tal Which operations can restart first? New guide could help hospitals decide By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan) Now, as hospitals across the country start to return to doing non-emergency operations that keep their beds full and their books balanced, they need to think carefully about what resources each of those procedures will need as the pandemic continues. A new guide could help them prioritize and plan. Created by poring over seven years' worth of data from 17 common operations in dozens of hospitals, it's available for free for any hospital to use. Full Article
tal NASA CubeSat mission to gather vital space weather data By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) NASA has selected a new pathfinding CubeSat mission to gather data not collected since the agency flew the Dynamics Explorer in the early 1980s. Full Article
tal Disappearance of animal species takes mental, cultural and material toll on humans By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 00:00:00 EDT (American Friends of Tel Aviv University) The research reveals that hunter-gatherer societies expressed a deep emotional and psychological connection with the animal species they hunted, especially after their disappearance. The study will help anthropologists and others understand the profound environmental changes taking place in our own lifetimes. Full Article
tal Long-term consequences of coastal development as bad as an oil spill on coral reefs By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) Oil pollution is known to cause lethal and sublethal responses on coral communities in the short-term, but its long-term effects have not been widely studied. The Bahia Las Minas oil spill, which contaminated about 40 square kilometers (about 15 square miles) near the Smithsonian's Galeta Point Marine Laboratory in Colon and became the largest recorded near coastal habitats in Panama, served as an opportunity to understand how coral reefs in tropical ecosystems recover from acute contamination over time. Full Article
tal International declaration: Geoscience expertise is crucial for meeting societal challenges By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (European Geosciences Union) A new declaration endorsed by EGU and other international geoscience societies affirms the commitment of the Earth, planetary and space science community to support and promote scientific knowledge and research for the benefit of humanity. Full Article
tal J-IDEA launches coronavirus pandemic hospital planning tool By www.imperial.ac.uk Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 01:00:00 +0100 Imperial's disease outbreak centre J-IDEA has launched a pandemic hospital planning tool to help cope with extreme surges in demand from coronavirus. Full Article
tal Citizen-science project measures impact of coronavirus pandemic on mental health By www.imperial.ac.uk Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:00:00 +0100 What impact has the lockdown had on our mental health, and what determines how people cope with isolation? Full Article
tal Could hotel service robots help the hospitality industry after COVID-19? By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (University of Surrey) A new research study, investigating how service robots in hotels could help redefine leadership and boost the hospitality industry, has taken on new significance in the light of the seismic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on tourism and business travel. The study by academics at The University of Surrey and MODUL University Vienna focuses on how HR experts perceive service robots and their impact on leadership and HR management in the hotel industry. Full Article
tal Technologies to extract, purify critical rare earth metals could be a 'game changer' By www.eurekalert.org Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 EDT (Purdue University) New environmentally friendly technologies promise to be 'game changers' in the rare earth metals field and enable the US to create a more stable and reliable domestic source of these essential metals. Purdue University patented extraction and purifying processes using ligand-assisted chromatography are shown to remove and purify such metals from coal ash, recycled magnets and raw ore safely, efficiently and with virtually no detrimental environmental impact. Full Article
tal Pharmacotherapy for Hyperglycemia in Noncritically Ill Hospitalized Patients By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-08-01 Carlos E. MendezAug 1, 2014; 27:180-188From Research to Practice Full Article
tal Transitions in Care from the Hospital to Home for Patients With Diabetes By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-08-01 Karen B. HirschmanAug 1, 2014; 27:192-195From Research to Practice Full Article
tal Improving Diabetes Care in the Hospital Using Guideline-Directed Orders By spectrum.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2001-10-01 Stephen F. QuevedoOct 1, 2001; 14:Feature Articles Full Article
tal Virtual Wellness Offerings Are Pivotal in the Age of Remote Work By www8.gsb.columbia.edu Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400 Liz Wilkes ’13, CEO of Exubrancy, knows mental and physical well-being is more important now than ever before. Full Article
tal Geneva Launch: Protecting Civilians — When is ‘Incidental Harm’ Excessive? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:45:01 +0000 Research Event 14 December 2018 - 10:00am to 11:30am Graduate Institute | Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2 | 1202 Geneva | Switzerland Event participants Emanuela-Chiara Gillard, Associate Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham HouseEzequiel Heffes, Thematic Legal Adviser, Geneva CallSigrid Redse Johansen, Judge Advocate General, The Norwegian Armed ForcesChair: Elizabeth Wilmshurst, Distinguished Fellow, Chatham HouseFurther speakers to be announced. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS BEING HELD IN GENEVA.There have been large numbers of civilian deaths in the armed conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Is international humanitarian law being ignored? This meeting coincides with the launch of a Chatham House research paper on the incidental harm side of the proportionality assessment which belligerents are legally required to make. The panel at the meeting will consider the types of harm that fall within the scope of proportionality assessments, what constitutes ‘excessive’ harm and measures that belligerents can take to give effect to the rule on proportionality.This event will be followed by a reception. Department/project International Law Programme Chanu Peiris Programme Manager, International Law +44 (0)20 7314 3686 Email Full Article
tal London Launch: Protecting Civilians — When is ‘Incidental Harm’ Excessive? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Nov 2018 18:25:01 +0000 Research Event 14 January 2019 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm Chatham House, London Event participants Emanuela-Chiara Gillard, Associate Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham HouseEzequiel Heffes, Thematic Legal Adviser, Geneva CallSigrid Redse Johansen, Judge Advocate General, Norwegian Armed ForcesAndrew Murdoch, Legal Director, UK Foreign & Commonwealth OfficeChair: Elizabeth Wilmshurst, Distinguished Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham House There have been large numbers of civilian deaths in the armed conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Is international humanitarian law being ignored?This meeting marks the London launch of a Chatham House research paper on the incidental harm side of the proportionality assessment which belligerents are legally required to make. The panel at the meeting will consider the types of harm that fall within the scope of proportionality assessments, what constitutes ‘excessive’ harm and measures that belligerents can take to give effect to the rule on proportionality.This event will be followed by a reception. Department/project International Law Programme, Rights, Accountability and Justice Chanu Peiris Programme Manager, International Law +44 (0)20 7314 3686 Email Full Article
