Trials and penal sanctions by non-state armed groups

This thesis sets out the international legal framework applicable to the passing of penal sentences by armed groups during non-international armed conflicts and assesses the practical and normative challenges that it entails. It explains that international law neither explicitly prohibits nor explicitly permits the passing of penal sentences by armed groups and, therefore, that such groups enjoy a limited legal capacity to pass penal sentences. However, armed groups remain subject to exacting fair trial guarantees, most notably the requirement of a regularly constituted court providing all the necessary judicial guarantees recognised as indispensable. While not categorically outlawing the operation of courts and passing of penal sentences, these guarantees will often overstrain the factual capacities of armed groups in practice. Nevertheless, the thesis demonstrates that a downgrading of these guarantees is doctrinally problematic and normatively undesirable. Moreover, the thesis explains that international law, at present, does not place an obligation upon armed groups to use penal sanctions in order to enforce compliance with IHL. Neither the organisational threshold requirement under IHL, nor substantive customary law obligations or the doctrine of command responsibility can be interpreted to place such duty upon armed groups. Nevertheless, recent State practice indicates an increasing demand for accountability measures carried out by armed groups. While penal sanctions can play a role in meeting these demands in cases where the armed group in question operates a capable judicial system, alternative measures exist that allow for the implementation of accountability in situations where a fair trial cannot be provided

Thanatologie 2.0

Immer mehr Bereiche aus der realen Welt etablieren sich auch im virtuellen Lebensraum. Die vorliegende Arbeit, „Thanatologie 2.0 – Repräsentationskultur des Todes in den Social Media“, handelt von den todesthematischen Vorgängen, die sich innerhalb der sozialen Netzwerke entfalten. Zu Beginn wird ein Überblick zur aktuellen Umbruchsituation der gegenwärtigen traditionel-len Begräbniskultur geboten, um logische Schlüsse für die digitalen Entwicklungen festzustel-len. Im Zentrum stehen dabei virtuelle Friedhöfe und Memorials. Anhand deren Eigenschaften, können die Gründe zur Errichtung und Nutzung von Friedhöfen im Cyberspace ausfindig ge-macht werden. In einem umfassenden Analyseabschnitt werden dann sieben Gedächtnis-portale untersucht. Hier geht es zum einen darum die Intentionen der „Friedhofsbetreiber“ und zum anderen das Nutzerverhalten der „neuen“ digitalen Trauernden zu offenbaren. Die Untersuchungen behalten stets einen Blick auf das traditionelle, von Ritualen bestimmte Verhalten der Hinterbliebenen, das in der Regel, im Falle eines Todes befolgt wird. So wer-den auch spannende Erkenntnisse zur Trauerarbeit und Anteilnahme gewonnen, die im So-cial Net vor allem von Kollektivität, Ökonomisierungtendenzen und Methoden der Selbstin-szenierung geprägt werden. Am Ende soll reflektiert sein, welcher Wert den neuen Todesrepräsentanten – die sich gerne als „Gedächtnisseite“, „Heaven“, „Gedenkstätte“, „Memorial“ oder auch als „Monument“ verkaufen – zugeschrieben werden kann und wie die Social Media die Komponenten Tod, Bestattung, Trauer und Erinnerung dazu tradiert

Towards Symbolic Model-Based Mutation Testing: Combining Reachability and Refinement Checking

Model-based mutation testing uses altered test models to derive test cases that are able to reveal whether a modelled fault has been implemented. This requires conformance checking between the original and the mutated model. This paper presents an approach for symbolic conformance checking of action systems, which are well-suited to specify reactive systems. We also consider nondeterminism in our models. Hence, we do not check for equivalence, but for refinement. We encode the transition relation as well as the conformance relation as a constraint satisfaction problem and use a constraint solver in our reachability and refinement checking algorithms. Explicit conformance checking techniques often face state space explosion. First experimental evaluations show that our approach has potential to outperform explicit conformance checkers.Comment: In Proceedings MBT 2012, arXiv:1202.582

Glucose concentration in capillary blood of dairy cows obtained by a minimally invasive lancet technique and determined with three different hand-held devices

