Comparing the Cross-Strait Economic Policies of KMT and DPP, 2008-2016: Implications for the Future Politics of Taiwan

This paper discusses and analyzes the cross-Strait economic policies of the KMT and the DPP in three presidential elections since 2008. The dilemma between the necessity of regional economic integration and the rise of the Taiwanese identity as a result of democratization has led to signs of convergence in terms of cross-Strait economic policies between the two parties in response to international economic environment despite their difference of emphasis and their priorities in facing the global economy. With reference to the implications for the future politics of Taiwan, this study suggested that the growing importance of economic agenda, which bridges the Blue-Green divide, is actually conducive to democratic consolidation in Taiwan. Democratic consolidation has simultaneously reinforced the concept of “stateness” in the development of the Taiwanese identity, which has, in return, challenged the spillover effect of cross-Strait economic relations

Inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase stimulates mu opioid receptor expression via p38 MAPK-mediated nuclear NF-κB activation in neuronal and non-neuronal cells

AbstractDespite its potential side effects of addiction, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, morphine is widely used for reducing moderate and severe pain. Previous studies have shown that the analgesic effect of morphine depends on mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression levels, but the regulatory mechanism of MOR is not yet fully understood. Several in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is closely associated with neuropathic hyperalgesia, which closely resembles the neuroplastic changes observed with morphine antinociceptive tolerance. In this study, we show that inhibition of JNK by SP600125, its inhibitory peptide, or JNK-1 siRNA induced MOR at both mRNA and protein levels in neuronal cells. This increase in MOR expression was reversed by inhibition of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, but not by inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) pathway. Further experiments using cell signaling inhibitors showed that MOR upregulation by JNK inhibition involved nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). The p38 MAPK dependent phosphorylation of p65 NF-κB subunit in the nucleus was increased by SP600125 treatment. We also observed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis that JNK inhibition led to increased bindings of CBP and histone-3 dimethyl K4, and decreased bindings of HDAC-2, MeCP2, and histone-3 trimethyl K9 to the MOR promoter indicating a transcriptional regulation of MOR by JNK inhibition. All these results suggest a regulatory role of the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways in MOR gene expression and aid to our better understanding of the MOR gene regulation

A switch-on mechanism to activate maize ribosome-inactivating protein for targeting HIV-infected cells

Maize ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) is a plant toxin that inactivates eukaryotic ribosomes by depurinating a specific adenine residue at the α-sarcin/ricin loop of 28S rRNA. Maize RIP is first produced as a proenzyme with a 25-amino acid internal inactivation region on the protein surface. During germination, proteolytic removal of this internal inactivation region generates the active heterodimeric maize RIP with full N-glycosidase activity. This naturally occurring switch-on mechanism provides an opportunity for targeting the cytotoxin to pathogen-infected cells. Here, we report the addition of HIV-1 protease recognition sequences to the internal inactivation region and the activation of the maize RIP variants by HIV-1 protease in vitro and in HIV-infected cells. Among the variants generated, two were cleaved efficiently by HIV-1 protease. The HIV-1 protease-activated variants showed enhanced N-glycosidase activity in vivo as compared to their un-activated counterparts. They also possessed potent inhibitory effect on p24 antigen production in human T cells infected by two HIV-1 strains. This switch-on strategy for activating the enzymatic activity of maize RIP in target cells provides a platform for combating pathogens with a specific protease

APOE Genotype-Function Relationship: Evidence of −491 A/T Promoter Polymorphism Modifying Transcription Control but Not Type 2 Diabetes Risk

