a c Oncologist, Business Leader, and Investor Arie S. Belldegrun Discusses a Career in Innovative Medical Entrepreneurship: A Conversation with Ken Herrmann and Johannes Czernin By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2024-10-30T08:04:15-07:00 Full Article
a c Digital Detritus: The engine of Pacific Rim and a call to the industry for action By news.sophos.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:34:51 +0000 Decades of obsolete and unpatched hardware and software endanger us all Full Article Security Operations digital detritus featured Pacific Rim Pacific Rim thought leadership Sophos X-Ops
a c A Comprehensive Gender-related Secretome of Plasmodium berghei Sexual Stages By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-12-01 Felicia GrassoDec 1, 2020; 19:1986-1996Research Full Article
a c Plasma proteomic data can contain personally identifiable, sensitive information and incidental findings By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-12-17 Philipp Emanuel GeyerDec 17, 2020; 0:RA120.002359v1-mcp.RA120.002359Research Full Article
a c PTPN2 regulates the activation of KRAS and plays a critical role in proliferation and survival of KRAS-driven cancer cells [Signal Transduction] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-12-25T00:06:31-08:00 RAS genes are the most commonly mutated in human cancers and play critical roles in tumor initiation, progression, and drug resistance. Identification of targets that block RAS signaling is pivotal to develop therapies for RAS-related cancer. As RAS translocation to the plasma membrane (PM) is essential for its effective signal transduction, we devised a high-content screening assay to search for genes regulating KRAS membrane association. We found that the tyrosine phosphatase PTPN2 regulates the plasma membrane localization of KRAS. Knockdown of PTPN2 reduced the proliferation and promoted apoptosis in KRAS-dependent cancer cells, but not in KRAS-independent cells. Mechanistically, PTPN2 negatively regulates tyrosine phosphorylation of KRAS, which, in turn, affects the activation KRAS and its downstream signaling. Consistently, analysis of the TCGA database demonstrates that high expression of PTPN2 is significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with KRAS-mutant pancreatic adenocarcinoma. These results indicate that PTPN2 is a key regulator of KRAS and may serve as a new target for therapy of KRAS-driven cancer. Full Article
a c Exploitation of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) and p53 activation as therapeutic targets: A case study in polypharmacology [Computational Biology] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-12-25T00:06:30-08:00 The tenovins are a frequently studied class of compounds capable of inhibiting sirtuin activity, which is thought to result in increased acetylation and protection of the tumor suppressor p53 from degradation. However, as we and other laboratories have shown previously, certain tenovins are also capable of inhibiting autophagic flux, demonstrating the ability of these compounds to engage with more than one target. In this study, we present two additional mechanisms by which tenovins are able to activate p53 and kill tumor cells in culture. These mechanisms are the inhibition of a key enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), and the blockage of uridine transport into cells. These findings hold a 3-fold significance: first, we demonstrate that tenovins, and perhaps other compounds that activate p53, may activate p53 by more than one mechanism; second, that work previously conducted with certain tenovins as SirT1 inhibitors should additionally be viewed through the lens of DHODH inhibition as this is a major contributor to the mechanism of action of the most widely used tenovins; and finally, that small changes in the structure of a small molecule can lead to a dramatic change in the target profile of the molecule even when the phenotypic readout remains static. Full Article
a c Generation and validation of a conditional knockout mouse model for the study of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2020-11-17 Babunageswararao KanuriNov 17, 2020; 0:jlr.RA120001101v1-jlr.RA120001101Research Articles Full Article
a c Adiponectin forms a complex with atherogenic LDL and inhibits its downstream effects By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2020-11-03 Akemi KakinoNov 3, 2020; 0:jlr.RA120000767v1-jlr.RA120000767Research Articles Full Article
a c Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 66537: SAS Customer Intelligence Studio becomes non-responsive when you delete a calculated variable from the Edit Value dialog box By Published On :: Tue, 1 Sep 2020 14:25:38 EST In SAS Customer Intelligence Studio, you might notice that the user interface becomes unresponsive, as shown below: imgalt="SAS Customer Intelligence Studio UI becomes unresponsive" src="{fusion_66537 Full Article CAMPAIGNSDO+SAS+Customer+Intelligence+St
a c Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 66500: A content release on the SAS Risk Governance Framework fails to load when you use SAS 9.4M7 (TS1M7) on the Microsoft Windows operating system By Published On :: Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:45:15 EST When you log on to the SAS Risk Governance Framework and choose a solution, the web application might fail to load the solution content. When the problem occurs, you continue to see "Loading..." on the screen, an Full Article RGPBNDL+SAS+Risk+Governance+Framework
