Stratigraphic Trap Potential in the Middle East – Examples from the Mesozoic

The Mesozoic stratigraphy of the Middle East is endowed with multiple world-class, economically significant petroleum systems. Since the first discovery of a major oilfield in an anticline structure in 1908 (Masjed-e-Suleyman, Iran), exploration and production in the Middle East has been largely focussed on relatively low-risk, large structural traps. However, across the Arabian Plate, unexplored structural traps at similar scales are becoming scarce. Therefore, in this mature petroleum province, attention must now focus on identifying the presence of subtle stratigraphic traps, especially within the hydrocarbon-rich Mesozoic stratigraphy. In order to locate and evaluate subtle stratigraphic traps, we have applied sequence stratigraphic principles across the Mesozoic strata of the Arabian Plate. This approach provides a regional, robust age-based framework which reduces lithostratigraphic uncertainty across international boundaries and offers predictive capabilities in the identification and extent of stratigraphic plays. Herein, we focus on three intervals of Mesozoic stratigraphy, namely Triassic, Middle-Late Jurassic and middle Cretaceous strata, in which regional sequence stratigraphic based correlations have identified stratigraphic trap potential. Each of these stratigraphic intervals are associated with the following stratigraphic traps:Triassic: Sub-crop traps associated with a base Jurassic regional unconformity and intra-Triassic unconformities. Onlap geometries associated with differential topography on the Arabian Plate.Middle-Late Jurassic: Pure stratigraphic trap geometries associated with basin margin progradation and pinch-out plays either side of the Rimthan Arch related to late Oxfordian/early Kimmeridgian sea-level fall.Middle Cretaceous: Sub-crop potential beneath the regional mid-Turonian unconformity, basin margin progradation and stratigraphic pinch-out geometries associated with onlap onto basin margins. This regional sequence stratigraphic approach highlights the remaining exploration and production opportunities within these hydrocarbon-rich stratigraphic intervals.

Infusing Representativeness and Cultivating Harmonization in Alzheimer’s Trials: World Wide FINGERS

World Wide Fingers is a network involving over 30 countries organized to conduct randomized controlled clinical trials to slow the progression of cognitive decline and reduce dementia risks. Trials are designed to parallel the successful Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) trial of a multidomain lifestyle intervention featuring increased physical activity, improved diet, cognitive training, and metabolic risk factor monitoring. While FINGER found that its intervention significantly benefited cognitive function, it is not clear whether this approach might be successfully tailored to other cultures and environments to yield similar results. This is the goal of World Wide FINGERS. It infuses representativeness by enrolling cohorts that reflect the communities in which it is conducted. For findings across the many trials to be integrated, it is necessary for protocols to be harmonized as much as possible. The COVID-19 pandemic presents special challenges towards harmonization as its disruptions of trial protocols and conduct vary among countries and over time. This symposium is organized to provide the scientific background and framework for the World Wide FINGERS. Novel grassroots efforts towards enrolling representative cohorts in the US will be described. Plans for harmonization and federated data analyses spanning international boundaries and regulations will be outlined. Integrated approaches to challenges of COVID-19 pandemic across trials will be presented. The conclusion of this session will be a discussion of how World Wide FINGERS may serve as a model for collaborative approaches to identify effective, translatable approaches to reduce risks for Alzheimer’s disease.

COVID-19 Syndrome: Nexus with Herbivory and Exposure Dynamics for Monitoring Livestock Welfare and Agro-Environment

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a public health emergency that turns the year 2020–2021 into annus horribilis for millions of people across international boundaries. The interspecies transmission of this zoonotic virus and mutated variants are aided by exposure dynamics of infected aerosols, fomites and intermediate reservoirs. The spike in the first, second and third waves of coronavirus confirms that herd immunity is not yet reached and everyone including livestock is still vulnerable to the infection. Of serious concern are the communitarian nature of agrarians in the livestock sector, aerogenous spread of the virus and attendant cytocidal effect in permissive cells following activation of pathogen recognition receptors, replication cycles, virulent mutations, seasonal spike in infection rates, flurry of reinfections and excess mortalities that can affect animal welfare and food security. As the capacity to either resist or be susceptible to infection is influenced by numerous factors, identifying coronavirus-associated variants and correlating exposure dynamics with viral aerosols, spirometry indices, comorbidities, susceptible blood types, cellular miRNA binding sites and multisystem inflammatory syndrome remains a challenge where the lethal zoonotic infections are prevalent in the livestock industry, being the hub of dairy, fur, meat and egg production. This review provides insights into the complexity of the disease burden and recommends precision smart-farming models for upscaling biosecurity measures and adoption of digitalised technologies (robotic drones) powered by multiparametric sensors and radio modem systems for real-time tracking of infectious strains in the agro-environment and managing the transition into the new-normal realities in the livestock industry.

