The future of North American trade policy: lessons from NAFTA

This repository item contains a single issue of the Pardee Center Task Force Reports, a publication series that began publishing in 2009 by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future.This Task Force Report written by an international group of trade policy experts calls for significant reforms to address adverse economic, environmental, labor and societal impacts created by the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The report is intended to contribute to the discussion and decisions stemming from ongoing reviews of proposed reforms to NAFTA as well as to help shape future trade agreements. It offers detailed proposals on topics including services, manufacturing, agriculture, investment, intellectual property, labor, environment, and migration. Fifteen years after NAFTA was enacted, there is widespread agreement that the trade treaty among the United States, Canada and Mexico has fallen short of its stated goals. While proponents credit the agreement with stimulating the flow of goods, services, and investment among the North American countries, critics in all three countries argue that this has not brought improvements in the standards of living of most people. Rather than triggering a convergence across the three nations, NAFTA has accentuated the economic and regulatory asymmetries that had existed among the three countries. [TRUNCATED

Survival of off-host unfed Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae in study arenas in relation to climatic factors and habitats in South Texas, USA

The cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say), is an economically destructive arthropod because of its ability to vector bovine babesiosis. Cattle fever ticks can spend more than 90% of their life cycle as questing larvae, but the effect of climatic factors on their off-host behavior and survival is unclear. The goal of this study was to measure the effects of specific ecological factors on off-host larvae in nature. The study was conducted in a south Texas pasture over a 20-mo period, during which time larval populations were surveyed and ambient weather variables - relative humidity and temperatures - were recorded. Oviposition success and larval survival varied between cattle fever tick cohorts and was affected by relative humidity and canopied (with tree cover) versus exposed habitat. The results show that relative humidity and the interaction of relative humidity and inhabiting canopied habitats play a key role in oviposition success. Additionally, canopied habitats have a positive influence on off-host larval survival in the spring and summer

Plasma oxylipins and unesterified precursor fatty acids are altered by DHA supplementation in pregnancy: Can they help predict risk of preterm birth?

Oxidized lipids derived from omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, collectively known as oxylipins, are bioactive signaling molecules that play diverse roles in human health and disease. Supplementation with n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy has been reported to decrease the risk of preterm birth in singleton pregnancies, which may be due to effects of DHA supplementation on oxylipins or their precursor n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. There is only limited understanding of the levels and trajectory of changes in plasma oxylipins during pregnancy, effects of DHA supplementation on oxylipins and unesterified fatty acids, and whether and how oxylipins and their unesterified precursor fatty acids influence preterm birth. In the present study we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to profile oxylipins and their precursor fatty acids in the unesterified pool using plasma samples collected from a subset of pregnant Australian women who participated in the ORIP (Omega-3 fats to Reduce the Incidence of Prematurity) study. ORIP is a large randomized controlled trial testing whether daily supplementation with n-3 DHA can reduce the incidence of early preterm birth compared to control. Plasma was collected at study entry (≈pregnancy week 14) and again at ≈week 24, in a subgroup of 48 ORIP participants-12 cases with spontaneous preterm (<37 weeks) birth and 36 matched controls with spontaneous term (≥40 weeks) birth. In the combined preterm and term pregnancies, we observed that in the control group without DHA supplementation unesterified AA and AA-derived oxylipins 12-HETE, 15-HETE and TXB2 declined between weeks 14-24 of pregnancy. Compared to control, DHA supplementation increased unesterified DHA, EPA, and AA, DHA-derived 4-HDHA, 10-HDHA and 19,20-EpDPA, and AA-derived 12-HETE at 24 weeks. In exploratory analysis independent of DHA supplementation, participants with concentrations above the median for 5-lipoxygenase derivatives of AA (5-HETE, Odds Ratio (OR) 8.2; p = 0.014) or DHA (4-HDHA, OR 8.0; p = 0.015) at 14 weeks, or unesterified AA (OR 5.1; p = 0.038) at 24 weeks had higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth. The hypothesis that 5-lipoxygenase-derived oxylipins and unesterified AA could serve as mechanism-based biomarkers predicting spontaneous preterm birth should be evaluated in larger, adequately powered studies

Temperature and time-dependent effects of delayed blood processing on oxylipin concentrations in human plasma.

