The effect of latent heat release on synoptic-to-planetary scale wave interactions and implications for satellite observations: Observational study

Researchers have been exploring methods to facilitate the prediction of rapidly intensifying surface cyclones. Recognizing that synoptic-scale systems, such as these cyclones, are less predictable at medium range and beyond than are planetary-scale circulations, researchers propose that the planetary-scale environment for explosive cyclogenesis could be better predicted than the cyclones themselves. Researchers have therefore constructed a planetary-scale climatology of explosive cyclogenesis by compositing together filtered 500 mb height fields (retaining planetary waves only) corresponding to a large sample of rapidly intensifying surface cyclones, stratified geographically and according to the direction of 500 mb geostrophic flow (southwesterly, northwesterly or westerly) over the cyclone center. The composites are calculated from five days preceding to five days following each rapid cyclogenesis event, and have climatology subtracted so that the evolution of planetary-scale anomalies before and after cyclogenesis can be followed. Whether the anomalies are distinct from background variability and thus provide predictive value is now being evaluated. Following explosive cyclogenesis over which the filtered 500 mb flow is southwesterly, there appear in the composites large positive 500 mb height anomalies downstream. In some cases, these anomalies are associated with blocking patterns. Whether the objectively-defined blocking patterns in the data set are preceded by upstream intense surface cyclone activity is being investigated. Finally, the contribution of synoptic-scale processes, notably warm air advection, to planetary-scale height rises during a block formation following an explosive cyclogenesis event is being diagnosed. Researchers hope to eventually evaluate the impact of satellite derived latent heat release upon the warm air advection in this case

Review of \u3cem\u3eChildren and Youth in Adoption, Orphanages and Foster Care: A Historical Handbook and Guide.\u3c/em\u3e Lori Askeland (Ed.). Reviewed by Albert J. Ellett.

Book review of Lori Askeland (Ed.). Children and Youth in Adoption, Orphanages and Foster Care: A Historical Handbook and Guide. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2006. $59.95 hardcover

Alaska Native scholars: a mixed methods investigation of factors influencing PhD attainment

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2018This study entitled, "Alaska Native Scholars: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Factors Influencing PhD Attainment," investigates the contributing factors influencing the attainment of PhD degrees by Alaska Natives. Originating from a cross-section of rural and urban Alaska communities and tribal ethnicities, this group of scholars attended graduate schools throughout the country. Today many of these PhDs work in universities, conduct research, and advocate for Indigenous people in various leadership roles, both in and outside of Alaska. This study's assumption is these PhD graduates have gained valuable lessons along their path to success and an examination of these factors is relevant to advancing that successs. The findings analyze results from a survey instrument with approximately a 92% response rate from all living Alaska Native PhD/EdD graduates that were able to be located at the time, up to early 2015. Survey participants shared personal, demographic, cultural, social, academic, and economic factors both supporting and hindering PhD attainment. Survey data was validated by ten personal interviews with PhDs from eight different Alaska Native tribes. One goal of this study was to increase our knowledge of the circumstances and factors of Alaska Native doctoral graduates and to build upon knowledge necessary to increase interest and enrollment of Alaska Native PhD graduates. Some questions examined by this study are: What sets of factors do AN PhDs have in common which led to their success? What challenges and barriers are specific to the Alaska Native demographics? If patterns of successful factors exist, can these factors be replicated to expand Alaska Native participation in PhD or other graduate programs? Are there 'lessons learned' in terms of aiding university PhD programs in attracting and graduating Alaska Native students? A stronger PhD representation of this population has implications for leadership, education, business, and policy-making roles serving to increase Indigenous self-determination. Additionally, this research has implications for universities seeking to address gaps in Alaska Native and American Indian faculty representation

A Study of the Food Consumption of Eighty-Six Families in Carlsbad, New Mexico

Government surveys tell that approximately one-fourth of all the food produced in the United States is wasted. Part of it is wasted by being left unharvested; more is wasted in storage and in wholesale markets, through poor handling and sorting, some is wasted in retail stores, partly because of soncumer carelessness in handling. The biggest waste of all however, seems to be in the homes. People buy more than they need, cook more than they eat, and fail to carefully utilize left overs. Some experts have estimated that the average family of six, by stopping food waste, could save enough to feed another person at home. This is only the beginning of the problems that affect the food consumption and nutritional status of American families. People often eat wrong. Eating wrong does not necessarily mean eating too little; it also might mean eating the wrong foods or inadequate foods. Many cases of borderline malnutrition may result from such eating habits. Some of the war time shortages may contribute to the formation of poor eating habits. With this background of information in mind, the writer attempted to find out whether any relationship existed between the kinds and amounts of food consumed by the Spanish-American and the Negro-American families in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Since the Spanish-American and the Negro-American live in the same section of town, their living conditions are very similar. In order to carry out the purpose of the study it endeavors to answer the following specific questions: 1, What foods were commonly eaten by the two races? 2. How did the dietary practices of the Negro-Americans and the Spanish-Americans compare with the United States government standard? 3. What seemed to have been the chief similarities and differences in food consumption of the two races? The problem is, therefore, did the Spanish-American and Negro-American families eat adequate amounts of the protective foods, that would enable them to meet their nutritional needs and to build better health

Two Cultures Collide: Bridging the Generation Gap in a Non - traditional Mentorship

Cross - cultural mentoring relationships between younger mentors and older mentees are increasing in frequency across all levels of post - secondary education. Generational cultural differences can result in conflict and misunderstanding and therefore should be considered in non - traditional inter - generational mentoring relationships. Through auto - ethnographic inquiry, we, a younger faculty member and older graduate student, explored our mentoring relationship. We identified communication, respect, and ambiguous roles as issues that significantly impacted our mentorship. The manifestation of power was also highlighted in the study.

