Magnetic and Structural Studies of the Quasi-Two-Dimensional Spin-Gap System (CuCl)LaNb2O7

We report magnetization, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies on the quasi-two-dimensional spin-gap system (CuCl)LaNb2O7, a possible candidate for the J1-J2 model on a square lattice. A sharp single NQR line is observed at the Cu and Cl sites, indicating that both Cu and Cl atoms occupy a unique site. However, the electric field gradient tensors at the Cu, Cl, and La sites do not have axial symmetry. This is incompatible with the reported crystal structure. Thus the J1-J2 model has to be modified. We propose alternative two-dimensional dimer models based on the NMR, NQR, and TEM results. The value of the hyperfine coupling constant at the Cu sites indicates that the spin density is mainly on the d(3z2-r2) orbital (z parallel c). At 1.5 K, Cu- and Nb-NMR signals disappear above the critical field Bc1 = 10.3 T determined from the onset of the magnetization, indicating a field-induced magnetic phase transition at Bc1.Comment: 9 pages, 16 figure

Essential Oils from Apple mint (Mentha suaveolens) and Passionflower fruit (Passiflora incarnata): Studies on Cognition, Coordination, and Chemical Components.

Plant essential oils (EO) are used as perfumes, lotions and air fresheners because of their pleasant aromas, but EO also have the ability to elicit changes in mood and behavior. These activities are influenced by the mode of administration and by multiple signaling pathways. The EO aromas from organically grown apple mint (Mentha suaveolens) and passionflower fruit (Passiflora incarnata) were assessed for their effects on cognition and coordination. Participants completed two tasks designed to test working memory and bimanual task efficiency in rooms infused with apple mint, passionflower fruit or control EO. Bimanual coordination was assessed using the Intercept2 program and the Memory Span component of CogLab 2.0 was utilized as a test of working memory. Then, the EO were analyzed by GC-MS, resulting in the identification of several compounds with affinity towards olfactory receptors and neurotransmitter systems. For specific memory subtests within CogLab, EO from apple mint aided number recall, whereas passionflower fruit hindered recall of numbers and letters that sound similar. Passionflower fruit EO slightly enhanced bimanual task coordination. The results indicate that specific aromas may differentially affect task performance

Complex Challenges and New Opportunities: Building the Framework for Boundary Review. An Assessment of PPS’s Organizational Readiness and Options for Citizen Engagement

On February 25, 2013, the PPS Board unanimously approved Resolution 4718, which directs staff “to develop and recommend a process for a comprehensive review of school boundaries district-wide and policies related to student assignment and transfer to better align with the Racial Educational Equity Policy and promote strong capture rates and academic programs at every grade level.” To deal with the student assignment and transfer policy issues, Superintendent Carole Smith charged the “Superintendent’s Advisory Committee on Enrollment and Transfer” (SACET) with recommending changes to student assignment and transfer policies to bring them into alignment with the district’s racial educational equity policy. As for the Districtwide Boundary Review component, in December 2013, Portland Public Schools entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Center for Public Service (CPS) at Portland State University (PSU) to assist the District with eventually achieving two important tasks: Devise and implement a process to engage a wide range of current and future PPS parents, students and staff, community organizations; and other key stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive District-wide Boundary Review and recommend new PPS school boundaries for adoption by the Portland School Board; Create a flexible and dynamic “Boundary Review Framework” on which the current and future boundary-setting processes will be based. CPS proposed a three-phase approach for the “PPS District-Wide Boundary Framework” project, which would include recommendations at the end of each Phase as to recommended next steps. As initially outlined from the vantage point of October 2013, the proposed approach would be as follows: Phase I (3 months): Initial Assessment and Framework Recommendations Phase II (7-8 months): Stakeholder and Community Engagement Phase III (4 months): Final Recommendations, Community Deliberations, and Decision Making This report concludes Phase I and includes the Findings and Recommendations from our Initial Assessment

Genomic characterization of the Yersinia genus

Comparative Yersinia genomics identifies features responsible for the colonization of specific host habitats and the horizontal transfer of virulence determinants

Do adult mental health services identify child abuse and neglect? A systematic review

