Creating international legal accountability for corporate human right abuses

É sabido que as empresas são os motores do desenvolvimento económico, do bem-estar social e do progresso tecnológico. Mas também se tornaram responsáveis por muito sofrimento humano físico, violação de direitos humanos, ou adulterações do atual sistema que irão afetar o futuro das sociedades. Estamos perante um problema de cumprimento dos padrões internacionais de direitos humanos por estas entidades privadas e a compensação das vítimas por violação de direitos humanos torna-se uma questão jurídica. Por outro lado, a atual estrutura legislativa internacional não está a permitir que as normas evoluam de maneira benéfica para todos os stakeholders, assim como os legisladores nacionais são limitados às suas fronteiras territoriais. Os problemas aparentam ser de alta complexidade, às vezes enraizados em discussões teóricas da academia jurídica. O presente estudo tem como objetivo observar os esforços nacionais e internacionais para preencher tais lacunas jurídicas, por meio da análise histórica, do atual quadro normativo e do status das discussões sobre empresas e direitos humanos. A finalidade é apontar os principais obstáculos que impedem o processo de solução de problemas em campo. O trabalho conclui que os sistemas estatais podem oferecer somente soluções até certo ponto, sendo necessário considerar de forma mais séria a adoção de um regime jurídico internacional abrangente e a criação de um sistema de responsabilização jurídica, o que pode provocar mudanças monumentais na maneira em que se pensa o direito internacional.It is a known fact that businesses are drivers of economic development, social welfare and technological advancement. However, they also became responsible for many physical human sufferings, human rights violations or system ‘hacks’ that effects the future of societies. We are facing a problem of compliance with international human rights standards by these private entities and compensating the human rights victims of these abuses becomes a pressing legal issue. On the other hand, the current international law-making structure is not allowing any regulation to evolve in a manner that is beneficial for all the stakeholders and state legislators are very limited to their territorial borders. The problems appear to have high complexities, sometimes root itself in theoretical discussions of legal scholarship. This study aims to look into the international and national efforts to fill in these legal lacunas by analysing the history, the current regulatory framework and the status of the discussions on business and human rights. It aims to pinpoint the main blockages hindering the process of solving problems of the field. It arrives to the solution that state systems can only offer solutions to a certain extent, an over-arching legal regime at the international level should be taken into consideration more seriously and creation of international legal accountability might pose monumental changes in the way we are thinking about international law

A sample implementation of teaching molecular structure of DNA in the classroom and the opinions of teacher candidates about it

The purpose of this study is to carry out sample classroom applications in the teaching of the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is the basis of the field of molecular biology, and obtaining the opinions of teacher candidates on these applications after they are completed. This is a basic, qualitative research study. The study was conducted in the fall semester of the academic year 2021-2022 at the Faculty of Education of a state university in Ankara. The participants from whom the data were collected were determined by the convenience sampling method. The research study group consisted of 15 teacher candidates, who were third-year biology students taking the molecular biology course. The interview form, developed by the researchers themselves and containing three questions, was the data collection tool for the study. Classroom applications used for the purposes of the study span a seven-year period. Teachings and other activities throughout the process were explained in detail. Thematic analysis, one of the qualitative analysis techniques, was used to analyze the data. In this study, an exemplary teaching practice/method was developed in DNA teaching. The findings showed that teacher candidates who took part in the application had positive views about the teaching of the subject and the process. In the future, various other teaching practices for other abstract concepts in biology can be developed and the views of prospective teachers explored. The effects of these classroom practices on the academic achievements, attitudes and motivation etc. of teacher candidates can be examined

Does nutritional risk screening 2002 correlate with the dyspnea status of patients with GOLD stage C-D chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

OBJECTIVES: Dyspnea is a prominent symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Stage C-D often complain of dyspnea, but the relationship between their level of dyspnea and their nutritional status has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dyspnea levels and nutritional status ofstable COPD patients in the out patient clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records including the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale and the nutritional status of 41 patients were investigated in the study. The meanage of patients was 71.7 +/- 9.2 years. The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) tool, body mass index (BMI), and mid-upper arm circumference were used to evaluate their nutritional status. We used correlation analysis to display the relationship between NRS-2002 score and MRC, COPD stage, and biochemical and anthropometric parameters indicating the nutritional status of patients. RESULTS: Out of the 41 COPD patients 87.8% (36) enrolled in the study were men and 12.2% (5) were women.The GOLD stages of the patients were 29.3% of patients with stage C and 70.7% with stage D.The risk of malnutrition (NRS >= 3) was detected in 48.8% of the patients, whereas 51.2% of patients (NRS<3) were risk-free. The mid-upper arm circumference of at risk patients was lower (25.6 +/- 3.2 vs 29.9 +/- 2.7 cm, p=0.032). The NRS-2002 score had a positive correlation with mMRC records (r=0.351, p=0.024). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the NRS-2002 score and the mid-upper arm circumference (r=0.604, p<0.0001). Also, there was a negative correlation between BMI and mid-upper arm circumference (r=0.699, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The risk of malnutrition was common in stable COPD patients at the outpatient clinic, which seemed to adversely affect their dyspnea level. Therefore, while planning the treatment of COPD patients, evaluating their nutritional status and taking precautions accordingly contribute to the shortness of breath which is one of the most significant symptoms of the disease