a c Problem Notes for SAS®9 - 66294: The SAS Federation Server SPD driver fails to create a table that has a column name in UTF-8 encoding that also contains Latin5 characters By Published On :: Wed, 19 Aug 2020 15:57:34 EST Certain tables that are created in SAS Scalable Performance Data (SPD) Server might not be displayed correctly by SAS Federation Server Manager. Tables that have Latin5 characters in column names encounter this Full Article SPDS+SAS+Scalable+Peformance+Data+Server
a c WITHDRAWN: Structural and mechanistic studies of hydroperoxide conversions catalyzed by a CYP74 clan epoxy alcohol synthase from amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae) [Research Articles] By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2014-03-04T09:59:12-08:00 This manuscript has been withdrawn by the Author. Full Article
a c Adiponectin forms a complex with atherogenic LDL and inhibits its downstream effects [Research Articles] By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2020-11-03T06:36:28-08:00 Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived protein, has anti-atherogenic and anti-diabetic effects, but how it confers the anti-atherogenic effects is not well understood. To study the anti-atherogenic mechanisms of adiponectin, we examined whether it interacts with atherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to attenuate LDL’s atherogenicity. L5, the most electronegative subfraction of LDL, induces atherogenic responses similarly to copper-oxidized LDL (oxLDL). Unlike native LDL endocytosed via the LDL receptor, L5 and oxLDL are internalized by cells via the lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1). Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), we showed that adiponectin preferentially bound oxLDL but not native LDL. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with LOX-1 or LDL receptor, adiponectin selectively inhibited the uptake of oxLDL but not of native LDL, respectively. Furthermore, adiponectin suppressed the internalization of oxLDL in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) and THP-1–derived macrophages. Western blot analysis of human plasma showed that adiponectin was abundant in L5 but not in L1, the least electronegative subfraction of LDL. Sandwich ELISAs with anti-adiponectin and anti–apolipoprotein B antibodies confirmed the binding of adiponectin to L5 and oxLDL. In LOX-1–expressing CHO cells, adiponectin inhibited cellular responses to oxLDL and L5, including nuclear factor-B activation and ERK phosphorylation. In HCAECs, adiponectin inhibited oxLDL-induced endothelin-1 secretion and ERK phosphorylation. Conversely, oxLDL suppressed the adiponectin-induced activation of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase in COS-7 cells expressing adiponectin receptor AdipoR1. Our findings suggest that adiponectin binds and inactivates atherogenic LDL, providing novel insight into the anti-atherogenic mechanisms of adiponectin. Full Article
a c Generation and validation of a conditional knockout mouse model for the study of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome [Research Articles] By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2020-11-17T11:30:28-08:00 Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS) is a developmental disorder (OMIM #270400) caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the Dhcr7 gene, which encodes the enzyme 3β-hydroxysterol-7 reductase. SLOS patients present clinically with dysmorphology and neurological, behavioral and cognitive defects, with characteristically elevated levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) in all bodily tissues and fluids. Previous mouse models of SLOS have been hampered by postnatal lethality when Dhcr7 is knocked out globally, while a hypomorphic mouse model showed improvement in the biochemical phenotype with ageing, and did not manifest most other characteristic features of SLOS. We report the generation of a conditional knockout of Dhcr7 (Dhcr7flx/flx), validated by generating a mouse with a liver-specific deletion (Dhcr7L-KO). Phenotypic characterization of liver-specific knockout mice revealed no significant changes in viability, fertility, growth curves, liver architecture, hepatic triglyceride secretion, or parameters of systemic glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, qPCR and RNA-Seq analyses of livers revealed no perturbations in pathways responsible for cholesterol synthesis, either in male or female Dhcr7L-KO mice, suggesting hepatic disruption of post-squalene cholesterol synthesis leads to minimal impact on sterol metabolism in the liver. This validated conditional Dhcr7 knockout model may now allow us to systematically explore the pathophysiology of SLOS, by allowing for temporal, cell and tissue-specific loss of DHCR7. Full Article
