International Committees Research Articles

Preface

The 1st International Conference on Agriculture and Bioindustry (ICAGRI) 2019 is an efficient forum for networking, exchanging and strengthening the cooperation between institutions (academicians and practitioners) around the world in realizing the ideals of agricultural development. Various issues related to sustainable agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, biodiversity, biomaterial and bioindustry, forestry, environmental and waste management, food sciences, entrepreneur and commercialization, supply and value chain, and animal husbandry in the era of the industrial revolution 4.0 were discussed to accelerate innovation and technology of resource-based food security and local wisdom.We thank all authors for supporting and attending this conference. We would also like to thank the organizing committees, the international scientific committees, the reviewers, and the collaboration partners for their tremendous efforts to organize this conference successfully.List of Peer Review Statement and Committees are available in this pdf.

Update on Giardia: Highlights from the seventh International Giardia and Cryptosporidium Conference.

Although Giardia duodenalis is recognized as one of the leading causes of parasitic human diarrhea in the world, knowledge of the mechanisms of infection is limited, as the pathophysiological consequences of infection remain incompletely elucidated. Similarly, the reason for and consequences of the very specific genome-organization in this parasite with 2 active nuclei is only partially known. Consistent with its tradition, the 7th International Giardia and Cryptosporidium Conference (IGCC 2019) was held from June 23 to 26, 2019, at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Rouen-Normandie, France, to discuss current research perspectives in the field. This renowned event brought together an international delegation of researchers to present and debate recent advances and identify the main research themes and knowledge gaps. The program for this interdisciplinary conference included all aspects of host-parasite relationships, from basic research to applications in human and veterinary medicine, as well as the environmental issues raised by water-borne parasites and their epidemiological consequences. With regard to Giardia and giardiasis, the main areas of research for which new findings and the most impressive communications were presented and discussed included: parasite ecology and epidemiology of giardiasis, Giardia-host interactions, and cell biology of Giardia, genomes and genomic evolution. The high-quality presentations discussed at the Conference noted breakthroughs and identified new opportunities that will inspire researchers and funding agencies to stimulate future research in a “one health” approach to improve basic knowledge and clinical and public health management of zoonotic giardiasis.

Update on Cryptosporidium spp.: highlights from the Seventh International Giardia and Cryptosporidium Conference.

While cryptosporidiosis is recognized as being among the most common causes of human parasitic diarrhea in the world, there is currently limited knowledge on Cryptosporidium infection mechanisms, incomplete codification of diagnostic methods, and a need for additional therapeutic options. In response, the Seventh International Giardia and Cryptosporidium Conference (IGCC 2019) was hosted from 23 to 26 June 2019, at the Rouen Normandy University, France. This trusted event brought together an international delegation of researchers to synthesize recent advances and identify key research questions and knowledge gaps. The program of the interdisciplinary conference included all aspects of host-parasite relationships from basic research to applications to human and veterinary medicine, and environmental issues associated with waterborne parasites and their epidemiological consequences. In relation to Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis, the primary research areas for which novel findings and the most impressive communications were presented and discussed included: Cryptosporidium in environmental waters, seafood, and fresh produce; Animal epidemiology; Human cryptosporidiosis and epidemiology; Genomes and genomic evolution encompassing: Comparative genomics of Cryptosporidium spp., Genomic insights into biology, Acquiring and utilizing genome sequences, Genetic manipulation; Host-parasite interaction (immunology, microbiome); and Diagnosis and treatment. High quality presentations discussed at the conference reflected decisive progress and identified new opportunities that will engage investigators and funding agencies to spur future research in a “one health” approach to improve basic knowledge and the clinical and public health management of zoonotic cryptosporidiosis.

International Commissions of Inquiry: What Difference Do They Make? Taking an Empirical Approach

Abstract Introducing a symposium on the question of what difference international commissions of inquiry (COIs) make, this article frames the debate methodologically and theoretically. COIs have become a common feature of responses to issues of international concern. While aspects of their work have received substantial scholarly attention, less is known about the concrete, case-specific effects of past COIs. This symposium therefore encourages empirical research into the consequences of COIs, absent or present, intended or not. After discussing some of the common challenges to the empirical research required, this framework article sets forth a non-exhaustive typology of ways in which COIs could end up making a difference, such as inspiring further action or substituting for such action; justifying decision-making, ex ante or ex post; fostering a shared narrative or hardening competing narratives; legitimizing some groups while delegitimizing others; enhancing political dialogue or intensifying division; spurring reform or encouraging more of the same; promoting (international) law or exposing its limitations. This typology is presented as a resource for hypotheses not only for this symposium but also for future empirical research into the differences made (or not) by COIs.