tal Proportionality in the Conduct of Hostilities: The Incidental Harm Side of the Assessment By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:56:29 +0000 10 December 2018 Clarification of international humanitarian law is important in ensuring compliance with the rule of proportionality, but a culture of compliance within armed forces and groups is also crucial. Download PDF Emanuela-Chiara Gillard Associate Fellow, International Law Programme 2018-12-10-ilp-proportionality-paper.jpg Members of civil right defence conduct a search and rescue operation on destroyed buildings after an airstrike was carried out over the city of Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib province in Syria, on 6 May 2018. Photo: Hadi Harrat/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images. SummaryMilitary operations are taking place with increasing frequency in densely populated areas. Such operations result in loss of life and harm to civilians, as well as damage to civilian objects, (including infrastructure providing essential services). In order to protect civilians, it is imperative that armed forces and groups comply with the rules of international humanitarian law on the conduct of hostilities, including the rule of proportionality.The rule of proportionality prohibits attacks which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. This research paper analyses the key steps that belligerents must take to give effect to the rule, with a particular focus on one side of proportionality assessments – the expected incidental harm.Those undertaking proportionality assessments before or during an attack must consider whether the expected harm will be caused by the attack, and whether that harm could be expected (that is, was it reasonably foreseeable).For the purpose of proportionality assessments, injury to civilians includes disease, and there is no reason in principle to exclude mental harm, even though it is currently challenging to identify and quantify it. Damage to civilian objects includes damage to elements of the natural environment.Once the incidental harm to be considered has been identified, a value or weight must be assigned to it. This is then balanced against the value or weight of the military advantage anticipated from the attack to determine whether the harm would be excessive.In the determination of whether the expected incidental harm would be excessive compared to the anticipated military advantage, ‘excessive’ is a wide but not indeterminate standard.Belligerents should develop methodologies so that those planning and deciding attacks are provided with all necessary information on expected incidental harm, and to assist them in assigning weight to the incidental harm to be considered.If it becomes apparent that the rule of proportionality will be contravened, the attack in question must be cancelled or suspended.Clarification of the law is important in ensuring compliance with the rule of proportionality, but a culture of compliance within armed forces and groups, inculcated by their leaders, is also crucial. Department/project International Law Programme, The Limits on War and Preserving the Peace Full Article
tal 12-LOX catalyzes the oxidation of 2-arachidonoyl-lysolipids in platelets generating eicosanoid-lysolipids that are attenuated by iPLA2{gamma} knockout [Signal Transduction] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 The canonical pathway of eicosanoid production in most mammalian cells is initiated by phospholipase A2-mediated release of arachidonic acid, followed by its enzymatic oxidation resulting in a vast array of eicosanoid products. However, recent work has demonstrated that the major phospholipase in mitochondria, iPLA2γ (patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 8 (PNPLA8)), possesses sn-1 specificity, with polyunsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position generating polyunsaturated sn-2-acyl lysophospholipids. Through strategic chemical derivatization, chiral chromatographic separation, and multistage tandem MS, here we first demonstrate that human platelet-type 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) can directly catalyze the regioselective and stereospecific oxidation of 2-arachidonoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine (2-AA-LPC) and 2-arachidonoyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamine (2-AA-LPE). Next, we identified these two eicosanoid-lysophospholipids in murine myocardium and in isolated platelets. Moreover, we observed robust increases in 2-AA-LPC, 2-AA-LPE, and their downstream 12-LOX oxidation products, 12(S)-HETE-LPC and 12(S)-HETE-LPE, in calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated murine platelets. Mechanistically, genetic ablation of iPLA2γ markedly decreased the calcium-stimulated production of 2-AA-LPC, 2-AA-LPE, and 12-HETE-lysophospholipids in mouse platelets. Importantly, a potent and selective 12-LOX inhibitor, ML355, significantly inhibited the production of 12-HETE-LPC and 12-HETE-LPE in activated platelets. Furthermore, we found that aging is accompanied by significant changes in 12-HETE-LPC in murine serum that were also markedly attenuated by iPLA2γ genetic ablation. Collectively, these results identify previously unknown iPLA2γ-initiated signaling pathways mediated by direct 12-LOX oxidation of 2-AA-LPC and 2-AA-LPE. This oxidation generates previously unrecognized eicosanoid-lysophospholipids that may serve as biomarkers for age-related diseases and could potentially be used as targets in therapeutic interventions. Full Article
tal Glucocerebrosidases catalyze a transgalactosylation reaction that yields a newly-identified brain sterol metabolite, galactosylated cholesterol [Glycobiology and Extracellular Matrices] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 β-Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) hydrolyzes glucosylceramide (GlcCer) to generate ceramide. Previously, we demonstrated that lysosomal GBA1 and nonlysosomal GBA2 possess not only GlcCer hydrolase activity, but also transglucosylation activity to transfer the glucose residue from GlcCer to cholesterol to form β-cholesterylglucoside (β-GlcChol) in vitro. β-GlcChol is a member of sterylglycosides present in diverse species. How GBA1 and GBA2 mediate β-GlcChol metabolism in the brain is unknown. Here, we purified and characterized sterylglycosides from rodent and fish brains. Although glucose is thought to be the sole carbohydrate component of sterylglycosides in vertebrates, structural analysis of rat brain sterylglycosides revealed the presence of galactosylated cholesterol (β-GalChol), in addition to β-GlcChol. Analyses of brain tissues from GBA2-deficient mice and GBA1- and/or GBA2-deficient Japanese rice fish (Oryzias latipes) revealed that GBA1 and GBA2 are responsible for β-GlcChol degradation and formation, respectively, and that both GBA1 and GBA2 are responsible for β-GalChol formation. Liquid chromatography–tandem MS revealed that β-GlcChol and β-GalChol are present throughout development from embryo to adult in the mouse brain. We found that β-GalChol expression depends on galactosylceramide (GalCer), and developmental onset of β-GalChol biosynthesis appeared to be during myelination. We also found that β-GlcChol and β-GalChol are secreted from neurons and glial cells in association with exosomes. In vitro enzyme assays confirmed that GBA1 and GBA2 have transgalactosylation activity to transfer the galactose residue from GalCer to cholesterol to form β-GalChol. This is the first report of the existence of β-GalChol in vertebrates and how β-GlcChol and β-GalChol are formed in the brain. Full Article
