Politics of Postmodern Multiculturalism in Shaun Tan’s The Arrival: Reconfiguring the Subject as a Nomad

In Shaun Tan’s The Arrival (2006), an intriguing 128-page wordless sequence of sepia-toned images marketed to audiences ranging from middle school-age children to adults,1 readers become visually engaged in the main character’s struggle to navigate a nameless constructed geographic space—an imaginary New World. Fleeing his serpent-infested Old World homeland and leaving behind two females usually interpreted as his wife and daughter,2 the migrant protagonist settles in a New World multi-ethnic community that seamlessly meshes elements of the real with the fantastic. Strange creatures jump out of familiar domestic objects, invented alphabets adorn the walls of a typical cityscape, and peculiar foods are served on the dining tables of an everyday household. As Tan suggests on his website in ‘Comments on The Arrival,’ such blending of the ordinary and the imaginary, together with the book’s genre merging, ‘plants the readers...in the shoes of an immigrant character’ (Tan 2009). Something like migrants, readers are positioned to leave behind common understandings in attempts to decipher the new society. I argue that the narrative strategies of defamiliarisation and genre blurring, in juxtaposition with the text’s deployment of further postmodern techniques (such as conflicting or mutually-exclusive symbolic referents), challenge constructions of the subject as a stable, coherent entity with a clear cultural and geographic affiliation, representing the empowerment of the ex-centric. Specifically, I show that The Arrival, as an example of a postmodern text engaged in the ontological enterprise of decentralisation, promotes the nomadic subject as defined by Rosi Braidotti —a fractured, polyvalent form of self not tied to a specific nation, place or ideology (Braidotti 1994). As such, the narrative encourages its readers to celebrate a consciousness that resists discriminatory normative practices, thus opening a space for traditionally disadvantaged subjects, such as immigrants. &nbsp

Extreme Dysbiosis of the Microbiome in Critical Illness.

Critical illness is hypothesized to associate with loss of "health-promoting" commensal microbes and overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis). This dysbiosis is believed to increase susceptibility to nosocomial infections, sepsis, and organ failure. A trial with prospective monitoring of the intensive care unit (ICU) patient microbiome using culture-independent techniques to confirm and characterize this dysbiosis is thus urgently needed. Characterizing ICU patient microbiome changes may provide first steps toward the development of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions using microbiome signatures. To characterize the ICU patient microbiome, we collected fecal, oral, and skin samples from 115 mixed ICU patients across four centers in the United States and Canada. Samples were collected at two time points: within 48 h of ICU admission, and at ICU discharge or on ICU day 10. Sample collection and processing were performed according to Earth Microbiome Project protocols. We applied SourceTracker to assess the source composition of ICU patient samples by using Qiita, including samples from the American Gut Project (AGP), mammalian corpse decomposition samples, childhood (Global Gut study), and house surfaces. Our results demonstrate that critical illness leads to significant and rapid dysbiosis. Many taxons significantly depleted from ICU patients versus AGP healthy controls are key "health-promoting" organisms, and overgrowth of known pathogens was frequent. Source compositions of ICU patient samples are largely uncharacteristic of the expected community type. Between time points and within a patient, the source composition changed dramatically. Our initial results show great promise for microbiome signatures as diagnostic markers and guides to therapeutic interventions in the ICU to repopulate the normal, "health-promoting" microbiome and thereby improve patient outcomes. IMPORTANCE Critical illness may be associated with the loss of normal, "health promoting" bacteria, allowing overgrowth of disease-promoting pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis), which, in turn, makes patients susceptible to hospital-acquired infections, sepsis, and organ failure. This has significant world health implications, because sepsis is becoming a leading cause of death worldwide, and hospital-acquired infections contribute to significant illness and increased costs. Thus, a trial that monitors the ICU patient microbiome to confirm and characterize this hypothesis is urgently needed. Our study analyzed the microbiomes of 115 critically ill subjects and demonstrated rapid dysbiosis from unexpected environmental sources after ICU admission. These data may provide the first steps toward defining targeted therapies that correct potentially "illness-promoting" dysbiosis with probiotics or with targeted, multimicrobe synthetic "stool pills" that restore a healthy microbiome in the ICU setting to improve patient outcomes

Питання правового режиму майна корпорацій

Виходячи з вказаного у тезах доповіді та із змісту ст. 123, ст.ст. 136-137 ГК України доцільно розробити загальні положення щодо правового режиму майна корпорацій всіх видів і доповнити ними ст. 123 глави 12 ГК України. А також можна надати можливість конкретизації правового режиму майна корпорацій як господарських об’єднань за різними напрямками на законодавчому рівні. Це буде позитивно впливати на реалізацію ними і учасниками таких об’єднань своїх майнових прав та інтересів

Early propranolol treatment induces lung heme-oxygenase-1, attenuates metabolic dysfunction, and improves survival following experimental sepsis

