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In 2015 Oxfam was awarded a Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) grant to support field staff to capture (currently undocumented) informal feedback which is received face-to-face by creatively using ICTs to enable responsive and accountable uses of information. Below Grace Higdon, Project assistance within Oxfam’s ICT in Programme team, takes us through some of the project’s outcomes.In June 2016, Oxfam launched a pilot using mobile devices to collect and respond to informal feedback about our services in the Za’atari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan, funded by the Humanitarian Innovation Fund. After extensive research on tool selection, members of Oxfam’s ICT in Progamme team arrived in Jordan to conduct initial training, set-up the technology and assist with implementation.
“Now our managers can actually see how much work we do” reflected a member of Oxfam staff following the first week of the pilot being live. Working in complex environments often involves incremental contributions that frequently get lost in the reporting ether. Decisions are often reached through a medley of text messages, passing conversations and short phone calls; all of which are rarely documented, but accumulate to a series of intermediary tasks that take a lot of time and effort. This pilot aims not only to consolidate certain types of informal communication between refugees and staff into appropriate instruments for redress, but also to consolidate certain types of informal, internal communication amid Oxfam staff. Recording the latter will underscore the volume and complexity of daily activities, as well as clearly determine what’s actually getting done and what’s falling through the cracks.
How do we organize an influx of feedback from refugees?One of the most challenging but vital components of the pilot’s implementation revolved around how to practically conceptualize workflows as they might optimally operate. How do we organize an influx of feedback from refugees, so that individual cases are routed to the Oxfam team best equipped to resolve a particular type of issue? How can we systematically identify, link, and assign responsibility for responding to a particular complaint?
Our project has four different types of users:
- Refugees who receive Oxfam services
- Volunteers, those in our cash for work programme and members of the refugee population, who open new cases through the mobile application following informal conversations that take place within the community
- Oxfam managers and field staff based in Za’atari who interact with the system by creating new feedback cases on a mobile phone, update ‘open’ cases and close cases once resolved or responded to
- Global operations staff that primarily remotely monitor feedback being collected in real-time through the use of an online desktop portal
Facilitated dialogue with these four types of users, in conjunction with workflow mapping exercises, identified and refined the most common categories of feedback the teams already receive. Determining how to classify feedback and building consensus for how to delegate responsibility for follow-up required a myriad of technical conversations about what individuals do, and how to use technology to renovate internal accountability procedures.
The application we’ve launched in Za’atari allows users to select from a menu of staff-defined categories which redirect the case to predetermined team members. Staff then conduct specific follow-up activities, all of which can be chronicled through the application’s automated reporting mechanisms. The feedback categories will not remain static and the frequency of specific classifications will fluctuate. New categories can be defined and modified while old categories are discarded as the types of services Oxfam delivers change during a project’s lifespan, or from project to project.
The workflow systems need to be inherently flexible to adapt to changing circumstances, particularly high staff turnover, a sector-wide ailment given the required mobility of humanitarian personal, which we have also encountered during pilot implementation in Za’atari . Thus the technology we are using must be able to adapt as the people and the processes change.
Shifting the gaze from staff and internal processes, preliminary feedback from refugees indicates that the pilot is making an impression. Observing Oxfam staff enter feedback into a mobile device directly proceeding an informal conversation lends a heightened sense of legitimacy for refugees, they trust that the information they’ve just reported is being transmitted through official channels. We hope to explore these perceptions further monitoring these impressions, especially as we track staff capacity to address complaints and close the increasing number of feedback loops initiated as part of this pilot project.
Our main take away so far is that this is as much about the refugees, listening and responding to their priorities, as it is about the people striving everyday to deliver services to the refugees, to do it better, and to be recognized for the work that they do. | https://views-voices.oxfam.org.uk/2016/09/cleaning-up-complexity-making-information-useful-for-all/ |
People with disabilities have a very close relationship with their assistive technology—whether this is a wheelchair, a long cane, or a smart voice board. These technologies clearly enable users to achieve more than they could without them. What is unclear is how this affects the user’s quality of life as well as the quality of life of those around them. Research into extended cognition suggests that fully integrating technology with a user can yield much more than a mere addition of the technology’s abilities. Rather, full integration can result in the user being not only augmented by the technology but potentially also actually experiencing the world through it. The technology is considered to shape the way that the user perceives and acts in their world in such important respects that it becomes best to consider the user and the technology as an “extended cognitive system”.
The purpose of the overall project, for which this is a pilot, is to investigate what this process of integration looks like in practice and what can we learn from this that might improve the way we provide and facilitate educational supports for assistive technology users.
The first workshop will be held on the 14th of May 2018. The aim is to gather data from a small group of individuals who work closely with users of assistive technology. The user group that we will focus on for this pilot will be visually impaired children/youths who have been provided with assistive technologies.
The second workshop will be held on the 18th of June 2018. This half-day workshop will investigate the use and integration of assistive technology for students with additional needs. Registration is free but space is limited. Please contact Laura Candiotto at [email protected] to register. | http://www.eidyn.ppls.ed.ac.uk/project/extended-cognition-classroom-understanding-use-and-integration-assistive-technology-students |
The role of a software developer involves a variety of skills, from design to communication. You need to be able to communicate effectively and have interpersonal skills. Software developers often work in groups, so they must learn how to communicate with and collaborate effectively with other people and teams. Software developers also need to understand the needs of their clients and create software that solves problems, entertains, and makes people’s life easier. This article will discuss the most important skills in software development. When you have just about any issues concerning where by and also how you can employ mvp lean startup, you are able to e-mail us in the internet site.
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The team should conduct market research to find out what customers want from software before beginning any software development project. This will help them determine the services and functions that the software should provide. The team will also need to collect feedback from existing and prospective customers and conduct surveys to gauge how well the product will work. From there, simply click the next internet site team will need to identify strengths and weaknesses of the project and determine a plan to address them. While software development requires careful planning and preparation, the benefits are well worth the effort.
During this stage, developers code based on specifications and company procedures. It is possible to have front-end designers who create user interfaces and back-end programmers who create backends. The database administrator will make any relevant data available to the database. Developers test their code during simply click the next internet site implementation phase. Final product, also known as a software release, is evaluated for quality and usability. It is often tested in a pilot version to ensure it will work effectively.
In the software engineering field, software engineers use various source debuggers, visual development environments, and document client software. They also write code in order to develop standalone apps and improve access to different services. Most software developers work in an office environment. However, some also serve as information technology specialists. Most online degree programs are flexible and offer high-quality standards. If you are interested in a career as a software developer, check out the different degrees that are available.
Web applications require tests to ensure that every function functions as expected. It is important to also perform performance testing. Performance testing can help eliminate lags, and improve user satisfaction. Testing reduces bugs over time, which in turn leads to a higher usage rate. Software development’s ultimate goal is to make the user happy. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that the users can use the product as intended.
If you have any concerns concerning where and exactly how to use mvp and software development for startups, you can call us at our own website. | https://pesaresiart.com/software-developers-what-is-their-role/ |
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today announced the final rules on the Directory - a new public register that enables consumers, firms and other stakeholders to find information on key individuals working in financial services.
Publishing this information on a regular basis will empower customers to make sure they only deal with individuals whom an authorised firm has assessed as fit and proper, or otherwise suitable and those who have appropriate qualifications.
The Directory will enable firms to cross-check references, make their staff known to customers and make it more difficult for unsuitable individuals to operate in the UK market.
This information will also support the FCA, law enforcement, professional bodies and other regulators in monitoring the market, building intelligence and targeting interventions.
These changes will allow users to search information on:
- all Directors and Senior Managers
- all staff certified as fit and proper by their firm
- other important individuals who undertake business with clients and require a qualification to do so
This information will be made public in a clear and easy to use format.
Jonathan Davidson, Executive Director of Supervision - Retail and Authorisations at the FCA, said:
‘The new Directory will help consumers to protect themselves from unauthorised individuals by clearly and easily identifying individuals who have been banned by the FCA. It will also help firms to understand the employment history of candidates when hiring.'
The final rules set out today require firms to report timely and accurate information about their Directory Persons. Firms will need to take all necessary action to gather the required information and ensure its accuracy prior to submission.
Banking firms and insurers can start submitting data on Directory individuals using the FCA’s Connect system or the multi-entry facility around September 2019. All other firms can start submitting data as of 9 December 2019 following commencement of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR) for solo-regulated firms.
The FCA will communicate additional information on what firms need to do, including the exact date when FCA systems will open for submissions from banking firms and Insurers at a later stage. Further information on the data submission process and deadlines may be found in PS19/7.
The Directory is expected to go live in March 2020.
Notes to editors
- Policy Statement PS19/7 – Finalising The Directory
- CP18/19: Introducing the Directory
- PS18/14: Extending the Senior Managers & Certification Regime to FCA firms - Feedback to CP17/25 and CP17/40, and near-final rules
- PS18/15: Extending the Senior Managers & Certification Regime to insurers - Feedback to CP17/26 and CP17/41 and near-final rules
Original article link: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-introduces-final-rules-directory-financial-services-workers
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Shri A K Mehta,
Chairperson,
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee,
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change,
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan,
Jor Bagh, New Delhi 110 003.
Dear Shri A K Mehta,
Namaste. This is with regard to the decisions taken by the GEAC, under your Chairpersonship, on 21/03/2018 in its 134th meeting minutes of which have been put in public domain recently.
- About Commercial/Environmental Release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 and parental lines, developed by CGMCP, University of Delhi (Agenda Item No.4.1): It is seen that GEAC decided that the “applicant may be advised to undertake field demonstration on GM mustard in an area of 5 acres at 2-3 different locations with a view to generate additional data on honey bees and other pollinators and honey, and on soil microbial diversity”. This decision of GEAC is an extremely inadequate one, in relation to the decision that the Government is supposed to have taken, and the fact that GEAC was therefore asked to re-examine the issue of its clearance. In fact, the Government and GEAC have committed to the nation that there would be a review, and now GEAC is obligated to begin by first stating what its scientific review plan is, and not just have a 13-member meeting in which the review is degenerated to some minor decisions being reiterated.
- In the month of October 2017, GEAC put out the minutes of its 133rd meeting wherein a quick correction was made to the 24th October 2017 version on 25th October 2017, to share the “Decision of Government” separately. The Decision of the government was noted as “Subsequent to receipt of various representations from different stakeholders, matters related to environmental release of transgenic mustard are kept pending for further review”. This clearly implies that the issues raised in the representations are to be reviewed further, and not just the couple of matters that a sub-committee has already penned down as its issues for review.
- You might be aware that the Parliament’s Department-Related Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests has presented its report (No. 301) on “Genetically Modified Crops & Its Impact on Environment”, in August 2017. This report refers to the clearance provided by GEAC to GM mustard, and says, “the Committee further learns that GEAC has given its approval for commercialisation of GM mustard in spite of the fact that the matter is pending for decision in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The Committee has been given to understand that GM mustard being a herbicide tolerant GMO, there is clear evidence on the adverse impacts of such GMOs from elsewhere in the world. In the case of GM mustard, from what one can gather from different quarters, there are serious unanswered questions. The Committee has also come to know that many state governments in the country are opposed to its entry even in the form of field trials, leave alone commercial cultivation. The Committee strongly believes that unless the biosafety and socio-economic desirability, taking into consideration long run effects, is evaluated by a participatory, independent and transparent process and a retrieval and accountability regime is put in place, no GM crop should be introduced in the country”.
- From some media reports, we understand that National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) has tried to give a clean chit to GM mustard as well as GEAC’s evaluation processes. NAAS did not respond to many issues raised by the Coalition for a GM Free India (at http://indiagminfo.org/1960-2/, which was also shared with Minister Dr Harshvardhan. You would see many unanswered relevant questions with regard to GM mustard testing in this letter of ours. We further understand that NAAS has also not given any response to its own Fellows like Dr P C Kesavan (who was also a Member in the Supreme Court’s Technical Expert Committee in the GMOs PIL) who had written to Dr Panjab Singh and Dr K V Prabhu about the many issues with GM mustard as well as NAAS’s processes.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt that Dr M S Swaminathan who headed the GoI’s Task Force on Application of Agricultural Biotechnology in India has written to the Minister for Environment on July 22 2017, pointing out that the present system of regulation is inadequate.
In the recent past, Dr M S Swaminathan and Dr P C Kesavan have also authored a Guest Editorial in Current Science, in its 25th April 2018 edition (114 (08)), available here (http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/114/08/1585.pdf) wherein they state several reasons and present evidence to say that “it is for these reasons that genetic engineering, as of now, is not a sustainable technology” and show that IPM is an example of an inexpensive traditional technology sought after to the rescue of an expensive and sophisticated but failing technology (of “Bollgard II”).
- In late July 2017, a group of 17 economists wrote to the Prime Minister of India (http://indiagminfo.org/1941-2/), urging that the environmental release of GM mustard should not be authorised and presenting their arguments for the same. A copy of their letter was sent to the Minister for Environment too.
- On July 27th 2017, around 35 eminent medical experts of India had written to the Prime Minister of India, seeking the rejection of the environmental release application of GM mustard (by DU). Their letter is present at: http://indiagminfo.org/eminent-doctors-of-india-write-to-pm-asking-him-to-reject-the-environmental-release-application-of-gm-mustard/
- Earlier, many experts had written to GEAC on the AFES document of the sub-committee of GEAC and why the safety conclusions therein are unreliable: http://indiagminfo.org/gm-mustard-expertspeak/ . Additionally, numerous opinion pieces from experts have been published on the subject, which a responsible regulator ought to take on board.
- In October 2017, we also wrote to GEAC, raising serious questions on the functioning of GEAC, including on tweaking of discussions and recording of minutes.The letter is available here: http://indiagminfo.org/thanks-to-geac-for-running-the-great-indian-circus-in-the-name-of-gmo-regulation/
- None of the critical points of objection to GM mustard have been addressed so far by the regulators– the fact that GM mustard is indeed a herbicide tolerant crop with many adverse ramifications is simply being brushed aside by GEAC; the main claim of reducing edible oil imports is unverified and unjustified as the yield advantage of GM mustard was never proven with scientific vigour; the fact that state governments are opposed to the environmental release of GM crops and that their constitutional authority over agriculture in their state has to be upheld by the Centre is being ignored; this also has an additional aspect, in the context of unapproved spread of seed across state borders, which has to be resolved; the evaluation of GM mustard for its socio-economic desirability did not take place at all and biosafety assessment was unscientific and fraudulent is a reality. The fact that alternatives exist, which are more effective and safe ways of addressing the edible oil imports issue, was consistently ignored. The fact that GM mustard cannot pass muster on the results of the biosafety tests that were conducted, that the bio-safety testing itself was inadequate and that the entire biosafety assessment regime was compromised upon is only one part of the story. The way GEAC then went about finding devious and unacceptable ways of executing its bias towards approving GM mustard is the other important part of the story.
- Against the above backdrop, it is apparent that GEAC went about the “re-examination” of the environmental release application of GM mustard in a completely facetious and non-serious way, as reflected in the minutes of the 134th meeting minutes and has not taken up any serious review of the entire matter of environmental clearance of GM mustard. A glib conclusion that “GEAC examined all the representations and reiterated that these representations have already been deliberated extensively while taking the decision in the 133rd meeting of GEAC” is untrue. You could not have deliberated on these when the representations came to you after the 133rd meeting. It is important that GEAC should improve its credibility by not failing the nation once again. You are not addressing critical issues being raised, and therefore, just asking the applicant to undertake a field demonstration for data generation on 3 parameters is inadequate and objectionable.
- While the major issues with regard to GM mustard remain unaddressed, the latest decision of GEAC on the applicant having to “undertake field demonstration” in an area of 5 acres at 2-3 different locations is a matter of concern. What is “field demonstration” in regulatory parlance? Where is it present in the guidelines? Why only 3 parameters?
- Why is GEAC yet again asking the applicant to submit a detailed protocol for consideration and approval? Doesn’t GEAC have the expertise and guidelines for these tests? Will the tests be conducted with herbicide usage as is going to the reality if GM mustard does get approved or not? What about the fact that GM mustard has never been tested as a herbicide tolerant crop, for its environmental and health ramifications when accompanied by glufosinate, a point that has remained unaddressed by the regulators?
Therefore, we write to GEAC to ask you to kindly explain what exactly is the re-examination that has happened or that will happen, when the only decision is a reiteration of a decision already taken in the 133rd meeting of GEAC?
- Exemption of state government NOCs for event-selection trials (ESTs) (Agenda Items 5 and 7.1): It was on the insistence of a state government that the system of NOC from state governments was brought in by GEAC in 2010 for conduct of field trials. It is also apparent that most state governments do not want to have any environmental release of GMOs taking place in their states. Therefore, the operationalization of exemption clause to NOC requirement in the context of Event Selection Trials is unacceptable. This is also applicable to the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures adopted for conduct of ESTs , given that these do constitute deliberate environmental release of GMOs into the environment.
- Bulk Imports of GM grains (Agenda Items 6.1 to 6.9): GEAC and RCGM cannot clear at their end any bulk imports of GM grains for processing without a proper safety assessment regime in place, taken up by some responsible agency. An RARM needs to consider our socio-cultural and other conditions before clearing any such imports. Similarly, FSSAI should have a rigorous regime in place for safety clearance, and it is not adequate to have guidelines and policy on labelling, as recorded in the decision under Agenda Item 6. The results of the safety assessment have to be put out in the public domain for independent scientific scrutiny and to support rigorous and responsible decision-making, and public feedback taken on board before any decision is taken.
- Import of Dried Distillers Grain Soluble (DDGS) for animal feed from GM corn (Agenda Items 6.12 to 6.20): We demand that no DDGS guidelines be finalised that do not include rigorous safety assessment within the country, with the same operational principles as mentioned in Point 3 above incorporated.
- On illegal soybean being imported into India (Agenda Item 9): We are disappointed at the lack of serious response from GEAC on our complaint (http://indiagminfo.org/complaint-to-geac-for-gm-soybean-lmo-import/) with regard to illegal soybean imports into India. While you had forwarded our complaint to DGFT, they have also forwarded another complaint from us to them, to GEAC (http://indiagminfo.org/regulators-pass-buck-to-each-other-other-ministries-while-hundreds-of-tonnes-of-illegal-gm-seed-import-takes-place-into-india-english-and-hindi-press-release/). This requires all concerned agencies to have an emergency meeting and intervene immediately, to trace such GM soy imports into the country, in case cultivation of the same is happening as has been discovered in Gujarat, and then take action to destroy the same. This also requires strict and foolproof procedures to be put into place to prevent future instances. We demand that GEAC convene one such meeting to resolve the matter with all the seriousness that it deserves.
- On FISEC report related to illegal HT Cotton in India (Agenda Item 7.4): Media reports (like this one for example: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/dbt-panel-seeks-destruction-of-ht-cotton-seed/article23798964.ece ) indicate that the regulators are finally intervening in this matter, which they should have, years ago. Tracing back illegal seed production as the root of the problem and destroying seed stocks are important mechanisms to control the menace, in addition to fixing liability. We hope that there will be concrete action that will emerge from this FISEC processes. We had made a presentation to the FISEC about why concrete action is needed, and what such action should be and the same is available here: http://indiagminfo.org/coalitions-letter-presentation-to-field-inspection-and-scientific-evaluation-committee-looking-into-illegal-herbicide-tolerant-ht-cotton-in-india/
Before we end, we would like to reiterate that GEAC must take the review assigned to it by the government in the case of GM mustard with utmost seriousness and scientificity. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kavitha Kuruganti
Co-Convenor
Coalition for a GM-Free India
Ph: 8880067772
Copy to: | http://indiagminfo.org/our-letter-to-geac-on-its-facetious-so-called-review-of-gm-mustard-in-its-134th-meeting/ |
In an effort to address extensive user feedback and be consistent in LMR reporting, all fields that are contained on LMR PDF reports will now be available in the LMR API and Web Service.
Previously, there were certain fields such as “Week Ago” or “Year Ago” that were on PDF reports but not consumable in the LMR API or Web Service. Effective May 30, 2022, those fields (and others) will be available.
The LMR Team strongly encourages users review the attached Excel file to identify what fields are being added to which report. The Excel file has each commodity broken up on an individual sheet with the fields being added. An image is provided to show the fields as they will appear.
If you have any questions, please email the LMR team @ [email protected].
April 11, 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a cattle industry listening session to inform the development of a Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program. The session will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CT. Interested stakeholders can participate virtually or in person at the USDA National Grain Center located at 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, Mo. 64153.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 directed AMS to create a Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program to increase market transparency for cattle producers. This listening session provides an open forum for industry stakeholders to share their feedback and help identify expectations for the Pilot Program. The intent of this session is to hear from industry, and as such there will not be time for a discussion or questions. AMS is specifically interested in insights on the following questions:
- What information should a Cattle Contracts Library include to be most helpful to cattle marketers?
- What concerns do you have with USDA releasing a Cattle Contracts Library?
- What format should be used to present the information contained in a Cattle Contracts Library?
During the session, AMS will provide an overview of the Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program, then participants will be given an opportunity to provide feedback. Given the short notice and as an extension of this session, AMS will accept written comments through April 28, 2022. Written feedback can be submitted to [email protected]. All written feedback and a recording of the session will be posted on the AMS website.
This meeting will be held in a federal facility, so in-person attendees must register in advance by sending an email to [email protected] by Monday, April 18, 2022. Space is limited and each industry association is asked to send only one or two representatives. For virtual attendees, the meeting will be broadcasted live as a webinar. Please register in advance at: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_QKvnrWIlTNevadyBpFbuTw. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with additional instructions. AMS will closely monitor the COVID-19 Community Level and make any adjustments prior to the meeting following Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance for public meetings. For additional information, contact Michael Sheats, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Director, at 202-690-3145.
March 16, 2022
On 18 MAR 2022 from 6pm CST to 19 MAR 2022 6am CST the LMPRS system will be unavailable for system upgrades.
January 18, 2022
On January 21, 2022 there will be two changes introduced to the LMR Datamart, Webservice and API.
- There will be a "is_correction" field added to all Header/Summary tables. This field will indicate if that report has had a correction issued. Users can filter on this attribute and only pull corrections if desired. The field will not be in a report section tables.
- There will also be an change to the (LM_HG216, LM_HG217, and LM_HG218) reports. The change adds comparison data to each region of each report that will show the price changed from the previous day’s report. This change will be seen on Negotiated carcass and live only. The field will be named "price_chg".
September 23, 2021
- On October 1, 2021 LPGMN will release a slightly revised (National Weekly Comprehensive Lamb Carcass (Fri) (PDF) (LM_XL555) that removes the summary section and introduces a new line in the data section of the report. This new line will include both a total Head Count and total Weighted Average at the bottom of the data section.
August 11, 2021
The LMR API now supports “sendEmail” and “Email=” attribute. Any standard API request can now be sent to the LMR API with these attributes and an email will be send to that address with a link to download the zip file of your data request. The zip file will contain one or more CSV files. The URL is only good for 24hrs. The email address can be any email address.
For API requests where “allsections” is used. The zip file will contain separate CSV files for each section of the report.
The LMR API User Guide is here.
August 5, 2011
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning Monday, August 9, 2021, it will issue two new USDA Market News reports based on Livestock Mandatory Reporting data that will provide additional insight into formula cattle trades and help promote fair and competitive markets. This action is one piece of USDA’s efforts to deliver on President Biden’s Executive Order 14036 on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which directed USDA to, among other things, “enhance price discovery, increase transparency, and improve the functioning of the cattle and other livestock markets.” The Executive Order on Competition launched a whole-of-government effort to promote competition, including 72 specific agency initiatives. USDA has already undertaken several other initiatives under the Executive Order, including announcing investments of at least $500 million in meat processing capacity, new rulemakings under the Packers & Stockyards Act, and a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of USA” label.
Find out more details on the reports to be released here.
January 05, 2021
If you were consuming any of these reports (LM_HG 200, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 230, 231, 232, 233) either through the web service or API, you will need to make changes to your API process. These reports were discontinued on 04 JAN 21 and replaced with these comprehensive reports. The new reports (LM_HG 216, LM_HG217, LM_HG218, and LM_HG234) have fundamentally different sections and will require you to remap to new Slug ID’s and Sections.
- The prior day purchase reports (LM_HG200, 204, 207, & 208) are found on the LM_HG218. New Slug ID 3458
- The morning purchase reports (LM_HG202, 205, 209, & 211) are found on the LM_HG216. New Slug ID 2674
- The afternoon purchase reports (LM_HG203, 206, 210, & 212) are found on the LM_HG217. New Slug ID 2675
- The sow reports (LM_HG230, 231, 232, & 233) are found on the LM_HG234. New Slug ID 3452
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
December 17, 2020
AMS has released new features to the LMR API that will help users identify “Corrections”. Access the LMR API User Guide for more details.
- For example, a user can make an API call that returns reports that are only Corrections to a previously released report.
https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/services/v1.1/reports/XXXX/Detail?correctionsOnly=true
- The second example allows users to request for only Corrections since a particular date. https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/services/v1.1/reports/XXXX/Detail?correctionsOnly=true&anyChangesSince=MM/DD/YYYY
- The third example allows users to request the current Detail subsections for a report published in the last X days.
(X is a positive integer: 1, 2, ……)
https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/services/v1.1/reports/XXXX/Detail?lastDays=X
- The fourth and final example will allow users to request the current Detail subsections for the X most recent XXXX report ID published reports (X is a positive integer: 1, 2, ……) https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/services/v1.1/reports/XXXX/Detail?lastReports=X
Note: The URL's above are samples and are currently non-functioning. The "XXXX" represents the Slug ID of an LMR report.
December 7, 2020
Beginning Dec. 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will publish new Daily Prior Day Hog Purchase Reports (LM_HG218 (pdf) and LM_HG234 (pdf)) through its Livestock Mandatory Reporting Program (LMR). These all-inclusive USDA Market News reports will provide customers with more accessible data for easier market analysis and replace the individual national and regional reports, which will be discontinued effective Jan. 4, 2021. During the transition to the new format, customers will continue to have seamless access to this reliable and unbiased data. Historical data will continue to be available using various platforms such as DataMart, LMR Web Service (pdf) and the My Market News API.
Similar to the Daily Direct Hog Reports (LM_HG216 and LM_HG217), the new reports will combine all regional purchase information from the Eastern Cornbelt, Iowa-Minnesota and Western Cornbelt Daily Prior Day Purchase Reports with national information into a single report versus four separate reports. The reports will show purchase volumes by purchase type for barrows and gilts as well as sows and boars on a carcass and live basis, along with volume data for the previous week and year, and state of origin. Moreover, customers will see an improved Negotiated Hog Purchase Matrix (pdf) for barrows and gilts as well as additional purchase type data for all classes, specifically Other Market Formula and Other Purchase Arrangement purchases, not previously reported.
To access direct swine reports, visit: www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/swine-direct-reports. For more information on LMR, visit: www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/mmr. For additional information, contact Jim Bernau, LMR Field Chief, at (515) 284-4460.
November 11, 2020
Updated LMR API User Guide posted. (https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/USDA%20LMPRS%20API%20User-Guide.pdf). V2.2 of User Guide is most current.
October 15, 2020
AMS modified the database field names contained in the LM_PK603 “Change From Prior Day” & “5 Day Average Cutout and Primal” sections. Previously, they were named with less than descriptive names. Industry users requested that we name then more realistically. Sample links to both of those revised sections are shown below.
- https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/services/v1.1/reports/2499/Change From Prior Day?q=report_date=10/19/2020
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- https://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/services/v1.1/reports/2499/5-Day Average Cutout and Primal Values?q=report_date=10/19/2020
October 14, 2020
The following discontinued legacy reports were added to LMR API for consumption. These reports are not available on My Market News website, as they are discontinued and cannot be retrieved using the "Service Previous Reports" feature.
- AMS_3450 National Daily Lamb Report - Committed and Delivered Lambs (TXT) (LM_LM301)
- AMS_3451 National Daily Lamb Carcass Report (TXT) (LM_XL501)
September 22, 2020
AMS modifies the XML Web Service and LMR API to allow for the consumption of the LM_PK650 Primal Values in the Volume Section. Previously, they were not available.
September 16, 2020
AMS makes corrections to the rounding issue. Now the official reports, the XML web service and the new LMR API round the same.
June 1, 2020
AMS clarifies in the LMR API User Guide that the API limit data extracts to 100,000 records. This is done to ensure that the API is available and operational for all to use.
April 30, 2020
Starting on the afternoon of May 4, 2020, LMR will begin releasing report data on LMR Datamart, LMR Web Service and the LMR API in real time. Prior to this change, report data was available at the top of the hour for most reports. The removal of Text reports on LMR necessitated this change. This change will bring both voluntary and mandatory report release processes in sync.
- Note: With this change, there will be a few minutes delay for the actual PDF report to be uploaded to the AMS website and MyMarketNews. That will be resolved in the coming month.
April 23, 2020
Recent security patching of LMR servers on 04.16.20 has caused technical problems with Text Report generation. PDF report generation remains operational. Over the course of the last few days, an attempt to resolve this issue was undertaken without success. The security protocols have been re-enabled on the LMR server and text reports will no longer be offered. | https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/LMR%20Public%20Notices |
The review clearly demonstrates the successful medical evidence for the use of papaya leaf extracts in the healthcare system as a supplemental herbal medication in a variety of clinical settings.
In Vitro study of Thrombolytic activity from the different parts of Carica papaya plant on COVID-19 patients.
- MedicinePakistan BioMedical Journal
- 2021
Evaluating the thrombolytic activity of Carica papaya plant in normal healthy individuals and COVID-19 patients to determine either parts of the plant (roots, seeds and leaves) exhibit more activity in normal persons or in COVID -19 patients found normal persons showed highly significant results.
Carica papaya L.: A Tropical Fruit with Benefits beyond the Tropics
- Diversity
- 2022
Carica papaya L. (family: Caricaceae), also known as ‘papaya,’ is a tropical American fruit tree. Due to the bioactive components (carpaines, BITC, benzyl glucosinolates, latex, papain, zeaxanthin,…
Morphology, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of Carica papaya, an review
- Biology
- 2021
Morphology, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of Carica papaya (Linn) are reviewed, which includes antibacterial, anticancer, insecticidal, wound healing etc.
Phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, nanoparticle fabrication, commercial products and waste utilization of Carica papaya L.: A comprehensive review
- Biology
- 2020
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) for cancer prevention: Progress and promise.
- MedicineCritical reviews in food science and nutrition
- 2022
A systematic, comprehensive, and critical analysis of the cancer-preventive potential of C. papaya extracts, fractions, and isolated phytochemicals with a special emphasis on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action is presented.
AMELIORATING EFFECT OF CARICA PAPAYA L. FRUIT EXTRACT ON ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA IN MICE
- Medicine, BiologyJournal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
- 2022
Investigation of the efficacy of C. papaya fruit methanolic and aqueous extracts against Entamoeba histolytica as compared with the used Albendazole ® in experimentally infected mice showed improvement in the hepatic and intestinal architecture of infected mice treated with papaya extracts and albendazoles with various degrees.
Benefits of Fermented Papaya in Human Health
- MedicineFoods
- 2022
Fermented foods have been used for several years all over the world, due to their unique nutritional characteristics and because fermentation promotes conservation and food security. Moreover,…
Papaya Leaf Curl Virus (PaLCuV) Infection on Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Plants Alters Anatomical and Physiological Properties and Reduces Bioactive Components
- MedicinePlants
- 2022
Papaya leaves are used frequently for curing scores of ailments. The medicinal properties of papaya leaves are due to presence of certain bioactive/pharmacological compounds. However, the papaya leaf…
Screening of Carica papaya Seeds for Pharmacologically Bioactive and Nutritionally Beneficial Substances for Optimization of Its Nutraceutical Potential
- BiologyEuropean Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety
- 2020
It was revealed that papaya seeds have nutraceutical properties and can be used, in the appropriate quantity as a food or health supplement or an adjunct animal feed.
References
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Carica Papaya Leaf Extracts - An Ethnomedicinal Boon
- Biology
- 2014
This review aims at presenting the current literature on phytochemical preoperties of carica papaya leaves and also its uses in indigenous populations and its therauptic applications and future research directions.
Antimicrobial Properties of Carica papaya (Papaya) Different Leaf Extract against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans
- Biology
- 2014
There has been an increased interest globally to identify antioxidant compound that are pharmacologically potent and have low or no side effects.
Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Carica papaya
- Biology
- 2013
The pharmacological uses of Carica papaya and side/toxic effects are reviewed, which shows that the fruit contains an enzyme known as papain which is present in the bark, leaves and fruit, and used in treatment of arthritis.
Review on nutritional, medicinal and pharmacological properties of Papaya ( Carica papaya Linn.)
- Biology
- 2008
Papaya (Carica papaya Linn.) is commonly known for its food and nutritional values throughout the world. The medicinal properties of papaya fruit and other parts of the plant are also well known in…
Anticancer activity of Carica papaya: a review.
- Biology, MedicineMolecular nutrition & food research
- 2013
This review summarizes the results of extract-based or specific compound-based investigations and emphasizes the aspects that warrant future research to explore the bioactives in C. papaya for their anticancer activities.
Phytochemical and antioxidant nutrient constituents of Carica papaya and Parquetina nigrescens extracts
- Biology
- 2010
The results indicate that the previously reported antisickling properties of these herbs may be due to their inherent antioxidant nutrient composition, thus supporting the claims of the traditional healers and suggests a possible correlation between the chemical composition of these plants and their uses in traditional medicine.
Aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves exhibits anti-tumor activity and immunomodulatory effects.
- BiologyJournal of ethnopharmacology
- 2010
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Extracts from Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Eremomastax speciosa, Carica papaya and Polyscias fulva Medicinal Plants Collected in Cameroon
- Medicine, BiologyPloS one
- 2014
Ethanol extracts showed strong antioxidant properties against both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion, and may contribute to the value for these plants in traditional medicine and in general medical practice. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Therapeutic-application-of-Carica-papaya-leaf-in-of-Singh-Kumar/bd3de31694f2bb1312ac6429951108aefc5b1edb |
Plant-derived medicines: a novel class of immunological adjuvants.
- Medicine
- International immunopharmacology
- 2011
The identification and characterization of plant compounds that augment new or existing vaccines, and in particular mucosally administered vaccines, will be of significant interest to vaccinologists and immunologists. Expand
A REVIEW ON: RECENT TRENDS IN HERBAL DRUGS
- 2021
This Review Focuses on Recent Trends in Herbal Drugs, in recent years, more people throughout the world are turning to use medicinal plant products in the healthcare system. The worldwide need for… Expand
Herbal Medicine- A Rational Approach in Health Care System
- Medicine
- 2013
Some of the past and current successes of the herbal drug approach in prevention and treatment of various incurable and life threatening diseases are reviewed. Expand
Indian herbal medicines in the treatment of liver diseases: problems and promises
- Medicine
- Fundamental & clinical pharmacology
- 2012
To treat liver disease of known, unknown, or multiple causes, a combination of different herbs with active fractions (or purified compounds) has to be developed and may prove to be useful in the treatment of infective, toxic, and degenerative diseases of the liver. Expand
Quality and regulatory affairs of herbal drugs: A world-wide Review
- Medicine
- 2011
This review highlights the current advances in knowledge about the safety, efficacy, quality control, marketing and regulatory aspects of botanical medicines. Expand
HERBAL TOXICITIES - AN OVER VIEW
- Medicine
- 2011
There are some scientific evidences are there, which proves the herbal medicines can cause considerable toxicities, so harmonization and improvement in the process of regulation is needed for safety. Expand
Recent Advances in Standardization of Herbal Drugs
- Medicine
- 2020
This review emphasis mainly on hyphenated techniques associated with chemometric method used in herbal drugs for identifying more valuable information and various methods for providing data, among which most commonly used techniques are chemometric resolution method and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. Expand
Herbal Drugs on the Liver
- Medicine
- 2017
Herbal drugs have a long tradition in India, China, and Japan and it may be possible to combine hepatoprotective herbals to achieve the desired antioxidant, antifibrotic, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antiinflammatory actions. Expand
Current Trends in Herbal Medicines
- Medicine
- 2010
An overview of herbal medicines is provided to explain the therapeutic efficacy of various herbal medicines, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, standardization and stability testing, pharmacovigilance and regulatory status of herbal medicine. Expand
Screening of eight plant extracts for their antimicrobial properties
- Geography
- 2013
Nature has bestowed on us a very rich botanical wealth and a large number of diverse types of plants growing in different regions of the word. Plants have provided men with all his needs in terms of… Expand
References
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Human Medicinal Agents from Plants
- Biology
- 1993
Plant-Derived Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development: An Overview Tropical Forest Biodiversity and the Potential for New Medicinal Plants Phytomedicines in Western Europe: Potential… Expand
Can ethnopharmacology contribute to the development of new anticancer drugs?
- Medicine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- 1991
A new strategy for the discovery of anticancer agents from plants is proposed in which ethnomedical information is correlated against pertinent published chemical and biological information, resulting in a prioritization of plants for collection. Expand
Should herbal medicine-like products be licensed as medicines
- Medicine
- 1995
Many medicine-like products on the British herbal market remain unregistered for two reasons: acceptable data on efficacy, safety, and quality may not be available, and the licensing fee is high. Expand
Natural products as drugs.
- Biology, Medicine
- Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- 1994
Plant biotechnology offers the possibility of improved production methods of cultivated medicinal plants as well as alternative approaches to the production of natural products for the preparation of pharmaceuticals. Expand
Old Chinese herbal medicine used for fever yields possible new Alzheimer disease therapy.
- Medicine
- JAMA
- 1997
Based on laboratory and x-ray crystallography studies, HupA does appear to be a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and has a number of other pharmacological properties of clinical interest. Expand
Drugs used in non-orthodox medicine
- Medicine
- 1986
It has become clear that it may be far more effective to use the existing infrastructure of traditional medicine to introduce the principles of hygiene and basic health maintenance than to try to convert an existing system to a Western-oriented health-care organization. Expand
Ethnopharmacology and the development of natural PAF antagonists as therapeutic agents.
- Biology, Medicine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- 1991
Ginkgolides are unique twenty-carbon terpenes, occurring naturally only in the roots and leaves of Ginkgo biloba, and are specific and potent antagonists of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent inflammatory autacoid. Expand
From shaman to human clinical trials: the role of industry in ethnobotany, conservation and community reciprocity.
- Political Science, Medicine
- Ciba Foundation symposium
- 1994
Shaman Pharmaceuticals is a development-stage company engaged in developing traditional pharmaceuticals identified through a discovery process focused on isolating active compounds from tropical… Expand
Medicinal plants in therapy.
- Medicine, Biology
- Bulletin of the World Health Organization
- 1985
This update article presents a list of plant-derived drugs, with the names of the plant sources, and their actions or uses in therapy. Expand
Antioxidant properties of antiulcer Kampo medicines. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Role-of-Plant-Derived-Drugs-and-Herbal-in-Smet/6f6bc633f6895d6d7c4aac3d8b38aa2a471c2e0a |
The MMV Project of the Year award is an internal MMV award, established in 2001 to recognise the most exciting drug discovery and development projects in the MMV portfolio and applaud the scientific partners involved.
The Project of the Year is selected by MMV’s independent Expert Scientific Advisory Committee at the end of each year.
MMV projects are subject to rigorous industry-style management and the Project of the Year is one that meets our demanding product profiles, has made rapid progress and has achieved its milestones.
2018: Plasmodium falciparum's enzyme lysl-tRNA synetase
Partner: University of Dundee
A target-based approach to drug design
2017: SAR121
Partner: Sanofi
Using biology to help guide the search for new molecules
2016: Three discovery teams
Partner: University of South Florida, University of California, Mahidol Vivax Research Unit
Breaking through the basic biology of malaria relapse
2015: GSK692
Partner: GlaxoSmithKline
A novel compound steadfast in the face of resistance
2014: DDD498
Partner: University of Dundee, UK
One molecule: multiple lifecycle stages
2013: Tafenoquine
Partner: GlaxoSmithKline
A potential next-generation anti-relapse medicine for P. vivax malaria.
2012: MMV390048
Partners: University of Cape Town, South Africa; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland; CDCO, Monash University, Australia
This novel antimalarial compound from the aminopyridine class becomes the first researched in Africa to enter preclinical development.
2011: Eurartesim® (dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine)
Partner: Sigma-Tau
This artemisinin combination therapy was granted European Medicines Agency approval in 2011. It can now be used safely and effectively and be deployed more widely.
2010: Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH)
Partners: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School; University of Washington; Monash University
This targeted antimalarial drug discovery project made impressive progress to bring inhibitors forward for clinical testing.
2009: Spiroindolones
Partner: Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases
This compound class emerged from a cutting-edge screen, providing novel chemistry with excellent antimalarial potential.
2008: Coartem® Dispersible
Partner: Novartis
The first MMV-supported medicine to be approved by a stringent regulatory authority and the first specifically tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable – children under 5 years.
2007: Queensland natural products
Partner: The Nature Bank at Eskitis Institute, Griffith University
The project combined the chemical diversity of natural products with the technological power of high-throughput screening in the search for the next generation of antimalarials.
2006: Next-generation OZ (synthetic peroxide)
Partners: University of Nebraska; Monash University; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute; Roche
The synthetic peroxides hold promise of generating a fast-acting antimalarial of the future.
2005: Pyronaridine artesunate (Pyramax®)
Partner: Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd
Pyramax progressed rapidly from Phase I into Phase II of clinical development.
2004: Falcipain project focusing on cysteine proteases
Partner: University of California San Francisco
The falcipain project was selected for its impressive progress over the year.
2003: 4 (1H) - pyridones
Partner: GlaxoSmithKline
The project moved from discovery to development in the record time of one year.
2002: Protein farnesyl transferase inhibitors
Partner: University of Washington
The project progressed rapidly from lead identification to optimization.
2001: Synthetic peroxides
Partners: University of Nebraska/Monash University/Swiss Tropical Institute/Roche
These compounds hold the potential to provide a synthetic alternative to the artemisinin derivatives, and therefore a medicine free from the vagaries of agricultural production. | https://www.mmv.org/research-development/project-year-award |
Traditional drug development is slow and expensive. It often takes more than 10 years for a new medicine to come to market, and it can cost up to $2.6 million. In the past few years, however, there has been a growing interest in using machine learning to help with the process.
"The idea is that you can screen billions of molecules on a computer and identify some which look promising, and then you just manufacture and test the small subset," says Regina Barzilay, Delta Electronics Professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a member of the university's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab.
The vast size of chemical space is one of the main challenges when it comes to finding new drugs. Medicinal chemists look for new small molecules, and there could be up to 1 novemdecillion (1 followed by 60 zeros) of them, according to the American Chemical Society, more than some estimates of the number of stars in the universe. Although researchers have zeroed in on millions of these compounds through traditional methods, the number that have been synthesized and tested as drugs is thought to represent less than 0.1% of the potential drugs that exist. "The machine learning community identified it as an important area where we can contribute," says Barzilay.
There have been some recent breakthroughs in drug discovery, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). In recent work, Barzilay and her colleagues used a deep learning system to discover a new antibiotic, which is a first. The newly discovered medicine proved effective against a wide range of bacteria in tests on mice, including tuberculosis and bacteria strains that have demonstrated resistance to current antibiotics.
Barzilay and her team decided to focus on antibiotics since a lack of new antibiotics is creating a growing health crisis. Existing antibiotics are no longer effective against many infections, as bacteria have grown resistant. Just eight new antibiotics with limited effectiveness have been approved since July 2017, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization.
To tackle the problem, the researchers developed a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) that can predict the antibiotic properties of new compounds. It was first trained to recognize molecules that inhibit the growth of E. coli bacteria by feeding it a collection of about 2,500 molecules whose antibacterial capabilities were known. Then, the system was presented with a library, called the Drug Repurposing Hub, containing over 6,000 molecules identified as potentially interesting to fight various human diseases. It was asked to predict which molecules are both active against E. coli and had different structures from existing antibiotics.
One result was the new antibiotic halicin (named for the intelligent computer HAL in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey). The medication was being investigated as a potential treatment for diabetes.
When the deep learning model was applied to another chemical library with over 107 million molecules, it came up with a further eight candidates. "We identified quite a few very strong molecules that show promising activity," says Barzilay.
However, Barzilay stresses that the key to their success was working with a team of biology experts who could verify how halicin worked. Since AI doesn't have any knowledge of biology, the compound had to be verified to see whether it would still work if a bacterium developed a resistant strain, for example. "There was a lot of testing on the biology side to demonstrate that it's doing non-trivial things," says Barzilay.
Another challenge in developing a drug is optimizing its properties. Even though a compound may be effective against a disease, it must also meet other criteria, such as having low toxicity and being water-soluble, for example. There are usually between 10 and 20 such objectives that need to be met for a compound to get the green light, says Adam Skiredj, chemistry and business development manager at Iktos, a company developing AI technology for drug development in Paris, France. Skiredj said objectives often are interrelated to the extent that when you improve on one of them, it results in a loss for another. "It's like a very complex Rubik's cube to solve," he says.
Skiredj said Iktos has developed deep learning algorithms that can be combined to identify compounds fulfilling multiple criteria. Their AI system identifies viable compounds by learning chemical rules from large amounts of public data: for instance, there are a limited number of bonds that carbon and nitrogen can form with other atoms. Then, using data specific to a given project on potential active molecules, models are built to predict how they will perform on each individual objective. The system then uses a fitness function developed from the models to generate compounds that best meet all the criteria. "This means that you are generating a compound which fits in terms of chemical structures and also (the biological and chemical) objectives of the project," says Skiredj.
Iktos recently applied its system to a drug discovery project with 11 objectives, and was able to generate a list of promising compounds in just three weeks. Using a dataset of 880 molecules whose pharmacological activity had been tested, the best molecule identified by medicinal chemists scored well on nine of the 11 objectives. On the other hand, the deep learning algorithm generated a final shortlist of 11 promising compounds that were then tested; one was found to meet all the objectives, while two others scored highly on 10 criteria. "That's one of our success stories," says Skiredj.
The company has also just developed an AI-driven system that can help medicinal chemists synthesize new molecules. Discovering a molecule is only part of the solution, since they then have to be created. The new system "uses AI and data to come up with the recipes of these molecules, just like cooking," says Skiredj. "It's a pain point for chemists and something that our clients were asking for."
The role of AI in drug discovery has been controversial, since that role has not always been clear. In one case, a 'new' molecule found with deep learning was actually similar to the structure of an existing drug. Also, training data for the AI is chosen by medicinal chemists, so "Unless we know what exactly the machine learning algorithm did and what a human expert has done, we really cannot appreciate the contribution," says Barzilay.
However, deep learning is likely to find its place in the field and to be used increasingly. Barzilay thinks the use of deep learning use as a drug discovery tool will become commonplace in the long run, and that we will soon see a commercially available drug for which AI was involved in its discovery.
Ultimately, the way that drug discovery is done, and the steps currently used, may be completely transformed. "I think the next frontier is really to change the whole process with the capacities of machine learning," says Barzilay. "I'm a firm believer that we're going to see that soon as well."
Sandrine Ceurstemont is a freelance science writer based in London, U.K. | https://cacm.acm.org/news/244432-ai-for-drug-design/fulltext |
The phytochemical screening confirms the presence of phenyl coumarins, xanthones, triterpenoids, tannin and saponin as main constituents responsible for its biological activity.
MESUA FERREA LINN. (NAGKESAR): A POTENT ANTIMICROBIAL PLANT SPECIES
- BiologyInternational Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research
- 2021
This review highlights the general description, phytochemical profiling, traditional uses and proven pharmacological attributes of Mesua ferrea linn.
Medicinally Important Herbal Flowers in Sri Lanka
- Biology, MedicineEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
- 2019
Traditional medicine systems prevailing in Sri Lanka have made use of these flowers with therapeutic effects to cure so many diseases, and it was revealed that there are many flowers with valuable therapeutic effects.
CNS Acting Potential of Natural Products with Special Reference to Family Solanaceae
- Biology
- 2021
Most of solanum plants contain steroidal glycosides and they exert the anti-seizure effect because of the solasodine, solmine, solamarginine etc. which inhibit the increment of sodium voltage ions which is responsible for the convulsion.
Mesua ferrea L. (Calophyllaceae) exerts therapeutic effects in allergic asthma by modulating cytokines production in asthmatic rats
- BiologyTURKISH JOURNAL OF BOTANY
- 2021
Results of the study suggest a therapeutic potential of M. ferrea in allergic asthma that can be related to the ability of plants to attenuate the response of inflammatory cells and thereby, the production of inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines in airways.
Bioactive Compounds in Underutilized Fruits and Nuts
- Reference Series in Phytochemistry
- 2020
The plant wealth of nature is abundant with fruits and nuts which are widely utilized and exploited as supplementary food sources and also for industrial products as well as for extracting medicines.…
Extracts of Mesua Ferrea Linn, the natural Inhibitors of COVID-19 main protease: a computational quest
- ChemistryTurkish Journal of Science and Health
- 2021
The coronavirus, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), is accountable for the global epidemic disease COVID-19, and the use of off-label natural medicinal compounds may be effective remedy for this scourge.
The potentiation of beta-lactam and anti-bacterial activities of lipophilic constituents from Mesua ferrae leaves against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- BiologyJournal of complementary & integrative medicine
- 2021
M. ferrae is a promising natural source for the discovery of new anti-MRSA lead compounds, and both compounds demonstrated synergism with β-lactam antibiotics against S. aureus and MRSA.
The whole chloroplast genome of Mesua ferrea: insight into the dynamic pattern of evolution and its comparison with species from recently diverged families.
- BiologyGene
- 2022
A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of GandhakaRasayana rectal suppository in post operative pain management in ano-rectal disorders
- MedicineJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
- 2022
References
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Plants with anti-inflammatory activity in Palestinian ethnomedicine: Past, present and future
- Medicine
- 2017
Antiarthritic activity of various extracts of Mesua ferrea Linn. seed.
- MedicineJournal of ethnopharmacology
- 2011
CONSERVATION THREATS TO SOME IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA
- Environmental Science
- 2000
Volatile oils of Mesua ferrea (L.) from Assam, India
- Biology
- 1998
The essential oils from the bark, leaves, buds, and flowers (full bloom) of Mesua ferrea Linn.
Search for antibacterial and antifungal agents from selected Indian medicinal plants.
- BiologyJournal of ethnopharmacology
- 2006
In-vivo antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of mesuol isolated from Mesua ferrea L. seed oil.
- Biology, MedicineInternational immunopharmacology
- 2012
Antibacterial potentiality of Mesua ferrea Linn. flowers
- BiologyPhytotherapy research : PTR
- 2004
The antibacterial efficacy of the methanol extract of whole flowers of Mesua ferrea Linn was studied against various strains of bacteria and could reduce the viable count of the strain Sulmonella typhimurium ATCC 6539 in liver, spleen and heart blood of the extract treated challenged mice.
Inhibition of Iron Induced Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Activity of Indian Spices and Acacia In Vitro
- Chemistry, MedicinePlant foods for human nutrition
- 2010
Cobra’s saffron and Acacia showed the highest antioxidant activity, probably due to the higher polyphenol content as compared to other test samples, and showed strong reducing power and superoxide radical scavenging activity.
Screening of plants acting against Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom activity on fibroblast cell lysis.
- BiologyJournal of ethnopharmacology
- 2006
Anti-inflammatory and C.N.S. depressant activities of xanthones from Calophyllum inophyllum and Mesua ferrea
- Biology, Medicine
- 1980
None of the xanthones had any analgesic, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities, and the degranulating effect of compound 48/80, diazoxide and Won-X-100 on rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro war not prevented. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Mesua-ferrae-linn%3A-A-Review-of-the-Indian-Medical-Sharma-Sharma/d6fda23ba3b7fed08961c0b982803f3dab9af6a4?p2df |
On the other hand, this fruit is quite controversial due to its strong smell.
More on Durian Fruit
This tropical fruit is characterized by its spiky, hard outer shell and large size. Its flesh is custard-like and smelly with large seeds. The most common variety of durian is Durio zibethinus. The color of the fruit’s flesh is usually, yellow, golden, or white, but it can as well be green or red.
This fruit is mostly grown in Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It can grow up to 30 cm (a foot) long, and 15 cm (6 inches). A normal durian fruit offers about 473 ml (2 cups) of edible pulp.
How to Use
This fruit is used in both, sweet and savory dishes. Its flesh and seeds are both edible, but the seeds must be cooked before used. It tastes like a combination of cheese, garlic, almonds, and caramel. These are the most common durian fruit dishes and food preparations:
- Angkak, a fermented rice dish
- Juice
- Seeds, boiled or roasted
- Ice cream, candy, and other desserts
- Sayur, an Indonesian fish soup
- As a vegetable side dish
This fruit is also used in the traditional medicine, and its medicinal properties are still being studied.
One of the Most Nutritious Fruits You Can Eat
When compared to other fruits, durian is extremely rich in nutrients. This is the nutrient content in 243 grams (a cup) of durian pulp:
- Calories- 357
- Carbs- 66 g
- Fat- 13 g
- Protein- 4 g
- Fiber- 9 g
- Vitamin C- 80% of the RDI
- Manganese- 39% of the RDI
- Thiamine- 61% of the RDI
- Potassium- 30% of the RDI
- Vitamin B6- 38% of the RDI
- Riboflavin- 29% of the RDI
- Folate- 22% of the RDI
- Copper- 25% of the RDI
- Niacin- 13% of the RDI
- Magnesium- 18% of the RDI
This impressive nutrient content makes it one of the most nutritious fruits on the Planet. Durian is also high in healthy plant compounds like carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Many of them act as antioxidants.
Durian Fruit Health Benefits
The traditional Malaysian medicine has used durian fruit, roots, husk, and leaves in the treatment of many health conditions, including jaundice, high fever, and skin problems. Several studies suggested that the fruit might offer the following health benefits:
- Reduces the risk of cancer – The antioxidants it contains might neutralize the free-radicals which promote cancer. One study showed that durian extract prevents the spreading of a strain of breast cancer cells.
- Prevents heart disease – Few compounds in this fruit can help reduce the levels of cholesterol, and the risk of hardening of the arteries- atherosclerosis.
- Fights infection – Durian rind offers anti-yeast and antibacterial effects.
- Reduces blood sugar – Since its glycemic index is lower than that of other tropical fruits, durian can reduce blood sugar spike. Also, it can prevent absorption of glucose, as well as stimulate release of insulin.
We must mention however that these studies were conducted on animals or in test tubes. Therefore, although promising, durian health benefits should be studied in humans.
Combination with Alcohol Makes Them Potentially Toxic
If you drink alcohol during the consumption of durian fruit, you might face certain health problems.
The sulfur-like compounds in this fruit are considered to prevent break down of alcohol by certain enzymes, leading to raised levels of alcohol in the blood. According to some studies, this can cause vomiting, nausea, and heart palpitations. Therefore, to prevent these health problems, avoid drinking alcohol and eating durian at the same time.
How to Eat It
You need to protect your hands when opening the hard, spiky durian shell by wearing gloves or mitts. The video below shows this, including how to remove and use its flesh. In brief, you should use a knife to cut the shell and then your hands to pry it open. Carefully remove the durian flesh sections, and you can eat it raw, or prepared in various dishes such as with sticky rice.
You can also buy frozen durian flesh, although its texture is a bit different, making it more stringy and looser. Although you can find it in candy or other prepared foods, you won’t gain its health benefits, but just feel a sample of its flavor.
Why Does Durian Smell So Bad?
When it comes to the unique smell of durian, people either love it, or hate it.
Its strong smell has been described as a mix of rotting and roasted onion, sewage, sulfur, honey, and fruit. When analyzing the durian aromatic compounds, it was shown that the fruit has 44 active compounds, including those that contribute to the scents of caramel, skunk, fruit, rotten egg, and soup seasoning.
The smell of durian is so strong, that it has been forbidden in many public transport systems and hotel rooms in Southeast Asia. The impression of durian is individual, depending whether you smell the stinky or the sweet-smelling compound more strongly.
The Bottom Line
The content of this fruit is includes high number of healthy nutrients such as, vitamin C, B-vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, plant compounds, and fiber. Although very healthy, the taste and smell of durian are not for everyone. | http://www.sejat-jasmani.com/2017/12/durian-fruit-smelly-but-also-incredibly.html |
The several antibacterial activities of wonderful kola plant (i.e. Buchholzia coriacea) has necessitated the need for a high-throughput and molecular characterization of all the bioactive components from the plant as a panacea to discovering bioactive compounds which could serve as lead compounds in developing potent and novel antibacterial agents. Microbial resistance to some available antimicrobial agents necessitates the need to search for newer antimicrobial agents that will not be easily amenable to the attack of resistant strains of microorganisms (many of which remain active even in the face of antimicrobial onslaught). This study investigates the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of wonderful kola on pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus strains. Antibacterial activity of the wonderful kola plant extract was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method to determine the zones of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Phytochemical analysis revealed that wonderful kola leaf contains phlobatannins, carbohydrates, proteins, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids. Varying zones of inhibition was produced by the ethanol extract (10-14 mm) and methanol extracts (13-15 mm) against the S. aureus strains. MIC for both the ethanol and methanol extracts was recorded at 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml for some strains of the S. aureus. The results of this study have shown and contributed to the potential of wonderful kola leaf extracts in inhibiting pathogenic strains of S. aureus. Further high-throughput technologies are required to characterize the main bioactive constituents of the wonderful kola plant extracts so that they can be compounded into drug formulations for the treatment of some bacterial related infections in this part of the world.
