Resolution Options Research Articles

CONSUMER PROTECTION IN HIRE PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF GHANA’S LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Objective: This study critically examines the effectiveness of Ghana's Hire Purchase Act 1974 in safeguarding consumer interests in modern hire purchase agreements. Theoretical Framework: The focus of analysis is the regulatory framework for hire purchase transactions in Ghana in comparison to UK and Australia. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises [concisely describe the study design, including approach, participants, instruments, procedures, etc.]. Data collection was carried out through [explain the specific methods used, such as interviews, questionnaires, observations, among others. Results and Discussion: The Act provides fundamental consumer protections through requirements for written agreements, disclosure of terms, and rights to terminate agreements. However, it faces challenges in addressing contemporary market realities, particularly digital transactions, and in providing accessible dispute resolution mechanisms. The study identifies key areas for improvement, including modernization of the Act, introduction of alternative dispute resolution options, strengthening enforcement capabilities, and enhancing consumer education initiatives. Research Implications: These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on consumer protection in Ghana and offer valuable insights for policymakers considering reforms to the hire purchase regulatory framework. The research emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that enhances consumer protections while maintaining a vibrant hire purchase market in Ghana. Originality/Value: Overall, the study offers a unique and valuable perspective on the effectiveness of Ghana's Hire Purchase Act and provides actionable recommendations for improvement.

Programmable delay cell based area efficient time-mode smart temperature sensor exploiting channel length modulation coefficient λ

This work presents an all-digital Programmable Delay Cell (PDC)-based time-domain smart temperature sensor exploiting the channel length modulation coefficient λ. For the first time the work has been described to establish the choice of multimode conversion options in the time-domain architecture of temperature sensor. The sensor incorporates a PDC and a time-to-digital converter (TDC) for the generation of temperature code. The different channel lengths of the PDC and Gated Ring Oscillator (GRO) delay elements of the TDC ensure the precise operation of the sensor. The proposed design provides a novel approach for the generation of variable resolution options having different sampling rates. At 90-nm CMOS process and 1.1 V supply voltage, the sensor occupies 0.015 mm2 and operates over a span of −60 °C to 120 °C. Additionally, multimode conversion time allows the sensor to be tuned to a small value of energy/conversion at 27 °C. This confirms to 0.38 nJ and 3.13 nJ at modes M0 and M7, respectively. Besides the sensor obtains a resolution 0.747 °C and 0.093 °C at a conversion time of 0.669 μs and 5.5 μs, respectively.

ALTERNATIF PENYELESAIAN SENGKETA SEBAGAI PERLINDUNGAN HAK ANAK PASCA PERCERAIAN

ADR is an out-of-court dispute resolution option pursued by parties to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. It involves negotiation, mediation, coordination and expert judgment. Document No. 0026/Pst.G/PA.Kdr contains cumulative claims that need to be analyzed. This research focuses on the divorce case in the document, identifying the factors behind the post-divorce demands, analyzing the ADR process the plaintiff underwent, and assessing alternative dispute resolution from a women's fiqh perspective. A descriptive qualitative method was used to understand the role of maintenance in the context of these cases, particularly in terms of personal fiqh. The results showed an example of a cumulative lawsuit in Case 0026/Pdt.G/2020/PA.Kdr at the Kediri City Religious Court. The plaintiff filed claims for divorce, child custody and maintenance against the defendant, who is a police officer. These claims were combined because the couple had abandoned the plaintiff and the children for more than two years. The plaintiff chose ADR because she was concerned that the husband would not attend the court hearing. The plaintiff wanted to ensure the children's rights were properly taken care of after the divorce, in line with the principles of women's jurisprudence which views the responsibility of providing for the family as a shared obligation.

Slip Tendency Analysis From Sparse Stress and Satellite Data Using Physics‐Guided Deep Neural Networks

AbstractThe significant risk associated with fault reactivation often necessitates slip tendency analyses for effective risk assessment. However, such analyses are challenging, particularly in large areas with limited or absent reliable stress measurements and where the cost of extensive geomechanical analyses or simulations is prohibitive. In this paper, we propose a novel approach using a physics‐informed neural network that integrates stress orientation and satellite displacement observations in a top‐down multi‐scale framework to estimate two‐dimensional slip tendency analyses even in regions lacking comprehensive stress data. Our study demonstrates that velocities derived from a continental scale analysis, combined with reliable stress orientation averages, can effectively guide models at smaller scales to generate qualitative slip tendency maps. By offering customizable data selection and stress resolution options, this method presents a robust solution to address data scarcity issues, as exemplified through a case study of the South Australian Eyre Peninsula.

