Death Defied: James Joyce\u27s Naturalistic Evolution

Death, as a thematic and narrative motif, is of particular import to the Naturalistic literary approach. This is extremely evident in the work of James Joyce, on whom the Naturalist movement had a notable influence. Throughout his career Joyce utilized the subtext surrounding death in the father-son relationship to criticize Irish culture as it appears in his works. However, Joyce was not content to simply recreate a textbook interpretation of Naturalism. Joyce developed the core principles of the Naturalistic approach, starting with a basic and purely Naturalistic approach in his early writing; Joyce eventually managed to subvert and reinterpret the literary style that inspired his career. In Joyce\u27s earliest short story “The Sisters” (1914) he recounts the death of the defrocked priest Father Flynn from the perspective of a young boy to question the effects of the judgmental and unyielding nature of religion as Flynn is allowed to slip further into ill-health due to being excommunicated from the church. Joyce\u27s work becomes all the more complex in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916) as he presents the subtleties of Simon and Stephen Dedalus\u27s relationship, and in the process criticizes paternalism as it leads to Simon\u27s failures and spiritual demise. Finally, in Ulysses (1922) he makes light of death itself as he presents the humorous and irreverent insight of Stephen\u27s alternative father figure Leopold Bloom as he attends the funeral of Paddy Dignam. In my paper I will examine death as it appears in these works spanning Joyce\u27s career. In the process, I observe the effect of Joyce\u27s treatment of death and paternalism, and how they, like his writing and interpretation of Naturalism, evolve throughout his career

Effect of baicalein on regulation of a phase II enzyme in human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3)

Abstract only availableProstate cancer is an excellent candidate disease for chemo prevention because it is typically diagnosed in elderly males, therefore even a modest delay in the neoplastic development achieved through pharmacological or nutritional intervention could result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of this clinically detectable disease. Phytoestrogens are found in many plants, which are commonly used, in traditional medicine. These compounds may be both agonists and antagonists of estrogen receptors in humans. These estrogenic compounds may influence prostate cancer cell growth and because of this, herbal therapies have been developed. Oxidative stress can greatly impact the development of many diseases including cancer thus it is important to understand the regulation of enzymes that protect against oxidative stress. Phase II detoxification enzymes (glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase) many of which are regulated by the ARE, are known to protect cells from oxidative stress. Our hypothesis is some phytoestrogens and baicalein may up regulate Phase II enzymes as QR and GST which are responsible for combating the oxidative stress that is considered as one of the key factors for cancer induction. Human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) was treated with six concentrations of baicalein. (0, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 uM) over 3 days. QR enzyme levels were measured in the treated cells and compared to the control (untreated) cells. This study will hopefully provide evidence to test if phytoestrogens may be working through a QR mechanistic pathway to prevent prostate cancer.Louis Stokes Missouri Alliance for Minority Participatio

Effect of genistein on regulation of a phase II enzyme in human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) [abstract]

Abstract of a presentation given at the 2004 Undergraduate Achievements and Creative Forum at the University of Missouri-ColumbiaFaculty Mentor: Dr. Dennis Lubahn, Biology and PsychologyProstate cancer is an excellent candidate disease for chemo prevention because it is typically diagnosed in elderly males, therefore even a modest delay in the neoplastic development achieved through pharmacological or nutritional intervention could result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of this clinically detectable disease. Phytoestrogens are found in many plants, which are commonly used in traditional medicine. These compounds may be both agonists and antagonists of estrogen receptors in humans. These estrogenic compounds may influence prostate cancer cell growth and because of this, herbal therapies have been developed. Oxidative stress can greatly impact the development of many diseases including cancer thus it is important to understand the regulation of enzymes that protect against oxidative stress. Phase II detoxification enzymes (glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase) many of which are regulated by the ARE, are known to protect cells from oxidative stress. Our hypothesis is some phytoestrogens like genistein may up regulate Phase II enzymes as QR and GST which are responsible for combating the oxidative stress that is considered as one of the key factors for cancer induction. Human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) was treated with three concentrations of genistein (10, 25 and 50 uM) over 3 days QR enzyme levels were measured in the treated cells and compared to the control (Untreated) cells. This study proved many things. First, genistein is a phytoestrogen that inhibits the growth of a hormone independent human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) at 50 uM concentration (IC50). Second, genistein at lower concentrations (10, 25 uM) showed no effect on the activity of the Phase II enzyme (Quinone Reductase) in PC-3 cell line as compared to the control. Finally, genistein at IC 50 concentration (50 uM) up regulated the phase II enzyme (Quinone Reductase) in PC-3 cell line by 2 fold compared to the control. This may be one of the mechanistic pathways by which genistein could prevent prostate cancer.Louis Stokes Missouri Alliance for Minority Participation Progra

