Contested implementation: the unilateral influence of member states on peacebuilding policy in Kosovo

International organizations play an important role in policy implementation. As member states do not necessarily resolve political disagreements before delegating tasks, this article focuses on how individual member states seek to influence policy implementation by international organizations. It argues that the institutional context in which delegation takes place affects the opportunities for such unilateral influence. Particularly when the agent has considerable autonomy, implementation is likely to be a contested process. The article presents evidence on the implementation of peacebuilding policy by three international organizations in Kosovo after independence in 2008. Despite the fact that the member states within the UN, OSCE and EU fundamentally disagree on the legal status of Kosovo, the organizations have deployed substantial peacebuilding missions. The UN, OSCE and EU have, however, different institutional designs: implementing agents in the UN and OSCE have, by default, more autonomy than those in the EU. We analogously observe variation in how and to what extent member states exert unilateral influence during implementation of peacebuilding policy on the ground in Kosovo

A Light in the Window: Canada, Race, and South African Apartheid, 1958-1994

This dissertation is an international history of Canada and South African apartheid from 1958-1994. Based on multi-archival research and interviews with policymakers, diplomats, and pro- and anti-apartheid activists, it investigates how race informed the worldview of decision-makers and, in turn, shaped policy towards apartheid. By highlighting the formative role of racial perceptions in orienting Canada’s response to apartheid, this thesis addresses why Canada was so engaged on an issue seemingly peripheral to its national interests. In so doing, it shows how race and the liberal order are deeply intertwined and offers a fresh approach to the study of Canada’s international history

Continuity and change in international institutions: the case of the United Nations environment regime

Analysts have had a long fascination with moments of significant change and discontinuity in political relations. Studies of “exogenous shocks,” “critical junctures,” “historical events,” “policy windows,” and “punctuated equilibria” have occupied a prominent place in qualitative assessments of policy and institutional change. Yet, despite analysts’ interest, these turning points remain poorly understood. Leading theoretical treatments are overwhelmingly descriptive, offering little in the way of explanatory capacity. Introducing the concept of Temporal Focal Points, my thesis provides a temporal extension to Thomas C. Schelling’s focal point hypothesis. Temporal Focal Points—definite, exceptional phases along the temporal continuum—precipitate a convergence of expectations among actors in time that heightens the likelihood of agreement. Convergent expectations are a crucial means of overcoming temporal coordination problems among actors. By facilitating a spike in analytical activity, political entrepreneurship, and bargaining intensity, actors are able realize joint gains opened up by past shifts in key parameters. Prominent temporal signposts allow actors to recognize that existing institutional arrangements are not an equilibrium. I test the plausibility of this theory through an analysis of the record of change at four distinct phases of the history of the United Nations environment regime from 1962-1992, including the 1972 Stockholm conference, the 1982 Nairobi conference, the UN General Assembly’s response to the Brundtland report, and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.</p

Continuity and change in international institutions: the case of the United Nations environment regime

Analysts have had a long fascination with moments of significant change and discontinuity in political relations. Studies of “exogenous shocks,” “critical junctures,” “historical events,” “policy windows,” and “punctuated equilibria” have occupied a prominent place in qualitative assessments of policy and institutional change. Yet, despite analysts’ interest, these turning points remain poorly understood. Leading theoretical treatments are overwhelmingly descriptive, offering little in the way of explanatory capacity. Introducing the concept of Temporal Focal Points, my thesis provides a temporal extension to Thomas C. Schelling’s focal point hypothesis. Temporal Focal Points—definite, exceptional phases along the temporal continuum—precipitate a convergence of expectations among actors in time that heightens the likelihood of agreement. Convergent expectations are a crucial means of overcoming temporal coordination problems among actors. By facilitating a spike in analytical activity, political entrepreneurship, and bargaining intensity, actors are able realize joint gains opened up by past shifts in key parameters. Prominent temporal signposts allow actors to recognize that existing institutional arrangements are not an equilibrium. I test the plausibility of this theory through an analysis of the record of change at four distinct phases of the history of the United Nations environment regime from 1962-1992, including the 1972 Stockholm conference, the 1982 Nairobi conference, the UN General Assembly’s response to the Brundtland report, and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.This thesis is not currently available in ORA

Discovery and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Novel Adenosine A1 Receptor-Selective Agonists.

