The politics of body and language in the writing of Margaret Atwood.

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An investigation into the antibacterial mechanism of honey

The Antimicrobial Resistance, one of the biggest public threats of our times, emerged the development of alternative antibiotics. As such substances/procedures employed historically to cure diseases are now attracting the renewed interest of the scientific community. Honey has been empirically used as a powerful therapeutic since ancient times. However, currently the understanding of the underlying antibacterial mechanism is incomplete and this underestimates the medicinal value of honey. This study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide (H$^{2}$O$^{2}$)-producing honeys. To overcome the variability between honey species, a model system was used. This allowed to investigate the antibacterial effect of, and possible synergies between the three main stressors; sugars, gluconic acid and H$^{2}$O$^{2}$, resulting from the enzymatic conversion of glucose, on honey dilution. The combination of cellular and genetic methods holds the key to understanding the bacterial stress responses towards honey. Multiparametric flow cytometry (FC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) probed the physiological changes of E. coli K-12 while wide-genome transposon mutagenesis (TraDIS) identified genes and pathways which are involved in bacterial pathogenicity and resistance to honey. The model honey revealed significant synergies occurring on honey dilution. The synergy of H$^{2}$O$^{2}$ and gluconic acid augmented the antibacterial effect of honey by causing simultaneous cell membrane depolarization and destruction. TraDIS showed that switch to anaerobic metabolism consists the bacterial resistance mechanism to honey. Thus, the mutation of genes implicated in anaerobic metabolic activity, cellular homeostasis and membrane invagination caused a significant growth defect on the respective strains post-exposure to honey. These genes were deemed as “conditionally essential” as encode functions that are absolutely vital for cell viability on honey. As a proof of concept, the antibacterial effects of natural honeys was tested in vitro in a coculture of two pathogenic species, E. coli (UPEC)-C. albicans, implicated in vulvovaginal infections. Both pathogens were fully susceptible to honey of high acidity and high H$^{2}$O$^{2}$ accumulation which confirmed the importance of this synergy in antibacterial strength of honey. Overall this thesis presents a comprehensive and novel approach towards the understanding of the antibacterial mechanism of honey. This is expected to provide an advanced explanation on the mechanistic action and reveal further potential medicinal applications of this natural product

Developing a diagnostic framework for patients presenting with Exercise Induced Leg Pain (EILP): a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Numerous conditions are grouped under the generic term exercise-induced leg pain (EILP), yet clear diagnostic guidelines are lacking. This scoping review was conducted to clarify the definition and diagnostic criteria of nine commonly occurring EILP conditions. METHODS: Three online databases were searched from inception to April 2022 for any English language original manuscripts identifying, describing, or assessing the clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria of the nine most common conditions that cause EILP. We included manuscripts considering all adults with any reported diagnostic criteria for EILP in any setting. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal tool. Condition definitions were identified and categorised during data charting. Twenty-five potential elements of the history, 24 symptoms, 41 physical signs, 21 investigative tools, and 26 overarching diagnostic criteria, were identified and coded as counts of recommendation per condition, alongside qualitative analysis of the clinical reasoning. Condition definitions were constructed with 11 standardised elements based on recent consensus exercises for other conditions. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen retained manuscripts, of which 18 studied multiple conditions, had a median quality of 2/5. A combination of the history, pain location, symptoms, physical findings, and investigative modalities were fundamental to identify each sub-diagnosis alongside excluding differentials. The details differed markedly for each sub-diagnosis. Fifty-nine manuscripts included data on chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) revealing exertional pain (83% history), dull aching pain (76% symptoms), absence of physical signs (78% physical findings) and elevated intercompartment pressure (93% investigative modality). Twenty-one manuscripts included data on medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), revealing persistent pain upon discontinuation of activity (81% history), diffuse medial tibial pain (100% pain location), dull ache (86% symptoms), diffuse tenderness (95% physical findings) and MRI for exclusion of differentials (62% investigative modality). Similar analyses were performed for stress fractures (SF, n = 31), popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES, n = 22), superficial peroneal nerve entrapment syndrome (SPNES, n = 15), lumbar radiculopathy (n = 7), accessory/low-lying soleus muscle syndrome (ALLSMS, n = 5), myofascial tears (n = 3), and McArdle's syndrome (n = 2). CONCLUSION: Initial diagnostic frameworks and definitions have been developed for each condition of the nine most common conditions that cause EILP, suitable for clinical consideration and consensus confirmation

