q Secrets and Spies: UK Intelligence Accountability After Iraq and Snowden By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:23:12 +0000 20 January 2020 How can democratic governments hold intelligence and security agencies to account when what they do is largely secret? Jamie Gaskarth explores how intelligence professionals view accountability in the context of 21st century politics. Jamie Gaskarth Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham Secrets and Spies (cover image) Using the UK as a case study, this book provides the first systematic exploration of how accountability is understood inside the secret world. It is based on new interviews with current and former UK intelligence practitioners, as well as extensive research into the performance and scrutiny of the UK intelligence machinery.The result is the first detailed analysis of how intelligence professionals view their role, what they feel keeps them honest, and how far external overseers impact on their work.The UK gathers material that helps inform global decisions on such issues as nuclear proliferation, terrorism, transnational crime, and breaches of international humanitarian law. On the flip side, the UK was a major contributor to the intelligence failures leading to the Iraq war in 2003, and its agencies were complicit in the widely discredited U.S. practices of torture and 'rendition' of terrorism suspects. UK agencies have come under greater scrutiny since those actions, but it is clear that problems remain.Secrets and Spies is the result of a British Academy funded project (SG151249) on intelligence accountability.Open society is increasingly defended by secret means. For this reason, oversight has never been more important. This book offers a new exploration of the widening world of accountability for UK intelligence, encompassing informal as well as informal mechanisms. It substantiates its claims well, drawing on an impressive range of interviews with senior figures. This excellent book offers both new information and fresh interpretations. It will have a major impact.Richard Aldrich, Professor of International Security, University of Warwick, UKGaskarth’s novel approach, interpreting interviews with senior figures from the intelligence world, brings fresh insight on a significant yet contested topic. He offers an impressively holistic account of intelligence accountability—both formal and informal—and, most interestingly of all, of how those involved understand it. This is essential reading for those wanting to know what accountability means and how it is enacted.Rory Cormac, Professor of International Relations, University of NottinghamAbout the authorJamie Gaskarth is senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham, where he teaches strategy and decision-making. His research looks at the ethical dilemmas of leadership and accountability in intelligence, foreign policy, and defence. He is author/editor or co-editor of six books and served on the Academic Advisory panel for the 2015 UK National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review.Available now: Buying optionsInsights: Critical Thinking on International Affairs Department/project Russia and Eurasia Programme Full Article
q Endocytosis of very low-density lipoproteins: an unexpected mechanism for lipid acquisition by breast cancer cells [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-02-01T00:05:23-08:00 We previously described the expression of CD36 and LPL by breast cancer (BC) cells and tissues and the growth-promoting effect of VLDL observed only in the presence of LPL. We now report a model in which LPL is bound to a heparan sulfate proteoglycan motif on the BC cell surface and acts in concert with the VLDL receptor to internalize VLDLs via receptor-mediated endocytosis. We also demonstrate that gene-expression programs for lipid synthesis versus uptake respond robustly to triglyceride-rich lipoprotein availability. The literature emphasizes de novo FA synthesis and exogenous free FA uptake using CD36 as paramount mechanisms for lipid acquisition by cancer cells. We find that the uptake of intact lipoproteins is also an important mechanism for lipid acquisition and that the relative reliance on lipid synthesis versus uptake varies among BC cell lines and in response to VLDL availability. This metabolic plasticity has important implications for the development of therapies aimed at the lipid dependence of many types of cancer, in that the inhibition of FA synthesis may elicit compensatory upregulation of lipid uptake. Moreover, the mechanism that we have elucidated provides a direct connection between dietary fat and tumor biology.. Full Article
q Quantification of bile acids: a mass spectrometry platform for studying gut microbe connection to metabolic diseases [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-02-01T00:05:23-08:00 Bile acids (BAs) serve multiple biological functions, ranging from the absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins to serving as signaling molecules through the direct activation of dedicated cellular receptors. Synthesized by both host and microbial pathways, BAs are increasingly understood as participating in the regulation of numerous pathways relevant to metabolic diseases, including lipid and glucose metabolism, energy expenditure, and inflammation. Quantitative analyses of BAs in biological matrices can be problematic due to their unusual and diverse physicochemical properties, making optimization of a method that shows good accuracy, precision, efficiency of extraction, and minimized matrix effects across structurally distinct human and murine BAs challenging. Herein we develop and clinically validate a stable-isotope-dilution LC/MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of numerous primary and secondary BAs in both human and mouse biological matrices. We also utilize this tool to investigate gut microbiota participation in the generation of structurally specific BAs in both humans and mice. We examine circulating levels of specific BAs and in a clinical case-control study of age- and gender-matched type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) versus nondiabetics. BAs whose circulating levels are associated with T2DM include numerous 12α-hydroxyl BAs (taurocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and 3-ketodeoxycholic acid), while taurohyodeoxycholic acid was negatively associated with diabetes. The LC/MS/MS-based platform described should serve as a robust, high-throughput investigative tool for studying the potential involvement of structurally specific BAs and the gut microbiome on both physiological and disease processes. Full Article