BACKGROUND:Oxidized derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids, collectively known as oxylipins, are labile bioactive mediators with diverse roles in human physiology and pathology. Oxylipins are increasingly being measured in plasma collected in clinical studies to investigate biological mechanisms and as pharmacodynamic biomarkers for nutrient-based and drug-based interventions. Whole blood is generally stored either on ice or at room temperature prior to processing. However, the potential impacts of delays in processing, and of temperature prior to processing, on oxylipin concentrations are incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of delayed processing of blood samples in a timeframe that is typical of a clinical laboratory setting, using typical storage temperatures, on concentrations of representative unesterified oxylipins measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. DESIGN:Whole blood (drawn on three separate occasions from a single person) was collected into 5 mL purple-top potassium-EDTA tubes and stored for 0, 10, 20, 30, 60 or 120 min at room temperature or on wet ice, followed by centrifugation at 4 °C for 10 min with plasma collection. Each sample was run in duplicate, therefore there were six tubes and up to six data points at each time point for each oxylipin at each condition (ice/room temperature). Representative oxylipins derived from arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and linoleic acid were quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Longitudinal models were used to estimate differences between temperature groups 2 h after blood draw. RESULTS:We found that most oxylipins measured in human plasma in traditional potassium-EDTA tubes are reasonably stable when stored on ice for up to 2 h prior to processing, with little evidence of auto-oxidation in either condition. By contrast, in whole blood stored at room temperature, substantial time-dependent increases in the 12-lipoxygenase-derived (12-HETE, 14-HDHA) and platelet-derived (thromboxane B2) oxylipins were observed. CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that certain plasma oxylipins can be measured with reasonable accuracy despite delayed processing for up to 2 h when blood is stored on ice prior to centrifugation. 12-Lipoxygenase- and platelet-derived oxylipins may be particularly sensitive to post-collection artifact with delayed processing at room temperature. Future studies are needed to determine impacts of duration and temperature of centrifugation on oxylipin concentrations

Influence of Echocardiographic Guidance on Positioning of the Buttoned Occluder for Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73381/1/j.1540-8175.1996.tb00878.x.pd

Acondicionamiento del aula especializada de cultura física terapéutica y profiláctica.

La Disciplina Cultura Física Terapéutica constituida por las asignaturas de Control Médico, Cultura Física Terapéutica, Masaje, Actividad Física Adaptada, Natalidad y envejecimiento; por su importancia en la formación del profesional de Cultura Física, y su alto contenido práctico en la esfera de actuación, la lejanía de los servicios médicos, las continuas afectaciones de la jornada laboral, por tratamientos fuera de la universidad causado por patologías laborales y la carencia de instrumentos (medios rehabilitadores), equipos de medición, la disposición de un salón preparado con el inmobiliario requerido y establecido en las condiciones técnicas e higiénicas, con espalderas, bancos, espejos, colchones, pelotas medicinales, bastones, además de sabanas, toallas, talco, crema o aceite y otros aditamentos para las clases prácticas, lo anterior constata la necesidad de poseer un Aula Especializada en la Facultad de Cultura Física de la Universidad de la Isla de la Isla de la Juventud. Este acondicionamiento de un espacio docente permite brindar servicios básicos de rehabilitación a la Comunidad Universitaria y poblaciones cercanas, al reducir las afectaciones laborales por traslado fuera del centro, teniendo como efecto la disminución de los pagos por certificados médicos y aprovechamiento de la jornada laboral. Por otra parte favorece el proceso de formación inicial y posgraduada, permitiendo establecer el principio pedagógico de la inter relación de la teoría con la práctica y a su vez posibilite fomentar la investigación científica para el desarrollo de la Comunidad Universitaria y el sector del Deporte en el territorio.Palabras claves: Acondicionamiento, Cultura Física, Terapéutica, Profiláctica. AbstractThe discipline cultivates therapeutic physics constituted for the courses of medical control, cultivates therapeutic physics, massage, physical adapted activity, birthrate and aging; for your importance in the formation of the professional of physical culture, and your high practical content in the sphere of action, the distance of the medical services, the endless affectations of the workday, for treatments outside of the university caused for labor pathologies and the lack of instruments (rehabilitadoreses half), equipments of measurement, the disposition of a prepared salon with the real-estate required and established in the technical and hygienic conditions, with trellises, benches, mirrors, mattresses, medicine balls, canes, besides savannas, towels, talc, cream or oils and other additions for the practical classes, the previous verifies the need to possess a specialized classroom in the faculty of physical culture of the university of the island of the Isla de la Juventud. This conditioning of an educational space permits offer basic services of rehabilitation to the university community and near populations, when reducing the labor affectations for transfer outside of the center, by having as effect the diminution of the payments for medical certificates and use of the workday. On the other hand it favors the process of initial formation and graduated post, by permitting establish the pedagogic beginning of the inter report of the theory with the practice and in turn facilitates foment the scientific investigation for the development of the university community and the sector of the sport in the territory.Keywords: Conditioning, Physical Culture, Therapeutic, Prophylactic

Elemental Abundances of Kepler Objects of Interest in APOGEE. I. Two Distinct Orbital Period Regimes Inferred from Host Star Iron Abundances