tal The transcriptional regulator MEIS2 sets up the ground state for palatal osteogenesis in mice [Gene Regulation] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 Haploinsufficiency of Meis homeobox 2 (MEIS2), encoding a transcriptional regulator, is associated with human cleft palate, and Meis2 inactivation leads to abnormal palate development in mice, implicating MEIS2 functions in palate development. However, its functional mechanisms remain unknown. Here we observed widespread MEIS2 expression in the developing palate in mice. Wnt1Cre-mediated Meis2 inactivation in cranial neural crest cells led to a secondary palate cleft. Importantly, about half of the Wnt1Cre;Meis2f/f mice exhibited a submucous cleft, providing a model for studying palatal bone formation and patterning. Consistent with complete absence of palatal bones, the results from integrative analyses of MEIS2 by ChIP sequencing, RNA-Seq, and an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing identified key osteogenic genes regulated directly by MEIS2, indicating that it plays a fundamental role in palatal osteogenesis. De novo motif analysis uncovered that the MEIS2-bound regions are highly enriched in binding motifs for several key osteogenic transcription factors, particularly short stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2). Comparative ChIP sequencing analyses revealed genome-wide co-occupancy of MEIS2 and SHOX2 in addition to their colocalization in the developing palate and physical interaction, suggesting that SHOX2 and MEIS2 functionally interact. However, although SHOX2 was required for proper palatal bone formation and was a direct downstream target of MEIS2, Shox2 overexpression failed to rescue the palatal bone defects in a Meis2-mutant background. These results, together with the fact that Meis2 expression is associated with high osteogenic potential and required for chromatin accessibility of osteogenic genes, support a vital function of MEIS2 in setting up a ground state for palatal osteogenesis. Full Article
tal Certain ortho-hydroxylated brominated ethers are promiscuous kinase inhibitors that impair neuronal signaling and neurodevelopmental processes [Cell Biology] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01T00:06:09-07:00 The developing nervous system is remarkably sensitive to environmental signals, including disruptive toxins, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are an environmentally pervasive class of brominated flame retardants whose neurodevelopmental toxicity mechanisms remain largely unclear. Using dissociated cortical neurons from embryonic Rattus norvegicus, we found here that chronic exposure to 6-OH–BDE-47, one of the most prevalent hydroxylated PBDE metabolites, suppresses both spontaneous and evoked neuronal electrical activity. On the basis of our previous work on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) (MEK) biology and our observation that 6-OH–BDE-47 is structurally similar to kinase inhibitors, we hypothesized that certain hydroxylated PBDEs mediate neurotoxicity, at least in part, by impairing the MEK–ERK axis of MAPK signal transduction. We tested this hypothesis on three experimental platforms: 1) in silico, where modeling ligand–protein docking suggested that 6-OH–BDE-47 is a promiscuous ATP-competitive kinase inhibitor; 2) in vitro in dissociated neurons, where 6-OH–BDE-47 and another specific hydroxylated BDE metabolite similarly impaired phosphorylation of MEK/ERK1/2 and activity-induced transcription of a neuronal immediate early gene; and 3) in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster, where developmental exposures to 6-OH–BDE-47 and a MAPK inhibitor resulted in offspring displaying similarly increased frequency of mushroom-body β–lobe midline crossing, a metric of axonal guidance. Taken together, our results support that certain ortho-hydroxylated PBDE metabolites are promiscuous kinase inhibitors and can cause disruptions of critical neurodevelopmental processes, including neuronal electrical activity, pre-synaptic functions, MEK–ERK signaling, and axonal guidance. Full Article
tal AI-driven Personalization in Digital Media: Political and Societal Implications By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Dec 2019 12:18:52 +0000 2 December 2019 The fallout from disinformation and online manipulation strategies have alerted Western democracies to the novel, nuanced vulnerabilities of our information society. This paper outlines the implications of the adoption of AI by the the legacy media, as well as by the new media, focusing on personalization. Download PDF Sophia Ignatidou Academy Associate, International Security Programme @SophiaIgnatidou LinkedIn 2019-12-02-AI-Driven-Personalization-small.jpg The Reuters and other news apps seen on an iPhone, 29 January 2019. Photo: Getty Images. SummaryMachine learning (ML)-driven personalization is fast expanding from social media to the wider information space, encompassing legacy media, multinational conglomerates and digital-native publishers: however, this is happening within a regulatory and oversight vacuum that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.Mass-scale adoption of personalization in communication has serious implications for human rights, societal resilience and political security. Data protection, privacy and wrongful discrimination, as well as freedom of opinion and of expression, are some of the areas impacted by this technological transformation.Artificial intelligence (AI) and its ML subset are novel technologies that demand novel ways of approaching oversight, monitoring and analysis. Policymakers, regulators, media professionals and engineers need to be able to conceptualize issues in an interdisciplinary way that is appropriate for sociotechnical systems.Funding needs to be allocated to research into human–computer interaction in information environments, data infrastructure, technology market trends, and the broader impact of ML systems within the communication sector.Although global, high-level ethical frameworks for AI are welcome, they are no substitute for domain- and context-specific codes of ethics. Legacy media and digital-native publishers need to overhaul their editorial codes to make them fit for purpose in a digital ecosystem transformed by ML. Journalistic principles need to be reformulated and refined in the current informational context in order to efficiently inform the ML models built for personalized communication.Codes of ethics will not by themselves be enough, so current regulatory and legislative frameworks as they relate to media need to be reassessed. Media regulators need to develop their in-house capacity for thorough research and monitoring into ML systems, and – when appropriate –proportionate sanctions for actors found to be employing such systems towards malign ends. Collaboration with data protection authorities, competition authorities and national electoral commissions is paramount for preserving the integrity of elections and of a political discourse grounded on democratic principles.Upskilling senior managers and editorial teams is fundamental if media professionals are to be able to engage meaningfully and effectively with data scientists and AI engineers. Department/project International Security Programme, Internet Governance Full Article
