Feminist engagement in international criminal law: a historiographical analysis

This text aims at providing a broad analytical historiography of feminist engagement in international criminal law from the early 20th century until the formation of the modern international legal field with the drafting of the Rome Statute and establishment of the International Criminal Court. It traces the evolvement and coming of age of both the global feminist movement and the international criminal legal project, and the manner in which they came to intersect. The text outlines the modes and methods of feminist engagement in the field, provides a proposed model of the involvement of feminist typologies in international criminal law, and specifically examines the manner in which liberal feminism, versus others, has interacted with various areas of international law

Adopting a citizen-centered approach in consular services provision by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This study investigates whether the necessary preconditions for applying a citizen-centered approach exist in the relationship between Egyptian citizens abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (represented by diplomatic missions abroad). It also explores ways of making the bureaucracy more prepared for applying this new approach in an attempt to enhance consular service provision, and to rebuild the lost trust between Egyptians abroad and the Egyptian government. The study showed that even though there are continuous interactions between citizens abroad and diplomatic missions, the communication pattern between the two sides is still in the information stage, and has not moved to the consultation or active participation stage. The decision-making cycle within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding consular services reveals that even though ministry employees try to incorporate citizens\u27 demands while formulating laws or designing consular services, citizens are not directly involved in the process. The study also showed that both sides of the relationship, ministry employees and citizens, have trust issues with each other. Recommendations were made regarding the steps that the ministry should take to enhance participation of citizens abroad in the design and evaluation of consular services, and regarding the changes that should occur on a wider scope in the government as a whole to support citizen participation in decision-making

Out-of-country voting systems and Egyptian elections: a future outlook

The 25 January revolution has created a new reality in Egypt. It has made Egyptian citizens more eager than ever to participate in the political life and to exercise their long awaited right to elect their representatives and leaderships. It was therefore inevitable for Egyptians living abroad to demand their right to vote. The Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections (SJCE) accordingly approved a system for out-of-country voting that was implemented in the Parliamentary Elections 2011/2012. â Postal Voting\u27 was chosen for the process. The Committee\u27s choice of the voting system was done in an exceptionally short period of time and under considerable pressure. It was therefore crucial to examine the system that has already been adopted and implemented. It was also vital to decide which of the four main external voting options (Postal â Personal â Proxy - Electronic), or which combination of them, is the most suitable for the future Egyptian elections. The main objective of the research was to determine which option is the cheapest, which is the most secure and which is likely to lead to the highest turnout rates in out-of-country voting. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used in this study. Empirical analysis revealed a strong relationship between implementing postal voting and increasing turnout rates. Qualitative analysis suggested that e-voting is the cheapest voting method, while personal voting is the most secure. It was concluded that the most suitable out-of-country voting method for future Egyptian elections is the postal voting

Spatial Variability Of Soil Electrical Conductivity In Relation To Rice Yield For Site-Specific Fertillzer Management

Describing the variability of nutrients status and electrical conductivity (EC) in the paddy soil is essential in developing a variable application rate of fertilizers. The main idea of precision agriculture understands spatial variability of soil properties, crop status and yield within a field; identifying the reasons for yield variability; making farming prescription and crop production management decisions based on variability and local knowledge. Field variability study was carried out in the Tanjung Karang rice irrigation scheme, northwest of Selangor, Malaysia. The general objective of this study was to obtain information about the distribution of soil electrical conductivity, soil nutrients in relation to rice yield to enable site-specific N, P and K fertilizers management in the paddy field. Collection of the soil samples was done at two depths (0-20 and 20-30 cm) using two different schemes from: (i) the small field (a typical 1.2 ha paddy plot), and (ii) a large irrigation compartment (2300 ha). Differential global positioning system (DGPS) was used to locate the sample position

Screw nail medialization of arytenoid in unilateral adductor vocal cord paralysis: A new office procedure

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study is to describe and evaluate new technique for treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis giving the same results of the standard procedure but minimizing the surgical trauma.Patients and methodsA prospective study was carried out between November 2009 and November 2011 in the Otorhinolaryngology Department, Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. It included 12 patients with unilateral idiopathic vocal cord paralysis who were managed by this new technique. Preoperative and postoperative video-laryngoscopy was done, maximal phonation time was calculated and ratings grade of dysphonia was compared.ResultsPostoperative video-laryngoscopy relieved complete glottic gap closure in 83.3% of cases and partial glottic gap in the remaining 16.7% of cases. The mean preoperative maximal phonation time was 9.42s and the postoperative value was 21.5s with a mean difference of 11.6s. The rating of the grade of dysphonia showed great improvement in the patient’s voice quality from severe dysphonia preoperatively to normal or near-normal voice postoperatively. All patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure except one patient (8.3%).ConclusionThe screw nail medialization technique gives a good reliable and easy procedure under local anesthesia for managing unilateral vocal cord paralysis and avoids the disadvantages of infection laryngoplasty and medialization thyroplasty using implants