a c Genetic susceptibility, dietary cholesterol intake, and plasma cholesterol levels in a Chinese population [Patient-Oriented and Epidemiological Research] By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2020-11-01T00:05:43-07:00 Accompanied with nutrition transition, non-HDL-C levels of individuals in Asian countries has increased rapidly, which has caused the global epicenter of nonoptimal cholesterol to shift from Western countries to Asian countries. Thus, it is critical to underline major genetic and dietary determinants. In the current study of 2,330 Chinese individuals, genetic risk scores (GRSs) were calculated for total cholesterol (TC; GRSTC, 57 SNPs), LDL-C (GRSLDL-C, 45 SNPs), and HDL-C (GRSHDL-C, 65 SNPs) based on SNPs from the Global Lipid Genetics Consortium study. Cholesterol intake was estimated by a 74-item food-frequency questionnaire. Associations of dietary cholesterol intake with plasma TC and LDL-C strengthened across quartiles of the GRSTC (effect sizes: –0.29, 0.34, 2.45, and 6.47; Pinteraction = 0.002) and GRSLDL-C (effect sizes: –1.35, 0.17, 5.45, and 6.07; Pinteraction = 0.001), respectively. Similar interactions with non-HDL-C were observed between dietary cholesterol and GRSTC (Pinteraction = 0.001) and GRSLDL-C (Pinteraction = 0.004). The adverse effects of GRSTC on TC (effect sizes across dietary cholesterol quartiles: 0.51, 0.82, 1.21, and 1.31; Pinteraction = 0.023) and GRSLDL-C on LDL-C (effect sizes across dietary cholesterol quartiles: 0.66, 0.52, 1.12, and 1.56; Pinteraction = 0.020) were more profound in those having higher cholesterol intake compared with those with lower intake. Our findings suggest significant interactions between genetic susceptibility and dietary cholesterol intake on plasma cholesterol profiles in a Chinese population. Full Article
a c A closer look at the mysterious HSD17B13 [Commentary] By www.jlr.org Published On :: 2020-11-01T00:05:43-07:00 Full Article
a c Site-specific deacylation by ABHD17a controls BK channel splice variant activity [Signal Transduction] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-12-04T00:06:05-08:00 S-Acylation, the reversible post-translational lipid modification of proteins, is an important mechanism to control the properties and function of ion channels and other polytopic transmembrane proteins. However, although increasing evidence reveals the role of diverse acyl protein transferases (zDHHC) in controlling ion channel S-acylation, the acyl protein thioesterases that control ion channel deacylation are very poorly defined. Here we show that ABHD17a (α/β-hydrolase domain-containing protein 17a) deacylates the stress-regulated exon domain of large conductance voltage- and calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels inhibiting channel activity independently of effects on channel surface expression. Importantly, ABHD17a deacylates BK channels in a site-specific manner because it has no effect on the S-acylated S0–S1 domain conserved in all BK channels that controls membrane trafficking and is deacylated by the acyl protein thioesterase Lypla1. Thus, distinct S-acylated domains in the same polytopic transmembrane protein can be regulated by different acyl protein thioesterases revealing mechanisms for generating both specificity and diversity for these important enzymes to control the properties and functions of ion channels. Full Article
a c Functional impact of a congenital stationary night blindness type 2 mutation depends on subunit composition of Cav1.4 Ca2+ channels [Neurobiology] By www.jbc.org Published On :: 2020-12-11T00:06:20-08:00 Voltage-gated Cav1 and Cav2 Ca2+ channels are comprised of a pore-forming α1 subunit (Cav1.1-1.4, Cav2.1-2.3) and auxiliary β (β1-4) and α2δ (α2δ−1−4) subunits. The properties of these channels vary with distinct combinations of Cav subunits and alternative splicing of the encoding transcripts. Therefore, the impact of disease-causing mutations affecting these channels may depend on the identities of Cav subunits and splice variants. Here, we analyzed the effects of a congenital stationary night blindness type 2 (CSNB2)-causing mutation, I745T (IT), in Cav1.4 channels typical of those in human retina: Cav1.4 splice variants with or without exon 47 (Cav1.4+ex47 and Cav1.4Δex47, respectively), and the auxiliary subunits, β2X13 and α2δ-4. We find that IT caused both Cav1.4 splice variants to activate at significantly more negative voltages and with slower deactivation kinetics than the corresponding WT channels. These effects of the IT mutation, along with unexpected alterations in ion selectivity, were generally larger in channels lacking exon 47. The weaker ion selectivity caused by IT led to hyperpolarizing shifts in the reversal potential and large outward currents that were evident in channels containing the auxiliary subunits β2X13 and α2δ-4 but not in those with β2A and α2δ-1. We conclude that the IT mutation stabilizes channel opening and alters ion selectivity of Cav1.4 in a manner that is strengthened by exclusion of exon 47 and inclusion of β2X13 and α2δ-4. Our results reveal complex actions of IT in modifying the properties of Cav1.4 channels, which may influence the pathological consequences of this mutation in retinal photoreceptors. Full Article
a c Novel Proteome Extraction Method Illustrates a Conserved Immunological Signature of MSI-H Colorectal Tumors [Research] By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-10-01T00:05:25-07:00 Using a simple, environment friendly proteome extraction (TOP), we were able to optimize the analysis of clinical samples. Using our TOP method we analyzed a clinical cohort of microsatellite stable (MSS) and unstable (MSI-H) colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We identified a tumor cell specific, STAT1-centered, immune signature expressed by the MSI-H tumor cells. We then showed that long, but not short, exposure to Interferon- induces a similar signature in vitro. We identified 10 different temporal protein expression patterns, classifying the Interferon- protein temporal regulation in CRC. Our data sheds light on the changes that tumor cells undergo under long-term immunological pressure in vivo, the importance of STAT proteins in specific biological scenarios. The data generated could help find novel clinical biomarkers and therapeutic approaches. Full Article
