Die Wassermetaphorik als Grenzraumgestaltung in Uwe Tellkamps „Der Turm“ (2008)

Español El objetivo de este capítulo es analizar las metáforas del agua como elementos clave para la representación literaria de los espacios de frontera relacionados con la última fase de la República Democrática Alemana en la novela Der Turm de Uwe Tellkamp. El análisis se centra en los siguientes motivos y temas topográficos: Atlantis como negación de la utopía de la RDA; Archipiélago e isla como contraposición a la imagen continente de la utopía de la RDA; Aguas residuales y agua estancada como oposición al agua fluída en el barrio heterotópico de la torre; Fuentes y arroyos como símbolos del inconsciente (colectivo); y, por último, fluidez y porosidad como imágenes que visualizan la historia. El uso de estas metáforas no sólo cuestiona la topografía oficial del aparato estatal y del partido en la RDA y los diversos espacios fronterizos, sino que las imágenes de fluidez y porosidad también representan la discursividad de la memoria y la memoria colectiva en relación con el pasado de la RDA. La Dresde atlante de Der Turm de Tellkamp se representada mediante metáforas acuáticas como un universo topográfico, social e ideológico ambivalente y complejo con numerosos espacios fronterizos interiores y exteriores. English The aim of this chapter is to analyze the water metaphors as key elements for the literary representation of borderland spaces in the late German Democratic Republic in the novel The Tower by Uwe Tellkamp. The analysis focuses on the following topographic motives and topics: Atlantis as a denial of the GDR utopia; Archipelago and island as a contrast of the image continent of the GDR utopia; Wastewater and dammed up water as opposed to running water in the heterotopic tower district; fountains and streams as symbols of (collective) unconscious; and finally, fluidity and porosity as images of history. Not only does the use of these metaphors question the official topography of the state and party apparatus and the various borderland spaces, but images of fluidity and porosity also represent the discursiveness of memory and collective memory in relation to GDR’s past. The Atlantean Dresden in Tellkamp’s The Tower is portrayed by means of water metaphors as an ambivalent and complex topographical, social and ideological universe with many inner and outer borderland spaces.MINECO, proyecto de investigación FFI2017-84342-

MicroRNA Expression Analysis: Clinical Advantage of Propranolol Reveals Key MicroRNAs in Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: As playing important roles in gene regulation, microRNAs (miRNAs) are believed as indispensable involvers in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction (MI) that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Working on a hypothesis that modulation of only some key members in the miRNA superfamily could benefit ischemic heart, we proposed a microarray based network biology approach to identify them with the recognized clinical effect of propranolol as a prompt. METHODS: A long-term MI model of rat was established in this study. The microarray technology was applied to determine the global miRNA expression change intervened by propranolol. Multiple network analyses were sequentially applied to evaluate the regulatory capacity, efficiency and emphasis of the miRNAs which dysexpression in MI were significantly reversed by propranolol. RESULTS: Microarray data analysis indicated that long-term propranolol administration caused 18 of the 31 dysregulated miRNAs in MI undergoing reversed expression, implying that intentional modulation of miRNA expression might show favorable effects for ischemic heart. Our network analysis identified that, among these miRNAs, the prime players in MI were miR-1, miR-29b and miR-98. Further finding revealed that miR-1 focused on regulation of myocyte growth, yet miR-29b and miR-98 stressed on fibrosis and inflammation, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates how a combination of microarray technology and functional protein network analysis can be used to identify disease-related key miRNAs

Assessing the risk of self-diagnosed malaria in urban informal settlements of Nairobi using self-reported morbidity survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Because of the belief that Nairobi is a low risk zone for malaria, little empirical data exists on malaria risk in the area. The aim of this study was to explore the risk of perceived malaria and some associated factors in Nairobi informal settlements using self-reported morbidity survey.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The survey was conducted from May to August 2004 on 7,288 individuals in two informal settlements of Nairobi. Participants were asked to report illnesses they experienced in the past 14 days. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of perceived-malaria. The model included variables such as site of residence, age, ethnicity and number of reported symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants reported 165 illnesses among which malaria was the leading cause (28.1%). The risk of perceived-malaria was significantly higher in Viwandani compared to Korogocho (OR 1.61, 95%CI: 1.10–2.26). Participants in age group 25–39 years had significantly higher odds of perceived-malaria compared to those under-five years (OR 2.07, 95%CI: 1.43–2.98). The Kikuyu had reduced odds of perceived-malaria compared to other ethnic groups. Individuals with five and more symptoms had higher odds compared to those with no symptoms (OR 23.69, 95%CI: 12.98–43.23).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Malaria was the leading cause of illness as perceived by the residents in the two informal settlements. This was rational as the number of reported symptoms was highly associated with the risk of reporting the illness. These results highlight the need for a more comprehensive assessment of malaria epidemiology in Nairobi to be able to offer evidence-based guidance to policy on malaria in Kenya and particularly in Nairobi.</p