Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The practice of political public relations in Catalonia and Scotland

This thesis is about the practitioners of political public relations in Scotland and Catalonia. The study is focused on investigating the constitutive elements of political PR practitioners as a professional group and as a practice, and the influence that different media systems have on the practice of political PR. This is a comparative study that combines micro and macro-level analysis. The thesis is one of the first studies to approach political PR as a profession and to compare sub-state nations to explore communication practices in the political sphere. The theoretical framework for this thesis combines a neo-institutional approach to professions, and the theory of media systems models to explore and compare the context where political PR practitioners work. The empirical data of this thesis derives from in-depth interviews to Heads of Communication in parties and governments in Scotland and Catalonia. The analysis of the empirical data is based on thematic coding. The central argument of this thesis is that the practice of political PR and its practitioners occupy a professional role in the division of labour in the political sphere of Scotland and Catalonia. The professional role of political PR practitioners is that of a hybrid model that combines classic traits of professions with informal structures and shared professional identities resulting from the constant influence of the political and the media sphere. As a practice political PR is about relationship management and networking with the core actors and channels of the media sphere. Media systems provide the profession with different tools of influence over the media sphere influencing levels of professional power and professional performance. Catalan practitioners have a wider range of institutional tools because of the strongly interdependent relationship between the media and political spheres. Whereas Scottish practitioners use their professional power and performance to overcome the limitations to political influence in their media system.
Actors and Politics in Finland’s Forest-Based Bioeconomy Network

To foster innovativeness for supporting (forest-based) bioeconomy development, participation in decision-making and interaction between diverse actors become a necessary precondition for designing and implementing transition policies. However, who forms the emerging policy networks, and which policy beliefs are promoted? Based on data from a national online survey, we performed a quantitative social network analysis to investigate emerging social structures and policy beliefs in the context of the Finnish forest-based bioeconomy. Our explorative analysis shows that research, governmental, and industrial organizations mainly constitute the Finnish forest-based bioeconomy network. Actors primarily exchange information, and most key organizations report high levels of trust among each other. However, the network structure is rather closed. This raises concerns about equal benefit sharing and the inclusiveness of concerned actors. We discuss the implication of this network structure for enabling new innovations. Finally, we present the key aspects and drivers of “business as usual”, and suggest an option for or a more transformative change in the Finnish forest-based bioeconomy.
The tale of two international phenomena: International migration and global imbalances

Following the dynamics of globalization, international migration has increased dramatically since the 1990s. Given that these migrations may obscure the natural demographic structure of nations, they are likely to explain a significant part of global imbalances. This paper tackles this issue by investigating the role played by international migration in the dynamics of global imbalances. To this end, we rely on an overlapping generations model to derive the theoretical relationship between international migration and current account position. Through a series of robust estimates, we empirically investigate this relationship by relying on a panel of 157 developed and developing countries over the period 1990-2014. Our results point to substantial effects of international migration. Specifically, we show that an increase in migration improves national savings and the current account balance in the destination country, while it has opposite impacts in the origin country. These effects are particularly pronounced in developing economies, and attenuated by migrants' remittances.
Architecture and Distribution of Introns in Core Genes of Four Fusarium Species

