text:
The three Navy SEAL snipers who killed the pirates off the coast of Somalia last weekend were lucky the buccaneers were gullible enough to allow their lifeboat to be towed farther out to sea by the U.S.S. Bainbridge. The shortened towline turned what could have been a trio of difficult shots across hundreds of yards of ocean into relatively easy 30-yd. pops. It's a safe bet future pirates won't be so naive. But the Pentagon is drawing up a project to make it easier to hit targets at much longer distances: a super-sniper rifle called the EXACTO, short for EXtreme ACcuracy Tasked Ordnance.
The highly-classified EXACTO program began a year ago, when the U.S. military's band of scientists and engineers at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) which played a key role in the creation of both the Internet and GPS let the military-industrial complex know it was seeking a supergun. "The ability to more accurately prosecute targets at significantly longer range would provide a dramatic new capability to the U.S. military," DARPA'S solicitation for bids said. "The use of an actively controlled bullet will make it possible to counter environmental effects such as crosswinds and air density, and prosecute both stationary and moving targets while enhancing shooter covertness." (See pictures of dramatic pirate-hostage rescues.)
The new .50 caliber gun and improved scope could employ "fire and forget" technologies including "fin-stabilized projectiles, spin-stabilized projectiles, internal and/or external aero-actuation control methods, projectile guidance technologies, tamper proofing, small stable power supplies, and advanced sighting, optical resolution and clarity technologies." In other words, bullets that, once fired at a specific target, fly themselves into it by changing shape. The new gun should be no heavier than the combined 46-lb. weight of the current $11,500 M107 sniper rifle and all its associated gear (including ammo, tripod, scope and slide rules for target calculations). (See pictures of the brazen pirates of Somalia.)
In November, DARPA awarded Lockheed Martin $12.3 million and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging $9.5 million to begin work on the new weapon. If various technical hurdles are cleared, it could be available sometime around 2015.
DARPA says the Pentagon needs the vastly improved rifle because the use of snipers has ballooned from 250 to 800 annually. The sharpshooters require extensive and expensive training all of which could be reduced with a better gun. Snipers "are unable to take a shot the vast majority of the time" because of wind or other weather factors, and a lack of confidence in their ability to hit the target or flee if detected. Those shortcomings could be greatly reduced by the new longer-range rifle. How much longer range? "Specific system performance objectives (e.g., range, accuracy and target speed) are classified," the solicitation said. (See pictures of America's gun culture.)
Army Captain Keith Bell, former commander of the Army sniper school at Fort Benning, Ga., can't wait to get his hands on the new rifle. "The EXACTO would be revolutionary," he says. "It will more than double our range and probably more than double our accuracy." Current sniper rifles can regularly hit trucks at 2,000 meters, but not bad guys. (The record kill is 2,430 meters, just over 1.5 miles. It was charted by Canadian army corporal Rob Furlong against a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan's Shah-i-kot valley during Operation Anaconda in March 2002 but his first two shots missed.) "There's no limit as far as I can see so long as the bullet's stable I think 2,000 or 2,500 meters is very attainable," Bell says.
"Right now, anything past around 800 meters is an extremely tough shot," he added during a satellite telephone interview from Mosul, Iraq. "But this EXACTO will take the effects of wind, elevation and humidity all out of play." Bell spends his days training Iraqis as snipers and for other elements of the martial arts. Did he hear about what the Navy snipers did on Sunday? "Sure did," he said. "I'm jealous as hell."
See pictures of modern-day pirates.


text:
Self Drying Shampoo
Angelwax ANGELWASH has been formulated to break the bond between dirt and your vehicles paint surface quickly, safely and to be completely self drying after the vehicle has been rinsed.
The lush foam gently cleans even the most delicate clear coat surface without scratching and leaves a highly reflective surface once the vehicle has been rinsed.
ANGELWASH encapsulates and lubricates the dirt on the bodywork to ensure that these particles are removed in the safest way possible.
The self drying aspect of Angelwax ANGELWASH ensures that the water will evaporate evenly from the bodywork which, in turn, prevents spotting and other water marks that may occur when a vehicle is left to dry.
As with all of the Angelwax range, our pH-neutral formulation is completely wax safe, guaranteeing any wax protection your have previously applied to your vehicle will not be affected.
- App two capfuls of Angelwax ANGELWASH to a bucket of clean, tepid water and agitate to create a creamy lather.
- Wash the vehicle.
- After washing the vehicle, rinse very thoroughly and allow the vehicle to self dry.
For best results, pre wash the vehicle with Angelwax cleanliness before shampooing. After allowing the vehicle to 'self dry' finish with Angelwax QED.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dancing with Light
Alan Shapiro is the remarkable photographer, whom I met on Google+, who introduced me to this idea. It combined fun music, my young daughter Lizzie, glow sticks bought in bulk on Amazon, long exposures, and dancing in the dark bonus room during cold winter nights. It was so much fun, and the memories Lizzie and I created during those sessions will last forever.Read More


text:
By switching from Windows to LiMux, its own Linux distribution, the German city of Munich has saved over €11 million ($14.3 million) to date compared to the costs of a similar migration to a more modern Microsoft-based IT infrastructure.
The city government estimated that Migrating from Windows 2000 to a combination of Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 would have cost it a little over €34 million in total. Switching to LiMux and the OpenOffice.org desktop productivity suite has cost it €22.8 million, according to a cost comparison published last week that detailed the cost of migrating 11,000 users to open source applications on Linux.
The city also calculated the costs of a possible migration to Windows 7 and OpenOffice. That step would have amounted to €29.9 million.
These figures include the cost of software licenses, necessary hardware upgrades, training, external migration support and optimization processes, among other things.
Migrating to LiMux allowed the city to save €6.8 million on software licenses compared to migrating to Microsoft Office on Windows 7, and to avoid €4.7 million in hardware upgrade costs because LiMux runs on the city's existing hardware, the city said in the document.
In the OpenOffice-on-Windows scenario, new hardware, licenses and application migration would have cost €7.4 million.
One budget line on which LiMux cost more than Windows was the migration of a development system for database-based web applications. Migrating this to LiMux cost €273,132, around five times what it would have cost under the two Windows options.
Munich started the LiMux project in 2004 and began migrating from Windows NT to a fully open source desktop infrastructure in 2006, but most PCs being migrated to LiMux right now are equipped with Windows 2000, said Joachim Schuler, migration coordinator of the LiMux project.
The city of Munich has extended OpenOffice with an in-house tool it calls WollMux, which adds features including templates, forms and letterheads. The city uses ODF (OpenDocument Format) as its document interchange standard.
Munich is planning to migrate from a now-outdated version of OpenOffice, 3.2.1, to LibreOffice next year, said Schuler. After Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, which then managed the OpenOffice.org project, some OpenOffice developers forked the code to create LibreOffice. Oracle has since contributed the OpenOffice.org project to the Apache Foundation.
As of January the city had 15,000 desktops running the Firefox browser, Thunderbird mail client and OpenOffice productivity suite rather than Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Outlook and Office. Migration of the underlying OS is taking a little longer. From 11,000 desktops at the time the cost study was prepared, the number of desktops running LiMux has now reached 12,600 and by the end of the year the city plans to have migrated 13,000 of the total of 15,500 desktops.
Schuler hopes to reach 14,000 LiMux systems next year, but says that because the city will be unable to migrate some programs, there will always be some machines running Windows. Most of those are now running Windows XP, and the city plans to upgrade them to Windows 7.
Munich's experience sharply contrasts with that of Freiburg, another German city that ventured down the open source path. Last week its city council decided to dump a combination of an outdated version of OpenOffice and Microsoft Office 2000 and switch to Microsoft Office 2010.
