The Identity of Scottish Muslims as a Socio-cultural Manifestation of Globalization in the Domestic Political Processes of Modern Scotland

The article considers the identity of Scottish Muslims as a non-traditional for Scotland sociocultural manifestation of globalization of regional socio-political processes. The relevance of this topic is determined by the fact that the number of Muslims as a part of population of Scotland has been growing rapidly over the past decade. In this regard, the range of questions about the future national sovereignty of Scotland is significantly expanding, requiring the search for scientific, theoretical and practical answers. The research goal of the article is to analyze the influence of Islamic identity on domestic political processes in Scotland. To achieve this goal, the authors rely on general logic, institutional, stating factual and comparative methods used in political science. In addition, the article uses the data of socio-anthropological and psychological research conducted on the subject by foreign colleagues. As a result of the research, the authors identified the activation the Scottish authorities’ activities, who are forced (within the framework of internal policy) to develop comprehensive measures aimed at Scots who confess Islam. The article deals with the issues of political participation of Muslims, Islamic extremism and others, the practical solution of which, according to the authors, is connected with the problem of Muslims integration into the Scottish society (traditionally Christian). In this regard, the authors attach particular importance to the peculiarities of Islamic identity in the modern Scottish society. The authors come to the conclusion that this identity is a socio-cultural manifestation of global civilizational processes and it contains plenty of internal contradictions caused by a number of objective reasons, the main of which is the discrepancy between two civilizational codes: the traditional (native Scottish, Christian, European) and the non-traditional (brought from the outside, Muslim, Asian)

Исламский фактор в развитии современной Шотландии: политические и социокультурные аспекты

The subject field of this article, devoted to the manifestation of the Islamic factor in the socio- political life of the Great Britain, is localized within the borders of Scotland. The authors emphasize the special (different from other regions of the UK) nature of the interaction of the Muslim ethno- confessional minority with the indigenous population of Scotland. Most attention is paid to the identity of Scottish Muslims. The article highlights that Scotland demonstrates its winning position for Muslims through the development of an inclusive identity. The authors make a prognostic conclusion that Scotland will maintain a policy of affirming common civic values that ensure the pluralism of various socio- cultural communities. According to the authors, the future of Scotland is a post-ethnic, transcultural socio- political state- organized space in which British-wide tensions between Muslims and non- Muslims will gradually decrease, and the Scottish tradition of equality and social justice will be strengthened.Предметное поле данной статьи, посвященой проявлению исламского фактора в социально- политической жизни Великобритании, локализуется в границах Шотландии. Авторы подчеркивают особый (отличающийся от других регионов Великобритании) характер взаимодействия мусульманского этноконфессионального меньшинства с коренным населением Шотландии. Наибольшее внимание уделяется вопросам идентичности шотландских мусульман. В статье подчеркивается, что Шотландия демонстрирует свои выигрышные позиции для мусульман благодаря развитию инклюзивной идентичности. Авторы делают прогностический вывод о том, что Шотландия будет сохранять политику утверждения единых гражданских ценностей, обеспечивающих плюрализм различных социокультурных сообществ. По мнению авторов, будущее Шотландии — это постэтническое, транскультурное социально- политическое государственно организованное пространство, в котором общебританская напряженность между мусульманами и немусульманами постепенно будет уменьшаться, а шотландская традиция равенства и социальной справедливости укрепится

A bovine lymphosarcoma cell line infected with theileria annulata exhibits an irreversible reconfiguration of host cell gene expression

Theileria annulata, an intracellular parasite of bovine lymphoid cells, induces substantial phenotypic alterations to its host cell including continuous proliferation, cytoskeletal changes and resistance to apoptosis. While parasite induced modulation of host cell signal transduction pathways and NFκB activation are established, there remains considerable speculation on the complexities of the parasite directed control mechanisms that govern these radical changes to the host cell. Our objectives in this study were to provide a comprehensive analysis of the global changes to host cell gene expression with emphasis on those that result from direct intervention by the parasite. By using comparative microarray analysis of an uninfected bovine cell line and its Theileria infected counterpart, in conjunction with use of the specific parasitacidal agent, buparvaquone, we have identified a large number of host cell gene expression changes that result from parasite infection. Our results indicate that the viable parasite can irreversibly modify the transformed phenotype of a bovine cell line. Fifty percent of genes with altered expression failed to show a reversible response to parasite death, a possible contributing factor to initiation of host cell apoptosis. The genes that did show an early predicted response to loss of parasite viability highlighted a sub-group of genes that are likely to be under direct control by parasite infection. Network and pathway analysis demonstrated that this sub-group is significantly enriched for genes involved in regulation of chromatin modification and gene expression. The results provide evidence that the Theileria parasite has the regulatory capacity to generate widespread change to host cell gene expression in a complex and largely irreversible manner

