“Go where the Love Is”: Failed Emotional Negotiations of Space and Identity in Tessa McWatt's This Body

Identity, space and emotions, although traditionally all traditionally naturalized and delinked from the construction of one another, might also be read as formed by intertwined processes that are guided and shaped by hegemonic powers. Nonetheless, as they delineating difference within and among themselves, the consideration of these three fields and the way they work together in these shaping opens up new ways to approach the split between normative categories of identity, assigned location and adequate feelings, and their subjective perception. Tessa McWatt’s novel This Body presents the reader with two Guyanese characters, Victoria and her nephew Derek, that undergo, at many different levels, this split between subjectivity and a socially and culturally given subject position. Challenging normative ideals, Victoria struggles with her categorization as Other; an endeavour marked by her trajectories and experiences as she negotiates and redeploys a physical as well as a social space of her own in the city of London. Still, her love relationship with a British man would make her drift towards assimilation inasmuch as this affair relocates Victoria within dominant gender, ethnic and class hierarchies

Fugitive Plots: Adaptation, Storytelling, and Choreography in Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather

Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather are two 1943 all-Black cast musicals made within the studio system. When compared they exemplify some of the changes taking place in this system regarding the representation of Black people and visualize the work of networks of Black performers and film workers with clear goals grounded on Black solidarity and unity. Using the concept of maroonage and the theories of image circulation proposed by Christina Sharpe (2016) and Sylvia Wynter (2016), I analyze the production history of the films, their origin in multiple adaptations, and their use of music and dance to illuminate the existence of micro agency within the film. I argue that micro agency moves progressive representations of Black people forward. Similarly, micro agency creates a tension between telos and aesthetics in these films that fulfills a fugitive logic that challenges that of capitalism as it is imbued in the studio system and the American imaginary presented on screen

Molecular and functional characterization of a SCD 1b from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

Fatty acid desaturation is a highly complex and regulated process involving different molecular and genetic actors. Ultimally, the fatty acid desaturase enzymes are responsible for the introduction of double bonds at different positions of specific substrates, resulting in a wide variety of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. This substrate-specificity makes it possible to meet all the functional needs of the different tissues against a wide variety of internal and external conditions, giving rise to a varied profile of expression and functionality of the different desaturases in the body. Being our main interest to study and characterize at the molecular level the fatty acid desaturation process in fishes, we have focused our effort on characterizing SCD 1b from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.). In this work, we have characterized a tearoyl-CoA Desaturase cDNA that codes a protein of 334 amino acids, which shares the greatest homology to marine fish SCD 1b. Northern blot analysis showed two transcripts of 3.5kb and 1.4kb. Two putative cis-acting conserved motifs are localized in the cDNA 5'-end: a polypyrimidine CT dinucleotide repeat tract and two non-palindromic putative NRL-response elements (NREs). The deduced protein presents two Delta9 FADs like domain, three His-rich motifs, a total of nine His residues acting as di‑iron coordination ligands. The SCD 1b 3D protein modelling shows a structure made up primarily of alpha-helices, four of which could be transmembrane helices. The catalytic region is oriented to the cytosolic side of the Endoplasmic Reticulum membrane, where the 9-histidine residues are arranged coordinated to two non-heme Fe2+ ions. A new His-containing motif NX3H-like includes an Asn residue that participates in the coordination of Fe2+1 through a water molecule. The protein has a large pocket with a large opening to the outside. It includes a tunnel in which the substrate-binding site is located. The external shape is reminiscent of a boathook. It shows group specificity, although a greater preference for 18C substrates. The length of the tunnel, delimited by seven amino acids that forms a pocket at the end of the tunnel, the possibility that the substrates adopt different conformations inside the tunnel as well as and the movement of acyl chain inside the tunnel, could explain the high preference for 18C fatty acids and the group specificity of the enzyme. The cDNA encodes a functional SCD enzyme, whose subcellular localization is the Endoplasmic Reticulum, which complements the ole1Delta gene-disrupted gene in DTY-11A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and produces an increment of palmitoleic and oleic acids. The scd 1b gene is expressed in all tested tissues, showing the liver and adipose tissue a higher level of expression against the brain, heart, gonad and intestine. Scd 1b expression was always bigger than those of the Delta6 fad gene, being especially significant in adipose tissue and liver. From our data, we conclude that, in contrast to the functional significance of SCD 1b in adipose tissue, liver and heart, Delta6 FAD seems to play a more determining role in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in the intestine, brain and gonad in fish

