Fractures historiques, trauma et résistance dans l'écriture féministe algérienne : Maïssa Bey, Assia Djebar et Leïla Sebbar

Maïssa Bey, Assia Djebar and Leïla Sebbar chronicle the painful trajectory and implicit silences of Algerian history from the French conquest (1830) to the war of Independence (1954-1962). They offer their gendered perspectives that feminize and complicate Algerian historicity and postcolonial subjectivity. Their writings dispel monolithic representations of women as passive victims of colonial history or nationalist ideology, even as they demonstrate how the masculinist ethics of war have ravaged the female body and women’s history through violence, silencing and exclusion. These writings expose the violence of the past and mediate the horror (and successes) of the postcolonial present; they also expose the women’s postcolonial rage. In so doing, these authors reveal their literary commitment to postmodern preoccupations with identity, exile, historical omissions, gender affirmations, de-colonial thought and feminist writing, as they evoke the wounds and unresolved traumas that inhibit successful decolonization.Maïssa Bey, Assia Djebar, et Leïla Sebbar tiennent la chronique de la trajectoire douloureuse et des silences implicites de l'histoire algérienne, de la colonisation (1830) à la guerre d'indépendence (1954-62); elles en offrent une perspective genrée qui féminise et complique l'historicité algérienne et la subjectivité post-coloniale. Leurs écrits ébranlent les représentations monoli-thiques des femmes en victimes passives de l'histoire coloniale ou de l'idéologie nationaliste, et démontrent comment l' éthique masculine de la guerre a ravagé à la fois le corps féminin et l'histoire des femmes par la violence, la réduction au silence et l' exclusion. Ils font ressortir la violence du passé et rapportent l'horreur (et les succès) du présent post-colonial, tout en montrant la colère des femmes

Indo-Trinidadian Fiction: Female Identity and Creative Cooking / ﺍﻟﻜﺘﺎﺑﺔ ﺍﻟﺮﻭﺍﺋﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻬﻨﺪﻳﺔ - ﺍﻟﺘﺮﻳﻨﻴﺪﺍﺩﻳﺔ: ﺍﻟﻬﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻷﻧﺜﻮﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻄﺒﺦ ﺍﻹﺑﺪﺍﻋﻲ

[المطبخ الهندي الكاريبي يقدم تنوعاﹰ غنياﹰ من الأطباق ﺍﻟﻤُﻌﺪَﺓ بفن والتي تتراوح بين المنتجات الوافرة اليومية المتبلة مثل الدال و الفيلوري وبين أطباق العرس والأعياد الطقسية ﺍﻟﻤُﻌﺪَﺓ باتقان ﺃﻛﺜﺮ مثل طبق الماعز ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻜﱠﻪ بالكاري و الكير و السوين ٠ إن المطبخ الهندي الكاريبي يتخذ من المطبخ الهندي التقليدي مرجعية في الطهي لكنه أيضاﹰ يوظف المواد الغذائية الأولية في الإقليم الكاريبي في تعديل وتنويع الأطباق الهندية، أي أنه يتبنى ما هو جديد ومحلي وﻳﺮﻛّﺒﻪ مع التقليدي والمرجعي عند الطهي٠ تكشف هذه المقالة عن دور التوابل المستخدمة في الطهي الهندي الكاريبي باعتبارها علامات دالة لتاريخ الهجرة الهندية إلى منطقة الكاريبي حيث تتشكل علاقات جديدة بين الوطن الأصلي والوطن المهاجَر إليه٠ يصبح الطبخ، إذن، المجال الذي يعبر عن الهوية المركبة الجديدة٠ يصبح الطعام رمزاﹰ لجدلية الذات والآخر، عرقياﹰ وجنوسياﹰ٠ إن الانتماء المطبخي هو نوع من الانتقال الشفهي للثقافة يجعل حضارة تابعة عرقياﹰ (في ترينيداد) تقاوم أنماطاﹰ من الهيمنة والتثاقف٠ تقدم لاكشمي پيرسو Lakshmi Persaud وراماباي اسپينيه Ramabia Espinet نموذجين مختلفين من الهوية الأنثوية الهندية - الترينيدادية كما تعكسها الأشكال الرمزية المتعددة لخطاب الطعام التي ﺗُﺪﺧﻞ نفسها في ﻛﺘﺎﺑﺎﺗﻬﻤﺎ٠ شخصيات پيرسو الأنثوية تجد حسها للمكان من خلال تبني تقليدي لواجبات متصلة بالمطبخ تفيد الجماعة بأكملها٠ أما الدينامية المطبخية عند اسپينه ، فتعكس وقائع هندية كاريبية معاصرة٠ من هنا نجد أن الكتابة الأدبية النسوية كثيراﹰ ما تستختم الطبخ لتتحدث بشكل موارب عن الهوية بأبعادها العرقية والجنسية والثقافية، وكثيراﹰ مأ يكون الطبق المقدم في الأدب أقرب إلى بيان مضمر أو رسالة مستترة في العمل٠

