The Republic of Croatia is a sovereign country at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, the Mediterranean that declared its independence from SFR Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991. Croatia is a member of the European Union, United Nations, the Council of Europe, NATO, the World Trade Organization, Union for the Mediterranean and a number of other international organizations. Croatia has established diplomatic relations with 181 countries. President and the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, co-operate in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy; the main objectives of Croatian foreign policy during the 1990s were gaining international recognition and joining the United Nations. After these objectives have been achieved by year 2000, two main goals became NATO and EU membership. Croatia fulfilled both of these goals, first in 2009, second in 2013. Current Croatian goals in foreign policy are: positioning within the EU institutions and in the region, cooperation with NATO partners and strengthening multilateral and bilateral cooperation worldwide.
Croatian foreign policy has focused on greater Euro-Atlantic integration entering the European Union and NATO. In order to gain access to European and trans-Atlantic institutions, it has had to undo many negative effects of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the war that ensued, improve and maintain good relations with its neighbors. Key issues over the last decade have been the implementation of the Dayton Accords and the Erdut Agreement, nondiscriminatory facilitation of the return of refugees and displaced persons from the 1991–95 war including property restitution for ethnic Serbs, resolution of border disputes with Slovenia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, general democratization. Croatia has had an uneven record in these areas between 1996 and 1999 during the right-wing HDZ government, inhibiting its relations with the European Union and the United States. Improvement in these areas hindered the advance of Croatia's prospects for further Euro-Atlantic integration. Progress in the areas of Dayton and refugee returns were evident in 1998, but progress was slow and required intensive international engagement.
Croatia's unsatisfactory performance implementing broader democratic reforms in 1998 raised questions about the ruling party's commitment to basic democratic principles and norms. Areas of concern included restrictions on freedom of speech, one-party control of public TV and radio, repression of independent media, unfair electoral regulations, a judiciary, not independent, lack of human and civil rights protection. A centre-left coalition government was elected in early 2000; the SDP-led government relinquished control over public media companies and did not interfere with freedom of speech and independent media, though it did not complete the process of making Croatian Radiotelevision independent. Judiciary reforms remained a pending issue as well. Major Croatian advances in foreign relations during this period have included: admittance into NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme in May 2000 admittance into World Trade Organization in July 2000. Foreign relations were affected by the government's hesitance and stalling of the extradition of Croatian general Janko Bobetko to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, inability to take general Ante Gotovina into custody for questioning by the Court.
Refugee returns accelerated since 1999, reached a peak in 2000, but slightly decreased in 2001 and 2002. The OSCE mission in Croatia has continued to monitor the return of refugees and is still recording civil rights violations. Croatian Serbs continue to have problems with restitution of property and acceptance to the reconstruction assistance programmes. Combined with lacking economic opportunities in the rural areas of former Krajina, the return process is troubled. At the time of Croatia's application to the European Union, three EU members states were yet to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement: United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Italy; the new Sanader government elected in 2003 elections repeated the assurances that Croatia will fulfill the missing political obligations, expedited the extradition of several ICTY inductees. The European Commission replied to the answers of the questionnaire sent to Croatia on 20 April 2004 with a positive opinion; the country was accepted as EU candidate in July 2004.
Italy and United Kingdom ratified the Stabilization and Association Agreement shortly thereafter, while the ten EU member states that were admitted to membership that year ratified it all together at a 2004 European Summit. In December 2004, the EU leaders announced that accession negotiations with Croatia would start on 17 March 2005 provided that Croatian government cooperates with the ICTY; the main issue, the flight of general Gotovina, remained unsolved and despite the agreement on an accession negotiation framework, the negotiations did not begin in March 2005. On 4 October 2005 Croatia received green light for accession negotiations after the Chief Prosecutor of the ICTY Carla Del Ponte stated that Croatia is cooperating
Glouster is a village in Trimble Township, Athens County, United States. The population was 1,791 at the 2010 census, it is close to Burr Oak State Park. Called Sedalia, the present name of Glouster, after Gloucester, was adopted in 1886. A post office called Glouster has been in operation since 1887. A Buckingham Coal Company deep mine is located north of town; the nearby mining pit was closed, with active operations moved to the east of Burr Oak State Park, but the loading station is still at the old site because of the location of the railroad. The Trimble high school and middle school provide some local employment, as does Frog Ranch Salsa, Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Programs; some local residents commute to work in jobs in Athens. Tourist activity from nearby Burr Oak State Park as well as hunting in various nearby public lands supports the economy; the village owns its own electrical and water utility, although it purchases the electricity from American Electric Power and the water from the Sunday Creek Water District.
Glouster is located at 39°30′9″N 82°4′56″W, along Sunday Creek. The village is located within the Sunday Creek watershed on riparian plains or old stream terraces. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.34 square miles, of which 1.33 square miles is land and 0.01 square miles is water. The surrounding area consists of rolling hills and large wooded areas, all within the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. Nearby public and semi-public areas include the Trimble State Wildlife Area, the Sunday Creek State Wildlife Area, the Trimble Community Forest, the Wayne National Forest, Burr Oak State Park. Glouster Community Park is located along the west side of Ohio State Route 13, between the highway and Sunday Creek, on the south end of the village. Ohio state highways 13 and 78 both pass through Glouster. State route 329 begins in Ohio. A through-line of the Norfolk Southern Railway line passes through the community, provides services to the nearby Buckingham Coal Company mine.
