Considerada um gênero menor, a literatura confessional foi, por muito tempo, excluída dos estudos acadêmicos. Porém, na última década o mercado editorial abriu-se sensivelmente para estas obras. Este trabalho procura analisar sob a luz da literatura comparada as autobiografias de Gioconda Belli, poetisa nicaraguense e da política holandesa-somali Ayaan Hirsi Ali, e encontrar na narrativa autobiográfica entrecruzamentos com a modernidade. As narrativas autobiográficas despontam com uma alternativa de situar o sujeito no mundo, um sujeito de certa forma descentrado e que pontua a experiência pessoal como uma alternativa de reconstrução de sua identidade e de reconstruir este mundo. / Por mucho tiempo se consideró a la literatura confesional como un género menor y se la excluyó de los estudios académicos. Sin embargo, en la última década, ocurrió una gran apertura del mercado editorial a estas obras. Esta tesis de maestría busca analizar, bajo la luz de la literatura comparada, las autobiografías de Gioconda Belli, poetisa nicaragüense, y de la política holandesa-somalí Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Asimismo, intenta encontrar en la narrativa autobiográfica un entrecruzamiento con la modernidad. Las narrativas autobiográficas despuntan como una alternativa de situar el sujeto en el mundo, un sujeto sin centro y que puntúa la experiencia personal como una alternativa de reconstrucción de su identidad y reconstrucción del mundo.

Considerada um gênero menor, a literatura confessional foi, por muito tempo, excluída dos estudos acadêmicos. Porém, na última década o mercado editorial abriu-se sensivelmente para estas obras. Este trabalho procura analisar sob a luz da literatura comparada as autobiografias de Gioconda Belli, poetisa nicaraguense e da política holandesa-somali Ayaan Hirsi Ali, e encontrar na narrativa autobiográfica entrecruzamentos com a modernidade. As narrativas autobiográficas despontam com uma alternativa de situar o sujeito no mundo, um sujeito de certa forma descentrado e que pontua a experiência pessoal como uma alternativa de reconstrução de sua identidade e de reconstruir este mundo. / Por mucho tiempo se consideró a la literatura confesional como un género menor y se la excluyó de los estudios académicos. Sin embargo, en la última década, ocurrió una gran apertura del mercado editorial a estas obras. Esta tesis de maestría busca analizar, bajo la luz de la literatura comparada, las autobiografías de Gioconda Belli, poetisa nicaragüense, y de la política holandesa-somalí Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Asimismo, intenta encontrar en la narrativa autobiográfica un entrecruzamiento con la modernidad. Las narrativas autobiográficas despuntan como una alternativa de situar el sujeto en el mundo, un sujeto sin centro y que puntúa la experiencia personal como una alternativa de reconstrucción de su identidad y reconstrucción del mundo.

This essay focuses on the topics of sexism and the function of gender and oppression in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane. Instances in the novel are related to real world incidents in order to show how Ali, in spite of her Western upbringing and perspective, has accurately depicted several problematical cases of injustice in Muslim culture. Even though Ali has been criticized for her, supposedly, incorrect portrayal of Bangladeshis in London, this essay will argue that the topics of the novel remain relevant in the larger scheme of Muslim society.

