Alexandra Assis Rosa

Nrf2 activation by tauroursodeoxycholic acid in experimental models of Parkinson's disease

Abstract Parkinsons disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder, mainly characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although the cause of PD remains elusive, mitochondrial dysfunction and severe oxidative stress are strongly implicated in the cell death that characterizes the disease. Under oxidative stress, the master regulator of cellular redox status, nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), is responsible for activating the transcription of several cytoprotective enzymes, namely glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1). Nrf2 is a promising target to limit reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated damage in PD. Here, we show that tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) prevents both 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+)‐ and &agr;‐synuclein‐induced oxidative stress, through Nrf2 activation, in SH‐SY5Y cells. Additionally, we used C57BL/6 male mice treated with 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to elucidate the effect of TUDCA in this in vivo model of PD. In vivo, TUDCA treatment increases the expression of Nrf2, Nrf2 stabilizer DJ‐1, and Nrf2 downstream target antioxidant enzymes HO‐1 and GPx. Moreover, we found that TUDCA enhances GPx activity in the brain. Altogether, our results suggest that TUDCA is a promising agent to limit ROS‐mediated damage, in different models of PD acting, at least in part, through modulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, TUDCA should be considered a promising therapeutic agent to be implemented in PD. HighlightsTUDCA prevents both MPP+‐ and &agr;‐synuclein‐induced oxidative stress.TUDCA modulates the Nrf2 pathway in vivo.Nrf2 mediates the anti‐oxidative effects of TUDCA.

“Theoretical, methodological and terminological issues regarding indirect translation: An overview.”

Theoretical, methodological and terminological issues regarding indirect translation: An overview Alexandra Assis Rosa , Hanna Pięta b and Rita Bueno Maia c Faculdade de Letras, Universidade de Lisboa and Centro de Estudos Anglísticos da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Centro de Estudos Anglísticos da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Research Centre for Communication and Culture, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal

Translating orality, recreating otherness

This article discusses the problem posed by linguistic variation for interlingual translation, in particular by the relation between language, context and identity in speech and orality, within the framework of descriptive translation studies. It starts by defining linguistic variation as a correlation of linguistic form, communicative meaning and sociocultural value. It examines the particular case of literary representation of varieties to suggest strategies and procedures for their translation. It ends with an analysis of selected examples of canonized British fiction and their translation into European Portuguese, and a discussion of causes and consequences of the patterning resulting from the translation of speech and orality in fiction.This article discusses the problem posed by linguistic variation for interlingual translation, in particular by the relation between language, context and identity in speech and orality, within the framework of descriptive translation studies. It starts by defining linguistic variation as a correlation of linguistic form, communicative meaning and sociocultural value. It examines the particular case of literary representation of varieties to suggest strategies and procedures for their translation. It ends with an analysis of selected examples of canonized British fiction and their translation into European Portuguese, and a discussion of causes and consequences of the patterning resulting from the translation of speech and orality in fiction.

Rethinking the hegemony of English in twentieth-century Portugal: some figures and beyond

To pinpoint the hypothesized change of status of French and English as the hypercentral language in Portugal by the mid-twentieth century, this paper follows the methodology suggested by Johan Heilbron for the identification of a world system of book translation. It accordingly maps relations between language groups and analyses translation flows regarding source languages, considering data on translation in Portugal by Index Translationum, Pordata, and the National Library of Portugal and on literary translation by the online database Intercultural Literature in Portugal 1930–2000: A Critical Bibliography. This paper thereby endeavours to track the evolution of the announced hypercentrality of English in the Portuguese (literary) system in the twentieth century. The data analysed in this paper show that it was Spanish, rather than English, that became the quantitatively hypercentral language in the Portuguese literary book market once the cultural clout of France began to wane. This evidence, therefore, calls for a rethinking of the oft-mentioned centrality of English in contemporary Portugal and for the possible consideration of a regional system. However, it also suggests the need for a rethinking of the conceptual frameworks used to address linguistic imperialism and cultural hegemonies, so as to not only consider numerical data but also go beyond them.ABSTRACT To pinpoint the hypothesized change of status of French and English as the hypercentral language in Portugal by the mid-twentieth century, this paper follows the methodology suggested by Johan Heilbron for the identification of a world system of book translation. It accordingly maps relations between language groups and analyses translation flows regarding source languages, considering data on translation in Portugal by Index Translationum, Pordata, and the National Library of Portugal and on literary translation by the online database Intercultural Literature in Portugal 1930–2000: A Critical Bibliography. This paper thereby endeavours to track the evolution of the announced hypercentrality of English in the Portuguese (literary) system in the twentieth century. The data analysed in this paper show that it was Spanish, rather than English, that became the quantitatively hypercentral language in the Portuguese literary book market once the cultural clout of France began to wane. This evidence, therefore, calls for a rethinking of the oft-mentioned centrality of English in contemporary Portugal and for the possible consideration of a regional system. However, it also suggests the need for a rethinking of the conceptual frameworks used to address linguistic imperialism and cultural hegemonies, so as to not only consider numerical data but also go beyond them.

Translation across time in East and West encounters: an overview

This special issue addresses topics related to translation history, historiography and metahistoriography in East and West encounters. It thereby merges a temporal and spatial perspective and wishes to contribute to the understanding of why, how and for which purposes translation history matters. It accordingly encompasses reflections on main issues in translation history, on current and future projects to map translation, as well as on translation and its conceptualization across time, with a special emphasis on East and West encounters and dialogues.

What about a section on translationin that literary history volume? On literary competence and translation, literary history and descriptive translation studies

Abstract Using the notion of interference as a starting point, this article presents a few reasons for why current projects of literary history should also consider translation and its role in any literary system. In investigating the current Portuguese literary system, I shall make use of (so far) unavailable data, which will inform three main ideas: 1. translated literature is historically important and interferes with the literary competence of readers, writers and, consequently, also with works of Portuguese literature; 2. to study literature translated into Portuguese is to study the Portuguese literary system; 3. like translation, literary histories and translation studies feed into the societies that produce them.