Child abuse and neglect play a causal role in many mental health problems. Knowing whether users of mental health services were abused or neglected as children could be considered essential for developing comprehensive formulations and effective treatment plans. In the present study we report the findings of a systematic review, using independent searches of three databases designed to discover how often mental health staff find out whether their clients were abused or neglected as children. Twenty-one relevant studies were identified. Most people who use mental health services are never asked about child abuse or neglect. The majority of cases of child abuse or neglect are not identified by mental health services. Only 28% of abuse or neglect cases identified by researchers are found in the clients’ files: emotional abuse, 44%; physical abuse, 33%; sexual abuse, 30%; emotional neglect, 17%; and physical neglect, 10%. Between 0% and 22% of mental health service users report being asked about child abuse. Men and people diagnosed with psychotic disorders are asked less than other people. Male staff ask less often than female staff. Some improvement over time was found. Policies compelling routine enquiry, training, and trauma-informed services are required

Rapid Identification of Genetic Modifications in Bacillus anthracis Using Whole Genome Draft Sequences Generated by 454 Pyrosequencing

Background The anthrax letter attacks of 2001 highlighted the need for rapid identification of biothreat agents not only for epidemiological surveillance of the intentional outbreak but also for implementing appropriate countermeasures, such as antibiotic treatment, in a timely manner to prevent further casualties. It is clear from the 2001 cases that survival may be markedly improved by administration of antimicrobial therapy during the early symptomatic phase of the illness; i.e., within 3 days of appearance of symptoms. Microbiological detection methods are feasible only for organisms that can be cultured in vitro and cannot detect all genetic modifications with the exception of antibiotic resistance. Currently available immuno or nucleic acid-based rapid detection assays utilize known, organism-specific proteins or genomic DNA signatures respectively. Hence, these assays lack the ability to detect novel natural variations or intentional genetic modifications that circumvent the targets of the detection assays or in the case of a biological attack using an antibiotic resistant or virulence enhanced Bacillus anthracis, to advise on therapeutic treatments. Methodology/Principal Findings We show here that the Roche 454-based pyrosequencing can generate whole genome draft sequences of deep and broad enough coverage of a bacterial genome in less than 24 hours. Furthermore, using the unfinished draft sequences, we demonstrate that unbiased identification of known as well as heretofore-unreported genetic modifications that include indels and single nucleotide polymorphisms conferring antibiotic and phage resistances is feasible within the next 12 hours. Conclusions/Significance Second generation sequencing technologies have paved the way for sequence-based rapid identification of both known and previously undocumented genetic modifications in cultured, conventional and newly emerging biothreat agents. Our findings have significant implications in the context of whole genome sequencing-based routine clinical diagnostics as well as epidemiological surveillance of natural disease outbreaks caused by bacterial and viral agents

Exile Vol. XXXV No. 1

ARTWORK Untitled by Eric Whitney (cover) Untitled by Rory Herbster 7 Little Boy by Eric Whitney 45 FICTION Through the Window Pane by Jennifer Read 4 to whom i may concern by Chris Campi 19 For Lack of Sleep by Amy Judge 26 Jonathan by Jim Cox 39 Skin Deep by Eric Whitney 51 NON-FICTION A Theopoetic by Robert Marshall 11 POETRY Clay Pot by Christopher Collette 1 Ars Poetica by Mans Agantyr 2 Bible Thumber by Chris Rynd 6 Play by Amy Judge 9 Satellites by Andrew C. Carinston 10 Music - Love? by Shammon J. Salser 15 Allusion by Rosemary Walsh 17 Self Portrait by Margaret Dawson 18 On Our Way by Lynn Pendleton 21 They called her Mitzi... by Jen Miller 22 Storms of Illusion by Kevin Merriman 23 Beauty by Andrew C. Carington 24 Thoughts of a Husband by Kent Lambert 25 The Music of the Sum by Zach Smith 31 Don\u27t Think by Mary Forsythe 32 Aspiration by Tim Emrick 33 Where We Go Together by Man Angantyr 35 Sunset by Chris Byrd 36 The Child of my Fatalism by Jennifer Peterson 37 Untitled by Kent Lambert 38 Terribly close to being... by Michael Payne 44 Anne Frank\u27s House by Mary Forsythe 47 Invitation by Kevin Merriman 48 Height Protest by Jen Miller 49 Dancer by Bradford Cover 50 Ars Poetica by Amy Judge 55 Editorial decision is shared equally among the Editorial Board members -title page NOTE: The author of the poem Satellites is listed as Andrew C. Carinston in the published table of contents. This is likely a misspelling as there are four instances of an Andrew C. Carington elsewhere in this edition, including the attribution on the page where Satellites is published. NOTE: The author of the poem Where We Go Together is listed as Man Angantyr in the published table of contents. This is likely a misspelling as there are four instances of an Mans Angantyr elsewhere in this edition, including the attribution on the pages where Where We Go Together is published. NOTE: Chris Byrd is listed as the author of the poem Sunset in the published version. However a note in the received version indicates that the author is actually Chris Rynd, whose poem Bible Thumper is also published in this issue. No Chris Byrd is listed among the contributors to this issue. NOTE: The author of the poem Music = Love? is listed as Shammon J. Salser in the published table of contents. This is likely a misspelling. Where Music = Love? appears the author is listed as Shannon J. Salser. The same is true of the contributors section. NOTE: Though the published table of contents is followed here, the poem by Zach Smith that is published on page 31 is listed as The Music of the Sun on page 31

