Unstable Identities: The European Court of Human Rights and the Margin of Appreciation

All legal systems work under a master narrative – the self-conception of most actors of the system itself. A master narrative is a short and simple story and it is the underlying premise upon which any legal system is based. It is a simple story because it paints the system in quick broad brushstrokes and at (most) times is oblivious to the paradoxes within it. Furthermore, a master narrative is important for legitimization purposes because the actors’ legitimacy will depend on their (perceived) conformity with the system’s master narrative. Therefore, legitimacy is self-referential; the yardsticks for a legitimate action are contained within the system’s master narrative, not outside of it. When talking about different international courts it is important to remember that they are embedded within a master narrative that is contextual and contingent and, at different points, more or less contested. This paper explores the question of what happens when the master-narrative is in a period of transition (from a state cantered to a post-national world order) and when the actors’ legitimacy, their interpretative endeavours the very fundamentals are in a state of flux. I use the margin of appreciation discussion as a focal point of describing the conflicting narratives under which the European Court of Human Rights works, narratives in which the different actors (judges, attorneys, NGO activists, government agents) and their consequences in terms of the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights

Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs

Analysis of possibilities to increase oil recovery with the use of nitrogen in the context of deep oil deposits of the Dnipro-Donetsk oil-and-gas Ukrainian province

Purpose is to increase oil recovery of deep oil deposits of the Dnipro-Donetsk oil-and-gas Ukrainian province with the use of nitrogen. Methods. Experiments, intended to residual oil displacement with the use of different driving agents, involved laboratory modeling of the process when a seam was simulated as such being close maximally to a real seam and samples of formation fluids were applied. The experiments, which materialized equilibrium displacement (without mass transfer), used seam models developed from cores of V-19n seam (Perekopivske deposit). 43 core samples were analyzed with 3.3 – 226.0·10-3 µm2 permeability. Findings. Characteristics and applicability of nitrogen and flue gas to increase oil recovery have been analyzed. Theoretic prerequisites of the mechanism, aimed at oil displacement using nitrogen and flue gases, have been formulated. Results of the laboratory experiments of oil displacement by means of nitrogen within a porous environment have helped determine that minimum pressure of mutual oil and nitrogen dissolution is 36.0 – 38.0 MPa. In terms of mutual mixing of agents at 110 – 112°С temperature, 36.4 МPа gas injection pressure, and nitrogen pumping velocity being 1 cm3 per 40 minutes, oil displacement ratio achieved 0.76 – 0.78. Originality. For the first time, parameters of mixable oil displacement using nitrogen for the conditions of deep oil deposits of the Dnipro-Donetsk petroleum province in Ukraine have been determined. Efficiency of mixable nitrogen displacement to compare with water displacement and nitrogen displacement under equilibrium conditions has been proved. Practical implications. The advanced technique of nitrogen use to improve oil recovery in the context of deep oil deposits has been proposed. The technique is applicable to extract residual oil from the depleted deposits.Мета. Підвищення нафтовилучення глибоких нафтових родовищ Дніпровсько-Донецької нафтогазоносної провінції України з використанням азоту. Методика. Експериментальні дослідження витіснення залишкової нафти різними витіснювальними агентами проводили шляхом лабораторного моделювання процесу зі створенням зразків пласта, максимально наближених до реального пласту, і використанням зразків пластових флюїдів. В експериментах, в яких реалізувалося рівноважне витіснення (без масопереносу), використовувалися моделі пласта, які споруджувалися з кернового матеріалу пласта В-19н Перекоповського родовища. Було досліджено 43 зразки керна, проникність сягала в межах 3.3 – 226.0·10-3 мкм2. Результати. Проаналізовано особливості та умови застосування азоту й димових газів для підвищення нафтовіддачі пластів. Сформульовано теоретичні передумови механізму витіснення нафти з пласта азотом і димовими газами. Встановлено за результатами лабораторних досліджень витіснення нафти азотом у пористому середовищі мінімальний тиск взаємного розчинення нафти та азоту, котрий становить 36.0 – 38.0 МПа. В умовах взаємного змішування агентів при температурі 110 – 112°С, тиску нагнітання газу 36.4 МПа і швидкості нагнітання азоту 1 см3 за 40 хвилин коефіцієнт витіснення нафти досягав величини 0.76 – 0.78. Наукова новизна. Вперше встановлені параметри змішуваного витіснення нафти азотом для умов глибоких нафтових родовищ Дніпровсько-Донецької нафтогазоносної провінції України. Доведено високу ефективність змішуваного витіснення азотом в порівнянні з витісненням водою і витісненням азотом при рівноважних умовах. Практична значимість. Запропоновано удосконалену технологію використання азоту для підвищення нафтовилучення глибоких нафтових родовищ, яка може бути використана для виснажених нафтових родовищ.Цель. Увеличение нефтеотдачи глубокозалегающих нефтяных месторождений Днепровско-Донецкой нефтегазоносной провинции Украины с использованием азота. Методика. Экспериментальные исследования вытеснения остаточной нефти разными вытесняющими агентами проводили путем лабораторного моделирования процесса с созданием образцов пласта, максимально приближенных к реальному пласту, и использованием образцов пластовых флюидов. В экспериментах, в которых реализовалось равновесное вытеснение (без масопереноса), использовались модели пласта, которые сооружались из кернового материала пласта В-19н Перекоповского месторождения. Были исследованы 43 образца керна, проницаемость находилась в пределах 3.3 – 226.0·10-3 мкм2. Результаты. Проанализированы особенности и условия применения азота и дымовых газов для повышения нефтеотдачи пластов. Сформулированы теоретические предпосылки механизма вытеснения нефти из пласта азотом и дымовыми газами. Установлено по результатам лабораторных исследований вытеснения нефти азотом в пористой среде минимальное давление взаимного растворения нефти и азота, которое составляет 36.0 – 38.0 МПа. В условиях взаимного смешивания агентов при температуре 110 – 112°С, давлении нагнетания газа 36.4 МПа и скорости нагнетания азота 1 см3 за 40 минут коэффициент вытеснения нефти достигал величины 0.76 – 0.78. Научная новизна. Впервые установлены параметры смешиваемого вытеснения нефти азотом для условий глубокозалегающих нефтяных месторождений Днепровско-Донецкой нефтегазоносной провинции Украины. Доказана высокая эффективность смешиваемого вытеснения азотом по сравнению с вытеснением водой и вытеснением азотом при равновесных условиях. Практическая значимость. Предложена усовершенствованная технология использования азота для повышения нефтеотдачи глубокозалегающих нефтяных месторождений, которая может быть использована для истощенных нефтяных месторождений.The research results have been obtained with no support in the form of grants of projects. The authors express thanks to PJSC “Ukrnafta” for the possibility to carry out the experiments, which findings are represented by the paper, on the basis of Scientific-Research and Design Institute PJSC “Ukrnafta”

