Women\u27s Rights in International Law

This Note contains a detailed review of state responses to the Platform for Action produced at the United Nations\u27 Fourth World Conference on Women. The Author finds that this consensus was reached on most of the proposals outlined in the Platform for Action. Certain proposals, however, regarding reproductive and Inheritance issues, were subject to a great deal of dispute during the drafting of the Platform for Action, and many countries ultimately registered reservations as to these proposals. While the news reports of the Fourth World Conference on Women focused on the lobbying activities of both Islamic countries and Catholic countries, particularly the Vatican, this Note finds that ultimately most of the damage done to consensus on these controversial proposals was caused by the Islamic countries. This group of countries\u27 objections to the controversial proposals were based in religious and cultural beliefs. The Author analyzes the pattern of reservations to the Platform for Action according to a set of factors designed to help predict the legal result of non-binding international conferences. On the basis of this analysis, this Note predicts that, while the number of objecting states was small relative to the whole, on the basis of the way customary international law is developed, the existence of this one highly interested group of states opposing some proposals will likely stall the further development of these proposals as legal norms for the foreseeable future. For the rest of the proposals in the Platform, which were subject to a great deal of consensus, adoption of these proposals at the Conference should enhance their development into customary international law norms. None of the proposals will develop into law, however, absent state practice at this time, and this Note finds that this required state practice is not at all assured, based upon states\u27 actions so far

The Consignment Mechanism in Carbon Markets: A Laboratory Investigation

Unlike other auction-based carbon emission markets, California’s carbon market (AB32) utilizes a consignment auction design in which utilities are allocated a share of emissions permits that they must sell into the uniform-price auction. Auction revenue is returned to the consignee, which creates an incentive to increase the auction clearing price through strategic bidding. In a numerical example, we identify the incentive that consignees have to overstate their quantity demanded in the auction, since this increases the probability that the auction clears at a higher price. This results in inefficient allocations and inflated auction prices. We test this effect through a series of laboratory experiments and confirm these predictions. Findings indicate that short-run firm profits are lower in a consignment auction than in a non-consignment auction market, and that firms are more likely to not receive the quantity of permits they need for program compliance in the auction. We conclude with implications for the design and modification of future Coasian markets.The authors acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. SES-0847406) and the Battelle Center for Science & Technology Policy. The authors thank Gabe Englander and John Conlon for assistance with subject recruitment. The findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this paper are the product of research by the authors and do not represent the views of either the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, or the funders of this research

Paracrine-mediated neuroprotection and neuritogenesis of axotomised retinal ganglion cells by human dental pulp stem cells:Comparison with human bone marrow and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

We have investigated and compared the neurotrophic activity of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC), human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC) and human adipose-derived stem cells (hAMSC) on axotomised adult rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in vitro in order to evaluate their therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative conditions of RGC. Using the transwell system, RGC survival and length/number of neurites were quantified in coculture with stem cells in the presence or absence of specific Fc-receptor inhibitors to determine the role of NGF, BDNF, NT-3, VEGF, GDNF, PDGF-AA and PDGF-AB/BB in stem cell-mediated RGC neuroprotection and neuritogenesis. Conditioned media, collected from cultured hDPSC/hBMSC/hAMSC, were assayed for the secreted growth factors detailed above using ELISA. PCR array determined the hDPSC, hBMSC and hAMSC expression of genes encoding 84 growth factors and receptors. The results demonstrated that hDPSC promoted significantly more neuroprotection and neuritogenesis of axotomised RGC than either hBMSC or hAMSC, an effect that was neutralized after the addition of specific Fc-receptor inhibitors. hDPSC secreted greater levels of various growth factors including NGF, BDNF and VEGF compared with hBMSC/hAMSC. The PCR array confirmed these findings and identified VGF as a novel potentially therapeutic hDPSC-derived neurotrophic factor (NTF) with significant RGC neuroprotective properties after coculture with axotomised RGC. In conclusion, hDPSC promoted significant multi-factorial paracrine-mediated RGC survival and neurite outgrowth and may be considered a potent and advantageous cell therapy for retinal nerve repair

Prolonged Exposure to a Mer Ligand in Leukemia: Gas6 Favors Expression of a Partial Mer Glycoform and Reveals a Novel Role for Mer in the Nucleus

