Helen Matthews Lewis: Living Social Justice in Appalachia

Often referred to as the leader of inspiration in Appalachian studies, Helen Matthews Lewis linked scholarship with activism and encouraged deeper analysis of the region. Lewis shaped the field of Appalachian studies by emphasizing community participation and challenging traditional perceptions of the region and its people. Helen Matthews Lewis: Living Social Justice in Appalachia, a collection of Lewis’s writings and memories that document her life and work, begins in 1943 with her job on the yearbook staff at Georgia State College for Women with Mary Flannery O’Connor. Editors Patricia D. Beaver and Judith Jennings highlight the achievements of Lewis’s extensive career, examining her role as a teacher and activist at Clinch Valley College (now University of Virginia at Wise) and East Tennessee State University in the 1960s, as well as her work with Appalshop and the Highland Center. Helen Matthews Lewis connects Lewis’s works to wider social movements by examining the history of progressive activism in Appalachia. The book provides unique insight into the development of regional studies and the life of a dynamic revolutionary, delivering a captivating and personal narrative of one woman’s mission of activism and social justice. Helen Matthews Lewis has served as the director of the Berea College Appalachian Center, Appalshop’s Appalachian History Film Project, and the Highlander Research and Education Center. She is coauthor of Mountain Sisters: From Convent to Community in Appalachia and Colonialism in Modern America: The Appalachian Case. Patricia D. Beaver, director of the Center for Appalachian Studies and professor of anthropology at Appalachian State University, is coeditor of Tales from Sacred Wind: Coming of Age in Appalachia. Judith Jennings, executive director of the Kentucky Foundation for Women, is the author of Gender, Religion, and Radicalism in the Long Eighteenth Century: The “Ingenious Quaker” and Her Connections. This book will be welcomed by those of us who found in Helen a role model who combines the life of the mind, the thirst for social justice, and the wisdom of soulful humor. For those others who are looking for such a role model have you made a discovery!”—Richard A. Couto, editor of Political and Civic Leadership: A Reference Handbook This rich collection of memories, photographs, commentaries, and archival documents is an exemplary weave of history and biography—the lived story of Appalachian social movements over much of the twentieth century. The sweeping chronicle of Helen Lewis’s actions and words reveals how she continues to make history by living social justice and refusing to capitulate to unjust power. The lessons could not be more timely, instructive, and inspiring. --Barbara Ellen Smith, author of Neither Separate Nor Equal: Women, Race and Class in the South It is one thing to speak truth to power. Helen does that with intelligence and wit -- to southern segregationists, coal companies, and academic institutions. It’s another thing to speak truth with the powerless. On nearly every page of this wonderful book, Helen combines her commitment to those who lack power with trust in their agency. She breaks into the unruly and uncontainable, and wraps \u27the belt of truth around our waist.\u27 --Anne Lewis, director of Morristown: in the air and sun In showcasing Helen Matthews Lewis, Beaver and Jennings remind us that an individual impassioned to do the right thing will make a positive difference. . . . the editors have also offered us Lewis\u27 legacy as a challenge to examine our own roles vis-a-vis committing to transform our communities. --Courier-Journal Lewis has achieved the status of an icon among Appalachian activists and scholars. . . . An important book. --Appalachian Heritage “Brings together in one volume Lewis’s many contributions to Appalachian Studies. . . . The book reveals the breadth and depth of scholarship and activism in Appalachia and will no doubt become a classic.”--West Virginia History “Provides a more intimate insight into her life and her impact on people and society than a more formal portrait could. . . . Recommended.”--Choice A fitting tribute to a woman who deserves greater acknowledgment and appreciation for her lifetime of work in Appalachia and for the betterment of struggling communities everywhere...The work is a success. -- Joseph Witt- -- Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics Winner of the Appalachian Writers Association’s Book of the Year Award for Nonfictionhttps://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_appalachian_studies/1028/thumbnail.jp

Designing experimental conditions to use the Lotka-Volterra model to infer tumor cell line interaction types

