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

Effects of secondary compounds from cactus and acacias trees on rumen microbial profile changes performed by Real-Time PCR

Plant rich secondary compounds had antimicrobial effects by acting against different rumen microbial populations. The current study investigated the influence of spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis), Acacia nilotica and A. saligna on rumen microbial fermentation, using in vitro gas production technique, and microbial population profile changes, using a molecular-based technique (Real-Time PCR). The acacias and Opuntia reduced significantly total gas production (p<0.01), rumen CH4 production (p?0.01) and ammonia concentration (p<0.001). At 24h of incubation, Fungi population was 0.30- and 0.03 -fold reduced with A.nilotica and Opuntia as compared to 0h, but 2-and 1.24- fold higher with A.cyanophylla .Increases in the abundance of F.succinogenes were observed in all substrates; however, the tanniferous plants and Opuntia reduced the relative abundance of R.flavefaciens. Methanogenic population was increased with all substrates, except for Opuntia (0. 90- fold lower than the control). There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in rumen protozoa count with A.cyanophylla, Opuntia and A.nilotica (3.68; 5.59 and 5.34 times, respectively). Results suggested that tannin sources from A.nilotica and A.cyanophylla had an indirect effect on methanogenesis. This study showed an antimicrobial activity of oxalates content of O. ficus indica

Potential of extracts from Saponaria officinalis and Calendula officinalis to modulate in vitro rumen fermentation with respect to their content in saponins

Saponins have the potential to favorably modulate rumen fermentation, but there is generally a lack of the chemical structures associated with the described effects. The activity of extracts from Calendula officinalisand Saponaria officinalis in the rumen was evaluated in vitro. The S. officinalis root extract, reduced CH4production by 8.5% and increased total VFA concentration by 25.2%. C. officinalis and S. officinalis root extracts and the S. officinalis aerial part extract decreased the acetate to propionate ratio from 8.6 to 17.4%, according to the extract. An HPLC-ELSD analysis indicated that the saponin content ranged from 43.6 to 57.6 mg/g of dry matter (DM) in the C. officinalis extracts and from 224.0 to 693.8 mg/g of DM in the S. officinalis extracts, expressed as the hederacoside C equivalent. Identification of the saponin compounds present in the extracts by HPLC–MSn suggested that the saponin profile modulated the biological activities, showing the importance of determining the structure of saponins when evaluating extracts

Isolation and identification of bacterial strain I33M producing milk-clotting enzyme: Optimization of culture parameters using response surface

A strain I33M which produces a milk-clotting enzyme was screened from Algerian soil near a dairy factory. This strain was identified as Bacillus mojavensis based on morphology and internal transcription spacer sequence. Sequencing analysis of 16S rDNA gene showed 100% identity of the tested strain with the B. mojavensis in the database. Phylogenetic analysis of this strain showed that it was most closely related to Bacillus subtilis strain. The optimum levels of these significant parameters to obtain the highest milk clotting activity and the lowest proteolytic activity were determined employing the response surface methodology (RSM), which revealed these as follows: wheat bran 7%, casein 0.094%, temperature 39°C, agitation size (rpm) 150. Among the various variables screened, agitation and temperature were most significant in submerged fermentation (SmF). The optimal value of milk clotting activity (MCA) is esteemed at 2.40. Key words: Milk clotting protease, Bacillus, response surface methodology, sequencing analysis

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<0.05, respectively). Ammonia (NH3) and protozoa patterns varied among the extracts during in vitro incubations, e.g. from -22.6% (p<0.05) for Y. schidigera extract to -50.7% (p<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<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<0.05) and between protozoa number and NH3 concentration during in vitro rumen incubation (Pearson coefficient = 0.56, p<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

The PRO-AGE study: an international randomised controlled study of health risk appraisal for older persons based in general practice

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the study protocol, the recruitment, and base-line data for evaluating the success of randomisation of the PRO-AGE (PRevention in Older people – Assessment in GEneralists' practices) project. METHODS/DESIGN: A group of general practitioners (GPs) in London (U.K.), Hamburg (Germany) and Solothurn (Switzerland) were trained in risk identification, health promotion, and prevention in older people. Their non-disabled older patients were invited to participate in a randomised controlled study. Participants allocated to the intervention group were offered the Health Risk Appraisal for Older Persons (HRA-O) instrument with a site-specific method for reinforcement (London: physician reminders in electronic medical record; Hamburg: one group session or two preventive home visits; Solothurn: six-monthly preventive home visits over a two-year period). Participants allocated to the control group received usual care. At each site, an additional group of GPs did not receive the training, and their eligible patients were invited to participate in a concurrent comparison group. Primary outcomes are self-reported health behaviour and preventative care use at one-year follow-up. In Solothurn, an additional follow-up was conducted at two years. The number of older persons agreeing to participate (% of eligible persons) in the randomised controlled study was 2503 (66.0%) in London, 2580 (53.6%) in Hamburg, and 2284 (67.5%) in Solothurn. Base-line findings confirm that randomisation of participants was successful, with comparable characteristics between intervention and control groups. The number of persons (% of eligible) enrolled in the concurrent comparison group was 636 (48.8%) in London, 746 (35.7%) in Hamburg, and 1171 (63.0%) in Solothurn. DISCUSSION: PRO-AGE is the first large-scale randomised controlled trial of health risk appraisal for older people in Europe. Its results will inform about the effects of implementing HRA-O with different methods of reinforcement

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

A survey of preferences for respiratory support in the intensive care unit for patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure

Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.Background: When caring for mechanically ventilated adults with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF), clinicians are faced with an uncertain choice between ventilator modes allowing for spontaneous breaths or ventilation fully controlled by the ventilator. The preferences of clinicians managing such patients, and what motivates their choice of ventilator mode, are largely unknown. To better understand how clinicians' preferences may impact the choice of ventilatory support for patients with AHRF, we issued a survey to an international network of intensive care unit (ICU) researchers. Methods: We distributed an online survey with 32 broadly similar and interlinked questions on how clinicians prioritise spontaneous or controlled ventilation in invasively ventilated patients with AHRF of different severity, and which factors determine their choice. Results: The survey was distributed to 1337 recipients in 12 countries. Of these, 415 (31%) completed the survey either fully (52%) or partially (48%). Most respondents were identified as medical specialists (87%) or physicians in training (11%). Modes allowing for spontaneous ventilation were considered preferable in mild AHRF, with controlled ventilation considered as progressively more important in moderate and severe AHRF. Among respondents there was strong support (90%) for a randomised clinical trial comparing spontaneous with controlled ventilation in patients with moderate AHRF. Conclusions: The responses from this international survey suggest that there is clinical equipoise for the preferred ventilator mode in patients with AHRF of moderate severity. We found strong support for a randomised trial comparing modes of ventilation in patients with moderate AHRF.Peer reviewe