tal Supporting NHS Cybersecurity During COVID-19 is Vital By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Apr 2020 12:09:33 +0000 2 April 2020 Joyce Hakmeh Senior Research Fellow, International Security Programme; Co-Editor, Journal of Cyber Policy @joycehakmeh LinkedIn The current crisis is an opportunity for the UK government to show agility in how it deals with cyber threats and how it cooperates with the private sector in creating cyber resilience. 2020-04-02-NHS-nurse-tech-cyber Nurse uses a wireless electronic tablet to order medicines from the pharmacy at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images. The World Health Organization, US Department of Health and Human Services, and hospitals in Spain, France and the Czech Republic have all suffered cyberattacks during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.In the Czech Republic, a successful attack targeted a hospital with one of the country’s biggest COVID-19 testing laboratories, forcing its entire IT network to shut down, urgent surgical operations to be rescheduled, and patients to be moved to nearby hospitals. The attack also delayed dozens of COVID-19 test results and affected the hospital’s data transfer and storage, affecting the healthcare the hospital could provide.In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) is already in crisis mode, focused on providing beds and ventilators to respond to one of the largest peacetime threats ever faced. But supporting the health sector goes beyond increasing human resources and equipment capacity.Health services ill-preparedCybersecurity support, both at organizational and individual level, is critical so health professionals can carry on saving lives, safely and securely. Yet this support is currently missing and the health services may be ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of potential cyberattacks.When the NHS was hit by the Wannacry ransomware attack in 2017 - one of the largest cyberattacks the UK has witnessed to date – it caused massive disruption, with at least 80 of the 236 trusts across England affected and thousands of appointments and operations cancelled. Fortunately, a ‘kill-switch’ activated by a cybersecurity researcher quickly brought it to a halt.But the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has been warning for some time against a cyber attack targeting national critical infrastructure sectors, including the health sector. A similar attack, known as category one (C1) attack, could cripple the UK with devastating consequences. It could happen and we should be prepared.Although the NHS has taken measures since Wannacry to improve cybersecurity, its enormous IT networks, legacy equipment and the overlap between the operational and information technology (OT/IT) does mean mitigating current potential threats are beyond its ability.And the threats have radically increased. More NHS staff with access to critical systems and patient health records are increasingly working remotely. The NHS has also extended its physical presence with new premises, such as the Nightingale hospital, potentially the largest temporary hospital in the world.Radical change frequently means proper cybersecurity protocols are not put in place. Even existing cybersecurity processes had to be side-stepped because of the outbreak, such as the decision by NHS Digital to delay its annual cybersecurity audit until September. During this audit, health and care organizations submit data security and protection toolkits to regulators setting out their cybersecurity and cyber resilience levels.The decision to delay was made to allow the NHS organizations to focus capacity on responding to COVID-19, but cybersecurity was highlighted as a high risk, and the importance of NHS and Social Care remaining resilient to cyberattacks was stressed.The NHS is stretched to breaking point. Expecting it to be on top of its cybersecurity during these exceptionally challenging times is unrealistic, and could actually add to the existing risk.Now is the time where new partnerships and support models should be emerging to support the NHS and help build its resilience. Now is the time where innovative public-private partnerships on cybersecurity should be formed.Similar to the economic package from the UK chancellor and innovative thinking on ventilator production, the government should oversee a scheme calling on the large cybersecurity capacity within the private sector to step in and assist the NHS. This support can be delivered in many different ways, but it must be mobilized swiftly.The NCSC for instance has led the formation of the Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership (CiSP)— a joint industry and UK government initiative to exchange cyber threat information confidentially in real time with the aim of reducing the impact of cyberattacks on UK businesses.CiSP comprises organizations vetted by NCSC which go through a membership process before being able to join. These members could conduct cybersecurity assessment and penetration testing for NHS organizations, retrospectively assisting in implementing key security controls which may have been overlooked.They can also help by making sure NHS remote access systems are fully patched and advising on sensible security systems and approved solutions. They can identify critical OT and legacy systems and advise on their security.The NCSC should continue working with the NHS to enhance provision of public comprehensive guidance on cyber defence and response to potential attack. This would show they are on top of the situation, projecting confidence and reassurance.It is often said in every crisis lies an opportunity. This is an opportunity for the UK government to show agility in how it deals with cyber threats and how it cooperates with the private sector in creating cyber resilience.It is an opportunity to lead a much-needed cultural change showing cybersecurity should never be an afterthought. Full Article
tal Webinar: The Environmental Crisis in the MENA Region – Impacts and Mitigation By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:40:01 +0000 Research Event 16 April 2020 - 11:30am to 12:30pm Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Event participants Glada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham HouseGreg Shapland, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House Moderator: Sanam Vakil, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House The event will be livestreamed on the MENA Programme Facebook page.Climate and environmental issues have largely been marginalized in discussions about the Middle East and North Africa region and yet are critical to peace and security. In this webinar, experts will explore mounting pressures including those related to water (reduced, less reliable and more polluted sources), extreme temperatures, air pollution, land degradation and sea-level rise. Panelists will discuss the potential impact of worsening environmental conditions and what the region's governments can do to protect the health and livelihoods of their peoples.This webinar is part of the Chatham House MENA Programme's Online Event Series and will be held on the record. Department/project Middle East and North Africa Programme Reni Zhelyazkova Programme Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Programme +44 (0)20 7314 3624 Email Full Article
Reni Zhelyazkova Programme Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Programme +44 (0)20 7314 3624 Email