International commissions of inquiry: What difference do they make? Taking an empirical approach

International commissions of inquiry: What difference do they make? Taking an empirical approach

27th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference.

The 27th annual GP2A (Groupement des Pharmacochimistes de l′Arc Atlantique/Group of Medicinal Chemists in the Atlantic Arc) conference took place from 21 to 23 August 2019, at the East Midlands Conference Centre (University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom) and was hosted by the Division of Biomolecular Science and Medicinal Chemistry (BSMC), within the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham. The event brought together an international delegation of researchers with interests in medicinal chemistry and interfacing disciplines. In addition, a pre-conference workshop provided an opportunity for younger researchers to develop their theoretical knowledge in quantitative pharmacology. s of presentations by the 14 invited speakers and 6 young researchers, in addition to 41 posters, are included in this report.

Radical Technology Meets Radical Application: An Interview with George Church.

Radical Technology Meets Radical Application: An Interview with George Church.

In Search for Volleyball Entertainment: Impact of New Game Rules on Score and Time-Related Variables.

The aim of this research was to analyse the impact of various game structures on score and time-related variables in elite volleyball. A total of 114 male matches and 76 female matches (38 matches for each tournament) were analysed in under-23 world championships. An observational design was implemented to measure match duration, points scored per match and set, set point differences, tournament phase, match balance, and set tendencies in various game structures (set to 21, to 25 or to 15 points) in male and female categories. Standardised differences in mean values showed that a 15-point set game structure led to shortest matches and smallest time variability in match duration, the largest number of points per match, and greatest equality in terms of set score differences in both the male and the female category. The use of various game structures in training may be useful to coaches and conditioning specialists when planning training schemes and sessions, by introducing different game structures to manage volume and intensity in training more effectively. These results may also be useful to local and/or national volleyball federations willing to attract new young players, to promote learning and to render volleyball a fun activity, by implementing S15 at initial stages. In addition, they could be useful to international federations or committees, so as to attract larger audiences and sponsors interested in more appealing matches with high levels of competitiveness and entertainment.

International Delegation and Agency in the Externalization Process of EU Migration and Asylum Policy: the Role of the IOM and the UNHCR in Niger

Abstract This article examines the role of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the implementation of the European Union (EU) migration and asylum policy in Niger. Building on policy analysis and qualitative interviews with stakeholders, it contributes to the literature on the externalization process of EU borders. The first part of the article focuses on the international and local context in which this process has taken place in Niger since 2015. The second part refers to the principal-agent (PA) theory inspired from economics to model the dynamics of the delegation relationships linking the European Commission (EC) to the IOM and the UNHCR in Niger. It is argued that the two main objectives pursued by the EU through the externalization of its migration and asylum policy—namely the offshoring of border control and the outsourcing of asylum claims processing—are respectively fulfilled by the IOM and the UNHCR in Niger. As such, this article highlights how the cooperation of International Organizations (IOs) is critical to enable the EU to filter and restrict human mobility from the Sahel region.

International delegation of scientists visiting the Sechenov University

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International Commissions of Inquiry in a Networked World: Unveiling the Roles of Diasporas through an Eritrean Case Study

Abstract International Commissions of Inquiry (COIs) have become important components of the human rights fact-finding, accountability and transitional justice architecture. The core task of COIs is to investigate international crises and construe what happened on the ground. The increasing tendency of states under scrutiny to refuse territorial access frustrates COI performance. It leaves COIs with no option but to operate from outside the state. COIs have developed various strategies to overcome the impediment of the uncooperative state, including the use of satellite imagery, conducting extraterritorial public hearings, interviewing individuals in the territory through Skype and other media as well as collecting accounts from individuals in the diaspora. This article focuses on the engagement of COIs with the diaspora. It presents diasporas as actors that may have considerable significance for COIs in a variety of ways, beyond sharing information. The article unveils the distinct roles that diasporic actors may entertain vis-à-vis international inquiries, as subjects in need of protection, information providers, and audience and mobilization forces. Looking at the COI for Eritrea, the article tests how these different roles play out in practice and how they interrelate. It thus sheds light on the capacity of COIs to make a difference extraterritorially for individuals in the diaspora, and on the capacity of diasporic actors to influence COI findings and shape follow up. The Eritrean COI experience illustrates that a purely instrumental approach towards diasporas – one which only regards diasporas as sources of information and which fails to protect extraterritorially or tap into the greater potential of diaspora mobilization – lessens COI effectivity for broader human rights and transitional justice purposes.