a c Slight Deuterium Enrichment in Water Acts as an Antioxidant: Is Deuterium a Cell Growth Regulator? [Research] By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-11-01T00:05:37-07:00 Small admixtures in water, e.g. of metal ions, often act as cell growth regulators. Here we report that enrichment of deuterium content in water, normally found at 8 mm concentration, two-three folds increases cell proliferation and lowers the oxidative stress level as well. Acting as an anti-oxidant, deuterium-enriched water prevents the toxic effect of such oxidative agents as hydrogen peroxide and auranofin. This action is opposite to that of deuterium depletion that is known to suppress cell growth and induce oxidative stress in mitochondria. We thus hypothesize that deuterium may be a natural cell growth regulator that controls mitochondrial oxidation-reduction balance. Because growth acceleration is reduced approximately by half by addition to water a minute amount (0.15%) of 18O isotope, at least part of the deuterium effect on cell growth can be explained by the isotopic resonance phenomenon. A slight (2-fold) enrichment of deuterium in water accelerates human cell growth. Quantitative MS based proteomics determined changes in protein abundances and redox states and found that deuterium-enriched water acts mainly through decreasing ROS production in mitochondria. This action is opposite to that of deuterium depletion that suppresses cell growth by inducing oxidative stress. Thus deuterium may be a natural cell growth regulator that controls mitochondrial oxidation-reduction balance. The role of isotopic resonance in this effect was validated by further experiments on bacteria. Full Article
a c A Comprehensive Gender-related Secretome of Plasmodium berghei Sexual Stages [Research] By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-12-01T00:05:33-08:00 Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, undergoes a complex life cycle alternating between a vertebrate host and a mosquito vector of the genus Anopheles. In red blood cells of the vertebrate host, Plasmodium multiplies asexually or differentiates into gamete precursors, the male and female gametocytes, responsible for parasite transmission. Sexual stage maturation occurs in the midgut of the mosquito vector, where male and female gametes egress from the host erythrocytes to fuse and form a zygote. Gamete egress entails the successive rupture of two membranes surrounding the parasite, the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and the erythrocyte plasma membrane. In this study, we used the rodent model parasite Plasmodium berghei to design a label-free quantitative proteomic approach aimed at identifying gender-related proteins differentially released/secreted by purified mature gametocytes when activated to form gametes. We compared the abundance of molecules secreted by wild type gametocytes of both genders with that of a transgenic line defective in male gamete maturation and egress. This enabled us to provide a comprehensive data set of egress-related molecules and their gender specificity. Using specific antibodies, we validated eleven candidate molecules, predicted as either gender-specific or common to both male and female gametocytes. All of them localize to punctuate, vesicle-like structures that relocate to cell periphery upon activation, but only three of them localize to the gametocyte-specific secretory vesicles named osmiophilic bodies. Our results confirm that the egress process involves a tightly coordinated secretory apparatus that includes different types of vesicles and may put the basis for functional studies aimed at designing novel transmission-blocking molecules. Full Article
a c Translating Divergent Environmental Stresses into a Common Proteome Response through Hik33 in a Model Cyanobacterium [Research] By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2017-05-12T06:53:48-07:00 The histidine kinase Hik33 plays important roles in mediating cyanobacterial response to divergent types of abiotic stresses including cold, salt, high light (HL), and osmotic stresses. However, how these functions are regulated by Hik33 remains to be addressed. Using a hik33-deficient strain (hik33) of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) and quantitative proteomics, we found that Hik33 depletion induces differential protein expression highly similar to that induced by divergent types of stresses. This typically includes downregulation of proteins in photosynthesis and carbon assimilation that are necessary for cell propagation, and upregulation of heat shock proteins, chaperons, and proteases that are important for cell survival. This observation indicates that depletion of Hik33 alone mimics divergent types of abiotic stresses, and that Hik33 could be important for preventing abnormal stress response in the normal condition. Moreover, we found the majority of proteins of plasmid origin were significantly upregulated in hik33, though their biological significance remains to be addressed. Together, the systematically characterized Hik33-regulated cyanobacterial proteome, which is largely involved in stress responses, builds the molecular basis for Hik33 as a general regulator of stress responses. Full Article
