A Kindler, Gentler Time : How Pleasantville and The Truman Show Fix the 1950s Suburban Ideal

The Truman Show and Pleasantville both present a vision of the 1950s that is manufactured and mediated by television. I attempt to explain this using Lauren Berlant\u27s model of the pilgrimage narrative, in which a character encounters true America in Washington, DC. Instead of locating America in the nation’s capital, though, I argue that these films locate America in the idealized suburbs of the 1950s. I propose that this pilgrimage differs from the one Berlant outlines in one crucial way: the capital can be visited at any time, but if America is really located in 1950s suburbia, then citizens of the 1990s have missed the boat on encountering the nation. The anxiety that “real” America may be a relic of the past may help explain why both these movies’ versions of the 1950s have to be constructed by television. Both films associate the 1950s with the camera of the television show, which they depict as manipulable and unreliable. In contrast, they associate the perspective of the 1990s with the seemingly objective camera of the film itself. The television shows in both movies construct a version of the 1950s that is “fixed” by 1990s values, erasing or repairing the racism and sexism associated with the decade. At the same time, though, in refusing to allow women to partake or succeed in pilgrimages, and in excluding people of color from meaningful roles in the narrative, both films ultimately advance the argument that the only people equipped to successfully encounter the nation are white men

Metaphor, Gendered Slurs, and Epistemic Injustice

This thesis explores the structure, function, and implications of gendered slurs as a kind of metaphor, and how these kinds of metaphor constitute instances of epistemic injustice, specifically hermeneutical injustice. In setting a foundation for this argument, a background on the pervasiveness of metaphor and prevalence of linguistic sexism in everyday discourse will be provided. An analysis of the nature of metaphorical meaning will introduce different perspectives, where I argue according to the view of Max Black, that the function of metaphors integrates the salient qualities of one thing with another. Discussions on the structural and cognitive analyses of metaphor and gendered slurs, drawn from Katya Plemenitaš which will reveal important similarities between the two, and help to bolster my claim that gendered slurs are a kind of metaphor. These points of comparison will thus reflect important epistemological impacts of gendered slurs and will help to defend a novel way of understanding the nature of a gendered slur’s offensiveness, that can serve as a more expansive mechanism in accounting for its offense across contexts. Finally, I will discuss the argument that the use of gendered slurs constitutes cases of hermeneutical injustice and will encourage discourse on ways to effectively address these injustices

Recollective awareness meditation : a self-care process for meditating therapists

Research substantiates the common phenomenon of therapist burnout, which poses serious challenges to mental health clinicians. Effective practices of self-care are necessary to ensure therapist well-being and allow professionals to provide their clients with the highest quality of care. This qualitative study examines how Recollective Awareness Meditation (RAM) functions as a self-care process for meditating therapists. RAM is unique in its receptive and unstructured style, and its focus on the importance of recollection after meditation. This investigation is based on the perspectives of twelve therapists, who discussed their personal experiences with RAM. Ellen Baker\u27s (2002) framework of selfcare (as consisting of self-awareness, self-regulation, and balance) was used to guide interviews and organize findings. This study\u27s major findings show RAM offered therapists in the study a powerful process of self-care with many significant benefits. Central findings reported by therapists included: increased self-awareness (including various positive effects on therapy practice and increased awareness of burnout symptoms); increased self-regulation; increased balance; reduced self-criticism and judgment, increased self-compassion and validation; increased connection to values, increased gratitude; and a heightened awareness of conditionality. Findings also speak to how RAM compares to and interacts with other forms of self-care, and the limitations of RAM. RAM encourages a meditator to know and tolerate one\u27s inner world; this study suggests it is highly protective for therapists, whose jobs entail effectively working with others\u27 pain, thoughts, and emotions

Unsolvability of the Quintic Formalized in Dependent Type Theory

In this paper, we describe an axiom-free Coq formalization that there does not exists a general method for solving by radicals polynomial equations of degree greater than 4. This development includes a proof of Galois\u27 Theorem of the equivalence between solvable extensions and extensions solvable by radicals. The unsolvability of the general quintic follows from applying this theorem to a well chosen polynomial with unsolvable Galois group

Evaluation of Dopamine D3 Receptor Antagonists PG01037, PG01042, and VK4-116 Against D1R-induced Dyskinesia

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) results in motor deficits that can be relieved with L-DOPA, a dopamine (DA) replacement therapy. Unfortunately, chronic treatment often leads to L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), a debilitating side effect characterized by abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs). Overactivity of the direct striatonigral pathway is seen in LID and is characterized by potent changes in D1 and D3 receptors (D1R, D3R). Further, D1R and D3R may physically and functionally interact to form D1R-D3R heteromer thereby potentiating LID. This D1R-D3R heteromer uniquely switches from G-protein dependent to G-protein independent signaling, allowing for an avenue to manage LID. To uncover the role of these pathways in LID, Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered hemi-parkinsonian and treated daily for 2 weeks with L-DOPA (6 mg/kg; s.c.) to induce stable LID. In a within subjects, counterbalanced design, they were then split into treatment groups that received D3R antagonists: PG01037 (10, 30 mg/kg; i.p.), PG01042 (5, 10 mg/kg; i.p.), or VK4-116 (10, 20 mg/kg; i.p.). PG01037 (PG1) is a mixed D3R antagonist, acting at both the G-protein dependent and independent pathways. PG01042 (PG2) acts as an antagonist on G-protein independent signaling and VK4-116 acts as a G-protein dependent antagonist. All drugs were tested against D1R agonist-induced dyskinesia with SKF38393 (2mg/kg; s.c.). The only effects found were with PG2 which implicates promotion of the D1R G-protein dependent pathway as contributing to D1R-induced dyskinesia. Future studies with these drugs and L-DOPA treatment should unveil the importance of D1R, D3R, and D1R-D3R influences in the presence of the natural ligand DA.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2021/1038/thumbnail.jp

