Bias and ignorance in demographic perception.

When it comes to knowledge of demographic facts, misinformation appears to be the norm. Americans massively overestimate the proportions of their fellow citizens who are immigrants, Muslim, LGBTQ, and Latino, but underestimate those who are White or Christian. Previous explanations of these estimation errors have invoked topic-specific mechanisms such as xenophobia or media bias. We reconsidered this pattern of errors in the light of more than 30 years of research on the psychological processes involved in proportion estimation and decision-making under uncertainty. In two publicly available datasets featuring demographic estimates from 14 countries, we found that proportion estimates of national demographics correspond closely to what is found in laboratory studies of quantitative estimates more generally. Biases in demographic estimation, therefore, are part of a very general pattern of human psychology-independent of the particular topic or demographic under consideration-that explains most of the error in estimates of the size of politically salient populations. By situating demographic estimates within a broader understanding of general quantity estimation, these results demand reevaluation of both topic-specific misinformation about demographic facts and topic-specific explanations of demographic ignorance, such as media bias and xenophobia.

Physico-chemical studies of resveratrol, methyl-jasmonate and cyclodextrin interactions: an approach to resveratrol bioproduction optimization.

trans-Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural phenolic molecule of the stilbene family known for its anti-oxidant properties in the field of nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Its production by grapevine cell suspensions is induced by the addition to the culture medium of elicitor compounds, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and cyclodextrins (CDs). Physico-chemical studies were performed to understand the mechanism of action of CDs on this bioproduction of RSV. Inclusion complexes of RSV in CDs were first observed and then interactions with MeJA were identified using various analytical techniques such as UV and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, mass spectrometry (MS) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC).

Retention of aroma compounds from Mentha piperita essential oil by cyclodextrins and crosslinked cyclodextrin polymers.

In this paper, the controlled release of aroma compounds from cyclodextrins (CDs) and CD polymers was studied by multiple headspace extraction (MHE) experiments. Mentha piperita essential oil was obtained by Soxhlet extraction and identification of the major compounds was performed by GC-MS analysis. Menthol, menthone, pulegone and eucalyptol were identified as the major components. Retention of standard compounds in the presence of different CDs and CD polymers has been realised by static headspace gas chromatography (SH-GC) at 25 °C in the aqueous or gaseous phase. Stability constants for standard compounds and for compounds in essential oil have been also determined with monomeric CD derivatives. The obtained results indicated the formation of a 1:1 inclusion complex for all the studied compounds. Molecular modelling was used to investigate the complementarities between host and guest. This study showed that ß-CDs were the most versatile CDs and that ß-CD polymers could perform the controlled release of aroma compounds.

Rapid synthesis of a versatile organic/inorganic hybrid material based on pyrogenic silica.

An efficient approach has been developed to synthesize a new versatile organo-silica material by non-conventional method (microwave irradiation and ultrasonic vibration) from amorphous pyrogenic silica and has been compared with thermic procedure. The samples were fully characterized by FTIR, solid-state (29)Si and (13)C CP/MAS NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by N(2)-sorption isotherms measurements. The functionalization of silicon dioxide by 4-(chloromethylphenyl) trichlorosilane has been easily achieved by ultrasound irradiation in a very short time with high loading of organic fragments. Significant different sizes of pores were observed according to conventional or non-conventional synthesis procedure. In addition, new structural properties have been created with the emergence of a mesoporosity.

Solubilisation of chlorinated solvents by cyclodextrin derivatives: a study by static headspace gas chromatography and molecular modelling.

The capacity of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) and four beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDs) in reducing the volatility of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particularly carbon tetrachloride (CT), chloroform (TCM) and dichloromethane (DCM) is investigated by using static headspace gas chromatography (HSGC). The experiments allowed the determination of Henry's law constant (H(c)) in absence and in presence of cyclodextrins (CDs). The use of CDs may lead to a reduction of 95% of the Henry's law constant for some VOCs. The association constants of the inclusion complexes formed between CDs and the three guests are determined using a new method involving an algorithmic treatment bringing the shortening of experimental time required for the determination of the stability constant. The complementarities of the host and the guest are investigated by molecular modelling. The complexation energies obtained are in good agreement with the experimental formation constants. Furthermore, this study shows the effectiveness of CDs in trapping pollutants and reducing their volatility in the viewpoint of pollution prevention.