Background Dairy cows have a massive demand for glucose at the onset of lactation. A poor adaption to this period leads to an excessive negative energy balance with an increased risk for ketosis and impaired animal health and production. Besides the measurement of ketones, analysing the glucose concentration in blood is reported as helpful instrument for diagnosis and differentiation of ketosis. Monitoring metabolic parameters requires multiple blood sampling. In other species, new blood sampling techniques have been introduced in which small amounts of blood are rapidly analysed using electronic hand-held devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of capillary blood for blood glucose measurement in dairy cows using the hand-held devices FreeStyle Precision (FSP, Abbott), GlucoMen LX Plus (GLX, A. Menarini) and the WellionVet GLUCO CALEA, (WGC, MED TRUST). In total, 240 capillary blood samples were obtained from dry and fresh lactating Holstein-Friesian cows. Blood was collected from the skin of the exterior vulva by using a lancet. For method comparison, additional blood samples were taken from a coccygeal vessel and analyzed in a laboratory. Glucose concentrations measured by a standard laboratory method were defined as the criterion standard. Results The Pearson correlation coefficients between the glucose concentrations analyzed in capillary blood with the devices and the reference were 73 % for the FSP, 81 % for the GLX and 41 % for the WGC. Bland- Altman plots showed biases of −18.8 mg/dL for the FSP, -11.2 mg/dL for the GLX and +20.82 mg/dL for the WGC. The optimized threshold determined by a Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis to detect hyperglycemia using the FSP was 43 mg/dL with a sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of 76 and 80 %. Using the GLX and WGC optimized thresholds were 49 mg/dL (Se = 92 %, Sp = 85 %) and 95 mg/dL (Se = 39 %, Sp = 92 %). Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate good performance characteristics for the GLX and moderate for the FSP to detect hyperglycemia in dairy cows using capillary blood. With the study settings, the WGC was not suitable for determination of glucose concentrations

Longitudinal predictors of reading and arithmetic at different attainment levels

Reading and arithmetic are distinct academic skills that share similarities in skill acquisition and use. Previous research investigated the cognitive basis of associations and dissociations between reading and arithmetic by using either subtyping or dimensional approaches. In the current study, we aim to bridge the gap between these two approaches by investigating common and distinct predictors of reading and arithmetic at different performance levels with quantile regression models. This allowed us to look more closely at the lower tail of the ability distributions, and to test whether predictions for children with low reading and arithmetic fluency differed from the typical performance range. We analyzed longitudinal data of 357 children speaking English or German. Outcome variables were reading and arithmetic fluency assessed at the end of Grade 1, 2, and 3. Predictors were assessed in Grade 1. Results confirmed nonverbal IQ and working memory as domain-general predictors of reading and arithmetic. The association of reading and arithmetic was mainly explained by nonverbal IQ, phonological awareness, RAN and multi-digit transcoding. Across grades and performance levels, phonological awareness and RAN made a specific contribution to reading. Magnitude processing and multi-digit transcoding were specific predictors of arithmetic. Counting also made a specific prediction to arithmetic in Grade 3, but only in the low performance range. Our findings indicate partly distinct underlying cognitive mechanisms for reading and arithmetic. Shared predictors are involved in retrieval efficiency, language processing and cross-format integration. These results have important implications, as they suggest that most predictors are equally relevant for children with low, typical or even excellent reading and arithmetic fluency

A quantitative flood risk analysis methodology for urban areas with integration of social research data