Keywords
Wonderful Kola, Gram Negative Bacteria, Resistance, Nigeria
To cite this article
Ejikeugwu Chika, Umeokoli Blessing, Iroha Ifeanyichukwu, Ugwu Malachy, Esimone Charles, Phytochemical and Antibacterial Screening of Crude Extracts from Leaves of Wonderful Kola, American Journal of Life Sciences. Special Issue: Microbiology Research. Vol. 2, No. 6-3, 2014, pp. 9-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.s.2014020603.12
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Differential gene expression in germinating and thermoinhibited achenes of Tagetes minuta L. (2003)When imbibed at their optimum germination temperature of 25°C, achenes of Tagetes minuta L. germinate over a period of approximately 48 h. At temperatures of between 35°C and 39°C, the achenes do not germinate but enter ...
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Enhancing phenolic compound production in medicinal plants. (2017)Abstract available in PDF file.
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Evaluation of anthelmintic, antiamoebic and antibacterial activity in traditional South African medicinal plants. (2001)Traditional medicine in southern Africa draws upon a vast selection of plants to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea and intestinal parasites. The evaluation of these plants for biological activity is ...
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Evaluation of plants used in African traditional medicine for asthma and related conditions. (2014)Traditional medicine is a form of discipline that has been applied within most South African societies with the objective of enhancing the physical and psychological health system in the country. Asthma is a complex ...
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An evaluation of plants used in eastern Nigeria in the treatment of epilepsy and convulsion. (2002)Schumanniophyton magnificum and Glypheae brevis are important medicinal plants growing wild in the West African rain forest. They are used in folkloric medicine in the treatment of epilepsy and convulsion as well as for ...
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Factors influencing controlled pollination of Pinus patula. (2002)A study of factors contributing to successful controlled pollinations of Pinus patula Scheide et Deppe was undertaken. The pollen morphology of P. patula, P. oocarpa, P. greggii, P. elliottii, P. tecunumanii, P. caribaea ...
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Flower abscission in potted Plectranthus. (2013)Transport and post-harvest handling of flowers both cut and potted is one of the greatest challenges in the horticulture industry (REDMAN et al., 2002). Ethylene-induced flower abscission is responsible for the loss of ...
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Genetic transformation and micropropagation of Thapsia garganica L. - a medicinal plant. (2003)No abstract available.
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In vitro propagation, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the blood lily, Scadoxus puniceus. (2016)Abstract available in PDF file.
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An investigation of the medicinal properties of Siphonochilus aethiopicus. (2002)Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L. Burtt (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as wild ginger, is a highly sought after plant for use in traditional medicine in South Africa. Over-exploitation of this medicinal plant has ...
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Medicinal properties and in vitro responses of Mayenus senegalensis (Lam.) exell. (2003)No abstract available.
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Micropropagation and acclimatization of Aloe polyphylla and Platycerium bifurcatum. (2001)Shoot cultures of Aloe polyphylla were initiated from young shoot explants of in vitro grown plants. The basal medium was MS medium (MURASHIGE and SKOOG, 1962), supplemented with 100 mgl ¯¹ myo-inositol, and 30 gl ¯¹ ...
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Micropropagation and pharmacological evaluation of Boophone disticha. (2013)Boophone disticha (L.f.) Herb is one of the most widely distributed bulbous species in southern Africa. Of Africa’s many bulbous plants, it is widely known for its poisonous and medicinal properties. It is of considerable ...
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Micropropagation of Brunsvigia undulata F.M. Leight. (2009)Many South African medicinal plants face the threat of over-collection for use in traditional medicines. Many bulbous plants suffer as the whole plant is removed from the wild so that the bulb may be used for medicine. ... | https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/8133/browse?rpp=20&etal=-1&sort_by=1&type=title&starts_with=D&order=ASC |
Using advanced methodologies that pit drug compounds against specific types of malaria parasite cells, an international team of scientists, including researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, have identified a potential new weapon and approach for attacking the parasites that cause malaria.
Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, a key vector of malaria and carrier of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
Despite advances in prevention and treatment in recent years, malaria remains one of the world’s great infectious scourges. In 2010, according to the World Health Organization, there were an estimated 219 million cases globally and 660,000 deaths, mostly among African children.
The disease is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted to humans by the infectious bite of an Anopheles mosquito. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are the most problematic of the parasite species. The former is the most widespread globally; the latter most deadly.
Principal investigator Elizabeth A. Winzeler, PhD, professor in the Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pediatrics and director of translational research at the UC San Diego Health Sciences Center for Immunity, Infection & Inflammation, and colleagues found a key metabolic enzyme (phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase or PI4K) that is used for intracellular development by Plasmodium species at each stage of infection in the vertebrate host.
The discovery could have significant ramifications for eventually eradicating malaria as a global disease. “Elimination efforts are more effective with better tools and infrastructure,” said Winzeler. “Clearly we have better infrastructure and communication now than we had in the 1960s. To make more progress, though, we need more effective drugs.”
A major obstacle has been the developmental nature of the P. vivax parasite. While some antimalarial drugs effectively kill P. vivax as it circulates in the host’s bloodstream, the parasite also produces an early-stage form called a hypnozoite that can lie dormant and undetected in the livers of infected persons for years before reinitiating development and triggering relapse.
“Most drugs selectively work on certain stages of the (parasite) lifecycle, but not all stages,” said Case McNamara, PhD, the study’s first author and a researcher at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego. “Therefore, inhibitors of this drug target have the potential to not only cure individuals of a malaria infection, but to also prevent infections and even block transmission of the parasite back to the mosquito.”
Currently, the only licensed antimalarial drug capable of fully cleansing hidden hypnozoites and eliminating the possibility of relapse – known as the “radical cure” – is primaquine, a drug first tested in the 1940s and licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in 1952.
But primaquine has significant adverse side effects and shortcomings, according to Winzeler, most notably that it can cause life-threatening anemia in people with a specific inherited metabolic enzyme deficiency frequently found in malaria-endemic regions.
“In addition, it may not work all of the time and it requires a prolonged dosing schedule, up to 14 days, which means compliance is an issue. People often do not take the full dose,” Winzeler said. “Primaquine is an old drug and it’s not clear that it would ever be licensed in today’s regulatory environment.”
Primaquine was developed “by simply injecting a lot of compounds into monkeys and seeing which compound cured malaria infections,” said Winzeler. It was later tested in humans using prisoners.
The new approach is far more finely tuned, based on a series of detailed cellular assays that seek to model different parasite lifecycle stages in miniature test tubes. The researchers looked for the rare compound class that had activities in all parasite stages, but no activity against human cells and which was also drug-like. A new chemical class, called imidazopyrazines, possessed these properties. The researchers then identified the protein target of these compounds as PI4K.
“(Dr. Winzeler) had a very creative and powerful idea to help identify malaria drug targets,” said McNamara. “By patiently evolving drug-resistant parasites against the drug of interest, we can probe the genome for the changes responsible for conferring resistance.
“Fortunately, malaria parasites will often try to alter the drug target in subtle ways to prevent the drug from working effectively. So, by identifying these changes we, in turn, identify the drug target. This approach has worked so well that it has quickly become a standard technique in our field to help study and characterize all new antimalarials.”
Because PI4K is also found in humans, Winzeler said the next challenge is to develop a superior drug that continues to discriminate between the parasite and human versions of this enzyme. “Since we know the identity of this protein and will hopefully soon solve its structure, this task will be much easier,” she said.
Co-authors include Marcus C.S. Lee, Santha Kumar and Philipp P. Henrich, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University; Chek Shik Lim, Siau Hoi Lim, Oliver Simon, Bryan K.S. Yeung, Christophe Bodenreider and Thierry T. Diagana, Novartis Institutes for Tropical Disease, Singapore; Jason Roland, Arnab K. Chatterjee, Susan L. McCormack, Kerstin Gagaring, Maureen Ibanez, Nobutaka Kato, Kelli L. Kuhen, Advait Nagle, David M. Plouffe, Badry Bursulaya, David C. Tully and Richard J. Glynne, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego; Micah J. Manary and Stephan Meister, Department of Pediatrics, UCSD; Anne-Marie Zeeman and Clemens H.M. Kocken, Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, The Netherlands; Koen J. Dechering and Martijn Timmerman, TropIQ Health Sciences, The Netherlands; Christoph Fischeli, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute; Mathias Rottmann, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and University of Basel; Lucia Rameh, Department of Medicine, Boston University; Joerg Trappe and Dorothea Haasen, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research; Robert W. Sauerwein, TropIQ Health Sciences and Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University, The Netherlands; Rossarin Suwanarusk and Laurent Renia, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore; Bruce Russell, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology, Agency for Science Technology and Research and Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore; Francois Nosten, Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford and Shoklo Malaria Research Unite, Mahidol University, Thailand; and David A. Fidock, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University and Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, NY.
Funding support came, in part, from the Wellcome Trust, the Medicines for Malaria Venture, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Columbia University, the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, the Singapore Immunology Network and Horizontal Programme on Infectious Diseases under the Agency for Science Technology and Research, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (grants R01AI090141, R01085584 and R01079709). | https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/pages/2013-11-27-malaria-parasite.aspx |
Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miersis an annual or perennial Ayurvedic plant belongs to family Menispermaceae which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. It is a glabrous and succulent shrub. It is commonly named as “Guduchi”. This weed has been known to possess immunomodulatory, hypoglycaemic, jaundice, rheumatism, urinary diseases, anemia and for its antiallergic and anti-inflammatory properties. The plant mainly contains alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoid, aliphatic compound, essential oils, mixture of fatty acids and polysaccharides. A wide range of chemical compounds including Aporphine alkaloids, clerodanediterpenes, berberine, palmatine, tembertarine, magniflorine, choline, and tinosporin etc. have been isolated from this plant. The Alkaloids like Berberine, Palmatine, Tembetarine, Magnoflorine Choline, Tinosporin etc., and Glycoside like Tinocordiside, Tinocordifolioside etc. The most important biological properties reported are antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antiinflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-stress, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory and anti-neoplastic activities. This paper presents a critical review in areas of chemical constituents, proved pre-clinical and clinical trials along with its medicinal uses in different streams of medical sciences.
The present Ethnobotanical study was carried out with the help of the local people, Tribal people, Medicine men and Farmers of Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, who were using Madhuca indica species which is a medicinally important plant belonging to family Sapotaceae. The various morphological parts of this plant such as root, timber, bark, flower, seed are used to treat various diseases like cold, fever, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, toothache, indigestion, and liver diseases and as an wound healing, rheumatism, headache and treatment of neurotic disorder.
Dharmar K. and Erkings Michael Y.
Phytochemical constituents are responsible to medicinal values of plant species which has been used for human ailments. Hence, in the present study has focused on preliminary phytochemical screening and antibacterial activities of Caralluma adscendens. The dry stems were extracted using hexane, petroleum ether, methanol and water. The phytochemical analysis has confirmed the presence of various secondary metabolites like saponins, triterpenoids, steroids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides and flavonoids. Antibacterial activity was studied against Gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Entrococcus and Gram negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli. Inhibitory effects were compared with standard antibiotic gentamycin. Methanol extract was shown various secondary metabolites and was effective against tested bacteria. The results suggest that the phytochemical properties possess potential antimicrobial activities for curing various ailments, which leads to isolate new and novel compounds. | http://ijghc.com/faq.php?category=Herbal%20Chemistry&volume=5&issue=1 |
Recently Ivermectin, a drug in use on hundreds of millions of humans since 1981, has faced severe malignment from the FDA and CDC. Ivermectin received a Nobel prize for drugs in 2015.
Dr. Chris Martenson of Peak Prosperity provides an expert review of the drug.
Video Description
There’s been an absolutely brutal campaign against Ivermectin in the public press. I thought it was time to deploy my background as a Toxicologist to review the known toxicity of Ivermectin. Fortunately, a world-class review paper on Ivermectin came out in 2021 by Jacques Descotes, a prominent toxicologist working at the behest of Medincell.
That comprehensive review of Ivermectin reveals that it is among the safest and most well-tolerated drugs ever introduced to the market.In this episode I walk through the expert review of Ivermectin by Jacques Descotes MD, PharmD, PhD which was conducted in early 2021. We discuss the safety, toxicity, and known side effects and drug interactions, few and mild as they are. The conclusion is that “Ivermectin human toxicity cannot be claimed to be a serious cause for concern.”
History of Ivermectin
What do penicillin, aspirin, and ivermectin have in common? In addition to rhyming, all three belong to the select group of drugs that can claim to have had the greatest beneficial impact on the health and well-being of humanity .
They have at least two other things in common: All three are of natural origin and all three led to a Nobel Prize . Aspirin is a derivative of salicin, a compound found in a variety of plants including willow. Although Hippocrates already speaks of its use in 400 BC, it was not isolated until 1829 as salicylic acid and was synthesized a few years later as acetylsalicylic acid. The discovery of its mechanisms of action earned Sir John Vane the Nobel Prize in 1982. Penicillin was isolated from a fungus that grew by accident in a Petri dish in Alexander Fleming’s laboratory. His discovery radically changed the course of medicine and earned Fleming the Nobel Prize in 1945, along with Howard Florey and Ernst Chain.
And this brings us to ivermectin – a drug that is probably not part of our medicine cabinet, like aspirin or penicillin, but which has certainly improved the lives of millions of people since its discovery in 1975.
The long journey of a sample of Japanese soil
The story of how ivermectin was discovered is quite incredible. In the late 1960s, Satoshi Ōmura, a microbiologist at the Kitasako Institute in Tokyo, began collecting thousands of soil samples from all over Japan, searching for antibacterial compounds. He grew bacteria from the samples, identified the cultures with medical potential, and shipped them 10,000 km away to Merck laboratories in New Jersey, where his collaborator William Campbell tested their effect against parasitic worms that affect livestock and other animals. A culture from a sample collected near a golf course south of Tokyo showed a remarkable effect against worms. The bacteria in the culture turned out to be a new species, which they named Streptomyces avermictilis.. The active compound, avermectin, was chemically modified to increase its activity and safety. The new compound, called ivermectin, was marketed for animal use in 1981 and soon became one of the best-selling veterinary drugs in the world . It is remarkable that, despite decades of searching, S. avermictilis remains the only source of avermectin that has been found. | https://newsrescue.com/world-toxicology-expert-gives-definitive-review-of-ivermectin-2015-nobel-prize-winning-drug-for-humans/ |
Infectious diseases are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Nowadays, medicinal plants play a major role in treatment of infectious diseases and they are easily available and more affordable as compared to synthetic compounds. The emerging trends of multidrug resistance among several groups of microorganisms against different classes of antibiotics led different researchers to develop efficient drugs from plant sources to counter multidrug resistant strains. This study investigated two different concentration of methanol extracts of stem bark of Prosopis cineraria to determine their efficacy against multidrug resistant microbes.
Powdered barks of the tree were treated with methanol using hot extraction method. Crude methanol extracts of the bark of P. cineraria was investigated for their antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacteria (both gram-positive and gram-negative) by disc diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin was used as standard.
Multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), E. coli (ATCC 8739), Salmonella enterica (ATCC 14028), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) were used in the study. The methanolic bark extracts of P. cineraria showed a remarkable inhibition of the microorganisms. The potency shown by these extracts recommends their use against multidrug resistant microorganisms. The present study suggests that the methanol extract of the stem bark of P. cineraria exhibited a potential antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms and could be a potential source of new antimicrobial agents.
Keywords: Prosopis cineraria, antibacterial, ciprofloxacin, bark, microorganisms
How to cite this article:
Saif Al Ghais, Vibha Bhardwaj, Pramod Kumbhar. Antimicrobial Properties of Prosopis cineraria stem bark. American Journal of Microbiology and Immunology, 2020 5:7. DOI: 10.28933/ajmi-2020-06-2105
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CC BY 4.0
This work and its PDF file(s) are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. | https://escipub.com/ajmi-2020-06-2105/ |
Why vegetable recipes are not very spicy.
- Biology, MedicineEvolution and human behavior : official journal of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society
- 2001
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SPICES
- Chemistry
- 2004
Many of the spices and herbs used today have been valued for their antimicrobial effects and medicinal powers in addition to their flavor and fragrance qualities. Most of the foodborne bacterial…
Why do people living in hot climates like their food spicy?
- Medicine, ArtTemperature
- 2016
Here it is proposed that, even in this age of globalization, cultural considerations and the fact (for good reasons) that humans are hesitant to try new foods explain why persons that live in hotter climates spice their foods to a greater extent than persons that living in cooler climates.
Antimicrobial properties of three spices used in the preparation of suya condiment against organisms isolated from formulated samples and individual ingredients
- Biology
- 2009
The sensitivity of isolated organisms revealed that clove is outstanding compared to the much worked on garlic and that gram positive bacteria showed higher sensitivity to spices than gram negative bacteria.
Herbal Spices as Alternative Antimicrobial Food Preservatives: An Update
- Biology
- 2007
A bird’s eye view is given mainly on the recent research on antimicrobial potential of herbal spices and their derivatives against some pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in foods, their antioxidant activities along with possible adverse effects and advocates for more research to elucidate their commercial utilization in food preservation.
Darwinian Gastronomy : Why We Use Spices Spices taste good because they are good for us
- 2007
pices are plant products used in flavoring foods and beverages. For thousands of years, aromatic plant materials have been used in food preparation and preservation, as well as for embalming, in…
Antimicrobial Effects of Spices on Spoilage Organisms of Moin-Moin
- 2014
There is a renewed interest in the antimicrobial properties of spices. This study investigates the antimicrobial effects of spices on spoilage organisms of moin-moin a traditional West African dish…
Measurement of spices and seasonings in India: opportunities for cancer epidemiology and prevention.
- MedicineAsian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
- 2010
Using a novel method for assessing food items primarly added during cooking, per capita consumption in India is estimated within an epidemiologic study based on basic science research and suggestive ecologic level data on cancer incidence and spice consumption.
Plants are the Potential Source of Nutraceuticals and Phytomedicinal Chemicals
- Medicine
- 2014
The phytochemicals are secondary metabolites which are induced in presence of abiotic stress like UV, mineral salts etc. which are used to improve the food quality by preventing the "Food poisoning" by various pathogenic microorganisms.
Adaptive ingredients against food spoilage in Japanese cuisine
- MedicineInternational journal of food sciences and nutrition
- 2009
Whether two antimicrobial ingredients (i.e. spices and vinegar) are used in ways consistent with the antimicrobial hypothesis are explored, which revealed that the vinegar use pattern conformed to the predictions.
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The spice toxicity tests in regard to Salmonella demonstrated that diluted spice:pre-enrichment ratios of 1:1000 are necessary for cloves, pimento, cinnamon, oregano and mustard seed to confidently isolate this organism of public health concern.
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Of the series C1 to C18, aliphatic straight chain alcohols of C14 or C16 chain-lengths were the most inhibitory against C. botulinum with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.6 ppm. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Antimicrobial-Functions-of-Spices%3A-Why-Some-Like-it-Billing-Sherman/f3c545e80bcb75e3260447eb019c475dc4a2434f |
Introduction: The lack of new antibiotics and the increasing rate of resistance on pathogens requires the discovery of bioactive compounds with antibacterial activity. Using etnopharmacology knowledge, several Indonesian herbs, in particular Juwet (Syzygium cumini), Sirih merah (Piper ornatum), Binahong (Anredera cordifolia) and Laos (Alpinia galangan) had been shown possess wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities. It was postulated that these plants would also have antibacterial activity.
Method: This study aims to assess the potential for antibacterial activity of these plants, in which decoctation, methanolic and choloroform extraction was used against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli growth by measuring and comparing zone of inhibition (ZOI), minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC).
Results: All plants tested had some activity against S. aureus, but none were found to be active against E. coli. Furthermore, various extraction methods of S. cumini and A. galangan had antibacterial activity against S. aureus with a ZOI of 10 15 mm and 12 25 mm, respectively, with increased antibacterial activity found in non-polar extracts. Methanolic extract of S. cumini acts as a bactericidal at 0.391 mg/ml, whilst other extracts had a bactericidal activity at 6.25 mg/ml.
Conclusion: From four plants tested, methanolic extracts of S. cumini and A. galangan has medium to strong antibacterial activity against clinical S. aureus strains.
Keywords: Juwet, Sirih Merah, Binahong, Laos, Antibacterial, Antibiotic
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Researchers at Birmingham University have discovered how to turn a compound from a common wildflower called Feverfew into a new treatment for cancer.
The team found a way to extract the naturally-occurring substance, called parthenolide, from the plant’s leaves and modify it so that it could destroy chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. CLL is a common form of leukemia that typically affects older people.
Paul Stout | Shutterstock
John Fossey, from the university’s school of chemistry, says: “This research is important not only because we have shown a way of producing parthenolide that could make it much more accessible to researchers, but also because we’ve been able to improve its ‘drug-like’ properties to kill cancer cells… It’s a clear demonstration that parthenolide has the potential to progress from the flowerbed into the clinic.”
New treatments are needed for chronic lymphocytic leukemia
CLL is the most common form of leukemia in adults, with more than 3,000 people diagnosed in the UK annually. Its clinical course is variable, ranging from stable, indolent disease that is not necessary to treat through to rapidly progressing disease that requires immediate intervention.
Patient response rates to treatment strongly depend on genetic changes including those that disrupt the DNA damage (DDR) response genes ATM and p53. Tumors that have or develop a DDR defect are refractory to chemotherapeutic agents because they cannot induce apoptosis in response to the DNA damage caused by therapy. This means these tumors cannot be treated with the usual DNA-damaging chemotherapies.
Furthermore, the majority of patients with CLL are over the age of 60 and often have other illnesses that contraindicate the use of aggressive chemotherapeutic approaches.
“This highlights a need to develop alternative, less aggressive, therapies for the treatment of CLL,” write Fossey and colleagues.
About the Feverfew plant
Feverfew is a strong-smelling herb, similar looking to chamomile, that grows on roadsides, wasteland and gardens in the UK. It is commonly sold in health food shops as a remedy for various ailments.
As the name suggests, it was primarily used as a treatment for fever, but other ailments it has been used to treat include psoriasis, dermatitis, allergies, arthritis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, toothache, insect bites earache, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, digestive problems infertility and problems with menstruation and childbirth.
It is a traditional herbal medicine that dates all the way back the ancient Greeks and early European herbalists. It is now widely cultivated across large regions of the world and its importance as a medicinal agent is growing significantly, the more researchers report on its therapeutic effects.
The Feverfew plant contains a wide range of natural substances, but the active agents include one or more of the sesquiterpene lactones, including parthenolide.
The anti-cancer properties of the parthenolide compound were identified by scientists several years ago. Although it is available commercially, it is costly and exhibits poor drug-like properties, meaning it has not progressed beyond basic research.
Creating an effective treatment
Now, Fossey and colleagues have not only developed a way of making the compound directly from Feverfew, but they have also modified it to produce various compounds that are effective at killing cancer cells in the laboratory. The properties that these compounds possess show much more promise as drug candidates for use in the clinic.
The team’s protocol for growing, extracting and derivatizing parthenolide obtained from Feverfew is described in the journal MedChemComm.
The researchers used both established and modified methods to prepare parthenolide derivatives by adding primary or secondary amines to the compound. The drug-like properties of these derivatives were computed and then screened for the anti-leukemic activity against the refractory MEC1 CLL cell line.
A screening cascade identified the most active compounds and their properties, which led to the identification of a new compound with good anti-CLL activity and fewer drawbacks than some of the main compounds reported on in the literature. The compound also worked against drug-resistant disease.
The compound appears to kill cancer cells by increasing their levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These unstable ROS molecules are already present at increased levels in cancer cells, but parthenolide increases these levels to a critical point, which causes the cancer cells to die.
Who was involved in the research?
The study was a multidisciplinary effort, bringing together researchers from the University’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Studies, the School of Chemistry and the drug discovery companies, Sygnature Discovery and Apconix.
The research was initiated by Angelo Agathanggelou (Institute of Cancer and Genomic Studies), who is exploring new ways to treat CLL.
“There are several effective treatments for CLL, but after a time the disease in some patients becomes resistant,” says Agathanggelou.
“We were interested in finding out more about the potential of parthenolide. With expertise from colleagues in the School of Chemistry we’ve been able to demonstrate that this compound shows real promise and could provide alternative treatment options for CLL patients,” he concludes.
Journal reference: | http://blog.anactivelife.com/2019/08/new-leukemia-treatment-developed-from-common-wild-flower/ |
Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that are closely related to humans at cellular level. Human fungal pathogens belong to various classes of fungi, mainly zygo- cetes, ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and deuteromycetes. In recent years, fungal infections have dramatically increased as a result of improved diagnosis, high frequency of catheterization, instrumentation, etc. However, the main cause remains the increasing number of immunosuppressed patients, mostly because of HIV infection and indiscriminate usage of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics and prosthetic devices, and grafts in clinical settings. Presently available means of combating fungal infections are still weak and clumsy compared to control of bacterial infection. The present scenario of antifungal therapy is still based on two classes of antifungal drugs (polyenes and azoles). These drugs are effective in many cases, but display toxicity and limited spectrum of ef?cacy. The recent trend towards emergence of drug-resistant isolates in the clinic is an additional problem. In recent years, a few new antifungal drugs have entered the clinics, but they are expected to undergo same fate as the older antifungal drugs. The application of fungal genomics offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop novel antifungal drugs. However, it is too early to expect any novel drugs, as the antifungal drug discovery program is in the stage of infancy. Interestingly, several novel antifungal drug targets have been identi?ed and validated.
This timely and original handbook paves the way to success in plant-based drug development, systematically addressing the issues facing a pharmaceutical scientist who wants to turn a plant compound into a safe and effective drug. Plant pharmacologists from around the world demonstrate the potentials and pitfalls involved, with many of the studies and experiments reported here published for the first time. The result is a valuable source of information unavailable elsewhere.
Combating bacterial infections calls for a multidisciplinary approach and this is what is on offer here. Written by an experienced international team of researchers from various fields ranging from biotechnology to traditional medicine, the book provides complete and comprehensive coverage of topics relevant to new antibacterial drugs.
This ready reference and handbook adopts a novel approach, focusing on combating multi-drug resistance in bacteria by developing antibacterials with new target sites, using new advances in drug discovery as well as natural products.
Divided into three sections, the first describes the problem of drug resistance and the need for new drugs, while the second treats recent trends and new classes of drugs, including relevant developments in transcriptomics and proteomics leading to new antimicrobial drug discovery, and a new generation of antibiotics and non-antibiotics. The third section on natural products discusses the antibacterial action of phytocompounds, plant extracts, essential oils and honey as well as the role of probiotics in bacterial infections.
Invaluable to students of medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, phytomedicine and microbiology and all those wanting to know about the possibilities and limitations of new antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, its coverage of plants and other natural products makes this relevant to the pharmaceutical and herbal industries. | https://numerique.laprocure.com/listeliv.php?base=ebook&form_recherche_avancee=ok&auteurs=Farrukh%20Aqil |
What you need to know
From antibacterial effects, to treating tuberculosis and having cancer fighting potential, basil makes an excellent herb to add to a meal.
Widely used as an herb in cooking, the basil plant belongs to the same family as mint and is native to tropical areas around the world. Basil is available in a variety of types or hybrids, but the most commonly used version has a fairly strong, pungent taste with notes of sweetness.
Its fame as a universal seasoning staple aside, basil also has a number of health benefits. Here are some examples…
Antibacterial Effects
There’s evidence that basil has strong antibacterial properties. One study pitted basil oil in various diluted concentrations against the multi-drug-resistant bacteria Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas. Results showed the basil oil had an inhibitory effect on the bacteria, which researchers found encouraging, given how widespread these difficult-to-treat bacteria are.1
Tuberculosis Symptoms
Research in 2012, looking at the traditional use of basil in treating the symptoms of respiratory illnesses, found that the extracts from the plant (leaves, fruits, and flowers) had potential for use in helping to ease tuberculosis symptoms “due to a synergistic effect” of active compounds.2
Cancer-Fighting Potential
In a 2013 study, researchers found that basil may have the potential to help in fighting several types of cancer—including oral, liver, skin, and lung cancer—through a variety of mechanisms, such as triggering apoptosis (cell death), antioxidant activity, and slowing down cell division.3 They attributed these effects to basil’s phytochemical content—luteolin, apigenin, eugenol, rosmarinic acid, and myrtenal, among other compounds. The study authors say the results were encouraging, but further research is needed to establish the possible utility of basil in cancer prevention and treatment.
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The purpose of present study is to deliver information on the therapeutic potentials of two common medicinal plants (Cannabis sativa, Chenopodium album) commonly used in traditional medicines in Pakistan.
Evaluation the Effectiveness of Phenolic Compound of Salvia Frigida on Induced Atopic Dermatitis in Experimental Mice
- BiologyIraqi Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ( P-ISSN 1683 - 3597 E-ISSN 2521 - 3512)
- 2022
Comparisons of non-treated induced AD group with Salvia Frigida or Tacrolimus treated groups shows a significant reduction in the levels of all studied parameters’, while after application of phenolic compound cream 5%, its shows a major reduction in all parameters except these of eosinophil, IgE, and IL-13.
Modulation of Mutagen-Induced Genotoxicity by two Lesotho Medicinal Plants in Allium cepa L
- Biology
- 2015
Methanolic extracts of Dicoma anomala, used in traditional medicine in Lesotho, and Camellia sinensis were assessed for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and modulation of Cyclophosphamide using the Allium cepa assay following 24 hours treatment and the mitotic index (MI) was measured.
Chemical composition of some underutilized green leafy vegetables of Sonitpur district of Assam, India.
- Chemistry
- 2015
The objective of this study was to analyze the nutritional, antinutritional and mineral compositions of eight locally available underutilized green leafy vegetables of Sonitpur district of Assam,…
A Review on Chenopodium botrys L.: traditional uses, chemical composition and biological activities
- Biology
- 2015
Data suggest that C. botrys may be an interesting novel candidate plant for cancer treatment, but many studies are needed to confirm this possibility, and the herb contains flavonoids, alkaloids and several terpenoids.
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The FAME extract of S. brachiata showed the highest antib bacterial and antifungal activities among the extracts tested, and the other three extracts showed potent antibacterial and moderate anticandidal activities.
Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Chenopodium botrys L. Essential Oil from Greece
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The chemical composition of the aerial parts oil of Chenopodium botrys L. was examined and mainly sesquiterpenes with elemol acetate and selina-3.11-dien-6α-ol being the major components.
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Antibacterial activity of some indigenous plants used for the treatment of wounds in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
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In vitro inhibition of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by ethnobotanically selected South African plants.
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Global promotion of herbal medicine: India's opportunity
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Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery
- Biology
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This review attempts to portray the discovery and development of medicine from galenical to genomical, with a focus on the potential and role of ayurveda. Natural products, including plants, animals…
The Determination of Bacterial Sensitivity to Antibiotics
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Valuation of medicinal plants for pharmaceutical uses
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This paper attempts to review the literature and the emerging policy issues on valuation of plant diversity for pharmaceutical uses and concludes that a conservation strategy on the basis of the benefits of bioprospecting alone will need detailed area-specific study instead of a general and large landscape valuation. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/EVALUATION-OF-ANTIBACTERIAL-ACTIVITIES-OF-ALBUM-Singh-Dwevedi/27753476cd2342c98207431504294281dd909cc7?p2df |
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Biology (Cell Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology)
Major Professor
Lindsey Shaw, Ph.D.
Committee Member
James Leahy, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Bill Baker, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Edward Turos, Ph.D.
Keywords
Antimicrobial drug discovery, Combinatorial libraries, Efflux inhibition, Quinazoline
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has been a developing problem for mankind in recent decades and multi-drug resistant bacteria are now encountered that are resistant to all treatment options available. In 2014, the World Health Organization announced that this problem is driving us towards a “post-antibiotic era” that will change the face of modern medicine as we know it. If lack of novel antibiotic development and FDA approval continues, by the year 2050, 10 million people will die each year to an antimicrobial resistant bacterial infection. With lack of pharmaceutical industry involvement in developing novel antibiotics, the responsibility now lies within the academic institutions to identify potential novel therapeutics to fuel the antibiotic drug discovery pipeline. Combinatorial chemistry is one technique used to expedite the discovery process by assessing a large chemical space in a relatively short time when compared to traditional screening approaches. Combinatorial libraries can be screened using multiple approaches and has shown successful application towards many disease states. We initially discovered broad spectrum antibacterial bis-cyclic guanidines using combinatorial libraries and expanded on the knowledge of the physiochemical attributes necessary to inhibit Gram negative bacterial pathogens. Following this success, we continued to assess the combinatorial libraries for adjunctive therapeutics that potentiate the activity of obsolete clinical antibiotics. The polyamine efflux pump inhibitors discovered in this subsequent study prove the benefits of using the large chemical space provided in the combinatorial libraries to identify a variety of therapeutics. Our studies always begin with identifying an active compound and active compounds undergo hit-to-lead optimization. This optimization studies are of utmost importance in developing a novel antibacterial agent for therapeutic applications. Our medicinal chemistry work described here is proof of the success of careful structure activity analyses to optimize a hit scaffold to create a more effective antibacterial agent. Overall, our work described here reveals the potential role of academic institutions in fending off the impending “post-antibiotic era”.
Scholar Commons Citation
Fleeman, Renee, "Discovering Antibacterial and Anti-Resistance Agents Targeting Multi-Drug Resistant ESKAPE Pathogens" (2017). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. | https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6839/ |
Antibacterial Task Force: How CDER is establishing and promoting new approaches to antibacterial drug development<!— END Social buttons—>
Rise in antibacterial resistance coupled with a stagnating development pipeline continues to be an urgent public health concern. As the regulatory authority responsible for ensuring that available antibacterial therapies are safe and effective and facilitating their development, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) recognized that it plays an important role in addressing this issue. Therefore, a dedicated effort was launched to utilize the experience and expertise of CDER scientists to play their role in addressing this public health crisis.
In September 2012, CDER announced the establishment of a multidisciplinary task force focused on antibacterial drug development. Upon its inception, the task force sought to promote antibacterial drug development through the use of novel approaches. The task force leverages not only the expertise of Agency scientists, but also promotes collaboration of the many stakeholder groups involved with the clinical development enterprise. The task force provides guidance related to antibacterial drug development, stimulates and facilitates drug development through communication and outreach, and identifies ways to advance the underlying science needed for drug development.
Regulatory Flexibility – Clarification of Clinical Development Pathways
A major part of the task force’s work is devoted to the review and revision of existing guidances, as well as the development of new guidances related to antibacterial drug development. With its broad representation across CDER, the task force assists in the review and issuance of multiple guidances on key topics, such as development of antibacterial drugs for patients with unmet medical needs, Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia (HABP/VABP), Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP), Uncomplicated Gonorrhea, and Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infection (ABSSSI). Development of guidances not only provides clarification to drug developers on potential clinical pathways to be utilized in development, but also provides predictability, as it documents the Agency’s current thinking on these topics. Furthermore, these guidances illustrate how CDER plans to utilize regulatory flexibility to facilitate antibacterial drug development. For example, these guidances explain how supportive information can be leveraged to augment trial data in providing evidence of safety or effectiveness when a traditional development program (i.e., two large, phase III trials) may not be feasible and describe approaches to addressing enrollment challenges, such as patients receiving prior antibacterial therapy. In addition, the guidances indicate the Agency’s willingness to discuss with sponsors alternative approaches to satisfying certain requirements. Continued support of guidance development continues to be a focus of the ongoing task force activities aimed at providing regulatory flexibility in the field of antibacterial drug development.
|Guidance||Publication|
June 18, 2014
May 6, 2014
January 9, 2014
October 16, 2013
July 1, 2013
Communication and Outreach – Collaboration across stakeholders
The task force has been directly involved in a number of meetings and workshops to incorporate input from key stakeholders, including drug developers, academics, and patients, into its activities. Through such activities, the task force collaborates with a cross section of parties involved in the clinical development enterprise with the goal of promoting efficient antibacterial drug development. Meetings and workshops have focused on topics such as the use of innovative statistical approaches to the design and analysis of clinical trials in antibacterial drug development, development of clinical design approaches to address unmet medical needs in antibacterial drug development, priorities and issues related to feasible design features of HABP/VABP clinical trials, and alternative pathways for approval for drugs addressing unmet medical needs for antibacterial treatments. The task force recognizes that it alone cannot tackle the list of challenges impeding development of new therapies or preserving the utility of existing ones, and plans to continue the communication and outreach efforts to work collectively to address this important public health issue.
Regulatory Science Advancement – Identification of novel approaches
Alongside efforts on clarifying development pathways and facilitating communication and outreach, the task force has also sought ways to advance regulatory science and identify potential novel solutions to the various challenges impeding development of needed therapies. A major commodity of the task force is the wealth of knowledge possessed by its members. CDER has leveraged that knowledge asset to improve efficiencies within the antibacterial clinical trial enterprise, while still ensuring the information generated from antibacterial trials stands up to the rigor needed to establish safety and effectiveness. In particular, the task force is working with outside public private partnerships, such as the Foundations for the National Institutes of Health Biomarkers Consortium and the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) to further expedite antibacterial drug development. Work has focused on activities related to appropriate endpoint selection, application of Quality-by-Design approaches, and streamlining clinical trial protocols for HABP/VABP.
Next Steps – Drug Discovery and Attacking Resistance
The large undertaking the task force was given in helping to regenerate interest in clinical development in this field has taken tremendous time and resources, and gaps still need to be addressed. While much of the focus has been made on regulatory flexibility and more efficient approaches to drug development, a continuing supply of new therapies will have an important impact on addressing the public health concern of a diminishing pipeline coinciding with rising antibacterial resistance. To date, the activities of the task force have helped provide a framework for future drug development. As that framework starts to mature, the task force intends to broaden its communication and outreach efforts by holding meetings and workshops to foster the discovery and development of innovative therapies to combat increasingly difficult to treat pathogens.
While these efforts address new antibacterial drug development, additional approaches are needed to break the cycle of emergent resistance when new antibacterial drugs are approved and used in clinical practice. The task force will put increasing emphasis on communication and outreach efforts in areas of drug discovery designed to preempt or reduce emergent resistance. The task force will put increasing emphasis on communication and outreach efforts in areas of drug discovery designed to preempt or reduce emergent resistance and to identify new bacterial targets to preserve the activity of antibacterial drugs. | https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/ucm406769.htm |
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House dust mite-related respiratory allergies and probiotics: a narrative review
Clinical and Molecular Allergy volume 16, Article number: 15 (2018)
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Abstract
The socio-economic burden of allergic respiratory conditions on continental Europe is even higher than that of mainstream diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as allergic rhinitis alone accounts for billions of Euros in healthcare expenses across Europe. House dust mites (HDM) are one of the most common triggers behind allergic rhinitis and asthma. The role of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of some allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, is already well recognized, whereas evidence about their efficacy in patients with respiratory allergies—while increasing—is still limited. Here the current evidence for the use of probiotics in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma is discussed.
Background
Allergies and asthma are health conditions that have become highly prevalent across the globe, triggering respiratory symptoms—such as runny nose and sneezing, shortness of breath, and wheezing—in affected individuals. One of the most common triggers behind such allergic reactions are the allergens of house dust mites (HDMs). HDMs, which thrive in warm and humid household conditions, are classified as Arachnids and form a very diverse class in the Animalia kingdom. While mites are associated with a wide range of pathological and parasitic conditions in plants and animals, HDMs are rather unique as they can trigger a type I hypersensitivity reaction in predisposed persons, which can lead to severe allergic manifestations . The organism is microscopic in nature, approximately 0.2–0.4 mm in size, and proliferates well in the presence of skin cells and moulds, especially when conditions are moist and humid . High HDM content can be detected in bedding materials, as mites feed on skin and hair, and it becomes natural that people inhale the allergen in large volumes when they sleep.
The geographical distribution of different subspecies of HDMs is truly multi continental, as numerous research studies have indicated their prevalence across all continents except for Antarctica . In regard to their ideal thriving conditions, temperatures in the range of 18–24 °C together with humidity levels of 70% and above are perfect for the organism, whereas the prevalence of various subspecies of HDMs is relatively low in environments with less than 50% relative humidity . The effect of humidity on HDM proliferation is clearly visible in regions of British Columbia, Canada, in which high moisture content in the air supports high prevalence and proliferation of the organism. However, as altitude increases, and humidity levels decrease, the mite infestation rate decreases significantly. It also must be noted that altitude alone is not the only limiting factor that affects the proliferation of HDM as seen in the high-altitude regions of the Andes in South America, where the distribution of the organism is extensive . Figure 1 presents a schematic representation of the distribution of 6 subspecies of HDMs across different regions of the globe .
History of HDMs in medicine
HDMs belong to the taxonomic group called Astigmata and were established as a prominent source of indoor allergens with the discovery of the house mite species Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in 1967 . While Prof. Reindert Voorhorst is well recognized for presenting the organism to the global scientific community in that year, other prominent contributors dating back to the early 20’s and 30’s laid the foundation for research on house dust mite-related allergies in humans. Prominent examples include Prof. Willem Storm van Leeuwen, who observed that housing conditions with high moisture content was not conducive for patients suffering from asthma, and researcher Marise Spieksma-Boezeman, who identified and even cultured mite samples belonging to the genus Dermatophagoides in samples of house dust during her research. At that time, however, the organism had no research significance regarding its role as an allergen in humans .
Epidemiology
It can be estimated that approximately 1–2% of the general population worldwide has allergic sensitization towards HDMs with significant variability depending on the cohort being studied . In developed countries, this rate is much higher: in Europe, HDM allergic sensitization is above 20%; it is rising up to 40% in some cohorts in North America and to over 80% in a cohort of paediatric patients in Taiwan .
This result demonstrates that substantial diversity in HDM allergic sensitization prevalence exists and depends on factors such as ethnicity, socio-economic conditions, geographical variations and even the diagnostic paradigm that is adopted. For this reason, a wide range of confounding factors need to be considered to understand the epidemiology of HDM-mediated allergies .
A very common manifestation of HDM allergic sensitization is rhinitis, the symptoms of which include sneezing, and stuffy and running nose. These symptoms may not appear to be very serious and thus people often ignore them until the conditions become unbearable. However, a recent research article stated that the socio-economic burden of allergic rhinitis on continental Europe is even higher than that of mainstream health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease . When scaled in terms of cost to the continental economy, allergic rhinitis accounts for billions of Euros in healthcare expenses across Europe . When this statistic is seen in context of the fact that allergy prevalence is rising (more than 50% of Europeans will suffer from allergic rhinitis in 10 years), the economic burden from the entire European Union’s perspective is enormous, to put it mildly .
Pathogenic mechanism of HDM-related allergies
Due to the rising prevalence of different allergic conditions in recent decades, there has been a massive surge in research endeavours towards understanding their underlying pathogenic mechanisms and clinical implications . Research studies have clearly shown that allergic manifestations increase significantly in individuals when there is a disruption in the T helper balance with polarization toward a Th2 phenotype, and that the dynamics of the gut microbiota has a role in maintaining this immune response balance . Multiple immunological research studies have stated that a healthy gut microbiota helps in building and maintaining a well-balanced immune system in humans. Moreover, the World Health Organization has emphasized on the role of probiotic agents in enriching intestinal microflora.
A study by Calderon et al. described a direct correlation between HDM-mediated allergies and the level of exposure to the organism itself during the early life of an individual. This study stated that young children in their first 3 years of life have the highest chance of contracting the allergy when exposed to HDM allergens, such as Der p 1 and Der f 1, at levels of 10 mcg/g of carpet dust. The study further added that a prior family history of allergy positively affects development of the allergy in these young children . When exposure to the HDM allergens is as low as 0.1 mcg/g of dust, the probability of contracting HDM allergy is significantly reduced. While there appears to be a linear relationship between the level of exposure to allergens and HDM allergy, a wide range of scientific studies state otherwise. There are reports of low prevalence of HDM allergy in young children who are either exposed to very high or low levels of HDM allergens in their first 5 years of life. This non-linear association may be explained in terms of the high dose tolerance phenomenon that is observed in the case of cat allergens, but there is still no conclusive scientific evidence in this regard . Different allergens from HDMs vary significantly in size, and this aspect can significantly impact the way that they are inhaled. Allergens that are smaller in size can penetrate deep into the lungs, but their rate of inhalation is less than that of large allergens, which can trigger an early phase immune response and elicit rather mild clinical symptoms . As allergens are inhaled by the exposed individual, they enter the epithelial linings of the lungs and trigger the spread of dendritic cells into the lymph nodes. This stage is followed by the triggering of Th2 cell-mediated immunity and consequent inflammation of the lung’s epithelial linings . Calderon et al. further added that the efficacy of HDM allergens in eliciting a powerful allergic reaction is compounded by stimulation of the innate immune system along with the Th2 cell-mediated immune response.
Therapeutic role of probiotics against respiratory allergies
Considering the massive socio-economic burden of different allergic conditions on global healthcare resources, there is a considerable research impetus towards finding pioneering therapeutic and preventive interventions. In this regard, the role of the gut microbiota in shaping the immune response against conditions such as HDM allergy was anticipated in a previous section. Following up, there are new findings that suggest that the dynamics of gut colonization in infants play a critical role in shaping the immune system, and there is a possibility of enriching the gut microflora using probiotics that could contribute towards the prevention of allergic conditions in later life [12, 13]. The microbiome bacteria can affect T helper responses by eliciting T helper-1 (Th1) cytokine production and/or by inducing T regulatory cells (Treg) , thereby suppressing Th2 responses. Lactobacillus bacteria affect Treg cells by generating semi-mature dendritic cells and increasing the expression of CD40; they are capable of inhibiting Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 while inducing specific regulatory cytokines, such as transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and IL-10 . Probiotics can also enhance local IgA production, which directly affects mucosal defences , and they have been involved in the maturation of adaptive T cell immunity by stimulating the production of IL-17 .
One of the first observations about the role of probiotic supplementation for the prevention of atopic eczema dates to 2001, when Kalliomaki et al. found a significant reduction in the probability of developing atopic eczema by age 2 when supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus was given for 2–4 weeks prenatally and 6 months postnatally; these results were confirmed in two subsequent follow-up studies in which a minor incidence of atopic disease was confirmed after 4 and after 7 years, respectively [18, 19].
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature that documented the use of probiotic agents for the prevention of allergic conditions in early life was carried out by Zuccotti et al. . The authors analysed 29 RCTs on a total of 4755 children and found a significant reduction (odds ratio 0.78, CI 0.69–0.89) in the development of AD when dietary probiotic supplementation was added during pregnancy and early infancy with an even more prominent effect when a probiotic mixture was employed . They concluded that the current literature demonstrates an overall benefit of probiotic supplementation for the prevention of eczema in high-risk infants. The same study further highlighted that lower diversity of the gut microbiota is associated with an increased risk of type I hypersensitivity reactions in young children . It may be possible that when probiotic supplementation is given to these susceptible individuals, it results in a more favourable “allergy-protecting” gut microbiota.
In regard to the role of probiotic supplementation in patients with allergic rhinitis, Vilà-Nadal et al. , recently reviewed this topic . Table 1 highlights different probiotic strains that have been evaluated in allergic rhinitis caused by allergens such as pollen and HDMs in adults and children.
The authors of this review conclude that probiotics appear to have beneficial therapeutic effects in allergic response as improvements in symptom scores and quality of life have been observed in these patients. In contrast, no positive impact was shown for the prevention of asthma and respiratory diseases .
In another systematic review on the effect of probiotics in AR, Zajac et al. considered 23 randomized controlled trials on a total 1919 patients; quantitative analysis found a positive significant effect of probiotics on rhinitis-related quality of life (RQLQ Global Score and RQLQ Nose Score), whereas a positive but non-significant effect was found regarding symptom scores. Despite the lack of evidence for an improvement of symptom scores and the significant heterogeneity of these RCTs, the authors concluded that probiotics may have beneficial effects in patients affected by AR and that further studies are needed to adequately address this question .
It has to be underlined that probiotics effects must be considered strain-specific; therefore, future studies are required to investigate which strain(s) can be considered the most suitable in order to achieve the best immunomodulatory effect in patients affected by allergic respiratory diseases .
Role of probiotics in HDM-related allergic conditions
Scientific evidence assessing the role of probiotics in the treatment of HDM-related respiratory allergies, while limited, is increasing.
The potential capacity of Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB8826 to reduce the allergic response in HDM allergic patients was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. In this study , it was shown that the co-application of L. plantarum and Der p 1 induced a Th1-shift in the immune response with upregulation of IgG and Th1-cytokine (IFN-γ and IL-12) production, moderate stimulation of IL-10, reduction of bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia after allergen challenge and suppression of allergen-specific IgE-response.
In one study on 29 patients affected by allergic asthma and HDM sensitization, a 4-week treatment with synbiotics significantly reduced the systemic production of Th2-cytokines (namely, IL-5) after allergen challenge and improved peak expiratory flow, despite a lack of any observed effects on bronchial inflammation markers .
Another recent and interesting approach consists of probiotic-impregnated bedding material. In the first pilot RCT in which 20 patients with AR and HDM sensitization used such materials for 8 weeks, no differences were found in HDM allergen levels compared to the placebo, whereas a significant improvement was reported by patients in terms of rhinitis-related symptom reduction and quality of life .
Of interest, it has been shown that even heat-killed lactic acid bacteria can be of help in the treatment of patients with respiratory allergy and HDM sensitization. Peng et al. showed that heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei supplementation significantly improved rhinitis-related quality of life scores in a group of 90 children with HDM sensitization.
The therapeutic potential of probiotic strains against allergic conditions was also explored by an observational study published in 2014. This study focused on the efficacy of two different symbiotic formulations (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04 and fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS); Lactobacillus plantarum LP01, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC00 and FOS) in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) . Aspects such as total nasal symptoms score, ARIA classification for AR severity and data on the concomitant treatments were collected at the beginning of the study and evaluated at two different time points, 1 and 2 months after the beginning of the supplementation period. The results of this study highlighted a decrease in the total nasal symptoms score and an improvement in the AR severity according to the ARIA classification of rhinitis at both the time points. The reduction in the symptom score was statistically significant for the probiotic combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei in patients with PAR, whereas the symbiotic combination against SAR showed a statistically significant improvement at only the first timepoint. However, a concomitant decrease in the consumption of symptomatic medications, such as antihistamine, and corticosteroids drugs significantly and progressively decreased after 2 and 4 months of treatment.
The observed decrease in the utilization of co-administered oral antihistamine drugs and oral corticosteroid drugs during the study period with this symbiotic multistrain combination may represent additional evidence of the beneficial effect of probiotics in the management of allergic rhinitis .
As it has already been mentioned before, identification of the most suitable probiotic strains in order to achieve a significant immunomodulatory effect in patients with HDM-related allergic conditions, will be one main challenge in this research field in the near future. Moreover, more research and effort are needed to improve the formulation of probiotic products (e.g. resistance to gastrointestinal conditions; drops—especially for pediatric use) to assure higher efficacy.
Future perspectives on the role of probiotics as adjuvants in allergen immunotherapy
Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is a well-established treatment option for allergic rhinitis, including HDM-triggered AR . AIT triggers immunoregulatory mechanisms, including Treg cell activation, leading to the suppression of Th2 responses in favour of tolerance towards the allergen .
Adjuvants have been shown to amplify the effect of AIT by modulating the immune response to this therapy, thus increasing both its efficacy and safety .
In recent times, it has been hypothesized that probiotics, which stimulate innate immunity via toll-like receptor activation, could be used as adjuvants in AIT.
The effectiveness of probiotics as potential adjuvants in sublingual AIT (SLIT) has been studied in animal models; multiple lactic acid bacteria strains were found to act as Th1/possibly Treg inducers, and therefore—in the authors’ opinion—they could represent valid candidates for adjuvants in SLIT .
In a murine model of mite allergy, immunotherapy with a recombinant Der p 1 allergen plus a probiotic strain (E. coli Nissle 1917) prevented the development of allergic symptoms after an airway challenge with mite extracts; moreover, it was observed that it contributed to the upregulation of allergen-specific IgG2a production, down-regulation of specific IgE production and induction of a strong reduction of IL-5 secretion by allergen-restimulated splenocytes .
In such preclinical models, probiotics acting as pure Th1 adjuvants did not seem to improve the efficacy of SLIT, whereas probiotic strains acting as Th1/Treg adjuvants (stimulating both IL-12 and IL-10 secretion by DCs) significantly enhanced SLIT efficacy .
In a study by Jerzynska et al. on children with AR and grass sensitization, the addition of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) to SLIT improved symptom scores and the induction of T regulatory cells after 5 months of treatment relative to children treated with SLIT alone or placebo.
In one study, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis contributed to improved asthma control test (ACT) scores in children with allergic asthma undergoing AIT for HDM; the effect was additive relative to the sole effect of AIT .
Clostridium butyricum coadministration with AIT has shown to improve the efficacy of AIT in patients with AR and asthma [38, 39]; this effect has been attributed to an increase in allergen-specific regulatory B cells.
Recently, in an observational real-life study, Rossi et al. showed that supplementation with a symbiotic (consisting of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis and FOS) during AIT for AR may act synergistically to improve the clinical efficacy of sublingual allergen immunotherapy. After 2 and 4 months of treatment, patients who were administered AIT plus probiotics showed a trend towards the reduction of symptoms scores together with a significant improvement in medication scores, number of “well days”; and no relevant local or systemic adverse reactions .
Conclusion
The use of probiotics in the treatment of allergic diseases is very promising, thanks to increasing evidence of their immunomodulatory effects. Their role in the treatment and prevention of some allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, is already well recognized, whereas evidence about their efficacy in patients with respiratory allergies—while increasing—is still limited.
The prospective of employing probiotics as novel adjuvants for AIT is intriguing and already supported by a number of interesting studies.
Future research is needed to improve our understanding of the use of probiotics in the treatment of allergic conditions and as an adjuvant in immunotherapy; in particular, we need to better understand which probiotic strains are the most suitable for these purposes and which immunologic mechanisms are involved. Moreover, evidence is still lacking regarding which formulations will guarantee the best results, what are the best timing and duration for probiotic administration in order to prevent/modulate HDM-related allergic conditions, and if a critical dose (beside the 109 colony forming units generally considered) exists.
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Lue KH, Sun HL, Lu KH, Ku MS, Sheu JN, Chan CH, et al. A trial of adding Lactobacillus johnsonii EM1 to levocetirizine for treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis in children aged 7–12 years. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2012;76:994–1001.
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Xiao JZ, Kondo S, Yanagisawa N, Takahashi N, Odamaki T, Iwabuchi N, et al. Effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum BB536 [corrected] in relieving clinical symptoms and modulating plasma cytokine levels of Japanese cedar pollinosis during the pollen season. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16:86–93.
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Wang MF, Lin HC, Wang YY, Hsu CH. Treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis with lactic acid bacteria. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004;15:152–8.
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Yonekura S, Okamoto Y, Okawa T, Hisamitsu M, Chazono H, Kobayashi K, et al. Effects of daily intake of Lactobacillus paracasei strain KW3110 on Japanese cedar pollinosis. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2009;30:397–405.
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Wassenberg J, Nutten S, Audran R, Barbier N, Aubert V, Moulin J, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 on a nasal provocation test with grass pollen in allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2011;41:565–73.
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Perrin Y, Nutten S, Audran R, Berger B, Bibiloni R, Wassenberg J, et al. Comparison of two oral probiotic preparations in a randomized crossover trial highlights a potentially beneficial effect of Lactobacillus paracasei NCC2461 in patients with allergic rhinitis. Clin Transl Allergy. 2014;4:1.
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Authors' contributions
FF and FG reviewed the relevant literature and prepared the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
Competing interests
Filippo Fassio has received consultancy fees from Allergy Therapeutics Italia srl; Fabio Guagnini is an employee of Allergy Therapeutics Italia srl.
Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Funding
This work has been supported by Allergy Therapeutics Italia srl.
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Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. | https://clinicalmolecularallergy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12948-018-0092-9 |
Early exposure to peanuts may prevent allergy
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Contrary to widespread recommendations, the consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy, the results of a new study suggest.
“Our study findings raise the question of whether early introduction rather than avoidance of peanut in infancy is the better strategy for the prevention of peanut allergy,” write researchers in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
In the UK, Australia and, until recently, the United States, guidelines have recommended that women avoid peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and should not introduce peanuts into their children’s diets during infancy, note Dr. George Du Toit of King’s College London and colleagues.
The researchers analyzed the prevalence of peanut allergy and diet histories for 5,171 Jewish children from the UK and 5,615 Jewish children from Israel.
They found that children from the UK had a prevalence of peanut allergy that was 10-fold higher than that of children from Israel — 1.85 percent versus 0.17 percent.
“This difference is not accounted for by differences in atopy,” the investigators write. Atopy is the inherited tendency to develop common allergic diseases such as eczema, hay fever or asthma.
They also found no differences between the two groups in environmental exposure to common causes of allergy, such as house dust mite and grass pollen, social class or genetic background.
“The most obvious difference in the diet of infants in both populations occurs in the introduction of peanut,” they note. Approximately 69 percent of infants in Israel consume peanuts by 9 months of age, compared with just 10 percent of those in the UK.
Likewise, when compared with the UK mothers, the Israeli mothers consumed significantly more peanuts during pregnancy, Du Toit and colleagues point out.
The researchers suggest that recommendations to avoid peanut in early infancy could be behind the increase in peanut allergy in the UK, Australia and the US.
In a written statement, Dr. Jacqueline A. Pongracic, who is vice chair of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) committee on Adverse Reactions to Foods, cautions that while this study’s findings “provide optimism for prevention of peanut allergy in the future, randomized, controlled trials are needed to verify that early introduction of peanut is indeed effective.”
