Offline Student Political Activism: Supported or Thwarted by Online Political Engagement?

Social media is an integral part of everyday life for the current generation of college-age students. Researchers debate whether the time invested into these sites has a positive or negative influence on offline political activism. Drawing on an original survey of undergraduate students at Illinois Wesleyan University, this study finds that online political engagement has a significant, positive relationship with offline political activism, and this relationship holds even when controlling for the respondent’s political efficacy and natural political inclination. There is a positive relationship between online and offline political activism for students who believe that social media is an appropriate platform for political content; this indicator conditions the strength of online political engagement. Most importantly, observing political content on social media and searching for political information on social media both positively correlated with offline political activism. These results support the theory that the time and energy spent on social media positively influences offline political activism. Therefore, social networking sites should be considered positive mobilization and educational tools for United States college students

Industrial applications of sheet stamping simulation using new finite element models

The paper is aimed to present industrial applications of sheet stamping simulation using new finite element formulations developed in the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering in Barcelona. Theoretical formulation is briefly reviewed. Both continuum and shell elements have been considered. The new shell elements developed are based on a geometrically exact shell model treating the shell as one-director Cosserat surface. The formulation of the continuum elements employs the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient tensor into its elastic and plastic parts. The new finite element models have been implemented in the in-house explicit dynamic code STAMPACK. A number of practical problems of sheet metalforming have been solved with the program. Some of the problems, namely stamping of a kitchen sink, hydraulic forming of an aeronautical part and stamping of a food can, have been presented in the paper. The examples give an idea of practical information that can be obtained from the computer simulation of a forming process. The results confirm a good behaviour of the formulation and program used in the industrial applications

Development of new material for the environmental-friendly energy generation processes

The aim of this study was to develop a new material which has high hydrogen storage capacity and hydrogen absorption/desorption rate. This material, which is based on cobalt powder onto which palladium was chemically deposited can be used in environmentally friendly energy generation processes, thus ensuring preventive protection of human health. Hydrogen absorption was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by measuring hydrogen pressure under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions in a chamber containing either pure cobalt powder either cobalt powder onto which palladium was chemically deposited (Co-0.003 Pd). The mechanism of hydrogen absorption has been described. It was noticed that palladium catalyses hydrogen absorption by dissociating the adsorbed H2 molecules into H atoms more rapidly on its own atoms than on cobalt ones. The catalysis of dissociation of H2 molecules enabled hydrogen absorption into Co-0.003 Pd powder to occur at lower temperatures. The results of this study enable integration of technological and public health investigation in order to ensure preventive protection of human health through enviromental protection

Shape resonances in nested diffraction gratings

The diffraction problem of a plane wave impinging on a grating formed by nested cavities is solved by means of the modal method, for $s$ and $p$ polarization modes. The cavities are formed by perfectly conducting sheets that describe rectangular profiles. The electromagnetic response of the grating is analyzed, paying particular attention to the generation of resonances within the structure. The dependence of the resonances on the geometrical parameters of the grating is studied, and results of far and near field are shown. The results are checked and compared with those available in the literature for certain limit cases.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

Magnesium-Gold Alloy Formation by Underpotential Deposition of Magnesium onto Gold from Nitrate Melts

Magnesium underpotential deposition on gold electrodes from magnesium nitrate-ammonium nitrate melts has been investigated. Linear sweep voltammetry and potential step were used as electrochemical techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for characterization of obtained electrode surfaces. It was observed that reduction processes of nitrate, nitrite and traces of water (when present), in the Mg underpotential range studied, proceeded simultaneously with magnesium underpotential deposition. There was no clear evidence of Mg/Au alloy formation induced by Mg UPD from the melt made from eutectic mixture [Mg(NO3)(2).6H(2)O + NH4NO3.XH2O]. However, EDS and XRD analysis showed magnesium present in the gold substrate and four different Mg/Au alloys being formed as a result of magnesium underpotential deposition and interdiffusion between Mg deposit and Au substrate from the melt made of a nonaqueous [Mg(NO3)(2) + NH4NO3] eutectic mixture at 460 K

