Teddie and Friedel: Theodor W. Adorno, Siegfried Kracauer, and the Erotics of Friendship

“Der Riß der Welt geht auch durch mich”: Briefwechsel 1923–1966 by Theodor W. Adorno and Siegfried Kracauer, volume 7 of Briefe und Briefwechsel, by Theodor W. Adorno, edited by Wolfgang Schopf. (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 2008. Pp. 772. 52.50 euros, cloth; 32.00 euros, paper.

Theory of the Novel: The Literary Imagination of Classical Film Theory

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107464/1/03. Theory Novel.pd

Teddie and Friedel: Theodor W. Adorno, Siegfried Kracauer, and the Erotics of Friendship

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107466/1/Teddie and Friedel.pd

NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome activation in MRP8+ cells is sufficient to cause systemic inflammatory disease.

Inflammasomes are cytosolic multiprotein complexes that initiate protective immunity in response to infection, and can also drive auto-inflammatory diseases, but the cell types and signalling pathways that cause these diseases remain poorly understood. Inflammasomes are broadly expressed in haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic cells and can trigger numerous downstream responses including production of IL-1β, IL-18, eicosanoids and pyroptotic cell death. Here we show a mouse model with endogenous NLRC4 inflammasome activation in Lysozyme2 + cells (monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils) in vivo exhibits a severe systemic inflammatory disease, reminiscent of human patients that carry mutant auto-active NLRC4 alleles. Interestingly, specific NLRC4 activation in Mrp8 + cells (primarily neutrophil lineage) is sufficient to cause severe inflammatory disease. Disease is ameliorated on an Asc -/- background, and can be suppressed by injections of anti-IL-1 receptor antibody. Our results provide insight into the mechanisms by which NLRC4 inflammasome activation mediates auto-inflammatory disease in vivo

Hydrogen in the Urban Setting - Understanding the role of hydrogen in the energy transition of Berlin through the lens of the Multi-Level-Perspective

Climate action can be seen in economic, political, cultural and social processes around the globe. Rarely are these processes more visible than in the context of sustainable urban transition. With a growing population, especially in urban areas, the question of how to sustain this growth in terms of energy production and resource use is becoming more apparent. It is clear that a sustainable transition is becoming a task for multiple actors involved in urban development. The Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) provides a transition-theoretical framework in which socio-technical processes are explored at three levels - the landscape, the regime, and the niche. The dynamics within and across these levels are described with drivers and barriers to understand a transition over time. In the context of a city-state like Berlin, the MLP faces limitations that are addressed through a multi-actor approach while also acknowledging the involvement of a multi-level governance structure through local and national policy-making processes. This thesis unpacks the role of hydrogen in Berlin's energy transition by operationalizing the MLP framework and analyzing the key conditions under which hydrogen has evolved in the past. Through expert interviews complemented by document analysis I describe the conditions necessary for its diffusion into a broader implementation of the energy system. Finally, the feasibility of the theoretical framework used, to understand past and future transition processes, is discussed. My empirical analysis shows that a successful hydrogen breakthrough in Berlin requires political legislation (landscape changes) to drive additional technical advances in production, storage, and infrastructure (regime adjustments). These findings confirm the dynamic nature of the MLP framework and demonstrate its practicality when applied in an urban context, allowing exploration of future opportunities for niche technologies.Climate action can be seen in economic, political, cultural and social processes around the globe. Rarely are these processes more visible than in the context of sustainable urban transition. With a growing population, especially in urban areas, the question of how to sustain this growth in terms of energy production and resource use is becoming more apparent. It is clear that a sustainable transition is becoming a task for multiple actors involved in urban development. The Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) provides a transition-theoretical framework in which socio-technical processes are explored at three levels - the landscape, the regime, and the niche. The dynamics within and across these levels are described with drivers and barriers to understand a transition over time. In the context of a city-state like Berlin, the MLP faces limitations that are addressed through a multi-actor approach while also acknowledging the involvement of a multi-level governance structure through local and national policy-making processes. This thesis unpacks the role of hydrogen in Berlin's energy transition by operationalizing the MLP framework and analyzing the key conditions under which hydrogen has evolved in the past. Through expert interviews complemented by document analysis I describe the conditions necessary for its diffusion into a broader implementation of the energy system. Finally, the feasibility of the theoretical framework used, to understand past and future transition processes, is discussed. My empirical analysis shows that a successful hydrogen breakthrough in Berlin requires political legislation (landscape changes) to drive additional technical advances in production, storage, and infrastructure (regime adjustments). These findings confirm the dynamic nature of the MLP framework and demonstrate its practicality when applied in an urban context, allowing exploration of future opportunities for niche technologies

The Art of Anthropology: The Potential of Art to Create Postmodern Anthropological Knowledge

Annabelle von Moltk