Comic woman,victim woman: Pushing gender and genre boundaries in popular Hindi Cinema

“Women's film” in Hollywood is associated both with the genre of melodrama, the “weepie”, and with female spectatorship. In the Indian context of popular Hindi cinema, first, genre analysis itself is a questionable line of inquiry since several genres, the melodrama, musical, gangster, or mystery, combine in a single film, known locally as the masala (spicy) film; and second, films are scarcely divided by a gendered viewership. Yet I identify “women's films” as a distinct category in Hindi cinema, emerging around the ‘70s. These women's films typically center on female protagonists, dramatize their victimization and vindication; by the ‘80s under a range of influences these films mutated into rape‐revenge narratives.

However, another strain emerged within the ‘70s’ “women's film,” which drew on cinema's rich visual iconographic tradition of the sight gag, promulgating the comedic/tomboy heroine figure. It favored laughing and mocking patriarchal structures rather than surrendering to them in tears. Focusing on Ramesh Sippy's Sita aur Gita [1972] emblematic of this trend I explore theoretical concerns about associating genres with gender. In keeping with recent poststructuralist theories about gender and media ‘consumption I show how the film destabilized clear‐cut gender identification and stood for a promising trend that was sadly undercut. Thus, while genre might still be a useful analytical tool for Hindi cinema, defining women's film as female‐centered narratives is a viable category as long as we appreciate the instability in gendered viewer identification.     

Jewishness as sui generis: extending theorizations beyond the debate of “race,ethnicity, or religion”

ABSTRACT

Scholarship on Jewishness has often assumed that race, ethnicity, and religion are discrete categories. This review article surveys the place of Jewishness within race literature, ethnicity literature, and sociological religion literature, and offers a new theoretical framework for considering Jewishness as sui generis – of its own unique quality. The categories of race, ethnicity, and religion must be theorized as a system of interconnected frames and processes that overlap, interact, and are co-constituted. This web of frames and processes must be situated within the larger social system and meanings that construct Jewishness alongside other subjectivities.     

Making (mixed-)race: census politics and the emergence of multiracial multiculturalism in the United States,Great Britain and Canada

Abstract

During the same time period, the United States, Great Britain and Canada all moved towards ‘counting’ mixed-race on their national censuses. In the United States, this move is largely attributed to the existence of a mixed-race social movement that pushed Congress for the change – but similar developments in Canada and Britain occurred without the presence of a politically active civil society devoted to making the change. Why the convergence? This article argues that demographic trends, increasingly unsettled perceptions about discrete racial categories, and a transnational norm surrounding the primacy of racial self-identification in census-taking culminated in a normative shift towards multiracial multiculturalism. Therein, mixed-race identities are acknowledged as part of – rather than problematic within – diverse societies. These elements enabled mixed-race to be promoted, at times strategically, as a corollary of multiculturalism in these three countries.     

Nuove ricerche sulla coltura in vitro di Aucuba japonica Thunb

Abstract

New researches on the culture « in vitro » of Aucuba japonica Thunb, – Caulinar fragments grown in vitro in nutrient media solidified with agar are compared with fragments grown on a filter paper support on unshaken liquid media. Tissue cultures of Aucuba are established putting down caulinar fragments just taken from the plant with isolated callus; subcultures are obtained more easily in July. We have observed that during the months of March or April, caulinar fragments, taken from the plant at various months of the year, of different ages and cultivated on various media, unexpectedly produce many roots.     

Textualizing the san “past”: Dancing with development

The anthropology of conservation and the way that visual media, especially documentary film, contribute to mythical Tourist perceptions of the San, are discussed in relation to categories of conservancy, living museums, cultural ecology and the marketing of ecological legitimacy. The central metaphor of dance as a mythical tourist image of Africa is the vehicle through which the analysis is undertaken.     

Environmental impact assessment of galvanized sheet production: a case study in Shandong Province,China

Purpose

Galvanized sheet is the most widely used coated steel plate globally in the industry of construction, automobile, electronics manufacturing, etc. Large amounts of resources and energy are used in galvanized sheet production, which likewise generates vast amounts of pollutant emissions. In the face of the rapid growth of the production and demand of galvanized sheet in China, it is very important to find out the key factors of the environment impact in the production of galvanized sheet. An evaluation of the environmental impact of galvanized sheet production in China was conducted by using the framework of life cycle assessment to improve resource saving and environmental protection in the galvanized sheet industry, and update the life cycle inventory database of galvanized sheet production.