a c CIITA-transduced glioblastoma cells uncover a rich repertoire of clinically relevant tumor-associated HLA-II antigens [Research] By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-09-22T12:35:16-07:00 CD4+ T cell responses are crucial for inducing and maintaining effective anti-cancer immunity, and the identification of human leukocyte antigen class II (HLA-II) cancer-specific epitopes is key to the development of potent cancer immunotherapies. In many tumor types, and especially in glioblastoma (GBM), HLA-II complexes are hardly ever naturally expressed. Hence, little is known about immunogenic HLA-II epitopes in GBM. With stable expression of the class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) coupled to a detailed and sensitive mass spectrometry based immunopeptidomics analysis, we here uncovered a remarkable breadth of the HLA-ligandome in HROG02, HROG17 and RA GBM cell lines. The effect of CIITA expression on the induction of the HLA-II presentation machinery was striking in each of the three cell lines, and it was significantly higher compared to interferon gamma (IFN) treatment. In total, we identified 16,123 unique HLA-I peptides and 32,690 unique HLA-II peptides. In order to genuinely define the identified peptides as true HLA ligands, we carefully characterized their association with the different HLA allotypes. In addition, we identified 138 and 279 HLA-I and HLA-II ligands, respectively, most of which are novel in GBM, derived from known GBM-associated tumor-antigens that have been used as source proteins for a variety of GBM vaccines. Our data further indicate that CIITA-expressing GBM cells acquired an antigen presenting cell-like phenotype as we found that they directly present external proteins as HLA-II ligands. Not only that CIITA-expressing GBM cells are attractive models for antigen discovery endeavors, but also such engineered cells have great therapeutic potential through massive presentation of a diverse antigenic repertoire. Full Article
a c Plasma proteomic data can contain personally identifiable, sensitive information and incidental findings [Research] By www.mcponline.org Published On :: 2020-12-17T07:31:07-08:00 The goal of clinical proteomics is to identify, quantify, and characterize proteins in body fluids or tissue to assist diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients. In this way, it is similar to more mature omics technologies, such as genomics, that are increasingly applied in biomedicine. We argue that, similar to those fields, proteomics also faces ethical issues related to the kinds of information that is inherently obtained through sample measurement, although their acquisition was not the primary purpose. Specifically, we demonstrate the potential to identify individuals both by their characteristic, individual-specific protein levels and by variant peptides reporting on coding single nucleotide polymorphisms. Furthermore, it is in the nature of blood plasma proteomics profiling that it broadly reports on the health status of an individual – beyond the disease under investigation. Finally, we show that private and potentially sensitive information, such as ethnicity and pregnancy status, can increasingly be derived from proteomics data. Although this is potentially valuable not only to the individual, but also for biomedical research, it raises ethical questions similar to the incidental findings obtained through other omics technologies. We here introduce the necessity of - and argue for the desirability for - ethical and human rights-related issues to be discussed within the proteomics community. Those thoughts are more fully developed in our accompanying manuscript. Appreciation and discussion of ethical aspects of proteomic research will allow for deeper, better-informed, more diverse, and, most importantly, wiser guidelines for clinical proteomics. Full Article
a c Drones and the European Union: Prospects for a Common Future By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:56:17 +0000 Drones and the European Union: Prospects for a Common Future Research paper sysadmin 30 January 2018 The debate over the use of drones is an opportunity for states to identify elements of military practice that their publics find uncomfortable or troubling, and to explain these areas of military operations in context. — A Heron drone on the runway at the Castor military camp in Gao, Mali, on 19 May 2017. Photo: Getty Images. Summary The debate over the use of drones is an opportunity for states to identify elements of military practice that their publics find uncomfortable or troubling, and to explain these areas of military operations in context. Countries would benefit from working together to identify accountability gaps arising from fundamental elements of military cooperation, including the role of intelligence transfers in joint operations, and the distribution of responsibility for lethal actions in the context of coalition operations. Transparency in investigation procedures, as well as devoting sufficient resources towards ensuring that mistakes are identified, will improve the perception of drone use among domestic audiences. Identifying and communicating common standards and practices of mitigating complicity should be a priority for countries to ensure that they do not unwittingly become complicit in unlawful lethal operations. Although operational safety may hinder the ability of states to be completely transparent, understanding among the general public could be improved through the communication of policies and procedures regarding non-lethal assistance to partner states conducting lethal operations, both inside and outside the context of an armed conflict. 2018-02-05-drones-eu-mcdonald (PDF) Full Article
a c Covid inquiry: UKHSA chief is challenged on view that evidence for FFP3 masks is “weak” By www.bmj.com Published On :: Monday, September 23, 2024 - 08:51 Full Article
