nes Coregulator Sin3a Promotes Postnatal Murine {beta}-Cell Fitness by Regulating Genes in Ca2+ Homeostasis, Cell Survival, Vesicle Biosynthesis, Glucose Metabolism, and Stress Response By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-21T12:16:29-07:00 Swi-independent 3a and 3b (Sin3a and Sin3b) are paralogous transcriptional coregulators that direct cellular differentiation, survival, and function. Here, we report that mouse Sin3a and Sin3b are co-produced in most pancreatic cells during embryogenesis but become much more enriched in endocrine cells in adults, implying continued essential roles in mature endocrine-cell function. Mice with loss of Sin3a in endocrine progenitors were normal during early postnatal stages but gradually developed diabetes before weaning. These physiological defects were preceded by the compromised survival, insulin-vesicle packaging, insulin secretion, and nutrient-induced Ca2+ influx of Sin3a-deficient β-cells. RNA-seq coupled with candidate chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays revealed several genes that could be directly regulated by Sin3a in β-cells, which modulate Ca2+/ion transport, cell survival, vesicle/membrane trafficking, glucose metabolism, and stress responses. Lastly, mice with loss of both Sin3a and Sin3b in multipotent embryonic pancreatic progenitors had significantly reduced islet-cell mass at birth, caused by decreased endocrine-progenitor production and increased β-cell death. These findings highlight the stage-specific requirements for the presumed "general" coregulators Sin3a and Sin3b in islet β-cells, with Sin3a being dispensable for differentiation but required for postnatal function and survival. Full Article
nes Central KATP Channels Modulate Glucose Effectiveness in Humans and Rodents By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-24T19:07:13-07:00 Hyperglycemia is a potent regulator of endogenous glucose production (EGP). Loss of this ‘glucose effectiveness’ is a major contributor to elevated plasma glucose concentrations in type 2 diabetes (T2D). ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels) in the central nervous system (CNS) have been shown to regulate EGP in humans and rodents. We examined the contribution of central KATP channels to glucose effectiveness. Under fixed hormonal conditions (‘pancreatic clamp’ studies), hyperglycemia suppressed EGP by ~50% in both non-diabetic humans and normal Sprague Dawley rats. By contrast, antagonism of KATP channels with glyburide significantly reduced the EGP-lowering effect of hyperglycemia in both humans and rats. Furthermore, the effects of glyburide on EGP and gluconeogenic enzymes in rats were abolished by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of the KATP channel agonist diazoxide. These findings indicate that about half of EGP suppression by hyperglycemia is mediated by central KATP channels. These central mechanisms may offer a novel therapeutic target for improving glycemic control in T2D. Full Article
nes Epigenetic Regulation of Hepatic Lipogenesis: Role in Hepatosteatosis and Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:28-07:00 Hepatosteatosis, which is frequently associated with development of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, manifests when triglyceride (TG) input in the liver is greater than TG output, resulting in the excess accumulation of TG. Dysregulation of lipogenesis therefore has the potential to increase lipid accumulation in the liver, leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Recently, efforts have been made to examine the epigenetic regulation of metabolism by histone-modifying enzymes that alter chromatin accessibility for activation or repression of transcription. For regulation of lipogenic gene transcription, various known lipogenic transcription factors, such as USF1, ChREBP, and LXR, interact with and recruit specific histone modifiers, directing specificity toward lipogenesis. Alteration or impairment of the functions of these histone modifiers can lead to dysregulation of lipogenesis and thus hepatosteatosis leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Full Article
nes A kinesin adapter directly mediates dendritic mRNA localization during neural development in mice [Neurobiology] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 Motor protein-based active transport is essential for mRNA localization and local translation in animal cells, yet how mRNA granules interact with motor proteins remains poorly understood. Using an unbiased yeast two–hybrid screen for interactions between murine RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and motor proteins, here we identified protein interaction with APP tail-1 (PAT1) as a potential direct adapter between zipcode-binding protein 1 (ZBP1, a β-actin RBP) and the kinesin-I motor complex. The amino acid sequence of mouse PAT1 is similar to that of the kinesin light chain (KLC), and we found that PAT1 binds to KLC directly. Studying PAT1 in mouse primary hippocampal neuronal cultures from both sexes and using structured illumination microscopic imaging of these neurons, we observed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances co-localization of dendritic ZBP1 and PAT1 within granules that also contain kinesin-I. PAT1 is essential for BDNF-stimulated neuronal growth cone development and dendritic protrusion formation, and we noted that ZBP1 and PAT1 co-locate along with β-actin mRNA in actively transported granules in living neurons. Acute disruption of the PAT1–ZBP1 interaction in neurons with PAT1 siRNA or a dominant-negative ZBP1 construct diminished localization of β-actin mRNA but not of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) mRNA in dendrites. The aberrant β-actin mRNA localization resulted in abnormal dendritic protrusions and growth cone dynamics. These results suggest a critical role for PAT1 in BDNF-induced β-actin mRNA transport during postnatal development and reveal a new molecular mechanism for mRNA localization in vertebrates. Full Article
