The rhetoric of collaboration: examining the inclusive and exclusive rhetoric in the environmental policies of Japan and the United States

In 2005, Tokyo was the dioxin capital of the world, a likely carcinogen and emitted byproduct of burning plastic (Braun n.p.). In an effort to reduce the city’s environmental impact and community health risk, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government instituted “Tokyo’s Big Change: The 10-Year Plan” in 2006 (Nagata n.p.). The 10-Year Plan and Tokyo Vision 2020, the environmental plan subsequently installed by the TMG after the 2011 tsunami and earthquake following the Fukushima disaster, are comprehensive plans that both outline eight major goals on the path to environmental sustainability, urban progress, and economic growth through ecological civility, industrial involvement, and inspired citizen participation (“Tokyo Committed”n.p.; “Creating the future” n.p.). My goal with this research is to examine the societal involvement and rhetorical framework of the 10-Year Plan and Vision 2020, and compare this to current environmental policies and practices in the United States, such as the Clean Water Act, the President’s Climate Action Plan, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s press release regarding greenhouse gas emissions.The environmental, economic, and cultural implications and success of the 10-Year Plan and Vision 2020 exemplify its significance as a case study of the collaborative spirit and the progress that can be achieved on a national, and even global, level through communally and commercially inclusive communication On a larger level, my research aims to identify a collaborative model of sustainability that utilizes the economic and cultural environments present within reform rather than holding reform hostage as a declaration of authoritative power. By examining the 10-Year Plan, Vision 2020, and Japan’s Fun to Share programs and comparing them with the United States’ Clean Water Act and President’s Climate Action Plan, I aim to uncover a path to sustainable collaboration, at both the local and national levels, that utilizes communal, industrial, and environmental support as the foundation for progress. Moreover, I hope that my research helps change the current narrative of environmental reform from the dichotomous environment against economy view perpetuated by vacillating political regimes to a symbiotic approach that emphasizes the cultural significance of rhetorically collaborative environmental and economic processes

Eine deutsche Adaptation des ENRICHD Social Support Inventory (ESSI) - Teststatistische Überprüfung an kardialen Patienten

Zur Erfassung der wahrgenommenen emotionalen sozialen Unterstützung bei kardialen Patienten wird das ESSI-D (ENRICHD Social Support Inventory – Deutsch), eine deutsche Adaptation des englischen ESSI, vorgestellt. Mit einer Stichprobe von N = 1597 Patienten (22.7% Frauen), die sich einer Bypass-Operation unterzogen, wurden die psychometrischen Eigenschaften des ESSI-D überprüft. Cronbachs Alpha der Gesamtskala lag bei α = .89. Eine konfirmatorische Faktorenanalyse bestätigte die einfaktorielle Struktur der Skala. Korrelationen mit unterschiedlichen Kriteriumsvariablen wie Partnerstatus, soziale Funktionsfähigkeit, körperliche Funktion und Depressivität lieferten Hinweise für eine zufriedenstellende Konstruktvalidität. Das ESSI-D erweist sich für diese Patientengruppe als ein ökonomisches Instrument zur Erfassung der emotionalen sozialen Unterstützung mit guten psychometrischen Eigenschaften

MeCP2 heterochromatin organization is modulated by arginine methylation and serine phosphorylation

Rett syndrome is a human intellectual disability disorder that is associated with mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene. The epigenetic reader MeCP2 binds to methylated cytosines on the DNA and regulates chromatin organization. We have shown previously that MECP2 Rett syndrome missense mutations are impaired in chromatin binding and heterochromatin reorganization. Here, we performed a proteomics analysis of post-translational modifications of MeCP2 isolated from adult mouse brain. We show that MeCP2 carries various post-translational modifications, among them phosphorylation on S80 and S421, which lead to minor changes in either heterochromatin binding kinetics or clustering. We found that MeCP2 is (di)methylated on several arginines and that this modification alters heterochromatin organization. Interestingly, we identified the Rett syndrome mutation site R106 as a dimethylation site. In addition, co-expression of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT)1 and PRMT6 lead to a decrease of heterochromatin clustering. Altogether, we identified and validated novel modifications of MeCP2 in the brain and show that these can modulate its ability to bind as well as reorganize heterochromatin, which may play a role in the pathology of Rett syndrome

Differential Europe: The European Union Impact on National Policymaking

International audienceNational-level policy outcomes produced by European Union–level directives and regulations are much more diverse across member states than one might expect. This is especially true for those undramatic but complex policy areas that lack the salience of high-level negotiations and treaty signings. Adrienne Héritier and her five coauthors investigate the phenomenon of differential national responses to European policymaking in two transportation policy subareas across five states. They focus on the deregulation of road haulage (trucking) and the reform of publicly owned railways in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. This allows them to show just how widely national policy outcomes can vary and still be generally in line with European Union (EU) requirements

L1 retrotransposition is activated by Ten-eleven-translocation protein 1 and repressed by methyl-CpG binding proteins.

One of the major functions of DNA methylation is the repression of transposable elements, such as the long-interspersed nuclear element 1 (L1). The underlying mechanism(s), however, are unclear. Here, we addressed how retrotransposon activation and mobilization are regulated by methyl-cytosine modifying ten-eleven-translocation (Tet) proteins and how this is modulated by methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins. We show that Tet1 activates both, endogenous and engineered L1 retrotransposons. Furthermore, we found that Mecp2 and Mbd2 repress Tet1-mediated activation of L1 by preventing 5hmC formation at the L1 promoter. Finally, we demonstrate that the methyl-CpG binding domain, as well as the adjacent non-sequence specific DNA binding domain of Mecp2 are each sufficient to mediate repression of Tet1-induced L1 mobilization. Our study reveals a mechanism how L1 elements get activated in the absence of Mecp2 and suggests that Tet1 may contribute to Mecp2/Mbd2-deficiency phenotypes, such as the Rett syndrome. We propose that the balance between methylation "reader" and "eraser/writer" controls L1 retrotransposition

Developmental Changes in Genome Replication Progression in Pluripotent versus Differentiated Human Cells

DNA replication is a fundamental process ensuring the maintenance of the genome each time cells divide. This is particularly relevant early in development when cells divide profusely, later giving rise to entire organs. Here, we analyze and compare the genome replication progression in human embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and differentiated cells. Using single-cell microscopic approaches, we map the spatio-temporal genome replication as a function of chromatin marks/compaction level. Furthermore, we mapped the replication timing of subchromosomal tandem repeat regions and interspersed repeat sequence elements. Albeit the majority of these genomic repeats did not change their replication timing from pluripotent to differentiated cells, we found developmental changes in the replication timing of rDNA repeats. Comparing single-cell super-resolution microscopic data with data from genome-wide sequencing approaches showed comparable numbers of replicons and large overlap in origins numbers and genomic location among developmental states with a generally higher origin variability in pluripotent cells. Using ratiometric analysis of incorporated nucleotides normalized per replisome in single cells, we uncovered differences in fork speed throughout the S phase in pluripotent cells but not in somatic cells. Altogether, our data define similarities and differences on the replication program and characteristics in human cells at different developmental states

Predictors of preoperative depressive risk in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Dunkel A, Kendel F, Lehmkuhl E, et al. Predictors of preoperative depressive risk in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Clinical Research in Cardiology. 2009;98(10):643-650