Neighborhood Inequalities in Retailers' Compliance With the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, January 2014-July 2014

Introduction Retailer noncompliance with limited US tobacco regulations on advertising and labeling was historically patterned by neighborhood in ways that promote health disparities. In 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began enforcing stronger tobacco retailer regulations under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. However, recent research has found no differences in compliance by neighborhood characteristics for FDA advertising and labeling inspections. We sought to investigate the neighborhood characteristics associated with retailer noncompliance with specific FDA advertising and labeling inspections (ie, violations of bans on self-service displays, selling single cigarettes, false or mislabeled products, vending machines, flavored cigarettes, and free samples). Methods We coded FDA advertising and labeling warning letters (n = 718) for type of violations and geocoded advertising and labeling inspections from January 1 through July 31, 2014 (N = 33,543). Using multilevel models, we examined cross-sectional associations between types of violations and neighborhood characteristics previously associated with disparities (ie, percentage black, Latino, under the poverty line, and younger than 18 years). Results Retailer advertising and labeling violations are patterned by who lives in the neighborhood; regulated tobacco products are more likely to be stored behind the counter as the percentage of black or Latino residents increases, and single cigarettes are more often available for purchase in neighborhoods as the percentage of black, poor, or young residents increases. Conclusion Contrary to previous null findings, noncompliance with FDA advertising and labeling regulations is patterned by neighborhood characteristics, sometimes in opposite directions. Given the low likelihood of self-service violations in the same neighborhoods that have high likelihood of single cigarette sales, we suggest targeted approaches to FDA retailer inspections and education campaigns

Escolas charter, escolha dos pais e segregação: Estudo longitudinal do crescimento das escolas charter e alteração dos padrões de matricula em cinco distritos escolares ao longo de 26 anos

In 1975, a court-ordered busing program was launched to desegregate the schools of New Castle County, Delaware. It was by many accounts one of the most significant and successful desegregation programs in the nation (Armor Rossell, 2002; Orfield, 2014; Raffel, 1980). In 1995, the districts of the county were declared “unitary” and the court order was lifted. Shortly thereafter, new policies were enacted allowing school choice, charter schools, and neighborhood attendance zoning. This study draws on primary and secondary data, including geographic, census, and enrollment data, and provides an account of the policy changes and a 26-year longitudinal analysis of changing enrollment trends and patterns. Segregation by race and income among schools accelerated after the policy changes. While the policy changes created greater segregation, enrollment trends varied by district and over time; segregation growth was moderate in two of the districts, small in the others. Our study illuminates the complexity of explaining segregation patterns and disentangling the contributing role of choice, charters, attendance zones, and residential demographics in explaining segregation patterns in school systems.En 1975, un programa de autobús ordenado por el tribunal fue lanzado para desagregar las escuelas del Condado de New Castle, Delaware. En los últimos años se ha convertido en una de las más importantes y exitosas programas de desagregación en la nación (Armor Rossell, 2002; Orfield, 2014; Raffel, 1980). En 1995, los distritos del municipio fueron declarados "unitarios" y el mandamiento judicial fue levantado. Poco tiempo después, nuevas políticas fueron promulgadas, permitiendo elecciones escolares, escuelas charter y zonificación de atención de vecindad. Este estudio se basa en datos primarios y secundarios, incluyendo datos geográficos, de censo y de inscripción, y proporciona una cuenta de los cambios de política y un análisis longitudinal de 26 años de cambios en las tendencias y patrones de inscripción. La segregación por raza y renta entre las escuelas se aceleró tras el cambio de política. Aunque los cambios de políticas crean mayor segregación, las tendencias de inscripción varían por distrito y con el tiempo; El crecimiento de la segregación fue moderado en dos de los distritos, pequeño en los demás. Nuestro estudio ilumina la complejidad de explicar los patrones de segregación y desenredar el papel de elección, cartas, zonas de atención y demografía residencial en la explicación de los patrones de segregación en los sistemas escolares.Em 1975, um programa de ônibus ordenado pelo tribunal foi lançado para desagregar as escolas do Condado de New Castle, Delaware. Foi por muitas contas um dos mais significativos e bem-sucedidos programas de desagregação na nação (Armor Rossell, 2002; Orfield, 2014; Raffel, 1980). Em 1995, os distritos do município foram declarados "unitários" e o mandado judicial foi levantado. Pouco tempo depois, novas políticas foram promulgadas, permitindo escolhas escolares, escolas charter e zoneamento de atendimento de vizinhança. Este estudo baseia-se em dados primários e secundários, incluindo dados geográficos, de censo e de inscrição, e fornece uma conta das mudanças de política e uma análise longitudinal de 26 anos de mudanças nas tendências e padrões de inscrição. A segregação por raça e renda entre as escolas acelerou após a mudança de política. Embora as mudanças de políticas criem maior segregação, as tendências de inscrição variaram por distrito e ao longo do tempo; O crescimento da segregação foi moderado em dois dos distritos, pequeno nos outros. Nosso estudo ilumina a complexidade de explicar os padrões de segregação e desenredar o papel de escolha, cartas, zonas de atendimento e demografia residencial na explicação dos padrões de segregação nos sistemas escolares

Response to <i>Male and female in the church – gender in the ordained ministries</i> by Douw G. Breed, Fika J. van Rensburg, and Gert J.C. Jordaan

