Protest Mobilization & Democratization in a Comparative Perspective

What is the effect of protest mobilization on democratic transition and durability? This dissertation argues that protest mobilization increases the odds for a democratic transition, but it is the length of the mobilization that matters for the durability of new democratic regimes. In particular, sustained unarmed uprisings have generated the longest-lasting new democracies – largely because they are forced to develop an organizational structure that provides a leadership cadre for the new regime, forges links between the government and society, and strengthens checks on the power of the post-transition government. I use quantitative methods, comparative case studies, and a detailed case study of Egypt to demonstrate this argument.Doctor of Philosoph

Multiple perceptions of opportunity and threat and coalitional dynamics in the Iranian reform movement (1997-2005)

After social movements emerge, different actors within the movements usually take different trajectories. To understand these different trajectories, one needs to understand how these actors assess the political context. Different assessments of the political context imply different strategic choices. Also, converging and diverging assessments are part of the formation and disintegration of coalitions within social movements. I use the Iranian reform movement (1997-2005) to test my argument, since it contained multiple actors, changing coalitions, and diachronic as well as synchronic variations in the assessments of the political context

Histological effect of cola nitida aqueous extract on rat's liver during hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatocarcinogenesis can be defined as precancerous lesion which will develop into Hepatocellular Carcinoma. It has been carried out previously that Cola nut (Cola nitida) has beneficial medicinal properties. In this study, we have assumed efforts to ascertain the histological anticancer potency of Cola Nitida aqueous extract on DEN/AAF induced hepatocarcinogenesis rat's liver. The structural components of the liver include plates of liver, called hepatocytes. The normal hepatocytes were well organized and arranged. Cells membranes were markedly clear. The nuclei were round and uniform with little variation in size causing no pleomorphis. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided to eleven groups. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced in seven groups of rats by employing two carcinogen systems: an intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg DEN as initiator, followed by 0.02% of AAF in rat chow to promote carcinogenesis. The effect of 1, 2.5 and 5% cola nitida aqueous extract on hepatocarcinogenesis induced male rats and normal ones was investigated. Histological evaluation of rat liver revealed DEN/AAF induced and untreated rats group showed higher inflammation or necrosis, and in general abnormality; compared to all other groups. The results indicate that, Cola nitida might act as an antioxidant agent, which could inhibit or slow down histopathological changes induced by DEN/AAF

Prevalence of human metapnemovirus in children with acute respiratory tract infection Shiraz, Iran during 2014-2015

Background: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a newly discovered viral agent of respiratory infections. In present study we determined prevalence of HMPV in children less than10 years with acute respiratory infections (ARTI) that referred to the health centers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.Methods: Nasal swabs were obtained from 180 children less than 10 years old with respiratory tract symptoms during fall, winter and spring seasons of 2014 and 2015. The specimens were tested for HMPV F gene using one step RT-PCR.Results: HMPV was detected in 30 (16.66%) of 180 children with (ARTI) less than 10 years old. Approximately 63.33% of HMPV positive patients aged less than 3 years and 86.33% were younger than 5 years old. The clinical symptoms were bronchiolitis, wheezing and cough.Conclusions: The frequency distribution of HMPV revealed that most patients aged between 1 to 5 years and this virus is one of the respiratory viral agents to causes ATRI, especially children less than 5 years old

Failure Procedure in Adhesive Composite Joints under Different Types of Loading

In this paper, we have used numerical simulation to study failure of adhesive joints in composite plates. To determine the failure load, adhesive joints are subjected to different types of loading and gradual failure of the joint is studied using the finite element method. The composite material failure theory is implemented into the FEM software. Also different geometries for the joint edge are considered and effect of these geometries and fillet chamfer angle on the failure load are investigated

Alkaline sphingomyelinase (NPP7) impacts the homeostasis of intestinal T lymphocyte populations