Compatibility problems and underperforming spreadsheet and presentation programs in the open source office suite aggravated and frustrated employees left the council's hopes for OpenOffice unfulfilled, it said. These were important reasons to contemplate Microsoft Office, which was the only viable option, the council said.
Open source advocates attempted to sway the council's decision by calling for the government to give updated versions of OpenOffice or its LibreOffice counterpart a chance and pointing out Munich's open source adoption.
Loek is Amsterdam Correspondent and covers online privacy, intellectual property, open-source and online payment issues for the IDG News Service. Follow him on Twitter at @loekessers or email tips and comments to firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Anti-gay laws undermine fight against HIV/AIDS in Caribbean – expertsPublished on Wednesday, 09 April 2014 09:40
BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Anti-gay laws and cultural attitudes are preventing the most vulnerable people accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes in parts of the Caribbean, UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has said. With adult HIV prevalence at about one percent of the population, the Caribbean has the second highest infection rate of HIV/AIDS in the world after sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNAIDS.
An estimated 250,000 people, including children, are infected with the virus in the Caribbean. Better access to drugs that can both prevent and treat the incurable human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS has cut the death toll and led to a sharp decline in new HIV infections in the Caribbean and worldwide since 2001. But populations at high risk of getting HIV/AIDS – men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, injecting drug users, homeless people and prisoners – are still not being reached and face obstacles in getting access to antiretroviral therapy because of homophobic attitudes and traditional beliefs prevalent in parts of the Caribbean, experts say. ANTI-SODOMY LAWS "When you get 12 countries, mostly in the English-speaking Caribbean, that penalise homosexuality you get a sense of a culture and the nature of a society and how difficult it is to propose prevention of HIV/AIDS in those settings," said Cesar Nunez, head of UNAIDS for Latin America.
Most former British colonies in the Caribbean have anti-sodomy laws dating back to the colonial era, and Belize, Guyana and Jamaica have "very strong legislation against homosexual behaviour," Nunez said. In Jamaica, for example, the Offenses Against the Person Act makes anal sex a crime, regardless of gender or consent. Though such laws are rarely put into practice, their continued presence on the books sustains the stigma attached to homosexuality. "There's usually a religious and moral tone to the laws too. This has prevented people suffering HIV access to healthcare. Discrimination means that people (with HIV) don't come back for check-ups and they drop out of therapy," Nunez told Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview from Quito, Ecuador. CULTURAL NORMS Traditional beliefs in countries such as Belize and Honduras which hold that HIV/AIDS is a curse can heighten discrimination against people living with the virus, making it harder for them to get life-saving treatment. "In Belize, HIV/AIDS is seen as some sort of a curse, an evil sent by ancestors as a punishment," Nunez said. Speaking ahead of a regional meeting with representatives from UNAIDS and the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS in Jamaica's capital, Kingston, this week, Silvio Martinelli of the Global Fund said tackling discrimination against the people most at risk from HIV/AIDS was a priority.
"Civil society groups, lawmakers, health ministers and churches will work together to define roadmaps to reform discriminatory laws that are making it hard to put HIV services in reach of vulnerable groups," said Martinelli, Latin America and the Caribbean manager for the public-private fund that accounts for around a quarter of international financing to fight HIV/AIDS. Accessing more people living with HIV/AIDS with a cocktail of drugs known as antiretroviral therapy, or ART, is important because not only does the treatment suppress the virus and improve wellbeing, it also reduces the chances of HIV transmission to others. "The next step is to find those people who don't get treatment and those who don't know their status," said Martinelli in a telephone interview.
Unprotected sex between men, and between men and women, especially paid sex, are the main ways HIV is spread in the Caribbean, according to UNAIDS. HIV prevalence among sex workers is considerably higher than in the general population across the Caribbean, the U.N. agency says. In the Dominican Republic, for example, HIV prevalence among sex workers is 4.7 percent compared to the national prevalence of 0.7 percent, UNAIDS figures show. "The focus needs to be on key populations, the ones with the highest prevalence of HIV. We need to look for where the disease is and not just work in urban areas," Nunez said. He added the Kingston meeting would also look at how Latin America's largest economies – Brazil, Argentina and Mexico – could pick up more of the cost of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programmes in the Caribbean where national governments cover only a fraction of the costs.
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation


text:
Mass transit is about to get greener here in Southern California. Here's the news release from Metrolink:
Metrolink to buy newest, cleanest locomotives
Cleaner engines will provide more horsepower, greater operational efficiency
LOS ANGELES – The Metrolink Board of Directors authorized the agency to enter into a contract to secure Tier 4 locomotives at its Dec. 14, 2012, meeting.
The revolutionary locomotives are expected to reduce emissions by 86 percent.
"This is a significant milestone in Metrolink's efforts to operate the most efficient and environmentally friendly commuter rail system in the nation," said Board Chair Richard Katz. "It demonstrates our commitment to our neighbors and to doing our part to clean up the air in Southern California."
At this point, Metrolink is on pace to become the first in the country to achieve Tier 4 status in revenue service.
The procurement of the locomotives and the contract with Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) is contingent upon the securing of project funds, while Friday's Board decision is the latest step of a lengthy process. The first three demonstration locomotives are scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2015.
The locomotive upgrades will have system wide benefits and help reduce emissions in the surrounding communities. In addition, these locomotives will have greater horsepower that can increase capacity by adding more train cars to a set.
The phased-approach contract includes a base order of 10 locomotives, plus an option to purchase up to 10 additional locomotives. Metrolink has allocated $129.4 million for the purchase of the locomotives.
The overall program will allow Metrolink to eventually secure 20 new Tier 4 locomotives. The Board's decision also committed Metrolink to the testing of alternative fuel sources in future operations. Metrolink will make the first locomotives replaced by the new Tier 4s available to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for the purposes of experimentation with various alternative fuel technologies expected to be commercially available in the next decade.
These technologies include, but are not limited to, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and battery technology. Metrolink will continue to work collaboratively with its funding partners in this pursuit.
For additional details on Metrolink, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com.
ABOUT METROLINK (www.metrolinktrains.com)
Metrolink is Southern California's regional commuter rail service in its 20th year of operation. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the seventh largest based on annual ridership.
Categories: Transportation News


text:
Google Inc launched a same-day delivery service in the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday as the world's largest Internet search company works with retailers such as Target Corp to compete more with e-commerce leader Amazon.com Inc.
Google has been testing the service, called Google Shopping Express, with employees for a few months. The company opened it up to the public on Thursday morning in a limited launch focused on San Francisco residents and others living south of the city from San Mateo to San Jose.
Shoppers who sign up will get six months of free, same-day delivery of online orders placed with select retailers in the area. Google plans to charge for the service in the future, but it has not decided how much yet.
Companies taking part in the test include national retailers such as Target, Office Depot Inc, Staples Inc and Toys 'R' Us Inc and smaller, local firms such as Blue Bottle Coffee and Palo Alto Toy & Sport.
Google is working with local courier companies that pick up products from local stores and deliver them to shoppers' homes.
Google Shopping Express is the latest sign the company is expanding from its online search roots into e-commerce, where it is competing more with Amazon, the world's largest Internet retailer.
By getting into local delivery services, Google is joining an increasingly crowded field.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, is testing a same-day delivery service called Walmart To Go in five metro areas.
EBay Inc launched a same-day delivery service in San Francisco and New York last year.


text:
Every manager wants a team of dedicated employees. And yet, many bosses fail to do their part to make this happen. Here are two things you can do for your employees to earn their commitment:
Put their needs before yours. Treat them justly and do what's right for them and the organization, not just what works for you personally. Give them opportunities to excel, and provide support if they fail. Be willing to take personal risks for the right employee. This will generate loyalty for years to come.