Offline: The false narrative of “tremendous progress”

Offline: The false narrative of “tremendous progress”

Editorial

Editorial

Circulating microRNAs as modifiable diagnostic biomarkers of gestational and transgenerational metabolic risk: can exercise play a role?

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance at first recognition during pregnancy (1). It is usually diagnosed at 24–28 gestational weeks, according to the recommendations of international associations and committees (2). Diagnosis is made using a sequential model of universal screening with a 50-g one-hour glucose challenge test (GCT), followed by a diagnostic 100-g three-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for women with a positive screening test (3). The overall incidence of GDM is increasing worldwide, affecting approximately 7–15% of all pregnancies (4). It is considered the most frequent metabolic problem during pregnancy, representing about 90% of risky pregnancies (5), although the prevalence of pregnancies complicated by diabetes (gestational or pre-gestational) varies geographically and among different ethnic groups (6). During healthy pregnancy insulin resistance increases due to the secretion of a series of placental hormones antagonists to insulin (cortisol, prolactin, progesterone and lactogen), ultimately causing blood glucose to rise (6). Furthermore, in GDM women insulin production is insufficient to counteract this increasing insulin resistance, due to an increase in β-pancreatic cells apoptotic rate which leads to an abnormal production and secretion of insulin (7). Given that blood glucose easily goes through placenta by facilitated diffusion, it reaches the fetus producing fetal hyperglycemia (8).

Treaty of Zohab, 1639: Foundational Myth or Foundational Document?

Beginning with their first confrontation in 1514, the Ottomans and the dynasties ruling over Iran fought over the borderlands extending from the Persian Gulf to Mount Ararat. The transformation of this indeterminate borderland into a clearly defined and increasingly monitored border took almost four centuries. It became an internationally recognized border only after seven decades (1843–1914) of intermittent work by mixed international commissions. Despite such a tangled history, a well-entrenched tradition of Middle Eastern history suggests that the Iranian–Ottoman frontier was firmly established by the Qasr-i Shirin/Zohab Treaty of 1639; and it is one of the oldest boundaries of the world. The myth of 1639 is powerfully enshrined in the historiographies and nationalisms of the countries sharing this boundary. Questioning this myth in the light of Ottoman–Iranian relations, this paper analyzes different versions of 1639 Treaty that were brought to boundary negotiations and exist in various chronicles, and suggests an alternative reading of this foundational myth.

2nd International Conference on Mechanical, Electronics, Computer, and Industrial Technology

PrefaceInternational Conference on Mechanical, Electronics, Computers, and Industrial Technology (MECnIT 2018) was held in Medan, Indonesia. MECnIT 2018 was hosted by Faculty of Technology and Computer Sciences, Universitas Prima Indonesia. This conference is co-organized by TIMERS (Technology, Informatics, Management, and Engineering Research Support), Universiti Utara Malaysia, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Padjajaran, and Asosiasi Perguruan Tinggi Informatika dan Ilmu Komputer (APTIKOM).The MECnIT 2018 has attracted many academicians, scientists, engineers, postgraduates, and other professionals from many countries. These conferences aim to promote interaction among engineers, researchers, and scientists active in the related areas. The events are intended to provide a high-level international forum to present, to exchange, and to discuss recent advances, new techniques, and applications in the field of knowledge discussed in this conference.Our special thanks also goes to all individuals and organizations such as the international program committees (IPC), the conference organizers, the reviewers, and the authors, for their contribution in making MECnIT 2018 not only a successful international conference but also as a memorable gathering event. We are also grateful for the support of the publication service of IOP. We hope that it should give you a beautiful memory to bring home in addition to new insights and friends gathered during the conference. We are truly grateful for your contribution and interest. We hope that you will get pleasure from MECnIT 2018 in this beautiful city, Medan, Indonesia.List of Conference General Chair, International Program Committee (IPC) and Conferences Photographs are available in this pdf.