nes The testis-specific LINC component SUN3 is essential for sperm head shaping during mouse spermiogenesis [Cell Biology] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 Sperm head shaping is a key event in spermiogenesis and is tightly controlled via the acrosome–manchette network. Linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes consist of Sad1 and UNC84 domain–containing (SUN) and Klarsicht/ANC-1/Syne-1 homology (KASH) domain proteins and form conserved nuclear envelope bridges implicated in transducing mechanical forces from the manchette to sculpt sperm nuclei into a hook-like shape. However, the role of LINC complexes in sperm head shaping is still poorly understood. Here we assessed the role of SUN3, a testis-specific LINC component harboring a conserved SUN domain, in spermiogenesis. We show that CRISPR/Cas9-generated Sun3 knockout male mice are infertile, displaying drastically reduced sperm counts and a globozoospermia-like phenotype, including a missing, mislocalized, or fragmented acrosome, as well as multiple defects in sperm flagella. Further examination revealed that the sperm head abnormalities are apparent at step 9 and that the sperm nuclei fail to elongate because of the absence of manchette microtubules and perinuclear rings. These observations indicate that Sun3 deletion likely impairs the ability of the LINC complex to transduce the cytoskeletal force to the nuclear envelope, required for sperm head elongation. We also found that SUN3 interacts with SUN4 in mouse testes and that the level of SUN4 proteins is drastically reduced in Sun3-null mice. Altogether, our results indicate that SUN3 is essential for sperm head shaping and male fertility, providing molecular clues regarding the underlying pathology of the globozoospermia-like phenotype. Full Article
nes Muscle Weakness: A Progressive Late Complication in Diabetic Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2006-03-01 Christer S. AndreassenMar 1, 2006; 55:806-812Complications Full Article
nes Correction: Rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of uncharged, “smart” bis-oxime antidotes of organophosphate-inhibited human acetylcholinesterase. [Additions and Corrections] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 VOLUME 295 (2020) PAGES 4079–4092There was an error in the abstract. “The pyridinium cation hampers uptake of OPs into the central nervous system (CNS)” should read as “The pyridinium cation hampers uptake into the central nervous system (CNS).” Full Article
nes Duggar, Jones cleared for next step in recovery By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:10:20 EDT Steven Duggar and Ryder Jones continue to take steps forward in their rehab, as they were both cleared to take batting practice on the field Friday for the first time since their September surgeries. Full Article
nes US must address addiction as an illness, not as a moral failing, Surgeon General says By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 - 11:25 Full Article
nes NHS spent 8% more on medicines last year By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 06:30 Full Article
nes Kate Jones By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 12:00:38 +0000 Associate Fellow, International Law Programme Biography Kate focuses on cyber and human rights law issues, and is author of Chatham House’s research paper on Online Disinformation and Political Discourse: Applying a Human Rights Framework.Kate is based at the University of Oxford, where she is a member of the Law Faculty and directs the Diplomatic Studies Programme, a set of postgraduate courses for diplomats. She gained much of her experience in human rights law and public international law as a lawyer at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, both in London and overseas as Legal Adviser at the UK Mission to the United Nations in Geneva and then Deputy Permanent Representative at the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. She took her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in law at the University of Oxford, and qualified as a solicitor at Norton Rose. Areas of expertise Cyber and human rights law (disinformation, elections, social media platforms, etc)Human rights lawPublic international lawDiplomatic skills and training Past experience 2015 - presentDirector, Diplomatic Studies Programme; Member of University Law Faculty; Fellow of Kellogg College, University of Oxford2014-15Research and Outreach Specialist, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office2011-14Deputy Permanent Representative, UK Delegation to Council of Europe2008-11Legal Adviser, UK Mission to the United Nations2002-07Assistant Legal Adviser, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office1997-2001Trainee, then Assistant Solicitor, Norton Rose1999Judicial Assistant, Court of Appeal (secondment) Email @katejones77 LinkedIn Full Article
nes Legal Provision for Crisis Preparedness: Foresight not Hindsight By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:03:31 +0000 21 April 2020 Dr Patricia Lewis Research Director, Conflict, Science & Transformation; Director, International Security Programme @PatriciaMary COVID-19 is proving to be a grave threat to humanity. But this is not a one-off, there will be future crises, and we can be better prepared to mitigate them. 2020-04-21-Nurse-COVID-Test Examining a patient while testing for COVID-19 at the Velocity Urgent Care in Woodbridge, Virginia. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. A controversial debate during COVID-19 is the state of readiness within governments and health systems for a pandemic, with lines of the debate drawn on the issues of testing provision, personal protective equipment (PPE), and the speed of decision-making.President Macron in a speech to the nation admitted French medical workers did not have enough PPE and that mistakes had been made: ‘Were we prepared for this crisis? We have to say that no, we weren’t, but we have to admit our errors … and we will learn from this’.In reality few governments were fully prepared. In years to come, all will ask: ‘how could we have been better prepared, what did we do wrong, and what can we learn?’. But after every crisis, governments ask these same questions.Most countries have put in place national risk assessments and established processes and systems to monitor and stress-test crisis-preparedness. So why have some countries been seemingly better prepared?Comparing different approachesSome have had more time and been able to watch the spread of the disease and learn from those countries that had it first. Others have taken their own routes, and there will be much to learn from comparing these different approaches in the longer run.Governments in Asia have been strongly influenced by the experience of the SARS epidemic in 2002-3 and - South Korea in particular - the MERS-CoV outbreak in 2015 which was the largest outside the Middle East. Several carried out preparatory work in terms of risk assessment, preparedness measures and resilience planning for a wide range of threats.Case Study of Preparedness: South KoreaBy 2007, South Korea had established the Division of Public Health Crisis Response in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and, in 2016, the KCDC Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response had established a round-the-clock Emergency Operations Center with rapid response teams.KCDC is responsible for the distribution of antiviral stockpiles to 16 cities and provinces that are required by law to hold and manage antiviral stockpiles.And, at the international level, there are frameworks for preparedness for pandemics. The International Health Regulations (IHR) - adopted at the 2005 World Health Assembly and binding on member states - require countries to report certain disease outbreaks and public health events to the World Health Organization (WHO) and ‘prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade’.Under IHR, governments committed to a programme of building core capacities including coordination, surveillance, response and preparedness. The UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk highlights disaster preparedness for effective response as one of its main purposes and has already incorporated these measures into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other Agenda 2030 initiatives. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said COVID-19 ‘poses a significant threat to the maintenance of international peace and security’ and that ‘a signal of unity and resolve from the Council would count for a lot at this anxious time’.Case Study of Preparedness: United StatesThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) established PERRC – the Preparedness for Emergency Response Research Centers - as a requirement of the 2006 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, which required research to ‘improve federal, state, local, and tribal public health preparedness and response systems’.The 2006 Act has since been supplanted by the 2019 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act. This created the post of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) and authorised the development and acquisitions of medical countermeasures and a quadrennial National Health Security Strategy.The 2019 Act also set in place a number of measures including the requirement for the US government to re-evaluate several important metrics of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement and the Hospital Preparedness Program, and a requirement for a report on the states of preparedness and response in US healthcare facilities.This pandemic looks set to continue to be a grave threat to humanity. But there will also be future pandemics – whether another type of coronavirus or a new influenza virus – and our species will be threatened again, we just don’t know when.Other disasters too will befall us – we already see the impacts of climate change arriving on our doorsteps characterised by increased numbers and intensity of floods, hurricanes, fires, crop failure and other manifestations of a warming, increasingly turbulent atmosphere and we will continue to suffer major volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. All high impact, unknown probability events.Preparedness for an unknown future is expensive and requires a great deal of effort for events that may not happen within the preparers’ lifetimes. It is hard to imagine now, but people will forget this crisis, and revert to their imagined projections of the future where crises don’t occur, and progress follows progress. But history shows us otherwise.Preparations for future crises always fall prey to financial cuts and austerity measures in lean times unless there is a mechanism to prevent that. Cost-benefit analyses will understandably tend to prioritise the urgent over the long-term. So governments should put in place legislation – or strengthen existing legislation – now to ensure their countries are as prepared as possible for whatever crisis is coming.Such a legal requirement would require governments to report back to parliament every year on the state of their national preparations detailing such measures as:The exact levels of stocks of essential materials (including medical equipment)The ability of hospitals to cope with large influx of patientsHow many drills, exercises and simulations had been organised – and their findingsWhat was being done to implement lessons learned & improve preparednessIn addition, further actions should be taken:Parliamentary committees such as the UK Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy should scrutinise the government’s readiness for the