New structural features of Acacia tortuosa gum exudate

Acacia tortuosa produces a clear gum, very soluble in water. Previous reports showed that it was constituted by four fractions, one of them an arabinogalactan–protein complex. The elucidation of the A. tortuosa gum structure by the combination of classical chemical methods, size exclusion chromatography and NMR spectroscopy, was the objective of this investigation. The data obtained show that the heteropolysaccharide is an arabinogalactan type II, highly ramified, with lateral chains at C-2 as well as at C-6 of the galactose 3-O residues; mono-O-substituted galactoses were not detected. There are residues of mannose, the arabinose, pyranose predominantly, is terminal and 2-O-linked. The abundance of the 4-O-methyl-a-D-glucuronic acid was not previously reported. The proteic fraction is probably represented by an arabinogalactan–protein complex that binds poorly with b-glucosyl Yariv reagent, and two glycoproteins. The NMR spectra suggest that the carbohydrate links to hydroxyproline through the galactose (galactosylation)

Simplification of the DPPH assay for estimating the antioxidant activity of wine and wine by-products

The DPPH assay is one of the most commonly employed methods for measuring antioxidant activity. Even though this method is considered very simple and efficient, it does present various limitations which make it complicated to perform. The range of linearity between the DPPH inhibition percentage and sample concentration has been studied with a view to simplifying the method for characterising samples of wine origin. It has been concluded that all the samples are linear in a range of inhibition below 40%, which allows the analysis to be simplified. A new parameter more appropriate for the simplification, the EC20, has been proposed to express the assay results. Additionally, the reaction time was analysed with the object of avoiding the need for kinetic studies in the method. The simplifications considered offer a more functional method, without significant errors, which could be used for routine analysis

Fatty Acid and Tocopherol Composition of Pomace and Seed Oil from Five Grape Varieties Southern Spain

Grape pomace and seeds are important winemaking by-products. Their oils are rich in bioactive compounds such as fatty acids and tocopherols. We have characterized oils from both by-products from five Spanish grape varieties (Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximenez, Muscat of Alexandria, Tempranillo and Tintilla de Rota). A high content of UFAs was found in all the analyzed samples. Grape pomace oils generally had the same oleic acid (PUFA(omega-6)) content as seed oils, and lower PUFA contents; they also had a markedly higher linolenic acid (PUFA(omega-3)) content, improving the PUFA(omega-6)/PUFA(omega-3) ratio. All the oil studied show good indicators of nutritional quality: low values of the atherogenicity (0.112-0.157 for pomace, 0.097-0.112 for seed) and thrombogenicity indices (0.30-0.35 for pomace, 0.28-0.31 for seed) and high values of the relationship between hypo- and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (6.93-9.45 for pomace, 9.11-10.54 for seed). Three tocopherols were determined: alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol. Pomace oils have higher relative contents of alpha- and delta-tocopherol, whereas seed oils have higher relative contents of gamma-tocopherol. A significantly higher content of total tocopherols has been found in pomace oil; it is higher in the oils from red varieties of pomace (628.2 and 706.6 mg/kg by-product), and in the oils from pomace containing stems (1686.4 mg/kg by-product). All the oils obtained can be considered as a source of vitamin E, and their consumption is beneficial for health

Caracterización estructural de dos oligosacáridos y del núcleo del polisacárido de la goma de Cedrela odorata

Se caracterizaron dos oligosacáridos y el núcleo del polisacáridode la goma de Cedrela odorata. Las gomas degradadas A y B, se prepararon sucesivamente, a partir de la goma original, mediante hidrólisis ácida parcial y degradación de Smith. Los oligosacáridos se aislaron por hidrólisis ácida parcial de la goma degradada A. La caracterización estructural se hizo mediante la combinación de métodos clásicos para carbohidratos y espectroscopia de RMN bidimensional (TNTocsy y HMQC). Losdatos obtenidos demostraron la presencia, en los oligosacáridosaislados, de 4-O- y 2,4-di-O-α-L-ramnosa, 2-O-β-L-arabinopiranosa y 4-O-β-D-galactosa. El núcleo está constituido por 2-O-α-L-ramnosa, sustituida en posición 4, residuos de 3-O- β-D-galactosa, algunos de éstos sustituidos en posición 2. La caracterización de fragmentos más simples, proporciona información relevante para proponer un modelo estructural para el polisacárido complejo

