Generation X: technology, identity and apocalypse in three novels by Douglas Coupland.

Master of Arts - EnglishThis paper takes as its base premise the idea that Douglas Coupland has both shaped generation X thought fundamentally while at the same time is continuously shaped by generation X cultural production. Through a postmodern lens, the paper goes on to look at the ways in which notions of identity, and apocalypse have come to play a central role in the thinking of generation X and then looks at the ways in which these themes and generation X as a whole have been affected by technology. The paper looks at three of Coupland’s novels: Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture; Microserfs and Girlfriend in a Coma

The Ursinus Weekly, April 13, 1972

CENTURY II Program making nice progress • Three Ursinus students win chemistry awards • Dance and drama highlights for Spring Parents\u27 Day • Amsterdam U. choir to sing at Ursinus • Lantern contest winner: Linda Mills\u27 Summer II • Ursinus Aquabelles win swimming championship • Editorial: Where are they? • Focus: Don McAviney • Joseph J. Lynch • The Graduates • Ursinus ladies swing into Spring • Trackmen face tough seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1121/thumbnail.jp

The relationship between the nitric oxide synthase gene and the risk of hypertension defi ned according to ambulatory blood pressures

Although nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in blood pressure (BP) control, whether variation of genes involved in regulating the synthesis of NO infl uences BP is uncertain. As the heritability of BP is stronger for ambulatory than it is for conventional BP, we assessed the independent association of the well described functional exon 7 Glu298Asp variant of the eNOS gene with the presence of hypertension in 511 randomly selected normotensive control participants and 503 hypertensives with a diagnosis of hypertension confi rmed with 24-hour ambulatory BP profiles whilst off therapy. We also assessed the relationship between eNOS genotype and 24 hour ambulatory BP. Comparisons of genotype and allele frequencies indicated a lack of association of the exon 7 Glu298Asp gene variant with hypertension (Odds ratio of genotype predicting the presence of hypertension=0.97, confidence interval=0.70-1.30, p=0.92). However, patients with the Glu/Glu genotype of the Glu298Asp variant (n=424) had increased 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressures (152±1/97±1 mm Hg) in comparison to patients heterozygous for the Glu298Asp variant or homozygous for the 298Asp allele (n=79) (145±1/94±1 mm Hg, p‹0.005 for systolic BP and p‹0.001 for diastolic BP after multiple adjustments including age, gender, body mass index and the presence of diabetes mellitus). Differences in systolic and diastolic BP between genotype groups were noted during the day as well as at night. The association of eNOS genotype with ambulatory BP translated into an increased risk of more severe grades of hypertension in patients with the Glu/Glu genotype (grade II and III vs. grade I, Odds ratio=2.20, confidence interval=1.34-3.59, p‹0.0002). In conclusion, a functional gene variant (Glu298Asp) at the eNOS locus contributes ~1.4-2.5% to the variation in ambulatory blood pressure within hypertensives, but is not associated with the presence of hypertension in patients in whom the diagnosis has been confirmed by 24-hour ambulatory BP values. The relationship between eNOS genotype and 24-hour ambulatory BP and the severity of hypertension warrants further study

Comparison of indapamide and low-dose hydrochlorothiazide monotherapy in black patients with mild to moderate hypertension

No Abstract

Relationships between plasma amino acid concentrations and blood pressure in South Africans of African descent

Oral supplementation with the amino acid arginine, the precursor of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO), is associated with a reduction in blood pressure (BP). However, it is uncertain whether a decreased plasma arginine concentration predicts increases in BP. We assessed the relationship between fasting plasma arginine or other amino acid concentrations and 24 hour ambulatory BP in 75 nevertreated participants recruited from the Johannesburg area, 55 of whom were male. Plasma amino acid concentrations were measured with high performance liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry. Plasma arginine concentrations were not inversely correlated with ambulatory BP. However, plasma arginine concentrations were increased in 36 participants with a mean daytime systolic BP >140 mm Hg (61 ± 17 μmol/L) as compared to the remaining participants (54 ± 15 μmol/L, p‹0.05). Moreover, plasma arginine concentrations were positively correlated with 24-hour diastolic BP (r=0.26, p‹0.05). In males with a BMI‹30kg/m2, plasma arginine concentrations were positively correlated with both night diastolic (r=0.46, p‹0.005) and systolic (r=0.42, p‹0.005) BP. In a multivariate model with adjustments for age gender, body mass index, and other amino acid concentrations, plasma arginine concentrations were independently and positively associated with night diastolic BP (p‹0.05). In conclusion plasma arginine concentrations are positively associated with ambulatory BP in a group of participants of African descent in South Africa. These data do not support the notion that deficiencies of arginine, the amino acid substrate for NO, are related to increases in BP in groups of African ancestry living in South Africa. However, as with other ethnic groups, the positive relationship between plasma arginine concentrations and BP suggests a reduced capacity to utilise the amino acid substrate for NO synthesis

