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‘Energy Trees’ for a humane and viable future: a social sculpture approach linking individual and social capital
Full text linkThis reflective commentary is an exploration into pragmatic and encouraging ways of how to become actively involved in the field of social sculpture. Inspired by Joseph Beuys’ famous quote ‘every human being is an artist’, this practice-based research study supports the hypothesis that, as potential artists, each human being is highly talented, and therefore able to bring great value to their communities and to the wider society. It suggests that one meaningful gift we could make to our society is developing and employing our talents – our unique inner capital – for social benefit and the common good; and that the consequence of this significant contribution would be synergetic growth and development of both individual and social capital. Therefore it would be of equal benefit to individuals, society, and environment. This study is informed and inspired by a set of dialogues and exchanges with Professor Shelley Sacks: the founder and director of the Social Sculpture Research Unit at Oxford Brookes University, and a leading expert, researcher, and developer in the field of contemporary social sculpture. The core part of this practice-based study, which is entitled the ‘Energy Trees’ project, is an exploration of how to create a space and conditions in which individuals can focus consciously on their positive qualities. The main components framing this practice are social sculpture strategies such as gifting attention, visualising the invisible, reflective dialogue, and imaginal thought, combined with its central methodological element of positive focus. Together these elements create a methodology that enables a more enlivening, encouraging, and connective way of perceiving the self, its social value, and its potential to contribute to sustainable and humane forms of social development. This process has been undertaken with twenty self-selecting participants who nevertheless reflect different backgrounds and age groups. Offering an artistic counterbalance to the destructive negativity, which seems to predominate in many current views, the visual embodiment of these twenty processes has confirmed the diversity and richness of human talents, capacities, and strengths. This study has also confirmed that more frameworks in which individuals could engage with their invisible inner capital are needed
Role of the Nitric Oxide/Cyclic GMP/Ca2+ Signaling Pathway in the Pyrogenic Effect of Interleukin-1beta
No full textInterleukin-1β (IL-1β) has a wide spectrum of inflammatory, metabolic, haemopoietic, and immunological properties. Because it produces fever when injected into animals and humans, it is considered an endogenous pyrogen. There is evidence to suggest that Ca2+ plays a critical role in the central mechanisms of thermoregulation, and in the intracellular signaling pathways controlling fever induced by IL-1β and other pyrogens. Data from different labs indicate that Ca2+ and Na+ determine the temperature set point in the posterior hypothalamus (PH) of various mammals and that changes in Ca2+ and PGE2 concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these animals are associated with IL-1β-induced fever. Antipyretic drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid, dexamethasone, and lipocortin 5-(204-212) peptide counteract IL-1β-induced fever and abolish changes in Ca2+ and PGE2 concentrations in CSF. In vitro studies have established that activation of the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway is part of the signaling cascade transducing Ca2+ mobilization in response to IL-1β and that the ryanodine (RY)- and inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive pools are the main source of the mobilized Ca2+. It is concluded that the NO/cGMP/Ca2+ pathway is part of the signaling cascade subserving some of the multiple functions of IL-1β
Plasma kinetics of dihydroergotoxin in rat by using a radioreceptor assay
No full textA radioreceptor assay (RRA) (with brain dopamine receptors) has been developed to determine the levels of dihydroergotoxin-equivalent (DHT-equivalent) material in rat plasma and its kinetics after oral and i.v. administration (5 mg/kg). After i.v. administration the plasma kinetics follows a two-exponential equation, with an apparent distribution volume of 7-9 1/kg and a long half-life (about 36 hours). The kinetics of DHT after oral administration shows two peaks; this could indicate a biliary recycling of the drug and/or of its metabolites. The low bioavailability (19%) and the biliary recycling of DHT-equivalent material suggest a first pass effect. © 1984 The Italian Pharmacological Society
Antagonism by taurine of hyperthermia induced in rabbits by 6-aminomethyl-4H,1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (AMBD) and by calcium antagonists [Antagonismo della taurina sulla ipertermia indotta nel coniglio da 6-aminomethyl-4H,1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (AMBD) e da calcio antagonisti
No full textPositive correlation of calcium concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and rectal temperature in rabbits
No full textHyperthermia induced in rabbits by organic calcium antagonists
No full textVerapamil, nifedipine and cinnarizine, when injeted intracereboventricularly (ICV), induced a rise in core temperature related to the dose of the drug and accompanied by vasoconstriction of the ear vascular bed. On the contrary, the calcium channel activator BAY-K-8644, structurally related to the nifedipine, elicited a dose-related hypothermic response which was accompanied by vasodilatation. The delay in onset of verapamil-induced hyperthermia was reduced by pretreating the animals with a dose of acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) which antagonized fever induced by E. coli endotoxin. BAY-K-8644 was shown to partially antagonize E. coli endotoxin-induced fever. These findings indicate that neurons responsible for temperature control are a target of organic calcium antagonists and suggest that calcium metabolism is of primary importance in the function of these cells. © 1989
Liver glutathione and ligandin in carbon tetrachloride poisoning [GLUTATIONE E LIGANDINA EPATICA NEL DANNO SPERIMENTALE DA TETRACLORURO DI CARBONIO]
No full textPharmacokinetics of flunitrazepam in rats studied by a radioreceptor assay
No full textIn rat the kinetics of flunitrazepam (FNZ) was evaluated by a radiorecepfor assay (RRA) after i.v. administration of 1 mg/kg and after oral administration of 1 and 3 mg/kg.
The i.v. kinetics is biexponential and the g.i. absorption is very rapid (with a plasma peak at 0.25 hour) with a good bioavailability (69%); the apparent distribution volume is high, 4.8 L/kg; the half-life is equal to 3.5 hours; the elimination constant is equal to 0.8 h−1; the urinary excretion of FNZ-equivalent is negligible; the plasma total clearance is equal to 3.9 (L/kg)h−1.
The concentrations of FNZ-equivalents after oral administration of 1 mg/kg show a peak at the 2-nd hour with a very high concentration in the following organs (in decreasing order): brain, kidneys, heart, liver; after 8 hours no FNZ-equivalents are present in these organs except in the brain, which shows detectable concentrations at the 32-nd hour.
The peak concentrations of FNZ-equivalent in brain, kidneys and heart are higher than the corresponding peak concentration in plasma
Hepatic glutathione content in rats with carbon tetrachloride poisoning [CONTENUTO EPATICO DEL GLUTATIONE IN RATTI INTOSSICATI DA TETRA-CLORURO DI CARBONIO]
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