Give them autonomy. Freedom can exponentially increase an employee's excitement. Make sure their passions align with the organizational direction, and give them some high-level boundaries, resources, and introductions to make it happen. Then remove obstacles and help them handle challenges. Most importantly, always give them credit for their success.
Source: Harvard Business Publishing : Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Four Lessons From the Best Bosses I Ever Had" by Deborah Mills-Scofield.


text:
Risa Bramon Garcia give her views on how to work the casting director's room from her career experience
I found this piece at Backstage.com Didn't change a word.Casting directors are your advocates and your champions. Your work reflects on us. Your wonderful work makes us look good and gets that role cast. Your disconnected, tentative, muddled work does nothing for anyone. We need you to be great. We're here to host your experience and shepherd you in, not hold you back. We want to share in your excellent work.
Casting directors await you on the other side of that door – the door that you can seen as a gateway or a barricade. While you turn it into a horror movie, it's your stage, not a torture chamber. Whether it's a pre-read for an associate or a full-blown director/producer callback session, this is your time, your experience. This is your opportunity to do exceptional work. Enter the space and do the work for yourself, for the gratification of the work itself, and yes, to collaborate with the other creative people waiting to figure it out with you. They can't do it without you.
Here are some choices (and they are choices) to make any casting director truly happy in the room.
1. Accept the invitation with grace and enthusiasm. You were requested to be here as our guest.
2. Come to work and not to please or get our approval.
3. Enter with certainty. Don't give up your power as soon as the door opens.
4. Play on a level playing field. We're all figuring it out. Together.
5. Make no excuses whatsoever. Leave your baggage outside. Better yet, at home.
6. Make the room your own. It will make us so much more comfortable.
7. Ask questions only when you truly need answers. "Do you have any questions?" is usually another way of saying: "Are you ready?" You aren't required to have one.
8. Know your words and understand what you're talking about. You don't have to be totally off-book, but if you've spent quality time with the material, you're going to know it.
9. Do your homework on the project. This includes knowing all the players and the show or film's tone and style. Read all the material you can get your hands on.
10. Make choices and take responsibility for the choices you make.
11. Don't apologize. Ever. For anything.
12. Know what you want to do and do it. Then leave yourself available to make discoveries. Know that your homework is done. Now let your preparation meet the moments.
13. Don't mime or busy yourself with props, activity, or blocking. Keep it simple.
14. Don't expect to be directed, but if you are, take the direction, no matter what it is. Understand how to translate results-oriented direction into action.
15. Don't blame the reader. Make the reader the star of your audition. According to my teaching partner Steve Braun, you should engage fully no matter who's reading those lines. Likely your reader will engage – at least somewhat – if you show up.
16. Make specific, personal, bold choices. We want your unique voice to bring the script to life.
17. Stillness is powerful. Understand how to move and work in front of the camera – eliminate running in and out and getting up and down.
18. Require no stroking, coddling, or love. We're there to work. Don't take it personally when we're not touchy-feely. Know that we love actors and that's truly why we're here.
19. Understand that you're there to collaborate. You're being evaluated in terms of how you serve the role and the material. It's not a verdict on your personhood. Judgment is something you can control.
20. What you bring in reflects how you're received so bring in joy, conviction, and ease, and our hearts will open.
21. Share your artistry above all else.
Remember that we're all human in those rooms, and you can affect us on an emotional level. It's what we all really want. That's your job. You being fully present, truthful, personal, and vulnerable is going to give us the ammunition we need to champion you with all our hearts. We all desperately want you to do great work. We're rooting for that every time you walk into the room. You show up and do your fullest, deepest work, and we'll slay dragons for you and follow you anywhere. And man, we'll be so happy doing it. You have the power to make that happen. For you. For us. For the work. Hallelujah!
Risa Bramon Garcia runs a Studio for Actors in L.A. with partner, Steve Braun, The BGB Studio - Bramon Garcia Braun (link), dedicated to actors' whole journey, connecting craft with career. New summer classes and workshops are starting in June. http://bramongarciabraun.com/


text:
Deputy struck, police dog punched during struggle
LA CROSSE, WI (AP) — A La Crosse man is accused of hitting a sheriff's deputy and punching a police dog.
Charges filed Tuesday in La Crosse County Circuit Court say the deputy responded to a disturbance in Holmen last week where Chad Kowalke was accused of punching a woman and pushing a man.
The deputy says he found Kowalke hiding in some bushes and told him the police dog would attack if he didn't surrender. A criminal complaint says Kowalke began punching the dog which bit him in the face. Authorities say the deputy was struck in the face by the suspect.
Kowalke was taken to a local hospital where he resisted treatment and spit in an officer's eye. Kowalke has been charged with ten crimes. A defense attorney was not listed in court documents.


text:
THE ROLE OF AIR POLLUTANTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RELEASE DATE: September 10, 2003 RFA Number: RFA-ES-03-010 Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov) EPA's Office of Research and Development (EPA) (http://www.epa.gov/ord) COMPONENTS OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov) National Center for Environmental Research (EPA) (http://www.epa.gov/ncer) CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER(S): 93.113, 93.837, 66.509 LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: November 19, 2003 APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: December 19, 2003 THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION o Purpose of this RFA o Research Objectives o Mechanism(s) of Support o Funds Available o Eligible Institutions o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators o Special Requirements o Where to Send Inquiries o Letter of Intent o Submitting an Application o Supplementary Instructions o Peer Review Process o Review Criteria o Receipt and Review Schedule o Award Criteria o Required Federal Citations PURPOSE OF THIS RFA The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invite research applications to address the mechanisms by which air pollutants, especially particulate matter, contribute to the development, progression, or exacerbation of cardiovascular disease. The major purposes of this initiative are to: o support innovative, multidisciplinary in vitro and in vivo research, in laboratory animals and humans, on the specific cellular, molecular, and physiologic mechanisms by which air pollutants mediate adverse cardiovascular effects; o identify and investigate factors, such as age, pre-existing disease, and genetics, that make individuals more susceptible to the cardiovascular effects of air pollutants; and o encourage collaboration between cardiovascular researchers and environmental health researchers in the application of the state-of- the-art tools and models to the problem of environmentally related cardiovascular disease. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. According to the American Heart Association's "Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2003 Update," in 2000 CVD caused nearly 40% of all deaths, and was listed as primary or contributing cause in about 60 percent. Furthermore, although overall death rates from heart disease and stroke declined in the 1980s and 1990s, heart failure emerged as a major chronic disease for older adults. In addition to age, "traditional" risk factors for CVD include lifestyle (such as smoking, physical inactivity, and diet), serum lipids, gender, race, and family history (genetics). However, these risk factors do not fully explain the etiology or incidence of CVD, and recent data have indicated that exposure to air pollutants is also a risk factor. The strongest and most consistent association between air pollution exposure and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been seen for ambient particulate matter. Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets that vary in size and origin. It represents a broad class of chemically and physically diverse substances. The concentration of PM in air varies across space and time and is related to the source of the PM and the transformations that occur in the atmosphere. Particles are generally classified into three aerodynamic categories: Coarse PM (between 2.5 and 10 microns) is typically derived from attrition, erosion, or dispersion of soil, road dust and construction debris or agglomeration of smaller combustion particles. Ultrafine (smaller than 0.1 micrometers in diameter) and fine PM (less than 2.5 micrometers) are emitted or formed from combustion products of fossil fuels (e.g., from vehicle engines, power plants, and refineries) and contain sulfate, nitrate, chloride and ammonium compounds, carbon (soot), a spectrum of organic compounds, and metals. (For additional information on ambient PM, go to http://www.epa.gov/oar/aqtrnd97/brochure/pm10.html.) Large prospective epidemiologic studies have shown that living in areas with higher levels of ambient particulate matter (PM) is associated with an increased risk of premature cardiopulmonary death. For example, the Harvard Six-Cities study followed 8111 subjects from six cities with varying levels of air pollution for 6 years, and reported a significant difference in the adjusted mortality-rate ratios for all- cause and cardiopulmonary deaths between the most and least polluted cities in the study. Likewise, the American Cancer Society study followed over 500,000 individuals from all 50 states and reported a 6% increase in cardiopulmonary deaths for every 10 micrograms/m3 elevation in PM. Time series and panel studies of daily mortality and hospital admissions have also found a significant association with daily fluctuations in ambient particulate matter concentrations. Improved air quality appears to correlate with a decrease in cardiopulmonary mortality. A ban on coal sales in Dublin in 1990 resulted in a 35.6 microgram/m3 (70%) average reduction in PM. Adjusted death rates for respiratory and cardiovascular deaths over the 6-year period after the ban declined by 15.5% and 10.3%, respectively, as compared to the 6-year period before the ban. The mechanisms by which PM, or other air pollutants, cause these toxic effects are not adequately understood, and it is likely that different mechanisms are responsible for acute and chronic effects. In addition, PM consists of many