The Learning Early about Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study, a large randomized study in the UK, is currently testing the effects of early peanut exposure.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, November 2008.
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Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifaceted, chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease that is commonly associated with other atopic conditions including food allergies, allergic rhinitis, and asthma.(1) It is the most common skin disease in children, affecting approximately 15% to 20% of children worldwide. Onset of the disease is most common by five years of age, with the highest incidence occurring between three and six months. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid complications of AD and improve quality of life. Incidence of AD has increase two- to three-fold in industrialized nations since the 1970s, and population-based studies in the United States estimate the prevalence at about 10.7% for children and 7.2% for adults. Twenty percent of children who develop AD before two years of age will have symptoms that persist into childhood and beyond, with 17% having intermittent symptoms by seven years of age.
Probiotics
Probiotics are living bacterial or yeast organisms that promote health when consumed. More specifically, a panel of experts convened in 2014 by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics defined probiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”(2) Most of the scientific and clinical research on probiotics has focused on their oral use for GI and immune health. Oral supplementation and vaginal application of probiotics has also been studied for female genitourinary tract health. Emerging science is currently exploring the use of probiotics in areas such as AD, hypercholesterolemia, anxiety, depression, metabolic syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.
The primary genera that have been used and studied as probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.2 Other bacterial and yeast species that have been used as probiotics include Streptococcus thermophilus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactococcus lactis, and the spore-forming anaerobes Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis.
Atopic Dermatitis Prevention
An area of clinical interest is the potential for probiotics to reduce the incidence of atopic disorders such as AD and asthma. A 2013 meta-analysis published in Pediatrics included 25 studies with a total of 4,031 children.(3) Conclusions included the following:
· Probiotics were effective in reducing total IgE and the reduction was more pronounced with longer follow-up.
· Probiotics significantly reduced risk of atopic sensitization when administered prenatally (to mothers) and postnatally (to mothers or infants).
· Probiotics did not significantly reduce the incidence of asthma or wheeze.
Prenatal and postnatal administration of probiotics has been shown in several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RDBPCT) to significantly reduce the risk of AD in at-risk infants (e.g. those with a parent or sibling with a history of atopy).
The first of these trials was published in 2001.(4) The study included 132 pregnant women (recruited with the at-risk profile above) who were randomized to receive either Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (1 billion colony forming units [cfu]/day) or placebo beginning at two to four weeks before delivery and continued through breastfeeding. When breast feeding ceased, infants were given LGG until six months of age. At a two-year follow-up, the incidence of AD was reduced by half in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Follow-up data at four years(5) and seven years(6) continued to show a reduced incidence of AD in the probiotic group.
Another RDBPCT included 474 mothers who were randomized to one of three groups at 35 weeks gestation and until six months if breastfeeding—Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (6 billion cfu/day), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (9 billion cfu/day), or placebo.(7) Infants were randomized to receive the same treatment from birth to two years. At two years, the incidence of AD was significantly reduced in the L. rhamnosus HN001 group but not the B. lactis group. The reduction in AD incidence in the L. rhamnosus HN001 group continued at four-year(8) and six-year(9) follow-ups. At the six-year follow-up, atopic sensitization was also significantly reduced in children that had taken L. rhamnosus HN001.
Atopic Dermatitis Treatment
Clinical trials on the use of probiotics for the treatment of AD have been somewhat more equivocal than those looking at prevention. Despite this, probiotics appear to be a practical addition to the management of pediatric AD as they have been shown to decrease IgE, decrease intestinal permeability in children with AD, and reduce systemic antigen exposure (e.g. food allergens).(10, 11)
A 2017 meta-analysis reviewed thirteen studies, and data from 1,070 children (intervention groups, 553; control groups, 517) were assessed.(12) The primary outcome in the majority of studies was the change in the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. The SCORAD questionnaire includes an assessment of the extent and intensity of the rash, pruritis, and sleep disturbance. Results varied by population studied (European studies were largely negative and Asian studies largely positive) and by the strain or strain combination studied. While the authors conclude that the research to date has not robustly found probiotics beneficial for children with AD, they also suggest that clinical trials with larger samples and greater power are needed to identify species, dose, and treatment duration of probiotics that are most efficacious for treating pediatric AD.
A 12-week RDBPCT trial studied the effect of probiotics in children ages 4 to 17 years with moderate AD.(13) The primary outcome was changes in the SCORAD index score, and the secondary outcome was topical steroid use. Fifty-five children (mean age 9.2 years) were randomized to receive a probiotic combination of Bifidobacterium lactis CECT 8145, Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, and Lactobacillus casei 9104 (1 billion cfu/day) or placebo. After 12 weeks, the SCORAD index change was -83% compared to -24% in the placebo group (p<0.001). There was also a significant reduction in the use of topical steroids to treat AD flares in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group (p<0.003).
In another RDBPCT, 90 children ages one to three years old with moderate to severe AD were treated with either a mixture of Bifidobacterium lactis UABLA-12™ and Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS®-1 (5 billion cfu b.i.d.) or placebo for eight weeks.(14) The primary outcome measure was the percentage change in the Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) value. Secondary outcome measures included changes in the Infant Dermatitis Quality of Life (IDQOL) and Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) scores, and frequency of topical corticosteroid use. The IDQOL and DFI questionnaires each included ten questions specific to infant or family activity.
At eight weeks, children in the probiotic group showed a greater decrease in the mean [SD] SCORAD score compared to those in the placebo group (−14.2 [9.9] vs. –7.8 [7.7], respectively; p=0.001). IDQOL and DFI scores decreased significantly from baseline by 33% and 35.2% in the probiotic group compared to 19% and 23.8% in the placebo group (p=0.013 and p=0.010), respectively. Use of topical corticosteroids during the eight-week study period averaged 7.7 g less in the probiotic group (p =0.006).
Conclusions
Probiotic supplementation holds great promise for the prevention and treatment of AD in infants and children. While a somewhat complicated communication to mothers and parents of at-risk infants, the strongest data to date is prevention of AD with both prenatal and postnatal probiotic supplementation by both mother and infant. While the data to date on the use of probiotics to treat moderate to severe AD remains somewhat equivocal, positive trials to date have shown a significant reduction in SCORAD index as well as use of topical corticosteroids. Factoring in the increased intestinal permeability and food allergies/intolerance in children with AD, probiotics offer a practical addition to the management of pediatric AD.
Donald J. Brown, ND
Dr. Donald Brown is one of the leading authorities in the USA on the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements, evidence-based herbal medicine, and probiotics. Dr. Brown currently serves as the director of Natural Product Research Consultants (NPRC) in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Brown is a member of the advisory board of the American Botanical Council (ABC) and the editorial board of The Integrative Medicine Alert. He was a member of the board of directors for the International Probiotics Association (2008-2010) and its scientific advisory board (2006-2008). He has also previously served as an advisor to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. He is the author of Herbal Prescriptions for Health and Healing (Lotus Press, 2002) and was also a contributor to The Natural Pharmacy (Prima Publishing, 2006), the A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Prima Publishing, 2006), and The Textbook of Natural Medicine (Churchill Livingstone, 2006).
References
1. Avena-Woods C. Overview of Atopic Dermatitis. Am J Manage Care. 2017;23(Suppl 8):S115 S123.
2. Hill C, et al. Expert consensus document. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;11:506-14.
3. Elazab N, et al. Probiotic administration in early life, atopy, and asthma: A meta-analysis of clinical trials. Pediatrics. 2013;132:e666-e676.
4. Kalliomaki M, et al. Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic disease: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2001;357:1076-9.
5. Kalliomaki M, et al. Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003;361:1869-71.
6. Kalliomaki M, et al. Probiotics during the first 7 years of life: A cumulative risk reduction of eczema in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119:1019-21.
7. Wickens K, et al. A differential effect of 2 probiotics in the prevention of eczema and atopy: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;122:788-94.
8. Wickens K, et al. A protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 against eczema in the first 2 years of life persists to age 4 years. Clin Exp Allergy. 2012;42:1071-9.
9. Wickens K, et al. Early supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 reduces eczema prelalence to 6 years: does it also reduce atopic sensitization? Clin Exp Allergy. 2013;43:1048-57.
10. Probiotics and Prebiotics. World Gastroenterology Organization Practice Guideline. May, 2008. https://www.evelyntribole.com/uploads/Guidelines-probiotics_prebiotics.WGO.08pdf.
11. Rosenfelt V, et al. Effect of probiotics on gastrointestinal symptoms and small intestinal permeability in children with atopic dermatitis. J Pediatr. 2004;612-616.
12. Huang R, et al. Probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017;7:392. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00392.
13. Navarro-Lopez V, et al. Effect of oral administration of a mixture of probiotic strains on SCORAD index and use of topical steroids in young patients with moderate atopic dermatitis: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Dermatol 2018;154:37-43.
14. Gerasimov SV, et al. Probiotic supplementation reduces atopic dermatitis in preschool children: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010;11:351-61. | https://www.thetownsendletter.com/429-atopic-dermatitis-children-lactobacillus-bifidobacterium |
specific protective factors could not be identified.
Objective: To investigate factors that may contribute to the
lower risk of allergy among Steiner school children.
Methods: Cross-sectional multicenter study including 6630
children age 5 to 13 years (4606 from Steiner schools and
2024 from reference schools) in 5 European countries.
Results: The prevalence of several studied outcomes was lower
in Steiner school children than in the reference group. Overall,
there were statistically significant reduced risks for
rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and atopic sensitization
(allergen-specific IgE $0.35 kU/L), with some heterogeneity
between the countries. Focusing on doctor-diagnosed disease,
use of antibiotics during first year of life was associated with
increased risks of rhinoconjunctivitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.97;
95% CI, 1.26-3.08), asthma (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 2.03-3.83), and
atopic eczema (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.22-2.17). Early use of
antipyretics was related to an increased risk of asthma (OR,
1.54; 95% CI, 1.11-2.13) and atopic eczema (OR, 1.32; 95% CI,
1.02-1.71). Children having received measles, mumps, and rubella
vaccination showed an increased risk of rhinoconjunctivitis,
whereas measles infection was associated with a lower risk
of IgE-mediated eczema.
Conclusion: Certain features of the anthroposophic lifestyle,
such as restrictive use of antibiotics and antipyretics, are
associated with a reduced risk of allergic disease in children.
Introduction
The prevalence of IgE-mediated allergic diseases has
increased markedly during the past decades, especially
in children,1,2 although recent reports indicate that the
occurrence has stabilized.3 The causes behind these trends
are largely unknown. Factors increasing the risk have re-
ceived the greatest attention, but in recent years, attention
has also focused on possible protective factors, such as liv-
ing on a farm4 and specific probiotic strains.5 To identify
protective factors, it is of interest to study groups in the
population with a low prevalence of allergy, such as chil-
dren from anthroposophic families.6 The anthroposophic
lifestyle includes factors like a restrictive use of antibi-
otics, antipyretics, and vaccinations, and often a biody-
namic diet.6 An earlier study was conducted in a limited
community of anthroposophic families, showing a lower
prevalence of childhood allergy,6 but specific protective
factors could not be identified. | https://yourpastquestions.com/product/allergic-disease-and-sensitization-in-steiner-school-children/ |
Imbalanced gut microbiota may be one of the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes, and changing this environment may help improve symptoms.
Recently, a team of scientists examined the effects of beneficial, probiotic bacteria on blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics.
Here is a detailed summary of their findings, published in Clinical Nutrition.
Type 2 diabetes has been associated with dysbiosis — an imbalance in the bacterial community in the gut.
Two studies even suggest that high numbers of undesirable gut bacteria may play a direct role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Supplementing regularly with probiotics may help change the gut environment. In diabetics, Lactobacillus probiotics may have beneficial effects on blood sugar control and blood lipids.
A group of scientists from Brazil looked at the effects of probiotic supplementation on several markers of diabetes.
This was a 6-week, randomized controlled trial examining the effects of probiotics on blood sugar control, blood lipids and inflammatory markers.
Probiotic group: Participants in this group consumed 120 grams of fermented goat’s milk every day for 6 weeks. The milk contained two kinds of probiotics,Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis.
Control group: Participants in this group consumed 120 grams of conventional, fermented goat’s milk per day. It contained the probiotic Streptococcus thermophilus.
At the beginning and the end of the study, the researchers measured blood sugar markers, insulin, blood lipids and inflammatory markers.
Bottom Line: This was a 6-week, randomized controlled trial examining the effects of probiotics on blood sugar control, blood lipids, inflammation and other health factors in people with type 2 diabetes.
HbA1c is short for glycated hemoglobin. It forms when hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body, joins with sugar (glucose).
Your HbA1c levels indicate how high your blood sugar levels have been in the past weeks or months, on average.
Like HbA1c, fructosamine is a glycated protein that reflects blood sugar levels in the previous 2 or 3 weeks.
Conversely, fasting levels of blood sugar, insulin or insulin resistance did not change in either group. Taken together, these findings suggest that probiotics may improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics.
This is supported by previous studies showing that eating yogurt containingLactobacillus acidophilus for 6–8 weeks may reduce blood sugar and HbA1c in diabetic individuals.
Bottom Line: Drinking goat’s milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus andBifidobacterium animalis appeared to improve fructosamine and HbA1c levels, compared to goat’s milk containing Streptococcus thermophilus.
There was a significant difference in the changes in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol between groups, as seen in the chart below.
Levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol increased significantly in the control group, but went down slightly in the probiotics group.
HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides did not change in either group.
Previous studies have also shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus may reduce total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in type 2 diabetics.
Bottom Line: Drinking milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus andBifidobacterium animalis promoted a better blood lipid profile, compared to milk that contained Streptococcus thermophilus.
Systemic inflammation may be an underlying factor in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, the researchers measured levels of several inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and resistin.
TNF-α and resistin decreased significantly in both groups over the course of the study. For this reason, the researchers concluded that drinking fermented goat’s milk may improve inflammation.
Bottom Line: Drinking fermented goat’s milk that contained probiotics appeared to reduce inflammation. This happened in both groups.
This study had several shortfalls.
First, levels of HbA1c were significantly higher in the probiotic group at the beginning of the study. This might have affected the decrease in HbA1c in the probiotic group.
Second, the control group got fermented milk that contained the probiotic bacteriaStreptococcus thermophilus, which may have health benefits different from those ofLactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis.
In a controlled trial, the experimental and control groups must not differ from each other except through the variables that are to be tested, which in this case are the probiotic effects of L. acidophilus and B. animalis.
For this reason, the study may not have had a true control group.
Bottom Line: The study’s design is questionable and it had a few limitations that make its results difficult to interpret.
In short, the study suggests that the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus andBifidobacterium animalis may have health benefits in people with type 2 diabetes, compared to Streptococcus thermophilus.
They improved the blood lipid profile and appeared to have beneficial effects on blood sugar control.
This study adds to the growing evidence that probiotic bacteria can have wide-ranging health benefits. | https://alinepilani.com/probiotics-and-diabetes/ |
Atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) are a major cause of chronic disease in childhood. A revised version of the "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that the pattern of colonisation and the diversity of the intestinal microbiota may be an important factor in the increased prevalence of these diseases observed over the past several decades.[1–3] Subsequently, probiotics have been investigated in the prevention and treatment of allergy related diseases,[3–8] with the strongest evidence emerging for the primary prevention of atopic dermatitis.[3–5] Throughout this paper we refer AD, asthma and ARC as "allergy related diseases", recognising that not all presentations of these conditions are related to a classic IgE-mediated inflammatory process.
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) testing probiotics in the prevention of childhood allergy related disease are heterogeneous and have used a variety of bacterial strains, administration regimes and varying ages of follow-up. Using information from the first published follow up for each trial, a recent meta-analysis concluded that probiotic administration is protective against the development of AD in infancy. Among the studies with follow-up at or beyond 5 years of age, the greatest protective benefit of probiotics against AD appears to be in early childhood and it is less certain if this effect persists until school age.[9–25] Only one of these studies did not specify a maternal or family history of atopy as an inclusion criteria,[9,10] and there is therefore a particular need for further longer term follow-up studies to determine the ongoing effect of perinatal probiotics in general populations. | https://www.nestlenutrition-institute.org/region/middleeast/news/article/2015/10/25/perinatal-probiotic-supplementation-in-the-prevention-of-allergy-related-disease-6-year-follow-up-of-a-randomised-controlled-trial |
Background: The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral probiotics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) using the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index, serum IgE levels and absolute eosinophil count (AEC). The secondary objective of the study was to determine the association of oral probiotic therapy and improvement in AD using global photographs, dermoscopic images (fotofinder) and individual patient satisfaction.
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind study conducted on 70 patients (20 adults and 50 children) with moderate to severe AD. The participants were randomized into control arm and treatment arm. The treatment arm received conventional and probiotic therapy and only conventional therapy was provided to the control arm. The research was carried out in five visits. For each visit, SCORAD was calculated and response compared using clinical and videodermoscopic images. Patient satisfaction was documented using a quality of life questionnaire during each visit.
Results: Across the treatment arm, the mean serum IgE levels were greatly decreased in contrast to the control arm over the 12 weeks period. SCORAD score was significantly lowered in the treatment arm (55.20%) compared with 18.95% in the control arm. Dermoscopic assessment, global photographic assessment and patient satisfaction in the treatment arm showed statistically significant improvement in AD compared to the control arm.
Conclusions: The decrease in SCORAD scores demonstrated strong associations with the use of probiotics in patients with AD as an adjunct to conventional therapy. Thus, in both adults and children suffering from moderate to severe AD, probiotic supplement can be administered effectively as an adjunct therapy.
Keywords
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References
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Woo SI, Kim JY, Lee YJ, Kim NS, Hahn YS. Effect of Lactobacillus sakei supplementation in children with atopic eczema-dermatitis syndrome. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010;104(4):343-8.
Han Y, Kim B, Ban J, Lee J, Kim BJ, Choi BS, et al. A randomized trial of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2012;23(7):667-73.
Gerasimov SV, Vasjuta VV, Myhovych OO, Bondarchuk LI. Probiotic supplement reduces atopic dermatitis in preschool children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010;11(5):351-61.
Drago L, Iemoli E, Rodighiero V, Nicola L, Vecchi DE, Piconi S. Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 (DSM 22775) treatment on adult atopic dermatitis: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2011;24(4):1037-48.
Drago L, Toscano M, Vecchi DE, Piconi S, Iemoli E. Changing of fecal flora and clinical effect of L. salivarius LS01 in adults with atopic dermatitis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012;46:56-63.
Matsumoto M, Ebata T, Hirooka J, Hosoya R, Inoue N, Itami S, et al. Antipruritic effects of the probiotic strain LKM512 in adults with atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014;113(2):209-16.
Rather IA, Bajpai VK, Kumar S, Lim J, Paek WK, Park YH. Probiotics and Atopic Dermatitis: An Overview. Frontiers in Microbiol. 2016;7:507.
Frei R, Akdis M, Mahony OL. Prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotic, and the immune system: experimental data and clinical evidence. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015;31(2):153-8.
Enomoto T, Sowa M, Nishimori K, Shimazu S, Yoshida A, Yamada K, et al. Effects of bifidobacterial supplementation to pregnant women and infants in the prevention of allergy development in infants and on fecal microbiota. Allergol Int. 2014;63(4):575-85.
Farid R, Ahanchian H, Jabbari F, Moghiman T. Effect of a new symbiotic mixture on atopic dermatitis in children: a randomized-controlled trial. Iranian J Pediatrics. 2011;21(2):225-30.
Lopez NV, Bosca RA, Vidal RD, Costas RB, Martínez GS, Cuadros CE, et al. Effect of Oral Administration of a Mixture of Probiotic Strains on SCORAD Index and Use of Topical Steroids in Young Patients with Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(1):37-43.
Boyle RJ, Hextall BFJ, Bee LJ, Murrell DF, Tang ML. Probiotics for the treatment of eczema: a systematic review. Clin Exp Allergy. 2009;39(8):1117-27.
Kopp MV, Salfeld P. Probiotics and prevention of allergic disease. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009;12(3):298-303.
Van DALB, Heymans HS, Aalderen VWM, Smitt SJH, Knol J, Amor BK, et al. The Synbad Study Group. Effect of a new symbiotic mixture on atopic dermatitis in infants: a randomized-controlled trial. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010;40(5):795-804.
Michail SK, Stolfi A, Johnson T, Onady GM. Efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008;101(5):508-16. | https://ijord.com/index.php/ijord/article/view/1042 |
© 2021 MJH Life Sciences™ , Dermatology Times and Multimedia Medical, LLC. All rights reserved.
A daily capsule of a cocktail of probiotics may reduce both the severity symptoms in moderate atopic dermatitis and the need for topical corticosteroids to treat symptom flare ups in children.
A daily capsule of a cocktail of probiotics may reduce both the severity symptoms in moderate atopic dermatitis and the need for topical corticosteroids to treat symptom flare ups in children, research published in JAMA Dermatology suggests.1
In recent years, research has demonstrated close links between gut microflora and many factors involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, such as immunity. Patients with atopic dermatitis have been shown to have different faecal microbiota compared to healthy control subjects,2 and the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota of young children who later developed atopic dermatitis have been shown to be different from those of children who did not.3
Up to 20% of children are affected by atopic dermatitis and a group of researchers based in Spain decided to test whether there was a potential role for probiotics in their treatment.
Dr. VicenteLead author Vicente Navarro-López, M.D., Ph.D., of the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) in Spain, said: “Several studies have already explored the efficacy of certain probiotics in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. Overall, the current evidence suggests that probiotics could be an option to improve moderate and severe atopic dermatitis recovery rates in children and adults; however, to date, there is no strong experimental evidence supporting their effectiveness and safety in clinical practice.
Importantly, evidence and clinical trials demonstrating strain-specific effects are lacking.”
The group conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, between March and June 2016, at a hospital in Alicante, Spain. The study involved 50 children, aged 4 to 17 years with moderate atopic dermatitis, who were randomized according to sex, age, and age of onset of atopic dermatitis to a daily capsule containing freeze-dried powder with 109 total colony-forming units of the probiotic strains Bifidobacterium lactis CECT 8145, B longum CECT 7347, and Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104 and maltodextrin as a carrier, or maltodextrin-only capsules (placebo) for 12 weeks. None of the children involved had received systemic immunosuppressive drugs in the previous three months or antibiotics in the previous two weeks, and none had a diagnosed intestinal bowel disease or signs of bacterial infection.
After 12 weeks children who had taken probiotics saw a 19.2 points greater reduction in the SCORAD (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis) index than those who took the placebo capsule (mean difference, −19.2; 95%CI, −15.0 to −23.4). In relative terms, the SCORAD index fell by 83% in the probiotic group (95%CI, −95% to −70%) compared to 24% (95%CI, −36%to −11%) in the placebo group (P < .001).
Two of the subcomponents of the SCORAD index (eczema spread and intensity) showed clear improvement in the children who took probiotics compared with those who took placebo, but there was no statistically significant difference in the third subcomponent - subjective symptoms. In the probiotic group subjective symptoms fell by 77%, but they also fell substantially in the placebo group – by 53%.
Dr. Navarro-López suggests that this might be because patients who took placebo might have been able to reduce symptoms such as pruritus by using more corticosteroids.
The usual treatment for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis is a course of topical corticosteroids, and long term topical steroids for moderate to severe disease.
Children who took probiotics in the study used topical steroids to treat atopic dermatitis flare ups on significantly fewer days (161 of 2084 patient-days [7.7%]) than those who took the placebo capsule (220 of 2032 patient-days [10.8%]; odds ratio, 0.63; 95%CI, 0.51 to 0.78).
Dr. Navarro-López said: “Our results suggest that administration of this mixture of probiotics, as adjuvant treatment, may be effective in reducing the SCORAD index and, subsequently, decreasing the use of steroids during atopic dermatitis flares.”
He added that the clinical response documented in the probiotic group was greater than that obtained with other probiotics tested previously and suggested that a greater effect may have been seen due to the longer length of treatment and the patients involved in this particular trial.
“Treatment longer than eight weeks might condition the positive effect of probiotic use, patients older than 1 year have a greater response to probiotics, patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis have a better response, and a mixture of probiotics has better beneficial effects than a single probiotic, especially when lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are included in the mixture,” he said.
“The final blend used in the study was selected on the basis of published results and internal unpublished data,” he added.
So how might gut microbiota be implicated in atopic dermatitis and probiotics exert their effects?
It has been suggested that there is an association between a disruption in intestinal barrier function and the origin of atopic dermatitis, mediated by immunological activation leading to a type 2 dominant inflammation, which would suggest that gut microbiota could play an important immunomodulatory role in the development of normal immune tolerance. A predominance of T helper two cells rather than T helper 1, causes an imbalance that might aggravate the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, increasing IgE and activating interleukins.
Low levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and an associated reduction in short chain fatty acid production have been implicated in Crohn’s disease, and a recent analysis of the gut microbiota of patients with atopic dermatitis has shown an intraspecies compositional change in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii that reduces the number of high butyrate and propionate producers.
Butyrate and propionate are microbial-produced short-chain fatty acids with an anti-inflammatory role, and butyrate has been shown to be a key player in maintaining gut barrier integrity. Therefore, reduced levels in the microbiota of both butyrate and propionate producers may result in a pro-inflammatory state in the gut and a loss of barrier integrity.
This raises a potential role for probiotics as microbiota recovery players in atopic dermatitis, Dr Navarro-López said.
Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Biopolis with participation by Archer Daniels Midland in the U.S. and Korott in Spain.
References
1. Navarro-López V, RamÃrez-Boscá A, Ramón-Vidal D, Ruzafa-Costas B, Genovés-MartÃnez S, Chenoll-Cuadros E, Carrión-Gutiérrez M, Horga de la Parte J, Prieto-Merino D, Codoñer-Cortés FM. Effect of Oral Administration of a Mixture of Probiotic Strains on SCORAD Index and Use of Topical Steroids in Young Patients With Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2017 Nov 8. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3647.
2. Watanabe S. & Nansawa Y. (2003) Differences in fecal microflora between patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy control subjects. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 111, 587–591.
3. Wang M., Karisson C., Olsson C., Adlerberth I., Wold A., Strachan D.P., et al. (2008) Reduced diversity in the early fecal microbiota of infants with atopic eczema. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 121, 129–134.
4. Song H, Yoo Y, Hwang J, Na YC, Kim HS. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii subspecies-level dysbiosis in the human gut microbiome underlying atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(3):852-860. | https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/probiotics-may-improve-pediatric-ad-symptoms |
Purpose of the Study:
Associations between intrauterine vitamin D status and atopic outcomes were examined in an extensively characterized maternal-infant cohort.
Study Population:
Of 1537 recruited to the BASELINE prospective birth cohort, 1412 white mothers were included in the analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status and atopic disease, and cord 25(OH)D data were available from 1035 infants.
Methods:
Circulating 25(OH)D was measured in maternal sera at 15 weeks’ gestation and in umbilical cord blood by using a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–accredited liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry platform. Interview-led questionnaires regarding medical history, environment, and diet and clinical assessments were conducted on day 2 and at 2, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months. Associations with clinically validated atopic disease outcomes (eczema, food allergy, asthma, allergic rhinitis) at 2 and 5 years were examined by using multivariable logistic regression.
Results:
Persistent eczema, food allergy, and aeroallergen sensitization at age 2 years were present in 5%, 4%, and 8%, respectively. Asthma and allergic rhinitis at age 5 years were present in 15% and 5%, respectively. Between children with and without atopic conditions, there were no significant differences in distributions of maternal 25(OH)D concentrations (mean: 58.4 [SD: 26.2] and mean: 58.5 [SD: 26.1] nmol/L) at 15 weeks’ gestation and cord concentrations (mean: 35.2 [SD: 17.8] and mean: 35.4 [SD: 18.3] nmol/L). Neither maternal nor cord 25(OH)D nor both considered in a single model were significant predictors of atopic disease in fully adjusted or stratified models.
Conclusions:
No association was demonstrated between antenatal vitamin D exposure and validated, prospectively collected measures of childhood atopic conditions.
Reviewer Comments:
As described by the authors, randomized controlled trial data have reported a 26% reduction in risk of childhood asthma and recurrent wheeze at age 3 years associated with vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, suggesting a crucial window of opportunity for vitamin D’s impact on lung maturation. Contributions to the different results in the current study may have included use of an accredited 25(OH)D assay with more reliable results and lower prevalence of asthma and wheezing at 5 years. Differences in associations between randomized controlled trial and cohort data highlight the need for the exploration of genetic variants associated with immunoglobulin E synthesis or vitamin D receptor polymorphisms to distinguish circumstances in which vitamin D status may influence risk of childhood wheezing and atopic conditions. | https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/Supplement_1/S9/34374/Antenatal-Vitamin-D-Exposure-and-Childhood-Eczema?searchresult=1 |
Publishing in the New England Journal of Medicine two groups of researchers have investigated the effects of consumption of certain foods as a baby on allergy later in life.
Prof. Barry Kay, Emeritus Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Imperial College London, said:
“A Department of Health publication, ‘Birth to Five’, published in 2007 recommended that peanut or peanut products “should not be given to babies from ‘atopic’ or ‘allergic’ families until they are at least three years old.” Despite this advice the prevalence of peanut allergy, including deaths from anaphylaxis, continued to increase.
“In their first LEAP study, published in 2015, Professor Lack and colleagues found just the reverse i.e. that controlled early introduction of peanuts to high-risk infants, within the first 11 months, was associated with protection against food allergy. The team now follows up* this seminal work by demonstrating that after five years of treatment, tolerance was maintained after discontinuation of peanuts for one year.
“In an accompanying articleǂ they demonstrate that early introduction of allergic foods to breastfeeding infants at risk is also associated with a low prevalence of food allergy. In this paper, there was a statistically significant difference between those who kept to the protocol and those that didn’t (lower rate of food allergy in those that kept to the protocol) but not in the group as a whole (i.e. the intention to treat group which include ‘protocol violations’).
“These are landmark studies which have occupied a committed team of investigators over a 10 year period. The results point the way to completely fresh thinking on the mechanisms of tolerance to allergenic foods in “at risk” infants and have the potential to provide future advice for prevention based on stringent experimentation. They rank amongst the most important studies ever published in the field of food allergy and are a credit to the dedication and ingenuity of British clinical scientists.
“A note of caution – these studies were performed by trained allergists under controlled conditions. There are a few questions still to be answered before new, general, advice can be given. For instance, what are the correct amounts of foods needed to induce tolerance, and what is the age where it is too late to induce tolerance? There are also issues around the preparation of foods to make them easier for parents to administer. So, don’t try this at home yet.”
Michael Walker, of Michael Walker Consulting Ltd, and Consultant Referee Analyst to the Government Chemist, said:
“The two studies ‘LEAP-On’* and ‘EAT’ǂ published today in the New England Journal of Medicine are important and reassuring additions to our knowledge about possible prevention of food allergy. Both were conducted to high standards by well-regarded teams. In particular the participation and adherence rates were excellent.
“LEAP-On studied infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy. Infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy were defined for the study as those with suspected egg allergy based on skin prick testing, and /or with severe eczema based on a clinical evaluation that combined the extent, severity and subjective symptoms of the eczema, and the treatment required.
“The earlier LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study from 2015 found, somewhat counter-intuitively, that the majority of such high risk infants can be protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life. The LEAP-On findings are that early peanut introduction protection is sustained even when peanut is no longer consumed for 12 months.
“EAT (Enquiring about Tolerance) in contrast looked at breast fed infants from the general population and the early introduction of six major allergenic foods, peanut, cooked egg, cows’ milk, sesame, whitefish and wheat. There were very encouraging findings that peanut and cooked egg allergy in particular and food allergy generally was lower with early introduction. Moreover, although not easy, such introduction was safe.
“Taken together these are reassuring findings that pave the way to stem the epidemic of peanut allergy. These studies were carried out under the close guidance of allergy doctors. Parents shouldn’t attempt to replicate what the studies did by themselves but should follow general guidance, for example that encourages mums to breast feed, and common sense attitudes to weaning, introducing a wide variety of foods as appropriate. Parents and carers, especially with infants at high risk, should bring any concerns to their GP for advice.”
* ‘Effect of avoidance on peanut allergy after early peanut consumption’ by George Du Toit et al. published in the NEJM on Friday 4 March 2016.
ǂ ‘Randomized trial of introduction of allergic foods in breast-fed infants’ by Michael R Perkin et al. published in the NEJM on Friday 4 March 2016.
Declared interests
Prof. Barry Kay: “I have no conflicts.”
Michael Walker: The views expressed here are those personally of Michael Walker and do not represent the official views of LGC. Interests: | http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-two-studies-investigating-peanut-allergy-and-peanut-consumption-in-early-years/ |
A reader asked for what probiotics to use for dry-mouth or hyposalivation or Xerostomia.. “is often seen as a side effect of many types of medication, and associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. Over 500 medications produce xerostomia.
- “Probiotic intervention reduced the risk of high yeast counts by 75% , and the risk of hyposalivation by 56%. Thus,probiotic bacteria can be effective in controlling oral Candida and hyposalivation in the elderly.” [Full article] – “107 cfu (colony-forming units)/g of each of the probiotic strains, L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103), L. rhamnosus LC705, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp shermanii JS (Valio Ltd, Joensuu, Finland) “
- “Cluster I is made up 76% of subjects with hyposalivation …have higher.. genera Veillonella, Dialister, Prevotella, Fusobacterium, and Streptococcus.”
- “species of Candida tropicalis and Parapsilosis were more detected in the primary Sjogren’s syndrome “
- “the primary Sjogren’s syndrome subjects displayed an increased frequency of C.albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, enterics, and enterococci”
- “These results suggest that particular Candida species are involved in the pathogenesis of oral mucosal disorders in patients with xerostomia.”
So which probiotics?
If you live in Finland (or planning to visit soon), you may be able to get the one probiotic cited above.
- “given 1 lozenge containing 2 strains of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) … There was a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of high Candida counts in the probiotic group but not in the placebo group,”
- “consumption of the probiotic Yakult LBz(®) (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium breve)…showed a statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) in Candida prevalence (from 92.9% to 85.7%), in CFU/mL counts of Candida and in the number of non-albicans species after consumption”
- “the probiotic Yakult LB® for 20 days, showed a significant reduction in Candida prevalence (46%) and mean Candida CFU/mL counts (65%).
Oral Probiotic tablets usually contain S. salivarius K12, it and M18 appears to have no explicit significant impact on Candida. It is unclear if they will have impact on Dry Mouth (so they are worth a try if the L.Reuteri longenze or L.Reuteri Oral Probiotics are not easily obtainable).
- “S. salivarius Strain K12, the prototype S. salivarius probiotic, originally introduced to counter Streptococcus pyogenes infections”
- “The study included 67 salivary and subgingival lactobacilli of 10 species…but none inhibited Candida albicans.”
Yakult LB is a good candidate (two studies) if you can get it (it is sold in Brazil). Regular Yakult (or DanActive) and Bifidobacterium breve may be an alternative
The following contain mainly L.Reuteri:
- BioGaia Chewable (Chewable Tablets) L.Reuteri probiotic
- Nova Diet Oraldiet
Propionibacterium freudenreichii is only available in Nutricology, Securil
L.Reuteri included as part of a mix in these Oral Probiotics
- Powerful Oral Probiotics with 7 STRAINS of beneficial bacteria
- PRO-Dental: Probiotics for Oral & Dental Health
Tradition Guidance for dry mouth should also be checked/tried, like this post. Many of the items are already the norms for CFS patients, i.e. no coffee or alcohol….
Other’s have distinctive CFS/IBS/FM versions:
- “sugar-free chewing gum” — all of the fake sugars are worse than real sugar for the microbiome. Use Mastic Gum instead.
- “a hard candy into your mouth to stimulate your saliva glands and aid production.”
- Use spezzatina instead (pure licorice)
- xylitol washwash is a strongly not recommended. | https://cfsremission.com/2015/12/12/dry-mouth-and-probiotics/ |
There is consensus on the important role that private sector can and should play in development. What are the priorities for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dutch MoFA) in 2019 and beyond in terms of engaging the private sector in its development initiatives?
In the Netherlands we believe cooperation between the public and private sectors is vital. The Netherlands’ age-old battle with the sea required governments and businesses to work together to protect us from the floodwaters. What’s more, it has taught us that cooperation leads to better results. The private sector is therefore a major driver of change, and we see it as a partner in achieving the SDGs.
Economic development is at the heart of efforts to abolish poverty and create jobs worldwide, especially when it includes creating opportunities for the most vulnerable people in society, such as women and the young. Through innovative entrepreneurship companies can create decent jobs and expand local markets. Moreover, private capital is needed to raise enough funds for international development.
Working with the private sector demands a holistic approach. Therefore we have three priorities when working with the business community. First, we support the creation of a favourable business climate with clear rules and regulations and transparent revenue collection. In Ghana, for example, we are helping to make the tax administration efficient. Second, we stimulate entrepreneurship. In many countries it is not always easy to market a product. The Netherlands supports entrepreneurs with technical assistance or financing. Finally, we work with Dutch companies to make production and trade sustainable. We urge businesses to take responsibility for their supply chains, and support them in doing due diligence in order to fight child labour and pay living wages.
I realise that the expectations for companies’ contributions to the SDGs are high. I also realise that this process demands patience and perseverance — and there are undeniably costs in the short term. Yet I believe that, in close collaboration with governments, NGOs, universities and other organisations, business for development works.
Corporate social responsibility is the norm, both in the Netherlands and in international business. Inclusive business plays a dual role of promoting inclusive growth while reducing poverty and inequality. How important is it to support the growth of inclusive business, particularly in fragile contexts? And what should this support look like?
I believe a greater focus on sustainable investment, trade and entrepreneurship is helping many African countries build stronger, more stable economies that can provide opportunities for all. However, fragile countries still suffer from ongoing violence – or the legacy of past violence. They face serious economic challenges, including damaged infrastructure, small private sectors and weak regulatory environments and institutions.
Entrepreneurs often struggle to access capital and training, while governments in these countries operate with a limited tax base. This is why we support IFC’s Conflict Affected States in Africa (CASA) initiative. CASA is designed to kick-start investments in 13 fragile African states by supporting SMEs, providing loans and helping to improve the business climate. This initiative shows how private sector development can be promoted in a conflict sensitive way, preventing unintended effects on conflict and instability.
It is also important to stimulate economic empowerment, especially for women, young people and the ‘base of the pyramid’, as this lays a foundation for a sustainable future. Inclusive economic growth is vital in fragile and conflict-affected situations. In countries like Somalia, Nigeria and Mali, 75% of young people between 15 and 24 work in the informal sector, often earning between $1 and $2 a day. The lack of sufficient decent work for this fast-growing young segment of the labour force offers them little or no economic prospects.
That’s why the Netherlands supports projects like the Next Economy through our Local Employment for Development in Africa (LEAD) fund. Vulnerable young people often lack financial resources, needed employment and entrepreneurial skills, role models and networks. But they don’t lack talent. The Next Economy aspires to break this cycle of poverty by empowering young people to use their talent and encouraging them to create their own future jobs. They are offered support in finding a job with a living wage and social security, offering them prospects for the future.
Given Dutch MoFA’s priority of promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, why is it important to support a platform like Business Call to Action?
First and foremost, BCtA is a partner of the Dutch government in promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth worldwide. We value the practical work that BCtA does with individual companies. BCtA delivers training, provides needed tools and guidance, and builds networks for inclusive businesses. In Colombia, BCtA has worked closely with the Dutch embassy to create such a network. It also helps businesses define and measure their impact on various development goals. Over the years we have realised that this is an important first step towards fostering understanding of how a business can contribute to development goals. Often just a slight change in business plans, with a focus on inclusivity, can have a tremendous impact on the SDGs. The results BCtA achieves with this approach are impressive.
It is crucial to make more companies aware of the opportunities and responsibility that come with doing business, including the effects of inclusive business. As a part of UNDP and a multidonor platform, BCtA is in a unique position to raise international awareness for inclusive business. We wholeheartedly support the work BCtA does with UNDP, HLPF, the G20 and the B20. International collaboration on inclusive business is a necessity to make value chains fair and inclusive worldwide.
Globally, where do you see the greatest potential for inclusive business to have a significant and lasting impact in terms of improving lives and pulling people out of poverty?
I believe the greatest potential for inclusive business to lift people out of poverty lies in supporting a living wage for all. A living wage is defined as a wage high enough to afford a decent standard of living for a worker and their family. First and foremost, a living wage is a human right. It also reduces child labour and contributes to several SDGs: SDG1 (no poverty), SDG5 (gender equality), SDG8 (decent work) and SDG12 (sustainable production and consumption).
Globalisation has lifted many people in developing countries out of poverty. At the same time, however, new forms of exploitation have emerged. Since the collapse of Rana Plaza – a textile factory in Bangladesh – in 2013, steps have been taken towards safer production processes. Yet wages in international value chains are still structurally too low. This is a complex problem; countries that are dependent on export industries are afraid that raising wages might cost them their competitive advantage.
Living wages are at the heart of Dutch development policy. But in order to work together towards living wages, we need to understand how to calculate a living wage. The Netherlands is therefore working with the ILO to develop living wage benchmarks. We believe that calculating and publishing benchmarks can be a catalyst for further action on wages that will enable workers to escape poverty.
How can inclusive business help tackle some of the greatest issues of our time, such as food security Can you tell us more about Dutch MoFA’s initiatives around these priorities?
The Netherlands aims to improve the food security situation by strengthening the private sector. There is a growing number of companies and entrepreneurs aspiring to make a difference in Africa either by sourcing locally, or by offering affordable quality products to low-income communities. By combining expertise, a partnership between government, companies, NGOs and knowledge institutions can be of huge value in identifying innovative solutions, efficient and sustainable business models, and the inclusive participation of producers, entrepreneurs and consumers.
Therefore, the Netherlands supports 2Scale: an incubator program that manages a portfolio of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for inclusive business in agri-food sectors and industries. An example of this programme can be found in Benin. In the south of Benin, many smallholder farmers grow soybean as a substitute for cotton on impoverished soils. This legume is mainly sold to processing companies. However, business relationships between these companies and smallholder producers of soybean deteriorated because the crop was purchased at very low prices. Considering the potential of soybean products, soybean producer and processor organizations sought support from 2SCALE for market development of soybean products, with the aim of developing their soybean production and processing activities and hence improve incomes from these activities. The partnership further expanded to support women who, had started experimenting with processing soybean for products destined for the local market. Gradually soybean-based products have been integrated into the eating habits of local people. Soybean ‘cheese’ (tofu) in particular is replacing meat and fish in everyday dishes in many households.
We tend to believe that big projects make big impact. However, we should realize that small and innovative interventions can kick-start a transformation. Partnerships are capable of aligning interests and bridging differences so that major steps can be taken towards attaining the SDGs.
This Q&A series, Public Eye, is designed to put a spotlight on BCtA partner priorities around issues at the heart of inclusive business, such as the SDGs, inclusive economies, climate change, women’s empowerment, fragile contexts, refugees and more. | http://justmeans.com/article/business-call-to-action-public-eye-qa-series-dutch-ministry-of-foreign-affairs |
It is generally believed that a higher employment rate reduces the poverty. It is also believed that full-time paid employment helps pull poor people out of poverty. But the last three decades have...
It is generally believed that a higher employment rate reduces the poverty. It is also believed that full-time paid employment helps pull poor people out of poverty. But the last three decades have seen a rise in the number of working poor despite the fact that in most countries the unemployment rate stands at the lowest levels.
For instance, unemployment in the US stands at an historic low at 3.4 percent but at the same time the number of working people living in poverty has increased. In the 1980s, there were just seven million working poor in the US. But these numbers rose to 12.4 million in 2017.
In Britain, four million are living in working poverty. Despite working hard, these four million workers cannot meet the basic needs of their families. In Germany, one in five workers is living in working poverty. The reason is that one in five German workers gets less than ten Euros per hour wages – less than the minimum wage. Europe’s rich economy is not paying enough to every worker to live a decent life.
Like poverty, working poverty is also the by-product of the existing socioeconomic structure and system. Working poverty is the direct consequence of the super exploitation of the working class carried out by the capitalist class.
To increase employment, ruling classes internationally adopted a policy to lower wages, and create more part-time and casual jobs. This policy increased the number of working people but at the same time also increased the number of working people living in poverty.
In countries like Pakistan, one may think that being employed suggests the person is immediately pulled out of poverty, but this is not always the case. Finding a job does not guarantee someone will receive remuneration that is high enough to cover their basic needs and be relatively secure financially.
Many private-sector workers are paid wages below the amount that’s necessary to meet basic needs. The minimum wage is very low but even then is hardly implemented. In a recent survey conducted by PILER Karachi in garments factories in Karachi, it was seen that 85 percent factories are not paying their workers the minimum wage; and they are not covered under social security and old age benefits.
They are also not entitled to health or retirement benefits. Low-wage work is also associated with poor working conditions and job insecurity. These include poor health and safety standards, discrimination and excessive work hours. It is becoming extremely difficult for growing numbers of working parents to earn enough money to pay for food, clothing and accommodation due to weak wage growth and the rising cost of living.
In other words, for some workers employment no longer guarantees significant poverty reduction. Some workers remain poor because wages are too low to lift them and their families out of poverty.
The capitalist class throughout the history of the capitalist system always looked to the means and ways to modernise and further develop the productive forces. Their lust for super profits motivates them to develop more modern machines to increase the pace of production to maximise the exploitation of labour in a shortest possible time.
So they continue to develop productive forces, knowledge and technology to increase the production. But at the same time the capitalist class also has the instinct to minimise the cost of production in order to produce cheap products and to maximise the profits. They suppress the wages of labour to achieve that goal.
There is no doubt that capitalism has made significant advances in the development of productive forces in the last three decades. Technological advancements, automisation, artificial intelligence and information technology have transformed the production of goods, delivery of services, management of workplaces and transportation. Capitalist leaders, academics, economists and experts are talking about the fourth industrial revolution.
The capitalist class internationally has used technological advancement and structural changes in the capitalist economy to amass enormous wealth. The concentration of wealth into a few hands has created levels of inequality hardly seen before. The issue at the moment in my view is not the creation of wealth but the fair distribution of it. This advancement in science, technology and research has not been fully used to solve the problems of climate change, poverty, diseases, hunger, and inequality and to provide the basic needs to every person on this planet.
But at the same time, the last three decades have seen a tendency of keeping wages at lower levels, and also worsening of work conditions. The capitalist class globally has mercilessly attacked living standards, working conditions, wages and welfare programmes. The last three decades have not only seen the super exploitation of working people but also the transfer of wealth from the middle and working classes to the capitalist ruling class.
These continued attacks now have created conditions in which working poverty is thriving. Working poverty has not only increased in developing countries but also in the rich Western countries. Low wages, stagnant incomes and attacks on housing and other benefits have forced many workers to live in conditions of poverty.
Working poverty is a symptom of an ailing and broken system. What is needed to end working poverty, hunger, inequality and poverty in general is an economic system designed to meet the needs of the people and not to serve the interests of the few handful of billionaires. People need more control over their working lives and a fairer share of the wealth they create. Democratisation of the economy and of means of production is necessary to serve the interests of the working class and the middle class.
Working poverty will not end without abolishing contract employment, casual labour and precarious work. Decent work and employment, living wages and better working conditions will end working poverty. That means giving all working people the freedom to have a union in their workplace to negotiate fair pay and conditions.
The neoliberal onslaught, privatisation, deregulation and structural reforms dismantle or reduce the size of the public sector in most countries. The public sector used to provide decent and secure employment with better wages. Pension and other benefits were also available for public-sector workers.
But neoliberalism and free market economic policies brought casual and contract jobs, lower wages, longer working hours and worsening working conditions. Welfare state, social programmes and benefits were replaced with austerity, cuts and attacks on benefits and social programmes. The democratic, legal and economic rights of workers were taken away or curtailed. Trade union and collective bargaining rights were attacked in the name of labour flexibility and labour market liberalisation. The attacks on trade unions and collective bargaining rights played an important role in lowering wages and worsening working conditions.
The writer is a freelance journalist. | https://www.thenews.com.pk/amp/542987-working-poverty |
103rd International Labour Conference: ILO Director-General's opening remarks to the World of Work Summit on "Developing with Jobs"
I would like to welcome you all to today’s events centred on the theme Developing with Jobs.
That was the theme of the ILO World of Work Report for 2014 which was issued just before this Conference began. Our report, which I hope you picked up on your way into the Conference Hall if you have not already seen it, shows the close linkages that exist between achieving economic and social development and investing in quality jobs.
First and fundamentally, we have seen time and again that a conventional approach to development does not produce jobs in the quantity and quality needed. It does not seem to be enough to focus only on export-led growth, trade and foreign direct investment in order to trigger development. The ILO report finds that on its own, such an approach risks leading to a narrow pattern of economic growth with limited decent job creation.
The rise in unemployment among educated young people in developing countries bears testimony to the failure of strategies that emphasize growth without job quality.
The lack of decent jobs has also been a central determinant of the increase in migration. The gap in wages between receiving and sending countries tends to be as high as 10 to 1, leading to the situation described in my Report to this Conference in which over 230 million people are living in a country other than the one in which they were born – practically four times more than was the case in 2000.
Secondly, I believe it is important to keep the focus on both the volume of job creation but also the quality of jobs – even if some may think it unrealistic when some countries are struggling with child labour, forced labour and a huge informal economy.
Some may say we need to focus on jobs first and quality later. But that we know does not necessarily follow. You know it well: the development challenges are interlinked.
The facts speak for themselves. Countries investing in quality jobs have done better than others from both an economic and a social point of view. The countries that invested the most in quality jobs from the early 2000s grew nearly one percentage point faster every year since 2007 than other developing and emerging economies.
And investing in quality jobs by reducing vulnerable forms of employment and tackling working poverty not only led to higher economic growth, but also tended to be associated with lower income inequalities.
More than half the developing world’s workers, a total of 1.47 billion, are in vulnerable employment, either working on their own account or as contributing, often unpaid, family workers in a family enterprise. The issue is particularly acute in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where more than three out of four workers are in vulnerable forms of employment.
While over the past two decades, the incidence of extreme working poverty in the developing world fell from 39 per cent to 13 per cent, nonetheless 839 million workers in developing countries are unable to earn enough to lift themselves and their families above the two dollars a day poverty threshold.
And around 200 million new jobs are needed over the next five years to keep pace with the growing working-age population in emerging and developing countries.
So, what can be done to boost decent jobs that can also help to achieve development?
Ladies and gentlemen, our speaker and our panellists will be addressing these issues in a moment. But just a few considerations to start with.
First, there is strong evidence that social protection helps reduce the incidence of poverty, inequalities and vulnerable employment. Well-designed social security systems enhance individual capabilities to obtain better jobs.
For instance, the Bolsa Familia in Brazil, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in India, Ethiopia’s productive safety net programme, and similar programmes in other countries have been shown to be successful in providing supplementary incomes to households and a minimum wage floor which has helped them to improve their nutrition and also invest in productive activities as well as improve their health and keep children in school.
Second, development needs to be underpinned by an enabling environment for enterprises including supportive macroeconomic policies.
Enterprises create jobs and their actions also play a key role in determining whether those jobs are decent or not. In Asia, the experiences of several countries underline the potential of development strategies to foster production in collaboration with the private sector and strengthen the environment for enterprises.
Third, labour market institutions need to be strengthened.
These institutions provide essential ingredients of economic growth, for quality jobs and for human development. They further provide the basis to tackle the informality traps and pockets of under-development associated with the absence of workers’ rights and bad working conditions. Here too there are interesting recent innovations, such as the strengthening of labour market governance particularly in a significant number of Latin American countries.
And fourth, there is a need for ensuring balanced income growth to avoid destabilising inequalities.
In that regard, the evidence in the ILO World of Work report shows that lower labour income share can be detrimental to growth as a result of the effect on reduced consumption. That declining trend is not inevitable but can be reversed through effective policy interventions if we seek to make them. Of course, social dialogue is a crucial ingredient in this respect, as in the case of last year’s “new social contract” in Tunisia, for instance.
What does all this mean for the world’s development priorities for the post-2015 period?
Well, as you know, there is a long list of potential goals for the new UN post-2015 development agenda. But in my view the World of Work Report – based on an in-depth analysis of 145 emerging economies and developing countries — shows that decent work lies at the heart of any meaningful development strategy.
In short, there is a unique opportunity to make a difference to development dynamics and prospects. By making jobs and social protection a key goal of the post-2015 development agenda, the world economy would have much greater potential to make progress towards the objective of shared prosperity and inclusive growth.
And next on our agenda today, you have before you a highly distinguished panel. We are delighted to have them with us, and a most distinguished keynote speaker, Professor Nayyar who will I am sure challenge us, as he has done in the past, and contribute further to our discussions today. | http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/103/media-centre/speeches/WCMS_246250/lang--en/index.htm |
The South African landscape in 2016 demonstrates a number of very urgent challenges, as well as systemic problems that we as a country have been unable to rectify. There is an inextricable link between low levels of wages, high unemployment rates, the great number of people living in poverty, and the massive inequality in South Africa. We know that out of a population of 55,900,000 people, 29,733,210 are living below the poverty line. This means that over 51% of the people in our country live on less than R1,036.07 per month in 2016.
While there are different poverty indicators, for the purposes of this Report we used the Upper Bound Poverty Line. However, we also found it useful to look at the most severe situation which describes the absolute minimum calorie needs per person per day, what that would cost, and how many people live on less than this minimum. A minimum diet of 2,100 calories per day is estimated to cost R445.55 per person per month. And yet, over 11 million people in South Africa live below that level.
It is important to place South Africa’s employment situation within this overall poverty profile. There is consensus that the country should look urgently at ways of creating jobs that are secure, pay decent wages and are able to lift people out of poverty. This is particularly the case given that unemployment in South Africa is currently around 26.7%; if people who have given up looking for work are included, that number rises to over 36%. One of the main reasons why people are poor is that they do not have access to employment. Only 36% of the poorest households have access to employment opportunities. But even those people who do have jobs often earn such low wages that they are unable to help their unemployed and dependent family members. The working poverty line has been estimated to be approximately R4,317 in 2016. Over 6.7 million people earn less than R4,000 a month. Over half of the workforce in South Africa earns below R3,700, and 4.6 million people don’t even earn R2,500 per month. If you were supporting a family of five, that R2,500 would only cover your minimum food requirements.
The data thus paints a clear picture of poverty being a combination of low wages and very high levels of unemployment. Added to this are the exceptionally high levels of inequality in the country. South Africa is known as being among the top three most unequal countries in the world. The World Bank estimates our Gini coefficient to be between 0.66 to 0.70, where the richest 10%of the population accounts for 58% of the country’s income while the poorest 10% accounts for 0.5% of income.
It must be clearly stated that the people at the bottom of the wages and poverty picture are overwhelmingly women. It is women who are most vulnerable to unemployment, earn the lowest wages in the most vulnerable sectors, and who dominate the care-work and unpaid sectors. These realities create power imbalances in households. Because of gender discrimination in access to the labour market, households that comprise only women or are headed by women are more likely to experience poverty than households with men. This is not about income alone; a 2014 study by the World Bank also showed that a lower household wealth index increases the chance of intimate partner violence by up to 45%.
Thus we need to acknowledge the very gendered nature of poverty in South Africa, and how the related societal crises of unemployment and inequality contribute to the discrimination against women. This all takes place in a country of very low growth, where National Treasury has predicted a 0.5% growth rate for 2016, rising to 1.7% for 2017. Government has previously noted a growth rate of 5.6% is needed to start addressing the unemployment crisis.
National Minimum Wage Research Initiative
The National Minimum Wage Research Initiative (NMW-RI) is an independent academic research project run by the Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development (CSID) Research Unit in the School of Economic and Business Sciences (SEBS) at the University of the Witwatersrand. It is undertaken in the context of a national dialogue on wage inequality and the potential introduction of a national minimum wage in South Africa. Information on the NMW-RI can be found at www.nationalminimumwage.co.za.
Minimum wages establish wage floors below which no employers are permitted to pay the employees covered. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the purpose of minimum wages is to ensure wages are able to cover the basic needs of workers and their families, taking into account relevant economic factors. A national minimum wage sets a single economy-wide wage floor. In South Africa, a national minimum wage is also being explored as a tool to reduce inequality and transform the inherited apartheid wage structure.
Such a national wage floor would be an advance over the current sectorally-set minima in South Africa. Compared with a sectorally-differentiated system, a national minimum wage covers all workers, is easier to enforce, and does not set lower minima for sectors with high proportions of vulnerable workers (as has been shown to occur under differentiated systems). Further, a national minimum wage can be set to take account of broad policy objectives such as reducing inequality, and economy-wide economic impacts rather than only narrow sectoral considerations.
This report shows that a national minimum wage in South Africa, if set at an appropriate and meaningful level, can achieve its central objectives of reducing working poverty and inequality. As the ILO insists, economic factors must also be considered. This report shows that a national minimum wage can also support economic growth. Minimum wages do not aim to raise employment levels – for that, other policies are needed – but a national minimum wage can be implemented without significant employment effects.
These findings are supported by an extensive international literature, showing the success of minimum wages in reducing poverty and inequality without negative employment impacts, and by the statistical modelling undertaken for South Africa itself. This evidence confirms the logical assumption that firms and the economy adjust to higher wage costs through a variety of mechanisms and that higher wages – particularly for low-income households – can spur a positive growth- and output-enhancing demand stimulus.
