ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC –A senior education official Thursday said students would sit the Grade Six National Assessment examinations later this year, despite the disruption caused to the education system by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Dominica...

As the Reds consider their regular center-fielder options, they are not just humoring career infielder Nick Senzel by letting him compete for the spot. Senzel believes he can do it. Perhaps more importantly, so does new manager David Bell.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has never been to an Opening Day in Cincinnati. Manfred is excited to experience one for himself, now that he has the honor of being the grand marshal of the 100th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade on March 28.

THE EDITOR, Madam: On Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., while watching TVJ, I saw Get Moving home workout series. Very good, TVJ and the Ministry of Health, for bringing this workout programme into our homes. Minister Tufton was a participant; he truly...

Incretin hormone dysregulation contributes to reduced insulin secretion and hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Resistance to glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) action may occur through desensitization or downregulation of β-cell GIP receptors (GIP-R). Studies in rodents and cell lines show GIP-R expression can be regulated through peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) response elements (PPREs). Whether this occurs in humans is unknown. To test this, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pioglitazone therapy on GIP-mediated insulin secretion and adipocyte GIP-R expression in subjects with well-controlled T2DM. Insulin sensitivity improved, but the insulinotropic effect of infused GIP was unchanged following 12 weeks of pioglitazone treatment. In parallel, we observed increased GIP-R mRNA expression in subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes from subjects treated with pioglitazone. Treatment of cultured human adipocytes with troglitazone increased PPAR binding to GIP-R PPREs. These results show PPAR agonists regulate GIP-R expression through PPREs in human adipocytes, but suggest this mechanism is not important for regulation of the insulinotropic effect of GIP in subjects with T2DM. Because GIP has antilipolytic and lipogenic effects in adipocytes, the increased GIP-R expression may mediate accretion of fat in patients with T2DM treated with PPAR agonists.

Insulin-mediated microvascular recruitment (IMVR) regulates delivery of insulin and glucose to insulin-sensitive tissues. We have previously proposed that perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) controls vascular function through outside-to-inside communication and through vessel-to-vessel, or "vasocrine," signaling. However, direct experimental evidence supporting a role of local PVAT in regulating IMVR and insulin sensitivity in vivo is lacking. Here, we studied muscles with and without PVAT in mice using combined contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and intravital microscopy to measure IMVR and gracilis artery diameter at baseline and during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. We show, using microsurgical removal of PVAT from the muscle microcirculation, that local PVAT depots regulate insulin-stimulated muscle perfusion and glucose uptake in vivo. We discovered direct microvascular connections between PVAT and the distal muscle microcirculation, or adipomuscular arterioles, the removal of which abolished IMVR. Local removal of intramuscular PVAT altered protein clusters in the connected muscle, including upregulation of a cluster featuring Hsp90ab1 and Hsp70 and downregulation of a cluster of mitochondrial protein components of complexes III, IV, and V. These data highlight the importance of PVAT in vascular and metabolic physiology and are likely relevant for obesity and diabetes.

A single bout of exercise enhances insulin action in the exercised muscle. However, not all human studies find that this translates into increased whole-body insulin action, suggesting that insulin action in rested muscle or other organs may be decreased by exercise. To investigate this, eight healthy men underwent a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp on 2 separate days: one day with prior one-legged knee-extensor exercise to local exhaustion (~2.5 h) and another day without exercise. Whole-body glucose disposal was ~18% lower on the exercise day as compared with the resting day due to decreased (~37%) insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the nonexercised muscle. Insulin signaling at the level of Akt2 was impaired in the nonexercised muscle on the exercise day, suggesting that decreased insulin action in nonexercised muscle may reduce GLUT4 translocation in response to insulin. Thus, the effect of a single bout of exercise on whole-body insulin action depends on the balance between local effects increasing and systemic effects decreasing insulin action. Physiologically, this mechanism may serve to direct glucose into the muscles in need of glycogen replenishment. For insulin-treated patients, this complex relationship may explain the difficulties in predicting the adequate insulin dose for maintaining glucose homeostasis following physical activity.