Removal of introns from transcribed RNA represents a crucial step during the production of mRNA in eukaryotes. Available whole-genome sequences and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have increased our knowledge of this process and revealed various commonalities among eukaryotes. However, certain aspects of intron structure and diversity are taxon-specific, which can complicate the accuracy of in silico gene prediction methods. Using core genes, we evaluated the distribution and architecture of Fusarium circinatum spliceosomal introns, and linked these characteristics to the accuracy of the predicted gene models of the genome of this fungus. We also evaluated intron distribution and architecture in F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum, and F. graminearum, and made comparisons with F. circinatum. Results indicated that F. circinatum and the three other Fusarium species have canonical 5′ and 3′ splice sites, but with subtle differences that are apparently not shared with those of other fungal genera. The polypyrimidine tract of Fusarium introns was also found to be highly divergent among species and genes. Furthermore, the conserved adenosine nucleoside required during the first step of splicing is contained within unique branch site motifs in certain Fusarium introns. Data generated here show that introns of F. circinatum, as well as F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum, and F. graminearum, are characterized by a number of unique features such as the CTHAH and ACCAT motifs of the branch site. Incorporation of such information into genome annotation software will undoubtedly improve the accuracy of gene prediction methods used for Fusarium species and related fungi.
Transcriptome dynamics of transgene amplification in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) system is used to amplify the product gene to multiple copies in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells for generating cell lines which produce the recombinant protein at high levels. The physiological changes accompanying the transformation of the non‐protein secreting host cells to a high producing cell line is not well characterized. We performed transcriptome analysis on CHO cells undergoing the selection and amplification processes. A host CHO cell line was transfected with a vector containing genes encoding the mouse DHFR (mDHFR) and a recombinant human IgG (hIgG). Clones were isolated following selection and subcloned following amplification. Control cells were transfected with a control plasmid which did not have the hIgG genes. Although methotrexate (MTX) amplification increased the transcript level of the mDHFR gene significantly, its effect on both hIgG heavy and light chain genes was more modest. The subclones appeared to retain the transcriptome signatures of their parental clones, however, their productivity varied among those derived from the same clone. The transcript levels of hIgG transgenes of all subclones fall in a narrower range than the product titer, alluding to the role of many functional attributes, other than transgene transcript, on productivity. We cross examined functional class enrichment during selection and amplification as well as between high and low producers and discerned common features among them. We hypothesize that the role of amplification is not merely increasing transcript levels, but also enriching survivors which have developed the cellular machinery for secreting proteins, leading to an increased frequency of isolating high‐producing clones. We put forward the possibility of assembling a hyper‐productivity gene set through comparative transcriptome analysis of a wide range of samples. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 518–528. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of oxalate in lignin peroxidase-catalyzed reduction: protection from compound III accumulation.

Reduction may be an important step in the degradation of some highly oxidized environmental pollutants by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Lignin peroxidases (LiP) from P. chrysosporium are able to catalyze reductive reactions using veratryl alcohol (VA) as a mediator and either oxalate or EDTA as electron donors. Reduction of oxygen to superoxide, monitored by oxygen consumption, was used as a measure of the reductive activity of LiP. In the presence of EDTA, the rate of O2 reduction catalyzed by LiP decreased with time and increasing concentrations of H2O2. When oxalate replaced EDTA, LiP-catalyzed O2 reduction did not decrease with time, and increasing concentrations of H2O2 increased the duration and extent of O2 reduction. LiP was converted to the compound III state in the presence of EDTA, H2O2, and veratryl alcohol. When oxalate replaced EDTA, compound II was observed. The importance of the veratryl alcohol cation radical (VA.+) in the conversion of LiP compound III to active enzyme has been previously examined (D.P. Barr and S.D. Aust, 1994, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 311, 378-382). We propose that rapid reduction of VA. + by EDTA results in accumulation of LiP compound III and the loss of activity resulting in a decrease in LiP-catalyzed reduction reactions. Oxalate is less effective in reducing the VA. +, therefore, some VA. + remains to convert compound III to active enzyme and maintain LiP-catalyzed reduction reactions. Thus oxalate, a normal secondary metabolite of P. chrysosporium, is a suitable candidate for mediating reduction reactions by LiP in vivo.
Phylogenetic relationships among the agent of bacillary angiomatosis, Bartonella bacilliformis, and other alpha‐proteobacteria

