Deconstrution Of Dichotomies In Toni Morrison’s Paradise

In her 1998 novel Paradise, Morrison plays with her reader’s desire in terms of gender, race and religion where binary oppositions can be easily constructed in the process of reading. However, as this paper seeks to prove, all these dichotomies are ostensible and false. It is not Morrison’s intention to construct a disparate paradise as opposed to all-black patriarchy Ruby with its rigid Christian religion. It is Morrison’s intention to invite the readers into the program of deconstructing the dangers of this utopian desire. As the present paper finds out what Morrison really endeavors to critique is dichotomy itself. In the progress of the novel, we can see that simple dichotomies of race, of gender, and of religion are undermined, and set interpretations are shattered

Influence of gross saponins from tribulus terrestris L on SOD activity and MDA content for chronic high intraocular pressure in rabbit

AIM:To observe influence of gross saponins from tribulus terrestris L(GSTT)on SOD activity and MDA content for chronic high intraocular pressure in rabbit, and discusses the retina oxidative damage inhibition on chronic high intraocular pressure model of rabbit. METHODS:Totally 24 healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group(A group); high intraocular pressure model blank group(B group); high intraocular pressure model with GSTT treated group(C group); high intraocular pressure model with Erigeron brevicapas hand mass(EBHM)treated group(D group). High intraocular pressure model was induced by 20g/L methylcellulose injection into the anterior chamber in B group, C group and D group. D group was injected 5 mg/kg GSTT and C group was injected 4.5mg/kg EBHM and measured intraocular pressure with Schiotz tonometer every day for 4 weeks. The retina tissue superoxide dismutase(SOD)and maleic dialdehyde(MDA)content were detected 28 days later. RESULTS: After glaucoma model of rabbit eyes were established, the intraocular pressure during observation period was maintained in 32-39mmHg; High intraocular pressure model blank group and normal control group, EBHM treatment group, GSTT treatment group were compared, the differences of retina MDA, SOD content had statistical significance(P<0.05); numerical difference between EBHM treatment group and GSTT group was not statistically significant(P>0.05); EBHM treatment group, GSTT treatment group and normal control group were compared, the content of MDA in the retina was still slightly higher(P<0.05), the content of SOD slightly lower(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: GSTT can effectively improve the retina SOD activity of chronic high intraocular pressure in rabbit and reduce the content of MDA, which has a protective effect of persistent high intraocular retinal oxidative stress

Research progress on ophthalmological administration routes and pharmacokinetics of nerve growth factor

Nerve growth factor(NGF)is one of the most important active protein acting on the nervous system, it is applicated widely in ophthalmology, the administration route includes systemic drug administration and local drug administration. Compared to systemic drug administration, local drug administration is targeted, it is more effective to achieve the necessary concentration in eyes and it reduces the risk of side effects. Local drug administration has been a common treatment method in eye diseases. With the development of administration route, corresponding pharmacokinetic researches have received the concern. This review provides a reference for the study on ophthalmological administration routes and pharmacokinetics of nerve growth factor

Hypolipidemic effect of aqueous leaf extract of carmona microphylla G Don

Purpose: To investigate the hypolipidemic effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Carmona microphylla (Lam.) G. Don. (CAE) in vitro and in vivo.Methods: The lipid-lowering effect of CAE was investigated in oleic acid (OA)-induced steatosis in HepG2 liver cells, as well as in high-fat diet (HFD)- and triton WR-1339 (TRI)-induced hyperlipidemic mice. The levels of intracellular, serum and/or hepatic total cholesterol (TC); triglyceride (TG); low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c); high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c); hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined by oil-red O staining and appropriate kits.Results: Treatment with CAE inhibited lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and reduced the elevated levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-c as well as hepatic TC and TG in hyperlipidemic mice induced by HFD. CAE administration also significantly decreased arteriosclerosis index (AI) and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio, but improved oxidative status as revealed by increased hepatic SOD activity and decreased MDA level. The lipid ameliorating and antioxidative effects of CAE (600 mg/kg) were comparable to those of the standard lipid-lowering drug, sivastatin (5 mg/kg).Conclusion: These results suggest that C. microphylla aqueous extract (CAE) protects against hyperlipidemia induced by HFD in mice and may find therapeutic application in hyperlipidemic patients.Keywords: Carmona microphylla, Hyperlipidemia, Atherosclerosis, Oxidative stress, Sivastatin, Lipidlowerin

Calcium chloride improve ethanol production in recombinant Zymomonas mobilis

The T7-expression system has been very useful for protein expression in Escherichia coli. Here, a T7- expression transposon was constructed, which allowed simple construction of T7-expression Zymomonas mobilis. This transposon contained the T7 RNA polymerase being driven by the gap promoter from Z. mobilis. The T7-expression fadK genomes were introduced into Z. mobilis ATCC 31821 in order to increase ethanol production. The recombinant bacteria were named as Z.M.F-1, Z.M.F-2, Z.M.F-3, and Z.M.F-4. However, Z.M.F-4 had the highest ability of producing ethanol by selection. Compared with Z. mobilis ATCC 3182, there was 7% increase in ethanol production for Z.M.F-4 with corn hydrolyaztes as fermentation medium. The 16 mmolL-1 supplement of calcium chloride could significantly improve the ethanol production. This was also clearly demonstrated by a variety of kinetic parameter values over time in Z.M.F-4 under high sugar osmotic stress. Calcium chloride not only increased the fermentation ability but also improved the stability of cell membrane.Key words: Calcium chloride, fadK, fermentation, Zymomonas mobilis