BACKGROUND: The apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) coding polymorphism modifies the risks of Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Aside from the coding variants, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the APOE promoter has also been shown to modify the risk of Alzheimer's disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study we investigate the genotype-function relationship of APOE promoter polymorphism at molecular level and at physiological level: i.e., in transcription control of the gene and in the risk of type 2 diabetes. In molecular studies, the effect of the APOE -491A/T (rs449647) polymorphism on gene transcription was accessed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. The -491 A to T substitution decreased the activity (p<0.05) of the cloned APOE promoter (-1017 to +406). Using the -501 to -481 nucleotide sequence of the APOE promoter as a 'bait' to screen the human brain cDNA library by yeast one-hybrid system yielded ATF4, an endoplasmic reticulum stress response gene, as one of the interacting factors. Electrophoretic-mobility-shift assays (EMSA) and chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) analyses further substantiated the physical interaction between ATF4 and the APOE promoter. Over-expression of ATF4 stimulated APOE expression whereas siRNA against ATF4 suppressed the expression of the gene. However, interaction between APOE promoter and ATF4 was not -491A/T-specific. At physiological level, the genotype-function relationship of APOE promoter polymorphism was studied in type 2 diabetes. In 630 cases and 595 controls, three APOE promoter SNPs -491A/T, -219G/T (rs405509), and +113G/C (rs440446) were genotyped and tested for association with type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong Chinese. No SNP or haplotype association with type 2 diabetes was detected. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: At molecular level, polymorphism -491A/T and ATF4 elicit independent control of APOE gene expression. At physiological level, no genotype-risk association was detected between the studied APOE promoter SNPs and type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong Chinese

Non-nociceptive roles of opioids in the CNS: opioids' effects on neurogenesis, learning, memory and affect.

Mortality due to opioid use has grown to the point where, for the first time in history, opioid-related deaths exceed those caused by car accidents in many states in the United States. Changes in the prescribing of opioids for pain and the illicit use of fentanyl (and derivatives) have contributed to the current epidemic. Less known is the impact of opioids on hippocampal neurogenesis, the functional manipulation of which may improve the deleterious effects of opioid use. We provide new insights into how the dysregulation of neurogenesis by opioids can modify learning and affect, mood and emotions, processes that have been well accepted to motivate addictive behaviours

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Civic Disobedience of Malay Muslims in Post-September 11th Singapore

Kam-yee Law illustrates how, in early 2002, a Muslim headscarf incident in Singapore triggered a debate within the country. The incident reveals the plight of Singapore's Malay Muslims in terms of social and ethnic integration, and the growing lack of political openness since the late 1980s. The situation seems to be worsening in the international context of post-Asian economic crisis and post-September 11th anti-terrorism measures. Development (2003) 46, 107–111. doi:10.1177/1011637003046001595

The Myth of Institutionalizing Hong Kong-Taiwan Relations: 26 Years after the Handover

Liberal institutionalism theorists argue that institutional establishment would promote cooperation between the two political entities of the exchange in terms of strategic interests, which is facing many obstacles in the internationally anarchist system. It could function especially well during external interactions at the sub-state level. However, after Hong Kong was handed over to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the development of relations with Taiwan was full of twists and turns, approaching the opposite. Formal and bureaucratic interactions have prompted Hong Kong officials to make conservative decisions about Taiwan’s sensitive relationship, stifling the strategic ambiguity needed to utilize Hong Kong as a buffer for cross-strait tensions. Especially during the Democratic Progressive Party’s reign, the institutionalization seems to have opened a loophole and given Taiwan an “international” form to interact with Hong Kong, crossing the red line of Beijing’s “One China Principle”. Coupled with the closer connections between the civil societies of Taiwan and Hong Kong since the mid-2010s, Beijing has imposed a clampdown on institutionalized Hong Kong–Taiwan relations. The previously subtle interaction between Hong Kong and Taiwan, being leveraged during the cross-strait conflict, has been greatly weakened since the mid-2010s

The Financial Tsunami: Economic insecurity and social protection in Hong Kong

Lee Kim-ming and Law Kam-yee examine the consequences of the financial crisis and the social measures package adopted by the Hong Kong government. They illustrate how the government lacked long-term strategies and commitments for protecting the people of Hong Kong against increasingly risky globalization and economic insecurity. They suggest that active labour market policies are the social policy tools the government can use to reform the social protection system.

Hong Kong–Taiwan Relations from the Handover to the Anti-extradition Law Movement—How Sub-state Diplomacy Has Failed

After Hong Kong’s handover in 1997, the development of its relations with Taiwan has been full of twists and turns. Formal and bureaucratic interactions have stifled the strategic ambiguity needed to utilise Hong Kong as a buffer for cross-strait tensions. The subtle interaction between Hong Kong and Taiwan, being leveraged to reduce tension and facilitate communication in the cross-strait conflict, has been weakened since the mid-2010s even though institutionalisation was enhanced. Thus, the future development of Hong Kong–Taiwan relations may seem even more pessimistic than cross-strait relations