“Male and female in the church” (2008), by Breed, J. van Rens- burg and Jordaan, is reviewed as to its treatment of the regu- lative principle and its exegesis of 1 Timothy 2-3. The reformed and puritan version of the regulative principle, reflected in the writings of John Calvin and in the major reformed confessions, implies that proponents of women in the ecclesiastical office must do more than question the traditional exegesis of key passages used in the debate. They must provide Biblical war- rant for the practice. “Male and female in the church” outlines an option that defends the traditional exegesis of 1 Timothy 2-3. It also provides another option that seeks to explain 1 Timothy 2:8-15 in terms of the marriage-relationship rather than male and female in the church. The exegesis in the latter option is found to be tenuous. Similarly, the option that views 1 Timothy 3:11 as referring to ordained deaconesses is found to be unconvincing. No clear Biblical warrant is found in these pas- sages for the practice of ordaining women in the ecclesiastical office.</jats:p

Endometrial cells sense and react to tissue damage during infection of the bovine endometrium via interleukin 1

Cells generate inflammatory responses to bacteria when pattern recognition receptors bind pathogen-associated molecules such as lipopolysaccharide. Cells may also respond to tissue damage by sensing damage-associated molecules. Postpartum bacterial infections of the bovine uterus cause endometritis but the risk of disease is increased by tissue trauma triggered by dystocia. Animals that suffered dystocia had increased concentrations of inflammatory mediators IL-8, IL-1β and IL-1α in vaginal mucus 3 weeks postpartum, but they also had more bacteria than normal animals. Ex vivo organ cultures of endometrium, endometrial cells and peripheral blood monocytes did not generate inflammatory responses to prototypical damage molecules, HMGB1 or hyaluronan, or to necrotic cells; although they secreted IL-6 and IL-8 in a concentration-dependent manner when treated with IL-1α. However, necrotic endometrial cells did not accumulate intracellular IL-1α or release IL-1α, except when pre-treated with lipopolysaccharide or bacteria. Endometrial cell inflammatory responses to IL-1α were dependent on the cognate receptor IL-1R1, and the receptor adaptor protein MyD88, and the inflammatory response to IL-1α was independent of the response to lipopolysaccharide. Rather than a typical damage-associated molecule, IL-1α acts to scale the inflammatory response in recognition that there is a combination of pathogen challenge followed by endometrial cell damage

Glucose Availability and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Link Energy Metabolism and Innate Immunity in the Bovine Endometrium

Defences against the bacteria that usually infect the endometrium of postpartum cattle are impaired when there is metabolic energy stress, leading to endometritis and infertility. The endometrial response to bacteria depends on innate immunity, with recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns stimulating inflammation, characterised by secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8. How metabolic stress impacts tissue responses to pathogens is unclear, but integration of energy metabolism and innate immunity means that stressing one system might affect the other. Here we tested the hypothesis that homeostatic pathways integrate energy metabolism and innate immunity in bovine endometrial tissue. Glucose deprivation reduced the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 from ex vivo organ cultures of bovine endometrium challenged with the pathogen-associated molecular patterns lipopolysaccharide and bacterial lipopeptide. Endometrial inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide were also reduced by small molecules that activate or inhibit the intracellular sensor of energy, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin, which is a more global metabolic sensor than AMPK, had little effect on inflammation. Similarly, endometrial inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide were not affected by insulin-like growth factor-1, which is an endocrine regulator of metabolism. Interestingly, the inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide increased endometrial glucose consumption and induced the Warburg effect, which could exacerbate deficits in glucose availability in the tissue. In conclusion, metabolic energy stress perturbed inflammatory responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns in bovine endometrial tissue, and the most fundamental regulators of cellular energy, glucose availability and AMPK, had the greatest impact on innate immunity

Pre- Weaning traits of brahman calves under a dual-purpose management system in the tropics

The objective of this study was to analyze factors associated with pre-weaning growth traits (e.g., weight and linear body measurements) and neonatal weakness in graded Red (RB, n=86) and Grey Brahman (GB, n=33) calves. Observed parameters included birth weight (BW), weight at 210-d (W210), average daily gain from birth to 210-d (ADG), and multiple linear body measurements. At birth, males were heavier (31.6 Ó 0.9 kg 28.5 Ó 0.8 kg; P < 0.002) than females, differences due to sire (P < 0.001) were observed, and calves experiencing NW tended to be lighter than normal calves (29 Ó 1.1 vs 31.2 Ó 0.6 kg; P < 0.06). At 210-d, males were heavier than females (124.7 Ó 3.2 vs 111 Ó 3.4 kg; P < 0.007), cows in their second and fourth parities had the heaviest (P < 0.001) calves. Heavier W210 (122.5 Ó 3.4 vs 113 Ó 3.1kg; P < 0.01) and greater ADG (0.451 + 0.01 vs 0.388 + 0.01 kg/d; P < 0.001) were found in calves born during dry season compared to those born during rainy season. Calves from second and fourth parity dams had greatest (P < 0.01) ADG. Both at birth and 210-d., all linear body traits and body weight were highly correlated (P < 0.001). Calves experiencing NW had reduced W210 (113 Ó 4 vs 122 Ó 2.6 kg; P < 0.05) thorax circumference, hip height and dorsal length (P < 0.001) compared to normals. Occurrence of NW was greater in RB than GB (P < 0.005). Three sires were found to be associated with NW (P < 0.005)