as Fantasy Fortifications — Part 4: Types of Castles By mythicscribes.com Published On :: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 23:01:05 +0000 This article is part 4 of a series on Fantasy Fortifications by Toni Šušnjar. Building a Fort Build time of a castle, depending on design and available funds, may last from half a year to half a century. It also depends on the situation before the building: a ruined castle is a half-built castle after all, and rennovating (and/or updating) walls is much cheaper than building new ones. This can be seen with city of Dubrovnik, where (massive) medieval fortifications were, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453., reinforced with outer line of walls to reinforce them against cannon fire. Both build time and extent of fortifications depend on material (financial, logistical, humane) capacities of the builder, as well as the perceived need. Many castles were never finished for lack of resources. Builders are professionals; peasants, soldiers and other amateurs were used for muscle work only. This means that they have to be paid, and many in fact travel from a building place to a building place. Beaumaris Castle in England required 400 masons and 1,000 assistants to be built in a nearly record time (from 1278 to 1280). Types of Castles Motte and bailey castle Motte and bailey castle is the earliest and simplest type of a castle. Continue reading Fantasy Fortifications — Part 4: Types of Castles at Mythic Scribes. Full Article History Fantasy Fortifications
as History for Fantasy Writers: Bank on It By mythicscribes.com Published On :: Sun, 26 Apr 2020 20:47:23 +0000 Banks appear in a number of fantasy stories. George Martin’s Iron Bank is probably the best known, but banks and banking families can be found all around the fantasy landscape, especially in modern works. For writers considering including banks and bankers in their own stories, knowing something of the history can help add detail and color. Money Changers Europe in the High Middle Ages, say around 1100, had a bewildering variety of coinage (see my article on medieval money), a crazy cobweb of overlapping public authority, and an unreliable network of roads. Banking arose in response to the need of merchants to conduct large-scale business at a distance in that environment. As you might guess, with so many different coins, knowing how to convert from one currency to another was a fairly technical business. That business was handled by a money changer. In Florence and other north Italian towns, the money changers set up shop at markets and near merchant establishments—any place where there was plenty of commercial traffic. The benches they sat on are called banca in Italian. That’s where we get the term bank. Money changers knew more than just how to convert currencies. Continue reading History for Fantasy Writers: Bank on It at Mythic Scribes. Full Article History history for fantasy writers
as Regulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase by polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1999-09-01 James M. NtambiSep 1, 1999; 40:1549-1558Reviews Full Article
as Thematic review series: Lipid Posttranslational Modifications. Protein palmitoylation by a family of DHHC protein S-acyltransferases By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2006-06-01 David A. MitchellJun 1, 2006; 47:1118-1127Thematic Reviews Full Article
as Cytochrome P450 and arachidonic acid bioactivation: molecular and functional properties of the arachidonate monooxygenase By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2000-02-01 Jorge H. CapdevilaFeb 1, 2000; 41:163-181Reviews Full Article
as Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum structure and integrity in lipotoxic cell death By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2006-12-01 Nica M. BorradaileDec 1, 2006; 47:2726-2737Research Articles Full Article
as Multivalent feedback regulation of HMG CoA reductase, a control mechanism coordinating isoprenoid synthesis and cell growth By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1980-07-01 MS BrownJul 1, 1980; 21:505-517Reviews Full Article
as Marked reduction in bile acid synthesis in cholesterol 7{alpha}-hydroxylase-deficient mice does not lead to diminished tissue cholesterol turnover or to hypercholesterolemia By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1998-09-01 Margrit SchwarzSep 1, 1998; 39:1833-1843Articles Full Article
as A spectrophotometric assay for lipid peroxides in serum lipoproteins using a commercially available reagent By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1989-04-01 M el-SaadaniApr 1, 1989; 30:627-630Articles Full Article
as Lipidomics reveals a remarkable diversity of lipids in human plasma By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2010-11-01 Oswald QuehenbergerNov 1, 2010; 51:3299-3305Research Articles Full Article
as Fish oils and plasma lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in humans: a critical review By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1989-06-01 WS HarrisJun 1, 1989; 30:785-807Reviews Full Article
as Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein and its role in apoB-lipoprotein assembly By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2003-01-01 M. Mahmood HussainJan 1, 2003; 44:22-32Reviews Full Article
as The human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2001-07-01 Michael DeanJul 1, 2001; 42:1007-1017Thematic Reviews Full Article
as Role of liver in the maintenance of cholesterol and low density lipoprotein homeostasis in different animal species, including humans By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1993-10-01 JM DietschyOct 1, 1993; 34:1637-1659Reviews Full Article