q Role of angiopoietin-like protein 3 in sugar-induced dyslipidemia in rhesus macaques: suppression by fish oil or RNAi [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-03-01T00:06:33-08:00 Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) inhibits lipid clearance and is a promising target for managing cardiovascular disease. Here we investigated the effects of a high-sugar (high-fructose) diet on circulating ANGPTL3 concentrations in rhesus macaques. Plasma ANGPTL3 concentrations increased ~30% to 40% after 1 and 3 months of a high-fructose diet (both P < 0.001 vs. baseline). During fructose-induced metabolic dysregulation, plasma ANGPTL3 concentrations were positively correlated with circulating indices of insulin resistance [assessed with fasting insulin and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], hypertriglyceridemia, adiposity (assessed as leptin), and systemic inflammation [C-reactive peptide (CRP)] and negatively correlated with plasma levels of the insulin-sensitizing hormone adropin. Multiple regression analyses identified a strong association between circulating APOC3 and ANGPTL3 concentrations. Higher baseline plasma levels of both ANGPTL3 and APOC3 were associated with an increased risk for fructose-induced insulin resistance. Fish oil previously shown to prevent insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in this model prevented increases of ANGPTL3 without affecting systemic inflammation (increased plasma CRP and interleukin-6 concentrations). ANGPTL3 RNAi lowered plasma concentrations of ANGPTL3, triglycerides (TGs), VLDL-C, APOC3, and APOE. These decreases were consistent with a reduced risk of atherosclerosis. In summary, dietary sugar-induced increases of circulating ANGPTL3 concentrations after metabolic dysregulation correlated positively with leptin levels, HOMA-IR, and dyslipidemia. Targeting ANGPTL3 expression with RNAi inhibited dyslipidemia by lowering plasma TGs, VLDL-C, APOC3, and APOE levels in rhesus macaques. Full Article
q Alirocumab, evinacumab, and atorvastatin triple therapy regresses plaque lesions and improves lesion composition in mice [Research Articles] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-03-01T00:06:33-08:00 Atherosclerosis-related CVD causes nearly 20 million deaths annually. Most patients are treated after plaques develop, so therapies must regress existing lesions. Current therapies reduce plaque volume, but targeting all apoB-containing lipoproteins with intensive combinations that include alirocumab or evinacumab, monoclonal antibodies against cholesterol-regulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 and angiopoietin-like protein 3, may provide more benefit. We investigated the effect of such lipid-lowering interventions on atherosclerosis in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a well-established model for hyperlipidemia. Mice were fed a Western-type diet for 13 weeks and thereafter matched into a baseline group (euthanized at 13 weeks) and five groups that received diet alone (control) or with treatment [atorvastatin; atorvastatin and alirocumab; atorvastatin and evinacumab; or atorvastatin, alirocumab, and evinacumab (triple therapy)] for 25 weeks. We measured effects on cholesterol levels, plaque composition and morphology, monocyte adherence, and macrophage proliferation. All interventions reduced plasma total cholesterol (37% with atorvastatin to 80% with triple treatment; all P < 0.001). Triple treatment decreased non-HDL-C to 1.0 mmol/l (91% difference from control; P < 0.001). Atorvastatin reduced atherosclerosis progression by 28% versus control (P < 0.001); double treatment completely blocked progression and diminished lesion severity. Triple treatment regressed lesion size versus baseline in the thoracic aorta by 50% and the aortic root by 36% (both P < 0.05 vs. baseline), decreased macrophage accumulation through reduced proliferation, and abated lesion severity. Thus, high-intensive cholesterol-lowering triple treatment targeting all apoB-containing lipoproteins regresses atherosclerotic lesion area and improves lesion composition in mice, making it a promising potential approach for treating atherosclerosis. Full Article
q Erratum: Unequivocal evidence for endogenous geranylgeranoic acid biosynthesized from mevalonate in mammalian cells [Errata] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-01T00:05:29-07:00 Full Article
q Development of a sensitive and quantitative method for the identification of two major furan fatty acids in human plasma [Methods] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-01T00:05:29-07:00 This article focuses on the establishment of an accurate and sensitive quantitation method for the analysis of furan fatty acids. In particular, the sensitivity of GC/MS and UPLC/ESI/MS/MS was compared for the identification and quantification of furan fatty acids. Different methylation methods were tested with respect to GC/MS analysis. Special attention needs to be paid to the methylation of furan fatty acids, as acidic catalysts might lead to the degradation of the furan ring. GC/MS analysis in full-scan mode demonstrated that the limit of quantitation was 10 μM. UPLC/ESI/MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring mode displayed a higher detection sensitivity than GC/MS. Moreover, the identification of furan fatty acids with charge-reversal derivatization was tested in the positive mode with two widely used pyridinium salts. Significant oxidation was unexpectedly observed using N-(4-aminomethylphenyl) pyridinium as a derivatization agent. The formed 3-acyl-oxymethyl-1-methylpyridinium iodide derivatized by 2-bromo-1-methylpyridinium iodide and 3-carbinol-1-methylpyridinium iodide improved the sensitivity more than 2,000-fold compared with nonderivatization in the negative mode by UPLC/ESI/MS/MS. This charge-reversal derivatization enabled the targeted quantitation of furan fatty acids in human plasma. Thus, it is anticipated that this protocol could greatly contribute to the clarification of pathological mechanisms related to furan fatty acids and their metabolites. Full Article