South Africa has the highest level of inequality in the world (see Section 2); in 2014, the average income of the top 10% of full-time employees was 82 times the average income of the bottom 10%. Inequality in South Africa is driven by wage differentials. There is a growing international consensus, led by the IMF, World Bank, and OECD, that inequality retards economic growth. Inequality also undermines social cohesion. Working poverty is also dire in South Africa: 54% of full-time employees – 5.5 million workers – earn below the working-poor line of R4 125, and so cannot meet the most basic needs of themselves and their dependents (see Section 2.3). High dependency ratios mean wages in South Africa stretch to cover many dependents. Higher wages for low-wage workers would benefit both the employed and the unemployed.
Collective bargaining, covering approximately 32% of lower-wage workers, has managed to maintain wage levels but is unable on its own to combat working poverty. Sectorally-set minimum wages, enacted via eight sectoral determinations, cover approximately 46% of lower-wage workers. Since their institution the levels of the sectoral determinations have increased by between 16% and 81% in real terms (see Section 3.1). However, many workers in these sectors still earn exceptionally low wages: 75% of agricultural workers earn below R2 600, 90% of domestic workers below R3 120 (see Section 2.4). Read the full report below. | http://www.workinfo.org/index.php/articles/item/1717-national-minimum-wage-debate-and-resources |
Poverty, and its twin 'sister', inequality, are becoming increasingly entrenched in many societies despite decades of attempts to improve living standards by a host of agencies such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Oxfam and many others. According to OXFAM (Jan. 2022) just 10 billionaires own as much wealth as the poorest 4.6 billion people (60%) in the world, collectively earning $1.6 billion per day. I would like you to remember these figures throughout this article. The major thrust of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is poverty alleviation with targets set for 2030 to achieve global progress in tacking these issues, in recognition that income and welfare disparities threaten the economic and political stability of countries.
It has become increasingly clear that growth by itself is insufficient to relieve persistent inequality and poverty, and that under the umbrella of neo-liberal capitalism, growth without regulation to protect basic rights can negate attempts at poverty reduction. This is the context of the emergence of the concept of ' inclusive growth' as a strategy for policy makers to improve living standards.
The UN 2015 SDGs include two specific inclusive growth objectives:
• Goal 8—Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and full and productive employment and
• Goal 10—Reduce inequality within and among countries (United Nations, 2015). Before we can answer the question – "Where does tourism fit into this global picture?" we need to look at the overall situation from a macro-economic perspective to define
i. 'inclusive growth';
ii. neo-liberal capitalism;
iii. 'the fissured economy'
iv. The precarity class; and
v. The impact of COVID19 on Precarious Employment
1. Definitions of 'inclusive growth'
• Focus on the links between economic growth, inequality and poverty reduction.
• Inclusive growth is "growth coupled with equal opportunities" (Rauniyar & Kanbur, 2010).
• Inclusive growth – directed at "people from different groups - gender, ethnicity, religion - and across sectors (e.g. agriculture, manufacturing industry, services), to contribute to, and benefit from economic growth" (de Haan & Thorat, 2013, p. 8).
• A capability approach - "Improving and enhancing the quality of life and capabilities of all individuals by striving for a level of equitable parity within a community" (Hasmath, 2015, p. 3)
• Involves two dimensions. Sustainable growth that:
i) will create and expand economic opportunities; and
ii) ensure broad access to these opportunities so that all members of society have opportunities to participate in and benefit from growth (McKinley, 2010).
• A triangular poverty–growth–inequality structure that requires coordinated interventions to raise income levels ,spread income growth across all sectors, and decrease inequalities through more even distribution of wealth, goods and services (e.g. in health and education) generated by economic activity (Bourguignon et al, 2007).
Criticism of inclusive growth
• Improving equality requires more than just a focus on expanding growth in the hope that the 'trickle-down' effect will increase incomes for the poor, and must include substantial structural changes
• Inclusive growth is similar to the inclusive business approach since both are limited to economic dimensions and ignore fundamental root causes of poverty and inequality (Scheyvens & Biddulph (2017).
• Some definitions too narrow, Inclusive growth should move beyond economic indicators on redistribution and inequality to include social opportunities (Ngepah, 2017).
• A neoliberal capitalist push for growth
2. What is Neo-liberal capitalism?
The dominant economic model driving western developed country democracies.
• Capitalism has replaced feudalism and communism in these countries.
• Neoliberal capitalism most commonly used to refer to market-oriented reform policies such as "eliminating price controls, deregulating capital markets, lowering trade barriers" and reducing state influence on the economy, especially through privatization and austerity, and decreased spending by the state (Boas et al, 2009).
• Golden et al (2009) see neoliberalism as essentially hyper-capitalism.
• Noam Chomsky et al (2011p.1) defines the US form as "capitalism with the gloves off ".
[Taylor C. Boas, Jordan Gans-Morse (June 2009). "Neoliberalism: From New Liberal Philosophy to Anti-Liberal Slogan". Studies in Comparative International Development. 44 (2): 137–61; Frances Goldin, Debby Smith, Michael Smith (2014). Imagine: Living in a Socialist USA. Harper Perennial. ISBN 0062305573 p. 125; Chomsky, Noam and McChesney, Robert W. (2011). Profit over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order. NY: Seven Stories Press].
• Its macro-economic ideas are aimed at ways of reducing the size and influence of the state, with the belief that, as the state has less responsibility its financial requirements diminish, resulting in lower taxation rates which is considered good for economic growth (Harvey, 2010) and that resulting economic benefits would trickle down to the poor and reduce inequality.
• In its simplest version, neoliberal capitalist theory reads: "markets good, government bad." (Jones et al, 2005).
• But rather than reducing poverty there are increasing levels of inequality in many countries (Hills, 1995; Wilkinson and Pickett, 2010).
• The Wilkinson/Pickett theory highlights the fundamental reason that neoliberalism leads to income inequality — neoliberalist policies limit government regulation and allow business owners and investors to run their businesses in a manner that maximizes profit for themselves and their stakeholders, with little regard for their workers.
• Case in point: President Trump lowered US corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% in Dec 2017, promising that increased profits from reduced taxation would flow through to workers with increased wages( UBTPC, 2018).
• But the reduction in the corporate tax rate was not accompanied by any legislation to enforce worker benefits, consistent with the neoliberal ideology that any state intervention in the market will worsen economic performance.
• The reality: Wages continue to stagnate, with only 4% of companies passing increased profits into workers' wages.
• In real terms (costed for inflation), US wage levels are at their lowest in 40 years, but corporate profits are at their highest. [US Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center is an independent Thin Tank, Washington DC]
• A diagnosis of the future of capitalism by Collier (2018) describes deep new rifts that are dismantling the social fabric of many countries where the sense of ethical obligation to others that was crucial to the rise of post-war social democracy has been lost. He asserts that so far these rifts have been answered only by the revivalist ideologies of populism and socialism, leading to the seismic upheavals of Trump, Brexit, and the return of the far-right in Germany, Italy and most recently, Spain. Unregulated application of fundamental forms of neo liberal capitalism have created the fissured economy, which in turn has led to the rise of the precarity class.
3. What is 'the Fissured Workplace'?
In western countries, the biggest cost to many companies is their wage bill, so when they look at how to increase profitability, wages are carefully scrutinized. Neoliberal capitalism encourages companies to shed permanent staff for casuals, outsourcing, piece-work, etc.
This is what Weil (2019) has termed the fissured workplace, the cracks upon which today's economy largely rest, and it leaves so many without fair and decent wages, a career path, and a safe work environment.
Corporate efforts to cut labour costs have spawned a new lexicon: casualisation, outsourcing, offshoring, franchising, independent contracting, labour hire, gig work.
• Offshoring is the practice of transferring labour-intensive activities from USA, UK, etc., to developing countries where wages are far less, e.g. the massive rise of garment manufacturing in countries like South Korea, Japan, China in the 1970s to 2000, and as they became less competitive with increased living standards, more recently to countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia.
• Outsourcing has been a major response by many companies facing intense pressure to improve financial performance for private and public investors. Sharply focusing their businesses on core competencies— that is, activities that provide the greatest value to their consumers and investors—and by shedding less essential activities. Firms typically started outsourcing activities like payroll, publications, accounting, advertising and promotion, and human resources. Over time, this spread to activities like cleaning services, facilities maintenance and security. Still in many cases it went deeper, spreading into employment activities that could be regarded as core to the company: housekeeping in hotels; cooking in restaurants; loading and unloading in retail distribution centers; teaching and lecturing in universities; even basic legal research in law firms.
Like a fissure in a once solid rock that deepens and spreads, once an activity like janitorial services or housekeeping is shed, the secondary businesses doing that work are affected, often shifting those activities to still other businesses.
• A common practice in janitorial work, for instance, is for companies in the hotel or grocery industries to outsource that work to cleaning companies.
• Those companies, in turn, often hire smaller businesses to provide workers for specific facilities or shifts. Their workers are not employees: they work 'piece-meal' (i.e. paid only for the task that they complete) or for a few hours at a time only when required.
• Because each level of a fissured workplace structure requires a financial return for their work, the further down one goes, the smaller are the remaining profit margins.
• This business–first approach is assisted by legislation in many countries that differentiates between 'employees' and 'contract labour'.
• The first requires employers to provide minimum wages or above, overtime, penalty rates, safe work environments, health insurance, workers' compensation, sick leave, maternity leave, annual leave, severance pay, redundancy compensation packages, and other conditions of service specific to individual industries (e.g. airlines require pilots to have 12 hours compulsory rest time between active flying).
• The second (contract labour) has none of these costs, and a recent 'innovation' is called 'zero-hour contracts' because they do not even provide for minimum hours of work within which to complete a task. You want the job, then you agree to take whatever the company offers regardless of how many hours it might take to complete.
The 'Gig Economy' is part of the fissured economy.
▪ The gig economy gets its name from each piece of work being akin to an individual 'gig' – although, such work can fall under multiple names.
o It has previously been called the "sharing economy" — mostly in reference to platforms such as Airbnb — and the "collaborative economy".
o However, at its core are app-based platforms that dole out work in bits and pieces — making deliveries, driving passengers or cleaning (hotels, restaurants, homes) — leading some to prefer the term "platform economy".
▪ Not all gig economy roles are based around a technology platform. Gig economy workers can also work for more traditional companies, which have changed how their staffing system operates.
o Delivery drivers for Hermes (in-line luxury goods store), for example, work on a piece-by-piece delivery basis, though their employer does not have the tech startup origins often associated with this type of work.
How many people work in the Precarity economy?
Figures vary because thousands of companies no longer have statistics on their workforce since they are NOT 'their' workforce. In the US, Gallop estimates that 36% of the national workforce - more than 57 million people – work in the Gig Economy, of whom for 48 million it is their only job. In Australia, the Austn Bureau of Statistics estimates that 2.6 million (Mar 2019) work in the Gig Economy - 20% out of 12.8 million.
• Of the total of 12.8 million, 62% (7.9 million) were full time and 38% (4,865,000) were part time - with part time employed ranging from 1 hour per week to 19 hours per week. (Unbridled politics at work - I hour's work per week means you are classified as 'employed'. 20 hours and you are classified as fully employed! So unemployment as a percentage of the total workforce is grossly under-stated).
• In such economies, the rich get richer (and smaller in number) while the poor get poorer and increase in number (the so-called Matthew Effect: Merton, 1968). The precarity class expands.
'The Fissured Workplace' – Its impact on the economy and society in Britain
The UK is trending towards the same situation as the USA.
▪ A report by Cribb et al, UK Institute for Fiscal Studies (2022), revealed more than 20% (about 10 million) UK workers were part of the fissured economy/precarity class, that the UK has one of the highest levels of inequality in Europe, and that among the world's richest countries, only the United States is more unequal. In May 2019 IFS launched a 5-year study into inequality in the UK (final report pending).
▪ Its Director, Nobel Laureate economist and Princeton professor, Dr Angus Deaton, warned that the widening gap between rich and poor is "making a mockery of democracy", and that inequality in UK could soon reach American levels.
▪ Deaton warned that unless there was a major change in policies, the UK was at risk of following the path of the US, where wages of white non-college-educated men haven't grown in five decades, where the number of poverty-related deaths from suicide, drug overdoses and alcohol abuse has risen dramatically, and where corporate governance is skewed to benefit shareholders over workers, undermining their wages for the sake of investors and corporate executives.
From the perspectives of CEOs and investors, fissuring—splitting off functions that were once managed internally—has been a phenomenally successful business strategy, allowing companies to become more streamlined and drive down costs.
• But from the perspective of workers, this lucrative strategy has meant stagnation in wages and benefits and a lower standard of living—if they are fortunate enough to have a job at all.
• As casualisation, outsourcing, offshoring, franchising, independent contracting, labour hire, gig work, etc, become more common and widespread, they give rise to the precarity class – teetering on the edge. Teetering on the edge …
4. What is 'the Precarity Class'?
Precarity is a term to describe the material, financial and psychological vulnerability arising from neoliberal economic reforms. It is derived from the adjective "precarious", meaning 'lack of security', 'uncertainty', 'dangerous', 'risky, dependent on chance'.
• Precarious Employment (PE) commonly defined as jobs that accumulate several unfavorable features of employment quality, such as employment insecurity, e.g. contractual temporariness, contractual relation insecurity, underemployment, and multiple job holding), inadequate income, limited rights and protection, e.g. lack of unionization, social security, regulatory support, and workplace rights (Kreshpaj et al, 2020). People in the precarity class are referred to as 'the precariat'.
• This an accurate description of millions of people in many countries who must contend with the fissured economy, the gig economy and chronic underemployment.
• Where it differs markedly from previous classes is that it cuts across 'normal' class and educational levels, and as many professionals, university graduates and highly skilled individuals are impelled into the precarity class as are lower socio-economic, educationally-less qualified individuals. (e,g US university staff hiring practices – 70% no longer tenured, given one semester -13 weeks - contracts).
• Precarious Employment (PE) is an important social determinant of health, associated with a multitude of poor health outcomes (Ronblad et al, 2019; Benach et al, (2014).
• PE is more common in already disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, which generates systematic, unfair, and avoidable differences in health.
• Workers in PE often find themselves in situations where their governments and employers do not provide access to sufficient social and health protections. Globally, only 45% of the population is covered by at least one social protection benefit, which means that 55% are completely unprotected.
• In short, neoliberal capitalist ideology has increased the precarity class, which is now a feature of most countries, i.e. it is a global phenomenon.
5. The Impacts of COVID-19 on the Precariat
A Precarity research team led by Matilla-Santander et al (2021) has noted: The world of work is facing an ongoing pandemic and an economic downturn with severe effects worldwide.
Workers trapped in precarious employment (PE), both formal and informal, are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They have identified 5 critical ways that the consequences of the COVID crisis among workers in PE are manifested globally:
i. Precarious Employment has increased,
ii. workers and work in PE will become more precarious,
iii. workers in PE face unemployment and no pay without being officially laid off,
iv. workers in PE are being exposed to serious stressors and dramatic life changes that are leading to a rise in diseases of despair, and
v. PE appears to be a factor in deterring the control of or in generating new COVID-19 outbreaks.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), as of September 2020, 94% of the global workforce was affected by mandatory or recommended workplace closures, and millions of workers faced layoffs and reductions in their working hours. By the end of 2020, ILO estimated another 35 million people were in work-poverty worldwide. Increased inequality is evident in these figures - decline in employment greater for women than for men, for indigenous minorities, for lower caste workers in all countries, and- Workers trapped in precarious employment (PE), both formal and informal, are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (ILO 2020). As Guy Ryder, ILO director general, said, "The crisis has uncovered the huge decent work deficits that still prevail in 2020 and shown how vulnerable millions of working people are when a crisis hits." (ILO 2020).
6. The Tourism Industry and the Precarity Class
Tourism is a labour-intensive sector, involves the utilization of low skills and often small investments and can, therefore, offer employment for low-skilled workers, ethnic minority groups and immigrants, unemployed youth, long-term unemployed as well as women with family responsibilities (UNWTO & ILO, 2014). World Travel & Tourism Council – Where tourism creates the most jobs The tourism sector has a relatively high economic multiplier feeding into a vast and diverse supply chain including agriculture, handicrafts, transport, design engineering and construction, and other subsectors (Mitchell & Ashley, 2010)
It is self-evident that the benefits of tourism's direct employment opportunities and economic multiplier constitute a significant potential for poverty reduction in any economy. However, a review by Perry, Aronson, & Pescosolido (2021) concluded that while tourism growth could contribute to poverty alleviation and reduce poverty levels on a national scale, benefits could not always be ascribed locally, redistribution of wealth was very limited, and it failed to reduce income inequality.
Bakker et al (2020) stated that if tourism was to be supportive of inclusive growth, it had to create productive employment opportunities while also ensuring equal access to those opportunities. They identified a number "binding constraints" that prohibit the tourism sector from being a catalyst for inclusive growth, grouped into three pillars :
i. Constraints to growth of tourism opportunities (included e.g. Insufficient human resource capacity; Inadequate infrastructure; Safety, insecurity and health; and Restrictive business policy environments)
ii. Constraints to equal access to tourism opportunities (included unequal access to education; unequal access to finance; unequal access due to institutional barriers)
iii. Constraints to the equal outcome of tourism opportunities (included gender discrimination, wages inequalities (expatriates versus locals), lack of access to non-monetary outcomes such as childcare and housing).
All of Bakker et al's factors are important, with many of them amenable to action by individual operators or tourism industry associations, and solutions could go some way to addressing inequality and improved distribution of monetary and non- monetary benefits. In my view however, they will have limited effect because they depend upon voluntary uptake. The industry has a poor record on self-regulation. Far greater structural change is needed, especially a modification of some of the more exploitative forms of neo-capitalism that have led to the fissured economy and the rise of the precarity class.
Example: XXXXX Hotel Co. 5,000+ hotels, 800,000+ beds, 132,000 employees; average 15 full time employees per property; estimated 1 million+ outsourced and contract workers
Airlines: Qantas outsourced baggage handlers Jan 2022, 3000 employees lost their jobs, lost conditions of employment and lost security of employment.
7. Whither Tourism Inclusive Growth in the face of these macro economic developments?
Neo liberal capitalism is not conducive to inclusive growth because of its narrow focus on profits to the exclusion of other possible interests.
For the past 50 years, the ideals of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have been buffeted by headwinds most famously declared in unequivocal terms by the eminent American economist and Nobel Prize recipient, Milton Friedman, (1970, p.11) that: "There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits."
▪ In many ways this is the catch-cry of neo-liberal capitalism as the dominant economic force in many western democracies and other forms of governance (Sofield 2019).
▪ The rise of the fissured workplace and the precarity society demonstrate unequivocally that those firms which pursue their labour requirements through casualisation, outsourcing, offshoring, franchising, independent contracting, piece-work, zero-hour contracts and gig work have no intent or capacity to accept the social responsibilities of "inclusive growth".
▪ Many Tourism businesses apply these labour practices.
For example, Robinson et al (2019, p.1008)) reviewed 14 industry reports from global, regional and national levels, and their findings indicated "that tourism sustains precarity vis-à-vis its employment practices" and that – "Contrary to academic and practitioner narratives championing humanist and sustainable tourism futures, tourism (employment) sustains precarious employment but also contributes to deep social cleavages and economic inequalities." They concluded that a recalibration of the three sustainability pillars (economic, environmental and social) was necessary in order to improve tourism's capacity to combat precarity.
Dwyer et al (2017) stated that: Much tourism involves 'business as usual', 'saluting while the ship sinks'. Given the forces that underpin continued tourism growth the 'business as usual' approach to tourism development can be expected to lead to more adverse environmental and social impacts. Despite the adoption of sustainability practices worldwide, such as CSR, Triple Bottom Line Reporting, Inclusive Growth, and Shared Corporate Value (Porter and Kramer, 2011), there is no indication that tourism's problems globally are being solved. It is argued that current corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility efforts are doing no more than inching firms toward reducing their negative impacts, overlooking the need to restore and rejuvenate, or move towards becoming ''more sustainable (Ehrenfeld, 2008; Sofield 2019).
8. Conclusions
Much of the tourism literature on SDG 8 omits any mention of the rise of the Precarity Class and the role of the industry in vigorously utilizing Precarious Employment to strengthen profit margins, seemingly oblivious to the fact that decent work should be an integral part of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) actions. In some ways the issue is too big for the tourism industry or any other sector, to tackle by itself. Structural change is required.
The Precarious Work Research Program (Sweden, Belgium, Spain, United States, Chile, Canada) suggests that: "Now, possibly more than ever before, there is an urgent need for equitable and inclusive policy responses to guarantee Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to prioritize decent work in the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
Just as everyone has the same universal rights, having universal social protections would mitigate the impact of the COVID pandemic, and - What is really needed is a new social contract, where the work of all workers is recognized and protected with adequate job contracts, employment security, and social protection in a new economy, both during and after the COVID-19 crisis" (Matilla-Santander et al, 2021)
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Economic advancement is a wide-ranging term meant for economic progress, often linked to growing profits or businesses. This area of economics requires the endeavors of both equally business management and public workers, as well as government, to grow our economy, increase employment and improve top quality of life.
The critical first step to economic expansion is an increase in per capita income, or GDP. A country’s per household income is the foremost available measure of just how much people are capable of spend on services and goods.
A higher level of cash means better living benchmarks, more careers, more money to invest in the economy, and higher tax earnings for local governments. Additionally, it can mean even more opportunities with regards to investment.
Creating opportunities meant for sustainable growth requires more than only boosting output and increasing aggregate require, however. The us government must take a broad method to promoting growth that rewards all the people in the community, not just a few.
There are many ways to make this happen. Some of the most common methods are monetary and fiscal policies, control policies, and government programs that provide facilities and companies.
Another way to boost our economy is by using a strategy of investing in individuals capital. This requires improving education, training and specialized abilities, as well as better wages and working http://www.midnightmysteryplayers.com/digital-broadcasting-development conditions.
Additionally, it involves reducing poverty and inequality, addressing the needs of the most prone populations, and increasing environmental sustainability. These desired goals are often recognized green expansion or sustainable production. | https://prielsa.com/index.php/2023/02/05/precisely-what-is-economic-production/ |
Transcription of Economic growth: the impact on poverty reduction ...
1 growth BUILDING JOBS AND PROSPERITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 1 Introduction Economic growth is the most powerful instrument for reducing poverty and improving the quality of life in developing countries. Both cross-country research and country case studies provide overwhelming evidence that rapid and sustained growth is critical to making faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and not just the first goal of halving the global proportion of people living on less than $1 a day. growth can generate virtuous circles of prosperity and opportunity. Strong growth and employment opportunities improve incentives for parents to invest in their children s education by sending them to school.
2 This may lead to the emergence of a strong and growing group of entrepreneurs, which should generate pressure for improved governance. Strong Economic growth therefore advances human development, which, in turn, promotes Economic growth . But under different conditions, similar rates of growth can have very different effects on poverty , the employment prospects of the poor and broader indicators of human development. The extent to which growth reduces poverty depends on the degree to which the poor participate in the growth process and share in its proceeds. Thus, both the pace and pattern of growth matter for reducing poverty . A successful strategy of poverty reduction must have at its core measures to promote rapid and sustained Economic growth .
3 The challenge for policy is to combine growth -promoting policies with policies that allow the poor to participate fully in the opportunities unleashed and so contribute to that growth . This includes policies to make labour markets work better, remove gender inequalities and increase financial inclusion. Asian countries are increasingly tackling this agenda of inclusive growth . India s most recent development plan has two main objectives: raising Economic growth and making growth more inclusive, policy mirrored elsewhere in South Asia and Africa. Future growth will need to be based on an increasingly globalised world that offers new opportunities but also new challenges.
4 New technologies offer not only catch-up potential but also leapfrogging possibilities. New science offers better prospects across both productive and service sectors. Future growth will also need to be environmentally sustainable. Improved management of water and other natural resources is required, together with movement towards low carbon technologies by both developed and developing countries. With the proper institutions, growth and environmental sustainability may be seen as complements, not substitutes. DFID will work for inclusive growth through a number of programmes and continues to spend heavily on health and education, which have a major impact on poor people s ability to take part in growth opportunities.
5 More and better research on the drivers of growth will be needed to improve policy. But ultimately the biggest determinants of growth in a country will be its leadership, policies and institutions. 21. WHY growth SHOULD BE AT THE HEART OF DEVELOPMENT POLICY Historically nothing has worked better than Economic growth in enabling societies to improve the life chances of their members, including those at the very bottom. Dani Rodrik, Harvard University One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions and Economic growth (2007) The central lesson from the past 50 years of development research and policy is that Economic growth is the most effective way to pull people out of poverty and deliver on their wider objectives for a better life.
6 growth helps people move out of poverty Research that compares the experiences of a wide range of developing countries finds consistently strong evidence that rapid and sustained growth is the single most important way to reduce poverty . A typical estimate from these cross-country studies is that a 10 per cent increase in a country s average income will reduce the poverty rate by between 20 and 30 per The central role of growth in driving the speed at which poverty declines is confirmed by research on individual countries and groups of countries. For example, a flagship study of 14 countries in the 1990s found that over the course of the decade, poverty fell in the 11 countries that experienced significant growth and rose in the three countries with low or stagnant growth .
7 On average, a one per cent increase in per capita income reduced poverty by per cent (see Figure 1).2 Among these 14 countries, the reduction in poverty was particularly spectacular in Vietnam, where poverty fell by per cent a year between 1993 and 2002, halving the poverty rate from 58 per cent to 29 per cent. Other countries with impressive reductions over this period include El Salvador, Ghana, India, Tunisia and Uganda, each with declines in the poverty rate of between three and six per cent a year. Driving these overall reductions in poverty was the rebound in growth that began for most of the countries in the mid-1990s. The median GDP growth rate for the 14 countries was per cent a year between 1996 and 2003.
8 Numerous other country studies show the power of growth in reducing poverty : 1 See, for example, Adams, R (2002) Economic growth , Inequality and poverty : Findings from a New Data Set, Policy Research Working Paper 2972, World Bank, February 2002, and Ravallion, M and S Chen (1997) What Can New Survey Data Tell Us about Recent Changes in Distribution and poverty ? World Bank Economic Review, 11(2): 357-82 2 Operationalising Pro-Poor growth (OPPG) Programme (2005), Pro-Poor growth in the 1990s: lessons and insights from 14 countries 3 China alone has lifted over 450 million people out of poverty since 1979.
9 Evidence shows that rapid Economic growth between 1985 and 2001 was crucial to this enormous reduction in India has seen significant falls in poverty since the 1980s, rates that accelerated into the 1990s. This has been strongly related to India s impressive growth record over this Mozambique illustrates the rapid reduction in poverty associated with growth over a shorter period. Between 1996 and 2002, the economy grew by 62 per cent and the proportion of people living in poverty declined from 69 per cent to 54 per growth transforms society The positive link between growth and poverty reduction is clear. The impact of the distribution of income on this relationship in particular, whether higher inequality lessens the reduction in poverty generated by growth is less clear.
10 Initial levels of income inequality are important in determining how powerful an effect growth has in reducing poverty . For example, it has been estimated that a one per cent increase in income levels could result in a per cent decline in poverty in countries with very low inequality or as little as a per cent decline in poverty in highly unequal Such calculations need to be interpreted with care given the multitude of variables involved. Even if inequality increases alongside growth , it is not necessarily the case that poor people will fail to benefit only that they will benefit less from growth than other households. But contrary to widespread belief, growth does not necessarily lead to increased inequality. | https://pdf4pro.com/view/economic-growth-the-impact-on-poverty-reduction-5bc90a.html |
Imagine living in a place where you can't even afford the basics: food, water, shelter. A place where you and your family go to bed hungry every night.
This is the reality for millions of people around the world, who are forced to live in poverty. In fact, according to the World Bank, the poorest country in the world is the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at poverty in the DRC and explore some of the root causes that have led to such widespread deprivation. We'll also discuss some potential solutions that could help improve the lives of the country's most vulnerable citizens.
What Is the Poorest Country in the World?
The poorest country in the world is a small, landlocked country in Africa that goes by the name of Burundi. Located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, it's bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.
Despite being one of the smallest countries in Africa, Burundi is also one of the poorest. In fact, it's estimated that over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. And while there are many factors that have contributed to this state of affairs, corruption is undoubtedly one of the main culprits.
Causes of Poverty in the Poorest Country.
It's hard to believe that a country as rich in natural resources as yours is could be the poorest in the world. But that's exactly the case. Experts agree that there are many causes of poverty in your country, but the primary one is a lack of education.
The majority of your citizens are illiterate, which means they can't read or write. They're also unaware of the importance of hygiene and health, and often don't have access to basic medical care. This leads to rampant disease and a high infant mortality rate.
Another major contributor to poverty is the lack of infrastructure. There are few paved roads, and those that do exist are often in poor condition. The same goes for your electrical grid and telecommunications system. This means that businesses can't operate efficiently, and it's difficult for people to get access to essential goods and services.
Effects of Poverty on the People and the Economy.
The effects of poverty are vast and far-reaching. They are felt by the people living in poverty, as well as by the economy as a whole.
In the poorest country in the world, the people living in poverty are burdened with many problems. They often don't have enough food to eat, they can't afford to go to school or get medical care, and they're always struggling to make ends meet. This is a huge burden to bear, and it takes its toll on their health and well-being.
Poverty also has a negative effect on the economy. When so many people are living in poverty, it creates a lot of instability and insecurity. Businesses can't make plans or invest in the future, because they never know when things will change and the economy will collapse. This makes it difficult for the country to grow and develop.
Solutions for Overcoming Poverty.
When it comes to finding solutions for overcoming poverty, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. But there are a few key things that can make a big difference.
First, ensuring that everyone has access to basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare is crucial. This may seem obvious, but it's often overlooked in places where poverty is widespread.
Second, investing in education is another important way to help break the cycle of poverty. This includes both formal education and vocational training that can provide people with the skills they need to get jobs and earn a decent living.
Third, create opportunities for entrepreneurship and economic growth. This can be done by providing access to capital, mentorship, and resources. When people are able to start their own businesses and earn a good income, it can have a ripple effect on the whole community.
Lastly, it's important to remember that addressing poverty is not just about giving handouts or hand-ups. It's about creating lasting change that will improve the lives of people, both now and in the future.
The Role of Politics and Economics in Poverty Reduction.
There is no single silver bullet for poverty reduction, but evidence suggests that a combination of economic growth and targeted social protection programs can help reduce poverty significantly.
Politics and economics are inextricably linked when it comes to poverty reduction. On the one hand, economic growth is necessary to create jobs and increase incomes, but on the other hand, political stability and good governance are necessary to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
In recent years, we have seen some progress in poverty reduction, thanks to economic growth in many developing countries. However, this has not always translated into lasting improvements in living standards for the poorest people, due largely to inequality.
To make more progress in reducing poverty, we need to ensure that economic growth is inclusive and benefits everyone, not just the rich. We also need to invest more in social protection programs that provide a safety net for the poorest and most vulnerable people.
Beyond Just Money: Improving Quality of Life for People in Poor Countries.
You might be wondering what else can be done to help people in poor countries beyond just providing them with money. And it's a valid question—after all, money isn't everything.
One thing that's important is to focus on improving the quality of life for people in these countries. This means things like access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
A lot of times, poverty is caused by a lack of access to these basic needs and services. So by working to improve the quality of life for people in poor countries, we can make a big impact in the fight against poverty.
Conclusion.
So, what is the root of poverty in the poorest country in the world? It is a complex question with no easy answers. But by understanding the effects of poverty and the solutions to poverty, we can get a better idea of how to make a real difference in the lives of the poorest people. | https://www.readbox.info/2022/12/poor-economics-understanding-poverty-at.html |
There is growing evidence in the world today of a shift towards returns on capital and away from labour, together with increasing income inequality. The labour share in national income is declining while that of profits is rising in many countries. The current patterns of growth tend to favour the better-off more than the poor. Wage inequality has been increasing. In some countries, there has been a sharp rise in earnings of the highest paid, with important gender dimensions; in other countries, skilled workers in high demand in the labour market have received growing wage premiums. On the other hand, labour market reforms designed to promote flexibility and lower labour costs, causing cuts to welfare benefits, less progressive tax policies, weaker collective bargaining and an absence of tripartite social dialogue, as well as low minimum wages, have all contributed to weakening the position of the lower 50 per cent of income earners in many countries.
Inequality weakens the link between economic growth and employment creation in general and between economic growth and both the reduction of poverty and working poverty, as well as other dimensions of decent work deficits. Inequality has not only material, but also many non-material dimensions, such as unequal power and voice, unequal access to rights, social protection, social capital etc. These different dimensions of inequality are often linked and tend to reinforce each other (19). The focus of this section is primarily on the income aspect of inequality; other dimensions of inequality are discussed in the section on gender equality and non-discrimination, though they are very relevant to income inequality; in particular, there is a clear link between unequal pay between women and men and income inequality (31).
The Gini coefficient23 is commonly used to measure income inequality. Considering income distribution of all human beings, the worldwide income inequality has been constantly increasing since the early 19th century. There was a steady increase in global income inequality according to the Gini score from 1820 to 2002, with a significant increase between 1980 (a Gini coefficient of 0.43) and 2002 (0.71). This trend appears to have peaked and begun a reversal with rapid economic growth in emerging economies, particularly in the large populations of the BRIC countries. Latin America and the Caribbean region had the highest net income Gini index in the world at 0.48, on unweighted average basis in 2008. The remaining regional averages were: sub-Saharan Africa (0.44), Asia (0.40), Middle East and North Africa (0.39), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (0.35), and High-income Countries (0.31). South Africa had the highest income Gini index score of 0.68 (32).
In many countries, inequality starts in the labour market. Changes in the distribution of wages and paid employment have been key factors behind recent inequality trends. In developed economies where inequality increased most, this was frequently due to a combination of more wage inequality and job losses. A number of emerging and developing economies have experienced declines in inequality. In these countries, a more equitable distribution of wages and paid employment was a predominant factor (33).
Growing inequality is partly caused by a declining share of wages in national economies, because income from capital is more highly concentrated than income from wages. Between 1999 and 2013, labour productivity growth in developed economies outstripped real wage growth, and labour’s share of national income fell in the largest economies. The adjusted labour share in the EU plus 11 OECD countries fell from 64 per cent in 1991 to 58 per cent in 2013 (34).
To combat inequality the ILO proposes the following policy responses (33):
- Promoting job creation : Job creation is a priority in all countries, and access to, or loss of, paid employment is a key determinant of income inequality. In developed economies, job losses that disproportionally affect low-income workers contribute to increasing inequality. In emerging and developing economies, the creation of paid employment for those at the bottom of the wage structure, who are disproportionately women, contributes to reducing inequality.
- Fiscal redistribution through taxes and social protection systems : Fiscal policies can compensate to some extent for inequality in the labour market, through both progressive taxation systems and transfers that tend to reduce inequality in household incomes. Emerging and developing economies should increase tax revenues through a variety of measures, including by broadening the tax base through the transition of workers and enterprises from the informal to the formal economy as well as by improving tax collection; this would allow for the extension of social protection systems to unprotected segments of the population.
- Minimum wages and collective bargaining : Recent research suggests that governments have considerable space for using minimum wages as a policy tool. On the one hand, research shows that there is either no trade-off between increased minimum wages and employment levels or that such increases have very limited effects on employment, which can be either positive or negative. On the other, it shows that minimum wages do contribute effectively to reducing wage inequality and reducing the gender pay gap.
- Special attention to disadvantaged groups of workers : Extending minimum wages and collective bargaining to low-paid workers will generally be helpful in reducing inequality among women, migrants and vulnerable groups, who are over-represented among these workers. However, these policy tools alone will not eliminate all forms of discrimination or wage gaps, which constitute a significant source of inequality. A wider range of policies is required to overcome wage gaps across groups that are not explained by human capital and labour market characteristics. For example, achieving equal pay between men and women requires policies aimed at combating discriminatory practices and gender-based stereotypes about the value of women’s work, effective policies on maternity, paternity and parental leave, as well as advocacy for better sharing of family responsibilities.
DWA-SDG RelationshipThe issue of equality is central to the 2030 Agenda which strives “to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality”; consequently, the Agenda includes an “equality” goal 10 that seeks to “reduce inequality within and among countries”. From a Decent Work perspective the most relevant targets under this goal are 10.1 (income equality), 10.3 (equal opportunity) and 10.4 (fiscal, wage and social protection policies for equality). In addition, many other SDG targets (namely 1.4, 2.3, 5.5, 5.a, 5.c, 8.5 and 16.3) all call for equal rights, equal access, equal opportunities or equal pay.
The struggle for greater equality is fundamental to the Decent Work Agenda. The promotion of social justice as the principal strategy to achieve greater equality is highlighted in the very first sentence of the ILO Constitution: “Whereas universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice…”; it was reaffirmed by the Declaration of Philadelphia (1944), which states that “all human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the right to pursue their material wellbeing and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity". The Social Justice Declaration (2008), also underlined that the “four strategic objectives are inseparable, interrelated and mutually supportive”, and that gender equality and non-discrimination cut across all the strategic objectives; this was more recently related by the 2016 Resolution on Advancing Social Justice through Decent Work. In fact, the simultaneous promotion of the four pillars of decent work agenda has the potential to significantly reduce inequality. Moreover, the implementation of the recommendation adopted in 2004 by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization under the title “A Fair Globalization” would contribute greatly to reducing inequality among countries (SDG 10) (35).
Cross-cutting policy driversGreater equality of income and opportunity can be achieved only through the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda in its entirety. The enforcement of rights will protect disadvantaged population groups; the extension of social protection entails a transfer of resources from the rich to the poor; the creation of jobs will raise the share of wages in national economies; and the promotion of social dialogue at all levels provides workers and civil society with voice and representation. The pursuit of the objective of equality is inherent in the cross-cutting policy driver on gender equality and non-discrimination, as it resonates so closely with the ILO’s core objective: to achieve social justice for all.
PartnershipsAddressing inequalities is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda, and the struggle for equality of opportunities and equality of outcomes concerns each and every entity of the UN system, as well as many non-UN agencies. The ILO has not entered into specific “equality partnerships”, but has concluded Memoranda of Understanding with all major UN agencies, funds and programmes, with many regional organizations and development banks, and with numerous development partners, civil society organizations, as well as the private sector. These all refer to the Decent Work Agenda as the principal instrument to promote greater social justice and, thereby, contribute to greater equality. The centrality of the quest for social justice for the UN system was reaffirmed in 2007, when the UN General Assembly declared the 20th of February to become the World Day of Social Justice.
ILO CapacityThe cross-cutting, all-encompassing nature of the battle for decent work, social justice and equality concerns every single technical unit, every field office and every technical team of the ILO; each of these units, offices and teams contribute with their specific expertise, knowledge and tools to the office-wide, multi-dimensional concern. This notwithstanding, four ILO policy outcomes that have explicitly prioritized SDG 10 are: PO 1 (more and better jobs); PO 3 (social protection), PO 7 (compliance) and PO 8 (unacceptable forms of work). The units in charge of those outcomes could be seen as the champions of ILO’s equality work, as well as the Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch which coordinates the work on the cross-cutting policy driver on gender equality and non-discrimination.
ResourcesThe relevant section of the ILO Country Diagnostic Tool (pages 24 to 27) provides guidance on how to locate data and indicators on inequality and poverty at the national level. Resources related to ILO’s work on equality can be found under the sections on
- active labour market policies
- working conditions
- non-discrimination
- social protection
- informal economy
19. ILO. Decent Work Country Diagnostics - Technical Guideloines to draft the Diagnostics Report. Geneva : ILO, 2015.
31. IMF. Catalyst for Change: Empowering Women and Tackling Income Inequality. Washington : IMF, 2015.
23 - The GINI coefficient rages from 0 (all people own equal wealth, perfect equality) to 1 (one person owns all, the others nothing: total inequality).
32. Ortiz, Isabel and Cummins, Matthew. Global inequality: Beyond the Bottom Billion. New York : UNICEF, 2011.
33. ILO. Global Wage Report 2014-15. Geneva : ILO, 2015.
34. OECD, ILO. The Labour Share in G 20 Economies. Antalya : OECD and ILO, 2015.
35. WCSDG. A fair globalization - Creating opportunities for all. Geneva : ILO, 2004. | http://www.oit.org/global/topics/dw4sd/themes/equality/lang--en/index.htm |
Why the Goal Matter (SDG 8)
What’s the goal here?
To promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.
Why?
Poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs. Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the US$1.90 poverty line.
How many people are unemployed?
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 5.6 per cent of the global population were unemployed as of 2017. In 2018, the total number of unemployed people remains high – above 192 million – and it is harder to find decent jobs.
How many jobs are needed?
470 million jobs are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and 2030, just to keep up with the growth of the global working age population. That’s around 30 million per year.
So if they all got a job will extreme poverty end?
In addition to creating jobs, we also need to improve conditions for the some 783 million women and men who are working, but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. In addition, women and girls must enjoy equal access to equal opportunities with men and boys for employment. I have a job.
Why does this matter to me?
Society as a whole benefits when more people are being productive and contributing to their country’s growth. Productive employment and “decent work” are key elements to achieving fair globalization and poverty reduction. In addition, unemployment can lead to unrest and disrupt peace if it is left unaddressed.
What does “decent work” mean?
Decent work means opportunities for everyone to get work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration. It is also important that all women and men are given equal opportunities in the workplace. A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress.
What can we do to fix these issues?
Providing youth the best opportunity to transition to a decent job calls for investing in education and training of the highest possible quality, providing youth with skills that match labour market demands, giving them access to social protection and basic services regardless of their contract type, as well as levelling the playing field so that all aspiring youth can attain productive employment regardless of their gender, income level or socio-economic background. Governments can work to build dynamic, sustainable, innovative and people-centred economies, promoting youth employment and women’s economic empowerment, in particular, and decent work for all. Local authorities and communities can renew and plan their cities and human settlements so as to foster community cohesion and personal security and to stimulate innovation and employment. | https://southernafricayouth.org/why-it-matters/ |
A Parliamentary majority to support reducing Inequality?
Media release 22nd November 2011
Will there be a Parliamentary majority to support reducing Inequality? Late surge in support
More than 63 political leaders and party candidates from six political parties have signed up to support policies to reduce inequality if elected. They have been responding to NZ Council of Christian Social Services’ (NZCCSS) invitation to show support for their Closer Together Whakatata Mai Choice to reduce inequalities
“Income inequality is an issue that affects all New Zealanders because we all share the responsibility of making sure our most vulnerable members of society, which includes our children, have access to the resources they need. These include adequate food, water, medicine, shelter and clothing - resources that many people take for granted but, for a growing number, others cannot,” says Trevor McGlinchey, Executive Officer of the NZCCSS.
“Church leaders have also called on political parties to look to our responsibility to each other and the common good in ensuring a just share of society’s wealth and resources, especially the most vulnerable. This is a call we can all share in.”
What the Political Leaders told us
Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei says “I can certainly commit to encouraging our members, candidates and caucus members to pursue policy and programs that reduce inequality and alleviate poverty. We applaud your initiative and hope that you receive positive feedback from other party leaders.” She told us Green Party policy Mind the Gap is based around reducing income inequality. Fair tax (including capital gains tax), $15 hour minimum wage, progressive energy prices, In-Work Tax Credit for all families with children and 6,000 new state houses are all part of this package.
Labour Leader Hon Phil Goff has signed up and said that “Labour is committed to reducing inequality. Our policies will reduce inequality by tackling child poverty, reducing the pressure on families, creating jobs and addressing the wage gap.” He points to policies that extend the Working for Families assistance to more children, increase in the minimum wage and more apprenticeship jobs for young people as ways that Labour would help to reduce inequality.
Māori Party Co-Leader Hon Tariana Turia says “We believe the moral test of a society is not whether we add more wealth to those who are well off; but whether we provide enough for those who have too little. Our focus is on restoring our own ability to care for ourselves – in essence this is the strength of Whānau Ora, supporting our families to do for themselves.” She notes that “persistent inequalities are compounded for Māori and Pasifika populations” especially amongst children. She says “Our biggest concern is that income inequality leads to the intensification of a whole range of social issues making solutions even more complex.”
The National Party sees growing the economy as their way of reducing the gap between rich and poor While no formal response has been received from National Party Leader Hon John Key and no National candidate has signed the pledge, National List MP Jackie Blue told NZCCSS that “National believes the best way to get people out of poverty and reduce the income gap is to grow the economy. This leads to more jobs and higher wages.” She told us that National has a clear plan to grow the economy faster - “That’s the only way we can provide Kiwis with security and the opportunity to get ahead”.
United Future Leader Peter Dunne says “I very much support your call for more detailed debate around the possible ways to reduce poverty and income inequality. United Future is committed to policies which support families and boost all New Zealanders' standard of living by creating jobs, encouraging savings and investment and other wealth-creating initiatives.”
NZ First Leader Winston Peters’ reply to our request was short and to the point “NZ First has always supported reduction in income inequality policies” Similarly the Alliance Party Co-Leader Kay Murray told us of her party’s commitment to reduce inequality.
NZCCSS hopes that there will be a majority in Parliament to support reducing income inequality and we have posted party leader responses and candidate sign-ups on www.closertogether.org.nz along with other information about the impact of high inequality and poverty and policies that can reduce the inequality and make us all better off. | https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00591/a-parliamentary-majority-to-support-reducing-inequality.htm |
With the onset of the economic crisis since 2008, a new term, the working poor, has emerged at European level. This new “class” features a portion of the population that, although working, is paid below the relative poverty line. The working poor is closer to the European poverty indicator, the relative poverty which is assessed at an income below 60% of the national average national. One of the main reasons for the growth of this phenomenon was the sharp increase in unemployment, the rise in part-time working and austerity measures as a repercussion of the economic recession. The working poor issue requires more attention not only for the amelioration of living standards but also for the fight against social exclusion which is one of the biggest threats posed by poverty. The following graph from Eurostat depicts with clarity the problem of working poor in the European Union, with the countries of the Balkans and South Europe showing the biggest percentage.For this reason EU should devise effective measures and tailor-made policies to erase the issue of working poor in its member states and meet their needs. EU should undertake policies and initiatives to tackle the phenomenon of working poor Within this context, EU has set the target, through the Europe 2020 Strategy, of reducing the numbers of poor people by 20m, paying particular attention to employment, education and training. Both the European Social Fund and the European Strategic Investment Fund seek to create new jobs and reintegrate young people into either education or training programs. However, in order to improve the standard of living of that section of the population that while working is on the poverty line and cannot fulfill its basic daily needs and activities, these tailor-made measures and initiatives could include some of the following: Digital skills are crucial for employees Since one of the variables affecting working poor is education, more emphasis should be given to improving the educational attainment of the working poor. Education plays a fundamental role in the fight against social exclusion. For this reason, access to lifelong learning and vocational education programs according to the needs of the labour market, with emphasis on digital skills, will enhance the skills of employees to adapt to more and different working environments. It should be mentioned that estimates show that around 40% of people in the EU workforce do not have adequate digital skills; 14% have no digital skills at all. Given that the digital economy will dominate in the upcoming years, those skills are crucial for the employees. European Social Rights Pillar Furthermore, strengthening the welfare state with the guarantee of a living wage, access to healthcare, better working conditions, social benefits and the protection of part-time, temporary, precarious and undeclared workers should be a priority. The EU, through the European Social Rights Pillar, aims to build a fairer and more socially inclusive EU. The three main categories are: equal opportunities and access to employment, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion. Under this framework, the fight against the phenomenon of working poor should be driven institutionally. Sustainable Development Goal 8 The EU should also act in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal 8: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. Within this framework, the EU should boost investments in areas that could assist growth, depending on the specific needs of each individual country but based on the above-mentioned employment criteria. Single-earning households Another great issue is single parents or families with children and one employee in the household that are at risk of poverty. In these cases a proper work-life balance plan is needed (including childcare services) to facilitate access to work for these parents. In some cases, the lack of childcare services reduces the job-seeking opportunities or the full working day of single parents, and increasing the risk of poverty for them. Consequently, it may be inferred that job creation is not the only pathway to tackle and reduce the poverty or unemployment rate as the sheer scale of the working poor indicates that a series of measures and policies are still needed to ensure quality, stable and decent work. In order to reduce social exclusion and improve the standard of living of working poor, urgent measures and tailor-made policies should be taken by EU both at institutional and individual level.
The frontier between personal and professional life is getting blurry. The time we dedicate to work as well as where we work are getting confused. You might not be always working, you might be working intensively for a few months in a year, you might work for 10 years in your life. Paths of life are now far from unique. We cannot disregard the fact that flexibility is crucial to our modern world; wether it is forced or chosen for better or worse this flexibility became for many of us a way of life. For some it creates de facto a fluctuent and unreliable income, which is everyday’s headache as soon as you are looking for a flat, paying your taxes or social contributions. For others it encourages to choose a path “risk free”, following the safer path of life, out of fear. At the same time many activities essential to a functioning society are not gratified by any remuneration. When we invest time to take care of our community, your social contribution needs to be rewarded. I’m not contending there should be a remuneration there, but that we should, as social democrats recognise the social contribution made. That is why I believe that as progressives we should provide “law” to this new reality. It is important to adapt to this urge for flexibility in a part of the society but should not get abused by people confusing flexibility with legal insecurity; communities need legal safety to flourish and show their full potential. Legislations favouring involvement at the European level, with the definitive aim to provide for a minimum wage and an European Universal Income coupled with the recognition of harmonised rights; all are not just about fairness, it will simplify life of businesses and administrations all across the EU, by making sure that one internal market really means one. | https://www.europe-together.eu/together/statement/economic-policy/ |
Trish Hennessy is Director of Strategic Issues with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Several polls released this spring reveal the extent of concern among Canadians about worsening income inequality.
Most Canadians say that deep income inequality undermines Canadian values. The majority of Canadians tell pollsters they would support political leadership to reverse the trend.
But what, some ask, can be done about income inequality?
I turned to leading thinkers on this issue – starting with our own stable of experts from the CCPA, but broadening out to experts in housing, employment, taxes, child care, and poverty reduction – and asked them to submit an idea they think would contribute to reducing inequality.
As you'll read below, they offer a wide range of solutions to reduce income inequality but, also, their responses show there is widespread agreement that resolving the problem involves improvements to incomes in the labour market, employment protections, income supports, public services and changes to restore fairness to our tax system.
Solutions to reduce income inequality in Canada: The experts weigh in.
Shift the balance of power:
Growing inequality is driven by the polarization of market incomes. So tackling inequality requires shifting the balance of power between workers and employers within our society (so that more income goes to wages and less to profits). A few things that would help with that shift: reform labour laws to make unionization easier; strengthen and enforce employment standards so that vulnerable workers are paid that they are owed; stem the use of temporary foreign workers and ensure workers coming from other countries have full workplace rights, equal pay, and gain landed immigrant status; and ensure workers have access to employment insurance and welfare when in need, so that they are free to push for better pay and working conditions.
-- Submitted by Seth Klein, director, CCPA BC.Improve earnings of low-wage workers:
The research evidence is clear: the labour market is at the root of Canada’s growing income inequality. The earnings of Canadians have become increasingly polarized, with mind-boggling CEO compensation packages at the top, stagnating wages in the middle and persistently low wages combined with increasingly precarious work arrangements at the bottom. If we are serious about reducing inequality, we must take the bull by the horns and directly intervene in the labour market to ensure that it produces a more equal distribution of earnings. This means improving the earnings and working conditions of low-wage workers. A number of policies come to mind, but as a start, minimum wages should be indexed to inflation and set at a level such that no full-time, full-year worker lives in poverty. Despite recent minimum wage increases across the country, we’re not there yet. It is equally important to proactively enforce labour standards and implement a broad agenda of education and advocacy on workplace rights, including the rights of workers to collectively bargain. We also need to take a tougher look at the use of temporary foreign workers as a substitute for paying adequate wages to Canadians. In tight labour markets, the shortage of workers willing to take jobs at the prevailing wages should push wages up, but this cannot happen if we continue to allow employers to import and exploit cheap labour under the temporary foreign workers program. At a minimum, temporary foreign workers should enjoy the same labour rights as all Canadian workers, including being paid the same wages and not up to 15% less than average.
-- Submitted by Iglika Ivanova, economist, CCPA BC.An Aboriginal strategy:
The Aboriginal population is young and growing at a faster rate than the non-Aboriginal population in Canada. They fall disproportionately among the poor, a symptom of the bigger problems caused by a colonial era which Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in his 2008 apology to Aboriginal people, characterized as 'aggressive assimilation' by Canada's government and churches. While most Aboriginal people excel in spite of obstacles they face, they are extremely vulnerable by virtue of being so disadvantaged. Reducing income inequality means redressing these historical wrongs. What's needed is a commitment to a new policy direction aimed at supporting Aboriginal people in raising themselves out of poverty. This includes investing in literacy, education and training, housing and job creation. And that's just for starters.
-- Submitted by Shauna MacKinnon, director, CCPA Manitoba.Child care:
My vote would be for universal, affordable, accessible, developmentally appropriate public child care. It is not just that there is income inequality but that income has been eroded while prices have gone up. We can redistribute income but what will that income get us? Child care, for the sake of the young minds and young families and society as a whole.
-- Submitted by Christine Saulnier, director, CCPA Nova Scotia.Affordable education:
Two programs would go a long way to mitigating inequality: 1) Fully-funded higher education (university and college) would allow students to graduate without carrying crippling debt, ensuring that society would realize full and immediate economic and social returns of a highly educated society. 2) Universal Child Care (a program, not a $100/month payout) would also provide substantial gains. It would allow more parents (predominantly women) to go back to work if they choose, ensuring they continue to earn income at a adequate level while increasing their employment prospects; it would provide employment opportunities as child care centres would need to be staffed by well-trained, well-paid professionals, representing a massive cash injection into the economy of communities; and it would pay for itself in the social and economic returns on investment that Quebec has already seen with its provincial program.
-- Submitted by Erika Shaker, director, CCPA Education Project.Solidarity:
Stronger union representation. Inequality is as much about good middle class jobs as it is about how little wealthy Canadians pay in tax or how big the cuts are to social programs. Regular working Canadians deserve a chance to work hard and get ahead because of it, instead of working harder just to stand still. One of the ways to do that is to demand their fair share of profits when their company does well. It's hard to do that if you aren't organized.
-- Submitted by David Macdonald, senior economist, CCPA.Walk a mile in their shoes:
One sentence: All elected representatives have to live for at least one month in the first year of their term in the poorest neighbourhood in their riding/ward. That way they see how "the other half lives" – what transit is like for that community; how easy it is to find fresh, nutritious food; whether housing is in good repair and is affordable, within peoples' incomes; if good quality child care is available and how much it costs; whether there are recreational or green space opportunities nearby. Nothing would focus the mind more, clarifying the problems with income inequality and its solutions.
-- Submitted by Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist, CCPA.Better working conditions:
Update and strengthen enforcement of employments standards. Improving employment standards, like minimum wage and overtime pay, decreases inequality in a number of ways. It puts money in the pockets of marginalized workers. By improving their working conditions, it also raises the bar for the rest of us. And it shifts income from shareholders to wage earners.
-- Submitted by Sheila Block, director of economic analysis, Wellesley Institute.A stronger middle class:
Rising inequality is rooted in the loss of good, middle-class jobs. We need a mechanism that will raise the wages of the lower-paid, and also narrow the large and growing income gap between ordinary workers and the top 1% made up of the corporate and financial elites. That mechanism is called stronger unions ... especially if the labour movement fights for greater equality, not just in the workplace, but in the wider society by advancing a progressive political agenda of fair taxes, income security, and quality public services for all citizens.
-- Submitted by Andrew Jackson, chief economist, Canadian Labour Congress.Paying it forward:
Canada is one of the very few developed countries that does not have an inheritance tax. The concentration of financial wealth in Canada is great, and increasing. An inheritance tax with an exemption for principal residence and perhaps $500,000 of other assets would not affect the vast majority of families but, if levied even at U.S. rates, it would enable Canada Student Loans to be transformed into grants, so that the current generation of students could at least start their working lives debt-free. One item – of many – that we could do.
-- Submitted by Lars Osberg, economist, Dalhousie University.Affordable housing:
The high cost of housing is the single biggest monthly expense for low, moderate and middle-income households, and crowds out spending on other necessities, like medicine, transportation, child care, food, and clothing. Governmental affordable housing investments have, as a matter of policy, been allowed to erode over the past two decades, with the federal government planning even more housing cuts in 2014 and beyond. One efficient way to reduce income inequality and boost jobs and other economic benefits is to first stop the housing cuts and restore governmental affordable housing investments to their 2009 levels, and then gradually boost spending in future years to meet the national needs. These investments can be financed through a combination of measures including dedicating a portion of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s billion-dollar annual surplus to housing investments, innovative financing options like government-backed housing bonds, and tax revenues (including measures used in other countries such as a “mansion tax” on the sale of luxury properties).
-- Submitted by Michael Shapcott, director, housing and innovation, Wellesley Institute.Ask those who have more to contribute more:
As a physician who earns a substantial income drawn from the public purse, I think an important means to ending income inequality is to tax high income earners like myself. I say this both as an individual committed to a fair Canada, and as a physician interested in seeing the health benefits of strong social programs and less inequality. I would hope that my colleagues in medicine see a more progressive and fair tax system as a necessary and important step to a healthier Canada.
