The international judge in an age of multiple international courts and tribunals

This Article focuses on two phenomena that have emerged, and are likely to continue to emerge, from the growth of international courts and tribunals. These phenomena are the engagement of multiple institutions in resolving a particular dispute, and the risk of inconsistency, even conflict, in the jurisprudence of such institutions. We concentrate on several examples, but do not pretend that these are the only examples that international practice can furnish. Nevertheless, they are particularly useful for helping us chart a way forward. To be acceptable and workable, any such exercise must be grounded in the reality of the international legal order and consistent with the fundamental principles and doctrines of international law. Section II presents a conceptual examination of the situation and studies the implications of the expanding world of international courts and tribunals. Section III deals with multiple institution engagement and competing jurisdictions, while Section IV deals with conflicting jurisprudence. Both Sections III and IV are rooted in case studies. Section V concludes the discussion, with Section VI synthesizing the earlier analysis and drawing from relevant practices in both international and domestic systems to develop guidelines to assist the international judge

Uso de adubos verdes como estratégia para restabelecer a produção agrícola do sítio Hikari, Nova Friburgo, RJ, após evento climático.

Este texto relata como a autora principal, agricultora na comunidade Rio Grande, Nova Friburgo-RJ, em parceria com o Núcleo de Pesquisa e Treinamento para Agricultores (NPTA) da Embrapa na Região Serrana do Rio de Janeiro, estabeleceu estratégia no sentido de restabelecer a produção agrícola de sua propriedade, afetada por deslizamentos e enchentes provocadas pela maior catástrofe climática e geotécnica do país, ocorrida em janeiro de 2011.Trabalho apresentado no 4. Seminário de Agroecologia do Distrito Federal e Entorno, Brasília, DF

Roupa como proteção contra radiação solar UV

A exposição prolongada à radiação ultravioleta (UV) tem sido relacionada a diversos efeitos na saúde como câncer de pele, envelhecimento prematuro da pele, problemas nos olhos e cataratas. Além disso, o seu espectro infravermelho (IR) contribui para a sensação de desconforto térmico. O vestuário, sendo mais próximo do homem, é uma das mais simples e eficientes formas de proteção. Neste sentido, este estudo tem como objetivo principal analisar a roupa utilizada pela população de Piripiri quanto às questões de conforto térmico e proteção contra radiação ultravioleta usando um questionário. A segunda etapa da pesquisa destinou-se a estimação do índice ultravioleta (IUV) mediante a medição da profundidade  óptica de aerossóis (AOD) e a utilização do SPCTRAL 2 para justificar o alto nível de radiação ultravioleta. Como resultado principal, destacam-se a imensa ignorância da população de Piripiri sobre UV e valores classificados altos ou extremos dos índices UV pela manhã e tarde.Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) has been linked to various health effects such as skin cancer, premature skin aging, eye problems and cataracts. In addition, its infrared spectrum (IR) contributes to the discomfort of heat. The clothing, being closer to the man, is one of the simplest and most effective forms of protection. Thus, this study aims at analyzing the clothing used by the population of Piripiri on issues of thermal comfort and protection against ultraviolet radiation using a questionnaire. The second stage of the research was intended to estimate the ultraviolet index (UVI) by measuring the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and use the program to calculate the solar spectrum known as SPCTRAL 2. As a main result, we highlight the immense ignorance of the population Piripiri on UV and values ranked high or extreme levels of UV in the morning and afternoon.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Siting study of solar thermoelectric plants in the State of Minas Gerais.