Methods

The environmental impact assessment was carried out based on the life cycle assessment framework by the use of ReCiPe 2016 method which was applicable on a global scale to evaluate the environmental impact of galvanized sheet production. Methods of uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis were adopted to provide credible support.

Results and discussion

The midpoint categories of global warming and fossil resource scarcity, as well as the endpoint categories of human health contributed most to environmental burden, which were mainly caused by carbon dioxide emissions and coal consumption. Environmental impact was dominated by the key process of continuous casting billet production, followed by electrolytic zinc production and electricity generation.

Conclusions

Additional CO₂-reducing measures should be implemented in galvanized sheet production to slow the effect of global warming. Moreover, biomass char reducing agents, rather than coal-based reducing agents, should be utilized in steelmaking to reduce fossil resource consumption. Furthermore, renewable energy, rather than coal-based electricity, should be used in galvanized sheet production to reduce carbon emissions and fossil resource consumption. Increasing the recycling rate of scrap steel and zinc waste can save resources and reduce environmental burden. The results of this study can provide guidance in the reduction of resource consumption and environmental burden of galvanized sheet production to the maximum extent.

     

The environmental consequences of a change in Australian cotton lint production

Purpose

Changes in the production of Australian cotton lint are expected to have a direct environmental impact, as well as indirect impacts related to co-product substitution and induced changes in crop production. The environmental consequences of a 50% expansion or contraction in production were compared to Australian cotton production’s current environmental footprint. Both were then assessed to investigate whether current impacts are suitable for predicting the environmental impact of a change in demand for cotton lint.

Methods

A consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) model of Australian cotton lint production (cradle-to-gin gate) was developed using plausible scenarios regarding domestic regions and technologies affected by changes in supply, with both expansion (additional cotton) and contraction (less cotton) being modelled. Modelling accounted for direct impacts from cotton production and indirect impacts associated with changes to cotton production, including co-product substitution and changes to related crops at regional and global scales. Impact categories assessed included climate change, fossil energy demand, freshwater consumption, water stress, marine and freshwater eutrophication, land occupation and land-use change.

Results and discussion

For both the expansion and contraction scenarios, the changes to climate change impacts (including iLUC) and water impacts were less than would be assumed from current production as determined using attributional LCA. However, the opposite was true for all other impact categories, indicating trade-offs across the impact categories. Climate change impacts under both scenarios were relatively minor because these were largely offset by iLUC. Similarly, under the contraction scenario, water impacts were dominated by indirect impacts associated with regional crops. A sensitivity analysis showed that the results were sufficiently robust to indicate the quantum of changes that could be expected.

Conclusions

A complex array of changes in technologies, production regions and related crops were required to model the environmental impacts of a gross change in cotton production. Australian cotton lint production provides an example of legislation constraining the direct water impacts of production, leading to a contrast between impacts estimated by attributional and consequential LCA. This model demonstrated that indirect products and processes are important contributors to the environmental impacts of Australian cotton lint.

     

On multipole representation of current generators

In Yeh, Martinek, and de Beaumont (Bull. Math. Biophysics,20, 203–216, 1958), multipole representations of current generators in a volume conductor are used, based upon the Taylor series expansion of the potential function. In Yeh, (Bull. Math. Biophysics,23, 263–276, 1961) multipole representations of current generators in a spherical volume conductor are used, based upon the spherical harmonic expansion. This paper correlates these two systems of multipole representations so that formulations in terms of one system of the representations may be readily transformed into formulations in terms of the other system. Since the Taylor series representation is more graphic, whereas the spherical harmonic representation is more compact, such a transformation between these two systems of formulations can serve useful purposes in the application of the theory of electrocardiography. This investigation was supported by the National Heart Institute under Research Grant H-2263 (c-4).     

Biomarkers of antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in elderly patients with hypertension

Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine selected parameters of the blood redox system in elderly patients with hypertension.examine selected parameters of the blood redox system in elderly patients with hypertension. Methods: We analyzed differences in redox-associated molecules and enzymes among elderly hypertensive subjects (age above 65?years, n?=?49) and two groups of normotensive subjects (<65 years old – Control group I; n?=?27, and >65 – Control group II; n?=?30). Results: Decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes, increased lipid peroxidation and reduced production of nitric oxide were observed in hypertensive subjects, compared to healthy younger controls, or those of the same age. In healthy controls, an age-related decrease in the production of nitric oxide and the activities of SOD-1 and GPx-1 was also evident. The pathology of hypertension was characterised by further, significant decreases in the values of these parameters. When the subgroups of females and males were compared to their respective controls, a compromised redox balance was observed that was more evident in female hypertensives. Discussion: Hypertension in elderly patients is accompanied by changes in biomarkers of antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation status, which significantly differ from those observed in healthy ageing subjects. Our study also suggests that the relationship of gender and changes in redox balance with regard to hypertension should be further explored.     

