Identidade e contacto cultural no romance A rainha ginga (2014) de José Eduardo Agualusa

A presente dissertação visa examinar questões de identidade pessoal e de contacto cultural levantadas no romance histórico A Rainha Ginga (2014) do escritor angolano contemporâneo José Eduardo Agualusa. Em correspondência com o objetivo principal deste trabalho, procura-se analisar os pontos principais da narrativa, que permitem caracterizar as identidades das personsgens e tirar conclusões sobre o modo como são rerpesentados no romance as relações interculturais. A análise do romance A Rainha Ginga proposta nesta dissertação baseia-se em teorias que pertencem ao campo dos Estudos Culturais e enfocam questões de identidade pessoal e de contacto cultural. Entre esses trabalhos estão os de Stuart Hall (A Identidade Cultural na Pós-Modernidade), de Kathryn Woodward (Questioning Identity: Gender, Class, Ethnicity) e de Amartya Sen (Identidade e Violência). Além disso, são aplicadas na análise outras ideias mais específicas, que podem estar mais próximas do contexto do romance de Agualusa, como, por exemplo, aquelas contidas em O Atlântico Negro de Paul Gilroy e a tese do “luso-tropicalismo” de Gilberto Freyre. Analisando o romance histórico A Rainha Ginga, propõe-se traçar paralelos entre o pensamento dos teóricos mencionados e a obra de Agualusa, assim contribuindo para a reflexão sobre questões de identidade pessoal e de contacto cultural que, no mundo de hoje, se revestem de importância especial.This dissertation aims to study the questions of personal identity and of culture contact raised in the historical novel A Rainha Ginga (The Queen Ginga, 2014) written by the Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa. In accordance with the aim of this dissertation, it is proposed to analyze the points of the novel A Rainha Ginga (The Queen Ginga) that permit to characterize personal identities of the characters and to make conclusions about the way how the interactions between different peoples are shown and how the contact with the Other (as an experience of an individual) is represented. The analysis of the novel A Rainha Ginga (The Queen Ginga) is based on the theories that are elaborated within Cultural Studies and focuse on the questions of identitity and of culture contact. Among the scientific contributions that are the most significant for this work, are the theories by Stuart Hall, Kathryn Woodward and Amartya Sen. Besides, are applied to the analysis the ideas of The Black Atlantic by Paul Gilroy and of “luso-tropicalism” by Gilberto Freyre. The analysis of the novel A Rainha Ginga (The Queen Ginga) intends to draw parallels between theories elaborated within Cultural Studies and the novel by Agualusa so as to contribute for comprehension of the questions of personal identity and of culture contact, that acquire special importance in our days.Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língu

A screen for regulators of survival of motor neuron protein levels

The motor neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) results from mutations that lead to low levels of the ubiquitously expressed protein survival of motor neuron (SMN). An ever-increasing collection of data suggests that therapeutics that elevate SMN may be effective in treating SMA. We executed an image-based screen of annotated chemical libraries and discovered several classes of compounds that were able to increase cellular SMN. Among the most important was the RTK–PI3K–AKT–GSK-3 signaling cascade. Chemical inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) directed against this target elevated SMN levels primarily by stabilizing the protein. It was particularly notable that GSK-3 chemical inhibitors were also effective in motor neurons, not only in elevating SMN levels, but also in blocking the death that was produced when SMN was acutely reduced by an SMN-specific shRNA. Thus, we have established a screen capable of detecting drug-like compounds that correct the main phenotypic change underlying SMA.Stem Cell and Regenerative Biolog

Canine distemper virus persistence in demyelinating encephalitis by swift intracellular cell-to-cell spread in astrocytes is controlled by the viral attachment protein

The mechanism of viral persistence, the driving force behind the chronic progression of inflammatory demyelination in canine distemper virus (CDV) infection, is associated with non-cytolytic viral cell-to-cell spread. Here, we studied the molecular mechanisms of viral spread of a recombinant fluorescent protein-expressing virulent CDV in primary canine astrocyte cultures. Time-lapse video microscopy documented that CDV spread was very efficient using cell processes contacting remote target cells. Strikingly, CDV transmission to remote cells could occur in less than 6 h, suggesting that a complete viral cycle with production of extracellular free particles was not essential in enabling CDV to spread in glial cells. Titration experiments and electron microscopy confirmed a very low CDV particle production despite higher titers of membrane-associated viruses. Interestingly, confocal laser microscopy and lentivirus transduction indicated expression and functionality of the viral fusion machinery, consisting of the viral fusion (F) and attachment (H) glycoproteins, at the cell surface. Importantly, using a single-cycle infectious recombinant H-knockout, H-complemented virus, we demonstrated that H, and thus potentially the viral fusion complex, was necessary to enable CDV spread. Furthermore, since we could not detect CD150/SLAM expression in brain cells, the presence of a yet non-identified glial receptor for CDV was suggested. Altogether, our findings indicate that persistence in CDV infection results from intracellular cell-to-cell transmission requiring the CDV-H protein. Viral transfer, happening selectively at the tip of astrocytic processes, may help the virus to cover long distances in the astroglial network, “outrunning” the host’s immune response in demyelinating plaques, thus continuously eliciting new lesions

