In Tanzania, approximately 76% of the drinking water supplies is dependent on groundwater sources. However, the groundwater in north Tanzania is susceptible to contamination by arsenic and fluoride. This study examines the spatial analysis of arsenic and fluoride mobilization in groundwater around Mount Meru, located in northern Tanzania. The study area covers approximately 1,450 Km2 around Mount Meru in Arusha region, Tanzania. The statistical analysis was performed in IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0.0.0 to interpret data and unveil the correlation and trends between chemical elements in 11 springs and in 17 wells.  The geochemical modelling software, Visual MINTEQ ver.3.1. have been used to simulate chemical elements in springs and wells in the study area to predict the chemical species, saturation indices, and adsorption efficiency of arsenic to goethite and of fluoride to gibbsite. Moreover, the spatial analysis was done using ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.2 and Geoda 1.20.0.22 software to identify the hotspots areas and to connect spatial patterns of arsenic and fluoride distribution within the study area. The statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between arsenic and pH in springs. The Na-Cl-HCO3 water type was found in springs, with increased F- concentration in groundwater. The results of geochemical modelling confirmed that more undersaturated values for F- minerals were observed in springs than in wells, which were likely influenced by the fluoride adsorption to gibbsite surface. It was observed that initial concentration and increase of adsorbent dose promoted adsorption efficiency of arsenic and fluoride on goethite and gibbsite, respectively, between pH 4 and pH 6. However, the increase in pH value hinders adsorption efficiency. Moreover, the highest adsorption efficiency was observed at adsorbent dose of 0.05 g/L of goethite for arsenic adsorption, and at adsorbent dose 6.6 g/L and 10 g/L of gibbsite for fluoride adsorption. The spatial analysis results showed that the concentration of fluoride was high in the northeast and eastern part of the study area, where the low elevation area is composed of Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic rocks and debris avalanche deposits. In contrast, the southwestern part of the study area had comparatively low fluoride concentrations, which could be attributed to the less permeable nature of the Tertiary and Quaternary unconsolidated soil. The geological map revealed that the study area is composed of pyroclastic rocks and basic igneous rocks, which predict the presence of fluoride rich minerals such as apatite and fluorapatite. The spatial distribution of arsenic and fluoride in springs and wells revealed that the hotspots groundwater sources such as S5, S6, S7and W3, W4, W5, W6 were in low elevated areas that accumulated from the mobilization of dissolved arsenic and fluoride species from high recharge altitude, groundwater interaction with arsenic and fluoride bearing minerals and agricultural areas. The findings of this study can be useful to the future researchers and local authorities to know about high risky sources of groundwater for better managing and mitigating the risks associated with arsenic and fluoride contamination in Mount Meru groundwater aquifers. / I Tanzania är cirka 76 % av dricksvatten försörjning beroende av grundvattenkällor. Grundvattnet i norra Tanzania är dock känsligt för kontaminering av arsenik och fluor. Denna studie undersöker den rumsliga analysen av arsenik- och fluoridmobilisering i grundvatten runt Mount Meru, beläget i norra Tanzania. Studieområdet omfattar cirka 1 450 km2 runt Mount Meru i Arusha-regionen, Tanzania. Den statistiska analysen utfördes i IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0.0.0 för att tolka data och avslöja korrelationen och trenderna mellan kemiska grundämnen i 11 källor och i 17 brunnar. Programvaran för geokemisk modellering, Visual MINTEQ ver.3.1. har använts för att simulera kemiska element i källor och brunnar i studieområdet för att förutsäga de kemiska arterna, mättnadsindexen och adsorptionseffektiviteten för arsenik till goetit och av fluorid till gibbsit. Dessutom gjordes den rumsliga analysen med hjälp av mjukvaran ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.2 och Geoda 1.20.0.22 för att identifiera hotspot-områdena och för att koppla samman rumsliga mönster av arsenik- och fluoriddistribution inom studieområdet. Den statistiska analysen visade en positiv korrelation mellan arsenik och pH i fjädrar. Vattentypen Na-Cl-HCO3 hittades i källor, med ökad F- koncentration i grundvattnet. Resultaten av geokemiska modelleringar bekräftade att fler undermättade värden för F-mineraler observerades i källor än i brunnar, vilka troligen påverkades av fluoridadsorptionen till gibbsitytan. Det observerades att initial koncentration och ökning av adsorbentdos främjade adsorptionseffektiviteten av arsenik och fluorid på goetit respektive gibbsit mellan pH 4 och pH 6. Ökningen i pH-värde hindrar emellertid adsorptionseffektiviteten. Dessutom observerades den högsta adsorptionseffektiviteten vid