Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Essays on the Political Economy of Mobilization

This dissertation sheds light on different forms and aspects of mobilization processes by theoretically, methodologically and empirically advancing our knowledge of the concept. Part I approaches the political economy of mobilization from a theoretical perspective against the background of a notable political polarization in western industrialized nations. Part II turns to a particular kind of mobilization and examines the spread of right-wing violence against refugees. Finally, part III considers possible approaches for analyzing unstructured data sources from social media and investigates mechanisms of online mobilization. In addition to its focus on different varieties and aspects of mobilization, this dissertation also contributes to extending the methodological diversity of the social sciences by adopting computational methods from other disciplines. It demonstrates their usefulness in the development of more complex theories, the analysis of existing data in novel ways, and the creation of entirely new data from sources previously not considered.
Function of the ENOD8 gene in nodules of Medicago truncatula.

To elaborate on the function(s) of the ENOD8 gene in the nodules of M. truncatula, several different experimental approaches were used. A census of the ENOD8 genes was first completed indicating that only ENOD8.1 (nt10554-12564 of GenBank AF463407) is highly expressed in nodule tissues. A maltose binding protein-ENOD8 fusion protein was made with an E. coli recombinant system. A variety of biochemical assays were undertaken with the MBP-ENOD8 recombinant protein expressed in E. coli, which did not yield the esterase activity observed for ENOD8 protein nodule fractions purified from M. sativa, tested on general esterase substrates, α-naphthyl acetate, and p-nitrophenylacetate. Attempts were also made to express ENOD8 in a Pichia pastoris system; no ENOD8 protein could be detected from Pichia pastoris strains which were transformed with the ENOD8 expression cassette. Additionally, it was shown that the ENOD8 protein can be recombinantly synthesized by Nicotiana benthamiana in a soluble form, which could be tested for activity toward esterase substrates, bearing resemblance to nodule compounds, such as the Nod factor. Transcription localization studies using an ENOD8 promoter gusA fusion indicated that ENOD8 is expressed in the bacteroid-invaded zone of the nodule. The ENOD8 protein was also detected in that same zone by immunolocalization. Confocal immunomicroscopy with an affinity-purified anti-ENOD8 oligopeptide antibody showed that the ENOD8 protein localizes at the interface between the plant and the bacteroid-differentiated rhizobia, in the symbiosome membrane or symbiosome space. This suggests a possible link between ENOD8 protein and bacteroid differentiation, nitrogen fixation, or plant defense. These possible functions for ENOD8 could be tested with an ENOD8-RNAi transgenic line devoid of detectable ENOD8 proteins.
Regulated deficit irrigation – a means to control growth in woody ornamentals

Summary Improving plant quality and the uniformity of a crop are major objectives for growers of ornamental nursery stock. The potential to control excess vigour and to improve quality through regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) was investigated using a range of woody ornamental species. RDI regimes reduced vegetative growth consistently across different species and growing seasons. Plants adapted to reduced water supplies primarily via stomatal control, but also by osmotic adjustment when grown under the most severe RDI regimes. Only plants exposed to ≤ 25% of potential evapo-transpiration demonstrated any evidence of leaf injury, and the extent was slight. Growth inhibition increased as the severity of RDI increased. Improvements in quality were attained through a combination of shorter internodes and final shoot lengths, yet the number of ‘formative’ primary shoots remained unaffected. Compact, well-branched plants could be formed without a requirement for mid-season pruning. In addition to severity, the timing of RDI also influenced growth responses. Applying 50% ETp for 8 weeks during July-August resulted in the formation of good quality plants, which retained their shape until the following Spring. Re-positioning irrigation drippers within the pots of well-watered plants, in an attempt to induce a partial root drying (PRD) treatment, reduced growth, but not significantly. The adoption of irrigation scheduling, based on 50-100% ETp, has the potential to improve commercial crop quality across a range of ornamental species.
Experimental and mathematical models for Listeria monocytogenes transfer between delicatessen meats and contact surfaces

