What was the nature of the security threat that WikiLeaks presented to the United States in 2010?

The disclosures made by WikiLeaks in 2010 were a polarising issue. Julian Assange, the organisation’s spokesperson was called a “terrorist” but at the same time, comments such as ‘this is nothing we didn’t already know’, or that the disclosures were merely ‘embarrassing’ were also made. How can it be both? A critical, constructivist analysis and in particular the Copenhagen School’s theory of securitisation is used to examine how the main actors sought to securitise the issues and the other actor. In this analysis, identity, values and norms, as well as the audience play a role in how security is determined. WikiLeaks attempted to securitise US foreign policy, providing the US with an unorthodox enemy. The US, with more resources and power, endeavoured to securitise the threat made by WikiLeaks by maximising the discourse of danger, that of ‘cyber threat’, to capitalise on a sense of fear that equates the potential of the Internet with WMDs. A successful securitisation allows the securitising actor to introduce emergency or exceptional measures (such as surveillance or a ‘pause’ on human rights) that would not be acceptable under normal circumstances. In 2010, the powerful images of terrorism and prospective WMDs were still resonant in an insecure United States after the 9/11 attacks. These images assisted in the securitisation of WikiLeaks and in the further introduction of extraordinary measures, including the regulation of on-line information and the re-engineering of the architecture of the Internet. The securitisation of on-line information and a re-engineering of Internet architecture also allows a tangible shift in sovereignty in a period of globalisation where borders tend to be perceived as open

Effects of different small HSPB members on contractile dysfunction and structural changes in a Drosophila melanogaster model for Atrial Fibrillation

The most common clinical tachycardia, Atrial Fibrillation (AF), is a progressive disease, caused by cardiomyocyte remodeling, which finally results in contractile dysfunction and AF persistence. Recently, we identified a protective role of heat shock proteins (HSPs), especially the small HSPB1 member, against tachycardia remodeling in experimental AF models. Our understanding of tachycardia remodeling and anti-remodeling drugs is currently hampered by the lack of suitable (genetic) manipulatable in vivo models for rapid screening of key targets in remodeling. We hypothesized that Drosophila melanogaster can be exploited to study tachycardia remodeling and protective effects of HSPs by drug treatments or by utilizing genetically manipulated small HSP-overexpressing strains. Tachypacing of Drosophila pupae resulted in gradual and significant cardiomyocyte remodeling, demonstrated by reduced contraction rate, increase in arrhythmic episodes and reduction in heart wall shortening, compared to normal paced pupae. Heat shock, or pretreatment with HSP-inducers GGA and BGP-15, resulted in endogenous HSP overexpression and protection against tachycardia remodeling. DmHSP23 overexpressing Drosophilas were protected against tachycardia remodeling, in contrast to overexpression of other small HSPs (DmHSP27, DmHSP67Bc, DmCG4461, DmCG7409, and DmCG14207). (Ultra)structural evaluation of the tachypaced heart wall revealed loss of sarcomeres and mitochondrial damage which were absent in tachypaced DmHSP23 overexpressing Drosophila. In addition. tachypacing induced a significant increase in calpain activity, which was prevented in tachypaced Drosophila overexpressing DmHSP23. Tachypacing of Drosophila resulted in cardiomyocyte remodeling, which was prevented by general HSP-inducing treatments and overexpression of a single small HSP, DmHSP23. Thus, tachypaced D. melanogaster can be used as an in vivo model system for rapid identification of novel targets to combat AF associated cardiomyocyte remodeling. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Do Physicians Tailor Their Recommendations for Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Based on Patient's Risk?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how physicians tailor their recommendations for breast cancer prevention and risk reduction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, mail survey. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of primary care physicians in California (N = 822). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Six standardized patient scenarios were used to assess how women's breast cancer risk factors influence physicians’ recommendations for screening mammography, counseling about lifestyle behaviors, genetic testing, the use of tamoxifen, prophylactic surgery, and referral to a breast specialist. Over 90% of physicians endorsed mammography for all of the scenarios. Similarly, approximately 80% of physicians endorsed counseling about lifestyle factors for all of the scenarios. Five-year risk of developing breast cancer and family history were both strongly associated with each of the 6 recommendations. Importantly, however, physicians were more likely to endorse the discussion of genetic testing, the use of tamoxifen, and prophylactic surgery for women with a family history of breast cancer compared with women at a higher risk of developing breast cancer but without a family history. Obstetrician-gynecologists were more likely to endorse most of these practices compared with internists. CONCLUSIONS: Mammography and counseling about lifestyle behaviors are widely endorsed by physicians for breast cancer prevention and risk reduction. Whereas physicians are generally able to tailor their recommendations for prevention and risk reduction based on risk, they may perhaps underutilize genetic evaluation and newer therapeutic options for primary prevention for women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer but do not have a family history