tal Webinar: Assessing the Twists and Turns in the US-Iran Stalemate By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:35:01 +0000 Research Event 28 April 2020 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm Event participants Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Founder and Publisher, Bourse & BazaarNasser Hadian, Professor of Political Sciences, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of TehranAzadeh Zamirirad, Deputy Head, Middle East and Africa Division, SWP BerlinAriane Tabatabai, Middle East Fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy, US German Marshall Fund; Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, SIPAModerator: Sanam Vakil, Deputy Head and Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House The webinar will be livestreamed on the MENA Programme Facebook page.Since the start of 2020, Iran has been beset with multiple challenges including the spread of COVID-19, economic pressure from US sanctions, parliamentary elections in February, the killing of Qassem Soleimani and an increase in tensions in Iraq. The Trump administration interprets these domestic and regional challenges faces by Iran as evidence that its maximum pressure campaign is proving to be effective.In this webinar, speakers will examine the economic and political impact of the Trump administration's policy towards Iran. Panelists will consider how these events are impacting internal dynamics in Iran and examine the economic impact of sanctions. They will also evaluate European diplomatic efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear agreement, and consider the future trajectory of US Iran policy and the potential for escalation in the region. This webinar is part of the Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme's Online Event Series. The event will be held on the record. Department/project Middle East and North Africa Programme, Iran Forum Reni Zhelyazkova Programme Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Programme +44 (0)20 7314 3624 Email Full Article
Reni Zhelyazkova Programme Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Programme +44 (0)20 7314 3624 Email
tal The National Oncology PET Registry (NOPR): A monumental effort by a few leaders By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2018-01-25T14:01:12-08:00 Full Article
tal Performance of digital PET compared to high-resolution conventional PET in patients with cancer By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-14T14:01:21-08:00 Recently introduced PET systems using silicon photomultipliers with digital readout (dPET) have an improved timing and spatial resolution, aiming at a better image quality, over conventional PET (cPET) systems. We prospectively evaluated the performance of a dPET system in patients with cancer, as compared to high-resolution (HR) cPET imaging. Methods: After a single FDG-injection, 66 patients underwent dPET (Vereos, Philips Healthcare) and cPET (Ingenuity TF, Philips Healthcare) imaging in a randomized order. We used HR-reconstructions (2x2x2 mm3 voxels) for both scanners and determined SUVmax, SUVmean, lesion-to-background ratio (LBR), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and lesion diameter in up to 5 FDG-positive lesions per patient. Furthermore, we counted the number of visible and measurable lesions on each PET scan. Two nuclear medicine specialists blindly determined the Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) score from both image sets in 30 patients referred for initial staging. For all 66 patients, these specialists separately and blindly evaluated image quality (4-point scale) and determined the scan preference. Results: We included 238 lesions that were visible and measurable on both PET scans. We found 37 additional lesions on dPET in 27 patients (41%), which were unmeasurable (n = 14) or invisible (n = 23) on cPET. SUVmean, SUVmax, LBR and MTV on cPET were 5.2±3.9 (mean±SD), 6.9±5.6, 5.0±3.6 and 2991±13251 mm3, respectively. On dPET SUVmean, SUVmax and LBR increased 24%, 23% and 27%, respectively (p<0.001) while MTV decreased 13% (p<0.001) compared to cPET. Visual analysis showed TNM upstaging with dPET in 13% of the patients (4/30). dPET images also scored higher in image quality (P = 0.003) and were visually preferred in the majority of cases (65%). Conclusion: Digital PET improved the detection of small lesions, upstaged the disease and images were visually preferred as compared to high-resolution conventional PET. More studies are necessary to confirm the superior diagnostic performance of digital PET. Full Article
tal Digital Solid-State SPECT/CT Quantitation of Absolute 177Lu-Radiotracer Concentration: In Vivo/In Vitro Validation By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-28T13:52:17-08:00 The accuracy of lutetium-177 (177Lu) radiotracer concentration measurements using quantitative clinical software was determined by comparing in vivo results for a digital solid-state cadmium-zinc-telluride SPECT/CT (single photon emission computed tomography / x-ray computed tomography) system to in vitro sampling. First, image acquisition parameters were assessed for an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) body phantom emulating clinical count rates loaded with a "lung" insert and 6 hot spheres with a 12:1 target-to-background ratio of 177Lu solution. Then, the data of 28 whole-body SPECT/CT scans of 7 patients who underwent 177Lu prostate membrane antigen (177Lu-PSMA) radioligand therapy was retrospectively analyzed. Three users analyzed SPECT/CT images for in vivo urinary bladder radiotracer uptake using quantitative software (Q.Metrix, GE Healthcare). In vitro radiopharmaceutical concentrations were calculated using urine sampling obtained immediately after each scan, scaled to standardized uptake values (SUVs). Any in vivo/in vitro identity relations were determined by linear regression (ideally slope=1, intercept=0), within a 95 % confidence interval (CI). Phantom results demonstrated lower quantitative error for acquisitions using the 113 keV 177Lu energy peak rather than including the 208 keV peak, given that only low-energy collimation was available in this camera configuration. In the clinical study, 24 in vivo/in vitro pairs were eligible for further analysis, having rejected 4 as outliers (via Cook’s distance calculations). All linear regressions (R2 ≥ 0.92, P<0.0001) provided identity in vivo/in vitro relations (95 % CI), with SUV averages from all users giving a slope of 1.03±0.09, an intercept of –0.25±0.64 g/mL, and an average residual difference of 20.4 %. Acquiring with the lower energy 177Lu energy peak, solid-state SPECT/CT imaging provides an accuracy to within ~20 % for in vivo urinary bladder radiotracer concentrations. This non-invasive in vivo quantitation method can potentially improve diagnosis, improve patient management and treatment response assessment, and provide data essential to 177Lu dosimetry. Full Article
tal The optimal imaging window for dysplastic colorectal polyp detection using c-Met targeted fluorescence molecular endoscopy By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T13:59:23-07:00 Rationale: Fluorescence molecular endoscopy (FME) is an emerging technique that has the potential to improve the 22% colorectal polyp detection miss-rate. We determined the optimal dose-to-imaging interval and safety of FME using EMI-137, a c-Met targeted fluorescent peptide, in a population at high-risk for colorectal cancer. Methods: We performed in vivo FME and quantification of fluorescence by multi-diameter single-fiber reflectance, single-fiber fluorescence spectroscopy in 15 patients with a dysplastic colorectal adenoma. EMI-137 was intravenously administered (0.13mg/kg) at a one-, two- or three-hour dose-to-imaging interval (N = 3 patients per cohort). Two cohorts were expanded to six patients based on target-to-background ratios (TBR). Fluorescence was correlated to histopathology and c-Met expression. EMI-137 binding specificity was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and in vitro experiments. Results: FME using EMI-137 appeared to be safe and well tolerated. All dose-to-imaging intervals showed significantly increased fluorescence in the colorectal lesions compared to surrounding tissue, with a TBR of 1.53, 1.66 and 1.74 respectively (mean intrinsic fluorescence (Q·μfa,x) = 0.035 vs. 0.023mm-1, P<0.0003; 0.034 vs. 0.021mm-1, P<0.0001; 0.033 vs. 0.019mm-1, P<0.0001). Fluorescence correlated to histopathology on a macroscopic and microscopic level, with significant c-Met overexpression in dysplastic mucosa. In vitro, a dose-dependent specific binding was confirmed. Conclusion: FME using EMI-137 appeared to be safe and feasible within a one-to-three hour dose-to-imaging interval. No clinically significant differences were observed between the cohorts, although a one-hour dose-to-imaging interval was preferred from a clinical perspective. Future studies will investigate EMI-137 for improved colorectal polyp detection during screening colonoscopies. Full Article
tal Benefit of improved performance with state-of-the art digital PET/CT for lesion detection in oncology By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T13:59:23-07:00 Latest digital whole-body PET scanners provide a combination of higher sensitivity and improved spatial and timing resolution. We performed a lesion detectability study on two generations of Siemens Biograph PET/CT scanners, the mCT and Vision, to study the impact of improved physical performance on clinical performance. Our hypothesis is that the improved performance of the Vision will result in improved lesion detectability, allowing shorter imaging times or equivalently, lower injected dose. Methods: Data were acquired with the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Clinical Trials Network torso phantom combined with a 20-cm diameter cylindrical phantom. Spherical lesions were emulated by acquiring spheres-in-air data, and combining it with the phantom data to generate combined datasets with embedded lesions of known contrast. Two sphere sizes and uptakes were used: 9.89 mm diameter spheres with 6:1 (lung) and 3:1 (cylinder) and 4.95 mm diameter spheres with 9.6:1 (lung) and 4.5:1 (cylinder) local activity concentration uptakes. Standard image reconstruction was performed: ordinary Poisson ordered subsets expectation maximization algorithm with point spread function and time-of-flight modeling and post-reconstruction smoothing with a 5 mm Gaussian filter. The Vision images were also generated without any post-reconstruction smoothing. Generalized scan statistics methodology was used to estimate the area under the localization receiver operating characteristic curve (ALROC). Results: Higher sensitivity and improved TOF performance of Vision leads to reduced contrast in the background noise nodule distribution. Measured lesion contrast is also higher on the Vision due to its improved spatial resolution. Hence, the ALROC values are noticeably higher for the Vision relative to the mCT. Conclusion: Improved overall performance of the Vision provides a factor of 4-6 reduction in imaging time (or injected dose) over the mCT when using the ALROC metric for lesions >9.89 mm in diameter. Smaller lesions are barely detected in the mCT, leading to even higher ALROC gains with the Vision. Improved spatial resolution of the Vision also leads to a higher measured contrast that is closer to the real uptake, implying improved quantification. Post-reconstruction smoothing, however, reduces this improvement in measured contrast, thereby reducing the ALROC values for small, high uptake lesions. Full Article
tal FDG-PET assessment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: Total Lesion volume and Total Lesion Glycolysis; the central role of volume. By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-13T14:09:24-07:00 Cancer Survival is related to tumor volume. FDG PET measurement of tumor volume holds promise but is not yet a clinical tool. Measurements come in two forms: the total lesion volume (TLV) based on the number of voxels in the tumor and secondly the total lesion glycolysis (TLG) which is the TLV multiplied by the average SUL per voxel of the tumor (SUL is the standardize uptake value normalized for lean mass). In this study we measured tumor volume in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). METHODS: A threshold-based program in IDL was developed to measure tumor volume in FDG PET images. 19 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) were studied before and after two cycles (6 weeks) of chemo-immunotherapy. Measurements included the total lesion volume (TLV), Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG), the sum of the SULs in the tumor (SUL- total), a measure of total FDG uptake, and the average SUL per voxel. RESULTS: Baseline MPM volumes (TLV) ranged from 11 to 2610 cc. TLG values ranged from 32 to 8552 SUL-cc and were strongly correlated with TLV. While tumor volumes ranged over 3 orders of magnitude, the average SUL per voxel, SUL-average, stayed within a narrow range of 2.4 to 5.3 units. Thus, TLV was the major component of TLG while SUL-average was a minor component and was essentially constant. Further evaluation of SUL-average showed that in this cohort it’s two components SUL-total and tumor volume changed in parallel and were strongly correlated, r= 0.99, p<.01. Thus, whether the tumors were large or small, the FDG uptake as measured by SUL-total was proportional to the total tumor volume. Conclusion: TLG equals TLV multiplied by the average SUL per voxel, essentially TLV multiplied by a constant. Thus TLG, commonly considered a measure of "metabolic activity" in tumors, is also in this cohort a measure of tumor volume. The constancy of SUL per voxel is due to FDG uptake being proportional to tumor volume. Thus, in this study, the FDG uptake was also a measure of volume. Full Article
tal PET imaging quantifying 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in metastatic colorectal cancer By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-01T11:16:57-07:00 At diagnosis 22% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have metastases and 50% later develop metastasis. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with lutetium-177 (177Lu)-PSMA-617 is employed to treat metastatic prostate cancer (PC). 177Lu-PSMA-617 targets Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) a cell surface protein enriched in PC and the neovasculature of other solid tumors including CRC. We performed gallium-68 (68Ga)-PSMA-11 PET-CT imaging of ten metastatic CRC patients to assess metastasis avidity. Eight patients had lesions lacking avidity and two had solitary metastases exhibiting very low avidity. Despite expression of PSMA in CRC neovasculature, none of the patients exhibited tumor avidity sufficient to be considered for 177Lu-PSMA-617 PRRT. Full Article
