724 research outputs found
Interpretation, translation and intercultural communication in refugee status determination procedures in the UK and France
This article explores the interplay between language and intercultural communication within refugee status determination procedures in the UK and France, using material taken from ethnographic research that involved a combination of participant observation, semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis in both countries over a two-year period (2007–2009). It is concerned, in particular, to examine the role played by interpreters in facilitating intercultural communication between asylum applicants and the different administrative and legal actors responsible for assessing or defending their claims. The first section provides an overview of refugee status determination procedures in the UK and France, introducing the main administrative and legal contexts of the asylum process within which interpreters operate in the two countries. The second section compares the organisation of interpreting services, codes of conduct for interpreters and institutional expectations about the nature of interpreters’ activity on the part of the relevant UK and French authorities. The third section then explores some of the practical dilemmas for interpreters and barriers to communication that exist in refugee status determination procedures in the two countries. The article concludes by emphasising the complex and active nature of the interpreter's role in UK and French refugee status determination procedures
Elevated MED28 expression predicts poor outcome in women with breast cancer
Abstract Background MED28 (also known as EG-1 and magicin) has been implicated in transcriptional control, signal regulation, and cell proliferation. MED28 has also been associated with tumor progression in in vitro and in vivo models. Here we examined the association of MED28 expression with human breast cancer progression. Methods Expression of MED28 protein was determined on a population basis using a high-density tissue microarray consisting of 210 breast cancer patients. The association and validation of MED28 expression with histopathological subtypes, clinicopathological variables, and disease outcome was assessed. Results MED28 protein expression levels were increased in ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast compared to non-malignant glandular and ductal epithelium. Moreover, MED28 was a predictor of disease outcome in both univariate and multivariate analyses with higher expression predicting a greater risk of disease-related death. Conclusions We have demonstrated that MED28 expression is increased in breast cancer. In addition, although the patient size was limited (88 individuals with survival information) MED28 is a novel and strong independent prognostic indicator of survival for breast cancer
Lin28 Enhances Tissue Repair by Reprogramming Cellular Metabolism
SummaryRegeneration capacity declines with age, but why juvenile organisms show enhanced tissue repair remains unexplained. Lin28a, a highly conserved RNA-binding protein expressed during embryogenesis, plays roles in development, pluripotency, and metabolism. To determine whether Lin28a might influence tissue repair in adults, we engineered the reactivation of Lin28a expression in several models of tissue injury. Lin28a reactivation improved hair regrowth by promoting anagen in hair follicles and accelerated regrowth of cartilage, bone, and mesenchyme after ear and digit injuries. Lin28a inhibits let-7 microRNA biogenesis; however, let-7 repression was necessary but insufficient to enhance repair. Lin28a bound to and enhanced the translation of mRNAs for several metabolic enzymes, thereby increasing glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). Lin28a-mediated enhancement of tissue repair was negated by OxPhos inhibition, whereas a pharmacologically induced increase in OxPhos enhanced repair. Thus, Lin28a enhances tissue repair in some adult tissues by reprogramming cellular bioenergetics.PaperCli
Structural variation, dynamics, and catalytic application of palladium(II) complexes of di-N-heterocyclic carbene-amine ligands
A series of palladium(II) complexes incorporating di-NHC-amine ligands has been prepared and their structural, dynamic and catalytic behaviour investigated. The complexes [trans-(k(2)-(CN)-C-tBu(Bn)CN(Bn)C-tBu)PdCl2] (12) and [trans-(kappa(2)-(CN)-C-Mes(H)C-Mes)PdCl2] (13) do not exhibit interaction between the amine nitrogen and palladium atom respectively. NMR spectroscopy between - 40 and 25 degrees C shows that the di-NHC-amine ligand is flexible expressing C-s symmetry and for 13 rotation of the mesityl groups is prevented. In the related C-1 complex [(kappa(3)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)C-tBu)PdCl][CI] (14) coordination of NHC moieties and amine nitrogen atom is observed between -40 and 25 degrees C. Reaction between 12 - 14 and two equivalents of AgBF4 in acetonitrile gives the analogous complexes [trans-(kappa(2)-(CN)-C-tBu(Bn)C-tBu)PdCl2] (12) and [trans-(kappa(CN)-C-2Mes(H)C-Mes)PdCl2] (13) do not exhibit interaction between the amine nitrogen and palladium atom respectively. NMR spectroscopy between -40 ans 25 degrees C shows the di-NHC-amine ligand is flexible expressing C-s symmetry and for 13 rotation of the mesityl groups is prevented. In the related C-1 complex [kappa(3)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)C-tBu)PdCI][CI] (14) coordination of NHC moieties and amine nitrogen atom is observed between -40 and 25 degrees C.Reaction between 12-14 and two equivalents of AgBF4 in acetonitrile gives the analogous complexes [trans-(kappa(2)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)(CPd)-Pd-tBu(MeCN)(2)][BF4](2) (15), [trans-(kappa(CN)-C-2Mes(H)C-Mes)Pd(MeCN)(2)[BF4](2 (16)) and [(kappa(3)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)C-tBu)Pd(MeCN)][BF4](2) (17) indicating that ligand structure determines amine coordination. The single crystal X-ray structures of 12, 17 and two ligand imidazolium salt precursors C-tBu(H)N(Bn)C(H) (tBu)][CI](2) (2) and [C-tBu(H) N(H)C(H)(tBu)][BPh4](2) (4) have been determined. Complexes 12-14 and 15-17 have been shown to be active precatalysts for Heck and hydroamination reactions respectively