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacological agents that block beta-adrenergic receptors have been associated with improved outcome in burn injury. It has been hypothesized that injuries leading to a hypermetabolic state, such as septic shock, may also benefit from beta-blockade; however, outcome data in experimental models have been contradictory. Thus, we investigated the effect of beta-blockade with propranolol on survival, hemodynamics, lung heat shock protein (HSP) expression, metabolism and inflammatory markers in a rat cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats receiving either repeated doses (30 minutes pre-CLP and every 8 hours for 24 hours postoperatively) of propranolol or control (normal saline), underwent CLP and were monitored for survival. Additionally, lung and blood samples were collected at 6 and 24 hours for analysis. Animals also underwent monitoring to evaluate global hemodynamics. RESULTS: Seven days following CLP, propranolol improved survival versus control (P < 0.01). Heart rates in the propranolol-treated rats were approximately 23% lower than control rats (P < 0.05) over the first 24 hours, but the mean arterial blood pressure was not different between groups. Metabolic analysis of lung tissue demonstrated an increase in lung ATP/ADP ratio and NAD+ content and a decreased ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids (PUFA/MUFA). Cytokine analysis of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) demonstrated decreased expression of TNF-alpha in both lung and plasma at 24 hours post CLP induced sepsis. Finally, propranolol led to a significant increase in lung hemeoxygenase-1 expression, a key cellular protective heat shock protein (HSP) in the lung. Other lung HSP expression was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that propranolol treatment may decrease mortality during sepsis potentially via a combination of improving metabolism, suppressing aspects of the inflammatory response and enhancing tissue protection

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ МЕТОДИКИ МАТРИЧНОГО БІЗНЕС-МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ЯК ІНСТРУМЕНТУ ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ УПРАВЛІННЯ ПІДПРИЄМСТВОМ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ ГІРНИЧО-ДОБУВНИХ ЗАЛІЗОРУДНИХ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ КРИВБАСУ)

The authors of the article have substantiated the necessity and expediency of applying matrix methods of analysis of economic activity of business entities. The methodology of matrix business simulation has been improved, namely, in the formation of the system of indicators of evaluation and consideration of its results.The integral functional indicators of the matrix business models of the industrial enterprises of the resources industry of Kryvy Rih basin have been determined, in particular cost efficiency, resource efficiency, resource consumption, the structure of the final results, the structure of resources, the cost structure. According to the mentioned indicators, the authors have revealed violations of the models of management of each enterprise’s formed totality from the standard one. The authors have revealed the tendencies of development of selected enterprises for the research period on the basis of built matrix business models, with the help of which and the formed practical tools we determined the vector of their further development to improve the management efficiency.The methodological tools used in this study is a combination of methods formed on the basis of general scientific and special methods, namely: the dialectical method of scientific cognition — for the formation of the system of indicators for assessing the effectiveness of economic activities of the enterprise in order to the implementation of matrix business modeling; methods of fishbone analysis — for building a management model at each of the researched enterprises; analysis and synthesis — to determine the current tendencies in the development of mining enterprises in Kryvy Rih basin, economic and mathematical, expert methods — to determine the integral indicators of matrix business models, including functional ones; methods of abstraction and generalization — to formulate the problems and to form conclusions about the perspectives of the enterprises’ operation in mining sphere in Kryvy Rih basin.Усовершенствована методика проведения матричного бизнес-моделирования, а именно в части формирования системы показателей оценки и рассмотрения его результатов. Определены интегральные функциональные показатели матричных бизнес-моделей промышленных предприятий добывающей отрасли Криворожского бассейна, в частности эффективности затрат, эффективности ресурсов, затратоемкости ресурсов, состояния структуры конечных результатов, состояния структуры ресурсов, состояния структуры расходов. По указанным показателям выявлены искажения моделей управления каждого предприятия сформированной совокупности от эталонной. Выявлены тенденции развития выбранных предприятий за исследуемый период на основе построенных матричных бизнес-моделей, с помощью которых и сформированного практического инструментария определен вектор дальнейшего их развития для повышения эффективности управления ими.Обґрунтовано необхідність і доцільність застосування матричних методів аналізу господарської діяльності суб’єктів підприємництва. Удосконалено методику проведення матричного бізнес-моделювання, а саме в частині формування системи показників оцінки та розгляду його результатів.Визначено інтегральні функціональні показники матричних бізнес-моделей промислових підприємств добувної галузі Криворізького басейну, зокрема ефективності витрат, ефективності ресурсів, витратомісткості ресурсів, стану структури кінцевих результатів, стану структури ресурсів, стану структури витрат. За означеними показниками виявлено порушення моделей управління кожного підприємства сформованої сукупності від еталонної. Виявлено тенденції розвитку обраних підприємств за період, що досліджується, на основі побудованих матричних бізнес-моделей, за допомогою яких і сформованого практичного інструментарію визначено вектор подальшого їхнього розвитку для підвищення ефективності управління ними.Методологічний інструментарій, що використано в цьому дослідженні, являє собою комбінаторну сукупність методів, що сформована на основі загальнонаукових і спеціальних методів, а саме: діалектичний метод наукового пізнання — для формування системи показників оцінки ефективності господарської діяльності підприємства для здійснення матричного бізнес-моделювання; методи причинно-наслідкового аналізу — для побудови моделі управління на кожному з досліджуваних підприємств; аналізу і синтезу — для визначення сучасних тенденцій розвитку підприємств добувної галузі Криворізького басейну, економіко-математичні та експертні методи — для визначення інтегральних показників матричних бізнес-моделей, у тому числі функціональних; методи абстрагування та узагальнення — для формулювання проблем і формування висновків щодо перспектив функціонування підприємств добувної галузі Криворізького басейну

