Free Your Mind: Contemporary Racial Attitudes and Post Racial Theory

The inauguration of the United States first Black President has prompted mass discussions of race relations in America. It is often articulated that America is now in a post-racial society. However, the question still remains: does the election of a Black president demonstrate that America is now a color-blind society? To answer this question, we rely on data collected by PEW (2007). Our results suggest that white and African Americans differ significantly in the extent to which they express post-racial attitudes. Specifically, we find that whites more commonly express post-racial attitudes, claiming that racism and discrimination are rare, in opposition to African American views. On the other hand, blacks are more likely to believe that discrimination still occurs. We further find that whites\u27 post-racial beliefs are significant determinants of their attitudes towards race-related policies, such as affirmative action. Keywords: Race, Obama, Post-racial, Public Opinion, Racial Attitudes, Racial Politics, African American

Chemical Modification and In Silico Validation of Medicinally Privileged Molecular Scaffolds as Kras and SARS-CoV-2 Protease Inhibitors

Coronavirus disease was declared a global pandemic by WHO in March 2020, cancer is the second leading cause of death by a disease. Several scientists around the world are working relentlessly to discover an effective remedy to eradicate these deadly diseases. A natural polyphenol (magnolol) has been isolated from a tree Magnolia grandiflora (family Magnoliaceae) found on UTRGV campuses. This research is focused on design of a series of chemically modified sulfonyl derivatives based on the isolated magnolol framework and other medicinally privileged molecular scaffolds framework that can effectively bind to the COVID-19 main protease, SARS- CoV-2 3CL protease and K-Ras protease (PDB ID’s: 6LU7, 6M2Q, 4EPV, respectively). In silico studies was conducted to identify lead compounds of the series, determine protein-ligand interactions, physicochemical properties and druggability of the new compounds. On appropriate biological evaluations, these novel compounds may possibly find pharmacological applications as antiviral agents against COVID-19 disease or as anticancer agents

Transplantation in HD: Are We Transplanting the Right Cells?

Cell replacement therapy is a viable option for the treatment of Huntington\u27s disease (HD), where the aim is to replace the lost medium spiny projection neurons of the striatum. The intra‐striatal engraftment of developing striatal precursors harvested from the foetal brain has provided proof of concept in both rodent models and human patients that these primary foetal tissue grafts can bring about a degree of functional recovery in a HD‐degenerated brain. With the advent of pluripotent stem cell technologies, novel, potential alternative donor cell sources have become available. Ongoing studies are assessing the capacity of these cells to differentiate towards striatal precursors for transplantation in HD. Here, we review the characteristics of potential donor cells for HD with respect to available cell markers, functional properties and maturity of cells upon transplantation. We consider the optimal composition of the donor cell population, that is, whether a heterogeneous population containing all cell types from the developing striatum (the whole ganglionic eminence) is preferable to a more homogeneous population of striatal projection neurons, as directed by differentiation protocols applied to pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, we consider what might be required to improve transplant efficacy and success, with respect to striatal differentiation of transplanted cells and functional improvement

Evaluation of accommodative function in the dominant and non dominant eye

Background: Ocular dominance is the physiological preference of one eye over the other, hence its input is favoured when there is conflicting information to the two eyes. Accommodation is the mechanism by which the eye changes focus from distant to near images and is produced by a change in the shape of the crystalline lens. The aim of this study was to compare the accommodative amplitude, facility and lag in the dominant and non-dominant eye.Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 80 visually normal subjects. Ocular dominance was determined using hole-in-the- card method. Amplitude of accommodation, accommodative facility and response was measured monocularly and randomly using push up method, ±2.00DS flipper lenses and Nott technique respectively.Results: Results obtained from the study showed that the right eye was dominant in 62.5% of subjects. The mean (SD) for accommodative amplitude, facility and response (lag) in the dominant eye was 11.08 (2.16) D, 10.00 (1.52) cycles per minute and 0.62 (0.27) respectively. The mean (SD) for accommodative amplitude, facility and lag in the non-dominant eye was 10.98 (2.20) D, 9.86 (1.44) cycles per minute and 0.60 (0.25) D respectively.Conclusions: It may be inferred that the dominant eye has more accommodative amplitude, facility and lag than the non-dominant eye but this difference was not statistically significant

