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Escaping a sinking ship? The translation of Epitácio Pais’s short story ‘Os Ratos/The Rats’, Goan writing in Portuguese and World Literature: literary, historical, sociolinguistic and anthropological approaches
Get PDFThe status of Goa’s Portuguese archive in World Literature, between a residual place in the macrosystem of Lusophone writing and a new lease of life in English translation can be approached through Epitácio Pais’s short story ‘Os Ratos’ (probably written in the mid-1970s) and its recently appeared English translation (2021) as illustrated by Paul Melo e Castro in his chapter. If world literature is made rather than found (Helgesson and Vermeulen), the characteristic themes of globalisation, exchange and inequality associated with this field of inquiry provide not only fruitful categories for a reading of the story but also a potential way to endow it with at least a brief ‘effective life’ (Damrosch) as a globally circulating literary work
Salt-induced vascular damage in hypertension involves redox activation of PARP/TRPM2 signalling and inflammasome assembly
Get PDFObjectives:
Excess sodium intake induces vascular dysfunction. Molecular mechanisms underlying this are unclear. Here we investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca2+ signalling and inflammation in salt-induced vascular injury, focusing on the interplay between redox-sensitive Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which activates transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) Ca2+ channel, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Specifically, we sought to determine if salt excess induces a pro-oxidant environment, leading to PARP-induced TRPM2 activation and increased Ca2+ influx, inflammasome assembly, and consequent vascular damage.
Methods and Results:
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from rats and humans were exposed to normal NaCl (140 mM) and high salt conditions (180 mM). High salt increased ROS generation, PARP activation, and TRPM2-mediated Ca2+ transients. Osmotic controls had no effect on these processes. High-salt medium promoted release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1β and increased phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) in VSMCs. These effects were attenuated by inhibitors of PARP (Olaparib), TRPM2 (8-Br-cADPR) and NLRP3 inflammasome (MCC950). To validate these findings in in vivo, mice were subjected to a high-salt diet (4% NaCl, 5 weeks), resulting in elevated blood pressure and vascular remodelling and dysfunction. Exposure of vessels to olaparib and MCC950 attenuated the hypercontractility associated with high-salt diet.
Conclusion:
salt-induced vascular injury in hypertension involves ROS generation in VSMCs leading to activation of the PARP/TRPM2 axis, increased Ca2+ influx, NLRP3 activation and vascular injury. Our study provides new insights into molecular pathways involved in high-salt diet-induced vascular dysfunction, important in hypertension
Using OpenPrescribing.net to evaluate neighbourhood-level prescribing of inhalers for asthma and COPD
Get PDFPrescribing of inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is complicated due to multiple treatment pathways, diverse products, and variability in patients’ needs and usage habits. Factors such as social deprivation, air quality, and differences in access to primary care influence both demand on respiratory medications and the rate and manner in which they are prescribed. Inhaler prescribing metrics are valuable for analysing temporal and geographic prescribing patterns across socio-economic groups, whether to identify areas with higher disease incidence or to assess problematic prescribing practices. Using data from OpenPrescribing.net, we estimate prescription items dispensed for different inhaler drugs in England at Lower Layer Super Output Area or ‘neighbourhood’ level. Generating metrics at small-area level enables analysis of the interactions between individuals, their environment, and the localised health system within which they are being treated. This approach complements a patient-centred clinical model that considers individual patient needs. To explore changes pre- and post- the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, we profile prescribing temporally and by neighbourhood-level deprivation, measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation. We develop and apply seven prescribing measures informed by national clinical guidelines which facilitate contextual comparison of prescribing behaviour between neighbourhoods. We find inequalities in prescribing behaviour, with the most deprived neighbourhoods associated with higher rates of emergency or ’rescue’ inhaler prescribing - a pattern that was interrupted during the March 2020 lockdown. Additionally, we find an increase in the prescribing of less environmentally friendly inhalers, contrary to national prescribing guidelines. This trend persisted until early 2022, when the trend began to reverse. Whilst many complex factors influence prescribing behaviour and safety, area-level deprivation appears to be an important dimension
Multi-species impacts of invasive Opuntia cacti on mammal habitat use
Get PDFBiological invasions impact ecosystems worldwide, including through changing the behaviour of native species. Here, we used camera traps to investigate the effects of invasive Opuntia spp. on the habitat use of twelve mammal species in Laikipia County, Kenya, an internationally important region of mammalian biodiversity. We found that Opuntia impacted mammal occupancy and activity. These effects were evident when Opuntia was considered at both site-level and landscape scales; however, some mammal species showed different responses to increasing Opuntia at these two scales. The effects of Opuntia were generally context-dependent, with their strength and direction varying among mammal species and between seasons. As well as having important implications for mammal conservation, ecosystem functioning, and the future spread of Opuntia, our findings highlight behavioural changes in large mammals as a potentially important pathway through which invasive species impact ecosystems
Imaging the lifecycle of Microsporidia sp. MB in Anopheles coluzzii from western Burkina Faso reveals octosporogony
Get PDFA newly discovered microsporidian, Microsporidia sp. MB (MB), was recently found to block Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes from Kenya. Here, we describe the lifecycle of the first laboratory colony of Anopheles coluzzii with MB, originating from western Burkina Faso. The lifecycle of MB was explored using fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal microscopy, facilitated by the development of optimized protocols to produce histological sections of whole adult, larval, and embryo tissues. As in An. arabiensis, transmission appears to be predominantly vertical, with MB highly localized to the ovaries across multiple lifecycle stages. MB was sparsely distributed within the majority of developing oocytes in the gravid female. After oviposition, in the majority of embryos, MB relocated to the developing gonad at the onset of tissue differentiation, suggesting a highly specialized adaptation to host tissues. Sporogony was identified for the first time in a proportion of developing oocytes and in embryos post-oviposition. Microsporidian spore characteristics were subsequently confirmed with electron microscopy. Identification of MB sporogony in eggs suggests there are alternative horizontal routes of transmission which could play an important role in developing MB as a malaria control strategy
Overlapping structural and functional connectivity disruptions in clinical high-risk for psychosis participants: a network analysis study
Get PDFSchizophrenia involves aberrant connectivity of anatomical and functional networks. However, it is currently unclear whether such disruptions are present in clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) participants and whether there may be an overlap between structural and functional connectivity alterations.