The generation of heliothermal electricity has received increasing attention throughout the world in countries such as Spain, the USA, Germany and many others. In Brazil, this type of energy generation in the form of large projects (above 80 MW) remains unexplored. However, it is known that in the country, there are extensive areas of normal direct irradiation with high intensity and a low seasonality factor, especially in the semiarid regions in Brazil, mainly the North and Northeast of Minas Gerais. Moreover, these Minas Gerais regions have other significant characteristics for the installation of these plants: proximity to transmission lines, flatness, the fact that the respective vegetation is not endangered, a suitable land use profile (availability of land not used in agriculture), low wind speed, low population density, and, most recently, an increase in the demand for local electric energy due to the economic growth above the Brazilian average rate. Furthermore, the introduction of solar plants in that region, due to its distributed nature, will bring development and growth to the region (normally poor) by generating employment and income. This article presents a study of the optimal location of thermoelectric plants in the semiarid regions of Minas Gerais, conducted with Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. GIS consists of a set of specialised resources that allow the manipulation of spatial data, bringing efficiency and agility in the identification of suitable places for the installation of solar plants, while simultaneously enabling the consideration of future scenarios for energy planning, with its respective impact, costs and benefits. The study has identified very promising solar irradiation levels for the electric generation by solar energy, whether thermoelectric or photovoltaic, reaching an annual solar irradiation of 2700 kWh/m² in the summer and in the range of 2200 - 2400 kWh/m² on an annual basis. This area includes a vast region in the North/Northeast of the state, which also has continuous and flat regions, with slopes inferior to 3%; in addition, high-quality hydro resources are abundant and well distributed. Furthermore, the Minas Gerais region has few areas with high agriculture profile and reduced quantity of protected units. Therefore, generally speaking, the coverage of the transmission lines in that region is suitable. Considering the most relevant aspects mentioned before, and taking as a reference the micro-region limits defined by the IBGE, the following micro-regions were classified as the most promising ones: 1) Janaúba, 2) Januária, 3) Pirapora and Unaí, 4) Pirapora and Paracatu, 5) Curvelo and Três Marias, and 6) Patrocínio and Araxá. Finally, it is important to highlight that this potential might be explored gradually in the medium term, with the shortage of other supply sources, the scale up and readiness of such technologies, as well as the creation of a complex solar-wind-hydro system that leverages the strong complementarity of such resources, as has been observed

Sleep pattern and learning in knockdown mice with reduced cholinergic neurotransmission

Impaired cholinergic neurotransmission can affect memory formation and influence sleep-wake cycles (SWC). In the present study, we describe the SWC in mice with a deficient vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) system, previously characterized as presenting reduced acetylcholine release and cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions. Continuous, chronic ECoG and EMG recordings were used to evaluate the SWC pattern during light and dark phases in VAChT knockdown heterozygous (VAChT-KDHET, n=7) and wild-type (WT, n=7) mice. SWC were evaluated for sleep efficiency, total amount and mean duration of slow-wave, intermediate and paradoxical sleep, as well as the number of awakenings from sleep. After recording SWC, contextual fear-conditioning tests were used as an acetylcholine-dependent learning paradigm. The results showed that sleep efficiency in VAChT-KDHET animals was similar to that of WT mice, but that the SWC was more fragmented. Fragmentation was characterized by an increase in the number of awakenings, mainly during intermediate sleep. VAChT-KDHET animals performed poorly in the contextual fear-conditioning paradigm (mean freezing time: 34.4±3.1 and 44.5±3.3 s for WT and VAChT-KDHET animals, respectively), which was followed by a 45% reduction in the number of paradoxical sleep episodes after the training session. Taken together, the results show that reduced cholinergic transmission led to sleep fragmentation and learning impairment. We discuss the results on the basis of cholinergic plasticity and its relevance to sleep homeostasis. We suggest that VAChT-KDHET mice could be a useful model to test cholinergic drugs used to treat sleep dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de FisiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Instituto do CerebroUniversidade Federal do ABC Computacao e Cognicao Centro de MatematicaUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica Nucleo de NeurocienciasUniversity of Western Ontario Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Robarts Research InstituteUNIFESP, Depto. de FisiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Delineating the autistic phenotype in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