Bacillary angiomatosis (BA) and chronic bartonellosis are bacterial infections of humans which result in an unusual vascular proliferative tissue response. In order to determine their phylogenetic relationships, we have determined greater than 95% of the 16S rRNA sequences for these two organisms by amplification directly from infected BA tissue and from a Bartonella bacilliformis lyophilized culture. The BA agent and B. bacilliformis are closely related alpha‐proteobacteria (98.5%), although the BA agent is more closely related to Rochalimaea quintana (99.1%). Contrary to previous belief, the BA agent is distinct from, and less closely related to, the cat scratch bacillus (Afipia fells) (90.7%). We propose a novel secondary structure in a hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA which is useful for alignment of primary sequences and which may be useful for design of nucleic acid probes.
Invasion by the Alien Tree Prunus serotina Alters Ecosystem Functions in a Temperate Deciduous Forest

Alien invasive species can affect large areas, often with wide-ranging impacts on ecosystem structure, function, and services. Prunus serotina is a widespread invader of European temperate forests, where it tends to form homogeneous stands and limits recruitment of indigenous trees. We hypotesized that invasion by P. serotina would be reflected in the nutrient contents of the native species' leaves and in the respiration of invaded plots as efficient resource uptake and changes in nutrient cycling by P. serotina probably underly its aggressive invasiveness. We combined data from 48 field plots in the forest of Compiègne, France, and data from an experiment using 96 microcosms derived from those field plots. We used general linear models to separate effects of invasion by P. serotina on heterotrophic soil and litter respiration rates and on canopy foliar nutrient content from effects of soil chemical properties, litter quantity, litter species composition, and tree species composition. In invaded stands, average respiration rates were 5.6% higher for soil (without litter) and 32% higher for soil and litter combined. Compared to indigenous tree species, P. serotina exhibited higher foliar N (+24.0%), foliar P (+50.7%), and lower foliar C:N (−22.4%) and N:P (−10.1%) ratios. P. serotina affected foliar nutrient contents of co-occuring indigenous tree species leading to decreased foliar N (−8.7 %) and increased C:N ratio (+9.5%) in Fagus sylvatica, decreased foliar N:P ratio in Carpinus betulus (−13.5%) and F. sylvatica (−11.8%), and increased foliar P in Pinus sylvestris (+12.3%) in invaded vs. uninvaded stands. Our results suggest that P. serotina is changing nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon cycles to its own advantage, hereby increasing carbon turnover via labile litter, affecting the relative nutrient contents in the overstory leaves, and potentially altering the photosynthetic capacity of the long-lived indigenous broadleaved species. Uncontrolled invasion of European temperate forests by P. serotina may affect the climate change mitigation potential of these forests in the long term, through additive effects on local nutrient cycles.
Association interneurons of embryonic rat spinal cord transiently express the cell surface glycoprotein SNAP/TAG‐1

SNAP/TAG‐1 is a 135 kDa glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is transiently expressed upon the surfaces of developing axons. In the embryonic rodent spinal cord, this molecule is expressed by motor neurons, dorsal root ganglion cells, and commissural neurons (Yamamoto et al.: J. Neurosci. 6:3576–3594, 1986; Dodd et al.: Neuron 1:105–116, 1988). The commissural cells are a subset of early‐forming dorsal horn interneurons whose axons follow a circumferential course in the embryonic spinal cord. The axons of commissural neurons cross the developing ventral commissure to terminate on contralateral synaptic targets, whereas those of the other subset of circumferential cells, the association interneurons, remain on the same side of the spinal cord to form ipsilateral, terminal synaptic fields. The difference between the axonal trajectories of these two subsets of nerve cells raised the question of whether or not association interneurons would also express the SNAP/TAG‐1 epitope and, if so, how would this expression be related to that of the commissural cells. Immunocytochemistry for SNAP/TAG‐1 and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was used to answer these questions. The results indicated that association interneurons expressed SNAP/TAG‐1 epitopes and that this expression began later and lasted longer than that of the commissural neurons. Other new findings of this study included the identification of a lateral subgroup of commissural fibers that expressed SNAP/TAG‐1 later than their more medially located counterparts, and these lateral fibers were more pronounced in the thoracic spinal cord than at cervical levels. Furthermore, interesting developmental relationships were observed between SNAP/TAG‐1‐positive fibers and ChAT‐positive motor neurons in both cervical and thoracic spinal cord. Lastly, SNAP/TAG‐1 immunoreactivity was detected on the terminal collaterals of dorsal root ganglion fibers during the late prenatal period. While the function(s) of SNAP/TAG‐1 remains enigmatic, its expression in developmental time and space, along with the recent suggestion that a released form of this molecule might serve a substrate adhesion function (Furley et al.: Cell 61:157–170, 1990; Karagogeos et al.: Development 112:51–67, 1991), hint that SNAP/TAG‐1 might play a role in the migration of certain cholinergic neurons in the developing spinal cord. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Peroxynitrite triggers a phenotypic transformation in spinal cord astrocytes that induces motor neuron apoptosis

