Critical Area Studies

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Arab Higher Education and Research post–2011. An Interview with Sari Hanafi

The upheavals of 2011 and subsequent developments in the MENA region have had substantial effects on universities and research centers within Arab world and in other neighboring countries where similar developments are taking shape (security issues, stricter political control/lesser levels of political control and repression, changing levels of funding, changing focus of donors etc.). META had the opportunity to talk with Sari Hanafi about the repercussions of these developments for scholarly work within the MENA region.Sari Hanafi is currently a Professor of Sociology and chair of the department of sociology, anthropology and media studies at the American University of Beirut. He is also the editor of Idafat: the Arab Journal of Sociology (Arabic). He is the Vice President of the International Sociological Association (ISA) and Vice President of the board of the Arab Council of Social Science. He is the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters on the political and economic sociology of the Palestinian diaspora and refugees; sociology of migration; transnationalism; politics of scientific research; civil society and elite formation and transitional justice. His last book is Arab Research and Knowledge Society: New Critical Perspective (with R. Arvanitis) (in Arabic, Beirut: CAUS and forthcoming in English with Routledge)

Internet(forschung) in der arabischen Welt: Laute Hoffnungen, leiser Wandel

Seit der Einführung neuer Medien in der arabischen Welt werden immer wieder die Hoffnungen und Visionen genährt, der veränderte Zugang zu und Umgang mit Informationen bringe die starren Systeme ins Wanken. Satellitenfernsehen versprach erstmals Zugang zu Informationen (und Unterhaltung), die nicht von den jeweiligen nationalstaatlichen Fernseh- und Rundfunkanstalten für die Bevölkerung konzipiert waren. Standen die Entstehung und Entwicklung der Rundfunk- und Fernsehsysteme in engem Zusammenhang mit der Etablierung der Nationalstaaten nach ihrer Unabhängigkeit, so versprach der Zugang zu Informationen über auswärtige Kanäle neue Impulse für die Entwicklung. Die Regierungen der arabischen Staaten reagierten in den 1990er Jahren zunächst mehr oder weniger restriktiv auf die Einführung des Satellitenfernsehens bis sie selbst Satellitensender entwickelten. Viel unbeherrschbarer scheinen die Konsequenzen, die mit der Einführung des Internets verbunden sind. Losgelöst von raumzeitlichen Grenzen werden Informationen für jedermann verfügbar, auch für die politischen Oppositionsbewegungen, die sich mit Hilfe des Internets sammeln und vereinen können. Gerade mit Blick auf die aktuellen Entwicklungen in Tunesien und Ägypten scheinen die Vernetzungsmöglichkeiten des Web 2.0 von besonderer Brisanz. Viele politische Systeme in der arabischen Welt geraten ins Wanken, nachdem zunächst der tunesische Machthaber Ben Ali abgetreten ist. Aber welchen Anteil haben daran die Medien? Um zu polarisieren, behaupte ich: keinen ausschlaggebenden

Gender in Crisis

Ines Braune is an assistant professor at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS) at Philipps-University Marburg. She holds a PhD in Arabic Studies from Leipzig University and has a background in media studies. Her current research is on Parkour as a mediatized cultural practice in the Arab world. Her research interests include cultural studies, media, youth and inequalities in the Arab world. She is coeditor of the open access journal Middle East Topics and Arguments (META).</p

Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components

The diverse microbial community that inhabits the human gut has an extensive metabolic repertoire that is distinct from, but complements the activity of mammalian enzymes in the liver and gut mucosa and includes functions essential for host digestion. As such, the gut microbiota is a key factor in shaping the biochemical profile of the diet and, therefore, its impact on host health and disease. The important role that the gut microbiota appears to play in human metabolism and health has stimulated research into the identification of specific microorganisms involved in different processes, and the elucidation of metabolic pathways, particularly those associated with metabolism of dietary components and some host-generated substances. In the first part of the review, we discuss the main gut microorganisms, particularly bacteria, and microbial pathways associated with the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates (to short chain fatty acids and gases), proteins, plant polyphenols, bile acids, and vitamins. The second part of the review focuses on the methodologies, existing and novel, that can be employed to explore gut microbial pathways of metabolism. These include mathematical models, omics techniques, isolated microbes, and enzyme assays