tal The Impact of Radiobiologically-Informed Dose Prescription on the Clinical Benefit of Yttrium-90 SIRT in Colorectal Cancer Patients By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-01T11:16:57-07:00 The purpose of this study was to establish the dose-response relationship of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), when informed by radiobiological sensitivity parameters derived from mCRC cell lines exposed to yttrium-90 (90Y). Methods: 23 mCRC patients with liver metastases refractory to chemotherapy were included. 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT images were transformed into dose maps assuming the local dose deposition method. Baseline and follow-up CT scans were segmented to derive liver and tumor volumes. Mean, median, and D70 (minimum dose to 70% of tumor volume) values determined from dose maps were correlated with change in tumor volume and vRECIST response using linear and logistic regression, respectively. Radiosensitivity parameters determined by clonogenic assays of mCRC cell lines HT-29 and DLD-1 after exposure to 90Y or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT; 6MV photons) were used in biological effective dose (BED) calculations. Results: Mean administered radioactivity was 1469±428 MBq (847-2185 MBq), achieving a mean radiation absorbed tumor dose of 35.5±9.4 Gy and mean normal liver dose of 26.4±6.8 Gy. A 1.0 Gy increase in mean, median, and D70 absorbed dose was associated with reduction in tumor volume of 1.8%, 1.8%, and 1.5%, respectively, and increased probability of vRECIST response (odds ratio: 1.09, 1.09, and 1.10 respectively). Threshold mean, median and D70 doses for response were 48.3, 48.8, and 41.8 Gy respectively. EBRT-equivalent BEDs for 90Y are up to 50% smaller than those calculated by applying protraction-corrected radiobiological parameters derived from EBRT alone. Conclusion: Dosimetric studies have assumed equivalence between 90Y SIRT and EBRT, leading to inflation of BED for SIRT and possible under-treatment. Radiobiological parameters for 90Y were applied to a BED model, providing a calculation method that has the potential to improve assessment of tumor control. Full Article
tal Reported differences between Digital and Analog PET/CT studies By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-01T11:16:57-07:00 Full Article
tal The Relevance of Intergovernmental Organizations to African States: The International Organization of La Francophonie By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Oct 2019 13:05:01 +0000 Research Event 6 November 2019 - 10:00am to 11:15am Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Event participants Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)Chair: Bob Dewar CMG, Associate Fellow, Africa Programme, Chatham House African states are well represented in intergovernmental organizations linked by official language and colonial history such as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP) and the Commonwealth. These organizations aim to provide support in addressing matters of mutual interest – in addition to responding to significant policy challenges such as improving sustainable growth prospects and opportunities to young populations – and citizens are increasingly vocal on key issues such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law. This event series examines the importance of these intergovernmental organizations in working with their members to responsibly and sustainably respond to policy challenges in Africa.At this event, Louise Mushikiwabo, secretary general of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), will discuss the organisation’s relevance to African states and the future of the organization on the continent.THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL AND REGISTRATION HAS NOW CLOSED. Department/project Africa Programme, Foreign Relations and Africa’s Agency in the International System Sahar Eljack Programme Administrator, Africa Programme + 44 (0) 20 7314 3660 Email Full Article
tal Rebel diplomacy and digital communication: public diplomacy in the Sahel By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2019 09:12:16 +0000 6 November 2019 , Volume 95, Number 6 Michèle Bos and Jan Melissen Read online Most research on social media as a tool for public diplomacy focuses on its use by recognized international actors to advance their national interest and reputation, deliver foreign policy objectives or promote their global interests. This article highlights the need for paying more attention to non-state diplomacy in conflict situations outside the western world. We examine how rebel groups use new media to enhance their communications, and what the motivations behind this are. Our public diplomacy perspective helps convey the scope of rebel communications with external actors and provides insights for policy-makers seeking to ascertain the nature, intentions and capacities of myriad rebel groups. Our focus is on the Sahel region, where numerous such groups vying for international attention and support make use of multiple social media channels. We analyse two groups in Mali: the MNLA, a Tuareg secessionist group; and Ansar Dine, a Salafist insurgency with ties to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Our qualitative analysis of Ansar Dine and MNLA communications on several digital platforms helps identify these African rebel groups' international and local framing activities. Rebel groups use public diplomacy nimbly and pragmatically. The digital age has fundamentally changed which stakeholders such groups can reach, and we suggest that social media increase the power they are able to carve out for themselves on the international stage. Full Article
tal The African Continental Free Trade Area Could Boost African Agency in International Trade By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Dec 2019 09:17:12 +0000 10 December 2019 Tighisti Amare Assistant Director, Africa Programme @tighistiamare Treasure Thembisile Maphanga Director, Trade and Industry, African Union Commission (2012–19) The agreement, which entered into force in May, could be a major step for Africa’s role in international trade, if the continent can overcome barriers to implementation. 2019-12-10-Niger.jpg Delegates arrive at the closing ceremony of the African Union summit in Niger in July. Photo: Getty Images. The entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 30 May, after only three years of negotiations, is an economic, political and diplomatic milestone for the African Union (AU) and its member states, crucial for economic growth, job creation, and making Africa a meaningful player in international trade. But the continent will have to work together to ensure that the potential benefits are fully realized.A necessary innovationWith its advances in maintaining peace and security, abundant natural resources, high growth rates, improved linkages to global supply chains and a youthful population, Africa is emerging as a new global centre of economic growth, increasingly sought after as a partner by the world’s biggest economies. Governments from across Africa have been taking a more assertive role in international markets, including through proactive diversification of trading partners, and the continent remains a strong advocate for the multilateral trading system.However, this is not yet reflected in outcomes. The African Union does not have observer status at the World Trade Organization, despite diplomatic efforts in the past decade. Africa has less than a three per cent share of global trade, and the growing trend towards protectionism across the global economy may only increase the vulnerability of a disunited Africa. Its fractured internal market means that trade within Africa is lower than for any other region on the globe, with intra-African trade just 18 per cent of overall exports, as compared to 70 per cent in Europe.The AfCFTA is the continent’s tool to address the disparity between Africa’s growing economic significance and its peripheral place in the global trade system, to build a bridge between present fragmentation and future prosperity. It is an ambitious, comprehensive agreement covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy. It has been signed by all of Africa’s states with the exception of Eritrea.It is the AU's Agenda 2063 flagship project, brought about by the decisions taken at the January 2012 African Union Summit to boost intra-African trade and to fast track the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area. It builds upon ambitions enshrined in successive