Background Existing research has demonstrated elevated autistic behaviours in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), but the autistic phenotype and its relationship to other neurodevelopmental manifestations of NF1 remains unclear. To address this gap, we performed detailed characterisation of autistic behaviours in children with NF1 and investigated their association with other common NF1 child characteristics. Methods Participants were drawn from a larger cross-sectional study examining autism in children with NF1. The population analysed in this study scored above threshold on the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (T-score ≥ 60; 51% larger cohort) and completed the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and/or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2). All participants underwent evaluation of their intellectual function, and behavioural data were collected via parent questionnaires. Results The study cohort comprised 68 children (3–15 years). Sixty-three per cent met the ADOS-2 ‘autism spectrum’ cut-off, and 34% exceeded the more stringent threshold for ‘autistic disorder’ on the ADI-R. Social communication symptoms were common and wide-ranging, while restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) were most commonly characterised by ‘insistence on sameness’ (IS) behaviours such as circumscribed interests and difficulties with minor changes. Autistic behaviours were weakly correlated with hyperactive/impulsive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms but not with inattentive ADHD or other behavioural characteristics. Language and verbal IQ were weakly related to social communication behaviours but not to RRBs. Limitations Lack of genetic validation of NF1, no clinical diagnosis of autism, and a retrospective assessment of autistic behaviours in early childhood. Conclusions Findings provide strong support for elevated autistic behaviours in children with NF1. While these behaviours were relatively independent of other NF1 comorbidities, the importance of taking broader child characteristics into consideration when interpreting data from autism-specific measures in this population is highlighted. Social communication deficits appear similar to those observed in idiopathic autism and are coupled with a unique RRB profile comprising prominent IS behaviours. This autistic phenotype and its relationship to common NF1 comorbidities such as anxiety and executive dysfunction will be important to examine in future research. Current findings have important implications for the early identification of autism in NF1 and clinical management

The effect of chitosan incorporation on physico-mechanical and biological characteristics of a calcium silicate filling material

Objectives: A tricalcium silicate-based cement, Biodentine™, has displayed antibiofilm activity when mixed with chitosan powder. This study aimed to assess the effect of chitosan incorporation on the physico-mechanical and biological properties of Biodentine™. Methods: In this study, medium molecular weight chitosan powder was incorporated into Biodentine™ in varying proportions (2.5 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 20 wt%). The setting time was determined using a Vicat apparatus, solubility was assessed by calculating weight variation after water immersion, radiopacity was evaluated and expressed in millimeters of aluminum, the compressive strength was evaluated using an Instron testing machine, and the microhardness was measured with a Vickers microhardness tester. In addition, surface topography of specimens was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and the effect of chitosan on the viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells was measured by a colorimetric MTT assay. Results: Incorporation of 2.5 wt% and 5 wt% chitosan powder delivered an advantage by speeding up the setting time of Biodentine material. However, the incorporation of chitosan compromised all other material properties and the crystalline structure in a dose-dependent manner. The chitosan-modified material also showed significant decreases in the proliferation of the HEK 293 cells, signifying decreased biocompatibility. Significance: Chitosan incorporation into calcium silicate materials adversely affects the physical and biological properties of the material. Despite the increased antimicrobial activity of the modified material, the diminution in these properties is likely to reduce its clinical value

Decline in seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness with vaccination program maturation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesEvidence suggests repeated influenza vaccination may reduce vaccine effectiveness (VE). Using influenza vaccination program maturation (number of years since program inception) [PM] as proxy for population-level repeated vaccination, we assessed the impact on pooled adjusted end-season VE estimates from outpatient test-negative design studies.MethodsWe systematically searched and selected full-text publications from January 2011 to February 2020 (PROSPERO: CRD42017064595). We obtained influenza vaccination program inception year for each country and calculated PM as the difference between the year of deployment and year of program inception. We categorized PM into halves (cut at the median), tertiles, and quartiles, and calculated pooled VE using an inverse variance, random effects model. The primary outcome was pooled VE against all influenza.ResultsWe included 72 articles from 11,931 unique citations. Across the three categorizations of PM, a lower pooled VE against all influenza for all patients was observed with PM. Substantially higher reductions were observed in older adults (≥65 years). We observed similar results for A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B.ConclusionsThe evidence suggests influenza VE declines with vaccination PM. This study forms the basis for further discussions and examinations of the potential impact of vaccination PM on seasonal VE

Depth Profiling Photoelectron-Spectroscopic Study of an Organic Spin Valve with a Plasma-Modified Pentacene Spacer

[[abstract]]We report an enhanced magnetoresistance (MR) in an organic spin valve with an oxygen plasma-treated pentacene (PC) spacer. The spin valve containing PC without the treatment shows no MR effect, whereas those with moderately plasma-treated PC exhibit MR ratios up to 1.64% at room temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with depth profiling is utilized to characterize the interfacial electronic properties of the plasma-treated PC spacer which shows the formation of a derivative oxide layer. The results suggest an alternative approach to improve the interface quality and in turn to enhance the MR performance in organic spin valves.[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]電子