EXPERIMENTAL AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES TRANSFER BETWEEN DELICATESSEN MEATS AND CONTACT SURFACES By Amanda Nicole Benoit Currently, there is limited ability to follow Listeria monocytogenes through food-service environments, and there remain knowledge gaps concerning the underlying mechanisms that govern surface-to-surface transfer processes. Therefore, the objectives were to: (1) develop a method to quantify the spread of a physical surrogate, GloGermTM powder (GGP), between delicatessen meats and contact surfaces, and mathematically relate that to L. monocytogenes transfer under equivalent conditions; and (2) aggregate existing transfer data and compare candidate models across different transfer scenarios to elucidate phenomenological differences attributable to contact surface or product type. GGP and L. monocytogenes inoculated pieces (8 x 8 cm), of turkey, ham, stainless steel, or high-density polyethylene were placed in contact with an uninoculated surface of an opposite material (i.e., meat vs. equipment surface) for 12 sequential transfers. The GGP curves (photographed and quantitatively analyzed via image processing) were fit to the corresponding L. monocytogenes data by a linear adjustment, noting that parameters for recipient surfaces did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Linear, Weibull, and two-phase linearWeibull models were fitted to transfer curves encompassing the major readyto-eat meat products, equipment surfaces, and contact events. The most likely models were determined using the Akaike Information Criterion. For slicing data, model choice was product dependent, but static contact data yielded the same model regardless of the meat type or surface, indicating fundamental differences among transfer responses. iii To my parents for their continuous support and never letting me give up To my brothers for teaching me to be strong and to rise above all challenges
THE MECHANOTRANSDUCTION OF PRIMARY CILIA IN TUMOR PROGRESSION OF LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA

THE MECHANOTRANSDUCTION OF PRIMARY CILIA IN TUMOR PROGRESSION OF LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA By Sagar Sunil Patel, B.S. A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Director: Rebecca L. Heise, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Infecção urinária em fêmeas suínas em produção - revisão

A suinocultura tecnificada no Brasil tem como preocupacao os indices reprodutivos das matrizes que, por sua vez, tem como ferramenta de avaliacao, partos e descartes de matizes no plantel, pois influencia diretamente no numero de partos/femea/ano. Alem disso, a atividade suinicola no Brasil tornou-se uma escala industrial, tendo como preocupacao o controle rigoroso de doencas que afetam o rebanho e o rendimento economico. Dentre as reprodutivas, a infeccao urinaria (IU) tem como principal perda a reducao da vida util, falha reprodutiva e mortalidade de animais adultos, causando uma acentuada reducao nos indices produtivos da granja. Apesar das origens multifatoriais da doenca correlacionada com os fatores de risco, os microorganismos mais encontrados sao: Escherichia coli e Actinomyces suis. As infeccoes urinarias em suinos afetam principalmente as matrizes, causando uma acentuada reducao nos indices de produtividade das granjas comerciais com uma prevalencia epidemiologica de ate 30%. Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar informacoes sobre a infeccao urinaria de origem multifatorial em femeas suinas em producao.
Basic orthopaedic biomechanics and mechano-biology

* A Brief History of Science and Orthopaedic Biomechanics 1 Van C. Mow and Rik Huiskes * Analysis of Muscle and Joint Loads 29 Patrick J. Prendergast, Frans C. T. van der Helm, and Georg N. Duda * Musculoskeletal Dynamics, Locomotion, and Clinical Applications 91 Thomas P. Andriacchi, Todd S. Johnson, Debra E. Hurwitz, and Raghu N. Natarajan * Biomechanics of Bone 123 Rik Huiskes and Bert van Rietbergen * Structure and Function of Articular Cartilage and Meniscus 181 Van C. Mow, Wei Yong Gu, and Faye Hui Chen * Physical Regulation of Cartilage Metabolism 259 Farshid Guilak and Clark T. Hung * Structure and Function of Ligaments and Tendons 301 Savio L-Y. Woo, Thay Q. Lee, Steven D. Abramowitch, and Thomas W. Gilbert * Biomechanical Principles of Cartilage and Bone Tissue Engineering 343 Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic and Steven A. Goldstein * Quantitative Anatomy and Imaging of Diarthrodial Joint Articular Layers 409 Gerard A. Ateshian and Felix Eckstein * Friction, Lubrication, and Wear of Articular Cartilage and Diarthrodial Joints 447 Gerard A. Ateshian and Van C. Mow * Biomaterials 495 Ahmed El-Ghannam and Paul Ducheyne * Biomechanics of the Spine 529 Ian A. F. Stokes and James C. Iatridis * Biomechanics of Fracture Fixation and Fracture Healing 563 Lutz E. Claes and Keita Ito * Biomechanics and Preclinical Testing of Artificial Joints: The Hip 585 Rik Huiskes and Jan Stolk * Biomechanics of Total Knee Replacement Designs 657 Peter S. Walker Index 703
The role of interneurons in sensory processing in primary visual cortex

