Antimicrobial Activity of Phomopsis SP. ED2, an Endophytic Fungus Isolated From Orthosiphon Stamineus Benth

This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. ED2, which was previously isolated from the flower of the medicinal plant Orthosiphon stamineus Benth, in Penang, Malaysia. The 14 days-old fungal cultures were extracted with different organic solvents, include hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were tested by disc diffusion assay. Based on the results, most antimicrobial compounds were present in the ethyl acetate fraction, and this extract could significantly inhibit the activity of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. The results also indicate that the antimicrobial compounds were mainly associated with the fungal biomass and all the Gram-positive test bacteria were inhibited by the ethyl acetate extract of the fungal biomass. Notably, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aereus exhibited a high sensitivity to the extract, with a low minimal inhibitory concentration and low minimal lethal concentration. The isolate also effectively inhibited the growth of the dermatophytes Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum. Preliminary phytochemical screening also demonstrated that the extract contains phenols and steroids which possess antimicrobial activity. These results reveal that the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. is potential source of novel chemotherapeutic agent

Ventricular divergence correlates with epicardial wavebreaks and predicts ventricular arrhythmia in isolated rabbit hearts during therapeutic hypothermia

INTRODUCTION: High beat-to-beat morphological variation (divergence) on the ventricular electrogram during programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) is associated with increased risk of ventricular fibrillation (VF), with unclear mechanisms. We hypothesized that ventricular divergence is associated with epicardial wavebreaks during PVS, and that it predicts VF occurrence. METHOD AND RESULTS: Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n = 10) underwent 30-min therapeutic hypothermia (TH, 30°C), followed by a 20-min treatment with rotigaptide (300 nM), a gap junction modifier. VF inducibility was tested using burst ventricular pacing at the shortest pacing cycle length achieving 1:1 ventricular capture. Pseudo-ECG (p-ECG) and epicardial activation maps were simultaneously recorded for divergence and wavebreaks analysis, respectively. A total of 112 optical and p-ECG recordings (62 at TH, 50 at TH treated with rotigaptide) were analyzed. Adding rotigaptide reduced ventricular divergence, from 0.13±0.10 at TH to 0.09±0.07 (p = 0.018). Similarly, rotigaptide reduced the number of epicardial wavebreaks, from 0.59±0.73 at TH to 0.30±0.49 (p = 0.036). VF inducibility decreased, from 48±31% at TH to 22±32% after rotigaptide infusion (p = 0.032). Linear regression models showed that ventricular divergence correlated with epicardial wavebreaks during TH (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Ventricular divergence correlated with, and might be predictive of epicardial wavebreaks during PVS at TH. Rotigaptide decreased both the ventricular divergence and epicardial wavebreaks, and reduced the probability of pacing-induced VF during TH

Kentaurer i Ödesryttarna​: Rumslighet och kroppslighet i häst-människa-relationer

In my work with the first out of two trilogies of Soul Riders by Helena Dahlgren, I examine how the human-horse relationship forms centaurs in the story. The centaur is formed when two individuals in a complex web of parries and responses become so coordinated in their movements that it is no longer possible to distinguish where one body’s movement ends and where the other’s begins. The concept is based on Bornemark’s theory of the centaur as a phenomenological being, in other words, as an experience of the body. With support from Donovan’s and Mane’s theories, I further argue that the horses in the books are regarded as subjects in a dialogue that violates the humanistic idea that man, due to his rationality, stands above the animal in a hierarchical order. With that in mind, I am presenting the connection between horse and rider as a bodily and a subjective transformation, a shift that defies the notion that the rational human and the non-rational non-human (the horse) would be binary opposites. But the centaur is not unconditional, an argument that is supported by the fact that some of the equipages in the books fail to form centaurs. If the rider tries to make the horse submit to the human will by using tools that injure the horse, their movements will not create a united body. My aim is to show that viewing the horse as a subject, and letting the distinction between human and animal dissolve is a prerequisite for the centaur.&nbsp;In my work with the first out of two trilogies of Soul Riders by Helena Dahlgren, I examine how the human-horse relationship forms centaurs in the story. The centaur is formed when two individuals in a complex web of parries and responses become so coordinated in their movements that it is no longer possible to distinguish where one body’s movement ends and where the other’s begins. The concept is based on Bornemark’s theory of the centaur as a phenomenological being, in other words, as an experience of the body. With support from Donovan’s and Mane’s theories, I further argue that the horses in the books are regarded as subjects in a dialogue that violates the humanistic idea that man, due to his rationality, stands above the animal in a hierarchical order. With that in mind, I am presenting the connection between horse and rider as a bodily and a subjective transformation, a shift that defies the notion that the rational human and the non-rational non-human (the horse) would be binary opposites. But the centaur is not unconditional, an argument that is supported by the fact that some of the equipages in the books fail to form centaurs. If the rider tries to make the horse submit to the human will by using tools that injure the horse, their movements will not create a united body. My aim is to show that viewing the horse as a subject, and letting the distinction between human and animal dissolve is a prerequisite for the centaur.&nbsp

Generosity and Resilience: Transnational Activity among the Khmer of Norway

The article reports on the pilot phase of an ongoing study of successfully rehabilitated Khmer refugees. Some of the most striking recoveries in this heavily traumatized group have taken place among those who have focused on contributing to the rebuilding of Cambodia. The article explores this collective and individual transnational generosity both generally, as an aspect of survivor resilience, and specifically by following one process. Why do Khmer refugees want to build a school and what does it mean to them? How does their transnational generosity relate to the resilience of Khmer refugees? Their own explanations are founded in their religion.Cet article est un compte rendu sur la phase pilote d'une étude en cours sur des réfugiés khmers réhabilités avec succès. Certains des rétablissements les plus frappants dans ce groupe fortement traumatisé sont survenus parmi ceux qui se sont évertués d’apporter leurs contributions à la reconstruction du Cambodge. Cet article explore cette générosité transnationale collective et individuelle tant sur le plan général, dans son aspect de l’endurance du survivant, que sur un plan plus spécifique d’un processus donné. Pourquoi les réfugiés khmers veulent-ils construire une école et qu’est-ce que cela signifie pour eux ? De quelle façon leur générosité transnationale se rapporte-t-elle à l’endurance du réfugié khmer ? Leurs propres explications trouvent leurs fondements dans leur religion

Conducting Research Despite Travel Restrictions

At the time of writing, May 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all aspects of life around the world, and academic research is no exception. It is also widely predicted that even after the present pandemic calms down, international travel restrictions are likely to remain in place in some shape or form for the foreseeable future. Researchers are seeking ways to move their projects forward despite the unprecedented challenges of lockdowns and social distancing measures. This brief guide, adapted from the module Technology-Enhanced Research, aims to provide researchers at SOAS with some practical pointers in navigating such challenges