as Identification of multiple subclasses of plasma low density lipoproteins in normal humans By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1982-01-01 Ronald M. KraussJan 1, 1982; 23:97-104Articles Full Article
as Adipose differentiation-related protein is an ubiquitously expressed lipid storage droplet-associated protein By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1997-11-01 DL BrasaemleNov 1, 1997; 38:2249-2263Articles Full Article
as Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1993-08-01 AR TallAug 1, 1993; 34:1255-1274Reviews Full Article
as Direct transesterification of all classes of lipids in a one-step reaction By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1986-01-01 G LepageJan 1, 1986; 27:114-120Articles Full Article
as Lipoprotein lipase and lipolysis: central roles in lipoprotein metabolism and atherogenesis By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1996-04-01 IJ GoldbergApr 1, 1996; 37:693-707Reviews Full Article
as The plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase reaction By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 1968-03-01 John A. GlomsetMar 1, 1968; 9:155-167Reviews Full Article
as The Morass of Central American Migration: Dynamics, Dilemmas and Policy Alternatives By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:10:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 22 November 2019 - 8:15am to 9:30am Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Event participants Anita Isaacs, Professor of Political Science, Haverford College; Co-Director, Migration Encounters ProjectJuan Ricardo Ortega, Principal Advisor for Central America, Inter-American Development BankChair: Amy Pope, Associate Fellow, Chatham House; US Deputy Homeland Security Adviser for the Obama Administration (2015-17) 2019 has seen a record number of people migrating from Central America’s Northern Triangle – an area that covers El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Estimates from June 2019 have placed the number of migrants at nearly double of what they were in 2018 with the increase in numbers stemming from a lack of economic opportunity combined with a rise in crime and insecurity in the region. The impacts of migration can already be felt within the affected states as the exodus has played a significant role in weakening labour markets and contributing to a ‘brain drain’ in the region. It has also played an increasingly active role in the upcoming US presidential election with some calling for more security on the border to curb immigration while others argue that a more effective strategy is needed to address the sources of migration. What are the core causes of Central American migration and how have the US, Central American and now also Mexican governments facilitated and deterred migration from the region? Can institutions be strengthened to alleviate the causes of migration? And what possible policy alternatives and solutions are there that could alleviate the pressures individuals and communities feel to migrate? Anita Isaacs, professor of Political Science at Haverford College and co-director of the Migration Encounters Project, and Juan Ricard Ortega, principal advisor for Central America at the Inter-American Development Bank, will join us for a discussion on the core drivers of migration within and across Central America.Attendance at this event is by invitation only. Event attributes Chatham House Rule Department/project US and the Americas Programme US and Americas Programme Email Full Article
as US 2020: America’s National Security Strategy and Middle East Policy By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:00:02 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 10 February 2020 - 10:30am to 11:30am Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Event participants Dr Kori Schake, Resident Scholar and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute Chair: Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and Americas Programme In the run-up to the 2016 US presidential election, then-candidate Donald Trump made a series of campaign promises concerning US foreign policy towards the Middle East. Since assuming office, President Trump has withdrawn the US from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, withdrawn troops from Syria, relocated the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and orchestrated the strike against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.Against a backdrop of Trump's inclination towards withdrawing from the region, countries across the Middle East are being rocked by protests, Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile has threatened to undermine cohesion within NATO and the much hoped for ceasefire in Libya between UN-backed government leader, Fayez al-Sarraj, and opposition leader, Khalifa Haftar, failed to materialize.In light of the upcoming US elections in November 2020, the future of US national security policy promises to be a prominent issue for the next administration. In this vein, the US and Americas Programme at Chatham House plans a yearlong focus on the pivotal US 2020 elections.At this event, Dr Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute will discuss the future of US foreign policy towards the Middle East. How have domestic and party politics in the US – and the unfolding presidential campaign – shaped recent policy decisions by the Trump administration? Should we expect policy objectives in the Middle East to remain consistent or shift under a second Trump term? And what direction could US foreign policy towards the region take under a Democratic administration?Attendance at this event is by invitation only. Event attributes Chatham House Rule Department/project US and the Americas Programme US and Americas Programme Email Full Article
