scholarly journals An Embodied Architecture

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Downing ◽  
Upali Nanda ◽  
Narongpon Laiprakobsup ◽  
Shima B. Mohajeri
Keyword(s):  
Living Organism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Moral Code ◽  
New Information ◽  
Embodied Realism ◽  
Biological Reality ◽  
Body Boundary ◽  
Foundation Wall ◽  
Topological Boundary

An architecture of the body is emerging out of theories of biology, complexity, and systems through the use of an evolving organism as its metaphor. Autopoiesis is the term used by biologists to describe the realm of existence for a living organism as it slides between the interchange of structure and information. Incoming information is filtered through the organism for its usefulness in the art of staying alive. Structural or organizational changes evolve as the organism adjusts to new information. To remain a viable organism—to survive—means that an entity must keep evolving without surrendering identity. Humans must maintain an embodied identity, often referred to as an organized self (Maturana & Varela, 1980, 1987), while viably exchanging information with other entities and the environment. This operation creates a topological boundary across which the communication takes place. Cognitive theorists and researchers have proposed that the animal condition is one of Embodied Realism; that is, animals such as we humans, are embodied, using our bodies to create basic metaphors, and, that we do this in a“real” world. The role of cognition in this equation is to allow humans the use of embodiment to explore abstract ideas through metaphor—such as “grasping an idea” (Lakoff &Johnson, 2003). In doing so, it allows the invention of an evolving language that refers to things “outside” our skin,like other entities and places. Autopoiesis describes the activities at the “edge” or boundary of an organism. The linguistic act can, therefore, be identified as fundamental medium for communication in the edge, between inside and outside, that assures the autopoiesis of place.In our own bodies, flesh is the biological manifest of the edge or boundary condition. Our understanding of flesh is that it is another of our organs; and at the same time, all organs are also bounded by flesh. It serves as a porous filter, delicate and complicated—it is our body boundary. The “flesh” or the lived body (Merleau-Ponty, 1968) is moreover, an inbetween concept that articulates the subjective mind to the objective world. It bridges the boundaries separating inside from outside. Thus, it could act as a metaphor for introducing the notion of edge in architectural place. The edge itself then, embodies the embodied being. Buildings have boundaries of foundation, wall, or roof, parts of which could be thought of as the“skin.” In today’s practice, the various skins of a building have become more complicated and porous as the field of architecture extends itself into “systemic” conditions, within and without. It follows then that the body survives the interaction and communication between mind and theexternal world if it inhabits the edge of place embodying localized boundary metaphors. Architecture is beginning the process of aligning itself with a new moral code—one that is inclusive of our biological reality, the embodiment of ideas, systemic evolution, and ecological necessities. This paper is situated within this new moral code of systemic ecological and biologicalinteractions.

The Role of Vitamin D in Human Health: A Paradigm Shift

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan M. Lappe
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Vitamin D Receptors ◽  
The Past ◽  
New Information ◽  
Optimal Functioning ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Vitamin D deficiency is pandemic, spanning many continents and including all ages, genders and racial/ethnic groups. Currently, world-wide attention is focused on the importance of vitamin D in optimizing health and preventing disease. This focus is largely the result of the scientific discovery that vitamin D receptors are present in nearly every tissue and cell in the body and that adequate vitamin D status is essential for optimal functioning of these tissues and cells. An impressive body of research has accumulated over the past two decades providing new information about the role of vitamin D in prevention of a broad range of diseases. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of this new information.

The role of the right parietal lobe in anorexia nervosa

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1531-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Nico ◽  
E. Daprati ◽  
N. Nighoghossian ◽  
E. Carrier ◽  
J.-R. Duhamel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Parietal Lobe ◽  
Body Schema ◽  
Body Representation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Body Boundary ◽  
The Right

BackgroundPatients with anorexia nervosa (AN) overestimate their size despite being severely underweight. Whether this misperception echoes an underlying emotional disturbance or also reflects a genuine body-representation deficit is debatable. Current measures inquire directly about subjective perception of body image, thus distinguishing poorly between top-down effects of emotions/attitudes towards the body and disturbances due to proprioceptive disorders/distorted body schema. Disorders of body representation also emerge following damage to the right parietal lobe. The possibility that parietal dysfunction might contribute to AN is suspected, based on the demonstrated association of spatial impairments, comparable to those found after parietal lesion, with this syndrome.MethodWe used a behavioral task to compare body knowledge in severe anorexics (n=8), healthy volunteers (n=11) and stroke patients with focal damage to the left/right parietal lobe (n=4). We applied a psychophysical procedure based on the perception, in the dark, of an approaching visual stimulus that was turned off before reaching the observer. Participants had to predict whether the stimulus would have hit/missed their body, had it continued its linear motion.ResultsHealthy volunteers and left parietal patients estimated body boundaries very close to the real ones. Conversely, anorexics and right parietal patients underestimated eccentricity of their left body boundary.ConclusionsThese findings are in line with the role the parietal cortex plays in developing and maintaining body representation, and support the possibility for a neuropsychological component in the pathogenesis of anorexia, offering alternative approaches to treatment of the disorder.

scholarly journals Interplay Between Microbiota, Toll-Like Receptors and Cytokines for the Maintenance of Epithelial Barrier Integrity

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iaroslav Semin ◽  
Justus Ninnemann ◽  
Marina Bondareva ◽  
Ilia Gimaev ◽  
Andrey A. Kruglov
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Epithelial Barrier ◽  
Epithelial Tissue ◽  
Toll Like Receptors ◽  
Tissue Integrity ◽  
Healthy State

The intestinal tract is densely populated by microbiota consisting of various commensal microorganisms that are instrumental for the healthy state of the living organism. Such commensals generate various molecules that can be recognized by the Toll-like receptors of the immune system leading to the inflammation marked by strong upregulation of various proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β. To prevent excessive inflammation, a single layer of constantly renewing, highly proliferating epithelial cells (IEC) provides proper segregation of such microorganisms from the body cavities. There are various triggers which facilitate the disturbance of the epithelial barrier which often leads to inflammation. However, the nature and duration of the stress may determine the state of the epithelial cells and their responses to cytokines. Here we discuss the role of the microbiota-TLR-cytokine axis in the maintenance of the epithelial tissue integrity. In particular, we highlight discrepancies in the function of TLR and cytokines in IEC barrier during acute or chronic inflammation and we suggest that intervention strategies should be applied based on the type of inflammation.

Impact of Foreign Bodies Poisoning In Daily Life and Role of Community Pharmacist in Prohibition of Poisoning

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-31
Author(s):  
Durriya Hashmat ◽  
Erum Naz ◽  
Fatima Ahmed ◽  
Fatima Muzammil ◽  
Syeda Saghira Begum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Bodies ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Foreign Object ◽  
Cleaning Agents ◽  
Poisoning In Children ◽  
Micro Organisms

Background: A foreign object is a substance or an entity that is found in human body but has no relation with body; it enters into the body through many routes. Poisoning is a condition that occurs through common substance when exposed to a person or living organism it damages their health and life and endanger for community. The majority of poisoning cases, especially in children, are associated with cleaning agents and pesticides. Cleaning agents are the substances (liquid, powder, granules) which are used for cleaning purpose and their main purpose is to kill germs and provide sterility. The ordinary cleaning agents include bleaches, detergents, solvents, kerosene and pesticides. Pesticides are the substances used for destroying, attracting the insects or micro-organisms which are harmful for humans and cultivated plants and crops. Objective: The objective of this study is to reduce the poisoning by foreign bodies (cleaning substances, pesticides) by guiding people that exposure to these objects can harm them. Methodology: A survey based questionnaire was circulated for about one month to check the awareness of people regarding the knowledge of handling the foreign bodies that include cleaning substances and pesticides for data collection, the students, children and household women were asked to fill the questionnaire according to their knowledge. Percentages were calculated to compile the results. Result: It was observed that there was lack of knowledge in children and in some cases household women were also a part of it. The major reason of poisoning in children is the careless behavior of household women while not keeping such things away from them.

scholarly journals The role of the menu in the day mode of highly qualified athletes

2021 ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
І.С. Томчук ◽  
L. Tomchuk
Keyword(s):  
Living Organism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Huge Amount ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Daily Diet

The article theoretically substantiates the role of the menu as the primary factor in the training process of highly qualified athletes. The main directions for compiling the menu are determined. Brief characteristics of the nutrients needed to create a daily diet are given, taking into account their characteristics. The introduction of two- and three-time training has significantly changed the diet of highly qualified athletes, and the improvement of training methods has led to a significant increase in the energy costs of the body. A huge amount of training makes organizing very difficult, not only the diet during the training day, but also its component in the quantity and quality of the menu. A well-planned menu, in turn, is the basis for increasing the athlete's performance. An athlete who follows a balanced diet, including the number of calories, is easier to adapt to physical and mental stress. How to balance nutrition so that, without increasing the volume of food, the athlete’s body can be maximally satisfied in energy and nutrients when preparing the menu. Since after measuring the amount in a calorimeter, the heat generated by a person, which translates into “burned” calories, is always less than when burning food in a calorimeter. Since the metabolism in a living organism is not capable of absolute oxidation, the second indicator is always less than the first in a certain proportion, reflecting the efficiency of metabolism [12]. However, it should be noted that, despite the importance of this issue for athletes, to paint a full menu is often fraught with various kinds of difficulties. The fact is that the recommendations for the preparation of diets differ from each other. Diets are different. One of them, developed by nutrition experts. Others are invented by people who are not related not only to nutrition, but also to medicine in general. There is much more speculation and exaggeration in them than scientifically based recommendations. Therefore, it can be difficult for a non-specialist to understand those proposals, which are full of all kinds of scientifically unconfirmed diets.

Varying Role of Extracellular Electrolytes in Metabolic Acidosis and Alkalosis

1958 ◽  
Vol 195 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Tobin
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Acidosis ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Alkaline Solution ◽  
Extracellular Space ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Extracellular Acidosis ◽  
Mineral Acids ◽  
Different Types

The responses of plasma and extracellular space to different types of acids and alkalis were studied in nephrectomized cats. Compensation for mineral acids can largely be accounted for by changes which are detectable in extracellular constituents. These changes are movement of Na+ and K+ into the extracellular space (ECS) and loss of HCO3– from the ECS. Organic acids which penetrate cells rapidly and may be expected to cause an intracellular and extracellular acidosis, produce negligible changes in extracellular content of Na and K. Alkalosis produced by NaOH or NaHCO3 was compensated for mainly by extracellular gain of bicarbonate and loss of Na. The response to NH4OH was unusual in that this alkaline solution caused an acidosis with movement of K into the ECS. The site of compensation for the various acids and alkalis was indicated by a comparison of the volume of agent infused with the change in volume of the ECS. The distribution of Na in these animals was not related as much to the concentration of Na in the ECS as it was to the pH produced by the solution infused. The response of the living organism to different types of acids and alkalis is variable and seems mainly related to the distribution of the material in the body.

The Role of Polyphenols in the Modulation of Plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC)

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Serafini ◽  
Giuseppa Morabito
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dietary Polyphenols ◽  
Enzymatic Antioxidant ◽  
Endogenous Antioxidant

Dietary polyphenols have been shown to scavenge free radicals, modulating cellular redox transcription factors in different in vitro and ex vivo models. Dietary intervention studies have shown that consumption of plant foods modulates plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC), a biomarker of the endogenous antioxidant network, in human subjects. However, the identification of the molecules responsible for this effect are yet to be obtained and evidences of an antioxidant in vivo action of polyphenols are conflicting. There is a clear discrepancy between polyphenols (PP) concentration in body fluids and the extent of increase of plasma NEAC. The low degree of absorption and the extensive metabolism of PP within the body have raised questions about their contribution to the endogenous antioxidant network. This work will discuss the role of polyphenols from galenic preparation, food extracts, and selected dietary sources as modulators of plasma NEAC in humans.

The Role of Computer Modeling in Electrocardiography

1990 ◽  
Vol 29 (04) ◽  
pp. 282-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. van Oosterom
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Computer Modeling ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
The Body ◽  
Volume Conductor ◽  
Current Generator ◽  
Cardiac Electrical Activity ◽  
Source Models

AbstractThis paper introduces some levels at which the computer has been incorporated in the research into the basis of electrocardiography. The emphasis lies on the modeling of the heart as an electrical current generator and of the properties of the body as a volume conductor, both playing a major role in the shaping of the electrocardiographic waveforms recorded at the body surface. It is claimed that the Forward-Problem of electrocardiography is no longer a problem. Several source models of cardiac electrical activity are considered, one of which can be directly interpreted in terms of the underlying electrophysiology (the depolarization sequence of the ventricles). The importance of using tailored rather than textbook geometry in inverse procedures is stressed.

Questions on the role of biofilms for the adaptation of microorganisms to unfavorable environmental factors by the example of P. aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383
Author(s):  
Vasily N. Afonyushkin ◽  
N. A. Donchenko ◽  
Ju. N. Kozlova ◽  
N. A. Davidova ◽  
V. Yu. Koptev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
The Face

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widely represented species of bacteria possessing of a pathogenic potential. This infectious agent is causing wound infections, fibrotic cystitis, fibrosing pneumonia, bacterial sepsis, etc. The microorganism is highly resistant to antiseptics, disinfectants, immune system responses of the body. The responses of a quorum sense of this kind of bacteria ensure the inclusion of many pathogenicity factors. The analysis of the scientific literature made it possible to formulate four questions concerning the role of biofilms for the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to adverse environmental factors: Is another person appears to be predominantly of a source an etiological agent or the source of P. aeruginosa infection in the environment? Does the formation of biofilms influence on the antibiotic resistance? How the antagonistic activity of microorganisms is realized in biofilm form? What is the main function of biofilms in the functioning of bacteria? A hypothesis has been put forward the effect of biofilms on the increase of antibiotic resistance of bacteria and, in particular, P. aeruginosa to be secondary in charcter. It is more likely a biofilmboth to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and provide topical competition in the face of food scarcity. In connection with the incompatibility of the molecular radii of most antibiotics and pores in biofilm, biofilm is doubtful to be capable of performing a barrier function for protecting against antibiotics. However, with respect to antibodies and immunocompetent cells, the barrier function is beyond doubt. The biofilm is more likely to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and providing topical competition in conditions of scarcity of food resources.

Receptions of the Past: Commemoration, Racism, Desire

Somatechnics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-303
Author(s):  
Michael Connors Jackman
Keyword(s):  
Critical Point ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
White Privilege ◽  
Body Politic ◽  
The Body ◽  
Race And Racism ◽  
Lesbian And Gay ◽  
The Past ◽  
History Of

This article investigates the ways in which the work of The Body Politic (TBP), the first major lesbian and gay newspaper in Canada, comes to be commemorated in queer publics and how it figures in the memories of those who were involved in producing the paper. In revisiting a critical point in the history of TBP from 1985 when controversy erupted over race and racism within the editorial collective, this discussion considers the role of memory in the reproduction of whiteness and in the rupture of standard narratives about the past. As the controversy continues to haunt contemporary queer activism in Canada, the productive work of memory must be considered an essential aspect of how, when and for what reasons the work of TBP comes to be commemorated. By revisiting the events of 1985 and by sifting through interviews with individuals who contributed to the work of TBP, this article complicates the narrative of TBP as a bluntly racist endeavour whilst questioning the white privilege and racially-charged demands that undergird its commemoration. The work of producing and preserving queer history is a vital means of challenging the intentional and strategic erasure of queer existence, but those who engage in such efforts must remain attentive to the unequal terrain of social relations within which remembering forms its objects.

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