836 research outputs found
Relay and Translation: An Anglophone Reads Patrick Chamoiseau\u27s Texaco
The work of Patrick Chamoiseau has often met with a polarised reception; Annie Le Brun identifies the writer\u27s work as part of a \u27new exoticism\u27 (qtd in Bongie 343), while Derek Walcott effuses that the \u27elation\u27 of Texaco \u27cracked my heart\u27 (45). Richard D.E. Burton declares him the \u27leading Martinican writer of the new post-CĂ©saire, post-Glissant generation\u27 (467), while others lament Chamoiseau\u27s rejection of filiation with AimĂ© CĂ©saire, Fort-de-France\u27s long serving politician and poet and one of the founding fathers of NĂ©gritude (1997 133). Whatever the text\u27s reception beyond the Franco-Caribbean world, my own encounter with Chamoiseau\u27s work has always been compromised; my encounter is always with a text in translation. This would seem to begin with a redundant proposition, a statement applicable to much post-colonial fiction. However, Chamoiseau\u27s distinctive blend of Martinique\u27s linguistically privileged â or acrolectal â French and the less prestigious â or basilectal â Martinican Creole, would seem sometimes to exist at the margins of the translatable, especially if we treat what Maria Tymoczko calls the \u27dilemma of faithfulness\u27 with appropriate seriousness (21). Inevitably, the process of translation always risks a degree of appropriation
Detecting Beyond-Einstein Polarizations of Continuous Gravitational Waves
The direct detection of gravitational waves with the next generation
detectors, like Advanced LIGO, provides the opportunity to measure deviations
from the predictions of General Relativity. One such departure would be the
existence of alternative polarizations. To measure these, we study a single
detector measurement of a continuous gravitational wave from a triaxial pulsar
source. We develop methods to detect signals of any polarization content and
distinguish between them in a model independent way. We present LIGO S5
sensitivity estimates for 115 pulsars.Comment: submitted to PR
Mapping the invisible hand: a body model of a phantom limb
After amputation, individuals often have vivid experiences of their absent limb (i.e., a phantom limb). Therefore, oneâs conscious image of oneâs body cannot depend on peripheral input only (Ramachandran & Hirstein, 1998). However, the origin of phantom sensations is hotly debated. Reports of vivid phantoms in the case of congenital absence of the limb show that memory of former body state is not necessary (Brugger et al., 2000). According to one view, phantoms may reflect innate organization of sensorimotor cortices (Melzack, 1990). Alternatively, phantoms could reflect generalization from viewing other peopleâs bodies (Brugger et al., 2000), a sensorimotor example of the classic theory that understanding oneself follows from understanding the âgeneralized otherâ (Mead, 1934, p. 154). Because phantom limbs cannot be stimulated, sensory testing cannot directly compare visual and somatosensory influences on representations of phantom limbs. Consequently, empirical investigation of phantoms is limited
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for stroke recovery.
BACKGROUND:
Stroke is the major cause of adult disability. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used for many years to manage depression. Recently, small trials have demonstrated that SSRIs might improve recovery after stroke, even in people who are not depressed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are the least biased way to bring together data from several trials. Given the promising effect of SSRIs on stroke recovery seen in small trials, a systematic review and meta-analysis is needed.
OBJECTIVES:
To determine whether SSRIs improve recovery after stroke, and whether treatment with SSRIs was associated with adverse effects.