as Virtual Roundtable: The End of Globalism? Remaining Interconnected While Under Increased Pressure to Isolate By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:30:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 30 March 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm Zoom Audio Call Event participants Fred Hochberg, Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of the United States, 2009 -17Chair: Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House This event is part of the Chatham House Global Trade Policy Forum. We would like to take this opportunity to to thank founding partner AIG and supporting partners Clifford Chance LLP, Diageo plc and EY for their generous support of the forum. Department/project US and the Americas Programme, Global Trade Policy Forum US and Americas Programme Email Full Article
as Webinar: Director's Briefing – Democracy in the Americas By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:05:01 +0000 Corporate Members Event Webinar Partners and Major Corporates 30 April 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm Online Event participants Luis Almagro, Secretary General, Organization of American States (OAS); Foreign Minister, Uruguay (2010-15)Respondent: Dr Elena Lazarou, Associate Fellow, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham HouseRespondent: Dr Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham HouseChair: Dr Robin Niblett, Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House As governments in the Americas grapple with the economic and health emergencies posed by COVID-19, the region continues to face socioeconomic and political challenges reflected in the protests that erupted in many countries in 2019. According to an annual survey by Latinóbarometro, of 18 countries across Latin America, trust in government dropped from 45 per cent in 2009 to 22 per cent in 2018, and those expressing dissatisfaction with democracy has increased from 51 per cent to 71 per cent. Recently re-elected to a new term, Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, will reflect on the state of democracy in the Americas. What are the greatest threats and opportunities to democratic governance and political participation in the region? How can multilateral organizations and states defend democratic institutions and human rights in a changing global environment? To what extent might the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic provide leaders with an opportunity to undemocratically consolidate power? Or, conversely, might the crisis spark a new understanding of the social contract between states and governed and greater consensus around national policies and leadership? This event is only open to Major Corporate Member and Partner organizations and selected giving circles of Chatham House. If you'd like to attend, please RSVP to lbedford@chathamhouse.org. Full Article
as Virtual Roundtable: As COVID-19 Hits the Developing World, Where is the American-led Global Response? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 11:05:01 +0000 Research Event 9 June 2020 - 2:00pm to 3:00pmAdd to CalendariCalendar Outlook Google Yahoo Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Chairman, SGO; Former Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff, United NationsDr Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO, United Nations FoundationAmbassador Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School; US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, 2005 – 2008Chair: Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House This event is part of the US and Americas Programme Inaugural Virtual Roundtable Series on the US and the State of the World and will take place virtually only.This event will take place from 14:00 – 15:00 BST. US and Americas Programme Email Department/project US and the Americas Programme Full Article
as Dopamine transporter trafficking and Rit2 GTPase: Mechanism of action and in vivo impact [Neurobiology] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Following its evoked release, dopamine (DA) signaling is rapidly terminated by presynaptic reuptake, mediated by the cocaine-sensitive DA transporter (DAT). DAT surface availability is dynamically regulated by endocytic trafficking, and direct protein kinase C (PKC) activation acutely diminishes DAT surface expression by accelerating DAT internalization. Previous cell line studies demonstrated that PKC-stimulated DAT endocytosis requires both Ack1 inactivation, which releases a DAT-specific endocytic brake, and the neuronal GTPase, Rit2, which binds DAT. However, it is unknown whether Rit2 is required for PKC-stimulated DAT endocytosis in DAergic terminals or whether there are region- and/or sex-dependent differences in PKC-stimulated DAT trafficking. Moreover, the mechanisms by which Rit2 controls PKC-stimulated DAT endocytosis are unknown. Here, we directly examined these important questions. Ex vivo studies revealed that PKC activation acutely decreased DAT surface expression selectively in ventral, but not dorsal, striatum. AAV-mediated, conditional Rit2 knockdown in DAergic neurons impacted baseline DAT surface:intracellular distribution in DAergic terminals from female ventral, but not dorsal, striatum. Further, Rit2 was required for PKC-stimulated DAT internalization in both male and female ventral striatum. FRET and surface pulldown studies in cell lines revealed that PKC activation drives DAT-Rit2 surface dissociation and that the DAT N terminus is required for both PKC-mediated DAT-Rit2 dissociation and DAT internalization. Finally, we found that Rit2 and Ack1 independently converge on DAT to facilitate PKC-stimulated DAT endocytosis. Together, our data provide greater insight into mechanisms that mediate PKC-regulated DAT internalization and reveal unexpected region-specific differences in PKC-stimulated DAT trafficking in bona fide DAergic terminals. Full Article