Mer tyrosine kinase is ectopically expressed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and associated with enhanced chemoresistance and disease progression. While such effects are generally ascribed to increased engagement of oncogenic pathways downstream of Mer stimulation by its ligand, Gas6, Mer has not been characterized beyond the scope of its signaling activity. The present study explores Mer behavior following prolonged exposure to Gas6, a context similar to the Gas6-enriched microenvironment of the bone marrow, where a steady supply of ligand facilitates continuous engagement of Mer and likely sustains the presence of leukemic cells. Long-term Gas6 exposure induced production of a partially N-glycosylated form of Mer from newly synthesized stores of protein. Preferential expression of the partial Mer glycoform was associated with diminished levels of Mer on the cell surface and altered Mer localization within the nuclear-soluble and chromatin-bound fractions. The presence of Mer in the nucleus is a novel finding for this receptor, and the glycoform-specific preferences observed in each nuclear compartment suggest that glycosylation may influence Mer function within particular subcellular locales. Previous studies have established Mer as an attractive cancer biologic target, and understanding the complexity of its activity has important implications for potential strategies of Mer inhibition in leukemia therapy. Our results identify several novel features of Mer that expand the breadth of its functions and impact the development of therapeutic modalities designed to target Mer

Stem cell treatment of degenerative eye disease

Stem cell therapies are being explored extensively as treatments for degenerative eye disease, either for replacing lost neurons, restoring neural circuits or, based on more recent evidence, as paracrine-mediated therapies in which stem cell-derived trophic factors protect compromised endogenous retinal neurons from death and induce the growth of new connections. Retinal progenitor phenotypes induced from embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells (ESCs/iPSCs) and endogenous retinal stem cells may replace lost photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and restore vision in the diseased eye, whereas treatment of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) has so far been reliant on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Here, we review the properties of non-retinal-derived adult stem cells, in particular neural stem cells (NSCs), MSC derived from bone marrow (BMSC), adipose tissues (ADSC) and dental pulp (DPSC), together with ESC/iPSC and discuss and compare their potential advantages as therapies designed to provide trophic support, repair and replacement of retinal neurons, RPE and glia in degenerative retinal diseases. We conclude that ESCs/iPSCs have the potential to replace lost retinal cells, whereas MSC may be a useful source of paracrine factors that protect RGC and stimulate regeneration of their axons in the optic nerve in degenerate eye disease. NSC may have potential as both a source of replacement cells and also as mediators of paracrine treatment

Mennonite Colonization in Mexico and the Pendulum of Modernization, 1920-2013

In 1921, the settlement of Canadian Old Colony Mennonites in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua served as a tool for reconstructing the region\u27s agricultural economy following the devastating Revolution of 1910. In exchange for their colonization and investment in Mexico, Mennonites received guarantees that exempted them from Mexican land, education, health, and military laws. By the 1980s, however, Mexico undertook constitutional and economic reforms that rendered Old Colony exemptions from law obsolete and their agricultural model a relic of the past. While some Mennonites chose to flee for other locations in Latin America, others remained to face the challenges of security concerns and climate change. In the twenty-first century, these challenges are driving innovative apiculture and community negotiation that are returning Mennonites to their earlier position as paragons of economic progress in northern Mexico

Carbon Auction Revenue and Market Power: An Experimental Analysis

State and regional governments in the U.S. and abroad are looking to market-based approaches to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the electric sector, and in the U.S. as a compliance approach to meeting the aggressive targets of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Clean Power Plan. Auction-based approaches, like those used in the Northeast U.S. and California, are both recommended strategies under the Plan and attractive to state governments because they can generate significant revenue from the sale of emissions permits. However, given the nature of imperfect competition in existing electricity markets, particularly at the state and regional level, the issue of market power is a concern at the forefront. This paper provides the results from a controlled laboratory experiment of an auction-based emissions market in the electricity sector. The results show that government revenue from auctioning emissions permits is substantially lower when market concentration is only moderately increased. The results hold significant implications for states and other subnational governments that have high revenue expectations from the auctioning of emissions permits

Using Extended Role Playing Games In University Courses

Scenario simulations that invite students to take on the role of historical figures were used to deepen historical empathy, broaden the use of primary source documents, and allow students meaningful practice in coalition building and persuasive speech

Dear Mr. Calles: U.S. Protestant Interpretations of the Cristero War and the Moral Art of History

No abstract available