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More and more, elections around the world seem to be won or lost on the basis of the candidates’ personal qualities rather than their policies. Despite its prevalence and consequences, we still know very little about what explains such candidate-centered voting, particularly in new democratic contexts. I argue that variation in candidate-centered voting is largely a function of political sophistication: voters with higher levels of political sophistication are better able to process information relating to policy and performance, which tends to be more cognitively demanding than information relating to candidate’s personalities. To test this argument, I estimate models of vote choice and electoral utility using survey data from the 2002 presidential election in Brazil. The results largely support my contention that political sophistication conditions the weight of candidate considerations relative to policy and performance considerations. / text

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and peanut mottle virus (PMV) are potyviruses that can cause serious yield reductions in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Virus resistant soybean cultivars have been released with alleles at the Rsv1 and Rpv1 locus that confer resistance to SMV and PMV, respectively. A high-resolution map-based cloning approach was undertaken to isolate Rsv1 and Rpv1 from soybean, with hopes of providing insight into this host-pathogen relationship. A mapping population of 1,056 F2 individuals was constructed from the cross of the resistant cultivar PI 96983 (Rsv1 and Rpv1) by the susceptible cultivar Lee 68 (rsv1 and rpv1). Ninety-one of the 1,056 F2 individuals had a cross-over (recombination) in the chromosomal region between microsatellite, or simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker loci Hsp176 and Sat120, and these 91 recombinant lines (RLs) were selected for further genetic analysis. Genotypes of Rsv1 and Rpv1 for the 91 RLs were obtained by inoculating their F2:3 progeny with SMV-G1 and PMV-P1, respectively. The 91 RLs also were used for mapping one random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), five SSR, and 21 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. Included in these RFLP markers were seven resistance gene candidate (RGC) and five resistance gene candidate flanking (RGCF) markers. RGC probes encode a protein with homology to previously cloned plant disease resistance genes, and RGCF probes are sequences obtained from the flanking regions of candidate disease resistance genes. The resultant high-resolution map consisted of 41 marker loci detected by 27 molecular markers. Rsv1 and Rpv1 cosegregated with one or more RFLP bands detected by RGCF probes: GG27-1a, 3gG2SP, and/or T3G. Analyses of the disease reaction and molecular marker data from seven RLs suggested that the map position of Rsv1 should be at a locus different from that designated by the linkage analysis software, Mapmaker 3.0. Compared to the other 89 RLs, a high percentage (>34%) of F3 plants grown from four of these seven RLs gave a necrotic reaction when inoculated with SMV-G1. From this evidence, we believed that another locus independent of Rsv1 was involved in PI 96983's response to SMV-G1. The two loci conferring resistance to SMV-G1 were designated Rsv1a and Rsv1b. / Master of Science

The Social Democrats’ have had an incomparable influence over Swedish politics during the 20th century. This study looks at how this working-class party descriptively represents the working-class on its ballot lists for the Swedish parliament, Riksdagen. Using a mixed methods approach this study builds on an original data set including all of the Social Democratic ballot lists for Riksdagen from 1970 to 2014. The data is combined with qualitative interviews with party representatives in two constituencies. The combined results of the studies show that the Social Democrats are not descriptively representing the Swedish working-class. The party representatives seem to want to represent the working-class and they think that they are descriptively representing this social class. The results indicate that it might be more important for the party to find candidates that are loyal, than candidates who want to represent working-class interests. Furthermore, there are indications that the party might define the working-class in outdated terms; rather than focusing on the level of education, the party defines the working-class largely in terms of those employed in manual labor and heavy industry.

