Near Infrared Spectroscopy Detection and Quantification of Herbal Medicines Adulterated with Sibutramine

There is an increasing demand for herbal medicines in weight loss treatment. Some synthetic chemicals, such as sibutramine (SB), have been detected as adulterants in herbal formulations. In this study, two strategies using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy have been developed to evaluate potential adulteration of herbal medicines with SB: a qualitative screening approach and a quantitative methodology based on multivariate calibration. Samples were composed by products commercialized as herbal medicines, as well as by laboratory adulterated samples. Spectra were obtained in the range of 14,000–4000 per cm. Using PLS‐DA, a correct classification of 100% was achieved for the external validation set. In the quantitative approach, the root mean squares error of prediction (RMSEP), for both PLS and MLR models, was 0.2%w/w. The results prove the potential of NIR spectroscopy and multivariate calibration in quantifying sibutramine in adulterated herbal medicines samples.     

The Open Method of Coordination in the New Member States—the Perspectives for its Use as a Tool of Soft Law

Abstract:   The open method of coordination (OMC) has introduced a shift with the traditional legal instruments set up by the Treaty. Its introduction was initially supposed to favour more 'flexibility' and 'openness' in the community legal order. After a presentation of the OMC, this article intends to provide an assessment of the OMC's implementation in the ten new Member States. It displays that the OMC is sometimes far from his initial purposes, and in consequence needs to a certain extend, to adapt some of the guidelines and to clarify its legal bases. It concludes with a critical appraisal of the use of the OMC as itself, which should be imbricated in the community.     

Traffic Management Rules for Space Operations

This article is based on the report on the status of work of the Study Group on Space Traffic Management, International Academy of Astronautics; in particular it describes the approach and the scope of the study as well as its preliminary findings. The study group intends to finalize its work in late 2004, in order to be able to put the study before the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and launch its review process after the 2004 International Astronautical Congress. Following this review, the study will be published and is expected to make an impact in different international forums dealing with the exploration and use of outer space.     

Judicial Supervision of Executive Action in the Commonwealth Caribbean

The following text is taken from the first in a series of lectures in memory of the late Right Honourable Philip Telford Georges. The Right Honourable Mr Justice Michael de la Bastide was invited by the Dean of the Law Faculty, University of the West Indies, to deliver this inaugural lecture in Barbados on 31 March 2006.     

The London Agreement and the cost of patenting in Europe

This paper analyses the consequences for the European patent system of the recently ratified London Agreement, which aims to reduce the translation requirements for patent validation procedures in 15 out of 34 national patent offices. The simulations suggest that the cost of patenting has been reduced by 20–30% since the enforcement of the LA. With an average translation cost saving of €3,600 per patent, the total savings for the business sector amount to about €220 millions. The fee elasticity of patents being about −0.4, one may expect an increase in patent filings of 8–12%. Despite the translation cost savings, the relative cost of a European patent validated in six (thirteen) countries is still at least five (seven) times higher than in the United States.