Enlargements of Categories

In order to apply nonstandard methods to modern algebraic geometry, as a first step in this paper we study the applications of nonstandard constructions to category theory. It turns out that many categorial properties are well behaved under enlargements.Comment: 34 page

Gamification Through Algebraic Coding

From an urban high school in upstate New York, gamification was introduced through coding to teach an Algebra I unit. The Value Instrumentality Expectancy (VIE) Theory was used to measure motivation to determine if learning coding by gamifying a unit and applying it in the computer lab motivated students to learn Algebra I content. There was a significant increase in each motivational construct. This implies that if teachers dedicate themselves to learn coding and the pedagogical knowledge needed to teach a gamified unit, then there can be an increase in motivation to learn Algebra I content

The Objectification and Blame of Revenge Porn Victims

Title from PDF of title page viewed May 22, 2020Dissertation advisor: Chris BrownVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 111-127)Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Education. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2020The current study sought to explore the relationship between objectification and victim blame in cases of revenge porn across cases in which the victim was sexually diverse (i.e., bisexual, lesbian, straight). Participants included in this study were straight, cisgender (i.e., identifying with the gender assigned at birth) men and women ages 18 and older living in the United States. Given that bisexual women face harsher sexual stereotypes than lesbian and straight women, it was hypothesized that bisexual women would be more objectified than the straight and lesbian victims in the vignettes. Additionally, as objectification and victim blame appear to be related, it was hypothesized that the bisexual victim in the vignette would be blamed more for her implications in a revenge porn case than would the straight and lesbian victims. The findings revealed that objectification and victim blame were significantly correlated. No significant differences were found between bisexual, lesbian, or straight victims on measures of objectification or victim blame. Men participants were found to assign greater victim blame to the victims in the vignettes than were women participants. This study has important implications for targeting advocacy efforts around sexual violence and implications for training future counseling psychologists to enhance their advocacy efforts.Concept paper -- Manuscript -- Appendix A: Screener Questions -- Appendix B: Demographic Form -- Appendix C: Vignettes -- Appendix D: Warmth Scale -- Appendix E: Competence Scale -- Appendix F: Morality Scale -- Appendix G: Human Uniqueness and Human Nature Scale -- Appendix H: Measure of Victim Blame -- Appendix I: Validity Items -- Appendix J: Exploratory Factor Analysi

Standardization of oral mucosa barrier models, experimental conditions and use of microneedles as permeation enhancer for in vitro permeation studies