Background and aimAlkaline sphingomyelinase (NPP7) is expressed by intestinal epithelial cells and is crucial for the digestion of dietary sphingomyelin. NPP7 also inactivates proinflammatory mediators including platelet-activating factor and lysophosphatidylcholine. The aim of this study was to examine a potential role for NPP7 in the homeostasis of the intestinal immune system.MethodsWe quantified the numbers of B-lymphocytes, plasma cells, T-lymphocytes including regulatory T-lymphocytes (Tregs), natural killer cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, in the small and large intestines, the mesenteric lymph nodes and the spleens of heterozygous and homozygous NPP7 knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) mice. Tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry and stainings quantified using computerized image analysis.ResultsThe numbers of both small and large intestinal CD3ε+, CD4+, and CD8α+ T-lymphocytes were significantly higher in NPP7 KO compared to WT mice (with a dose-response relationship in the large intestine), whereas Treg numbers were unchanged, and dendritic cell numbers reduced. In contrast, the numbers of CD3ε+ and CD4+ T-lymphocytes in mesenteric lymph nodes were significantly reduced in NPP7 KO mice, while no differences were observed in spleens. The numbers of B-lymphocytes, plasma cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils were similar between genotypes.ConclusionNPP7 contributes to the regulation of dendritic cell and T-lymphocyte numbers in mesenteric lymph nodes and both the small and large intestines, thus playing a role in the homeostasis of gut immunity. Although it is likely that the downstream effects of NPP7 activity involve the sphingomyelin metabolites ceramide and spingosine-1-phosphate, the exact mechanisms behind this regulatory function of NPP7 need to be addressed in future studies

In Vitro Assessment of the Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Viability Effects of Salivary Gland Extracts from Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Background: The saliva and salivary glands of ticks possess a wide range of immuno-pharmacologically active mole­cules that effectively modulate the activity of enzymes, antibodies, and amines that have a role in different biological processes. Derived components from saliva and salivary glands of hard ticks Ixodidae have been characterized as poten­tial natural sources for discovering promising anti-cancer drug candidates. Methods: The anti-cancer activity of salivary gland extracts (SGEs) from Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma drome­darii, Hyalomma marginatum, and Hyalomma schulzei was assessed. MTT assays and flow cytometry were done on the HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line to evaluate the anti-viability and proliferative inhibition. Results: Based on the MTT assay results, the SGEs from Hy. dromedarii had the highest and lowest substantial anti-viability effects on the HT-29 cancer cell and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) normal cell, respectively. The cytometric assessment revealed a significant increase in the apoptosis and necrosis ratio of the HT-29 cancer cells after treatment with Hy. dromedarii SGEs. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that Hy. dromedarii SGEs have significant anti-proliferative, anti-viability, and apoptotic potential. The result of this study suggests that Hy. dromedarii SGEs is an appropriate candidate for further investigations to identify and purify the mechanisms and molecules involved in the anti-cancer activity of the SGEs

Sticks, Stones, and Molotov Cocktails:Unarmed Collective Violence and Democratization

The literature on civil resistance finds that nonviolent campaigns are more likely to succeed than violent insurgencies. A parallel literature on democratization poses mass mobilization as exogenous to political liberalization. Contributing to both literatures, we propose the category of unarmed collective violence to capture an empirically recurring form of unruly collective action used by civilians and then use a mixed methods research design to examine its impact on democratization. An event history analysis finds that riots are positively associated with political liberalization in 103 nondemocracies from 1990 to 2004. Attacks by civilians on police stations during the January 25 Egyptian Revolution illustrate one way in which unarmed collective violence can bring about a democratic breakthrough. A qualitative examination of all 80 democratic transitions held between 1980 and 2010 also reveals the salience of unarmed collective violence by civilian forces. These findings contribute to research on the dynamics of contentious democratization and suggest that remaining unarmed may be more consequential for a democracy campaign than adhering to nonviolence. </jats:p

Effects of Cola Nut [Cola Nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl.] Aqueous Extract on Rat Liver During Hepatocarcinogenesis