Pesticide Application among Farmers in the Catchment of Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme of Ghana: Health Implications

Pesticide use in modern day agriculture has increased tremendously. Pesticides are used to control pests and weeds, as well as protect crops from postharvest losses; however, their effects on humans and the environment cannot be overstated. This study examined pesticide acquisition, handling, and use among 120 farmers within the catchment of a small urban irrigation scheme. Also, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted among selected farmers through which further data was collected to augment that of the survey. Twelve types of pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, were found in use in the study areas. Three main sources of information about pesticides were identified, 43.3% from extension officers, 39.2% from agrochemical dealers, and 10% from colleague farmers. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the respondents purchased the pesticides from agrochemical shops. Out of 74 farmers who were observed spraying pesticides on their farms, only 25.7% wore dresses that covered their whole body but without goggles. About sixty-seven percent (66.7%) of the farmers whose chemical got finished left the containers on their farms or threw them into the bushes around. The frequency of application was influenced by affordability and size of farm, among others. The study recommended that training of farmers on pesticide handling and use should be intensified

A Survey of Lessons Learnt from COVID-19 by School Administration Interns

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges that threatened the quality and rigor of school administration internships. A survey administered to school interns in a principal preparation program at a large comprehensive university in the southeastern part of the United States revealed a huge difference in experiences and support that students received, based upon differences in existing school infrastructure and their supervising principal. The pandemic necessitated the principal preparation program adapt some internship requirements. The number of hours required to complete the internship was reduced. The building of authentic relationships with students became a greater priority. Finally, more flexibility was allowed to ensure student success in completing the internship. There is a dearth of research that investigates experiences of interns in principal preparation programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study potentially enhances the current body of research

Transcriptional control of glyoxalase 1 by Nrf2 provides a stress-responsive defence against dicarbonyl glycation

Abnormal cellular accumulation of the dicarbonyl metabolite MG (methylglyoxal) occurs on exposure to high glucose concentrations, inflammation, cell aging and senescence. It is associated with increased MG-adduct content of protein and DNA linked to increased DNA strand breaks and mutagenesis, mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS (reactive oxygen species) formation and cell detachment from the extracellular matrix. MG-mediated damage is countered by glutathione-dependent metabolism by Glo1 (glyoxalase 1). It is not known, however, whether Glo1 has stress-responsive up-regulation to counter periods of high MG concentration or dicarbonyl stress. We identified a functional ARE (antioxidant-response element) in the 5'-untranslated region of exon 1 of the mammalian Glo1 gene. Transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 subunit-related factor 2) binds to this ARE, increasing basal and inducible expression of Glo1. Activators of Nrf2 induced increased Glo1 mRNA, protein and activity. Increased expression of Glo1 decreased cellular and extracellular concentrations of MG, MG-derived protein adducts, mutagenesis and cell detachment. Hepatic, brain, heart, kidney and lung Glo1 mRNA and protein were decreased in Nrf2-/- mice, and urinary excretion of MG protein and nucleotide adducts were increased approximately 2-fold. We conclude that dicarbonyl stress is countered by up-regulation of Glo1 in the Nrf2 stress-responsive system, protecting protein and DNA from increased damage and preserving cell function

Can manipulation of differentiation conditions eliminate proliferative cells from a population of ES cell-derived forebrain cells?

There is preliminary evidence that implantation of primary fetal striatal cells provides functional benefit in patients with Huntington’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition resulting in loss of medium-sized spiny neurons (MSN) of the striatum. Scarcity of primary fetal tissue means it is important to identify a renewable source of cells from which to derive donor MSNs. Embryonic stem (ES) cells, which predominantly default to telencephalic-like precursors in chemically defined medium (CDM), offer a potentially inexhaustible supply of cells capable of generating the desired neurons. Using an ES cell line, with the forebrain marker FoxG1 tagged to the LacZ reporter, we assessed effects of known developmental factors on the yield of forebrain-like precursor cells in CDM suspension culture. Addition of FGF2, but not DKK1, increased the proportion of FoxG1- expressing cells at day 8 of neural induction. Oct4 was expressed at day 8, but was undetectable by day 16. Differentiation of day 16 precursors generated GABA-expressing neurons, with few DARPP32 positive MSNs. Transplantation of day 8 precursor cells into quinolinic acid-lesioned striata resulted in generation of teratomas. However, transplantation of day 16 precursors yielded grafts expressing neuronal markers including NeuN, calbindin and parvalbumin, but no DARPP32 6 weeks post-transplantation. Manipulation of fate of ES cells requires optimization of both concentration and timing of addition of factors to culture systems to generate the desired phenotypes. Furthermore, we highlight the value of increasing the precursor phase of ES cell suspension culture when directing differentiation toward forebrain fate, so as to dramatically reduce the risk of teratoma formation

Use Your Heart: Understanding Street-Level Discretion in the Emergency Food Network

Hunger is among the greatest contemporary social problems in the United States. An incredible 48 million people, or 14% of households, experienced food insecurity during 2014. At the same time, public responses to food insecurity, such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, have increasingly relied on the “emergency food network,” comprised of independent charitable organizations operated by private employees and volunteers. Though substantial research has been dedicated to the question of how public sector “street-level bureaucrats” (SLBs) exercise discretion in addressing problems associated with poverty, little has examined these private-sector employees and volunteers trying to improve American families’ food security. Drawing from data collected through semi-structured interviews of 20 leaders and staff in food pantries and food banks in Oregon, this paper argues for applying role theory to advance our understanding of discretionary decision-making among food pantry directors and leaders (FPDs). Specifically, it (1) offers a typology of role expectations observed among FPDs; (2) offers evidence that role strain is produced when these role expectations are in conflict; and (3) discusses some of the primary coping mechanisms that help FPDs reconcile this role strain. The development of these concepts suggests implications for how role strain may impede efforts to reduce food insecurity. Finally, the paper makes a number of recommendations for a revised approach to governance of private and semi-private social service networks addressing a wide array of social problems faced by low-income Americans

Water Management of Organic-Based Pineapple in Upland Sloping Production Areas

Irrigation of crops in the upland is one major problem in crop production because of water availability during the dry season which includes the right irrigation water method, one of major factors in crop production. The main objectives of the study were to assess the growth and yield of organically grown pineapple at different water management; and to evaluate the cost and economic returns of organically grown pineapple at different water management. Study conducted at BPSU Bangkal, Abucay, Bataan (N 14°46’ East 120°30’). The total rainfall depth at BPSU-AWS Station for July 2020 to June 2022 was 5,002.4 mm during the study period. The micro-sprinkler irrigation system (90 lph, 5.5 m – 12.5 m WD) was used to supplement the irrigation water. Four treatments were subjected for verification (T1 – no supplemented water, T2 – Irrigate up to 30% soil MC, T3 - Irrigate up to 50% soil MC, and T4 – Irrigate up to 70% soil MC) with the aid of an Atmometer and Soil Moisture Meter. Pineapple (T4) has 72.7 cm high, 109.5 cm crown diameter with 25.7 leaves, and T4 has the most number of large size (126/179). Pineapple production has a good return in terms of income, and ROI, and has a short payback period compared with other commodities. With the application of supplemented irrigation water to upland and rolling production areas, the farmer’s income could increase with the right irrigation method for specific and selected crops to be raised