Oxidative stress mediated by nitric oxide (NO) and its toxic metabolite peroxynitrite has previously been associated with motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Degenerating spinal motor neurons in familial and sporadic ALS are typically surrounded by reactive astrocytes expressing the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS), suggesting that astroglia may have a pathogenic role in ALS. We report here that a brief exposure of spinal cord astrocyte monolayers to peroxynitrite (0.25–1 mM) provoked long‐lasting reactive morphological changes characterized by process‐bearing cells displaying intense glial fibrillary acidic protein and iNOS immunoreactivity. Furthermore, peroxynitrite caused astrocytes to promote apoptosis of embryonic motor neurons subsequently plated on the monolayers. Neuronal death occurred within 24 hr after plating, as evidenced by the presence of degenerating motor neurons positively stained for activated caspase‐3 and nitrotyrosine. Motor neuron death was largely prevented by NOS inhibitors and peroxynitrite scavengers but not by trophic factors that otherwise will support motor neuron survival in the absence of astrocytes. The bacterial lipopolysaccharide, a well‐known inflammatory stimulus that induces iNOS expression in astrocytes, provoked the same effects on astrocytes as peroxynitrite. Thus, spinal cord astrocytes respond to extracellular peroxynitrite by adopting a phenotype that is cytotoxic to motor neurons through peroxynitrite‐dependent mechanisms. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Full-3D real-space treatment of surface roughness in double gate MOSFETs

We analyze the effects of surface roughness on double gate (DG) MOSFETs by means of a full-3D real-space self-consistent Poisson-Schrödinger algorithm within the non equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism. We include periodic (Cauchy) boundary conditions along one of the transverse directions, whereas Dirichlet conditions are imposed along the vertical one. Surface roughness (SR) is included via a random generation of spatial fluctuations obeying an exponential autocorrelation law, and transfer characteristics are computed for different values of the root mean square (RMS) of such fluctuations. Simulation results show an impact of SR on the drain current and a shift of the threshold voltage proportional to the RMS. Quasi-ballistic transport is analyzed by means of backscattering coefficient. This is found to be limited by subband fluctuations at low inversion charge density and by mode-mixing at large one.
Attitudes towards Alzheimer's disease as a risk factor for caregiver burden

ABSTRACT Background: There is abundant literature on the determinants of caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but little is known about the possible implication of specific patterns of a caregiver's attitudes towards the disease that could increase their risk of – or protect them from – emotional distress and burden. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that negative attitudes towards AD are associated with an increased level of burden experienced by caregivers of AD patients. Methods: Family caregivers of 51 patients with AD were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their attitudes towards AD. In addition, we assessed the level of their quality of life, anxiety and depression as well as their perceived level of burden. In parallel, we documented the patients’ characteristics: global cognitive efficiency (Mini-Mental State Examination), behavioral and affective symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory) and functional level (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living). Results: The score of caregiver burden was positively correlated with negative attitudes such as authoritarianism (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) and social restrictiveness (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) as well as emotional reactions of anxiety (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) and aggressiveness (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). In addition, scores of social restrictiveness, rejection and anxiety were significantly higher in women than in men. Conclusion: These results may have implications in terms of the prevention of caregiver burden. In particular, educational and support programs for caregivers should not be limited to developing their knowledge and skills but should also target attitudes towards the disease.
Carbonic Anhydrase Immunostaining in Astrocytes in the Rat Cerebral Cortex

