Confronting Institutional Discrimination in a Color-Blind World

This article builds on the scholarship on color-blind ideology by examining discourse challenging two cases of institutional discrimination (the criminalization of unauthorized immigrants and sports teams’ use of Native American symbolism). Our research questions are first, what general options do anti-racists have for navigating norms of color-blindness in the public sphere? Second, how does context influence how people confront institutional discrimination? Based on an ethnographic content analysis of 165 letters to the editor published in American newspapers, we find that opponents of institutional discrimination have the choice of addressing one of four laminations. In each lamination, authors acknowledge framings of racial discrimination that are unacknowledged in previous ones. In the abstraction lamination, authors do not recognize race and ethnicity. In the pigmentation lamination, authors identify race and ethnicity, but not discrimination. Authors in the discrimination lamination acknowledge the practice is harmful to a particular racial or ethnic group, and the contextualization lamination lends added dimensionality to the discourse. A comparison of the laminations of pro-immigrant and anti-mascot letters demonstrates varying willingness to acknowledge racial discrimination. Namely, the pro-immigrant discourse was more color-blind than anti-mascot criticism. We consider the potential causes of these findings and offer suggestions for future research in the conclusio

Age-dependent Decrease in 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 (11β-HSD2) Activity in Hypertensive Patients

Background The prevalence of arterial hypertension lacking a defined underlying cause increases with age. Age-related arterial hypertension is insufficiently understood, yet known characteristics suggest an aldosterone-independent activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor. Therefore, we hypothesized that 11β-HSD2 activity is age-dependently impaired, resulting in a compromised intracellular inactivation of cortisol (F) with F-mediated mineralocorticoid hypertension. Methods Steroid hormone metabolites in 24-h urine samples of 165 consecutive hypertensive patients were analyzed for F and cortisone (E), and their TH-metabolites tetrahydro-F (THF), 5αTHF, TH-deoxycortisol (THS), and THE by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Apparent 11β-HSD2 and 11β-hydroxylase activity and excretion of F metabolites were assessed. Results In 72 female and 93 male patients aged 18-84 years, age correlated positively with the ratios of (THF + 5αTHF)/THE (P = 0.065) and F/E (P < 0.002) suggesting an age-dependent reduction in the apparent 11β-HSD2 activity, which persisted (F/E; P = 0.020) after excluding impaired renal function. Excretion of F metabolites remained age-independent most likely as a consequence of an age-dependent diminished apparent 11β-hydroxylase activity (P = 0.038). Conclusion Reduced 11β-HSD2 activity emerges as a previously unrecognized risk factor contributing to the rising prevalence of arterial hypertension in elderly. This opens new perspectives for targeted treatment of age-related hypertensio

The long-term evolution of the atmosphere of Venus: processes and feedback mechanisms

In this chapter, we focus on the long-term evolution of the atmosphere of Venus, and how it has been affected by interior/exterior cycles. The formation and evolution of Venus's atmosphere, leading to the present-day surface conditions, remain hotly debated and involve questions that tie into many disciplines. Here, we explore the mechanisms that shaped the evolution of the atmosphere, starting with the volatile sources and sinks. Going from the deep interior to the top of the atmosphere, we describe fundamental processes such as volcanic outgassing, surface-atmosphere interactions, and atmosphere escape. Furthermore, we address more complex aspects of the history of Venus, including the role of meteoritic impacts, how magnetic field generation is tied into long-term evolution, and the implications of feedback cycles for atmospheric evolution. Finally, we highlight three plausible end-member evolutionary pathways that Venus might have followed, from the accretion to its present-day state, based on current modeling and observations. In a first scenario, the planet was desiccated early-on, during the magma ocean phase, by atmospheric escape. In a second scenario, Venus could have harbored surface liquid water for long periods of time, until its temperate climate was destabilized and it entered a runaway greenhouse phase. In a third scenario, Venus's inefficient outgassing could have kept water inside the planet, where hydrogen was trapped in the core and the mantle was oxidized. We discuss existing evidence and future observations/missions needed to refine our understanding of the planet's history and of the complex feedback cycles between the interior, surface, and atmosphere that operate in the past, present or future of Venus

The Long-Term Evolution of the Atmosphere of Venus: Processes and Feedback Mechanisms: Interior-Exterior Exchanges