Schwann cell–derived exosomes communicate with dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. The current study investigated the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from healthy Schwann cells (SC-Exos) on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). We found that intravenous administration of SC-Exos to type 2 diabetic db/db mice with peripheral neuropathy remarkably ameliorated DPN by improving sciatic nerve conduction velocity and increasing thermal and mechanical sensitivity. These functional improvements were associated with the augmentation of epidermal nerve fibers and remyelination of sciatic nerves. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis of sciatic nerve tissues showed that SC-Exo treatment reversed diabetes-reduced mature form of miRNA (miR)-21, -27a, and -146a and diabetes-increased semaphorin 6A (SEMA6A); Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA); phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN); and nuclear factor-B (NF-B). In vitro data showed that SC-Exos promoted neurite outgrowth of diabetic DRG neurons and migration of Schwann cells challenged by high glucose. Collectively, these novel data provide evidence that SC-Exos have a therapeutic effect on DPN in mice and suggest that SC-Exo modulation of miRs contributes to this therapy.

Invitation Only Research Event

Event participants

Paula Hodges QC, Partner; Head, Global Arbitration Practice, Herbert Smith Freehills
Stéphane Brabant, Partner; Chairman, Africa Practice Group, Herbert Smith Freehills

Research Event

Event participants

Tom Butler, Chief Executive Officer, International Council for Mining and Metals (ICMM)
Evelyn Dietsche, Associate Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources, Chatham House
Chair: Bernice Lee, Executive Director, Hoffman Centre, Chatham House 

Invitation Only Research Event

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms on a contract extension with manager Torey Lovullo on Tuesday.

As D-backs pitchers and catchers begin their first official workout of the spring on Wednesday morning, one of the biggest questions facing the organization is who will fill the leadership vacuum.

Monday morning, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo will stand in front of his entire team prior to the first full-squad workout of the spring.

Agencies have criticised the lack of action to protect the health needs of sex workers during the pandemic, with the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) warning of a “ticking time bomb of health...

In glioma patients, differentiation between tumor progression (TP) and treatment-related changes (TRCs) remains challenging. Difficulties in classifying imaging alterations may result in a delay or an unnecessary discontinuation of treatment. PET using O-(2-¹⁸F-fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine (¹⁸F-FET) has been shown to be a useful tool for detecting TP and TRCs. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 127 consecutive patients with World Health Organization grade II–IV glioma who underwent ¹⁸F-FET PET imaging to distinguish between TP and TRCs. ¹⁸F-FET PET findings were verified by neuropathology (40 patients) or clinicoradiologic follow-up (87 patients). Maximum tumor-to-brain ratios (TBR_max) of ¹⁸F-FET uptake and the slope of the time–activity curves (20–50 min after injection) were determined. The diagnostic accuracy of ¹⁸F-FET PET parameters was evaluated by receiver-operating-characteristic analysis and ² testing. The prognostic value of ¹⁸F-FET PET was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: TP was diagnosed in 94 patients (74%) and TRCs in 33 (26%). For differentiating TP from TRCs, receiver-operating-characteristic analysis yielded an optimal ¹⁸F-FET TBR_max cutoff of 1.95 (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 71%; accuracy, 70%; area under the curve, 0.75 ± 0.05). The highest accuracy was achieved by a combination of TBR_max and slope (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 67%; accuracy, 81%). However, accuracy was poorer when tumors harbored isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations (91% in IDH-wild-type tumors, 67% in IDH-mutant tumors, P < 0.001). ¹⁸F-FET PET results correlated with overall survival (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In our neurooncology department, the diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-FET PET was convincing but slightly inferior to that of previous reports.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Combined Index regained lost ground on Tuesday with an advance/decline ratio of 28/38 The JSE index advanced marginally 1,154.11 points or 0.32 per cent to close at 360,497.91. The JSE Main Market Index was up...

The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Combined Index continued its mild rally on Wednesday with an advance/decline ratio of 34/29 The JSE index advanced marginally 1,983.51points or 0.55 per cent to close at 362,481.42. The JSE Main Market Index was up...

WITH THE productive sector experiencing a shortage of foreign exchange for the past two months, the Jamaican Manufacturers and Exporters Association, JMEA, says it has appealed to the Bank of Jamaica, BOJ, for direct access to US currency for three...