Cortical networks are comprised of a multitude of cell types. To understand sensory processing, the function and interaction of these cell types must be investigated. Neurons can be separated into two main groups: excitatory pyramidal (Pyr) cells and inhibitory interneurons. Inhibitory interneurons make up 20% of the total cortical neuronal population and they exhibit a striking array of molecular, morphological and electrophysiological characteristics. The most numerous are the parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons, accounting for 35-40% of the interneuron population in adult mouse visual cortex. Somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) neurons are another significant group, comprising 20-25% of the interneuron population. The visual responses of SOM+ and PV+ interneurons were measured using 2-photon targeted cell-attached recordings and compared with Pyr cells in the primary visual cortex of anaesthetized mice. These interneuron populations exhibited higher firing rates than Pyr cells in response to oriented gratings, but were less orientation selective, with PV+ interneurons exhibiting the lowest orientation selectivity. Next, SOM+ interneurons were stimulated optogenetically using channelrhodopsin to measure their effect on Pyr cell and PV+ interneuron responses to visual stimuli. Activating small numbers of SOM+ interneurons in vivo inhibited stimulus- evoked firing in PV+ interneurons but not in Pyr cells. Stimulating a large number of SOM+ interneurons confirmed this differential effect, inhibiting PV+ interneurons twice as effectively as Pyr cells. Moreover, the remaining responses to oriented gratings in PV+ cells were more orientation-tuned and time-modulated. In short, inhibitory SOM+ cell activity does not summate with PV+ cell activity, but suppresses it, reconfiguring the inhibitory input to Pyr cells. These results suggest a new role for SOM+ cells, which are activated more slowly and provide dendritic inhibition to Pyr cells while strongly antagonizing PV+ cells, thereby shifting inhibitory input to Pyr cells from somatic to dendritic inhibition throughout the course of the network's visual response.
Interplay between hypoxia and gastrin in gastrointestinal cancer

Tumour hypoxia has been linked to increased resistance to both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, especially in solid metastatic GI tumours. Under hypoxic conditions, genes that promote tumour growth and survival are up-regulated, via the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). The digestive hormone gastrin, which is often over-expressed in GI cancers, has also been shown to act as a pro-survival factor, up-regulating processes such as tumour proliferation, angiogenesis and migration, and down-regulating apoptosis. Due to the high level of similarity between the downstream events mediated by the two proteins, the relationship between gastrin and HIF-1 was investigated. HIF-1α nuclear protein expression was inducible under hypoxic conditions, which led to an expected increase in VEGF gene expression, followed by a 12-50 fold increase in hypoxic gastrin mRNA expression. HIF-1α expression and transcriptional activity were not consistently affected by exogenous gastrin. RNA-interference-mediated knockdown of HIF-1α resulted in a 40-60% down-regulation of gastrin gene expression under hypoxic conditions suggesting that HIF-1α is partially responsible for gastrin up-regulation in hypoxia. Potential hypoxia-response elements (HREs) were identified within the gastrin promoter, but were only partially responsive to hypoxic incubation in GI carcinoma cells in luciferase-reporter assays. Other possible mechanisms that may account for the increased gastrin gene expression induced under hypoxic conditions include interactions of gastrin with other transcriptional regulators, either in synergy with or independent from HIF-1, or the sequestration of gastrin within the cell by ‘P’-bodies or RNA-binding proteins. These findings may indicate that the addition of anti-gastrin agents such as CCK-2 receptor antagonists or gastrin immunogens to the treatment regime of patients with solid GI tumours may be clinically beneficial, especially if combined with agents used to reduce radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance.
Conduction channels of an InAs-Al nanowire Josephson weak link