-- Submitted by Gary Bloch, Doctors for Fair Taxation.An end to the tax cut agenda:
First, no further general tax cuts; they benefit upper-income people primarily. And, to reduce inequality among families with children, increase the Canada Child Tax Benefit/National Child Benefit Supplement for low- and modest-income families to $5,400 (indexed) from the current maximum of $3,485. This progressive, non-stigmatizing, non-taxable monthly payment would help to increase the incomes of low- and modest-income families, whose incomes have been virtually flat for the past two decades.
-- Submitted by Laurel Rothman, Campaign 2000.Supports for families:
A universal high quality child care system is integral to reducing income inequality and to a fairer, more equal, more inclusive Canada. How? With access to high quality child care: Mothers/fathers could go to work without enduring years-long wait lists or breaking the family budget. Young parents could get the education/training needed to access good jobs. Women who are low income or sole support parents could gain opportunities for advancement. Parents of all ages could better balance work and family stress, confident about their child’s day.
-- Submitted by Martha Friendly, executive director, Childcare Resource and Research Unit.A new basic income:
Income inequality in Canada can be reduced if we have the public fortitude to support a phasing out of 19th and 20th century approaches to social security, and replace them with a more modernized alternative. Specifically, phase out welfare as the program of last resort and replace it with a new basic income scheme, thus guaranteeing for all a floor of income sufficiency and stability with which opportunity can be better pursued and human creativity better unleashed. It’s working in Brazil, it can work in Canada.
-- Submitted by Rob Rainer, executive director, Canada Without Poverty.A more progressive tax system:
Closing the gap between rich and poor requires government to take action at both ends of the income scale. To reduce incomes of the top 10% we need progressive tax policies, many of which were described in the Alternative Federal Budget 2012 tax chapter. In brief they include:
- Increasing tax rates on top incomes;
- Reversing the race to the bottom with corporate tax cuts;
- Eliminating unfair tax preferences, closing tax loopholes and access to tax havens;
- Applying financial activities or transactions taxes;
- Introducing an inheritance tax on large estates.
- It is important to point out that simply raising the income tax rate on the top income brackets will not do the job as the wealthiest get most of their income from investments, not salary, and because they will use loopholes and tax havens to avoid paying taxes. That is why we put forward a package of tax measures that would together do the job. More progressive taxes are probably the most effective way governments can fix the damage done by the market, which is accelerating income inequality. But there are several other ways government can try to rein in the inequality-creating market. These would include:
- Enacting laws that would support unions, their ability to organize and to bargain collectively;
- Ensuring that immigration policies and temporary worker programs do not under-cut wages of Canadian workers;
- Investing in training and higher education to ensure that there is a highly skilled work force and making sure that higher education is fully accessible to all;
- Adopting an industrial strategy that supports job creation and full employment by diversifying the economy away from over-reliance on resource extraction, lowering the dollar, investing in public infrastructure, and promoting the green economy.
- To raise the incomes of those on the lower end of the scale we need a national poverty reduction plan that would include the following:
- Implement a national housing strategy that would involve building a minimum of 25,000 social housing units per year (this will likely require expenditures of $1.5 billion annually);
- Implement a national child care and early childhood education program, which will especially help low-income single parents in their ability to get jobs;
- Improve the Employment Insurance program so that more of those who become unemployed can qualify for benefits and are prevented from falling into poverty, from which it can be difficult to escape;
- Reinstate a federal minimum wage and setting it at $10.25 an hour and indexing it to inflation to ensure that someone working full-time will be able to escape poverty;
- Create a national pharmacare plan that would provide first-dollar coverage for prescription drugs, removing a major barrier to employment for those on welfare;
- Implement a plan to reduce First Nations and Aboriginal poverty.
-- Submitted by Dennis Howlett, director, Canadians for Tax Fairness. | https://monitormag.ca/articles/how-to-fix-income-inequality/ |
A healthy environment
Barton’s (2005) health map, shown in Chapter 1, shows a conceptual anthropocentric model of a healthy ecosystem, with people’s health and wellbeing at the centre of seven spheres:
- • global ecosystem - climate change, biodiversity
- • natural environment - natural habitats, air, water, land
- • built environment - buildings, places, streets, routes
- • activities - working, shopping, moving, living, playing, learning
- • local economy - wealth creation, finance markets
- • community - social capital, social networks
- • lifestyle - activity, diet, substance use
These are interacting spheres and all seven need to be considered when designing a healthy environment.
Thinking point:
Considering each of the seven spheres, what are the challenges to creating a healthy environment?
Environmental stewardship
Environmental stewardship means conserving, protecting and restoring natural ecosystems and their biodiversity. In England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) works closely with the administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and acts on behalf of the UK on international matters. It is responsible for food, air and water along with safeguarding the natural environment. It works with agencies and statutory bodies to care for forestry, nature and water supplies to protect the environment and ensure its sustainability. This includes developing land that can cope with excessive flood waters, forestry management or enabling access for education.
Sustainability
The concept of sustainability recognises that the natural systems on earth, the ecosystems, are interconnected and resources are finite. There is concern that the way people are using the earth’s resources is leading to a deterioration of the natural environment. This is fast reaching an ecological ‘tipping point’ which will make it harder for all living things to survive (Koons, 2012). Biodiversity, a variety of plants and animals, is vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems. For biodiversity to thrive, it requires clean air, soil and water and, in turn, these supply the nourishment needed by all living things. As these become disrupted or depleted, the ecosystems become imbalanced, and eventually clean air, soil, water, and then food, land security and energy become scarce. Human conflicts are likely to erupt over highly prized commodities and inequalities in health will widen.
Perhaps the most well recognised definition of sustainability is from the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future:
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
(Bruntland 1987 p.41)
This report recognises that as the planet becomes more populated we place increased burdens upon it. Its ability to support the essential needs and living standards of people, especially those in developing economies, is at risk. Human economic activities, and activities which relate to how we live, often impact directly and negatively upon the environment. Therefore, sustainable development is about how humans can interact with the environment in new ways which maintain healthy ecosystems and life on earth is both equitable and peaceful.
Three pillars of sustainability
Sustainability is a global challenge for everyone. Since the 1980s there has been international consensus that any intended planned action needs to take into consideration its impact on society, the economy and the environment. These ‘three pillars of sustainability’ are visually presented as circles or pillars (Purvis et al., 2018).
The ‘three pillars’ concept was embedded into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which makes clear that sustainable initiatives must balance the need to foster social equity among and between communities, with the need to provide economic opportunities such as employment, and the need to protect the natural environment (UN, 2015b). This requires people to make complex decisions. Examples of sustainable initiatives include active travel, ‘think global act local’ and environmental stewardship.
Figure 2.6 Three pillars of sustainability
52 Tristi Brownett and Joanne Cairns Active travel
Active travel means replacing motorised transport with human activated travel, such as walking, cycling or scooting, which produce fewer air pollutants, less traffic congestion and fewer road traffic accidents (PHE, 2016). Active travel reduces sedentary behaviour, which is linked to a range of physical health conditions including obesity, and it has also been found to increase social contact and improve mental health (PHE, 2016).
‘Think global act local’
Think global act local’ is a sustainability mantra, adopted from the environmental movements of the late 1960s, that encourages individuals and corporations to consider the global impact of their actions. For individuals, it means to recycle, reuse, repair, share, or restore objects to cut down on the number of items produced and subsequently discarded, because this helps sustainable growth. For businesses, it means taking ‘corporate social responsibility’ for the impact of their activities on the community and environment. This includes reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that their activities produce, otherwise known as their ‘carbon footprint’; introducing an ethical supply chain which means ensuring fair wages, having responsible employment practices; and ensuring that raw materials are ‘responsibly sourced’, meaning that they are not being grown, produced or made, in a way that has a negative impact on the planet.
Sustainable development goals
The United Nations (2015b) set out the 17 sustainable development goals in their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These aim to tackle climate change,
Figure 2.7 Sustainable development goals Source: ALX1618/Shutterstock.com
Table 2.4 Sustainable development goals
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1
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No poverty
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End poverty in all its forms everywhere
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2
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Zero hunger
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End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
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3
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Good health and wellbeing
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Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all
ages
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4
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Quality education
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Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all
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5
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Gender equality
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Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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6
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Clean water and sanitation
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Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
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7
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Affordable and clean energy
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Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
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8
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Decent work and economic growth
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Promote sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
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9
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Industry, innovation and infrastructure
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Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
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10
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Reduced inequalities
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Reduce inequality within and among countries
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11
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Sustainable cities
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Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
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12
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Responsible consumption and production
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Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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13
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Climate action
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Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
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14
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Life below water
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Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
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15
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Life on land
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Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
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16
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Peace, justice and strong institutions
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Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
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17
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Partnerships for the goals
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Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Source: Adapted from UN (2015b p. 14).
reduce poverty and deprivation, improve health, education, and economic growth, and reduce inequalities. | https://ebrary.net/186658/geography/healthy_environment |
If you are like me, you often start conversations with new people off with, "what do you do?" -- and by this I usually mean their employment. For many of us, our jobs define who we are and bring us a sense of purpose. And, for the privileged among us, a paid job makes it possible for us to put a roof over our heads and food on our table.
Thinking of our jobs as our "bread and butter" often leads to complicated conversations as a result of overly-simplified, self-centred logic around poverty. The thought sequence goes like this: Why am I not poor? Well, it's because I have a job! Why is he poor? It must be because he is unemployed. What's the solution? He should get a job.
We end up thinking that employment is the ultimate or easy fix. Maybe if she worked on her résumé or interview skills. Maybe if he got a degree. Maybe if they applied for more jobs. Maybe if they weren't always watching TV.
In truth, a good job is a way out of poverty. There are many who long for meaningful work that will give them a chance to contribute to society and earn a decent paycheque.
But, it's more complicated than we might think. There are some key reasons why employment isn't the only answer.
1. Having a job does not always keep people out of poverty.
Fourty-four per cent of low-income households in Canada had at least one person working in 2011. And for those working on minimum wage, making ends meet is a challenge. These people make up the category that is defined as the "working poor" -- those who are working but still live below the poverty line.
2. A good job is hard to find.
Increasingly, employers are moving to hiring part-time, contract workers with limited, if any, benefits. Experts are calling this kind of work situation "precarious employment." A study of the growth of this kind of work in the Greater Toronto Area found that at least 20 per cent of those working are in precarious forms of employment. They also found that this type of employment has increased by nearly 50 per cent in the last 20 years.
A good job is particularly hard to find for many immigrants who come to Canada with hopes of a better life only to find their qualifications as a doctor or engineer are not recognized here. This leaves them with the challenge of rebuilding a career from the ground up, often making minimum wage.
3. Survival first, employment later.
Getting to a place where employment is even a possibility can be extremely challenging for those who are simply trying to survive. When you don't know where your next meal is coming from or if you struggle to pay your bills, searching for a job or gaining the skills necessary to get a job can be an incredible challenge.
4. The job market is inaccessible for many people.
There are many barriers that prevent people from getting a job outside of those already mentioned. Mental illness, addictions, disability, and discrimination based on gender, race, age, or sexual orientation -- these all contribute to an inaccessible job market for many people living in poverty. As one example, the Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that between 70-90 per cent of persons with a serious mental illness are unemployed.
It's also important to note that the job market is inaccessible for those who have always been poor and have not had equal access to education, mentorship opportunities, or the networks that often lead to a job.
How do we make sure jobs help people living in poverty?
Tackling the challenge of employment is certainly one piece of the poverty puzzle. But it's just that: one piece. There is no silver bullet. We need an all-hands-on-deck, cross-sectoral approach.
Here are some ways in which we could support employment as a means to alleviate poverty:
- Ensure that any political conversation about jobs and job growth specifies what kind of jobs are being created or are available. A job does not necessarily mean a ticket out of poverty: we need good jobs. All jobs should be good jobs.
- Call for governments to address unemployment, under-employment and lower wages of youth, people with disabilities, racialized persons, Aboriginal peoples and women.
- Support poverty reduction plans in your city (Toronto just got one!) or province and call for governments to take poverty seriously by creating a federal poverty reduction plan (for more on a federal poverty plan, take a look at the Dignity for All campaign).
- Foster awareness of poverty as complex by ensuring that it is not seen as an 'individual' problem.
- Press politicians to create a reasonable standard for a living wage.
- Be an ambassador for equal access to quality, affordable education for all Canadians.
- Support a social safety net as an important public good. A social safety net can help those who are unemployed and provide stability and assistance needed to enter the job market. | https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/poverty-jobs_b_5529331 |
Recently, the provincial government announced that the minimum wage would remain at $14 for the next two years. While expected, this announcement is not good news for the people working at jobs that typically pay a minimum wage; jobs in the retail, food services, and hospitality sectors.
Minister of Labour, Laurie Scott, stated that the best way to lift people out of poverty was through a job. While there is some truth to this statement, a job that pays minimum wage does not ensure a decent life. You probably don’t have to go far in your circle of friends or family to find someone working at minimum wage full-time struggling to make ends meet.
A living wage, on the other hand, is community based and calculated as the hourly rate required so that a household can meet its basic needs, once government transfers have been added to the family’s income and deductions have been subtracted. Having worked on the calculations for my community I know that the costs reflect a modest lifestyle. Using public transit is expected in communities where the infrastructure exists, a vacation consists of camping and internet and phone costs reflect basic packages. This is hardly extravagant living.
High costs of internet, hydro, and transportation in my community mean that, at $19.42 the living wage in Haliburton County is one of the highest in Ontario, second only to Toronto. It is clear that it takes much more than a minimum wage of $14 for a worker to pay for the basics of life.
Political science professor Charles Smith suggests that entrepreneurs need to consider paying a living wage before they open their business. “For a business to not compensate that labour at a fair price raises the question of whether it is ethical for it to operate in the first place.” Smith shifts the conversation away from strictly economics to the need to recognize the humanity of all workers who deserve dignity and respect.
We often hear the argument that small businesses cannot afford a living wage. In 2016, Josie Rudderham and Nickey Miller, the owners of Cake and Loaf Bakery in Hamilton paid their employees a living wage. They called it a “moral imperative.” This thriving neighbourhood bakery has 26 employees and has expanded to include a stall at the local farmer’s market. In answer to the question of whether small businesses can afford to pay their employees a living wage the Cake and Loaf Bakery would say ‘yes.’ Starting the bakery with her partner, Rudderham “wanted to provide meaningful employment for people – jobs people could stay at and still have families and still go on vacations and still buy houses.”
For a local perspective I met with Brian Nash of Haliburton Wind and Solar. Brian has been a business owner for many years and he established Haliburton Wind and Solar in 2012.
As an employer Brian sees his role as part of the creation of a vibrant local economy; a place where people work, live and spend. He spoke about business contributing to a society that supports well-being. Brian expressed the idea that if you offer your employees a way to contribute, and pay them according to their worth, your business benefits from greater stability and success. Staff is more inclined to stay with an employer when they are able to fulfill their needs for meaningful work and economic security.
Brian supports a living wage. He knows from experience that when employees are valued they have a greater sense of ownership and are willing to contribute to the business’s success. Paying a living wage is a concrete way to value staff, but Brian recognizes that nurturing a relationship in which employees feel free to offer their ideas is also important to meeting business goals.
The living wage movement is growing and members of the Ontario Living Wage Network and the Better Way Alliance embrace the commitment to valuing employees because it is a smart investment. There is a convincing economic argument for a living wage, but consider the role of a living wage in shaping a more inclusive society. In The Case for Increasing the Minimum Wage, author David Green raises the idea of a social contract:
“There is a sense in which the functioning of the labour market represents an important social contract to which we are all signatories. Part of that contract says that if people work, and work hard, they should expect that their share of the final product will allow them to live a life of dignity. A wage structure with substantial inequality that includes people working full time but still ending up in poverty breaks that contract. The result is a society that does not function well, that turns on itself and breaks into groups, that is not as good a place to live, for anyone.”
A living wage can help people feel that they are a part of the fabric of their community. All of us can play a role. As a citizen and consumer you can patronize and promote the companies and organizations that pay a living wage. As a business owner, budding entrepreneur, or organization leader you can commit to paying a living wage. It is the right thing to do. | https://lindsayadvocate.ca/the-case-for-a-living-wage-a-social-contract-and-moral-imperative/?fbclid=IwAR3rjy6iARWYo4pQygqSe9zU-dRR8RGSZyoiJC5IuA5iWI6NQZaO28xMXEs |
Is happiness enough for a good life? This question is becoming increasingly prominent in positive psychology. Is feeling good an adequate measure of someone’s quality of life? Do we really know what it means to be subjectively well when we assess someone’s subjective well-being?
Problems With Existing Approaches to Happiness
Many researchers believe we don’t, saying that the current definition of well-being came about almost accidentally: first of all, researchers wanted to develop well-being questionnaires (because they needed to evaluate various interventions), then they derived the definition of well-being from these questionnaires, without paying much attention to whether they actually captured the richness of human wellness and happiness.
It is probably true to say that contemporary literature on well-being largely ignores the contributions of humanistic and existential thinkers like Maslow, Rogers, Jung and Allport. It also doesn’t pay much attention to the complexity of philosophical conceptions of happiness, even though philosophy has dealt with this subject since long before psychology even existed.
Can someone be truly fulfilled without knowing what he or she is living for, what the point is, the meaning of one’s existence? Is it possible to be truly well without moving a finger to change something in oneself, without growing and developing as a person?
This is what is missing from the current mainstream theories of well-being – the notions of growth, self-actualisation and meaning.
The current theories of well-being seem to give a one-sided, rather bare picture of well-being. In fact, what they do seem to cover quite well is the notion of hedonism – striving for maximisation of pleasure (positive affect) and minimisation of pain (negative affect). This hedonic view can be traced to Aristippus, a Greek philosopher who believed that the goal of life is to experience maximum pleasure, and later on to Utilitarian philosophers.
Eudaimonic Happiness: An Alternative to Hedonic Happiness
Recently, another approach to a good life has risen out of the historical and philosophical debris – the idea of eudaimonic well-being. Aristotle was the originator of the concept of eudaimonia (from daimon – true nature). He deemed happiness to be a vulgar idea, stressing that not all desires are worth pursuing as, even though some of them may yield pleasure, they would not produce wellness.
Aristotle thought that true happiness is found by leading a virtuous life and doing what is worth doing. He argued that realising human potential is the ultimate human goal. This idea was further developed in history by prominent thinkers, such as Stoics, who stressed the value of self-discipline, and John Locke, who argued that happiness is pursued through prudence.
Click here to watch a video on hedonic and eudaimonic happiness.
Humanistic Psychology and the Actualising Tendency
Humanistic psychologists, such as Maslow (famous for developing the hierarchy of needs) and Rogers, were probably the first ‘eudaimonists’ in the 20th century. Humanistic psychology grew up in the ‘60s out of the climate of pessimistic psychoanalysis and behaviourism that reduced humans to machines responding to stimuli.
The premise of humanistic psychology was that people have a free will and make choices that influence their well-being. What also makes it very different from other perspectives in psychology is belief in the actualising tendency – a fundamental motivation towards growth. Rogers, the originator of the concept, describes it as:
‘…man’s tendency to actualize himself, to become potentialities.
By this I mean the directional trend which is evident in all organic and human life – the urge to expand, develop, mature – the tendency to express and activate all the capacities of the organism and the self. This tendency may become deeply buried under layer after layer of encrusted psychological defences; it may be hidden behind elaborate facades that deny its existence; it is my belief, however, based on my experience, that it exists in every individual, and awaits only the proper conditions to be released and expressed’.
Theories of Well-Being: What Else Lives Under the Umbrella of Eudaimonia?
So, if you agree with the claim that just feeling good is not good enough for a good life, you are in a good company. There are several theories of well-being which try to co-exist together under a relatively broad concept of eudaimonia. I’ll discuss a few of these below.
Daimon in Action
Daimon refers to potentialities of each person, realisation of which leads to the greatest fulfilment. Efforts to live in accordance with one’s daimon, the congruence between this and people’s life activities, lead to the experience of eudaemonia.
Psychological Well-being
If you think you’ve just about managed to grasp the difference between SWB & SWL and to remember what these abbreviations stand for (subjective well-being and satisfaction with life), I bet you are going to be delighted to see me throwing something called PWB into the discussion pot.
PWB stands for psychological well-being, which is a model of well-being widely advocated by a psychology professor, Carol Ryff. I wouldn’t be surprised if she used the word ‘psychological’ only because subjective was already taken. Ryff analysed many various approaches to happiness in different sub-fields of psychology and came to the conclusion that well-being should be seen as consisting of six components.
These components are:
- self-acceptance (positive evaluation of oneself and one’s life),
- personal growth,
- purpose in life,
- positive relations with others,
- environmental mastery (the capacity to effectively manage one’s life and the surrounding environment)
- and autonomy.
It is certain that this model is quite a lot broader than what is on offer in the hedonic camp, but is it right? Ryff has run many studies which provided so-called empirical support for her model. A lot of other people have run many studies that haven’t. They found that all six components can be accounted for by only two dimensions, one corresponding to hedonic, another to eudaimonic well-being.
Whilst all the components of PWB seem important, they still appear somewhat arbitrary. Would the model really suffer if one or two of the elements were not there? Would it be enriched if something else, like inner harmony, was added?
Self-Determination Theory
Another eudaimonic model, the self-determination theory (SDT) developed by Ryan and Deci, postulates the existence of three inherent fundamental needs, which are universal (found throughout different cultures and times). These basic psychological nutrients are:
- Autonomy – the need to choose what one is doing, being an agent of one’s own life.
- Competence – the need to feel confident in doing what one is doing.
- Relatedness – the need to have human connections that are close and secure, whilst still respecting autonomy and facilitating competence.
SDT asserts that when these needs are satisfied, motivation and well-being are enhanced, and when they are limited, there is a negative impact on our well-functioning. Quite a number of psychologists agree that these three needs are the most basic ones, although self-esteem is also frequently mentioned.
Ryan and Deci see a big difference between PWB and SDT in that autonomy, competence and relatedness are fostering well-being in their model, whereas Ryff uses these concepts to define it.
Other Eudaimonic Theories
Csikszentmihalyi’s Concept of Autotelic Personality
Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of autotelic personality is also claiming its place under the eudaimonic happiness umbrella. Autotelic people are those who often engage in activities for their own sake, and experience flow states frequently.
One problem with allocating flow into the eudaimonic camp is that some of Csikszentmihalyi’s characteristics of flow, including losing track of time and forgetting personal problems, seem to have much more to do with hedonic enjoyment than with eudaimonic endeavours.
Martin Seligman and the Authentic Happiness Model
The person behind the positive psychology movement, Martin Seligman (2002), introduced an authentic happiness model, in which he distinguishes between the pleasant life, good life and meaningful life in an attempt to work out what well-being really is.
- The pleasant life is devoted to pursuit of positive emotions, and can be paralleled with hedonic well-being.
- In the good life one would use one’s dominant character strengths to obtain gratifications – activities we like doing, akin to flow.
- Finally, meaningful life is about using your strengths in the service of something greater than yourself.
Let’s consider the above model in a little more detail. Seligman believes that both pursuits of engagement/flow and meaning can be considered eudaimonic.
The research of Seligman and his colleagues shows that when people engage in hedonic activities (e.g. leisure, rest or fun), they experience many pleasant feelings, are more energetic and have low negative affect.
In fact, during these activities, they are happier than those who engage in eudaimonic pursuits. In the long run, however, those who lead a more eudaimonic existence (work on developing their potentials and skills, learning something) are more satisfied with their lives.
Some researchers claim that eudaimonic well-being is best achieved through personal development and growth , others through finding meaning in their lives. One way or another, they agree that there must be something else out there in addition to pure pleasure and happiness.
Oops…We Have Another Problem
I wonder if you noticed a little problem with eudaimonic well-being? It’s a MESS! Eudaimonic well-being is not just an umbrella concept for many vaguely related theories, it’s a pot in which anything that is not related to pleasure is mixed up.
Let’s take a look inside this pot once again:
- Some authors define eudaimonia as actualisation of human potential , while others associate it with frequent experiences of flow states.
- Other commonly used definitions include: realising one’s true nature/ true self , personal growth, meaning, and the totality of the six components of Ryff’s psychological well-being.
- Seligman defines eudaimonia as both flow and meaning.
Can somebody please tell me what eudaimonic well-being is?
Despite their attempts to shed light onto the construct of well-being, eudaimonic definitions make the picture even more complicated. Is realising your true nature the same as personal development? And what if your true nature is calling you to violence? Is growth the same as meaning?
Carol Ryff is probably right to distinguish between them. Meaning may well be found in personal growth, yet it can also be found in serving others or in believing in God, which means that these two cannot possibly be identified.
Are positive relationships important for eudaimonic well-being? Perhaps, but they also seem to be pretty important for happiness or hedonic well-being.
On the basis of these somewhat contradictory theories and my own research, I would like to suggest that eudaimonic well-being can be achieved by pursuing either of the following two routes – personal development/growth, or transcendence. So don’t give up yet, it all might make sense at the end!
Personal Development / Growth
Personal development is related to striving for change, striving to understand oneself and the world better, striving to grow as a person, to become better in one’s chosen fields and domains of life. The routes of personal development and growth lie in the actualising tendency, yet the tendency on its own is not enough.
Growth is often an effortful process, involving overcoming challenges and barriers, which can be external or internal.
Growth and personal life changes are not always experienced as pleasant. Researchers found that even positive subjective changes can decrease positive affect. For example, one study has established that therapy clients who perceived more improvement in their functioning reported more depressive symptoms and lower levels of self-acceptance, but more personal growth at the same time.
This is because any change is associated with loss, even if what is lost is an unproductive or even negative pattern. Carl Rogers, one of the fathers of humanistic psychology, observed that people who made real progress towards what can be considered ‘a good life’ would typically not regard themselves as happy or contented. He writes:
‘The good life is a process, not a state of being’.
When psychologists try to measure growth, they often look to what extent individuals are open to experiences or to what extent they are interested in learning. Yet, if we apply common sense, it becomes quite clear that openness to experience is needed not only in order to grow but also to experience pleasure, which is a facet of hedonic well-being.
Whilst interest in learning may be a very important aspect, it is hardly a sufficient indicator of human development. So how do we know whether the process of development is taking place; whether we are actually growing?
We can look for several indicators of development. Amongst these are:
- complexity and differentiation (e.g. how well we can manage diversity);
- organisation and integration (e.g. ability to connect various elements);
- flexibility; sensitivity (e.g. being aware of details and nuances);
- mobility and dynamics (e.g. curiosity, interest, openness to novel situations);
- internal control (e.g. ability to delay gratification);
- broadness (e.g. open-mindedness);
- and efficiency in utilising one’s potential and energy.
No one indicator on its own is necessary or sufficient, so it’s better to see if several of these changes are taking place.
Transcendence
Transcendence is related to dedication and commitment to something or somebody else but oneself. It is also strongly related to finding meaning in one’s life and acting in accordance with this meaning.
However, this meaning is necessarily related to transcending the personal (without losing oneself) for the sake of something larger than oneself (it can be children, meaningful work, the wider community, or a spiritual pathway). Transcendence thus leads to some external utility of one’s life, through objective life results or virtuous living.
Transcendence is a eudaimonic pathway to well-being that is independent of personal development (although undoubtedly both can co-exist).
For example, a mother who dedicates her life to raising (rather than merely looking after) her children as fully functioning human beings may not have much time to devote to her own personal development.
Many scholars, including Aristotle, Ryff, Seligman, McGregor and Little, etc., speak about transcending oneself for the sake of the greater good. I hope that introducing this common term would allow for greater integration between theories.
The Very Last Note…
There is one more caveat to the story of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. The concept of satisfaction with life has been firmly allocated into the hedonic camp by the proponents of the eudaimonic paradigm, but it is actually questionable whether this needs to be the case.
One can be satisfied with one’s life if one wants to pursue happiness and is pursuing happiness successfully, OR if one chooses to live a more eudaimonically oriented life and this is exactly what one is doing.
Remember, life satisfaction is nothing more than a congruence between the present and an ideal situation, both of which are a reflection of the person’s own subjective appreciation of life. Therefore, life satisfaction can be conceived as an independent, subjective evaluation of the current status of one’s life, which can be either hedonically or eudaimonically oriented. | http://positivepsychology.org.uk/the-concept-of-eudaimonic-well-being/ |
Check out our library of articles looking at spirituality in all its different forms, including contributions from Paulo Coelho himself! Just click on the images to download the full article as a PDF.
On his return from India, Mooji invites Sharon Henshall into his Brixton home and shares his words of wisdom over a few cups of tea. Pondering some of the great existential questions such as ‘why are we here?’, Mooji teaches that the path to enlightenment is found via the discovery of our true Self.
A satsang gives an opportunity for people to gather together and discuss truth. Sharon Henshall joins an increasing number of truth-seekers who watch 'Mooji's satsangs' on YouTube. She steps away from the screen and into the real thing.
Deriving from Sanskrit origins, these spiritual circles offer clarity and vision to the complications of modern life. Bridging the gap between meditation and art, Kate Collier shares her personal connection with Mandala-making to shed some light on this mystical tradition.
His holiness the Dalai Lama recently visited Manchester and shared his wise words with thousands. Kim Taggart shares her experience of his teachings on the current social depravity and materialist ideals that have sprang from the London riots of 2011, pinpointing possible altruistic resolutions.
Lila Conway explores the chanting meditative power of the ‘Om’, outlining its origins, construction and eternal nature.
Stand-up philosopher and spiritual seeker, Tim Freke, invites us to step into an awakened state, contemplating a wonderous world of mystery, oneness and deep love.
During the festive season, the spirit of generosity and good-will is a hot topic, but it is also one that we should keep in mind throughout the year. David R Hamilton shows us how kindness benefits not only the receiver, but also the giver… sending ripples throughout the world.
Our true destiny can often become buried beneath our daily existences. Jason Chan shows us how to liberate the creativity, power and wisdom which lies within each and everyone of us, to reclaim our true purpose.
Paulo Coelho examines the science of well being, posing the question of whether happiness is really worth chasing.
Paulo Coelho looks at our concept of happiness and questions the fragile and often temporary aspects of life we so often attribute to happiness.
Sharon Henshall & Sophia Foster discuss consumerism, economics and our own personal development, researching the claim that spiritual growth will lead us to take wiser social action. | http://inspiredtimesmagazine.com/Articles/Main%20Pages/spiritualmagazine.html |
The Path of Emotions celebrates the creative enjoyment of life through embracing the power of emotions.
Emotions command our life-force and direct our choices. They provide information and guide our exploration of subtle energy. My personal journey into this realm began after reading a book on auras, the radiant energy field that surrounds us, by medical intuitive Edgar Cayce. Within a few years I found Carlos Castaneda’s book The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge (1968), and my life was permanently altered.
Castaneda wrote a series of books that detailed his experiences with his mentor, Yaqui Shaman Don Juan Mateus. Reading them created an internal shift of perception that expanded my awareness into the energy level of reality. Especially liberating was Don Juan’s treatment of emotions, highlighted in this quote from The Teachings of Don Juan: “No person is important enough to make me angry.” The implication to me is that we can, to some extent, choose our emotions.
This countered everything I previously understood. I believed myself trapped in cause and effect, whereby people, events, and circumstances caused me to react with anger, happiness, fear, and so forth. I behaved as though expression or suppression of what I felt were my only choices. However, Don Juan indicated that events create an emotional response based on our beliefs, on the paradigm in which we live. Some emotions are purely survival, such as the fear that impels us to run from danger, but others are choices based on preconceived ideas. What if we change our preconceived ideas, and, by doing so, choose a different set of emotional responses? Can we then consciously engage our emotions and direct their power? The possibility of this was mind-boggling, and entirely changed the manner in which I approached life. For me, it emphasized two important principles:
First, emotions are gateways to our personal power. Today it is commonly understood that nobody can define another’s worth or cause another person to act or behave in a certain way, unless the person being influenced abdicates his or her power. In 1974 this thought was revolutionary, and it reoriented my life. In the blink of an eye, I moved from being a victim of my circumstances to being an explorer of enormous vistas of possibility. The question became: Was I going to give away my personal power by allowing events and people to determine my emotions, or did I have a choice?
Accepting one’s personal power requires taking responsibility for all the circumstances in one’s life. Common wisdom says we cannot choose our emotions; they are instinctive. I suggest that by moving to the formative level of emotions, we can extract the information they carry and consciously transform the powerful force they exert. I am not advocating suppressing emotions—far from it. I am advocating embracing them. It is a shift in paradigm.
Shifting paradigms requires disciplined attention and takes work. The challenge is to respond to every experience not as good or bad, but as an opportunity to grow. In the words of Don Juan, “The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”1 Sometimes we meet the challenge well; sometimes we don’t. How well we walk the path is not as important as being committed to staying on it, regardless of how long it takes us to become elegant in our effort.
The second, more scintillating principle is that there is a link between emotions and subtle energy. Emotions are more valuable than gold; they carry our intent into the world. What is personal power other than the ability to gather and command our own energy; to use it, build it, or store it with intent? Mastering the use of emotions is one of the keys to personal power, opening a door into the kingdom of subtle energy. Wasting them siphons away our vitality. Consequently, understanding the mysterious and intractable connection between energy and emotion became the central focus of my life. As Don Juan would say, it is my “path with heart.”
Once attuned to this level of reality, interpreting world events and personal interactions in terms of gains or losses of energy exposes an undercurrent of meaning. For example, looking at the teachings of Gandhi with an awareness of energy reveals nonviolence to be less of a political strategy than a means to access the deepest levels of personal power. Using nonviolence mobilizes a force beyond what we currently understand in a society governed by competition where greed and self-interest are the guiding principles of action. Gandhi said, “The force generated by nonviolence is infinitely greater than the force generated by all the arms invented by man’s ingenuity.”2 Where once I would have read this statement to mean a social force working for social change, now with a view to energy I see it as a spiritual force geared to the highest good of all that is ignited within each person. Nonviolence refuses standard definitions in favor of consciously mobilizing energy.
My training in the use of energy and emotion has been focused on individual healing methods, and I’ve been gifted with several extraordinary mentors: Louisa Poole from Rockport, Massachusetts, taught me how to use my body to feel subtle energy and how to discern different types of energy. A Native American friend taught me the power of living with intent. As much as I learned from what they taught, I learned more from how they lived, and I hold them both in a high place of honor.
The person who brought my search into brilliant, technicolor focus is psychotherapist Iona Marsaa Teeguarden, LMFT, who created a bodywork method called Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure. The Jin Shin Do (JSD) system combines the theories of classic Chinese acupuncture, a traditional Japanese acupressure technique, Taoist philosophy, and Qigong (breathing and exercise techniques) with Western psychological tools such as Reichian segmental theory and principles of Ericksonian psychotherapy. It is a brilliant synthesis of body-centered emotional processing and meridian methodology.
An important part of the philosophy underlying JSD Bodymind Acupressure is Iona’s inspired treatment of emotions and feelings in her “Emotional Kaleidoscope” diagram. You can see and read about the “Emotional Kaleidoscope” in Iona’s book,
The Joy of Feeling (Japan Publications, 1987; Jin Shin Do Foundation, 2006; www.jinshindo.org).
Through Jin Shin Do I understood that the two primary functions of emotions are: to provide information and to generate energy. They are part of the body’s exquisite information-gathering system; collecting, synthesizing, and responding to the vast array of stimuli in this extraordinary universe. Learning how to use emotions allows one to marshal the forces of subtle energy, enhancing all aspects of life.
The Path of Emotions is divided into three parts:
Part I, The Elegant Dance of Emotions, describes the world of subtle energy and how emotions decipher energy information. It explains the physiology and embodiment of emotions providing foundational information for the process introduced in the following parts.
Part II, The Language of Our Core, explains how emotions become derailed and seem to control our actions and responses to life. It describes the role emotions play in unprocessed trauma, causing physical pain and dysfunction. It also introduces the keys to understanding the language of energy and the practices necessary to master intent.
Part III, Engaging Emotional Awareness, covers the many ways we can use emotions and intent to clear past trauma and work with subtle energy for creative expression.
It is my sincere hope that this book opens greater access for each reader to his or her own magnificent spiritual center. | https://www.explorationsinenergy.com/inside-path-of-emotions |
The Flight of the Butterfly
Poetry allows the release of my innermost feelings. Let me explain by painting a picture in your mind with words!
~~~The Flight of the Butterfly~~~
Her form is of a rare beauty, as she eludes a mysterious glance
For she flies with such tranquility, she's the art of true happiness
No one knows where her travels take her, yet she doesn't seem to mind
As soon as she leaves us in awe, we begin the flight of the butterfly
As she takes flight, moving through the meadow, a rainbow glitters in the skies
The wind is beneath her wings as she flies through the bright and beautiful light
- Her wings open - then - expand - dew can be seen on her wings
She flows ever so gently dreaming of the flowers that be
She leaves a trail of beauty no matter where she may go
They yearn to capture her beauty inside, embracing her love and hope
She dances upon the flowers gently; fluttering from place to place
She leads them all on her timeless journey embracing them along the way
Freedom calls her name once more, so she flutters again and then
We long to see her one more time, as she takes off in the wind
She's gone before she ever appeared as she happily glides through the skies
She's happy still, her life is a thrill, the flight of the butterfly...
~~~The Flight of the Butterfly~~~
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters. | https://letterpile.com/poetry/Flight-of-the-Butterfly |
I’m a huge Pixar fan. Have been ever since 1995’s Toy Story. One of the best books I’ve read this year is Pixar founder Ed Catmull’s Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration. The studio’s film quality is highly consistent1 and their latest Inside Out is no exception. This film tackles the complicated subject of human emotions (in the form of a little girl named Riley) and does so extremely well.2 Their ability to handle the subject of emotions so delicately and accurately was likely aided by their scientific consultants, one of which is director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Because the film presents a healthy understanding of emotions, parents should seriously consider taking their children to see it and use it as a teaching tool. Here are four lessons kids (and adults) can learn from Inside Out:
1. Happiness is not just about joy
[B]y the end of the film, Joy [Amy Poehler]…learns that there is much, much more to being happy than boundless positivity. In fact, in the film’s final chapter, when Joy cedes control to some of her fellow emotions, particularly Sadness, Riley seems to achieve a deeper form of happiness.
This reflects the way that a lot of leading emotion researchers see happiness. Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of the best-selling How of Happiness, defines happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.” (emphasis added) So while positive emotions such as joy are definitely part of the recipe for happiness, they are not the whole shebang.
2. Don’t try to force happiness
Thank goodness emotion researcher June Gruber and her colleagues started looking at the nuances of happiness and its pursuit. Their findings challenge the “happy-all-the-time” imperative that was probably imposed upon many of us.
For example, their research suggests that making happiness an explicit goal in life can actually make us miserable. Gruber’s colleague Iris Mauss has discovered that the more people strive for happiness, the greater the chance that they’ll set very high standards of happiness for themselves and feel disappointed—and less happy—when they’re not able to meet those standards all the time.
…What’s a more effective route to happiness for Riley (and the rest of us)? Recent research points to the importance of “prioritizing positivity”—deliberately carving out ample time in life for experiences that we personally enjoy. For Riley, that’s ice hockey, spending time with friends, and goofing around with her parents.
3. Sadness is vital to our well-being
…Sadness connects deeply with people—a critical component of happiness—and helps Riley do the same…In one the film’s greatest revelations, Joy looks back on one of Riley’s “core memories”—when the girl missed a shot in an important hockey game—and realizes that the sadness Riley felt afterwards elicited compassion from her parents and friends, making her feel closer to them and transforming this potentially awful memory into one imbued with deep meaning and significance for her.
With great sensitivity, Inside Out shows how tough emotions like sadness, fear, and anger, can be extremely uncomfortable for people to experience—which is why many of us go to great lengths to avoid them…But in the film, as in real life, all of these emotions serve an important purpose by providing insight into our inner and outer environments in ways that can help us connect with others, avoid danger, or recover from loss.
4. Mindfully embrace–rather than suppress–tough emotions
At one point, Joy attempts to prevent Sadness from having any influence on Riley’s psyche by drawing a small “circle of Sadness” in chalk and instructing Sadness to stay within it. It’s a funny moment, but psychologists will recognize that Joy is engaging in a risky behavior called “emotional suppression”—an emotion-regulation strategy that has been found to lead to anxiety and depression, especially amongst teenagers whose grasp of their own emotions is still developing. Sure enough, trying to contain Sadness and deny her a role in the action ultimately backfires for Joy, and for Riley…Toward the end of the movie, Joy does what some researchers now consider to be the healthiest method for working with emotions: Instead of avoiding or denying Sadness, Joy accepts Sadness for who she is, realizing that she is an important part of Riley’s emotional life.
Emotion experts call this “mindfully embracing” an emotion. What does that mean? Rather than getting caught up in the drama of an emotional reaction, a mindful person kindly observes the emotion without judging it as the right or wrong way to feel in a given situation, creating space to choose a healthy response. Indeed, a 2014 study found that depressed adolescents and young adults who took a mindful approach to life showed lower levels of depression, anxiety, and bad attitudes, as well as a greater quality of life.
Everyone should go see it. | https://difficultrun.nathanielgivens.com/2015/07/25/four-lessons-on-emotions-from-pixars-inside-out/ |
Ali believes that each of us has all the internal resources we need to answer our most pressing questions and resolve our own issues. Therefore, her role is one of a guide and coach. She facilitates meaningful growth with her clients by drawing upon her listening skills, the insights she gained, and the transformation she experienced personally from her soul-centered education and the deep inner work she did around her own life experiences.
The work Ali has done, and continues to do in her daily life, shaped a clear set of beliefs that have become integral to the way she conducts her life on both a personal and professional level. To better understand the way she approaches the world, here is a list of the main tenets that guide her life and inspire her work as a coach.
- Happiness is 100% within our control.
- Our thoughts, words, and actions determine our reality.
- Emotions are our power source.
- Big goals are achieved through clarity, commitment, and lots and lots of teeny, tiny steps.
- Sometimes life is just hard. | http://www.alisoncampbellcoaching.com/alis-approach-2-1 |
It may sound strange that something we try so hard to avoid and protect ourselves from can actually be one of the beneficial things for personal growth. Emotion pain can spark change, growth, new perspectives, and self improvement when processed in a healthy way. This is true for anyone, but for a person going through recovery, dealing with Emotional Growth in Recovery.
The following provides a more detailed look at the role pain plays during the process of recovery, the healthy ways it should be handled, and how it can be an impetus for growth.
Pain leads to increased knowledge and self awareness.
Emotional pain acts as feedback, telling us that something that we are thinking about or doing in our lives needs to be examined more closely. During recovery, we will go through all sorts of uncomfortable emotions, from guilt to shame, to anger and sadness. It’s important to be aware of what emotions we’re experiencing and then try to figure out what they’re trying to tell us. When this kind of awareness and critical thinking is practiced regularly, we learn to view our emotions more objectively instead of letting them control us.
Pain helps us take inventory of our lives.
How do we know if there’s something we need to reassess and perhaps get rid of in our lives? Emotional pain will usually act as a signal that something is amiss. This can be a relationship that’s not healthy for us, a job that isn’t fulfilling, or a situation that is no longer useful for our well being.
Pain helps us improve ourselves.
When we feel angry, ashamed, or hurt in certain situations, it could point to an area of our personality that we need to look at more closely and perhaps improve. Again, it’s an awareness of the pain and how we experience it that can lead to a deeper self knowledge.
Pain can force us to face our fears.
You can learn how to face and process fear simply at observing how a painful emotion arises. This is because a painful emotion is almost always tied to a deeper fear. For example, you might feel angry at a person or situation that actually arouses some kind of fear. Figure out what you are afraid and make the decision to face it.
Pain is a natural part of life.
This is a difficult truth for many to accept. Most of us go through our lives trying our hardest to avoid pain, or at least look forward to day when we won’t feel any and our lives will finally be happy. This approach to life will ironically lead to even more pain and emotional suffering. Accepting that both physical and emotional pain is a part of being alive will allow a person to let go and fully surrender themself to the ebb and flow of life. The next time you feel any sort of pain, chose to accept it and examine it closer to see what it could possibly teach you.
Pain helps us experience and appreciate happiness more fully.
Without going through the various types of emotional pain and allowing ourselves to experience it, we could never fully appreciate the moments of happiness in our lives. A life with all the various types of emotions, both negative and positive, deepens a person’s capacity to love as well as feel compassion for others. | https://seasonsmalibu.com/pain-can-often-spark-emotional-growth-recovery/ |
Happiness has often been seen as light, fun, playful, and superficial, and portrayed as sort of whimsical, as though serious people shouldn’t take happiness very seriously. I see it differently. I think our capacity to develop and earn a sense of happiness in life is a primary feedback mechanism for our own individual success in living, and our continued growth and consciousness as a species.
Virtue comes from the Latin Virtus, meaning manliness, excellence, goodness. Happiness is a virtue, first and foremost, because it takes virtuous choices and behavior to create a happy life.
Philosophers, theologians, psychologists, and moralists have long argued that people should behave virtuously, and their reasons often revolve around ideas that such behavior is in the interests of the greater good, that it makes for a better world. The emphasis, from this point of view, is on the external, on the effects upon others. It is often either implied or explicitly stated that were people to act upon their own self-interest, the world would quickly deteriorate into an amoral nightmare.
There is some truth to this. In fact, those arguing for a primarily external locus of virtue probably came to that stance from what they saw through history and in the world around them: that people often have been guided by their feelings and desires, and it is from such a primitive and unconscious context that humankind has been gradually awakening. If everyone acted upon their short-term interests, their impulses and desires, their feelings in the moment, the world would indeed soon deteriorate into chaos.
The truth, however, is much more hopeful and inspiring.
It is the human capacity to delay gratification, to plan and focus, to absorb oneself in tasks and direct oneself toward goals – goals that take time, discipline, and long-term dedication which in important ways defines our humanity. It is a person’s ability, in those moments when an impulse or feeling or desire courses through his or her body, to pause and consider whether or not following that impulse, that feeling, that desire, is what he or she really wants to do, that differentiates us from the other organisms of the world.
This capacity to choose to focus, to bring self-consciousness to our actions, and to guide the behavior of our lives, is also central to what leads to the satisfaction of a life well lived. This is what true happiness is made of.
In fact, much of what is considered vice – violence, brutality, addiction, promiscuity, irresponsibility, vulgarity, and laziness for example – can be defined by actions and choices that are dictated by feelings and desires in the moment, in the absence of self-conscious consideration.
Feelings and desires ebb and flow continually. Impulses are triggered by a multitude of internal and external stimuli. These movements within us, our emotions are a liquid sea of possibilities. There are those who believe that these movements are reliable guides that we should follow. But this view of guidance disconnects the head from the heart, conscious thought from emotions.
In truth, emotions are like perceptions. They can be useful information to consider, and they can just as often be the result of misperceptions or inaccurate assessments of what is going on. The challenge to us as human beings is to distinguish the accuracy and meaning of any given emotions, to master the internal forces in our lives, and to channel these toward the habits and goals we choose.
Of course, there is more to happiness that simply having well-developed impulse control.
Happiness involves gratitude, it involves appropriate forgiveness, it involves optimism, it involves hope, it requires integrity, it requires benevolence, and it requires the ability to foster good relationships. All of these qualities benefit the other people in our lives. Ultimately, good manners and civilized behavior stem from these qualities.
These qualities also assist in our competence. Optimism and happiness make for better performance at work. A friendly and benevolent attitude makes for more effective and satisfying relationships. And an optimistic stance toward life is correlated with greater longevity and better health. The practices that increase happiness also make us emotionally stronger, psychologically more resilient, better able to deal with problems and challenges, and therefore of more use to others when they need to count on us.
There are behaviors that decrease happiness: envy, gossip, holding a grudge, sitting around doing nothing for very long, pessimism, ingratitude, irresponsibility, lack of empathy and self-absorption, contempt, and violence, to name a few. These also obviously have undesirable effects upon other people as well.
I will state here my hypothesis and belief, that when life is approached with benevolence and integrity, the same sorts of behaviors and choices that make my own life good – not always or necessarily fun in the moment, but good, also serves the greater good of mankind.
This is not about perfection. Being human we are complex, and the choices and behaviors that lead toward greater happiness are learned and tested over time according to our particular strengths and situations. Each life is a work in progress, but there is a growing understanding of the direction toward which we can aim that progress, if we want to create a good, engaged, and meaningful life.
We can establish a positive feedback loop, a benevolent cycle, that can grow the good in the world while growing the good in our own life. There is no contradiction between having a good life yourself, and being good in the world – if you live with benevolence, with integrity, with forgiveness, with optimism, with consciousness. Work to grow these capacities that true happiness requires, and you will also be of value to your fellow human beings.
There is no need to change human nature or character. Human nature is as it is, and it is just fine as it is – even though tragic, messy, and complex.
It is what we do with our human nature that matters. We can choose to think, or not. We can also choose to direct our lives toward the behaviors that increase our own happiness and benefit our neighbors as well – or not.
And that is what makes happiness a virtue. | https://drjoelwade.com/2005/01/05/why-is-happiness-a-virtue/ |
What Is The Foundation Of Personal Development?
- Michael Davis
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The development of one’s learning, intellect, and memory are all essential building blocks for one’s personal and professional growth. The investigation of the components of each can assist in the identification of productive learning and study habits, the improvement of a number of different aspects of intelligence, and the consolidation of knowledge that has been taught into memory.
What is the main concept of personal development?
What exactly is meant by “personal development”? The process of looking inside and concentrating on methods to improve oneself is known as personal development. Investing in your own personal growth helps you become more self-aware, boosts your self-esteem, expands your skill set, and brings your goals into fruition.
- At BetterUp, we have a strong commitment to the philosophy behind the discipline known as Inner Work®.
- Personal growth may be seen of as a type of “Inner Work” in many respects.
- It is the practice of turning inside in order to accomplish a goal or obtain a result, particularly in the search for clarity, purpose, and passion in one’s life.
The term “personal development” refers to a much broader concept than simply “self-improvement” or “career development.” It extends to every area of your life in which you would like to experience personal development, and it makes no distinctions about the places in which it manifests itself for you.
Who is the founder of personal development?
Growth of the Individual in the Previous Decades – Siddhartha Gautama was born in the sixth century before the common era. Because he was the son of a king, he received everything that his heart could possibly want, including ladies, the finest food and wine, and the most costly clothing.
As a result of the fact that he had very little knowledge of the world outside the walls of the palace until he was in his late 20s, he made the decision one day to examine the town in which he resided. There, he was confronted with the harsh truths of the human existence, such as advancing age, passing away, and experiencing pain.
He was astonished to observe the widespread suffering that was taking place, and as a result, he resolved to find a solution to alleviate it. We are all aware of the conclusion of the narrative. Siddhartha ultimately became known as the Buddha and devoted the remainder of his life to sharing the wisdom he had gained.
- Meditation is the practice that Buddha established to help individuals liberate themselves from the misery they experience in their lives.
- Meditation is a strategy that has been scientifically proved to boost one’s happiness, as well as making them calmer, more grounded, more centered, and more focused.
This is true regardless of whether or not they practice Buddhism. Putting away all of the doctrine that permeates Buddhism, it offers a method that assists you in gaining control over yourself. On the other hand, personal growth was not something that was only taking place in the East; it was also taking place in the West.
The Ancient Greeks and the Process of Personal Growth Even though he was born more than two thousand years ago, the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle is considered by many to be the “father” of contemporary personal growth. Eudaimonia might be viewed as “happiness,” “human flourishing,” or “living well,” hence his definition of it was “a category of practical knowledge, where the practice of virtues leads to eudaimonia.” Two thousand years ago, he had already mastered and put into practice the art of self-improvement.
And not only him: Plato, Socrates, Heraclitus, and Plotinus were all on the same path of becoming whole human beings at the same time as him. Check out this quotation from Plotinus: “Take a step back and examine within yourself. And if you do not believe that you are attractive just now, perform like the sculptor does when he is creating a statue that is intended to be beautiful: he removes material here, smooths it there, makes this line lighter, and this other line purer, until a charming face has grown upon his work.
Therefore, you should also do the following: remove everything that is unnecessary, make everything that is crooked straight, shed light on everything that is in the dark, work hard to make everything gleam with beauty, and continue to chisel away at your statue until the godlike splendor of virtue shines out from it onto you and until you can see the perfect goodness that has been surely established in the stainless shrine.” It is as plain as the noonday sun that he was discussing self-mastery and personal growth more than two thousand years ago.
The Romans were yet another ancient culture that placed a strong emphasis on the cultivation of the individual. They came up with a philosophy that later became known as Stoicism. According to this school of thought, “the route to happiness for humans is found in embracing this moment as it presents itself, by not allowing ourselves to be ruled by our desire for pleasure or our dread of suffering.” If this is not an example of self-mastery, then what exactly is it? Personal Development Now! It is not true that self-improvement is a recent fad that will quickly fade away; rather, it has been with us ever since the beginning of civilization.
- Not just in the East with the teaching of Buddha, Confucius, or Yogic philosophy, but also in the West with the teaching of the Greeks and Romans.
- The majority of these long-gone folks possessed incredible levels of wisdom.
- That is to say, they were in charge of their own lives and decisions.
- When people hear the phrase “personal development,” they often think of it as “bullshit” and “cheap psychology,” despite the fact that we respect and adore these individuals and believe that they were the pillars of human knowledge.
But do you see the humor in this situation? We may share passages from Plato or Aristotle on Facebook beneath a photo of you enjoying the beach, but when it comes time to put those philosophers’ lessons into practice, we treat it like it’s just another advertisement.
- Whether or not they are aware of it, every person who has ever lived on this planet has been progressing along the road of evolution.
- We are here to advance, to get better, to realize our potential, to become the greatest version of ourselves, to create, and to enjoy life and all of its facets as much as we possibly can.
And if you are not participating in it, you are passing up a lot of opportunities. You are not experiencing life to the fullest; rather, you are going through the motions, just like the majority of others. I really hope that this is the wake-up call you need. | https://stevenrcampbell.com/development/what-is-the-foundation-of-personal-development.html |
Personality examination is at the very core of each instructional program and college admissions composition
Although GPAs, standardized examination scores and class rank can present a more or less precise picture of a prospective college student’s academic merit, a well-crafted essay does more than this; it informs of someone’s own ethical worth. No matter the instant, a well-crafted informative article on character demonstrates that a candidate owns some desired attributes, which makes them the right candidate for entrance.
In fact, an academic application essay isn’t sufficient to persuade admissions authorities that a prospective university student is worth being admitted. The essay ought to be a tool where an applicant can reveal just how capable he or she’s at excelling at the areas of attention to the school in question. There are several methods of performing this. Every one of these procedures should be utilized judiciously so as to demonstrate the candidate’s skills beyond that which is expected by the normal applicant.
Even the most usual means of embracing a character trait is via the usage of someone’s character and characteristics. As an example, someone who is inherently artistic might incorporate a few of their or her finest works in a essay about personality traits, depicting his or her artistic abilities in a positive light. Similarly, some body who’s just a born pioneer could include a few of things which have formed his or her character and individual growth within a composition on personality faculties, portraying qualities that will make the man a very superior leader for quite a while ahead back.
Another manner of highlighting that a personality trait is through using cases. In a article on personality faculties, a potential student may decide to create about some body using exactly the exact same characteristics being a friend she or he had in senior personal statement help school, demonstrating the way the attributes formed the friendship along with their personal growth as a outcome.
A good example of the procedure could be viewed in a informative article about the personality trait, by which a prospective student would produce concerning the way she has worked tirelessly to turn into a writer and writer; she’d then cite that the success she’s undergone writing for assorted literary publications and blogs. She might also mention that the fact that she has experienced publishing her first book and also how the experience has helped her to obtain understanding and insight in regards to what she wants to achieve as being a writer.
A more formal, as well as perhaps more complicated, approach could be obtained in the academic article on character. One particular such method is through the use of storytelling. Even a excellent story, when utilized in an academic article, helps to illuminate a personality trait and exemplify the way that it has shaped an person’s character. This can be accomplished via an instance, however, one can also consist of things like other stories, especially when a narrative manner of writing is preferred.
In a academic article in character, a individual can emphasize the failures and successes of the character throughout the homework paper use of anecdotes, showing that the personal adventures which directed him or her to triumph and people who led her or him to fail. The story should really be quick, whilst to conserve the reader’s interest and retain its ability. Although, in lots of personal statements help scenarios a brief story regarding a protagonist might perhaps not be adequate to produce the essay persuasive, but it is nonetheless a superior means of displaying a person’s strengths.
The essay on personality has to be nicely investigated and created so that for it to be more effective in presenting all of the qualities that the faculty is looking for. When writing an informative article around the character, it must not only be convincing, it must also be properly assembled and organized. It’s the thesis statement from the applicant, that’s the backbone of her or his or her appeal. In academic admissions. | https://shivanitourandtrip.com/2020/11/17/essay-about-personality/ |
By Julie Kelly-Detwiler, Assistant Head of School
Last week’s Parent Insight event focused on the topic of Summer Work. In this talk, Inly Librarian and Middle School teacher, Shelley Sommer, and I spoke about the why, how, and what of summer work at Inly and offered many resources to guide parents. What follows is a brief synopsis and links to important reference material. To view a live-streamed recording of the event, click here.
WHY SUMMER WORK:
As educators, we know that continued practice with reading, writing and math during the summer, yields significant and important returns. Studies from John Hopkins indicate that, on average, students who do no summer math work, lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation over the summer months. Students who do not read routinely can see their skills slip by as much as an entire grade level, while those who read at least six books during the summer maintain or improve their reading skills. And writing ability needs to be exercised like a muscle, or it will atrophy.
