Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

<bold>Background:</bold> Type 2 inflammation and eosinophils can promote chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathophysiology and increase the risk of exacerbations. <bold>Aims:</bold> To assess the association between type 2 inflammation gene signatures and clinical and phenotypic biomarkers. <bold>Methods:</bold> ECLIPSE (<ext-link>NCT00292552</ext-link>) was a longitudinal, observational study of patients with COPD, a baseline post-bronchodilator (BD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) <80% predicted, and baseline post-BD FEV₁/forced vital capacity ≤0.7. A type 2 gene set signature (24 genes) was assessed by microarray-based transcriptomics. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) scores for the gene set signature in each patient were calculated. Analysis 1 assessed GSVA score association with sputum and blood eosinophil count (BEC) using Spearman’s correlation and linear models. Analysis 2 assessed sputum GSVA score association with sputum eosinophil count. <bold>Results:</bold> Analysis 1 included 112 samples with paired sputum and BEC. Type 2 GSVA score was associated with sputum eosinophils (≥2% or <2%) and with BEC distribution subgroups (<100, 100–299, and ≥300 cells/μL). Analysis 2 included 143 sputum samples. Type 2 GSVA score in sputum cell gene expression activities was positively associated with both BEC levels and sputum eosinophil counts. These positive associations persisted when GOLD E patients were excluded. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Raised BEC is associated with increased type 2 inflammation gene expression in COPD sputum, suggesting anti-interleukin-5 therapy may reduce exacerbations. The findings also suggest a widely shared pathological feature in COPD, regardless of GOLD grade. <bold>Funding:</bold> GSK (104960).

Abstract A new chapter on international crimes was introduced in the Danish Criminal Code on 1 January 2025. The new chapter offers a modernized definition of international crimes, which possibly could inspire other states and contribute to the development of customary international law in this area. The article reviews the new Chapter 13a of the Danish Criminal Code, which contains independent criminal provisions relating to crimes of aggression, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. It also briefly discusses Denmark’s decision to ratify Article 8bis of the Rome Statute concerning the crime of aggression. The appendix to the article provides an unofficial translation of Chapter 13a of the Danish Criminal Code.

A number of States have published national position papers on the application of international law in cyberspace to further the common understanding of the interpretation of international law in this domain.Denmark fully supports these efforts and is pleased to now share its own paper.The focus of the Danish position paper is on cyberspace in the broad context of international law, including issues pertaining to state sovereignty, non-intervention, the prohibition on the use of force and international humanitarian law.

Background The relationship between protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and malaria is controversial. While most studies demonstrate that PEM is associated with greater malaria morbidity, some indicate that PEM may in fact have a protective effect. PEM is differentiated into three subgroups: kwashiorkor (marked protein deficiency), marasmus (calorie deficiency), and kwashiorkor/marasmus. None of the studies concerning PEM and malaria seem to distinguish between these subgroups, and significant differences in susceptibility to malaria between these subgroups may have been overlooked. Plasmodium parasites and malaria infected erythrocytes are sensitive to oxidative stress. Since kwashiorkor patients seem to display an excess of prooxidants and as serum albumin is an important antioxidant, we hypothesized that patients with different forms of PEM might have different levels of malaria parasitaemia. Methods 72 PEM children older than 6 months admitted to Kwale Family Life Training Programme (Kenya) were included in the study. Results Mean parasitaemia was significantly lower in the kwashiorkor group than in the marasmus group (p < 0,001). There was no correlation between serum albumin and parasitaemia. Conclusion Our study suggests a protective effect of kwashiorkor against malaria, warranting further studies.

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Baggrundssektionen afsluttes med de tre vinderbidrag fra årets artikelkonkurrence, der udskrives i samarbejde med Udenrigsministeriet, og som i år havde temaet ‘Internationale statslige organisationer i den ny verdensorden’.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Temaet afsluttes med de tre vinderartikler fra Det Udenrigspolitiske Selskabs og Udenrigs- ministeriets artikelkonkurrence, der netop havde Arktis som emne.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Part of the justification for joint-donor evaluations is that they allow the conduct of relevant evaluations with a broader scope than single-donor evaluations and at the same time reduce transaction costs. Many joint-donor evaluations, however, run into management and coordination problems, have unforeseen high transaction costs for the donors and result in general conclusions and recommendations. The purpose of this article is to contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence how donor-evaluation units engage in joint evaluations and to identify mechanisms that can make them more effective. It represents a first step towards analysing joint evaluations using a political-economy perspective based on assumptions about the interests and incentives of donor management, evaluations units and evaluators. The article argues that the broader scope of many joint-donor evaluations and their relatively high transaction costs are closely related to and originate from differences in donor interests and incentive structures, and an insufficient focus on methodological challenges. The article concludes with a number of tentative operational suggestions based on the analyses.

Stravan efter en jamn konsfordelning i tillgangen till samhallelig makt ar en hornsten i nordisk demokratiuppfattning och jamstalldhetspolitik. Ett ...

Diskussionen om test/evaluering i matematik i folkeskolen er blevet meget aktuel i Danmark, hvor vi er på vej ind i en evalueringskultur. Erfaringer fra udlandet og fra testningens historie viser imidlertid at vejen frem er fyldt med mulige faldgruber. Efter en begrebsafklaring ses der på testningens oprindelse og på negative virkninger af test/evaluering. Det påvises derefter at hensigtsmæssige evalueringsformer kan støtte reformer af matematikundervisningen på grundskoleniveau. Den vigtigste faktor i denne forbindelse er den ofte undervurderede tilbagevirkende effekt af test/evaluering der både kan have positive og negative konsekvenser for undervisningen.