Untold stories of Syrian women surviving war

Issue title: Sympathetic stereotypes: the Syrian Uprising in western media and scholarshipIn "I must save my life and not risk my family’s safety!”: Untold Stories of Syrian Women Surviving War, Alhayek provides several case studies of Syrian women whose lives were irreversibly changed as a result of the events that unfolded after March 2011. The stories of these women vividly illustrate how difficult it is to come up with a neat and easily accessible profile for the suffering of Syrian women. Yet, this is precisely what Western media, albeit sympathetic, has attempted to achieve. Stories on child brides being sold to wealthy old men from the Gulf, though on the surface highlighting the suffering that Syrian women have undergone, are shown by Alhayek to have grossly misrepresented not only Syrian women, who are in fact as complex and multi-faceted as their Western counterparts, but also Syrian families for being willing to take part in such arrangements in the first place. Through interviews with six Syrian women, Alhayek brings home the idea that our understanding of the Syrian Uprising must be based on stories that are collected from below rather than on stereotypes imposed from above. The case studies defy any simplified narrative that one may wish to impose on them. In one case study, for example, the army is directly responsible for killing civilians, while in the other the army is shown to have been very respectful of women, especially in the early phase of the Uprising.Publisher PD

Exploring bacterial metalloproteases as promising drug targets

Microbial infection and the rise of antibiotic resistance pose a serious threat to public health. To tackle bacterial infection and resistance, new bacterial targets and non-antibiotic treatment options need to be identified. Virulence factors are gaining attention these days as they play crucial roles in bacterial pathogenicity. As their inhibition does not kill the bacteria, the selection pressure for emerging new resistant mutants is reduced, while also assisting the host immune system in eliminating the disarmed bacteria. Extracellular bacterial collagenases are the etiologic features of many bacterial infections. They are metalloproteases characterized by their ability to digest the main scaffolds of the extracellular matrix, exposing deep tissue to bacteria and other toxins. As the inhibition of virulence factors is considered one powerful non-antibiotic strategy, full characterization of these targets is essential to understand their role during infection. Furthermore, pre-clinical models imitating the infection need to be developed to decipher the role of virulence targets and their inhibitors in pathophysiological settings. This study addresses the characterization and validation of three bacterial collagenases and their inhibitors: collagenase Q1 (ColQ1) of Bacillus cereus, Collagenase H (ColH) of Clostridium histolyticum, and elastase B (LasB) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To promote our understanding of the pathological contribution of bacterial collagenases and to characterize the activity of small-molecule collagenase inhibitors as therapeutic agents, we developed pre-clinical systems modeling the infection settings and validating the collagenases and their inhibitors. These systems include in vitro cell-based, ex vivo pig skin, and in vivo Galleria mellonella larvae models. Furthermore, advanced microscopic techniques as well as in vitro biological and bioanalytical assays were used to evaluate the effects shown in these models. The newly discovered inhibitors investigated in this study are characterized with their potency, selectivity, and chemical stability, which many previously reported inhibitors lack. The findings of this work shed light on the roles of bacterial collagenases during bacterial infection – in particular in disease progression – and the effect of their inhibition with small-molecule antivirulence agents, which could represent an effective therapeutic strategy.Mikrobielle Infektionen und die Zunahme der Antibiotikaresistenz stellen eine ernste Bedrohung für die öffentliche Gesundheit dar. Um bakterielle Infektionen und Resistenzen zu bekämpfen, müssen neue bakterielle Angriffspunkte und nicht-antibiotische Behandlungen gefunden werden. Virulenzfaktoren gewinnen in diesen Tagen an Aufmerksamkeit, da sie eine entscheidende Rolle bei der bakteriellen Pathogenität spielen. Ihre Hemmung durch sogenannte "Antivirulenzwirkstoffe" tötet die Bakterien nicht ab. Dadurch wird der Selektionsdruck für die Entstehung neuer resistenter Mutanten verringert und gleichzeitig das Immunsystem des Wirts bei der Beseitigung der deaktivierten Bakterien unterstützt. Extrazelluläre bakterielle Kollagenasen sind die ätiologischen Merkmale vieler bakterieller Infektionen. Es handelt sich dabei um Metalloproteasen, die sich durch ihre Fähigkeit auszeichnen, die Hauptgerüste der extrazellulären Matrix zu verdauen und so tiefes Gewebe für Bakterien und andere Toxine freizulegen. Da Virulenzfaktoren und ihre Inhibitoren als eine vielversprechende nicht-antibiotische Strategie angesehen werden, ist ihre vollständige Charakterisierung unerlässlich, um ihre Rolle während der Infektion zu verstehen und neu entdeckte Faktoren als potenzielle Ziele und Inhibitoren zu validieren. Darüber hinaus müssen präklinische Modelle entwickelt werden, die die Infektion imitieren, um die Rolle der Virulenz-Targets und ihrer Inhibitoren in pathophysiologischen Situationen zu entschlüsseln. Diese Studie befasst sich mit der Charakterisierung und Validierung drei bakterieller Kollagenasen und ihrer Inhibitoren: der Kollagenase Q1 (ColQ1) von Bacillus cereus, der Kollagenase H (ColH) von Clostridium histolyticum und der Elastase B (LasB) von Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Um unser Verständnis des pathologischen Beitrags bakterieller Kollagenasen zu fördern und die Aktivität von niedermolekularen Kollagenase-Inhibitoren als therapeutische Wirkstoffe zu charakterisieren, haben wir präklinische Systeme entwickelt, die die Infektionsbedingungen nachbilden und die Kollagenasen und ihre Inhibitoren validieren. Zu diesen Systemen gehören In-vitro-Zellsysteme, Ex-vivo-Schweinehaut und In-vivo-Modelle basierend auf Galleria mellonella Larven. Darüber hinaus wurden moderne mikroskopische Techniken, sowie biologische und bioanalytische In-vitro-Tests eingesetzt, um die in den zuvor genannten Modellen gezeigten Wirkungen zu bewerten. Die neu entdeckten Inhibitoren, die in dieser Studie untersucht werden, zeichnen sich durch ihre Potenz, Selektivität und chemische Stabilität aus, die bei vielen bisher bekannten Inhibitoren fehlen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit werfen ein Licht auf die Rolle bakterieller Kollagenasen während bakterieller Infektionen, insbesondere bei der Förderung von Krankheiten, und auf die Wirkung ihrer Hemmung durch niedermolekulare Antivirulenzmittel, die eine wirksame therapeutische Strategie darstellen könnten

