Court of Appeal found no love for Topshop tank: the image right that dare not speak its name

This article contains an analysis of the first instance and appeal decisions of the "Rihanna" case. In particular, the authors consider the substantive law of passing off in the context of the unauthorised use of a celebrity’s image on a Topshop tank vest top. This is followed by a discussion of the consequences of the case for celebrities, consumers and stakeholders in the entertainment and fashion industries

Effects of Apamin and Charybdtoxin on Endothelium Independent Vasodilatation : Implications in the study of EDHF

Endothelial derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), together with endothelial derived NO and prostacyclin represent the major endogenous vasodilator hormone pathways (Coleman et al, 2004). Since the chemical nature of EDHF is uncertain, many studies have relied on pharmacological tools. Often EDHF described as the endothelial dependent dilation which is resistant to a combination of drugs that inhibit NO synthase (usually L-NAME) and cyclo-oxygenase (usually indomethacin) but abolished by those that block large and small Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa and SKCa; with charybdotoxin plus apamin respectively). This approach relies on each of these drugs being selective for endothelial dependent responses. In the current study we have taken a different approach to most and performed experiments where inhibitors were added to endothelium denuded vessels after dilators induced stable vasodilatation. Male Wistar rats (200 ± 15.4g) were killed by lethal exposure to CO2. Second order mesenteric arteries were mounted in isometric wire myographs and vasomotor responses recorded as described previously (Harrington and Mitchell, 2004). In some experiments vessels were contracted with EC80 concentration of U46619, dilation was then induced by the addition of 3x10-6M acetylcholine or 3x10-6M SNP. When either L-NAME (10-4M) or charybdotoxin (10-7M) plus apamin (5x10-7M) were added after acetylcholine the vasodilatation was immediately and completely reversed (Figure A and B respectively). In other experiments, endothelium independent vasodilation induced by SNP, were also reversed by charybdotoxin plus apamin, but not L-NAME. Figure A. Example trace of an artery re-contracting following the addition of L-NAME in pre-contracted arteries dilated with acetylcholine. Bar Graphs show re-contraction of arteries in response to L-NAME or charybdotoxin plus apamin (C+A) in arteries with endothelium, dilated with acetylcholine (Figure B) or without endothelium dilated with SNP (Figure C). This data demonstrates that charybdotoxin and apamin have pharmacological effects independent of the endothelium, at the level of smooth muscle cell function. These observations suggest results obtained with these drugs in relation to EDHF studies, should be treated with caution. Harrington L and Mitchell JA (2004) Br J Pharmacol 143: 611-617 Coleman et al (2004) Clin Ex Pharm Phys 31; 641-649Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The ‘EDHF’ Antagonist 14, 15 Epoxyeicosa-5(Z)-Enoic Acid has Vasodilator Properties in Mesenteric Vessels

There is now overwhelming evidence for Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) as endothelial derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF). Most recently, a number of pharmacological tools have been developed for the study of EETs in relation to EDHF responses. EETs have been shown to cause relaxation by activating smooth muscle large conductance Ca2+ sensitive K+ (BKCa) (Archer et al, 2003). This dilatory response has been shown to be specifically inhibited by its analogue 14, 15-epoxyeicosa-5 (Z) enoic acid (14, 15 EEZE) in both human internal mammary artery and bovine coronary artery (Archer et al, 2003). Here we have investigated the antagonist effects of 14, 15 EEZE in murine arteries. Male Black 6 mice (12-18 weeks) were killed by lethal exposure to CO2. First order arteries were isolated and mounted in wire myographs immersed in physiological salt solution (PSS). Arteries were equilibrated (30 mins) and tensions normalised as described previously (Mulvany and Halpern, 1977). Arteries incubated for 30 minutes with or without 3µg/ml 14, 15 EEZE. A concentration response curve to 11, 12 EET was performed cumulatively on arteries pre-contracted with EC80 U46619. In some experiments, arteries were pre-contracted with EC80 U46619, and concentration response to 14, 15 EEZE performed cumulatively.Non peer reviewe

Nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation is compromised in isolated pulmonary arteries from COX knockout mice

Cyclooxygenase (COX) has two isoforms and is essential for prostanoid synthesis. COX-1 is constitutive whilst COX-2 is induced in inflammation. Two COX products, prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TxA2), regulate vessel tone; PGI2 mediates vasodilation and platelet inhibition, and TxA2 opposes this. PGI2 therapies are used in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Endogenous TxA2/PGI2 has been linked to PAH in animal models, but the mechanism and isoform involved is debated. We hypothesized that pulmonary artery (PA) from COX-1–/– and COX-2–/– mice would have altered vasodilatory function compared with wild-type (WT; C57Bl6) mice. Vasomotor responses to contractile and relaxant agents were measured by myography. PA from all mice responded similarly to contraction by high potassium or the TxA2 mimetic, U46619. Relaxation to PGI2 receptor or PPARβ/ agonists was also similar in all PAs. However, COX-1–/– and, to a lesser extent, COX-2–/– PA had impaired vasodilation to acetylcholine (ACh), which stimulates endothelial nitric oxide (NO) release, and COX-1–/– PA also dilated less to sodium nitroprusside (SNP); an NO donor that works on smooth muscle (Fig 1). These data indicate an interaction between COX and NO sensing pathways in pulmonary vessels, and have implications for our understanding of PAH.Non peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

A Study of the Correlation between the Articulation Competence Index (ACI) and the Percentage of Words Understood in the Continuous Speech of 4- and 5-year-olds of Varying Phonological Competence