Evidence-Based Review and Discussion Points

Evidence-Based Review and Discussion Points

Cooperation in space: An international comparison for the benefit of emerging space agencies

This paper provides a comparison of models for international cooperation by space states. By analysing the successes and failures of these models, recommendations about international cooperation have been presented for the benefit of emerging space agencies, for example, the Australian Space Agency. As international cooperation in space is very wide-ranging in nature, this paper also researches and analyses a number of specific topics intended to provide valuable insights for emerging space agencies. The paper draws upon the learnings of emerging space nations and established space actors. Reasons for international cooperation are examined, along with the legal frameworks used to support it. Examples of international cooperation in space projects are reviewed along with international committees promoting cooperation. The use of international cooperation in helping solve a major ‘space challenge’ facing the world is examined and a framework for evaluating potential cooperative initiatives is proposed. This report emerged from the research conducted in Space Ready: The Launchpad For Emerging Agencies which provided policy recommendations for new space states from a comparative analysis of the aims, structure, funding, and activities over 14 different space agencies. The report was written during the 2018 International Space University's Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program, in which students from 15 countries with diverse academic backgrounds were able to provide insider perspectives on the space agency of their countries.

“Older Adults with ASD: The Consequences of Aging.” Insights from a series of special interest group meetings held at the International Society for Autism Research 2016–2017

A special interest group (SIG) entitled "Older Adults with ASD: The Consequences of Aging" was held at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meetings in 2016 and 2017. The SIG and subsequent meetings brought together, for the first time, international delegates who were members of the autistic community, researchers, practitioners and service providers. Based on aging autism research that is already underway in UK, Europe, Australia and North America, discussions focussed on conceptualising the parameters of aging when referring to autism, and the measures that are appropriate to use with older adults when considering diagnostic assessment, cognitive factors and quality of life in older age. Thus, the aim of this SIG was to progress the research agenda on current and future directions for autism research in the context of aging. A global issue on how to define 'aging' when referring to ASD was at the forefront of discussions. The ‘aging’ concept can in principle refer to all developmental transitions. However, in this paper we focus on the cognitive and physical changes that take place from mid-life onwards. Accordingly, it was agreed that aging and ASD research should focus on adults over the age of 50 years, given the high rates of co-occurring physical and mental health concerns and increased risk of premature death in some individuals. Moreover, very little is known about the cognitive change, care needs and outcomes of autistic adults beyond this age. Discussions on the topics of diagnostic and cognitive assessments, and of quality of life and well-being were explored through shared knowledge about which measures are currently being used and which background questions should be asked to obtain comprehensive and informative developmental and medical histories. Accordingly, a survey was completed by SIG delegates who were representatives of international research groups across four continents, and who are currently conducting studies with older autistic adults. Considerable overlap was identified across different research groups in measures of both autism and quality of life, which pointed to combining data and shared learnings as the logical next step. Regarding the background questions that were asked, the different research groups covered similar topics but the groups differed in the way these questions were formulated when working with autistic adults across a range of cognitive abilities. It became clear that continued input from individuals on the autism spectrum is important to ensure that questionnaires used in ongoing and future are accessible and understandable for people across the whole autistic spectrum, including those with limited verbal abilities.

National Variability in Prion Disease–Related Safety Policies for Neurologic Procedures

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders that can be transmitted via contact with infective tissue. Variability in hospital safety policies related to prion disease may place health-care workers at risk. We sought to assess variability of safety policies related to prion disease for neurosurgical procedures and lumbar punctures among neurological institutions in the United States. We e-mailed neurologists associated with 2016 US News and World Report "Top 50" Neurology & Neurosurgery Institutions to request hospital policies regarding safety precautions related to prion disease. For institutional surgical policies, the main outcome was concordance with each of the 8 specific precautions described in World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines published in 1999. No similar guidelines are available for lumbar puncture, so themes were identified and quantified among the lumbar puncture policies we collected. Of the 51 institutions contacted, there were 38 responses. Two institutions did not have relevant policies and 3 institutions declined to share their policies, yielding 33 institutional policies for review. Of these, 85% had a surgical policy and 54% had a lumbar puncture policy. Concordance with all 8 specific precautions described in the WHO guidelines was found in 14% of surgical policies. Lumbar puncture policies demonstrated variability in methods of waste disposal and decontamination procedures. There is significant variability in policies regarding safety precautions in patients with suspected prion disease. We advocate for the formation of national or international committees to examine this issue, set new guidelines, and foster implementation at the level of individual institutions.