Targeting novel antigens in the arterial wall in thromboangiitis obliterans.

Thromboangiitis obliterans is an inflammatory disease possibly resulting from cigarette smoking as a primary etiologic factor, perhaps as a delayed type of hypersensitivity or toxic angiitis. As little is known about the pathogenesis of the disease, we aimed to determine novel antigens that might be responsible from the local inflammatory reactions and structural changes observed in this disease. An indirect immunoperoxidase technique is used to examine the tissue samples obtained from the dorsalis pedis artery of affected individuals with twenty monoclonal antibodies. Among these several antigens which are not previously reported in TAO like CD34, CD44 and CD90 were determined in the tissue samples examined. On the other hand, many other antigens like cytokine/chemokine receptors, several enzymes and leukocyte/lymphocyte antigens were lacking giving some clues about the local pathological reactions. We briefly discussed our findings for several critical antigens those first described in the present work, possibly having roles in the development of the disease. Expression of the CD90/CD11c receptor/ligand pair seems to play an important role in mononuclear cell recruitment to the damage site. Vascular invasion of not only tunica intima but also the tunica media in affected vessels is clearly demonstrated using endothelial cell specific antigens

Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Clinical and Personality Correlates

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to establish a clinical/personality profile of Turkish patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (TR-OCD). Methods. A neurocognitive/clinical test battery was administered to 17 patients with TR-OCD. Results. TR-OCD patients presented with major psychiatric syndromes (especially mood and generalized anxiety disorders) and personality disorders (particularly paranoid, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive, histrionic), and obtained higher scores on measures of core OCD symptoms (i.e., obsessional ideation, compulsive cleaning/washing, mental neutralizing), depressive symptoms, schizotypal personality features, and impulsiveness relative to normative controls. TR-OCD patients did not differ significantly from normative controls on checking, doubting, ordering, and hoarding subscales, and on measures of venturesomeness and empathy. Conclusions. Lack of insight, suspiciousness, and rigidity associated with schizotypal, paranoid, and obsessive-compulsive personality features may have contributed to treatment failure

Eye Disease Classification Using Deep Learning Techniques

Eye is the essential sense organ for vision function. Due to the fact that certain eye disorders might result in vision loss, it is essential to diagnose and treat eye diseases early on. By identifying common eye illnesses and performing an eye check, eye care providers can safeguard patients against vision loss or blindness. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) and transfer learning were employed in this study to discriminate between a normal eye and one with diabetic retinopathy, cataract, or glaucoma disease. Using transfer learning for multi-class classification, high accuracy was achieved at 94% while the traditional CNN achieved 84% rate

High mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB-1) as a new diagnostic marker in patients with acute appendicitis

<p/> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this prospective study was therefore to evaluate the diagnostic value of preoperative serum High Mobility Group Box Protein-1 (HMGB-1) levels in patients with Acute Appendicitis (AA) who show normal white blood cell count (WBC) counts.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Our study was carried out from October 2010 through November 2010 and included 20 healthy control group participants and 60 patients who presented at the emergency department of Erzurum Training and Research Hospital in Turkey with acute abdominal pain complaints, who were pathologically diagnosed with AA after laparotomy, and who agreed to participate in the study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 60 patients who underwent appendectomies, 36 were male and 24 were female, and of the healthy group, 12 were male and 8 female. The age averages of the patients in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were, respectively, 31.3+15.4, 34.0+16.3 and 31.0+13.1 years. The WBC averages of Groups 1, 2 and 3 were, respectively, 7.41+2.02 (x10⁹/L), 15.71+2.85 (x10⁹/L) and 8.51+1.84 (x10⁹/L). The HMGB-1 levels for Groups 1 (healthy persons), 2 (AA patients with high WBC counts ) and 3 (AA patients with normal WBC counts) were, respectively, 21.71 ± 11.36, 37.28+13.37 and 36.5 ± 17.73 ng/ml. The average HMGB-1 level of the patients with AA was 36.92 ± 15.43 ng/ml while the average HMGB-1 value of the healthy group was 21.71 ± 11.36 ng/ml.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The significantly higher levels of HMGB-1 in AA patients compared to healthy persons infer that HMGB-1 might be useful in the diagnosis of AA. Use of HMGB-1, especially in patients with normal WBC counts, will reduce the number of unnecessary explorations.</p

Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates

AbstractThere are a number of studies examining clinical and comorbidity profiles among patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (TR-OCD); however, there have been far fewer investigations of neurocognitive function among such patients. Five patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive symptoms underwent neurocognitive and clinical/personality testing. A number of TR-OCD patients met diagnostic criteria for major axis I disorders (particularly mood and anxiety disorders) as well as clusters A, B, and C personality disorders. TR-OCD patients demonstrated significant performance deficits on neurocognitive tests of visuospatial working memory, visuoconstructive ability, and executive control as well as one test of processing speed, but not a second, relative to healthy normative controls. TR-OCD patients and normative controls did not differ significantly on measures of verbal working memory, sequencing, figure copy organization, inhibitory control, and odor identification. In addition, TR-OCD patients were directly compared to five healthy controls evaluated in our laboratory for a separate unpublished study. TR-OCD patients demonstrated significant performance deficits on tests of visuospatial working memory, information processing speed, and executive control, and obtained substantially higher scores on dimensional measures of social anxiety and depressive symptom severity, but not schizotypal personality features. Group differences of tests of verbal working memory, inhibitory control, and additional tests of executive function were not significant. In summary, patients with TR-OCD presented with comorbid axis I conditions (primarily mood and anxiety disorders) and personality disorders. TR-OCD patients demonstrated deficits on some, but not all, tests of working memory and executive control. Neurocognitive test findings lend partial support to the hypothesis that right hemisphere (particularly dorsolateral-prefrontal, but not orbitofrontal) dysfunction is associated with TR-OCD, and a number of TR-OCD patients met diagnostic criteria for major axis I disorders (particularly mood and anxiety disorders) as well as cluster A, B, and C personality disorders further complicating treatment

Panel 10. Paper 10.1: From Understanding to Action for Conservation and Sustainability of a Rural Heritage Place: Kemer, Turkey

Kemer Village, a historic rural settlement situated in western Anatolia, is a very good representative of rural heritage places of this geography. Well-preserved buildings and settlement tissue of the village, provide invaluable information about spatial and architectural features, construction materials and techniques common to this geography. However, upper scale agricultural production and settlement policies, as well as changing ways of living in time, lead to depopulation, discard, alteration and even destruction of Kemer Village. Besides the physical aspects, its intangible aspects, like local living traditions, beliefs, rituals and indigenous knowledge, are also under the risk of disappearing. Although the population of the village decreased significantly in time, there are still inhabitants and local masons living in the village. Thus, it becomes possible to understand the factors, processes and dynamics of change in this rural settlement, so as to be able to define policies, strategies and actions for the conservation and sustainability. Although the common tendency to provide an economic development to prevent depopulation of the rural historic areas is to bring touristic activities, this decision disturbs the integrity of social and physical environment. In Kemer Village this tendency has not been initiated yet. Therefore, Kemer Village is on the border of being abandoned or being a touristic destination. This presentation explains the rural architectural and settlement features of the historical village of Kemer Village, together with indigenous knowledge on living and building traditions, resources and processes. It also discusses the factors, processes and dynamics affecting Kemer Village as an historic rural settlement, and consequently, proposes principles, policies, strategies and actions for the conservation and sustainability of rural heritage place by including all the decision makers, inhabitants and experts to the shared decision-making process

Nutritional Minerals and Heavy Metals in Tea Infusions and Daily Intake of Human Body

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages in the world. During tea infusion, both essential mineral elements and toxic metals are extracted into the beverage. In oriental countries, almost a liter of tea is consumed daily by an average adult. Thus, high toxic elements in traditional teas can be of concern. Aim of the study was to determine the essential element contents and toxic heavy metal concentrations in tea products available on the market in Turkey and comparing the contents of infusion for Turkish and Ceylon black and green tea types. The associated health risk to tea drinkers were estimated with reference to Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) Values from US EPA for adults and children. Among the essential elements in all of the black teas purchased from the market, K was present at the highest concentration followed by Mg, Ca and Al. Pb and Mn contents of several tea samples were found over the Tolerable Daily Intake levels