The Lotka-Volterra model is widely used to model interactions between two species. Here, we generate synthetic data mimicking competitive, mutualistic and antagonistic interactions between two tumor cell lines, and then use the Lotka-Volterra model to infer the interaction type. Structural identifiability of the Lotka-Volterra model is confirmed, and practical identifiability is assessed for three experimental designs: (a) use of a single data set, with a mixture of both cell lines observed over time, (b) a sequential design where growth rates and carrying capacities are estimated using data from experiments in which each cell line is grown in isolation, and then interaction parameters are estimated from an experiment involving a mixture of both cell lines, and (c) a parallel experimental design where all model parameters are fitted to data from two mixtures simultaneously. In addition to assessing each design for practical identifiability, we investigate how the predictive power of the model-i.e., its ability to fit data for initial ratios other than those to which it was calibrated-is affected by the choice of experimental design. The parallel calibration procedure is found to be optimal and is further tested on in silico data generated from a spatially-resolved cellular automaton model, which accounts for oxygen consumption and allows for variation in the intensity level of the interaction between the two cell lines. We use this study to highlight the care that must be taken when interpreting parameter estimates for the spatially-averaged Lotka-Volterra model when it is calibrated against data produced by the spatially-resolved cellular automaton model, since baseline competition for space and resources in the CA model may contribute to a discrepancy between the type of interaction used to generate the CA data and the type of interaction inferred by the LV model.Comment: 25 pages, 18 figure

Iron(II) catalyzed hydrophosphination of isocyanates

The first transition metal catalyzed hydrophosphination of isocyanates is presented. The use of low-coordinate iron(II) precatalysts leads to an unprecedented catalytic double insertion of isocyanates into the P-H bond of diphenylphosphine to yield phosphinodicarboxamides [Ph2PC(=O)N(R)C(=O)N(H)R], a new family of derivatized organophosphorus compounds. This remarkable result can be attributed to the low-coordinate nature of the iron(II) centres whose inherent electron deficiency enables a Lewis-acid mechanism in which a combination of the steric pocket of the metal centre and substrate size determines the reaction products and regioselectivity

Food security outcomes under a changing climate: impacts of mitigation and adaptation on vulnerability to food insecurity

Climate change is a potential threat to achieving food security, particularly in the most food insecure regions. However, interpreting climate change projections to better understand the potential impacts of a changing climate on food security outcomes is challenging. This paper addresses this challenge through presenting a framework that enables rapid country-level assessment of vulnerability to food insecurity under a range of climate change and adaptation investment scenarios. The results show that vulnerability to food insecurity is projected to increase under all emissions scenarios, and the geographic distribution of vulnerability is similar to that of the present-day; parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are most severely affected. High levels of adaptation act to off-set these increases; however, only the scenario with the highest level of mitigation combined with high levels of adaptation shows improvements in vulnerability compared to the present-day. The results highlight the dual requirement for mitigation and adaptation to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and to make gains in tackling food insecurity. The approach is an update to the existing Hunger and Climate Vulnerability Index methodology to enable future projections, and the framework presented allows rapid updates to the results as and when new information becomes available, such as updated country-level yield data or climate model output. This approach provides a framework for assessing policy-relevant human food security outcomes for use in long-term climate change and food security planning; the results have been made available on an interactive website for policymakers ( www.metoffice.gov.uk/food-insecurity-index )

Detecting Temporal shape changes with the Euler Characteristic Transform

Organoids are multi-cellular structures that are cultured in vitro from stem cells to resemble specific organs (e.g., brain, liver) in their three-dimensional composition. Dynamic changes in the shape and composition of these model systems can be used to understand the effect of mutations and treatments in health and disease. In this paper, we propose a new technique in the field of topological data analysis for DEtecting Temporal shape changes with the Euler Characteristic Transform (DETECT). DETECT is a rotationally invariant signature of dynamically changing shapes. We demonstrate our method on a data set of segmented videos of mouse small intestine organoid experiments and show that it outperforms classical shape descriptors. We verify our method on a synthetic organoid data set and illustrate how it generalizes to 3D. We conclude that DETECT offers rigorous quantification of organoids and opens up computationally scalable methods for distinguishing different growth regimes and assessing treatment effects

Exploring the micro-scale controls on fracturing in a Carboniferous limestone, and their implications for carbon capture and storage

Characterising subsurface fracture properties is important for understanding their structure, distribution, and effect on fluid flow. Fractures often act to compartmentalise fluids in the crust, which has implications across a number of subsurface applications, including carbon-dioxide (CO2) storage. Within the U.K., limestone-rich Carboniferous strata are becoming increasingly economically important and as such it is vital to gain a better understanding of their mechanical properties in the subsurface. To help achieve this, core plugs (Ø 38mm) from one naturally fractured sample and one protolith (undisturbed) sample of the Namurian McDonald Limestone, exposed in the Spireslack Surface Coal Mine in East Ayrshire, were taken. To understand controls on newly formed fractures, i.e. those that may form as a result of CO2 injection, the protolith sample was deformed in axi-symmetric compression at 25 MPa confining pressures. The sample was deformed and then unloaded in order to replicate early stage deformation features. Early results indicate that fossil fragments in part control fracture propagation pathways. Carbonation (i.e. CO2-brine-limestone) experiments on the samples were conducted for 7.2 weeks in a batch high temperature/high pressure experimental system, in order to investigate their reactivity when in contact with supercritical CO2 under conditions representative of a CO2 storage reservoir in the North Sea region. XRT was performed on original and reacted samples to characterise fractures and deformation features occurring within the plugs. Early results indicate that, due to rock-fluid interactions, fracture surfaces have been partially dissolved and as a result are smoother and wider. Debris recovered in the batch cylinder after the experiment suggests that the induced fracture network (in the protolith sample) allowed for a higher interaction rate compared to the naturally fractured and un-fractured samples