Ecological implications of pedogenesis and geochemistry of ultramafic soils in Kinabalu Park (Malaysia)

In Sabah, Malaysia, ultramafic rock outcrops are widespread (totalling 3500 km2, one of the main outcrops in the tropical zone), and predominantly of the peridotite type. However, strongly serpentinised peridotite is also locally common, particularly along fault lines in the Mt. Kinabalu area. This study aimed to determine the extent of chemical variation in ultramafic soils in relation to the degree of serpentinisation and the weathering intensity, and consequent potential ecological implications linked to resulting soil chemical fertility. It was hypothesized that young soils and soils derived from bedrock with a significant degree of serpentinisation strongly differ from typical Geric Ferralsols and result in soil chemistries with more adverse properties to plant life (e.g. low availability of the essential nutrients N, P, K and Ca and high concentrations of potentially phytotoxic Mg and Ni). Ultramafic soil diversity linked to the age of the soil or the degree of serpentinisation would thus be a main factor of plant diversity and distribution. The diverse topography of Kinabalu Park (ultramafic soils present between 400 and 2950 m asl) has given rise to high pedodiversity with the broad overall ultramafic soil types being: (i) deep laterite soils (Geric Ferralsols); (ii) moderately deep montane soils (Dystric Cambisols) with mor humus; (iii) shallow skeletal soils at high altitude (Eutric Cambisols Hypermagnesic); and (iv) bare serpentinite soils (Hypereutric Leptosols Hypermagnesic) at low altitude (200–700 m asl). Leptosols on serpentinite and Eutric Cambisols have the most extreme chemical properties in the whole Kinabalu Park area both with very high Mg:Ca molar quotients, with either high available Ni (Cambisols) or high pH (Leptosols). These soils host specific and adapted vegetation (high level of endemism) that tolerates geochemical peculiarities, including Ni hyperaccumulators. Geric Ferralsols present far less chemical constraints than Hypermagnesian Cambisols soils to the vegetation and host a tall and very diverse rainforest, not so different than that on non-ultramafic soils. It therefore appears that altitude, soil age and degree of bedrock serpentinisation are the main determining factors of soil properties: the qualifier “ultramafic” alone is not sufficient to define soil geochemical and ecological conditions in the Kinabalu Park area, probably more than in any other ultramafic region in the world

Contamination, risk, and source apportionment of potentially toxic microelements in river sediments and soil after extreme flooding in the Kolubara River catchment in Western Serbia