Risk analysis has become a top priority for authorities and stakeholders in many European countries, with the aim of reducing flooding risk, considering the population’s needs and improving risk awareness. Within this context, two methodological pieces have been developed in the period 2009–2011 within the SUFRI project (Sustainable Strategies of Urban Flood Risk Management with non-structural measures to cope with the residual risk, 2nd ERA-Net CRUE Funding Initiative). First, the “SUFRI Methodology for pluvial and river flooding risk assessment in urban areas to inform decision-making” provides a comprehensive and quantitative tool for flood risk analysis. Second, the “Methodology for investigation of risk awareness of the population concerned” presents the basis to estimate current risk from a social perspective and identify tendencies in the way floods are understood by citizens. Outcomes of both methods are integrated in this paper with the aim of informing decision making on non-structural protection measures. The results of two case studies are shown to illustrate practical applications of this developed approach. The main advantage of applying the methodology herein presented consists in providing a quantitative estimation of flooding risk before and after investing in non-structural risk mitigation measures. It can be of great interest for decision makers as it provides rational and solid information.The work described in this paper was supported by the 2nd ERA-Net CRUE Funding Initiative, particularly funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria (Department 19B of the Government of Styria, Torrent and Avalanche control).Escuder Bueno, I.; Castillo Rodríguez, JT.; Zechner, S.; Jöbstl, C.; Perales Momparler, S.; Petaccia, G. (2012). 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J.: Characteristics of river floods and flooding: a global overview, 1985–2003, Irrigation Drainage, 55, S9–S21, 2006.EC: Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks, 2007.EC: Directive 2008/114/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2008 on the identification and designation of European critical infrastructures and the assessment of the need to improve their protection, 2008.Escuder-Bueno, I., Morales-Torres, A., and Perales-Momparler, S.: Urban Flood Risk Characterization as a tool for planning and managing. Workshop Alexandria, March 2010: Exploration of Tolerable Risk Guidelines for Levee Systems, Washington DC (USA), available at: www.ipresas.upv.es, www.sufri.tugraz.at, 2010.Escuder-Bueno, I., Castillo-Rodríguez, J. T., Perales-Momparler, S., and Morales-Torres, A.: SUFRI methodology for pluvial and river flooding risk assessment in urban areas to inform decision-making, SUFRI project, WP3, final report, July 2011, available at: www.sufri.tugraz.at, 2011a.Escuder-Bueno, I., Castillo-Rodríguez, J. T., Perales-Momparler, S., and Morales-Torres, A.: A complete and quantitative tool for flood risk analysis in urban areas: river and pluvial flooding, Proceedings UFRIM Conference, Graz (Austria), September 2011, 2011b.Gómez, M. and Russo, B.: Criterios de riesgo asociados a escorrentía urbana, Jornadas de Ingeniería del Agua, 2009 (in Spanish).Graham, W. J.: A procedure for estimating loss of life caused by dam failure, DSO-99-06, US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 1999.Grossmann, G. and Seiser, T.: Final Report – Survey about risk awareness – SUFRI project, 2011 (unpublished report).IEC/FDIS 31010, ISO International Standard: Risk management – Risk assessment techniques, IEC/FDIS 31010:2009 (E), 2009.International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD): Risk Assessment in Dam Safety Management: A Reconnaissance of Benefits, Methods and Current Applications, Bulletin130, 2005.Jöbstl, C., Zechner, S., Knoblauch, H., Pohl, R., Bornschein, A., Natale, L., Petaccia, G., Escuder-Bueno, I., Castillo-Rodríguez, J. T., Perales-Momparler, S., Morales-Torres, A., Bateman, A., Medina, V., Díaz, A., Grossmann, G., Kulmhofer, A., and Seiser, T.: SUFRI – Sustainable Strategies of Urban Flood Risk Management with non-structural measures to cope with the residual risk, Final Report, Graz 2011, available at: www.sufri.tugraz.at, 2011.Jonkman, S. N.: Global Perspectives on Loss of Human Life Caused by Floods, Nat. Hazards, 34, 151–175, 2003.Messner, F., Penning-Rowsell, E., Green, C., Meyer, V., Tunstall, S., and van der Veen, A.: FLOODSITE Evaluating flood damages: guidance and recommendations on principles and methods, Report T09-06-01, January 2007.Munger, D. F., Bowles, D. S., Boyer, D. B., Davis, D. W., Margo, D. A., Moser, D. A., Regan, P. J., and Snorteland, N.: Interim tolerable risk guidelines for US Army Corps of Engineers dams. In USSD Workshop on the future of dam safety decision making: combining standards and risk, April 2009.Nanía, L.: Métodos de transformación lluvía-escorrentía y de propagación de caudales, Hidrología superficial y subterránea, Universidad de Granada, 2002 (in Spanish).Parker, D., Tunstall, S., and Wilson, T.: Socio-economic benefits of flood forecasting and warning, Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University, Queensway, Enfield, EN3 4SF, London, UK, 2005.Penning-Rowsell, E., Floyd, D., Ramsbottom, P., and Surendran, S.: Estimating injury and loss of life in floods: A deterministic framework, Nat. Hazards, 36, 43–64, 2005.Reiter, P.: RESCDAM – Loss of life caused by dam failure, the RESCDAM LOL method and its application to Kyrkosjarvi dam in Seinajoki, Water Consulting Ltd., 2001.Roos, M.: Flood management practice in northern California, Irrigation Drainage, 55, 93–99, 2006.Samuels, P., Klijn, F., and Dijkman J.: An analysis of the current practice of policies on river flood risk management in different countries, Irrigation Drainage, 55, 141–150, 2006.Sayers, P. B., Hall, J. W., and Meadowcroft, I. C.: Towards risk-based flood hazard management in the UK, Proceedings of ICE-Civil Engineering 150 May 2002, 36–42, Paper 12803, 2002.Scawthorn, C., Flores, P.; Blais, N., Seligson, H., Tate, E., Chang, S., Mifflin, E., Thomas, W., Murphy, J., Jones, C., and Lawrence, M.: HAZUS-MH flood loss estimation methodology, II: Damage and Loss Assessment, Nat. 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Genetic and genomic monitoring with minimally invasive sampling methods

