Diasporic Community of the Berber in France: Recreating Home and Harem from Exile in Azouz Begag’s Le Gone du chaâba and Ben Jelloun’s Les Yeux baissés

The exodus of Maghrebian citizens towards France was premised mainly on the high demand for unskilled labour for the reconstruction of postwar France. With a flexible French immigration policy that facilitated integration of immigrants‟ families, the growth of Maghrebian Diaspora became evident in peripheral settlements or French cities‟ suburbs. Azouz Begag‟s Le Gone du chaâba and Ben Jelloun‟s Les Yeux baissés chronicle the life of Maghrebian Berbers in Diasporic communities where cultural dispossession and unhomeliness stimulate the re-creation and transplantation of home and harem. This work adopts Homi Bhabha‟s concept of “hybrid identity” and “third space”. In reading both narratives as a migrant text that depicts the role of memory and nostalgia in constructing exilic identities and consciousness, this work underscores the fluidity of Diasporic communities. These communities deconstruct exilic identities that they seek to construct, being an “imagined community” whose foundations are laid with bricks of nationalistic sentiments and whose socialization is defeatist, however producing cultural occupants of third space

Transgressing borders or bodies, deconstructing geographies in Tahar Ben Jelloun’s “Partir”

As imagens paradisíacas da Europa e as imagens de uma África destroçada formam a matéria-prima para a configuração dos sonhos de deslocamento de um migrante Africano. Tal conceituação pictórica do estrangeiro, do de fora, define bem a arquitetura e a ambivalência de suas esperanças de partida de sua terra. Com a politização do espaço e do tempo, o seu “faux papiers” não pode garantir a possibilidade de entrada; o migrante é confrontado com a impenetrabilidade das fronteiras fechadas e dos limites. A Europa, agora símbolo de um corpo feminino, deve ser efetivada. Embora o limite (corpo) é hermético, poderia ser penetrado ou violado de forma enérgica. Focalizando Partir, de Tahar Ben Jelloun, este trabalho tenta mostrar como e porque os migrantes magrebinos transgridem fronteiras a fim de atingir os seus conceitos e idealizações dos países europeus, o que é analisado em relação ao discurso do corpo feminino. Este trabalho foca a idealização romântica do exterior impulsionada por sua penetração forçada ou transgressão de suas fronteiras. O autor deste trabalho entende também que a transgressão do espaço permite ao escritor desconstruir geografias globais que têm sido altamente politizados através do poder eurocêntrico do mapa (mundi).The pictures of paradisiacal Europe and images of hellish Africa form the raw materials for the configuration of dreams of displacement and dislocation of an African migrant. Incidentally such pictorial conceptualization of Abroad defines as well the architecture and ambivalence of his/her hopes of departing from his/her Home. With the politicization of space and time, his/her ‘faux papiers’ or ‘sans papiers’ cannot assure the possibility of entrance, s/he is confronted with the impenetrability of enclosed borders and boundaries. Europe, now symbol of a female body, must be consummated, after amorous conceptualization. Though the boundary (body) is hermetic, it could be penetrated or violated forcefully. Focusing on Tahar Ben Jelloun’s Partir, this paper attempts to show how/why Maghrebian migrants transgress borders in order to reach their conceptualized and idealized European countries; this is analyzed in relation to the discourse of female body. It argues that romanticized idealization of the exterior propels its forced penetration or transgression of its borders. The paper also opines that the transgression of space permits the writer to deconstruct global geographies that have been highly politicized through the Eurocentric power of map