HOW SUMMER WORK:
To optimize the benefits of summer work, it should happen regularly, joyfully, and rooted in a growth mindset philosophy. The benefits of summer work come from practice and consistency. Putting off the work until the week before school begins not only causes stress, it is counterproductive. The goal of summer work is NOT to get it done, it is to retain the learning and to exercise the brain. How you structure this learning for your child will go a long way in creating positive work habits and continued engagement with learning.
The growing field of positive psychology links learning and happiness is dramatic ways. In Shawn Achor’s book, “The Happiness Advantage,” the relationship between success and happiness is explored through the lens of positive psychology. His contention is that we now have scientific evidence to make the case that happiness leads to success, and not the other way around. “…cultivating positive brains makes us more motivated, efficient, resilient, creative and productive, which drives performance upward.” “Positive emotions flood our brains with dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that not only make us feel good, but dial up the learning centers of our brains to higher levels. They help us to organize new information, keep the information in the right brain longer, and retrieve it faster later on. And they allow us to make and sustain more neural connections, which allow us to think more quickly and creatively, become more skilled at complex analysis and problem solving, and see and invent new ways of doing things.” So make work fun, share a happy memory before a task is begun, and weave learning into joyful family time.
Shelley and I also shared Carol Dwecks research on growth vs. fixed mindsets. A brief but important takeaway for parents as they support their child over the summer is to focus on the effort and not the achievement. Celebrating the effort and approach to work is much more valuable than pointing to a child’s ability to “get it right.” As a child progresses and the work gets more complex and difficult, a child who has been recognized for their effort is far more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks than the child who has been told they are smart. According to Dweck and others in her growing field, a fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence is static. This belief leads to a desire to look smart and therefore a tendency to avoid challenges, give up easily, see effort as fruitless, ignore useful negative feedback and feel threatened by the success of others. As a result, children who adopt this mindset may plateau early and achieve less than their full potential. On the other hand, a growth mindset, which is the belief that intelligence can be developed, leads a child to embrace challenge, persist in the face of setbacks, see effort as the path to mastery, learn from criticism, and find lessons and inspiration in the success of others.
WHAT SUMMER WORK:
Children at each level of Inly have a summer work packet that our faculty has thoughtfully prepared. Each packet begins with the Inly Summer Work Philosophy that stresses the importance of family time and learning by doing. If you are mindful about reading to or with your child each day, playing games together that require sequencing, logic or strategy, and are having discussions at dinner, on the beach, in the car, or during summer travels, your child will be learning and will solidify the academic gains made at school. We encourage you to keep the joy of learning alive in your child and to embrace Montessori’s understanding of indirect preparation this summer.
Indirect preparation –“The way nature has of preparing the intelligence. In every action, there is a conscious interest. Through this interest, the mind is being prepared for something in the future. For example, a young child will enjoy the putting together of various triangular shapes, totally unaware that because of this work his mind will later be more accepting of geometry. Also called remote preparation. The deeper educational purpose of many Montessori activities is remote in time.” Association Montessori International
The summer work packets offer specific suggestions about developmentally appropriate activities, but are not mandatory and are not exhaustive. In the younger grades, they are meant as a resource to parents, in grades 4-8, there are work requirements that we hope you will encourage your child to complete a little at a time throughout the summer months.
For some children, focused time each week on specific literacy and/or numeracy skills will be required for them to retain what they have learned or to make the necessary gains to start the year feeling confident and prepared. If this is true for your child, you would have heard that from your child’s teacher at end of year conferences, and resources would have been suggested.
All toddler-Upper Elementary students were also given an “Independence Guide.” We consider this the most important work for both you and your child this summer. As the Adult Montessori Guide this summer, your homework will be to prepare the environment and the time to allow your child to grow in independence. Help your child to continue the learning they do at school to complete practical life tasks independently. Create expectations and routines for care of self and care for the environment. Invite your child to participate in the family as a contributing member—not with incentives of reward or threat of punishment, but as a natural part of his or her day. This might be difficult and time consuming at first, but the benefits will last a lifetime.
“The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self. Adults work to finish a task, but the child works in order to grow, and is working to create the adult, the person that is to be.” Maria Montessori
Articles
Summer Reading Programs Boost Student Achievement, Study Says By Carole Fiore and Susan Roman
Helping to Prevent Summer Reading Loss By Julie M. Wood, Ed.D.
School Library Journal: Why read? | https://inlyinsights.org/2014/05/05/the-importance-of-summer-learning/ |
Forgiveness boosts your mental and physical health, but truly forgiving someone takes practice and intention.
"I forgive you." Those three little words aren't so easy to say. When someone wrongs you, you want him to know how much he hurt you. People often think that forgiveness means you're condoning the behavior or completely forgetting what happened. But forgiveness is more for your own mental health than a "get out of jail free" card for the other person.
Importance of Forgiveness
Why is forgiveness so important to your own happiness? Looking deeper at what forgiveness is can help answer that question. When you forgive someone, you make a conscious decision to release the resentment, anger, bitterness and feelings of revenge. You can let the other person know that she hurt you, and you don't have to forget what she did. The other person may still have to deal with consequences of the actions. For instance, you may limit contact with that person. But you are freeing yourself of the negative emotions that can affect your health.
When you forgive someone, you open yourself up to the following benefits:
- Reduced stress and anxiety levels
- Improved self-image
- Stronger relationships
- Increase in immunity
- Decrease in blood pressure and improved overall heart health
- Improved mental state
How to Forgive
You know the benefits of forgiving, but it's still not easy. It's natural to feel upset when someone hurts you. A big part of forgiveness is making the decision to do so. Remind yourself that being angry hurts your mental well-being. Repeat that narrative as you make your conscious decision to forgive.
A few exercises can help you get to the point of forgiveness:
- Let yourself think through the situation. It's easy to bury the event, but reflecting on it is an important part of fully understanding your feelings. What did the person do? How did you react? Why is the situation upsetting?
- Shift your thoughts away from being a victim in the situation. The victim mentality makes it easier to hold on to the anger instead of releasing it.
- Think about what you learned from the situation. Maybe you learned that you need to set better boundaries or that you need to stand up for yourself more often. Even though the situation hurts, you can usually find some growth from what happened.
- Put yourself in the other person's shoes. People tend to focus on the action rather than the person. Remember we are all flawed, and we all do things that hurt others at some point. It can be easier to forgive when you remember the other person is human.
- Give yourself time to process the feelings. You don't have to offer up forgiveness instantly. Meditate on it. Journal your feelings. Take the time you need to work through the situation.
- Express your feelings to the other person if you can. The other person may not realize that you're upset about the situation. Even if the person does know, it can make you feel better to say those words. Avoid blaming words. Try, "I felt (emotion) when you (action)." End the conversation by letting the other person know you forgive her.
Teaching Your Kids to Forgive
Kids are quick to hold grudges. Your daughter swears she's never talking to her best friend again after the friend spilled the beans on a secret. Your son says he'll never forgive his sister for ruining his favorite baseball card. Teaching your kids to be forgiving gives them a critical tool that follows them into adulthood and helps them deal with negative emotions from a young age.
Demonstrating forgiveness yourself sets a strong example and helps kids see how to forgive. But don't just forgive others. Talk about it with your little ones. Let them know how the situation makes you feel. Then, discuss how it feels to forgive the other person. Talking about the importance of forgiveness and how it helps you feel better can help your kids get on board the forgiveness train.
Try these other methods of teaching your kids how to forgive others:
- Emphasize empathy: Pointing out how other people feel helps your child develop empathy, which makes forgiveness easier. Talk about reasons a friend did something to him. A child whose parents are going through a divorce may act out in negative ways, for example.
- Remember forgiveness: Has your child received forgiveness from someone else? Remind your child of those times. We all make mistakes and feel bad about them later. But it feels a little better when the person forgives you.
- Encourage calming activities: Forgiveness doesn't mean your child can't be angry at all. Let her know it's ok to be upset. Then, give her healthy ways to deal with that anger like coloring or kicking a soccer ball outside.
- Practice talking to the other person: Help your child validate her feelings by coming up with a healthy message to say to the other person. Try something like, "Kate, I felt really embarrassed when you told everyone my secret. I hope I can trust you with my secrets next time. But I forgive you." Your child gets to share her feelings and still forgive.
Being a forgiving person isn't easy. Talk to your child about forgiveness on a regular basis, and watch your own words and actions when someone upsets you to make sure you're modeling forgiveness. | https://howtoadult.com/13590254/how-to-forgive-someone/ |
For the past five years I have thought seriously about happiness. Twice a year, a group of 20 scholars from different academic disciplines and institutions has convened at Emory University's Center for the Study of Law and Religion to share our work on the pursuit of happiness.
Our project began by examining the Declaration of Independence, which names the pursuit of happiness alongside life and liberty as one of our inalienable rights. We then explored perspectives from law, philosophy, theology, biology, sociology and psychology. Our project concluded with the Summit on Happiness, an interfaith conference that featured Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and Islamic Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr of George Washington University, with Emory's Presidential Distinguished Professor His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. Panel moderator Krista Tippett of the public radio program "On Being" aptly summed up one of the conference's take-home messages: interfaith conversations at their best go beyond areas of common concern to address honest differences.
We do see the world in quite different ways.
Understandings of happiness differ by worldview and faith traditions, cultural contexts and individual characteristics. While happiness may include simple pleasures, most traditions push beyond this to examine well-being and flourishing, within the individual and in relationship to God and others.
My contribution to the project has been to use the tools of psychological science to examine the ways we can flourish in the face of difficult interpersonal hurts. These hurts come when we hold others accountable for their direct transgressions or failures to respond. The emphasis of my own work shifted from pursuing happiness in the face of interpersonal pain to flourishing in the pursuit of forgiveness and gratitude.
Stop Ruminating, Broaden Your View
When we are hurt, we often see and feel with a zoom lens sharply focused on a few details: "You hurt me. You lied. You are a liar." We tend to express that pain with adjectives and adverbs that communicate and crystallize our hurt and sadness, our anger and contempt.
What happens next? To some degree, that depends on our focus. Keep the zoom lens only on injustice, and we perpetuate distressing rumination. Sometimes rumination depresses us with our inability to undo the past and create a better future. Sometimes rumination agitates us into active or passive aggression, searching for vindication through vindictiveness. We risk myopic vision.
Recent research conducted at Hope College, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology (vol. 5, May 2010) and funded by the Fetzer Institute, suggests that exchanging the zoom lens of rumination for wider-angle lenses can give us a bigger picture and lend the depth of field we need to flourish even in the face of pain. Two lens filters can be called compassion-focused reappraisal and benefit-focused reappraisal. We found that a compassion focus cultivates forgiveness, and a benefits focus begets gratitude.
These perspectives can help us see more of the truth, not less. A good, wide-angle lens situates the original offender, offense and its implications into a larger setting that we also need to see. This larger view, with its depth of field, gives us moral perspective and imagination.
Compassion and Forgiveness
A compassion focus clearly sees the offense (e.g., the lie, the betrayal, the failed promise) for what it is and the damage it has caused, while it widens the view to include more aspects of who and where the offense came from. Compassion sees the complexity of the offender as a human being with all her flaws and strengths, and the life circumstances that equipped and failed her. Compassion sees that for all of our differences, we all are prone to err. We all hurt people out of our own hurts and vulnerabilities, the prior offenses done to us, our cognitive or emotional limitations, psychopathologies or undeveloped virtues.
With compassion, one person in our research began to see his own mother's offenses as signs of her need to heal from a history of hurts at the hands of her family. Another person began to pray from a distance for her offender, that he would develop healthy ways to deal with his anger and depression rather than harm others in future relationships. Compassion doesn't forget or tolerate, deny or become a doormat. Compassion creates the capacity to see more clearly the ways the offender needs to change or grow. The more clearly we see this wider view in a humble stance, the better able we are to see those genuine ways in which we can genuinely wish the offender well in the process of healing and transformation. Beyond a protocol for achieving our own happiness, compassion cultivates empathy and forgiveness as gifts for the genuine flourishing of the other. With binocular vision, we can keep justice and safety concerns clearly in view alongside genuine goodwill.
Benefits and Gratitude
Focusing on unnoticed benefits in difficult circumstances similarly broadens our perspective. This approach recognizes the offense and its costly implications -- unlike denial or distraction -- while highlighting hidden benefits. This perspective allows us to recognize insights gained, lessons learned, strengths shown or growth realized. It enlarges our vision and our hearts so that we can see more clearly the insights and understanding we have gained about ourselves and others. It helps us identify the strengths we have shown in persevering through difficulty.
In our research, one person came to see her own capacity for courage through interpersonal hardship as a gift that would help her face future struggles. Another came to see that his offense generated a heart of empathy for those who suffer without access to help, motivating him for a career of service to the underserved. We may recognize ways we wish we never had needed to grow, while recognizing that we have indeed grown for the greater good. When these gifts come clearly into view, our natural response is gratitude even in the face of adversity.
Research Results
What do the filters of compassion and benefits offer in comparison to the zoom lens of rumination about a past interpersonal offense? The way we choose to look at an offense matters. Research participants in our experiment completed all conditions, counterbalancing for order effects. The following patterns occurred whether the offender was a loved one or stranger, whether the offense was boundary-breaking or a failure to respond, and whether it happened a long time ago or more recently:
Ruminating about the past offense agitated intense negative emotions and facial expressions, promoted a cost-oriented focus, increased cardiac reactivity and impaired the body's parasympathetic calming response. By contrast, reappraising the offenses using compassion and a focus on benefits created positive emotional and physical responses. Compassion cultivated empathy and heartfelt forgiveness, happiness, joy, calm control and a more social orientation. Compassion simultaneously subdued intense negative emotions and facial expressions, while slowing heart rate. Counting benefits begat gratitude, happiness, joy and smiling, calm control and a more social orientation. A benefits focus also reduced negative emotion and buffered the parasympathetic calming branch of the autonomic nervous system.
The filters of compassion and benefits foster forgiveness and generate gratitude. The choice of which path to pursue may depend on one's worldview or current situation, whether one prioritizes loving one's enemy (compassion) or counting blessings (benefits). Whichever one pursues, it has cross-benefits in promoting both virtues. Current research is resonating with ancient wisdom. People may struggle in the process of flourishing, finding hints of happiness even now as they pursue forgiveness and gratitude. | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/surprised-by-happiness-wh_b_787126 |
Are you a fan of mushrooms? Chances are, you either love them or hate them.
There’s not often an in-between when it comes to this particular ingredient.
Mushrooms are often used as a meat substitute because of their hearty texture and umami flavor.
If you’re looking for ways to use mushrooms in your cooking, here are a few ideas:
- They can be used as a filling in vegetarian dishes like stuffed peppers or portobello burgers.
- They make a great addition to soup and pasta dishes.
- They can be roasted or grilled and served as a side dish.
- They can be blended into sauces or dips for added flavor.
If you can’t stand the taste of mushrooms, don’t worry – there are plenty of substitutes that will give your dish the same savory flavor without the fungi.
Let’s take a look at five of the best substitutes for mushrooms.
What’s Mushroom?
Mushrooms are a type of fungi that come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
Some mushrooms are edible, while others are not.
Mushrooms can be found in many different climates and habitats around the world.
Mushrooms have a long history of being used as food.
They were often considered a delicacy, and their taste and texture varied depending on the type of mushroom.
Some mushrooms are very earthy, while others are more delicate.
Mushrooms can be used in many different dishes, from soups and stews to stir-fries and pasta.
If you’re interested in trying mushrooms, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Not all mushrooms are edible. It’s important to do your research and make sure you’re picking the right kind of mushroom.
- Mushrooms can vary greatly in taste and texture, so it’s worth trying a few different types to see which you like best.
- Mushrooms are typically cooked before they’re eaten, so don’t forget to give them a good cook before serving.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Mushrooms
If you’re looking for a delicious way to add some extra veggies to your diet, mushrooms are a great option.
But what if you’re not a fan of mushrooms? Or what if you’re allergic to them?
Here are five of the best substitutes for mushrooms:
1 – Tofu
If you’re looking for a meatless alternative to mushrooms, tofu is a great option.
It has a similar texture and can easily be substituted in most recipes.
Tofu is made from soybeans and is high in protein and calcium.
It’s also low in calories and fat.
When it comes to taste, tofu is fairly bland on its own.
However, it takes on the flavors of whatever it’s cooked with.
So if you’re looking to add some extra flavor to your dish, tofu is a great option.
Just be sure to season it well.
When substituting tofu for mushrooms, simply dice it into small pieces and add it to your recipe as you would mushrooms.
Tofu is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes.
2 – Tempeh
You may not be familiar with tempeh, but this fermented soybean cake is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in many recipes.
Tempeh has a firm texture and nutty flavor that makes it a great substitute for mushrooms in dishes like stir-fries and soups.
To prepare tempeh, simply steam or boil it for a few minutes to soften, then add it to your recipe.
With its healthy probiotics and protein-rich content, tempeh is a nutritious addition to any meal.
3 – Zucchini
Zucchini is a type of summer squash that can be used in sweet or savory dishes.
It has a mild flavor and a firm, yet moist, texture.
When cooked, zucchini will release some of its water content, so it is often used as a substitution for mushrooms in recipes.
To substitute zucchini for mushrooms, simply rinse the zucchini and slice it into thin strips.
Then, sauté the strips in olive oil over medium heat until they are soft and slightly browned.
Zucchini can also be grated and used as a topping for pizzas or mixed into bread dough to add moisture and flavor.
4 – Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a delicious vegetable that can be cooked in a variety of ways.
It has a mild, nutty flavor and a firm, slightly crunchy texture.
Cauliflower can be boiled, steamed, roasted, or mashed.
It makes an excellent substitute for mushrooms in recipes.
To substitute cauliflower for mushrooms, simply chop the cauliflower into small pieces and add it to the recipe in place of the mushrooms.
Cauliflower is a nutritious vegetable that is low in calories and fat but high in fiber and vitamins.
It is an excellent choice for those who are looking to improve their health.
5 – Eggplant
Eggplant is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes.
It has a subtly sweet taste and a firm, meaty texture.
When cooked, eggplant can be substituted for mushrooms in many recipes.
For example, it can be used in lasagna or stirred into a pasta sauce.
Eggplant is also a good source of fiber and antioxidants.
When shopping for eggplant, look for specimens that are deep purple in color and devoid of blemishes.
Eggplant can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To extend its shelf life, wrap the eggplant in plastic wrap or place it in a perforated bag.
Before cooking, the eggplant should be peeled and sliced into thick rounds or lengthwise strips.
Eggplant can be roasted, grilled, sauteed, or breaded and fried.
Try pairing eggplant with other hearty vegetables such as zucchini, peppers, and potatoes.
With its adaptable taste and nutritional value, eggplant is a vegetable that should be included in every cook’s repertoire.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many substitutes for mushrooms that can be used in recipes.
Each of these substitutes has its own unique flavor and texture that can add something special to a dish.
Tofu, tempeh, zucchini, cauliflower, and eggplant are all excellent choices.
When substituting one of these ingredients for mushrooms, simply follow the recipe as usual.
These substitutes will add their own unique flavors and textures to your dish.
So, don’t be afraid to experiment. | https://americasrestaurant.com/mushrooms-substitutes/ |
The use of guava paste is common in a lot of different kinds of tropical food.
Cooking down the guava fruit until it turns into a thick paste that can be spreadable is how it is made.
To impart the flavor of guava into baked goods or to use as a filling for pies and pastries, guava paste can be used.
It is also possible to use it as a condiment, incorporate it into sandwiches, or make a dipping sauce with it.
Sugar is the most common sweetener used in the preparation of guava paste; however, other flavors, such as cinnamon or cloves, may also be added.
If you are unable to locate guava paste, you should not worry because there are several alternatives that can be used in its place.
In this piece, we are going to take a look at the top five alternatives to guava paste that are able to be utilized in culinary preparations.
Contents
- 1 What is Guava Paste?
- 2 The 5 Best Substitutes for Guava Paste
- 3 Conclusion
- 4 FAQs
What is Guava Paste?
A thick and sugary preserve made from the tropical fruit guava, guava paste is a type of jam.
It is most commonly used as a filling or topping for desserts, but it can also be eaten on its own as a snack in and of itself.
It is believed that the origin of guava paste can be traced back to Latin America, which has an abundance of guava trees.
After the guavas have been reduced to a pulp through cooking, sugar and spices are added to finish making the paste.
The resulting mixture is then subjected to a second round of cooking in order to achieve a consistency that is thick and spreadable.
Guava paste possesses a flavor that is both intensely sweet and sour, as well as a texture that is both firm and slightly chewy.
It is common practice to use it as a filling for baked goods such as empanadas and turnovers, and it is sold in most Latin American markets in jars or tubes for this purpose.
In addition, it can be eaten all by itself as a tasty snack in its own right.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Guava Paste
There is no need to feel concerned if the grocery store near you does not carry guava paste.
There are a lot of different options available that can serve as suitable replacements for the ingredients in your recipe.
The following are the five most suitable alternatives to guava paste:
1 – Apricot Jam
Cooked apricots are the primary ingredient in the fruit preserve known as apricot jam.
Toast, pancakes, and waffles are just some of the common examples of desserts that benefit from its use as a spread or topping.
The flavor of apricot jam is sweet with a hint of sour, and the consistency is silky and thick. Apricots are typically used to make the jam.
However, apricot jam can be used in place of guava paste in any recipe that calls for either of those ingredients.
Even though the flavor won’t be identical, the sweetness of the apricot jam will help to balance out the sourness of the guava paste.
In addition, because of its silky consistency, the jam will be much simpler to spread across various desserts.
As a consequence of this, apricot jam is an excellent option for individuals who are looking for a fruit preserve that can be used in a variety of ways.
2 – Peach Jam
Peach jam is an incredibly tasty and adaptable spread that can be utilized in a wide range of different recipes.
It has a flavor that is both sweet and sour, making it ideal for use in baked goods and desserts.
Since peach jam has a consistency that is both thick and creamy, it is ideally suited for use as either a filling or a frosting.
And because it is made with fresh peaches, it has a lovely flavor that is reminiscent of summertime but is suitable for consumption at any time of the year.
Peach jam is an excellent choice to consider if you are looking for an alternative to guava paste in your cooking.
It is possible to use it in many of the same ways as the original, as it possesses a similar consistency.
In conclusion, the next time you have a craving for something sweet, you should reach for a jar of peach jam instead.
3 – Plum Jam
If you’ve ever been to a grocery store in the Caribbean, you might have noticed a jar of plum jam on the shelf and been curious about what it is.
You probably guessed correctly that plums are the main ingredient in plum jam, which is a spread.
It has a flavor that is slightly sour and a consistency that is thick and sweet. The color is a deep purple.
Because the consistency is comparable to that of guava paste, it is an excellent choice for use as a replacement in culinary preparations.
Simply maintain the same ratio of 1:1 when substituting plum jam for guava paste in your recipe.
Therefore, if the recipe calls for one cup of guava paste, you can substitute one cup of plum jam in its place.
Have faith in us; you won’t regret it and neither will your taste buds.
4 – Fig Jam
Sweet and ripe figs are the basis for the delectable spread known as fig jam.
It has a flavor that is intensely fruity and a consistency that is thick and creamy.
In some recipes, fig jam can be used in place of guava paste to achieve the same flavor.
Paste made from guava is frequently utilized in the preparation of sweet treats like pies and pastries.
On the other hand, it can also be utilized in savory preparations, such as stir-fries and sauces. [Case in point]
It is possible to use fig jam in place of guava paste in a ratio that is one to one.
It is imperative that the sweetness of the fig jam be taken into consideration whenever guava paste is replaced with fig jam.
Because fig jam is typically sweeter than guava paste, it is possible that the amount of sugar called for in the recipe will need to be adjusted accordingly.
5 – Quince Paste
A spread that is similar to jam and made from cooked quince fruit is called quince paste.
It has a flavor that is both sweet and sour, and its texture is grainy and firm.
In place of guava paste in recipes, quince paste is frequently used because of its similar flavor and texture.
You can purchase it in stores that specialize in gourmet foods or on the internet.
To make quince paste, the quince fruit is first cooked until soft.
After that, it is put through a blender and mixed with sugar and fresh lemon juice.
Cooking the mixture until it is thick enough to spread makes it.
Paste made from quinces can be incorporated into many different types of baked goods, such as pies, tarts, and pastries.
You can also use it as a spread for toast or crackers if you want to enjoy it on its own.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are a lot of different things that can be used in place of guava paste in various recipes.
Apricot jam, peach jam, plum jam, fig jam, and quince paste are all excellent choices.
Your dish could benefit from the addition of any one of these substitutes thanks to their distinctive flavors.
Therefore, the next time you have a craving for something sweet, reach for one of these scrumptious fruit spreads instead of reaching for something else.
FAQs
What can I use instead of guava paste?
In the event that you find yourself in need of an alternative to guava paste, the best options available to you are quince paste, fresh guavas, fig paste, fruit preserves, or apple paste. Although they do not perfectly replicate the taste and texture of guava paste, they are a suitable substitute for use in any recipe that calls for the ingredient.
Can you use guava jam instead of guava paste?
Fresh guavas, quince paste, apple paste, and fig paste or jam are excellent options for those looking for alternatives to guava paste. Which one you choose to use will depend on your preferences and how true to the guava flavor you want it to be.
What is in guava paste?
Guava paste is a very thick puree of guava fruit and sugar, and it typically has pectin added to it as well. Guava paste is also known as guayabate and goiabada. The texture is quite comparable to membrillo, also known as quince paste.
What can I substitute for paste?
If you find that you are out of tomato paste, there is no need to rush to the store because tomato sauce and tomato puree are both excellent replacements for tomato paste. Use three tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce in place of every one tablespoon of tomato paste that is required.
What does guava paste taste like?
Guava paste has a flavor that is sweet and floral, and while it is typically used in savory dishes, it can also be used successfully in desserts. For instance, it is frequently served alongside cheese as an appetizer, or it is incorporated into the filling of empanadas before being baked. | https://westjeffoxroast.com/the-5-best-substitutes-for-guava-paste/ |
Sometimes you may find it necessary to substitute one ingredient for another in a recipe. But using a different ingredient may change both the taste and texture of your baking, so it is a good idea before substituting to understand the role that ingredient plays in the recipe.
What replaces ingredients in baking?
The Only List of Baking Substitutions You’ll Ever Need
- Baking Powder (double-acting): 1 teaspoon = 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar + 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
- Baking Soda: 1/4 teaspoon = 1 teaspoon baking powder (any acidic ingredients in the recipe will have a more assertive, tangier flavor)
When would you substitute an ingredient in a recipe?
The Ingredient Substitution Chart should only should only be used when you don’t have the necessary ingredients on hand in your kitchen. Substitutions can change the flavor and outcome of the finished baked goods. You need to use 2 to 3 times more double-acting baking powder than baking soda.
What are the ways of substituting ingredients?
Ingredient Substitutions
|Ingredient||Amount||Substitute|
|Apple pie spice||1 tsp.||1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, and 1/8 tsp. cardamom|
|Arrowroot||1 1/2 tsp.||1 tbsp. flour|
|Arrowroot||1 1/2 tsp.||1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch|
|Baking powder||1 tsp.||1/3 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar|
Why do we substitute ingredients in baking?
Each ingredient in a recipe has a specific function. Substitution of one ingredient for another may alter the taste, color, moisture content or texture of the product. For this reason, it is suggested that ingredient substitution be used in unexpected situations only.
What can banana substitute for in baking?
Applesauce (store-bought or homemade) can substitute for a banana in baked goods. Replace one banana with 1/2 cup of applesauce, but don’t use more than 1 cup of applesauce because the mixture will be too wet. Egg whites (or a whole egg) can also substitute for a banana in some baked goods.
What can I substitute for glucose in baking?
Agave Nectar: A one-to-one substitution, agave syrup (aka agave nectar) has a mild flavor that works great in most recipes that call for corn syrup. Often used in vegan cooking, baking, and candy making, liquid agave works as a liquid glucose substitute, with a similar sweetness though a slightly thinner texture.
What is the best substitute for 1 cup sifted flour?
Answer: Substitute with 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, potato starch, rice starch or arrowroot starch; or 1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca. All-purpose flour, 1 cup sifted. Substitute with 1 cup unsifted all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons; or 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour.
What does cream of tartar do in baking?
Cream of tartar is a popular ingredient in many recipes. Also known as potassium bitartrate, cream of tartar is the powdered form of tartaric acid. … Cream of tartar helps stabilize whipped egg whites, prevents sugar from crystallizing and acts as a leavening agent for baked goods.
How do you substitute?
Substitution Method
- Substitution method can be applied in four steps.
- Step 1: Solve one of the equations for either x = or y = . We will solve second equation for y.
- Step 2: Substitute the solution from step 1 into the second equation.
- Step 3: Solve this new equation.
What can be substituted for lemon juice?
Here are 8 substitutes for lemon juice.
- Lime juice. Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice, as it can be used as a one-to-one replacement and has a very similar taste and acidity level ( 5 ). …
- Orange juice. …
- Vinegar. …
- Citric acid. …
- Lemon zest. …
- White wine. …
- Lemon extract. …
- Cream of tartar.
24 июн. 2019 г.
What can I substitute for 1 cup of milk?
Dairy
|Food||Amount||Substitute|
|Milk, whole||1 cup||1 cup nonfat milk, 2 1/2 tsp butter|
|Milk, whole||1 cup||1 cup skim milk, 1 tbsp melted butter|
|Milk, whole||1 cup||7/8 cup skim milk, 1/8 cup heavy cream|
|Milk, whole||1 cup||5/8 cup skim milk, 3/8 cup half and half|
How do we measure ingredients?
How to measure ingredients properly
- Dry ingredients (like flour and sugar) should be measured using flat-cup measures. Ingredients should be level. …
- Spoon measures must be measured with the correct sized spoons. A level spoon is essential.
- Liquid ingredients should be measured in jugs. Set the jug on a flat surface and check at eye level.
Can I use lemon juice instead of vinegar in cake?
If you want a vinegar substitute for baking, use lemon juice. … If the recipe calls for a tablespoon of vinegar, replace it with two tablespoons of lemon juice. In some cases, white wine is also used in the same ratio. But make sure that these substitutes do not spoil the original recipe.
How important is accuracy in baking?
It’s important to have accurate measurements when you bake. One of these kitchen supplies isn’t acceptable for both water and flour. While it’s easy to pour a liquid up to the correct measurement line, it’s much more difficult to accurately pour a dry ingredient into said cup. Scoops are much more accurate.
How important is knowledge in substitution of ingredients in baking?
Answer Expert Verified
Knowledge in conversion of units and substitution of ingredients in baking is important because what you see is not always what you get. What you need is not always available. … In the substitution of ingredients, some ingredients may also not be available. Some may be too expensive. | https://orangekitchens.net/bakeing/can-we-substitute-ingredients-when-baking.html |
Chervil (pronounced SHER-vil) is a delicate herb that is popularly used in French cooking. It’s part of the famous fines herbes used in French cuisines along with tarragon and parsley.
The mild hints of licorice or anise in chervil offer a delicious flavor to dishes. Its mild flavor goes well with a wide array of dishes like poultry, fish, sauces, salads, and many more. In most parts of the Mediterranean region and the United States, fresh chervil is available from early spring through late summer. Even if you don’t have it, there are a few other substitute herbs with similar flavor and leafy texture.
Chervil Substitutes
If you require a dried or fresh substitute for chervil, choose any of the following ingredients listed below. Choose the alternatives according to the flavor profile and texture of your dishes.
Tarragon
Chervil and tarragon have a similar flavor with a note of anise. Both are interchangeable, and also complement each other. Both of them are ingredients in French fines herbes.
However, tarragon has a slightly stronger flavor than chervil. For this reason, tarragon may overpower the flavors of your dish if used in excess.
While using this herb, start with just half the amount of chervil required for your recipe and if needed add more at a later part of the cooking.
Tarragon has a bittersweet flavor with a subtle undertone of licorice. The herb works best in fish and poultry dishes. Use about a half tablespoon of fresh tarragon in place of one tablespoon of chervil.
Fennel leaves
Fennel and chervil belong to the carrot family of plants and thus share a few similarities.
Fennel tastes a bit like licorice and when roasted it develops a natural sweetness that balances out its bitterness.
Fresh or dried fennel leaves are a popular ingredient in several Italian and French recipes. It’s a must-have ingredient in sausages and pork dishes. Many home chefs love to use it in seafood dishes.
Fennel leaves are a good alternative to chervil, especially in salads, egg, and fish dishes. Like the chervil leaves, you can simply mince fresh fennel leaves and sprinkle them over your salad.
Use fennel leaves in the same amount as the chervil required in your recipe.
Parsley
Parsley and chervil belong to the carrot family. They both have identical features of carrot greens. Because of their similarity, chervil is also known as French parsley.
Parsley and chervil complement each other well and both are included in the Fines herbes spice mixture.
As for taste, a mild flavor of anise is common to both these herbs. Parsley works as a great substitute for chervil especially for garnishing your dishes.
Dried parsley loses most of its original flavor and aroma, so use fresh parsley when you are making your substitution. Like chervil, add parsley to your dishes towards the end of cooking to retain its flavor to the maximum.
Use parsley exactly in the same measure of chervil that your recipe requires.
Dill leaves
Dill is another possible replacement for chervil. Like chervil herb, dill is an annual herb in the carrot family Apiaceae.
Dill has a distinctive taste that is likened to fennel and anise. It has a deliciously fresh, citrus-like taste, with a slightly grassy undertone. Like parsley and chervil, the aroma of this herb is strongly reminiscent of anise.
Closely related to chervil, dill works well in fish and seafood dishes particularly.
As a substitution, use fresh leaves of dill in the same quantity of chervil that your recipe requires.
Cicely
The sweet leaves and stems of cicely, when crushed, have the aroma of aniseed. Similarities between cicely and chervil make them a good substitute for each other.
Note, cicely is a sweet herb that is mostly used in sweet dishes and candies. While using this herb in place of chervil use it in moderation. It works best in salads and for garnishing. Also, cicely is useful for reducing the tartness of herbs like rhubarb.
Use about a teaspoon of fresh cicely to replace one tablespoon of chervil. You may add it more if your recipe complements the sweetness of cicely.
FAQs
What herbs are similar to chervil?
The herbs that are almost similar to chervil are parsley and tarragon. In fact, all these three herbs can be used together or interchangeably. Chives and dill are also somewhat similar to chervil despite the differences in flavor.
Can you use dill instead of chervil?
After parsley and tarragon, dill is a close match for chervil. Dill is a fun spice, and very good for pickling or salt-curing. Instead of chervil, dill leaves are a good option used in egg dishes.
Are chervil and cilantro the same?
No. Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is a leafy herb similar to parsley and tarragon while cilantro is the leaves of the coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum). Both of them have a different flavor and uses in cooking but are a lot similar in appearance.
Can I substitute dried chervil for fresh?
Yes. Chervil is a delicate herb with a mild flavor, thus it loses most of its flavor and texture when dried. In fact, chervil tastes best when fresh and added to a dish in the last seconds of cooking. If you are using dried chervil, add it at the last part of cooking to grilled lamb, soups, bread, or pasta dishes. | https://www.authorityhealthmag.com/chervil-substitute/ |
What are Grits?
The Southern United States has a common type of polenta.
Corn is ground into powder.
The resulting grits have a sweet taste.
They can be cooked in water or milk with butter, cheese, and salt.
They can be used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
When prepared correctly, grits are creamy.
They can become gummy when cooked long.
The key to perfection is to cook them slowly.
Anyone can learn to make delicious grits with a little practice.
3 Best Substitutes of Grits
There are many options if you are looking for a substitute.
Three of the best substitute for grits are here.
1 – Cornmeal
Corn meal is a type of flour.
Many parts of the world use it as a staple ingredient.
Corn meal can be used for food. It can be used for fried food.
The taste of cornmeal can take on flavors of other ingredients.
The texture of cornmeal can vary from coarse to fine.
Coarse and fine cornmeal is used in many baking recipes.
The texture of cornmeal is a little bit rough.
2 – Polenta
Polenta is a dish from Northern Italy.
It can be fried, grilled, or served as a breakfast.
When cooked as a porridge, polenta is creamy and smooth but grilled or fried polenta has a more firm texture.
polenta is bland on its own but takes on the flavor of whatever it is paired with.
Adding cheese and tomato sauce brings out the flavor of the dish. polenta can be enjoyed in many different ways, it’s a versatile and filling food.
3 – Hominy
Hominy is a type of corn that is prepared by soaking dried kernels in a solution.
This process, known as nixtamalization, loosens the hull from the kernels but also gives them a distinct flavor.
Hominy is used in a variety of dishes.
They can be roasted or fried and used as a topping.
Hominy has a tender interior and is a bit toothsome.
Hominy is a staple of many traditional cuisines and is an acquired taste.
If you want to add intrigue to your next meal, consider giving them a try.
Conclusion
Grits can be enjoyed in many ways.
Substitutes can be used in a pinch but they don’t compare to the taste and texture of real grits. | https://travel-end.com/grits-and-its-substitutes/ |
Spanish onions are a type of yellow onion and are sometimes mislabeled as brown onions. They have a thin, papery skin, and pale yellow flesh and are moderately pungent compared to other onion varieties when raw. Once cooked, however, Spanish onions turn sweet and tender. Given their subtle flavor, Spanish onions are great to use in sandwiches and salads as well as in soups, sofrito, and some grilled dishes.
Spanish onions are a versatile, multi-purpose ingredient, but they can be expensive and hard to find. So, if you can’t find them, you can use these Spanish onion substitutes instead to get similar results in your dish.
1. Red Onions
Red onions’ flavor profile ranges from mild to pungent. It has dense flesh and a robust taste and pungent aroma that stands in stark contrast to the sweetness and mildness of Spanish onions. While there are differences in flavor profiles, red onions can be used to substitute Spanish onions, especially in dishes that will benefit from a stronger onion flavor.
You can use raw red onions in salads or pickle them. They also taste great when grilled. However, raw red onions will add a different color to the dish — although this change in color will only elevate your recipe’s aesthetic appeal and not detract from it. When cooked, red onions look duller, which is perfect for heat-based dishes.
2. Sweet Onions
Sweet onions have a delicate flavor that is equal parts sweet and savory with plump, juicy flesh. They’re irresistible in soups, salads, and sauces and can also be grilled and roasted. They have a sweet taste similar to Spanish onions and are also less likely to produce tears, making them an appealing alternative to the original ingredient.
You can use sweet onions in a variety of dishes and preparations, including toppings for pizzas and burgers, and in pies. Because they tend to be much milder in flavor with a sweet taste, you will need to add a little salt to balance out the flavors. They’re generally crispy but break down easily when cooked and develop a softer texture, so they’re not good for slow-cooked dishes.
3. Vidalia Onions
Vidalia onions are a type of sweet onion with a yellow or light brown hue and a thin, delicate skin. They have a mild flavor but a sweet taste and an aroma that’s much like that of Spanish onions, making them the perfect alternative to use in dishes like salads.
You can use Vidalia onions to substitute for Spanish onions in any recipe without worrying about adding an overpowering onion flavor to the dish. Because it has such a mild and agreeable flavor, you can also consume Vidalia onions raw or add them to cold dishes. It’s a multi-purpose ingredient that you can easily find in most stores.
4. Walla Walla Onions
Walla Walla onions get their name from the Walla Walla valley in Washington, the region where they’re grown. They’re large and round, have light golden skin with sweet and mellow-flavored flesh, and they also have higher water content than Spanish onions. Walla walla onions share a lot of similarities with Spanish onions and are thus a great substitute for the original ingredient.
Walla Walla onions tend to become even sweeter when cooked, making them a great choice for caramelized and roast dishes as well as sauces and dips. Given the subtle flavor profile, they are also good additions to rice and casseroles. However, Walla Walla onions are available from August through October, but you can cure them in a cool, dry, dark place to enjoy them for longer.
5. White Onions
White onions come in two types — American and European. American onions are sharper in flavor than their European counterparts. Apart from this distinction, both of these white onion variants have white, papery skin, a clean flavor, and crispy white flesh. They also offer a plethora of health benefits and can be used to replace Spanish onions in a pinch.
The sharp, pungent flavor of white onions with mild sweetness is perfect in warm dishes as well as sauteed preparations. They will also work in raw applications where the onions will maintain the integrity of the dish. They’re a versatile option that makes for a simple substitute for Spanish onions in any cuisine. But, make sure you don’t pre-cut them, as white onions will go bad when exposed to moisture-dense air.
6. Yellow Onions
Yellow onions are one of the most common types of onions. They have a strong flavor compared to Spanish onions, have a papery skin, and come in white to brown hues. These sharp-tasting onions work well in several recipes and make for a great substitute for Spanish onions, especially because it’s closely related to the original ingredient.
You can use yellow onions in just about every recipe that calls for Spanish onions, including soups, stews, sauces, grilled meats, and roasted veggies. They become sweeter when cooked, and the reduced pungency also makes them suitable for caramelizing. Bear in mind that yellow onions have very little water content, so they won’t work half as well for raw applications.
7. Ramps
Don’t have access to any type of onion? Use ramps (leeks) to save the day. Ramps, also known as wild leeks and wood leeks, are a type of wild-growing onion. They’re generally regarded to be cousins of onions and have a taste that lies somewhere between garlic and scallions. While not an exact alternative to Spanish onion, you can still use ramps to add a subtle onion taste to dishes.
You can eat ramps raw or use them to make pesto. You can also cook them like scallions, but you should know that ramps tend to turn slightly sweet when cooked. They work well in a range of applications, so feel free to explore the many possibilities to find your perfect recipe. | https://wonderfulcook.com/spanish-onion-substitute/ |
In a large plate, roughly crumble the tofu block using a fork.
Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, occasionally stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in the crumbled tofu with all the spices, mix and cook for 7 minutes, stirring until the mixture is thick and fragrant, and water from tofu has evaporated. Set aside.
In the same skillet, add the chard with ½ tablespoon of coconut oil and stir continuously until the colour turns slightly brighter and leaves start to collapse, 2 to 3 minutes.
To assemble, serve warm on bread slices, top with sliced avocado, hemp seeds and cracked pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
This avocado on toast with tofu scramble is better fresh, but tofu will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Before making the switch and leaning heavily towards a plant-based diet, I loved pairing avocado toast with scrambled eggs. And I didn’t quite find the perfect vegan substitute until Tracey suggested trying this tofu scramble version. This classic better-revisited avocado on toast is an energising breakfast toast, rich in evocative flavours, fulfilling yet quick to prepare. And versatile, this avocado on toast could be a casual light lunch as well.
For this avocado on toast recipe, we used firm tofu. If you are after a softer tofu scramble, even closer to the original scrambled eggs texture, feel free to use silky tofu and cook the tofu with one tablespoon of vegan butter instead of coconut oil, stirring regularly for about 10 to 15 minutes. A splash of vegan milk while cooking is also helpful. I have also seen that the addition of vegan melting cheese to the preparation lifts the moisture. For a creamier texture, a quarter cup of hummus, or our split pea hummus will do the trick. Simply add to the skillet with the tofu and the rest of the ingredients during cooking.
There are many benefits in massively reducing or removing animal products from our diets. Take my parents, for example. At sixty years old plus, after years debating, they are eating vegan dishes most days. They feel so good, and they actually can’t remember the last time they ate meat. We don’t understand the logic of eating meat anymore, and it feels so satisfying to eat with abundance rather than deprivation.
We all love plant-based food, yet that doesn’t mean we dislike the taste of animal products. Thankfully, vegan cooking is so diverse that I could recreate most of the omnivore flavours I adored with plants, through the adequate spices, seasoning or sauce. And it merely starts with preparing an avocado on toast, tofu scramble or miso marinade. So if you are anything like me, or in search of varying your vegan cuisine, I put together a list of essentials food, to replicate an ever-better version of that nostalgic taste in your dishes. Some of us need this from time to time.
Avocado I consider avocado on toast my vegan bread and butter. I found there is nothing comparable to avocado in the vegan food world that can deliver the fatty texture and fresh flavour similar to cow milk butter. The slight minty taste, enhanced with anything acidic is discreet enough to be paired with pretty much everything, mushrooms, tofu, wilted greens, rice and obviously bread. My favourite go-to is smashed avocado with apple cider vinegar spread over a lightly toasted slice of sourdough bread drizzled with olive oil, topped with volcanic salt and hemp seeds—a delight.
Kala Namak salt According to Samin Nosrat, the author of Salt Fat Acid Heat “nearly every decision you’ll make about salt will involve amplifying and deepening flavour.” So what happens when the salt carries its particular flavour? The Kala Namak salt also called Himalayan black salt, diffuses a robust sulphurous taste and smell, something recalling egg. Some can’t stand it, but Tracey and I love it. To be honest, that is an understatement; we adore this salt so much that we sprinkle it on pretty much every savoury food we prepare, including avocado on toast. For me, anything becomes insanely delicious with this salt. And I let you imagine how it goes when you are cooking vegan scramble. This salt will strongly match the eggy taste we are aiming for with this sort of dish.
Miso paste After volcanic salt, miso is probably my second favourite flavour enhancer. Traditionally available under a paste form, miso is made of fermented soybeans and salt. For me, it is the quintessence of umami flavour. Umami, “a pleasant savoury taste” in Japanese, is one of the basic five tastes, out of sweet, bitter, salty and sour. Besides, umami recalls to the mind a “meaty” flavour, which makes it legit for this list, and enriches any type of dish. My preferred combination is in a marinade, combined with soy or tamari sauce and ginger. I will soak in tofu, tempeh or vegan meat substitutes before cooking. I also love miso paste with pasta, noodles, rice, stir fry veggies or a simple sauce. I bet it must be delicious blended into a creamy hummus.
Nutritional yeast Also called vegan cheese. I have adopted Trace’s habit of sprinkling this wholesome food on every dish that could do with an extra savoury, light cheesy flavour. Nutritional yeast is a fundamental essential ingredient for vegan. This dried, deactivated form of yeast is as excellent for flavour as it is for health. Nutritional yeast contains important minerals and B complex vitamins, including fortified B12, folate, and protein. There should be no other ingredients added such as rice flour or other bulking agents reducing the nutritional value. As Tracey once stated, we always keep a jar of nutritional yeast in our pantry. I found nutritional yeast is well balanced with whole olives, and it is delicious with any sort of salads, or supercharged greens dishes, pasta, of course, lasagna, pesto sauce and obviously, vegan nut cheese.
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Subscribe to receive your free ebook featuring 11 plant based recipes, meal plan and tips for reducing waste and saving money. | https://www.thisislagom.com/vegan-recipes/breakfast/toast/avocado-toast-tofu-scramble/ |
One of the most important ingredients used in Japanese cooking is Bonita flakes or katsuobushi.
This fish, usually mackerel pike, is dried to make a brownish-black granular substance with a strong, smoky flavor and aroma.
Treatment of fish for bonito flakes includes smoking, steaming then sun drying.
This results in fish stock being boiled for more than 10 hours to make dashi, a broth used as the base for soups.
Bonito flakes are sold separately from dashi, and they can also be added on top of rice or noodles to give that smoky flavor and aroma.
The different characteristic taste of bonito flakes is mainly due to its rich in umami flavors glutamate salts.
This salt can produce a strong savory flavor, much stronger than beef or mushroom stock.
However, bonito flakes are very expensive and sometimes hard to acquire outside Japan unless bought online.
If you can’t find it easily, read on to discover five substitutes for bonito flakes that you can use in your Japanese or other Asian cuisines.
What are Bonita Flakes (Katsuobushi)?
Firstly, Katsuobushi, or bonito flakes, are fish that have been dried then smoked.
Their scientific name is ‘Kato’, which means fish with scales but no bones – quite fitting given the flakes’ appearance.
The flakes are made up of the white parts of tuna.
Bonito flakes are made in Japan, where they have been used for over 1,000 years.
They are especially popular in the summertime during the Obon festival season when people will gather to remember their ancestors that have passed on.
The fish is typically caught between May and October.
Katsuobushi is most commonly used in Japanese cooking.
It adds a rich, savory umami flavor to dashi, forming part of many soups and sauces.
The flakes are also used in salad dressings, noodle dishes, and sauces.
Katsuobushi can be stored for long periods, but it is important that it is kept away from moisture or direct sunlight.
The flavor can diminish with prolonged exposure to oxygen.
It should not be kept in a freezer or refrigerator to avoid mold.
It can be kept for six months if stored correctly, but it is recommended that you use them within three months of opening the packet.
In many Japanese households, katsuobushi will be stored inside the fridge alongside other Japanese staples such as soy sauce and mirin.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Bonita Flakes (Katsuobushi)
You will likely want to use Katsuobushi flakes when cooking Japanese food at home because of their pungent umami flavor.
However, they can be difficult to find.
Here are five substitutes for katsuobushi that can help you recreate the same flavors without actually having to go out and buy them:
1 – Dulse Flakes and Nori Seaweed
Dulse flakes are not easily accessible in many supermarkets.
However, they are readily available online.
Regarding the nutritional content of the seaweed, it is rich in iron and iodine.
It can be used as a substitute for Katsuobushi for soups, salads, side dishes, or noodle dishes.
Norit is another seaweed product, but it is significantly different in taste and texture.
Norit seaweed consists of thin layers usually used to wrap sushi or rice balls.
However, it can also be crumbled into powder form.
This means that it works well with salads, soups, noodles, and sauces.
When dulse flakes are combined with nori seaweed, it yields a perfect combination of flavor and texture.
2 – Kombu or Konbu
If you’re a fan of Japanese cooking, you will know that kombu is also quite popular.
It contributes a lot to the flavor and texture of dishes such as soups and broths.
Kombu is a seaweed product.
It has several nutritional benefits, including being rich in iodine and calcium, but it largely depends on the water in which it is grown.
Kombu is rather chewy, making it an ideal substitute for bonito flakes.
However, if you do not like its texture, you can soak it overnight to reduce the size of the seaweed shreds.
3 – Iriko or Baby Anchovies
Reiko is a Japanese cured anchovy.
It is salted and fermented, but it does not boast the same pungent aroma as katsuobushi.
This product is also readily available online and can be used in place of bonito flakes for soups and noodle dishes.
Furthermore, it has an important role in broth, so it is a great substitute for Katsuobushi flakes.
Additionally, ikura or salmon roe has a similar texture and consistency to bonito flakes.
Salmon roe can be used in soups and noodle dishes, but it must be slightly cooked before adding other ingredients.
4 – Mackerel Powder
For an intense and rich flavor that evokes a similar taste to katsuobushi, mackerel powder might be the way to go.
The mackerel is typically dried in the sun before being salted and cured.
It is then fermented in brine for up to one year, contributing to its pungent smell.
This product can be found online or at your local Asian grocery store.
Mackerel powder gives soups and sauces an intense umami flavor that tastes similar to katsuobushi flakes.
This product is versatile because it can be added to any dish you want.
5 – Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are dark brown. They have a hard texture, but they can be easily broken down into small pieces.
These mushrooms are typically dried to allow them to last longer.
You can find these mushrooms at Asian grocery stores or online shops.
Dried shiitake mushrooms are great for imparting the umami flavor in soups and noodles.
You can also add them to seafood dishes or fried rice.
Conclusion
Bonita flakes are widely used in Japanese cooking, but they are not easily accessible to many people.
Fortunately, you can use any of the above products as substitutes for Bonita flakes, depending on your taste preferences and specific dish.
If you’re a fan of Japanese cooking, you should give any of these substitutes a try.
Some products have additional health benefits, so it’s well worth your while. | https://americasrestaurant.com/bonita-flakes-substitutes/ |
Kim Spezowka thought she ranked pretty high on the good mom scale: She baked a loaf of whole-wheat bread almost every day.
So when a doctor suggested her toddler's severe health problems might be due to a gluten sensitivity, she was shocked.
"You're telling me I'm going through all this trouble and possibly killing my child?" the London, Ont., mom recalls asking.
Her whole family went on a diet free of bread, pasta and cereal.
"In four days I had this brand new kid," she says.
In fact, her whole family's health improved. Her husband's digestion problems disappeared. Her own daily headaches subsided. It turned out they all had gluten sensitivities.
But now Ms. Spezowka faced a new challenge: What the heck was she going to feed her family?
Last year, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reported that 1 in 100 Americans have celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder) - a dramatic increase from rates just a few decades earlier. For those affected, gluten causes an inflammation in the small intestine, which prevents nutrient absorption. Many with celiac disease often keep eating gluten and wreaking havoc on their intestinal lining simply because substitutes are expensive or poor-tasting. But long-term celiacs say that with time and experimentation, one can find a way to substitute a gluten-free alternative for the wheat, rye or barley in any recipe.
When Toronto musician and author Victoria Yeh first switched to a gluten-free diet eight years ago, she was lost.
"I was always hungry because I didn't know what to eat."
She missed baked goods most of all. She tried - and often failed - to replicate them. Chocolate cake with brown rice flour just came out as "a big, hard lump."
But returning to the chronic headaches and stomach irritation that came with eating gluten wasn't an option. She read up on how gluten contributes to food's texture and found she could use starches to bind food, and extra baking powder for leavening.
She recently released the cookbook Where Do I Start? Your Essential Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Sugar-Free Food Allergy Cookbook, in which she shares her carefully measured substitutions.
"Once you learn just a few rules of thumb and what gluten does and how to substitute it successfully, it's easy to adapt to the diet," she says.
Ms. Spezowka had similarly bad experiences when she first tried to make whole-wheat bread with whole grain buckwheat.
"You could've played hockey with that loaf of bread," she says.
But she kept at the experiments and learned that coconut flour was great in muffins and cookies, sorghum made a tasty rye-style bread, and rice flour cut the edge off of buckwheat.
Eight years later, she's pleased with the results, but says it may just be because her tastes have changed. Her gluten-eating friends can still taste the difference.
"I say, 'This is just as good!' But no, it's not."
Still, Vancouver baker Jennifer Yong says it is possible to create gluten-free baking that has the same texture and taste as the real deal.
When Ms. Yong took the Baking and Pastry Arts program at Vancouver Community College, she asked instructors if they'd ever consider adding gluten-free baking to the curriculum. They said no - there was no time to cover it and cross-contamination would be an issue, she says.
Ms. Yong was undeterred.
Not a celiac herself, but aware of a burgeoning gluten-free market, she had to do a lot of experimentation before she launched her own gluten-free bakery last year: Homestead Specialty Baking.
After studying dozens of cookbooks and sending some things she pulled out of her oven straight to the trash, she discovered a gluten-free baking mix that she subs in for all-purpose or pastry flour in most of her recipes: a combination of organic brown rice flour, tapioca starch and sweet potato starch.
"It mimics the texture of gluten-filled product the most," she says.
Her brownie bites and sugar-free banana fig date muffins are her top sellers at local farmers' markets. They're even popular among non-celiacs - to the point that she's changed her signage to minimize the emphasis on how her products are gluten-free.
"It's kind of an added bonus. They can't really tell," she says.
Though the North American diet emphasizes gluten-based foods, celiacs shouldn't obsess over finding substitutes for those grains and flours, says Shelley Case, a Regina-based dietician and member of the professional advisory board of the Canadian Celiac Association.
"Think about naturally gluten-free foods and base your diets around them first and then add in gluten substitutes," she suggests.
Many of the most popular gluten flour substitutes have minimal nutritional value, she says. White rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch may closely mimic the texture and flavour of favourite foods, but they're low in iron and B vitamins. If newly diagnosed celiacs wish to experiment, they should try high-protein quinoa and whole-grain sorghum (which contains high levels of B vitamins and fibre).
But Ms. Yeh says she can't completely phase some things out of her diet. And why should she, when she's mastered the substitution game with her triple chocolate cake, which recently fooled even her non-celiac friends?
"Everyone just sat around the table after the meal and said that tasted like normal without the full and bloated feeling afterwards," she says.
Editor's note: Clarification: Shelley Case is on the professional advisory board of the Canadian Celiac Association. Also, people can be allergic to wheat, but not gluten. This article has been altered to reflect these points. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/what-to-feed-the-family/article572500/ |
1. When did you start reviewing/studying fine plain dark chocolate and what is it about chocolate that gives you the passion to make it such a big part of your life?
My first significant chocolate experience was as a little boy. When I visited my grandma’s house and I tried a slice from a loaf of “dark chocolate bread” she had made.
I was surprised, because it didn’t taste like chocolate, according to what I knew. Of course, I knew very little, because I had only experienced popular chocolate until that point.
So I was fascinated, because here was an extremely complex and novel taste that evolved like a never-ending story; along with a new nourishing, wholesome feeling when you ate it. Something else was significant too: It wasn’t very sweet. To top it off, there were three different textures. My first experience of a decent drinking chocolate was also at my grandma’s home. It was also prepared with little sugar. So these two chocolate experiences ignited my passion, interest and appreciation. They also opened my mind to understand that cocoa was a versatile ingredient, and that chocolate was a recipe. I would do things like make two cups of hot chocolate to compare, each with a different type of sugar.
Eventually the inevitable happened and my mother, who had trained at the Cordon Bleu, competed by making her own chocolate bread. Because I was repeatedly asked to give feedback, and thoroughly questioned, I had to take extra interest and consider what I was experiencing more deeply.
During my childhood and teens I lived in various countries. The family also spent long periods travelling around countries.
In a similar way to adults who move house and sample new local restaurants to decide which are the best, frequently changing location provided me with the opportunity to sample food that mattered to me. I wanted to know how good my favourite food could possibly taste. One food was international: different chocolates were to be found in all countries, so it was a good match between my passion and my circumstances. My parents encouraged this partly because it interested them, and mostly to keep me occupied and happy in our constantly changing environment.