Les nanoparticules (NPs) représentent un danger potentiel pour la santé des travailleurs et du grand public, notamment en cas d’exposition par voie respiratoire. Si une NP est évaluée in vivo comme toxique chez l’animal, cela peut inciter à prendre des mesures pour réduire l’exposition de l’Homme à celle-ci, avant qu’il y ait des conséquences sanitaires graves. Les études in vivo sont donc d’une importance capitale afin de diminuer les potentiels risques sanitaires des NPs pour l’Homme. Néanmoins, dans un contexte de réduction du nombre d’animaux utilisés et compte tenu du nombre important de NPs existantes et de leur grande diversité physico-chimique, la toxicologie a besoin de modèles alternatifs, comme le in vitro, permettant de prédire de manière fiable les potentiels effets pulmonaires chez l’Homme. Des progrès importants ont été faits pour développer des modèles in vitro pulmonaires plus physiologiques et des méthodes d’exposition permettant de simuler l’inhalation de NPs in vitro. Cependant, des incertitudes existent quant à la capacité de ces nouveaux modèles in vitro à prédire les réponses observées in vivo dans les poumons après exposition à des NPs. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de ce travail a été d’évaluer la capacité de plusieurs méthodes in vitro, de complexité différente, à prédire les effets toxiques observés in vivo chez le rat après exposition aiguë (24h) pulmonaire à des NPs métalliques faiblement solubles de TiO2 et de CeO2. Dans un premier temps, des expérimentations in vitro ont été effectuées afin d’évaluer si exposer des cellules alvéolaires à l’interface air-liquide (ALI) à des aérosols de NPs de TiO2 et de CeO2, générait des résultats différents par rapport à des expositions classiques à des suspensions en submergé. Dans un second temps, des expérimentations in vivo par aspiration intratrachéale ont été réalisées afin de comparer les réponses toxiques pulmonaires in vitro avec celles obtenues in vivo. Pour comparer les réponses pulmonaires in vivo et in vitro, des référentiels de dose similaires, notamment la masse par unité de surface ou par macrophage, ont été utilisés. Après 24h d’exposition, des réponses biologiques significatives (inflammation principalement) ont été observées in vitro à des doses inférieures à l’ALI par rapport au submergé. Nous avons par ailleurs souligné la nécessité de prendre en compte les doses réellement déposées sur les cellules ainsi que le débit de dose pour effectuer les comparaisons entre les deux méthodes d’exposition in vitro utilisées. Nous avons ensuite comparé les résultats in vitro avec ceux obtenus in vivo. Nous avons constaté que la méthode ALI générait des résultats plus prédictifs du in vivo, en termes de niveau d’activation des réponses toxiques à 24h. Finalement, nous avons établi un classement des quatre NPs utilisées dans notre étude et celles-ci ont été classées similairement in vivo et in vitro et quelle que soit la méthode utilisée in vitro. Nous avons par ailleurs montré l’importance de considérer la surface active des NPs pour établir ce classement. En conclusion, notre approche nous a permis de mieux évaluer le fossé existant entre le in vivo et le in vitro. Nos résultats soulignent l’intérêt d’utiliser des méthodes in vitro plus réalistes et plus proches de la physiologie humaine dans le but de modéliser les potentiels effets indésirables des NPs pour l’Homme. Cela ouvre des perspectives quant à l’utilisation et au développement de méthodologies in vitro de plus en plus représentatives des conditions d’exposition in vivo. / Nanoparticles (NPs) represent a potential danger for workers and public, especially after inhalation. When a NP is shown toxic for the lungs in vivo in animals, this can incite regulators to implement measures to reduce human exposure risks. The in vivo studies are thus of utmost importance in reducing the potential health risks for humans. However, in a context of a diminution in the number of animals used in experimentations and considering the high number of NPs used and their physicochemical diversity, there is an urgent need for alternative methods, like the in vitro, which could be used to predict the potential health effects of NPs in human. Many progresses have been made recently to develop more physiological cell models and exposure methods simulating the inhalation of NPs in vitro. Nevertheless, uncertainties remain regarding the capacity of these new in vitro methods to predict the biological responses observed in vivo into the lungs after exposure to NPs. In this context, the aim of our study was to assess the ability of several in vitro methods, differing in complexity, to predict the adverse responses observed in vivo in rat lungs after acute exposure (24h) to several metallic and poorly soluble TiO2 and CeO2 NPs. For this, in vitro experimentations were first performed to assess if exposing alveolar cells in monoculture or in co-culture at the ALI interface to aerosols of NPs, generated different results compared to classic exposure in submerged conditions to suspensions. In a second step, rats were exposed by intratracheal aspiration of NP suspensions to compare the biological responses in vitro to those obtained in vivo. To compare the pulmonary responses in vivo and in vitro, similar dose metrics were selected, including the mass per surface unit or per macrophage. After 24h of exposure, significant biological responses (mostly inflammation) were observed at lower doses at the ALI compared to in submerged conditions. Moreover, we highlighted the necessity to take into account the deposited dose on the cells and the timing of the dose delivery in order to compare the two exposure methods used in vitro. When we compared the responses in vitro to those observed in vivo, we noticed that the ALI methods generated more predictive results than the submerged one, in term of biological activation levels after 24h of exposure. Finally, a ranking of the four NPs used in our study was provided and the NPs were ranked similarly both in vivo and in vitro and whatever the exposure method used in vitro. We also showed the importance of the surface area when ranking the poorly soluble NPs. In conclusion, the gap existing between the in vivo and the in vitro has been evaluated in our study. Our results highlighted the relevance of using more realistic in vitro exposure methods to model the potential adverse effects of NPs for human. This brings perspectives about using and developing in vitro methods mimicking more closely the in vivo exposure conditions.