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,791 people, 720 households, 471 families living in the village. The population density was 1,346.6 inhabitants per square mile. There were 864 housing units at an average density of 649.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the village was 96.1% White, 1.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population. There were 720 households of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.8% had a male householder with no wife present, 34.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age in the village was 35.8 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18. The gender makeup of the village was 52.2 % female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,972 people, 783 households, 526 families living in the village. The population density was 1,470.9 people per square mile. There were 906 housing units at an average density of 675.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the village was 95.74% White, 1.37% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.20% from other races, 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population. There were 783 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.08. In the village, the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males. The median income for a household in the village was $23,929, the median income for a family was $28,800. Males had a median income of $28,854 versus $22,206 for females; the per capita income for the village was $11,837. About 24.2% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over. The residents of Glouster are served by the Trimble Local School District and Trimble High School in Glouster. Glouster has a branch of the Athens County Public Libraries; the village operates its own utility providing water to local residents. Sewage treatment is provided by a plant in nearby Trimble. Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Program serves the community by providing jobs, HEAP and PIPP assistance, weatherization of homes, many other programs and services
1.26 is a public art sculpture commission designed by artist Janet Echelman for Denver's inaugural Biennial of the Americas celebration in July 2010. The sculpture's name is a reference the 2010 Chile earthquake which may have resulted in a 1.26 microsecond shortening of the days on Earth. The sculpture's shape was inspired by NOAA's graphic simulation of the tsunami caused by the earthquake; the sculpture was hung outside the Denver Art Museum between the museum and the Civic Center Park's Greek Amphitheater. It was installed in Sydney in 2011, Amsterdam in 2012, Singapore in 2014, Durham in 2015. From May to October of 2016, the work is installed in Quartier des Spectacles in Montreal. Denver Office of Cultural Affairs announces new public art commission by Janet Echelman 1.26 on Janet Echelman's website Biennial of the Americas Citywide Exhibitions "Sculpting Urban Airspace: Janet Echelman", September 2011 Sculpture Magazine
Kathryn Robinson is an Australian journalist and radio presenter. Robinson studied economics at Macquarie University and began her career working for Macquarie Bank, before deciding to switch to journalism in 2001 when she completed her master's degree in journalism, she was a finance presenter on Ten Early News and a regular fill-in presenter for Sydney's Ten News at Five, Ten Morning News and Ten News at Five: Weekend. She was the presenter of the Friday edition of Ten Late News and news presenter on 6PM with George Negus. Robinson filled in for Kim Watkins on 9am with David & Kim. in 2010, Robinson co-hosted Good Morning Delhi, a breakfast program broadcast on Network Ten during the course of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, with Brad McEwan. In January 2011, Robinson was appointed presenter of Ten Late News, where she replaced Sandra Sully and became news presenter on 6PM with George Negus. In April 2011, she was reinstated as Finance presenter on Ten Early News and presenter for Ten Late News: Friday Edition, with Sandra Sully returning to Ten Late News due to poor ratings for 6PM with George Negus and Ten Evening News.
In January 2012, it was announced Robinson will co-host Breakfast with Andrew Rochford and Paul Henry. The program was cancelled in November 2012 and it was announced Robinson will leave Network Ten altogether, though this was not to be the case, it was announced Robinson would join Sydney talkback radio station 2UE in 2013, hosting the breakfast shift alongside Ian Dickson. However, before beginning on air, Robinson pulled out of the role for unknown reasons, she was appointed host of a revamped version of Meet the Press She has been a fill in presenter for Carrie Bickmore on The Project and was a regular Friday night panellist on the program. In 2015, Robinson joined ABC News as a news presenter, she is a fill-in presenter on Weekend Breakfast. Robinson is married to Seven News senior journalist Chris Reason, they became parents to twins, a boy and a girl, in 2007. The birth was announced on Ten Early News, which Robinson presents, the following morning and the following evening on Seven News where Reason is a reporter.
Robinson returned to work on Christmas Eve 2007
Peptidylprolyl isomerase A known as cyclophilin A or rotamase A is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PPIA gene on chromosome 7. As a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase family, this protein catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds, which allows it to regulate many biological processes, including intracellular signaling, transcription and apoptosis. Due to its various functions, PPIA has been implicated in a broad range of inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis and arthritis, viral infections. PPIA is 165-amino acid long cytosolic protein. Like other cyclophilins, PPIA forms a β-barrel structure with a hydrophobic core; this β-barrel is composed of eight anti-parallel β-strands and capped by two α-helices at the top and bottom. In addition, the β-turns and loops in the strands contribute to the flexibility of the barrel, its active site is a hydrophobic pocket. Cyclosporine can bind this pocket to inhibit the protein’s enzymatic activity.
