Love, Violence, and Creation: Modernist Mediums of Transcendence in Sylvia Plath\u27s Poetry and Prose

Many critics who study Sylvia Plath\u27s works discuss the autobiographical significance of her poetry and prose, labeling her art as primarily confessional. My research shows that Sylvia Plath\u27s awareness of and sensitivity to contemporary and historical cultural events, along with her acute sense of literary tradition, shape her art and widen the scope of critical interpretation. My study, although conceding that aspects of her writing are autobiographical, focuses on the modernist elements in her poetry and prose. By identifying her writing through the lens of modernism, I view her art in terms of its cultural, historical, political, and aesthetic qualities. I conclude that as a modernist writer Sylvia Plath suggests viable alternatives to the modern world\u27s dehumanized condition

Intersectionality

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/feminist_zines/1054/thumbnail.jp

Diet modulates cecum bacterial diversity and physiological phenotypes across the BXD mouse genetic reference population.

The BXD family has become one of the preeminent genetic reference populations to understand the genetic and environmental control of phenotypic variation. Here we evaluate the responses to different levels of fat in the diet using both chow diet (CD, 13-18% fat) and a high-fat diet (HFD, 45-60% fat). We studied cohorts of BXD strains, both inbred parents C57BL/6J and DBA/2J (commonly known as B6 and D2, respectively), as well as B6D2 and D2B6 reciprocal F1 hybrids. The comparative impact of genetic and dietary factors was analyzed by profiling a range of phenotypes, most prominently their cecum bacterial composition. The parents of the BXDs and F1 hybrids express limited differences in terms of weight and body fat gain on CD. In contrast, the strain differences on HFD are substantial for percent body fat, with DBA/2J accumulating 12.5% more fat than C57BL/6J (P < 0.0001). The F1 hybrids born to DBA/2J dams (D2B6F1) have 10.6% more body fat (P < 0.001) than those born to C57BL/6J dams. Sequence analysis of the cecum microbiota reveals important differences in bacterial composition among BXD family members with a substantial shift in composition caused by HFD. Relative to CD, the HFD induces a decline in diversity at the phylum level with a substantial increase in Firmicutes (+13.8%) and a reduction in Actinobacteria (-7.9%). In the majority of BXD strains, the HFD also increases cecal sIgA (P < 0.0001)-an important component of the adaptive immunity response against microbial pathogens. Host genetics modulates variation in cecum bacterial composition at the genus level in CD, with significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for Oscillibacter mapped to Chr 3 (18.7-19.2 Mb, LRS = 21.4) and for Bifidobacterium mapped to Chr 6 (89.21-89.37 Mb, LRS = 19.4). Introduction of HFD served as an environmental suppressor of these QTLs due to a reduction in the contribution of both genera (P < 0.001). Relations among liver metabolites and cecum bacterial composition were predominant in CD cohort, but these correlations do not persist following the shift to HFD. Overall, these findings demonstrate the important impact of environmental/dietary manipulation on the relationships between host genetics, gastrointestinal bacterial composition, immunological parameters, and metabolites-knowledge that will help in the understanding of the causal sources of metabolic disorders

Murine Gut Microbiota Is Defined by Host Genetics and Modulates Variation of Metabolic Traits

The gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex and diverse microbiota that has an important role in host metabolism. Microbial diversity is influenced by a combination of environmental and host genetic factors and is associated with several polygenic diseases. In this study we combined next-generation sequencing, genetic mapping, and a set of physiological traits of the BXD mouse population to explore genetic factors that explain differences in gut microbiota and its impact on metabolic traits. Molecular profiling of the gut microbiota revealed important quantitative differences in microbial composition among BXD strains. These differences in gut microbial composition are influenced by host-genetics, which is complex and involves many loci. Linkage analysis defined Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) restricted to a particular taxon, branch or that influenced the variation of taxa across phyla. Gene expression within the gastrointestinal tract and sequence analysis of the parental genomes in the QTL regions uncovered candidate genes with potential to alter gut immunological profiles and impact the balance between gut microbial communities. A QTL region on Chr 4 that overlaps several interferon genes modulates the population of Bacteroides, and potentially Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes–the predominant BXD gut phyla. Irak4, a signaling molecule in the Toll-like receptor pathways is a candidate for the QTL on Chr15 that modulates Rikenellaceae, whereas Tgfb3, a cytokine modulating the barrier function of the intestine and tolerance to commensal bacteria, overlaps a QTL on Chr 12 that influence Prevotellaceae. Relationships between gut microflora, morphological and metabolic traits were uncovered, some potentially a result of common genetic sources of variation

Murine Gut Microbiota Is Defined by Host Genetics and Modulates Variation of Metabolic Traits

The gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex and diverse microbiota that has an important role in host metabolism. Microbial diversity is influenced by a combination of environmental and host genetic factors and is associated with several polygenic diseases. In this study we combined next-generation sequencing, genetic mapping, and a set of physiological traits of the BXD mouse population to explore genetic factors that explain differences in gut microbiota and its impact on metabolic traits. Molecular profiling of the gut microbiota revealed important quantitative differences in microbial composition among BXD strains. These differences in gut microbial composition are influenced by host-genetics, which is complex and involves many loci. Linkage analysis defined Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) restricted to a particular taxon, branch or that influenced the variation of taxa across phyla. Gene expression within the gastrointestinal tract and sequence analysis of the parental genomes in the QTL regions uncovered candidate genes with potential to alter gut immunological profiles and impact the balance between gut microbial communities. A QTL region on Chr 4 that overlaps several interferon genes modulates the population of Bacteroides, and potentially Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes–the predominant BXD gut phyla. Irak4, a signaling molecule in the Toll-like receptor pathways is a candidate for the QTL on Chr15 that modulates Rikenellaceae, whereas Tgfb3, a cytokine modulating the barrier function of the intestine and tolerance to commensal bacteria, overlaps a QTL on Chr 12 that influence Prevotellaceae. Relationships between gut microflora, morphological and metabolic traits were uncovered, some potentially a result of common genetic sources of variation

The Vehicle, Spring 2000

Vol. 41, No. 2 Table of Contents UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 4 Fred\u27s PenAutumn Williamspage 5 tomatoesDave Moutraypage 6 AFRICABusinge Roger Godfreypage 7 seeking OutKim Hunterpage 8 Razorblade, Crystal I.Jason Brownpage 9 UntitledMegan Guernseypage 10 CoyoteAutumn Williamspage 11 BaptizedStephanie Carpenterpage 13 BrotherTara Coburnpage 14 My 1984Dave Moutraypage 15 what little boys and girls are made ofKristi Brownfieldpage 17 To GerriMegan Guernseypage 19 JunieJoe Raabpage 20 BeatWes Paytonpage 21 MercyAutumn Williamspage 23 TravelingDenise Fitzerpage 24 UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 25 a story of rapeAnnie Whitepage 26 Teddy RhexisPaul Austerpage 30https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1074/thumbnail.jp

The Vehicle, Spring 2000

Vol. 41, No. 2 Table of Contents UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 4 Fred\u27s PenAutumn Williamspage 5 tomatoesDave Moutraypage 6 AFRICABusinge Roger Godfreypage 7 seeking OutKim Hunterpage 8 Razorblade, Crystal I.Jason Brownpage 9 UntitledMegan Guernseypage 10 CoyoteAutumn Williamspage 11 BaptizedStephanie Carpenterpage 13 BrotherTara Coburnpage 14 My 1984Dave Moutraypage 15 what little boys and girls are made ofKristi Brownfieldpage 17 To GerriMegan Guernseypage 19 JunieJoe Raabpage 20 BeatWes Paytonpage 21 MercyAutumn Williamspage 23 TravelingDenise Fitzerpage 24 UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 25 a story of rapeAnnie Whitepage 26 Teddy RhexisPaul Austerpage 30https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1074/thumbnail.jp

Sticky Gecko Feet: The Role of Temperature and Humidity

Gecko adhesion is expected to be temperature insensitive over the range of temperatures typically experienced by geckos. Previous work is limited and equivocal on whether this expectation holds. We tested the temperature dependence of adhesion in Tokay and Day geckos and found that clinging ability at 12°C was nearly double the clinging ability at 32°C. However, rather than confirming a simple temperature effect, our data reveal a complex interaction between temperature and humidity that can drive differences in adhesion by as much as two-fold. Our findings have important implications for inferences about the mechanisms underlying the exceptional clinging capabilities of geckos, including whether performance of free-ranging animals is based solely on a dry adhesive model. An understanding of the relative contributions of van der Waals interactions and how humidity and temperature variation affects clinging capacities will be required to test hypotheses about the evolution of gecko toepads and is relevant to the design and manufacture of synthetic mimics

The Vehicle, Spring 1999

Vol. 40, No. 2 Table of Contents Poetry Eve\u27s DaughterSylvia Whippopage 1 When We Wore Canoes On Our ShouldersMandy Watsonpage 2 This Is Not A Poem About GrandpaJake Tolbertpage 3 Old relationshipsBrandi Kinneypage 5 UntitledErin Winnerpage 6 BraverySylvia Whippopage 6 deep dark closetNicole Smithpage 7 Belly EarthTara Coburnpage 9 The River and FireJake Tolbertpage 10 UntitledAutumn Williamspage 12 Action PotentialKim Evanspage 13 Chimerical (a song for children)D.M. Attrapepage 14 UntitledAutumn Williamspage 16 UntitledMatthew Armstrongpage 18 Building YouSylvia Whippopage 19 RunningKim Evanspage 20 Walking Jenn to WorkJake Tolbertpage 22 Looking InKim Hunterpage 23 Void Between Me and WisconsinMandy Watsonpage 24 Artwork UntitledWendy Finchpage 4 MeditationJennifer Lundpage 8 UntitledSteve Drakepage 15 MemoriesJennifer Lundpage 21 UntitledKathryn Kolasinskipage 25 Prose FoundKim Hunterpage 26 A Day in the Life of William Baxter, DriverDaniel Fitzgeraldpage 32https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1072/thumbnail.jp