This work reviews the long-term evolution of the atmosphere of Venus, and modulation of its composition by interior/exterior cycling. The formation and evolution of Venus’s atmosphere, leading to contemporary surface conditions, remain hotly debated topics, and involve questions that tie into many disciplines. We explore these various inter-related mechanisms which shaped the evolution of the atmosphere, starting with the volatile sources and sinks. Going from the deep interior to the top of the atmosphere, we describe volcanic outgassing, surface-atmosphere interactions, and atmosphere escape. Furthermore, we address more complex aspects of the history of Venus, including the role of Late Accretion impacts, how magnetic field generation is tied into long-term evolution, and the implications of geochemical and geodynamical feedback cycles for atmospheric evolution. We highlight plausible end-member evolutionary pathways that Venus could have followed, from accretion to its present-day state, based on modeling and observations. In a first scenario, the planet was desiccated by atmospheric escape during the magma ocean phase. In a second scenario, Venus could have harbored surface liquid water for long periods of time, until its temperate climate was destabilized and it entered a runaway greenhouse phase. In a third scenario, Venus’s inefficient outgassing could have kept water inside the planet, where hydrogen was trapped in the core and the mantle was oxidized. We discuss existing evidence and future observations/missions required to refine our understanding of the planet’s history and of the complex feedback cycles between the interior, surface, and atmosphere that have been operating in the past, present or future of Venus

Effect of several saponin containing plant extracts on rumen fermentation in vitro, Tetrahymena pyriformis and sheep erythrocytes

Among the nutritional solutions developed since in-feed antibiotics were banned by the European Union in 2006, extracts from plants with high saponin content have shown the capacity to modulate rumen fermentation. Most previous studies have focused on the effects of Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria. This study was designed to evaluate i) the effects of extracts obtained from 11 saponin-containing plants and monensin on rumen fermentation patterns in vitro at 417 and 2.0 mg/L, respectively, and ii) the capacity of hemolytic test and inhibition of Tetrahymena pyriformis to model the effect of saponin-containing plant extracts on rumen protozoa. Plants belonging to 8 different families were investigated to evaluate a high diversity of saponin compounds. Total gas and methane productions were numerically lower with extract of Saponaria officinalis compared to control (-3.0 and -9.0%, respectively). The effect was more pronounced with monensin (-25.5 and -31.7%, p&lt;0.05, respectively). Ammonia (NH3) and protozoa patterns varied among the extracts during in vitro incubations, e.g. from -22.6% (p&lt;0.05) for Y. schidigera extract to -50.7% (p&lt;0.05) for Primula veris extract, with respect to the protozoa number. Extracts from Primula veris, Chenopodium quinoa and Gypsophila paniculata mitigated significantly NH3 production by more than 26% (p&lt;0.05) which, in our experimental conditions, was better than the results obtained with monensin and extracts from Y. schidigera and Q. saponaria. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between hemolytic capacity and inhibition of T. pyriformis (Pearson coefficient = 0.55, p&lt;0.05) and between protozoa number and NH3 concentration during in vitro rumen incubation (Pearson coefficient = 0.56, p&lt;0.05). Neither hemolytic capacity, nor inhibition of T. pyriformis, nor the content in total saponins estimated by gravimetric method was correlated to the inhibition of rumen protozoa. These parameters did not model the effect of extracts from different saponin containing plants on rumen protozoa number. However, the results suggest that by-products containing saponins from food (C. quinoa) and horticultural (G. paniculata) industries could be investigated as feed additives to improve nitrogen utilization by ruminants

Age-dependent decrease in 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) activity in hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of arterial hypertension lacking a defined underlying cause increases with age. Age-related arterial hypertension is insufficiently understood, yet known characteristics suggest an aldosterone-independent activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor. Therefore, we hypothesized that 11beta-HSD2 activity is age-dependently impaired, resulting in a compromised intracellular inactivation of cortisol (F) with F-mediated mineralocorticoid hypertension. METHODS: Steroid hormone metabolites in 24-h urine samples of 165 consecutive hypertensive patients were analyzed for F and cortisone (E), and their TH-metabolites tetrahydro-F (THF), 5alphaTHF, TH-deoxycortisol (THS), and THE by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Apparent 11beta-HSD2 and 11beta-hydroxylase activity and excretion of F metabolites were assessed. RESULTS: In 72 female and 93 male patients aged 18-84 years, age correlated positively with the ratios of (THF + 5alphaTHF)/THE (P = 0.065) and F/E (P < 0.002) suggesting an age-dependent reduction in the apparent 11beta-HSD2 activity, which persisted (F/E; P = 0.020) after excluding impaired renal function. Excretion of F metabolites remained age-independent most likely as a consequence of an age-dependent diminished apparent 11beta-hydroxylase activity (P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Reduced 11beta-HSD2 activity emerges as a previously unrecognized risk factor contributing to the rising prevalence of arterial hypertension in elderly. This opens new perspectives for targeted treatment of age-related hypertension