The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) has observed $\sim$600 transiting exoplanets and exoplanet candidates from \textit{Kepler} (Kepler Objects of Interest, KOIs), most with $\geq$18 epochs. The combined multi-epoch spectra are of high signal-to-noise (typically $\geq$100) and yield precise stellar parameters and chemical abundances. We first confirm the ability of the APOGEE abundance pipeline, ASPCAP, to derive reliable [Fe/H] and effective temperatures for FGK dwarf stars -- the primary \textit{Kepler} host stellar type -- by comparing the ASPCAP-derived stellar parameters to those from independent high-resolution spectroscopic characterizations for 221 dwarf stars in the literature. With a sample of 282 close-in ($P<100$ days) KOIs observed in the APOGEE KOI goal program, we find a correlation between orbital period and host star [Fe/H] characterized by a critical period, $P_\mathrm{crit}$= $8.3^{+0.1}_{-4.1}$ days, below which small exoplanets orbit statistically more metal-enriched host stars. This effect may trace a metallicity dependence of the protoplanetary disk inner-radius at the time of planet formation or may be a result of rocky planet ingestion driven by inward planetary migration. We also consider that this may trace a metallicity dependence of the dust sublimation radius, but find no statistically significant correlation with host $T_\mathrm{eff}$ and orbital period to support such a claim.Comment: 18 Pages, Accepted to A

Recent Research on the Health Benefits of Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins

Awareness of the human health benefits of blueberries is underpinned by a growing body of positive scientific evidence from human observational and clinical research, plus mechanistic research using animal and in vitro models. Blueberries contain a large number of phytochemicals, including abundant anthocyanin pigments. Of their various phytochemicals, anthocyanins probably make the greatest impact on blueberry health functionality. Epidemiological studies associate regular, moderate intake of blueberries and/or anthocyanins with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, death, and type 2 diabetes, and with improved weight maintenance and neuroprotection. These findings are supported by biomarker-based evidence from human clinical studies. Among the more important healthful aspects of blueberries are their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions and their beneficial effects on vascular and glucoregulatory function. Blueberry phytochemicals may affect gastrointestinal microflora and contribute to host health. These aspects have implications in degenerative diseases and conditions as well as the aging process. More evidence, and particularly human clinical evidence, is needed to better understand the potential for anthocyanin-rich blueberries to benefit public health. However, it is widely agreed that the regular consumption of tasty, ripe blueberries can be unconditionally recommended

Estudo de biofilmes de kefir associado com gérmen de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merril)

The aim of this study was to investigate biofilm formation with kefir grains in the presence of soy extract. Kefir grains and soy germs at different concentrations were grown in the culture medium comprising brown sugar solution (40 gl-1) for 20 days. Biofilms that formed in this period were then removed and the pH of the culture medium were measured. Isoflavones of the medium of culture were extracted and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The superficial properties of the selected biofilms were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The culture medium after 20 days was found to have 19.59±3.57 µgl-1 of glycitein and 23.86±2.21 µgl-1 of genistein. The best concentration of kefir grains in order to extract isoflavone was 40 gl-1, with yield levels at 11.67 µgl-1 of glycitein and 17.78 µgl-1 of genistein. The analysis by AFM and SEM confirmed the increased roughness of the biofilm, dependent of the concentration of the amount of kefir grains. It is suggested that the biofilms incorporated the isoflavones and has potential for therapeutic applications in several pathologies wherein it is necessary the antioxidative processes.O principal objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a formação de biofilme com grãos de kefir na presença de extrato de soja. Diferentes concentrações de grãos de kefir e de gérmen de soja foram cultivados em meio de cultura constituido de solução de acúcar mascavo (40 gl-1) durante 20 dias. Os biofilmes formados neste período foram então removidos tendo sido determinado o pH do meio de cultura. As isoflavonas do meio de cultura foram extraidas e quantificadas por Cromotografia Líquida de Alta Perfomance (CLAP).  As propriedades superficiais dos biofilmes selecionados foram analisadas por microscopia de força atômica (AFM) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). O meio de cultura após 20 dias apresentou 19,59±3,57 µgl-1 de gliciteína e 23,86±2,21 µgl-1 de genisteína. A melhor concentração de grãos de kefir para extração de isoflavona foi de 40 gl-1, com níveis de rendimento de 11,67 µgl-1 de gliciteína e 17,78 µgl-1 de genisteína. A análise por AFM e MEV confirmou o aumento da rugosidade do biofilme, dependente da concentração da quantidade de grãos de kefir. Sugere-se que os biofilmes incorporam as isoflavonas e tem potencial para aplicações terapêuticas em diversas patologias em que se faz necessário os processos antioxidantes