127 research outputs found
Inclusive Fitness Theory: is it still relevant in discussions of altruism?
No full textFor nearly 50 years, Inclusive Fitness Theory has provided researchers an avenue to understand altruistic interactions among individuals in a colony. It has recently come under fire by prominent academics suggesting it is unsatisfactory in describing altruism. This thesis aims to provide a history of inclusive fitness theory and dissect the arguments against the theory and in favor of it. Using scientific research articles from such publications as Nature and Science, I have collected information on the history of Inclusive Fitness Theory and the development of the theory over time. Furthermore, this thesis will also delve into the methods of testing Inclusive Fitness Theory as well as fields that have arisen due to the theory. Ultimately, using arguments made by opponents and proponents to the theory, conclusions will be drawn about the validity of the theory. While the arguments against the theory seem sound, they ultimately fail to provide alternative insights into the development of altruism in colonies, and moreover these arguments are successfully refuted by leaders in the field.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Daniel Wasim Awar
Refugee without refuge: Wasim, Phillip Adams, and a nation divided
No full textThis study follows on from previous work (Pedersen et al., 2008) that examined the situation of the stateless asylum seeker, Wasim. In the present study, a blog discussion stemming from an editorial about Wasim (Adams, 2008) was analysed. Participants were identified as 'Do-Gooders' and 'Do-Badders'; categories that indicate their orientation to asylum seeker debates (labels originated from the blog itself). We identified several features of the blog discussion. While similar themes and discursive devices were used by the two groups, they were used very differently. The Do-Gooders were more likely to offer accurate information about asylum seekers or Wasim and to show humani- tarian concerns for Wasim and others like him. The Do-Badders were more likely to display emotion, show the 'Phillip Adams Effect' (addressing the author of the editorial, Phillip Adams, in their sub- missions) and name-call. However, there was no significant difference with respect to whether participants addressed Wasim's situation specifically rather than focusing on the general issue of asylum seekers. The blog demonstrates, in microcosm, the divided orientation of Australians regard- ing asylum seekers
The application of Shari’ah and international human rights law in Saudi Arabia
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel UniversityThe present dissertation provides an analytical and comparative study of the application of Islamic law (Shari’ah) and international human rights law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It provides an analysis of the sources of Islamic law as well as the sources of international law to set the background for analysis and defines the nature of both laws. It also tackles the subject of the domestic application of international human treaties in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, it examines some reservations Saudi Arabia has entered to some of the international human rights treaties it has ratified, specifically the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It also sheds some light on the political, cultural and religious obstacles to the realisation of norms protected by international human rights treaties in the country, and in other countries for that matter, clearly stating the impossibility of implementing the provisions of the international human rights treaties in their entirety. This is due to the various political and legal developments towards the internationalization of the concept of human rights. It observes that despite the existence of the international human rights treaties, which aim at reinforcing a universal realisation of international human rights, these rights cannot be possibly realised by all countries.
To stress the importance Saudi Arabia attaches to the issue of human rights, the dissertation discusses some rights of women before Saudi courts in family matters, an issue which has been criticised by some international human rights treaties, and examines to what extent the country has managed to tackle the issue of domestic violence, particularly violence against women. It provides an overview of the major causes of domestic violence against women in Saudi Arabia, presents some cases of domestic violence before Saudi courts and sheds some light on the measures taken by the Saudi government to combat domestic violence against women. It also tackles this issue both in the international and domestic legal frameworks, clearly stating the Islamic standpoint on the issue, namely that Islamic law, and Saudi Arabia for that matter, whose laws are essentially derived from the two main sources of Shari’ah. It also discusses the common forms of violence against women in Saudi Arabia and suggests a number of recommendations towards more effective protection of women against violence in the country.
The dissertation concludes by presenting a number of obstacles in the way of executing judicial decisions in the Kingdom as well as the obstacles which negatively affect the performance of the new code of law practice. It also presents some recommendations concerning personal status law obstacles and hindrances to progress and attempts to answer the research questions it has posed
Book: Journey to God. Sufis and Dervishes in Islam
No full textJürgen Wasim Frembgen (2008) Journey to God. Sufis and Dervishes in Islam, Karachi, Oxford University Press. Since 1981, the author has been conducting ethnographic fieldwork on Islamic mysticism and Sufi cults in South Asia and more particularly in Pakistan. His latest book is a revised English version translated of the German one by Jane Ripken. Jürgen Wasim Frembgen here focuses on the role played by Sufis and dervishes in shaping social and cultural environments in the whole Muslim world ..