adsorbentdosen på 0,05 g/L goetit för arsenikadsorption och vid adsorbentdosen 6,6 g/L och 10 g/L gibbsit för fluoridadsorption. De rumsliga analysresultaten visade att koncentrationen av fluorid var hög i den nordöstra och östra delen av studieområdet, där låghöjdsområdet är sammansatt av tertiära och kvartära vulkaniska bergarter och avfall av lavinavlagringar. Däremot hade den sydvästra delen av studieområdet jämförelsevis låga fluoridkoncentrationer, vilket kan tillskrivas den mindre permeabla naturen hos den tertiära och kvartära okonsoliderade marken. Den geologiska kartan avslöjade att studieområdet består av pyroklastiska bergarter och grundläggande magmatiska bergarter, som förutsäger närvaron av fluorrika mineraler som apatit och fluorapatit. Den rumsliga fördelningen av arsenik och fluor i källor och brunnar avslöjade att hotspots grundvattenkällor som S5, S6, S7 och W3, W4, W5, W6 låg i lågt upphöjda områden som ackumulerades från mobiliseringen av löst arsenik och fluorarter från hög uppladdning höjd över havet, grundvatteninteraktion med arsenik- och fluorhaltiga mineraler och jordbruksområden. Resultaten av denna studie kan vara användbara för framtida forskare och lokala myndigheter att veta om högriskfyllda grundvattenkällor för att bättre hantera och mildra riskerna förknippade med arsenik och fluoridkontamination i Mount Meru grundvattenakviferer.

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This study aims to investigate how two forms of non-violent campaigns, one run by unionsand one without, have arisen. It is investigated by analyzing the mobilization processes of the two campaigns. The materials used in this study is the theoretical framework of Resource Mobilization Theory’s five resource mobilization categories. It was used as an alternative way to examine how and understand why the two movements turned out to be so different, where one was a labor movement and the other were not. The method used was a qualitative comparative case study. Through the comparison the study could identify some differences between the two movements campaigns. Through the comparison, the study was able to identify certain differences between the two movement campaigns. On the one hand, the scope and network of the campaigns were important for their emergence, and on the otherhand, the temporal context was important for the mobilizations of the cases.

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Saugata Datta / More than 75 million people in the Bengal Delta of eastern India and Bangladesh are exposed to drinking water with dangerously high arsenic (As) concentrations; the worst case of environmental poisoning in human history. Despite recognition of dangers posed to chronic exposure to drinking water with elevated As, its biogeochemical cycle is inadequately constrained in groundwater flow systems due to its complex redox chemistry and microbially-mediated transformations. Arsenic concentrations in Bengal Delta sediments are comparable to global averages, but its highly heterogeneous spatial distribution (on scales of meters to kilometers) in sediments and groundwaters is poorly understood. Though many research efforts have targeted understanding this heterogeneity in Bangladesh, less work has been done in eastern India. Murshidabad (23°56.355‘N, 88°16.156‘E), an eastern district in West Bengal, India, where groundwaters are highly As-affected (~4000 μg/l), was chosen as our study area. Research objectives were: (1) characterize sediment cores (mineralogically, geochemically) and groundwaters (hydrochemically, isotopically) in areas with contrasting As concentrations—west (low-As) and east (high-As) of river Bhagirathi, a major distributary of Ganges flowing through the heart of Murshidabad; (2) describe and understand the extent of spatial variability, laterally and vertically, of dissolved As concentrations in shallow (< 60 m) aquifers, comparing sediment core chemistry to water chemistry; (3) identify source(s) of aquifer recharge and (4) role(s) of inorganic carbon within the aquifer to understand the bioavailability and mobilization of As from sediments to groundwaters. Mineralogical differences between high-As (grey) and low-As (orange-brown) sediments, were the presence of greater amounts of micas, Fe- and Mg-rich clays, amphiboles, carbonates, and apatite in high-As sediments; these were virtually absent from low-As sediments. In high-As areas, As was associated with amorphous and poorly-crystalline Fe-oxyhydroxide phases and labile (specifically-sorbed) phases, especially where Fe(II):Fe[subscript]T was high in the sediments. High-As groundwaters had high As(III):As[subscript]T, iron, bicarbonate, phosphate, and ammonium, and low concentrations of chloride and sulfate. Dry season precipitation was probably the main source of aquifer recharge; lighter values of [superscript]13C in dissolved inorganic carbon resulted from oxidation of natural organic matter. This study points to an idea that both microbially-mediated oxidation-reduction and competitive ion-exchange processes occurring in shallow aquifers of Murshidabad drive As mobilization and sequestration by aquifer sediments.

Critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) commonly develop severe muscle wasting and weakness and consequently impaired muscle function. This not only delays respirator weaning and ICU discharge, but has deleterious effects on morbidity, mortality, financial costs, and quality of life of survivors. Acute Quadriplegic Myopathy (AQM) is one of the most common neuromuscular disorders underlying ICU muscle wasting and paralysis, and is a consequence of modern intensive care interventions, although the exact causes remain unclear. Muscle gene/protein expression, intracellular signalling, post-translational modifications, muscle membrane excitability, and contractile properties at the single muscle fibre level were explored in order to unravel the mechanisms underlying the muscle wasting and weakness associated with AQM and how this can be counteracted by specific intervention strategies. A unique experimental rat ICU model was used to address the mechanistic and therapeutic aspects of this condition, allowing time-resolved studies for a period of two weeks. Subsequently, the findings obtained from this model were translated into a clinical study. The obtained results showed that the mechanical silencing of skeletal muscle, i.e., absence of external strain (weight bearing) and internal strain (myosin-actin activation) due to the pharmacological paralysis or sedation associated with the ICU intervention, is likely to be the primary mechanism triggering the preferential myosin loss and muscle wasting, features specifically characteristic of AQM. Moreover, mechanical silencing induces a specific gene expression pattern as well as post-translational modifications in the motor domain of myosin that may be critical for both function and for triggering proteolysis. The higher nNOS expression found in the ICU patients and its cytoplasmic dislocation are indicated as a probable mechanism underlying these highly specific modifications. This work also demonstrated that passive mechanical loading is able to attenuate the oxidative stress associated with the mechanical silencing and induces positive effects on muscle function, i.e., alleviates the loss of force-generating capacity that underlie the ICU intervention, supporting the importance of early physical therapy in immobilized, sedated, and mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

Thesis (DSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plasmids belonging to the IncQ family have an exceptionally broad host-range and are highly mobilizable in the presence of the self-transmissible IncP plasmids. All IncQ plasmids identified to date have certain features in common. The feature that distinguishes them most from all other plasmids is that they have a unique mechanism of replication. Their replicons consist of repA, repB and repC genes encoding a replicase, primase and DNA-binding proteins respectively. All IncQ plasmids contain at least three 22-bp iterons (or 20-bp iterons with 2-bp spacers) that are identical in sequence and to which the RepC DNA-binding protein binds. They replicate by means of a unique strand-displacement mechanism that is considered to place a limit on their size. Replication proceeds by a partially single-stranded intermediate that is believed to result in an increased likelihood of structural instability with an increase in plasmid size. The most compact backbone of IncQ plasmids is approximately 5.9-kb and the largest natural IncQ plasmid reported is 14.2-kb. Although the mobilization regions of IncQ plasmids are not as unique as the replicons, they are all characterized by the primase of the replicon being fused to the relaxase of the mobilization genes. The remainder of the mobilization genes may vary substantially in number and sequence between plasmids and have been subdivided into at least four distinct lineages. This dissertation consists of twenty one manuscripts published during the period 1984 to 2012. The focus is almost entirely on the IncQ plasmid subfamily known as IncQ2. Most of the earlier work was on determining the nature and extent of the replicons, mobilization genes and the toxin-antitoxin plasmid stability system. A strong theme in the latter work focussed on using the natural variation among the IncQ2 plasmids as a means to understand IncQ plasmid evolution. The collection of articles comprises a combination of original research and reviews. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plasmiede wat aan die IncQ familie behoort kom ‘n uitsonderlike wye gasheerselreeks voor en is hoogs mobiliseerbaar deur middel van die selfoordraagbaar IncP plasmiede. Alle IncQ plasmiedes wat tot datum identifiseer is het sekere gemeenskaplike eienskappe. Die eienskap wat hulle van alle ander plasmiedes onderskei is hul unieke dupliseringsmeganisme. Hul dupliseringsmeganisme bestaan uit repA, repB en repC gene wat onderskeidlik ‘n helikase, ‘n ‘primase’ en ‘n DNSbindingsproteïen enkodeer. Die IncQ plasmiede het ten minste drie 22-bp iterone (of 20-bp iterone met 2-bp skeidingsnukleotiede) met ‘n identiese nukleotiedvolgorde en waaraan die RepCbindingsproteïen bind. Hulle dupliseer deur middel van ‘n unieke DNA-string-vervangingsmeganisme wat ‘n beperking op hul grootte plaas. Tydens replikasie word ‘n intermediêre struktuur gevorm wat gedeeltelik enkelstring is en dit is blykbaar die rede vir ‘n verhoging in strukturële onstabilitiet as die plasmied groter word. Die kleinste ruggraat onder die IncQ plasmiede is min of meer 5.9-kb en die grootste natuurlike IncQ plasmied wat gerapporteer is, is 14.2-kb. Alhoewel die mobiliseringsgebied van die IncQ plasmiede nie so duidelik uitkenbaar as die replikons nie, hierdie gebied is gekenmerk deur ‘n ‘primase’ wat aan ‘n ‘relaxase’ in die mobiliseringsgene gekoppel is. Die oorblywende mobiliseringsgene verskil in beide getal en nukleotiedvolgorde tussen plasmiede en is gebruik om die plasmiede in vier duidelike oorsponggroepe in te deel. Hierdie proefskrif bestaan uit een-en-twintig artikels wat tussen 1984 en 2012 gepubliseer is. Die fokus is hoofsaaklik op die IncQ plasmiedsubfamilie wat as IncQ2 bekend is. Baie van die vroeër werk het oor die aard en omvang van die duplisering en mobiliseringsgene asook die toksienteentoksien plasmiedstabiliseringsmeganisme hanteer. ‘n Sterk tema in die latere werk was om die natuurlike variasie onder die IncQ2 plasmiede te bestudeer ten einde IncQ plasmiedevolusie te verstaan. Die publikasie versameling bestaan uit ‘n kombinasie van oorspronklike navorsing en oorsigartikels.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) triggers the mobilization of stem/progenitor cells from bone marrow (BMSPCs) into peripheral blood (PB). The underlying mechanisms orchestrating this mobilization and subsequent homing of BMSPCs to the myocardium are poorly understood. While the role of traditional chemokines in the mobilization and homing of hematopoietic stem cell (HSCs) to BM niches is undisputed, their role in directing BMSPCs to the highly proteolytic environment of the ischemic myocardium is debatable and other redundant mechanism may exist. Based on our observation that bioactive lipids, such as sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) and ceramide-1 phosphate (C1P), play an important role in regulating trafficking of HSCs; we explored if they also direct trafficking of BMSPCs in the setting of myocardial ischemia. While BMSPCs expressed S1P receptors regardless of the source, the expression of S1P receptor 1 (S1PR1) and receptor 3 (S1PR3), which are responsible for migration and chemotaxis, was elevated in BMSPCs in naïve BM cells and was reduced following mobilization. This expression correlated to differential response of BMSPCs to S1P in chemotaxis assays. By employing flow cytometry analyses, we observed an increase in circulating PB CD34+, CD133+ and CXCR4+ lineage negative (Lin-)/CD45- cells that are enriched in non-HSCs (P < 0.05 vs. controls). This corroborated our mass spectrometry studies showing a temporal increase in S1P and C1P plasma levels. At the same time, plasma obtained in the early phases following AMI strongly chemoattracted human BM-derived CD34+/Lin- and CXCR4+/Lin- cells in Transwell chemotaxis assays in an S1P dependent fashion. We examined other mechanisms that may contribute to the homing of BMSPCs to the infarcted myocardium due to the reduction of S1PRs upon mobilization. We observed that hypoxia induced higher expression of cathelicidins in cardiac tissues. Indeed, PB cells isolated from patients with AMI migrated more efficiently to low, yet physiological, gradient of SDF-1 in Transwell migration assays compared to SDF-1 alone. Together, these observations suggest that while elevated S1P plasma levels early in the course of AMI may trigger mobilization of non-HSCs into PB, cathelicidins appear to play an important role in their homing to ischemic and damaged myocardium.

