Deconstructing the legality of humanitarian intervention under positive international law

In recent time, particularly following the end of the cold war, many commentators on international law have argued that sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction must yield to international humanitarian needs. The end of the Cold War and the concomitant vitality of the United Nations Security Council have encouraged a large amount of energy and literature advocating humanitarian intervention. We have witnessed an upsurge in multilateral military interventions in intrastate affairs in the name of humanitarianism and in most cases the intervention are justified on moral grounds, the need to save people from amss atrocity crimes and offences of grave breaches as stipulated in Geneva Conventions. The paper tries to ascertain whether the primacy of state sovereignty as encapsulated in the Westphalian Treaty is actually yielding to a morally underpinned right to intervene in intrastate affairs for humanitarian reasons? In view of the current Charter provisions on the protection of sovereignty, the paper inquires whether it is possible to undertake humanitarian intervention without breaching positive international law?. This essay examines the evolution of state sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction under a positive law framework. It analyzes the moral, political and legal aspects of humanitarian intervention; and determines if humanitarian intervention can be carried out within the margins of positive law. Despite efforts by interventionists to distort the provisions of the UN Charter to accommodate humanitarian intervention, this analysis demonstrates that this notion of humanitarian intervention cannot be reconciled with positive law under the current Charter system.Keywords: Humanitarian Intervention, Positive International Law, Legality of, Critiqu

NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR SENSITIVE DETERMINATION OF LYSOSOMAL & MITOCHONDRIAL pH IN LIVE CELLS

Varied intracellular pH levels are critical for various physiological processes such as enzymatic activity, cell proliferation and apoptosis, ion transport, and muscle contraction. Cellular compartments, like lysosomes, must retain an acidic environment (pH ~ 4.5) to activate hydrolytic enzymes necessary for the breakdown of large biomolecules. Another cellular organelle, the mitochondria, provides the cell with energy and must retain an alkalis environment (pH ~ 8.0) for proper function. Substantial lysosomal and mitochondrial pH deviation is associated with cellular dysfunction and disease. Therefore, the precise detection of lysosomal and mitochondrial pH is essential to provide a better understanding of cellular physiological and pathological processes. Due to their superior features, such as cheap and simple operation, high spatial and temporal resolution, and noninvasive fluorescence imaging, fluorescent probes are the ideal methodology to visualize and monitor lysosomal and mitochondrial pH variation. We have developed three morpholine-functionalized BODIPY-based fluorescent probes that can be used to monitor lysosomal pH. The fluorescent probes are highly fluorescent under basic conditions, but when exposed to an acidic environment the fluorescence is quenched via an electron donor photoinduced energy transfer. Moreover, we have developed and synthesized a series of sterically hindered fluorescent probes based on spirolactam ring modifications. These modifications were developed by introducing 2-aminophenylboronic acid pinacol ester to rhodamine B, a near-infrared rhodamine dye, and a near-infrared hemicyanine dye. The probes display high fluorescence under acidic conditions but exhibit weak fluorescence under basic conditions due to the significant steric hindrance in the spirolactam ring. Since the probes were functional in an acidic environment, they were successfully applied for the sensing of lysosomal pH variations in living cells. We have also developed a NIR fluorescent probe to determine mitochondrial pH variations by incorporating an oxazolidine switch onto a near-infrared hemicyanine. The probe has the ability to rapidly switch from an oxazolidine moiety to a hemicyanine group when the pH level decreases from 10.0 to 5.0. This response to pH changes is reversible and has been successfully used to determine pH levels in mitochondria

La déclaration unilatérale d’indépendance politique du Kosovo : Remarques sur sa légalité et sa légitimité

En février 2008, le Kosovo déclare unilatéralement son indépendance politique vis-à-vis de l’État de la Serbie. Nombre d’États reconnaissent un Kosovo souverain et indépendant, d’autres continuent à ne pas le reconnaître, au motif qu’il s’agirait d’une sécession. En juillet 2010, la Cour internationale de Justice, sans répondre à la question de la sécession, émet un avis selon lequel la déclaration unilatérale d’indépendance politique du Kosovo n’est pas contraire au droit international général. Et pourtant, le Kosovo reste sous administration internationale, conformément à la Résolution 1244 (1999) du Conseil de sécurité. Plusieurs questions s’imposent parmi lesquelles: le Kosovo est-il un État ? Peut-on être un État sans être souverain et indépendant, ou mieux un État ne peut-il pas disposer d’une souveraineté interne tout étant dépourvu de souveraineté externe 

A case of anaphylaxis to peppermint

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis, a form of IgE mediated hypersensitivity, arises when mast cells and possibly basophils are provoked to secrete mediators with potent vasoactive and smooth muscle contractile activities that evoke a systemic response. We report a case of IgE mediated anaphylaxis to peppermint (Mentha piperita) in a male shortly after sucking on a candy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69 year old male developed sudden onset of lip and tongue swelling, throat tightness and shortness of breath within five minutes of sucking on a peppermint candy. He denied lightheadedness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, or urticaria. He took 25 mg of diphenhydramine, but his symptoms progressed to onset of cough, wheeze and difficulty with talking and swallowing. He was rushed to the nearest emergency department, where he was treated with intramuscular epinephrine, antihistamines and steroids. On history, he reported recent onset of mouth itchiness and mild tongue and lip swelling after using Colgate peppermint toothpaste. He denied previous history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, food or drug allergies. His past medical history was remarkable for hypercholesterolemia, gastroesophageal reflux and gout. He was on simvastatin, omeprazole, aspirin, and was carrying a self-injectable epinephrine device. He moved to current residence three years ago and cultivated mint plants in his backyard. He admitted to develop nasal congestion, cough and wheeze when gardening. Physical examination was unremarkable apart from slightly swollen pale inferior turbinates. Skin prick test (SPT) was strongly positive to a slurry of peppermint candy and fresh peppermint leaf, with appropriate controls. Same tests performed on five healthy volunteers yielded negative results. Skin testing to common inhalants including molds and main allergenic foods was positive to dust mites. Strict avoidance of mint containing items was advised. Upon reassessment, he had removed mint plants from his garden which led to resolution of symptoms when gardening. CONCLUSION: IgE mediated anaphylaxis to peppermint is rare. This case demonstrates a systemic reaction to a commonly consumed item, incapable of triggering anaphylaxis in the far majority of the population, yet causing a severe episode for our patient