Adaptive image steganography based on optimal embedding and robust against chi-square attack

A real-life requirement motivated this case study of secure covert communication. Steganography is a technique used to transfer hidden information in an imperceptible manner. We proposed a novel approach of substitution technique of image steganography. The proposed method is flexible on size of secret message and allows us to embed a large amount of secret messages as well as maintaining good visual quality of stego-image. Using this method, message bits are embedded into uncertain and higher LSB layers, resulting in increased imperceptible and robustness of stego-image. Results show that the proposed algorithm provides large embedding capacity without losing the imperceptibility of the stego-image. The algorithm is also robust against Chi-square attack

The island of Kauai, Hawaii's progressive shoreline setback and coastal protection ordinance

Approximately two-thirds of coastal and Great Lakes states have some type of shoreline construction setback or construction control line requiring development to be a certain distance from the shoreline or other coastal feature (OCRM, 2008). Nineteen of 30 coastal states currently use erosion rates for new construction close to the shoreline. Seven states established setback distances based on expected years from the shoreline: the remainder specify a fixed setback distance (Heinz Report, 2000). Following public hearings by the County of Kauai Planning Commission and Kauai County Council, the ‘Shoreline Setback and Coastal Protection Ordinance’ was signed by the Mayor of Kauai on January 25, 2008. After a year of experience implementing this progressive, balanced shoreline setback ordinance several amendments were recently incorporated into the Ordinance (#887; Bill #2319 Draft 3). The Kauai Planning Department is presently drafting several more amendments to improve the effectiveness of the Ordinance. The intent of shoreline setbacks is to establish a buffer zone to protect shorefront development from loss due to coastal erosion - for a period of time; to provide protection from storm waves; to allow the natural dynamic cycles of erosion and accretion of beaches and dunes to occur; to maintain beach and dune habitat; and, to maintain lateral beach access and open space for the enjoyment of the natural shoreline environment. In addition, a primary goal of the Kauai setback ordinance is to avoid armoring or hardening of the shore which along eroding coasts has been documented to ultimately eliminate the fronting beach. (PDF contains 4 pages