a c Generics have a chequered recent history By www.bmj.com Published On :: Monday, December 5, 2016 - 11:45 Full Article
a c Choosing a core surgical training interview skills course By www.bmj.com Published On :: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 - 07:00 Full Article
a c Russia’s aggression and a crisis for multilateralism By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 15:07:13 +0000 Russia’s aggression and a crisis for multilateralism 30 March 2023 — 1:00PM TO 2:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 23 March 2023 Chatham House and Online In conversation with Dmytro Kuleba, minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, about how multilateral organizations struggle to respond adequately to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia pursues this war in defiance of the umbrella organization’s multiple resolutions condemning the invasion, along with its war crimes, annexation of territory, deliberate targeting of civilian nuclear infrastructure, cultural extermination, and global disinformation campaign. This event explores the following questions: How should the response of the UN to Russian aggression be assessed? What can be done to uphold the guiding principles of the UN Charter? Is there a ‘UN problem’ or a ‘Russia problem’? How can trust and the legitimacy of multilateral cooperation be restored in times of strategic rivalry and rising global tensions? Who can drive such an effort? Is post-Soviet transfer of the UN Security Council seat to Russia a cause of current impunity? This event features a live in-person audience in Kyiv as well as in London and online. Full Article
a c Turkey at a crossroads By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:22:13 +0000 Turkey at a crossroads 4 May 2023 — 6:00PM TO 7:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 4 April 2023 Chatham House and Online What is at stake in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections? Turkey is heading towards a fateful presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2023. These elections are taking place against the background of a deepening economic downturn and a devastating earthquake. The elections will bear a major impact on the future of Turkish democracy, economy and foreign policy. At stake is the nature of Turkey’s political system, its geopolitical identity and the health of its democracy. To unpack the significance and implications of this election, this event aims to address the following questions: What kind of political visions do the main presidential candidates offer for the country? How do they differ on the main domestic and foreign policy issues? How do the presidential candidates feature in public surveys? What does this election mean for Turkey’s foreign policy? What is the likely impact of the election on Turkey’s place in the transatlantic alliance and its relations with Europe? As with all members events, questions from the audience drive the conversation. Full Article
a c A Credit-fuelled Economic Recovery Stores Up Trouble for Turkey By www.chathamhouse.org Published On :: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 13:47:40 +0000 A Credit-fuelled Economic Recovery Stores Up Trouble for Turkey Expert comment sysadmin 17 February 2020 Turkey is repeating the mistakes that led to the 2018 lira crisis and another freefall for the currency may not be far off. — Headquarters of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. Photo: Getty Images. Since the 2018 economic crisis, when the value of the lira plummeted and borrowing costs soared, Turkey’s economy has achieved a miraculous ‘V-shaped’ economic recovery from a recession lasting three quarters to a return back to quarterly growth above 1 per cent in the first three months of 2019. But this quick turnaround has been built on vast amounts of cheap credit used to re-stimulate a consumption and construction boom. This so-called ‘triple C’ economy generated a rapid growth spurt akin to a modestly able professional sprinter injected with steroids. This has made the currency vulnerable. The lira has steadily depreciated by 11 per cent against the US dollar since the beginning of 2019 and crossed the rate of 6 lira versus the US dollar on 7 February. And there are further warning signs on the horizon. Credit bonanza Statistics reveal that Turkish domestic credit grew by around 13 per cent on average throughout 2019. The credit bonanza is still ongoing. Mortgage-backed home sales jumped by a record high of 600 per cent last December alone and the 2019 budget deficit catapulted by 70 per cent due to higher government spending. Turkey’s central bank fuelled this credit expansion by cutting interest rates aggressively to below inflation and, since the start of this year, purchasing lira-denominated bonds equivalent to around one-third of total acquisitions last year to push yields lower. Equally, it has linked bank lending to reserve requirements – the money that banks have to keep at the central bank – to boost borrowings via state and private banks. Banks with a ‘real’ loan growth (including inflation) of between 5 and 15 per cent enjoy a 2 per cent reserve ratio on most lira deposits, which authorities adjusted from an earlier band of 10-20 per cent that did not consider double-digit inflation. Cumulatively, bond purchases (effectively quantitative easing) and reserve management policies have also contributed to eased credit conditions. Commercial banks have also reduced deposit rates on lira accounts to less than inflation to encourage consumption over saving. Together with low lending rates, the boost to the economy has flowed via mortgages, credit card loans, vehicle leasing transactions and general business borrowings. Accordingly, stimulus is at the forefront of the government’s economic approach, as it was in 2017 and 2018. It does not seem to be implementing structural change to re-orient growth away from consumption towards productivity. In addition, governance is, again, a central issue. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s near total monopolization of policymaking means he guides all domestic and external policies. He forced out the previous central bank governor, Murat Cetinkaya, in July 2019 because he did not share the president’s desire for an accelerated pace of interest rate reductions. New challenges Despite the similarities, the expected future financial turbulence will be materially different from its 2018 predecessor in four crucial respects. Firstly, foreign investors will only be marginally involved. Turkey has shut out foreign investors since 2018 from lira-denominated assets by restricting lira swap arrangements. Unsurprisingly, the non-resident holdings of lira bonds has plummeted from 20 per cent in 2018 to less than 10 per cent today. Secondly, the Turkish government has recently introduced indirect domestic capital controls by constraining most commercial transactions to the lira rather than to the US dollar or euro to reduce foreign currency demand in light of short-term external debt obligations of $191 billion. Thirdly, the Turkish state banks are intervening quite regularly to soften Lira volatility, thereby transitioning from a ‘free float’ to a ‘managed float’. So far, they have spent over $37 billion over the last two years in a futile effort to buttress the lira. This level of involvement in currency markets cannot be maintained. Fourthly, the Turkish state is being far more interventionist in the Turkish stock exchange and bond markets to keep asset prices elevated. Government-controlled local funds have participated in the Borsa Istanbul and state banks in sovereign debt to sustain rallies or reverse a bear market. All these measures have one running idea: exclude foreign investors and no crisis will recur. Yet, when the credit boom heads to a downturn sooner or later, Turks will probably escalate lira conversions to US dollars; 51 per cent of all Turkish bank deposits are already dollar-denominated and the figure is still rising. If Turkey’s limited foreign reserves cannot satisfy the domestic dollar demand, the government may have to impose comprehensive capital controls and allow for a double digit depreciation in the value of the lira to from its current level, with significant repercussions on Turkey’s political stability and economic climate. To avoid this scenario, it needs to restore fiscal and monetary prudence, deal the with the foreign debt overhang in the private sector and focus on productivity-improving economic and institutional reforms to gain the confidence of global financial markets and Turks alike. Full Article
a c Zapata Computing, Early Quantum-AI Software Specialist, Ceases Operations By www.hpcwire.com Published On :: Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:57:02 +0000 Zapata Computing, which was founded in 2017 as a Harvard spinout specializing in quantum software and later pivoted to an AI focus, is ceasing operations, according to an SEC filing […] The post Zapata Computing, Early Quantum-AI Software Specialist, Ceases Operations appeared first on HPCwire. Full Article Short Takes
a c ORCA Computing Unveils PT-2 to Integrate Quantum Computing with Generative AI and HPC By www.hpcwire.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:12:18 +0000 Oct. 29, 2024 — ORCA Computing today announced the unveiling of the PT-2, the latest advancement in its PT Series of photonic quantum systems. Building on the success of the […] The post ORCA Computing Unveils PT-2 to Integrate Quantum Computing with Generative AI and HPC appeared first on HPCwire. Full Article
a c IonQ and NKT Photonics Collaborate on Next-Gen Laser Tech for Quantum Data Centers By www.hpcwire.com Published On :: Sat, 09 Nov 2024 04:55:27 +0000 COLLEGE PARK, Md., Nov. 8, 2024 — IonQ, a leader in the quantum computing industry, has announced a partnership with NKT Photonics, a subsidiary of Hamamatsu Photonics, to procure next-generation laser […] The post IonQ and NKT Photonics Collaborate on Next-Gen Laser Tech for Quantum Data Centers appeared first on HPCwire. Full Article
a c How Direct Liquid Cooling Improves Data Center Energy Efficiency By www.hpcwire.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:00:20 +0000 Data centers are experiencing increasing power consumption, space constraints and cooling demands due to the unprecedented computing power required by today’s chips and servers. HVAC cooling systems consume approximately 40% […] The post How Direct Liquid Cooling Improves Data Center Energy Efficiency appeared first on HPCwire. Full Article
a c Liquid Cooling: A Cool Approach for AI By www.hpcwire.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:37:44 +0000 HPE’s cooling expert, Jason Zeiler, explains why liquid cooling is ideally suited to cool next-generation accelerators for greater efficiency, sustainability, and density in future AI data centers In this article […] The post Liquid Cooling: A Cool Approach for AI appeared first on HPCwire. Full Article Center Stage
a c Consciousness Is a Continuum, and Scientists Are Starting to Measure It By www.scientificamerican.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:30:00 GMT A new technique helps anesthesiologists track changes in states of consciousness Full Article Mind & Brain Consciousness