Beta Blockers and Melanoma

Understanding the mechanisms of cancer immune-tolerance is one of the most important challenges. Several studies have demonstrated the potential anticarcinogenic effects of beta-blockers, in patients with prostate cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. At the other side variety of dermatoses may be caused or aggravated by β-blockers-psoriasis, lichen planus-like drug eruptions (LDE), acrocyanosis, alopecia etc.   Beta-blockers have been shown to improve the prognosis of melanoma patients significantly. Propranolol inhibits melanoma by downregulating the tumour angiogenesis but also tumour cell proliferation, invasiveness and local immune suppression. Studies showed that only β3-but, not β2-adrenoceptors, were up-regulated under hypoxia in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and selectively expressed in immune cell sub-populations including Treg, MDSC, and NK. They increased NK and CD8 number and cytotoxicity. Catecholamines may retard melanoma progression and that β-blockers may have unrecognised potential as a therapeutic intervention for melanoma, in the prevention of the growth of melanoma in all stages and as adjuvant therapy with other targeted and immune therapies for melanoma

The Impact of Immunological Factors on Depression Treatment – Relation Between Antidepressants and Immunomodulation Agents

It is determined that 30% of patients with depression are resistant to antidepressant medication. The increased concentration of inflammation factors, such as C-reactive protein, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, have been detected in serum in these patients. It is necessary to establish new therapeutic possibilities and protocols that are created to overcome the difficulties caused by increased concentration of inflammatory biomarkers in depressive patients. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered to be the most powerful antidepressants, increasing the level of serotonin in endogenous depression, as well as in that caused by immunological mechanisms. It is believed that agents that influence cytokines, immunological signal pathways and cytokine syntheses, like the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase enzyme and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are very important in the potential treatment of residual symptoms of depression. Treatment with cytokine antagonists is one of the potential adjuvant therapies, along with antidepressants. Signal pathways blockers, such as the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and other NSAIDs, are in the phase of research, in terms of their antidepressant effects. Also, it has been shown that the inhibition of indolamin-2,3 deoxygenase (IDO) and kynurenine (KYN) signal pathways in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, by application of IDO antagonists, are leading to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine effects. Antidepressants may have anti-inflammatory effects, depending on dose and type, and they achieve this effect through the decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Also, antidepressants modulate the humoral and cellular immune system. This work aims to summarise certain neurobiological and neuroimmunological specificities that have been observed in patients with depression, antidepressants and immunomodulation agents. The understanding of complex and heterogenic pathophysiology of depression through the prism of the altered immune system, is of major importance, in terms of better optimisation of pharmacotherapy, and options for a personalised approach in depressive disorder treatment

Psychotherapy Role in Treatment of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in a 32 Years Old Female Patient

As indicated by the latest scientific evidence, the lines between different fields of medicine gradually blur and overlap more and more. Psychiatry and dermatology have seen this trend in the last decade as an ever-increasing number of studies suggest the strong connection of many dermatological syndromes and diseases with psychiatric conditions and vice versa. It seems that the relationship is more intertwined than previously believed and the effects of different multidisciplinary approaches to diagnostic and treatment are being considered. The aim of this case report is to highlight the effect of psychotherapy on chronic spontaneous urticaria which is tightly related to the maladaptive stress response

Aluminium Underpotential Deposition from AlCl3+NaCl Melts and Alloy Formation with Vanadium Substrate

Aim of this work was to study underpotential deposition of aluminium onto polycrystalline vanadium electrode from equimolar AlCl3+NaCl melt at 473, 523 and 573 K. It was found that aluminium was deposited and incorporated into polycrystalline vanadium electrode at potentials more positive than the Al reverse potential. Applied electrochemical techniques: linear sweep voltammetry and potentiostatic deposition/ galvanostatic striping, showed clear evidence of formation of three intermetallic compounds whose presence depends on temperature and applied deposition time. Deposits were studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray spectroscopy (EDS and EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)