The Politics of Presentation: On Badiou as Reader of Rousseau

This paper explores the distinction between representative and presentative conceptions of politics in the works of Alain Badiou and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.  Analyzing Badiou's reading of Rousseau's Social Contract, the paper shows that, contrary to a common view, Rousseau is not a normative theorist of legitimacy; instead, he is a political ontologist, one who thinks the being of politics rather than its norms.  In this role, Rousseau defends a politics of presentation, a conception of politics as essentially creative rather than imitative.  Against a view of politics as a representation of natural, divine or moral order, Rousseau's political ontology maintains that politics exists only so long as order is created, out of nothing as it were.  In short, politics cannot be representational; it exists only as long as it is present, not represented.  For Badiou and Rousseau, representation is not necessarily illegitimate or unjust; it is simply not political

Facing inequality : Rawls, Sen and Cohen on the space of egalitarian justice

This study explores the evaluative spaces in which egalitarians work. Beginning with John Rawls' theory of political justice (i.e., justice as fairness), the thesis examines critiques of Rawls' scheme of primary goods by Amartya Sen and G.A. Cohen and their respective egalitarian evaluative spaces--capabilities and midfare. It is suggested that these spaces are helpful extensions of Rawls' scheme, however, they are not decisive against it. Contrary to Sen's and Cohen's critiques, Rawls' theory and its scheme of primary goods should not be understood as a resource based egalitarian theory. Rather, a Rawlsian egalitarian evaluation will include resource, welfare and capability or midfare considerations. Finally, it is intimated that an approach which remains broad rather than focusing on one egalitarian target will be the most helpful in facing inequalities in the world

Redox-active ligands and conducting polymers in the electrochemical control of reactivity

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemistry, 1995.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-159).by Ivan Lorkovic.Ph.D

Value Co-Creation and Service-Dominant Logic: Organizational Adoption and Readiness within the Automation Industry

Value Co-Creation (VCC) was coined “The Future of Competition” indicating positive outcomes for organizations. In this sense recent research streams have focused on the customer at research level. Additionally, VCC is closely linked to the new Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) view which is positioned in contrast to the old view of Goods-Dominant Logic (GDL). The past research on SDL is heavily dominated by theoretical and conceptual work. This thesis follows the call of academia to bring both themes, VCC as well as SDL, into the empirical arena. It explores the organization at research level and investigates the adoption of and the readiness for VCC and SDL in the automation sector. This is accomplished through a mixed methods approach, combining first a broad and global quantitative survey with 274 participants followed by interviews with 13 participants out of the investigated automation sector.The outcomes are visualized in a conceptual framework that was developed for the adoption of and readiness for VCC and SDL. The framework contains “Enablers” and “Disablers” that were identified and that influence the adoption of VCC and SDL. Out of those, “Years of Experience” act as “Enabler” for both, VCC and SDL. Additionally, some regional, organizational and functional dimensions were revealed that act as “Enablers” and “Disablers” for both, adoption of and readiness for VCC and SDL. The conceptual framework also contains external conditions such as competitive environment, new technologies, global view and empowered customers that influence the adoption of VCC. Furthermore, the research results show readiness for VCC, however certain change readiness elements need to be considered such as top management support, leadership support and corporate culture. The research reported in this thesis provides empirical support for an important feature of the SDL – that of prediction and positive correlation with VCC. For both themes an exploratory factor analysis was performed that revealed the requirement of the DART (Dialogue, Access, Risk assessment, Transparency) model for the adoption of VCC and the PSC (Product-Service Continuum) for the adoption of SDL.The research has also limitations. Generalization beyond the scope of the automation market population must be performed cautiously. Other limitations include a regional focus on Germany, Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific (APAC) and USA without considering any other countries within the regions. These shortcomings serve as point of departure to present some potential future research streams

Value Co-Creation and Service-Dominant Logic: Organizational Adoption and Readiness within the Automation Industry

Value Co-Creation (VCC) was coined “The Future of Competition” indicating positive outcomes for organizations. In this sense recent research streams have focused on the customer at research level. Additionally, VCC is closely linked to the new Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) view which is positioned in contrast to the old view of Goods-Dominant Logic (GDL). The past research on SDL is heavily dominated by theoretical and conceptual work. This thesis follows the call of academia to bring both themes, VCC as well as SDL, into the empirical arena. It explores the organization at research level and investigates the adoption of and the readiness for VCC and SDL in the automation sector. This is accomplished through a mixed methods approach, combining first a broad and global quantitative survey with 274 participants followed by interviews with 13 participants out of the investigated automation sector.The outcomes are visualized in a conceptual framework that was developed for the adoption of and readiness for VCC and SDL. The framework contains “Enablers” and “Disablers” that were identified and that influence the adoption of VCC and SDL. Out of those, “Years of Experience” act as “Enabler” for both, VCC and SDL. Additionally, some regional, organizational and functional dimensions were revealed that act as “Enablers” and “Disablers” for both, adoption of and readiness for VCC and SDL. The conceptual framework also contains external conditions such as competitive environment, new technologies, global view and empowered customers that influence the adoption of VCC. Furthermore, the research results show readiness for VCC, however certain change readiness elements need to be considered such as top management support, leadership support and corporate culture. The research reported in this thesis provides empirical support for an important feature of the SDL – that of prediction and positive correlation with VCC. For both themes an exploratory factor analysis was performed that revealed the requirement of the DART (Dialogue, Access, Risk assessment, Transparency) model for the adoption of VCC and the PSC (Product-Service Continuum) for the adoption of SDL.The research has also limitations. Generalization beyond the scope of the automation market population must be performed cautiously. Other limitations include a regional focus on Germany, Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific (APAC) and USA without considering any other countries within the regions. These shortcomings serve as point of departure to present some potential future research streams