Climate change is contributing to an increase in extreme weather events. This results in a higher river flooding risk, causing a series of environmental disturbances, including potential contamination of agricultural soil. In Serbia, the catastrophic floods of 2014 affected six river basins, including the Kolubara River Basin, as one of the larger sub-catchments of the large regional Sava River Basin, which is characterized by large areas under agricultural cultures, various geological substrates, and different types of industrial pollution. The main aim of this study was to establish the sources of potentially toxic elements in soil and flood sediments and the effect of the flood on their concentrations. Field sampling was performed immediately after water had receded from the flooded area in May 2014. In total, 36 soil samples and 28 flood sediment samples were collected. After acid digestion (HNO3), concentrations of the most frequent potentially toxic elements (PTE) in agricultural production (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and Co which are closely related to the geological characteristics of river catchments, were analyzed. The origin, source, and interrelations of microelements, as well as BACKGROUND: values of the PTE of the river catchment, the pollution index (Pi), enrichment factor (Ef), and geological index (Igeo), were determined, using statistical methods such as Pearson correlations, principal component analysis (PCA), and multiple linear regression (MLRA). The content of the hot acid-extractable forms of the elements, PCA, and MLRA revealed a heavy geological influence on microelement content, especially on Ni, Cr, and Co, while an anthropogenic influence was observed for Cu, Zn, and Cd content. This mixed impact was primarily related to mines and their impact on As and Pb content. The pseudo-total concentrations of all the analyzed elements did not prove to be a danger in the catchment area, except for Cu in some samples, indicating point-source pollution, and Ni, whose pseudo-total content could be a limiting factor in agricultural production. For the Ef, the Ni content in 59% soil and 68% flood sediment samples is classified into influence classes. The similar pseudo-total contents of the elements studied in soil samples and flood sediment and their origin indicate that the long-term soil formation process is subject to periodic flooding in the Kolubara River Basin without any significant changes taking place. This implies that floods are not an endangering factor in terms of the contamination of soil by potentially toxic elements in the explored area

Geochemical assessment of metal transfer from rock and soil to water in serpentine areas of Sabah (Malaysia)

The mobility of metals in ultramafic rock–soil systems and metal contamination in serpentine soils were investigated from the Ranau area in Sabah, East Malaysia. Metal concentrations were analysed after division into seven operationally defined fractions by selective sequential extraction (SSE). Geochemical studies showed that the soils are exceptionally high in Cr (95%) residing in refractory residual fractions. Metal speciation studies will shed further light on toxicities in the Malaysian ultramafic tropical environment, reconciled against elemental metal tenure, adopted by common standards

I look at it and see my life entire: language, third-eye vision and painting in Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye

Atwood enjoys re-writing classical myths, like the evil seductress Circe and the faithful wife Penelope as well as contemporary cultural myths, like the all-nourishing housewife and mother of the 1950s and 1960s. Cat’s Eye (1989) is a novel where Atwood demythologises the archetype of the sweet and innocent little girl. In this article, Massoura explores the sociological and psychological effects of bullying in the patriarchal society of the 1940s and 1950s. It is the same society that fixes mothers in certain roles and renders communication between mothers and daughters difficult. The four girls view the female body as helpless and ugly, and female sexuality as fearful and repulsive. Massoura offers an original reading of the relationship between body and language by using Julia Kristeva’s theory on the maternal, and by arguing that language is employed to cause physical as well as emotional pain. For this reason, Elaine replaces language with the ‘eye’ of her imagination which she uses to become a painter. This ‘third eye vision’ helps Elaine see beyond male or female social stereotypes; come to terms with her past; and, reacquire her identity

'I LOOK AT IT AND SEE MY LIFE ENTIRE': LANGUAGE, THIRD-EYE VISION AND PAINTING IN MARGARET ATWOOD'S CAT'S EYE

Atwood enjoys re-writing classical myths, like the evil seductress Circe and the faithful wife Penelope as well as contemporary cultural myths, like the all-nourishing housewife and mother of the 1950s and 1960s. Cat’s Eye (1989) is a novel where Atwood demythologises the archetype of the sweet and innocent little girl. In this article, Massoura explores the sociological and psychological effects of bullying in the patriarchal society of the 1940s and 1950s. It is the same society that fixes mothers in certain roles and renders communication between mothers and daughters difficult. The four girls view the female body as helpless and ugly, and female sexuality as fearful and repulsive. Massoura offers an original reading of the relationship between body and language by using Julia Kristeva’s theory on the maternal, and by arguing that language is employed to cause physical as well as emotional pain. For this reason, Elaine replaces language with the ‘eye’ of her imagination which she uses to become a painter. This ‘third eye vision’ helps Elaine see beyond male or female social stereotypes; come to terms with her past; and, reacquire her identity