Pseudorabies Virus Infection Alters Neuronal Activity and Connectivity In Vitro

Alpha-herpesviruses, including human herpes simplex virus 1 & 2, varicella zoster virus and the swine pseudorabies virus (PRV), infect the peripheral nervous system of their hosts. Symptoms of infection often include itching, numbness, or pain indicative of altered neurological function. To determine if there is an in vitro electrophysiological correlate to these characteristic in vivo symptoms, we infected cultured rat sympathetic neurons with well-characterized strains of PRV known to produce virulent or attenuated symptoms in animals. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made at various times after infection. By 8 hours of infection with virulent PRV, action potential (AP) firing rates increased substantially and were accompanied by hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials and spikelet-like events. Coincident with the increase in AP firing rate, adjacent neurons exhibited coupled firing events, first with AP-spikelets and later with near identical resting membrane potentials and AP firing. Small fusion pores between adjacent cell bodies formed early after infection as demonstrated by transfer of the low molecular weight dye, Lucifer Yellow. Later, larger pores formed as demonstrated by transfer of high molecular weight Texas red-dextran conjugates between infected cells. Further evidence for viral-induced fusion pores was obtained by infecting neurons with a viral mutant defective for glycoprotein B, a component of the viral membrane fusion complex. These infected neurons were essentially identical to mock infected neurons: no increased AP firing, no spikelet-like events, and no electrical or dye transfer. Infection with PRV Bartha, an attenuated circuit-tracing strain delayed, but did not eliminate the increased neuronal activity and coupling events. We suggest that formation of fusion pores between infected neurons results in electrical coupling and elevated firing rates, and that these processes may contribute to the altered neural function seen in PRV-infected animals

Self-oligomerization regulates stability of survival motor neuron protein isoforms by sequestering an SCF^Slmb degron

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by homozygous mutations in human SMN1. Expression of a duplicate gene (SMN2) primarily results in skipping of exon 7 and production of an unstable protein isoform, SMNΔ7. Although SMN2 exon skipping is the principal contributor to SMA severity, mechanisms governing stability of survival motor neuron (SMN) isoforms are poorly understood. We used a Drosophila model system and label-free proteomics to identify the SCFSlmb ubiquitin E3 ligase complex as a novel SMN binding partner. SCFSlmb interacts with a phosphor degron embedded within the human and fruitfly SMN YG-box oligomerization domains. Substitution of a conserved serine (S270A) interferes with SCFSlmb binding and stabilizes SMNΔ7. SMA-causing missense mutations that block multimerization of full-length SMN are also stabilized in the degron mutant background. Overexpression of SMNΔ7S270A, but not wild-type (WT) SMNΔ7, provides a protective effect in SMA model mice and human motor neuron cell culture systems. Our findings support a model wherein the degron is exposed when SMN is monomeric and sequestered when SMN forms higher-order multimers

National innovation system of Russia: state of the art and prospects of development

Objective to characterize the national innovative system of Russia to identify its main features opportunities threats strengths and weaknesses the causes for the lag in innovation to formulate development priorities as well as the key principles for improving the national innovation system of Russia. Methods in this work were applied scientific methods of cognition generalization of the logical method analysis method of economic analysis method of expert estimations. Results SWOT analysis is compiled for the national innovation system of Russia its characteristic features and peculiarities are determined. The necessity of optimization and improvement of construction principles of the national innovation system of Russia is proved. Recommendations are given. Scientific novelty new recommendations for state innovation management are given and the existing ones are improved. In addition the proposed list of principles is grouped by significance. Practical value the possibility to optimize measures of the state innovation management in Russia to accelerate its exit from unsustainable status in this field and to strengthen the growth of innovative development

Sustainable and inclusive stakeholder engagement in long-term energy planning

The research on the concept of stakeholders has a long and rich history, beginning its discourse in management studies. Over time, attention to the parties affected by firms or organisations in various spheres has grown and acquired multiple definitions and concepts. Studies link the definition of stakeholders to their roles, communication with each other and degrees of exposure or influence on the project/study under consideration. However, most studies do not pay sufficient attention to one of the main determinants of a stakeholder's role, namely their active actions and practices that define their relationships and connections with other stakeholders and project itself. This research proposes to examine the concept of stakeholder in terms of actions and practices as a determinant of stakeholder roles. This study also creates a concept considering stakeholder relationship as a continuous and flowing process, where the roles of stakeholders and their designations change according to the changes in their practices and interactions. Thus, the conceptualization of stakeholder based on their actions will contribute to the study of the stakeholder role especially in the field of long-term energy transition in particular, as by building an understanding of the stakeholder roles through the changing practices, that are formed by actions, and fluid systems of interaction between stakeholders it is possible to contribute to creation of a practical methodology of a long-term and successful co-operation in the multi-directional phenomenon of sustainable energy transition. This article contributes to the conference theme by expanding the notion of stakeholders within the scope of sustainable use of natural sources and the long-term energy transition, and by reviewing relevant state-of-the-art stakeholder engagement methodologies with the intention of discovering main research directions and related knowledge gaps