Incidence, implications, and management of sense-B-noise failure in subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator patients: insights from a large multicentre registry.

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) offer potentially distinct advantages over transvenous defibrillator systems. Recent randomized trials showed significantly lower lead failure rates than transvenous ICD. Still, S-ICDs remain associated with the risk of inappropriate shocks (IAS). While previous studies have reported varying causes of IAS, this study explores a rare cause of IAS, referred to as 'sense-B-noise.' It was recently described in case series, but its incidence has not been studied in a large cohort of S-ICD patients. We retrospectively reviewed data from patients implanted with S-ICD models 1010, A209, and A219 between October 2009 and July 2023 across nine centres in Europe and the USA. The analysis concentrated on determining the incidence and understanding the implications of sense-B-noise events. Sense-B-noise represents a rare manifestation of distinct electrogram abnormalities within the primary and alternate sensing vectors. Data were collected from medical records, device telemetry, and manufacturer reports for investigation. This registry is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05713708). Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices of the 1158 patients were analysed. The median follow-up time for all patients was 46 (IQR 23-64) months. In 107 patients (9.2%) ≥1 IAS was observed during follow-up. Sense-B-noise failure was diagnosed in six (0.5 and 5.6% of all IAS) patients, in all patients, the diagnosis was made after an IAS episode. Median lead dwell time in the affected patients was 23 (2-70) months. To resolve the sense-B-noise defect, in three patients reprogramming to the secondary vector was undertaken, and two patients underwent system removal with subsequent S-ICD reimplantation due to low amplitude in the secondary vector. In one patient, the secondary vector was initially programmed, and subsequently, an S-ICD system exchange was performed due to T-wave-oversensing IAS episodes. This multicentre analysis' findings shed light on a rare but clinically highly significant adverse event in S-ICD therapy. To our knowledge, we provide the first systematic multicentre analysis investigating the incidence of sense-B-noise. Due to being difficult to diagnose and limited options for resolution, management of sense-B-noise is challenging. Complete system exchange may be the only option for some patients. Educating healthcare providers involved in S-ICD patient care is crucial for ensuring accurate diagnosis and effective management of sense-B-noise issues.

Inter-State Human Rights Disputes

Abstract This paper maps the factors that States consider when deciding whether to raise inter-State disputes to an international dispute resolution body. It focuses particularly on these factors in the context of human rights disputes, including whether such disputes will be brought before the mechanisms provided for under the universal human rights treaties, and notably conciliation commissions. While traditionally negotiation has been seen as the most appropriate way to resolve inter-State disputes, there are times that human rights disputes may benefit from a different approach. It discusses (i) the general trend to negotiate or mediate disputes; (ii) the importance of taking a contextual perspective; (iii) the patchwork of international norms; (iv) key legal and factual considerations; (v) choice of mechanism/process; and (vi) palatability of the potential dispute resolution options. The paper concludes by providing a roadmap for States deciding whether to commence an international dispute and which forum to choose.

Elephants in the Room - Analyzing Local Discourses for Sustainable Management of Bannerghatta National Park, South India.

Landscape governance challenges, particularly in peri-urban contexts like the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) region in South India, exemplify 'wicked' problems due to their inherent complexities. These challenges arise from a mix of conflicting interests, policy ambiguities, and sociocultural dynamics, which often blur the definition of problems and hinder effective solutions. Despite apparent options for resolution, stakeholder disagreements and deep uncertainties about implementation strategies complicate governance. This study, therefore, has two broad objectives. The first objective is to analyze the local discourses surrounding planned policy interventions around the BNP region in South India. Based on the findings, the second objective is to draw insights for sustainable natural resource governance research and practice. We applied Q-methodology to understand the discourses that underpin various conflicts in the rapidly urbanizing elephant corridor at BNP. We elicited information on how various local actors frame solutions to current collective action challenges in the BNP landscape and their perspectives on the proposed eco-sensitive zone notification, as well as the functioning of current policy interventions concerning conservation and development. The study uncovers the micropolitics and power regimes underpinning various natural resource governance challenges and demonstrates the utility of the Q-methodology in bringing diverse perspectives together in response to 'wicked' governance challenges.