ASSESSING THE COST OF BEEF QUALITY

The number of U.S. fed cattle marketed through a value based or grid marketing system is increasing dramatically. Most grids reward Choice or better quality grades and some pay premiums for red meat yield. The Choice-Select (C-S) price spread increased 55 percent, over $3/cwt between 1989-91 and 1999-01. However, there is a cost associated with pursuing these carcass premiums. This paper examines these tradeoffs both in the feedlot and in a retained ownership scenario. Correlations between carcass and performance traits resulted in economic tradeoffs that change across input costs and quality grade premiums and discounts. Feedlot profitability was largely determined by marbling, carcass weight, and feed efficiency. Carcass weight was most important at a low C-S spread. However, at average C-S spread and higher, marbling became the largest determinate of feedlot profits, and its importance increased with the C-S spread. Carcass weight and feed efficiency influence on feedlot profitability declined at higher C-S spreads. Rib-eye area was the fourth most important variable and declined in importance as marbling increased in importance. There is some indication that cows with lower feed costs also produce the most profitable calf for the feedlot, and vice-versa. The data suggests that cow size and marbling score are negatively correlated. The current trend toward wider C-S spreads and rewarding higher quality grading cattle places greater emphasis on marbling ability of calves. These correlations and results suggest that higher marbling is associated with lower cost cows to maintain.Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

Community Focused Urban Renewal

Cities across the nation continue to develop and grow, but in many, rundown industrially zoned lots tend to be left alone and become an eyesore. These sites need to be better utilized by the community living around them. There needs to be a way to develop and design a living community system integrated into the surrounding city and local community with the bonus of being semi-self-sufficient. Combining these new buildings into the existing context of the urban fabric is essential to any growing city. Urban redevelopment of a large site within an already growing city can help to influence further community growth if done with specific methods. This thesis seeks to find an architectural solution to how an urban redevelopment project can renew an area of a downtown district by creating an integrative living system into an existing built community. This urban renewal project consists of utilizing and reusing vacant industrial land. This architectural framework hopes to reconnect new integrative communities into their existing urban fabric while starting and integrating into their own

Effects of Infanticide Risk and Timber Harvest on American Black Bear Space Use

Space use is an important aspect of bear ecology that maybe influenced by infanticide risk and timber harvest. I used generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine if female American black bear (Ursus americanus) space use was consistent with avoidance behavior to reduce infanticide risk in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the 2009–2011 and 2013–2014 breeding seasons. Females with cubs occupied core areas and home ranges of similar size and relative probability of male use to females without cubs. Additionally, females with cubs did not reduce movements during times of day when male movements were greatest. Female black bears may exhibit variation in avoidance behavior based on the occurrence of infanticide. I used GLMM to estimate black bear use of stands harvested for timber production in the Escanaba River State Forest in Michigan during May–October 2009–2011. In general, bears used stands \u3c 100 ha more than larger stands, with some gender and seasonal differences. Bears used even-aged stands more than uneven-aged stands and stands \u3e 6 years old more than younger stands. However, bear use did not differ between deciduous stands and coniferous stands, or among land cover types except that grass/pasture and open water were avoided. Bear use was greater in areas farther from roads. Managing the amount of black bear resources appears possible by considering the number, size, type, and rotation schedule of timber harvests in deciduous and coniferous forests. However, increased human access resulting from road creation during timber harvest activities may reduce associated benefits