Interpretation of Boundaries Treaties in the Light of General Principles of International Boundaries: تفسير المعاهدات الحدودية في ضوء المبادئ العامة للحدود الدولية

This paper sheds the light on the general rules for interpretation of intentional treaties, and the scope of their application on boundaries treaties. It shows the reflection of stability and finality of boundaries and subsequent conduct principles, as well as rules of equity on interpretation of boundaries treaties. This study also makes good explanation on the legal nature of boundaries treaties, and how this nature was a reason for excluding boundaries treaties from the application of fundamental change of circumstance term, and excluding boundaries treaties form application of Vienna rules of succession of state. In ends that the scope of application of general rules for interpretation of treaties is limited to adhere with general principles of international boundaries, in particular principle of stability of boundaries and principle of subsequent conduct. It explains how rules of equity can be used to change boundaries delimitated by treaties. This paper ascertains that boundaries treaties where not a subject for legal disagreement when discussing Vienna Convention of Law of treaties 1969, and Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties 1978, and it was agreed to exclude these treaties form the terms of these treaties.

The Geographical Reach of International Humanitarian Law in Transnational Armed Conflict

Non-international armed conflict between States and organised armed groups is a reality of warfare. Since the emergence of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, this form of conflict has been regulated by international humanitarian law. However, a subset of this category known as ‘transnational armed conflict’ has seen aggressive proliferation over recent decades as groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria have taken advantage of the internet and other technologies to expand their reach beyond national frontiers and strike States around the world. This phenomenon has left the geographical extent of international humanitarian law – which has historically relied on State boundaries to determine its ambit – unclear. This article examines the main options for delimiting the geographical reach of the regime in transnational armed conflict. It considers approaches based on international boundaries; ‘hot battlefields’; ‘global application’ and ‘territorial control’ before ultimately concluding that a method based on ‘military presence’ would be the most suitable standard.

Gyorsreagálás a pandémiára, ellátásbiztonság

Összefoglaló. A tavalyi évben kitört COVID–19 pandémia jelentős kihívások elé állította a világot. Nem pusztán a kormányok és az egészségügyi rendszerek szembesültek új, békeidőben eddig még nem gyakorolt feladatokkal, de a tudományos világnak is át kellett tekinteni mind a régi, mind a legmodernebb eszközöket ahhoz, hogy a vírus terjedésének, a betegek szenvedéseinek, a tömeges halálozásoknak végre véget lehessen vetni. Habár a járványnak még messze nincsen vége, és egyre újabb és újabb mutánsok ütik fel a fejüket a világ legkülönbözőbb részein, mégis azokat a tanulságokat, melyek már összegyűltek a gyógyszeripar területén, érdemes összefoglalni. Talán még ennél is fontosabb azonban, hogy azokat a hiányokat, amelyeket még be kell pótolni, szintén megemlítsük, hogy ezzel is segítsük az újabb hullámok vagy járványok leküzdését. Summary. During the last 12 months the most serious issue was the SARS-CoV-2 virus generated pandemia around the world. There is no country which could be more or less intact and a huge amount of resources was sacrificed to rescue people from the fatal outcome of this disease. When it started a year ago or more, there were doubts about its future but later it was realised that this is an epidemic occurring worldwide, crossing international boundaries, and affecting a large number of people. According to the WHO, today the number of confirmed cases is about 157.8 million, confirmed deaths are 3.3 million and 1.2 billion vaccine doses have been administered. These numbers clearly show how important it is to elaborate the reaction of the pharma industry and investigate how to ensure safe drug supply for patients in every country. The topics discussed below are the basic and unique features of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pandemia generated by it, and the role of the Hungarian pharma industry, especially Gedeon Richter plc, during this critical period. On one hand the author explains how the spread of virus can be decreased in general and at a production facility like Richter, and on the other hand R&D activity of the Company aiming to cure patients suffering from COVID-19 infection. Consortia including universities, academia and industrial entities made a substantial impact on handling this terrible epidemic. Gedeon Richter plc, the biggest and only independent Hungarian pharma company, in keeping with its roots started small molecule R&D to make favipiravir and remdesivir available to clinics. The latter production is a very difficult one but using its background in chemistry Richter was able to manage all R&D and industrial scale up activities in six months. Moreover, it has filed two patent applications about its new, more feasible and economical process steps justifying its innovative attitude. As a final conclusion it is stated that for the safe supply of necessary medication one critical step is missing from the capabilities of the Hungarian pharma industry, the vaccine R&D and production.

Amitav Ghosh’ Shadow Lines: Mapping Cross Border Identity

The Shadow Lines (1988) is a historical novel by Amitav Ghosh that focuses on the national and geographical boundaries that alienate individuals. The book also depicts the violence that erupted in 1964. The title “The Shadow Lines” has multiple layers of meanings; it does not only relate to international boundaries. Ghosh’s choice of the title implies that the boundaries that divide people are just ‘shadows’. Those borders are nothing but artificial and fictitious lines drawn by people from power centre. Ghosh emphasises arbitrary nature of such geographic demarcations. This paper tends to identify the identity of people who did cross geographical borders forcefully or voluntarily and how memory and nostalgia loom large upon them.