Legal Study of the Failure of Mediators in Resolving Disputes on the Division of Collective Property After Divorce (Study in Medan Religious Courts)

In Article 1 of the Marriage Law, marriage reflects the spiritual and physical bond between a man and a woman with the aim of forming a happy and lasting family based on faith in the Almighty God. In legally valid marriages, the role of assets is crucial in building a household, both as individual and joint assets. Issues related to marital assets often arise, affecting the well-being and comfort within the marriage. Reasons for divorce include invalid marriages, domestic violence, neglect of responsibilities, and prolonged disputes. When both parties seek divorce, mediation is utilized as a means to resolve conflicts, guided by a mediator seeking resolution options. This study identifies factors contributing to the failure of mediation in resolving disputes over joint property. These factors include parties' knowledge, absence, cultural and character differences, reluctance to compromise, prolonged and complex conflicts, ill intentions, external influences, lack of understanding of rights and obligations, and materialistic tendencies. The success of mediation in the Medan Religious Courts depends on the mediator's ability, derived from knowledge, education, training, and experience, which serves as a tool to effectively assist parties in resolving their disputes.

What Is The Process Of Resolving Disputes In International Business Law?

The complex global business landscape often creates conflict between entities, highlighting the need for efficient dispute-resolution mechanisms. Increased competition between countries can result in disputes that require immediate attention and require careful consideration of the structure of international and national communities. The importance of dispute resolution mechanisms is visible in the complexity of international business activities. This research aims to deepen a more essential understanding of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in international business law. This objective is achieved by stating two research questions: the scope of resolving trade disputes and the alternative resolutions for international trade disputes. This is comparative qualitative research carried out in the literature concerning a normative juridical approach. Data was collected by searching relevant literature and legal materials for normative qualitative analysis. This research found that two types of disputes are commonly encountered in the legal process: disputes that are legal or can be resolved and conflicts that are political or cannot be resolved. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) stands out for its effectiveness and efficiency in dispute resolution law. ADR aligns with the evolving dynamics of global trade, providing a valuable tool for managing disputes between business entities. Alternative. At least three alternative dispute resolution options can be chosen: (i) Resolving international trade disputes through mediation; (ii) Resolving international trade disputes through the World Trade Organization (WTO); Resolving disputes in international business through arbitration. This research suggests that it would be best to consider alternatives for resolving trade disputes according to the case's complexity level.

Dispute over the 1974 MoU Box between Indonesia and Australia: How MoU Legally Binding in Two Countries?

This study aims to delineate the legal authority of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) within the jurisdictions of Indonesia and Australia, particularly concerning the resolution of international civil law disputes. The research employs a normative juridical approach, utilizing legal reviews and secondary data for support. The findings reveal that in civil law states, notably Indonesia, MoUs are regarded as binding agreements in accordance with the "Agreement is Agreement" perspective as per Article 1338 (1) of the Civil Code. Conversely, common law states, such as Australia, generally perceive MoUs as non-legally binding. However, an MoU may attain validity and binding status if it fulfills the six stipulated requirements outlined in Australian contract law. To address the dispute surrounding the 1974 MoU BOX between Indonesia and Australia, resolution options include examining international civil law rules based on primary and secondary links or resorting to an international arbitral tribunal.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ARBITRATION AS AN EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