Abstract 2568: Mutant p53 regulates HSP70 expression and nuclear localization
No full textAbstract
Pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer related deaths in the US with a median survival of less than one year. No effective therapies or early detection tests are available for these patients. Scientists have been studying cellular origins of pancreatic cancer to aid in the development of novel treatments and biomarkers. Several studies have demonstrated that acinar cells have a high propensity to undergo acinar to ductal metaplasia and form precursor lesions of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We have recently shown that simultaneous expression of Kras and mutant TP53 can generate invasive ductal adenocarcinoma from ductal cells. We hypothesized specific mutations in TP53 have different mechanisms of transforming ductal cells. In order to understand the role of mutant TP53 in transforming pancreatic ductal cells into invasive ductal adenocarcinoma, we used a lentiviral system to express mutant TP53R175H and TP53R273H, two of the most frequently mutated TP53 alleles in pancreatic cancer patients, in immortalized pancreatic ductal epithelial cells carrying a Kras mutation (HPNE-KrasG12D). Trypan blue dye exclusion assay and Spheroid formation assays were used to study cellular proliferation and cancer stem cell (CSC) populations. Mutant TP53 over expression enhanced CSC populations without altering cellular proliferation in HPNE-KrasG12D cells. Reverse phase protein array (RPPA) was carried out to detect gene expression changes in HPNE-KrasG12D cells upon mutant TP53 over expression. RPPA assay results suggested that TP53R175H uniquely induced HSP70 expression in HPNE-KrasG12D cells, as cells expressing either vector control or TP53R273H failed to do so. HSP70 expression was further validated by transiently overexpressing TP53R175H and TP53R273H. Surprisingly, TP53R175H specifically promoted nuclear localization of HSP70 without altering the expression of a recently identified HSP70 nuclear transporter, Hikeshi. Future studies will determine 1) whether HSP70 is required for p53-mediated stemness in HPNE-KrasG12D cells and 2) the function of nuclear HSP70. In summary, over expression of mutant p53 enhanced cancer stem cell properties of HPNE-KrasG12D cells, through upregulation HSP70. The exact mechanism behind HSP70 nuclear localization and increased cancer stem cell properties is being more rigorously explored.
Citation Format: Kishore Polireddy, Kanchan Singh, Melissa Pruski, Wasim Dar, John S. Bynon, Jennifer M. Bailey. Mutant p53 regulates HSP70 expression and nuclear localization [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2568. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2568</jats:p
The role of urban design in enhancing the microclimate and thermal comfort in warm-humid Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
No full textDue to the complexity of the outdoor environment, urban design patterns considerably affect the microclimateand outdoor thermal comfort in a given urban morphology. Parameters such as building height and orientation,spaces between buildings, plot coverage, etc influence the microclimate in terms of solar access, shade, windspeed and direction. In warm-humid Dar es Salaam, the consideration of microclimate and outdoor thermalcomfort in urban design has received little attention although the urban planning authorities try to develop thequality of planning and design. The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between urban design,urban microclimate and outdoor comfort in four different areas in the city of Dar es Salaam, during the wet anddry seasons. This investigation is mainly based on microclimate simulations using ENVI-met and differentexisting urban morphologies are climatically and thermally studied including low, medium and high rise buildings.Parameters such as Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), wind speed and Physiological Equivalent Temperatureindex (PET) are presented as thermal maps to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the existing urbandesign in the city. The study illustrates that the areas with low-rise buildings lead to higher MRT values than the areas with high-rise buildings. The results also show that the use of dense trees helps to enhance the thermal conditions, but it might negatively affect the wind ventilation in the outdoor spaces. This study provides a set of guidelines on how to develop the existing situation from microclimate and thermal comfort perspectives. Such guidelines will help architects and urban designers to increase the quality of outdoor environment and demonstrate the need to create better urban spaces in harmony with microclimate and thermal comfor
Mast Cells Promote Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Phenotypes and Microvesicular Steatosis in Mice Fed a Western Diet
No full textBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is simple steatosis but can develop into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by liver inflammation, fibrosis, and microvesicular steatosis. Mast cells (MCs) infiltrate the liver during cholestasis and promote ductular reaction (DR), biliary senescence, and liver fibrosis. We aimed to determine the effects of MC depletion during NAFLD/NASH. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Wild-type (WT) and Kit(W-sh) (MC-deficient) mice were fed a control diet (CD) or a Western diet (WD) for 16 weeks; select WT and Kit(W-sh) WD mice received tail vein injections of MCs 2 times per week for 2 weeks prior to sacrifice. Human samples were collected from normal, NAFLD, or NASH mice. Cholangiocytes from WT WD mice and human NASH have increased insulin-like growth factor 1 expression that promotes MC migration/activation. Enhanced MC presence was noted in WT WD mice and human NASH, along with increased DR. WT WD mice had significantly increased steatosis, DR/biliary senescence, inflammation, liver fibrosis, and angiogenesis compared to WT CD mice, which was significantly reduced in Kit(W-sh) WD mice. Loss of MCs prominently reduced microvesicular steatosis in zone 1 hepatocytes. MC injection promoted WD-induced biliary and liver damage and specifically up-regulated microvesicular steatosis in zone 1 hepatocytes. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A3 (ALDH1A3) expression is reduced in WT WD mice and human NASH but increased in Kit(W-sh) WD mice. MicroRNA 144-3 prime (miR-144-3p) expression was increased in WT WD mice and human NASH but reduced in Kit(W-sh) WD mice and was found to target ALDH1A3. CONCLUSIONS: MCs promote WD-induced biliary and liver damage and may promote microvesicular steatosis development during NAFLD progression to NASH through miR-144-3p/ALDH1A3 signaling. Inhibition of MC activation may be a therapeutic option for NAFLD/NASH treatment. (HEPATOLOGY 2021;74:164–182)