NT-proBNP or Self-Reported Functional Capacity in Estimating Risk of Cardiovascular Events After Noncardiac Surgery

ImportanceNearly 16 million surgical procedures are conducted in North America yearly, and postoperative cardiovascular events are frequent. Guidelines suggest functional capacity or B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) to guide perioperative management. Data comparing the performance of these approaches are scarce.ObjectiveTo compare the addition of either N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) or self-reported functional capacity to clinical scores to estimate the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study included patients undergoing inpatient, elective, noncardiac surgery at 25 tertiary care hospitals in Europe between June 2017 and April 2020. Analysis was conducted in January 2023. Eligible patients were either aged 45 years or older with a Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) of 2 or higher or a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, Risk Calculator for Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac (NSQIP MICA) above 1%, or they were aged 65 years or older and underwent intermediate or high-risk procedures.ExposuresPreoperative NT-proBNP and the following self-reported measures of functional capacity were the exposures: (1) questionnaire-estimated metabolic equivalents (METs), (2) ability to climb 1 floor, and (3) level of regular physical activity.Main Outcome and MeasuresMACE was defined as a composite end point of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure requiring transfer to a higher unit of care.ResultsA total of 3731 eligible patients undergoing noncardiac surgery were analyzed; 3597 patients had complete data (1258 women [35.0%]; 1463 (40.7%) aged 75 years or older; 86 [2.4%] experienced a MACE). Discrimination of NT-proBNP or functional capacity measures added to clinical scores did not significantly differ (Area under the receiver operating curve: RCRI, age, and 4MET, 0.704; 95% CI, 0.646-0.763; RCRI, age, and 4MET plus floor climbing, 0.702; 95% CI, 0.645-0.760; RCRI, age, and 4MET plus physical activity, 0.724; 95% CI, 0.672-0.775; RCRI, age, and 4MET plus NT-proBNP, 0.736; 95% CI, 0.682-0.790). Benefit analysis favored NT-proBNP at a threshold of 5% or below, ie, if true positives were valued 20 times or more compared with false positives. The findings were similar for NSQIP MICA as baseline clinical scores.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study of nearly 3600 patients with elevated cardiovascular risk undergoing noncardiac surgery, there was no conclusive evidence of a difference between a NT-proBNP–based and a self-reported functional capacity–based estimate of MACE risk.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0301693

Fiskalische Kosten einer steuerlichen Förderung von Forschung und Entwicklung in Deutschland - Eine empirische Analyse verschiedener Gestaltungsoptionen

Der Beitrag berechnet die Aufkommensausfälle verschiedener Gestaltungsmodelle für eine steuerliche Forschungsförderung in Deutschland auf Basis eines Mikrosimulationsmodells. Die fiskalischen Kosten betragen zwischen 464 Mio. € und 5.701 Mio. €. Eine Erstattungsoption der Steuergutschrift über die Gewerbe- und Körperschaftsteuerschuld hinaus ist unerlässlich, da sonst etwa ein Drittel der Unternehmen nicht oder nur teilweise in den Genuss der Förderung kommen würde und sich dadurch starke Verzerrungen zwischen ertragsstarken und ertragsschwachen Unternehmen ergeben. Eine Differenzierung der Fördersätze für KMU und große Unternehmen kann die Aufkommensausfälle wirksam begrenzen. Eine Kappungsgrenze in Höhe eines absoluten Betrages ist wegen der Verzerrungen innerhalb der Gruppe großer Unternehmen ungünstig. Als besonders pragmatisch erscheint eine Verrechnung der Steuergutschrift mit der abzuführenden Lohnsteuer