a c Jeopardy! Winner Reveals Entwined Memory Systems Make a Trivia Champion By www.scientificamerican.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:00:00 GMT A former Jeopardy! winner led a new study that probes how linked memory systems may give trivia buffs an edge in their game Full Article Mind & Brain Cognition Memory
a c ENEA Chooses Lenovo for Supercomputer to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Research By www.hpcwire.com Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:08:19 +0000 MILAN, Nov. 6, 2024 — ENEA, Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, has selected Lenovo for the installation of an HPC system at the Portici […] The post ENEA Chooses Lenovo for Supercomputer to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Research appeared first on HPCwire. Full Article
a c The Secret Mindset Of A Champion: 2 Things Most People Lack (M) By www.spring.org.uk Published On :: Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:00:38 +0000 The two motivational keys to becoming a champion. Full Article Motivation subscribers-only
a c A Classic Childhood Sign Of Good Adult Mental Health By www.spring.org.uk Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:00:24 +0000 Children brought up like this tend to be happier as adults. Full Article Child Psychology
a c What’s the future of food? A chef and a cardiologist answer | Jon Kung and Uma Valeti By www.ted.com Published On :: Fri, 20 Sep 2024 17:03:55 +0000 What does food mean to you, your community and our planet? With personal accounts from the kitchen to the operating room, chef and content creator Jon Kung and cardiologist Uma Valeti unpack how food cultivates creativity and offers opportunities to connect with and blend cultures. Exploring Valeti’s experiences developing a healthier meat alternative, they discuss what it takes to overcome the impossible — whether that’s saving a patient’s life or transforming ideas around traditional foods — and how we can all make steps towards more sustainable cooking. Full Article Higher Education
a c A hypnotic exploration of movement | JA Collective By www.ted.com Published On :: Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:46:58 +0000 Jordan Johnson and Aidan Carberry, the choreographic duo known as JA Collective, give a performance of dance and visual arts, alternating between abrupt and fluid, tense and dreamlike. Full Article Higher Education
a c What you can learn crossing the ocean in a canoe | Lehua Kamalu By www.ted.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 19:51:34 +0000 “Being on a voyage forces you to unplug,” says TED Fellow and third-generation captain Lehua Kamalu. Sharing ancient knowledge from traditional Hawaiian ocean voyaging, she reflects on the transformational power of seafaring journeys — and what it means to travel mindfully, no matter where you are. Full Article Higher Education
a c Could we replace data centers with … plant DNA? | Cliff Kapono and Keolu Fox By www.ted.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:51:23 +0000 Is it possible to meet the world's seemingly infinite demand for data storage while also caring for the natural environment? Biomedical researcher Keolu Fox and professional surfer and scientist Cliff Kapono believe that Indigenous knowledge combined with the science of genetics may offer such a solution: using the DNA of plant cells (like those found in sugar cane) as mini data warehouses. Learn more about the incredible potential of this technology — and how it could help foster ecosystem resilience in a high-tech world. Full Article Higher Education
a c Why friendship can be just as meaningful as romantic love | Rhaina Cohen By www.ted.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:37:50 +0000 We tend to consider romantic partners and family ties to be our most important relationships, but deep friendships can be just as meaningful. In a perspective-shifting talk, author Rhaina Cohen introduces us to the people unsettling norms by choosing a friend as a life partner — and shows why we're all better off recognizing there's more than one kind of significant other. Full Article Higher Education
a c Nevada Charter School Principal Wins 'Oscars Of Teaching' Award By blogs.edweek.org Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Wendy Shirey, principal of Pinecrest Academy Horizon in Henderson, Nev., was awarded the $25,000 cash prize, which is known as the "Oscars of Teaching." Full Article Nevada
a c How One School Avoided a COVID-19 Outbreak and Shutdown By www.edweek.org Published On :: Thu, 29 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Strict protocols and limited community spread helped a Maine high school stay open for in person instruction when its first coronavirus case turned up. Full Article Maine
a c One Teacher's Life in a Coronavirus Epicenter By www.edweek.org Published On :: Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The days are a technology overload, mixed with the joy of seeing her students' faces and worry about her own family's health and safety, New York City teacher Ariel Sacks writes. Full Article New_York
a c School Quality a Critical Family Issue for Military By www.edweek.org Published On :: Tue, 24 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Concerns about local school systems can pose recruitment and retention hurdles for the armed services as they seek to meet the needs of military families. Full Article Alabama