Gabapentin as add-on to morphine for severe neuropathic or mixed pain in children from age 3 months to 18 years - Evaluation of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of a new gabapentin liquid formulation: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Gabapentin has shown efficacy in the treatment of chronic neuropathic or mixed pain in adults. Although pediatric pain specialists have extensive experience with gabapentin for the treatment of neuropathic pain, its use is off-label. Its efficacy and safety in this context have never been shown. The aim of this trial is to compare gabapentin with placebo as add-on to morphine for the treatment of severe chronic mixed or neuropathic pain in children. This trial is part of the European Union Seventh Framework Programme project Gabapentin in Paediatric Pain (GAPP) to develop a pediatric use marketing authorization for a new gabapentin suspension. Methods/design: The GAPP-2 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter superiority phase II study in children with severe chronic neuropathic or mixed pain. Its primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of a gabapentin liquid formulation as adjunctive therapy to morphine. Sixty-six eligible children 3 months to 18 years of age with severe pain (pain scores ≥ 7), stratified in three age groups, will be randomized to receive gabapentin (to an accumulating dose of 45 to 63 mg/kg/day, dependent on age) or placebo, both in addition to morphine, for 12 weeks. Randomization will be preceded by a short washout period, and treatment will be initiated by a titration period of 3 weeks. After the treatment period, medication will be tapered during 4 weeks. The primary endpoint is the average pain scores in the two treatment groups (average of two measures each day for 3 days before the end-of-study visit [V10] assessed by age-appropriate pain scales (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale; Faces Pain Scale-Revised; Numeric Rating Scale). Secondary outcomes include percentage responders to treatment (subjects with 30% reduction in pain scale), number of episodes of breakthrough pain, number of rescue interventions, number of pain-free days, participant dropouts, quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory), and acceptability of treatment. Outcomes will be measured at the end-of-study visit after 12 weeks of treatment at the optimal gabapentin dose. Groups will be compared on an intention-to-treat basis. Discussion: We hope to provide evidence that the combination of morphine and gabapentin will provide better analgesia than morphine alone and will be safe. We also aim to obtain confirmation of the recommended pediatric dose. Trial registration: EudractCT, 2014-004897-40. Registered on 7 September 2017. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03275012. Registered on 7 September 2017

Dual Mechanism for the Translation of Subgenomic mRNA from Sindbis Virus in Infected and Uninfected Cells

Infection of BHK cells by Sindbis virus (SV) gives rise to a profound inhibition of cellular protein synthesis, whereas translation of viral subgenomic mRNA that encodes viral structural proteins, continues for hours. To gain further knowledge on the mechanism by which this subgenomic mRNA is translated, the requirements for some initiation factors (eIFs) and for the presence of the initiator AUG were examined both in infected and in uninfected cells. To this end, BHK cells were transfected with different SV replicons or with in vitro made SV subgenomic mRNAs after inactivation of some eIFs. Specifically, eIF4G was cleaved by expression of the poliovirus 2A protease (2Apro) and the alpha subunit of eIF2 was inactivated by phosphorylation induced by arsenite treatment. Moreover, cellular location of these and other translation components was analyzed in BHK infected cells by confocal microscopy. Cleavage of eIF4G by poliovirus 2Apro does not hamper translation of subgenomic mRNA in SV infected cells, but bisection of this factor blocks subgenomic mRNA translation in uninfected cells or in cell-free systems. SV infection induces phosphorylation of eIF2α, a process that is increased by arsenite treatment. Under these conditions, translation of subgenomic mRNA occurs to almost the same extent as controls in the infected cells but is drastically inhibited in uninfected cells. Notably, the correct initiation site on the subgenomic mRNA is still partially recognized when the initiation codon AUG is modified to other codons only in infected cells. Finally, immunolocalization of different eIFs reveals that eIF2 α and eIF4G are excluded from the foci, where viral RNA replication occurs, while eIF3, eEF2 and ribosomes concentrate in these regions. These findings support the notion that canonical initiation takes place when the subgenomic mRNA is translated out of the infection context, while initiation can occur without some eIFs and even at non-AUG codons in infected cells

A Dominant-Negative Mutation of Mouse Lmx1b Causes Glaucoma and Is Semi-lethal via LBD1-Mediated Dimerisation

Mutations in the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor LMX1B cause nail-patella syndrome, an autosomal dominant pleiotrophic human disorder in which nail, patella and elbow dysplasia is associated with other skeletal abnormalities and variably nephropathy and glaucoma. It is thought to be a haploinsufficient disorder. Studies in the mouse have shown that during development Lmx1b controls limb dorsal-ventral patterning and is also required for kidney and eye development, midbrain-hindbrain boundary establishment and the specification of specific neuronal subtypes. Mice completely deficient for Lmx1b die at birth. In contrast to the situation in humans, heterozygous null mice do not have a mutant phenotype. Here we report a novel mouse mutant Icst, an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced missense substitution, V265D, in the homeodomain of LMX1B that abolishes DNA binding and thereby the ability to transactivate other genes. Although the homozygous phenotypic consequences of Icst and the null allele of Lmx1b are the same, heterozygous Icst elicits a phenotype whilst the null allele does not. Heterozygous Icst causes glaucomatous eye defects and is semi-lethal, probably due to kidney failure. We show that the null phenotype is rescued more effectively by an Lmx1b transgene than is Icst. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments show that both wild-type and Icst LMX1B are found in complexes with LIM domain binding protein 1 (LDB1), resulting in lower levels of functional LMX1B in Icst heterozygotes than null heterozygotes. We conclude that Icst is a dominant-negative allele of Lmx1b. These findings indicate a reassessment of whether nail-patella syndrome is always haploinsufficient. Furthermore, Icst is a rare example of a model of human glaucoma caused by mutation of the same gene in humans and mice