Contestation and reconstruction: natural capital and post-conflict development in borderland regions

Though often remote and underdeveloped, borderlands are contested territories. The incorporation of borderlands into the post-conflict state highlights many important land-related paradigms, including the conversion of natural resources for economic, political, and civic purposes. This article explores the relationship between the natural resources of borderlands and their post-conflict development, management, and sustainability. Based on case study data and secondary material drawn from Croatia and Cyprus, the paper seeks to establish how the interplay of cross-border, national, and sub-national interests in post-conflict settings may contribute to the creation of new opportunities for economic development and the reconstruction of borderlands. It considers how the exploitation of natural resources may advance the agendas for the political development and incorporation of previous sites of contestation; and equally how their incorporation may constrain policies of sustainability, potentially giving rise to new conflicts. The paper sheds light on issues such as: the conversion of borderland natural capital to political capital as post-conflict states assert sovereignty claims and consolidate territorial identity; the ways in which the non-monetary value of natural capital is reconceived as commercial use value in post-conflict reconstruction; and the involvement of non-state actors and civil society in promoting environmental agendas, often as a counterbalance to state power

Increased Stem Cell Factor Release by Hemangioma-Derived Endothelial Cells

Background: Capillary hemangiomas, the most common tumors in young children, consist of proliferating capillary vessels and endothelial cells. These tumors also contain large numbers of mast cells, compared with the normal surrounding skin or tissue. We have recently shown that stem cell factor (SCF), the gene product of the murine steel locus, can act as a chemoattractant for mast cells. In this study, we investigated whether SCF might be involved in the recruitment and maintenance of mast cells in hemangiomas. Experimental Design: Cultured endothelial cells derived from a murine hemangioma were compared with normal vascular endothelial cells for the ability to produce and release SCF, a mitogen for mast cells. Results: Conditioned medium from hemangioma-derived endothelial cells stimulated the proliferation of cultured mast cells. This proliferative activity was potentiated by interleukin-3. The same conditioned medium was unable to stimulate proliferation of mast cells expressing a defective receptor for SCF. The medium was also unable to stimulate proliferation when it was preincubated with neutralizing antibodies specific for SCF. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis of the conditioned media from hemangioma cells and normal endothelial cells demonstrated the 31,000 molecular weight SCF in hemangioma-conditioned medium only. In addition, proliferative activity for mast cells could not be demonstrated in the conditioned medium of the normal endothelial cells, although Northern blot analysis indicated that both normal and hemangioma-derived endothelial cells express SCF mRNA. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction techniques were used to amplify the DNA sequence coding for the proteolytic cleavage site used for release of SCF. Results indicated that both normal and hemangioma-derived endothelial cells express the same transcript for SCF. Conclusions: Our data suggest that increased release of SCF is a property of hemangioma-derived endothelial cells that may account for the high numbers of mast cells observed in hemangioma tissue. This increased release of SCF is not due to alternate splicing of SCF transcripts by hemangioma cells

Maritime cybersecurity policy: the scope and impact of evolving technology on international shipping

As the global maritime industry becomes increasingly dependent on advancing technology, it is important for the world to be more aware of, and understand, the possible scope and impacts cyberattacks can have on international shipping. This article explores the maritime-cyber landscape for security flaws related to the area of maritime operations with an emphasis on the system technology involved, how their vulnerabilities enable attacks with cyber elements, and possible outcomes. As ships become more sophisticated and connected, in order to meet the demands of shipping 90 per cent of the world’s goods, the cyber risks increase. This article aims to analyse compressively the unique nature of maritime cyber and cyber-physical threats to influence maritime cyber policies and improve global fleet security by suggesting adjustments and additions to current codes and policy to cover more comprehensively cyber and cyber-physical risks