[Reduction of the volatility of volatile organic compounds with cyclodextrins: application to their capture]. / Réduction de la volatilité des composés organiques Volatils par les cyclodextrines. Application à leur piégeage.

The interactions existing between beta-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and six volatile organic compounds (VOC) were studied and used for capture of such pollutants. The reduction of volatility for these VOC appeared to be equivalent for the two kinds of cyclodextrins at equal concentrations, while a higher solubility conferred higher efficiency to hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The use of such cyclodextrins in traps allowed a two-fold increase in VOC capture compared with genuine water. Application of this process to an industrial site showed its efficacity qualitatively while several optimization procedure are needed to achieve quantitative efficacy.

Histologic changes induced by intraperitoneal chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from cystadenocarcinoma of the colon or appendix.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil has been used to rescue patients from peritoneal carcinomatosis after perforated cystadenocarcinoma of the large bowel or appendix. A staging celiotomy was used to asses the results of therapy. In nine patients tumor was recovered from the abdominal cavity and was subjected to careful histopathologic examination. The posttreatment appearance of the tumor was compared with that before treatment. Also, tumor deposits harvested from these same patients, but from anatomic sites not directly exposed to chemotherapy were examined. The most striking findings observed in treated patients were as follows: (1) the marked reduction in the number of foci of atypical neoplastic epithelium lining the mucin globules, and (2) atrophy and degeneration of the atypical neoplastic epithelium. All treated patients showed these effects but they were not in all sampled tumor specimens, suggesting nonuniform drug distribution in the abdominal cavity and limited penetration of chemotherapy into tumor. The authors conclude that intraperitoneal chemotherapy produces marked histologic changes in mucinous tumors when there is direct contact between tumor and intracavitary drugs.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colonic or appendiceal cystadenocarcinoma: rationale and results of treatment.

The natural history of cystadenocarcinoma of colonic or appendiceal origin was reviewed. This tumor represents a minimally invasive mucus producing tumor similar to what is commonly recognized within the bowel lumen as villous adenoma. This tumor is usually at an advanced stage at the time of presentation, and tends to recur at the site of tumor resection and on peritoneal surfaces. The fact that this tumor does not metastasize hematogenously or lymphatically nor does it invade locally was contrasted to its marked tendency to implant on all abdominal surfaces. The large variations in the efficiency of different types of tumor dissemination (metastases, invasion, and spread by implantation) need to be noted for this malignant process. The unique clinical features of cystadenocarcinoma were reviewed and the particular suitability of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for its treatment was discussed. Our treatment plan utilizing cytoreductive surgery and early plus delayed postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was presented. The surprisingly good results of treatment was discussed. The effects of chemotherapy on tumor histology were presented in detain in six patients. Changes induced by intraperitoneal chemotherapy included a reduction in the number of foci of atypical adenomatous epithelium and marked cytologic atrophy. This plan of treatment is recommended for patients to prevent or to treat the spread of mucinous gastrointestinal cancer on peritoneal surfaces and within the resection site of the primary tumor.

Pibloktoq (hysteria) and Inuit nutrition: possible implication of hypervitaminosis A.

The hysterical reaction among Eskimo peoples known as pibloktoq, one of a group of aberrant behaviors occurring among Arctic and Circumarctic societies termed 'arctic hysterias', has been explained by a variety of theories: ecological, nutritional, biological-physiological, psychological-psychoanalytic, social structural and cultural. This study hypothesizes the possible implication of vitamin intoxication, namely, hypervitaminosis A, in the etiology of some cases of pibloktoq. Its biocultural approach implicates elements of several explanatory classes, which are not mutually exclusive. Experimental and clinical studies of nonhumans and humans reveal somatic and behavioral effects of hypervitaminosis A which closely parallel many of the symptoms reported for Western patients diagnosed as hysterical and Inuit sufferers of pibloktoq. Eskimo nutrition provides abundant sources of vitamin A and lays the probable basis in some individuals for hypervitaminosis A through ingestion of livers, kidneys, and fat of arctic fish and mammals, where the vitamin often is stored in poisonous quantities. Possible connections between pibloktoq and hypervitamonosis A are explored. A multifactorial framework may yield a more compelling model of some cases of pibloktoq than those that are mainly unicausal, since, among other things, the disturbance has been reported for males and females, adults and children, and dogs.