as Learning the ABCs of ATP release [Signal Transduction] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 ATP plays important roles outside the cell, but the mechanism by which it is arrives in the extracellular environment is not clear. Dunn et al. now show that decreases in cellular cholesterol levels mediated by the ABCG1 transporter increase ATP release by volume-regulated anion channels under hypotonic conditions. Importantly, these results may imply that cells that handle cholesterol differently might experience differential extracellular ATP release during hypotonicity. Full Article
as ABC transporters control ATP release through cholesterol-dependent volume-regulated anion channel activity [Signal Transduction] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Purinergic signaling by extracellular ATP regulates a variety of cellular events and is implicated in both normal physiology and pathophysiology. Several molecules have been associated with the release of ATP and other small molecules, but their precise contributions have been difficult to assess because of their complexity and heterogeneity. Here, we report on the results of a gain-of-function screen for modulators of hypotonicity-induced ATP release using HEK-293 cells and murine cerebellar granule neurons, along with bioluminescence, calcium FLIPR, and short hairpin RNA–based gene-silencing assays. This screen utilized the most extensive genome-wide ORF collection to date, covering 90% of human, nonredundant, protein-encoding genes. We identified two ABCG1 (ABC subfamily G member 1) variants, which regulate cellular cholesterol, as modulators of hypotonicity-induced ATP release. We found that cholesterol levels control volume-regulated anion channel–dependent ATP release. These findings reveal novel mechanisms for the regulation of ATP release and volume-regulated anion channel activity and provide critical links among cellular status, cholesterol, and purinergic signaling. Full Article
as {alpha}-Synuclein filaments from transgenic mouse and human synucleinopathy-containing brains are maȷor seed-competent species [Molecular Bases of Disease] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 Assembled α-synuclein in nerve cells and glial cells is the defining pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases called synucleinopathies. Seeds of α-synuclein can induce the assembly of monomeric protein. Here, we used sucrose gradient centrifugation and transiently transfected HEK 293T cells to identify the species of α-synuclein from the brains of homozygous, symptomatic mice transgenic for human mutant A53T α-synuclein (line M83) that seed aggregation. The most potent fractions contained Sarkosyl-insoluble assemblies enriched in filaments. We also analyzed six cases of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), one case of familial PD, and six cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA) for their ability to induce α-synuclein aggregation. The MSA samples were more potent than those of idiopathic PD in seeding aggregation. We found that following sucrose gradient centrifugation, the most seed-competent fractions from PD and MSA brains are those that contain Sarkosyl-insoluble α-synuclein. The fractions differed between PD and MSA, consistent with the presence of distinct conformers of assembled α-synuclein in these different samples. We conclude that α-synuclein filaments are the main driving force for amplification and propagation of pathology in synucleinopathies. Full Article
as Small-molecule agonists of the RET receptor tyrosine kinase activate biased trophic signals that are influenced by the presence of GFRa1 co-receptors [Neurobiology] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a growth factor that regulates the health and function of neurons and other cells. GDNF binds to GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRa1), and the resulting complex activates the RET receptor tyrosine kinase and subsequent downstream signals. This feature restricts GDNF activity to systems in which GFRa1 and RET are both present, a scenario that may constrain GDNF breadth of action. Furthermore, this co-dependence precludes the use of GDNF as a tool to study a putative functional cross-talk between GFRa1 and RET. Here, using biochemical techniques, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, and immunohistochemistry in murine cells, tissues, or retinal organotypic cultures, we report that a naphthoquinone/quinolinedione family of small molecules (Q compounds) acts as RET agonists. We found that, like GDNF, signaling through the parental compound Q121 is GFRa1-dependent. Structural modifications of Q121 generated analogs that activated RET irrespective of GFRa1 expression. We used these analogs to examine RET–GFRa1 interactions and show that GFRa1 can influence RET-mediated signaling and enhance or diminish AKT Ser/Thr kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling in a biased manner. In a genetic mutant model of retinitis pigmentosa, a lead compound, Q525, afforded sustained RET activation and prevented photoreceptor neuron loss in the retina. This work uncovers key components of the dynamic relationships between RET and its GFRa co-receptor and provides RET agonist scaffolds for drug development. Full Article