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / Eurycoma Longfolia Jack, also known as Tongkat Ali (TA) is a tropical plant belonging to the family of Simaroubaceae is widely distributed in South East Asian countries. The extracts of TA have been proven to have cytotoxicity, anti-proliferative and aphrodisiac properties. In vitro assays revealed cytotoxicity toward human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, KB, CaOV-3, RD, DU-145and HepG2 human liver cancer cells and appear promising as a new chemotherapeutic agent against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. Although, there are extensive studies reported on its cytotoxicity benefits there are none pertaining to LNCaP human prostate cell line. Therefore, this study aimed at testing the effects of TA on LNCaP cells and prostate specific antigen (PSA) production. Materials and Methods This study investigated the effect of different concentrations of TA (0.0025, 0.025, 2.5, 25 and 250 g/ml) TA on LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line for 24 and 96 hours. The following parameters were investigated: morphology, cell viability (MTT), testosterone modulation, Annexin V-CY3 binding (Apoptosis), DNA fragmentation (TUNEL), caspase 3/7 activity (apoptosis), and PSA production. Results When observing the morphological changes of LNCaP cells exposed to TA, a clear increase in detachment and cell death via apoptosis as the concentrations of TA increased. The viability decreased significantly in both 24 and 96 hour treatment of TA at higher dosages (25 and 250 g/ml). The significant inhibitory effects on testosterone stimulated cell proliferation were seen at TA concentrations as low as 0.0025 μg/ml TA. At higher concentrations of TA (25 and 250 μg/ml), for all testosterone dosages a decreasing trend in proliferation was found. vii Testosterone concentrations of 10 nM showed maximum stimulation of cell proliferation for TA dosages up to 2.5 μg/ml. All concentrations of TA showed significant increase in apoptosis of the cells as dosages increased. A higher amount of DNA damage found at the highest dosage (250 μg/ml) of TA. The relative caspase 3/7 activation showed significant (P=0.0043) activation at the highest concentration (250 μg/ml) of TA. Relative PSA production resulted only a 5% increase with no significant difference at all doses indicting that TA does not change the cell PSA production and the decline in PSA concentration is due to LNCaP cells dying as a result of this exposure to TA. Conclusion In summary, the major finding of this study is that Tongkat Ali inhibits the viability of prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP) through caspase-mediated pathway, as well as increased the level of apoptotic such as DNA fragmentation. In addition, Tongkat Alin also inhibited PSA production. In LNCaP cells, testosterone with the addition of TA does not increase the growth of the cells. However, more in-vitro and in-vivo studies are needed to establish the exact constituents of the extracts and their mechanism of action. Thus, this study opens perspectives on the use of Tongkat Ali preparations in the treatment of aging male symptoms, prostate cancer prevention or as additional treatment to standard prostate cancer therapy.

This thesis examines the construction of ideology in three public speeches held by the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani. Shamkhani’s position makes him one of the most powerful public officials in Iran, with vast influence over domestic and international security matters, including over Iran’s nuclear negotiations. This thesis presents theories on discourse analysis as ideology analysis, which enables identification of linguistical ideologization. With this theory as backdrop, three speeches with varying content and context are analysed in order to determine whether or not Shamkhani is constructing ideology in them. Political officials are arguably expected to ideologize speeches to a certain extent. Even though Shamkhani enjoys a similar seniority as many politicians, Shamkhani’s position remains formally apolitical, which makes it is interesting to analysis his speeches. Linguistic analyses of public speeches in Iran are rarely deployed when attempting to understand the Islamic Republic but given the attention Iranian officials themselves ascribe their language, a discourse analysis of what they say might disclose otherwise hidden qualities in their communications. Through the speeches’ diverse content in written, orally formal and orally colloquial Farsi, it was possible not only to establish that Shamkhani uses discourse to construct ideology but also to what extent this is done, depending on modes of communication.

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This thesis concentrates on literature during India's battle for independence from the British Empire. These publications look at the outcomes of Europe's intent to colonize and its impact on the marginalized, colonial subjects down to the personal level. Delving into the tragic reality of colonialism and investigating its impact as portrayed in the novels selected, this thesis argues that the selected texts operate as resistance literature subverting the colonial discourse in retrieving South Asian culture and history. This project explores specific forms of resistance within the tropes of memory, history, and gender to pose a larger question of decolonial futures in the postcolonial aftermath. The explorations of Ahmed Ali's Twilight in Delhi, Rabindranath Tagore's The Home and the World, and R.K. Narayan's Waiting for the Mahatma all represent multiple ways of studying the independence movement in their resistance frame. Analyzing these works through a postcolonial perspective unveils underrepresented voices and the intricacies of the Independence landscape. Ahmed Ali incorporates nostalgia as an argument for abolition and articulates Muslim identity in India's rapidly transforming environment. Tagore writes from his real experiences, recounting the confusion and disarray that plagued the Independence movement as disputes erupted on how to fight for India's sovereignty. R.K. Narayan embraces the ‘Quit India' protest and Gandhi's pacifist ideals while worrying about the future after the Mahatma's death. These writers decolonize readers' minds, and campaign for India's independence against the Empire Such literature gives the colonized a voice as they actively resist the British colonization in every aspect of existence.

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