The “Satanic Mill” in Neoliberalism

This is a theoretical article on neoliberalism in the 21st century which aims to articulate the notion of neoliberal rationality with Karl Polanyi s concept of satanic mill Based on the analysis of the historical shaping of neoliberalism in Brazil and in world on the approaches of Brazilian political thought and at the international level supported by Christian Laval Pierre Dardot Wendy Brown and Nancy Fraser I defend the argument that the neoliberal reason similar to liberalism in the Industrial Revolution period is a mechanism that destroys social tissues promotes competition in all dimensions of human life and authoritarian forms of politicalsocial organizatio

Brain imaging of chronic pain : from the association with immune mechanisms to brain networks

Musculoskeletal chronic pain encompasses the two mechanistically distinct categories of nociplastic pain and nociceptive pain. The former is classically typified by fibromyalgia whereas the latter is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. Both conditions are heterogeneous in their clinical manifestation with a multitude of factors potentially contributing to pain. This thesis aims to provide a well-rounded investigation of the pain-related mechanisms in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis from a clinical and methodological perspective. The primary focus of the works in this thesis was to study the function and biochemistry of the human brain in the presence of pain through the use of brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). In fibromyalgia, pain-related neural activity (assessed via fMRI) and metabolite content of pain-related brain areas (assessed via proton MRS) were examined in relation to a combination of immune-related mechanisms and behavioral/clinical pain measures. Conversely, in rheumatoid arthritis, fMRI was used to explore the temporal changes in brain network organization across different spatial scales (brain communities and areas) during painful stimulation at an inflamed body site (joint) and a neutral body site (thumbnail). In Study I, the Ala147Thr polymorphism of the gene encoding the translocator protein (TSPO, a biomarker of glial activation) was found to be involved in fundamental aspects of human pain regulation and metabolic content in thalamus and rostral anterior cingulate cortex, but not in the cerebral processing of evoked pain. Fibromyalgia patients and healthy subjects that were genetically inferred as high-affinity TSPO binders presented with a less efficient descending pain regulation including reduced conditioned pain modulation and expectancy-induced reduction of pain. The same subjects were also found to be featured by elevated thalamic glutamate concentrations and positive associations between glutamate and GABA in rostral anterior cingulate cortex. Altogether, these findings indicate that a less efficient endogenous pain modulation and brain-region specific changes in metabolite content might be ascribable to subjects determined as TSPO high-affinity binders regardless of baseline pain levels. In Study II, fibromyalgia patients had higher levels of anti-satellite glia cells immunoglobulin G antibodies (anti-SGC IgG, proposed to be pathogenic autoantibodies in fibromyalgia) than healthy subjects. Patients with elevated anti-SGC IgG levels presented with high ongoing pain intensity and disease severity, and anti-SGC IgG levels correlated positively with these clinical measures. An inverse relation was found between the levels of these antibodies and baseline thalamic concentrations of metabolites such as scylloinositol, total choline and macromolecule 12. These findings and the fact that anti-SGC IgG levels were not found to relate to pressure pain sensitivity and cerebral pain processing (both assessing evoked pain) support the potential clinical relevance of these antibodies in ongoing pain and propose their functional relation with the central nervous system in fibromyalgia patients. In Study III, the degree of interaction among brain communities was generally higher during and after painful pressure on the joint in rheumatoid arthritis patients as opposed to healthy subjects. The cerebral high demand that is often associated with a constant elevated interaction of brain communities might possibly be contributing to the maintenance of pain and the fatigue seen in these patients. However, in rheumatoid arthritis patients, the network organization was not found to reconfigure differently depending on the stimulation site. This might indicate that the cerebral processing of pain in these patients is unspecific to the clinical relevance of the area being stimulated. At the level of single pain-related brain areas and not communities, six tested brain areas were not found to bring significant contribution to the temporal changes of the network architecture. The explorative nature of Study III profited from the visualization of brain communities and the selected pain-related brain areas by means of NetPlotBrain, a tool which we developed in Python for visualizing brain networks and viewing brain anatomy. All the works in this thesis concern efforts to increase the understanding regarding potential parameters contributing to multiple aspects of pain in two mechanistically distinct chronic pain conditions

Point seeking: a family of dynamic path finding algorithms

In the field of Artificial Intelligence, calculating the best route from one point to another, known as “path finding,” has become a common problem. If an agent cannot effectively navigate through an environment – be it real or virtual – it will often not be able to perform even the most routine tasks. For example, a Martian rover can\u27t collect samples if it can\u27t get to them; meanwhile, a computer game is not much of a challenge if your opponents can\u27t find their way around. The problem of path finding has three basic aspects: map representation, path generation, and locomotion. First, the environment must be interpreted into a form which can be processed algorithmically. Afterward, a path through this environment is planned out. A list of movement instructions or locations to travel to are then produced in order to guide the agent. During both the planning and movement of the agent, an algorithm may consider the agent\u27s limitations with regards to changes in velocity and orientation. Together, these steps serve to move an agent from its initial position to the desired location