as Reactive dicarbonyl compounds cause Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide release and synergize with inflammatory conditions in mouse skin and peritoneum [Molecular Bases of Disease] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 The plasmas of diabetic or uremic patients and of those receiving peritoneal dialysis treatment have increased levels of the glucose-derived dicarbonyl metabolites like methylglyoxal (MGO), glyoxal (GO), and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG). The elevated dicarbonyl levels can contribute to the development of painful neuropathies. Here, we used stimulated immunoreactive Calcitonin Gene–Related Peptide (iCGRP) release as a measure of nociceptor activation, and we found that each dicarbonyl metabolite induces a concentration-, TRPA1-, and Ca2+-dependent iCGRP release. MGO, GO, and 3-DG were about equally potent in the millimolar range. We hypothesized that another dicarbonyl, 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE), which is present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions after heat sterilization, activates nociceptors. We also showed that at body temperatures 3,4-DGE is formed from 3-DG and that concentrations of 3,4-DGE in the micromolar range effectively induced iCGRP release from isolated murine skin. In a novel preparation of the isolated parietal peritoneum PD fluid or 3,4-DGE alone, at concentrations found in PD solutions, stimulated iCGRP release. We also tested whether inflammatory tissue conditions synergize with dicarbonyls to induce iCGRP release from isolated skin. Application of MGO together with bradykinin or prostaglandin E2 resulted in an overadditive effect on iCGRP release, whereas MGO applied at a pH of 5.2 resulted in reduced release, probably due to an MGO-mediated inhibition of transient receptor potential (TRP) V1 receptors. These results indicate that several reactive dicarbonyls activate nociceptors and potentiate inflammatory mediators. Our findings underline the roles of dicarbonyls and TRPA1 receptors in causing pain during diabetes or renal disease. Full Article
as Brain manganese and the balance between essential roles and neurotoxicity [Molecular Bases of Disease] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient required for the normal development of many organs, including the brain. Although its roles as a cofactor in several enzymes and in maintaining optimal physiology are well-known, the overall biological functions of Mn are rather poorly understood. Alterations in body Mn status are associated with altered neuronal physiology and cognition in humans, and either overexposure or (more rarely) insufficiency can cause neurological dysfunction. The resultant balancing act can be viewed as a hormetic U-shaped relationship for biological Mn status and optimal brain health, with changes in the brain leading to physiological effects throughout the body and vice versa. This review discusses Mn homeostasis, biomarkers, molecular mechanisms of cellular transport, and neuropathological changes associated with disruptions of Mn homeostasis, especially in its excess, and identifies gaps in our understanding of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying Mn homeostasis and neurotoxicity. Full Article
as Basem Mahmoud By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 02 May 2020 08:55:23 +0000 Project Manager, Middle East and North Africa Programme Biography Basem Mahmoud is a project manager with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.Basem joined Chatham House in 2019 and has contributed to the projects Future of Statehood in the MENA Region, Transformative Policies towards Syria, and Post-Conflict State Dynamics in Syria.Prior to joining Chatham House, Basem worked in managing wide range of projects and programmes with the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation, Freedom House, and Friedrich Naumann Foundation.Basem has an MA in conflict, security, and development from the University of Bradford. +44 (0) 20 7314 3658 Email Full Article
as Virtual Roundtable: As COVID-19 Hits the Developing World, Where is the American-led Global Response? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 11:05:01 +0000 Research Event 9 June 2020 - 2:00pm to 3:00pmAdd to CalendariCalendar Outlook Google Yahoo Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Chairman, SGO; Former Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff, United NationsDr Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO, United Nations FoundationAmbassador Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School; US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, 2005 – 2008Chair: Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House This event is part of the US and Americas Programme Inaugural Virtual Roundtable Series on the US and the State of the World and will take place virtually only.This event will take place from 14:00 – 15:00 BST. US and Americas Programme Email Department/project US and the Americas Programme Full Article
