Critical Reception Studies: the White Feminism of Feminist Reception Scholarship

This chapter explores the ideological function of the dominant frameworks of “revision” and “empowerment” in feminist classical reception scholarship. The chapter argues that the paradigm of revisionary empowerment is a manifestation of the dominance of “white feminism” in classical reception studies, a feminism that facilitates the discipline of Classics’ evasion of a sincere engagement with its historical and ongoing implication in white supremacism, classism, and misogyny. Crucially, white feminist analyses fail to incorporate a reflexive analysis of the scholar’s own acculturation into the discipline and her complicity in the reproduction of cultural, institutional, and discursive power. The first half of the chapter uses the classicising poetry of Sylvia Plath—an early and pre-eminent example of a “revisionary” poet—as a case study to expose the false premise upon which the narrative of subversive empowerment has been built. The second half of the essay turns to examine discourses of white feminism in contemporary public-facing feminist classical reception scholarship, using Mary Beard’s Women & Power: A Manifesto (2017) and Helen Morales’ Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths (2020) as case studies

University of Westminster Research Data Management Policy

This policy outlines the obligations of and key expectations for researchers and the institution in relation to the management and preservation of research data and research related records created at the University of Westminster. This policy clarifies the responsibilities of both individual researchers and the institution in relation to good research data management and support. This policy updates the University of Westminster Research Data Management Policy 2017. This policy was written in April 2022 and was approved by Academic Council on 07/12/2022

Greenhouse Evaluation of Air-Assisted Delivery Parameters for Mature Poinsettias

Understanding the performance characteristics of application equipment is important for helping make the most efficacious applications. While handguns making high volume applications are common in greenhouse production, it is difficult to achieve uniform distribution of product in a timely manner. Broadcast applications made using air-assistance can help aid canopy penetration and the volume of carrier required to make applications. The objectives of this research were to determine how air-assist sprayer application parameters influence spray deposits on the undersides of leaves in a mature poinsettia canopy. Bench-top trials were conducted using a motorized boom inside a greenhouse to treat a mature and dense poinsettia canopy. Sprayer treatments applied a tank mix of water and fluorescent tracer. Nylon screen targets were secured to the underside surfaces of leaves in the upper and lower elevation of target plants. A five-port, air-assist nozzle with flat fan nozzle tips was used to make the applications. Three air outlet speeds, two travel speeds, and three nozzle flow rates were evaluated. Each treatment was replicated three times. Spray deposits were highly variable. Upper elevation spray deposits were significantly greater than lower elevation deposits. Individually, higher air outlet speed (36.0 m s(-1)), slower travel speed (3.2 km h(-1)), and higher nozzle flow rate (1.17 L min(-1)) tended to produce higher sprayer deposits on the underside surfaces of leaves. The combination of travel speed and nozzle flow rate that produced the highest application rate (900 L ha(-1)) also produced the highest deposits. There was a 500% increase in underside leaf surface deposits in the lower canopy area for a corresponding 500% increase in application rate. However, the main effects produced no significant differences in spray deposits in the lower canopy area. Further improvements in directing sprays or providing canopy turbulence are necessary to improve deposition and management of insect pests feeding on the underside of poinsettia leaves

Voluntary versus ABC breath-hold in the context of VMAT for breast and locoregional lymph node radiotherapy including the internal mammary chain

Background: Deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) reduces radiation dose to the heart in patients undergoing locoregional breast radiotherapy. In the context of tangential irradiation of the breast/ chest wall, a voluntary breath hold (vDIBH) technique has been shown to be as reproducible as a machine-assisted breath hold technique using the active breathing co-ordinator (ABCTM, Elekta, Crawley, UK, ABC_DIBH). This study compares set-up reproducibility for vDIBH versus ABC_DIBH in patients undergoing volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) for breast cancer, both with and without wax bolus. Method: Patients with breast cancer requiring pan regional lymph node VMAT +/� wax bolus in breathhold were CT scanned in vDIBH and ABC_DIBH. Patients were randomised to receive one technique for fractions 1–7 and the other for fractions 8–15. Daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed and registered to planning-CT using bony anatomy. Within-patient comparisons of mean daily chest wall position were made using a paired t-test. Population, systematic (P) and random errors (a) were estimated. Intrafraction reproducibility was assessed by comparing chest wall position and diaphragm movement between consecutive breath holds on CBCT. Results: 16 patients were recruited. All completed treatment with both techniques (9 patients with wax bolus, 7 patients without). CBCT derived P were 2.1–6.4 mm (ABC_DIBH) and 2.1–4.9 mm (vDIBH), a were 1.7–2.6 mm (ABC_DIBH) and 2.2–2.7 mm (vDIBH) and mean daily chest wall displacements (MD) were 0.0–1.5 mm (ABC_DIBH) and - 0.1–1.6 vDIBH (all p non-significant). Chest wall and diaphragm position was equivalent between consecutive breath holds in ABC and vDIBH (median difference 1.0 mm and 0.8 mm respectively, non p significant) demonstrating equivalent intrafraction reproducibility. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a simple voluntary breath hold technique is feasible in combination with VMAT (+/� bolus) and is as reproducible as ABC_DIBH with VMAT for the irradiation of the breast and axillary and IMC lymph nodes in breast cancer patients