We obtained diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and resting-state, magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) data from N = 110 CHR-P participants and N = 49 healthy controls (HC). A network analysis approach was employed to explore differences in dMRI and rsfMRI connectivity as well as potential overlap between both modalities. In addition, correlations between dMRI and rsfMRI-data, clinical and neurocognitive variables as well as with clinical outcomes were investigated.
We observed hyper- and hypoconnectivity across occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal cortices in both dMRI and rsfMRI-data in CHR-Ps. Moreover, dMRI- and rsfMRI-defined overlapping nodes that differed between CHR-Ps vs. HC overlapped with visual networks, right ventral attention network, and right default mode network. Correlational analyses indicated significant relationships between the severity of CHR-P symptoms, cognitive deficits, and dMRI/rsfMRI-defined hypo- and hyper-connectivity. Finally, CHR-P individuals with persistent attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) were characterised by aberrant dMRI and rsfMRI connectivity compared to non-persistent APS.
Our study shows subtle but widespread disruptions in dMRI and rsfMRI connectivity in CHR-P participants. Specifically, we identified several occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal regions that were characterised by hyper and hypoconnectivity which correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms and cognitive impairments. Moreover, our findings suggest that dMRI and rsfMRI connectivity measures could serve as a potential biomarker for clinical outcomes in CHR-Ps
Integrating ecosystem services into ecological zoning management: insights from the Shan-Shui Initiative in China
Get PDFEcological conservation and restoration zoning is crucial for sustainable ecosystem management. Understanding the evolution, interrelationships, and driving factors of regional ecosystem services (ESs) provides an important scientific foundation for zoning. The Shan-Shui Initiative is a national-level ecological restoration strategy launched by the Chinese government that advocates an integrated approach to restoring and managing mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, and grasslands as an interconnected socioecological system. As one of its key demonstration sites, the Oujiang River Headwaters provides a representative case for examining ES-oriented zoning. This study assessed the complex relationships between 6 key ESs and established ecological conservation and restoration zones by combining ES bundles and ES significance. Targeted management strategies are also proposed. Our results revealed substantial spatial heterogeneity, with high-value zones for habitat quality and carbon storage in mountainous areas, whereas water yield and water quality purification showed distinct spatial patterns influenced by climatic and human factors. Positive correlations among most ESs indicate synergistic relationships, although water quality purification consistently showed negative correlations with other ESs, reflecting the adverse impacts of human activities. Socioecological drivers such as land use, landscape pattern, and topography were critical in shaping ES distribution. We identified 4 ES bundles, delineated the Oujiang River Headwaters into distinct ecological conservation and restoration zones based on ES significance, and propose tailored management strategies. This study provides essential insights for guiding sustainable ES management and ecological restoration efforts in rapidly developing areas
Building homes in Babylon: Jeremiah 29: 4–7 and African diasporic activism in the UK
Get PDFAfrican immigrants in the UK, especially in places such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester, contend with institutional racism, xenophobia, and socio-economic marginalisation. This study analyses how first- and second-generation African diaspora communities understand Jeremiah 29: 4–7 to create resilience and belonging. This study uses desktop research from African diasporic churches and analyses the UK’s Inclusive Britain Strategy (2023) to contend that biblical tales are reinterpreted to confront modern issues, including the Windrush Scandal and racial inequalities in NHS maternal care. The document emphasises the influence of African-led churches in formulating integration plans and promoting policy reforms in the UK. The findings indicate that African diaspora churches reinterpret Jeremiah 29: 4–5 to promote resilience and structural involvement in combating systemic racism and socio-economic disadvantage in the UK. The paper concludes by reinterpreting biblical tales to connect spiritual resilience with systemic activism, promoting hybrid identities, and integrating legislative reforms with community-driven initiatives for equity. The paper recommends the decolonisation of curricula, the enhancement of culturally competent healthcare training, the expansion of church–state collaborations, and the modification of legislation such as the Hostile Environment to foster inclusiveness. This study enhances academic discourse by merging diaspora theology with policy analysis, presenting an innovative framework for the theological examination of migration and elevating African agency within UK socio-political environments through decolonial hermeneutics and hybrid identity paradigms
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