Law and Opinion in Hong Kong in 1988.

Many jurisprudential researchers have developed generalized theories but these theories have seldom been subject to empirical verification. Theoretical jurists also make assumptions and conjectures as to why and how the law functions and how the law should function based on observations and historical analysis. Each of their theses is usually biased towards the economic, social, political and religious environment of a particular era, and it may appear appropriate for that era. In the absence of verification based on scientific methods, these theses are merely conjectures which cannot be proved, and are often difficult to measure objectively. The use of information technology and statistical techniques should alleviate some of these problems. The reception of the Common Law in Hong Kong and Singapore and the successful adoption of the German Civil Code in Japan are evidence of supranational adaptability. The experiences of Hong Kong and Singapore can provide some useful information and data in analyzing the degree of success of the application of the Common Law in a different cultural setting. As schools of jurisprudence seldom explain the outcome of transplanting a dominant legal system to a society whose culture is foreign to it, it is submitted that information technology and statistical techniques can provide a better solution. This thesis consists of nine chapters. The first three chapters provide the cultural, historical and jurisprudential background relevant to the investigation of the application of English Common Law in contemporary Hong Kong. It is believed that an understanding of the cultural and historical past is the key to contemporary issues. The writer does not hold himself out as an expert in traditional Chinese jurisprudence and legal history, nor of Chinese law and custom in Hong Kong. Much of the information presented in the first three chapters was derived from published works. Chapters IV and V discuss the methodology in investigating the acceptance of the Common Law judicial system in Hong Kong, and Chapters VI and VII analyse the results of the investigations. The confidence of the people in the Common Law judicial system is directly correlated to the degree of success of transplanting a Common Law culture into Hong Kong as a dominant legal culture. Using selected methodologies, empirical data is analysed to determine the attitudes and values of the people towards the Common Law judicial system in Hong Kong. For the Common Law judicial system to be successfully maintained in Hong Kong after it becomes a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China on 1st July, 1997, the confidence of the Chinese population in its fairness and reasonableness is vital. Chapters VIII and IX are concerned with the future of the Common Law judicial system in Hong Kong after 30th June, 1997, and the recommendations for judicial development in the meantime. As this is a law thesis, the writer does not attempt to forecast the political developments of Hong Kong at that time, but relies on published works based on well established forecasting techniques. The law is stated as at 31st December, 1988

Mouse preimplantation embryo responses to culture medium osmolarity include increased expression of CCM2 and p38 MAPK activation

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms that confer an ability to respond positively to environmental osmolarity are fundamental to ensuring embryo survival during the preimplantation period. Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) occurs following exposure to hyperosmotic treatment. Recently, a novel scaffolding protein called Osmosensing Scaffold for MEKK3 (OSM) was linked to p38 MAPK activation in response to sorbitol-induced hypertonicity. The human ortholog of OSM is cerebral cavernous malformation 2 (CCM2). The present study was conducted to investigate whether CCM2 is expressed during mouse preimplantation development and to determine whether this scaffolding protein is associated with p38 MAPK activation following exposure of preimplantation embryos to hyperosmotic environments. RESULTS: Our results indicate that Ccm2 along with upstream p38 MAPK pathway constituents (Map3k3, Map2k3, Map2k6, and Map2k4) are expressed throughout mouse preimplantation development. CCM2, MAP3K3 and the phosphorylated forms of MAP2K3/MAP2K6 and MAP2K4 were also detected throughout preimplantation development. Embryo culture in hyperosmotic media increased p38 MAPK activity in conjunction with elevated CCM2 levels. CONCLUSION: These results define the expression of upstream activators of p38 MAPK during preimplantation development and indicate that embryo responses to hyperosmotic environments include elevation of CCM2 and activation of p38 MAPK

GIDEP Batching Tool

This software provides internal, automated search mechanics of GIDEP (Government- Industry Data Exchange Program) Alert data imported from the GIDEP government Web site. The batching tool allows the import of a single parts list in tab-delimited text format into the local JPL GIDEP database. Delimiters from every part number are removed. The original part numbers with delimiters are compared, as well as the newly generated list without the delimiters. The two lists run against the GIDEP imports, and output any matches. This feature only works with Netscape 2.0 or greater, or Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater. The user selects the browser button to choose a text file to import. When the submit button is pressed, this script will import alerts from the text file into the local JPL GIDEP database. This batch tool provides complete in-house control over exported material and data for automated batch match abilities. The batching tool has the ability to match capabilities of the parts list to tables, and yields results that aid further research and analysis. This provides more control over GIDEP information for metrics and reports information not provided by the government site. This software yields results quickly and gives more control over external data from the government site in order to generate other reports not available from the external source. There is enough space to store years of data. The program relates to risk identification and management with regard to projects and GIDEP alert information encompassing flight parts for space exploration

PP2Cdelta (Ppm1d, WIP1), an endogenous inhibitor of p38 MAPK, is regulated along with Trp53 and Cdkn2a following p38 MAPK inhibition during mouse preimplantation development.