As an adult I continued to travel and live abroad. I sampled chocolate and made notes for myself whenever the opportunity arose. I never considered that other people would do the same. I hadn’t heard of anyone writing chocolate tasting notes or reviews. But I had seen how enthusiastic people could get about wine. My mother was a member of the sommeliers, so I had accompanied her to wine tasting, shows and on visits to vineyards.
By the early nineties I was taking very detailed chocolate tasting notes for my own use. I had more time to think creatively and I had gained considerable experience at the high end of the publishing industry. For the first time I considered how this kind of information could be of interest to others, presented in a book. This inspired me to develop my method of recording tasting notes by considering their utility to other people. But I understood that the scale of the fine chocolate industry was so large that a professional guide book could only be produced by full-time professionals. I was also concerned about some other issues, including how many people might be interested in a guide book about the world’s best chocolates. It was over a decade later that I was able to address these issues, develop the idea, and work on the World Chocolate Awards guide book full time.
2. Do you have a standard review process that you follow and can you share it here? What makes your reviews different compared to other reviews you have seen?
Yes, standardisation is necessary to obtain the most reliable results. I think that our evaluation process will be best explained by answering your subsequent questions in depth.
The World Chocolate Awards are completely impartial and independent. The World Chocolate Awards was founded because, for the fine chocolate industry, no mark of distinction or award conforms to these standards. Everything I am about to relate below is far from the norm. So we have something valuable, new and unique to offer our readers.
To ensure that we are impartial and independent, no one who works for the World Chocolate Awards can have worked for a chocolatier in any role. They must have never worked in public relations for, marketing for, or undertaken any kind of promotion of the chocolate industry. Neither can they be related to a chocolatier by family.
The World Chocolate Awards is also unique, impartial and independent because it does not accept payments from the chocolate industry. Also, we do not accept gifts of any kind that could be viewed as a substitute for payments. We do not accept free bars of chocolate or any other products that we evaluate.
Not only is the chocolate that we evaluate paid for, but we also avoid the possibility of chocolate bars being specifically produced or selected by a chocolatier to be judged. We ensure that we evaluate the same chocolate bars that the public buy.
The World Chocolate Awards has standards designed to avoid bias in many other ways: by storing chocolate correctly; ensuring a clean palate; consistent tasting conditions; consistent expectations; and by evaluating a chocolate on a number of occasions.
Evaluating a chocolate on more than one occasion allows for any possible variation in the taster’s ability to perceive flavour from day to day. It also allows the taster to become accustomed to new flavours with neither the excitement of novelty, nor the disappointment of unfamiliarity. It allows the taster to gain a sufficient understanding of a chocolate’s flavours before making a conclusive evaluation.
This method avoids the pressure and the impracticalities with the method commonly used in chocolate awards and competitions: tasting over a hundred chocolates in one day, tasting a very high number of different chocolates, each supplied in a very limited quantity, in a very limited time, in very unusual surroundings and circumstances.
3. When reviewing chocolate, how do you rank the different aspects in order of importance?
The World Chocolate Awards evaluates chocolate in a completely different way: the more negative an aspect is, the more important it becomes.
The World Chocolate Awards evaluation method was designed objectively from scratch to reflect the realities of the experience of tasting chocolate. I believe that your question referred to the common method of ranking aspects of chocolate in order of importance, before adding them up to a total score. The World Chocolate Awards does not use this method because of three significant problems that it presents.
Firstly, there is no rational method to determine which aspect of a chocolate is of higher or lower importance than another, before tasting it. How is the reviewer able to determine which aspect of a chocolate is of more importance than another before they taste a chocolate?
Secondly, there is no rational method to determine what percentage of a grand total each aspect of a chocolate is worth, before tasting it. Someone who employs this system needs to be able to provide an explanation as to why they assigned, for example, 10% importance to aroma. How did they arrive at this figure? What were the factors that made it 10% and not 10.5% or 11%? I certainly can’t tell you how important the aroma, flavour, texture or aftertaste of a chocolate is until I have tasted it.
Finally, when using the common method that you referred to, the reviewer presents a score for a chocolate’s aroma, and also states that this score will count towards, say, 10% of a grand total. And the same is done for the texture, flavour, and so on. Then they are all added up neatly to arrive at a grand total score out of 100%. This method means that if a chocolate has the worse possible score in one aspect – let’s say its texture is rock solid - so it would score zero for texture, it would be possible for this uneatable, flawed chocolate to receive a score of up to 90%. But everyone knows that if only one element of the chocolate is very bad, it makes a bad chocolate bar.
To put it another way, if I asked you to specify what factors would make your ideal restaurant, you could make a smart looking, mathematically sound list and make each aspect add up to 100%, with neat boxes around it all, but in practice, in reality, if you went to a restaurant and there was an unpleasant odour, that odour would begin to take precedence over how good the service was and how nice the food was. The stronger the odour became, the less the other aspects of the restaurant would justify you remaining there.
So, returning to chocolate, I say it is easy for us all to agree on the fact that if a chocolate’s aroma is terrible, the worst it is, the more important is becomes. The less anyone will care about its aftertaste or its texture. Things are all relative, as Einstein said. This is why the World Chocolate Awards has conceived a rational, understandable method that takes account of the realities of tasting chocolate.
4. What is your ideal ingredient list and what do you consider acceptable when you are referring to fine plain dark chocolate?
The World Chocolate Awards defines “fine” chocolate as one made with fine ingredients, in other words without substituting ingredients for the sake of economy. An example of a substitution would be using vanillin, natural vanilla extract, or natural vanilla flavour, instead of vanilla.
“Plain” dark chocolate contains only cocoa, cocoa butter and sugar. If you add another ingredient, such as vanilla, salt, hazelnut, it is no longer plain: it becomes a “flavoured” dark chocolate.
But it’s important to recognise that flavoured chocolate is a recipe in which the added ingredients can be used in three very different ways, which I will describe below. The first way, which you alluded to, may be of higher interest to lovers of plain chocolate than the latter two.
1. “Chocolate seasoned with the added ingredient.” The added ingredient can be used as relatively unobtrusive seasoning, intended to enhance the original flavours of the chocolate. The chocolate remains prominent and the focus of the recipe.
2. “A fusion of chocolate with the added ingredient.” The chocolate and the added ingredient can be used in equal, or near equal, strengths to create a fusion, or an approximate fusion of flavours.
3. “The added ingredient seasoned with chocolate.” Chocolate can be used as a relatively unobtrusive seasoning, intended to enhance the flavour of the added ingredient, which is prominent and the focus of the recipe.
So in the World Chocolate Awards guide book we take care not to stereotype chocolates that have added ingredients. The way we present information enables the reader to immediately recognise the particular composition of each flavoured chocolate so that they can decide if it is of interest to them.
"What about cocoa butter substitutes such as vegetable fat or coconut oil?"
If used as a substitute, the above answer would apply. Substitutes are not acceptable.
Adding oil from a nut or vegetable in order to contribute a flavour to fine dark chocolate would make it a flavoured fine dark chocolate. An added flavour is, by definition, self-evident, and I would also expect to see its use reflected in the brand’s description of their chocolate.
"What about alternatives to cane sugar?"
The chocolate maker should decide on the best way to sweeten their chocolate.
Because cane sugar is the generally accepted sweetener in our culture then I would expect to see the use of a different sweetener reflected in the maker’s description of their chocolate. The World Chocolate Awards evaluates chocolate based on their taste and without prejudice regarding the type of sugar used. We then present the information in such a way that the reader can search and read the book on their own terms.
"Vanilla for sure, and lecithin somewhat can alter/add to the flavor. Should either be used at all?"
This should be left to the chocolate maker to decide.
5. What aspects in the chain of chocolate making do you think have the biggest impact on flavor?
The flavour of chocolate can be impacted negatively at any stage, so no stage is more important than another in that respect. Every link is important to make a good chain. To quote the old saying, a chain is only as good as its weakest link.
6. If you could standardize how fine chocolate is labeled, what information do you think should be included on every package?
All ingredients, along with their percentages, would be displayed prominently on the front. The cacaofèvier (who transformed the beans into chocolate) would be also be stated.
All of the examples that you listed would be interesting to know, but I would not go as far as requiring them by law. After all, the priority for the chocolate maker should be producing great tasting chocolate and the priority for the public should be enjoying the taste of a piece of chocolate. Some cacaofèviers have less resources than others, and some may, for example, wish to keep their blends secret.
7. Is there a person in the chocolate world whom you especially admire? Who and why?
I admire all of those who produce the fine chocolate that we award with one, two or three stars. They are making the best tasting chocolate in the world, making it possible for people to have an incredible taste experience.
8. “Bean to Bar” is often used as a quality indicator for fine chocolate even though there are many bean-to-bar makers with no real intuition or understanding for flavor or quality development. Are there other models or examples of companies who are not fully bean to bar that interest you and why?
As you say, “made from bean to bar” does not indicate the quality of a chocolate. It is only a term to explain that a chocolate bar was made in-house, starting with the beans.
This term is used regardless of whether the cocoa butter used to make the chocolate was processed from the beans in-house, or by a third party.
The World Chocolate Awards evaluates chocolate that meets two criteria: first, it must be made without substitute ingredients; second, the chocolate must be unique to the brand who sells it.
Those two criteria being satisfied, the World Chocolate Awards is concerned with recognising the best tasting chocolate in the world: a chocolate is included or excluded based on its taste. To discriminate against a unique, fine chocolate because of the brand name on the packet is not something we find justifiable. There are numerous unique chocolates which are made by some of the world’s best cacaofèviers for another brand to sell.
Our approach is to present information to the reader, in a way that allows the reader to be as selective as they wish. So they can narrow down their reading to chocolate made from bean to bar, for example. We clearly identify for the reader when a brand is a cacaofèvier and when it is not.
9. Who are your top five favorite chocolate makers/brands? (If for whatever reason you prefer to list five individual bars that would be just as interesting.)
We are very fortunate to have more than five top chocolate brands, or bars, in the world. But if I was to be marooned on a desert island with only five chocolate bars, they would certainly be selected from those that the World Chocolate Awards guide book has awarded three stars to. Which of those chocolates I select would depend entirely on how I am feeling at the time.
10. Magic wand question. If you could order the production of any plain dark chocolate bar(s), what would you like to see made and who would make it for you?
If I had a (very powerful) magic wand, I’d teleport all of the cacaofèviers whose chocolates have received three stars, the highest recognition in the World Chocolate Awards, along with all of their equipment, to one giant workshop. Then have them collaborate on a several blends and several single origin chocolates using any beans in the world that they desired. Imagine how exciting and interesting it would be to see such a spectacular event, as well as to taste the results! | http://flavorsofcacao.com/interview_whitaker_ian.html |
Coconut has a million uses, and now that it's fairly easy to find and not as expensive as it once was, I use it more than ever.
I'm not someone to jump on the bandwagon of every new fad, so I'd be lying if I said that I have bought into the opinion of those who think it's a miracle ingredient. Still, I'm aware of the health benefits and I like to have options when I cook. Coconut oil heats well in cooking and baking, coconut milk turns a simple dish into something special, and shredded coconut is my secret ingredient in many, many, baked goods.
I've used coconut milk to make ice cream in the past, particularly when my son was unable to handle any dairy products at all. He is still on a limited dairy diet, although he can handle small amounts. Still, I've gotten so used to using dairy substitutes, that I now have a world of options available to me. So this week, I decided to make coconut popsicles. I've never made them before, and was anticipating having to play around with the recipe a bit to get it right. Turns out they're pretty much impossible to mess up, and I was happy with the recipe I created after the first try.
My sons love these, and they are the perfect creamy summer treat.
Coconut Pops(Makes 4)
Ingredients
1 can coconut milk (I used regular, full fat)
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1-2 tablespoons agave nectar (optional)
Directions
1- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon. Taste and adjust sweetness, but keep in mind that they will taste sweeter once frozen.
2- Pour into ice pop molds and freeze several hours.
***I didn't bother to mix it in the blender because I like the texture of the shredded coconut in the popsicles. If you don't, blend until smooth and then pour into the molds. | http://www.coulditbeceliac.com/2014/06/recipe-simple-coconut-pops.html |
When fall comes around, I go pumpkin crazy. I’ve always loved the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, but I’m not sure I ever thought about enjoying pumpkin outside of that one day a year until Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes came into my life. Now, I’m one of those people who gets excited when it’s featured on their menu again every year (though one of my coworkers reminded me that you can get whatever flavor drink you want at Starbucks all year round). Even though we don’t usually get much of a fall in the South, once the calendar hits September, I have pumpkin on the brain. When I realized I had a preposterous number of pumpkin recipes pinned, I decided to share them here. For the next 10 Fridays, I’ll be sharing a different pumpkin recipe with you for your gustatory pleasure!
Up this week: Two ingredient pumpkin cookies. (Original recipe from Cookies and Cups here.) I am a sucker for cake mix cookies. They are the perfect texture for me, as I enjoy soft cookies, and I love all the different flavors you can create, as well as the pretty colors they produce. These pumpkin cookies could not be simpler: just mix 1 can of pumpkin puree with a box of spice cake mix and bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes.
This recipe was a great reminder that pumpkin itself is not necessarily the flavor we crave when the weather turns cool; it’s more the spices that generally go along with pumpkin. I took a taste of the pumpkin puree by itself, and it was pretty weird. It had some flavor but honestly brought to mind baby food. It wasn’t at all the warm and fuzzy flavor I associate with pumpkin baked goods. In this recipe, the spice cake substitutes for pumpkin pie spice (or a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves), as it has, in fact, every one of those ingredients (I checked). The pumpkin takes the place of eggs and oil. Pumpkin puree is a great addition to recipes because of its texture and moistness.
The dough was very, very thick:
In fact, the hardest part of this recipe was getting it onto the baking sheet in reasonably shaped lumps! The original instructions say to drop it in rounded teaspoonfuls. My usual trick is to spray the teaspoon with a little non-stick spray, but with this batter I found myself having to spray every 2 or 3 cookies! Needless to say, I had to taste-test the batter a few times during this arduous process…
The cookies bake on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
They didn’t spread out much during baking, so they had a very fluffy, almost muffin-like consistency. I tried pressing one batch down a bit, but they still didn’t flatten a lot.
All in all, I’d call these a success! They smelled great while baking, and, though simple, they definitely convey that fall comfort food aspect of pumpkin spice. I took them to work and got rave reviews, even though I was a little worried that the texture might turn people off. They sure felt weird once they cooled and I was transferring them to a plate! I’d recommend these if you want that cozy pumpkin flavor without expending much effort.
Do you have a favorite fall genre of foods? Are you pumpkin crazy like I am? Share your favorite recipe in the comments! | https://www.thesyntaxofthings.com/in-pursuit-of-pumpkin-two-ingredient-pumpkin-cookies |
What is the best way to make noodle dishes like lo mein in a wok? I am trying to get the best noodle texture and a taste close to the restaurants.
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Is there something specific your lo mein is missing when you compare it to restaurant lo mein? – Preston Feb 15 '15 at 3:58
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1Parboil to El Dante, wok when needed. – Optionparty Feb 15 '15 at 4:17
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@PrestonFitzgerald what spices and seasoning would be appropriate and when should they be added as well. – y.lub Feb 15 '15 at 5:03
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1Are you looking for a recipe? Please be more specific in what you are asking. – Cindy Feb 15 '15 at 12:04
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1But recipe repair and resturant mimicry are on topic. You just need to tell us what you've tried, and how it differed from what you were trying to achieve. – Joe Feb 16 '15 at 15:27
I am not really giving you a recipe, I am give you a technique.
There are two ways to make noodles, you either boil them and then use boiled noodles as an ingredient, or you put in just the right proportion of moisture to dry pasta so it finishes just right in a very similar manner to cooking rice.
If you want noodles that are full of the dish's flavor, then you want to do the second choice.
The noodles are most likely cooked in a chicken broth base or water, and spiced with some blend of powdered or fresh ginger, soy sauce (more when using water less when using broth), teriyaki or hoisin.
When cooking with angel hair (not the same as lo mein thickness and will behave differently), just about 6 cups of chicken broth will be absorbed fully by 1 lb of dry boxed angel hair pasta.
Just to make sure this is clear, the pasta would be the last ingredient added for this pasta base. Of course you can add other things to your broth first like your mushrooms, meat, shoots, onions/leeks, water chestnuts, whatever you like in your lo mien. Add the pasta, stir it and after it has absorbed most of the water but before it starts burning on the bottom start tossing it around the wok to give it that smoky stir fried taste and texture
Well if you like fresh spinach in your lo mien, you would actually add that last and stir it in until it's wilted just before serving.
Fresh pasta will NOT absorb anywhere near as much water so keep that in mind if you plan to make fresh pasta.
Have fun experimenting! | https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/54757/making-noodles-in-a-wok |
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Do you like to drink coffee but don't like the taste of milk? Or are you vegan or lactose intolerant and can't have regular milk in your coffee? There are a lot of different milk substitutes... | https://elpasony.com/category/food-substitutes/page/2/ |
You’ve probably heard about the differences between French bread and Cuban bread. But what are the similarities between them? This article will explore French bread, Cuban bread, and Brioche.
Ultimately, you’ll discover which one is better for your tastes and your dietary needs. And you’ll discover which one will be the perfect choice for your next sandwich.
And while this comparison is by no means comprehensive, it will give you some pointers on which bread you should buy.
Challah
There’s a long standing debate about which is better for French toast: Challah or French bread? While they both make delicious French toast, you might not know that Challah has Jewish roots. The following is a comparison of the two types of bread. Read on to learn more! Challah is a type of Jewish bread, while French bread is a traditional French bread. Here’s a look at which one is better.
The difference between French bread and challah bread is most noticeable in the color and texture of the former. Both breads are light in color and airy in texture. While French bread is typically a dense, hard dough, challah is a soft, white, round bread made from a flour mixture and eggs. Challah bread is a lighter, fluffy bread with a richer flavor. In fact, if you’re a challah fan, you’ll probably enjoy the differences between the two.
When it comes to taste, the difference between challah and brioche isn’t as drastic as it might seem. Challah is a traditional Jewish bread, and is reminiscent of French brioche. Both have a buttery flavor and texture, and both can be served for breakfast. They can also be served for brunch or as a snack with butter and jam. They are both great for toast, and both can be spread with butter or honey for a delicious breakfast.
Brioche
The key difference between brioche and French bread is the way they are made. French bread is rolled into a round shape while brioche is formed into a log or rectangle and baked in a loaf pan. It is best to knead the dough for at least 20 minutes to develop a light crumb. It is also recommended to proof the dough overnight, which gives it a deeper buttery taste. Once the dough has been proofed, it can be shaped into a brioche loaf or a loaf pan.
While both French bread and brioche are delicious, you’ll have to make them at home if you want to enjoy the full flavor of these delectable treats. Fortunately, there are many recipes for homemade brioche online. Just be sure to look for authentic recipes that don’t have excessive technical fuss. Many recipes call for simple ingredients and are easy to make. You’ll be glad you did after you’ve tasted a slice of brioche.
In France, brioche originated in 1404. Many say that it was adapted from a traditional Norman recipe. Others believe it came from Romania, which has similar holiday breads. However, the Viennese Bakery is the one that made it famous in France. Though brioche has been adapted over the years, it doesn’t necessarily taste like the original. Regardless of the origin of the bread, it is still an incredibly popular French bread.
Focaccia
If you’re wondering what makes one of these two types of bread so unique, you can compare their texture and flavors in this article. Cuban bread is a soft, spongy dough that looks flat and circular. It’s made from flour, water, yeast, and salt. French bread is a dense, chewy, and a bit heavier bread. Both types are good for sandwiches and are similar in flavor.
A day-old loaf of Cuban bread makes a great French toast substitute. You can slice the bread into 1-inch slices and drizzle it with maple syrup or powdered sugar. Then, you’re ready to serve your breakfast. To prepare the French toast, make an egg wash in a wide baking dish or large bowl. Then, place the slices in the oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh fruit.
While French bread is more widely available in the U.S., Cuban bread can only be found in certain parts of Cuba. Tampa and Miami both claim to have the most authentic Cuban bread. More, a former Spanish soldier, came to Tampa from Cuba in 1896. He joined a co-op, starting out with one location. Then, he took the opportunity to purchase a larger building when other bakeries closed. Today, La Segunda Bakery still uses More’s original recipe for bread and many of his bread-making techniques.
Pan Cubano
If you are looking for a bread substitute for a particular recipe, you may want to consider a Cubano. This dense, long loaf surprises with its distinct sweetness as you chew it. It is a great daily bread that complements a variety of meals. However, if you find that your favorite bakery does not make pan Cubano, you can always try another type of bread. Here are some substitutes:
To make Cuban bread, you will need a few pantry staples. The key ingredient is bread flour. Bread flour contains more protein, which makes the dough rise higher and develop a chewier texture. French bread does not contain as much protein. While both are popular, you should look for one that’s higher in protein. Listed below are the steps to make a Cuban bread. If you’re not sure which type of bread you prefer, you can check the ingredients for both types of breads and find out which one is better for you.
French bread is similar to Cuban bread, but it does not contain the lard that is present in Cuban bread. French bread is also lighter and has a more chewy texture, but it does not have the nutty, sweet flavor of Cuban bread. However, you can substitute a French bread for a Cuban one if you can’t find it. As a result, the French bread is a healthier alternative to the Cuban version.
Pan Sabao
Pan Sobao is a semi-sweet Puerto Rican bread that has a soft crust and pillowy interior. The name pan sobao, which means “kneaded bread,” comes from its key ingredient, lard. This bread is a quick and easy bread to make and is also known as pan de manteca. Its dough is made of lean ingredients that are sweetened and pre-fermented, which gives it a slightly sweet taste.
The difference between French bread and Pan Sabao is mainly the starter. The first type of bread is known as sourdough, which ferments longer than its counterpart. Hence, the difference between the two types of bread is that poolish takes less time to grow, while sourdough requires longer. The dough for both bread types contains the same ingredients, but a poolish starter is shorter.
In case of storage, you can freeze individual loaves of Pan Sobao. Just wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze for up to two months. But keep in mind that the dough won’t rise as much as freshly baked bread. It’s best to bake Pan Sobao before storing it, since it won’t rise as high. You can then thaw it and bake it as per the instructions on the packaging.
Characteristics of Cuban bread
If you’re looking for a delicious, classic loaf of bread, try Cuban bread. It may look basic, but this loaf has a rich, soft texture and a delicious flavor. Cuban bread is enriched with lard, a type of meat fat, and preferment. Its richer flavor makes it a superior substitute for a white loaf of bread. It also tastes better fresh, so make sure to bake a fresh loaf the day you plan to eat it.
One of the hallmarks of Cuban bread is the use of palmetto fronds, which create a green line along the entire loaf, and the use of yeast. Melted lard is often used to activate the yeast, which helps the bread rise more quickly. Some recipes substitute vegetable shortening for lard. Some versions also include a sponge, which helps the bread rise and develop a richer taste. In addition, the bread is split with a palm leaf.
One of the most popular places to purchase Cuban bread is in Tampa, Florida. La Segunda Bakery is the largest producer of Cuban bread in the United States, shipping their product throughout the state. The bakery was started by Juan More, who migrated to Tampa from Cuba in 1896. He quickly became a partner in a co-op of three Tampa-area bakeries, La Primera, and La Segunda. After the first two locations closed, More bought the larger La Segunda building. Today, La Segunda Bakery still uses the original recipe for its Cuban bread and many of the techniques he learned in his days of breadmaking. | https://academiedupain.com/french-bread-vs-cuban-bread/ |
Could anything be more boring than a mound of steamed rice studded with a few limp bean sprouts?
For many, this meager side dish is the epitome of bland and unappetizing eating.
But what if we told you that there are other options out there?
If you want something to spice up your next meal, why not try one of these five substitutes for bean sprouts?
So, the next time you’re in the mood for something a little different, try one of these five flavor-packed alternatives instead of reaching for the boring old bean sprouts.
What are Bean Sprouts?
Bean sprouts are one of the most popular salad ingredients, but what exactly are they? Bean sprouts are the germinated seeds of certain legumes, such as mung beans, lentils, or soybeans.
The legumes are first soaked in water to soften their hard outer shells to grow bean sprouts.
Once soaked, the legumes are placed in a warm, humid environment until they begin to sprout.
The resulting sprouts are harvested and then eaten raw, although they can also be cooked.
In addition to being a tasty and versatile ingredient, bean sprouts are also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
So next time you’re looking for a healthy way to add some crunch to your salad, don’t forget the bean sprouts.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Bean Sprouts
For many, bean sprouts are a key ingredient in their favorite dishes.
But what do you do when you can’t find them at the store? Luckily, there are several substitutes that can be used in place of bean sprouts.
1 – Soybean Sprouts
Have you ever had soybean sprouts? They’re a great addition to salads and stir-fries and packed with nutrients.
Soybean sprouts are easy to grow at home – all you need is a jar, some soybeans, and some water.
Just soak the beans in water for 12 hours, drain them and rinse them well.
Place the beans in the jar, cover them with a cloth, and set them aside in a dark place.
Every day, rinse the beans and replace the water.
After a few days, you’ll see small sprouts emerging from the beans.
Once the sprouts are about an inch long, they’re ready to eat.
Give them a try in your next meal – I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do.
2 – Snow Peas
Though their flashy cousins often overshadow them, the humble snow pea is a delicious and versatile vegetable that deserves a spot in every kitchen.
Snow peas are a type of pea harvested before the peas inside the pod have had a chance to mature.
As a result, they are crisp and crunchy, with a delicate flavor that is a perfect complement to sweet and savory dishes.
Snow peas can be enjoyed raw, steamed, sauteed, or stir-fried, making them an ideal addition to any meal.
Plus, they are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, fiber, and iron.
3 – Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are an essential part of a healthy diet, and there are various varieties to choose from.
Kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are all excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, and they can be easily incorporated into various dishes.
Lettuce is another popular option, and it comes in many different colors and textures.
Whether you’re looking for a crunchy salad or a hearty soup, leafy greens are a versatile and delicious option.
In addition to being nutritious, leafy greens are also low in calories and fat-free, making them an ideal choice for weight loss or maintenance.
If you’re looking for a bean sprout substitute that will add some extra nutrition to your diet, leafy greens are a great option.
They can be used in place of bean sprouts in any dish, providing a boost of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
4 – Enoki Mushrooms
Enoki mushrooms are a type of edible fungi that is native to East Asia.
They have a long, thin shaft and small, delicate caps.
Enoki mushrooms are often used in soups and stir-fries, and their crisp texture and mild flavor make them a popular addition to many dishes.
In recent years, enoki mushrooms have become increasingly popular in the West and are now grown commercially in many countries.
While they can be enjoyed cooked, enoki mushrooms are also often eaten raw, making them a versatile ingredient that can be used in various recipes.
Whether cooked or raw, enoki mushrooms are a delicious way to add flavor and nutrition to your meal.
5 – Mung Beans
Mung beans are a type of small green bean that is often used in Asian cuisine.
They have a slightly sweet flavor and a firm texture, making them ideal for stir-fries, soups, and salads.
Mung beans are also a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, making them a healthy addition to any diet.
In addition to their culinary use, mung beans have also been traditionally used in Chinese medicine.
Mung bean soup is said to help treat digestive disorders, and the beans themselves are believed to have detoxifying properties.
While more research is needed to confirm these claims, there is no doubt that mung beans are a versatile and nutrient-rich food that everyone can enjoy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are a few different ways that you can replace bean sprouts in your cooking.
Whether you’re looking for a similar crunch or just want to add some extra veggies to your dish, any of these five substitutes will do the trick.
Give them a try the next time you’re in the kitchen.
Do you have a favorite bean sprout substitute? Let us know in the comments below. | https://americasrestaurant.com/bean-sprouts-substitutes/ |
Za’atar vs. Dukkah: What Is The Difference?
Learn about the difference between za’atar and dukkah: two spice mixtures with some important similarities and differences.
It’s understandable that one might get za’atar and dukkah confused, especially if you’re not familiar with these Mediterranean pantry staples. However, there are some notable differences between the two ingredients.
Here's what you need to know about both za’atar and dukkah and what sets them apart.
What is Dukkah Made Of?
Dukkah is a mixture of various herbs, nuts and spices. It comes from Egypt and is used throughout the Middle East. Other common spellings include duqqa and du’ah.
Dukkah is a dried mixture that can be turned into a dip with olive oil for bread, or sprinkled over dishes to add a finishing pop of flavor and texture.
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different recipes for dukkah. The proportions and specific ingredients change from house to house, but there are a few common ingredients you’ll find throughout the Middle East.
These include herbs, nuts and spices like:
- Hazelnuts
- Almonds
- Sesame seeds
- Pistachios
- Fennel seeds
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Cayenne
- Green peppercorns
- Pine nuts
- Paprika
- Thyme
What is Za’atar Made Of?
Like dukkah, za’atar is also a dried spice blend. It can be used to sprinkle over cooked vegetable and meat dishes, or stirred into olive oil or yogurt for a savory dip.
The ingredient list for za’atar, however, is much shorter. Though yo’ll find other recipes for za'atar, at Zesty Z we stick to the most traditional ingredients that optimize flavor and texture:
- Mediterranean thyme
- Dried oregano
- Sesame seeds
- Sumac
- Salt
- Sunflower oil
How to Know: Is it Dukkah or Za’atar
If you end up with a jar or container of an unknown spice blend that looks crunchy and flavorful, you may wonder whether it’s dukkah or za’atar. There are a few ways to identify whether you’re working with one spice blend versus the other.
First, consider the color. Because of the strong herbal nature of za’atar, most blends have an earthy green color. Dukkah, on the other hand, can range in color from green to brown. Depending on the kinds of nuts and amount of spices like cumin and cayenne in the mixture, the color will vary widely.
In addition, give the spice blend a smell. If it’s bright and herby with the aroma of thyme or oregano, chances are it’s za’atar. If the blend is spicier or very nutty, you’re probably working with dukkah.
Finally, taste the blend. Dukkah tends to have a much chunkier texture with larger pieces of nuts and seeds. Za’atar will have some crunch from sesame seeds, with a deeply earthy flavor and a bit of zip from sumac.
At the end of the day, whether you’re working with za’atar or dukkah, you have a delicious and versatile Middle Eastern spice blend on hand that goes great on a variety of dishes, so enjoy!
Can I Substitute Za’atar with Dukkah?
In a pinch, za’atar and dukkah make good culinary substitutes for one another. While you can’t replicate the unique flavor of real za’atar, dukkah does a nice job of adding herbs, nuts and spices to your dishes.
How to Use Za’atar
Many of the recipes from our archives work well with both za’atar and dukkah. Of course, we’re partial to the way cooking with the dried herbs and seeds in za’atar brings flavors to life. To try it for yourself, give one of these popular recipes a try:
Try the best Mediterranean za’atar at home today! Find a Zesty Z retailer near you or order online and have it delivered to your door. | https://zestyz.com/blogs/news/za-atar-vs-dukkah |
Raw cheesecake is made entirely from uncooked whole foods, and contains no cream cheese. Cashews are often used in place of cream cheese, because they're rich and have a smooth and creamy texture when blended. Although it can be hard to get exactly the same results when substituting another ingredient for these nuts, several foods offer a reasonable replacement.
Nuts, Seeds and Other Substitutes
If you're substituting cashews because you don't have any to hand or you don't like them, you can use an equal amount of any other nut in their place. Those with a high fat content give the most similar, creamy results. Macadamias, almonds and pine nuts work particularly well. If you're looking for a substitute because you have a tree nut allergy, a number of nut-free alternatives can be used in your raw cheesecake. Seeds -- particularly sunflower seeds -- can replace cashews effectively. The flesh of young coconuts offers another alternative.
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What Can I Substitute for Poppy Seeds ... | https://oureverydaylife.com/good-substitute-cashews-raw-cheesecake-38971.html |
Garlic is one of the best ingredients to use in many savory recipes. You can use fresh garlic, ground garlic, garlic salt, or even garlic powder.
However, here is a common dilemma when it comes to choosing between garlic salt and garlic powder that we are going to clarify in this guide. Which one should you use and are they meant to be used interchangeably?
Garlic salt and garlic powder could be used interchangeably but it is highly important to understand that they are not the same.
So let’s see what are the similarities and what are the differences between these two ingredients so you can make the best out of them in your recipes!
Garlic Salt Vs Garlic Powder: Comparison Chart
|Aspects||Garlic salt||Garlic powder|
|Ingredients||1 part Garlic powder, 3 parts salt||Garlic|
|Texture||More tough texture depending on the type of salt mixed with the garlic powder||Fine texture|
|Taste||Salty garlic||Garlic|
|Recipes||Mostly meat-based dishes such as burgers, steak, stews, bread, sauces, salads||Vegetable dishes, salads, bread, sauces|
Can I Use Garlic Salt In Place Of Garlic Powder?
There are certain dishes that allow you to use garlic salt instead of garlic powder. And the main aspect you need to consider is the amount of salt in the garlic salt, that is not found in the garlic powder.
So, if you add garlic salt, you will have to eliminate any other salt you might want to add to your dish according to its original recipe.
Garlic salt doesn’t have such a defined garlic taste either, as garlic powder has. This will change the way your final dish tastes but it will still have a garlic flavor, even if a much milder one.
At the same time, if you want to replace garlic salt with some garlic powder, you will have to add extra regular salt to your recipe.
Garlic powder will have only a strong garlic taste but no salt flavor. However, this situation is easy to fix by simply adding any type of salt you have in your kitchen in order to make up for the lack of salty taste of the garlic powder.
Which Is Better Garlic Salt Or Garlic Powder?
Both garlic salt and garlic powder can be important ingredients in different dishes. They both add an intense flavor to your food.
However, keep in mind that garlic salt might not be the best alternative for those who are trying to watch their salt intake.
Salt is about 3 parts of garlic salt. So, you want to be aware of this fact before you splurge this ingredient in your food.
Garlic powder, on the other hand, comes salt-free. But this also means that your foods will taste slightly different as well.
If you are making a sauce that you want to taste like garlic but not have a hard texture, you can successfully use garlic powder. This powder will dissolve in most watery and solid foods. And all you will have left is the strong, garlic taste.
How Much Garlic Powder Equals A Teaspoon Of Garlic Salt?
The general rule says that garlic salt contains 3 parts of salt and 1 part of garlic. Following this rule leads us to affirm that one teaspoon of garlic salt will have a quarter of garlic powder in it and three-quarters of salt.
So, you will be following a 4 to 1 substitution ratio with these ingredients. However, keep in mind that your personal preferences are always important when you are cooking.
If you want to add more or less of one of these ingredients, by all means, do that as what matters is to end up with a dish that you will love!
Is Garlic Salt Same As Garlic Powder?
Garlic salt and garlic powder are far from being the same product. These ingredients only have one common point, and that is the garlic they contain. Even when it comes to the way the garlic is used for such ingredients, you will find differences.
The garlic powder is made of only garlic that is grounded into a fine texture. On the other hand, garlic salt can be made of garlic powder mixed with salt or ground garlic combined with salt, depending on the brand you find.
There is quite a variety of garlic salt on the market, coming from different brands and following different recipes. From the type of salt used to the texture of the garlic, the final product might taste slightly different.
These are all essential aspects that you need to take into account when you pick between garlic salt and garlic powder but also when you decide to add such seasonings to your food.
How To Make Garlic Salt From Garlic Powder?
If you have salt and garlic powder, the good news is that you can prepare your own garlic salt. All you have to do is mix one part of garlic powder with three parts of salt and make sure you obtain a homogeneous product that you can use in your dishes.
You can use any type of salt. However, keep in mind that the texture and even the color of your final product will depend on this choice.
We recommend using a type of salt that is close in texture to the garlic powder so the mixture will remain fine and easy to dissolve in your food. But ultimately, you can get creative when you mix these two ingredients.
As a twist from this basic original recipe, we recommend you add a pinch of your favorite herbs in this mix as well. You can also add rosemary, oregano, or any other herb you might like in order to obtain an even tastier seasoning.
Garlic Salt Vs Garlic Powder On Bread
Garlic bread is one of the tastiest types of bread. Bruschettas are usually enriched with a pinch of garlic powder or garlic salt to obtain a stronger flavor before the toppings are added.
Naturally, if you use garlic salt on your bread, it will have a milder garlic taste and a stronger salt taste. Equally, if you use garlic powder you can always sprinkle a little bit of salt on your slices of bread as well and you have more control over the salty taste of it.
If you are concerned about the salt intake, you might want to choose to add garlic powder to your bread. However, if that is not your concern, definitely opt for garlic salt as you will love the rich flavor it offers to your bread.
It is also going to help you make the best choice if you take into account the other toppings you add to your bread or the other types of food you are planning to enjoy with it.
If you are going to combine your bread with a salty type of ham, utilizing garlic powder will save you from ending up with a taste that is too salty.
Final Thoughts
Both garlic salt and garlic powder can take the taste of your dish to a different level. What you choose from these two ingredients is almost entirely up to your preferences.
They are not the same, but you can always use them interchangeably, even if you might have to adjust the ratio and the extra seasonings you add to your food.
We suggest making your garlic salt every time you want to use such a product because it is easy to make and you can control the quantities in your mix much better.
Make sure to try out both the garlic powder and garlic salt before you decide which one might go better in your food. If you are preparing a meat-based food, you definitely want to try garlic salt as it enhances the flavor of the meat even more. | https://substitutecooking.com/garlic-salt-vs-garlic-powder/ |
Yellow bean sauce, also known as Hugan Jiang or soy bean paste, is a common ingredient in any Chinese chef’s pantry.
Used in many recipes, yellow bean sauce is a type of puree that’s made from leftover soy beans which are used to make soy sauce.
Yellow bean sauce has a salty flavour and is an important component in many dishes. But what can you do if you run out? Here’s a look at some potential substitutes that you can use instead.
What’s in Yellow Bean Sauce?
The traditional way to make yellow bean sauce is by crushing fermented soybeans and combining them with soy sauce, sugar and wheat flour.
Extra ingredients may be added to make the yellow bean sauce particularly memorable such as garlic, chilli oil, ginger and pepper.
Yellow bean sauce is especially common in Chinese dishes from the north of the country in Peking dishes, but it can be found in many dishes.
Can You Use Black Bean Sauce Instead of Yellow Bean Sauce?
There is very little difference between black bean sauce and yellow bean sauce so if a recipe calls for one, it’s usually possible to switch it out for the other one. The only key difference between the two is the colour of the beans.
Rather confusingly, yellow bean sauce is sometimes called brown bean sauce, but it refers to the same ingredient.
Is Yellow Bean Sauce the Same as Miso?
Miso paste is another common Chinese ingredient that’s also made from fermented soybeans. This means it has a very similar paste profile and can sometimes be confused for yellow bean sauce.
As well as the fermented soybeans, miso contains salt, koji, barley, rice and sometimes other grains.
There really isn’t a lot of difference between yellow bean sauce and miso, except that the former can be a bit saltier.
If you take this into account in the recipe, and maybe add a dash of soy sauce, the end result will be more or less the same.
What Can You Use as a Replacement for Yellow Bean Sauce?
There are many different types of bean paste available in Chinese cooking, and although each one has its own specific flavour profile they are similar enough to be used as substitutes.
As long as you’re careful about checking for extras – such as garlic or ginger – it should be possible to use any of the other types of bean pastes.
If you don’t have a bean paste to hand, hoisin sauce can also be used as a substitute. It has the same texture and similar umami flavour so although hoisin sauce tastes slightly different, it can work well in place of yellow bean sauce.
Hoisin is slightly sweeter so reducing sweet ingredients in the recipe such as honey or sugar can help to balance this out and restore the intended flavour.
What Does Yellow Bean Sauce Taste Like?
There are no regulations which govern yellow bean sauce or paste, and the exact flavour profile depends heavily on the region where it was produced.
A little typically goes quite a long way, and the flavour profile includes a little bit of everything: a dash of sweetness, some saltiness, a background creaminess and some warming spice.
One important distinction is the difference between Chinese yellow bean paste and South Asian yellow bean paste.
Chinese yellow bean sauce has a far richer flavour, and is darker in colour. By contrast, the South Asian version of yellow bean sauce is paler and thinner.
In Thailand yellow bean sauce is known as tao jiew while in Malaysia, it’s called tauchero.
Chef’s Pick is your guide to the best kitchen equipment and appliances in the UK.
We help you understand the confusing world of cookers, ovens and cookware so you can get the most out of your kitchen. | https://chefspick.co.uk/substitute-for-yellow-bean-sauce/ |
When you think about sole fish, you may picture a dish that is airy, delicate, and ideal for a supper during the warm summer months.
In terms of flavor, the sole is a moderate fish with a flavor that may be described as somewhat sweet.
When it comes to texture, the sole is a hard fish that has a flaky appearance to its flesh.
One of the many wonderful qualities of sole is that it can be prepared in a wide variety of ways.
It is possible to prepare it in a number of different ways, which makes it an excellent option for any event.
Cooking methods for sole include baking, frying, and grilling.
In addition, it may be complemented with a wide selection of sauces and toppings.
However, what happens if you don’t have any sole on hand?
Check out the following alternatives to sole if you’re searching for something that won’t weigh you down but will nonetheless make you feel as if you’ve had a breath of fresh air.
Each of these alternatives is simple to prepare and would be an excellent choice for a supper throughout the summer.
Therefore, why not give one a go right now?
Contents
- 1 What is Sole (Fish)?
- 2 The 5 Best Substitutes for Sole (Fish)
- 3 Conclusion
- 4 FAQs
What is Sole (Fish)?
A form of flatfish called the sole lives in the coastal waters of countries all around the globe.
The term “sole” derives from the Latin word for “sun,” which is apt given that these fish may often be observed sunning themselves in the sunshine close to the surface of the water.
The majority of sole species live on the seabed, where they use their camouflage to blend in with the sandy environment.
Their bodies are compressed laterally, which means that they are far broader than they are tall.
Because of their flattened form, they are able to navigate effortlessly in confined locations and conceal themselves from potential enemies.
Although the majority of sole species are on the smaller side, there are a few that may reach lengths of over one meter.
These fish are highly sought after due to their refined taste and meaty consistency.
The skin of correctly prepared sole has a textural quality that, when juxtaposed with the flaky white meat of the fish, creates a mouthwatering flavor combination.
In addition, the skin is loaded with nutrients and aids in maintaining the moisture content of the fish while it is being cooked.
Pan-frying sole is one of the quickest and easiest ways to prepare this fish, and it also happens to be one of the most effective cooking techniques.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Sole (Fish)
There are a few alternatives that may be used in lieu of sole for those who do not like fish or who want a taste that is distinct from that of sole.
The following are the top five alternatives to sole that might be used:
1. Flounder
One of the types of flatfish that may be found in both saltwater and freshwater conditions is the flounder.
Both eyes are located on the same side of the head, which gives them an asymmetrical appearance overall.
Flounders are bottom-dwelling fish and are often seen lurking among seagrass or other detritus due to their habitat.
Because of their dark or grey coloring, they are less likely to be seen by potential predators.
The average length of an adult flounder is just approximately 12 inches, making it one of the most little species of fish.
If you’re going to order flounder at a restaurant or try to reel one in yourself, it’s important that you have some background information on this popular fish.
The taste of flounder is frequently described as being similar to that of other whitefish, such as cod or haddock, due to its subtlety.
The flesh of the flounder is solid and juicy, and there is a significant quantity of meat that may be consumed.
There are a number of preparation methods available for flounder, like as baking, frying, and grilling.
When using flounder in place of sole, it is essential to keep in mind that flounder is a fish that is considered to be somewhat more sensitive than sole.
As a direct consequence of this, you need to be cautious of cooking the flounder for an excessive amount of time.
2. Plaice
There is a species of flatfish known as the plaice that lives in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.
They have huge, black spots scattered throughout their brownish-red bodies, and the right side of their heads is where their eyes are positioned.
Plaice may reach a maximum length of three feet and a maximum weight of fifteen pounds.
Their delicate and white flesh makes them a desirable food fish. They are an important kind of food fish.
Plaice is often prepared by cooking it in its whole, and it may be baked, fried, or grilled.
Plaice, sole, and flounder all have a similar consistency when you bite into them.
Once you have learned how to recognize a spot, you will be able to locate them in the fish market in your area.
When purchasing plaice, you should seek for fish with clear eyes and meat that is not soft.
Avoid purchasing fish that has clouded eyes or mushy meat, since these are indicators that the fish is not as fresh as it may be.
Plaice tastes the finest when cooked within a day or two after being caught; thus, it is important to inquire with your fishmonger about the date the fish were caught.
In the event that you are successful in catching your target species, you will want to clean and gut the fish as quickly as you can.
Because of their delicate meat and the ease with which they can be filleted, plaice are an excellent option for beginning anglers.
3. Cod
The seas off the coast of Newfoundland are known to have large populations of cod, which is a popular kind of fish.
It has a subtle taste, and the texture might be described as firm and flaky.
Because cod is such a flexible fish that it can be prepared in a wide variety of different ways, it is a favorite option for home cooks as well as chefs who work in restaurants.
Cod is a popular fish across Europe, notably in Iceland and Norway, despite the fact that it is most frequently linked with the cuisine of North America.
Over the last several years, cod has become an increasingly prominent ingredient in recipes across Asia.
Cod is a wonderful and healthy alternative that can be prepared in a variety of ways, including baking, frying, and steaming.
When looking for a suitable substitute for soles, try to choose cod that is comparable in size and form.
It is important that the flesh of the cod be white and flaky.
You may use cod in place of sole in any recipe, regardless of whether the dish asks for baking, frying, or steaming the fish.
Because cod may develop a rubbery texture if it is overdone, it is recommended to steer clear of recipes that call for cooking the fish for an extended period of time.
4. Turbot
The North Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas are both home to the flatfish known as the turbot.
Because of its refined taste and meaty consistency, it is a highly sought after kind of fish.
Even though it may be filleted, turbot is often prepared by cooking it in its complete form.
The skin of the fish may be eaten, and a lot of people really like it when it’s nice and crispy.
When shopping for turbot, seek for fish with clear eyes and meat that is not mushy.
Steer clear of fish that have been out in the open air for an extended length of time since this might lead them to have a strong fishy stench.
Refrigerated storage is required for fresh turbot, and it should be eaten within two days after purchase.
To prepare turbot, first season the fish with salt and pepper, then place it in an oven that has been warmed and bake it until the flesh is opaque and flaky.
Because it shares the sole’s delicate taste and meaty texture, turbot is a worthy alternative to sole when you need a fish with such characteristics.
Since the skin of the turbot may also be eaten, the fish is much simpler to prepare and present.
You should be able to locate turbot in the seafood area of the majority of grocery stores.
5. Sand Dab
The seas along the west coast of North America are home to a species of little flatfish known as sand dabs.
Because of their mild taste and crisp consistency, they are often used in a variety of culinary applications.
Sand Dabs may be cooked in a variety of ways, but one of the most common is to pan-fry them. Other methods include baking and broiling.
The fish are first coated in flour or cornmeal, and then they are cooked in high oil until they have a beautiful brown crust on them.
Sand Dabs may also be cooked in the oven, on the grill, or even in a sauté pan.
They need to be soft and flaky after they have been cooked correctly.
It is common practice to accompany Sand Dabs with lemon wedges and tartar sauce when they are served, but you may simply eat them on their own.
The taste of the sanddab is more subtle when compared to that of the sole.
If you want something that has a similar texture to sole but doesn’t have the overpowering flavor of sole, this is a wonderful alternative to try.
Sanddab is often offered at a lower price point than sole.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there are a number of other things that may be utilized in place of soles when you’re in a situation.
There is sure to be an alternative that meets your requirements, regardless of whether you are seeking for a fish with a comparable taste or texture.
And the greatest part is, many of these alternatives are just as nutritious as sole, which means you can eat them without feeling guilty about what you’re putting in your body.
Don’t be scared to try some of these delectable alternatives the next time you’re at the grocery store; there are many of choices available.
Your tongue and taste senses will be grateful to you.
FAQs
What is a good substitute for sole fish?
Fish with a low amount of fat often have a moderate taste and have white or light-colored flesh. As an example, sole may often stand in for flounder in recipes. Both are low in fat, have a smooth texture, and have a taste that is not overpowering.
What fish is similar to lemon sole?
Lemon Sole
Plaice, Dover Sole, and Witch are other alternatives.
What is a good fish substitute?
Because of their similar mouthfeel to fish, popular alternatives to fish include tofu, banana blossom, and jackfruit. In addition, mushrooms, soy sauce, and seaweed may contribute to the overall authenticity of the flavor. Someone who follows a vegan or plant-based diet may still be able to get enough of some elements, such as protein and minerals, by consuming plant-based alternatives to fish.
Is tilapia similar to sole?
Overall, the taste of sole is described as being moderate and somewhat sweet, and it is reminiscent of a hybrid between tilapia and cod in certain ways. Although it has a flavor that is light and delicate, the texture is more robust than that of tilapia or cod.
What is the healthiest fish to eat? | https://westjeffoxroast.com/the-5-best-substitutes-for-sole-fish/ |
Earthquake Safety of the Tibetan Community
An effort to develop seismic strengthening and protect contents for a key building, raise awareness, and prepare schools in the city that is home to the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Geshe Lhakdor, Administrator of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, with the GHI assessment team.
THE PROBLEM
The Tibetan community in Dharamsala, India is exposed to high earthquake risk. Dharamsala is located in the Himalayan foothills, close to the active earthquake fault where the devastating M7.8 Kangra earthquake occurred in 1905. Most of the structures in McLeod Ganj, the area that is now the center of the region’s large Tibetan community, were destroyed in the 1905 earthquake. The entire area is at significant risk of future earthquake damage.
GHI'S RESPONSE
Following a fact-finding mission in May 2006, the Flora Family Foundation gave GHI a grant to perform an initial seismic assessment of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) campus and other structures of importance in the Upper Dharamsala area. The assessment was performed by a team of GHI engineers and additional specialists in September, 2006. The assessment team found numerous earthquake vulnerabilities that endanger the Tibetan community’s efforts to preserve their cultural heritage. Scholars and artisans live in seismically vulnerable brick and concrete buildings. Tibetan children attend school in potentially vulnerable buildings. A number of cultural and historical treasures are currently at risk in the LTWA main library building and the Tsuglag Khang complex.
GHI reported these findings and received generous additional support from the Flora Family Foundation to begin addressing the earthquake risks at the LTWA. GHI worked with the library leadership to develop appropriate engineering measures to protect the main library building, its occupants, and its collections; and developed a plan to integrate seismic safety improvements with the library’s future facilities needs. GHI also worked with members of the library community to increase awareness of earthquake risks and how to reduce those risks. This community includes monks, library staff, and the families of library staff.
A manuscript written during the thirteenth century (left), and unsecured manuscript storage racks and climate
control equipment (right)
LONG-TERM OUTCOME
The project provided a model for strengthening other vulnerable structures in the community and for broader efforts to improve the earthquake safety of the Tibetan people in India. GHI’s employees continue to work with the School Disaster Management Committee in Dharamshala to carry out earthquake safety drills, as part of a comprehensive earthquake risk reduction program.
The project’s assessment team transferred knowledge regarding earthquake-resistant building construction, reviewing and advising on proposed construction plans to expand the existing LWTA complex.
DOCUMENTATION: | https://www.geohaz.org/all-projects/earthquake-safety-of-the-tibetan-community |
Over time, building regulations evolved as a mechanism to ensure that buildings were suitably designed and constructed to minimize the risk to occupants from natural, technological and health hazards, while minimising their risk of collapse due to poor design or construction. In developed countries, building regulations have been highly successful in this regard.
In general, building regulations manage risk by describing performance expectations under a wide range of conditions, including structural performance under load, fire safety, adequacy of indoor environment and sanitary conditions. Some countries, such as the USA, try to stipulate most of the requirements that buildings are expected to achieve through detailed prescriptive measures. While this can work for a wide range of ‘typical’ building configurations and uses, it results in regulations that are several hundreds of pages in length, and for which variances or exceptions are sought for nearly all large, complex and/or unique buildings. It is often unclear what levels of safety are actually being achieved: the system is only tested when failure occurs.
In other countries, a more performance-based approach has been taken whereby the functional objectives are legislated but not the specifics of how they should be met. This approach has been considered successful in facilitating innovation but the length of time and uncertainty evident in the approval process, and the potential for differing levels of performance have led in some counties to attempts to better quantify and legislate for levels of risk or safety acceptable to society.
Since the term ‘risk acceptability’ can vary according to the perspective of stakeholders, research over the past few decades has provided policymakers some insight into the problem by combining analytical data with risk management solutions and mitigation measures agreed upon by the various stakeholders. This process can include a review of how regulations and other risk management mechanisms have been used to reduce risk to date or by estimating the risk exposure that remains after the mandating of certain suggested mitigation measures.
Given the way that most building regulations are currently developed and implemented, however, there is not a clear sense of whether risks are being managed appropriately across the range of hazards or if there exists a wide disparity between exposure, mitigation measures and associated costs. There are many reasons for this. First, for all of their risk reduction benefit, buildings (and building regulation) cannot protect all occupants from all risks. It is impossible to control for all potential hazards and allow buildings to still be used in a manner suitable to the occupants. For example, we want our buildings heated, we want them to be energy efficient, and we want to be able to cook food. However, heating and cooking appliances create potential ignition hazards, and thermal insulation installed for energy efficiency can be combustible. Also, we use stairs to move between floors, but they pose tripping hazards. We rely on the building structural system to protect against most natural hazard events, but it is difficult to cost-effectively design all buildings to withstand the largest cyclones, earthquakes or floods.
We understand there is a balance between how much money we choose to invest to reduce risk, the potential consequences and how likely those consequences are. We understand there are limits to technological solutions. We accept that unwanted events can still occur despite regulatory solutions, because we cannot control the hazard or who is exposed. Market-based measures, such as insurance, further manage the risk, in some cases providing lower premiums if sprinklers are installed, for example.
A real shortcoming is that we do not know if the level of risk managed via building regulation, and the supporting regulatory infrastructure, is appropriate. This is because the components of building regulation are not integrated in a holistic manner, and there is no common set of risk or safety levels underpinning the building performance requirements. Using the USA by way of example, in 2013 there were 30,208 deaths due to unintentional falls, and 2,818 deaths due to unintentional fire/flames/burns. A large majority of these deaths occurred in the home. However, if one looks at where money is spent, a significant amount is spent on fire protection in commercial and public buildings, and little on fire protection or protection from falls in the home. We also spend a considerable amount on seismic protection, including seismic retrofit of buildings, again in the commercial and public building sector, while damage to homes from tornados and other high-wind events attract much less attention.
While there may always be some disparity between the risks people face in buildings, and in how building regulations are developed and implemented to mitigate risk, it would be helpful to have a single risk metric against which to benchmark the broadly tolerable level of risk and the amount of resource society is willing to commit to manage that risk. As a starting point, it is suggested that the benchmark be the annualized fatality rates from all sources with a given society. The level of risk to be managed via building regulation can be selected as a percentage of this rate.
This approach is suggested for several reasons. First, it can be very difficult to select a specific target risk-to-life value for regulation. This is done in some regulated areas, such as the siting of hazardous facilities, but it has proven more difficult generally for buildings, as politicians and certain stakeholders, such as the fire services, find it hard to publicly state that they accept any risk of death, even though that risk manifestly exists. Second, there is a lack of key data for some hazards, such as the probability or frequency of fire ignitions in buildings, or the probability of seismic shaking intensity at a specific location. By starting with the fact that all people die; that statistics provide insight as to who is most at risk, and setting a target for the contribution to additional fatality risk from the built environment, some of the political difficulties may be avoided, as well as some of the technical challenges.
To first order, it is suggested that the contribution of risk imposed by those features of new construction, which fall under the bounds of building regulation, shall contribute no more than 1% of the age-specific risk of death that people face and no more than 1% of the risk society faces as reflected in frequency-number (F-N) curves associated with past or potential large-area impact events. For existing buildings, the target would be that risks associated with buildings contribute no more than 10% of the background risk.
So, where did these values come from? The 1% and 10% of background risk targets were inspired by a Dutch approach to tolerable risk targets for populations around the proposed site of a new hazardous facility. In 1988, a law was passed in which the tolerability limit for individual risk due to process industry hazards was set at 10-6 per year. The Netherlands Ministry for Housing, Land Use Planning and Environment took the approach that since life expectancy in the Netherlands is highest for 14-year-old children, at a minimum death rate of 10-4 per year, exposure to a hazardous activity should be limited to only 1% of the already existing probability to die that year (10-6) (Pasman and Vrijling, 2003). It was further determined that the risk to those around an existing facility should be limited to 10% of the already existing probability to die that year (10-5).
These targets seem reasonable. In the USA there were about 2,600,000 recorded deaths in 2013. Most are associated with health-related issues or natural causes, with accidental deaths about 30,000 from falls and 3,000 from fires. This is about 1.25% of the deaths. Since not all deaths due to falls or fires occur in or are associated with buildings, the actual number could be closer to 1%. More detailed analysis is needed, and consideration should be given to illnesses that could be related to buildings (e.g., from mould, lack of heating or cooling, structural failure due to earthquake or wind, or cuts resulting from impacts with glazing systems, etc.), but the order of magnitude appears about right.
Unlike the Dutch approach, however, it is suggested here that the 1% and 10% targets be considered relative to the age of the population, since age is a key indicator of vulnerability. Again, it is well understood that there are a variety of factors which define vulnerable populations, but to a first approximation age seems a reasonable starting point. It also helps that there are clear regions where age and fatality rates are closely linked.
Consider the following curve from the Australian Bureau of Statistics accessed on 18 February 2016, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/8D107FC8CC704456CA257943000CEDA6?opendocument, Figure 2.6.