<p>Arbitration is an alternative non-litigation dispute resolution which has great demand but it has many weaknesses including the high cost of arbitration and decisions that cannot be executed immediately if registration has not been made at the District Court. Thus, the purpose of the analysis are 1) to analyze the juridical value of arbitration when compared to dispute resolution by litigation and 2) to analyze the effectiveness of arbitration as an effort to settle disputes outside of the court system. This study employed a normative legal methodology. The following are the outcomes of this study: Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution that is widely utilized by individuals, individuals and legal entities, between legal entities, etc. in the context of commercial law. Arbitration is widely chosen because dispute resolution is carried out in a closed, flexible and faster way than litigation and has binding legal force. Arbitration has more value, if the process is carried out correctly, observant in analyzing the problems and fulfilling the elements of the rules regarding the execution of the arbitral award. 2) The arbitration will be legally binding if the parties comply with the arbitration rules in the country where the matter will be executed.. Conclusion: arbitration remains an effective non-litigation dispute resolution option but must pay attention to the arbitration process and provisions so that the parties' awareness will arise to register the results of the arbitration decision and comply with the arbitration law applicable in each country.</p>

Black Scorpion and the 1970 Apapa Port Congestion: Solving Maritime Gateway-Hinterland Delivery Problems in Nigeria

The study examined the Apapa Port congestion of 1970 which became an albatross for the fledgling Gowon junta as Nigeria, heavily import-export dependent, grappled with immediate post-civil-war economic difficulties compounded by a clogged maritime gateway that threatened the peace dividend. The regime desperately turned to a noted disciplinarian, Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, aka Black Scorpion, the no-nonsense former head of the 3rd Marine Command which had routed Biafra’s secessionist forces at Port Harcourt to facilitate Nigeria’s victory, but who was untidily shunted aside in 1969, following the clandestine politics of the country and her vicious military sector. Although alienated, Adekunle became the military port commandant charged with clearing the gateway by all means. Using archival, primary, and secondary data sources, the paper examines Nigeria’s underlying sociopolitical fault lines using relevant theoretical frameworks and Adekunle’s rare oral interview to interrogate his persona, the controversies of the time, the achievements of the military port commandant-in-council, and how the hinterland delivery problems of the era were subjected to management by design strategies in future port and highway developments. The findings include unbalanced national utilization of port facilities in favour of the Lagos port system, with the conclusion that the skew was largely responsible for the frequent congestions whose resolution options must include harmonized nationwide redistribution of gateway functions in line with economic realities.

Legal Protection for Consumers in E-commerce Expeditions

This study investigates the legal protection afforded to consumers in the context of e-commerce, focusing on the liabilities of expedition services in cases of delayed or damaged goods. The primary objective is to explore the forms of legal protection provided to consumers for losses due to delays or damages in goods transported by expedition services, and to understand the legal responsibilities of these services in such scenarios. Utilizing a normative research method, the study examines relevant consumer protection laws and regulations governing shipment agreements. The findings reveal that consumers are entitled to various forms of legal protection, including the right to compensation in the form of refunds, replacement of goods, or payments based on the value of loss; entitlement to indemnities for healthcare costs or beneficiary allowances in cases of life-threatening harm; and the right to compensation from expedition services for material and immaterial losses beyond mere refunds. Additionally, the study underscores the government and consumer protection agencies' duty to educate and guide businesses, including expedition services. The legal responsibility of expedition services extends to compensating consumers for delayed shipments or lost goods, through either refunds or replacements. Moreover, the services are obligated to provide compensation or replacements for undelivered or damaged goods. Consumer claims for compensation can be resolved through direct negotiation with the expedition service, legal action, or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like BPSK. The study concludes that while consumers are legally protected to obtain compensation from expedition services, the enforcement of these services' responsibilities needs to be strengthened for more optimal fulfillment of consumer rights.Highlights:
 
 Legal Protections: Consumers have the right to compensation, including refunds, replacements, or payment for losses, and indemnities for life-threatening damages.
 Expedition Services' Obligations: These services must compensate for delays, lost, or damaged goods, with options for direct negotiation, legal action, or alternative dispute resolution.
 Enforcement Needs: Despite existing protections, there is a necessity to strengthen the enforcement of expedition services' responsibilities to better fulfill consumer rights.
 
