Cultivating resilience : antidotes to White fragility in racial justice education

This qualitative study explores what skills, tools and approaches may be helpful antidotes to white fragility in racial justice education. This study is in response to the challenge posed by white fragility, as defined by Robin DiAngelo (2011) in which white people experience such extreme emotions in response to learning about racism in the USA that they become either defensive such that they are unable to engage in a learning experience, or so swept up in guilt or shame that they require substantial emotional tending in order to continue to engage in the educational experience. Robin DiAngelo frames this phenomenon as a lack of stamina rather than a permanent or personality-based inability to engage (2011), thereby inviting inquiry into what tools, skills or approaches may serve to build that stamina, or increase resilience in racially charged learning and conversation. This qualitative study responds to DiAngelo’s framework of stamina building by applying clinical understandings of trauma—in particular, neurophysiological responses to perceived threats—to the manifestations of white fragility. Drawing on theoretical frameworks that bridge the neuropsychology of trauma, patterns of white fragility in racial justice education, and best practices in trauma-informed pedagogy, this study explores what personal and pedagogical tools, skills and approaches may serve as antidotes to patterns of white fragility with the goal of increasing internal resources to sustain engagement in racial justice education. This qualitative study collected data through interviews with white facilitators of white racial justice education groups/classes and through a workshop/focus-group on white fragility and its antidotes. The two-part design acknowledges the unique knowledge and information available from both facilitators and participants. Three high-level findings on antidotes to white fragility emerged from the interview and workshop data. First, facilitators expressed that mindfulness is both a crucial component of personal transformation and a supportive factor in effective personal and group engagement with difficult content. Second, caring relationships were named as the primary factor supporting sustained engagement with racial justice work for both participants and facilitators. Third, the use of embodied and narrative-based pedagogical approaches including storytelling, art, play, theater, and meditation as well as a culture of “radical love” supported the development of the other two factors of mind-body awareness and relationship development. Further, this study finds preliminary evidence that the phenomenon of white fragility manifests differently based on one’s racial identity development phase. Participant descriptions of fragile and resilient moments align with patterns of neurophysiological responses to and recovery from perceived threats; further analysis and additional research is needed to explore the applicability of trauma-informed pedagogy in racial justice education

Soya bean tempe extracts show antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus cells and spores

Aims: Tempe, a Rhizopus ssp.-fermented soya bean food product, was investigated for bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal effects against cells and spores of the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus. Methods and results: Tempe extract showed a high antibacterial activity against B. cereus ATCC 14579 based on optical density and viable count measurements. This growth inhibition was manifested by a 4 log CFU ml-1 reduction, within the first 15 min of exposure. Tempe extracts also rapidly inactivated B. cereus spores upon germination. Viability and membrane permeability assessments using fluorescence probes showed rapid inactivation and permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane confirming the bactericidal mode of action. Cooked beans and Rhizopus grown on different media did not show antibacterial activity, indicating the unique association of the antibacterial activity with tempe. Subsequent characterization of the antibacterial activity revealed that heat treatment and protease addition nullified the bactericidal effect, indicating the proteinaceous nature of the bioactive compound. Conclusions: During fermentation of soya beans with Rhizopus, compounds are released with extensive antibacterial activity against B. cereus cells and spores. Significance and Impact of Study: The results show the potential of producing natural antibacterial compounds that could be used as ingredients in food preservation and pathogen contro

Translational sensitivity of the Escherichia coli genome to fluctuating tRNA availability

The synthesis of protein from messenger RNA during translation is a highly dynamic process that plays a key role in controlling the efficiency and fidelity of genome-wide protein expression. The availability of aminoacylated transfer RNA (tRNA) is a major factor influencing the speed of ribosomal movement, which depending on codon choices, varies considerably along a transcript. Furthermore, it has been shown experimentally that tRNA availability can vary signifi-cantly under different growth and stress conditions, offering the cell a way to adapt translational dynamics across the genome. Existing models of translation have neglected fluctuations of tRNA pools, instead assuming fixed tRNA availabilities over time. This has lead to an incomplete under-standing of this process. Here, we show for the entire Escherichia coli genome how and to what extent translational speed profiles, which capture local aspects of translational elongation, respond to measured shifts in tRNA availability. We find that translational profiles across the genome are affected to differing degrees, with genes that are essential or related to fundamental processes such as transla-tion, being more robust than those linked to regula-tion. Furthermore, we reveal how fluctuating tRNA availability influences profiles of specific sequences known to play a significant role in translational control of gene expression

