A Feminist Stylistic Analysis of “Broken Verses” by Kamila Shamsie

This research employed the feminist stylistic framework of Sara Mills in determining the difference between Kamila Shamsie’s women and men characters in her novel “Broken Verses”. The selected novel was analyzed using the model provided by Sara Mills, which aims to investigate texts at the level of word, phrase/sentence. The research identified dominant and recurring features in the novel. Women characters differ from the men in that there are more descriptions given to them which pertain to their thoughts, emotions, experiences, vulnerability towards men, and their physical characteristics. Men are described according to their physical strength, personalities, attitudes, which dominate women. Overall, the research shows that at these levels of analysis, the novel consistently foregrounds the female consciousness and experience. At the same time, the novel also magnifies the pervading dominance of men over women in many circumstances.

Development and Productivity of Jatropha curcas Plants Treated With Growth Regulators

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators (PGR) on the vegetative development and productivity of Jatropha curcas plants. A field experiment was conducted at the Goias State University, Brazil, using two-year-old J. curcas plants planted with spacing of 3 × 2 m, using foliar applications of two PGR—trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-Ca. A randomized block design was used with four treatments (trinexapac-ethyl at 1 ml plant-1—T1; prohexadione-Ca at 2 mg plant-1—T2; trinexapac-ethyl at 1 ml plant-1 plus prohexadione-Ca at 2 mg plant-1—T3; and Control—T4), five replications, and plots consisting of two plants. Two applications of a 300 ml plant-1 solution with the treatments were performed with a 30-day interval after the leaf emergence period (late September and October 2017). The trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-Ca plant growth regulators increased the grain yield of Jatropha curcas plants by increasing their vegetative growth, and number of inflorescences, and female and hermaphrodite flowers, but had no effect on the uniformity of fruit maturation. The treatment in which both plant growth regulators were used presented the best results, generating more vigorous and productive plants.

Vegetative Propagation of Gabirobeira Associate to Indolbutyric Acid in Different Seasons

The propagation of gabirobeira is carried out by seeds. However, the recalcitrance and not tolerance of the seeds to the storage compromise the formation of seedlings. Thus, the propagation by cuttings can be an option, being able to provide significant results in different seasons. The objective of this work was to evaluate the vegetative propagation by stem cuttings of two species of gabirobeira (Campomanesia adamantium and Campomanesia pubescens) associate to indolbutyric acid (IBA) at differents seasons of the year. Cuttings of the two species were obtained in the 4 seasons and concentrations of 0, 2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 mg L-1 of IBA were used, by immersion in the solution for 15 seconds and sequentially staked on trays containing a sand substrate. Sixty days after experiments were set it was evaluated the percentage of cuttings with shoots, live cuttings, dead cuttings, cuttings with calluses and rooted cuttings. A completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 4 replicates and 8 cuttings per plot was adopted. During the whole experiment, the greenhouse, substrate and cutting leaves temperature was monitored. The use of IBA did not promote adventitious rhizogenesis, but provided a high percentage of survival for the species Campomanesia adamantium and Campomanesia pubescens by stem cuttings during the spring season.

Slow breathing improves cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress and health-related quality of life in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction

Previous studies have demonstrated therapeutic benefits of slow breathing (SLOWB) in chronic heart failure (HF) but its impact on cardiovascular reactivity in response to laboratory stressors remains unknown.

Selected matrix metalloproteinases activity and hypertension-mediated organ damage in relation to uric acid serum level

Atherosclerosis is as a systemic inflammatory disease associated with the activationof many mediators, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and may be amplified by abnormal high serum uric acid (UA) concentration (hyperuricemia, HU). The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between serum UA concentration and activity of MMPs and their correlation with the hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) intensity.

The association of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) concentration levels with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in obese and overweight teenagers.

Obesity has increased rapidly among children and adolescents during the last 30 years. Paediatric patients with a BMI above the 85th centile are more often diagnosed with increased TSH levels than are children with proper body weight.

Novel inflammatory biomarkers may reflect subclinical inflammation in young healthy adults with obesity

Obesity is often accompanied by low-grade inflammation. In recent years a few blood-based inflammatory markers - neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) - have been identified. They have been proven to correlate well with established inflammatory markers such as hsCRP and have a prognostic value among others in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and malignancies. The aim of the study was to find markers associated with obesity in young heathy adults.

Tajemnica lekarska jako jedna z kluczowych powinności lekarza

Odmowa leczenia — wybrane zagadnienia

Kardiomiopatia połogowa — wciąż niepoznana. Aktualny stan wiedzy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is defined as idiopathic cardiomyopathy which occurs at the end of pregnancy or in the first few months after delivery, with symptoms of heart failure (HF) secondary to left ventricular dysfunction, and at the same time no other cause for this condition. The pathomechanism of the disease has not yet been fully understood, but it is probably based on the interaction of complex factors. The clinical course of PPCM varies from life-threatening acute heart failure to mild symptoms mimicking the symptoms typical of the perinatal period. In Europe, PPCM is a rare disease but there are areas of the world where it occurs in one in every 300 cases. The treatment of PPCM is similar to that of HF with reduced ejection fraction. However, it is important to exclude drugs with teratogenic effects during pregnancy. The inclusion of bromocriptine in PPCM therapy seems to be justified, and in some cases improves the prognosis.