different components, and different components may affect cardiovascular disease by different mechanisms. Anomalous stimulation of the autonomic nervous system, perhaps via stimulation of afferent nerve endings in the lung, has been proposed as one mechanism by which PM acutely affects cardiac physiology. Cardiac responses to PM that have been reported in humans include increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, increased ST-segment depression greater than 0.1 mV during mild exercise among subjects with established coronary heart disease, and increased discharge of implanted cardiac-defibrillators. Studies of laboratory animals exposed to concentrated ambient particulate matter and other types of PM have found acute changes in cardiac function, including elevation of the S-T segment, arrhythmia, increased pulmonary artery systolic pressure, decreased cardiac output, decreased stroke volume, and shortened refractory period. Other mechanisms may also play a role in PM-induced adverse cardiovascular outcomes. For instance, inflammatory and pro- inflammatory changes in the lung have been suggested as contributing to PM-related CVD. It has been proposed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other active compounds such as inflammatory cytokines, which are produced in the lung after exposure to PM, might be transported to the heart and vascular tissues and exert detrimental effects there or might stimulate other organs such as the liver to produce compounds that affect the cardiovascular system. For example, elevated levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory protein associated with risk of CVD, have been associated with exposure to increased levels of PM in humans. Likewise, exposure of humans and laboratory animals to particulate material resulted in changes in blood coagulation proteins (e.g., fibrinogen) and platelets that may lead to a hypercoagulable state. Recent progress also indicates that thrombosis and inflammation are closely related and interactive processes, and one may influence the other. Atherosclerosis is a common pathologic condition in most adults that underlies many other cardiovascular diseases. There is evidence that PM exposure might hasten the development of this condition. For instance, in atherosclerosis-prone Watanabe rabbits, instillation of suspended PM collected from the ambient environment enhanced the progression of atherosclerosis. Likewise, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo(a)pyrene, which are components of indoor and outdoor air pollution, have been shown in vitro to alter the redox environment in vascular walls, activating signaling pathways that can lead to proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, one of the hallmarks of atherosclerotic changes in the vessel wall. In addition, certain aldehydes, such as acrolein and butadiene, are cardiovascular toxicants and have been shown to induce proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells as well. These aldehydes are present in some work environments and in ambient air, and several are listed as hazardous air pollutants in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (section 112(b)). Research has also indicated that some individuals and groups are more susceptible to the effects of PM than others. Epidemiologic studies have identified individuals with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, elderly individuals, and children as being at greater risk for adverse effects from PM exposure. For instance, a recent study showed a higher risk of PM-related cardiovascular mortality in elderly patients with pulmonary disease than in those without pulmonary disease. Studies have also shown that animals with compromised health, either genetically or experimentally induced, are more susceptible to instilled or inhaled particles. Inhalation of air pollutants and their impact on the lung has long been a concern and the subject of intensive research. The effects of air pollutants beyond the lung have not been readily appreciated. It is only in recent years that cardiovascular endpoints have come to command a more urgent focus, and clearly many questions remain as to the role that these environmental agents play in CVD. Epidemiology and clinical studies have indicated that exposure to air pollutants can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease; however, despite these compelling associations, relatively little data exist on the mechanisms of action of these pollutants. The primary objectives of this research program are to support research that will better elucidate the mechanisms by which air pollutants affect the cardiovascular system, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, and to define factors which lead to differential susceptibility for certain groups and individuals. The research should use appropriate, innovative models and model systems and state-of-the- art technologies. In addition, because of the complex nature of this area, development of multidisciplinary collaborations is a second important objective. Therefore this RFA is designed to foster collaborations of environmental health and cardiovascular researchers, in order to promote the use of the most relevant, state-of-the-art cardiovascular models and methodologies, in combination with validated exposure methods to relevant air pollutants. The use of laboratory animal models and techniques that have been used successfully in cardiovascular research, but that may not have been applied to environmentally related CVD, is encouraged. These might include genetically manipulated rodent strains that are inherently susceptible or resistant to pollutants, as well as large animal models that more closely model the human cardiovascular system. Also, the use of state- of-the-art cellular and molecular biology, genetic and genomic, proteomic, and metabolic profiling technologies is encouraged. This RFA is designed to solicit proposals that would address one or both of the following key questions: o What are the physiological, cellular, biochemical, molecular mechanisms by which air pollutants adversely affect the cardiovascular system, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality? o Who are the populations most susceptible to air pollutant-induced cardiovascular effects and what are the underlying mechanisms of this susceptibility? The RFA solicits proposals on basic in vitro, animal, and controlled human exposure studies, and small clinical studies. Studies should be hypothesis driven and designed to identify or understand mechanisms by which air pollutants adversely affect the cardiovascular system. Proposals to screen chemicals for cardiovascular toxicity will only be considered responsive if they are designed to better understand how different PM components or their mixtures affect the cardiovascular system. Proposals to study acute or chronic effects of PM are both responsive. In addition, proposed air pollutant exposures are expected to be environmentally relevant. An example of an environmentally relevant exposure is ambient particulate matter. Use of laboratory- generated particles would require a strong rationale as to its scientific and environmental relevance. Similarly, studies proposing extremely high doses, or use of instillation rather than inhalation, require justification. Examples of research that would be responsive to this RFA would include, but not be limited to the following, as they relate to air pollution exposure: o role of genetic background and gene polymorphisms in susceptibility o role of underlying health in susceptibility to pollutants o identification of cellular targets of air pollutants o alterations of cell function, such as cell signaling, signal transduction pathways, cell proliferation, and alterations in ion channel function o changes in protein and gene expression and post-translational modifications of proteins o pollutant-related alterations in endothelial cell function o mechanisms of electrophysiologic changes related to pollutant exposure: e.g., alterations in autonomic signaling o role of inflammation (e.g., inflammatory cells and mediators, cytokines, adhesion molecules) o role of oxidative stress (e.g., the roles of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, enzymes such as NAD(P)H oxidase and the cyclooxygenases, and antioxidants) o immune function alterations that may be associated with CVD o role of changes in blood parameters, e.g., coagulation o mechanisms of pollutant-induced alterations in atherosclerosis progression o physiologic mechanisms that may induce cardiac changes from neural networks in the pulmonary system -- either locally or via the central nervous system o secondary effects of air pollutants (through lung and blood) on the cardiovascular system The novel application of appropriate animal models, such as large animals, naturally susceptible models (e.g., ApoE, LDL-R, spontaneously hypertensive rats, and hyperlipidemic rabbits), and genetically or pharmacologically manipulated or disease-induced models is encouraged. The innovative use of in vitro models (e.g., isolated-perfused hearts and cultured myocardial cells) is also encouraged. To ensure that proposals address priority areas of research, studies will be considered non-responsive if they include a large population- based study design. Additionally, any of the following proposed air pollutant exposures will be considered non-responsive: o substances primarily found in occupational settings, including silica, asbestos, carbon disulfide o environmental tobacco smoke o carbon monoxide as the only toxic inhalant MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use NIH R01 and R21 (Exploratory / Developmental) (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-107.html) award mechanisms and the Environmental Protection Agency's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program (http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/#2004), administered in accordance with 40 CFR Part 30 and 40. The application procedures described in this RFA have been designed to meet the needs of both NIEHS and EPA. Applications will be evaluated by an NIH-convened peer review panel. Subsequent to peer review, meritorious applications will be considered for funding by either EPA or NIEHS. Policies that govern grant award programs of each agency will prevail for respective sources of support. As an applicant you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. Future unsolicited, competing-continuation applications based on this project will compete with all investigator-initiated applications and will be reviewed according to the customary peer review procedures. The anticipated award date is August 2004. Applications that are not funded in the competition described in this RFA may be resubmitted as NEW investigator-initiated applications using the standard receipt dates for NEW applications described in the instructions to the PHS 398 application. This RFA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budgeting formats (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm). This program does not require cost sharing as defined in the current NIH Grants Policy Statement at https://grants.nih.gov/archive/grants/policy/nihgps_2001/part_i_1.htm FUNDS AVAILABLE NIEHS and EPA intend to commit $2 million each in FY 2004 to fund the first budget year of 10–15 new grants. Funding to an individual grantee will be provided by a single award from either NIH or the EPA STAR program. Applicants for R01 grants may request up to four years of support and up to $250,000 per year in direct costs. Applicants for R21 (Exploratory / Developmental) applications are limited to two years of support and $150,000 per year in direct costs. Should an applicant plan to include subcontracts to other institutions or organizations, only the direct costs associated with the subcontracts will be used to tally the direct costs that apply toward the cap. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of NIEHS and EPA provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the following characteristics: o Non-profit organizations. Applications will not be accepted from for-profit organizations; however, organizations may establish subcontract arrangements with for-profit organizations. o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories. o Domestic institutions. Applications will not be accepted from foreign institutions; however, foreign institutions may establish sub-contract arrangements with domestic applicant institutions. o Units of State and local governments. o Eligible agencies of the Federal government. o Non-profit faith-based or community-based organizations. INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with his or her institution to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH and EPA programs. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Applications for R21 grants should be for new, highly innovative research using models and technologies that have not been previously applied to the field of environmentally related CVD. Applications for R01 grants must be for collaborative research between at least one investigator with expertise in environmental health science and one investigator with demonstrated expertise in state-of- the-art techniques and methodologies used in cardiology and/or cardiovascular research. Applications not proposing such a collaboration will be returned to the applicant. All applicants should request funds for travel to attend a grantees' meeting approximately two years after the award of the grants. In addition, applicants for R01 grants should request funds to attend a second meeting approximately four years after the award of the grants. Quality Assurance Statement: A Quality Assurance Statement (QAS) must be submitted for each project proposed in any application submitted in response to this RFA. This requirement results from implementation of ANSI/ASOC E4, Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs, and is available for purchase from the American Society for Quality. Each QAS should not exceed two pages. This Statement should, for each item listed below, present the required information, reference the specific page and paragraph number containing the information, or provide a justification of why the item does not apply to the proposed research. 1. Identify the individual who will be responsible for the quality assurance and quality control aspects of the research. (Quality assurance (QA) is an integrated system of management activities involving planning, implementation, documentation, assessment, and improvement to ensure that a process, or item is of the type and quality needed for the project. Quality control (QC) is the system of technical activities that measures the attributes and performance of a process or item against defined standards, to verify that they meet the stated requirements.) 2. Discuss the activities to be performed or the hypothesis to be tested and criteria for determining acceptable data quality. (Note: Such criteria may be expressed in terms of precision, accuracy, representativeness, completeness, and comparability or in terms of data quality objectives or acceptance and evaluation criteria.) Also, these criteria must be applied to determine the acceptability of existing, or "secondary," data to be used in the project. (In this context, secondary data may be defined as data previously collected for other purposes or from other sources.) 3. Describe the study design. Include sample type(s) and location requirements, all statistical analyses that were or will be used to estimate the types and numbers of physical samples required, or equivalent information for studies using survey and interview techniques. 4. Describe the procedures that will be used in the calibration and performance evaluation of all analytical instrumentation and all methods of analysis to be used during the project. Explain how the effectiveness of any new technology will be measured. 5. Describe the procedures for the handling and custody of samples, including sample collection, identification, preservation, transportation, and storage, or how the accuracy of test measurements will be verified. 6. Discuss the procedures for data reduction and reporting, including a description of all statistical methods to make inferences and conclusions, with identification of any statistical software to be used; discuss any computer models to be designed or utilized and describe the associated verification and validation techniques. 7. Describe the quantitative and/or qualitative procedures that will be used to evaluate the success of the project, including any plans for peer or other reviews of the study design or analytical methods prior to data collection. WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues: o Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: J. Patrick Mastin, PhD Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 111 T. W. Alexander Drive P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-23 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: 919-541-3289 Fax: (919) 541-5064 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Stacey A. Katz, MPH US Environmental Protection Agency National Center for Environmental Research (8723R) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Telephone: (202) 564-8201 FAX: (202) 565-2448 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Gail Robarge, MS US Environmental Protection Agency National Center for Environmental Research (8723R) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Telephone: (202) 564-8301 FAX: (202) 565-2448 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com o Direct your questions about peer review issues to: Linda K. Bass, PhD Scientific Review Administrator Scientific Review Branch Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-30 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-1307 Fax: (919) 541-2503 E-mail: email@example.com o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to: Ms. Lisa Archer Grants Management Specialist Grants Management Branch National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P. O. Box 12233, MD EC-22 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-0751 Fax: (919) 541-2860 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Mr. Jack Puzak Acting Director National Center for Environmental Research (8701R) US Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460 Telephone: (202) 564-6825 Fax: (202) 565-2444 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information: o Descriptive title of the proposed research o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator o Names of other key personnel o Participating institutions o Number and title of this RFA Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows staff at NIEHS and EPA to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review. The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of this document. The letter of intent should be sent to: Linda K. Bass, PhD Scientific Review Administrator Scientific Review Branch Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-30 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-1307 Fax: (919) 541-2503 E-mail: email@example.com SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001) and submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications must have a DUN and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the Universal Identifier when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. The DUNS number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com . The DUNS number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form. The PHS 398 document is available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: email@example.com. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULAR GRANT APPLICATIONS: Applications requesting up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a modular grant format. The modular grant format simplifies the preparation of the budget in these applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail. Applicants request direct costs in $25,000 modules. Section C of the research grant application instructions for the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step- by-step guidance for preparing modular grants. Additional information on modular grants is available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm. USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf. SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to: Center For Scientific Review National Institutes Of Health 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710 Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and all copies of the appendix material must be sent to: Linda K. Bass, PhD Scientific Review Administrator Scientific Review Branch Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-30 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, 3rd Floor, Room 3167 (courier/express) Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-1307 Fax: (919) 541-2503 E-mail: email@example.com APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received on or before the application receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within 8 weeks. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be submitted in response to an RFA, it is to be prepared as a NEW application. That is, the application for the RFA must not include an Introduction describing the changes from the previous unfunded version of the application. PEER REVIEW PROCESS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the NIEHS and EPA. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. If the application is not responsive to the RFA, NIH staff may contact the applicant to determine whether to return the application to the applicant or submit it for review in competition with unsolicited applications at the next appropriate NIH review cycle. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIEHS in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will: o Undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score o Receive a written critique o Receive a second level review by the NIEHS National Advisory Council or by EPA's National Center for Environmental Research. REVIEW CRITERIA The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In the written comments, reviewers will be asked to evaluate the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. The scientific review group will address and consider each of the following criteria in assigning the application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. o Significance o Approach o Innovation o Investigator o Environment The application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward. SIGNIFICANCE: Does this study address important research objectives related to the impact of air pollutants on cardiovascular disease? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field? APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? Is there clear evidence of significant interdisciplinary interactions in the conception, design, and proposed implementation of the project? INNOVATION: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? INVESTIGATOR(S): Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)? ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score: For R01 grant applications: Are both environmental health science and cardiovascular researchers included in the application, and is there adequate evidence that a productive collaboration is likely? PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS FROM RESEARCH RISK: The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed. (See criteria included in the section on Federal Citations, below). INCLUSION OF WOMEN, MINORITIES AND CHILDREN IN RESEARCH: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria in the sections on Federal Citations, below). CARE AND USE OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH: If vertebrate animals are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section f of the PHS 398 research grant application instructions (rev. 5/2001) will be assessed. ADDITIONAL REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Sharing Research Data Applicants requesting more than $500,000 in direct costs in any year of the proposed research are expected to include a data sharing plan in their application. The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or priority score. BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 19, 2003 Application Receipt Date: December 19, 2003 Peer Review Date: February 2004 Council and EPA Review: May 2004 Earliest Anticipated Start Date: August 2004 AWARD CRITERIA Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include: o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review) o Availability of funds o Programmatic priorities. Funding will be provided by a single award from either NIH or EPA. EPA Programmatic Review: Applications that are considered meritorious by the peer reviewers are subjected to a programmatic review within the EPA to assure a balanced research portfolio for the Agency. Applications are then recommended for funding to the NCER Director who makes funding decisions. Applications are selected for an award based on consideration of the scientific quality of proposals and relevance to EPA program research priorities, program balance, budget, and available funds. REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS HUMAN SUBJECTS PROTECTION: Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained. http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm DATA AND SAFETY MONITORING PLAN: Data and safety monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic, toxicity, and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (phase II); efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (phase III). The establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risk to the participants. (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 1998: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html). SHARING RESEARCH DATA: Starting with the October 1, 2003 receipt date, investigators submitting an NIH application seeking more than $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing Investigators should seek guidance from their institutions, on issues related to institutional policies, local IRB rules, as well as local, state and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification is provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All investigators proposing clinical research should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on October 9, 2001 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm. The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials consistent with the new PHS Form 398; and updated roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy continues to require for all NIH- defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences. INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS: The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in research involving human subjects that is available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS: NIH policy requires education on the protection of human subject participants for all investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human subjects. You will find this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html. HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (hESC): Criteria for federal funding of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html. Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (see http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide, in the project description and elsewhere in the application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC line(s)to be used in the proposed research. Applications that do not provide this information will be returned without review. PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm. Applicants may wish to place data collected under this PA in a public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include information about this in the budget justification section of the application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under this award. STANDARDS FOR PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy Rule," on August 14, 2002. The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Those who must comply with the Privacy Rule (classified under the Rule as "covered entities") must do so by April 14, 2003 (with the exception of small health plans which have an extra year to comply). Decisions about applicability and implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review, funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and research contracts can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html. URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. Awards by EPA are made under the authority of 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 and are subject to terms and conditions and other considerations that can be found at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/guidance/. All awards made by NIEHS are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm. The PHS and EPA strongly encourage all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.


text:
Pickering subpoenaed for interview
Rep. Darrell Issa issued a subpoena Friday for Ambassador Thomas Pickering to sit for a taped interview, but not to testify publicly before the full House Oversight Committee.
On Wednesday, Chairman Issa (R-Calif.) responded to a letter from Pickering volunteering to appear before the committee, saying that he needed to submit to a taped interview before he could testify.
Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.) quickly blasted the subpoena as "extreme Republican overreach."
( PHOTOS: 10 slams on Obama and Benghazi)
It's the latest in a back-and-forth about witnesses testifying before Issa's committee in a series of hearings on Benghazi.
Pickering and and Admiral Michael Mullen have requested the ability to respond publicly to criticism of a review the two retired officials conducted of the Benghazi attacks. Cummings has called on Issa to let the pair testify to defend their names.
But Issa is insisting that Republicans and Democratic staffers get a pre-testimony crack at the witnesses by interviewing them behind closed doors first, saying staff and members have only had access to an unclassified version of the Accountability Review Board report on Benghazi.
"While I am very much committed to having you testify publicly and appreciate your newfound willingness to do so, I was disappointed that you are attempting to limit the Committee's understanding of the Accountability Review Board by refusing to participate in a voluntary transcribed interview prior to testifying publicly," Issa said in a letter to Pickering.
The subpoena compels Pickering to sit for an interview in room 2157 of the Rayburn office building at 10 a.m. on May 23rd.
Cummings called the subpoena to appear in a closed-door interview an attempt by Issa to silence the response from someone shooting down the chairman's criticism of the attacks.
"Today's subpoena is a stark example of extreme Republican overreach and the shameful politicization of this tragedy," Cummings said in a statement. "Chairman Issa is now imposing new conditions to keep them behind closed doors. The Chairman should reverse his decision, conduct a responsible and bipartisan investigation, and allow the American people to hear directly from these officials."
Whether a witness sits for a taped interview can be a point of contention between committee members. Democrats frequently charged that they were not given the ability to interview Mark Thompson, who testified during the last House Oversight Committee on Benghazi.
Mullen and Pickering oversaw the Accountability Review Board's investigation into the attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012 that killed four,including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. The ARB report and the panel's investigation was a point of contention during the House hearing earlier this month.
During the hearing, Republicans on the committee questioned Gregory Hicks, who was in charge of the embassy in Tripoli at the time of the attacks, about the ARB's interviews of him. Hicks said he felt the investigation had not been properly conducted because he was unable to review his testimony after giving it and because he wasn't allowed to read a classified version of the report.
In a letter to Issa, Pickering objected to the depiction of the ARB review and requested the ability to testify before the committee.
"We believe that such criticisms are unfounded and, if left unaddressed, undermine the essential work that the Board has done as well as the purpose of the congressionally-mandated accountability review board process," Pickering wrote to Issa.


text:
BeagleBone 6502 RemoteProc cape
BeagleBone 6502 RemoteProc cape
The BeagleBone 6502 RemoteProc cape is a prototype project that interfaces a WDC65C02S microprocessor to the BeagleBone host. The AM335x SoC on the BeagleBone emulates 65xx bus cycles utilizing the Ti_AM33XX_PRUSSv2. The BeagleBone provides both clock and emulated RAM for the 6502 such that a complete 6502 computer is realized with only some bus transceivers needed for glue logic.
Hardware Design
The following diagram shows a high-level schematic of the b6502 cape. The number of PRU pins available are limited so bus cycles are sampled by the PRU asserting a series of octal bus transceiver enables. In a read cycle, address high, address low, and data out are enabled in sequence. For a write cycle, address high, address low, and data in are enabled in sequence. This allows the PRU to wait for a clock edge, sample the R/W signal, and then fetch the address and data for the read or write operation. To complete the cycle, the PRU reads or writes to its local SRAM, providing the data to the 6502 on a read cycle or storing the data on a write cycle.