We present a quantitative characterization of an electrically tunable Josephson junction defined in an InAs nanowire proximitized by an epitaxially-grown superconducting Al shell. The gate-dependence of the number of conduction channels and of the set of transmission coefficients are extracted from the highly nonlinear current–voltage characteristics. Although the transmissions evolve non-monotonically, the number of independent channels can be tuned, and configurations with a single quasi-ballistic channel achieved.
Spirulina Platensis Arthrospira : Physiology, Cell-Biology And Biotechnology

Morphology, ultrastructure and taxonomy of Arthrospira Spirulina Maxima and Arthrospira Spirulina Platensis the photosynthetic apparatus of Spirulina - electron transport and energy transfer Spirulina - growth, physiology and biochemistry genetics of Spirulina outdoors mass production of Spirulina - the basic concept tubular bioreactors cultivation of Spirulina Arthrospira outdoors - the Earthrise farms experience mass cultivation and wastewater treatment using Spirulina the
Many-body localization in the Fock space of natural orbitals

We study the eigenstates of a paradigmatic model of many-body localization in the Fock basis constructed out of the natural orbitals. By numerically studying the participation ratio, we identify a sharp crossover between different phases at a disorder strength close to the disorder strength at which subdiffusive behaviour sets in, significantly below the many-body localization transition. We repeat the analysis in the conventionally used computational basis, and show that many-body localized eigenstates are much stronger localized in the Fock basis constructed out of the natural orbitals than in the computational basis.
Water use pattern and productivity in bed planted wheat (Triticum aestivum) under varying moisture regimes in shallow water table conditions

Field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar having shallow water table (85 to135 cm) to evaluate the water use and its components in bed planted (FIRBS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under three levels of moisture regimes, viz. irrigation at IW/CPE = 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9. Depletion of soil moisture (SMD) and contribution from shallow water table (GWC) increased with stage of the crop, maximum during 86 DAS to maturity period. Soil water, in the respective two crop seasons, contributed 8.63 cm and 9.27 cm under FIRBS, and 8.10 cm and 8.77 cm with conventional method of sowing towards crop ET. Total water use was 38.24 and 40.83 cm in conventional sowing which decreased to 37.43 and 36.84 cm under FIRBS in the respective two crop seasons. The water productivity of the applied irrigation water under FIRBS was higher by 25.2 and 21.5% (630 and 305 kg/ha-cm) than conventional sowing (503 and 251 kg/ha-cm) in the respective two crop seasons. The share of soil water to crop ET was highest (37.8%) with IW/CPE=0.5 and decreased to 30.8% with IW/CPE=0.9. GWC was not influenced by varying moisture regimes in the 1st crop season, but in the 2nd season it was higher under IW/CPE=0.5 and decreased with increase in moisture regimes. The total water use in the two crop seasons was highest (40.44 and 43.71 cm with irrigation at IW/CPE of 0.9 and decreased with decrease in moisture regimes. Irrigations applied at IW/CPE=0.9 resulted in significantly higher grain yields closely followed by IW/CPE=0.7. The WUE of irrigation water applied was highest (733 kg/hacm) with irrigation at IW/CPE of 0.7 in 2010-11, but in 2011-12, it was highest (378 kg/ha-cm) with lowest moisture regimes of irrigation at IW/CPE of 0.5.
Genetic variability in gladiolus genotypes for corm characters