Invitation Only Research Event

Event participants

Alistair Burt, Conservative Member of Parliament (1983-97 and 2001-19); Minister of State for the Middle East, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Minister of State at the Department for UK International Development (2017-19)

Members Event

Event participants

Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy, University of Cambridge; Host, Talking Politics
Chairs: Hans Kundnani, Senior Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House
Laura Cram, Professor of European Politics, University of Edinburgh. Co-Editor, Government and Opposition: An International Journal of Comparative Politics
 

Members Event

Event participants

Anu Bradford, Author, The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World; Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization, Columbia Law School

Creon Butler, Research Director, Trade, Investment & New Governance Models; Director, Global Economy and Finance Programme, Chatham House

Chair: Pepijn Bergsen, Research Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House

Research Event

Event participants

Gavin Barwell, Downing Street Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Theresa May (2017-19)
Chair: Thomas Raines, Director, Europe Programme, Chatham House

Invitation Only Research Event

Event participants

Tim Yeo, Chairman, The New Nuclear Watch Institute
Chair: Antony Froggatt, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources, Chatham House 

Invitation Only Research Event

The actin cytoskeleton is extremely dynamic and supports diverse cellular functions in many physiological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms that regulate the actin-related protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex and thereby promote actin polymerization and organization in cancer cells are not well-understood. We previously implicated the proline-rich 11 (PRR11) protein in lung cancer development. In this study, using immunofluorescence staining, actin polymerization assays, and siRNA-mediated gene silencing, we uncovered that cytoplasmic PRR11 is involved in F-actin polymerization and organization. We found that dysregulation of PRR11 expression results in F-actin rearrangement and nuclear instability in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Results from molecular mechanistic experiments indicated that PRR11 associates with and recruits the ARP2/3 complex, facilitates F-actin polymerization, and thereby disrupts the F-actin cytoskeleton, leading to abnormal nuclear lamina assembly and chromatin reorganization. Inhibition of the ARP2/3 complex activity abolished irregular F-actin polymerization, lamina assembly, and chromatin reorganization due to PRR11 overexpression. Notably, experiments with truncated PRR11 variants revealed that PRR11 regulates F-actin through different regions. We found that deletion of either the N or C terminus of PRR11 abrogates its effects on F-actin polymerization and nuclear instability and that deletion of amino acid residues 100–184 or 100–200 strongly induces an F-actin structure called the actin comet tail, not observed with WT PRR11. Our findings indicate that cytoplasmic PRR11 plays an essential role in regulating F-actin assembly and nuclear stability by recruiting the ARP2/3 complex in human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Amid ongoing Brexit negotiations, much remains uncertain for the roughly 1 million UK citizens living elsewhere in the European Union. This report offers a demographic profile of these Brexpats, considering what form an EU-UK deal on citizens’ rights might take and identifying key challenges many Britons are likely to face—including difficulty securing legal status and accessing labor markets, social security, and health-care systems.

Who is an immigrant? Does that status change if, for example, a foreigner marries a native-born resident or serves in his or her adopted country's military? This explainer answers basic questions about international migrants—who they are, their top destinations, where they come from, how they are counted, and more.

This MPI Europe webinar examines innovative ways to better design and implement predeparture orientation programs for resetttling refugees. The discussion features observations from a refugee who went through an orientation program before being resettled in the Netherlands, and a resettlement agency official in Norway.

With thousands more migrants potentially traveling through the Western Balkans this year, this MPI Europe webinar explores the implications of the buttressed EU border on the bloc’s neighbors, including the issues of outsourcing migration control, EU support for addressing irregular migration in neighboring countries, and considerations for EU policymakers.

With thousands migrants potentially traveling through the Western Balkans this year, this MPI Europe webinar explores the implications of the buttressed EU border on the bloc’s neighbors, the migrants transiting these routes, and the local communities. Experts also explored how the European Union can support efforts to address irregular migration in neighboring countries, and what are the tradeoffs and considerations that policymakers must weigh. 

Marking the release of MPI President Andrew Selee's latest book, speakers explore emerging trends in migration, economic interdependence, technology innovation, and cultural exchange that are transforming the relationship between the United States and Mexico, and the policy implications of these changes for the future.

