33 research outputs found
Impaired membrane resealing and autoimmune myositis in synaptotagmin VII–deficient mice
Members of the synaptotagmin family have been proposed to function as Ca2+ sensors in membrane fusion. Syt VII is a ubiquitously expressed synaptotagmin previously implicated in plasma membrane repair and Trypanosoma cruzi invasion, events which are mediated by the Ca2+-regulated exocytosis of lysosomes. Here, we show that embryonic fibroblasts from Syt VII–deficient mice are less susceptible to trypanosome invasion, and defective in lysosomal exocytosis and resealing after wounding. Examination of mutant mouse tissues revealed extensive fibrosis in the skin and skeletal muscle. Inflammatory myopathy, with muscle fiber invasion by leukocytes and endomysial collagen deposition, was associated with elevated creatine kinase release and progressive muscle weakness. Interestingly, similar to what is observed in human polymyositis/dermatomyositis, the mice developed a strong antinuclear antibody response, characteristic of autoimmune disorders. Thus, defective plasma membrane repair in tissues under mechanical stress may favor the development of inflammatory autoimmune disease
"The fruits of independence": Satyajit Ray, Indian nationhood and the spectre of empire
Challenging the longstanding consensus that Satyajit Ray's work is largely free of ideological concerns and notable only for its humanistic richness, this article shows with reference to representations of British colonialism and Indian nationhood that Ray's films and stories are marked deeply and consistently by a distinctively Bengali variety of liberalism. Drawn from an ongoing biographical project, it commences with an overview of the nationalist milieu in which Ray grew up and emphasizes the preoccupation with colonialism and nationalism that marked his earliest unfilmed scripts. It then shows with case studies of Kanchanjangha (1962), Charulata (1964), First Class Kamra (First-Class Compartment, 1981), Pratidwandi (The Adversary, 1970), Shatranj ke Khilari (The Chess Players, 1977), Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991) and Robertsoner Ruby (Robertson's Ruby, 1992) how Ray's mature work continued to combine a strongly anti-colonial viewpoint with a shifting perspective on Indian nationhood and an unequivocal commitment to cultural cosmopolitanism. Analysing how Ray articulated his ideological positions through the quintessentially liberal device of complexly staged debates that were apparently free, but in fact closed by the scenarist/director on ideologically specific notes, this article concludes that Ray's reputation as an all-forgiving, ‘everybody-has-his-reasons’ humanist is based on simplistic or even tendentious readings of his work
Recommended from our members
Non-healing verrucous plaque over upper limb for 1 year in a tea garden worker
Recommended from our members
Non-healing verrucous plaque over upper limb for 1 year in a tea garden worker
Vanishing Thermal Conductance of Carbon Nanotube upon Encapsulation by Zigzag Sulfur Chain
We
report an unprecedented enhancement of thermoelectric properties
of a single-walled carbon nanotube upon encapsulation of a zigzag
sulfur chain inside the nanocore. Our calculations on a 70 Ã…
long [5, 5] carbon nanotube reveal that the encapsulation of zigzag
sulfur chain will lead to a 10<sup>7</sup>% increase in the thermoelectric
figure of merit and concomitant quenching of thermal conductance by
90%. We have noticed that finite transmission gradient at the Fermi
level combined with destructive quantum interference at the sulfur
sites and structural conformation-dependent scattering-induced damping
of phonon transmission are attributed to the dramatic improvement
of thermoelectric behavior of this material. This finding indeed will
help circumvent the long-standing problem in the fabrication of carbon-nanotube-based
ultrafast device
Effect of clonidine as adjuvant in bupivacaine-induced supraclavicular brachial plexus block: A randomized controlled trial
Objective: Clonidine has been used as adjuvant to local anesthetics in
order to extend the duration of analgesia in various regional and
central neuraxial blocks. It is previously reported that clonidine
added to bupivacaine increases analgesia duration in brachial plexus
block. We evaluated the effect of this combination in supraclavicular
brachial plexus block for upper limb orthopedic procedures. Materials
and Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial was
done with 70 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I
or II status undergoing upper limb orthopedic procedures. Group A (n =
35) patients received 25 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.2 ml (30 mcg)
clonidine, whereas group B (n = 35) received 25 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine
and 0.2 ml normal saline through a supraclavicular approach for
brachial plexus block. Vital parameters were recorded 10 min prior to
block placement and every 3 min thereafter till the end of the
procedure. Onset and duration of both sensory and motor blocks and
sedation score were recorded. All patients were observed in
postanesthesia care unit and received tramadol injection as soon as
they complained of pain as rescue analgesic. Duration of analgesia was
taken as the time from placement of block till injection of rescue
analgesic. Results: Analgesia duration was 415.4 ± 38.18 min (mean
± standard deviation) in Group A (clonidine) compared to 194.2
± 28.74 min in Group B (control). No clinically significant
difference was observed in heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen
saturation. Sedation score was higher in the clonidine group.
Conclusion: Addition of a small dose of clonidine to 0.5% bupivacaine
significantly prolonged the duration of analgesia without producing any
clinically important adverse reactions other than sedation