Accommodating 'others'?: housing dispersed, forced migrants in the UK

Utilising insights from a qualitative study in the city of Leeds (UK), this paper considers issues related to the housing of dispersed forced migrants. The term 'dispersed forced migrants' is used here as a general label to include four groups of international migrants (i.e. refugees, asylum seekers, those with humanitarian protection status and failed asylum seekers) who have previously been dispersed, on a no choice basis, to a variety of locations across the UK under the requirements of the Immigration and Asylum Act (1999). The tiering of housing entitlement that exists within the generic population of dispersed forced migrants (a consequence of the particular socio-legal status assigned to individuals), and its role in rendering migrants susceptible to homelessness is outlined. The adequacy/standard of accommodation made available to forced migrants is also discussed. It is concluded that current arrangements fail to meet the basic housing needs of many forced migrants. Any future improvement in this situation will require a significant shift in government policy

Governance, forced migration and welfare

This paper explores the welfare of forced migrants (i.e. refugees, asylum-seekers, those with humanitarian leave to remain, and “failed asylum-seekers/overstayers”) at three linked levels. First, it considers the governance of forced migrants at a supranational (in this case European Union) level. Second, particularly, but not exclusively in the context of the UK, it considers the extent to which the welfare rights of forced migrants in EU member states have been subject to a process of “hollowing out” or “dispersal”. Third, utilizing data from a recently completed qualitative research project, the paper outlines the complex local systems of governance that exist in relation to the housing and social security rights of forced migrants in the UK. The consequences of these networks are highlighted

Endoglin (CD105) expression in ovarian serous carcinoma effusions is related to chemotherapy status

Endoglin (CD105), a cell surface co-receptor for transforming growth factor-β, is expressed in proliferating endothelial cells, as well as in cancer cells. We studied endoglin expression and its clinical relevance in effusions, primary tumors, and solid metastatic lesions from women with advanced-stage ovarian serous carcinoma. Endoglin expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in effusions (n = 211; 174 peritoneal, 37 pleural). Cellular endoglin staining was analyzed for association with the concentration of soluble endoglin (previously determined by ELISA) in 95 corresponding effusions and analyzed for correlation with clinicopathologic parameters, including survival. Endoglin expression was additionally studied in 34 patient-matched primary tumors and solid metastases. Carcinoma and mesothelial cells expressed endoglin in 95/211 (45%) and 133/211 (63%) effusions, respectively. Carcinoma cell endoglin expression was more frequent in effusions from patients aged ≤60 years (p = 0.048) and in post- compared to prechemotherapy effusions (p = 0.014), whereas mesothelial cell endoglin expression was higher in prechemotherapy effusions (p = 0.021). No association was found between cellular endoglin expression and its soluble effusion concentration. Endoglin was expressed in 17/34 (50%) primary tumors and 19/34 (56%) metastases, with significantly higher percentage of immunostained cells in solid metastases compared to effusions (p = 0.036). Endoglin expression did not correlate with survival. Tumor cell endoglin expression is higher in post- vs. prechemotherapy effusions, whereas the opposite is seen in mesothelial cells. Together with its upregulation in solid metastases, this suggests that the expression and biological role of endoglin may differ between cell populations and change along tumor progression in ovarian carcinoma

3-Bromophenyl 6-acetoxymethyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylate inhibits cancer cell invasion in vitro and tumour growth in vivo

In search for new anticancer agents, we have evaluated the antiinvasive and antimigrative properties of recently developed synthetic coumarin derivatives among which two compounds revealed important activity: 3-chlorophenyl 6-acetoxymethyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylate and 3-bromophenyl 6-acetoxymethyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylate, Both drugs were able to inhibit cell invasion markedly in a Boyden chamber assay, the bromo derivative being more potent than the reference matrix metalloprotease (MMP) inhibitor GI 129471. In vivo, tumour growth was reduced when nude mice grafted with HT 1080 or MDA-MB231 cells were treated i.p. 3 days week(-1) with the bromo coumarin derivative. These effects were not associated with the inhibition of urokinase, plasmin, MMP-2 or MMP-9. The mechanism of action of the drugs remains to be elucidated. However, these two coumarin derivatives may serve as new lead compounds of an original class of antitumour agents