The Cultural Hegemony of Fashion: What Jeans Advertisements Portray as Normal

The foundation of a society rests in the existence of power dynamics which allow for the dictation of specific cultural norms by the ruling class upon the nondominant class. This imposition creates cultural hegemony, or a relation between a leader who benefits from dominating a consenting subordinate (Artz and Ortega Murphy, 2000). Advertisements impact a society as a whole and serve as a representation of cultural hegemony. They project a certain norm and ideal for consumers to achieve. When consumers buy an advertised product, they consent to and accept the projected norm determined by the company. Americans often choose their clothing based off what is collectively considered to be “normal” by adhering to popular trends or styles. Through the process of clothing selection, the consumer conforms to society’s expectations of normality, which are dictated by the ruling class (Fiske, 1989). This act of conforming also occurs when one wears denim jeans. Jean wearers consent to the norms imposed by the companies that are portrayed through advertisements. These ideals (fashion norms) are based on factors such as one’s body type, race, and gender (Fiske, 1989). Consumers conform to the imposed ideals by purchasing and wearing what the fashion industry presents as normal; thus, enabling corporations to continue dictating societal norms

Plate Pouring Device I

The goal of this project was to build a cost-effective automated system that can handle the process of pouring agar into plates, but is also easily sterilized and operates with no supervision. This agar plate-pouring machine is intended to increase productivity in small-scale biology and research labs by pouring at least 120 plates per hour while keeping the agar sterile and preventing contamination. This was accomplished with a multi-valve system controlled by an Arduino board which could also fit inside of a fume hood

Ungdoms selvrepresentasjon gjennom bilder på Internett : Hvilke praksis følger ungdom når de legger ut bilder på Internett, og hva kan denne publiseringspraksisen si om deres selvrepresentasjon?

På Internett kan brukere representere seg selv gjennom digitale uttrykk de publiserer. Hva de publiserer av digitale uttrykk kan derfor si noe om hvordan de ønsker å fremstå for andre. Denne oppgaven handler om ungdoms publisering av bilder på Internett, og undersøker hvordan ungdom bruker bilder for å representere seg selv. For å belyse mine problemstillinger gjennomførte jeg i 2012 en kvantitativ spørreundersøkelse av 153 elever som gikk på to videregående skoler i Oslo. Gjennom å analysere utvalgte aspekter ved ungdommenes publisering av bilder har jeg belyst hva disse aspektene kan si om deres selvrepresentasjon. De empiriske funnene viste at ungdommene brukte bilder til å representere seg selv og sine sosiale relasjoner, og at størstedelen av publiseringen av bilder foregikk på sosiale nettsamfunn. Jeg fant at det var enkelte bilder ungdommene ikke ønsket å bli representert gjennom, og at utseendet spilte en viktig rolle i deres selvrepresentasjon formidlet gjennom bilder på Internett. På sosiale nettsamfunn var det også flere av ungdommene som benyttet seg av måter å kontrollere sin selvrepresentasjon på ved at de hadde gjort personverninnstillinger på sin profil og ved at de hadde valgt å utelukke visse personer fra å ha tilgang til det de legger ut av digitalt innhold

Observation of terahertz second harmonic generation from Dirac surface states in the topological insulator Bi2_2Se3_3

We report the observation of second harmonic generation with high conversion efficiency $\sim 0.005\%$ in the terahertz regime from thin films of the topological insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$ that exhibit the linear photogalvanic effect, measured via time-domain terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz emission, respectively. As neither phenomena is observable from topologically trivial In-doped Bi$_2$Se$_3$, and since no enhancement is observed when subject to band bending, the efficient thickness-independent nonliear responses are attributable to the Dirac fermions of topological surface states of Bi$_2$Se$_3$. This observation of intrinsic terahertz second harmonic generation in an equilibrium system unlocks the full suite of both even and odd harmonic orders in the terahertz regime and opens new pathways to probing quantum geometry via intraband nonlinear processes.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Observation of the superconducting proximity effect from surface states in SmB6_6/YB6_6 thin film heterostructures via terahertz spectroscopy

The AC conduction of epitaxially-grown SmB$_6$ thin films and superconducting heterostructures of SmB$_6$/YB$_6$ are investigated via time domain terahertz spectroscopy. A two-channel model of thickness-dependent bulk states and thickness-independent surface states accurately describes the measured conductance of bare SmB$_6$ thin films, demonstrating the presence of surface states in SmB$_6$ via a terahertz probe for the first time. While the observed reductions in the simultaneously-measured superconducting gap, transition temperature, and superfluid density of SmB$_6$/YB$_6$ heterostructures relative to bare YB$_6$ indicate the penetration of proximity-induced superconductivity into the SmB$_6$ overlayer; the corresponding SmB$_6$-thickness independence between different heterostructures indicates that the induced superconductivity is predominantly confined to the interface surface state of the SmB$_6$. This first study of a purported superconductor-topological insulator heterostructure by a terahertz probe demonstrates the ability of terahertz spectroscopy to probe proximity-induced superconductivity at an interface buried within a heterostructure, and our results show that SmB$_6$ behaves as a predominantly insulating bulk surrounded by conducting surface states in both the normal and induced-superconducting states in both terahertz and DC responses, which is consistent with the topological Kondo insulator picture.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Mouse and human islets survive and function after coating by biosilicification