Watching television while forcibly displaced: Syrian refugees as participant audiences

In this article, I explore how Syrian refugees and internally displaced people are using social media to reshape interpretations of their own status through their engagement with quality TV texts that tackle the refugee crisis. I focus on the discourse surrounding the Syrian Television Drama series Ghadan Naltaqi (GN) [We’ll Meet Tomorrow] which is particularly interesting because of the dialogue that has developed between the forcibly displaced segment of its audience and the writer/creator of the show, Iyad Abou Chamat. Methodologically, this research is based on 26 semi-structured interviews conducted in Arabic language: one interview with Chamat, and 25 interviews with members of his audience who friended Chamat on Facebook after GN aired. I demonstrate that Facebook serves as an outlet for interactivity between displaced drama producers and audiences in a way that imitates the dynamics of live theater. While such interactivity is facilitated by technology, the emergence of this interactive relationship is owned to the desires for (re- )connection of both drama creators and audiences stemming from the alienation of war, violence and displacement. The particularity of the Syrian war-related topic in GN and its applicability to both the creator of the series as well as to audiences’ lived experiences evoked a significant level of online participation with Chamat. I use the term ‘participant audiences’ to describe the interactive, emotional responses of displaced audiences and their online engagement with TV content that address the disconnections they experience because of conflict and displacement while offering them possibilities for coping with violence, marginalization, and suffering. I show how the entertainment interventions of drama creators help displaced people both to mitigate the traumatic effects of a highly polarizing conflict, and to find a healing space from violent and alienating dominant media discourses

Emotional Realism, Affective Labor, and Politics in the Arab Fandom of Game of Thrones

This article examines the Game of Thrones (GoT) fan phenomena in the Arab world. Although I contextualize GoT as a commodity within HBO’s global ambitions to attract a global audience, I study GoT Arab fans as an organized interpretive online community. I examine the Arabic fan Facebook page “Game of Thrones‒Official Arabic Page” (GoTOAP), which has over 240,000 followers, as a case study of cultural production and consumption by fans. Based on interviews with members of the administration staff of the GoT-OAP Facebook page, as well as textual analysis of the page’s posts, I ask: How is fan culture around GoT produced in the Arab world? How are the boundaries between being fans, media producers, and consumers negotiated? Are there connections between the themes of GoT and the current unrest across the Arab region? If so, how are they articulated? Through emotional realism and hybridity, I show that Arab fans find ways to negotiate their fandom of GoT with their local context and lived experiences

