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。     

法律的统一对民法法典化的影响

自19世纪以来,大陆法系各国纷纷制定颁布了自己的民法典,掀起了制定民法典的浪潮。然而,在论及制定颁布民法典的原因时,多数学者往往忽视法律的统一这一因素对其的影响。实际上,从大陆法系各主要国家制定颁布民法典的最直接、最现实的目的来看,都是基于对已有分散的法律进行统一的需要。基于同样的原因,英美法系的国家也制定颁布了民事单行法。     

法治视角下的群体性事件——以当前群体性事件的三个热点为例

法的功能在于调节、调和与调解各种错杂和冲突的利益。本文以当前群体性事件的三个热点为例,分析了由于法律缺失和不完善,不依法行政、滥用权力,司法不公及司法权威受损与群体性事件的发生的关系。提出一方面我们应当教育群众通过合法途径保护自身的合法权益,另一方面应通过加强法制建设,约束行政权力、规范行政行为,采取切实可行的政策措施,保护群众的利益不受侵害。     

The GMO food arena in the EU (1998–2001)

A highly politicised arena in the EU has been caused by the 1998 Commission legislative proposal with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The debate over different interests became more intense. During the EU decision‐making process concerning GMOs, two larger coalitions cutting across institutions and countries waged the fight: one was led by industry and was in favour of GMOs and the other was against and mainly rooted in nongovernmental lobby groups. In mid‐2001, the ‘anti’ movement had gained a (temporary) winning position. In an attempt to explain this, it was concluded that the industrial lobby has been nonchalant in its preparatory work for public affairs management, by not carefully studying the various stakeholders, issues, time developments and the boundaries of this arena. With the benefit of hindsight it can be seen that the industrial lobby itself has missed opportunities and made unforced errors. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications     

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     

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。