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Growth of II-VI thin-films from single-source precursors based on sterically encumbered sitel ligands
We have developed a new route to MOCVD of II-VI compounds based on the use of novel single-source precursors in which the II-VI elements are combined at the molecular level in a single covalent compound. We have prepared and fully characterized a number of new derivatives of zinc, cadmium and mercury incorporating large, sterically demanding tellurolate ligands of general formula: M(sitel){sub 2} where sitel = -TeSi(SiMe{sub 3}){sub 3}. The crystalline compounds are relatively volatile and are easily manipulated under nitrogen. Several of these compounds have been tested for their suitability as precursors in the MOCVD process. Clean pyrolysis reactions and deposition of thin films were achieved. The stoichiometry of the pyrolysis reaction has been determined by analysis of the reaction by-products
Why Reform Fails : The ‘Politics of Policies’ in Costa Rican Telecommunications Liberalization
As the \u27Washington Consensus\u27 reforms are losing momentum in Latin America, the Inter-
American Development Bank (IDB) is calling for shifting the focus from the content of policy
choices to the political process of their implementation. As this paper studies the paradigmatic
case of telecommunications reform in Costa Rica it underscores the importance
of these \u27politics of policies\u27. The analysis finds, however, that the failure of repeated liberalization
initiatives was not only due to policy-makers\u27 errors in steering the project
through \u27the messy world of politics\u27 (IDB); instead, as liberalization remained unpopular,
policy content indeed mattered, and only the interaction of both explains the outcome.
Particular attention is drawn to the political feed-back effects, as the failed reform, precisely
because it had been backed by bi-partisan support, became a catalyst for the disintegration
of the country\u27s long-standing two-party system.In dem Maße, in dem die mit dem „Washington Consensus“ verbundenen Reformen in Lateinamerika
ins Stocken geraten sind, plädiert die Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
für eine stärkere Berücksichtigung nicht nur der Politikinhalte (policies), sondern auch des
politischen Prozesses von deren Umsetzung (politics). Die vorliegende Untersuchung zum
paradigmatischen Fall der Reform des Telekommunikationssektors in Costa Rica unterstreicht
die Bedeutung dieser „politics of policies“. Sie zeigt allerdings auch, dass Ursache
für das Scheiten wiederholter Liberalisierungsinitiativen nicht nur Fehler der Politiker sind,
das Vorhaben durch „die unordentliche Welt der politics“ (IDB) zu steuern. Die breite gesellschaftliche
Opposition gegen den Liberalisierungskurs bleibt. Nur die Interaktion von beiden,
politics und policies, erklärt Verlauf und Ergebnis der Reform. Besonderes Augenmerk
widmet die Studie den politischen Rückwirkungen der gescheiterten Reform: Sie wurde,
just weil sie von beiden etablierten Parteien unterstützt wurde, zum Katalysator für den Zerfall
des seit Jahrzehnten etablierten Zweiparteiensystems des Landes
Differential expression of anterior gradient gene AGR2 in prostate cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The protein AGR2 is a putative member of the protein disulfide isomerase family and was first identified as a homolog of the <it>Xenopus laevis </it>gene XAG-2. AGR2 has been implicated in a number of human cancers. In particular, AGR2 has previously been found to be one of several genes that encode secreted proteins showing increased expression in prostate cancer cells compared to normal prostatic epithelium.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Gene expression levels of AGR2 were examined in prostate cancer cells by microarray analysis. We further examined the relationship of AGR2 protein expression to histopathology and prostate cancer outcome on a population basis using tissue microarray technology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the RNA and protein level, there was an increase in AGR2 expression in adenocarcinoma of the prostate compared to morphologically normal prostatic glandular epithelium. Using a tissue microarray, this enhanced AGR2 expression was seen as early as premalignant PIN lesions. Interestingly, within adenocarcinoma samples, there was a slight trend toward lower levels of AGR2 with increasing Gleason score. Consistent with this, relatively lower levels of AGR2 were highly predictive of disease recurrence in patients who had originally presented with high-stage primary prostate cancer (P = 0.009).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have shown for the first time that despite an increase in AGR2 expression in prostate cancer compared to non-malignant cells, relatively lower levels of AGR2 are highly predictive of disease recurrence following radical prostatectomy.</p
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