Efficient multiplexed gene regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using dCas12a

CRISPR Cas12a is an RNA-programmable endonuclease particularly suitable for gene regulation. This is due to its preference for T-rich PAMs that allows it to more easily target AT-rich promoter sequences, and built-in RNase activity which can process a single CRISPR RNA array encoding multiple spacers into individual guide RNAs (gRNAs), thereby simplifying multiplexed gene regulation. Here, we develop a flexible dCas12a-based CRISPRi system for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and systematically evaluate its design features. This includes the role of the NLS position, use of repression domains, and the position of the gRNA target. Our optimal system is comprised of dCas12a E925A with a single C-terminal NLS and a Mxi1 or a MIG1 repression domain, which enables up to 97% downregulation of a reporter gene. We also extend this system to allow for inducible regulation via an RNAP II-controlled promoter, demonstrate position-dependent effects in crRNA arrays, and use multiplexed regulation to stringently control a heterologous β-carotene pathway. Together these findings offer valuable insights into the design constraints of dCas12a-based CRISPRi and enable new avenues for flexible and efficient gene regulation in S. cerevisiae

A Minimal Model of Ribosome Allocation Dynamics Captures Trade-offs in Expression between Endogenous and Synthetic Genes

Cells contain a finite set of resources that must be distributed across many processes to ensure survival. Among them, the largest proportion of cellular resources is dedicated to protein translation. Synthetic biology often exploits these resources to execute orthogonal genetic circuits, yet the burden this places on the cell is rarely considered. Here, we develop a minimal model of ribosome allocation dynamics capturing the demands on translation when expressing a synthetic construct together with endogenous genes required for maintenance of cell physiology. Critically, it contains three key variables related to design parameters of the synthetic construct covering: transcript abundance, translation initiation rate, and elongation time. We show that model-predicted changes in ribosome allocation closely match experimental shifts in synthetic protein expression rate and cellular growth. Intriguingly, the model is also able to accurately infer transcript levels and translation times after further exposure to additional ambient stress. Our results demonstrate that a simple model of resource allocation faithfully captures the redistribution of protein synthesis resources when faced with the burden of synthetic gene expression and environmental stress. The tractable nature of the model makes it a versatile tool for exploring the guiding principles of efficient heterologous expression and the indirect interactions that can arise between synthetic circuits and their host chassis due to competition for shared translational resources

Chronic Stress Induces Sex-Specific Alterations in Methylation and Expression of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Gene in the Rat

Contains fulltext : 91627.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin and clinical parameters in women with fibromyalgia and overweight/obesity

ABSTRACT Objectives The objectives of this study were to evaluate the serum levels of adipokines in women with fibromyalgia with and without overweight/obesity, and to correlate the adipokines levels with clinical parameters associated with fibromyalgia and adipose tissue mass (body fat). Subjects and methods The study included 100 women divided into four groups: (a) fibromyalgia and overweight/obesity; (b) fibromyalgia and normal weight; (c) controls and overweight/obesity; and (d) controls and normal weight. Patients and controls were evaluated for clinical, anthropometric, and fibromyalgia-related parameters. Assessments included serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Levels of adipokines were further adjusted for fat mass. Results Fibromyalgia patients with overweight/obesity or normal weight had no differences in clinical parameters. Unadjusted leptin levels were lower in fibromyalgia patients than controls, a finding that was more remarkable in fibromyalgia patients with overweight/obesity. Leptin levels had no correlation with clinical parameters of fibromyalgia or inflammation markers (MCP-1 and CRP), and adiponectin levels showed no difference between groups. Conclusions No correlation was observed between adjusted leptin levels and clinical parameters of fibromyalgia. Patients with fibromyalgia and overweight/obesity presented lower levels of leptin than controls with overweight/obesity

Genome sequencing and analysis of the versatile cell factory Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is widely exploited by the fermentation industry for the production of enzymes and organic acids, particularly citric acid. We sequenced the 33.9-megabase genome of A. niger CBS 513.88, the ancestor of currently used enzyme production strains. A high level of synteny was observed with other aspergilli sequenced. Strong function predictions were made for 6,506 of the 14,165 open reading frames identified. A detailed description of the components of the protein secretion pathway was made and striking differences in the hydrolytic enzyme spectra of aspergilli were observed. A reconstructed metabolic network comprising 1,069 unique reactions illustrates the versatile metabolism of A. niger. Noteworthy is the large number of major facilitator superfamily transporters and fungal zinc binuclear cluster transcription factors, and the presence of putative gene clusters for fumonisin and ochratoxin A synthesis