The Ursinus Weekly, April 20, 1972

Ashley Montagu named Commencement speaker • Joint U.S.-Canadian move sought to construct Mackenzie pipeline • Women exhibit at UC, sculpture & watercolors • Poll shows Americans want clean environment • CCC members selected; orientation plans made • Editorial: Do something! • Dean Craft • Roger Caras: Our only world • Faculty portrait: Mr. Richard Fidler • Thoughts about education • Fidler on the wax: Eat a peach • Student Union building: renovations renovated • Chapter scholars announced • Watson\u27s women win • Ethics and life sciences • New gym named Helfferich Hallhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1122/thumbnail.jp

Impact of initiating carvedilol before angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy on cardiac function in newly diagnosed heart failure

ObjectivesThe purpose of this research was to evaluate the therapeutic value of initiating a beta-blocker before an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) in the treatment of heart failure.BackgroundAlthough ACEI and carvedilol produce benefits in heart failure, whether the order of initiation of therapy determines the impact on left ventricular (LV) function and New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA FC) has not been determined.MethodsA single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study was performed. We evaluated whether initiation of therapy with carvedilol either before (n = 38) or after (n = 40) perindopril therapy in newly diagnosed patients in NYHA FC II to III heart failure with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, with the addition of the alternative agent after six months, determined subsequent changes in NYHA FC and LV function (echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography). Study drugs were titrated to maximum tolerable doses.ResultsThere were no differences in baseline characteristics between the study groups. After 12 months 11 patients died (6 in the group where the ACEI was initiated). At 12 months the group receiving carvedilol as initial therapy achieved a higher tolerable dose of carvedilol (43 ± 17 mg vs. 33 ± 18 mg, p = 0.03); a lower dose of furosemide (p < 0.05); and better improvements in symptoms (NYHA FC, p < 0.002), LV ejection fraction (radionuclide: 15 ± 16% vs. 6 ± 13%, p < 0.05; echocardiographic, p < 0.01), and plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations (p < 0.02).ConclusionsAs opposed to the conventional sequence of drug use in the treatment of heart failure, initiation of therapy with carvedilol before an ACEI results in higher tolerable doses of carvedilol and better improvements in FC and LV function

The Ursinus Weekly, March 16, 1972

Ursinus graduate appointed assistant Conference Minister • Ursinus Meistersingers plan 34th annual tour • Ursinus math team ranked in top 20 • Freshmen present class play • 11 new Whitians inducted Monday • Editorial: Where does it end? • Focus: Rick Dougherty • Spotlight: Sue Bower • Erma and Ernie • Sad song sung • Christian Fellowship defined • Fidler on the wax: Yes • Letters to the editor • ProTheatre presents: Marat / Sade • U.C. Arts Festival attracts hundreds • Richard Callner, Philadelphia artist opens five-week exhibit at U.C. • Wismer rip-off • Spring varsity sports schedules • War College panel presents forum at UC • Sig Rho and Zeta Chi provide entertainment • Ursinus baseball challenged; 17 games scheduled for season • Ursinus Bruinettes dunked in basketball, swimming tournamenthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1120/thumbnail.jp

Increased expression of plakoglobin is associated with upregulated MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways in early resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancer types, and it is associated with a 5‑year survival rate of <10% due to limited early detection methods and ineffective therapeutic options. Thus, an improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in the early stages of PDAC tumorigenesis is crucial in order to identify potential novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The most common signalling aberrations in PDAC occur in the Wnt/Notch signalling pathway, as well as within the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and its associated ligands, EGF and transforming growth factor‑β. In addition, the RAS family of oncogenes, which act downstream of EGFR, are found mutated in most pancreatic cancer samples. Plakoglobin, a component of the EGFR signalling pathway, serves an important role in normal cell adhesion; however, its role in PDAC is largely unknown. The present study used transcriptome sequencing and focussed proteome microarrays to identify dysregulated genes and proteins in PDAC. The presence of upregulated plakoglobin expression levels was identified as a distinguishing feature between the PDAC microenvironment and normal pancreatic tissue. Furthermore, plakoglobin was demonstrated to be associated with the differential upregulation of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signalling pathways in the tumour microenvironment, which suggested that it may serve an important role in PDAC tumourigenesis.The South African National Research Foundation, the South African Medical Research Council and the National Research Foundation.http://www.spandidos-publications.com/olhj2020Surger

The Ursinus Weekly, March 2, 1972

Judiciary Board holds model trial • Ursinus Protheatre presents Peter Weiss\u27s Marat / Sade • U.C. readies plans for Model UN session • President Pettit meets with parents committee • 1972 Lorelei: A huge success • Bloodmobile comes to UC • UC reactivates Chi Alpha • Editorial: Positive asset • Focus: Rich Clark • Lantern needs maturing; criticized as child\u27s play • Laurels to Lorelei • Christian Fellowship talks about Jesus • Special award presented • Administration answers • Boydies fly and Aquabears float while Snellbelles divehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1118/thumbnail.jp