Persistent Popular Images of Pastoralists

Pastoralists have long been recurrent figures in visual images and other representations of Africa and Africans. Whether seen in positive or negative terms, pastoralists have provided means for thinking about and imaging cultural difference and identity, with considerable continuity in representational forms and themes. As popular visual media proliferated and changed over the past two centuries--from postcards, trade cards, and live shows to Hollywood films and video games--African pastoralists have continued to appear in each new form, often replicating the types and stereotypes of Euroamerican understandings even as they register new and varied circumstances. The proliferation and reverberation of similar images through diverse visual media is one way these images have come to seem "natural" and to develop such remarkable persistence [Kratz 2002]. Using cases drawn from eastern and southern Africa, this collection of articles considers the multifaceted processes of representation involved in imaging African pastoralists. It invites attention to how such representations are produced in diverse visual media and through interconnections among visual and verbal media, examining the range of actors, interactions, and mediations involved in crafting representations of African pastoralists at different times and in different places.     

Enhanced production of heterologous macrolide aglycones by fed-batch cultivation of Streptomyces coelicolor

A media development program for the enhanced production of macrolide aglycones by Streptomyces coelicolor is described. Shake flask studies utilizing a yeast extract and a bakers' yeast increased production by 200% and 80%, respectively. However, ammonia generation and high pH were identified as potential problems in these enriched media. Studies in pH-controlled fermentors revealed that production stage pH significantly affects macrolide titers, with low pH (5.5) being more productive than high pH (6.5). Implementation of glucose feeding in shake flask cultures reduced ammonia generation and controlled production stage pH, resulting in significantly enhanced productivities. The combined effects of media supplementation and glucose feeding resulted in a three to five-fold overall improvement in total macrolide aglycone titers, and is the first reported high-level (>1 g/l) production of recombinant polyketides in a heterologous host. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 28, 297–301 DOI: 10.1038/sj/jim/7000246 Received 06 August 2001/ Accepted in revised form 26 January 2002     

Microbial Allyl Rearrangement and Resolution of Acetates of Unsaturated Cyclic Terpene Alchols by Pseudomonas sp. NOF-5 Strain

Microbial hydrolysis of the acetates of unsaturated cyclic terpene alcohols by Pseudomonas sp. NOF-5 isolated from soil was investigated. (±)-trans-Carveyl acetate ((±)-trans-3) was enantio-selectively hydrolyzed with NOF-5 strain to give ( – )-trans-carveol (( – )-trans-2 of 86.6% optical purity). However, the hydrolysis of (±)-cis-3 was less enantioselective, while (±)-piperitylacetate ((±)-6, a cis and trans mixture) was hydrolyzed to give the ( – )-trans- and ( – )-cis-piperitols (( – )- trans-5 and ( – )-cis-5) in a poor optical yield. In this case, other tert-alcohols, ( + )-trans- and ( – )- ds-2-p-menthen-1-ols ((±)-trans-7 and ( – )-cis-7), were also produced. Furthermore, microbial and enzymic allyl rearrangements of ( + )-trans-6 and ( – )-trans-verbenylacetate (( – )-trans-11) were studied. Biological treatment of (+)-trans-6 and ( – )-trans-11 with NOF-5 or its esterase gave (+)-trans- and (-)-cis-1 and ( + )-cis-3-pinen-2-ol (( + )-cis-12), respectively.     

贵州兴义喀斯特洞穴可培养放线菌多样性及抗菌活性初筛

【目的】进一步了解兴义喀斯特洞穴可培养放线菌资源及产活性代谢产物的能力。【方法】选取多种分离培养基,利用稀释直接涂布平板法对贵州黔西南兴义市多个喀斯特洞穴的土壤和岩石进行可培养放线菌资源分离;利用三种发酵培养基对相关放线菌进行生物产物初筛。【结果】根据16S rRNA基因序列的比对分析,将分离得到的251株放线菌分别归类到44个属,其中链霉菌属(Streptomyces)占分离菌株的比例为24.30%,小单孢菌属(Micromonospora)占比11.95%,红球菌属(Rhodococcus)占比9.16%,微杆菌属(Microbacterium)占比7.17%,诺卡氏菌属(Nocardia)占比6.37%,该五类放线菌为该地区可培养放线菌的优势菌群。对70株细菌进行活性次级代谢产物筛选,其中35株放线菌对指示菌具有抑制活性,且主要类群为链霉菌属和小单孢菌属。【结论】贵州兴义喀斯特洞穴中存在丰富多样的放线菌类群,且蕴藏大量具有产生活性次级代谢产物能力的菌株,为医药产业提供潜力菌株资源,极具进一步发掘和研究的价值。     

