The Pedagogy of Difference: Co-producing Feminist Consciousness across Borders

How has a movement built on the consciousness of sisterhood become so fragmented between the end of the 20th and into the second decade of the 21st century? As different political tendencies, widely varying economic conditions and cultural dissimilarities emerged in global struggles to achieve diverse visions of women’s and gender equality, the current feminist movement appears to be characterized by chasms between the east, west, north and south rather than viewed as a movement whose basic tenets are parallel across racial, geographic and social barriers. By looking at lived examples of confrontations, and through a deliberate process of self-reflexive questioning, this paper looks at what elements might sustain the global nature of the feminist movement into the future. Through a re-examination of key authors who have identified differences wrought by geography and culture, among them Chandra Mohanty’s “Under Western Eyes”, and in conversation with two feminist scholars from North America and India, the author interrogates the concept of difference and argues that confronting and accepting difference might teach us more about our “sameness under the skin” and about the continued building of consciousness across borders

Techno-economic analysis of stand-alone solar desalination at variable load conditions

The operation of large-scale reverse osmosis units in combination with different solar power plants, both, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaics (PV) has been evaluated under variable load conditions. In the case of the Reverse Osmosis (RO) unit, configurations with and without an energy recovery device have been considered. In the case of the CSP plant, a thermal storage system with several capacities (8-14 h) covers the periods with low solar radiation and no storage has been taken into account for the PV plant due to the prohibitively high cost of batteries at large scale. The analysis has been done for a specific location in Algeria, considering different scenarios to adapt the operation of the RO unit at partial load in order to assure a stable operation. The dynamic performance of the RO unit is presented for each scenario, together with an economic analysis

N2 Gas-Flushing Prevents Bacteria-Promoted Lipolysis and Proteolysis and Alleviates Auto-Oxidation in Bovine Raw Milk During Cold-Storage

Peer reviewe

Nutrient content of tropical edible seaweeds, Eucheuma cottonii, Caulerpa lentillifera and Sargassum polycystum

The proximate composition, vitamin C, α-tocopherol, dietary fibers, minerals, fatty acid and amino acid profiles of three tropical edible seaweeds, Eucheuma cottonii (Rhodophyta), Caulerpa lentillifera (Chlorophyta) and Sargassum polycystum (Phaeophyta) were studied. The seaweeds were high in ash (37.15–46.19%) and dietary fibers (25.05–39.67%) and low in lipid content (0.29–1.11%) on dry weight (DW) basis. These seaweeds contained 12.01–15.53% macro-minerals (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and 7.53–71.53 mg.100 g−1 trace minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se and I). The crude protein content of E. cottonii (9.76% DW) and C. lentillifera (10.41% DW) were higher than that of S. polycystum (5.4% DW), and protein chemical scores are between 20 and 67%. The PUFA content of E. cottonii was 51.55%, C. lentillifera 16.76% and S. polycystum 20.34%. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), accounted for 24.98% of all fatty acids in E. cottonii. These seaweeds have significant vitamin C (∼35 mg.100 g−1) and α-tocopherol (5.85–11.29 mg.100 g−1) contents

Community perceptions affecting uptake & retention on antiretroviral therapy by PLHIV: a qualitative study among residents of an urban informal settlement in Kenya

Introduction: Lack of HIV treatment and loss of follow up measures is associated with high mortality among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. Especially in resource-limited populations. Respondents diagnosed with HIV through a home-based testing and counseling program in an informal settlement in Kenya, were referred to health facilities of their choice for antiretroviral therapy (ART). This qualitative study explored the community’s experiences and perceptions on factors associated with ART uptake and retention.Methodology: Using convenient purposive sampling, we recruited 46 adults (21 women and 25 men) among them HIV infected and non-infected residents of the Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. Using a standardized discussion guide, six focus group discussions of 6-9 individuals were conducted. Discussions were recorded verbatim and complimented by tape recording to ensure accuracy. Transcription was done and coding done using a Priori codes. Thematic content analysis was done using Atlas 3.0.Results: Availability of many health facilities offering HIV services in Kibera informal settlement facilitated access to and uptake of ART. Respondents preparation procedures that prevented same-day ART enrolment were often perceived as denial of treatment.“They talk too much of treatment and when you go you are turned away” Said one respondent. Reported perceived poor staff attitude, Rudeness, Judgmental behaviours and Delays, were often perceived as lack of respect for Participants were reported to hinder retention in ART services.“He will look at your physical appearance, put your card aside and ask his colleague whether tea is ready” Participants disliked adherence counseling with written commitments after missed appointments and often felt that these measures too reflected lack of respect by health care providers. They wanted to cancel treatment because they said we had to commit ourselves by signing….”Conclusion: Individuals diagnosed with HIV generally accessed HIV treatment facilities following referral after HBTC. Participants perceived some standard treatment procedures. Reckoning Staff behavior and Communication as barriers hindering retention on ART. Supportive interpersonal relationship strategies between Respondents, providers and innovative patientcentered treatment plans and adherence counseling models should be adopted in treatment programs. This will promote uptake and retention of ART in communities.Keywords: HIV infection, retention in ART, adherence counseling, psychosocial and communication barriers, Responded satisfactio

Phospholipolysis Caused by Different Types of Bacterial Phospholipases During Cold Storage of Bovine Raw Milk Is Prevented by N2 Gas Flushing

