Election SLAPPs: Effective at Suppressing Political Participation and Giving Anti-SLAPP Statutes the Slip

Most states have established an intricate network of rules and procedures that independent candidates need to follow in order to get on the state’s ballot for the presidential election. If a candidate manages to make it onto a state’s ballot, most states also have a mechanism that allows almost anyone to challenge the process the candidate went through to get on the ballot. Citizens can challenge the candidate’s nomination petition, and then appeal the decision on the challenge at several different levels. An independent candidate running for national office can become embroiled in simultaneous petition challenges, and appeals, throughout the country. The process consumes a candidate’s precious resources during a critical time in the campaign. Nominees of the major parties do not face this potential labyrinth of litigation. A SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) is a lawsuit that typically has no merit, but is filed to prevent the defendant from participating in a political process. The nuance and variance of nomination petition requirements, combined with the availability of private challenges to the petitions, lay fertile ground for Election SLAPPs. In the mid-1990’s, many states enacted anti-SLAPP statutes, which are intended to curb the effects of SLAPPS. Anti-SLAPP statutes provide a vehicle for early dismissal of frivolous suits that appear to have been filed for collateral political purposes. This Article begins by outlining the hurdles an independent candidate needs to clear in order to appear on a state’s ballot. Then, using Ralph Nader’s 2004 campaign experience as an example, it demonstrates how the availability of private challenges to nomination petitions exponentially compounds the burden of initial compliance, without any accompanying benefit to the political process or advancement of any state interest. Next, this Article argues the futility of seeking legal redress for Election SLAPPs, using Nader’s attempts to do so as an illustration. The procedural history of Nader’s case in Maine also provides an example of how some litigants have used Maine’s anti-SLAPP statute to dismiss the suits that followed in the wake of their own frivolous lawsuits. The Article concludes by arguing that 1) Maine’s anti-SLAPP statute should not be interpreted to allow a singular nonfrivolous petition challenge to protect frivolous petition challenges in the same filing from sanction; 2) Maine’s anti-SLAPP statute should be applied without either of the burden-shifting mechanisms imposed by the courts construing it; and 3) states should eliminate the availability of private challenges to nomination petitions

Perceptions of Mental Health among First Year College Students

College students are at risk for exposure to, exacerbation, and development of mental health issues. Exposure to and existence of historical stigmas and misconceptions is a portion of the hesitancy for this population to acknowledge symptoms and seek help. This hesitancy is often put in place by the media, in how they portray mental health Anxiety, mood, eating, psychotic, and substance abuse disorders are prevalent in this population. Colonel Campers are known for their involvement and retention at Eastern Kentucky University and are a representation for this at risk population. The participants were surveyed via a mixed quantitative and qualitative method. When research is combined with the survey analyses, it can be concluded that the population represented show a lack of preparedness and awareness in regards to the areas of mental health that they are at risk of experiencing. Abstaining from treatments can lead to an increase and worsening in symptoms as well as risks for comorbidities and involvement in violent situations. Treatment and awareness are critical components of recovery and maintenance of symptoms; this can be accomplished through pharmacological and alternative therapies as well as community education and involvement

Flower production and effect of flower harvest on berry yields within six American elderberry genotypes

Field of study: Natural resources.Andrew L. Thomas, Thesis Supervisor.Includes vita."December 2017."Cultivation of American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is increasing in North America for its use in dietary supplements. While the flowers of European elderberry (S. nigra) are commonly consumed as an anti-viral in Europe, the horticultural production of American elderberry flowers is nascent. A large field experiment with American elderberry was established in 2015 in southwest Missouri, U.S.A to evaluate flower production and to determine the impact of a partial flower harvest on fruit yield and quality in addition to plant morphology. The study concurrently compared four promising new genotypes to two established cultivars. In 2017, 96 randomized plots of six genotypes were assigned treatments of 0, 15, 39, and 100 percent flower harvest, with four replicated plots per genotype/treatment. Flower and fruit production data, pest and disease incidence, phenology, plant growth response, and fruit quality data were determined. All six genotypes showed differences in flower cyme number, total flower dry matter produced, mean cyme size, bud break, fruit ripening date, fruit yield, berry size, and plant height. Pocahontas and Rogersville showed promise in terms of flower and fruit productivity, and produced taller plants compared with standard cultivars Bob Gordon and Wyldewood. While total fruit yields were correspondingly reduced in plots that received 15 and 39 percent flower cyme harvests, these differences were not statistically significant. Likewise, mean fruiting cyme weight, berry size, soluble solids in fruit, and plant height were not affected by the various flower cyme harvest treatments. While these results are preliminary, up to 39 percent harvest of flower cymes did not significantly reduce elderberry fruit yields, but neither did it improve berry size or fruit quality as was expected.Includes bibliographical references