Effects of acetic acid and lactic acid on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a minimal medium

Specific growth rates (μ) of two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae decreased exponentially (R ²>0.9) as the concentrations of acetic acid or lactic acid were increased in minimal media at 30°C. Moreover, the length of the lag phase of each growth curve (h) increased exponentially as increasing concentrations of acetic or lactic acid were added to the media. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of acetic acid for yeast growth was 0.6% w/v (100 mM) and that of lactic acid was 2.5% w/v (278 mM) for both strains of yeast. However, acetic acid at concentrations as low as 0.05–0.1% w/v and lactic acid at concentrations of 0.2–0.8% w/v begin to stress the yeasts as seen by reduced growth rates and decreased rates of glucose consumption and ethanol production as the concentration of acetic or lactic acid in the media was raised. In the presence of increasing acetic acid, all the glucose in the medium was eventually consumed even though the rates of consumption differed. However, this was not observed in the presence of increasing lactic acid where glucose consumption was extremely protracted even at a concentration of 0.6% w/v (66 mM). A response surface central composite design was used to evaluate the interaction between acetic and lactic acids on the specific growth rate of both yeast strains at 30C. The data were analysed using the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure. From the analysis, the interaction between acetic acid and lactic acid was statistically significant (P≤0.001), i.e., the inhibitory effect of the two acids present together in a medium is highly synergistic. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 26, 171–177. Received 06 June 2000/ Accepted in revised form 21 September 2000     

Planktivory in the changing Lake Huron zooplankton community: Bythotrephes consumption exceeds that of Mysis and fish

1. Oligotrophic lakes are generally dominated by calanoid copepods because of their competitive advantage over cladocerans at low prey densities. Planktivory also can alter zooplankton community structure. We sought to understand the role of planktivory in driving recent changes to the zooplankton community of Lake Huron, a large oligotrophic lake on the border of Canada and the United States. We tested the hypothesis that excessive predation by fish (rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax, bloater Coregonus hoyi) and invertebrates (Mysis relicta, Bythotrephes longimanus) had driven observed declines in cladoceran and cyclopoid copepod biomass between 2002 and 2007. 2. We used a field sampling and bioenergetics modelling approach to generate estimates of daily consumption by planktivores at two 91‐m depth sites in northern Lake Huron, U.S.A., for each month, May–October 2007. Daily consumption was compared to daily zooplankton production. 3. Bythotrephes was the dominant planktivore and estimated to have eaten 78% of all zooplankton consumed. Bythotrephes consumption exceeded total zooplankton production between July and October. Mysis consumed 19% of all the zooplankton consumed and exceeded zooplankton production in October. Consumption by fish was relatively unimportant – eating only 3% of all zooplankton consumed. 4. Because Bythotrephes was so important, we explored other consumption estimation methods that predict lower Bythotrephes consumption. Under this scenario, Mysis was the most important planktivore, and Bythotrephes consumption exceeded zooplankton production only in August. 5. Our results provide no support for the hypothesis that excessive fish consumption directly contributed to the decline of cladocerans and cyclopoid copepods in Lake Huron. Rather, they highlight the importance of invertebrate planktivores in structuring zooplankton communities, especially for those foods webs that have both Bythotrephes and Mysis. Together, these species occupy the epi‐, meta‐ and hypolimnion, leaving limited refuge for zooplankton prey.     

Sludge and lignin as growth media for the production of antimicrobial substances by selected microorganisms

Abstract

The ability of sludge, lignin and humic acid to support the growth and production of antimicrobial substances by 19 microorganism strains was tested. Organisms from seven genera: Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Beauveria, Paecilomyces, Trichoderma and Trichosporon grew on the tested media. On these media, they were also examined for the production of anti-phytopathogenic activity against Fusarium oxysporum P1 BIM, Botrytis cinerea B1 BIM and Pseudomonas syringae. pv. glicinea B-280 BIM. Strains Pseudomonas aurantiaca S-1, Bacillus sp. 19 and Streptomyces sp. 11 synthesize antimicrobial metabolites on the different media. Protease, cellulase, α-amylase, xylanase and peroxidase were also produced by the same microorganisms, which can explain their ability to grow on sludge, and laccase was produced only by P. aurantiaca S-1. HPLC analysis of the lignin culture media before and after P. aurantiaca S-1 growth has shown that the major lignin peak in the culture broth disappeared.     