Gender in Crisis

Ines Braune is an assistant professor at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS) at Philipps-University Marburg. She holds a PhD in Arabic Studies from Leipzig University and has a background in media studies. Her current research is on Parkour as a mediatized cultural practice in the Arab world. Her research interests include cultural studies, media, youth and inequalities in the Arab world. She is coeditor of the open access journal Middle East Topics and Arguments (META).</p

Critical Area Studies

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Transdisciplinary Evaluation of Energy Scenarios for a German Village Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can assist local decision processes towards selecting renewable energy systems as it is able to manage qualitative data and offers opportunities to integrate knowledge from local stakeholders. However, little experience is available regarding practical applications of MCDA in real decision processes in communities on their path towards a renewable energy supply. Within the “Bioenergy-Region Ludwigsfelde” project, an MCDA evaluation has been applied to a small village on its way to becoming a “bioenergy village”. Here, MCDA has been combined with already established tools accompanying the process to becoming a “bioenergy village”, such as planning workshops, citizens’ meetings and best-practice trips. A comprehensive set of sustainability criteria was applied aimed at addressing the questions of local actors. An emphasis was placed on social criteria that comprise the perceived values of local impacts. In general, it was observed that MCDA provides many benefits for this application context. In particular, the group weighting using the SIMOS method demonstrated good results in the process. However, for real-world applications of MCDA, the challenge of data compilation in particular must be addressed

Characterization of <i>Alstrom Syndrome 1</i> (<i>ALMS1</i>) Transcript Variants in Hodgkin Lymphoma Cells

<div><p>The Alstrom syndrome gene (ALMS1) is one of the largest disease associated genes identified today in the human genome and is implicated in cell cycle control, ciliogenesis, endosome recycling and intracellular transport mechanisms. ALMS1 mutations cause Alstrom syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. However, its function is not completely understood. DNA microarray analysis suggested that ALMS1 might be differentially expressed between Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cells and normal tissues. By using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we detected low but variable expression of ALMS1 in HL cell lines with highest expression in KM-H2 cells. Immunofluorescence indicated centrosomal accumulation of ALMS1 protein in HL cells. Knock-down of ALMS1 in KM-H2 cells had no impact on viability or cytotoxic drug sensitivity of these cells. Sequencing of RT-PCR products from HL cell lines identified three variable regions in ALMS1 transcripts that affect exons 2, 13, and 23. One of these variants was characterized by splicing out of exon 13. The other variants are characterized by two alternative 5 prime ends or alternative 3 prime ends. Structure prediction of the corresponding RNAs and proteins suggest that the different transcript variants might affect posttranscriptional regulation and ligand binding.</p></div

Putative functional consequences of <i>ALMS1</i> transcript variants.

<p><b>A</b>) Schematic representation of predicted microRNA target sites and polyadenylation sites in transcript variants with different 3’UTR. Presented is an alignment of the 3’ ends of transcript variant 3A (short), transcript variant 3B (long) as well as the reference sequence (NM) and the predicted polyadenylation signal (polyA) and microRNA target sites (mIR). <b>B</b>) Predicted structures of the C terminal 1,500 amino acids encoded by the reference nucleotide sequence from human <i>ALMS1</i> (left structure) or the 1,443 amino acid encoded by the splice variant with lacking exon 13 (right structure). Individual globular domains are highlighted by different colors (from N terminus to C terminus: green, orange, yellow, blue). The amino acids encoded by exon 13 are colored red. <b>C</b>) The same structures as in panel B were presented after rotation. The ALMS1 homologue domain is highlighted in pink color. <b>D</b>) Detail of the predicted structures. The helix including the predicted Ca binding site in the splice variant with missing exon 13 is highlighted by coloring. This helix is exposed in the splice variant but not in the predicted structure of the full length protein.</p