 Keywords: Consumer Protection, E-commerce, Legal Responsibilities, Expedition Services, Compensation Claims

The existence and challenges of consumer dispute settlement agency in Indonesia in globalization era

Globalization has impacted Indonesia's economy, providing consumers with diverse goods and services. Advances in technology have facilitated global transactions, benefiting consumers. However, businesses have benefited from consumers through advertisements and promotions. The Indonesian Consumer Protection Law offers alternative dispute resolution options, including the Consumer Dispute Settlement Agency (BPSK). Despite the existence of alternative institutions, BPSK remains a necessary institution for quick and affordable dispute resolution. Strengthening the agency, achieving budget independence, improving human resources, establishing an online system, and establishing BPSK in each province and second-level region are crucial for its future success.

Using a Low-Flow Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal (ECCO 2 R) System in the Management of Refractory Status Asthmaticus: A Case Series.

Rescue treatments for status asthmaticus remain limited. Current literature has mainly focused on using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a primary modality of care for these patients. Low-flow extracorporeal CO 2 removal (ECCO 2 R) systems are an attractive option to improve refractory hypercapnic respiratory acidosis because of status asthmaticus. This is a retrospective case series that describes the feasibility and efficacy of the use of a low-flow ECCO 2 R device, the Hemolung Respiratory Assist System, in patients with refractory hypercapnic respiratory failure because of status asthmaticus. Eight patients were treated with the Hemolung Respiratory Assist System in eight separate locations globally. Seven (88%) of the patients survived to discharge in this case series. Both CO 2 and pH resolution were seen in 6 hours. None of the ECCO 2 R runs were stopped because of mechanical- or device-related complications. One patient necessitated transition to ECMO. Low-flow ECCO 2 R systems is an effective option for resolution of refractory hypercapnia in status asthmaticus. Use of these systems are also associated with a survival rate of close to 90% in patients with status asthmaticus.

The Use Of Mediation In The Settlement Of Public Private Partnerships Disputes

The purpose of this study was to analyze the position of the government in government cooperation agreements with business entities and how Alternative Dispute Resolution in KBBU. With normative juridical method, this study found that there is no clear legal basis related to the regulation of the government as a legal entity because Article 1653 of the Civil Code states the recognition of an association as a legal entity is mandatory through legislation; the position of the government is not explained in the general provisions of the PPP Presidential Regulation, but implicitly what the government means in PPP Presidential Regulation is ministries, institutions, and regions represented by Ministers, Heads of institutions and regional heads. Determination of Ministers/Heads of institutions/heads of Regions / BUMN and BUMD as PJPK based on authority in sectoral legislation; and the basis of binding balance in the position of the government as a party to the PPP agreement. So if there is a dispute in the PPP then naturally there is an alternative dispute resolution offered by using mediation as an alternative dispute resolution option.

Conciliation procedures in the resolution of labour disputes

It has been emphasized in the article that many employees and employers increasingly choose alternative methods of labour dispute resolution (alternative dispute resolution – ADR) – conciliation procedures, such as mediation. ADR offers a means of ensuring justice in the workplace for more workers at a lower cost and helps to “clean up” the backlog of statutory dispute resolution institutions, and thus helps public institutions to meet society’s need for labour dispute resolution more effectively.The author has drawn attention to the fact that historically, organizations responded to conflict only when it arose; they did not develop planning by conflict. However, today the situation has changed dramatically and organizations are increasingly implementing dispute resolution planning systems, which represent a systematic approach to conflict prevention, management and resolution that focuses on the cause of conflict within the organization.The author has concluded that the important features of project systems for resolving labour disputes – ADR are: 1) to help resolve labour disputes/conflicts, bringing common sense, goodwill and professionalism to the fore; 2) to provide a safe environment for expressing one’s positions, because disagreements and problems must be freely highlighted; 3) stimulate a clear and balanced decision, which should be the product of a free and constructive discussion, in which everyone has the opportunity to express their position freely and without hesitation.The author has summarized that the introduction of ADR in the organization, the resolution of internal complaints, disciplinary procedures and the implementation of the conflict management system has a number of advantages. These include: greater transparency of workplace procedures, procedural flexibility, efficiency and confidentiality that ensures party confidentiality and protects the organization’s reputation. ADR can also offer greater “sensitivity” to the needs of a particular workplace and especially its employees in highly sensitive and personal disputes, such as claims of sexual harassment, harassment, mobbing, etc. In addition, in facilitating consultative ADR processes, an agreement reached in a workplace dispute may contain a wide range of new outcomes that are not normally part of a court decision, and which may provide conflict resolution options that better suit the needs of each party.