Funding: Marie Slodowska Curie Fellowship, (Behaviour-Connect) funded by the EU Horizon2020 program (ELC).The decreasing cost and increasing scope and power of emerging genomic technologies are reshaping the field of molecular ecology. However, many modern genomic approaches (e.g., RAD-seq) require large amounts of high quality template DNA. This poses a problem for an active branch of conservation biology: genetic monitoring using minimally invasive sampling (MIS) methods. Without handling or even observing an animal, MIS methods (e.g. collection of hair, skin, faeces) can provide genetic information on individuals or populations. Such samples typically yield low quality and/or quantities of DNA, restricting the type of molecular methods that can be used. Despite this limitation, genetic monitoring using MIS is an effective tool for estimating population demographic parameters and monitoring genetic diversity in natural populations. Genetic monitoring is likely to become more important in the future as many natural populations are undergoing anthropogenically-driven declines, which are unlikely to abate without intensive adaptive management efforts that often include MIS approaches. Here we profile the expanding suite of genomic methods and platforms compatible with producing genotypes from MIS, considering factors such as development costs and error rates. We evaluate how powerful new approaches will enhance our ability to investigate questions typically answered using genetic monitoring, such as estimating abundance, genetic structure and relatedness. As the field is in a period of unusually rapid transition, we also highlight the importance of legacy datasets and recommend how to address the challenges of moving between traditional and next generation genetic monitoring platforms. Finally, we consider how genetic monitoring could move beyond genotypes in the future. For example, assessing microbiomes or epigenetic markers could provide a greater understanding of the relationship between individuals and their environment.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Interactions between wine phenolic compounds and human saliva in astringency perception

[EN] Astringency is a complex perceptual phenomenon involving several sensations that are perceived simultaneously. The mechanism leading to these sensations has been thoroughly and controversially discussed in the literature and it is still not well understood since there are many contributing factors. Although we are still far from elucidating the mechanisms whereby astringency develops, the interaction between phenolic compounds and proteins (from saliva, oral mucosa or cells) seems to be most important. This review summarizes the recent trends in the protein–phenol interaction, focusing on the effect of the structure of the phenolic compound on the interaction with salivary proteins and on methodologies based on these interactions to determine astringency

Relationship between the Sensory-Determined Astringency and the Flavanolic Composition of Red Wines

[EN] The relationship between the proanthocyanidin profile and the perceived astringency was assessed in 13 commercial Tempranillo red wines. The concentration and compositional information were obtained by liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry after acid-catalyzed depolymerization of wine proanthocyanidins in the presence of excess phloroglucinol. Statistical analysis of the results showed significant correlations between sensory and chemical determinations. Astringency was more affected by the subunit composition than by the total concentration or the average degree of polymerization of wine proanthocyanidins. Higher proportions of epicatechin (EC) subunits in extension positions and gallocatechin (GC) subunits in terminal positions were shown to increase astringency. On the contrary, the amount of epigallocatechin (EGC) in both extension and terminal positions was negatively correlated with the perceived astringency