Introduction to the Special Issue: Strategic Deployment of the China Model in Africa

This introductory article examines the concept of strategic localization, which is central to the theme of this Special Issue ofPolitics & Policy. We focus on how African states, for regime survival and/or pragmatic reasons, reinterpret China's development discourse and preferences and implement them in their local contexts. We hypothesize that the China model of development has become a rhetorical commonplace used to legitimize policies perceived to be: (1) better for regime survival (e.g., no political conditionalities; dissemination of resources to elites); and (2) superior to other development models (more suitable for developing countries, better at developing strong states). The article will also give a synopsis of the other articles in the Special Issue-highlighting their main arguments and findings

An Efficient Representation of Euclidean Gravity I

We explore how the topology of spacetime fabric is encoded into the local structure of Riemannian metrics using the gauge theory formulation of Euclidean gravity. In part I, we provide a rigorous mathematical foundation to prove that a general Einstein manifold arises as the sum of SU(2)_L Yang-Mills instantons and SU(2)_R anti-instantons where SU(2)_L and SU(2)_R are normal subgroups of the four-dimensional Lorentz group Spin(4) = SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R. Our proof relies only on the general properties in four dimensions: The Lorentz group Spin(4) is isomorphic to SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R and the six-dimensional vector space of two-forms splits canonically into the sum of three-dimensional vector spaces of self-dual and anti-self-dual two-forms. Consolidating these two, it turns out that the splitting of Spin(4) is deeply correlated with the decomposition of two-forms on four-manifold which occupies a central position in the theory of four-manifolds.Comment: 31 pages, 1 figur

Time-course of effects of external beam radiation on [18F]FDG uptake in healthy tissue and bone marrow.

The utility of PET for monitoring responses to radiation therapy have been complicated by metabolically active processes in surrounding normal tissues. We examined the time-course of [18F]FDG uptake in normal tissues using small animal-dedicated PET during the 2 month period following external beam radiation. Four mice received 12 Gy of external beam radiation, in a single fraction to the left half of the body. Small animal [18F]FDG-PET scans were acquired for each mouse at 0 (pre-radiation), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 19, 24, and 38 days following irradiation. [18F]FDG activity in various tissues was compared between irradiated and non-irradiated body halves before, and at each time point after irradiation. Radiation had a significant impact on [18F]FDG uptake in previously healthy tissues, and time-course of effects differed in different types of tissues. For example, liver tissue demonstrated increased uptake, particularly over days 3-12, with the mean left to right uptake ratio increasing 52% over mean baseline values (p < 0.0001). In contrast, femoral bone marrow uptake demonstrated decreased uptake, particularly over days 2-8, with the mean left to right uptake ratio decreasing 26% below mean baseline values (p = 0.0005). Significant effects were also seen in lung and brain tissue. Radiation had diverse effects on [18F]FDG uptake in previously healthy tissues. These kinds of data may help lay groundwork for a systematically acquired database of the time-course of effects of radiation on healthy tissues, useful for animal models of cancer therapy imminently, as well as interspecies extrapolations pertinent to clinical application eventually

Activation of the innate immune receptor Dectin-1 upon formation of a 'phagocytic synapse'.

Innate immune cells must be able to distinguish between direct binding to microbes and detection of components shed from the surface of microbes located at a distance. Dectin-1 (also known as CLEC7A) is a pattern-recognition receptor expressed by myeloid phagocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils) that detects β-glucans in fungal cell walls and triggers direct cellular antimicrobial activity, including phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast to inflammatory responses stimulated upon detection of soluble ligands by other pattern-recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), these responses are only useful when a cell comes into direct contact with a microbe and must not be spuriously activated by soluble stimuli. In this study we show that, despite its ability to bind both soluble and particulate β-glucan polymers, Dectin-1 signalling is only activated by particulate β-glucans, which cluster the receptor in synapse-like structures from which regulatory tyrosine phosphatases CD45 and CD148 (also known as PTPRC and PTPRJ, respectively) are excluded (Supplementary Fig. 1). The 'phagocytic synapse' now provides a model mechanism by which innate immune receptors can distinguish direct microbial contact from detection of microbes at a distance, thereby initiating direct cellular antimicrobial responses only when they are required