The effect of Cola nitida aqueous extract in hepatocarcinogenesis induced male Sprague Dawley rat livers, and elemental analysis of the cola nut was studied to investigate the possible anticancer activity. The unprocessed cola nuts were observed for their surface morphological structure under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Together with the imaging, samples were then elementally analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis attached to variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (EDX-VPSEM). SEM study of cola nut illustrates numerous crystals packed in clusters within the cell wall. The elemental analysis results revealed that the cola nut contained high amount of oxygen and carbon, in addition to potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Potassium, magnesium and phosphorous have been well reported as co-factors of antioxidant enzymes to protect the body from oxygen free radicals. Additionally, these elements play important roles in metabolic mechanisms in the body. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced in rat livers according to the modified Solt and Farber method. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was injected into the rats at 200 mg/kg body weight to initiate hepatocarcinogenesis and after two weeks this was followed by feeding 0.02% 2-Acetylaminofluorene (AAF) to promote the hepatocarcinogenesis. The DEN/AAF induced rats were treated with 1, 2.5, and 5% (w/v) concentrations of cola nut extract or 0.001, 0.0025, and 0.005% w/v dilutions of glycyrrhizin as a drug control. There were normal and cancer controls; in addition, three groups of normal rats were treated with three concentrations of cola nut to observe the side effect of the cola nut on normal livers. The body and liver weight profile results of this study showed no significant difference between treated groups compared to normal and cancer controls. The similarity in body weight gain and relative liver weight results might occur because of the short length of the in vivo experiment (eleven weeks). The supplementation of cola nut extract decreased the level of plasma and microsomal GGT and GST tumor marker enzymes significantly in DEN/AAF induced liver tissues even better than glycyrrhizin. Additionally, it was revealed that cola nut extract has no effect on the level of GST and GGT enzymes in normal cells. The histological and ultrastructural examination as well as the lesions scoring results demonstrated that the cola nut extract reduced neoplastic stage of the hepatocarcinogenic liver cells more than glycyrrhizin based on their abnormal morphology, inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis. Moreover, rat’s normal hepatocytes treated with cola nut extract illustrated normal features. TUNEL assay results showed the significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells in hepatocarcinogenic liver tissues treated with cola nut extract and glycyrrhizin. These results showed that cola nut did not induce the apoptosis in normal liver cells. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR results revealed that although the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA increased in DEN/AAF induced liver cells, but the supplementation of the cola nut and glycyrrhizin decreased it predominantly in hepatocarcinogenic liver cells treated with cola nut extract. These findings suggest that cola nut might act as a promising anticancer against hepatocarcinogenesis with even higher efficacy compared to glycyrrhizin, without any side effects in normal liver cells

Immunopathology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, with a remitting and relapsing course. There are two main forms of IBD: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The etiology of IBD is not fully understood, however both CD and UC thought to be closely associated with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the immunopathology of CD and UC with particular focus on T cell subsets, the cellular and molecular effects of anti-TNFα treatment in CD; and to develop a tool to monitor the disease activity in both CD and UC based on immunological alterations.In the first paper, we described an optimized method for isolating immune cells separately from epithelium and lamina propria of human intestinal biopsies. We identified the distinct T cell compartments of epithelium and lamina propria in the normal gut, and showed that the T cell compartment of the small bowel differed from the colon in healthy gut. Importantly, we demonstrated that intestinal T cell profile changed in patients with CD and UC compared to healthy controls, in which the intestinal T cell compartment of CD and UC patients differed. These data might be used for in- depth IBD phenotyping, potentially defining new subgroups of the two diseases, and for differentiating between aggressive versus mild disease phenotypes. Finally, it could be used for prognosis of responders and non-responders to various therapies.In the second paper we identified a novel, distinct, and functionally active γδ T cell subpopulation in human expressing CD8αβ heterodimer. Only two subsets of γδ T cells have been previously characterized based on the expression of co- receptors. We showed that CD8αβ+ γδ T cells were enriched in the gut particularly in the epithelial layer. Moreover, we showed that the frequency of CD8αβ+ γδ T cells were reduced in the gut of patients with active IBD, correlated negatively with disease activity, and their frequency normalized after IBD therapy, suggesting a protective role for this subset in IBD. By improved subset delineation these results could contribute to the development of immunotherapy strategies.In the third paper, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of the cellular and molecular effects of anti-TNFα treatment in CD patients. Results from the study allow us to propose the following model that both molecular and cellular proinflammatory/harming and anti-inflammatory/repair components are present and upregulated during active inflammation, but tissue-destructive forces overpower the anti-inflammatory and repairing efforts. Interestingly, anti- TNFα treatment downregulated both of these arms, especially with an emphasis on the proinflammatory/tissue- destruction mediators. This allows the anti-inflammatory/healing mechanisms to become fully effective, imparting mucosal healing. Thus, it could be beneficial to administrate selected growth factors and repair mediators for a limited time during the induction phase of anti-TNFα therapy, to further enhance the healing process, which also would help to seal a leaky barrier that allows loss of drug into the lumen and penetration of microbes into the gut tissues.In the forth paper, we developed a new validated and unbiased immunohistological index to assess the disease activity uniformly in both CD and UC, Quantitative Immunohistochemical Computerized Crohn’s and Colitis (QiC3) index. We formulated this objective index based on the number of some immune cells to achieve the best sensitivity and specificity for separating normal and inflamed tissues. Our results showed that the QiC3 index correlated strongly with histopathological scores and gene expression levels of proinflammatory mediators in IBD patients. The QiC3 index works for both ileal and colonic mucosal samples and can be used in clinical management and clinical trials for IBD, in human and animals’ basic researches, and in intestinal infectious diseases