Technologies and Utopias : the cyberflâneur and the experience of being online

The thesis examines the historical moment of the transition of the Internet from a technology to a cultural form with widespread social use. It is a moment that contains traces of the utopian dreams of the early users of the Internet at the point when it became a widely available, accessible everyday resource. I examine this moment of transition in terms of a vocabulary of use that sought to give expression to the then novel experience of being online. These conceptualisation of use are called user types and usually appear as metaphors. The first two chapters begin with metaphor, presented both in theory and in practice. This is followed by an introduction to cybercultural studies and cyberferninism, approaches which provide both inspiration and counterargument to the here presented approach. This framework is expanded in the fourth chapter, in which existing methodologies are outlined to introduce the virtual archaeology. This approach is inspired by the most important theoretical reference point for the thesis: Benjamin and his Arcades Project (and within that: cyberflAnerie). Benjamin's project emphasises the analysis of fragments, which are juxtaposed to illuminate an otherwise invisible meaning. Similar structures are seen to exist online. These shape the particularity of the creation of meaning. Another important aspect of Benjamin is his emphasis on the city and the radical shift of modernity. Each user type is seen to similarly express a reaction to the shock of the new, expressing particular utopian moments in Internet history. User types tell us something of the formation of discourses that complete the transformation of a technology from the technical into recognisable social and cultural identities. The user types analysed in detail are: the cyberflAneur, cyberfldneuse, webgrrl, cyberpunk, netizen, cybernaut and surfer. Their detailed analysis provides the second part of the thesis. The aspects referred to in the first part are all part of these analyses. Final reflections about the user types' role as specific communication tools, which shape the cultural form of the new medium, conclude the thesis.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Pattern Formation in Slot-Die Coating

We experimentally study the occurrence of pattern formation during the slot-die coating of low-viscosity nearly Newtonian liquids onto Polyethylenterephthalat (PET)-substrates. In particular, it is demonstrated that with increase of the coating speed a homogeneous coating becomes unstable with respect to periodic stripe patterns. Thereby, depending on the liquid viscosity, the stripes can be oriented parallel or perpendicular with respect to the coating direction. Mixed states do also occur. The spatial period of perpendicular [parallel] stripes increases [decrease] with the coating speed. The dependence of the effect on various control parameters of slot-die coating is investigated. Finally, a simple theoretical model based on the hydrodynamics of thin films of partially wetting liquids is analysed. Comparing the results to the experiments, conclusions are drawn regarding the acting instability and pattern formation mechanisms.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figure

Micro-finance, women’s empowerment and fertility decline in Bangladesh: How important was women’s agency?

As Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen has argued “[Bangladesh’s development achievements have] important lessons for other countries across the globe, [in particular a focus on] reducing gender inequality”. A major avenue through which this emphasis has been manifest lies, according to this narrative, in enhancements to women’s agency for instrumental and intrinsic reasons particularly through innovations in family planning and microfinance. The “Bangladesh paradox” of improved wellbeing despite low economic growth over the last four decades is claimed as a paradigmatic case of the spread of both modern family planning programmes and microfinance leading to women’s empowerment and fertility reduction. In this paper we show that the links between microfinance, empowerment and fertility reduction, are fraught with problems, and far from robust; hence the claimed causal links between microfinance and family planning via women’s empowerment needs to be further reconsidered

ATG16L1 orchestrates interleukin-22 signaling in the intestinal epithelium via cGAS-STING.

A coding variant of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk gene ATG16L1 has been associated with defective autophagy and deregulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function. IL-22 is a barrier protective cytokine by inducing regeneration and antimicrobial responses in the intestinal mucosa. We show that ATG16L1 critically orchestrates IL-22 signaling in the intestinal epithelium. IL-22 stimulation physiologically leads to transient ER stress and subsequent activation of STING-dependent type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling, which is augmented in Atg16l1 ΔIEC intestinal organoids. IFN-I signals amplify epithelial TNF production downstream of IL-22 and contribute to necroptotic cell death. In vivo, IL-22 treatment in Atg16l1 ΔIEC and Atg16l1 ΔIEC/Xbp1 ΔIEC mice potentiates endogenous ileal inflammation and causes widespread necroptotic epithelial cell death. Therapeutic blockade of IFN-I signaling ameliorates IL-22-induced ileal inflammation in Atg16l1 ΔIEC mice. Our data demonstrate an unexpected role of ATG16L1 in coordinating the outcome of IL-22 signaling in the intestinal epithelium

Lunar cycle effects on sleep and the file drawer problem

Contains fulltext : 135956.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Popular beliefs about the influence of the full moon on humans exist, although no solid evidence has so far confirmed these ideas [1]. Cajochen et al.[2] recently presented fascinating data on lunar cycle effects on human sleep. However, in a re-analysis of sleep electroencephalography (EEG) data in three large samples, we were unable to replicate their findings. In addition, we identified further mostly unpublished null findings, suggesting that the conflicting results might be an example of a publication bias (i.e., the file drawer problem).2 p

Are We Speaking the Same Language? Recommendations for a Definition and Categorization Framework for Plastic Debris

Embargo until 04 Jan 2020The accumulation of plastic litter in natural environments is a global issue. Concerns over potential negative impacts on the economy, wildlife, and human health provide strong incentives for improving the sustainable use of plastics. Despite the many voices raised on the issue, we lack a consensus on how to define and categorize plastic debris. This is evident for microplastics, where inconsistent size classes are used and where the materials to be included are under debate. While this is inherent in an emerging research field, an ambiguous terminology results in confusion and miscommunication that may compromise progress in research and mitigation measures. Therefore, we need to be explicit on what exactly we consider plastic debris. Thus, we critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a unified terminology, propose a definition and categorization framework, and highlight areas of uncertainty. Going beyond size classes, our framework includes physicochemical properties (polymer composition, solid state, solubility) as defining criteria and size, shape, color, and origin as classifiers for categorization. Acknowledging the rapid evolution of our knowledge on plastic pollution, our framework will promote consensus building within the scientific and regulatory community based on a solid scientific foundation.acceptedVersio

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis