23,341 research outputs found
The role of glucocorticoids in the development of insulin resistence in the obese Zucker rat
No full textThe obese Zucker rat, when homozygous for the recessive `fa' gene displays obesity, hyperphagia, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia and is regarded as an animal model of human type II diabetes/obesity. The development of obesity in the obese rat is dependent on glucocorticoids; adrenalectomy normalises body weight gain. Administration of exogenous glucocorticoids to adrenalectomised animals will restore the body weight gain. The aim of my project was to determine whether glucocorticoids are acting on the central nervous sytem or on peripheral tissues to promote obesity in the Zucker rat. Initial work comprised the development of methods for measuring the insulin sensitivity of glucose clearance and insulin secretion in anaesthetised rats. Adult obese Zucker rats showed decreased metabolic clearance rates of glucose during hyperinsulinaemic clamp and a hypersecretion of insulin in response to a glucose load when compared to lean animals. Pretreatment of obese rats with the cholinergic blocker atropine and adrenalectomy reduced the increase in plasma insulin following a glucose load. Both treatments were without effect in lean rats. Atropine pretreatment of adrenalectomised obese rats did not reduce the post-glucose plasma insulin levels further. Insulin-stimulated metabolic clearance rates of glucose in obese rats were increased by adrenalectomy. Chronic peripheral treatment of adrenalectomised obese rats with corticosterone restored the hypersecretion of insulin following a glucose load. Chronic peripheral treatment of adult obese rats with the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486 also reduced insulin secretion. Administration of small doses of glucocorticoid analogue dexamethasone chronically into the third ventrical of adrenalectomised obese rats increased the levels of plasma insulin following glucose load compared to saline infused controls. Atropine pretreatment of adrenalectomised dexamethasone infused obese rats before glucose administration reduced plasma insulin levels to control values. These results suggest that there is a central oversensitivity to glucocorticoids in the obese Zucker rat.</p
Video/Symposium: 'Destroyed by Shadows', John Bunker, Donal Moloney, Michael Stubbs discuss Contemporary Abstract Painting and the Screen, Liverpool Hope University, 2018
No full textJohn Bunker, Donal Moloney, Michael Stubbs discuss Contemporary Abstract Painting and the Screen. Although this videoed symposium is based on the group exhibition, it goes onto discuss the wider context of painting today. From understanding the gestural mark as a sign, to the relationship between hand making and the disembodied screen, the questions posed by Donoal Moloney interrogate paintings validity in the face of ubiquitous digital expansion. We also interogatte the academic use of the current term 'Expanded Painting' as a conceit that re-emphasises Greenberg's privileging of the hegemonic linearity of painting over all other art forms.
Starting with Robert Rauschenberg's famous quote that:
"After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing in these paintings that could not be changed, that they can be seen in any light and are not destroyed by the action of shadows." , The artists in this show invert this claim to ask questions of the received wisdom's of the idioms of abstract painting and theories about the destroyed narratives of modernism and post-modernism.
By inviting the shadows cast by the social histories of art, politics, non-art materials, digital representations and the bodies performative actions into the realm of abstraction, this show questions the notion that an artwork can simply be a blank receptor for the ever changing vagaries of the day to day or a viewer’s own subjectivity. It also challenges the idea that painting's meanings reside purely in the artist's assertion of control and intentions. They explore anxieties about contemporary culture and the shadows of history (and futures) that constantly move over the contemporary picture plane
The sense of a beginning : Bakhtinian dialogic criticism on 'the gospel' in Mark.
No full textContemporary literary approaches have caused paradigm shifts in Biblical Studies in the last two decades as it appears in a great deal of Markan studies using narrative, reader-response, deconstructive, feminist, and new historicist approaches. However, literary studies on the Gospel of Mark have not taken into account theoretical questions underlying those approaches. As a result biblical critics are driven by new trends without ever having a chance to examine the critical baggage of the approaches. Consequently, there is a gap of communication between the old and the new one. Therefore this thesis is an attempt to meet the need of enhancing the quality of critical endeavour in biblical studies. In the light of most recent competing critical theories of literature, the first contribution of this thesis is the methodological finding that Bakhtinian dialogic criticism contains the most profound philosophical and practical foundations for solving some crucial theoretical problems in contemporary literary theories. It is a critique to a Saussurian linguistic system of language which becomes the very foundation of modern and postmodern literary criticism. Bakhtinian literary theory shifts the foundation of literary criticism on linguistic signs into the creative activity of the socio-cultural production of human communication. The shift into socio-cultural reality of language communication makes the notion of 'genre' very important to unlock the problem of text and context in literary studies. Since the Gospel of Mark has fascinated most literary critics in Biblical Studies, the problem of 'genre' of this gospel is chosen as the focus of this study. Secondly, as no agreement is reached as to what 'genre' the Gospel of Mark belongs, this thesis makes its contribution to the discussion by locating the problem of 'genre' of Mark in the context of genre theories and argues that the Bakhtinian suggestion to find genre in the socio-cultural sphere by analysing artistic intercourse between narrative agents in Mark has freed the competing analysis from the unresolved problem between the kerygmatic (content oriented) approach and the analogical (form oriented) approach. To achieve finding 'genre' in the socio-cultural sphere, this thesis focuses on Bakhtinian analysis of the process of artistic intercourse between narrative agents. The narrative communicative interrelationships between narrative agents is constructed in this thesis as a 'stereophonic' Bakhtinian model of dialogic communication. This model is an original contribution of this thesis for revising the traditional two dimensional model of narrative communication. Based on this dialogical model of communication, a special role is given to the Bakhtinian 'author-creator' in the realization process of genre through the interaction of polyphonic voices. Through the interaction of voices of the author-artist and the hero we are led to discover a relatively stable type of portraying and controlling reality in Mark, known as the genre of Roman 'satire'. The closest literary affinity is Satyrica by Petronius. This narrative strategy of 'satire' in Mark has its root in the prophetic discourse of the Old Testament which is saturating the speech of the narrator, John the Immerser, the centurion, the people, and even Jesus. Finally, the whole search for Markan 'genre' culminates in the analysis of the realization of genre through the analysis of Bakhtinian chronotope. The reality of the genre of Mark is its social reality that is in its role as dpxrj/ 'beginning'. As the Gospel of Mark proclaims itself as 'a beginning', it defines its claim of socio-cultural 'authority' in early Christianity. It is this 'sense of beginning' which enables the narrating and the narrated world of Mark to interact dialogically
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny: How to be a liberal with Ian Dunt
No full textOn this Democracy Sausage Extra, Ian Dunt - host of the Oh God, What Now? podcast and author of How to be a liberal - joins Mark Kenny to discuss the history of liberal thought, how it has shaped present day politics, and the origins of the ‘culture wars’. Have the culture wars emerged out of the failures of liberalism? Why haven’t contemporary political actors done more to protect people from prejudice and the tyranny of the majority? And is liberalism a natural corollary to democracy? On this Democracy Sausage Extra, author, political journalist and broadcaster Ian Dunt joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss the history of political thought, present day politics, and liberalism’s trajectory
[Interview with Mark Lane in Playboy Magazine #3]
No full textPoor quality photocopies of a magazine article which appeared in Playboy Magazine. The article features an extensive interview with Mark Lane, an attorney and author, who is critical of the Warren Commission's assessment of the assassination of President Kennedy
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny: Full circle with Scott Ludlam
No full textOn this episode of Democracy Sausage, Scott Ludlam, former Greens Deputy Leader and author of the new book Full Circle: A search for the world that comes next, joins Mark Kenny to discuss what he learnt from his time in politics and Australian climate policy. What role do corporate and private interests play in shaping Australian policy-making? Will the country make changes to political donation rules to make the system more transparent? And how can Australia make meaningful progress on climate policy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Mark Kenny speaks with former Greens Senator Scott Ludlam about Australian politics, his new book, and Section 44 of the Constitution
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny: Truth is trouble with Malcolm Knox
No full textOn this Democracy Sausage Extra, award-winning journalist and author Malcolm Knox joins Mark Kenny to discuss the saga of Israel Folau - former star rugby union player sacked for sharing anti-LGBTQ views on social media - and how free speech got so complicated. The sacking of former star player Israel Folau by Rugby Australia for his comments on social media once again revealed faultlines which had recently been laid bare during Australia’s marriage equality plebiscite. So what did the saga reveal about freedom of expression in Australia? What is the significance of groups like the Australian Christian Lobby in Australia’s public discourse? And, with ‘free speech’ very much a political battleground, what might the future hold? On this Democracy Sausage Extra, Professor Mark Kenny speaks with Australian journalist and author Malcolm Knox about the Israel Folau issue, Australia’s evangelical movement, and the ‘culture wars’. This episode was recorded live as part of the ANU/Canberra Times ‘Meet the Author’ series
[Interview with Mark Lane in Playboy Magazine #2]
No full textPoor quality photocopies of a magazine article which appeared in Playboy Magazine. The article features an extensive interview with Mark Lane, an attorney and author, who is critical of the Warren Commission's assessment of the assassination of President Kennedy
[Interview with Mark Lane in Playboy Magazine #1]
No full textMagazine article which appeared in Playboy Magazine. The article features an extensive interview with Mark Lane, an attorney and author, who is critical of the Warren Commission's assessment of the assassination of President Kennedy
Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny: With the falling of the dusk with Stan Grant
No full textOn this episode of Democracy Sausage, acclaimed journalist and author Stan Grant joins Mark Kenny live at The Australian National University to discuss the major challenges facing the world and his new book, With the Falling of the Dusk. What does China’s trajectory mean for Australia and other countries in the region? Will President Joe Biden be able to address the deep structural challenges facing the United States? And why was 1979 such a watershed year in contemporary history? Recorded live as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author series, Stan Grant joins Mark Kenny on this episode of Democracy Sausage to discuss a world in crisis and his new book, With the Falling of the Dusk
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