336 research outputs found
Text and performance in Africa
In written literary traditions the distinction between text and performance seems self-evident. The text is the permanent artifact, handwritten or printed, while the performance is the unique, never-to-be repeated realization or concretization of the text, a realization that "brings the text to life" but which is itself doomed to die on the breath in which it is uttered. Text fixes, performance animates. But even in written traditions, there are all kinds of different relations possible between a "text" and a "performance." Written texts can be cues, scripts, or stimulants to oral performance, and can also be records, outcomes, or by-products of it. Even texts usually thought of as belonging purely within the written sphere can have a performative dimension. If, as is true in many traditions, text depends on performance and performance on text, comparative literary studies should help us to conceptualize the nature and degree of these varying relations of dependency.Issue title: Performance Literature II
Phylogeography of the crown-of-thorns starfish in the Indian Ocean
Background: Understanding the limits and population dynamics of closely related sibling species in the marine realm is particularly relevant in organisms that require management. The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, recently shown to be a species complex of at least four closely related species, is a coral predator infamous for its outbreaks that have devastated reefs throughout much of its Indo-Pacific distribution.
Methodology/Principal Findings: In this first Indian Ocean-wide genetic study of a marine organism we investigated the genetic structure and inferred the paleohistory of the two Indian Ocean sister-species of Acanthaster planci using mitochondrial DNA sequence analyses. We suggest that the first of two main diversification events led to the formation of a Southern and Northern Indian Ocean sister-species in the late Pliocene-early Pleistocene. The second led to the formation of two internal clades within each species around the onset of the last interglacial. The subsequent demographic history of the two lineages strongly differed, the Southern Indian Ocean sister-species showing a signature of recent population expansion and hardly any regional structure, whereas the Northern Indian Ocean sister-species apparently maintained a constant size with highly differentiated regional groupings that were asymmetrically connected by gene flow.
Conclusions/Significance: Past and present surface circulation patterns in conjunction with ocean primary productivity were identified as the processes most likely to have shaped the genetic structure between and within the two Indian Ocean lineages. This knowledge will help to understand the biological or ecological differences of the two sibling species and therefore aid in developing strategies to manage population outbreaks of this coral predator in the Indian Ocean
Non-specific lipid-transfer proteins: Allergen structure and function, cross-reactivity, sensitization, and epidemiology
Al·lĂšrgia; Epidemiologia; ProteĂŻna de transferĂšncia de lĂpidsAlergia; EpidemiologĂa; ProteĂna de transferencia de lĂpidosAllergy; Epidemiology; Lipid transfer proteinBackground
Discovered and described 40 years ago, non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTP) are present in many plant species and play an important role protecting plants from stressors such as heat or drought. In the last 20 years, sensitization to nsLTP and consequent reactions to plant foods has become an increasing concern.
Aim
The aim of this paper is to review the evidence for the structure and function of nsLTP allergens, and cross-reactivity, sensitization, and epidemiology of nsLTP allergy.
Materials and Methods
A Task Force, supported by the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (EAACI), reviewed current evidence and provide a signpost for future research. The search terms for this paper were âNon-specific Lipid Transfer Proteinsâ, âLTP syndromeâ, âPru p 3â, âplant food allergyâ, âpollen-food syndromeâ.
Results
Most nsLTP allergens have a highly conserved structure stabilised by 4-disulphide bridges. Studies on the peach nsLTP, Pru p 3, demonstrate that nsLTPs are very cross-reactive, with the four major IgE epitopes of Pru p 3 being shared by nsLTP from other botanically related fruits. These nsLTP allergens are to varying degrees resistant to heat and digestion, and sensitization may occur through the oral, inhaled or cutaneous routes. In some populations, Pru p 3 is the primary and sole sensitizing allergen, but many are poly-sensitised both to botanically un-related nsLTP in foods, and non-food sources of nsLTP such as Cannabis sativa, Platanus acerifolia, (plane tree), Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) and Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort). Initially, nsLTP sensitization appeared to be limited to Mediterranean countries, however more recent studies suggest clinically relevant sensitization occurs in North Atlantic regions and also countries in Northern Europe, with nsLTP sensitisation profiles being broadly similar.
Discussion
These robust allergens have the potential to sensitize and provoke symptoms to a large number of plant foods, including those which are raw, cooked or processed. It is unknown why some sensitized individuals develop clinical symptoms to foods whereas others do not, or indeed what other allergens besides Pru p 3 may be primary sensitising allergens. It is clear that these allergens are also relevant in non-Mediterranean populations and there needs to be more recognition of this.
Conclusion
Non-specific LTP allergens, present in a wide variety of plant foods and pollens, are structurally robust and so may be present in both raw and cooked foods. More studies are needed to understand routes of sensitization and the world-wide prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with sensitization to these complex allergens
The Grizzly, April 23, 2009
Breakaway Productions Holds Annual One-Act Play Festival âą Red in the Face? Blushing May Indicate More Than Sheer Embarrassment âą Are You Contributing to Violence in Congo? âą Taking the Industry by Storm: Ms. Jazmine Sullivan âą Thinking of Becoming a Vegetarian? Here\u27s the Lowdown âą Trocadero Goes Punk with Bayside and New Found Glory âą Frustrated by Incessant Insomnia? Improve Sleep with These Tips âą Opinions: Breakaway in the Eyes of a Senior: Exciting and Eye-Opening âą Let\u27s Talk Tennis\u27 Successful Seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1787/thumbnail.jp
Translation and psychometric assessment of the mastectomy module of the BREAST-Q questionnaire for use in Nigeria
Background: The majority of non-metastatic breast cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa are recommended to have mastectomy. The impact of mastectomy on a predominantly young African patient population requires evaluation. The BREAST-Q is a validated patient-reported outcome measure of quality-of-life following breast surgery that has been translated into 30 languages-none in Africa. This study aimed to translate and assess the psychometric properties of the mastectomy module of the BREAST-Q for use in Nigeria. Methods: The BREAST-Q mastectomy module was translated from English to Yoruba and its psychometric properties assessed using best practice guidelines. Translation was performed in 4 steps: forward translation (x2), back translation, back translation review, and cognitive interviews with post-mastectomy patients. The translated BREAST-Q instrument was administered to post-mastectomy patients (n = 21) alongside the EORTC-QLQ BR23 to evaluate construct validity. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC); surveys were re-administered 4 weeks apart. Results: The translation process identified English phrases not amenable to direct translation, including âemotionally healthyâ and descriptions of pain (ânagging,â âthrobbing,â âsharpâ). Translations were amended to reflect local context and question intent. During cognitive interviews, patients provided suggestions to simplify complex phrases, e.g. âdiscomfort in your breast area.â. Internal consistency within scales was over 0.70 for psychosocial wellbeing (α = 0.84â0.87), sexual wellbeing (α = 0.98â0.99), physical wellbeing in chest (α = 0.84â0.86), and satisfaction with care (α = 0.89â0.93). ICC for test-retest reliability was moderate (0.46â0.63). Conclusions: The Yoruba version of the BREAST-Q mastectomy module presents a unique opportunity to adequately capture the experiences of Nigerian women post mastectomy. This instrument is being used in a pilot study of Nigerian patients to identify targets for intervention to improve the patient experience and compliance with breast cancer surgery
A human MAP kinase interactome.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways form the backbone of signal transduction in the mammalian cell. Here we applied a systematic experimental and computational approach to map 2,269 interactions between human MAPK-related proteins and other cellular machinery and to assemble these data into functional modules. Multiple lines of evidence including conservation with yeast supported a core network of 641 interactions. Using small interfering RNA knockdowns, we observed that approximately one-third of MAPK-interacting proteins modulated MAPK-mediated signaling. We uncovered the Na-H exchanger NHE1 as a potential MAPK scaffold, found links between HSP90 chaperones and MAPK pathways and identified MUC12 as the human analog to the yeast signaling mucin Msb2. This study makes available a large resource of MAPK interactions and clone libraries, and it illustrates a methodology for probing signaling networks based on functional refinement of experimentally derived protein-interaction maps
Quo Vadis Architectura? 7. Mixing the Private and the Public in the City
In this book, experts from different fields discuss the changing boundaries between private and public city life, both from historical as well as contemporary perspectives. The publication is based on the 13th Quo Vadis Architectura? Nils Erik Wickberg Lectures, held at Aalto University in 2017. The seminar was organized by the chairs of History of Architecture, Housing and Urban and Regional Planning
Disorder-Induced Critical Phenomena in Hysteresis: Numerical Scaling in Three and Higher Dimensions
We present numerical simulations of avalanches and critical phenomena
associated with hysteresis loops, modeled using the zero-temperature
random-field Ising model. We study the transition between smooth hysteresis
loops and loops with a sharp jump in the magnetization, as the disorder in our
model is decreased. In a large region near the critical point, we find scaling
and critical phenomena, which are well described by the results of an epsilon
expansion about six dimensions. We present the results of simulations in 3, 4,
and 5 dimensions, with systems with up to a billion spins (1000^3).Comment: Condensed and updated version of cond-mat/9609072,``Disorder-Induced
Critical Phenomena in Hysteresis: A Numerical Scaling Analysis'
Nitrogen transfer from forage legumes to nine neighbouring plants in a multi-species grassland
Legumes play a crucial role in nitrogen supply to grass-legume mixtures for ruminant fodder. To quantify N transfer from legumes to neighbouring plants in multi-species grasslands we established a grass-legume-herb mixture on a loamy-sandy site in Denmark. White clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) were leaf-labelled with 15N enriched urea during one growing season. N transfer to grasses
(Lolium perenne L. and xfestulolium), white clover, red clover, lucerne, birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus
L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), plantain (Plantago
lanceolata L.), salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor L.)and caraway (Carum carvi L.) was assessed. Neighbouring plants contained greater amounts of N derived from white clover (4.8 gm-2) compared with red clover (2.2 gm-2) and lucerne (1.1 gm-2). Grasses having fibrous roots received greater amounts of N from legumes than dicotyledonous plants which generally have taproots. Slurry application mainly increased N transfer from legumes to grasses. During the growing season the three legumes transferred approximately 40 kg N ha-1 to neighbouring plants. Below-ground N transfer from legumes to neighbouring plants differed among nitrogen donors and nitrogen receivers and may depend on root characteristics and regrowth strategies of plant species in the multi-species grassland
NF-ÎșB mediates proteolysis-inducing factor induced protein degradation and expression of the ubiquitinâproteasome system in skeletal muscle
Loss of skeletal muscle in cancer cachexia has a negative effect on both morbidity and mortality. The role of nuclear factor-ÎșB (NF-ÎșB) in regulating muscle protein degradation and expression of the ubiquitinâproteasome proteolytic pathway in response to a tumour cachectic factor, proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF), has been studied by creating stable, transdominant-negative, muscle cell lines. Murine C2C12 myoblasts were transfected with plasmids with a CMV promoter that had mutations at the serine phosphorylation sites required for degradation of I-ÎșBα, an NF-ÎșB inhibitory protein, and allowed to differentiate into myotubes. Proteolysis-inducing factor induced degradation of I-ÎșBα, nuclear accumulation of NF-ÎșB and an increase in luciferase reporter gene activity in myotubes containing wild-type, but not mutant, I-ÎșBα proteins. Proteolysis-inducing factor also induced total protein degradation and loss of the myofibrillar protein myosin in myotubes containing wild-type, but not mutant, plasmids at the same concentrations as those causing activation of NF-ÎșB. Proteolysis-inducing factor also induced increased expression of the ubiquitinâproteasome pathway, as determined by âchymotrypsin-like' enzyme activity, the predominant proteolytic activity of the ÎČ-subunits of the proteasome, protein expression of 20S α-subunits and the 19S subunits MSS1 and p42, as well as the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, E214k, in cells containing wild-type, but not mutant, I-ÎșBα. The ability of mutant I-ÎșBα to inhibit PIF-induced protein degradation, as well as expression of the ubiquitinâproteasome pathway, confirms that both of these responses depend on initiation of transcription by NF-ÎșB
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