Lethal small bowel obstruction due to pica

Up to 25% of institutionalized patients with cognitive deficiencies display pica-like behavior, with an estimated annual incidence of small bowel obstruction of 2%. We present a case based on the forensic autopsy of a 41-year-old woman who died as a result of a missed diagnosis of small bowel obstruction after ingesting a foreign body. The case underlines the importance of precaution when treating patients with cognitive deficiency and/or language deficits and gastrointestinal symptoms. In such cases, it is important to employ a liberal threshold for radiological investigations and, if possible, obtain a medical history from a person close to the patient.     

A view from the policy community: a new strategic narrative for Europe?

ABSTRACT

Reflecting on the results presented in articles in this special issue, European leaders should take greater account of external perceptions in crafting the European Union's strategic narrative and guiding its actions. Failure to do so has impaired external policies like the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. Leaders emerging from the Arab uprisings perceived the EU as complicit with their countries’ former anciens régimes and Russian leaders see EU support for democracy and the market economy in former Soviet states as duplicitous and instrusive. Awareness of such perceptions should be filtered into EU decision-making, without validating views that European officials and diplomats consider misleading.     

Beyond royal politics: state transformation and foreign policy in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi politics is commonly portrayed as reflecting a system of centralised personal rule in which decision-making power trickles down from the tightly knit power circles within the House of Saud. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the empowerment of quasi-autonomous state organisations in Saudi Arabia as a result of state transformation and regional integration. At its most extreme, state transformation in Saudi Arabia has created institutional and regulatory enclaves with vested interests and areas of competence that cross Saudi borders. This paper illustrates the foreign policy ramifications of transformed statehood in Saudi attempts to further Gulf regional integration in the context of the Gulf Monetary Union project.     

中国利用外资新特点及其思考

随着改革开放的更进一步纵深展开,中国利用外资在近几年也呈现出了一些新特点。本文旨在介绍我国在利 用外资上的新模式和新领域,并针对这些新特点,对外资的宏观管理提出一些建议。     

中国外资银行监管与中国入世承诺的履行

WTO规则促进了国际金融一体化的进程 ,加入WTO对我国金融业既是机遇又意味着挑战 ,本文针对WTO规则中有关银行业的规定与我国相关承诺中涉及的外资银行监管问题进行了客观分析 ,并就我国完善对外资银行的监管提出了自己的看法。     

"大国际私法观"辩正

大国际私法观缺乏学科学理论的支持,对其所负任务的认识也不够清晰科学.国际私法的范围应当根据实际的需要来加以确定.当前,国际私法的主要目的是解决在涉外民商事交往中或在处理涉外民商事争议时所出现的法律问题,因此,它的范围应当从处理涉外民商事案件的过程加以判断和确定.我国传统大国际私法观所包含的内容也应据此作出相应的修正.     

国际海运立法中分化与协调的百年变奏——以海上货物运输承运人责任制度为视角

承运人责任制度是国际海上货物运输法律制度的核心,其发生、发展与变革无不取决于国际贸易、航海技术、运输方式等因素.基于此,我们认为:在未来的一个相当长的时期内,过失责任制应该得到维系,在过失责任制下,免责事项将逐渐醇化,举证责任将根据航运实践的特点予以合理分配,承运人的赔偿责任亦将继续得到适当的限制,从而使过失责任制得到彻底的贯彻.     

俄罗斯外债问题研究

自20世纪90年代以来,俄罗斯走上了从计划经济向市场经济转轨的道路,并迅速积累了巨额外债。近年来,俄罗斯外债余额递减,但规模仍然庞大,外债结构亦日趋合理。俄罗斯外债危机后的外债重组任务艰巨,解决外债问题,可以考虑以货抵债、以股抵债和外债资本化。综观俄罗斯国内外形势,从总体上看,俄罗斯外债形势仍不容乐观。2003年是俄罗斯的偿债高峰年,其1 301亿美元巨额外债的偿还进程举世瞩目,对世界各国的外债实践都有着重要的借鉴意义     

证据排除规则的重构——以诉讼效率为视角

诉讼效率指诉讼收益与诉讼成本之间的差额。诉讼收益主要体现为发现真实,而诉讼成本主要体现为证据的收集与认定成本。证据排除规则既可以保障发现案件真实,亦可以保护其他合法利益,但我国目前的证据法没有能够从提供诉讼效率的角度去设计证据排除规则,我国诉讼法中不同的诉讼采用相同的证明标准是这一现象出现的重要原因。     

中美经贸摩擦分析

中美经贸关系在迅速发展的同时,经贸摩擦不断。究竟如何看待中美经贸摩擦无疑是个需要认真思考和探讨的重要课题。作者围绕着中美经贸摩擦与日美经贸摩擦是否相同、近几年中美经贸摩擦的主要原因以及中美经贸摩擦是否是必然的、不可避免的等问题阐述了个人观点。作者认为,中美经贸摩擦与日美经贸摩擦比较既有相同之处,也有重要区别;近些年的中美经贸摩擦主要是经济原因而非政治原因引起的;中美经贸摩擦在某种程度上是可以避免或减少的。