Urban Revitalization through Art, Community, and Ecology: The Heidelberg Project

Once known as the Motor City, Detroit is now rusted over with 90,000 vacant parcels and a 22% unemployment rate. Decline of manufacturing jobs, combined with a complex history of racism and discrimination, led to unprecedented population collapse and abandonment. The 2010 census revealed the dramatic exodus from Detroit was even greater than predicted: just over 713,000 residents remain, down from nearly 2 million in 1950. Leftover stretches of vacant land, totaling more than 40 square miles, pose an enormous physical and psychological challenge to residents and city officials forced to manage with what remains. Despite the challenges of vacant land, disenfranchisement, and economic hardship, many still see beauty in what’s left of the city. Twenty-five years ago, Detroit-native Tyree Guyton created the Heidelberg Project, a two-block long environmental artscape on the city’s eastside. The artwork became a beacon for his neighborhood and others like it, defiantly resisting the destruction wrought by neglect and disinvestment. The research and design presented in this document expands the scope of the Heidelberg Project into a long-term vision for neighborhood redevelopment called the Heidelberg Cultural Village. This project lays the groundwork for the Cultural Village, a model for art-based neighborhood redevelopment in Detroit and other post-industrial cities. The work is presented in four chapters: Christian Runge examines how the Heidelberg Cultural Village can be integrated with emerging ecological and cultural land uses specific to a post urban Detroit. Fai Foen’s work focuses on an alternative economic model that invests in the local economy and builds on existing human capacity to support sustainable redevelopment in Rustbelt communities. Sarah Alward explores how an art-based urban farm can allow for a diverse range of contributions from community members, creating an inclusive space to grow fresh, healthy food that has the potential to increase neighborhood investment and involvement. Finally, Dana Petit illustrates how a healing garden can respond to the social, psychological, and physical health issues stemming from the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood’s experience with abandonment and poverty. Together, these design interventions are intended to serve as an incubator for physical, economic, and cultural sustainability and the center of community life for the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood.Master of Landscape ArchitectureNatural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/84207/1/Heidelberg Opus 2011.pd

Simultaneous quantification of GABAergic 3α,5α/3α,5β neuroactive steroids in human and rat serum

The 3α,5α- and 3α,5β-reduced derivatives of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone enhance GABAergic neurotransmission and produce inhibitory neurobehavioral and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite substantial information on the progesterone derivative (3α,5α)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP, allopregnanolone), the physiological significance of the other endogenous GABAergic neuroactive steroids has remained elusive. Here, we describe the validation of a method using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to simultaneously identify serum levels of the eight 3α,5α- and 3α,5β-reduced derivatives of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone. The method shows specificity, sensitivity and enhanced throughput compared to other methods already available for neuroactive steroid quantification. Administration of pregnenolone to rats and progesterone to women produced selective effects on the 3α,5α- and 3α,5β-reduced neuroactive steroids, indicating differential regulation of their biosynthetic pathways. Pregnenolone administration increased serum levels of 3α,5α-THP (+1488%, p<0.001), (3α,5α)-3,21-dihydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THDOC, +205%, p<0.01), (3α,5α)-3-hydroxyandrostan-17-one (3α,5α-A, +216%, p<0.001), (3α,5α,17β)-androstane-3,17-diol (3α,5α-A-diol, +190%, p<0.01). (3α,5β)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5β-THP) and (3α,5β)-3-hydroxyandrostan-17-one (3α,5β-A) were not altered, while (3α,5β)-3,21-dihydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5β-THDOC) and (3α,5β,17β)-androstane-3,17-diol (3α,5β-A-diol) were increased from undetectable levels to 271 ± 100 and 2.4 ± 0.9 pg ± SEM, respectively (5/8 rats). Progesterone administration increased serum levels of 3α,5α-THP (+1806%, p<0.0001), 3α,5β-THP (+575%, p<0.001), 3α,5α-THDOC (+309%, p<0.001). 3α,5β-THDOC levels were increased by 307%, although this increase was not significant because this steroid was detected only in 3/16 control subjects. Levels of 3α,5α-A, 3α,5β-A and pregnenolone were not altered. This method can be used to investigate the physiological and pathological role of neuroactive steroids and to develop biomarkers and new therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders

Differential Effects of Ethanol on Serum GABAergic 3α,5α/3α,5β Neuroactive Steroids in Mice, Rats, Cynomolgus Monkeys, and Humans

Acute ethanol administration increases plasma and brain levels of progesterone and deoxycorticosterone-derived neuroactive steroids (3α,5α)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP) and (3α,5α)-3,21-dihydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THDOC) in rats. However, little is known about ethanol effects on GABAergic neuroactive steroids in mice, non-human primates or humans. We investigated the effects of ethanol on plasma levels of 3α,5α- and 3α,5β-reduced GABAergic neuroactive steroids derived from progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The role of neuroactive steroids in ethanol/stress interactions: proceedings of symposium VII at the Volterra conference on alcohol and stress, May 2008

This report summarizes the proceedings of the symposium VII on the role of neuroactive steroids in stress/alcohol interactions. The production of GABAergic neuroactive steroids, including (3α,5α)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP) and (3α,5α)-3,21-dihydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THDOC) is a consequence of both acute stress and acute ethanol exposure. Acute, but not chronic ethanol administration elevates brain levels of these steroids and enhances GABAA receptor activity. Neuroactive steroids modulate acute anticonvulsant effects, sedation, spatial memory impairment, anxiolytic-like, antidepressant-like and reinforcing properties of ethanol in rodents. Furthermore, these steroids participate in the homeostatic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Therefore, it is not surprising that neuroactive steroids are involved in ethanol/stress interactions. Nevertheless, the interactions are complex and not well understood. This symposium addressed the role of neuroactive steroids in both stress and alcohol responses and their interactions. Professor Giovanni Biggio of the University of Cagliari, Italy presented the effects of juvenile isolation stress on neuroactive steroids, GABAA receptor expression and ethanol sensitivity. Professor Howard Becker of the Medical University of South Carolina, USA presented evidence for neuroactive steroid involvement in ethanol dependence and drinking behavior. Professor Patrizia Porcu of the University of North Carolina, USA described a potential neuroactive steroid biomarker that may predict heavy drinking in monkeys and mice. These presentations provide a framework for new theories on the nature of ethanol/stress interactions that may be amenable to therapeutic interventions

Right ventricular thrombus in an equine patient : a case report

Geoffrey, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, presented to Cornell University's Hospital's Equine/Farm Animal Emergency Service on September 22, 2005 for further work-up of moderate colic of 7 days' duration. On presentation, cardiac auscultation revealed a grade II/VI systolic murmur on both left and right sides. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and ileocolic anastomosis performed. The patient experienced a protracted recovery from surgery. He remained persistently tachycardic and developed bilateral jugular vein thrombosis. Echocardiography was performed seven days post-operatively, revealing a vacuolated, heterogeneous mass attached to the endocardium of the right ventricle, measuring 19.6cm x 7.7cm. No blood flow was visualized within the mass and it was loosely attached to the endocardium, making the most likely etiology a thrombus. The mass extended into the right ventricular outflow tract resulting in obstruction of blood flow through the pulmonary artery, increased right ventricular pressure and tricuspid regurgitation. The objective of this case report is to discuss the hypercoagulative state that occurs in endotoxemic equine colic patients

Educational Technology in a Mathematics Classroom to Improve Student Understanding

Several forms of educational technology are presented in this paper. The focus is on the usage of the graphing calculator in the high school mathematics classroom. It shows how effective the graphing calculator\u27s use was in comprehension of mathematical conics such as the parabola. It also discusses the possibilities of unique hardware such as the Tablet PC and interactive whiteboards. Useful software such as Microsoft\u27s Power Point and Excel, Geometer\u27s Sketchpad, and Inspiration are described. United Streaming and Explore Learning are websites that are also exemplified