Weekly Survivorship Curves of Soybean Aphid Biotypes 1 and 4 on Insecticidal Seed-Treated Soybean

Thiamethoxam, an insecticide used in soybean seed treatments, effectively suppresses soybean aphids (Aphis glycines) Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) for a short time after planting. However, exactly when and how quickly soybean aphid populations could increase is unknown. Likewise, we lack data on virulent soybean aphid biotypes (that can overcome soybean resistance) when fed on seed-treated soybean. Determining the survival of soybean aphids over time on insecticidal seed-treated soybean is critical for improving soybean aphid management and may provide insights to manage aphid virulence to aphid resistant-soybean. In greenhouse and field experiments, aphid-susceptible soybean plants (with and without an insecticidal seed treatment) were infested at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after planting (DAP). We compared aphid survival among biotypes 1 (avirulent) and 4 (virulent) and insecticide treatment 72 h after infestation. We also measured thiamethoxam concentrations in plant tissue using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. As expected, soybean aphid survival was significantly lower on seed-treated soybean up to 35 DAP for both biotypes, which correlates with the decrease of thiamethoxam in the plant over time. Moreover, we found no significant difference between avirulent and virulent biotype survivorship on insecticidal seed-treated soybean plants, although we did find significantly greater survival for the virulent biotype compared with the avirulent biotype on untreated soybean in the field. In conclusion, our study further characterized the relative short duration of seed treatment effectiveness on soybean aphid and showed that survivorship of virulent aphids on seed-treated soybean is similar to avirulent aphids

Hyperproliferation and Dysregulation ofIL-4 Expression in NF-ATp-Deficient Mice

AbstractNF-ATp is a member of a family of genes that encodes the cytoplasmic component of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT). In this study, we show that mice with a null mutation in the NF-ATp gene have splenomegaly with hyperproliferation of both B and T cells. They also display early defects in the transcription of multiple genes encoding cytokines and cell surface receptors, including CD40L and FasL. A striking defect in early IL-4 production was observed after ligation of the TCR complex by treatment with anti-CD3 in vivo. The transcription of other cytokines including IL-13, GM–CSF, and TNFα was also affected, though to a lesser degree. Interestingly, the cytokines IL-2 and IFNγ were minimally affected. Despite this early defect in IL-4 transcription, Th2 development was actually enhanced at later timepoints as evidenced by increased IL-4 production and IgE levels in situations that favor the formation of Th2 cells both in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that NF-ATp may be involved in cell growth, and that it is important for the balanced transcription of the IL-4 gene during the course of an immune response.BDY

The Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells (Nfat) Transcription Factor Nfatp (Nfatc2) Is a Repressor of Chondrogenesis

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factors regulate gene expression in lymphocytes and control cardiac valve formation. Here, we report that NFATp regulates chondrogenesis in the adult animal. In mice lacking NFATp, resident cells in the extraarticular connective tissues spontaneously differentiate to cartilage. These cartilage cells progressively differentiate and the tissue undergoes endochondral ossification, recapitulating the development of endochondral bone. Proliferation of already existing articular cartilage cells also occurs in some older animals. At both sites, neoplastic changes in the cartilage cells occur. Consistent with these data, NFATp expression is regulated in mesenchymal stem cells induced to differentiate along a chondrogenic pathway. Lack of NFATp in articular cartilage cells results in increased expression of cartilage markers, whereas overexpression of NFATp in cartilage cell lines extinguishes the cartilage phenotype. Thus, NFATp is a repressor of cartilage cell growth and differentiation and also has the properties of a tumor suppressor

The behaviour of lubricated EHD contacts subjected to vibrations

Machine components containing contacts working in elastohydrodynamic (EHD) conditions are often subjected to vibrations. These may be originated from the mechanism or machine the contact is part of, the surrounding environment and within the contact itself. The influence of vibrations upon the behaviour of elastohydrodynamic films has been studied experimentally in a number of papers, but a comprehensive study of the effect of the parameters of the oscillatory motion upon the film thickness has not been carried out yet. In this study the authors evaluate the effect of the frequency of the oscillatory motion upon the EHD film thickness. Optical interferometry is used to measure lubricant film thickness in a ball-on-flat disc arrangement. A high – speed camera records the interferometric images for later analysis and conversion into film thickness maps. The disc runs at a constant angular velocity while the ball is driven by the traction forces developed in the EHD film. In steady state conditions, this would ensure pure rolling conditions, however in the present investigation the ball is subjected to harmonic vibrations in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the film. The contact under study is lubricated by basic oils and the temperature is kept at a constant value of 60°C. The aim of this paper is to understand how vibrations influence the lubricant film formation