A series of benzyloxy and phenoxy derivatives of the adenosine receptor agonists N6-cyclopentyl adenosine (CPA) and N6-cyclopentyl 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CP-NECA) were synthesized, and their potency and selectivity were assessed. We observed that the most potent were the compounds with a halogen in the meta position on the aromatic ring of the benzyloxy- or phenoxycyclopentyl substituent. In general, the NECA-based compounds displayed greater A1R selectivity than the adenosine-based compounds, with N6-2-(3-bromobenzyloxy)cyclopentyl-NECA and N6-2-(3-methoxyphenoxy)cyclopentyl-NECA showing ∼1500-fold improved A1R selectivity compared to NECA. In addition, we quantified the compounds' affinity and kinetics of binding at both human and rat A1R using a NanoBRET binding assay and found that the halogen substituent in the benzyloxy- or phenoxycyclopentyl moiety seems to confer high affinity for the A1R. Molecular modeling studies suggested a hydrophobic subpocket as contributing to the A1R selectivity displayed. We believe that the identified selective potent A1R agonists are valuable tool compounds for adenosine receptor research

Evaluation of the need for biopsy in a pediatric population with suspected Celiac clinical disease

Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar el valor diagnóstico de pruebas serológicas de enfermedad celíaca en poblaciones pediátricas con sospecha clínica de celiaquía. En el suero de los pacientes con síntomas clásicos, no clásicos o pertenecientes a grupos de riesgo de celiaquía se dosaron anticuerpos anti-transglutaminasa tisular de tipo IgA (a-tTG-IgA) y anticuerpos contra los péptidos deaminados de gliadina de tipo IgG (a-DGP-IgG). Fueron biopsiados 97 pacientes: 62 presentaron histología Marsh 3 (enfermedad celíaca confirmada), 7 histología Marsh 2 y 28 histología Marsh 0-1. Se obtuvo valor predictivo positivo 100% para valores de a-tTG-IgA ≥ 100 U/ml y 96% para a-DGP-IgG ≥ 100 U/ml. Cuando ambos anticuerpos fueron ≤ 10 U/ml se obtuvo valor predictivo negativo 100%. En nuestro estudio, los anticuerpos a-tTG-IgA permitieron el diagnóstico de celiaquía cuando su valor fue ≥ 100 U/ ml. Cuando a-tTG-IgA y a-DGP-IgG fueron ambos ≤ 10 U/ml se pudo descartar enfermedad celíaca.The aim was to evaluate the diagnosis value of serological tests in a pediatric population with suspected celiac disease. In the serum of patients with classical symptoms, non-classical symptoms, or with an increased risk for celiac disease, antibodies anti–tissue transglutaminase IgA (a-tTG-IgA) and IgG anti–deamidated gliadin peptide (a-DGP-IgG) were measured. Endoscopic biopsy was performed on 97 patients: 62 of them had Marsh 3 lesion (celiac disease confirmed), 7 had Marsh 2 lesion and the other 28, Marsh 0-1 lesion. A 100% of positive predictive value for a tTG-IgA ≥ 100 U ml, and 95% for a-DGP-IgG ≥ 100 U/ml were obtained. When both (tTG-IgA and a-DGP-IgG) were ≤ 10 U/ml, the negative predictive value was 100%. Values of a-tTG-IgA ≥ 100 U/ml allowed the diagnosis of celiac disease in the studied population. When a-tTG-IgA and a-DGP-IgG, were both ≤ 10 U/ml it ruled out celiac disease.Fil: López, Myriam S.. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Cs.exactas Quimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Bioquimica Clinica. Laboratorio de Biotecnologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Formoselle, Gianninna. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Manulak, María A.. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Sprang, Monica D. R.. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: López Vinuesa, Fernando José. Hospital Provincial de Pediatría Dr. F. Barreyro. ; ArgentinaFil: Zapata, Pedro Dario. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Cs.exactas Quimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Bioquimica Clinica. Laboratorio de Biotecnologia Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Negri, Gustavo Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentin