Venezuela e ALBA: regionalismo contra-hegemônico e ensino superior para todos

Partindo de um quadro teórico neo-gramsciano crítico à globalização, este artigo aplica a nova teoria do regionalismo (NTR) e a teoria do regionalismo regulatório (TRR) à sua análise e teorização dos tratados de comércio da Aliança Bolivariana para os Povos da Nossa América (ALBA-TCP) como regionalismo contra-hegemônico na América Latina e Caribe (ALC). A ALBA está centrada na ideia de um Socialismo do Século XXI, que, como (inicialmente) também a Revolução Bolivariana da Venezuela, substitui a 'vantagem competitiva' pela 'vantagem cooperativa'. Em seu caráter de conjunto de processos multidimensionais e transnacionais a ALBA-TCP opera dentro de/transversalmente a um número de setores e escalas, ao mesmo passo que as transformações estruturais são movidas pela interação de agentes do Estado e agentes não estatais. A política de Educação Superior para Todos (ESPT) do governo venezuelano rejeita a agenda neoliberal globalizada de mercadorização, privatização e elitismo e reinvindica educação pública gratuita em todos os níveis como um direito humano fundamental. A ESPT está sendo regionalizado em um espaço educacional emergente da ALBA e assume um papel-chave nos processos de democracia direta e participatória, dos quais a construção popular (bottom-up) da contra-hegemonia e a redefinição política e econômica da ALC dependem. Antes de produzir sujeitos empreendedores conformes ao capitalismo global, a ESPT procura formar subjetividades ao longo de valores morais de solidariedade e cooperação. Isso será ilustrado com referência a um estudo etnográfico de caso da Universidade Bolivariana da Venezuela (UBV).This paper employs new regionalism theory and regulatory regionalism theory in its analysis and theorisation of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) as a counter-hegemonic Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) regionalism. As (initially) the regionalisation of Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution, ALBA is centred around the idea of a 21st Century Socialism that replaces the 'competitive advantage' with the 'cooperative advantage'. ALBA, as a set of multi-dimensional inter- and transnational processes, operates within and across a range of sectors and scales whilst the structural transformations are driven by the interplay of state and non-state actors. The Venezuelan government's Higher Education For All (HEFA) policy, which is being regionalised within an emergent ALBA education space, assumes a key role in the direct democratic and participatory democratic processes upon which a bottom-up construction of counter-hegemony depends. HEFA challenges the globalised neoliberal higher education agenda of commoditisation, privatisation and elitism. Rather than producing enterprising subjects fashioned for global capitalism, HEFA seeks to form subjectivities along the moral values of solidarity and cooperation

Dynamic thermal and radiative behaviors of a high pressure sodium lamp plasma

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Linguistic Hybridity and Cultural Multiplicity in Emirati Identity Construction

The effects of globalization and its accompanying language, English, can be seen in many countries worldwide. However, in certain contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) such effects are exacerbated due to several key factors. These factors include the UAE’s ‘superdiverse’ demographic makeup, the existence of diglossia in Arabic, widespread English Medium Instruction (EMI) policies and the fact that English is used as a Lingua Franca in multiple domains. This paper will discuss the effects of such factors on identity construction and language use with reference to international and local research. The findings from a qualitative phenomenological case study using open-response questionnaires and semi-structured focus groups, and involving 100 Emirati university students and 52 faculty members will be shared. Data analysis was thematic using informant and methodological triangulation. Decidedly, the most prominent theme emerging from the data was the complexity and multiplicity surrounding Emirati identity construction. This could be seen through the use of linguistic hybridity in the form of translanguaging and code-switching, as well as mixing of local and global cultures to create new, but no less Emirati, identities. Finally, a strong preference for being given a choice regarding medium of instruction in higher education was revealed. Such a choice is not currently provided. The paper ends by stressing the importance of embracing linguistic hybridity and cultural multiplicity rather than viewing English as a subtractive force

Complete mutation screening and haplotype characterization of BRCA1 gene in Tunisian patients with familial breast cancer

Breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, is the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. To investigate the contribution of BRCA1 gene mutations to familial breast cancer in Tunisia, 32 unrelated patients who had at least one first degree relative affected with breast and/or ovarian cancer were analysed. BRCA1 mutation analysis was performed by DNA sequencing of all BRCA1 exons. We identified four different BRCA1 frameshift mutations: c. 4041delAG, c. 2551delG and c. 5266dupC already been described and one novel mutation, c. 211dupA, observed in two unrelated families. C. 5266dupC has previously been found among Jewish Ashkenazi and Eastern European populations. Our study describes it in Arabic/Berber population. Five out of thirty two familial cases had deleterious BRCA1 mutations. Fifteen additional cases carried unclassified variants (UV) or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our study is the first molecular investigation on the role of BRCA1 in hereditary breast cancer in North Tunisia