SEARCH METHODS:
We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (August 2011), Cochrane Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group Trials Register (November 2011), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 8), MEDLINE (from 1948 to August 2011), EMBASE (from 1980 to August 2011), CINAHL (from 1982 to August 2011), AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine) (from 1985 to August 2011), PsycINFO (from 1967 to August 2011) and PsycBITE (Pyschological Database for Brain Impairment Treatment Efficacy) (March 2012). To identify further published, unpublished and ongoing trials we searched trials registers, pharmaceutical websites, reference lists, contacted experts and performed citation tracking of included studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
We included randomised controlled trials that recruited stroke survivors (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) at any time within the first year. The intervention was any SSRI, given at any dose, for any period. We excluded drugs with mixed pharmacological effects. The comparator was usual care or placebo. In order to be included, trials had to collect data on at least one of our primary (dependence and disability) or secondary (impairments, depression, anxiety, quality of life, fatigue, healthcare cost, death, adverse events and leaving the trial early) outcomes.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
We extracted data on demographics, type of stroke, time since stroke, our primary and secondary outcomes, and sources of bias. For trials in English, two review authors independently extracted data. For Chinese papers, one review author extracted data. We used standardised mean differences (SMD) to estimate treatment effects for continuous variables, and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous effects, with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
MAIN RESULTS:
We identified 56 completed trials of SSRI versus control, of which 52 trials (4059 participants) provided data for meta-analysis. There were statistically significant benefits of SSRI on both of the primary outcomes: RR for reducing dependency at the end of treatment was 0.81 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.97) based on one trial, and for disability score, the SMD was 0.91 (95% CI 0.60 to 1.22) (22 trials involving 1343 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 87%; P < 0.0001). For neurological deficit, depression and anxiety, there were statistically significant benefits of SSRIs. For neurological deficit score, the SMD was -1.00 (95% CI -1.26 to -0.75) (29 trials involving 2011 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 86%; P < 0.00001). For dichotomous depression scores, the RR was 0.43 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.77) (eight trials involving 771 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 77%; P < 0.0001). For continuous depression scores, the SMD was -1.91 (95% CI -2.34 to -1.48) (39 trials involving 2728 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 95%; P < 0.00001). For anxiety, the SMD was -0.77 (95% CI -1.52 to -0.02) (eight trials involving 413 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 92%; P < 0.00001). There was no statistically significant benefit of SSRI on cognition, death, motor deficits and leaving the trial early. For cognition, the SMD was 0.32 (95% CI -0.23 to 0.86), (seven trials involving 425 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 86%; P < 0.00001). The RR for death was 0.76 (95% CI 0.34 to 1.70) (46 trials involving 3344 participants) with no heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 0%; P = 0.85). For motor deficits, the SMD was -0.33 (95% CI -1.22 to 0.56) (two trials involving 145 participants). The RR for leaving the trial early was 1.02 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.21) in favour of control, with no heterogeneity between trials. There was a non-significant excess of seizures (RR 2.67; 95% CI 0.61 to 11.63) (seven trials involving 444 participants), a non-significant excess of gastrointestinal side effects (RR 1.90; 95% CI 0.94 to 3.85) (14 trials involving 902 participants) and a non-significant excess of bleeding (RR 1.63; 95% CI 0.20 to 13.05) (two trials involving 249 participants) in those allocated SSRIs. Data were not available on quality of life, fatigue or healthcare costs.There was no clear evidence from subgroup analyses that one SSRI was consistently superior to another, or that time since stroke or depression at baseline had a major influence on effect sizes. Sensitivity analyses suggested that effect sizes were smaller when we excluded trials at high or unclear risk of bias.Only eight trials provided data on outcomes after treatment had been completed; the effect sizes were generally in favour of SSRIs but CIs were wide.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
SSRIs appeared to improve dependence, disability, neurological impairment, anxiety and depression after stroke, but there was heterogeneity between trials and methodological limitations in a substantial proportion of the trials. Large, well-designed trials are now needed to determine whether SSRIs should be given routinely to patients with stroke
Evident and latent plasticity across the rice diterpene synthase family with potential implications for the evolution of diterpenoid metabolism in the cereals
The evolution of natural products biosynthetic pathways can be envisioned to occur via a number of mechanisms. Here we provide evidence that latent plasticity plays a role in such metabolic evolution. In particular, rice (Oryza sativa) produces both ent- and syn-copalyl diphosphate (CPP), which are substrates for downstream diterpene synthases. Here we report that several members of this enzymatic family exhibit dual reactivity with some pairing of ent-, syn-, or normal CPP stereochemistry. Evident plasticity was observed, as a previously reported entsandaracopimaradiene synthase also converts syn-CPP to syn-labda-8(17),12E,14-triene, which can be found in planta. Notably, normal CPP is not naturally found in rice. Thus, the presence of diterpene synthases that react with this non-native metabolite reveals latent enzymatic/metabolic plasticity, providing biochemical capacity for utilization of such a novel substrate (i.e., normal CPP) that may arise during evolution, the implications of which are discussed
Development and testing of a behavioural change intervention to increase physical activity, predominantly through walking, after stroke
Introduction
Globally stroke remains the leading cause of adult disability. An aging population
and a reduction in stroke case fatality has led to an increasing number of people
living with stroke i.e. stroke survivors. The ability to perform important day-to-day
activities, such as walking and housework, is frequently impaired in stroke survivors.
Therefore, it has become essential to address the long-term needs of stroke survivors,
prompting focussed research on life after stroke.
A reduction in physical fitness after stroke may contribute to stroke related disability.
It is possible to improve physical fitness by regular, structured physical activity.
Improving physical fitness after stroke and increasing physical activity are aspects of
life after stroke that are increasingly being researched. Although the evidence base
for the benefits of physical fitness training is growing, research has indicated that
benefits gained are not always maintained at follow-up. To facilitate the uptake and
maintenance of physical activity after stroke, it is essential to understand why many
stroke survivors do not undertake regular physical activity. Understanding this
difficult concept will enable the tailoring of behaviour change interventions to
promote and maintain physical activity after stroke. However, there has been limited
work in developing theory driven behaviour change interventions to increase
physical activity in stroke survivors.
Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to develop and test a behaviour change
intervention to increase physical activity after stroke. Methods
In order to address the above aim, six interlinking studies were conducted within the
development and feasibility stages of the MRC framework for the development of
complex interventions. A systematic review (study one) examined barriers and
facilitators to physical activity perceived by stroke survivors. This study showed a
lack of literature in this area, and that the already published studies had limited
generalisability to the UK stroke population. Therefore, it was deemed appropriate to
conduct a qualitative study (study two) to examine the perceived barriers and
facilitators to physical activity in the local stroke population. Both studies one and
two highlighted the influence of self-efficacy towards increasing physical activity.
As part of earlier work conducted prior to this PhD, there was previously unanalysed
data on perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity after stroke. These
quantitative data encompassed specific questions exploring self-efficacy and
intention to physical activity post stroke. In light of the evidence it was deemed
necessary to analyse these data (study three). It was envisaged that the behaviour
change intervention would incorporate a feedback device, so participants could
clearly see how much daily physical activity they were undertaking. An opportunity
arose to collaborate with a team at Newcastle University who had developed an
accelerometer that incorporated an immediate feedback screen. Therefore, a device
validation study was conducted as study four. Results from studies one to four were
combined, with the use of the Theoretical Domains Framework, and the behaviour
change intervention was developed. Two uncontrolled pilot studies (studies five and
six) were conducted to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the behaviour
change intervention to the stroke population. Results
The systematic review included six articles, providing data on 174 stroke survivors.
Commonly reported barriers were environmental factors, health concerns and stroke
impairments. Commonly reported facilitators were social support and the need to be
able to perform daily tasks. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 stroke
survivors, at which point data saturation was reached. The most commonly reported
TDF domains were âbeliefs about capabilitiesâ, âenvironmental context and
resourcesâ and âsocial influenceâ. The quantitative study provided data from 50
stroke survivors. Intention and self-efficacy were high, with self-efficacy graded as
either 4 or 5 (highly confident) on a five-point scale by [34 (68%)] participants,
whilst 42 (84%) participants âstrongly agreedâ or âagreedâ that they intended to
increase their walking after their stroke.
Ten participants were recruited to validate the new accelerometer. Mean time since
stroke was 29 days (SD =27.9 days). The 10 participants walked a mean distance of
245 meters (SD=129m) and their mean walking speed was 0.79ms-1 (SD=0.34ms-1).
The Culture Lab were unable to develop the accelerometer in the necessary time
frame and therefore no accelerometer was available for trialling the behaviour
change intervention. Therefore, pedometers were used to record step count during the
behaviour change intervention.
A total of four participants took part in the 12 week behaviour change intervention,
over two study periods. All participants managed to increase their step counts during
this time. The studies had problems both with recruitment and retention of
participants. These issues have been discussed. Conclusions
This work has enhanced the understanding of the barriers and facilitators perceived
by stroke survivors to increase physical activity. This work has allowed the
development of a theoretically driven, complex behaviour change intervention that
was successfully trialled with a small group of stroke survivors. Areas of further
research have been discussed
Examining Signatures of Natural Selection in Antifungal Resistance Genes Across Aspergillus Fungi
Certain Aspergillus fungi cause aspergillosis, a set of diseases that typically affect immunocompromised individuals. Most cases of aspergillosis are caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, which infects millions of people annually. Some closely related so-called cryptic species, such as Aspergillus lentulus, can also cause aspergillosis, albeit at lower frequencies, and they are also clinically relevant. Few antifungal drugs are currently available for treating aspergillosis and there is increasing worldwide concern about the presence of antifungal drug resistance in Aspergillus species. Furthermore, isolates from both A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus pathogens exhibit substantial heterogeneity in their antifungal drug resistance profiles. To gain insights into the evolution of antifungal drug resistance genes in Aspergillus, we investigated signatures of positive selection in 41 genes known to be involved in drug resistance across 42 susceptible and resistant isolates from 12 Aspergillus section Fumigati species. Using codon-based site models of sequence evolution, we identified ten genes that contain 43 sites with signatures of ancient positive selection across our set of species. None of the sites that have experienced positive selection overlap with sites previously reported to be involved in drug resistance. These results identify sites that likely experienced ancient positive selection in Aspergillus genes involved in resistance to antifungal drugs and suggest that historical selective pressures on these genes likely differ from any current selective pressures imposed by antifungal drugs.RS was supported by the Brazilian SĂŁo Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) grant numbers 2017/21983-3 and 2019/07526-4. JS and AR are supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the James H. Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study Program. ARâs laboratory received additional support from a Discovery grant from Vanderbilt University, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the National Science Foundation (DEB-1442113), and the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R56AI146096). GHG was supported by FAPESP (2016/07870-9) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq).S
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