Abstract: Carbonic anhydrase is known to occur in the choroid plexus, oligodendrocytes, and myelin, and to be virtually absent from neurons, in the mammalian CNS; however, there is significant controversy whether it is also present in astrocytes. When brain sections from adult rats were stained for simultaneous immunofluorescence of carbonic anhydrase and the astrocyte marker glutamine synthetase, both antigens were detected in the same glial cells in the cortical gray matter, whereas the oligodendrocytes and myelinated fibers in and adjacent to the white matter showed immunofluorescence only for carbonic anhydrase. Some glial cells in the gray matter also showed double immunofluorescence for carbonic anhydrase and glial fibrillary acidic protein. These results indicate that there is carbonic anhydrase in some astrocytes in the mammalian CNS.
Innovations in Gearing the Housing Market to Welfare Recipients in Osaka’s Inner City: A Resilient Strategy?

ABSTRACT For this paper we apply the framework of resilience as an adaptive process to examine alternative practices that assist socially vulnerable populations into the urban fabrik. The recent direction of Osaka’s inner city rental housing market for public assistance recipients is used as case study. We look on systemic aspects such as changing tenant revenues and welfare policies, and analyze the innovative housing reuse practices of local landlords and real estate agents. Our results show that the resilience-producing systemic properties are co-produced by public assitance policies, the particular condition of Osaka’s inner city and individual stakeholders' actions. While these stakeholders have benefited immensely from the housing market’s resilient response, it is structured by uneven dependencies, which ultimately affects the housing opportunities and care services for current and future tenants.
Protein Kinase C-Independent Effects of Protein Kinase D3 in Glucose Transport in L6 Myotubes

Protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase D (PKD) coordinate and regulate many fundamental cellular processes. In this study, we evaluate the role of classic and novel PKC (c/nPKC) and PKD in glucose transport in L6 myotubes. c/nPKC is either activated by short-term phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment or down-regulated by prolonged PMA treatment at a high dose in L6 myotubes. Our results indicate that PMA treatments have little impact on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and insulin-induced Akt activation. In contrast, the PKC inhibitors Go6976 [12-(2-cyanoethyl)-6,7,12,13-tetrahydro-13-methyl-5-oxo-5H-indolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c] carbazole], Go6983 [2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-5-methoxyindol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide], GF 109203X [bisindolylmaleimide I; 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide], and Ro 31-8220 [bisindolylmaleimide IX; 2-{1-[3-(amidinothio)propyl]-1H-indol3-yl}-3-(1-methylindol-3-yl)maleimide] block basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and their inhibitory effects persist upon down-regulation of c/nPKC by PMA, implying the presence of PKC-independent effectors in mediating their inhibition of glucose uptake. Go6976, the potent cPKC inhibitor that also effectively inhibits PKD, dose-dependently blocks basal glucose uptake in L6 myotubes, whereas Go6983, the nonselective PKC inhibitor that is ineffective for PKD, has little effect on basal glucose uptake, implying the involvement of PKD in this process. Most prominently, adenoviral gene expression of a dominant-negative PKD isoform, PKD3, primarily inhibits basal glucose uptake and, to a lesser extent, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, whereas overexpression of wild-type PKD3 significantly enhances basal glucose uptake. Moreover, expression of a PKD3-targeted siRNA significantly inhibits basal glucose uptake. Taken together, our results indicate that PKD, specifically PKD3, directly contributes to insulin-independent basal glucose uptake in L6 skeletal muscle cells.