SCO, India and Pakistan: New Perspectives and New Hopes

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its 17th Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, in June 2017, which were attended by all member countries of the SCO. In the Astana Summit, India and Pakistan were admitted as a full member of the SCO. It was a vital development from South Asian perspective as two populous countries of the region joined the SCO. Parenthetically, it was the Astana Summit in 2005 where these two countries and Iran were first attended the SCO meeting as an observers. Since the establishment of the SCO, it is the first but important expansion in the organization, particularly from the economic, security and geographic dimensions. India and Pakistan are the two most important countries from South Asia. The addition of the two countries means that the SCO has achieved double spillovers in terms of coverage and functionality. The SCO will gain new impetus on the enlargement of both newly members in economic, security and other aspects. This means that the long-term idea of the expansion of the SCO has become a reality and it also means that the internal construction of the SCO is basically completed. This paper analysis the strategic significance of India and Pakistan for SCO and highlight how SCO will play its role in the keeping India and Pakistan tranquil with each other in the future

Statistical Methods of Two-Stage Sampling on Simmons Model for Sensitive Question Survey with and Its Application

To explore scientific survey methods and corresponding formulas for sensitive question survey on two-stage sampling. We use Simmons model for dichotomous sensitive questions, two-stage sampling, total probability formulas and properties of variance to deduce corresponding formulas. Then  the formulas and its variance on Simmons model for dichotomous sensitive questions on two-stage sampling were designed and applied for the survey of the using rate of condoms among the Men who have sex with men in Beijing, the rate is 78.65% and its 95% confidence limit is 71.10% to 82.60%

Ambra1 is an essential regulator of autophagy and apoptosis in SW620 cells: Pro-survival role of Ambra1

Recent research has revealed a role for Ambra1, an autophagy-related gene-related (ATG) protein, in the autophagic pro-survival response, and Ambra1 has been shown to regulate Beclin1 and Beclin1-dependent autophagy in embryonic stem cells. However, whether Ambra1 plays an important role in the autophagy pathway in colorectal cancer cells is unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that Ambra1 is an important regulator of autophagy and apoptosis in CRC cell lines. To test this hypothesis, we confirmed autophagic activity in serum-starved SW620 CRC cells by assessing endogenous microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) localization, the presence of autophagosomes (transmission electron microscopy) and LC3 protein levels (Western blotting). Ambra1 expression was detected by Western blot in SW620 cells treated with staurosporine or etoposide. Calpain and caspase inhibitors were employed to verify whether calpains and caspases were responsible for Ambra1 cleavage. To examine the role of Ambra1 in apoptosis, Ambra1 knockdown cells were treated with staurosporine and etoposide. Cell apoptosis and viability were measured by annexin-V and PI staining and MTT assays. We determined that serum deprivation-induced autophagy was associated with Ambra1 upregulation in colorectal cancer cell lines. Ambra1 expression decreased during staurosporine- or etoposide-induced apoptosis. Calpains and caspases may be responsible for Ambra1 degradation. When Ambra1 expression was reduced by siRNA, SW620 cells were more sensitive to staurosporine- or etoposide-induced apoptosis. In addition, starvation-induced autophagy decreased. Finally, Co-immunoprecipitation of Ambra1 and Beclin1 demonstrated that Ambra1 and Beclin1 interact in serum-starved or rapamycin-treated SW620 cells, suggesting that Ambra1 regulates autophagy in CRC cells by interacting with Beclin1. In conclusion, Ambra1 is a crucial regulator of autophagy and apoptosis in CRC cells that maintains the balance between autophagy and apoptosis

Two-stage Sampling on Additive Model for Quantitative Sensitive Question Survey and Its Application

Objective To explore scientific sampling methods and corresponding formulas for quantitative sensitive question survey on two-stage random sampling. To provide scientific data for the prevention and control of high risk AIDS population in Beijing. Methods Additive model for quantitative sensitive question survey, two-stage random sampling, properties of variance and mean were used. Results Formulas for the esti¬mation of the population proportions and its variance on additive model for quantitative sensitive question survey were deduced. The survey methods and formulas were employed successfully in the survey of the age of the first time when MSM having sex with men and the result was 21.9747. Conclusion The methods and corresponding formulas for two-stage sampling on additive model for quantitative sensitive question survey are feasible. Key words: Sensitive questions; Additive model for randomized response technique; Two-stage sampling; MS

Emerging Security Challenges to Pakistan in the Modern Age of Globalization

The redistribution of power from the West to the East and the North to the South has resulted in the promotion of multi-polarization. It has accelerated globalization and technological growth, and has also promoted the integration and fragmentation of free flow of goods, finance, people, and ideas. At the time of the birth of Pakistan, there was no radicalism and terrorism in the country. Pakistan is located at such a crucial point on the map of the world because of which it has faced a lot of security problems. Pakistan paid a heavy price for involvement in the "9/11" US-Afghanistan war. The new wave of terrorism in the country compelled the government to change its foreign policy and bring new changes in the security structure of the state. There is political instability in the country and the civil–military leadership is not on the same page. Moreover, Pakistan requires a strong counter terrorism strategy and there is a dire need toreinterpret its security policy

Recognition of speed signs in uncertain and dynamic environments

The speed limit signs recognition directly affects the safety of autonomous vehicles. Vehicles are usually running in an uncertain and dynamic environment. The performance of the recognition system is affected by various factors such as the different sizes of pictures, illumination condition and position circumstances, which can lead to misclassification. This makes the speed sign recognition challengeable. To improve the recognition rate of the speed signs in such environments, this work firstly applies the method of the saliency target detection based on the background-absorbing Markov chain, to extract the node in an image, then uses SPP-CNN to classify the extracted nodes with ten-folder validation. The recognition rate is up to 9.32%, higher than that obtained directly by SPP-CNN working on raw dataset

Heat Stress Reduces Sperm Motility via Activation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3α and Inhibition of Mitochondrial Protein Import

The adverse effects of high environmental temperature exposure on animal reproductive functions have been concerned for many decades. However, the molecular basis of heat stress (HS)-induced decrease of sperm motility has not been entirely elucidated. We hypothesized that the deteriorate effects of HS may be mediated by damage of mitochondrial function and ATP synthesis. To test this hypothesis, we use mature boar sperm as model to explore the impacts of HS on mitochondrial function and sperm motility. A 6 h exposure to 42°C (HS) induced significant decrease in sperm progressive motility. Concurrently, HS induced mitochondrial dysfunction that is indicated by decreased of membrane potential, respiratory chain complex I and IV activities and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents. Exogenous ATP abolished this effect suggesting that reduced of ATP synthesis is the committed step in HS-induced reduction of sperm motility. At the molecular level, the mitochondrial protein contents were significantly decreased in HS sperm. Notably, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4, which was synthesized in cytoplasm and translocated into mitochondria, was significantly lower in mitochondria of HS sperm. Glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK3α), a negative regulator of sperm motility that is inactivated by Ser21 phosphorylation, was dephosphorylated after HS. The GSK3α inhibitor CHIR99021 was able to abolish the effects of HS on sperm and their mitochondria. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HS affects sperm motility through downregulation of mitochondrial activity and ATP synthesis yield, which involves dephosphorylation of GSK3α and interference of mitochondrial remodeling