Preimplantation embryos utilize mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling (MAPK) pathways to relay signals from the external environment to prepare appropriate responses and adaptations to a changing milieu. It is therefore important to investigate how MAPK pathways are regulated during preimplantation development. This study was conducted to investigate whether PP2Cdelta (Ppm1d, WIP1) is expressed during mouse preimplantation development and to determine the influences of p38 MAPK inhibition on expression of Trp53 (p53), Ppm1d, (WIP1), and Cdkn2a (p16) during mouse preimplantation development. Our results indicate that Trp53, Ppm1d, and Cdkn2a mRNAs and TRP53 and PP2Cdelta proteins are expressed throughout mouse preimplantation development. Treatment of 2-cell embryos with SB220025 (potent inhibitor of p38 MAPK alpha/beta/MAPK 14/11) significantly increased Trp53, Ppm1d and Cdkn2a and Mapk14 mRNA levels at 12 and 24 hr. Treatment of 8-cell embryos with SB220025 for 12 hr increased Trp53, Ppm1d, and Cdkn2a mRNA levels, but not Mapk14 mRNA levels. Treatment of 8-cell embryos for 24 hr increased Trp53, and Ppm1d mRNA levels, but decreased Cdkn2a and Mapk14 mRNA levels. Therefore, blockade of p38 MAPK activity is associated with embryo stage specific influences on Trp53, Ppm1d, Cdkn2a, and Mapk14 expression during mouse preimplantation development. These results define downstream targets of p38 MAPK during preimplantation development and indicate that the p38 MAPK pathway regulates Trp53, Ppm1d, and Cdkn2a expression. This study increases our understanding of the mechanisms controlling preimplantation development and of the interactions between preimplantation embryos and their culture environments

Late noninvasive evaluation of cardiac performance in mildly symptomatic older patients with Ebstein's anomaly of tricuspid valve: Role of radionuclide imaging

AbstractTen patients 8 to 54 years of age with isolated Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve were evaluated by electrocardiography, maximal exercise treadmill testing, 24 h electrocardiographs (ECG) monitoring, echocardiography and rest radionuclide imaging of the left ventricle. The patients presented after the 1st year of life and had not undergone surgical intervention. All except one were in functional class II. No patient had preexcitation on the surface ECG, but abnormal tachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmias were seen in five patients on 24 h ECG monitoring. Subnormal exercise performance was observed in five patients.Echocardiography demonstrated typical variable tricuspid valve displacement and paradoxic interventricular septal motion. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions were normal in all patients, but posterior wall motion was reduced in two. Moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation with a Doppler jet velocity <2.5 m/s was demonstrated in eight patients. Left ventricular radionuclide scintigraphy revealed a subnormal ejection fraction (<50%) in 5 of 10 patients; these 5 had previously shown suboptimal exercise performance.The two youngest patients (<15 years) had no arrhythmia, normal exercise performance and normal left ventricular ejection fraction. There was no correlation between the degree of tricuspid valve displacement or régurgitation and the presence of rhythm disturbance, exercise performance or radionuclide left ventricular function.Late evaluation of patients with Ebstein's anomaly may demonstrate significant unsuspected abnormalities in cardiac rhythm, exercise performance and left ventricular function. Radionuclide scintigraphy is a useful noninvasive technique for assessing left ventricular dysfunction in these patients

The Myxoma Poxvirus Protein, M11L, Prevents Apoptosis by Direct Interaction with the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore

M11L, an antiapoptotic protein essential for the virulence of the myxoma poxvirus, is targeted to mitochondria and prevents the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential that accompanies cell death. In this study we show, using a cross-linking approach, that M11L physically associates with the mitochondrial peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) component of the permeability transition (PT) pore. Close association of M11L and the PBR is also indicated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis. Stable expression of M11L prevents the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c induced by staurosporine or protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), a ligand of the PBR. Transiently expressed M11L also prevents mitochondrial membrane potential loss induced by PPIX, or induced by staurosporine in combination with PK11195, another ligand of the PBR. Myxoma virus infection and the associated expression of early proteins, including M11L, protects cells from staurosporine- and Fas-mediated mitochondrial membrane potential loss and this effect is augmented by the presence of PBR. We conclude that M11L regulates the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex, most likely by direct modulation of the PBR

Annual cycle observations of aerosols capable of ice formation in central Arctic clouds

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, prompting glacial melt, permafrost thaw, and sea ice decline. These severe consequences induce feedbacks that contribute to amplified warming, affecting weather and climate globally. Aerosols and clouds play a critical role in regulating radiation reaching the Arctic surface. However, the magnitude of their effects is not adequately quantified, especially in the central Arctic where they impact the energy balance over the sea ice. Specifically, aerosols called ice nucleating particles (INPs) remain understudied yet are necessary for cloud ice production and subsequent changes in cloud lifetime, radiative effects, and precipitation. Here, we report observations of INPs in the central Arctic over a full year, spanning the entire sea ice growth and decline cycle. Further, these observations are size-resolved, affording valuable information on INP sources. Our results reveal a strong seasonality of INPs, with lower concentrations in the winter and spring controlled by transport from lower latitudes, to enhanced concentrations of INPs during the summer melt, likely from marine biological production in local open waters. This comprehensive characterization of INPs will ultimately help inform cloud parameterizations in models of all scales

Multiomics in the central Arctic Ocean for benchmarking biodiversity change.

Multiomics approaches need to be applied in the central Arctic Ocean to benchmark biodiversity change and to identify novel species and their genes. As part of MOSAiC, EcoOmics will therefore be essential for conservation and sustainable bioprospecting in one of the least explored ecosystems on Earth