The undoing of the self: an artistic exploration

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on April 4, 2008)Vita.Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.F.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Art.This creative research investigated the nature of interpersonal relationships through the lens of Theravada Buddhism and took the form of interactive video, performance and installation. Tangible materials, video projections and bodily movements were employed in the works to manipulate viewers so they could observe their relationship to the material world, to themselves and to others. The performances were collaborative opportunities for all participants to step outside normal behavior patterns and observe barriers to self-understanding. This research purposely blurred boundaries between artist, viewers and artwork so that viewers became participants and interactors as well as observers. This process allowed the following specific issues to be explored: identity, self vs. other, desire vs. aversion and personal boundaries. The work encouraged participants to mine this content for information about personal psychological states in order that they may better know and accept themselves. They were encouraged to embrace the notion of undoing the self in order to function in this world with a heightened sense of grace

The effect of intervertebral cartilage on neutral posture and range of motion in the necks of sauropod dinosaurs

The necks of sauropod dinosaurs were a key factor in their evolution. The habitual posture and range of motion of these necks has been controversial, and computer-aided studies have argued for an obligatory sub-horizontal pose. However, such studies are compromised by their failure to take into account the important role of intervertebral cartilage. This cartilage takes very different forms in different animals. Mammals and crocodilians have intervertebral discs, while birds have synovial joints in their necks. The form and thickness of cartilage varies significantly even among closely related taxa. We cannot yet tell whether the neck joints of sauropods more closely resembled those of birds or mammals. Inspection of CT scans showed cartilage:bone ratios of 4.5% for Sauroposeidon and about 20% and 15% for two juvenile Apatosaurus individuals. In extant animals, this ratio varied from 2.59% for the rhea to 24% for a juvenile giraffe. It is not yet possible to disentangle ontogenetic and taxonomic signals, but mammal cartilage is generally three times as thick as that of birds. Our most detailed work, on a turkey, yielded a cartilage:bone ratio of 4.56%. Articular cartilage also added 11% to the length of the turkey's zygapophyseal facets. Simple image manipulation suggests that incorporating 4.56% of neck cartilage into an intervertebral joint of a turkey raises neutral posture by 15°. If this were also true of sauropods, the true neutral pose of the neck would be much higher than has been depicted. An additional 11% of zygapophyseal facet length translates to 11% more range of motion at each joint. More precise quantitative results must await detailed modelling. In summary, including cartilage in our models of sauropod necks shows that they were longer, more elevated and more flexible than previously recognised

Inter-species variation in the oligomeric states of the higher plant Calvin cycle enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoribulokinase

In darkened leaves the Calvin cycle enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and phosphoribulokinase (PRK) form a regulatory multi-enzyme complex with the small chloroplast protein CP12. GAPDH also forms a high molecular weight regulatory mono-enzyme complex. Given that there are different reports as to the number and subunit composition of these complexes and that enzyme regulatory mechanisms are known to vary between species, it was reasoned that protein-protein interactions may also vary between species. Here, this variation is investigated. This study shows that two different tetramers of GAPDH (an A2B2 heterotetramer and an A4 homotetramer) have the capacity to form part of the PRK/GAPDH/CP12 complex. The role of the PRK/GAPDH/CP12 complex is not simply to regulate the 'non-regulatory' A4 GAPDH tetramer. This study also demonstrates that the abundance and nature of PRK/GAPDH/CP12 interactions are not equal in all species and that whilst NAD enhances complex formation in some species, this is not sufficient for complex formation in others. Furthermore, it is shown that the GAPDH mono-enzyme complex is more abundant as a 2(A2B2) complex, rather than the larger 4(A2B2) complex. This smaller complex is sensitive to cellular metabolites indicating that it is an important regulatory isoform of GAPDH. This comparative study has highlighted considerable heterogeneity in PRK and GAPDH protein interactions between closely related species and the possible underlying physiological basis for this is discussed. © 2011 The Author(s)