This figure compares the age-specific female mortality rates in Australia for 1990 and 2010. It is noted that “following relatively high rates of death in infancy, death rates decline sharply through childhood. In 2010, people aged 5-9 years and 10-14 years had the lowest age-specific death rates (ASDRs) in Australia. ASDRs begin to increase from around 15 years of age and, for nearly all age groups, ASDRs are higher for males than for females. Age-specific death rates for males increase gradually until around age 40-44 years, where they begin to increase more quickly throughout the older age groups. Age-specific death rates for females aged 15 to 34 years are relatively low and constant. Steady increases in female ASDRs are evident beyond 30 years of age and continue throughout the older age groups. Over the past 20 years, death rates have declined overall for both males and females for all ages. The largest proportional decreases have occurred in the younger age groups.” (ABS 2016).
These data illustrate that the risk of mortality varies by age. If we assume, for example, that the benchmark is a 45-year old female, the risk of death is about 1/1000, or 10-3 per annum. However, for a 10 year old, the risk is about 0.1/1000 individuals, or 10-4: an order of magnitude lower. By contrast, for an 80-year old, the risk of death is about 100/1000, or 10-1: two orders of magnitude higher than the benchmark. Overall, two of every three deaths in Australia in 2013 occurred among people aged 75 and over. These values can be considered the background individual mortality risk. It is worth noting that the shape of these curves is not unique to Australia: similar trends are generally seen in all developed countries, and follow observations first made in the 1800s (Gompertz, 1825).
Why is this important? While there are many ways to look at setting a tolerable risk criterion, including picking an average value across the population, it is not clear that such approaches provide sufficient granularity to serve as a useful benchmark. By contrast, in taking the approach of regulating for a target additional contribution of 1% above the background age-related risk, the outcome is more equitable – 1% for everyone – and the vulnerability of key population groups – in this case the very young and the very old – are taken into account.
For example, if a tolerable risk criterion of say 10-5 per year for risk of death due to fire in a building was set across an entire population, and the suitability of safety measures was judged on their ability to achieve that level for the entirety of the population, that would mean the risk of death from fire in a building for an 80-year old person would have to be reduced to a level that is four orders of magnitude below the risk of death by all other means. The cost to reduce the risk of death for this population group, solely through building provisions in a building code, would be significantly high, and far from optimized from a net-social benefit perspective.
It is simply not practical to reduce the risk of death to this population group so much just through building-related measures. This is why in practice we rely on human intervention as well, such as caregivers. The same can be said for infants and other at-risk groups. Building regulations, and the safety measures in buildings which result, are not currently aimed at protecting to a high level infants or the elderly; rather, it is expected that care givers will be helping these populations, and the risk mitigation levels targeted at them.
By taking an approach where the target risk contribution from a building is no more than 1% of the background risk of the target population, a better outcome is attained. For persons older than 80, the risk contributed by the building would not be expected to be more than 10-3, whereas for those in the 15-45 age bracket, the building-related risk would about 10-5, for infants 10-4 and for young children 10-6. While some might say 10-3 for elderly is too high, it should be understood that the ability of the person to respond to alarms, to odours or to another person or to move to withstand the hazard, is already much lower than for say a 30-year-old. Thus the options become more limited and more costly. A society can choose to require measures to lower the risk, taking into account individual characteristics such as a desire to facilitate people living in their own homes longer, but such decisions should be made in balance with available resources and risk reduction measures in other areas.
Likewise, concern might be noted relative to infants. However, for infants, the primary means of risk mitigation is the caregiver. Infants cannot protect themselves from many risks; they cannot move themselves and they cannot articulate their needs. There are few features, materials or systems that can be integrated into a building that, without additional intervention of a caregiver, would significantly mitigate risk.
Currently, risk or hazard mitigation is based on protecting the caregiver, who if ‘safe’ can mitigate the risk to the infant, the elderly or the disabled. Moving to a risk target approach, this means that buildings in which the very young and the very old might constitute a significant percentage of the population should be designed to protect caregivers with a target of no more than 1% of the background risk. If society decides to place more people at higher risk, such as facilitating aging in place, they must either be prepared to require extra protection to lower the risk, or be prepared for the likely losses.
In a recent study of fire mortality rates in Sweden (Jonsson et al, 2015), it was found that mortality rates amongst young children has dropped significantly in recent decades. As it happens, this corresponds to the increased use of daycare for children outside of the home. In the 1960s, it is reported that only about 3% of children in the 0-5 age group were in daycare, the rest taken care of at home, but by 2014 some 84% of children in the age group spent time in some type of organised daycare outside of the home. One can review similar situations with mortality rates amongst the aged when considering those living in protected aged-care facilities (e.g., sprinkler protected) as compared with those living at home.
In considering societal risk, the situation is similar. If one were to establish a single F-N criterion line, and apply it uniformly, that would mean that some areas could be significantly over-protected, and some significantly under-protected. Consider cyclone related risk: if all buildings were to be designed such that the risk to life is benchmarked against a location where there is a high likelihood of severe cyclones, then all buildings in non-cyclone areas would have to meet the same standard. This would mean significant cost for little benefit. It is not how it is done today, and should not be adopted going forward. Rather, by looking at location-specific risks (to individual and society), and establishing targets for those areas wherein no more than 1% of the background risk is contributed by new construction and no more than 10% of the background risk is contributed by existing buildings, a more equitable and cost-effective outcome will be realised.
This approach also reflects the difference in risk-cost-benefit relationship between new and existing construction. It is generally more cost-effective to implement risk mitigation measures when designing and constructing a new building as compared to retrofitting an existing building.
The approach of benchmarking societal risk at 1% (or 10%) above background F-N criteria holds for risks to large populations in a single building, such as from fire, chemical release or explosion, as well as to large numbers of people distributed over a large area, such as for natural hazards. While the F-N curve is often thought of as an approach for an ‘external event’ such as earthquake or hazardous material release, is it also applicable for fire in a building in which large numbers of people are present. This is why, historically, there have been more safety measures required for places of assembly, or for tall buildings. In these cases, the risk associated with the building features should contribute no more than 1% (or 10%) of the societal risk (in terms of historical F-N representations). In this case, there is no age-related component: however, the risk will change as the occupancy changes, e.g., stadium, day care centre, high-rise building, hospital or nursing home. For buildings with more lives at risk, the cost-optimal line typically allows for more installed safety measures than when the risk is lower.
If such an approach is adopted, one can then look at the various components of risk to life as related to the built environment and make more informed decisions on risk mitigation and expenditures. As already noted, there are several areas of concern, including risks from fire, structural failure, poor indoor air quality, unhealthy temperatures and sanitation systems. If the total allowable contribution to all areas is 1% of background risk, one can then look at the contribution from each hazard towards the 1% limit and make associated regulatory and risk mitigation decisions. For example, it may well be that more focus on uniformity of stair rise and run dimensions will result in greater risk reduction at a lower cost than the installation of a particular type of fire protection measure, or that the installation of simple tie-downs for residential roof systems to prevent damage in high winds will result in more risk reduction at a lower cost than the seismic bracing in low rise office buildings. This does not mean any particular risk is more or less important than another, but is suggested to provide a common means for comparing and for mitigating those risks of most importance to society to acceptable or tolerable levels.
This article has proposed a new way of thinking about risk and performance in buildings. While much more work is needed to refine the concepts, such an approach is needed to better rationalize the performance criteria established for buildings and, by basing the performance on overall risk as contributed by the building, better performing buildings will result.
Gompertz, B. (1825). “On the Nature of the Function Expressive of the Law of Human Mortality and on a New Mode of Determining Life Contingencies.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 115:513-85.
Jonsson, A., Nilson, F., Runefors, M. and Sardqvist, S. (2015). “Fire-Related Mortality in Sweden: Temporal Trends 1952 to 2013,” Fire Technology, published on line 16 December 2015.
Otway, H. (1985). “Regulation and Risk Analysis,” in Regulating Industrial Risks, Otway, H. and Peltu, M., Eds., ISBN 0-408-00740-0, ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg, pp. 1-20.
Pasman, H.J. and Vrijling, J.K. (2003). “Social Risk Assessment of Large Technical Systems,” Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp.305-316.
Brian is currently working with the Australian Building Code Board helping it explore some of these ideas.
This swimming pool at Narrabeen was supposedly built to withstand a 1 in 100 year storm. Some would say it did, as it migrated down the beach intact!
Picture credits are Australian Associated Press (AAP).
Previous Entry The Mw 7.8 November 14, 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, Briefing 4. | https://riskfrontiers.com/newsletter-volume-16-issue-2-december-2016/ |
Dimapur, Aug. 23 (EMN): People living in earthquake-prone zones like the Himalayan belt, including Nagaland could use thermocol to build their houses in the future in order to face seismic activities better.
As per researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, thermocol could be the material of the future for construction of earthquake-resistant multi-story buildings, with thermal insulation, and could also save energy required to develop construction materials.
Researchers at the premier institute have found that use of thermocol or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) as a composite material in core of reinforced concrete sandwich, could resist earthquake forces on up to four-storey buildings, said an update from the Union Ministry of Science and Technology on Monday.
“The researchers tested a full-scale building and a number of wall elements constructed with thermocol sandwiched between two layers of concrete at the National Seismic Test Facility (NSTF) of the Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee,” read the update.
It informed that research scholar Adil Ahmad, who conducted the tests, ‘evaluated the behaviour of the constructions under lateral forces, as earthquake causes a force predominantly in lateral direction and was supplemented with detailed computer simulation of a realistic four-storey building’.
“Prof. Yogendra Singh, supervising the research, informed that the analysis shows that a four-storey building constructed with this technique is capable of resisting earthquake forces, even in the most seismic zone (V) of the country, without any additional structural support,” it stated.
Seismic Zone V is seismically the most active region or most prone to severe earthquakes. In India, the entire Northeast region, parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, parts of North Bihar, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands fall in the zone.
The researchers ‘attributed the earthquake resistance capability to the fact that the EPS layer is sandwiched between two layers of concrete having reinforcement in the form of welded wire mesh. They said that the force being applied on a building during an earthquake arises due to the inertia effect and hence depends on the mass of the building’.
“Thermocol resists earthquakes by reducing the mass of the building,” said the update.
“In this technique, the EPS core and the wire mesh reinforcement is produced in a factory. The building skeleton is first erected from the factory-made core and reinforcement panels, and then concrete is sprayed on the skeleton core. This technique does not require any shuttering and hence can be constructed very fast,” it added.
The research went on to say that the use of expanded polystyrene core in concrete walls of a building can result in thermal comfort, as it provides the necessary insulation against the heat transfer between building interior and exterior environment.
It said this could help keep building interiors cool in hot environments and warm during cold conditions.
“India suffers a large variation of temperature in different parts of the country and during different seasons of the year. Therefore, thermal comfort is a crucial consideration along with structural safety,” it said.
“The technology also has the potential of saving construction material and energy, with an overall reduction in carbon footprint of buildings. It replaces a large portion of concrete volume from the walls and floor/roof. This replacement of concrete with the extremely lightweight EPS not only reduces mass, thereby decreasing the earthquake force acting on a building but also diminishes the burden on the natural resources and energy required to produce the cement concrete,” it continued.
It may be mentioned that IIT Roorkee had earlier this month launched an Earthquake Early Warning Mobile App, which is compatible for both Android and iOS operating systems, to notify users about earthquake alerts. | https://easternmirrornagaland.com/thermocol-could-be-used-to-build-earthquake-resistant-homes/ |
In many parts of the country, earthquake safety is a must when it comes to protecting a building and its occupants. Earthquakes like the 1994 Northridge quake in Los Angeles and the 1989 Bay Area quake claimed lives and destroyed buildings, leading to stricter regulations.
California has been a national leader in codes that protect building occupants from seismic events, but there is a great deal of work remaining to be done. Pedram Zohrevand, an engineering consultant, explains the ways in which builders and property owners can increase their structures’ earthquake safety.
How Seismic Events Damage Buildings
The damage created by seismic events can be minor or severe, depending on the intensity of a quake. Ground shaking is the culprit of most earthquake damages. The severity of the damage depends on the earthquake’s strength, the building’s proximity to the fault, the soil type, and the local geology.
One of the major effects of earthquakes on structures is the inertia force. This means that the base of a building moves with the quake but the roof is at rest. Since the walls are attached to the roof, the roof is dragged along with the rest of the building.
Inertial forces cause shearing between the floor and wall/framing system which can result in the damage of weaker walls, joints, and connections. When a building has greater mass, inertia damage is more severe. Lighter buildings have a greater chance of surviving an earthquake.
Before the ’80s, building structures used to be constructed to mostly support vertical loads and seismic lateral loads caused by earthquakes were not accurately considered in building designs. Over the last 40 years, building codes have been upgraded to incorporate the realistic effect of possible earthquakes in the design of different building structures Therefore, most of the buildings which were designed and constructed as per old building codes have to be retrofitted based on new codes in order to maintain their structural integrity during and after potential upcoming ground shakes.
Other sources of damage from seismic events include the dangerous side effects of an earthquake. These include liquefaction, landslides, and tsunamis. These factors are harder to protect against, but buildings can be placed in locations where landslides and tsunamis are much less likely to occur.
Ways to Protect Buildings and People
Engineers are constantly refining earthquake-safe building standards. One of the most important aspects of an earthquake-safe building design is the foundation. A stable foundation means that the building is less prone to damage.
For each site, professionals need to determine the soil type and look into the ways in which a quake could damage the building. A building foundation should be designed according to these identified seismic effects and forces (specific to each site and building type) in order to withstand these violent quakes
Another area in which builders develop earthquake safety is the lateral load resisting system and continuous load path. The building must have a robust seismic force-resisting system, such as shear walls, moment frames, and braced frames, as well as a proper connection system between floors, seismic force-resisting system, and foundation. This helps the entire building share the force rather than having the force concentrate in one area. If the structure is not tied together properly, the components will move independently of each other and collapse.
Improvements in Building Codes
Building codes have significantly improved over the past 40 years. In earthquake-prone areas, builders are required to construct structures based on current seismic codes.
Unfortunately, these codes cannot protect people who live or work in older existing structures. Engineers encourage all building owners to look into how they can make their structures safer in an earthquake through seismic retrofitting.
California has instituted earthquake retrofitting tax breaks. This legislation provides a five-year 30 percent tax credit for costs that are associated with a seismic retrofitting. This credit is meant for at-risk properties.
Improving Building Construction
These principles can help builders and renovators make their structures safer when seismic events occur. All building owners should consult a qualified structural and soil engineer to make sure that their properties are up-to-date on earthquake safety.
Pedram Zohrevand underscores the importance of building up to code and encourages all local municipalities to step up their enforcement of these regulations. | https://thestartupmag.com/pedram-zohrevand-discusses-protect-building-seismic-events/ |
Learning Objectives:
- List key natural and man-made disasters that affect the built environment.
- Define resilient design and how it benefits cities, communities, and the economy.
- Discuss how designing for resiliency can impact building design and improve occupant health, safety, and well-being.
- Describe the benefits of specifying products designed for resiliency.
- Explain how buildings can achieve a U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC) rating.
This course is part of the Resiliency Academy
Explosion Relief Vents
Explosion relief vents are safety devices built into industrial buildings where excessive internal, explosion-incurred pressure is a risk; the vents work as a pressure relief. Explosion relief vents can help a building release pressure and survive a natural or man-made disaster involving explosions and excess internal pressure. Industries where combustible dust, gas, or chemicals are manufactured or used in manufacturing other products are at particular risk for explosions, which can be deadly to industry workers and impact the surrounding communities.
A key requirement of explosion relief vents is that they must be extremely strong to ensure that they remain intact and do not present a risk of pieces breaking off and becoming projectiles. Consequently, it is very important for explosion relief vents to be designed to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines and to meet all relevant International Fire Code (IFC) building codes. Some vent designs can be tested and are easily reset after an explosion event.
Explosion relief vents are critical not only for protecting a structure during an explosion but also for keeping the building occupants and local communities safe from the potential impacts of an explosion.
Photo: Dustin Halleck Photography
The Chicago O’Hare Consolidated Rental Care Facility features explosion-relief vents designed to protect life and property in the event of smoke, fire, or an explosive blast.
Interior Wall Protection
In many cases, when we talk about resiliency, we think about how the external elements of a building are protected from weather extremes and other natural disasters. But resiliency also applies to the everyday use of interior spaces, such as high-traffic buildings like schools, hospitals, hotels, airports, and offices. In such spaces, the interior walls can be easily damaged by everything from machinery and heavy equipment to building occupants and pedestrians. Interior wall protection features, such as rigid sheet panels, corner guards, wall-protecting crash rails, door and frame protection, or even ergonomic handrails, can improve a building’s resiliency on a day-to-day basis and help minimize repair and maintenance costs while adding a customized aesthetic pop to a space. Certain features, such as rigid sheet coated doors, enhance fire resistance and are designed to meet the strictest fire codes, thus enhancing occupant safety in the event of a fire.
Photo: CPI Productions
Health-care facilities that utilize wall-protection products can withstand heavy use and abuse without showing wear and tear.
Photo: G. Lyons Photography
Interior wall-protection products are durable, impact resistant, and easy to clean to keep facilities looking good with minimal maintenance.
Photo: Joe Aker
Sugar Land Rehab Hospital in Sugar Land, Texas, incorporated interior wall protection into its design to enhance the beauty and durability of patient rooms. The wall protection is durable enough to hold up to the frequent cleaning requirements of the hospital’s environmental services staff.
Entrance Mats and Grids
Entrance mats and grids, while an often-overlooked feature of a building, are key in keeping building occupants safe while reducing the required maintenance of a building. They are designed to trap dirt, sand, and water so that the floor beyond the entrance remains safe, clean, and presentable. Entrance mat systems address the specific needs of high-traffic areas where building occupants are likely to bring in dirt and debris from the outdoors. Such mats are designed to scrape off dirt and trap it within the mat for future cleaning. Entrance grids can also be installed in high-traffic areas in or near building entrances to perform a similar dirt-catching function as mats, but they tend to trap and store more dirt than a mat. A stainless-steel grid is another option that requires almost no maintenance once it is installed and can be highly effective in protecting flooring from tracked-in dirt and moisture—thus protecting building occupants from potential slipping. The frequency of cleanings will depend on the amount of traffic a building sees on a daily basis and weather conditions that occur. Entrance mats and grids must be durable for cases when heavy machinery like scissor lifts, dollies, or vending machines need to enter or exit the building.
Entrance mats and grids aid in building resiliency by keeping the buildings clean and safe for occupants and also helping keep hallway floor surfaces free of water, thus preventing slip hazards.
Photo: Lester Ali
Entrance flooring solutions stop debris at a building’s entrance, as shown here at 3 World Trade Center in New York City. The right solution will trap dirt, snow, slush, and ice to reduce maintenance costs and protect the safety and security of occupants.
Designing for Resiliency
When we take a minute to step back and look at the risks associated with not designing for resiliency—such as the loss of life, extensive damage to property, and long-term economic toll on communities and businesses—it makes sense to incorporate some resilient design strategies whenever possible. Everything from being aware of the potential risks for the local environment to the specific topographical location can help. For example, is a project in a region known to flood? Or even if a flood hasn’t happened recently, are there rivers nearby that may present a risk? Are fires a hazard? Earthquakes? By taking the time to plan, design, model, and build for the possibility of extreme weather events and their impacts, architects and engineers can work together to create beautiful, resilient buildings that have a better chance of withstanding 100-year storms that occur year after year. In doing so, these buildings can help communities and businesses get back to work more quickly and with less financial strain. The first step in this process, however, is choosing architectural products designed for resiliency and incorporating them into the design early in the process.
Testing, Standards, and Ratings: The U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC)
Rating Systems
The U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC) has established a building rating system that assigns buildings one to five stars based on the dimensions of safety, monetary damage, and recovery time to regain basic functionality after an event.
Within the rating, safety focuses on the potential for occupants to safely escape the building unharmed. The damage rating concerns the estimated building repair costs after an event as a percentage of the building’s replacement costs. The recovery rating is expressed as how long it will take a building to regain basic function. This is an estimate of the minimum time required to repair and remove safety hazards from the building. In regard to earthquake hazards, the ratings are based on how intense the ground shaking is in terms of local building code requirements for a new building. At this point, there are no ratings for other hazards such as wind, wildfire, and flood; however, the USRC is in the process of developing them.
From highest to lowest, the rating categories are Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Certified, and they are detailed below according to USRC.10
The USRC Platinum rating represents the highest level of building performance and is intended to exceed modern code standards in terms of safety by protecting occupants against major injury and egress restrictions. Platinum-rated buildings are expected to suffer negligible damage (less than 5 percent of replacement cost) and allow functional recovery within a few days of a major seismic event. USRC Platinum is sought by owners who demand the highest level of asset protection and virtually uninterrupted functionality of their operations.
The USRC Gold rating represents a very high level of performance that is intended to exceed modern code standards in terms of safety by protecting occupants against major injury. Gold-rated buildings are expected to suffer only minor damage (less than 10 percent of replacement cost) and allow functional recovery within several weeks of a major seismic event. USRC Gold is sought by owners who demand high levels of asset protection and minimal disruption to their operations.
The USRC Silver rating is for buildings that, in addition to meeting the Certified standards, are expected to suffer significantly reduced damage (less than 20 percent of replacement cost) and allow functional recovery within a few months of a major seismic event. USRC Silver is awarded to buildings where limiting damage is an important consideration, such as for properties with commercial loans.
The USRC Certified rating is for buildings that have been evaluated by the USRC and comply with modern codes for performance in earthquakes. Certified buildings are expected to perform in a manner that will preserve the life safety of the occupants, limit damage to repairable levels under 40 percent of replacement cost, and allow functional recovery within a year of a major seismic event. Nearly 60 percent of most cities’ existing building inventories will not comply with this standard. USRC Certified signifies that a building is expected to achieve a level of performance consistent with new building standards.
Manufacturers and companies that rely on USRC ratings to certify their products understand just how important their contributions to resiliency efforts are, and the role they play in making communities safer and better able to withstand the impacts of natural and manmade disasters. As Gabriel Blasi, senior general manager at Construction Specialties, notes, “Our commitment to preparing our built environment to cope with natural disasters will be the platform on which we protect humanity and the places they frequent. The USRC can make this reality, and we are proud to support their efforts.”
Tests and Certifications for Resilient Building Products
Given the importance of resilient building design, the architectural products used in projects must meet the strictest performance standards. Testing is the first step toward ensuring that a performance standard has been met. Each architectural feature used in resilient design must pass key tests to ensure that it can perform above and beyond in extreme conditions. Let’s look at some of those tests.
EJCs are tested to ensure they will perform in a seismic event. Specific tests include the Seismic Corridor System (MACC) Cycle Test, Seismic Exterior Wall System (XLS) Cycle Test, Seismic Moat Cover Systems & Corners Cycle Test, and Seismic Tread and Riser Cycle Test.
Architectural louvers are tested and certified by the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA), which is a third-party testing agency for the louver industry that tests and certifies louvers for air, water, and impact performance. AMCA 540 is a test method for louvers impacted by wind-borne debris for which the louver cannot become dislodged from the opening. This test ensures that the louver itself does not become a projectile. AMCA 550 is a test method for high-velocity wind-driven rain-resistant louvers and is tested to the following conditions: rainfall rate of 8.8 inches per hour tested to 35, 70, and 90 mph wind-driven rain for 15 minutes, and 110 mph wind-driven rain for 5 minutes. During all four tests, only 1 percent of total water sprayed is allowed through. According to AMCA 550, louvers that protect air intake openings in structures located in hurricane-prone regions, as defined in the International Building Code, shall comply with AMCA 550.11
Interior wall-protection products and materials must meet governing building codes, such as the International Building Code (IBC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which mandate that all building materials meet the minimum of a Class C/3 rating.
Products such as handrails, crash rails, bumper guards, accent rails, corner guards, and wall coverings must be UL classified and labeled Class A/1. Fire-rated, flush-mounted corner guards should be UL labeled with 1-and 2-hour installation. Wall systems should be UL classified and labeled Class B/2. Doors should aim for being Intertek labeled for 20-minute wood fire doors and 60-minute wood mineral core fire doors with noncombustible stiles and rails. Class A/1 designates the material’s surface-burning characteristics when tested in accordance with UL723, ASTM E84, and CAN/ULCS101.2.
For explosion relief vents, fire and smoke vents must meet UL standard 793 for smoke and heat and should be IBC and IFC Section 910 and NFPA 204 compliant.
Entrance mats and grids must stand up to rolling loads. | https://continuingeducation.bnpmedia.com/courses/construction-specialties/building-resiliency/4/ |
The emphasis on the earthquake engineering profession grew significantly following the seismic events that occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989 and in Northridge, California in 1994. In a race against time, there has been an emphasis placed on building owners & managers to ensure the safety of occupants in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. Many jurisdictions have already mandated that a structural engineer evaluate existing buildings to ensure it meets seismic building codes. In cases where the structure does not meet or exceed the adopted performance and safety standards, these buildings must be retrofitted.
Structural seismic evaluation helps to determine if a seismic retrofit is required to mitigate a variety of potential hazards. Structural system types that often require retrofit include unreinforced masonry, concrete shear walls, steel moment frames, steel braced frames, and light framed wood construction among others. In certain instances, standards such as the California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP) have been specifically instituted to protect the public from hazardous materials in the event of an earthquake. DHG earthquake engineers help owners & managers to comply with all of the latest seismic building codes applicable to their property.
With sophisticated structural analysis software, our engineers can model and determine a building’s expected behavior during a seismic event. The strength of the elements within the lateral force resisting system is compared to the seismic forces that are generated within them during an earthquake. When an element is found to be incapable of handling the load that it is required to resist, then retrofit may be required. While many deficiencies can only be identified through complex engineering calculation and analysis, some conditions that require retrofit can be identified through visual observation and investigation. | https://www.dhglabe.com/structural-engineering/earthquake-engineering |
The goal of ERM is to advance GSU’s strategic objectives by aligning processes, people, technology and knowledge with the purpose of fostering a culture of strategic risk-taking and promoting ethical, compliant, and risk-aware decision-making.
Risk is an uncertainty that the University must understand and effectively manage to execute its strategies, achieve its objectives and performance goals, and create value for its students and stakeholders.
The University conducts an annual risk assessment. Key academic and administrative leaders throughout the University are responsible for identifying risks to the accomplishment of the University’s strategic objectives. Risks are compiled and prioritized. Strategies for addressing risk are developed and monitored throughout the year.
ERM Process
Risk Categories
STRATEGIC RISK
Risks that directly impact GSU's ability to achieve goals and objectives. Includes risks to academic excellence, education delivery risks, risks to student success, enrollment, research expansion capacity and others.
PUBLIC SAFETY/HAZARD RISK
Risks stemming from catastrophic natural events, accidents, terrorism, pandemics, and other threats to the well-being of students, faculty, staff and GSU property. Insurable risks are typically in this category.
COMPLIANCE RISK
Risks associated with failure to comply with laws, rules, regulations and policies and the associated risks to reputation and accomplishment of goals and objectives.
OPERATIONAL RISK
The largest category of risk including business processes, systems, technology, human resources, facilities, student services, etc. Process related risks that impact the efficiency or effectiveness of operations are included in this category.
FINANCIAL RISK
Risks associated with budgets, financial reporting and auditing. This category includes strategic resource allocation and the adequacy and timeliness of data to inform financial decisions.
REPUTATIONAL RISK
Situations where media attention can significantly increase the organization's potential exposure. Includes situations and scenarios where students and employees may lose or fail to gain trust in the organization. Reputational risks often stem from the management of another type of risk and have a secondary strategic risk impact.
Related Links
Office Location
75 Piedmont Avenue
12th Floor, Suite 1200
Tel: 404-413-3083
Office Hours
Monday-Friday,
8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. | https://finance.gsu.edu/enterprise-risk-management/ |
John is a geospatial technologist, specializing in the development of innovative new geospatial products for understanding risk for the insurance and disaster risk reduction sectors. He is currently the Managing Director of ImageCat Ltd., ImageCat’s European operations. John has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Geography and GIS & Remote Sensing respectively from the University of Ulster, UK. His Ph.D. from the University of Southampton, UK, focused on change modeling of buildings in pre- and post-event remotely-sensed imagery, during which time he joined ImageCat. Today, he manages R&D activities using remote sensing and advanced geospatial technologies to better support decision making in the London insurance market and beyond. John was Project Manager for the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Risk Global Component, Inventory Data Capture Tools. He was co-author on a 2012 UK Government Office for Science Foresight Project: Reducing Risks of Future Disasters – Priorities for Decision Makers. In 2010, he played a central role in ImageCat’s coordination of the GFDRR Global Earth Observation Catastrophe Assessment Network (GEO-CAN) remote sensing damage assessment following the Haiti earthquake. John has provided expertise to national governments for their post-earthquake and tsunami and hurricane damage assessment through the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters. He has directed field reconnaissance teams to capture in-situ situational assessments of post-disaster response and recovery efforts following disaster events in Europe, Asia, North America and the Caribbean, and he has used remote sensing observations to assess post-disaster damage following natural disasters on five continents.
Ayse is the Associate Director of Projects at the Applied Technology Council, headquartered in Redwood City, California where she manages projects pertaining to structural engineering and earthquake hazard mitigation. She has more than 10 years of experience as a structural engineer and project manager. Ayse served as the Project Manager for the ATC-71-5 and ATC-71-6 projects that developed the Third Edition FEMA P-154 and FEMA P-155 reports, Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards: A Handbook and Supporting Documentation, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She also manages the development and conduct of nationwide webinars and in-person trainings nationwide on these and other earthquake hazard mitigation topics through the National Earthquake Training Assistance Program (NETAP) funded by FEMA. At ATC, she has also served as Project Manager for developing the FEMA E-74 document, Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage-A Practical Guide, which received the Award of Excellence by the Structural Engineers Association of California in 2012, and numerous other projects, including the development of a postearthquake safety evaluation assessment methodology for Bhutan, Cost Analyses and Benefit Studies for Earthquake-Resistant Construction in Memphis, Tennessee (GCR 14-917-26 report funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)), and Selecting and Scaling Earthquake Ground Motions for Performing Response-History Analyses (GCR 11-917-5 report funded by NIST). Ayse has served as a director for the Northern California Chapter of EERI and is a member of the EERI Housner Fellow class of 2014. She has bachelor of science and master of science degrees in Structural Engineering from Stanford University. Ayse is originally from Istanbul, Turkey and currently resides in San Francisco.
Dr. Jaiswal is a licensed professional engineer and a lead loss model developer of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) program in Golden, Colorado. His primary responsibilities include development of global earthquake casualty and economic loss estimation models, development of building inventory, exposure and vulnerability databases, and framework to rapidly quantifying earthquake’s impact as a part of National Earthquake Information Center’s operational response. He is recipient of numerous awards and recognition throughout his career, including inaugural recipient of 2012 Global Earthquake Model (GEM)’s Outstanding Contribution Award and Earthquake Spectra Outstanding Paper Award.
Forrest Lanning, PE, CPEng is a former USAID Structural and Forensic Engineer and worked in Afghanistan leading the agency’s Building Forensic Task Force. The Task Force’s mission was to structurally evaluate all USAID constructed hospitals and schools in the country for seismic safety. Prior to working in Afghanistan and following the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, Forrest headed up the Technical Support Unit of the United Nations Office for Project Services in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. There, Forrest led a team of local engineers designing earthquake-resistant schools throughout the devastated province of Aceh and the island of Nias.
Forrest is currently based in Christchurch, New Zealand where he is an Associate with the Australasian based engineering company, Aurecon. He relocated to New Zealand during the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake sequence. Forrest’s work included emergency assessments and demolitions of earthquake-damaged buildings in the severely hit downtown. Currently he is working on seismically retrofitting key buildings in the city including the Christchurch Art Gallery and the University of Canterbury’s College of Engineering campus.
Forrest is a San Francisco Bay Area native and graduate of the Architectural Engineering program at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Garmalia Mentor-William, Medical doctor and Specialist in Disaster management is a Haitian native educated both in Cuba and the US. She is highly experimented in Emergency and disaster response and currently working for the Ministry of Health of Haiti. She is looking forward to incorporating disaster awareness into school curricula in Haiti.
Surya Narayan Shrestha is the Deputy Executive Director and Senior Structural Engineer at the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) in Nepal. He serves as the program manager for the Nepal Earthquake Risk Management Program, focused on the safety of school buildings, building code implementation, and disaster preparedness planning and capacity. Mr. Shrestha has experience in earthquake response in Nepal, Indonesia, and Pakistan. | https://www.eeri.org/projects/housner-fellows-program/2014-housner-fellows/ |
New York City is accustomed to finding bold and innovative solutions. Create + Construct brings together New York City’s AEC leaders to explore how to create resilient and better-performing buildings, infrastructure, and communities.
|8:00 a.m.||Registration + Breakfast|
|8:45 a.m.|
|9:45 a.m.||Session 1
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Wind and Seismic Design: Balancing Common and Uncommon Resiliency Demands
|11:15 a.m.||Break|
|11:30 a.m.||Session 2
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Built Environment vs. Extreme Weather: Mitigating Flood Damage
|12:30 p.m.||Lunch|
|1:30 p.m.||Session 3
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Safe and Secure: Integrating Blast Resistance into Curtain Wall Design
|2:30 p.m.||Session 4
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Beyond the Code: Addressing Fire and Life Safety Concerns in Modern Design
|3:30 p.m.||Break|
|3:45 p.m.||Session 5 Panel Discussion
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A More Resilient New York City: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities
|5:15 p.m.||Reception
|
KEYNOTE
Social Infrastructure: Designing for Resiliency
Climate change is quickly becoming a defining issue of urban and architectural practice in the 21st century. As evidenced by Hurricanes Sandy, Harvey, Katrina, and others, coastal cities will require significant investments to combat rising sea levels, higher storm surges, heavier precipitation, more frequent heat waves, and other hazards. Inevitably, these issues will transform low-lying coastal neighborhoods, but recent projects have demonstrated that New York City is ready to begin addressing its vulnerabilities in ways that go beyond traditional 20th century models for infrastructure. By approaching resiliency in conjunction with needed social and urban improvements, investments in “social infrastructure” can work overtime to multiply benefits and build constituencies and funding for their construction. Design tools are important to this process – the ability to think synthetically, and to give form and communicate potential futures, places the discipline in a unique position to guide decision-making. As evidenced in practice, these issues demand a comprehensive approach cutting across architecture, landscape, engineering, and urbanism to find the right tools for the job.
In this keynote address, Jeremy Siegel of BIG will share lessons learned from his robust practice in climate change adaptation, including his experiences with projects to protect New York City’s vulnerable waterfront such as the Big U and the subsequent East Side Coastal Resiliency Project.
SPEAKER
Jeremy Siegel, Associate, BIG
SESSION ONE: WIND + SEISMIC
Wind and Seismic Design: Balancing Common and Uncommon Resiliency Demands
As our climate changes, extreme weather events have become more prevalent, leading to high winds and related storm surge on coastal areas in New York City. These events have the potential to cause widespread damage to the built environment, resulting in property damage, temporary downtime, or permanent loss. While wind loads and flooding are an essential part of resilient design, seismic events are also a significant risk that must be considered for the same holistic design reasons. While they are not often discussed, several fault lines exist underneath the city, including along 125th Street from New Jersey to the East River. These faults bring the chance of earthquakes and require resilient thinking that can conflict with other needs; for example, placing a structure on stilts to address flood risks significantly reduces its seismic resistance.
In this session, we will discuss how seismic events and increased wind loads affect the built environment. We will also explore current trends for resilient design, including the potential need to design beyond code-required minimums.
SPEAKERS
Konstantinos Garcia-Syngros, Senior Project Manager, Langan
Kevin Poulin, Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
David Prevatt, Associate Professor, University of Florida
SESSION TWO: FLOOD
Built Environment vs. Extreme Weather: Mitigating Flood Damage
Natural disasters have caused significant damage and loss of business to the built environment and infrastructure in the Northeast. Hurricane Sandy showed that the New York metropolitan area is no exception. With extreme weather events occurring at increasing frequency, the resilience of the built environment becomes paramount to withstand these events in the future. Owners, operators, and designers must put plans in place to protect facilities; offer continuity of service; and safeguard tenants, employees, and assets during extreme events.
In this session, we will address resilience from several perspectives, including high-level planning, individual project implementation, and detailed design. We will discuss critical interaction points between AEC professionals and their counterparts in business operations, the process of identifying vulnerabilities to extreme events, and strategies for improving resilience at existing facilities.
SPEAKERS
Kevin Davis, Project Engineer, Con Edison
Filippo Masetti, Senior Project Manager, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
SESSION THREE: BLAST
Safe and Secure: Integrating Blast Resistance into Curtain Wall Design
Designing custom glazing systems is a complex task that varies widely from project to project, often depending on the overall architectural goals and constraints of the project. The addition of security concerns and requirements brings more complexity of these systems, creating challenges in trying to design systems that work with everyday issues – such as weatherproofing and thermal performance – while resisting loads for blasts or other violent events that are much larger.
In this session, we will examine the design factors and processes that are used for projects with customized systems from start to finish, including the architectural, engineering, and fabrication issues that should be considered. We will also discuss how blast loads and other security factors complicate these designs.
SPEAKERS
Scott Bondi, Associate Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Federico Patrono, Design Department Manager of Bleu Tech, Permasteelisa North America
SESSION FOUR: FIRE
Beyond the Code: Addressing Fire and Life Safety Concerns in Modern Design
Building codes have historically been developed in response to lessons learned from high-profile disasters with high loss of life and major operational disruption. As such, fires have been the primary driver of life safety code requirements for 100 years. With the increase in human-made and natural events such as wildfires, floods, blast events, and hurricanes, the codes have responded by increasing the scope of events they intend to address. Like security, these requirements may often conflict with established priorities for life safety, even though the ultimate goal is preservation of life.
In this session, we will address recent code requirements that have been added due to large loss events, as well as design features going above and beyond the minimum code requirements. We will discuss the effects on life safety and conflicts that arise between code-required and optional features. We will also explore how a first principles, holistic risk-based approach needs to be adopted to efficiently address heightened resiliency requirements in the built environment on life safety and code compliance.
SPEAKERS
Qianru Guo, Consulting Engineer, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
David Jacoby, Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
SESSION FIVE: PANEL DISCUSSION
A More Resilient New York City: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities
New York City is a global leader in economic growth, diversity, sustainability, and resilience. Throughout history, the city has demonstrated a remarkable ability to recover from both natural and human-made disasters. However, as the city’s population continues to grow, its existing infrastructure ages, and the frequency of extreme events increases, enhanced planning and preparedness have become more critical to mitigate the impact of disruptive events and promote faster recovery of basic functions and services.
This panel session will start by discussing existing community resilience initiatives and the progress made in the last two decades to improve the resilience of New York City. The conversation will address major challenges and opportunities associated with implementing resilience-based design and adaptation strategies for buildings and infrastructure. We will explore and evaluate the availability and adequacy of resilience metrics and discuss incorporating resilience concepts into new and retrofit facility design. | https://www.sgh.com/create-construct-new-york/agenda |
Seismic design rests on authorized engineering procedures, principles and criteria meant to design or retrofit structures subject to earthquake exposure . Those criteria are barely consistent with the contemporary state of the knowledge about building structures .
Therefore, the fact that a building design blindly follows some seismic code regulations does not guarantee safety against collapse or serious damage .
The price of poor seismic design may be enormous. Nevertheless, seismic design has always been a trial and error process no matter it was based upon physical laws or empirical knowledge.
To practice seismic design, seismic analysis or seismic evaluation of new and existing civil engineering projects in California, by the way, an engineer should, normally, pass examination on Seismic Principles.
|Look up Tectonic hazards/Seismic design in
|
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
|Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Seismic fitness.|
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Lindeburg, Michael R.; Baradar, Majid (2001). Seismic Design of Building Structures. Professional Publications. ISBN 0943198232.
- ↑ Housner, George W.; Jennings, Paul C. (1982). Earthquake Design Criteria. EERI. ISBN 1888577525.
- ↑ Earthquake-Resistant Construction
- ↑ Valentin Shustov (2012), "Seismic fitness: on some features of earthquake engineering," http://nees.org/resources/4469/download/Seismic_fitness.pdf. | https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Tectonic_hazards/Seismic_design |
Building Codes are rules meant to stipulate the minimum standards that must be followed when a building is being constructed. They must follow these codes to gain permission for planning and construction from the authorities. The main purpose of a building code is to secure the health, safety, and overall well-being of its occupants by ensuring proper standards in the construction and design of buildings. Most countries and territories have their own building codes set to the general needs of the stakeholders of their relevant territories. And Bangladesh is no exception. Today, we will be discussing the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) in detail.
What is the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC)?
The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) was first published in 1993 to regulate the construction of buildings and maintain and uphold them to certain standards. Before the code, the only laws pertaining to construction was the Building Construction Act, enacted way back in 1952, during the Pakistan era. The need for the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) arose with a sudden growth and development in the country, which led to a massive real estate boom starting in the early 90s. The first version was published in 1993.
Techniques used in construction remained stagnant for some time, which resulted in no changes or amendments in the code for a long while. It also added bureaucracy which meant that the code would only be enacted as law in Bangladesh in the year 2006, with the amendment in Section 18A of the 1952 Building Construction Act. It was also the first time amendments were made in the document. Further events and massive growth in the real estate sector led to massive changes in 2017, where the major amendments were made to the code to make it more relevant, which we will be talking about later on in the article.
The BNBC And Its Contents
The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) is overseen by the Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI). And they have taken help from the Bureau of Research Testing and Consultancy (BRTC), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and leading experts in the field to review and update the code when necessary. This code establishes the minimum standards for construction, design, material quality, proper usage, maintenance, and location of buildings. The BNBC is meant to be applied by professionals working with construction projects, including architects, safety inspectors, structural engineers, interior designers, environmental scientists, contractors, and lawyers.
The most recent draft of the code, BNBC 2017, contains 10 parts with a total of 49 chapters in between them, and these parts are divided into 3 volumes, as the whole document is quite hefty, with over 2000 pages in it. The parts are – Scope and Definitions; Administration and Enforcement; General Building Requirements, Control, and Regulation; Fire Protection; Building Materials; Structural Design; Construction Practices and Safety; Building Services; Alterations, Addition To and Change of Use of Existing Buildings; and Signs and Outdoor Displays. Part 6, Structural Design, is the largest part of the BNBC, and contains over 10 chapters.
Recent Changes In The Latest Draft
When the code was first published in 1993, it was relevant to the industry at that time. But it had remained unchanged for many years, and the real estate and construction sector seemed to have outgrown the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). The past twenty-odd years have seen the introduction of new materials, methods, and technologies in both design and construction of buildings. Plus, increasing cases of safety hazards such as fires have resulted from negligence in construction and from flagrant violation of the code in some cases. This is why the recent changes made in BNBC 2017 are monumental.
All of the content of the previous drafts have been retained. Some of the new topics that the latest draft of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), BNBC 2017, touches upon include the jurisdiction of local authorities, revised seismic zone maps, revised wind speed maps, and eligibility of professionals. New chapters have also been added, such as chapters on energy efficiency and sustainability, rainwater management, maintenance, steel-concrete structures, bamboo structures, and universal accessibility. Readability of the document has also been improved, with many figures being redrawn and improved.
In the end, the latest changes made to the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) will have a massive impact on construction practices in the country, but only with proper enforcement and oversight of the code. The updated BNBC also touches upon the topic of sustainability in construction, one of the hottest topics nowadays. This becomes apparent with the fact that many new skyscrapers across Dhaka have been looking to gain LEED certification. For the latest in Real Estate news and trends, keep updated with our Bproperty blog. Let us know your thoughts on the article in the comments section. | https://www.bproperty.com/blog/bangladesh-national-building-code/ |
Solubility of Organic Compounds Objectives: understanding the relative solubility of organic compounds in various solvents. Exploration of the effect of polar groups on a monopoly hydrocarbon skeleton. Introduction: The solubility of a solute (a dissolved substance) In a solvent (the dissolving medium) is the most Important chemical principle underlying three major techniques you will study in the organic chemistry laboratory: crystallization, extraction, and chromatography.
In this experiment on solubility you will gain an understanding of the structural features of a substance that determine its solubility in various elevens. This understanding will help you to predict solubility behavior and to understand the techniques that are based on this property. In one part of this experiment, you will determine whether a solid organic compound is soluble or insoluble in a given solvent. You should keep in mind that this is actually an over simplification since some solids may be partially soluble in a given solvent.
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If the organic compound being dissolved in a solvent is a liquid, then it is sometimes more appropriate to say that the compound and the solvent are miscible (mix homogeneously In all proportions). Likewise, If the liquid organic impound Is Insoluble In the solvent, then they are Immiscible (do not mix, and form two liquid phases). A major goal of this experiment is to learn how to make predictions about whether or not a substance will be soluble in a given solvent. This is not always easy to do, even for an experienced chemist.
However there are some guidelines which will often make It possible for you to make a good guess about the collectibles of compounds In specific solvents. In discussing these guidelines It Is helpful to separate the types of solutions we will be looking at into two categories: (1 ) Solutions n which both the solvent and the solute are covalent (molecular). (2) Ionic solutions in which the solute unionizes and dissociates. L. Solutions In which the Solvent and Solute are Molecular A generalization which is very useful in predicting solubility behavior is the widely used rule, “Like dissolves like. This rule is most commonly applied to polar and monopoly compounds. According to this rule, a polar solvent will dissolve polar (or ionic) compounds and a monopoly solvent will dissolve monopoly compounds. The reason why this rule works has to do with the nature of Intermolecular forces of attraction. Although we will not be focusing on the attraction between polar molecules is called dipole-dipole interaction (or hydrogen bonding under certain circumstances); between monopoly molecules it is called London dispersion forces.
In both cases these attractive forces can occur between molecules of the same compound or different compounds In this experiment, you will be testing the solubility of several compounds in several solvents. You will then be asked to explain these results primarily in terms of the polarity of the solvent and the solute. This can be done only if you are able to determine whether a substance is polar or monopoly. The polarity of a compound is dependent on both the polarities of the individual bonds and the shape of the molecule.
For most organic compounds, evaluating these factors can become quite complicated because of the complexities of the molecules. However, it is possible to make some reasonable predictions by Just looking at the types of atoms which a compound possesses. As you read the following guidelines, it is important to understand that, although we often describe compounds as being polar or monopoly, polarity is a matter of degree, ranging from monopoly to highly alarm. Guidelines. These guidelines will be helpful in completing this laboratory experiment.
They will help you to determine if a substance is polar or monopoly and to make predictions about solubility. 1. All hydrocarbons are monopoly. Examples: Hexane Benzene 2. Compounds possessing the electronegative elements oxygen or nitrogen are generally polar. Acetone Ethyl alcohol Ethyl acetate Ethylene Ethyl ether Water The polarity of these compounds depends on the presence of polar C-O, C=O, OH, NH and CNN bonds. The compounds which are most polar are capable of forming hydrogen bonds (see #4) and have NH or OH bonds. Although all of these polar.
This is due to the effect of the size of the carbon chain on polarity and whether or not the compound can form hydrogen bonds. 3. The presence of halogen atoms, even though their electromagnetisms are relatively high, does not alter the polarity of an organic compound in a significant way. Therefore, these compounds are only slightly polar. The polarities of these compounds are more similar to hydrocarbons, which are monopoly, than to water which is highly polar. Examples Methyl chloride (disintermediation) Schoolchildren 4.
When comparing organic compounds within the same family, adding carbon atoms to the chain decreases the polarity. For example, methyl alcohol (COACH) is more polar than propel alcohol (CHICHI’S). This is because hydrocarbons are monopoly, and increasing the length of a carbon chain makes the compound more hydrocarbon-like. The general rule of thumb is that each polar group (groups containing nitrogen or oxygen) will allow up to 4 carbons to be soluble in water. 5. As mentioned earlier, the force of attraction between polar molecules is dipole- dipole interaction. A special case of dipole-dipole interaction is hydrogen bonding.
Hydrogen bonding is a possibility when a compound possesses a hydrogen atom bonded too nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine atom. It is the attraction between this hydrogen atom and a nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine atom in another molecule. Hydrogen bonding may occur between two molecules of the same compound or between molecules of different compounds. Hydrogen bonding is the strongest type of dipole-dipole interaction. When hydrogen bonding between solute and solvent is possible, solubility is greater than one would expect for compounds of similar polarity that cannot form hydrogen bonds.
Hydrogen bonding is very important in organic chemistry and biochemistry, and you should be alert for situations in which hydrogen bonding may occur. II. Solutions in which the Solute Unionizes and Dissociates Many ionic compounds are highly soluble in water because of the strong attraction between ions and the highly polar water molecules. This also applies to organic compounds that can exist as ions. For example, sodium acetate consists of An+ and CHOC- ions, which are highly soluble in water. Although there are some exceptions, you may assume in this experiment that all organic compounds that are n the ionic form will be water-soluble. Sections. For example, carboxylic acids can be converted to water-soluble salts when they react with dilute aqueous Noah: water-insoluble carboxylic acid water-soluble salt The water-soluble salt can then be converted back to the original carboxylic acid by adding another acid (usually aqueous HCI) to the solution of the salt: Amines, which are organic bases, can also be converted to water-soluble salts when they react with dilute aqueous HCI: amine This salt can be converted back to the original amine by adding a base (usually aqueous Noah) to the solution of the salt. Pre-Lab: .
Several portions of this lab request that you make predictions regarding outcomes of solubility experiments. Make these predictions before you arrive in lab and record them on this worksheet. 2. Write a paragraph describing hydrogen bonding and draw an illustration of hydrogen bonding between water molecules. Do not forget to discuss electronegative, lone pairs and bond polarity. Complete this assignment on a separate sheet of paper and submit it at the beginning of lab. Lab Report Guide: 1. Results (5 pets) Tables neatly filled out Questions legibly answered Results: (Please fill out and submit with the lab report.
Recopy if messy) Part A. Solubility of Solid Compounds Place about 40 MGM (0. 040 g) of phenyl into each of two dry test tubes. (Don’t try to be exact: you can be 1-2 MGM off and the experiment will still work. ) Label the test tubes and then add 1 ml of water to the 1st tube and 1 ml of hexane to the 2nd tube. Determine the solubility of each sample in the following way. Using the rounded end of a spatula, stir each sample continuously for 60 seconds by twirling the spatula rapidly. After 60 seconds (do not stir longer), note whether the compound is soluble (dissolves completely) or insoluble (none of it dissolves).
If all but a couple granules have dissolved, then you should state that the sample is soluble. Record these results in the following table. Now repeat the directions given above for with Miltonic acid. Record these results. Compound Water Prediction Water Result Hexane Prediction Hexane Result Phenyl Miltonic acid Problems 1. For each of the four solubility tests, explain your results in terms of the polarities. A. Phenyl in water b. Phenyl in hexane d. Miltonic acid in hexane Is hydrogen bonding possible for any of the 4 pairs of solids and solvent? If so, 2. Draw a picture showing a hydrogen bond between the solvent and solute.
Part B. Solubility of Different Alcohols For each solubility test (see table), add 1 ml of solvent (water or hexane) to a test tube. Then add one of the alcohols drowses. Shake the tube after adding each drop. Continue adding the alcohol until you have added a total of 10 drops. If you see one layer, the liquids are miscible (soluble). If you see two layers, they are immiscible. Record your results (miscible or immiscible) in your notebook in table form. Methyl alcohol 1 -Octagon . Explain each of these results. Methyl alcohol in water a. B. Methyl alcohol in hexane . I-octagon in water d. I-octagon in hexane
Part C. Miscible or Immiscible Pairs For each of the following pairs of liquid compounds, predict if the pairs will be miscible or immiscible. (It is best to make your prediction for each pair after you have tested the previous pairs. ) Then add 1 ml of both liquids to the same test tube. Use a different test tube for each pair. Shake the test tube for 10-20 seconds to determine if the two liquids are miscible (form one layer) or immiscible (form two layers). Record your results in the table. Mixture Prediction Result Water and Ethyl Alcohol Water and Ethyl Ether Water and Methyl Chloride Water and Hexane. | https://anyassignment.com/samples/solvent-7017/ |
What are some examples of insoluble salts
The solubility of a substance indicates whether and to what extent a pure substance can be dissolved in a solvent. It describes the property of a substance to mix with the solvent with homogeneous distribution (as atoms, molecules or ions). Most of the time the solvent is a liquid. But there are also solid solutions, such as alloys, glasses, ceramic materials and doped semiconductors. In the case of the solution of gases in liquids, the term solubility refers to a coefficient which indicates the amount of gas dissolved in the liquid in diffusion equilibrium with the gas space in relation to the pressure of the gas.
One distinguishes the
- qualitative solubility (is the substance soluble in a certain solvent?) and the
- quantitative solubility (what amount of substance can be dissolved in the unit volume of a certain solvent?).
Qualitative solubility
Today we know that at temperatures above absolute zero there must always be a certain solubility for every substance in every other substance for thermodynamic reasons (entropy) alone. The increasingly precise analysis methods confirm this. Strictly speaking, therefore, a distinction between soluble and insoluble cannot be made. It is therefore a question of semiquantitative determinations such as poorly soluble, limited soluble or unlimited soluble.
The liquids in which a solid is readily soluble depends on the molecular properties of the substance and the liquid. Salt-like substances (ionic compounds) are almost only soluble in polar solvents such as water or hydrogen fluoride (HF). Many lipophilic, e.g. B. waxy substances, on the other hand, are only appreciably soluble in organic solvents such as gasoline (an "apolar" solvent). In this context, “polar” means that the molecules of the solvent have a dipole moment and therefore interact with charged (ions) or polar molecules of the substance to be dissolved, but without a reaction occurring. The polarity of solvents is scalable. Different polarities and thus different solubilities are used extensively in chromatography processes.
Many substances, such as ethanol, can be mixed well with both water and non-polar solvents. Acetone can be mixed with almost any liquid.
Quantitative solubility
The solubility of a substance in a solvent is not limited in all cases. Sulfuric acid can be mixed with water in any ratio.
When mixing phenol with water, on the other hand, there are two areas: a solution of phenol in water and a solution of water in phenol. In between, an area of “forbidden” mixing ratios is left out, which leads to the formation of a stratification of two liquid phases.
The quantitative solubility or Solubility limit For systems with limited solubility, indicates the maximum concentration of one substance in the other in which the mixture is still single-phase under equilibrium conditions. The solubility limit is temperature dependent. If the solubility limit is exceeded, a second phase is eliminated. If the necessary activation energy or diffusion for the separation of the second phase is missing, the mixture remains single-phase in a metastable, supersaturated state even above the solubility limit. In the case of salts, the solubility follows from the Solubility product. If none of the ions involved is also available from another source, the solubility of the salt in question can be calculated:
The solubility of the salt AmB.n:
In mixed solutions, as in z. B. natural waters, it regularly happens that the concentrations of anions and cations do not match stoichiometrically in pairs, as it would correspond to the solution of individual salts. An important example of this is dissolved lime, which dissolves as calcium hydrogen carbonate through dissolved carbon dioxide and makes the essential contribution to water hardness. Due to the dissociation equilibrium of the carbonic acid, with the constantly changing carbon dioxide content of the water (e.g. through breathing and photosynthesis of the aquatic organisms), the concentrations of the carbonate and hydrogen carbonate anions are shifted, while the concentration of the calcium cations initially remains unaffected . In this case, the product of the by no means equivalent concentrations of calcium and carbonate ions decides whether and to what extent calcium carbonate will precipitate (e.g. as scale or sea chalk) because the solubility product is exceeded.
The quantitative solubility, like the concentration of solutions in general, is given in different units:
- g / l solution
- g / 100 g solution (mass percent)
- ml / 100 ml solution (percent by volume,% by volume)
- g / kg solution
- mol / l solution (molarity)
- val / l solution (normality)
- mol / kg solvent (molality)
Example for the solubility calculation of a single salt
Calculation of the solubility L. for aluminum sulfate in water, if the K is knownL.
This means that every mole of aluminum sulfate in the solution produces 2 moles of aluminum and 3 moles of sulfate ions. The following relationship between the reaction constant K also appliesL. and the solubility L:
The factors in front of L are explained by the stoichiometric factor.
This is now put into the equation for KL. one, it then follows:
in order to
The numerical values for the solubility products are obtained from the standard free enthalpies (see Gibbs energy).
Solution of gases in liquids
At the interface between gases and liquids, gas molecules diffuse between the gas space and the solution space. The entry of molecules into the solution is proportional to the partial pressure of the gas and the exit is proportional to the concentration of the gas in the solution (see Henry's law). At the so-called saturation concentration there is a dynamic equilibrium between the two diffusion directions. The saturation concentration is proportional to the partial pressure in the gas space. The connecting constant of proportionality is referred to here as solubility:
Gas solubility (Gas i) = saturation concentration (i) / partial pressure (i)
As a rule, this solubility of gases in liquids decreases with increasing temperature. A deviation from the proportionality between gas pressure and equilibrium concentration is only noticeable at high pressures.
Dissolution of metals in metals
In normal usage, solutions are usually thought of as liquid media, but there are also solid solutions (at room temperature), e.g. B. the alloys, so solutions of metals in metals. They are widely used because of their special material properties. Bronze is the oldest consciously man made alloy. Brass and the various steels are well-known examples. Jewelery gold is usually an alloy of gold with silver (yellow gold) or copper (red gold), the gold content of which is given in carats.
See also
Category: substance property
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