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65940: You might receive "ERROR: PI Point not found" when you query a PI tag name that contains a special character such as an ampersand (&) By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2020 11:20:36 EST When you query a PI tag name or element that contains a special character, such as an ampersand (&), you might receive the following error: Full Article OSISOFT+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+the+PI+S
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65939: "ERROR: Unable to transcode data to/from UCS-2 encoding" occurs when you run an SQL query using SAS/ACCESS Interface to ODBC on SAS 9.4M5 with UTF-8 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2020 11:20:02 EST When you run an SQL query using SAS/ACCESS Interface to ODBC under the following conditions, you might receive an error: You run SAS 9.4M5 (TS1M5) or SAS 9.4M6 (TS1M6) i Full Article ODBC+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+ODBC
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 35066: When a bulk-loading process fails with "SQL*Loader 2026" error, error message appears as a warning in the SAS log By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 7 May 2020 17:15:19 EST If a bulk-loading process fails when you use SAS with SAS/ACCESS Interface to Oracle, you will receive the warning: "WARNING: All or some rows were rejected/discarded.: The actual error is "SQL*Loader-2026: The load was aborted because SQL Full Article ORACLE+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+Oracle
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65899: "ERROR: ORACLE disconnect error: ORA-03135" occurs when SAS disconnects from the Oracle database server By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 7 May 2020 08:04:08 EST When you run 32-bit SAS on Windows and disconnect from the Oracle database server, you might see the error: "ERROR: ORACLE disconnect error: ORA-03135: connection lost contact." Full Article ORACLE+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+Oracle
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 60332: A SAS 9.4 installation in Update mode notifies you about unwritable files in the "SASHome\SASWebApplicationServer" directory By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:49:04 EST When you run SAS Deployment Wizard to install or update SAS 9.4 software, the file system is examined. If any files that the wizard needs to delete are found to be locked, they are reported as unwritable f Full Article BASE+Base+SAS
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65929: A grid-enabled sign-on to SAS 9.4M6 (TS1M6) fails with errors, including "Remote signon canceled" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2020 13:02:23 EST A sign-on to a grid-enabled environment fails while it is trying to communicate with the client host. The following errors then appear in the SAS log: < Full Article GRIDMGR+SAS+Grid+Manager
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 64285: The SCD Type 2 Loader transformation in SAS Data Integration Studio generates "ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following:..." By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2020 12:38:17 EST If your business key column is a name literal, like " business key "n, a syntax error occurs when that variable name does not follow standard SAS naming conventions. Full Article DATABUILDER+SAS+Data+Integration+Studio
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 64459: A SAS Data Integration Studio job receives an error that states "The name '; index_name '; has the wrong number of qualifiers" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2020 12:37:37 EST An error occurs because of an incorrectly generated CREATE INDEX clause in an SQL query that is sent to DB2 when the DB2 schema value is SESSION . The error message says "The name '; index_name '; has the wrong number of qualifie Full Article DATABUILDER+SAS+Data+Integration+Studio
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65922: Trying to read a Google BigQuery table that contains a variable defined as an array might result in a panic error and SAS shutting down By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2020 10:30:19 EST Trying to read a Google BigQuery table that contains a variable that is defined as an array of records might result in an error and cause SAS to shut down. This issue occurs when one of the variables contained in Full Article BIGQUERY+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+Google+
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65916: Accessing a Google BigQuery table without including the SCHEMA= option in the LIBNAME statement might result in an error By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2020 09:41:22 EST When you issue a LIBNAME statement for a Google BigQuery database without including the SCHEMA= option, all tables in the project are shown when the libref is expanded. However, if you try to acces Full Article BIGQUERY+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+Google+
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65927: The Copy Files task in SAS Enterprise Guide 8.2 fails with the message "ERROR: Target folder does not exist or cannot be accessed" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 5 May 2020 09:59:15 EST When you run the Copy Files task in SAS Enterprise Guide and there is no connection to a SAS server, it fails with the following error: "ERROR: Target folder does not exist or cannot be accessed." Full Article EGUIDE+SAS+Enterprise+Guide
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65903: You see a "java.lang.IllegalArgumentException" error in the log file when you use the IFRS9_Cycle workflow template in SAS Solution for IFRS 9 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 18:01:29 EST The problem occurs on a content release on the SAS Risk Governance Framework. Full Article RGPBNDL+SAS+Risk+Governance+Framework
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65872: You see a "java.lang.IllegalArgumentException" error in the log file when you use the CECL_Cycle workflow template in SAS Solution for CECL By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 16:53:01 EST The problem occurs on a content release on the SAS Risk Governance Framework. Full Article RGPBNDL+SAS+Risk+Governance+Framework