Improvement of the fermentation performance of Lactobacillus plantarum by the flavanol catechin is uncoupled from its degradation

Aims: To determine the influence of the flavanol catechin on key metabolic traits for the fermentation performance of Lactobacillus plantarum strain RM71 in different media and to evaluate the ability of this strain to catabolize catechin. Methods and Results: Growth monitoring and time course of sugar consumption data tracking in chemically defined medium (CDM), revealed that growth of Lact. plantarum strain RM71 upon catechin was characterized by a noticeable shorter lag period, outcome of earlier sugar consumption and lactic acid production courses. Catechin gave rise to higher cell densities compared to controls because of an increased extension of sugar utilization. Fermentation of media relevant for practical fermentation processes with Lact. plantarum strain RM71 showed that catechin sped up malic acid decarboxylation, which besides quicker and extended consumption of several sugars, resulted in faster and higher lactic acid production and growth. Spectrophotometric evaluation of catechin by HPLC‐DAD and the lack of catechin concentration‐dependent effects showed that the observed stimulations were uncoupled from catechin catabolism by Lact. plantarum. Conclusions: The flavanol catechin stimulated the growth of Lact. plantarum strain RM71 by promoting quicker sugar consumption, increasing the extension of sugar utilization and stimulating malic acid decarboxylation. These stimulations are uncoupled from catechin catabolism as Lact. plantarum did not catabolize it during fermentation. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study, for the first time, examined the influence of the flavanol catechin on the fermentation performance of a Lact. plantarum strain in several media under different fermentation conditions. The information could be relevant to control the production and obtain high‐quality food products fermented by this micro‐organism.     

Induction of microcin B17 formation in Escherichia coli ZK650 by limitation of oxygen and glucose is independent of glucose consumption rate

We examined the consumption of glucose from the media in which Escherichia coli ZK650 was grown. This organism, which produces the polypeptide antibiotic microcin B17 best under conditions of limiting supplies of glucose and air, was grown with a low level of glucose (0.5 mg/ml) as well as a high level (5.0 mg/ml) under both high and low aeration. Glucose consumption rates were virtually identical under both high and low aeration. Thus, glucose consumption rate is not a regulating factor in microcin B17 formation. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 26, 341–344. Received 25 September 2000/ Accepted in revised form 16 April 2001     

Tavola Rotonda Sulla Ontogenesi,Conservazione e Germinazione Del Seme Roma 22–23 Maggio 1978

Abstract

Diversities and interfaces in the zonal analysis of vegetation. – The attention is called to the growing complexity of ecological and phytogeo-graphical problems emerging from the examination of the diversities of the vegetal landscape. The trend towards typologies, zonations both in the altitudinal sense and latitudinal sense has produced very useful schemes and frameworks which are fundamental references. But problems become more and more extensive and critical in the areas of transition between these types and these zones. These areas, which are particularly fragile, being as they are the centre of delicate balancing processes, are expanding – mostly for anthropical action – to such extent as to become wider than the typical zones codified by usual schemes. Therefore it is required a more intense research even for exigencies of conservation of the land, vegetation and values of human interest.     

Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae microsclerotial granules

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae has very recently been shown to produce microsclerotia (MS) – compact, heavily melanised, hyphal aggregates – in liquid media. Soil incorporation bioassays of dried MS preparations of three isolates of M. anisopliae were conducted using third instar Tetanops myopaeformis (sugarbeet root maggot) in clay and/or clay loam field soils as a model system to demonstrate efficacy. At rates as low as 23 mg MS granules/100 g dry soil, the biocontrol efficacy of MS granules of M. anisopliae Strain F52 produced in liquid media with a high carbon concentration (36 g/L) and high C:N ratios (30:1, 50:1) were superior to MS preparations produced in low carbon (8 g carbon/L) media and a high carbon medium with a 10:1 C:N ratio. Bioassays using MS formulations of M. anisopliae strains MA1200 and TM109 produced in high carbon and high C:N ratio media were superior in efficacy to the other MS production media tested. MS preparations of M. anisopliae F52 showed superior efficacy against the sugarbeet root maggot in comparison with more conventional, conidia-covered nutritive (corn grit) granules in a clay and clay soil. The MS granules were also highly efficacious against the sugarbeet root maggot at soil moisture levels as low as 0.983 A _w (?2.33 MPa). Granular preparations incorporating Metarhizium MS can serve as a viable formulation for the use of this fungus against soil insects.