Printing a People: Constructing Identity in National Currency

It is not surprising that inequality exists in Central America given its turbulent history of class conflict and racial discrimination. This history must not be forgotten when considering countries such as Honduras and Mexico as it has helped shape their national personas. Nevertheless, analyzing inequality in Central American societies is no simple task as most have only enjoyed democracy for a few short decades and can easily recall brutal dictatorships. Furthermore, when looking at national characteristics that form the countries’ identities such as national anthems, flags, or currency the tumultuous past and societal problems are often conveniently left out. In order to understand how the State in Honduras and Mexico has constructed a public history and thus national identity, the currency of the respective Central American countries may be used as a vehicle of exploration. I found that by looking at the images depicted on Mexican Pesos and Honduran Lempiras, the countries’ problems of indigenous inequality become evident. The currencies represent countries of proud historical figures, integrated populations, and rich landscapes by including imagery of war heroes, indigenous ruins, or natural resources. However, I argue that the historical portrait produced by the imagery, manufactured in the 20th century, is not so much an accurate portrayal of the countries’ indigenous history as it is an illustration employed by colonial hierarchy to establish a unified modern identity that justifies the exploitation of classes. My project highlights the fact that many indigenous groups are underrepresented and mistreated in Honduras, a country that has experienced a movement to ‘whiten’ its society ever since the times of colonization. Likewise, the figures of indigenous culture on the Mexican currency routinely appear in positions that portray them as inferior to figures of Hispanic identity, which highlight the societal problem of defining ‘Indians’ as poverty-stricken individuals stuck in the Third World. However, all is not lost as there have been multiple efforts on behalf of the underrepresented minority groups to gain equal rights and representation in government to break inequality

Fascin overexpression promotes neoplastic progression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fascin is a globular actin cross-linking protein, which plays a major role in forming parallel actin bundles in cell protrusions and is found to be associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis in various type of cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Previously, we have demonstrated that fascin regulates actin polymerization and thereby promotes cell motility in K8-depleted OSCC cells. In the present study we have investigated the role of fascin in tumor progression of OSCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To understand the role of fascin in OSCC development and/or progression, fascin was overexpressed along with vector control in OSCC derived cells AW13516. The phenotype was studied using wound healing, Boyden chamber, cell adhesion, Hanging drop, soft agar and tumorigenicity assays. Further, fascin expression was examined in human OSCC samples (N = 131) using immunohistochemistry and level of its expression was correlated with clinico-pathological parameters of the patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fascin overexpression in OSCC derived cells led to significant increase in cell migration, cell invasion and MMP-2 activity. In addition these cells demonstrated increased levels of phosphorylated AKT, ERK1/2 and JNK1/2. Our in vitro results were consistent with correlative studies of fascin expression with the clinico-pathological parameters of the OSCC patients. Fascin expression in OSCC showed statistically significant correlation with increased tumor stage (<it>P </it>= 0.041), increased lymph node metastasis (<it>P </it>= 0.001), less differentiation (<it>P </it>= 0.005), increased recurrence (<it>P </it>= 0.038) and shorter survival (<it>P </it>= 0.004) of the patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, our results indicate that fascin promotes tumor progression and activates AKT and MAPK pathways in OSCC-derived cells. Further, our correlative studies of fascin expression in OSCC with clinico-pathological parameters of the patients indicate that fascin may prove to be useful in prognostication and treatment of OSCC.</p

Mouse models of neurodegenerative disease: preclinical imaging and neurovascular component.

Neurodegenerative diseases represent great challenges for basic science and clinical medicine because of their prevalence, pathologies, lack of mechanism-based treatments, and impacts on individuals. Translational research might contribute to the study of neurodegenerative diseases. The mouse has become a key model for studying disease mechanisms that might recapitulate in part some aspects of the corresponding human diseases. Neurode- generative disorders are very complicated and multifacto- rial. This has to be taken in account when testing drugs. Most of the drugs screening in mice are very di cult to be interpretated and often useless. Mouse models could be condiderated a ‘pathway models’, rather than as models for the whole complicated construct that makes a human disease. Non-invasive in vivo imaging in mice has gained increasing interest in preclinical research in the last years thanks to the availability of high-resolution single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), high eld Magnetic resonance, Optical Imaging scanners and of highly speci c contrast agents. Behavioral test are useful tool to characterize di erent ani- mal models of neurodegenerative pathology. Furthermore, many authors have observed vascular pathological features associated to the di erent neurodegenerative disorders. Aim of this review is to focus on the di erent existing animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, describe behavioral tests and preclinical imaging techniques used for diagnose and describe the vascular pathological features associated to these diseases