Crosstalk between H2A variant-specific modifications impacts vital cell functions

Selection of C-terminal motifs participated in evolution of distinct histone H2A variants. Hybrid types of variants combining motifs from distinct H2A classes are extremely rare. This suggests that the proximity between the motif cases interferes with their function. We studied this question in flowering plants that evolved sporadically a hybrid H2A variant combining the SQ motif of H2A.X that participates in the DNA damage response with the KSPK motif of H2A.W that stabilizes heterochromatin. Our inventory of PTMs of H2A.W variants showed that in vivo the cell cycle-dependent kinase CDKA phosphorylates the KSPK motif of H2A. W but only in absence of an SQ motif. Phosphomimicry of KSPK prevented DNA damage response by the SQ motif of the hybrid H2A.W/X variant. In a synthetic yeast expressing the hybrid H2A.W/X variant, phosphorylation of KSPK prevented binding of the BRCT-domain protein Mdb1 to phosphorylated SQ and impaired response to DNA damage. Our findings illustrate that PTMs mediate interference between the function of H2A variant specific C-terminal motifs. Such interference could explain the mutual exclusion of motifs that led to evolution of H2A variants.Fil: Schmücker, Anna. Austrian Academy Of Sciences (oaw);Fil: Lei, Bingkun. Austrian Academy Of Sciences (oaw);Fil: Lorkovic, Zdravko J.. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Capella, Matias. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Braun, Sigurd. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Bourguet, Pierre. Gregor Mendel Institute Of Molecular Plant Biology; Austria. Université Clermont Auvergne; FranciaFil: Mathieu, Olivier. Université Clermont Auvergne; FranciaFil: Mechtler, Karl. Gregor Mendel Institute Of Molecular Plant Biology; AustriaFil: Berger, Frédéric. Gregor Mendel Institute Of Molecular Plant Biology; Austri

Role of Cajal Bodies and Nucleolus in the Maturation of the U1 snRNP in Arabidopsis

Background: The biogenesis of spliceosomal snRNPs takes place in both the cytoplasm where Sm core proteins are added and snRNAs are modified at the 59 and 39 termini and in the nucleus where snRNP-specific proteins associate. U1 snRNP consists of U1 snRNA, seven Sm proteins and three snRNP-specific proteins, U1-70K, U1A, and U1C. It has been shown previously that after import to the nucleus U2 and U4/U6 snRNP-specific proteins first appear in Cajal bodies (CB) and then in splicing speckles. In addition, in cells grown under normal conditions U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNAs/snRNPs are abundant in CBs. Therefore, it has been proposed that the final assembly of these spliceosomal snRNPs takes place in this nuclear compartment. In contrast, U1 snRNA in both animal and plant cells has rarely been found in this nuclear compartment. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we analysed the subnuclear distribution of Arabidopsis U1 snRNP-specific proteins fused to GFP or mRFP in transiently transformed Arabidopsis protoplasts. Irrespective of the tag used, U1-70K was exclusively found in the nucleus, whereas U1A and U1C were equally distributed between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In the nucleus all three proteins localised to CBs and nucleoli although to different extent. Interestingly, we also found that the appearance of the three proteins in nuclear speckles differ significantly. U1-70K was mostly found in speckles whereas U1A and U1C in,90 % of cells showed diffuse nucleoplasmic in combination with CBs and nucleolar localisation. Conclusions/Significance: Our data indicate that CBs and nucleolus are involved in the maturation of U1 snRNP. Difference

Role of Cajal Bodies and Nucleolus in the Maturation of the U1 snRNP in Arabidopsis

Background: The biogenesis of spliceosomal snRNPs takes place in both the cytoplasm where Sm core proteins are added and snRNAs are modified at the 59 and 39 termini and in the nucleus where snRNP-specific proteins associate. U1 snRNP consists of U1 snRNA, seven Sm proteins and three snRNP-specific proteins, U1-70K, U1A, and U1C. It has been shown previously that after import to the nucleus U2 and U4/U6 snRNP-specific proteins first appear in Cajal bodies (CB) and then in splicing speckles. In addition, in cells grown under normal conditions U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNAs/snRNPs are abundant in CBs. Therefore, it has been proposed that the final assembly of these spliceosomal snRNPs takes place in this nuclear compartment. In contrast, U1 snRNA in both animal and plant cells has rarely been found in this nuclear compartment. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we analysed the subnuclear distribution of Arabidopsis U1 snRNP-specific proteins fused to GFP or mRFP in transiently transformed Arabidopsis protoplasts. Irrespective of the tag used, U1-70K was exclusively found in the nucleus, whereas U1A and U1C were equally distributed between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In the nucleus all three proteins localised to CBs and nucleoli although to different extent. Interestingly, we also found that the appearance of the three proteins in nuclear speckles differ significantly. U1-70K was mostly found in speckles whereas U1A and U1C in,90 % of cells showed diffuse nucleoplasmic in combination with CBs and nucleolar localisation. Conclusions/Significance: Our data indicate that CBs and nucleolus are involved in the maturation of U1 snRNP. Difference