Increasing the Effectiveness of the Security Council\u27s Chapter VII Authority in the Current Situations Before the International Criminal Court

In 2003, the world was shocked and horrified to hear of the widespread killing, torture, forced displacement, and other atrocities visited upon the people of Darfur in the Sudan by the Sudanese Armed Forces ( SAF ) and Arab Janjaweed militias. The SAF and Janjaweed allegedly were fighting organized rebel groups, but instead of targeting the rebels, they attacked civilian towns and villages based on the rationale that the civilians supported rebel forces. The United States defined the killings as genocide and pushed the United Nations to develop a court to try and punish those who committed these terrible crimes. However, instead of creating a tribunal, similar to those created to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes in the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, in 2005 the United Nations Security Council chose to refer the crimes committed in Darfur to the International Criminal Court for investigation and possible prosecution. Although the situation in Darfur was not the International Criminal Court\u27s first referral, it was the first initiated by the Security Council-which meant that, for the first time, the International Criminal Court could act with the full power of the Security Council behind it. Three years earlier, in 2002, the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) received its sixtieth ratification, empowering it to try those accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. These serious crimes consist of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Despite the appalling pervasiveness of these crimes, the ICC has jurisdiction in only three instances: (1) if a State Party to the ICC refers a situation to the ICC Prosecutor, (2) if the Prosecutor initiates an investigation proprio motu, or (3) if the Security Council refers a situation to the Prosecutor pursuant to its authority under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.11 If the Security Council does not refer the situation to the ICC, then the ICC depends entirely on the cooperation of states to conduct investigations and trials

A rapid culture independent methodology to quantitatively detect and identify common human bacterial pathogens associated with contaminated high purity water

Background: Water and High Purity Water (HPW) distribution systems can be contaminated with human pathogenic microorganisms. This biocontamination may pose a risk to human health as HPW is commonly used in the industrial, pharmaceutical and clinical sectors. Currently, routine microbiological testing of HPW is performed using slow and labour intensive traditional microbiological based techniques. There is a need to develop a rapid culture independent methodology to quantitatively detect and identify biocontamination associated with HPW. Results: A novel internally controlled 5-plex real-time PCR Nucleic Acid Diagnostics assay (NAD), was designed and optimised in accordance with Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines, to rapidly detect, identify and quantify the human pathogenic bacteriaStenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescenswhich are commonly associated with the biocontamination of water and water distribution systems. The specificity of the 5-plex assay was tested against genomic DNA isolated from a panel of 95 microorganisms with no cross reactivity observed. The analytical sensitivities of the S. maltophilia, B. cepacia, P. aeruginosa and the S. marcescens assays are 8.5, 5.7, 3.2 and 7.4 genome equivalents respectively. Subsequently, an analysis of HPW supplied by a Millipore Elix 35 water purification unit performed using standard microbiological methods revealed high levels of naturally occurring microbiological contamination. Five litre water samples from this HPW delivery system were also filtered and genomic DNA was purified directly from these filters. These DNA samples were then tested using the developed multiplex real-time PCR NAD assay and despite the high background microbiological contamination observed, both S. maltophilia andBurkholderia species were quantitatively detected and identified. At both sampling points the levels of both S. maltophilia and Burkholderia species present was above the threshold of 10 cfu/100 ml recommended by both EU and US guidelines. Conclusions: The novel culture independent methodology described in this study allows for rapid (<5 h), quantitative detection and identification of these four human pathogens from biocontaminated water and HPW distribution systems. We propose that the described NAD assay and associated methodology could be applied to routine testing of water and HPW distribution systems to assure microbiological safety and high water quality standards

Un paso adelante, dos pasos atras : la mujer espanola en insolacion y nada

Advisors: Stephen Vilaseca.Committee members: Louise Ciallella; Frances Jaeger.During the 19th and 20th centuries, Spanish women struggled to maintain the rights and independence they deserve. In present day, this challenge persists. Though much progress has been made, the author posits that the position of Spanish women has also regressed in many ways. Using the novels Insolacion by Emilia Pardo Bazan and Nada by Carmen Laforet as the analyzed texts, the author provides evidence to prove that overall, Spanish women have not experienced the true freedom and equality they are entitled to.M.A. (Master of Arts

A current overview of commercially available nucleic acid diagnostics approaches to detect and identify human gastroenteritis pathogens

Purpose of review: Gastroenteritis is caused by a wide range of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens and causes millions of deaths worldwide each year, particularly in infant populations in developing countries. Traditional microbiological culture and immunological based tests are time consuming, laborious and often lack diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. As a result patients can receive suboptimal and/or inappropriate antimicrobial treatment. In recent years, rapid nucleic acid diagnostics (NAD) technologies have become available to complement or even bypass and replace these traditional microbiological culture and immunological based tests. The main purpose of this review is to describe a number of recently available multiparametric commercial tests, to support the rapid and accurate clinical diagnosis of human gastroenteritis. These state of the art technologies have the ability to identify a wide range of microorganisms associated with enteric gastroenteritis. Following further technological innovation and more comprehensive clinical validation studies, these NAD tests have the potential to impact on the economic burden of health care systems. These rapid NAD tests can also be used to guide improved patient therapy in a timely manner which will reduce the extent of morbidity and mortality associated with these infections globally

Eucalyptus Amplifolia and Corymbia Torelliana in the Southeastern USA: Genetic Improvement and Potential Uses

Eucalyptus amplifolia and Corymbia torelliana genetic improvement has been conducted in the lower southeastern USA by UF and collaborators since 1980. The collective accomplishments in genetic resources and potential commercial uses are summarized. For example, fast-growing, freeze-resilient E. amplifolia seeds are provided by 1st and 2nd generation seedling seed orchards (SSO) and a 2nd generation clonal seed orchard (CSO), while C. torelliana seed are available from 1st and 2nd generation SSOs. Breeding values (BV) have been developed for guiding the deployment of improved genotypes. Collaborative genetic improvement of these species is ongoing, including testing E. amplifolia in 11 countries and development of hybrid clones. Short Rotation Woody Crop (SRWC) systems may increase productivity and extend uses beyond conventional mulchwood to products such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), biochar, and energywood, while other possible applications include honey production, windbreaks, dendroremediation, and carbon sequestration. C. torelliana may be paired with E. grandis in two-row windbreaks to maximum windbreak effectiveness and may sequester as much carbon as E. grandis

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Host miRNAs Correlated with Immune Gene Dysregulation during Fatal Disease Progression in the Ebola Virus Cynomolgus Macaque Disease Model

Ebola virus is a continuing threat to human populations, causing a virulent hemorrhagic fever disease characterized by dysregulation of both the innate and adaptive host immune responses. Severe cases are distinguished by an early, elevated pro-inflammatory response followed by a pronounced lymphopenia with B and T cells unable to mount an effective anti-viral response. The precise mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of the host immune system are poorly understood. In recent years, focus on host-derived miRNAs showed these molecules to play an important role in the host gene regulation arsenal. Here, we describe an investigation of RNA biomarkers in the fatal Ebola virus disease (EVD) cynomolgus macaque model. We monitored both host mRNA and miRNA responses in whole blood longitudinally over the disease course in these non-human primates (NHPs). Analysis of the interactions between these classes of RNAs revealed several miRNA markers significantly correlated with downregulation of genes; specifically, the analysis revealed those involved in dysregulated immune pathways associated with EVD. In particular, we noted strong interactions between the miRNAs hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-125b-5p with immunological genes regulating both B and T-cell activation. This promising set of biomarkers will be useful in future studies of severe EVD pathogenesis in both NHPs and humans and may serve as potential prognostic targets