Proposed revision of the higher tier testing requirements for EPPO Standard PP1/170: Test methods for evaluating the side-effects of plant protection products on honeybees

contribution to session I  Regulatory issues Background: Regulatory evaluations for the effects of pesticides on honeybees in the EU are based on the honeybee test guidelines and risk assessment scheme of the European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO). While this is considered to be robust and effective, it is also recognised that a continuous process of review and appropriate development is necessary. A working group of the International Commission for Plant-Bee Relationships (ICPBR) had been set up to review the current guidance set out in the EPPO PP1/170 standard for higher tier testing i.e. semi-field (cage) test and full field studies. The aim of this group was to utilise the considerable experience obtained with honey bee testing. This paper presents the working group’s proposed revision to the EPPO standard PP1/170, taking into account feedback received from the 10th ICPBR Symposium in Bucharest.Results: The primary aim of the group has been to produce guidance that is sufficiently detailed yet suitably flexible so that it enables tests to be conducted and evaluated without being too prescriptive. In particular, it recognises that higher tier testing may arise as a result of various initial concerns e.g. adult toxicity, brood effects and systemic toxicity. The guidance is designed to provide the different emphasis that is required to meet the specific requirements of individual studies. Conclusion: The revision of higher tier testing for honeybees presented in this paper is proposed as an update to the current EPPO PP1/170 standard.Keywords: honey bees, test guidelines, higher tier, semi-field (cage) tests, field tests

The Species Effect:Differential Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Responses in the Bone in Human Versus Mouse

he deterioration of osteoblast-led bone formation and the upregulation of osteoclast-regulated bone resorption are the primary causes of bone diseases, including osteoporosis. Numerous circulating factors play a role in bone homeostasis by regulating osteoblast and osteoclast activity, including the sphingolipid—sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). However, to date no comprehensive studies have investigated the impact of S1P activity on human and murine osteoblasts and osteoclasts. We observed species-specific responses to S1P in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts, where S1P stimulated human osteoblast mineralisation and reduced human pre-osteoclast differentiation and mineral resorption, thereby favouring bone formation. The opposite was true for murine osteoblasts and osteoclasts, resulting in more mineral resorption and less mineral deposition. Species-specific differences in osteoblast responses to S1P were potentially explained by differential expression of S1P receptor 1. By contrast, human and murine osteoclasts expressed comparable levels of S1P receptors but showed differential expression patterns of the two sphingosine kinase enzymes responsible for S1P production. Ultimately, we reveal that murine models may not accurately represent how human bone cells will respond to S1P, and thus are not a suitable model for exploring S1P physiology or potential therapeutic agents

Infant sleep and anxiety disorders in early childhood: Findings from an Australian pregnancy cohort study

Emphasis on continuous infant sleep overnight may be driven by parental concern of risk to child mental health outcomes. The Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS) examined whether infant sleep at 6 and 12 months postpartum predicts anxiety disorders at 2–4 years, and whether this is moderated by maternal depression, active physical comforting (APC) or maternal cognitions about infant sleep. Data included 349 women and infants. Infant sleep was measured using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire and child anxiety disorders by the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. The risk of developing generalised anxiety or social phobia disorders at 3–4 years was reduced by 42% (p = 0.001) and 31% (p = 0.001), respectively, for a one standard deviation increase in total sleep at 12 months. No other infant sleep outcomes were associated. Maternal depression, APC and cognitions about infant sleep did not significantly moderate these relationships. Focus may need to be on total infant sleep, rather than when sleep is achieved. Highlights: To assess whether infant sleep outcomes (i.e., frequency of nocturnal wakes; nocturnal wakefulness and total sleep per day) at 6 and 12 months predict early childhood anxiety disorders at 3–4 years of age. Maternally reported infant sleep outcomes were not associated with the risk of developing early childhood anxiety disorders at 3–4 years. It may be total infant sleep, irrespective of when sleep occurs or night waking and, independently, active physical comforting that requires further investigation