Resource mobilization theory and political opportunity theory are often used to describe separate portions of social movements. This dissertation proposes a combined model of these two theoretical perspectives which describes how social movement organizations effectively engage in social marketing both online and offline. The field of social marketing highlights the utility of standard commercial marketing practices to achieve non-commercial goals. I argue that, while commercial marketing practices may benefit social movement organizations and are more cost effective given emerging technology, momentum for gathering resources, will be stifled unless a political opportunity presents itself. Guided by theory about the ways that political opportunities are translated into action by organizations, and momentum acquired through mobilizing resources, cycles of opportunity and resulting resource responses by housing social movement organizations are examined over time to present a case study for this theoretical model. The seemingly endless cycle of resource gathering underscores organizational mobilization of resources as a process rather than an outcome. My model outlines numerous forces that shape an organization’s ability to mobilize in two distinct ways, through resources deployed (online and offline) and resources gathered. Resources will be discussed in three categories: organizational characteristics, network structure/position, and media/Internet presence. The relative importance of these factors and this process are described at length in the review of theoretical literature and will be illustrated in the case study that I provide: the housing social movement. Data for this case study has been collected through hyperlink network analysis, general webometrics, and congressional archives. My research aims to provide suggestions for the strategic socio-technical networking and social marketing of social movement organizations.

Knowledge mobilization has been described as putting research in the hands of research users. Few studies have examined knowledge mobilization within community-based organizations (CBOs). To address this research gap, this dissertation examines knowledge mobilization within a CBO that supports people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Research suggests that communication channels, or the means by which a message is delivered, may affect knowledge mobilization. This dissertation presents four manuscripts examining how communication channels were used by the CBO to disseminate physical activity guidelines and intervention strategies to people with SCI. Manuscript 1 investigated reach and effectiveness of an event-based knowledge mobilization initiative delivered by the CBO using interpersonal communication channels to disseminate the guidelines to people with SCI. Results indicated that the event-based knowledge mobilization initiative was effective for initial dissemination of the guidelines. However, further long-term efforts are needed. Manuscript 2 describes how the event-based knowledge mobilization initiative was implemented by the CBO. Recognizing that support personnel are important messengers, the reach and effectiveness of the initiative for persuading support personnel to disseminate the guidelines was examined. Results indicated that an event-based knowledge mobilization initiative can be implemented by a CBO and may be an effective strategy for CBOs to disseminate information to support personnel. Manuscript 3 further examined the role of communication channels in the process of knowledge mobilization within the CBO using network analysis. Results indicated that CBO staff and volunteers’ integration within interpersonal communication channels was associated with greater knowledge of evidence-based physical activity resources and engagement in physical activity promotion behaviours. Manuscript 4 examined the feasibility of training peers with SCI to learn an evidence-based approach to physical activity promotion called Brief Action Planning. Findings indicated that Brief Action Planning is a tool that can be feasibly learned and potentially used by peers to promote physical activity to their mentees through interpersonal communication channels. Overall this dissertation contributes to a small but emerging body of literature examining knowledge mobilization in CBOs. Findings indicate that through a community-university multidisciplinary partnership and appropriate communication channels, a CBO can effectively and feasibly disseminate evidence-based physical activity information. / Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-28 17:27:32.841

<p>\abstract</p><p>This dissertation seeks to explain the role of governmental and non-governmental actors in increasing/reducing the emergence of intergroup conflict after war, when group differences have been a salient aspect of group mobilization. This question emerges from several interrelated branches of scholarship on self-enforcing institutions and power-sharing arrangements, group fragmentation and demographic change, collective mobilization for collectively-targeted violence, and conflict termination and the post-conflict quality of peace. This question is investigated through quantitative analyses performed at the sub-national, national, and cross-national level on the effect of elite competition on the likelihood of violence committed on the basis of group difference after war. These quantitative analyses are each accompanied by qualitative, case study analyses drawn from the American Reconstruction South, Iraq, and Cote d'Ivoire that illustrate and clarify the mechanisms evaluated through quantitative analysis. </p><p>Shared findings suggest the correlation of reduced political competition with the increased likelihood of violence committed on the basis of group difference. Separate findings shed light on how covariates related to control over rent extraction and armed forces, decentralization, and citizenship can lead to a reduction in violence. However, these same quantitative analyses and case study analysis suggest that the control of the state can be perceived as a threat after the end of conflict. Further, together these findings suggest the political nature of violence committed on the basis of group difference as opposed to ethnic identity or resource scarcity alone. </p><p>Together, these combined analyses shed light on how and why political identities are formed and mobilized for the purpose of committing political violence after war. In this sense, they shed light on the factors that constrain post-conflict violence in deeply divided societies, and contribute to relevant academic, policy, and normative questions.</p> / Dissertation