Hydrological controls on river network connectivity

This study proposes a probabilistic approach for the quantitative assessment of reach- and network-scale hydrological connectivity as dictated by river flow space–time variability. Spatial dynamics of daily streamflows are estimated based on climatic and morphological features of the contributing catchment, integrating a physically based approach that accounts for the stochasticity of rainfall with a water balance framework and a geomorphic recession flow analysis. Ecologically meaningful minimum stage thresholds are used to evaluate the connectivity of individual stream reaches, and other relevant network-scale connectivity metrics. The framework allows a quantitative description of the main hydrological causes and the ecological consequences of water depth dynamics experienced by river networks. The analysis shows that the spatial variability of local-scale hydrological connectivity is strongly affected by the spatial and temporal distribution of climatic variables. Depending on the underlying climatic settings and the critical stage threshold, loss of connectivity can be observed in the headwaters or along the main channel, thereby originating a fragmented river network. The proposed approach provides important clues for understanding the effect of climate on the ecological function of river corridors

Pinups and Pinball: The Sexualized Female Image in Pinball Artwork

Since the commercialization of pinball in the 1930s, the pinball industry has used art and imagery to promote the pinball machine as a product and to generate and cultivate its audience. Much of that imagery has relied on sexualizing and stereotyping women to appeal to a presumed male player. In this thesis, I explore how the depiction of women on pinball machines has evolved from the 1930s to 1970s, with a specific focus on artwork from 1970 to 1979. This is followed by an examination of how second wave feminism, popular culture, and the introduction of film licensing may (or may not) have influenced artwork design and production. I will then present the findings of a quantitative analysis of stereotypes in pinball artwork from 1970-1979 and consider areas of further research. I examined sources from The Strong National Museum of Play (Rochester, NY), in particular the International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG) Collection and the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play. Combined, my analysis documents how the depiction of women has or has not changed in pinball artwork over time, and what it might mean today for a niche industry to depend on the visual sexualization of women for its commercial success

Mechanisms of Pierce\u27s disease resistance in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.): from xylem structure to whole plant function

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a xylem-dwelling bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease (PD) in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.), and disease in a range of other ecologically and economically important woody plants. To successfully colonize the xylem network, Xf cells accumulate on the vessel walls and form a biofilm. The biofilm contains cell wall-degrading enzymes, allowing the bacteria to breach the intervessel pit membranes. Thus, Xf can move from one vessel to another and colonize the xylem network. Degraded intervessel pit membranes and the production of tyloses in response to the presence of Xf likely contribute to significant declines in both hydraulic conductivity and resistance to drought-induced embolism spread. Indeed, Xf-infected grapevines typically display a range of symptoms that are often associated with water transport dysfunction.Despite the consensus that PD susceptibility is associated with Xf multiplication and systemic spread within the xylem network, there significant gaps in our understanding of the relationships between xylem structure and function that allow for Xf establishment and colonization still remain. For instance, although Xf can breach pit membranes to move from one vessel to another, the consequences of the breakdown of pit membranes within the context of embolism spread and hydraulic conductivity, and the subsequent implications for whole-plant physiological decline, remain inconclusive. Furthermore, the physical structure of the xylem network, i.e. the spatial distribution of xylem connections that might facilitate the spread of Xf, are largely unknown because of the complex, three-dimensional nature of the network. In my dissertation research, I explored the roles of the xylem structure and function related to the mechanisms of PD resistance. Throughout my work, I applied a holistic approach, coupling anatomical and physiological measurements across different grapevine genotypes with different levels of PD resistance -- from non-cultivated North American species to commercial European vinifera cultivars and their hybrids. In the first chapter, I tested the hypothesis where if the 3D structure of the xylem network connectivity plays a significant role in Xf spread, then PD resistant grapevine genotypes should have fewer total connections in the lateral and radial directions, which thereby limits the total number of pathways. Given that the Xf spread is essentially dependent on the intervessel connections, comparing the number and orientation of connections was a logical step in the fundamental understanding of this host-pathogen relationship. The chapter concludes, however, that there was limited evidence to support this hypothesis, and network connectivity does not appear to be strongly correlated with PD resistance and Xf spread. While network connectivity in the radial and lateral directions is somewhat variable within the genus Vitis, no clear trends emerged linking connectivity with resistance to PD. In the second chapter, I investigated the consequences of the extracellular cell wall-degrading enzyme released by Xf on pit membrane integrity and the downstream effects on water transport. The enzymatic breakdown of the pit membranes was relatively small, less than 10% of the pit aperture area, but enough to weaken pit membrane resistance to air-seeding by introducing pores into the membrane. Not only would larger pore diameters facilitate Xf movement, but they would subsequently increase the vulnerability of those vessels to drought-induced embolism spread. These factors would significantly affect the water transport capacity of infected grapevines and put them at greater risk to the effects of drought. In the third chapter, my objective was to determine the key physiological mechanisms that lead to mortality in the Xf infection process. This chapter reveals the mechanistic cascade of events that occur after Xf inoculation, with a coordinated decline in hydraulic conductivity, photosynthesis, and starch storage in PD susceptible grapevine genotypes. The results support the theory that hydraulic failure and carbon starvation underlie plant mortality resulting from PD. My dissertation explored the roles of the xylem structure and function on the PD mechanisms of resistance. Collectively, this work (1) identifies the variability in 3D xylem network traits in six different Vitis genotypes, representing the most complete analysis of its type for any plant group; (2) reveals that in young shoots the axial pathway appears to be the most important in determining the long-distance movement and systemic spread of Xf in the xylem network, (3) and provides a more robust, mechanistic understanding of the timing and sequence of events from initial Xf inoculation to ultimate death, as well as the variability in this mortality sequence in resistant and susceptible genotypes. As we do not have an effective remedy against the Xf bacterium, a more accurate understanding of how some grapevines resist to the infection process is one piece of this very important puzzle