Lowveld Savanna Bush Cutting Alters Tree-Grass Interactions

Savannas are characterized by the coexistence of trees and grasses, and their interactions are modified by water availability and herbivore activity. Many savannas are experiencing bush encroachment, resulting in reduced herbaceous productivity and shifts in savanna structure. This study aims to understand the effects of tree density and tree cutting on herbaceous productivity, water use, and herbivore abundance in a mopane-dominated lowveld savanna. We present data from a 4-year mopane-cutting experiment in the Mthimkhulu Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park (South Africa). We established three 60x60 m plots for experimental manipulation where mopane stems and re-sprouting shoots were cut 2-3 times per year (2015-2019). We established transects within the plots to measure grass productivity and herbivore activity (counts of tracks and dung). Additionally, we measured root non-structural carbohydrates within cut and uncut mopane to assess the impact of cutting on energy storage. We used stable isotopes of xylem and soil water at multiple depths to infer changes in functional water use of coexisting mopane and grass species. Cutting had limited effects on mopane survival during this 5-year period, but re-sprouting stems had reduced height and starch concentrations than uncut trees. Cutting mopane resulted in shallower-soil water use in 2017 and tended to increase variability in root water uptake across multiple soil depths. The cut treatment tended to have higher grass cover and productivity than the control treatment by the 3rd growing season. Visitation of grazers increased in the cut plots relative to uncut plots by 2017, suggesting increased grass cover promotes grazer visitation. These results emphasize the importance of top-down drivers on savanna tree cover and the impacts of bush encroachment on grass biomass and herbivore presence. We suggest repeated cutting or browsing pressure is needed to suppress woody cover and increase grass production in lowveld savannas

New histone deacetylase inhibitors as potential therapeutic tools for advanced prostate carcinoma

The anti-epileptic drug valproic acid is also under trial as an anti-cancer agent due to its histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory properties. However, the effects of valproic acid (VPA) are limited and concentrations required for exerting anti-neoplastic effects in vitro may not be reached in tumour patients. In this study, we tested in vitro and in vivo effects of two VPA-derivatives (ACS2, ACS33) on pre-clinical prostate cancer models. PC3 and DU-145 prostate tumour cell lines were treated with various concentrations of ACS2 or ACS33 to perform in vitro cell proliferation 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays and to evaluate tumour cell adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers. Analysis of acetylated histones H3 and H4 protein expression was performed by western blotting. In vivo tumour growth was conducted in subcutaneous xenograft mouse models. Tumour sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry for histone H3 acetylation and proliferation. ACS2 and ACS33 significantly up-regulated histone H3 and H4 acetylation in prostate cancer cell lines. In micromolar concentrations both compounds exerted growth arrest in PC3 and DU-145 cells and prevented tumour cell attachment to endothelium. In vivo, ACS33 inhibited the growth of PC3 in subcutaneous xenografts. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting confirmed increased histone H3 acetylation and reduced proliferation. ACS2 and ACS33 represent novel VPA derivatives with superior anti-tumoural activities, compared to the mother compound. This investigation lends support to the clinical testing of ACS2 or ACS33 for the treatment of prostate cancer

Influence of intermartensitic transitions on transport properties of Ni2.16Mn0.84Ga alloy

Magnetic, transport, and x-ray diffraction measurements of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni$_{2.16}$Mn$_{0.84}$Ga revealed that this alloy undergoes an intermartensitic transition upon cooling, whereas no such a transition is observed upon subsequent heating. The difference in the modulation of the martensite forming upon cooling from the high-temperature austenitic state [5-layered (5M) martensite], and the martensite forming upon the intermartensitic transition [7-layered (7M) martensite] strongly affects the magnetic and transport properties of the alloy and results in a large thermal hysteresis of the resistivity $\rho$ and magnetization $M$. The intermartensitic transition has an especially marked influence on the transport properties, as is evident from a large difference in the resistivity of the 5M and 7M martensite, $(\rho_{\mathrm{5M}} - \rho_{\mathrm{7M}})/\rho _{\mathrm{5M}} \approx 15$, which is larger than the jump of resistivity at the martensitic transition from the cubic austenitic phase to the monoclinic 5M martensitic phase. We assume that this significant difference in $\rho$ between the martensitic phases is accounted for by nesting features of the Fermi surface. It is also suggested that the nesting hypothesis can explain the uncommon behavior of the resistivity at the martensitic transition, observed in stoichiometric and near-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-Ga alloys.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, REVTEX

Образное осмысление движения в русском языке (на материале глаголов движения в русских народных говорах)

На диалектном материале исследуется семантика глаголов, обозначающих поступательное, колебательное и вращательное движение, и выявляются параметры, по которым происходит создание метафорических образов данных типов движения