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65904: SAS Federation Server stops responding when you run queries against X_OBJECT_PRIVILEGES in SYSCAT and the queries run for hours By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 14:48:24 EST The select * from "SYSCAT"."SYSCAT"."X_EFFECTIVE_OBJECT_PRIVILEGES" query runs for hours. In this scenario, SAS Federation Server stops responding, making it unavailable for use. Restarting SAS Federation Server solves t Full Article DFFEDSVR+SAS+Federation+Server
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65682: Running FedSQL with an Oracle table is slow, even when you use a LIMIT clause By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 14:43:59 EST When you query an Oracle table and use the LIMIT clause using either SAS Federation Server or FedSQL, a row limit is not passed to the database. In this scenario, a Full Article DFFEDSVR+SAS+Federation+Server
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65914: You see the error "Driver does not support this optional feature" after trying to insert or append data to a Databricks table By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 14:23:57 EST You can create create a Databricks table by using PROC SQL, but you cannot insert data into the table. PROC APPEND cannot create a new table or append data to an existing table. Full Article JDBCBNDL+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+JDBC
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65886: Trying to bulk load data into a Google BigQuery database might result in an error By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 10:00:17 EST When you bulk load data into a Google BigQuery database, you might encounter this error: "Error while reading data, error message: CSV table encountered too many errors, giving up...Error detected while parsing row starting at position: 0...Data Full Article BIGQUERY+SAS/ACCESS+Interface+to+Google+
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65844: STRESS task fails with "Fatal error in PMPI_Bcast: Other MPI error, error stack: PMPI_Bcast(1478)" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 13:35:57 EST In SAS High-Performance Risk, a STRESS task might fail with a message like the following in the SAS log while the compute server is sending the ScenarioCF/Value data to the HPRisk Engine: Full Article HPRISKOFR+SAS+High-Performance+Risk
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65835: A series of PROC SQL queries might not generate a distinct set of rows By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 12:39:06 EST A set of PROC SQL queries that create a view, contain a constant column, contain a computed column, and a create a table do not generate a unique set of rows in the table that is created. Full Article BASE+Base+SAS
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65597: An SQL procedure query with a WHERE clause that contains multiple subselects might return incorrect results By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 12:37:41 EST An issue occurs when code contains a complex SQL procedure query with a WHERE clause that contains multiple subselects. Incorrect results might be returned. Click the Hot Fix tab in this note to Full Article BASE+Base+SAS
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65883: SAS Workflow Studio returns a "cannot load" error when you try to open the CECL_Cycle_AFS workflow template for SAS Solution for CECL By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 16:10:54 EST You might see the following error in SAS Workflow Studio when you try to open the CECL_Cycle_AFS workflow template that is shipped with SAS Solution for CECL: Full Article RGPBNDL+SAS+Risk+Governance+Framework
q Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 65868: Saving a report distribution in SAS Visual Analytics Designer fails with "The name is invalid" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:03:57 EST When you attempt to save a report distribution in SAS Visual Analytics Designer, you might see the error shown in the following display: imgalt="" src="{fusion_65868_1_distributionerror.png}" /> Full Article VISANLYTBNDL+SAS+Visual+Analytics
q 30 low-key acquisitions who could pay off big By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 13:57:13 EDT Fans and analysts spend the entire offseason speculating where the top free agents could go, but sometimes an under-the-radar pickup can end up making a world of difference. As positional competitions begin to heat up at Spring Training camps this month, MLB.com's beat writers were asked to identify one potentially overlooked acquisition for each of the 30 clubs. Here's who they came up with. Full Article
q Glasnow working to quicken delivery By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sat, 16 Feb 2019 15:35:57 EDT Tyler Glasnow is hoping to build off a positive 2018, but his delivery is going to look a little different this season. Full Article
q MtrP, a putative methyltransferase in Corynebacteria, is required for optimal membrane transport of trehalose mycolates [Lipids] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01T00:06:09-07:00 Pathogenic bacteria of the genera Mycobacterium and Corynebacterium cause severe human diseases such as tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae). The cells of these species are surrounded by protective cell walls rich in long-chain mycolic acids. These fatty acids are conjugated to the disaccharide trehalose on the cytoplasmic side of the bacterial cell membrane. They are then transported across the membrane to the periplasm where they act as donors for other reactions. We have previously shown that transient acetylation of the glycolipid trehalose monohydroxycorynomycolate (hTMCM) enables its efficient transport to the periplasm in Corynebacterium glutamicum and that acetylation is mediated by the membrane protein TmaT. Here, we show that a putative methyltransferase, encoded at the same genetic locus as TmaT, is also required for optimal hTMCM transport. Deletion of the C. glutamicum gene NCgl2764 (Rv0224c in M. tuberculosis) abolished acetyltrehalose monocorynomycolate (AcTMCM) synthesis, leading to accumulation of hTMCM in the inner membrane and delaying its conversion to trehalose dihydroxycorynomycolate (h2TDCM). Complementation with NCgl2764 normalized turnover of hTMCM to h2TDCM. In contrast, complementation with NCgl2764 derivatives mutated at residues essential for methyltransferase activity failed to rectify the defect, suggesting that NCgl2764/Rv0224c encodes a methyltransferase, designated here as MtrP. Comprehensive analyses of the individual mtrP and tmaT mutants and of a double mutant revealed strikingly similar changes across several lipid classes compared with WT bacteria. These findings indicate that both MtrP and TmaT have nonredundant roles in regulating AcTMCM synthesis, revealing additional complexity in the regulation of trehalose mycolate transport in the Corynebacterineae. Full Article
q Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion Fundamentally Requires H2O2 Signaling by NADPH Oxidase 4 By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-24T18:07:35-07:00 NADPH facilitates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic islet (PI) β-cells by an as yet unknown mechanism. We found NADPH oxidase, isoform-4 (NOX4), to be the major producer of cytosolic H2O2, essential for GSIS, while the increase in ATP/ADP alone was insufficient. The fast GSIS phase was absent in PIs from NOX4-null, β-cell-specific knockout mice (NOX4βKO) (not NOX2KO), and NOX4-silenced or catalase-overexpressing INS-1E cells. Lentiviral NOX4 overexpression or H2O2 rescued GSIS in PIs from NOX4βKO mice. NOX4 silencing suppressed Ca2+ oscillations and the patch-clamped ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) opened more frequently at high glucose. Mitochondrial H2O2, decreasing upon GSIS, provided an alternative redox signaling when 2-oxo-isocaproate or fatty acid oxidation formed superoxide by electron-transport flavoprotein:Q-oxidoreductase. Unlike GSIS, this ceased with mitochondrial antioxidant SkQ1. Both NOX4KO and NOX4βKO strains exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and peripheral insulin resistance. Thus the redox signaling previously suggested to cause β-cell-self-checking – hypothetically induces insulin resistance when absent. In conclusion, ATP plus H2O2 elevations constitute an essential switch-on signal of insulin exocytosis for glucose and branched-chain oxoacids as secretagogues (partly for fatty acids). Redox signaling could be impaired by cytosolic antioxidants, hence those targeting mitochondria should be preferred for clinical applications to treat (pre)diabetes at any stage. Full Article
q Motifs of Three HLA-DQ Amino Acid Residues ({alpha}44, {beta}57, {beta}135) Capture Full Association with the Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in DQ2 and DQ8 Children By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-24T20:01:59-07:00 HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 are strongly associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and DQ8.1 and DQ2.5 are major risk haplotypes. Next generation targeted sequencing of HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 in Swedish newly diagnosed 1-18 year-old patients (n=962) and controls (n=636) was used to construct abbreviated DQ haplotypes, converted into amino acid (AA) residues, and assessed for their associations with T1D. A hierarchically-organized haplotype (HOH) association analysis, allowed 45 unique DQ haplotypes to be categorized into seven clusters. The DQ8/9 cluster included two DQ8.1 risk and the DQ9 resistant haplotypes, and the DQ2 cluster, included the DQ2.5 risk and DQ2.2 resistant haplotypes. Within each cluster, HOH found residues α44Q (OR 3.29, p=2.38*10-85 ) and β57A (OR 3.44, p=3.80*10-84) to be associated with T1D in the DQ8/9 cluster representing all ten residues (α22, α23, α44, α49, α51, α53, α54, α73, α184, β57) due to complete linkage-disequilibrium (LD) of α44 with eight such residues. Within the DQ2 cluster and due to LD, HOH analysis found α44C and β135D to share the risk for T1D (OR 2.10, p=1.96*10-20). The motif "QAD" of α44, β57, and β135 captured the T1D risk association of DQ8.1 (OR 3.44, p=3.80*10-84), the corresponding motif "CAD" captured the risk association of DQ2.5 (OR 2.10, p=1.96*10-20). Two risk associations were related to GADA and IA-2A, but in opposite directions. "CAD" was positively associated with GADA (OR 1.56; p=6.35*10-8) but negatively with IA-2A (OR 0.59, p= 6.55*10-11). "QAD" was negatively associated with GADA (OR 0.88; p= 3.70*10-3) but positively with IA-2A (OR 1.64; p= 2.40*10-14), despite a single difference at α44. The residues are found in and around anchor pockets 1 and 9, as potential TCR contacts, in the areas for CD4 binding and putative homodimer formation. The identification of three HLA-DQ AA (α44, β57, β135) conferring T1D risk should sharpen functional and translational studies. Full Article
q The FKH domain in FOXP3 mRNA frequently contains mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma that influence the subcellular localization and functions of FOXP3 [Molecular Bases of Disease] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-04-17T00:06:05-07:00 The transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a biomarker for regulatory T cells and can also be expressed in cancer cells, but its function in cancer appears to be divergent. The role of hepatocyte-expressed FOXP3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. Here, we collected tumor samples and clinical information from 115 HCC patients and used five human cancer cell lines. We examined FOXP3 mRNA sequences for mutations, used a luciferase assay to assess promoter activities of FOXP3's target genes, and employed mouse tumor models to confirm in vitro results. We detected mutations in the FKH domain of FOXP3 mRNAs in 33% of the HCC tumor tissues, but in none of the adjacent nontumor tissues. None of the mutations occurred at high frequency, indicating that they occurred randomly. Notably, the mutations were not detected in the corresponding regions of FOXP3 genomic DNA, and many of them resulted in amino acid substitutions in the FKH region, altering FOXP3's subcellular localization. FOXP3 delocalization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm caused loss of transcriptional regulation of its target genes, inactivated its tumor-inhibitory capability, and changed cellular responses to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. More complex FKH mutations appeared to be associated with worse prognosis in HCC patients. We conclude that mutations in the FKH domain of FOXP3 mRNA frequently occur in HCC and that these mutations are caused by errors in transcription and are not derived from genomic DNA mutations. Our results suggest that transcriptional mutagenesis of FOXP3 plays a role in HCC. Full Article