potential threats outlined in the National Risk register for Civil Emergencies in-depth on an annual basis.Parliamentarians, including ministers, with responsibility for national security and resilience should participate in drills, table-top exercises and simulations to see for themselves the problems inherent with dealing with crises.All governments should have a minister (or equivalent) with the sole responsibility for national crisis preparedness and resilience. The Minister would be empowered to liaise internationally and coordinate local responses such as local resilience groups.There should be ring-fenced budget lines in annual budgets specifically for preparedness and resilience measures, annually reported on and assessed by parliaments as part of the due diligence process.And at the international level:The UN Security Council should establish a Crisis Preparedness Committee to bolster the ability of United Nations Member States to respond to international crisis such as pandemics, within their borders and across regions. The Committee would function in a similar fashion as the Counter Terrorism Committee that was established following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.States should present reports on their level of preparedness to the UN Security Council. The Crisis Preparedness Committee could establish a group of experts who would conduct expert assessments of each member state’s risks and preparedness and facilitate technical assistance as required.Regional bodies such as the OSCE, ASEAN and ARF, the AU, the OAS, the PIF etc could also request national reports on crisis preparedness for discussion and cooperation at the regional level.COVID-19 has been referred to as the 9/11 of crisis preparedness and response. Just as that shocking terrorist attack shifted the world and created a series of measures to address terrorism, we now recognise our security frameworks need far more emphasis on being prepared and being resilient. Whatever has been done in the past, it is clear that was nowhere near enough and that has to change.Case Study of Preparedness: The UKThe National Risk Register was first published in 2008 as part of the undertakings laid out in the National Security Strategy (the UK also published the Biological Security Strategy in July 2018). Now entitled the National Risk Register for Civil Emergencies it has been updated regularly to analyse the risks of major emergencies that could affect the UK in the next five years and provide resilience advice and guidance.The latest edition - produced in 2017 when the UK had a Minister for Government Resilience and Efficiency - placed the risk of a pandemic influenza in the ‘highly likely and most severe’ category. It stood out from all the other identified risks, whereas an emerging disease (such as COVID-19) was identified as ‘highly likely but with moderate impact’.However, much preparatory work for an influenza pandemic is the same as for COVID-19, particularly in prepositioning large stocks of PPE, readiness within large hospitals, and the creation of new hospitals and facilities.One key issue is that the 2017 NHS Operating Framework for Managing the Response to Pandemic Influenza was dependent on pre-positioned ’just in case’ stockpiles of PPE. But as it became clear the PPE stocks were not adequate for the pandemic, it was reported that recommendations about the stockpile by NERVTAG (the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group which advises the government on the threat posed by new and emerging respiratory viruses) had been subjected to an ‘economic assessment’ and decisions reversed on, for example, eye protection.The UK chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies, when speaking at the World Health Organization about Operation Cygnus – a 2016 three-day exercise on a flu pandemic in the UK – reportedly said the UK was not ready for a severe flu attack and ‘a lot of things need improving’.Aware of the significance of the situation, the UK Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy launched an inquiry in 2019 on ‘Biosecurity and human health: preparing for emerging infectious diseases and bioweapons’ which intended to coordinate a cross-government approach to biosecurity threats. But the inquiry had to postpone its oral hearings scheduled for late October 2019 and, because of the general election in December 2019, the committee was obliged to close the inquiry. Full Article
nes Cow’s milk allergy guidelines are not evidence based and are beset by conflicts of interest, researchers warn By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 16:26 Full Article
nes Covid-19: Trump says added deaths are necessary price for reopening US businesses By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, May 7, 2020 - 14:10 Full Article
nes Businesses hope to get some action for Mother’s Day By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:09:50 -0500 Just last year, one could find a variety of deals and promotions for Mother’s Day with ease, but for 2020, the opposite is true. This change could be connected with the coronavirus pandemic and a number of businesses having to close their doors for... Full Article