as COVID-19 Crisis – Business as Usual for Gaza? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 14:48:14 +0000 6 May 2020 Mohammed Abdalfatah Asfari Foundation Academy Fellow @mhalabi258 LinkedIn The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges, economic collapse and strict lockdowns in many parts of the world. For the people of Gaza, this reality is nothing new. 2020-05-06-covid-19-gaza.jpg Palestinians light fireworks above the rubble during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Gaza City , 30 April 2020. Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images. In August 2012, when the UN released its report Gaza in 2020: A liveable place?, they could not have imagined what the world would look like in 2020: cities under lockdown, restrictions on movement, border closures, widespread unemployment, economic collapse, fear and anxiety and, above all, uncertainty about what the future holds.For Gaza’s population of 2 million people this reality is nothing new. The conditions that the rest of the world are currently experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is similar to the tight blockade Gaza has been living under ever since Hamas took over in 2007. Israel has imposed severe restrictions on the movement of people and goods, youth unemployment has reached 60 per cent, and over 80 per cent of Gaza’s population are now dependent on international aid.The people of Gaza are having to face the COVID-19 crisis already at a disadvantage, with poor infrastructure, limited resources and a shortage of the most basic services, such as water and power supply. It also has a fragile health system, with hospitals lacking essential medical supplies and equipment, as well as the capacity to deal with the outbreak as there are only 84 ICU beds and ventilators available. Meanwhile, intra-Palestinian divisions have persisted and were evident in the initial reaction to the pandemic. When President Mahmoud Abbas announced a state of emergency, it took two days for the Hamas-led government in Gaza to follow suit and shut down schools and universities. They later made a separate emergency appeal to address the crisis and prepare for a COVID-19 response in Gaza. This lack of coordination is typical of the way the Palestinian Authority and Hamas approach crisis situations.After the initial uncoordinated response, Hamas, as the de-facto ruler of Gaza, has asserted its ability to control Gaza’s borders by putting in place quarantine measures for everyone who enters the strip, whether through the Erez checkpoint with Israel or the Rafah border with Egypt. They have also assigned 21 hospitals, hotels, and schools as compulsory quarantine centres for all arrivals from abroad, who have to stay in quarantine for 21 days. In comparison, there are 20 quarantine centres in the West Bank. These strict measures have prevented the spread of the virus in the community and confined it to the quarantine centres, with only 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 6 May. Gaza’s de-facto authorities have also been able to monitor markets and prices to ensure the availability of essential goods.Faced with a major crisis, Al-Qassam Brigades – the armed wing of Hamas – have tried to play the role of a national army by participating in efforts to fight the pandemic. They have relatively good logistical capacity and have contributed to the construction of two quarantine facilities with a total capacity of 1,000 units to prepare for more arrivals into Gaza. At the local level, municipalities have been disinfecting public spaces and facilities in addition to disseminating information about the virus and related preventative and protective measures. Other precautionary measures put in place include closing the weekly open markets, and restricting social gatherings like weddings and funerals.Despite COVID-19, it’s business as usual when it comes to international dealings with Gaza. The key parties in the conflict – Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority – along with the main external actors – Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar – have continued to stick to their policies aimed at keeping the security situation under control and preventing further escalation. Although Israel has allowed entry of pharmaceutical supplies and medical equipment into Gaza during the pandemic, it has kept its restrictions on the movement of goods and people in place, while keeping a close eye on the development of the COVID-19 outbreak in Gaza – a major outbreak here would be a nightmare scenario for Israel.Meanwhile, Qatar has continued to address the humanitarian and economic needs of Gaza in an attempt to ease the pressure and prevent further escalation. It has pledged $150 million over the next six months to help families in Gaza from poorer backgrounds. Gaza has also been discussed by the Middle East Quartet, as Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, expressed his concern about the risk of a disease outbreak in Gaza during a call with the members of the Quartet.Amid the pandemic, threats are still being exchanged between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli defence minister, Naftali Bennett, requested that in return for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, Hamas agrees to return the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in the 2014 war. While openly rejecting Bennett's statement, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has offered to move forward with a prisoner swap deal if Israel agrees to release elderly prisoners and detainees in addition to detained women and children. Though dealing with its own COVID-19 outbreak, Egypt has started to mediate between the two parties in an attempt to stabilize the situation and reach a prisoner swap deal.In the wake of this pandemic, lessons should be learned and policies should be examined, by all parties. Firstly, Israel should re-evaluate its security measures towards Gaza by easing restrictions on movement and trade which would