Cold storage aims to preserve the quality and safety of raw milk from farms to dairies; unfortunately, low temperatures also promote the growth of psychrotrophic bacteria, some of which produce heat-stable enzymes that cause spoilage of milk or dairy products. Previously, N-2 gas flushing of raw milk has demonstrated significant potential as a method to hinder bacterial growth at both laboratory and pilot plant scales. Using a mass spectrometry-based lipidomics approach, we examined the impact of cold storage [at 6 degrees C for up to 7 days, the control condition (C)], on the relative amounts of major phospholipids (phosphatidylethanolamine/PE, phosphatidylcholine/PC, phosphatidylserine/PS, phosphatidylinositol/PI, and sphingomyelin/SM) in three bovine raw milk samples, and compared it to the condition that received additional N-2 gas flushing (N). As expected, bacterial growth was hindered by the N-2-based treatment (over 4 log-units lower at day 7) compared to the non-treated control condition. At the end of the cold storage period, the control condition (C7) revealed higher hydrolysis of PC, SM, PE, and PS (the major species reached 27.2, 26.7, 34.6, and 9.9 mu M, respectively), compared to the N-2-flushed samples (N7) (the major species reached 55.6, 35.9, 54.0, and 18.8 mu M, respectively). C7 samples also exhibited a three-fold higher phosphatidic acid (PA) content (6.8 mu M) and a five-fold higher content (17.3 mu M) of lysophospholipids (LPE, LPC, LPS, and LPI) whereas both lysophospholipids and PA remained at their initial levels for 7 days in N7 samples. Taking into consideration the significant phospholipid losses in the controls, the lipid profiling results together with the microbiological data suggest a major role of phospholipase (PLase) C (PLC) in phospholipolysis during cold storage. However, the experimental data also indicate that bacterial sphingomyelinase C, together with PLases PLD and PLA contributed to the degradation of phospholipids present in raw milk as well, and potential contributions from PLB activity cannot be excluded. Altogether, this lipidomics study highlights the beneficial effects of N-2 flushing treatment on the quality and safety of raw milk through its ability to effectively hinder phospholipolysis during cold storage.Peer reviewe

Upper lid crease approach for margin rotation in trachomatous cicatricial entropion without external sutures

ABSTRACT Purpose: To describe the use of a lid crease incision for upper eyelid margin rotation in cicatricial entropion combining internal traction on the anterior lamella, tarsotomy, and tarsal overlap without external sutures. Methods: Surgical description: The main steps of the procedure consisted of exposure of the entire tarsal plate up to the eyelashes followed by tarsotomy through the conjunctiva. A double-armed 6.0 polyglactin suture was then passed through the distal tarsal fragment to the marginal section of the orbicularis oculi muscle. As the sutures were tied, the distal tarsus advanced over the marginal section, and traction was exerted on the marginal strip of the orbicularis muscle. There were no bolsters or external knots. The pretarsal skin-muscle flap was closed with a 6.0 plain gut suture. Results: We used this procedure at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia from 2013 to 2014. Sixty upper lids of 40 patients (23 women and 17 men) were operated on, with an age range of 44-99 years [mean ± standard deviation (SD) = 70.9 ± 13.01 years]. Bilateral surgery was performed on 21 patients. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 12 months (mean 3.0 ± 2.71 months). Forty percent of the patients (24 lids) had more than 3 months' follow-up. The postoperative lid margin position was good in all cases. Trichiasis (two lashes) was observed in only one patient with unilateral entropion on the medial aspect of the operated lid. Conclusions: The upper lid margin can be effectively rotated through a lid crease incision with internal sutures. The technique combines the main mechanisms of the Wies and Trabut approaches and avoids the use of bolsters or external sutures, which require a second consultation to be removed. Some other lid problems, such as ptosis, retraction, or dermatochalasis, can be concomitantly addressed during the procedure

Homo sapiens (Hsa)-microRNA(miR)-6727-5p contributes to the impact of high density lipoproteins on fibroblast wound healing in vitro

Chronic, non-healing wounds are a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality, and strategies to improve delayed wound closure represent an unmet clinical need. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) can enhance wound healing, but exploitation of this finding is challenging due to the complexity and instability of these heterogeneous lipoproteins. The responsiveness of primary human neonatal keratinocytes, and neonatal and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) to HDL was confirmed by cholesterol efflux, but promotion of ‘scrape’ wound healing occurred only in primary human neonatal (HDFn) and adult fibroblasts (HDFa). Treatment of human fibroblasts with HDL induced multiple changes in the expression of small non-coding microRNA sequences, determined by microchip array, including hsa-miR-6727-5p. Intriguingly, levels of hsa-miR-6727-5p increased in HDFn, but decreased in HDFa, after exposure to HDL. Delivery of a hsa-miR-6727-5p mimic elicited repression of different target genes in HDFn (ZNF584) and HDFa (EDEM3, KRAS), and promoted wound closure in HDFn. By contrast, a hsa-miR-6727-5p inhibitor promoted wound closure in HDFa. We conclude that HDL treatment exerts distinct effects on the expression of hsa-miR-6727-5p in neonatal and adult fibroblasts, and that this is a sequence which plays differential roles in wound healing in these cell types, but cannot replicate the myriad effects of HDL

Energy efficiency in HPC with and without knowledge of applications and services

International audienceThe constant demand of raw performance in high performance computing often leads to high performance systems' over-provisioning which in turn can result in a colossal energy waste due to workload/application variation over time. Proposing energy efficient solutions in the context of large scale HPC is a real unavoidable challenge. This paper explores two alternative approaches (with or without knowledge of applications and services) dealing with the same goal: reducing the energy usage of large scale infrastructures which support HPC applications. This article describes the first approach "with knowledge of applications and services'' which enables users to choose the less consuming implementation of services. Based on the energy consumption estimation of the different implementations (protocols) for each service, this approach is validated on the case of fault tolerance service in HPC. The approach "without knowledge'' allows some intelligent framework to observe the life of HPC systems and proposes some energy reduction schemes. This framework automatically estimates the energy consumption of the HPC system in order to apply power saving schemes. Both approaches are experimentally evaluated and analyzed in terms of energy efficiency