'Solange, chapter 3': Constitutional Courts in Central Europe—Democracy—European Union

Abstract: Soon after the accession of eight post‐communist states from Central and Eastern Europe to the EU, the constitutional courts of some of these countries questioned the principle of supremacy of EU law over national constitutional systems, on the basis of their being the guardians of national standards of protection of human rights and of democratic principles. In doing so, they entered into the well‐known pattern of behaviour favoured by a number of constitutional courts of the ‘older Europe’, which is called a ‘Solange story’ for the purposes of this article. But this resistance is ridden with paradoxes, the most important of which is a democracy paradox: while accession to the EU was supposed to be the most stable guarantee for human rights and democracy in post‐communist states, how can the supremacy of EU law be now resisted on these very grounds? It is argued that the sources of these constitutional courts’ adherence to the ‘Solange’ pattern are primarily domestic, and that it is a way of strengthening their position vis‐à‐vis other national political actors, especially at a time when the role and independence of those courts face serious domestic challenges.     

Instability of pancuronium in postmortem blood and liver taken after a fatal intramuscular Pavulon injection

The present study was designed to determine the stability of pancuronium in postmortem blood and liver during storage. Results were obtained using the method by Kerskes et al. [C.H.M. Kerskes, K.J. Lusthof, P.G.M. Zweipfenning, J.P. Franke, The detection and identification of quaternary nitrogen muscle relaxants in biological fluids and tissues by ion-trap LC-ESI-MS, J. Anal. Toxicol. 26 (2002) 29-34.], modified and validated in our laboratory. Target analytes were isolated after enzymatic hydrolysis followed by solid phase extraction (BondElut C18 column). Internal standardisation was carried out using laudanosine and the target ions were monitored by LC-ESI-MS (monitoring ions m/z 358 for IS and 286 for pancuronium). Materials were taken from a 46-year-old woman, who had been found dead. A syringe (2 ml) and an empty ampoule of Pavulon (4 mg/2 mL) were found in her hand. The residual volume of fluid in the syringe was 0.7 ml. An autopsy was performed six days after death. It revealed a needle mark on the left thigh. Postmortem materials (muscle from the injection site, blood and liver) and the syringe with fluid were stored for four months in a freezer at -20 degrees C. The initial pancuronium concentrations were 81 ng/mL in blood and 532 ng/g in liver. The analyte was stable when stored at -20 degrees C in blood even up to seven months. In liver samples its concentrations were variable. Pancuronium in blood stored at 20 degrees C underwent degradation very rapidly. After three months of storage these blood samples had concentrations not greater about 10% of the initial value. The degradation patterns of pancuronium depended on temperature and the biological matrix.     

The macro and micro views of political marketing: the underpinnings of a theory of political marketing

The multi‐disciplinary nature of political marketing lends itself to a micro/macro analysis. The goal of the article is to present the theoretical frames allowing one to develop an approach to political marketing, which may become the foundations of a general theory of political marketing. Like microeconomics and macroeconomics are the two major categories within the field of economics, so are micro and macro approach to political marketing the two major perspectives that allow one to better understand the workings of modern democracies and the processes taking place there. Such an approach can integrate various theories of particular political behavior considered as part of an external macrostructure, understood as broad social, political, legal, economic, and technological context, with the theories of political behavior of individuals and institutions considered as internal microstructure. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of phenotype associated SNPs in the MC1R gene

Prediction of physical appearance based on genetic analysis is a very attractive prospect for forensic investigations. Recent studies have proved that there is a significant association between some genetic variants of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene and red hair color. The present study focuses on the potential forensic applicability of variation within this pigment-related gene. Sequencing of the complete MC1R gene was performed on a group of red-haired individuals and controls with different pigmentation. A major role in determination of red hair color is played by two MC1R variants--C451T and C478T. The optimized minisequencing assay for genotyping of the above positions and three other important red hair-related MC1R polymorphisms, C252A, G425A, and G880C was successfully applied to analyze typical forensic specimens. Determination of a homozygous or heterozygous combination can be a good predictor of both red hair color and fair skin of a subject.     