Global Health Security

Global (public) health security is defined by the World Health Organization as the activities required, both proactive and reactive, to minimize the danger and impact of acute public health events that endanger people’s health across geographical regions and international boundaries. This definition is normative in that it tells us how global health security ought to be done. It does not explain how “activities” should be enacted, or what should be done to “minimize” the danger and impact of public health events across geographical regions and international boundaries. The literature below is a sample of the rich research that has tried to grapple with the how and what questions of global health security. This entry includes research from a range of disciplines, including public health, political science, law, economics, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. It is just a small sample but there are thematic continuities across the literature that led to the selection of the sections identified below. A large part of the literature providing General Overviews, in the 1990s and 2000s, examined the evolution of the definition of “global health security” as an extension of, or distinct from, national health security. The marriage of global health and security became the subject of much debate. In particular, what events constitute Securitization, which is the second theme of literature examined below? The evolution of Biosecurity literature emerged at the same time. Securitization literature is quite different from biosecurity literature in that biosecurity literature does not engage, for the most part, with discussions about the protection of peoples (as defined under global health security). This literature has been concerned primarily with the protection of states. The consequence of two health security literatures running at different tracks of inquiry is different approaches, interests, and prioritization of global health security. This has led to the proliferation of Multidisciplinary usage of the term “global health security” from a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives. However, gaps remain practice and research. A consistently neglected area of global health security is Inequalities. Who are the “peoples” in global health security practice and research? Finally, this entry examines the events where global health security is (or is not) “applied” to health threats, which is examined in the Outbreaks section.

Punk Sans Frontières

Punk’s diaspora was not limited to the United Kingdom or the United States, and, even during its mid-1970s heyday, parallel developments were happening around the globe, and what would become known as “punk” emerged in Australia, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia at the same time as the nascent UK punk movement. Furthermore, as punk in the United Kingdom reached its commercial peak and began to decline (at least in terms of its public profile), it was being discovered, reinvented, or adapted in far-flung places beyond the (Western) critical radar. More than forty years on, punk has traversed international boundaries, and the legacies of the original UK and US scenes are now accompanied by a variety of global counterparts. This chapter narrates punk’s evolution as an international phenomenon, whose interaction with wider cultural contexts, languages, and systems of belief challenged notions of a homogeneous “punk” identity.

Multilevel analysis of factors affecting open-access institutional repository implementation in Nigerian universities

PurposeThe study aims to identify novel open-access institutional repository (OAIR) implementation barriers and explain how they evolve. It also aims to extend theoretical insights into the information technology (IT) implementation literature.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted the interpretive philosophy, the inductive research approach and qualitative case study research method. Three Nigerian universities served as the case research contexts. The unstructured in-depth interview and the participatory observation were adopted as the data collection instruments. The qualitative data collected were analysed using thematic data analysis technique.FindingsFindings show that IR implementation barriers evolved from global, organisational and individual implementation levels in the research contexts. Results specifically reveal how easy access to ideas and information and easy movement of people across international boundaries constituted globalisation trend-driven OAIR implementation barriers given their influence on OAIR implementation activities at the organisational and individual implementation levels. The two factors led to overambitious craving for information technology (IT) implementation and inadequate OAIR implementation success factors at the organisational level in the research contexts. They also led to conflicting IR implementation ideas and information at the individual level in the research contexts.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary limitation of the research is the adoption of qualitative case study research method which makes its findings not generalisable. The study comprised only three Nigerian universities. However, the study provides plausible insights that explain how OAIR implementation barriers emanate at the organisational and individual levels due to two globalisation trends: easy access to ideas and information and easy movement of people across international boundaries.Practical implicationsThe study points out the need for OAIR implementers to assess how easy access to information and ideas and easy movement of people across international boundaries influence the evolution of conflicting OAIR implementation ideas and information at the individual level, and overambitious craving for IT implementation and setting inadequate OAIR implementation success factors at the organisational level. The study extends views in past studies that propose that OAIR implementation barriers only emanate at organisational and individual levels, that is, only within universities involved in OAIR implementation and among individuals working in the universities.Social implicationsThe study argues that OAIR implementation consists of three implementation levels: individual, organisational and global. It provides stakeholders with the information that there is a third OAIR implementation level.Originality/valueData validity, sample validity and novel findings are the hallmarks of the study's originality. Study data consist of first-hand experiences and information derived during participatory observation and in-depth interviews with research participants. The participants were purposively selected, given their participation in OAIR implementation in the research contexts. Study findings on the connections among global, organisational and individual OAIR implementation levels and how their relationships lead to OAIR implementation barriers are novel.