Allelopathic Activity of Strigolactones on the Germination of Parasitic Plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Growth

Strigolactones (SLs) are a prime example of allelochemicals, promoting parasitic plant germination and certain hyphal branching factors associated to the growth of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the study of SLs is complex, and various issues have yet to be studied in depth. This review intends to provide an overview of the works that have been conducted on the identification, isolation, and evaluation of the allelopathic activity of natural canonical and non-canonical SLs on parasitic weeds and AMF growth. These topics were related with their application in agriculture through trap crops, suicidal germination or intercropping strategies. The high applicability of SLs in agriculture, for example, as preventing herbicides for parasitic weed control, has increased the interest for these compounds and the number of research articles published. This review updates and discusses the last findings in this field, with special emphasis in the results published since 2015, using tables and graphs to summarize and discuss that information. The promising results and conclusions obtained from the bioassays herein presented provide a good reason to encourage and support further research works on these natural products, which must also consider the disadvantages or current limitations that SLs present.This work was supported by the "Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad" (MINEICO), Spain, Project AGL2017-88-083-R; and by grants RTI2018-094350-B-C31 from the Spanish National R&D Plan of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Economy and Competitiveness (MICIU) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Estudio de la composición de los residuos de vinificación con fines alimenticios

El sector vitivinícola provoca un gran impacto medioambiental en distintas zonas geográficas debido a la generación de grandes cantidades de residuos provenientes de la vinificación y la destilería durante un corto período de tiempo en el año, generalmente entre Agosto y Octubre; el aprovechamiento y optimización de esos recursos se viene realizando, en mayor o menor medida, desde hace tiempo; no obstante queda mucho por hacer, en particular sobre la caracterización de los mismos buscando nuevas vías de procesado, ampliando la oferta de productos procedentes de los subproductos generados. El objetivo de este trabajo es el estudio de la composición de los residuos de vinificación de dos variedades de uvas cultivadas en la Indicación Geográfica Protegida de Vinos de la Tierra de Cádiz, en concreto la variedad blanca vr. Palomino y la variedad tinta vr. Tempranillo. Para ello se han analizado el nitrógeno orgánico, la fibra alimenticia y los azúcares totales y reductores en los residuos generados en sendos procesos de vinificación, como parámetros indicadores, evaluándose en base a los datos obtenidos sus posibles usos en la industria de la alimentación

Influencia de la pasificación en el contenido lipídico de los residuos de vinificación

XI Congreso Nacional de Investigación EnológicaUn problema asociado a la vitivinicultura es la gran cantidad de residuos que genera cuya gestión implica consideraciones económicas y medioambientales. No obstante, estos residuos son ricos en distintas sustancias naturales de interés por lo que pueden ser utilizados como fuente de materias primas, abriéndose así su uso a otros campos de utilización y proporcionando un valor añadido a estos residuos. Entre estos compuestos naturales de interés se encuentra su fracción lipídica, rica en ácidos grasos insaturados ω-3 y ω-6, que podría ser utilizada, entre otros, para la elaboración de alimentos funcionales, como complemento dietético de la alimentación animal o para la elaboración de productos cosméticos. La composición lipídica de estos residuos no sólo depende de la variedad de uva utilizada sino que parece también verse afectada por el procesado inicial de la uva antes de la vinificación, como es el caso de la pasificación. En el presente trabajo se ha caracterizado el contenido en ácidos grasos y lípidos del orujo (hollejos y pepitas), raspones y pepitas de dos variedades de uva, Moscatel y Pedro Ximénez, sin pasificar y pasificadas por dos métodos diferentes, asoleo y en cámara climática, estudiándose la diferencias generadas en los distintos casos