Uncertainty of calculation results in vehicle collision analysis

In the analysis of road accidents two types of calculation result uncertainty can be distinguished: modelling uncertainty and uncertainty in calculation results [R.M. Brach, M. Brach, Vehicle Accident Analysis & Reconstruction Methods, SAE International Publisher, Warrendale, 2005]. The problem becomes very important first of all when minor modifications of input parameters or application of different models of the phenomenon lead to a fundamentally different answer to the question posed by the court. The aim of the paper was to prove the necessity of including the problem of uncertainty in calculations related to vehicle collision mechanics and to justify the application of different error analysis methods recommendable in vehicle collision reconstruction. The data file from crash test No. 7 [H. Burg, M. Lindenmann, Unfallversuche, Verlag Information Ambs, Kippenheim, 1982] was used, the selection restricted to the range typical of average police records of collision place. Collision speeds were calculated using two methods: reconstruction and simulation. The analysis of uncertainty was carried out. Maximum and mean square uncertainty were calculated by means of total differential of relevant forms. Since the reconstruction resulted in very broad error intervals of uniform distribution, additional calculations were performed by the Monte Carlo method using algorithm described in [W. Wach, J. Unarski, Determination of vehicle velocities and collision location by means of Monte Carlo simulation method, Special Publication Accident Reconstruction SP-1999, SAE Paper No. 2006-01-0907, 2006].     

The right to an effective remedy in European law: significance,content and interaction

China-EU Law Journal - One of the basic rights and a general principle of the European Union is the right to an effective remedy. In the paper is presented the basis of the right to an effective...     

Are the LDCs really the world’s least developed countries?

The term ‘the least developed countries’ (LDCs) is widely understood to designate, exactly as stated, the world’s least developed countries. In conjunction with the 2015 United Nations (UN) triennial review of the LDC category, this article attempts to critically evaluate the UN’s list of LDC countries in the light of various indicators – economic, social, political, military and security related, and psychological. It concludes that the official and actual lists of LDCs, despite important similarities, are not completely identical. The term ‘the LDCs’ as used by the UN is therefore not fully consistent with the reality it attempts to designate and describe.     

Bauen auf fremdem Grund – widersprüchliche Judikatur und Lehre zum erweiterten Anwendungsbereich des § 418 Satz 3 ABGB

Zu der im Zusammenhang mit dem Bauen auf fremdem Grund mit eigenem Material einschl?gigen zivilrechtlichen Bestimmung (§ 418 Satz 3 ABGB) hat die Judikatur im Laufe der Zeit zum ursprünglichen einen zus?tzlichen Anwendungsbereich entwickelt. Dabei wurde der Begriff der Redlichkeit des Bauführers erweitert, indem ein Bauführer nicht nur dann als redlich gilt, wenn er entschuldbar darüber irrt, dass er auf einer fremden Liegenschaft ein Bauwerk errichtet, sondern auch dann, wenn er zwar wei?, dass er auf fremdem Grund baut, aber aus wahrscheinlichen Gründen annehmen kann, dass der Grundeigentümer mit der Bauführung einverstanden ist. Etwaigen Abreden zwischen ihm und dem Grundeigentümer hinsichtlich der Bauführung kommt insofern Bedeutung zu, dass dann die subsidi?re Bestimmung des § 418 Satz 3 ABGB nicht zur Anwendung gelangt. Vereitelt der Grundeigentümer jedoch vorwerfbar eine – wenn auch nicht verbindliche – Abrede im Hinblick auf einen künftigen Eigentumserwerb des Bauführers an der Liegenschaft, dann soll die Rechtsfolge des § 418 Satz 3 ABGB, n?mlich der au?erbücherliche Eigentumserwerb, dennoch als Sanktion eingreifen. Inwieweit dieser zT schon in der Vergangenheit vielfach kritisierten Judikatur Berechtigung zukommt, wird im folgenden Beitrag untersucht.