Invisible Diaspora?:English Ethnicity in the United States before 1920

The article presents an examination into the English population of the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries, examining their ethnic identity as a diaspora community. Introductory details are given noting the relative lack of attention given to English Americans as an ethnic group. Topics addressed include reasons behind the invisibility of the English immigrant identity in the U.S., the existence of English ethnic organizations, and an overview of their activities

The Expanding Role of Dapagliflozin Beyond the Glucose-lowering Effect

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have varied metabolic effects beyond increasing glycosuria. This consensus review examines the role of dapagliflozin in health promotion, particularly its benefits in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in cardiorenal rehabilitation post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Consensus recommendations were developed by subject experts in Endocrinology and Diabetology based on the online meeting held on 27 June 2020 to review the available evidence related to the role of SGLT2 inhibitors, with a focus on cardiovascular and renal metabolic therapy. Evidence suggests that dapagliflozin has a direct role in improving clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or heart failure (HF). These benefits of dapagliflozin were independent of reduction in blood pressure, glycemic control and weight, and also extend to patients without diabetes. The use of dapagliflozin in metabolic syndrome was endorsed by the majority of the experts; however, this would be off-label.It was opined that the role of dapagliflozin would currently be limited to treating T2DM with a focus on preventing HF or kidney disease progression. The need for conducting multidisciplinary academic meetings to have a balanced approach regarding the use of dapagliflozin among nondiabetic patients and the need for detailed evaluation of the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in vasculometabolic and cardiorenal rehabilitation post-COVID was also suggested

The Expanding Role of Dapagliflozin Beyond the Glucose-lowering Effec

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have varied metabolic effects beyond increasing glycosuria. This consensus review examines the role of dapagliflozin in health promotion, particularly its benefits in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in cardiorenal rehabilitation post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Consensus recommendations were developed by subject experts in Endocrinology and Diabetology based on the online meeting held on 27 June 2020 to review the available evidence related to the role of SGLT2 inhibitors, with a focus on cardiovascular and renal metabolic therapy. Evidence suggests that dapagliflozin has a direct role in improving clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or heart failure (HF). These benefits of dapagliflozin were independent of reduction in blood pressure, glycemic control and weight, and also extend to patients without diabetes. The use of dapagliflozin in metabolic syndrome was endorsed by the majority of the experts; however, this would be off-label. It was opined that the role of dapagliflozin would currently be limited to treating T2DM with a focus on preventing HF or kidney disease progression. The need for conducting multidisciplinary academic meetings to have a balanced approach regarding the use of dapagliflozin among nondiabetic patients and the need for detailed evaluation of the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in vasculometabolic and cardiorenal rehabilitation post-COVID was also suggested

Discussion on a possible neutrino detector located in India

We have identified some important and worthwhile physics opportunitites with a possible neutrino detector located in India. Particular emphasis is placed on the geographical advantage with a stress on the complimentary aspects with respect to other neutrino detectors already in operation.Comment: 9 pages; arXiv copy of published proceedings contributio

Rapid translocation of nanoparticles from the lung airspaces to the body

Nano-size particles show promise for pulmonary drug delivery, yet their behavior after deposition in the lung remains poorly understood. In this study, a series of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanoparticles were systematically varied in chemical composition, shape, size and surface charge, and their biodistribution and elimination were quantified in rat models after lung instillation. We demonstrate that nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameter (HD) less than ≈34 nm and a noncationic surface charge translocate rapidly from the lung to mediastinal lymph nodes. Nanoparticles of HD < 6 nm can traffic rapidly from the lungs to lymph nodes and the bloodstream, and then be subsequently cleared by the kidneys. We discuss the importance of these findings for drug delivery, air pollution and carcinogenesis