q SUMOylation of the transcription factor ZFHX3 at Lys-2806 requires SAE1, UBC9, and PIAS2 and enhances its stability and function in cell proliferation [Protein Synthesis and Degradation] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-08T03:41:14-07:00 SUMOylation is a posttranslational modification (PTM) at a lysine residue and is crucial for the proper functions of many proteins, particularly of transcription factors, in various biological processes. Zinc finger homeobox 3 (ZFHX3), also known as AT motif-binding factor 1 (ATBF1), is a large transcription factor that is active in multiple pathological processes, including atrial fibrillation and carcinogenesis, and in circadian regulation and development. We have previously demonstrated that ZFHX3 is SUMOylated at three or more lysine residues. Here, we investigated which enzymes regulate ZFHX3 SUMOylation and whether SUMOylation modulates ZFHX3 stability and function. We found that SUMO1, SUMO2, and SUMO3 each are conjugated to ZFHX3. Multiple lysine residues in ZFHX3 were SUMOylated, but Lys-2806 was the major SUMOylation site, and we also found that it is highly conserved among ZFHX3 orthologs from different animal species. Using molecular analyses, we identified the enzymes that mediate ZFHX3 SUMOylation; these included SUMO1-activating enzyme subunit 1 (SAE1), an E1-activating enzyme; SUMO-conjugating enzyme UBC9 (UBC9), an E2-conjugating enzyme; and protein inhibitor of activated STAT2 (PIAS2), an E3 ligase. Multiple analyses established that both SUMO-specific peptidase 1 (SENP1) and SENP2 deSUMOylate ZFHX3. SUMOylation at Lys-2806 enhanced ZFHX3 stability by interfering with its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Functionally, Lys-2806 SUMOylation enabled ZFHX3-mediated cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. These findings reveal the enzymes involved in, and the functional consequences of, ZFHX3 SUMOylation, insights that may help shed light on ZFHX3's roles in various cellular and pathophysiological processes. Full Article
q Zinc promotes liquid-liquid phase separation of tau protein [Protein Structure and Folding] By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2020-05-01T00:06:09-07:00 Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that plays a major role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Recent reports indicate that, in the presence of crowding agents, tau can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), forming highly dynamic liquid droplets. Here, using recombinantly expressed proteins, turbidimetry, fluorescence microscopy imaging, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assays, we show that the divalent transition metal zinc strongly promotes this process, shifting the equilibrium phase boundary to lower protein or crowding agent concentrations. We observed no tau LLPS-promoting effect for any other divalent transition metal ions tested, including Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+. We also demonstrate that multiple zinc-binding sites on tau are involved in the LLPS-promoting effect and provide insights into the mechanism of this process. Zinc concentration is highly elevated in AD brains, and this metal ion is believed to be an important player in the pathogenesis of this disease. Thus, the present findings bring a new dimension to understanding the relationship between zinc homeostasis and the pathogenic process in AD and related neurodegenerative disorders. Full Article
q Intense Exercise Has Unique Effects on Both Insulin Release and Its Roles in Glucoregulation: Implications for Diabetes By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2002-02-01 Errol B. MarlissFeb 1, 2002; 51:S271-S283Section 6: Pusatile and Phasic Insulin Release in Normal and Diabetic Men Full Article
q 30 low-key acquisitions who could pay off big By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 13:57:13 EDT Fans and analysts spend the entire offseason speculating where the top free agents could go, but sometimes an under-the-radar pickup can end up making a world of difference. As positional competitions begin to heat up at Spring Training camps this month, MLB.com's beat writers were asked to identify one potentially overlooked acquisition for each of the 30 clubs. Here's who they came up with. Full Article
q Giants acquire righty reliever Gott from Nats By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 18:59:00 EDT The Giants added another arm into their bullpen mix Wednesday, acquiring right-hander Trevor Gott from the Nationals for cash considerations. Full Article
q Re: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in covid-19 By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Friday, May 8, 2020 - 15:57 Full Article
q General practices achieve 95% of QOF points By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Friday, October 28, 2016 - 15:46 Full Article
q Human Rights Priorities: An Agenda for Equality and Social Justice By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:50:01 +0000 Members Event 19 November 2019 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE Event participants Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsChair: Ruma Mandal, Head, International Law Programme, Chatham House Following just over one year in office, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, outlines her ongoing priorities at a tumultuous time for fundamental rights protections worldwide.She discusses the rights implications of climate change, gender inequality including the advancement of sexual and reproductive rights, the protection of vulnerable groups and the need to work closely with states, civil society and business to protect and advance human rights. Department/project International Law Programme Members Events Team Email Full Article