Inorganic materials have properties that can be advantageous in bioencapsulation for cell transplantation. Our aim was to engineer a hybrid inorganic/soft tissue construct by inducing pancreatic islets to grow an inorganic shell. We created pancreatic islets surrounded by porous silica, which has potential application in the immunoprotection of islets in transplantation therapies for type 1 diabetes. The new method takes advantage of the islet capsule surface as a template for silica formation. Mouse and human islets were exposed to medium containing saturating silicic acid levels for 9-15 min. The resulting tissue constructs were then cultured for up to 4 wk under normal conditions. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to monitor the morphology and elemental composition of the material at the islet surface. A cytokine assay was used to assess biocompatibility with macrophages. Islet survival and function were assessed by confocal microscopy, glucose-stimulated insulin release assays, oxygen flux at the islet surface, expression of key genes by RT-PCR, and syngeneic transplant into diabetic mice

Controlling silver nanoparticle exposure in algal toxicity testing - A matter of timing

The aquatic ecotoxicity testing of nanoparticles is complicated by unstable exposure conditions resulting from various transformation processes of nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions. In this study, we investigated the influence of exposure timing on the algal test response to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), by reducing the incubation time and by aging the AgNPs in algal medium prior to testing. The freshwater green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata were exposed to AgNO(3), NM-300 K (a representative AgNP) and citrate stabilized AgNPs from two different manufacturers (AgNP1 and AgNP2) in a standard algal growth inhibition test (ISO 8692:2004) for 48 h and a short-term (2 h) (14)C-assimilation test. For AgNO(3), similar responses were obtained in the two tests, whereas freshly prepared suspensions of citrate stabilized AgNPs were less toxic in the 2-h tests compared to the 48-h tests. The 2-h test was found applicable for dissolved silver, but yielded non-monotonous concentration–response relationships and poor reproducibility for freshly prepared AgNP suspensions. However, when aging AgNPs in algal medium 24 h prior to testing, clear concentration–response patterns emerged and reproducibility increased. Prolonged aging to 48 h increased toxicity in the 2-h tests whereas aging beyond 48 h reduced toxicity. Our results demonstrate that the outcome of algal toxicity testing of AgNPs is highly influenced not only by the test duration, but also by the time passed from the moment AgNPs are added to the test medium. This time-dependency should be considered when nanomaterial dispersion protocols for ecotoxicity testing are developed

Translocation of silver nanoparticles in the ex vivo human placenta perfusion model characterized by single particle ICP-MS

With the extensive use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various consumer products their potential toxicity is of great concern especially for highly sensitive population groups such as pregnant women and even the developing fetus. To understand if AgNPs are taken up and cross the human placenta, we studied their translocation and accumulation in the human ex vivo placenta perfusion model by single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS). The impact of different surface modifications on placental transfer was assessed by AgNPs with two different modifications: polyethylene glycol (AgPEG NPs) and sodium carboxylate (AgCOONa NPs). AgNPs and ionic Ag were detected in the fetal circulation in low but not negligible amounts. Slightly higher Ag translocation across the placental barrier for perfusion with AgPEG NPs and higher AgNP accumulation in placental tissue for perfusion with AgCOONa NPs were observed. Since these AgNPs are soluble in water, we tried to distinguish between the translocation of dissolved and particulate Ag. Perfusion with AgNO3 revealed the formation of Ag containing NPs in both circulations over time, of which the amount and their size in the fetal circulation were comparable to those from perfusion experiments with both AgNP types. Although we were not able to clarify whether intact AgNPs and/or Ag precipitates from dissolved Ag cross the placental barrier, our study highlights that uptake of Ag ions and/or dissolution of AgNPs in the tissue followed by re-precipitation in the fetal circulation needs to be considered as an important pathway in studies of AgNP translocation across biological barriers

Translocation of silver nanoparticles in the ex vivo human placenta perfusion model characterized by single particle ICP-MS

With the extensive use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various consumer products their potential toxicity is of great concern especially for highly sensitive population groups such as pregnant women and even the developing fetus. To understand if AgNPs are taken up and cross the human placenta, we studied their translocation and accumulation in the human ex vivo placenta perfusion model by single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS). The impact of different surface modifications on placental transfer was assessed by AgNPs with two different modifications: polyethylene glycol (AgPEG NPs) and sodium carboxylate (AgCOONa NPs). AgNPs and ionic Ag were detected in the fetal circulation in low but not negligible amounts. Slightly higher Ag translocation across the placental barrier for perfusion with AgPEG NPs and higher AgNP accumulation in placental tissue for perfusion with AgCOONa NPs were observed. Since these AgNPs are soluble in water, we tried to distinguish between the translocation of dissolved and particulate Ag. Perfusion with AgNO3 revealed the formation of Ag containing NPs in both circulations over time, of which the amount and their size in the fetal circulation were comparable to those from perfusion experiments with both AgNP types. Although we were not able to clarify whether intact AgNPs and/or Ag precipitates from dissolved Ag cross the placental barrier, our study highlights that uptake of Ag ions and/or dissolution of AgNPs in the tissue followed by re-precipitation in the fetal circulation needs to be considered as an important pathway in studies of AgNP translocation across biological barriers