Genomic Signatures of Strain Selection and Enhancement in Bacillus atrophaeus var. globigii, a Historical Biowarfare Simulant

(BG) as a simulant for biological warfare (BW) agents, knowledge of its genome composition is limited. Furthermore, the ability to differentiate signatures of deliberate adaptation and selection from natural variation is lacking for most bacterial agents. We characterized a lineage of BGwith a long history of use as a simulant for BW operations, focusing on classical bacteriological markers, metabolic profiling and whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGS). on the nucleotide level. WGS of variants revealed that several strains were mixed but highly related populations and uncovered a progressive accumulation of mutations among the “military” isolates. Metabolic profiling and microscopic examination of bacterial cultures revealed enhanced growth of “military” isolates on lactate-containing media, and showed that the “military” strains exhibited a hypersporulating phenotype.Our analysis revealed the genomic and phenotypic signatures of strain adaptation and deliberate selection for traits that were desirable in a simulant organism. Together, these results demonstrate the power of whole-genome and modern systems-level approaches to characterize microbial lineages to develop and validate forensic markers for strain discrimination and reveal signatures of deliberate adaptation

A computational study of the electronic properties, ionic conduction, and thermal expansion of Sm1−xAxCoO3 and Sm1−xAxCoO3−x/2 (A = Ba2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and x = 0.25, 0.5) as intermediate temperature SOFC cathodes

The substitutional doping of Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ on the Sm-site in the cubic perovskite SmCoO3 is reported to improve both electronic and ionic conductivities for applications as solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes. Hence, in this study we have used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate dopant configurations at two different dopant concentrations: 25 and 50%. To preserve the electroneutrality of the system, we have studied two different charge compensation mechanisms: the creation of oxygen vacancies, and electronic holes. After examining the electronic structure, charge density difference, and oxygen vacancy formation energies, we concluded that oxygen vacancy charge compensation is the preferred mechanism to maintain the electroneutrality of the system. Furthermore, we found that the improvement of the electronic conduction is not a direct consequence of the appearance of electron holes, but a result of the distortion of the material, more specifically, the distortion of the Co–O bonds. Finally, molecular dynamics were employed to model ionic conduction and thermal expansion coefficients. It was found that all dopants at both concentrations showed high ionic conduction comparable to experimental results

Speaker Sex Perception from Spontaneous and Volitional Nonverbal Vocalizations.

In two experiments, we explore how speaker sex recognition is affected by vocal flexibility, introduced by volitional and spontaneous vocalizations. In Experiment 1, participants judged speaker sex from two spontaneous vocalizations, laughter and crying, and volitionally produced vowels. Striking effects of speaker sex emerged: For male vocalizations, listeners' performance was significantly impaired for spontaneous vocalizations (laughter and crying) compared to a volitional baseline (repeated vowels), a pattern that was also reflected in longer reaction times for spontaneous vocalizations. Further, performance was less accurate for laughter than crying. For female vocalizations, a different pattern emerged. In Experiment 2, we largely replicated the findings of Experiment 1 using spontaneous laughter, volitional laughter and (volitional) vowels: here, performance for male vocalizations was impaired for spontaneous laughter compared to both volitional laughter and vowels, providing further evidence that differences in volitional control over vocal production may modulate our ability to accurately perceive speaker sex from vocal signals. For both experiments, acoustic analyses showed relationships between stimulus fundamental frequency (F0) and the participants' responses. The higher the F0 of a vocal signal, the more likely listeners were to perceive a vocalization as being produced by a female speaker, an effect that was more pronounced for vocalizations produced by males. We discuss the results in terms of the availability of salient acoustic cues across different vocalizations