong debate not only on legitimacy of interchange fees, but also on the appropriateness of different public tools to address such issues. Drawing from economic and legal theories and a comparative analysis of recent case law in the EU and other jurisdictions, this work investigates whether a regulation rather than a purely competition policy approach would be more appropriate in this field, considering in particular, at EU level, all of the competition and regulatory concerns that have arisen from the operation of SEPA with multilateral interchange fees. The paper concludes that a wider regulation approach could address some of the shortcomings of a purely antitrust approach, proving to be highly beneficial to the development of an efficient European single payments area