q Courageously critiquing sexual violence: responding to the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2019 08:42:19 +0000 6 November 2019 , Volume 95, Number 6 Read online Maria Stern Marysia Zalewski's work has taught us, as a collective of feminist scholars, to be cautious of neat instruction manuals and coherently set out plans of action; of claims to sure knowledge about danger, violence, and its subjects and remedies; of the fanfare of grand arrivals; and of the quieter staking of ground that has been seemingly won. Zalewski has persistently reminded us in different ways that we/she does ‘not even know what gender is or does’. Far from a flippant response to the emptiness of gender mainstreaming policies, this seemingly simple statement instead serves as a glaring post-it note on the margins of our texts about International Relations theory, feminism, sex/gender and violence— both those that we read, as well as those that we write. However, this lesson is often forgotten in our rush to understand and establish gendered harms as valid and important, and to seek their redress. Gleaning insights from Zalewski's work, this article critically considers possible responses to the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. Its aim is not to delve into a discussion of the politics or effects of the Peace Prize as such, but to instead use the 2018 Peace Prize as a marker—a moment to consider the possibility for critique in relation to sexual violence. Full Article
q Iraq Tribunal: US Pulling Out By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 10:21:57 +0000 1 May 2008 , Number 3 Rowdy sessions of the Iraq High Tribunal attracted sensational daily news coverage while Saddam Hussein was being tried. However, following his grim execution in December 2006, coverage all but evaporated. The foreign press and most western monitors packed their bags and left, and television reporting in Iraq dwindled. Now even the United States Department of Justice, which initially provided key financial and political support, is quietly withdrawing its advisers. So what is happening at the Tribunal and why are the Americans pulling out? Sonya Sceats Associate Fellow, International Law Programme @SonyaSceats SaddamPA.jpeg Full Article
q US–China Strategic Competition: The Quest for Global Technological Leadership By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2019 18:26:46 +0000 7 November 2019 The current dispute between the US and China goes far beyond trade tariffs and tit-for-tat reprisals: the underlying driver is a race for global technological supremacy. This paper examines the risks of greater strategic competition as well as potential solutions for mitigating the impacts of the US–China economic confrontation. Read online Download PDF Marianne Schneider-Petsinger Senior Research Fellow, US and the Americas Programme @mpetsinger Dr Jue Wang Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme (based in Holland) LinkedIn Dr Yu Jie Senior Research Fellow on China, Asia-Pacific Programme @yu_jiec LinkedIn James Crabtree Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme @jamescrabtree LinkedIn Examining the US-China Trade Competition Video: Marianne Schneider-Petsinger and Dr Yu Jie discuss key themes from the research paperSummaryThe underlying driver of the ongoing US–China trade war is a race for global technological dominance. President Trump has raised a number of issues regarding trade with China – including the US’s trade deficit with China and the naming of China as a currency manipulator. But at the heart of the ongoing tariff escalation are China’s policies and practices regarding forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft and non-market distortions.As China’s international influence has expanded it has always been unlikely that Beijing would continue to accept existing global standards and institutions established and widely practised by developed countries based on ‘the Washington Consensus’.China’s desire to be an alternative champion of technology standard-setting remains unfulfilled. Its ample innovation talent is a solid foundation in its quest for global technology supremacy but tightening controls over personal freedoms could undermine it and deter potential global partners.It is unclear if Chinese government interventions will achieve the technological self-sufficiency Beijing has long desired. China’s approach to macroeconomic management diverges significantly from that of the US and other real market economies, particularly in its policy towards nurturing innovation.Chinese actors are engaged in the globalization of technological innovation through exports and imports of high-tech goods and services; cross-border investments in technology companies and research and development (R&D) activities; cross-border R&D collaboration; and international techno-scientific research collaboration.While the Chinese state pushes domestic companies and research institutes to engage in the globalization of technological innovation, its interventions in the high-tech sector have caused uneasiness in the West.The current US response to its competition with China for technological supremacy, which leans towards decoupling, is unlikely to prove successful. The US has better chances of success if it focuses on America’s own competitiveness, works on common approaches to technology policy with like-minded partners around the globe and strengthens the international trading system.A technically sound screening mechanism of foreign investment can prevent normal cross-border collaboration in technological innovation from being misused by geopolitical rival superpowers. Department/project Asia-Pacific Programme, Trade, Investment and Economics, US and the Americas Programme, US Geoeconomic Trends and Challenges Full Article
q 'The Truth is, Chile is Unequal': What's Behind Chile's Protests By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Dec 2019 19:33:39 +0000 18 December 2019 Dr Christopher Sabatini Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, US and the Americas Programme @ChrisSabatini LinkedIn Lyndsey Jefferson Digital Editor, Communications and Publishing Department @LyndseyLdn As part of a series on global protests, Dr Christopher Sabatini tells Lyndsey Jefferson why Chileans are taking to the streets. GettyImages-1177498531.jpg A demonstrator waves a Chilean flag during a protest in Santiago on 21 October 2019. Photo: Getty Images. Why are these protests happening now?The truth is, Chile is unequal, even though it actually reduced poverty from 1989, the time of the democratic transition, until today, from 40% to 16%.There are a number of reasons for the protests. One is the most proximate cause, which is the increase in the subway fares, but that really doesn’t explain the underlying tensions.One of those tensions is despite reductions in poverty, social mobility remains a large problem in Chile. It remains a very elitist country with limited social mobility. So, poverty may be reduced, but the likelihood that someone in the working middle class would reach the upper middle class has always been a stretch.The second issue is a lack of political change. The last four presidents were