have a positive impact on living conditions for Gaza’s population. The current measures have proven to be unsustainable and have contributed to the endless cycle of violence. Secondly, the intra-Palestinian division should end, to save Palestinians from contradictory policies and insufficient capacity on both sides. In fact, all previous attempts have failed to end this self-destructive division and this is due to the absence of political will on both sides. Elections seem to be the only viable path towards unity. Finally, efforts by the international community should go beyond stabilizing the security situation and ongoing crisis inside Gaza, where disruption of normal life is the norm.While the world has reacted to this pandemic with a whole host of new policies and emergency measures, it has remained business as usual when dealing with Gaza. Should COVID-19 spread in Gaza, its people – who have already paid the price of a continuous blockade and intra-Palestinian division for 13 years – will pay a heavy price yet again. However, this time it is not a crisis that they alone will have to face. Full Article
as It's a man's world: carnal spectatorship and dissonant masculinities in Islamic State videos By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 08:41:04 +0000 7 May 2020 , Volume 96, Number 3 Manni Crone Read Online Islamic State videos have often been associated with savage violence and beheadings. An in-depth scrutiny however reveals another striking feature: that female bodies are absent, blurred or mute. Examining a few Islamic State videos in depth, the article suggests that the invisibility of women in tandem with the ostentatious visibility of male bodies enable gendered and embodied spectators to indulge in homoerotic as well as heterosexual imaginaries. In contrast to studies on visual security and online radicalization which assert that images affect an audience, this article focuses on the interaction between video and audience and argues that spectators are not only rational and emotional but embodied and gendered as well. Islamic State videos do not only attract western foreign fighters through religious–ideological rhetoric or emotional impact but also through gendered forms of pleasure and desire that enable carnal imagination and identification. The article probes the analytical purchase of carnal aesthetics and spectatorship. Full Article
as Soundscapes of war: the audio-visual performance of war by Shi'a militias in Iraq and Syria By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 09:16:54 +0000 7 May 2020 , Volume 96, Number 3 Helle Malmvig Read online This article sets out to bring sound and music to the field of visual studies in International Relations. It argues that IR largely has approached the visual field as if it was without sound; neglecting how audial landscapes frame and direct our interpretation of moving imagery. Sound and music contribute to making imagery intelligible to us, we ‘hear the pictures’ often without noticing. The audial can for instance articulate a visual absence, or blast visual signs, bring out certain emotional stages or subjects’ inner life. Audial frames steer us in distinct directions, they can mute the cries of the wounded in war, or amplify the sounds of joy of soldiers shooting in the air. To bring the audial and the visual analytically and empirically together, the article therefore proposes four key analytical themes: 1) the audial–visual frame, 2) point of view/point of audition, 3) modes of audio-visual synchronization and 4) aesthetics moods. These are applied to a study of ‘war music videos’ in Iraq and Syria made and circulated by Shi'a militias currently fighting there. Such war music videos, it is suggested, are not just artefacts of popular culture, but have become integral parts of how warfare is practiced today, and one that is shared by soldiers in the US and Europe. War music videos are performing war, just as they shape how war is known by spectators and participants alike. Full Article
as Leaders Who Lunch: Seth Thomas By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
as Identity, Outreach and Community: Arabic Music in the Diaspora By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
as Should the Super-Rich Pay for a Universal Basic Income? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as The Politics of Personality in the Middle East By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as Drugs and Organized Crime: The Challenges Facing Southeast Asia By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as Japan's Pivot in Asia By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as Undercurrents: Episode 12 - Trump's Visit to the UK, and Japanese Foreign Policy in Asia By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 12 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as Undercurrents: Episode 17 - Alastair Campbell on New Labour and Brexit, Alistair Darling on the Financial Crisis By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as The Future of Democracy in Asia By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100 Full Article
as Voices of Jordan: The Kingdom in the Centre of the Middle East By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
as Assessing the Midterm Elections and the Impact on the Trump Presidency By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 07 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
as International Law Podcast: Starvation in Armed Conflict By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
as Undercurrents: Episode 24 - Christmas Quiz By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Full Article