Orientadores: Michelle Franz Montan Braga Leite, Francisco Carlos GroppoTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: O uso de formulações tópicas na cavidade oral apresenta baixa eficácia devido à complexidade e variabilidade da mucosa de revestimento e difícil acessibilidade aos tecidos profundos, como a polpa dental. Microagulhas têm sido relatadas como eficiente e indolor sistema transdérmico e transmucosa de fármacos para ação local e/ou sistêmica e poderia melhorar ação de fármacos tópicos em Odontologia. Visando a melhora da biodisponibilidade de formulações tópicas, estudos de permeação in vitro são muito importantes pois podem permitir a previsão do comportamento destas frente à barreira utilizada. No entanto, não existe um modelo de barreira que mimetize as condições reais da cavidade oral. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivos padronizar barreiras de tecidos espessos da cavidade oral de suínos, adaptar células de difusão e condições experimentais para realização de estudos de permeação in vitro com essas barreiras, visando o desenvolvimento de produtos tópicos em Odontologia. Além disso, avaliar a eficiência e aplicabilidade de microagulhas revestidas ou não como promotores de absorção in vitro, na metodologia desenvolvida. Artigo 1: foram padronizados os tecidos espessos de palato de porco (com e sem osso) como barreiras e condições experimentais para realização de ensaios de permeação in vitro. Em seguida, o sistema de microagulhas Dermaroller® (0,2, 0,5 e 1 mm de comprimento) foi aplicado naqueles tecidos, os quais foram montados em células de difusão vertical (Franz) adaptadas. Foram avaliados o fluxo, quantidade total permeada e o fator de promoção de permeação (EF) para os anestésicos locais lidocaína e prilocaína. Os tecidos foram padronizados com sucesso e a célula de Franz adaptada permitiu manter as condições ao longo das 12h dos experimentos de permeação. A permeação dos fármacos analisados ocorreu eventualmente, demonstrando a resistência das barreiras à difusão de fármacos. A aplicação prévia das microagulhas nos tecidos aumentou a permeação das drogas-teste em relação aos grupos-controle. Artigo 2: microagulhas de 0,7 mm foram revestidas com a droga Sulforrodamina B, aplicadas na superfície de mucosa jugal de suínos, seguida de ensaios de permeação (24h). Dois tipos de fluxo salivar (estático e dinâmico) foram simulados no compartimento doador da célula e comparados com a presença de umidade como controle negativo. Foram avaliados o tempo para início da permeação, fluxo e o EF. Ambos os tipos de fluxos salivares alteraram o perfil de permeação da droga modelo, aumentando a quantidade de droga permeada, em comparação com o controle, demonstrando a importância da saliva na realização de testes de permeação in vitro. Conclusões gerais: os tecidos foram padronizados e permitiram realizar ensaios de permeação nas células de Franz adaptadas. O uso de microagulhas foi eficaz em aumentar a permeação de fármacos nas condições avaliadas. A presença de fluxo salivar demonstrou ser importante para simular as condições reais da cavidade oral em permeação in vitro, pois pode ser fundamental na dinâmica da permeação através do tecido. O presente estudo representa um aprimoramento na realização de experimentos de permeação in vitro visando a melhora de formulações tópicas e promotores de absorção para uso em OdontologiaAbstract: The use of topical formulations in the oral cavity presents low efficiency because of the complexity and variability of the mucosal lining and hard accessibility of deep tissues, as dental pulp. Microneedles have been reported as efficient and painless transdermal and transmucosal drug systems for local and/or systemic effect and could improve action of topical drugs in Dentistry. Aiming at improving the bioavailability of topical formulations, in vitro permeation studies are very important because it may allow predicting the behavior of these formulations in front of the barrier used. However, there is no barrier model that mimics the actual conditions of the oral cavity. In this context, this study aimed to standardize thick tissue barriers of the oral cavity from pigs, adapt diffusion cells and experimental conditions for performing in vitro permeation studies with these barriers, in order to develop topical products in Dentistry. Moreover, to evaluate the efficiency and applicability of microneedles coated or not as in vitro absorption enhancers in this methodology. Article 1: pig thick palate tissues (with and without bone) and experimental conditions were standardized to carry out in vitro permeation experiment. The microneedle device Dermaroller® (0.2, 0.5 and 1 mm length) was applied in those tissues, which were mounted in adapted Franz-type vertical diffusion cells. The Flux and the permeation enhancement factor (EF) of the local anesthetics lidocaine and prilocaine were evaluated. Tissues were successfully standardized and the adapted Franz cell allowed to maintain the experimental conditions through the 12h of permeation assay. The permeation of the analyzed drugs has occurred eventually, demonstrating the effectiveness of the barriers. The microneedles pretreatment on tissues increased the permeation flux of the tested drugs, in comparison to control groups. Article 2: microneedles of 0.7 mm were coated with the drug Sulforhodamine B, and applied on the porcine buccal mucosa surface, followed by permeation tests (24h). Two types of salivary flow (static and dynamic) were simulated inside the donor chamber and were compared with a moistened gauze as a negative control. We evaluated the onset time to permeation (Lag Time), flux and EF. Either of the simulated salivary flux affected the permeation profile of the model drug, by means of increasing drug permeation, as compared to the negative control, demonstrating the importance of saliva during in vitro permeation studies. General conclusions: tissues were standardized and allowed to perform permeation assays with adapted Franz cells. The use of microneedles in those barriers was effective to increase the permeation of drugs under the conditions evaluated. The presence of salivary flow has proved to be important to simulate the real conditions of the oral cavity in in vitro permeation, which might have an essential role on permeation dynamics across the tissue. This study represents an advancement to perform in vitro permeation assays, aiming at the improvement of topical formulations and absorption enhancers for use in DentistryDoutoradoFarmacologia, Anestesiologia e TerapeuticaDoutor em Odontologia2012/02492-52012/02492-5FAPESPCAPE

Label-free Detection of Low Protein Concentration in Solution Using a Novel Colorimetric Assay

Dual pH and temperature sensitive microgel-based etalons were fabricated by sandwiching a “monolithic” microgel layer between two semitransparent, Au layers. The devices exhibit visual color and multipeak reflectance spectra, both of which primarily depend on the distance between the Au surfaces mediated by the microgel diameter. We found that a polycationic polyelectrolyte can penetrate through the Au overlayer to interact with negatively charged microgel confined between Au overlayers. In this submission we report that biotinylated polycationic polymer can penetrate through the Au overlayer of a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-co-AAc) microgel-based etalon and cause the microgel layer to collapse. The collapse results in a shift in the spectral peaks of the reflectance spectra. We found that the extent of peak shift depends on the amount of biotinylated polycation added to the etalon, which can subsequently be used to determine the concentration of streptavidin in solution at pM concentrations