Inhibition of secretin/secretin receptor axis ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease phenotypes
No full textBACKGROUND & AIMS: Human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized at early stages by hepatic steatosis, which may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when the liver displays microvesicular steatosis, lobular inflammation, and pericellular fibrosis. The secretin (SCT)/secretin receptor (SCTR) axis promotes biliary senescence and liver fibrosis in cholestatic models through downregulation of miR-125b signaling. We aim to evaluate the effect of disrupting biliary SCT/SCTR/miR-125b signaling on hepatic steatosis, biliary senescence and liver fibrosis in NAFLD/NASH. APPROACH & RESULTS: In vivo, 4 wk male WT, Sct(-/-) and Sctr(-/-) mice were fed a control diet (CD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 wks. The expression of SCT/SCTR/miR-125b axis was measured in human NAFLD/NASH liver samples and HFD mouse livers by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qPCR. Biliary/hepatocyte senescence, ductular reaction and liver angiogenesis were evaluated in mouse liver and human NAFLD/NASH liver samples. miR-125b target lipogenesis genes in hepatocytes were screened and validated by custom RT(2) Profiler PCR array and luciferase assay. Biliary SCT/SCTR expression was increased in human NAFLD/NASH samples and in livers of HFD mice, whereas the expression of miR-125b was decreased. Biliary/hepatocyte senescence, ductular reaction, and liver angiogenesis were observed in human NAFLD/NASH samples as well as HFD mice, which were decreased in Sct(-/-) and Sctr(-/-) HFD mice. Elovl1 is a lipogenesis gene targeted by miR-125b, and its expression was also decreased in HFD mouse hepatocytes following Sct or Sctr knockout. Bile acid profile in fecal samples have the greatest changes between WT mice and Sct(-/-)/Sctr(-/-) mice. CONCLUSION: The biliary SCT/SCTR/miR-125b axis promotes liver steatosis by upregulating lipid biosynthesis gene Elovl1. Targeting the biliary SCT/SCTR/miR-125b axis may be key for ameliorating phenotypes of human NAFLD/NASH
Influence of length and conformation of saccharide head groups on the mechanics of glycolipid membranes: Unraveled by off-specular neutron scattering
No full textThe mechanical properties of multilayer stacks of Gb3 glycolipid that play key roles in metabolic disorders (Fabry disease) were determined quantitatively by using specular and off-specular neutron scattering. Because of the geometry of membrane stacks deposited on planar substrates, the scattered intensity profile was analyzed in a 2D reciprocal space map as a function of in-plane and out-of-plane scattering vector components. The two principal mechanical parameters of the membranes, namely, bending rigidity and compression modulus, can be quantified by full calculation of scattering functions with the aid of an effective cut-off radius that takes the finite sample size into consideration. The bulkier "bent" Gb3 trisaccharide group makes the membrane mechanics distinctly different from cylindrical disaccharide (lactose) head groups and shorter "bent" disaccharide (gentiobiose) head groups. The mechanical characterization of membranes enriched with complex glycolipids has high importance in understanding the mechanisms of diseases such as sphingolipidoses caused by the accumulation of non-degenerated glycosphingolipids in lysosomes or inhibition of protein synthesis triggered by the specific binding of Shiga toxin to Gb3. (C) 2015 Author(s)
The role of urban design in enhancing the microclimate and thermal comfort in warm-humid Dar es Salaam, Tanzania [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textDue to the complexity of the outdoor environment, urban design patterns considerably affect the microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in a given urban morphology. Parameters such as building height and orientation, spaces between buildings, plot coverage, etc influence the microclimate in terms of solar access, shade, wind speed and direction. In warm-humid Dar es Salaam, the consideration of microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in urban design has received little attention although the urban planning authorities try to develop the quality of planning and design. The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between urban design, urban microclimate and outdoor comfort in four different areas in the city of Dar es Salaam, during the wet and dry seasons. This investigation is mainly based on microclimate simulations using ENVI-met and different existing urban morphologies are climatically and thermally studied including low, medium and high rise buildings. Parameters such as MeanRadiant Temperature (MRT), wind speed and Physiological Equivalent Temperature index (PET) are presented as thermal maps to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the existing urban design in the city. The study illustrates that the areas with low-rise buildings lead to higher MRT values than the areas with high-rise buildings. The results also show that the use of dense trees helps to enhance the thermal conditions, but it might negatively affect the wind ventilation in the outdoor spaces. This study provides a set of guidelines on how to develop the existing situation from microclimate and thermal comfort perspectives. Such guidelines will help architects and urban designers to increase the quality of outdoor environment and demonstrate the need to create better urban spaces in harmony with microclimate and thermal comfor
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