Intelligibility refers to how recognizable a speaker\u27s words are to the listener. Severity, a broader but closely related concept, incorporates intelligibility, disability, and handicap. Many factors influence intelligibility, including speech sound production, voice, and prosody, as well as a number of linguistic and contextual factors. Clinicians and researchers in the field of speechlanguage pathology require accurate measures of intelligibility and severity to assess and describe communicative functioning and to measure change over time. Determining the most accurate and efficient measurement approaches has been the focus of recent attention in the field. This study was a preliminary investigation of the relationship between the Articulation Competence Index (ACI), a severity metric, and the percentage of words understood in continuous speech, the standard measure of intelligibility. Specifically, the study addressed the research question: Is there a significant correlation between the Articulation Competence Index (ACI) and percentage of words understood in samples of continuous speech of 4- and 5-year-olds with varying levels of phonological competence? Subjects were thirty 4- and 5-year-olds from the Portland metropolitan area. Four listeners calculated percentage-of-words scores for each child\u27s 100-word speech sample. These scores were compared to ACI scores calculated by the investigator for each of the samples. The data were analyzed using the Pearson productmoment correlation (Pearson£). A moderately strong correlation (£ = .71 to .81) was found between the ACI and percentage of words understood. Squaring the correlation coefficients resulted in values for £ 2 of .50 to .66, indicating that the ACI accounts for more than half the variability of continuous speech intelligibility

Barriers to Implementation of Energy Conservation Opportunities in Food Service Facilities

In 1978, expenditures for energy resources represented approximately 8% of the total operating budget in food service facilities (Barclay, 1979; Skaggs, 1980). Due to increasing energy costs, erratic availability of energy supply, environmental restrictions, federal and state regulations, energy management programs take on special significance. Energy management programs, which can include energy audits, frequently lead to a 10-30% reduction of energy consumption and subsequent cost reductions (Snyder and Symonds, 1977; Shirley and Turner, 1978). The audit permits an opportunity to determine potential energy conservation opportunities (ECO\u27s). The purposes of this study were to determine the extent of exposure to energy audits in selected hospital dietary departments and college/university food services; to identify major barriers to implementation of ECO\u27s in these facilities which have been exposed to audits; to establish the reasons why barriers exist which prevent directors of these facilities from implementing ECO\u27s; and to establish reasons why energy audits have not been conducted in these facilities. The above objectives were intended to assist federal, state, and local energy policy makers in understanding and overcoming these barriers to implementation of ECO\u27s. Three hundred and seven energy conservation questionnaires were sent to 212 hospitals and 95 colleges/universities which were randomly selected from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. A followup letter and questionnaire were sent to the facilities not responding within a designated period of time. Thirty-four percent of the facilities responded to the questionnaire. Approximately 23% of these respondents had conducted an energy audit. Respondents from the nonaudited facilities were not familiar with an energy audit or did not have someone on staff qualified to carry out an audit. The replies seem to indicate that energy information and training need to be made available by government organizations and trade and industry associations. The results indicated that 69.8% of the recommended ECO\u27s had been implemented. The major barriers to implementation of these ECO\u27s were cost of equipment, expense of borrowing money, lengthy payback period, and production schedule interruption. This survey provides data that could be utilized by energy policy makers to understand and overcome these barriers to implementation of ECO\u27s

Creating Campus Climates that are Free from Sexual Harassment: Implications for Leaders in Higher Education

Based upon the preponderance of research which strongly indicates that sexual harassment is a serious problem for females in academia, the purpose of this study was to identify effective strategies for creating campus climates that are free from sexual harassment. In order to realistically bound the project, the study focused specifically upon the issue as it relates to undergraduate and graduate female students. The Delphi method, designed to generate solutions to complex problems, was the method of choice. Eighteen identified experts from thirteen campuses of The California State University participated as panelists and completed three rounds of surveys. The surveys were designed to identify 1) changes needed to create campus climates that are free from sexual harassment, 2) needed differences for undergraduate and graduate students, 3) strategies being used in higher education to reduce sexual harassment, 4) problems encountered when these strategies are implemented, 5) techniques that have been used to determine the effectiveness of these strategies and, 6) innovative strategies that could be developed for the 21st century. The results of the study were used to create a model for educational leaders who are committed to establishing campus climates that are free from sexual harassment. The model includes recommendations which address the problem from two levels. The first level addresses the sexual harassment of female students and includes a recommended definition of sexual harassment, suggested policies and procedures, and guidelines for establishing a sexual harassment task force, educating the campus community, and assessing the campus climate regarding sexual harassment. Additionally, recommendations are made on a second broader level which address gender inequities in higher education in general. These recommendations include enhancing the visibility of women on campus, empowering women\u27s voices in academia, and creating non-violent and non-exploitive campus climates

Role of the endothelium and COX-1 in prostacyclin generation by whole vessels stimulated with different agonists

Prostacyclin is an important cardioprotective hormone produced by the vascular wall, whose synthesis is dependent on cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes. In healthy vessels the endothelium is thought to be the main site of prostacyclin release (Moncada et al 1977). Two isoforms of COX exist, and we have recently published data demonstrating that it is COX-1 rather than COX-2 that drives the production of prostacyclin in mouse aorta (Kirkby et al 2012). In this study we aimed to extend these observations by investigating what proportion of the COX-1 driven aortic prostacyclin production that comes from the endothelium versus the rest of the vessel wall (smooth muscle layers and adventitia). To do this, we explored how removal of the endothelium would influence the ability of aortic tissue to release prostacyclin in response to a range of agonists that are known to activate the endothelium and the vessel wallNon peer reviewe