Investigating the Anti-dyskinetic Effects of Serotonin- and Glutamate-acting Compounds, Vilazodone and Amantadine, in Hemiparkinsonian Rats

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative movement disorder caused by loss of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons. DA replacement therapy using L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) improves motor functioning but often results in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) typified by abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs). In this state of DA depletion, serotonin (5-HT) neuron hyperinnervation and glutamate overactivity are heavily implicated in LID. This study investigated the anti-dyskinetic effects of Vilazodone (VZD), a 5-HT transport blocker and partial 5-HT1a agonist, and/or Amantadine (AMAT), an NMDA glutamate antagonist. It was hypothesized that alone each would reduce LID, while co-administration at low doses would synergistically reduce LID without compromising L-DOPA efficacy. Hemiparkinsonian Sprague-Dawley rats were given L-DOPA (6mg/kg, s.c.) for 14 days to establish LID. VZD (0, 1, 2.5, 5mg/kg) and AMAT (0, 20, 40, 60mg/kg) were administered in a within-subjects counterbalanced design with L-DOPA to ascertain effective anti-LID doses (n=9). AIMs were monitored for 3 hours following injections to measure LID expression. Before examining potential treatment synergy, doses exhibiting minimal effect on AIMs scores were selected (VZD 1.0, 2.5mg/kg; AMAT 40mg/kg). The following cohort (n=8) received 6 counterbalanced treatments consisting of L-DOPA (6mg/kg) and either VZD (1, 2.5mg/kg), AMAT (40mg/kg), or both. Results revealed a significant decrease in AIMs and maintained motor performance with VZD (2.5mg/kg) compared to those receiving only L-DOPA. AMAT prolonged peak AIMs without maintaining L-DOPA motor efficacy when co-administered with VZD or L-DOPA alone. These results suggest co-administration of VZD and AMAT with L-DOPA does not synergistically reduce LID in hemiparkinsonian rats. Rather, our results suggest that AMAT may reduce the efficacy of VZD. However, our results suggest very low doses of VZD (2.5mg/kg) reduce LID severity and duration while maintaining L-DOPA efficacy.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2021/1099/thumbnail.jp

The Effects of Vilazodone, YL-0919, and Vortioxetine in L-DOPA Treated Hemiparkinsonian Rats

Parkinson\u27s Disease (PD) is a debilitating, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, tremor, stiffness, and postural instability, that result from significant nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) loss. The current gold standard treatment for PD involves replacement therapy via the DA precursor L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA); however, 90% of patients eventually experience choreic and dystonic side effects termed L-DOPA induced dyskinesia (LID). A key driver of LID is neuroplasticity within the serotonin (5-HT) system leading to the unregulated release of L-DOPA derived DA from 5-HT terminals into the striatum. Previous work has implicated the dual action of 5-HT1A receptor agonism and 5-HT transporter (SERT) blockade as an effective therapeutic method for attenuating LID. The present study examined 3 purportedly similar pharmacological drugs, Vilazodone, YL-0919, and Vortioxetine, that act as 5-HT1A agonists and SERT blockers. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats received unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) to deplete DA neurons. Thereafter they received 2 weeks of L-DOPA treatment until they developed stable abnormal involuntary movement (AIMs) akin to LID. Rats were also assessed for motor performance with the forepaw adjusting steps (FAS) test. Results revealed that Vilazodone and Vortioxetine significantly reduced AIMs and maintained L-DOPA beneficial prokinetic effects. In contrast, YL-0919 unexpectedly had no effect on LID though it did maintain L-DOPA motor performance. Overall, these findings support pharmacological targets within the 5-HT system that reduce LID. They also provide evidence for unique features of Vilazodone and Vortioxetine, both FDA approved compounds, as potential adjunct therapeutics for LID management in PD patients.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2021/1090/thumbnail.jp

Lons-le-Saunier – Place de la Comédie

Un programme immobilier a été projeté sur l’emplacement des maisons vigneronnes des xviie et xviiie s. constituant la façade ouest de la place de la Comédie. Celui-ci a permis la découverte, lors de la destruction de l’îlot, d’une tour médiévale et moderne insérée dans le bâti : la tour de la Boucherie. L’étude des archives atteste qu’en 1851 et 1855 des vestiges du Lons gallo-romain (un « aqueduc » ou piscine et une mosaïque, ainsi que des céramiques et des monnaies) ont été retrouvés sous l..

Language and theory of mind in autism spectrum disorder : the relationship between complement syntax and false belief task performance.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use their knowledge of complement syntax as a means of “hacking out” solutions to false belief tasks, despite lacking a representational theory of mind (ToM). Participants completed a “memory for complements” task, a measure of receptive vocabulary, and traditional location change and unexpected contents false belief tasks. Consistent with predictions, the correlation between complement syntax score and location change task performance was significantly stronger within the ASD group than within the comparison group. However, contrary to predictions, complement syntax score was not significantly correlated with unexpected contents task performance within either group. Possible explanations for this pattern of results are considered