Optimization of Rhombus Opening Area of Shear Walls On Tall Buildings

This research was designed to determine the optimum percentage and configuration of rhombus opening on shear wall of tall building. A residential tall building of 12-storeys having base size of 20m × 10m with height of floor of 3m was analysed. In this paper, percentages of 12%, 24%, 36%, 42%, and 54% concentric rhombus opening in a shear wall in tall buildings were modeled. The effect of the opening size on the lateral displacement, base shear, and stress at the opening was determined.  It was found that the opening of 12% has less lateral displacement, base shear, and stress at the opening. This indicates that this opening delivers the best performance among the other percentages. Five models with the same percentage of rhombus opening of 12% at different configuration on the shear wall in tall buildings were modeled to determine the optimum configuration of opening on shear walls. It was found that Model-1 is the optimum configuration since this model has the lowest lateral displacement and stress at the opening. It can be concluded that Model-1 with 12% opening area is the optimum size and configuration to resist lateral force on tall buildings

Optimization of Rhombus Opening Area of Shear Walls On Tall Buildings

This research was designed to determine the optimum percentage and configuration of rhombus opening on shear wall of tall building. A residential tall building of 12-storeys having base size of 20m × 10m with height of floor of 3m was analysed. In this paper, percentages of 12%, 24%, 36%, 42%, and 54% concentric rhombus opening in a shear wall in tall buildings were modeled. The effect of the opening size on the lateral displacement, base shear, and stress at the opening was determined.  It was found that the opening of 12% has less lateral displacement, base shear, and stress at the opening. This indicates that this opening delivers the best performance among the other percentages. Five models with the same percentage of rhombus opening of 12% at different configuration on the shear wall in tall buildings were modeled to determine the optimum configuration of opening on shear walls. It was found that Model-1 is the optimum configuration since this model has the lowest lateral displacement and stress at the opening. It can be concluded that Model-1 with 12% opening area is the optimum size and configuration to resist lateral force on tall buildings

Revisión sistemática y meta-análisis de las estrategias de seguimiento en pacientes operados de cáncer colorrectal

Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Ciencias da Saúde. 5007V01[Resumen] Introducción: Existen varias estrategias de seguimiento de los pacientes operados, con intención curativa, de cáncer colorrectal sin metástasis. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el efecto del seguimiento intensivo de estos pacientes en términos de supervivencia y otras variables secundarias. Material y métodos: Revisión sistemática y meta-análisis de los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y publicados sobre el tema hasta junio del 2014. Resultados: Se incluyeron 11 estudios (n=4055 pacientes). Se observó una mejoría de la supervivencia con el seguimiento intensivo (HR=0,75; 95%IC: 0,66; 0,86) y mayor probabilidad de: detección de recurrencias asintomáticas (RR=2,59; 95%IC: 1,66; 4,06), cirugía curativa de recurrencias (RR=1,98; 95%IC: 1,51; 2,60), supervivencia a las recurrencias (RR=2,13; 95%IC: 1,24; 3,69), y menor tiempo hasta la detección de recurrencias (diferencia de medias=-5,23 meses; 95%IC: -9,58; -0,88). No hubo diferencias significativas en las recurrencias totales ni en la mortalidad especifica. Conclusiones: El seguimiento más intensivo de estos pacientes se asocia a: mejora la mortalidad global, aumento de detección de recurrencias asintomáticas, mayor posibilidad de realizar cirugía curativa de recurrencia, mayor supervivencia a las recurrencias y menor tiempo hasta la detección de recurrencias. El seguimiento intensivo no se demostró asociado con la disminución de la mortalidad específica ni con mayor detección de recurrencias totales.[Resumo] Introducción: Existen varias estratexias para o seguimento dos pacientes operados con intención curativa para o cancro colorretal sen metástases . O noso obxectivo é avaliar o efecto de seguimento intensivo destes pacientes en termos de supervivencia e outras variables secundarias. Material y métodos: Revisión sistemática e meta-análise dos ensaios clínicos aleatorizados e publicados sobre o tema ata xuño do 2014. Resultados: Incluíronse 11 estudos (n=4055 pacientes). Observouse unha melloría da supervivencia co seguimento intensivo (HR=0,75; 95%IC: 0,66; 0,86) e maior probabilidade de: detección de recurrencias asintomáticas (RR=2,59; 95%IC: 1,66; 4,06), cirurxía curativa de recurrencias (RR=1,98; 95%IC: 1,51; 2,60), supervivencia ás recurrencias (RR=2,13; 95%IC: 1,24; 3,69), e menor tempo ata a detección de recurrencias (diferenza de medias=-5,23 meses; 95%IC: -9,58; -0,88). Non houbo diferenzas significativas nas recurrencias totais nin na mortalidade especifica. Conclusións: O seguimento máis intensivo do estes pacientes asóciase a: mellora a mortalidade global, aumento de detección de recurrencias asintomáticas, maior posibilidade de realizar cirurxía curativa de recurrencia, maior supervivencia ás recurrencias e menor tempo ata a detección de recurrencias. O seguimento intensivo non se demostrou asociado coa diminución da mortalidade específica nin con maior detección de recurrencias totais.[Abstract] Background: A wide variety of follow-up strategies are used for patients with non metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) after curative surgery. The aim is to review the impact of different follow-up strategies in these patients, in relation to overall survival and other outcomes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized clinical trials was carried out up to June 2014. Results: Eleven studies (n=4055 participants) were included in a meta-analysis. Intensive follow-up was associated with significant improvement in overall survival [hazard ratio (HR)=0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.86]. A higher detection of asymptomatic recurrences [relative risk (RR)=2.59; 95%CI 1.66-4.06], curative surgery attempted at recurrences (RR=1.98; 95%CI 1.51-2.60), survival after recurrences (RR=2.13; 95%CI 1.24-3.69), and a shorter time in detecting recurrences (mean difference = -5.23 months; 95%CI -9.58 to -0.88) was observed in the intervention group. There were no significant differences in the total tumor recurrences, nor in the cancer-specific survival. Conclusion: Intensive follow-up improves overall survival, increases the detection of asymptomatic recurrences and curative surgery attempted at recurrence, improves survival after recurrences, and is associated with a shorter time in detecting recurrences. Intensive follow-up could not be associated with improvement of cancer-specific survival nor with more detection of total recurrences

PalAST: A Cross-Platform Mobile Application for Automated Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to resist the effects of antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat and increasing the risk of complications and death. One way to fight antibiotic resistance is by identifying the most effective antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. This can be done through a laboratory test called AST, which is used to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. However, manual AST has several limitations that include time delay, limited accuracy, limited testing capacity, and subjective interpretation of results. Therefore, there is an emergent need for a more reliable and efficient alternative to manual AST. Recently, few works have tried to automate disk diffusion AST through AI-based solutions and mobile applications. However, these works do not support advanced analysis and interpretation of results, do not present evaluation of detection performance, or are not publicly available to download and use. This work proposes PalAST, a cross-platform mobile application that supports automated disk diffusion AST. The application enables biologists to take AST photos and analyze them in real time with minimal human intervention. It uses image processing and a pre-trained machine learning model to detect antibiotic disks in the agar plate and predict bounding circles for inhibition zones. Then, it provides an interpretation of results including the diameters of the inhibition zones, the labels on the antibiotic disks, and the rating of the bacteria as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant to each antibiotic. PalAST also stores the results of tests, allowing users to access and review past test results. PalAST was tested using a number of real AST photos, and the detection performance was evaluated by using common metrics, i.e. precision, recall, and Intersection over Union. We also used expert evaluation through a questionnaire to assess the usability and ease of use of PalAST

Diagnosis and management of testicular compartment syndrome caused by tension hydrocele

A hydrocele is an abnormal collection of fluid within the tunica vaginalis which may either be congenital or acquired. Hydroceles are usually painless and don\u27t require immediate intervention unless they impact activities of daily living. This case demonstrates a rare complication of hydroceles termed tension hydrocele which presented with scrotal swelling and acute pain. Unlike the classic presentation of hydroceles with minimal pain or discomfort, it is important to recognize tension hydroceles as an extremely rare but possible cause of acute scrotum, which needs to be emergently diagnosed and treated