Conflict and Crisis Management: A Theoretical Comparison

This study conceptually took a comparative overview of conflict and crisis phenomena as it relates to the current state of business operating environment which is riddled with so many threats and uncertainties. In doing this, extant reviews were made on the two variables in order to demystify the controversies surrounding their manifestations and impacts on the organization. Consequently, we discovered that both conflict and crisis phenomena are indispensable part of human existence and environmental character. The comparative analysis explored revealed that both phenomena impact on the organization negatively but at varied degrees. Crises are mainly associated with disaster and hazard that ruthlessly negates the functionality of the organization where urgent response is not taken to mitigate it. While this goes, conflict is not completely a dangerous phenomenon in its entirety as people superficially perceive it to be. It is like a coin with two sides, the head and the tail; where the head represents success and the tail represents failure. The functional (head) aspect impacts on the organization positively while the dysfunctional (tail) aspect leaves the organization with negative and destructive consequences just like crisis. Therefore, we conclude that both conflict and crisis are inherent phenomena among people and their environments which cannot be eradicated but managed through the adoption of context-fit strategies. In this regards, we recommend that: i) in the face of conflict and crisis, the choice of management approach should mainly be guided by its type, level and phase ii) since conflict and crisis are endemic factors, managers should regularly carry out both internal and external diagnosis as a means of identifying early warning signs of disruptive conflicts and natural crisis’s incubation periods and possible manifestation time so as to provide adequate proactive and reactive response strategies timely. Keywords: Conflict, crisis, management, compromise, forcing, collaboration, proactive-ness, reactiveness, comparative analysis DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-2-03 Publication date: January 31st 202

Rat kinesin light chain 3 associates with spermatid mitochondria

AbstractWe recently discovered that in rat spermatids, kinesin light chain KLC3 can associate with outer dense fibers, major sperm tail components, and accumulates in the sperm midpiece. Here, we show that mitochondria isolated from rat-elongating spermatids have bound KLC3. Immunoelectron microscopy indicates that the association of KLC3 with mitochondria coincides with the stage in spermatogenesis when mitochondria move from the plasma membrane to the developing midpiece. KLC3 is able to bind in vitro to mitochondria from spermatids as well as somatic cells employing a conserved kinesin light chain motif, the tetratrico-peptide repeats. Expression of KLC3 in fibroblasts results in formation of large KLC3 clusters close to the nucleus, which also contain mitochondria: no other organelles were present in these clusters. Mitochondria are not present in KLC3 clusters after deletion of KLC3's tetratrico-peptide repeats. Our results indicate that the rat spermatid kinesin light chain KLC3 can associate with mitochondria

Red blood cell alloimmunization in multi-transfused patients with chronic kidney disease in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria

Background: Serological safety is an integral part of overall safety for blood banks.Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and specificities of red blood cell alloimmunization in multi-transfused patients  with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study carried out at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in which 186 patients with CKD were enrolled consecutively, 124 had received multiple transfusions (more than one unit of blood in one month, or at least 10 units within 3 months), while 62 had never been transfused. Antibody screen test was performed by the gel agglutination technique. RBC antibody identification was performed on the sera of those that tested positive to antibody screening test.Results: Out of the 124 multi-transfused patients  (total of 789 transfusions), 4 (3.2%) were alloimmunised. The alloimmunised  patients received a higher mean number of 17.5 ± 12 blood units, compared to 6 ± 6 units by the non-alloimmunised multi-transfused patient (p= <0.001). Six clinically significant alloantibodies were identified with all of the alloimmunised patients forming more than one antibody. Anti-E was detected in all alloimmunised patients.Conclusion: The prevalence of RBC alloimmunisation in multi-transfused CKD patients was 3.2% with anti-E being the most frequently identified antibody.Keywords: Red blood cell alloimmunization, chronic kidney disease, Port Harcourt, South-south Nigeria

Developmental Expression of the 84-kDa ODF Sperm Protein: Localization to both the Cortex and Medulla of Outer Dense Fibers and to the Connecting Piece

AbstractOuter dense fibers (ODF) are specialized cytoskeletal elements of the mammalian sperm tail which are composed of several prominent proteins. We previously reported the isolation of a cDNA (111-450) encoding a putative 84-kDa ODF protein. Here we demonstrate by independent cDNA isolations and by translational/immunoprecipitation of testicular mRNAs using anti-ODF 84 antibodies that 111-450 cDNA encodes the 84-kDa protein. We then analyzed the testicular expression of the ODF 84 mRNA and protein. Riboprobes generated from the clones recognized four testicular-specific transcripts of 1.6, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.8 kb in both rat and bull of which the immunoprecipitable product of the 2.4-kb mRNA comigrates with ODF 84 protein. Developmental Northerns indicated that the 2.2- and 2.4-kb mRNAs are first transcribed during meiotic prophase while the other two species are first expressed in round spermatids. The levels of all the transcripts steadily increased up to elongated spermatids. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the anti-84 reactive ODF proteins were synthesized and assembled in the cytoplasm of elongated spermatids (steps 9–18) with peak activity occurring in step 16 of spermiogenesis. Immunogold labeling was selective to the assembling ODF and connecting piece of the tail and to granulated bodies of the cytoplasmic lobe. Both the striated collar and capitulum of the connecting piece were immunolabeled as well as the basal plate of the implantation fossa. A combination of pre- and postembedding immunogold labeling provided evidence that the 84-kDa ODF protein is localized to both the cortex and medulla of the ODF in contrast to the sole medullary localization of the major 27-kDa ODF protein. Thus the 84-kDa ODF protein, encoded by the 2.4 transcript, is translationally regulated, packaged after synthesis into granulated bodies, assembled in a proximal to distal direction along the axoneme and may interact by means of leucine zippers specifically with the 27-kDa ODF protein during assembly. Its localization to both the cortex and medulla of the ODF, as opposed to exclusive medullary localization of the 27-kDa ODF protein, and the presence of two leucine zippers, only one of which interacts with the 27-kDa ODF, suggests that it could act as a link between proteins of the two regions of the ODF