A Fritzing diagram illustrates the wiring of the prototype on a breadboard.
The Fritzing project is here
- b6502 3.6 Kernel branch is the kernel support for the Beaglebone, PRUSS, RemoteProc driver for the attached 6502, and a simple shared memory serial driver for communication with the 6502.
- b6502 cape userspace tools contains PRU code to decode 6502 bus cycles and tools to create 6502 applications natively on the BeagleBone filesystem.
The PRU code requires that the user install the am335x PRU SW package from AM335x PRU Package. The 6502 examples require that the user install the *cc65* toolchain as documented at [1]. Only ca65/ld65 are required as there are currently no C examples.
PRU 6502 Bus Decoder
b6502_pruss is a C and PRU assembly tool that launches PRU firmware that will decode 65xx bus cycles providing access to AM335x-resident SRAM as local memory for the 6502 processor.
- pokechar - simplest b6502rproc example. stores an ascii 'C' to sram
- bvuart - echo characters back to the virtual uart kernel driver
- bewoz - extended Woz Monitor with virtual uart support
Build and Run
This assumes GNU make/gcc and the compiled AM335x PRU SW package are installed on the BeagleBone rootfs.
root@bone2:~# cp am335x_pru_package/pru_sw/utils/pasm /usr/local/bin/ root@bone2:~# cp am335x_pru_package/pru_sw/app_loader/include/*.h /usr/local/include/ root@bone2:~# cp am335x_pru_package/pru_sw/app_loader/lib/* /usr/local/lib/ root@bone2:~# cd b6502/pruss/ root@bone2:~/b6502/pruss# make gcc -I/usr/local/include -o b6502_pruss b6502_pruss.c -L/usr/local/lib -lprussdrv -lpthread pasm -b b6502_pruss.p PRU Assembler Version 0.80 Copyright (C) 2005-2012 by Texas Instruments Inc. Pass 2 : 0 Error(s), 0 Warning(s) Writing Code Image of 107 word(s)
This assumes GNU make and ca65/ld65 are installed on the BeagleBone rootfs and in the path. In addition, the b6502 pruss loader and kernel with b6502remoteproc and uio_pruss support plus the necessary DTS data must be present.
root@bone2:~/b6502/examples/pokechar# make ca65 -l pokechar.lst pokechar.s ld65 -o pokechar.bin -C b6502.cfg pokechar.o root@bone2:~/b6502/examples/pokechar# cp pokechar.bin /lib/firmware/bone-6502-fw.bin
Now run it.
root@bone2:~/b6502/examples/pokechar# b6502_pruss root@bone2:~/b6502/examples/pokechar# echo 1 > /sys/class/rproc/remoteproc0/on_off
Verify it executed as expected.
root@bone2:~/b6502/examples/pokechar# devmem2 0x4a31fff0 w /dev/mem opened. Memory mapped at address 0xb6f92000. Read at address 0x4A311FF0 (0xb6f92ff0): 0x00000043


text:
NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Lucy Dikeou scored four goals, including the winner with 4:05 left, to give No. 13 Stanford an 11-10 victory against No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday.
With piles of snow lining the field on a chilly day, Stanford (8-1) scored four consecutive goals to erase a 9-6 second-half deficit.
"They're fighters," said Stanford coach Amy Bokker. "They go down swinging every time they step on the field."
With the score tied, 10-10, and Stanford up a player up because of a Notre Dame penalty, Dikeou found an opening on the right side and bounced a shot past goalie Liz O'Sullivan.
"Lucy has great speed and is really quick with the stick," said Bokker. "She creates a lot of opportunities, not just for herself, but for her teammates."
Stanford's Hannah Farr won the draw, but the Cardinal was unable to run out the clock when a missed shot gave Notre Dame possession. In the tense final stretch, the teams exchanged turnovers before Stanford's Megan Lerner drew a charge with 17 seconds left and the Cardinal was able to run out the clock.
During the turnover sequence, Adrienne Anderson defended one of Notre Dame's top offensive threats out of the play.
"It was good team defense," said Bokker. "They took good angles to the ball and were ready to help if they needed to."
Indeed, Lerner and Rachel Kalick closed down on Notre Dame's Stephanie Toy, with Lerner getting to the spot first to draw the foul and create the turnover. Lerner then leaped into the air in triumph.
Notre Dame (8-4) represented the highest ranked team Stanford will play during the regular season. The game also was a rematch of last year's 7-6 Stanford victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Stanford's first-ever NCAA victory.
The game featured four lead changes and four ties. However, Notre Dame appeared to take command when it took a 9-6 lead with 21:12 left on the 29th goal of the season and third of the game by freshman Cortney Fortunato.
Stanford countered with a goal by freshman Kelsey Murray, who scored twice within 6:06 to draw Stanford even at 9-9, and Alexandra Crerend capped the rally by putting the Cardinal in front, 10-9, with 9:49 left.
"Possession was the key," said Bokker. "In the first half, we were losing draw controls."
Stanford made adjustment, Ashlynn Goerz playing a big role. The freshman earned two draw controls herself, but also did a strong job boxing out and allowing her teammates to gain possession.
Dikeou's four goals tied her collegiate career high. She also caused four turnovers, had two ground balls, and earned a draw control. Murray and Farr each scored twice.
The rally was similar to Stanford's rally from a 10-4 deficit at then-No. 14 Georgetown on the way to an 11-10 double-overtime victory on March 9. In fact, Stanford has beaten all four opponents currently ranked in the IWLCA top 20 and could be in line to play host to an NCAA tournament game if the Cardinal can take care of business in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play.


text:
After the recitation of Surah Fatihah, Hadrat Khalifatul-Masih, may Allah be his support, proceeded.
There has been a renewed intensity in attacks on Islam, on the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, and on the Holy Qur'an with an objective of defaming Islam. The reason behind these attacks is that Islam fulfills the needs of the time, and people are turning towards Islam after examining the teachings of the Qur'an. Unbiased people have pondered over the Holy Qur'an. Though just the translation does not provide the deep knowledge of the message of the Holy Qur'an, yet the ones who have a clear conscience gain some understanding.
A news item has appeared that a British journalist went to Afghanistan for social work. She was arrested by the Taliban and released on the promise that she will read the Holy Qur'an. After arriving home, on reading the Holy Qur'an, she found that there was great difference between the teachings of Islam and the treatment of women in Afghanistan. She accepted Islam. The matter received a lot of media attention. Due to her education and experience, she was hired in Qatar. She stuck to principles of truth and fairness leading to differences with the owners resulting in her separation. She took the case to court and won arguing equal rights in Islam for women. She had similar experience in a second employment. She again took the case to court and won arguing that it is the responsibility of Muslim governments to safeguard women's rights. These incidents strengthened her faith. Though her experiences were negative, her faith advanced through reading the Holy Qur'an. Rather than maligning Islamic teachings, she carried out a jihad against those who were not following these teachings.
Such examples worry anti-Islam forces. Irrespective of the level of their affiliation with their own faith, anti-Islamic feelings force them to indulge in unbecoming practices. This is nothing new. Prophets have experienced this before and Islam now is a target as it is a great religion. Meccans stood up against Islam as it started gaining strength. 'Umar, a staunch enemy of Islam, bowed his head before the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, after reading a few verses of the Holy Qur'an. Allah elevated his status so that he became the second righteous Khalifah. After the migration of the Prophet to Medina, Jews became apprehensive of the increasing influence of Islam. Further expansion worried the kingdoms of Iran and Rome.
Today all the great powers are fearful of Islam. They have resorted to such unfair strategies against Islam that their own conscientious citizens have started raising their voices against their unfair practices. Adversarial voices rising out of the West do not represent the sentiment of the general public. Public has stood up in protest against unfair and vicious attacks.