Influência da deformação plástica e da textura cristalográfica na obtenção de um gradiente de rigidez na liga Ti-30Nb-4Sn por fusão superficial por laser

Orientador: João Batista FogagnoloTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia MecânicaResumo: Este trabalho e um estudo sobre a fusao superficial a laser da liga Ti-30Nb-4Sn como forma de criar um gradiente de rigidez entre a superficie e o substrato. Foram usadas amostras deformadas por laminacao a frio com reducao em espessura de 24, 36, 51, 68 e 85%. Uma das amostras com 85% de deformacao foi submetida a um tratamento de recristalizacao. Foi realizado um estudo sobre os efeitos da deformacao a frio e recristalizacao na microestrutura, evolucao de textura, modulo de elasticidade e dureza. A microestrutura de todas as amostras e composta pelas fases ¿Ñ¡¨ e ¿Ò. A tecnica de indentacao instrumentada foi utilizada para medir dureza e modulo de elasticidade. A dureza aumentou com a deformacao e o modulo mostrou comportamento oposto. O tratamento termico de recristalizacao fez com que o modulo de elasticidade e a dureza voltassem para valores de um material nao deformado. A textura cristalografica foi determinada por difracao de raios-X (DRX) e difracao de eletrons retroespalhados (EBSD). As amostras com 51% e 85% de deformacao mostraram componentes de textura similares, em forma de fibras: [302]¿Ñ¡¨ || ND, [110]¿Ñ¡¨ || ND e [001]¿Ñ¡¨ || ND. Ja a amostra recristalizada mostrou dois componentes de textura: [110]¿n¿Ñ¡¨ || ND e [203]¿n¿Ñ¡¨ || ND. A textura da fase ¿Ò foi medida apenas para a amostra recristalizada, sendo encontrado o componente [111]¿Ò || ND. A textura do material recristalizado foi consideravelmente mais forte que a das amostras deformadas. A diminuicao de modulo de elasticidade apos laminacao a frio foi relacionada a discordancias e defeitos cristalinos introduzidos pela deformacao. As medidas de nanoindentacao das amostras deformadas apresentaram uma diferenca significativa nos valores entre indentacoes realizadas em diferentes secoes transversais (RD, TD e ND). Essa anisotropia foi atribuida a estruturas de discordancias provenientes da deformacao a frio, e nao a textura cristalografica. Um gradiente de rigidez entre superficie e substrato foi criado nas amostras encruadas apos fusao a laser, apresentando maior modulo de elasticidade na superficie tratada. Esse efeito foi atribuido a reducao da densidade de discordancias e outros defeitos cristalinos nas zonas fundida e recristalizada. A amostra recristalizada nao mostrou gradiente de propriedades apos fusao superficial a laser. O mapeamento EBSD realizado na regiao afetada pelo laser nao mostrou nenhuma diferenca significativa de textura entre superficie e substratoAbstract: This work is a study about the laser surface melting treatment in a Ti-30Nb-4Sn alloy as a method to create a stiffness gradient between surface and substrate. It was used cold rolled specimens with thickness reductions of 24, 36, 51, 68 and 85%. One sample with 85% of deformation undergone recrystallization heat treatment. It was carried out a study about the effects of cold deformation and recrystallization on the microstructure, texture evolution, elastic modulus and hardness. Microstructure of all samples showed to be composed of ¿Ò and ¿Ñ¡¨ phases. Instrumented indentation (nanoindentation) was the technique used to measure hardness and elastic modulus. Hardness increased with deformation, while elastic modulus showed the opposite behavior. Recrystallization heat treatment caused elastic modulus and hardness to return to values of an undeformed specimen. The crystallographic texture was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The 51% and 85% deformed samples showed similar texture components, in form of fibers: [302]¿Ñ¡¨ || ND, [110]¿Ñ¡¨ || ND and [001]¿Ñ¡¨ || ND. The recrystallized sample showed two fiber texture components: [110]¿n¿Ñ¡¨ || ND and [203]¿n¿Ñ¡¨ || ND. The texture of ¿Ò phase was only measured for the recrystallized sample, being found a [111]¿Ò || ND texture component. Texture of recrystallized specimen was considerably stronger than as-deformed specimens. The decrease in elastic modulus after cold rolling was ascribed to dislocations and crystalline defects introduced by deformation. Nanoindentation measurements of deformed samples presented a significant difference in values between indentations performed on different cross sections (RD, TD and ND). This anisotropy was attributed to dislocation structures derived from cold deformation, rather than crystallographic texture. A stiffness gradient between surface and substrate was created in the work-hardened specimens after laser surface melting, showing higher elastic modulus in the treated surface. This effect was attributed to the reduction of dislocation density and other crystalline defects in the fusion and recrystallized zones. The recrystallized sample did not show any gradient of properties after laser surface melting. The EBSD mapping performed in the laser affected zone did not show any significant difference of texture between surface and substrateDoutoradoMateriais e Processos de FabricaçãoDoutor em Engenharia Mecânica33003017CAPE