nes Beware Russian and Chinese Positioning for After the Pandemic By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 10:00:11 +0000 9 April 2020 Keir Giles Senior Consulting Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme @KeirGiles LinkedIn Google Scholar Authoritarian regimes can use the COVID-19 crisis to improve their international standing, taking advantage of others’ distraction. Their aims are different, but their methods have much in common. 2020-04-09-Russia-Aid-Serbia An airlifter of the Russian Aerospace Forces prepares to fly to Serbia carrying equipment and professionals during the COVID-19 crisis. Photo by Russian Defence MinistryTASS via Getty Images. Both Russia and China have mounted combined charm offensives and disinformation campaigns on the back of the pandemic. Shipments of ‘aid’ – reportedly of questionable utility and quality - have gone hand in hand with a concerted effort to deflect any blame from China for the early spread, and an ongoing drive by Russia to undermine states’ confidence and have sanctions lifted.These concurrent operations have very different objectives, as Russia seeks to subvert international order while China is continuing its bid to demonstrate global leadership - but in both cases, they are seeking long-term gains by exploiting the inattention and distraction of their targets.Both seek to present themselves as globally responsible stakeholders, but for divergent reasons – especially China which needs the rest of the world to recover and return to stability to ensure its own economic recovery. But despite this, the two campaigns appear superficially similar.Fertile ground for disinformationOne reason lies in the unique nature of the current crisis. Unlike political issues that are local or regional in nature, COVID-19 affects everybody worldwide. The perceived lack of reliable information about the virus provides fertile ground for information and disinformation campaigns, especially feeding on fear, uncertainty and doubt. But Russia in particular would not be succeeding in its objectives without mis-steps and inattention by Western governments.Confused reporting on Russia sending medical supplies to the United States showed Moscow taking advantage of a US administration in apparent disarray. Claims Russia was sending ’humanitarian aid’ were only belatedly countered by the US State Department pointing out it had been paid for. Meanwhile the earlier arrival of Russian military equipment in Italy also scored a propaganda victory for Russia, facilitated by curious passivity by the Italian government.In both cases Russia also achieved secondary objectives. With the United States, Russia scored bonus points by shipping equipment produced by a subsidiary of a company under US sanctions. In the case of Italy, Russian state media made good use of misleading or heavily edited video clips to give the impression of widespread Italian acclaim for Russian aid, combined with disdain for the efforts of the EU.Beijing’s external information campaigns have sought to deflect or defuse criticism of its early mishandling and misinformation on coronavirus and counter accusations of secrecy and falsifying data while also pursuing an opportunity to exercise soft power. For Moscow, current efforts boost a long-standing and intensive campaign to induce the lifting of sanctions, demonstrating if nothing else that sanctions are indeed an effective measure. Official and unofficial lobbying has intensified in numerous capital cities, and will inevitably find supporters.But both the aid and the information campaigns are seriously flawed. While appropriate and useful aid for countries that are struggling should of course be welcomed, both Russian and Chinese equipment delivered to Europe has repeatedly been found to be inappropriate or defective. Russian photographs of cardboard boxes stacked loose and unsecured in a transport aircraft bound for the United States sparked alarm and disbelief among military and aviation experts - and there has still been no US statement on what exactly was purchased, and whether it was found to be fit for purpose when it arrived.Reporting from Italy that the Russian equipment delivered there was ‘80% useless’ has not been contradicted by the Italian authorities. In fact, although the Italian sources criticizing Russia remain anonymous it is striking that - President Trump aside - no government has publicly endorsed materials and assistance received from Russia as actually being useful and helpful.Even in Serbia, with its traditionally close ties with Russia, the only information forthcoming on the activities of the Russian Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops and their equipment that arrived on April 3 was from Russian press releases.Both countries’ strategic communications efforts are similarly fallible. China’s notoriously heavy-handed approach to its critics is of only limited use in the face of such a severe and immediate threat. One suggestion that the virus originated in the US – an early response to US criticism – has already been walked back by the Chinese diplomat who made it.And Russia continues to be capable of spectacularly misjudging its targets. When investigative journalists looked more closely at the nature of the assistance to Italy, Russia’s official response was rage and personal threats, laying bare the real nature of the campaign and immediately alienating many of those whom Moscow had sought to win over.Errors and deficiencies such as these provide opportunities to mitigate the worst side-effects of the campaigns. And actions by individuals can also mitigate much of the impact. The most effective disinformation plays on deeply emotional issues and triggers visceral rather than rational reactions.Advocates of ’informational distancing’ as well as social distancing suggest a tactical pause to assess information calmly, instead of reacting or spreading it further unthinkingly. This approach would bolster not only calm dispassionate assessment of the real impact of Russian and Chinese actions, but also counter spreading of misinformation on the pandemic as a whole - especially when key sources of disinformation are national leaders seeking to politicize or profit from the crisis.Limitations of Russian and Chinese altruism must be stated clearly and frankly to fill gaps in public understanding. Where help is genuine, it should of course be welcomed: but if it is the case that assistance received from Moscow or Beijing is not appropriate, not useful, or not fit for purpose, this should be acknowledged publicly.Even without central direction or coordination with other Russian strategic