Though a faceoff between the U.S. executive and legislative branches is now in the courts, with President Trump's decision to declare a national emergency so he can allocate more money for construction of a border wall, a less-noted dispute has been taking place over the Department of Homeland Security's decision to add thousands more immigration detention beds than Congress provides annually, as this article explains.

The House is set to vote on two bills that would largely dismantle the U.S. asylum system at the southern border by significantly narrowing grounds to apply for asylum, eliminating protections for the vast majority of unaccompanied minors, and unilaterally declaring Mexico a safe third country. The result would be a sharp reduction in the number of people permitted to seek humanitarian protection, as this commentary explains.

Award winners were honored at the second annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC, on May 18, 2010.

Winners of the 2nd annual E Pluribus Unum Prizes awarded to exceptional immigrant integration initiatives by MPI's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy are the Illinois New Americans Integration Initiative; the Latino Community Credit Union in Durham, NC; Tacoma Community House in Tacoma, WA; and Upwardly Global in San Francisco, CA. McDonald's Corp. of Oak Brook, IL, received the sole honorable mention. The Prizes seek to reward exemplary efforts that uphold and update the ideal of "out of many, one" and inspire others to take on the important work of helping immigrants and their children join the mainstream of U.S. society as well as build stronger ties between immigrants and the native-born. Award winners were honored at the second annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC, on May 18, 2010. Watch highlights of the ceremony here.

Remain in Mexico—the Trump administration policy aimed at deterring the rising numbers of migrants from Central America by requiring them to stay in Mexico through most of their U.S. asylum adjudication process—bears striking similarities to U.S. policy in the 1980s and 1990s that sought to discourage Haitians from making the sea journey to the United States. This article explores the parallels and differences between Remain in Mexico and the earlier narrowing of asylum for Haitians.

Approximately 11,500 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in May, putting this year on track to exceed 2014's surge. As the U.S. government struggles to care for these child migrants, with public outrage mounting over reports of unsafe, filthy conditions in initial Border Patrol custody, the failure of the executive branch and Congress to plan for increased shelter and care demands are increasingly apparent, as this article explores.

This report analyzes the exploitation of migrants in three spheres: the domestic care sector, the labor market, and the sex industry. It details several obstacles governments face in their efforts to weaken the "bad actors" that profit from exploitation, and shows how one of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement is that serious criminals and lawbreakers often operate on the edge of legality and exploit legal routes wherever possible.

Testimony of Marc R. Rosenblum, Deputy Director, U.S. Immigration Program, before the House Judiciary Committee on the efficacy of immigration enforcement at the U.S. border and in the interior.

Marking the release of an MPI report, this briefing explores the effects of recent revisions in DHS immigration enforcement priorities on deportations within the U.S. interior.

This event focuses on the changing face of Mexican migration to the United States, Mexican immigrants' contributions to U.S. society and political and economic power, as well as that of those who have returned to Mexico.

Thailand has become a key destination for migrant workers, primarily from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Many lack authorization, however, and as their numbers have grown, so has the government's intent in regulating their movement—sometimes provoking unintended results. This article explores recent patterns in labor migration to Thailand and examines the likely impacts of a 2017 decree criminalizing illegal employment.

In advance of the December 2018 adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and its commitment to facilitate the return, readmission, and reintegration of migrants, this webinar examines the policies, practices, and contextual factors that make compulsory returns such a difficult issue for international cooperation, and the programs that are being implemented to make reintegration of returnees sustainable.

From ongoing emigration flows and a surge in asylum seekers, to more than 150,000 returnees, this country profile examines contemporary and historical migration trends in Albania. Driven by extreme poverty and unemployment, more than one-third of Albania's population has emigrated in the last 25 years. The government now seeks to capitalize on diaspora resources by linking migration and development policies.

The Cuban Revolution unleashed a massive exodus from the island. Cuba is now among the top origin countries of immigrants in the United States—where for decades they have received preferential treatment—with smaller numbers across Europe and Latin America. This article explores the evolution of Cuban migration, particularly within the context of the Cold War and shifting U.S. policies toward the country.