Differential hydrophobicity drives self-assembly in Huntington's disease

Identifying the driving forces and the mechanism of association of huntingtin-exon1, a close marker for the progress of Huntington's disease, is an important prerequisite towards finding potential drug targets, and ultimately a cure. We introduce here a modelling framework based on a key analogy of the physico-chemical properties of the exon1 fragment to block copolymers. We use a systematic mesoscale methodology, based on Dissipative Particle Dynamics, which is capable of overcoming kinetic barriers, thus capturing the dynamics of significantly larger systems over longer times than considered before. Our results reveal that the relative hydrophobicity of the poly-glutamine block as compared to the rest of the (proline-based) exon1 fragment, ignored to date, constitutes a major factor in the initiation of the self-assembly process. We find that the assembly is governed by both the concentration of exon1 and the length of the poly-glutamine stretch, with a low length threshold for association even at the lowest volume fractions we considered. Moreover, this self-association occurs irrespective of whether the glutamine stretch is in random coil or hairpin configuration, leading to spherical or cylindrical assemblies, respectively. We discuss the implications of these results for reinterpretation of existing research within this context, including that the routes towards aggregation of exon1 may be distinct to those of the widely studied homopolymeric poly-glutamine peptides

Targeted PRINT® nanoparticles for effective cancer therapy

Conventional therapeutics for the treatment of cancer are often faced with challenges such as systemic biodistribution within the body, drug degradation in vivo, low bioavailability at the site of disease, and off-target toxicity. As such, particulate drug delivery systems have been developed with the aim of minimizing these limitations of current therapies. Through the PRINT® (Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates) technology, hydrogel nanoparticles, prepared from biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) and acid-sensitive silyl ether crosslinkers, were functionalized and conjugated with targeting ligands for the folate receptor (FR), HER2 receptor, and transferrin receptor (TfR). By conjugating specific ligands to nanoparticles to impart specificity, highly selective targeting and internalization (>80%) of nanoparticles were demonstrated in various cancer cell lines. The extent of cellular uptake of targeted nanoparticles was dependent on the surface characteristics of the nanoparticles, particle concentration, and kinetics. Because a negative surface charge reduces nonspecific cellular uptake, attaching monoclonal antibodies to the surface of negatively charged PRINT nanoparticles facilitated specific binding of the antibodies to cellular surface receptors that subsequently triggered receptor-mediated endocytosis. Additionally, the multivalent nature of nanoparticles influenced cellular uptake. Specifically, nanoparticles with a higher valence internalized more rapidly and efficiently than those with a lower valence. Nanoparticles that selectively target and accumulate within diseased cells have the potential of minimizing drug degradation under physiological conditions, enhancing bioavailability at the tumor, improving the efficacy of the drug, and reducing toxicity from systemic biodistribution. Drug delivery through targeted nanoparticles was achieved by loading nanoparticles with silyl ether-modified gemcitabine prodrugs. Covalently reacting the prodrug into the nanoparticle matrix minimized drug loss, while the acid-sensitive silyl ether moiety enabled release of gemcitabine at a low pH. Targeted nanoparticles appeared to accumulate intracellularly, through TfR-mediated endocytosis, within acidic vesicles whose environment could trigger degradation of the prodrug and thus, release of gemcitabine. Leveraging the specificity of targeted nanoparticles and acid-sensitive silyl ether-based gemcitabine, targeted nanoparticles (IC50 = 1.8 × 10-2 nM) were far more potent than free gemcitabine (IC50 = 4.1 × 104 nM). Therefore, this system demonstrates the tremendous potential of targeted PRINT nanoparticles as advanced drug delivery agents

Identifying factors affecting work-integrated learning opportunities in exercise science and exercise physiology

Support from industry professionals is essential to meet the increasing demand for high-quality work-integrated learning (WIL) that forms a core component of university curriculum in various health professions. This qualitative study used an online survey to investigate the current landscape of exercise science and physiology WIL opportunities in Australia, building from a previous 2013 study. Factors were identified from 76 practicum supervisors that restrict and promote willingness to provide WIL opportunities, with recommendations made on how to better support and engage current and future supervisors. Fifteen factors were identified that influenced supervisor WIL engagement, with four factors reported as ‘promote’, six factors reported as ‘restrict’ and five factors identified as promoting and restricting. Using these findings, recommendations were made around five key issues related to supporting sustainable, engaging future WIL opportunities. An update was also provided on status of recommendations resulting from the 2013 research and remaining areas for action