communications efforts, the self-perpetuating Russian disinformation ecosystem continues to push narratives designed to undermine confidence in institutions and their ability to deal with the crisis. This too must continue to be monitored closely and countered where it matters.In all cases, miscalculations by Russia or China that expose the true intent of their campaigns – no matter how different their objectives might be - should be watched for closely and highlighted where they occur.Despite the enormity of the present emergency it is not a time for any government to relax its vigilance over longer-term threats. States must not lose sight of manoeuvres seeking to exploit weakness and distraction. If Russia and China emerge from the current crisis with enhanced authority and unjustifiably restored reputations, this will make it still harder to resist their respective challenges to the current rules-based international order in the future. Full Article
nes Happiness By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Wed, 24 May 2017 13:19:35 +0000 Microsoft, Houston, Com Check, Com Check! Challenger and Columbia, are One and the same thing, People died on the way up and on the down opening Space, So do not blame America. Be better. -picture- shortpoetry.wordpress.com– -short evocative poetry- Full Article Poetry emerging nations exploration NASA poetry space
nes another chance at happiness By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 19:56:56 +0000 give me goodseed and I’ll plant it by the roadside. give me water and I will tend it, goodseed, grow it give me laughter and I will turn it, and live it with goodheart, and love it in goodlight, like softlight on bone. -♦Photo – Gottfried Helnwein♦- -short, evocative poetry- Full Article Poetry poem poetry spirit
nes Europe’s Energy Union: Foreign Policy Implications for Energy Security, Climate and Competitiveness By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 10:09:24 +0000 31 March 2016 By addressing structural divisions between member states, the Energy Union could have a beneficial effect on the EU’s capacity to conduct a unified and effective foreign policy, write Thomas Raines and Shane Tomlinson. Download PDF Thomas Raines Director, Europe Programme @TomHRaines Google Scholar Shane Tomlinson Former Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources, Chatham House 2016-03-31-europe-energy-union.jpg True colour satellite image of Europe at night. Photo via Getty Images. SummaryPlans for an EU-wide Energy Union are taking shape, following the European Commission’s adoption in February 2015 of a ‘Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy’. The strategy underlines the EU’s ambition to attain ‘secure, sustainable, competitive, affordable energy for every European’.The initiative seeks to transform energy markets and energy/climate policy across the EU. Its goals include cross-border coordination and integration in energy security, supply, market operations, regulation, energy efficiency, low-carbon development, and research and innovation.There is an important foreign policy aspect to the Energy Union, given the imperative of managing security and supply risks in Europe’s neighbourhood and further afield. By addressing structural divisions between member states, the Energy Union could have a marked beneficial effect on the EU’s capacity to conduct a unified and effective foreign policy.Development of the Energy Union presents abundant challenges, however. Policy and legislative changes will need to be coordinated across 28 countries. Variations in EU member states’ attitudes to security and energy policy may lead to differences in, or clashes between, priorities. The wider context is also complicated. Interrelated challenges rooted in broader policy issues include the partial transition to low-carbon energy, and concerns over competitiveness relative to other major economies.The current EU approach to energy security and infrastructure focuses on natural gas. This ‘gas first’ approach risks crowding out other responses to the energy security challenge. It could result in the creation of ‘stranded assets’, if the future gas demand on which investments are predicated does not match projections. A narrow focus on new gas infrastructure could also impede development of other dimensions of the Energy Union.The markets for coal, oil, gas and renewables are changing significantly. The shale oil and gas ‘revolution’ in the United States has altered the economics of hydrocarbon fuels, and the plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 is causing energy businesses in the EU to reassess investment plans.The EU is rapidly expanding the use of renewable energy. Dramatically falling prices for renewables will challenge traditional energy utility business models. How the Energy Union enables market access for new business models will be key to determining future energy trajectories. Department/project Europe Programme, UK-EU27 Energy Cooperation, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme Full Article
nes Something Extra | Wednesday By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 00:06:36 -0500 Since this week would have been carnival week in Jamaica, we are taking you back to the mecca, Trinidad and Tobago, where just a few months ago, before the pandemic, the region’s local designers, musicians and the revellers were on show. The... Full Article
nes Something Extra | Wednesday By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:13:05 -0500 The fourth in the series of the musical showcase Sunday Live, powered by Sagicor, was held on Sunday, April 19 at Pier One on the Waterfront and featured some of Jamaica’s top up-and-coming talents. The series, which is the brainchild of... Full Article
