Bankrupting terrorism: the role of US anti-terrorism litigation in the prevention of terrorism and other hybrid threats: a legal assessment and outlook

Global terrorist networks are dependent on receiving financial support from a variety of sources, including individuals, charities and corporations. Also known as terrorist financing, the potential of terrorism finance to resemble a global threat has been recognised and also its closeness to other international crimes such as money laundering and organized crime. As a result, possible responses have to constitute co-ordinated, multi-lateral and multi faceted actions under the umbrella of a wide range of international stakeholders such as the United Nations Security Council and the Financial Action Task Force. Combating terrorism requires a ‘holistic’ approach which allows for a mix of possible responses. Besides “kinetic” security operations (such as targeted killings) and the adoption of criminal prosecution measures another possible response could be the use of US styled transnational civil litigation by victims of terrorism against both, terrorist groups and their sponsors. Corporations, both profit and non profit, such as banks and other legal entities, as well as individuals, are often complicit in international terrorism in a role of aiders and abettors by providing financial assistance to the perpetrators (cf. UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List: The List established and maintained by the 1267 Committee with respect to individuals, groups, undertakings and other entities associated with Al-Qaida). Such collusion in acts of terrorism gains additional importance against the background of so called “Hybrid Threats”, NATO’s new concept of identifying and countering new threats arising from multi-level threat scenarios. This article discusses the potential impact of US terrorism lawsuits for the global fight against terrorism

Sebomic identification of sex- and ethnicity-specific variations in residual skin surface components (RSSC) for bio-monitoring or forensic applications

Background: “Residual skin surface components” (RSSC) is the collective term used for the superficial layer of sebum, residue of sweat, small quantities of intercellular lipids and components of natural moisturising factor present on the skin surface. Potential applications of RSSC include use as a sampling matrix for identifying biomarkers of disease, environmental exposure monitoring, and forensics (retrospective identification of exposure to toxic chemicals). However, it is essential to first define the composition of “normal” RSSC. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to characterise RSSC to determine commonalities and differences in RSSC composition in relation to sex and ethnicity. Methods: Samples of RSSC were acquired from volunteers using a previously validated method and analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation–mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). The resulting data underwent sebomic analysis. Results: The composition and abundance of RSSC components varied according to sex and ethnicity. The normalised abundance of free fatty acids, wax esters, diglycerides and triglycerides was significantly higher in males than females. Ethnicity-specific differences were observed in free fatty acids and a diglyceride. Conclusions: The HPLC-APCI-MS method developed in this study was successfully used to analyse the normal composition of RSSC. Compositional differences in the RSSC can be attributed to sex and ethnicity and may reflect underlying factors such as diet, hormonal levels and enzyme expression.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Organic residues in archaeology - the highs and lows of recent research

YesThe analysis of organic residues from archaeological materials has become increasingly important to our understanding of ancient diet, trade and technology. Residues from diverse contexts have been retrieved and analysed from the remains of food, medicine and cosmetics to hafting material on stone arrowheads, pitch and tar from shipwrecks, and ancient manure from soils. Research has brought many advances in our understanding of archaeological, organic residues over the past two decades. Some have enabled very specific and detailed interpretations of materials preserved in the archaeological record. However there are still areas where we know very little, like the mechanisms at work during the formation and preservation of residues, and areas where each advance produces more questions rather than answers, as in the identification of degraded fats. This chapter will discuss some of the significant achievements in the field over the past decade and the ongoing challenges for research in this area.Full text was made available in the Repository on 15th Oct 2015, at the end of the publisher's embargo period

Performance evaluation of a cold-air turning

Cold Air investigation of a single stage axial turbine13; designed and fabricated at N.A.L., was carried out over a wide range of operating conditions. Using the experimental values obtained, the non dimensional parameters of the turbine were Calculated and the performance graphs were drawn. The estimated values of power and efficiency were compared with the corresponding experimental values at the design conditions. At the design pressure ratio, the13; best operating condition was suggested to get maximum specific power

One-step synthesis of 3-formyl-2-furylcarbinols and elaboration to unprecedented furotropones

1103-1112A general and unprecedented strategy for the synthesis of furo[2,3-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">d]tropone system via regioselective directed a-lithiation-alkylation and serendipitous base-promoted cyclization reaction, as key steps, has been developed. Directed a-lithiation of furan/thiophene-3-carboxaldehydes in their masked form and subsequent reaction with aldehydes efficiently provided in one-step, access to 3-formyl-2-furyl/thiophenylcarbinols, which are otherwise only accessible with difficulty. The 3-formyl-2-furylcarbinols are further elaborated to the synthesis of furo[2,3-d]tropones (also known as cyclohepta[b]furan-6-ones or furotropones) in good yields via sequential bismuth(III)chloride-catalyzed furfurylation and a novel base promoted cyclization reaction. This paper describes the general approach to the synthesis of 3-formyl-2-furylcarbinols and furotropones which could find potential applications in the synthesis of several bioactive natural products and pharmaceutics. </span

Enantiospecific total synthesis of phytoalexins, (+)-solanascone, (+)-dehydrosolanascone, and (+)-anhydro-β-rotunol

Enantiospecific total synthesis of the phytoalexins, solavetivone, anhydro-β-rotunol, solanascone, and dehydrosolanascone, starting from the readily available monoterpene, (R)-carvone has been accomplished