A Mouse Keratin 1 Mutation Causes Dark Skin and Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis

Chemical mutagenesis in the mouse has increased the utility of phenotype-driven genetics as a means for studying different organ systems, developmental pathways, and pathologic processes. From a large-scale screen for dominant phenotypes in mice, a novel class of pigmentation mutants was identified by dark skin (Dsk). We describe a Dsk mutant, Dsk12, which models the human disease, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK). At 2 days of age, mutant animals exhibit intraepidermal blisters and erosions at sites of trauma, and by 2 weeks of age develop significant hyperkeratosis. We identified a missense mutation in mutant animals that predicts an S194P amino acid substitution in the 1A domain of Keratin 1, a known target for human mutations that cause EHK. Dsk12 recapitulates the gross pathologic, histologic, and genetic aspects of the human disorder, EHK

Falsification of home rapid antigen lateral flow tests during the COVID-19 pandemic

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lateral flow tests (LFTs) were used to regulate access to work, education, social activities, and travel. However, falsification of home LFT results was a concern. Falsification of test results during an ongoing pandemic is a sensitive issue. Consequently, respondents may not answer truthfully to questions about LFT falsification behaviours (FBs) when asked directly. Indirect questioning techniques such as the Extended Crosswise model (ECWM) can provide more reliable prevalence estimates of sensitive behaviors than direct questioning. Here we report the prevalence of LFT FBs in a representative sample in England (n = 1577) using direct questioning (DQ) and the ECWM. We examine the role of demographic and psychological variables as predictors of LFT FBs. We show that the prevalence estimates of the FBs in the DQ condition were significantly lower than the ECWM estimates, e.g., reporting a negative result without conducting a test: 5.7% DQ vs 18.4% ECWM. Moral norms, subjective norms, anticipated regret, perception of risk to self, and trust in government predicted some of the FBs. Indirect questioning techniques can help provide more realistic and higher quality data about compliance with behavioural regulations to government and public health agencies

Environmental surveillance identifies multiple introductions of MRSA CC398 in an Equine Veterinary Hospital in the UK, 2011-2016

Bacterial environmental and surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance was implemented from 2011-2016 in a UK Equine Referral Veterinary Hospital and identified 81 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. A cluster of MRSA SSIs occurred in early 2016 with the isolates confirmed as ST398 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), which prompted retrospective analysis of all MRSA isolates obtained from the environment (n = 62), SSIs (n = 13) and hand plates (n = 6) in the past five years. Sixty five of these isolates were typed to CC398 and a selection of these (n = 38) were further characterised for resistance and virulence genes, SCCmec and spa typing. Overall, MRSA was identified in 62/540 (11.5%) of environmental samples, 6/81 of the hand-plates (7.4%) and 13/208 of the SSIs (6.3%). spa t011 was the most frequent (24/38) and Based Upon Repeat Pattern (BURP) analysis identified spa t011 as one of the two group founders of the main spa CC identified across the five years (spa CC011/3423). However, 3 singletons (t073, t786, t064) were also identified suggesting separate introductions into the hospital environment. This long-term MRSA surveillance study revealed multiple introductions of MRSA CC398 in a UK Equine Hospital, identifying an emerging zoonotic pathogen so far only sporadically recorded in the UK

The Vehicle, December 1959, Vol. 1 no. 5

Vol. 1, No. 5 Table of Contents To The Readerpage 2 JudyRobert Mills Frenchpage 3 The FarmerRobert C. Millerpage 5 Bah! Humbug!The Skepticpage 5 Looking BackwardThe Optimistpage 7 Strangers in the TownAl Brookspage 7 Not Once OnlyA.B. Carterpage 8 OlogyRon Kellypage 8 SnowJean Nightingalepage 8 Moment of PowerJ.B. Youngpage 9 LifeRobert C. Millerpage 13 The Restless SeaRhonda McGowanpage 14 Approaching of the YuleRoger Perkinspage 14 The Old ModelMary Ellen Mockbeepage 15 \u27Tis the SeasonR.M.F.page 15 The Spirit of ChristmasKathleen Ferreepage 16 Christmas in the HeartKathleen Ferreepage 16 That\u27s BoysKathleen Ferreepage 16https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1001/thumbnail.jp