Intrafamilial person-to-person spread of bacillary dysentery due to shigelza dysenteriae in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Objective: To identify the factors that influence transmission of bacillary dysentry (BD) within families during a propagated outbreak of bacillary dysentery. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: Eighteen neighbouring villages in rural Gizan, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Subjects: Two hundred and thirty three cases of BD were identified among seventy nine families. Results: Secondary cases of BD occurred in 57 of 79 families with a primary case of BD. The secondary attack rate per cent (AR%) within families ranged between 7.7% and 80%. Age of primary cases did not correlate with degree of secondary AR% in exposed families (p>0.04; p>0.05); however, within households, the age of the first secondary cases (median = two years) was usually less than the age of the primary case (median = six years). Children under five years of age constituted 43% of secondary cases. The median interval between successive cases within a house ranged from three and seven days. Two hundred and twenty cases (94.4%) gave history of close contact within another case of BD. Cases of BD were exposed to close relatives with BD (79.1%), neighbours (11.4%), and friends (9.5%). Risk factors influencing the spread of BD within families included two rooms or fewer per house (OR = 4.3, 9.5% CI 1.3-14.3), family size of five or more (p = 0.012, two-tailed Fisher's exact test), and presence of more than two persons per room (OR=11.2, 95% CI 3.1-42.4). Conclusion: Person-to-person secondary transmission can amplify the spread of bacillary dysentery within households and neighbouring villages. Crowding was a risk factor that amplified transmission of BD within families.East African Medical Journal, May 1999, 255-25

The Role of Salesmen's Efficiency in Achieving Effective Marketing Communication with the Buyers' Community- Case Study- "Morouj Commodities Ltd - Sudan"

This study aims to identify the role of salesman’s efficiency in achieving effective marketing communication with the sales audience (i.e. buyers). The study deals with the problem of some companies that suffer from the weakness of the role played by salesmen in the process of marketing communication and decrease  of the size of sales. To achieve the objective of the study, the researchers used the analytical descriptive approach (i.e., questionnaire, interview and observation). The questionnaire covered all aspects of the subject of the study. 70 questionnaires were distributed to the target sample and only (71%) of the sample was returned (i.e. 50 subjects). The results were then statistically analyzed using, SPSS. The study revealed that Morouj’s salesmen have several qualities and skills that contribute to the success of the sales process (i.e., the ability to plan sales and establish good relations with customers and mastering of the art of dealing with customers. Based on these results, the study presented several recommendations; the most important of which are: • The selection of salesmen should be according to specific criteria (efficiency and competency). • Continuous training, qualification and motivation of sales men. • The need to achieve  satisfaction of the salesmen. Keywords: Efficient Salesmen, Marketing Communication, Buyers. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-9-13 Publication date:March 31st 201

Dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome among type 2 diabetes patients in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is raising worldwide; however, the role of diet in the origin of metabolic syndrome is not understood well. This study identifies major dietary patterns among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without metabolic syndrome; and its association with metabolic syndrome components in Gaza Strip, Palestine.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 1200 previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (both genders, aged 20 - 64 years) patients receiving care in primary healthcare centers in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria; dietary patterns were evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.Results: Two major dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis: Asian-like pattern and sweet-soft drinks-snacks pattern. After adjustment for confounding variables, patients in the highest tertile of the Asian-like pattern characterized by a high intake of whole grains, potatoes, beans, legumes, vegetables, tomatoes and fruithad a lower odds for (Metabolic syndrome, central obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure), (OR 0.766 CI 95% (.642-.914)), (OR 0.797 CI 95% (.652-.974)), (OR 0.791 CI 95% (.687-.911)), (OR 0.853 CI 95% (.743-.978)) and (OR 0.815 CI 95% (.682-.973)) respectively, (P value < 0.05 for all). No significant association was found between the sweet-soft drinks-snacks pattern with metabolic syndrome and its components.Conclusion: The Asian-like pattern may be associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among type 2 diabetes patients.Keywords: Dietary patterns, Factor analysis, Metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Palestin