Variability studies among 35 gladiolus genotypes [11 Indian and 24 exotic] for seven corm characters conducted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore during 1998–99 revealed that, all the genotypes exhibited wide range of number of cormels per corm. For all the seven characters studied, the differences between phenotypic and genotypic co-efficients of variation were narrow indicating less environmental influences on their expression. High phenotypic and genotypic co-efficients of variations, heritability and genetic advance recorded for number of daughter corm, number of cormels per corm and 25 cormel weight suggests selection of genotypes based on these traits for further improvement through effective breeding programmes.
Ultrastructural Study on Protein Permeability Into the Ovarian Follicles of the Mouse

The purpose of this endeavor was to observe the permeability characteristics of the follicular apparatus in mice ovaries to systemically injected protein tracers. Particular emphasis was placed on the study of the perifollicular capillary bed. The experimental animal was the female albino mouse. Some were in the prepubertal phase while others were sexually mature in the proestrous and metestrous phases of the estrous cycle. The macromolecular tracers utilized were ferritin and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), both suspended in normal saline solution and injected into the tail vein. The capillaries of the perifollicular region were found to possess a continuous endothelium and continuous basement membrane, irrespective of the follicle size in immature mice, or the stage of the estrous cycle in the sexually mature animals. Light microscopic studies confirmed the passage of the tracers from the capillaries into the follicle. In addition it confirmed the lack of gross ferritin leakage from the microcirculation due to altered permeability. ix Electron microscopic observations enabled the precise localization of the penetration of both tracers from the capillary bed into the follicles. HRP was seen to leave the capillaries primarily through the interendothelial cell junctions, and was present in all follicles within 30 seconds following administration of the tracer. Cellular uptake was observed in both the granulosa cells and the oocyte. Ferritin, on the other hand was absent from the endothelial cell junctions. It left the capillaries at a slower rate than HRP, and apparently through cytoplasmic vesicular transport. The only other sites that appeared to slow ferritin passage, as opposed to HRP, were the tight intercellular spaces between the granulosa cells of unilaminar follicles. While follicles were observed to be permeable to the tracer, oocyte uptake was more prevalent in unilaminar follicles and was rarely found in the oocytes of more mature follicles. Measurements taken on the percentage of ferritin in the pericapillary region demonstrate a proportional elevation in amount with respect to increased circulation times for the tracer. These findings demonstrate: x (i) that there is the difference in the manner of exit of the two tracers from the systemic circulation into the follicles, along with their incorporation into the granulosa cells and into the oocyte; (ii) that the follicular apparatus is permeable to macromolecular tracers which are in the size range of serum proteins; (iii) that the morphology of the perifollicular capillaries does not change with respect to the stage of follicular development or reproductive state of the animal; (iv) that the basal lamina surrounding the mouse ovarian follicle is permeable to ferritin.
The evolution of the brain in Canidae (Mammalia: Carnivora)

Canid brain evolution followed three independent, yet convergent paths. Each of the three canid subfamilies (Hesperocyoninae, Borophaginae and Caninae) started with a simple brain, which gradually became more complicated as the cerebral cortex became larger and more fissured, the cerebellar hemispheres became larger and the vermis more twisted. The extent to which these evolutionary changes took place differs between the three canid subfamilies. Caninae, the living group, has the most advanced external brain anatomy. This is related to the general tendency of the carnivore brain to become more convoluted through geological time. A parallel development of similar sulcal patt erns took place in independent lineages within the Canidae. As a result, some sulci appeared independently several times during canid evolution. The cruciate sulcus appeared four times; the Sylvian, endolateral, ectolateral and ectosylvian sulci appeared three times. The skulls of species with short rostra have a more posteriorly placed posterior border of the palate than those of their close relatives with long rostra. This arrangement affects the position of the cribriform plate (posterior to which the olfactory bulbs are housed), which is also moved backwards and, as a result, the frontal lobes appear more massive. Some canid lineages evolved large size and certain craniodental characters (e.g., deep jaws and large canines), which allowed them to prey on large-bodied animals. In these cases a stasis is noted in brain evolution. This phenomenon might be related to energetic constraints.