Regulation of anti-inflammatory gene expression in vascular endothelial cells by EPAC1

Suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) is a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory pathways involved in atherogenesis and the development of neo-intimal hyperplasia (NIH), which contributes to the in-stent re-stenosis responsible for the failure of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. We have shown that cyclic AMP sensor EPAC1 triggers induction of the SOCS3 gene in vascular endothelial cells (VECs), thereby attenuating interleukin 6 (IL-6)-mediated pro-inflammatory signalling. We propose that EPAC1 localisation to the nuclear pore controls cyclic AMP-mediated activation of a C/EBPβ/c-Jun transcriptional complex, leading to SOCS3 induction and suppression of pro-inflammatory signalling. Future work in this area will involve an integrated approach to determine the wider significance of the EPAC1-C/EBPβ/c-Jun pathway in controlling human VEC function and identify new therapeutic targets for management of chronic inflammation in vascular settings

Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: Economics and Policy

Twenty states in the United States have adopted energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) that specify absolute or per¬centage reductions in energy use relative to business as usual. We examine how an EERS compares to policies oriented to meeting objectives, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cor¬recting for consumer error in energy efficiency investment, or reducing peak de¬mand absent real-time prices. If reducing energy use is a policy goal, one could use energy taxes or cap-and-trade systems rather than an EERS. An EERS can be optimal under special conditions, but to achieve optimal goals following energy efficiency investments, the marginal external harm must fall with greater energy use. This could happen if inframarginal energy has greater negative externalities, particularly regarding emissions, than energy employed at the margin.energy efficiency resource standards, energy efficiency, electricity, conservation

Implementing Electricity Restructuring: Policies, Potholes, and Prospects

Electricity is one of the last U.S. industries in which competition is replacing regulation. We briefly review the technology for producing and delivering power, the history of electricity policy, and recent state and international experience. We then outline the major questions facing policymakers as they decide whether, when, and how to implement restructuring. We conclude with some thoughts on the California electricity crisis and other political controversies. Although the California experience has come to define what it means for electricity markets to fail, most of the problems it raised are among those we know how to solve or prevent. The still unresolved make-or-break issue remains whether the cooperation necessary to maintain reliability is compatible with the degree of competition necessary to bring about greater efficiency and lower prices. This paper draws upon our forthcoming book, Alternating Curents: Electricity Markets and Public Policy.electricity restructuring, regulation, deregulation

Deep-Basinal Lithium-Rich Brines

The hydrocarbon producing rocks of the Upper Jurassic in the northern Gulf of Mexico are known to contain lithium-rich brines. However, the genesis of the lithium-rich water is not very well understood. Analysis of hydrogeochemical data indicates that the brines are enriched in bromide, Calcium, Lithium, and sodium, and depleted in potassium, magnesium, and sulfate. Considering this, hydrogeochemical, petrographic, and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) data shows that the brines have been significantly altered relative to the original composition of the water, by salt dissolution, freshwater mixing, and dolomitization. Based on the results of this study, the ore-grade lithium brine is being enhanced by the same stratigraphic and geochemical controls that is depositing dolomite in the Upper Jurassic reservoirs of the northern Gulf of Mexico

Verbal Morphology And Grammatical Aspect In Sarikoli

Grammatical aspect in Sarikoli, an Eastern Iranian (Pamir) language, has never been adequately described. This work fills a gap in the descriptive literature, beginning with a straightforward restatement of verbal morphosyntax, and moving to a discussion of verb stems and their uses. Verb stems in Sarikoli include the infinitive, imperfective, perfective, and perfect. Additional morphemes discussed in this work include the durative clitic, stative (resultative) suffix, cessative suffix, and agreement suffixes and clitics. Sarikoli verbal morphology encodes aspect, not tense. The major grammatical aspects of Sarikoli include perfective, imperfective, perfect, and durative. Verb stems and other aspectual marking in context give rise to a range of interpretations, explored in this thesis primarily through theory-neutral basic linguistic description

The Regulation of Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Murine Models of Type II Diabetes Mellitus

It is now well-established that many hormones regulate the metabolism of target cells by binding to receptors which can interact with specific members of a family of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) which can in turn control the activity of various intracellular effector enzymes and ion channels. One such effector enzyme is adenylate cyclase which is controlled by stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) proteins. Both of these proteins are heterotrimers consisting of alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunits, with the alpha-subunits conferring the abilities to interact with particular receptors and effectors. There are at least three members of the Gialpha-subunit family of proteins, termed Gialpha-1, Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3. The functional significance of this multiplicity is unknown although it has been suggested that Gialpha-2 may be responsible for mediating the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in certain systems and that each of these proteins can regulate K+ channel opening

Economy-wide impacts of REDD when there is political influence

National-level strategies for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), financed by international transfers, have begun to emerge. A three-sector model is developed to explore the economy-wide effects of two policies implemented by a government participating in REDD that differ in how they bring together incentives and benefit sharing: an incentive payment scheme where these are intrinsically linked and taxes where they are separated. Two sectors utilise forest as an input to production, one in which forest is substitutable for labour, producing a carbon externality, and one in which forest and labour are complements and where forest is used sustainably. Two important effects determine model outcomes. First, the government factors in general equilibrium effects when determining the efficient payment level. This implies that the level of international transfers is not fully passed through to the forest-using sectors. Second, even though the sustainable sector receives no incentive payment it can increase in size through the effect of REDD payments on markets. With political influence, where incentives and benefit sharing are linked the forest-using sectors may lobby for lower payment rates for themselves in order to create a larger international transfer. Where there is a separation between incentives and benefit-sharing this effect disappears. The findings indicate that REDD may be less cost-effective than envisioned at the international level

The World Percussion Group (WPG)

The World Percussion Group (WPG) is an ensemble devised and developed by Jason Huxtable & Timothy Palmer (Maraca2 Percussion Duo) to address the professional development needs of young professional percussionists around the world. Research process: The WPG’s first tour took place in 2016 and the ensemble has, over the course of four previous incarnations, provided opportunities for 45 young performers from 18 different countries, engaging percussion students, staff and audiences at 27 leading Higher Education Institutions. In addition to the direct contact with percussive communities, the WPG social media video output has achieved over one million views through partnership with industry sponsors and media broadcasters. Within this research an Impact Case Study is conducted with the intention of assessing the impact the WPG has made and the extent to which the original ‘Rationale’ for the project has been achieved. A Thematic Analysis of previous member’s Survey response provides the qualitative data, developing identity of themes which are then positioned within a ‘Thematic Map’ image. Research insights: Thematic Analysis of survey data reveals that the WPG is a significant and prestigious project which provides tour members an opportunity to develop professionally and personally through a challenging, reallife tour experience. Outcomes of the project relate to both the individual members and the percussion community more broadly with the benefits of ‘Cultural Sharing’ straddling these two domains. The success of previous projects has fed back into the ‘Prestige’ of the group, creating a positive feedback loop for future participants. This research shows that the WPG project is not only beneficial to individual members but to the Percussion Community more widely. Dissemination: Media outputs produced by the WPG have been viewed over 1,000,000 times