nes Something Extra | Wednesday By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:19:40 -0500 Sunday Live continues to showcase the musical prowess of some of Jamaica’s finest talent, and this past Sunday, April 26, the event featured songstress Shuga and reggae bands Earth Kry and TennShann Invasion. Now, with five episodes under its belt... Full Article
nes Something Extra | Wednesday By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:11:37 -0500 The Sunday Live stage continues to showcase some of Jamaica’s talented musicians, and on Sunday, May 3, up-and-coming singer Yeza; and singer, drummer and percussionist Roots Percussionist took centre stage and delivered powerful performances to... Full Article
nes Lacey-Ann Bartley: carving her name in business By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:11:25 -0500 From formalising her father’s business and taking it to higher and more profitable heights to sitting on the board of EXIM Bank and lecturing in the field of business development, Lacey-Ann Bartley has earned her stripes as the Distinguished Woman... Full Article
nes Danielia Mclean A powerhouse in business By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:16:06 -0500 M arketing guru and smashing entrepreneur Danielia McLean is known to the business and communication worlds as a powerhouse fiercely working to clutch success. Finding a novel business idea can be difficult; pursuing it, successfully, even more so... Full Article
nes Ja’s women have combated and won in business By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:16:48 -0500 At age 13, Nadeen Matthews Blair, chief executive officer of the NCB Foundation, challenged the tide to prove to a guidance counsellor at her United States-based school, that black girls can overcome all odds to become powerful leaders. Matthews... Full Article
nes Myeloid HMG-CoA Reductase Determines Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Hepatic Steatosis in Diet-Induced Obese Mice By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:25-08:00 Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) are involved in the development of insulin resistance in obesity. We have recently shown that myeloid cell–specific reduction of HMG-CoA reductase (Hmgcrm–/m–), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, protects against atherosclerosis by inhibiting macrophage migration in mice. We hypothesized that ATMs are harder to accumulate in Hmgcrm–/m– mice than in control Hmgcrfl/fl mice in the setting of obesity. To test this hypothesis, we fed Hmgcrm–/m– and Hmgcrfl/fl mice a high-fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks and compared plasma glucose metabolism as well as insulin signaling and histology between the two groups. Myeloid cell–specific reduction of Hmgcr improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity without altering body weight in the HFD-induced obese mice. The improvement was due to a decrease in the number of ATMs. The ATMs were reduced by decreased recruitment of macrophages as a result of their impaired chemotactic activity. These changes were associated with decreased expression of proinflammatory cytokines in adipose tissues. Myeloid cell–specific reduction of Hmgcr also attenuated hepatic steatosis. In conclusion, reducing myeloid HMGCR may be a promising strategy to improve insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in obesity. Full Article
nes Astros have unfinished business this season By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:40:00 EDT The Astros logo outside the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches really is something to see, all the way from Haverhill Rd. The closer you get the bigger it gets, the white "H" right there in front of the huge orange star. Underneath the "H" is the following message, white against orange: "2017 World Champions." It would have been a simple matter to put "2018" down there, too. There was room. Full Article
nes Raising HD awareness personal for Smith, wife By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:25:28 EDT They wrestled with the decision to start a family for five years. It's something most young couples discuss at some point. Timing is important, and considering their busy lives, even more so for Astros pitcher Joe Smith and his wife, TV sports reporter Allie LaForce. The issue facing the couple is far more momentous than most others have to deal with -- one that's a matter of life and death. Full Article
nes US pulls permission for Chinese masks found defective By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:12:39 -0500 WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials have revoked US authorisation for masks made by more than 60 Chinese manufacturers after they failed to meet standards needed to protect health care workers. The Food and Drug Administration had... Full Article
nes Nadal asks Djokovic to consider vaccines By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:14:02 -0500 MADRID, Spain (AP): Rafael Nadal says Novak Djokovic will need to be vaccinated to keep playing if the governing bodies of tennis make coronavirus shots obligatory once they become available. Nadal told the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia this... Full Article
nes How scientific are US dietary guidelines? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:56:34 +0000 They have a big impact on the diet of American citizens, and those of most Western nations, so why does the expert advice underpinning US government dietary guidelines not take account of all the relevant scientific evidence asks Nina Teicholz. Read the full investigation: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4962 Full Article
nes Christmas 2016 - Health and happiness By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wed, 21 Dec 2016 11:59:28 +0000 Underneath all of our civilisation and science, we’re still primates - and the connection between patient and doctor can be reinforced by simply taking a hand. Robin Youngson, cofounder of hearts in healthcare, and Mitzi Blennerhassett, who has written extensively on patient engagement, have co-authored an editorial calling for the humanisation... Full Article