This gene encodes a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and accelerate protein folding. PPIases are found in all eubacteria and eukaryotes, as well as in a few archaebacteria, thus are conserved. Of the 18 known human cyclophilins, PPIA is the most abundantly expressed isozyme. In particular, PPIA is predominantly expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell, where it partakes in intracellular signaling, protein transport, transcription regulation. In hemopoietic cells, subcellular localization of PPIA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm has been observed during c-Jun N-terminal kinase- and serine protease-dependent microtubule disruption; this localization has been correlated with G2/M arrest, indicating that the protein's PPIase function may be regulated by microtubule dynamics during the cell cycle. PPIA has been associated with the mitochondria. Moreover, the enzyme participates in apoptotic processes in extracellular settings.
In the presence of reactive oxygen species, vascular smooth muscle cells, monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells secrete PPIA to induce an inflammatory response and mitigate tissue injury. PPIA may activate Akt and NF-κB signaling, resulting in the upregulation of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, thus preventing apoptosis in ECs in response to oxidative stress. PPIA may regulate ERK1/2, JNK, p38 kinase, IκB signalling pathways through activating the CD147 receptor. PPIA-mediated activation of the ERK, JNK, p38 kinase pathways contributes to angiogenesis. Additionally, PPIA induces cell proliferation in smooth muscle. In the case of T cells, PPIA regulates the T-cell-specific tyrosine kinase ITK upon T-cell receptor stimulation; the PPIA protein is an important apoptotic constituent. During a normal embryologic processes, or during cell injury or during developments and processes in cancer, an apoptotic cell undergoes structural changes including cell shrinkage, plasma membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, fragmentation of the DNA and nucleus.
This is followed by fragmentation into apoptotic bodies that are removed by phagocytes, thereby preventing an inflammatory response. It is a mode of cell death defined by characteristic morphological and molecular changes, it was first described as a "shrinkage necrosis", this term was replaced by apoptosis to emphasize its role opposite mitosis in tissue kinetics. In stages of apoptosis the entire cell becomes fragmented, forming a number of plasma membrane-bounded apoptotic bodies which contain nuclear and or cytoplasmic elements; the ultrastructural appearance of necrosis is quite different, the main features being mitochondrial swelling, plasma membrane breakdown and cellular disintegration. Apoptosis occurs in many pathological processes, it plays an important role during embryonal development as programmed cell death and accompanies a variety of normal involutional processes in which it serves as a mechanism to remove "unwanted" cells. As a proinflammatory cytokine, PPIA is involved in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, including sepsis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Thus, therapeutic targeting of PPIA with selective inhibitors may prove effective in combatting such inflammatory diseases and symptoms. Correlation between plasma PPIA levels and hyperglycemia symptoms promotes utilization of PPIA as a biomarker for diabetes and vascular disease. Furthermore, PPIA is involved in cerebral hypoxia-ischemia by contributing to the nuclear transport of AIF, a proapoptotic factor, in neurons. To maintain the integrity of the blood brain barrier and mitigate brain injury, PPIA helps to recruit circulating monocytes and stimulates survival and growth pathways. In cardiac myogenic cells, cyclophilins have been observed to be activated by heat shock and hypoxia-reoxygenation as well as complex with heat shock proteins. Thus, cyclophilins may function in cardioprotection during ischemia-reperfusion injury. PPIA expression is correlated with cancer pathogenesis, but the specific mechanisms remain to be elucidated. PPIA overexpression has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma.
The protein can interact with several HIV proteins, including p55 gag and capsid protein, has been shown to be necessary for the formation of infectious HIV virions. As a result, PPIA contributes to viral diseases s
Monique Bégin, is a Canadian academic and former politician. Bégin was born in Rome and raised in France and Portugal before emigrating to Canada at the end of World War II, she received a MA degree in sociology from the Université de Montréal and a PhD degree from the Sorbonne. She describes her early life in Montreal as challenging, but credits community groups and her childhood role as a Girl Guides of Canada member as "sav her life". In 1967, Bégin became executive secretary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, which published its report in 1970, she won election to the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal candidate in the 1972 election. Bégin, Albanie Morin and Jeanne Sauvé, all elected in 1972, were the first women elected to the House of Commons from Quebec, she was appointed to the Canadian Cabinet by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as Minister of National Revenue in 1976, served as Minister of Health and Welfare from 1977 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984 during which the Canada Health Act was enacted.
In 1986, she joined the University of Ottawa and Carleton University as the first joint Ottawa-Carleton Chair of Women's Studies. From 1990 to 1997, she was the University of Ottawa's dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and continues teaching to this day as a professor emeritus. From 1993 to 1995, she served as co-chair of Ontario's Royal Commission on Learning with Gerald Caplan. In 1997, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Bégin serves as the Treasurer for the International Centre for Migration and Health. In 2018, she published the memoir Ladies, Upstairs!: My Life in Politics and After. Monique Bégin – Parliament of Canada biography