Modified Soybean Oil as a Reactive Diluent: Synthesis and Characterization

Soybean oil was modified in two steps: (1) conjugation of soybean oil and (2) Diels-Alder addition with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate and triallyl ether acrylate. The structures were characterized using H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, C-13-H-1 gradient heteronuclear single quantum coherence (gHSQC) NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The C-13-H-1 gHSQC NMR spectra helped confirm the formation of a cyclohexene ring in all reactions, indicating a Diels-Alder addition. The diluent efficiency of modified soybean oil was evaluated in long oil alkyd formulation. Triallyl ether functionalized soybean oil resulted in the highest reduction in the viscosity of the alkyd formulations

Breastfeeding practices in a cohort of inner-city women: the role of contraindications

Abstract Background Little is known about the role of breastfeeding contraindications in breastfeeding practices. Our objectives were to 1) identify predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration among a cohort of predominately low-income, inner-city women, and 2) evaluate the contribution of breastfeeding contraindications to breastfeeding practices. Methods Mother-infant dyads were systematically selected from 3 District of Columbia hospitals between 1995 and 1996. Breastfeeding contraindications and potential predictors of breastfeeding practices were identified through medical record reviews and interviews conducted after delivery (baseline). Interviews were conducted at 3–7 months postpartum and again at 7–12 months postpartum to determine breastfeeding initiation rates and duration. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify baseline factors associated with initiation of breastfeeding. Cox proportional hazards models were generated to identify baseline factors associated with duration of breastfeeding. Results Of 393 study participants, 201 (51%) initiated breastfeeding. A total of 61 women (16%) had at lease one documented contraindication to breastfeeding; 94% of these had a history of HIV infection and/or cocaine use. Of the 332 women with no documented contraindications, 58% initiated breastfeeding, vs. 13% of women with a contraindication. In adjusted analysis, factors most strongly associated with breastfeeding initiation were presence of a contraindication (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.47), and mother foreign-born (AOR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.38–10.10). Twenty-five percent of study participants who did not initiate breastfeeding cited concern about passing dangerous things to their infants through breast milk. Factors associated with discontinuation of breastfeeding (all protective) included mother foreign-born (hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% CI 0.39–0.77) increasing maternal age (HR for 5-year increments, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69–0.92), and infant birth weight ≥ 2500 grams (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26–0.80). Conclusions Breastfeeding initiation rates and duration were suboptimal in this inner-city population. Many women who did not breastfeed had contraindications and/or were concerned about passing dangerous things to their infants through breast milk. It is important to consider the prevalence of contraindications to breastfeeding when evaluating breastfeeding practices in high-risk communities.</p

Cord Blood-Derived Stem Cells Suppress Fibrosis and May Prevent Malignant Progression in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a severe skin fragility disorder caused by mutations in the Col7a1 gene. Patients with RDEB suffer from recurrent erosions in skin and mucous membranes and have a high risk for developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCCs). TGFbeta signaling has been associated with fibrosis and malignancy in RDEB. In this study, the activation of TGFbeta signaling was demonstrated in col7a1(-/-) mice as early as a week after birth starting in the interdigital folds of the paws, accompanied by increased deposition of collagen fibrils and elevated dermal expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-13. Furthermore, human cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) that we previously demonstrated to significantly improve wound healing and prolong the survival of col7a1(-/-) mice showed the ability to suppress TGFbeta signaling and MMP-9 and MMP-13 expression meanwhile upregulating anti-fibrotic TGFbeta3 and decorin. In parallel, we cocultured USSCs in a transwell with RDEB patient-derived fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and cSCC, respectively. The patient-derived cells were constitutively active for STAT, but not TGFbeta signaling. Moreover, the levels of MMP-9 and MMP-13 were significantly elevated in the patient derived-keratinocytes and cSCCs. Although USSC coculture did not inhibit STAT signaling, it significantly suppressed the secretion of MMP-9 and MMP-13, and interferon (IFN)-gamma from RDEB patient-derived cells. Since epithelial expression of these MMPs is a biomarker of malignant transformation and correlates with the degree of tumor invasion, these results suggest a potential role for USSCs in mitigating epithelial malignancy, in addition to their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic functions. Stem Cells 2018

Consensus recommendations for the assessment and management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in children and young people.

Peer reviewed: TrueBACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a potentially disabling condition. There is a lack of evidence and national guidance on how to diagnose and treat paediatric IIH, leading to variation in clinical practice. We conducted a national Delphi consensus via the Children's Headache Network to propose a best-practice diagnostic and therapeutic pathway. METHODS: The Delphi process was selected as the most appropriate methodology for examining current opinion among experts in the UK. 104 questions were considered by 66 healthcare professionals, addressing important aspects of IIH care: assessment, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and surveillance. General paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, ophthalmologists, opticians, neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons with a clinical interest or experience in IIH, were invited to take part. RESULTS: The Delphi process consisted of three rounds comprising 104 questions (round 1, 67; round 2, 24; round 3 (ophthalmological), 13) and was completed between March 2019 and August 2021. There were 54 and 65 responders in the first and second rounds, respectively. The Delphi was endorsed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, which engaged 59 ophthalmologists for round 3. CONCLUSIONS: This UK-based Delphi consensus process reached agreement for the management of paediatric IIH and has been endorsed by the Children's Headache Network and more broadly, the British Paediatric Neurology Association. It provides a basis for a pragmatic clinical approach. The recommendations will help to improve clinical care while minimising under and over diagnosis