A news lady, during an interview with our missionary, condemned the republication of the Danish cartoons, and declared that before their publication she was proud of her country. Generally people on internet and in the media have reacted strongly against the republication of Danish cartoons. Khalifatul-Masih presented numerous quotes in this respect and said that this wave against Islam is not the work of a few writers, elected officials, politicians or cartoonists but there is a hand of great powers behind these incidents who are afraid of Islamic teachings and do not want their people to know Islamic teachings, and want to establish their supremacy in the name of religion. There was a big hand of Christians in closing down our television broadcast channel in the middle east [which was immediately replaced by an alternate resource]. They are trying to become the god of the world, and these brains are the ones who are involved in anti-Islamic efforts.
Islam's destiny now is to spread, not through terrorism or militism but through the Messiah of the age. All of us should make an effort to spread the peaceful message of Islam. Allah's plans cannot be frustrated by worldly powers.
Khalifatul-Masih gave details of the efforts of the Ahmadiyya community in Denmark with respect to the republication of the Danish cartoons, and presented the affirmative views of the queen and parliament towards Muslims.
Continuing with a review of the attacks on Islam, Khalifatul-Masih further quoted from a book written against the sanctity of the Holy Qur'an and refuted various allegations in the book.
He further pointed out with reference to the Holy Quran and its explanation by the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, that people who live immoral and unhealthy lives cannot understand and benefit from the pristine teachings of the Qur'an. Despite it having deep meanings, it is easily comprehensible. Only special people reach the depth of its meaning though everyone is able to understand and practice its teachings. People who are filled with envy, animosity and viciousness cannot realize its beneficence, except for when they analyze it with unbiased minds. Therefore, when we hear the antagonistic views, they increase our faith as they fulfill what the Holy Qur'an told us centuries ago.
The Holy Qur'an tells us that the people who have taken up to malign the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him, and the Holy Qur'an will not escape the consequences, and we have seen the fulfillment of this warning throughout history. The consequences are imminent if the behavior is not changed. No false god will be able to save them when the time of consequence arrives.
We invite our adversaries to look at the teachings and contents of the Holy Qur'an attentively and discern its excellences with respect to its spiritual, moral and social guidance of mankind. Teachings of Islam are in accordance with nature but it is necessary to have a pious heart to understand them, and a purifier to guide. In this age, the Ahmadiyya community portrays the beauties of its teachings.
There is a great need for prayers these days that Muslim observe heavenly signs and abandon their misunderstandings and unite for a nobler purpose saving themselves from a grave mischief.
At the close of the sermon, Khlaifatul-Masih relayed the sad news of the martyrdom of Basharat Ahmad Mughal in Karachi, Pakistan, and shared the details of the incident and the services of the martyred for the local chapter and his efforts in establishing a mosque in the chapter. He was shot numerous times while on his way to the mosque for the pre-dawn prayer services. He had entered in community in 1988 along with his family.
Related Resources


text:
Sinner's Steel by Sarah Castille
(Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #3)
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication date: October 6th 2015
Genres: Adult, Romance
Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome, Zane "Tracker" Colter is the strong, silent type of tattooed muscle biker who drives women wild. But as a master of strategy for the outlaw MC club, Sinner's Tribe, he doesn't have time to play around with groupies and biker chicks-especially when he can't stop thinking about Evie, the girl who got away…
Evie's been in love with Zane ever since they were children-until he broke her heart and disappeared. Now he's back in her life, bigger and badder than ever. Zane is stunned by how beautiful and confident Evie's become, using her artistic talent to customize motorcycles. He wants her so bad, he'd ride through fire to win her back. There's one problem: Evie is dating his deadliest rival-the leader of the Black Jacks-and if Evie and Zane hook up, there'll be hell to pay…
Sarah Castille's Sinner's Tribe series is:
"Raw, rugged, and romantic." -Eden Bradley, New York Timesbestselling author
"A sexy and dangerous ride!"-Roni Loren, New York Timesbestselling author
"What about you and me?"
Her mouth went dry, and her stomach churned. "There isn't a you and me outside of Ty. I have my life, Zane and you have yours. We don't have anything in common anymore."
"And you and Viper do?" His voice dropped to a growl, so fierce and low the tree frogs stopped croaking, silencing the night. "How'd you wind up with that piece of shit?"
"He came to the shop for some paint work. I didn't know much about the Jacks so I thought he was just another biker. He was charming, intelligent . . . probably the most interesting guy I'd met to since coming to Conundrum. When he came back a third time for a touch-up on his fender, he asked me out. Bill told me who he was and said I should be careful."
"Probably made you want him more," he said quietly.
"Maybe it did. Maybe I wanted to prove to myself I could handle a man like him—the way I couldn't handle Mark—and that I didn't need anyone to save me. I made a decision to take control of my life when things went wrong with Mark. I realized I'd spent too much time chasing a dream of finding someone to look after me when really I needed to look after myself. But that's not all it was. I liked him, and I was flattered by his attention. I enjoy his company. I'm not ashamed of that." She turned back to the house and Zane grabbed her arm, spinning her back to face him.
"You're done with him. I don't give a fucking damn how you feel about him, or what you've got going on. He's a vicious, ruthless, coldhearted bastard. I know you got that wild in you, and maybe that's why you're with him, but he's dangerous and I won't let him near you or my son."
Evie shook him off, anger warring with confusion, her emotions battling against her aching want for the only man she'd ever loved. "Maybe the reason I was with him is because he reminded me of you."
Wrong thing to say. Eyes glittering, he lunged for her, clasping her wrist in his warm palm, pulling her to him. "Then be with me."
"I can't." Her throat tightened and she had to force the words out. "What we had is broken and it can't be fixed. I can't do this with you again. I just couldn't bear to be with you and have you disappear again. And I've moved on. I don't need you that way anymore."
He wrapped his arms around her, buried his face in her neck. "What we had is still there. I can feel it and I know you feel it, too."
His warmth seeped into her skin, his arms strong around her. Yes, their chemistry was still there. She could feel it pulsing through veins, an arousal so fierce she could feel it in her fingers and toes.
"Kiss me." Zane's voice was hoarse, tight. "Kiss me and tell me you don't feel what I feel. Kiss me and tell me you want him and not me."
Unable to pull herself away, her mind clouded with desire, she acquiesced to his demand. Twining her fingers through his hair, she pulled him down and kissed him. Zane groaned and squeezed her so tight, she could feel the press of his buckle against her stomach. His tongue tangled with hers and he took over, returning her kiss with an intensity that left her breathless and made her knees tremble. She ached for him, wanted nothing more than to strip off his clothes and drown in the heat of his body.
"I wanna see you, my sweet Evie. I wanna bare your body, lick every inch of you, feel your skin against mine. I wanna be inside you so deep you forget everything but me."
Evie took a quick glance to each side to make sure they weren't in view of the neighbors, but with the trees around them, and a field to the back, there were well hidden in the shadows. And although she knew she should refuse him, walk away and hold firm to her resolve, she licked the taste of him off her lips and whispered, "Yes."
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha males and the women who tame them. She is the author of the Redemption series, the Sinner's Tribe MC series, and the Legal Heat series. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and travelled abroad before trading in her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home on Vancouver Island.
Find her at:
Website: http://www.sarahcastille.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/


text:
The title of this post was "MIYAKO HOUSE 京都北野 share house in Kyoto, but it is deleted by author.
This website is provided for free of charge. Every single post is by a site visitor, and we do not take responsibility if things on those posts are right or not. We reserve the right to edit and delete posts without giving notice and reasons. We recommend you not to post your classifieds if you do not agree it.