the same two people.Chile’s been governed, with the exception of Piñera, basically by the same political coalition, La Concertación, which is a combination of the Christian Democratic and Socialist parties. Piñera came from the right, an outside party, but even he has remained. There has been no renewal of the political leadership which again reinforces that lack of social mobility. Do the protesters have any other demands or grievances? The demands are amorphous and that’s part of the issue – they’re going to be difficult to meet. People are expressing a genuine desire for change but what would that change mean?Chileans don’t necessarily want to change the economic model; they simply want more mobility. That’s difficult to do and these are untested demands. Chileans also want political reform. What Piñera offered is to rewrite the constitution, which was created under military government in 1980. Other than some changes here and there in terms of the electoral system and reduction of military power, it has pretty much remained intact.Will constitutional change really address these demands? It’s simply a document that may create the rules for how power is allocated and conducted, but it’s not going to dramatically remake Chilean society.You mentioned inequality as a key driver of the protests. Can you expand a bit more on the current economic situation of ordinary Chileans?Chile is going to grow at only around 2-3%, but it was growing at around 4-5% earlier. A lot of those funds were ploughed into social programmes that have since been reduced. Chile’s economy really boomed in the early 2000s because of Chinese demands of Chilean imports. But as with any sort of commodities-based economy, the jobs it provides tend to be lower wage.As a result, despite the fact that Chile tried to diversify its economy by investing in entrepreneurship and innovation, it hasn’t grown in a way that provides jobs that many associate with upward mobility. As Chile's economy cooled, its ability to lift people out of poverty lagged as well. Demonstrators hold placards depicting eyes – in reference to police pellets hitting demonstrators' eyes – during a protest in Santiago on 10 December 2019. Photo: Getty Images. Two major issues for the protesters are education and pensions – can you explain why this is?These are two issues of the economic and social model that was held up at one time as being a model for the region, the neoliberal models that are really coming under question and are in some ways at the heart of this.One is the privatized pension system which is failing to produce the returns that retirees need to survive. The second is the education system. Chile created a voucher system where parents can shop around and send their kids to the best schools. The idea was to create competition among schools to improve.The problem was like any market, it created a certain amount of inequality among schools. There was a problem of some schools underperforming and being relegated poorer performing students, or students being forced to go to those schools because the more successful schools were already spoken for. At the end of October, the government announced a series of social reforms. Will this be enough to satisfy the protesters’ demands?Social reforms may address some of the issues of insufficient pensions or lack of quality education, but it will take a while for them to have an effect.The second thing is, social reforms don’t address the issues of power. At the heart of this is this idea of closed economic, political and social power. That comes about through economic growth and how you break up concentrations of wealth. Social reforms aren’t going to do that, although they’ll help on the margins. We’re seeing horrific scenes of police violence against protesters and dozens of people have died. Has this deterred the protesters in any way? No, in many ways it has sort of inspired them. It has, I think, sustained the protests.We’re not talking massive repression and tanks rolling in like Tiananmen Square. We’re talking about tear gas, rubber bullets, some injuries and deaths, and even credible reports of torture.It’s funny you should mention this – a class I’m teaching today is about social media and protests. One of the central arguments is that successful social protests need a martyr; they need a rallying cry.The deaths and the repression sort of help sustain that, but moreover, social media helps communicate what’s happening through videos and pictures. It really helps maintain this sense of righteousness, disdain for the government, and this idea of the need to demand change.Where do you see this going next?I don’t think we know. In the 60s and 70s, the political scientist Samuel Huntington argued in Political Order in Changing Societies that as economies grow, political institutions often strain to contain and channel demands. I think we’re seeing this now.This social ferment over political, economic and social demands is uncharted water. I don’t know where this will go, but I think we’ll see a change in the constitution. We’ve already seen a fragmenting of the party system, which I think will continue. Hopefully, that will lead to new leadership that can help reflect a change in Chile itself. Full Article
q Minor earthquake in Portland By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:41:46 -0500 The Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies is reporting that a minor quake hit a section of Portland this morning. The unit says the 2.8 quake occurred about 9:13 and had an epicentre near Spring Garden. It had a focal depth of five... Full Article
q Earthquake By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 13:46:15 +0000 Her legs will be amputated but, Non-collapsible items like, Book-shelves and fathers Can make a space to survive. -evocative short poetry- Full Article Poetry daughter disaster earthquake father hope poetry rescue
q Vanquished By kolembo.wordpress.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Aug 2015 04:25:48 +0000 Aliens have been vanquished before. Dolphins, Whales, Elephants, Orchids all, Intelligent, Cannot look after Earth, May have seen the end coming, not Had the means to pollinate, Thought life, Conscious, must Be responsible, For life, have Missed the archer, Choosing the trajectory, Been the arrow, Aliens, Forgetting that food Chains, Are best when, Dolphins, […] Full Article Poetry aliens environment fate global humans poetry responsiblity UNEP