nes Can we regulate intellectual interests like financial ones? By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Apr 2018 19:07:09 +0000 We talk about financial conflicts of interest a lot atThe BMJ - and have take taken the decision that our educational content should be without them. We also talk a lot about non-financial conflicts of interest, but the choppy waters of those are much more difficult to navigate. In this podcast, we discuss whether we should, or if we could even... Full Article
nes Talking honestly about intensive care By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Oct 2018 19:35:20 +0000 On the podcast, we’ve talked a lot about the limits of medicine - where treatment doesn’t work, or potentially harms. But in that conversation, we’ve mainly focused on specific treatments. Now a new analysis, broadens that to talk about patients being admitted to a whole ward - intensive care. The authors of that article contend that, often,... Full Article
nes Talk Evidence - Devices and facebook vaccines By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2018 11:11:18 +0000 In the second of our EBM round-ups, Carl Heneghan, Helen Macdonald and Duncan Jarvies are joined by Deborah Cohen, investigative journalist and scourge of device manufacturers. We're giving our verdict on the sensitivity and specificity of ketone testing for hyperemesis, and the advice to drinking more water to prevent recurrent UTIs in... Full Article
nes Fertility awareness based methods for pregnancy prevention By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Sat, 13 Jul 2019 17:38:01 +0000 Fertility awareness based methods of contraception are increasingly being used for pregnancy prevention. In the US, the proportion of contraceptive users who choose such methods has grown from 1% in 2008 to approximately 3% in 2014. Relative to other methods of pregnancy prevention, however, substantial misinformation exists around fertility... Full Article
nes 19 Marion Nestle By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:30:59 +0000 This week, Ray ventures into the notoriously complex field of nutrition with special guest, Professor Marion Nestle. Named by Forbes as one of the world's most powerful foodies, Marion’s stellar career spans five decades of research, teaching, advocacy work and the publication of countless prize-winning books. Full Article
nes Is it possible to have fair pricing for medicines By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:50:54 +0000 Is it possible to have a fair price for medicines? Yes, according to a new collection just published on bmj.com. The authors set out to evaluate how we could improve the functioning of the market for medicines, to honestly compensate industry for innovation, whilst allowing the poorest to afford them. Suerie Moon, co-director of global health at... Full Article
nes Organisational kindness during covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:52:48 +0000 Reports from Italy, and more recently from the U.S. show the strain the healthcare system is under during this pandemic. We know that staff will step up in an emergency, but this isn’t a fire or a bombing, this is going to last for months. So how can organisations be proactive in supporting staff, and how can leaders try to mitigate the... Full Article
nes Talk Evidence covid-19 update - pneumonia, guidelines, preprints and testing By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:53:16 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give... Full Article
nes Talk evidence covid-19 update: natural history of covid, include patients in guidelines By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 09:13:00 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give you... Full Article
nes The Effect of Thiazolidinediones on Plasma Adiponectin Levels in Normal, Obese, and Type 2 Diabetic Subjects By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2002-10-01 Joseph G. YuOct 1, 2002; 51:2968-2974Obesity Studies Full Article
nes Moving GLUT4: The Biogenesis and Trafficking of GLUT4 Storage Vesicles By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 1997-11-01 Shane ReaNov 1, 1997; 46:1667-1677Perspectives in Diabetes Full Article
nes Endothelial Progenitor Cell Dysfunction: A Novel Concept in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Complications of Type 1 Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2004-01-01 Cindy J.M. LoomansJan 1, 2004; 53:195-199Complications Full Article
nes Thiazolidinediones in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance and Type II Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 1996-12-01 Alan R SaltielDec 1, 1996; 45:1661-1669Perspectives in Diabetes Full Article
nes Inflammatory Cytokines and the Risk to Develop Type 2 Diabetes: Results of the Prospective Population-Based European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam Study By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2003-03-01 Joachim SprangerMar 1, 2003; 52:812-817Pathophysiology Full Article
nes NCEP-Defined Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, and Prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease Among NHANES III Participants Age 50 Years and Older By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2003-05-01 Charles M. AlexanderMay 1, 2003; 52:1210-1214Complications Full Article
nes Insulin Action, Diabetogenes, and the Cause of Type II Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 1994-08-01 C. Ronald KahnAug 1, 1994; 43:1066-1085Banting Lecture Full Article
nes Lipotoxicity in the Pathogenesis of Obesity-Dependent NIDDM: Genetic and Clinical Implications By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 1995-08-01 Roger H UngerAug 1, 1995; 44:863-870Perspectives in Diabetes Full Article
