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Guided by intergroup contact theory, this survey study investigates how White American adults' (N = 697 , Mage = 44.42, SD = 14.6, age range = 18 –67) social media intergroup expression frequency and valence, direct contact quality, and perceptions of institutional bias were associated with behavioral and affective attitudes toward ethnic Chinese during COVID-19. Structural Equation Modeling analyses indicate that social media intergroup expression valence and direct contact quality play a critical role in improving intergroup attitudes toward ethnic Chinese directly, and indirectly through building empathy and/or reducing anxiety. In addition, analyses demonstrate the negative role of social media intergroup expression frequency, which had: (1) a direct negative effect on behavioral attitudes and (2) an indirect negative effect on both attitudinal measures through increased anxiety and decreased empathy. Lastly, perceptions of institutional bias were negatively associated with affective attitudes through increased intergroup anxiety. Overall, findings reveal the dynamic interplay of the intergroup processes between social media intergroup expression, intergroup contact, and perceptions of institutional bias in shaping intergroup anxiety, empathy, and attitudes during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids from Allium mongolicum Regel (AMR) have immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel on sheep peripheral blood lymphocytes is still unknown. In this study, we found that total flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel reduced the apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in sheep, increased the cell cycle progression to the G2/M phase, and promoted mitosis. These molecules inhibited mRNA expression of the apoptosis-related gene STAT1, indicating that the flavonoids alter JAK-STAT signalling and through this classical pathway inhibit cell apoptosis. The bioactive effects are predominantly related to the structure of flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel, and the 55% elution group, which contained rutin, quercetin, and mignonette element -5-0-glucose-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, compounds found in plants, was the most effective. The effects were the strongest at a flavonoid concentration of 100μg/ml. In conclusion, the present study showed that flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel inhibited the expression of STAT1 mRNA, reduced the apoptosis of sheep peripheral blood lymphocytes and promoted cell cycle progression. They also increased the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase. Our findings confirmed a novel role of flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel in regulating immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unaffordable textbooks highlight neoliberal regimes in higher education, whereby privatization and profit undermine student success. The cost of textbooks has risen more than 1,000% since 1977 (Popken, B. 2015, Aug. 6. College textbook prices have risen 1,041 percent since 1977. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/freshman-year/college-textbook-prices-have-risen-812-percent-1978-n399926), outranking inflation in other sectors, and "students are suffering because they cannot afford to purchase their textbooks" (Stark, G. 2018. Library, student government hoping for solution to expensive book prices. Daily Toreador. ). Public speaking offers avenues for students to advocate for themselves and communities critically. Because students experience the material fallout of neoliberal cultural regimes, including unaffordable textbooks, we believe that critical public speaking practices can "afford students the opportunity to ready, write, and learn from a position of agency" (Giroux, H. A. 2020. On critical pedagogy. Bloomsbury Publishing, p. 178). This unit-specific activity uses a textbook case study that foregrounds critical consciousness and advocacy skills in students by focusing on persuasive argument construction aimed at audience-centered values. Public Speaking, Persuasion, Advanced Public Speaking. By the end of this activity, students should be able to: (1) analyze audience values and beliefs; (2) craft a persuasive advocacy based on research and experience; and (3) interrogate neoliberal educational norms as sites of potential advocacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]