Cloaked websites: propaganda, cyber-racism and epistemology in the digital era

This article analyzes cloaked websites, which are sites published by individuals or groups who conceal authorship in order to disguise deliberately a hidden political agenda. Drawing on the insights of critical theory and the Frankfurt School, this article examines the way in which cloaked websites conceal a variety of political agendas from a range of perspectives. Of particular interest here are cloaked white supremacist sites that disguise cyber-racism. The use of cloaked websites to further political ends raises important questions about knowledge production and epistemology in the digital era. These cloaked sites emerge within a social and political context in which it is increasingly difficult to parse fact from propaganda, and this is a particularly pernicious feature when it comes to the cyber-racism of cloaked white supremacist sites. The article concludes by calling for the importance of critical, situated political thinking in the evaluation of cloaked websites

The feasibility of an 8-week, home-based isometric strength-training program for improving dressage test performance in equestrian athletes

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of an 8-week, home-based isometric strength training program in equestrians. Also, we examined changes in muscular strength, endurance, and riding performance. 18 riders (≥1 year dressage experience, riding ≥1 h/week, otherwise untrained) completed pre-/post-muscular tests and a US Equestrian Federation Training Level Rider Test. A progressive, 3 day/week riding-specific intervention using TheraBands®was implemented. Feasibility was determined as &gt;50% of riders completing ≥18/24 sessions of ≥2 sets/exercise of prescribed volume. Dependent samples t-tests compared pre/post composite muscular strength/endurance, and riding test scores. 55.5% of riders completed ≥75% exercise sessions. Significant improvements were observed for muscular endurance (pre 149.8±82.2, post 209.2±112.2; P=0.003), and for riding test scores (pre 57.8±7.4, post 60.8±5.1; P=0.037). Exploratory analyses revealed a significant correlation between improvements in muscular endurance and riding test score (r2=0.285, P=0.020). The intervention was feasible and produced improvements in muscular strength, endurance, and potentially in riding test performance.</jats:p

Desenvolvimento pós-desmame, escores visuais ao sobreano e características de carcaça de novilhas desmamadas aos 100 ou 180 dias de idade Post-weaning growth, visual scores at yearling age and carcass traits of heifers weaned at 100 or 180 days of age

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do desmame aos 100 (DP) ou 180 (DC) dias de idade no desenvolvimento de fêmeas Braford até os 18 meses. As bezerras do DP foram suplementadas diariamente por 63 dias a 1% do peso vivo com ração comercial contendo 18% de proteína bruta e 74% de nutrientes digestíveis totais. Avaliou-se o ganho médio diário do nascimento aos 205 dias (G205), deste aos 365 dias (G365) e do último aos 550 dias (G550). Tomou-se o peso vivo ajustado aos 205 (P205), 365 (P365) e 550 dias de idade (P550). Ao sobreano, os escores visuais de conformação (C), precocidade (P) e musculatura (M) foram avaliados e a área de olho de lombo (AOL) e a espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGS), medidas pela técnica de ultra-som. O G205 e o P205 foram significativamente inferiores para as novilhas do DP (0,752 kg/dia; 187,0 kg) em relação às novilhas do DC (0,885 kg/dia; 214,1 kg). Entretanto, as novilhas do DP tiveram G365 significativamente superiores (0,231 kg/dia) às novilhas do DC (0,112 kg/dia), ocasionando P365 semelhantes entre tratamentos (DP = 223,9 kg; DC = 231,9 kg). O G550 não diferiu entre tratamentos, sendo 0,525 kg/dia para as novilhas do DP e 0,513 kg/dia para as novilhas do DC. Conseqüentemente, o P550 também não sofreu influência da idade de desmame (DP = 320,6 kg; DC = 326,3 kg). Os escores visuais de C, P e M não foram influenciados pela idade de desmame, sendo as médias para as novilhas do DP de 4,0; 4,1 e 3,6 para C, P e M e para as do DC de 4,2; 4,1 e 3,9, respectivamente. A idade de desmame também não influenciou a AOL (DP = 41,4 cm²; DC = 43,3 cm²) e a EGS (DP = 2,5 mm; DC = 2,7 mm). Os resultados indicam que novilhas desmamadas aos 100 dias de idade são mais leves ao desmame, porém, com nível nutricional adequado, alcançam aos 12 e 18 meses pesos vivos semelhantes às desmamadas aos seis meses de idade.<br>This work was conducted with the aim to evaluate the influence of weaning age at 100 (EW) or 180 (CW) days old on the growth of Braford heifers until approximately 18 months old. The calves of EW were daily supplemented during 63 days, at quantity of 1% of their live weight, with a comercial ration with 18% of crude protein and 74% of total digestible nutrients. Average daily gain from birth to 205 days (G205), from this one until 365 days (G365) and from the last one until 550 days (G550) were evaluated. Live weight adjusted at 205 days (W205), at 365 days (W365) and at 550 days old (W550) were recorded. At yearling age, the visual scores of conformation (C), precocity (P) and musculature (M) were evaluated and the rib eye area (REA) and the subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) were measured by ultrasound technique. G205 and the W205 were significantly lower for EW heifers (0.752 kg/day; 187.0 kg) than CW heifers (0.885 kg/day; 214.1 kg). However, EW heifers had G365 significantly higher (0.231 kg/day) than the CW heifers (0.112 kg/day) and, consequently, both were similar at W365 (EW= 223.9 kg; CW= 231.9 kg). The G550 did not differ among treatments, being 0.525 kg/day for the EW heifers and 0.513 kg/day for the CW heifers. Consequently, W550 was not affected by weaning age (EW= 320.6 kg; CW= 326.3 kg). The visual scores of C, P and M were not affected by the weaning age, and the means for the EW heifers were of 4.0; 4.1 and 3.6 and for the CW heifers of 4.2; 4.1 and 3.9, respectively. Weaning age also did not affect REA (EW= 41.4 cm²; CW= 43.3 cm²) and the SFT (EW= 2.5 mm; CW= 2.7 mm). The results showed that heifers weaned at 100 days of age are lighter at weaning however, with an adequate post weaning nutritional level, they get at 18 months similar live weights to that ones weaned at six months of age