Activity-dependent and synapse-specific translation of mRNAs is required for long-term changes in synaptic strength (or efficacy). However, many of the components mediating repression, transport and activation of mRNAs are unknown. Translational control in neurons is a highly conserved process and mediated by a ribonuclear particle (RNP). This study shows that RNPs in Drosophila neurons are similar not only to mammalian neuronal RNA granules but also to yeast P-bodies, cytoplasmic foci involved in translational repression and RNA decay. The evolutionarily conserved proteins Me31b and Trailer Hitch localize to RNA granules. Me31b and Trailer Hitch are required for normal dendritic growth. Mutations in Me31b and Trailer Hitch suppress phenotypes resulting from overexpression of Fragile X Mental Retardation protein, suggesting that both proteins may act as translational repressors. In addition, this study reports the identification of novel translational repressors in neurons. Using the overexpression phenotype of Fragile X Mental Retardation protein in a candidate-based genetic screen, I identified dominant suppressor mutations in five genes, including Doubletime/Discs Overgrown, Orb2/CPEB, PolyA Binding Protein, Rm62/Dmp68 and SmD3. Like Me31b and Trailer Hitch, all five proteins localize to neuronal RNPs. Overexpression of each proteins affects dendritic branching of sensory neurons in Drosophila. Identification and further characterization of these novel RNP granule components and dFMR1-interacting proteins may provide further insights into the mechanisms controlling translational in dendrites.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a strict human pathogen and the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea. Gonococcal (GC) diseases remain one of the most reported sexually transmitted infections (STI) worldwide, representing a significant threat to reproductive health and burden on global health systems, accounting for 541,987 disability adjusted-life years in the year 2011. Infection by N. gonorrhoeae also increases the likelihood of patient acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Unfortunately, antibiotic treatment to gonococcal diseases is being threatened by the rapid spread of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, the remaining treatment option used in clinics. The urgency of the situation is compounded by the relative lack of immunological protection conferred by previous infection by the bacterium. In response to the emergence of multidrug resistance, renewed energies are being directed towards the development of an effective, broadly protective vaccine. Difficulties in vaccine development arise from a lack of known correlates of protective immunity; there is no known broadly cross-protective immunity to GC and a truly reflective animal model has not been available. Nonetheless, previous studies have indicated that porins, neisserial major outer membrane proteins, are promising vaccine candidates. PorB makes up over 60% of the bacterium's outer membrane content and is involved in solute and ion exchange, invasion of target host cells, and evasion of host immunity. Porins from both the gonococcus and the meningococcus have been shown to have immunostimulatory activity, boosting B and dendritic (DC) cell proliferation and maturation in the absence of an exogenous adjuvant as mediated by TLR2 and MyD88. Importantly, as a potential vaccine candidate, PorB has relatively low antigenic variability, and can induce bactericidal antibodies. Gonococcal PorB was purified from a genetically modified strain, MS11delP3, which lacks another outer membrane protein, RMP, which is known to induce bactericidal blocking antibodies. PorB was formed into pure protein micelles, termed proteosomes, to protect the integrity of the native trimeric structure. Our study demonstrated that gonococcal PorB is able to stimulate both human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell line that overexpresses TLR2 and mouse primary macrophages (similar to the meningococcal PorB). To test PorB's immunogenicity, mice were immunized three times at two week intervals with PorB and porin specific IgG levels were measured. Unfortunately, PorB elicited lower levels of porin specific IgG than what was expected, which may be due to technical issues. We are currently investigating various possibilities. In addition, further immunization studies shall be carried out to better contextualize these results.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine phenotypic expression of craniofacial form, shape, and size as it relates to the genotype of an individual. Shape analyses were completed on 3-D images of each subject's craniofacial structure by landmarking 45 points of interest on the cranial base, facial bones, and upper and lower jaws. A candidate gene analysis was undertaken focusing on specific genes in the Hippo Signaling Pathway to examine genotype-phenotype correlations that play a role in craniofacial development. This study is a continuation of a larger project aimed at the identification of candidate genes associated with human dento-skeletal bite problems led by Dr. Lina Moreno-Uribe. Methods: The sample size for our study included 166 individuals who had never been treated orthodontically at the time of records. Each individual was genotyped and a CBCT of the craniofacial complex was captured. Each CBCT image was landmarked by a single observer using 45 points to mark points on the cranial base and facial bones including the maxilla and mandible. General Procrustes superimposition was used to find correlations with phenotype and genotype. Size analysis was completed with average Euclidean Distances and ANOVA analysis. Results: 2 SNP's from the FOX03 gene had significant associations with size. The AA genotyped individuals appeared larger in overall size than AB genotyped individuals. 3 SNP's had statistically significant associations with facial form. The FOX06 SNPs had significant associations with increased anterior-posterior growth of the maxilla. The AJUBA SNP had significant associations with increased overall craniofacial breadth. Conclusion: Genes in the Hippo signaling pathway have specific roles in the development of facial form and size.