agreements including the Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty. Access to new regional markets and reduced non-tariff barriers are intended to help companies scale up, driving job creation and poverty reduction, as well as attracting inward investment to even Africa’s smaller economies.The signing in 2018 of the instruments governing the Single Air Transport Market and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment provided another step towards the gradual elimination of barriers to the movement of goods, services and people within the continent.Tests to comeHowever, while progress is being made towards the ratification of the AfCFTA, much remains to be done before African countries can fully trade under its terms. The framework for implementation is still under development, and the creation of enabling infrastructure that is critical for connectivity will take time to develop and requires extensive investment. Africa’s Future in a Changing Global Order: Africa’s Economic Diplomacy Treasure Thembisile Maphanga talks about the international implications of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). So, the first test for the AfCFTA will be the level to which Africa’s leaders make it a domestic priority, and whether a consensus can be maintained across the AU’s member states as the costs of implementation become clear.There is no guarantee that the gains of free trade will be evenly distributed. They will mainly depend on the extent to which countries embrace industrialization, liberalization of their markets and opening of their borders for free movement of goods and people – policies that some incumbent leaders may be reluctant to implement. Political will to maintain a unified negotiating position with diverse stakeholders, including the private sector, will come under increasing stress. A second challenge is how the AfCFTA relates to already existing trade arrangements, notably with the EU. The AU has long preferred to pursue a continent-to-continent trading arrangement instead of the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements being sought by the EU under the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) framework to which, with the exception of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and South Africa, all African states belong. The signing of the AfCFTA is one important step towards making this possible.But there are currently negotiations under the ACP to replace the Cotonou Accord (the framework governing trade between ACP members and the EU, including Economic Partnership Agreements [EPAs], that is due to expire in 2020). Negotiations on the African pillar of the accord are due to take place after the AfCFTA has entered into force. So African states and the AU will face the challenge of balancing their commitment to the ACP bloc with pursuing their own interests.And though the AfCFTA should supersede any other agreements, the EPAs or their successors, will continue to govern day-to-day trading, in parallel to the new pan-African market. It is not yet clear how these contradictions will be reconciled.A new role for the AU?The AU will need to play an active role as the main interlocutor with Africa´s international trading partners, with the AfCFTA secretariat being the arbiter of internal tensions and trade disputes. The AU´s engagement at continental level has to date revolved mainly around headline political diplomacy, security and peacekeeping. With the continental free market becoming a reality, an effective pivot to economic diplomacy will be critical for growth and development.With the AfCFTA, the AU has endeavoured to address Africa’s unsustainable position in global trade, to stimulate growth, economic diversification and jobs for its growing population. Much will depend on the commitment of African leaders to maintaining a unified negotiating position to implement the agreement and the AU’s capacity to effectively move from political to economic diplomacy. Full Article
tal South-east Queensland poised to be digital leader: Cisco By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Fri, 14 Aug 2015 01:27:27 GMT 30,000 new jobs, $10 billion economy boost could be heading for SEQ. Full Article
tal Digital Transformation Office chief executive Paul Shetler announces public service work schedule By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Wed, 14 Oct 2015 05:50:39 GMT Paul Shetler reveals the digital projects about to hit the federal bureaucracy. Starting with Canberra. Full Article
tal How Australian public service's digital reforms will happen, according to the Digital Transformation Office By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:31:11 GMT The millions of customers, the short deadline: how the public service's digital revolution will start. Full Article
tal What it's like to be Australia's top tech talent By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:15:29 GMT They're highly mobile, highly sought after, and tend to "upskill" off their own bat. The ball is most definitely in their court. Full Article
tal Public service to ban paper in boxes: New digital policy to make sweeping reforms across APS By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Sat, 31 Oct 2015 10:34:24 GMT One powerful agency head warns against "tyranny of small person" as sweeping reforms released for public service. Full Article
tal Australian public service's 'gap in capability' to deal with digital revolution By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Thu, 29 Oct 2015 00:19:02 GMT State of the Service report outlines the major hurdle to digital reform. Full Article
tal Troubled myGov website to be taken from Human Services and given to Digital Transformation Office for streamlining By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:30:00 GMT Malcolm Turnbull's DTO has been critical of myGov, now it has the chance to show it can do better. Full Article
tal Digital public service means ditching control and embracing 'we' By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Mon, 01 Aug 2016 13:45:00 GMT Collaborating with the public is the key for a more engaging government experience. Full Article
tal ATO fumes after cyber criminals attack myGov portal during last days of Tax Time 2016 By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:15:00 GMT Tensions emerge between Tax Office and Human Services after hackers take down myGov Full Article
tal Digital Transformation Agency boss Paul Shetler resigns By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Sun, 02 Jul 2017 22:05:05 GMT Agile government takes a stumble as digital pioneer logs off after just six weeks. Full Article
tal Digital government could become just more cost cutting, warns Internet Australia By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Sun, 04 Dec 2016 13:00:00 GMT Revolving door at digital agency must stop, says Labor. Full Article
tal Centrelink debt debacle shows government is unprepared for digital revolution By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Mon, 06 Feb 2017 13:15:00 GMT The public service needs to embrace partnerships if it's to harvest big data's massive yields. Full Article
tal Public service bosses to be schooled in digital following IT problems By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Wed, 10 Jan 2018 06:56:05 GMT Public service bosses will take lessons aiming to improve their leadership in all things digital. Full Article
tal Face scanning falls flat as part of digital credentials push By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 01:14:02 GMT State government's facial recognition ID check is now required for those seeking solar rebates, but it failed 40 per cent of the time during the first two weeks. Full Article