Biogenesis of the sperm head perinuclear theca during human spermiogenesis

We analyzed the appearance and localization of the sub-acrosomal perinuclear theca (PT) during human spermiogenesis. The PT is tightly associated with acrosomal biogenesis.Fil: Alvarez Sedó, Cristian. Centro de Estudios en Ginecología y Reproducción; ArgentinaFil: Oko, Richard. Queens University; CanadáFil: Sutovsky, Peter. University of Missouri; Estados UnidosFil: Chemes, Hector Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Fundación de Endocrinología Infantil. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada"; ArgentinaFil: Rawe, Vanesa Yanina. Centro de Estudios en Ginecología y Reproducción; Argentin

Gene trap mutation of murine Outer dense fiber protein-2 gene can result in sperm tail abnormalities in mice with high percentage chimaerism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Outer dense fiber protein 2, Odf2, is a major component of the outer dense fibers, ODF, in the flagellum of spermatozoa. ODF are associated with microtubule doublets that form the axoneme. We recently demonstrated that tyrosine phosphorylation of Odf2 is important for sperm motility. In the course of a study of Odf2 using Odf2 mouse knockout lines we observed that males of a high percentage chimaerism, made using XL169 embryonic stem cells, were infertile, whereas mice of low-medium percentage chimaerism were fertile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>XL169 ES cells have a β-geo gene trap cassette inserted in the Odf2 gene. To determine possible underlying mechanisms resulting in infertility we analyzed epididymal sperm and observed that >50% displayed bent tails. We next performed ultrastructural analyses on testis of high percentage XL169 chimaeric mice. This analysis showed that high percentage XL169 chimaeric mice produce elongating spermatids that miss one or more entire outer dense fibers in their midpiece and principal piece. In addition, we observed elongating spermatids that show thinning of outer dense fibers. No other obvious abnormalities or defects are present in elongating spermatids. Spermatozoa from the caput and cauda epididymis of XL169 mice of high percentage chimaerism show additional tail defects, including absence of one or more axonemal microtubule doublets and bent tails. Sperm with bent tails display abnormal motility.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results document the possible impact of loss of one Odf2 allele on sperm tail structure and function, resulting in a novel sperm tail phenotype.</p

Red blood cell alloimmunization in multi-transfused patients with chronic kidney disease in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria

Background: Serological safety is an integral part of overall safety for blood banks. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and specificities of red blood cell alloimmunization in multi-transfused patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study carried out at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in which 186 patients with CKD were enrolled consecutively, 124 had received multiple transfusions (more than one unit of blood in one month, or at least 10 units within 3 months), while 62 had never been transfused. Antibody screen test was performed by the gel agglutination technique. RBC antibody identification was performed on the sera of those that tested positive to antibody screening test. Results: Out of the 124 multi-transfused patients (total of 789 transfusions), 4 (3.2%) were alloimmunised. The alloimmunised patients received a higher mean number of 17.5 \ub1 12 blood units, compared to 6 \ub1 6 units by the non-alloimmunised multi-transfused patient (p= &lt;0.001). Six clinically significant alloantibodies were identified with all of the alloimmunised patients forming more than one antibody. Anti-E was detected in all alloimmunised patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of RBC alloimmunisation in multi-transfused CKD patients was 3.2% with anti-E being the most frequently identified antibody