Hybpiper-nf and paragone-nf: Containerization and additional options for target capture assembly and paralog resolution.

The HybPiper pipeline has become one of the most widely used tools for the assembly of target capture data for phylogenomic analysis. After the production of locus sequences and before phylogenetic analysis, the identification of paralogs is a critical step for ensuring the accurate inference of evolutionary relationships. Algorithmic approaches using gene tree topologies for the inference of ortholog groups are computationally efficient and broadly applicable to non-model organisms, especially in the absence of a known species tree. We containerized and expanded the functionality of both HybPiper and a pipeline for the inference of ortholog groups, providing novel options for the treatment of target capture sequence data, and allowing seamless use of the outputs of the former as inputs for the latter. The Singularity container presented here includes all dependencies, and the corresponding pipelines (hybpiper-nf and paragone-nf, respectively) are implemented via two Nextflow scripts for easier deployment and to vastly reduce the number of commands required for their use. The hybpiper-nf and paragone-nf pipelines are easily installed and provide a user-friendly experience and robust results to the phylogenetic community. They are used by the Australian Angiosperm Tree of Life project. The pipelines are available at https://github.com/chrisjackson-pellicle/hybpiper-nf and https://github.com/chrisjackson-pellicle/paragone-nf.

Lawyers’ ethical and practice norms in mediation: including emotion as part of the Australian Guidelines for Lawyers in Mediation

ABSTRACT Lawyers’ practice in mediation is evolving with the widespread use of processes other than litigation which have been commonly referred to as the alternative dispute resolution (‘ADR’) options in Australia. Legal representation in mediation is part of the changing nature of legal work and is informed by the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules (‘ASCR’) and practice guidelines. This article explores selected areas in the Law Council of Australia Guidelines for Lawyers in Mediation (‘LCA Guidelines’) and the ways that these guidelines provide a normative framework for practice including the incorporation of ethical rules. The article argues that the guidelines should be revised to promote legal practice that includes emotion, which may encourage settlement by assisting in identifying core concerns. It draws on a variety of Australian empirical studies on emotion including lawyers’ practice and judges’ engagement with emotion in their role. It recommends revising the LCA Guidelines to better engage with emotions, and additionally, the opportunity for law school dispute resolution curriculum to incorporate engagement with emotion using the LCA Guidelines is raised.

Umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells induce a memory phenotype in CD4+ T cells.

Inflammation is a physiological state where immune cells evoke a response against detrimental insults. Finding a safe and effective treatment for inflammation associated diseases has been a challenge. In this regard, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), exert immunomodulatory effects and have regenerative capacity making it a promising therapeutic option for resolution of acute and chronic inflammation. T cells play a critical role in inflammation and depending on their phenotype, they can stimulate or suppress inflammatory responses. However, the regulatory effects of hMSC on T cells and the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Most studies focused on activation, proliferation, and differentiation of T cells. Here, we further investigated memory formation and responsiveness of CD4+ T cells and their dynamics by immune-profiling and cytokine secretion analysis. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) were co-cultured with either αCD3/CD28 beads, activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or magnetically sorted CD4+ T cells. The mechanism of immune modulation of UC-MSC were investigated by comparing different modes of action; transwell, direct cell-cell contact, addition of UC-MSC conditioned medium or blockade of paracrine factor production by UC-MSC. We observed a differential effect of UC-MSC on CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation using PBMC or purified CD4+ T cell co-cultures. UC-MSC skewed the effector memory T cells into a central memory phenotype in both co-culture conditions. This effect on central memory formation was reversible, since UC-MSC primed central memory cells were still responsive after a second encounter with the same stimuli. The presence of both cell-cell contact and paracrine factors were necessary for the most pronounced immunomodulatory effect of UC-MSC on T cells. We found suggestive evidence for a partial role of IL-6 and TGFβ in the UC-MSC derived immunomodulatory function. Collectively, our data show that UC-MSCs clearly affect T cell activation, proliferation and maturation, depending on co-culture conditions for which both cell-cell contact and paracrine factors are needed.