Digital vulnerabilities and online harassment of academics, consequences, and coping strategies. An exploratory analysis

Academic research is currently undergoing a wave of contestation, ranging from violent attacks and life-threatening situations to public undermining of their research and online threats and harassment. A variety of actors engage in hostile behaviors, including ordinary people as well as state institutions, and address scholars working in diverse disciplines and on diverse topics, such as climate change, vaccination, gender studies, colonialism and Islam studies. Recent research shows that female scholars, sexual and racialized minorities, and precarious researchers are the most likely target of online attacks. This contribution presents the results of a research project on academics facing online harassment in times of populism, drawing on data from an original survey to explore the ambivalences of academics’ public engagement, the public role of universities, and, more broadly, the impact of current attacks on academic knowledge.publishedVersio

Control of cytosolic free calcium in rat and chicken osteoclasts. The role of extracellular calcium and calcitonin.

Single cell [Ca2+], studies were performed in chicken and rat osteoclasts loaded with fura-2 and exposed to a variety of treatments. Under resting conditions, basal [Ca2+]i, was 79.2 +/- 47.3 and 84.3 +/- 65.7 nM (averages +/- S.D.; n = 141 and 126) in the osteoclasts of the two species, respectively. Basal [Ca2+]i was stable in all rat and in approximately 80% of chicken osteoclasts. In the remaining 20%, spontaneous, irregular [Ca2+], fluctuations were observed (amplitude range: 50-200 nm over basal values). Increase of [Ca2+]o over the concentration of the Krebs-Ringer incubation medium (2 mM) induced rises of [Ca2+] in almost all cells investigated. [Ca2+] rises were already appreciable with 0.5 mM [Ca2+]o additions and reached high values with 4 mM additions: 390 +/- 113 and 364 +/- 214 nM [Ca2+], in rat and chicken osteoclasts, respectively (n = 122 and 101). Qualitatively, the responses to [Ca2+]o additions consisted of discrete [Ca2+]i transients, biphasic (an initial spike followed by a plateau), or monophasic (either the spike or the plateau). In a few chicken osteoclasts, the [Ca2+]i increase occurring after [Ca2+]o addition consisted of multiple, irregular fluctuations, similar to those observed in 20% of these cells under resting conditions. In individual osteoclasts subsequently exposed to multiple [Ca2+]o increase pulses, the type of the [Ca2+]i transient (mono- or biphasic) was maintained, and the size was dependent on the magnitude of the [Ca2+]o additions. Effects similar to those of [Ca2+]o were induced by the addition of Cd2+ or Ba2+ (but not La3+ or Mg2+) into the medium. The Cd2+ effect was maintained in part even in a Ca2+-free medium. Of various hormones and factors, parathormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and prostaglandin E2 were inactive. In contrast, calcitonin was active in rat osteoclasts (which express numerous receptors). [Ca2+]i increases were small (19 +/- 17.9 nM; n = 21) when the hormone was administered alone; they were synergistic (severalfold potentiation) when the hormone was administered before or after [Ca2+]o. The [Ca2+]i effects of calcitonin were mimicked by 8Br-cAMP (31 +/- 26 nM; n = 12) when the nucleotide was administered alone; marked synergism when it was administered in combination with [Ca2+]o. This paper demonstrates for the first time that changes of [Ca2+]i are induced in osteoclasts by treatments with [Ca2+]o and calcitonin and can therefore be involved in intracellular mediation of the physiological effects of these two extracellular signals

Magnesium Deficiency

This study was concerned with the effects of magnesium deficiency produced by dietary means in rabbits. It was designed to make use of recently available tools— atomic absorption spectrophotometry, automated instruments, a radioactive isotope of magnesium, and an apparatus for the in-vitro study of intestinal segments— in order to clarify some of the anomalous observations made in previous studies of magnesium deficiency; to study the effects of such a deficiency on other cations in a variety of tissues and on other constituents of blood; and to study, in the small intestine, in-vitro changes in magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium. Rabbits fed a magnesium-deficient diet became moribund within six weeks. The initial acute stage, which lasted up to three weeks and was characterized by neuromuscular signs and a rapid decrease in the concentration of serum magnesium, was followed by a second stage characterized by nutritional failure and a slow rise in the concentration of serum magnesium. Values for ten of twenty-eight constituents measured in the blood of normal rabbits were not previously available. The same constituents measured in the blood of rabbits that had been fed a magnesium-deficient diet for six weeks indicated the presence of electrolyte imbalance and of renal and hepatic damage. The concentrations of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium were determined for 21 tissues in normal and magnesium-deficient rabbits. Information of this scope for such a variety of tissues had not been available previously. In in-vitro studies employing segments of small intestine, radioactive magnesium moved more efficiently across the proximal area than across the distal area and from the mucosal to the serosal surface than in the opposite direction. These results indicate the possibility that the normal rabbit may achieve a net positive balance for magnesium by absorption through the proximal area of the small intestine. The absorption of magnesium was enhanced in both the proximal and the distal areas of the small intestine from magnesium-deficient rabbits. There was no indication in these experiments that absorption of magnesium from the small intestine of rabbits occurs by a process other than passive diffusion