An experimental and theoretical study of intramolecular cyclization of phosphorylated thioureas

New 1,3,2-thiazaphospholines were prepared, and their steric and electronic structures were examined. The steric and electronic structure of N-[(O-methyl)chloromethylthiophosphoryl]thiourea and the pathways of their intramolecular cyclization and rearrangement were studied by ab initio and semiempirical methods. The influence exerted by the conformational factors in thiourea and in the anion formed from it under the conditions of base catalysis on the direction of the reactions involving these species was revealed, and the structure of intermediate complexes and the final products was determined. ©2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc

Tissue alkaline phosphatase activity and expression in an experimental infant swine model of cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest

Background: Infant cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass results in decreased circulating alkaline phosphatase that is associated with poor postoperative outcomes. Bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase infusion represents a novel therapy for post-cardiac surgery organ injury. However, the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass and bovine-intestinal alkaline phosphatase infusion on tissue-level alkaline phosphatase activity/expression are unknown. Methods: Infant pigs (n = 20) underwent cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest followed by four hours of intensive care. Seven control animals underwent mechanical ventilation only. Cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermic circulatory arrest animals were given escalating doses of bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase infusion (0-25 U/kg/hr.; n = 5/dose). Kidney, liver, ileum, jejunum, colon, heart and lung were collected for measurement of tissue alkaline phosphatase activity and mRNA. Results: Tissue alkaline phosphatase activity varied significantly across organs with the highest levels found in the kidney and small intestine. Cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest resulted in decreased kidney alkaline phosphatase activity and increased lung alkaline phosphatase activity, with no significant changes in the other organs. Alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression was increased in both the lung and the ileum. The highest dose of bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase resulted in increased kidney and liver tissue alkaline phosphatase activity. Conclusions: Changes in alkaline phosphatase activity after cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase delivery are tissue specific. Kidneys, lung, and ileal alkaline phosphatase appear most affected by cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and further research is warranted to determine the mechanism and biologic importance of these changes

The Neuro-Subject: A Living Entity with Learnability

In the context of an academic subject, students and teachers acquire knowledge and experience, but we must ensure that this experience will be shared and managed. In this way, the learning, acquired in the subject, remains in the subject. A proven way to manage the experience, which has been validated in previous works, is based on considering two dimensions: the conversion of individual knowledge into organizational and the use of a knowledge management system that allows classifying, organizing and finding knowledge based on ontologies and inferences between them. The primary objective of this research work is to join the two dimensions and apply an active method to manage the experience acquired by the teaching staff and students. The combination of the models RT-CICLO, as an active method, and ACCI 3.0 to transform individual and organizational knowledge can be applied so that organizational knowledge and learning are produced in a subject. In this work we have identified the actions in which the students create knowledge, as well as the type of knowledge that is created in each case. Organizational knowledge can be generated from each action, which can also be used to promote individual student learning. In the experience also have been acquired a high perception of usefulness on the part of students with regard to all types of organizational knowledge created

Alkaline Phosphatase Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury in an Infant Piglet Model of Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with prolonged hospitalization and mortality following infant cardiac surgery, but therapeutic options are limited. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) infusion reduced AKI in phase 2 sepsis trials but has not been evaluated for cardiac surgery-induced AKI. We developed a porcine model of infant cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) to investigate post-CPB/DHCA AKI, measure serum/renal tissue AP activity with escalating doses of AP infusion, and provide preliminary assessment of AP infusion for prevention of AKI. Infant pigs underwent CPB with DHCA followed by survival for 4 h. Groups were treated with escalating doses of bovine intestinal AP (1, 5, or 25U/kg/hr). Anesthesia controls were mechanically ventilated for 7 h without CPB. CPB/DHCA animals demonstrated histologic and biomarker evidence of AKI as well as decreased serum and renal tissue AP compared to anesthesia controls. Only high dose AP infusion significantly increased serum or renal tissue AP activity. Preliminary efficacy evaluation demonstrated a trend towards decreased AKI in the high dose AP group. The results of this dose-finding study indicate that AP infusion at the dose of 25U/kg/hr corrects serum and tissue AP deficiency and may prevent AKI in this piglet model of infant CPB/DHCA