Relativistic Effects on the Appearance of a Clothed Black Hole

For an accretion disk around a black hole, the strong relativistic effects affect every aspect of the radiation from the disk, including its spectrum, light-curve, and image. This work investigates in detail how the images of a thin disk around a black hole will be distorted, and what the observer will see from different viewing angles and in different energy bands.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Based on the poster presented at the Sixth Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics (Xi'an, China, July 11-17, 2002). Color versions of figures are given separatel

Margaret Chase Smith Essay: The Right of Independent Thought

This essay by Jonathan F. Fanton investigates the relationship between the humanities and the right of independent thought, as described by Senator Margaret Chase Smith in her “Declaration of Conscience” speech. The author suggests that independent thought must be renewed continually and culti­vated at every turn, or it becomes fixed ideology that cannot adapt to changing circumstances

Sm-Nd and C-isotope chemostratigraphy of Ordovician epeiric sea carbonates, midcontinent of North America

Interpreting and correlating epeiric sea sequences is key to understanding ancient marine environments. As a result, eNd, d13C and Sm/Nd profiles are developed as tools for interpreting epeiric sea carbonates. Previously, eNd and d13C profiles in epeiric sea carbonates have been used to study changes in the Nd isotope balance and C-cycle of adjacent ocean water. Instead, eNd, d13C and Sm/Nd profiles of Ordovician Midcontinent carbonates of North America demonstrate that fluctuations in sea level and depth are driving local changes in the eNd, d13C and Sm/Nd composition of epeiric seawater. Dissolved Nd derived from the Transcontinental Arch, Taconic Highlands and the Iapetus Ocean determine the eNd composition of Midcontinent seawater. As sea level fluctuated, submergence of the Arch and an influx of Iapetus ocean waters adjusted the Nd isotope balance of epeiric seawater. As a result, eNd profiles can be used to track the submergence history of the Late Ordovician Midcontinent. Comparison of stratigraphic variations in carbonate Sm/Nd ratios with sea level curves, conodont paleoecology, and the eNd profiles also suggests that variations in Sm/Nd ratios are related to changes in depth. However, processes effecting Sm/Nd ratios in epeiric seas may be varied and require further investigation. Sea level fluctuations and the waxing and waning of cool, nutrient rich, oxygen poor Iapetus waters onto the craton adjusted productivity and organic carbon burial rates on the Ordovician Midcontinent. Close to the Transcontinental Arch sea level rise caused an increase in organic carbon burial and productivity, while close to the Sebree Trough, and the influx of Iapetus waters, sea level rise caused a decrease in organic carbon burial and productivity. Differences in local C-cycling across a single epeiric sea encourage caution when using d13C profiles from epeiric sea carbonates to track changes in the C-cycle of adjacent oceans. Because of their connection to sea level fluctuations, variations in the eNd, d13C and Sm/Nd profiles can also used to correlate Ordovician Midcontinent carbonates. However, the ability to correlate coeval strata using these profiles is limited by changes in depositional environment across the craton, which cause excursions to be absent, dampened, or magnified