The 8 July 2002 storm over Athens: analysis of the Kifissos River/Canal overflows

We analyse the flood event of 8 July 2002 that caused overflows over portions of the lower reach of the Kifissos River/Canal. The storm covered only the lower basin area and was concentrated on the centre and the southwest side of Greater Athens. The issue that stirred the public opinion was whether the hydraulic works underway in lower Kifissos at that time were responsible for the overflows. We explore this issue with the hydrologic-hydraulic model of the Kifissos basin TELESIM. To shed light on the probable cause of the observed flooding, we ran TELESIM for two rain-field scenarios derived from the recorded point-rainfalls, computing flows for each scenario. Depth profiles for channel conditions without obstructions do not explain the observed flooding. With the channel taken as locally obstructed by flow-area reducing ramps plus bed-debris, estimated nominal overflows (bank-full level is threshold, but the water stays inside the channel) compare well with actual ones for the milder rainfall scenario. Hence, the simulations support as plausible the hypothesis that flow obstructions due to the construction caused the overflows

P53 responses to fludarabine in human B-lymphoid cancers

The tumour suppressor protein p53, is a transcription factor responsible for regulating the cell cycle and/or apoptosis in proliferating cells subjected to a variety of stressful events, including DNA damage. Mutations of p53 occur in >50% of human tumours, the most frequently altered gene in cancers. This thesis looks at the responses of the p53 interactome in B-lymphoid cancers after fludarabine (2-FaraA) induced DNA damage. The aims are 1) analyse the response of p53 and family proteins p63 and p73, after 2-FaraA induced DNAdamage, 2) compare the p53 interactome following DNA damage in cells with and without p53mutations 3) study the DNA-damage phosphorylation cascades in the p53 interactome and 4) analyse the effects of p53 knock-down on fludarabine responsive cells. 1D and 2D Western blotting and quantitative PCR has demonstrated that in the 2-FaraAsensitive cells, Raji and IM9, p53 accumulates in nuclei, mitochondria and cytosol. Raji cells accumulate p53 in mitochondria earlier than in the nucleus suggesting that initiation of apoptosis in these cells is dependent on the roles of p53 at mitochondria, prior to effects on gene expression in the nucleus. 2-FaraA also induces phosphorylation and accumulation of lower molecular weight derivatives of p53, p63 and p73 in the nuclei of Raji cells that may have roles in inducing apoptosis. Qualitative mass spectrometry analysis of the p53 interactome indicated that MEC1 may have a gain of function p53 mutation that may contribute to 2-FaraA resistance. In 2-FaraA responsive cells, treatment dissociates HSP90 from the p53 interactome suggesting that HSP90 binding may play a role in regulating p53 activity and sensitivity to 2-FaraA treatment. Quantitative phospho-proteomics of the p53 interactome showed that in response to 2-FaraA, HSP90 is phosphorylated at serine 254 by casein kinase, that may be associated with its dissociation from p53. p53 knockdown in Raji and IM9 with siRNA induced up-regulation of transcription the factor YY1, and the surface antigen ICAM1, that may have roles in altering the biochemistry of the cells and allow them to become resistant to 2-FaraA-induced apoptosis in p53 knock-down cells. Taken together the novel findings of this thesis provide greater insight into the p53-centric mechanism of 2-FaraA against B-lymphoid cancers and suggest new treatment strategies for drug resistant chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and lymphoma

Reliability Improvement for Turboexpander-Compressor System

Case StudyOutline: •Introduction •Turboexpander-Compressor Challenges 1.Buffer Gas Excessive Flow 2.Expander Speed Limit •Execution Optimization •Lessons Learned •Concluding Remark

La formation à l’oral aux ENS d’Algérie : témoignages d’anciens élèves, nouveaux professeurs

Résumé : Le présent texte traite de la didactique de l’oral dans le cadre d’une recherche qui a ciblé trois doctorantes ayant fait leur formation dans des écoles supérieures en Algérie et qui exercent actuellement le métier de professeurs de français au lycée. Les témoignages recueillis à propos de leurs propres pratiques et l’enseignement de l’oral dans ces institutions ont été filmés et analysés à l’appui d’éléments déclencheurs de la parole étant donné que l’exposé oral est une activité éminemment monologale. Il s’agit donc d’une expérimentation inédite pour les participantes ayant permis de découvrir des points forts et des lacunes concernant la compétence communicative des formateurs et des formants. Les résultats de l’analyse ont abouti à une affirmation relative de notre hypothèse dans la mesure où la carence dans la formation à l’oral que nous avons constatée est aussi attribuable à d’autres facteurs tels que le manque de moyens et surtout l’absence de spécialistes dans ce domaine de la didactique.   Mots-clés : formation, didactique de l’oral, exposé oral, témoignages, compétence communicativ