Durkheim\u27s Refutation of Spencerian Methodological Individualism: A Critical Evaluation.

The famed French classical social theorist Emile Durkheim\u27s academic reputation is based largely on his critical rejection of the British utilitarian tradition and specifically the writings of the classical British sociologist Herbert Spencer. In this thesis I critically evaluate Durkheim\u27s critique of Herbert Spencer\u27s methodological individualism. It is found that while select Durkheimian claims merit continued allegiance, his broader critique of Spencer\u27s methodological individualism must be viewed as logically and empirically deficient. In conclusion I examine the implications for Durkheimian sociology and the broader social theoretical enterprise directed at analyzing and conceptualizing the nature of sociality and the social bond

Likert Items: Should(n’t) We Really Care?

One of the controversial methodological topics in the social and behavioral sciences is the (ab)use of Likert Scale items, Likert-type items and ranked ordered response categories. The debate is whether parametric tests can be legitimately conducted on technically ordinal response categories that are represented with numbers. Participants answered survey questions on moral disengagement, where we changed the intervals of seven response categories and tested whether assigning numbers made any difference in two separate studies. The results showed that participants’ ratings were not significantly different with or without numbers. Participants tend to covertly superimpose numbers where none were provided. Also, there were no significant interactions between assignment of numbers and ‘intervalness’. However, ratings were significantly different between two key interval groups. Knowing the assumptions of respondents to these Likert items even without numbers could inform researchers especially if parametric tests are to be conducted

The Relationship of Visceral Adipose Tissue with Markers of Energy Homeostasis Following Weight-Loss

Excess levels of adipose tissue, in particular visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is closely associated with the metabolic syndrome and dysregulation of energy homeostasis. It is hypothesized that leptin resistance results in overconsumption of calories and reduced satiety. Recently, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), beyond functioning in learning and memory, is shown to play a role in energy homeostasis via its positive satiety effects on the hypothalamus. However, it remains to be elucidated how changes in visceral adipose tissue are associated with changes in circulating leptin and BDNF after weight-loss. PURPOSE: To identify changes in adiposity and circulating leptin and BDNF following a 3-month weight-loss program. METHODS: Sixty-five obese (mean±SEM; age=47.9±1.1 years; BMI=34.5±0.8 kg/m2;), men and women completed a 3-month weight-loss program that consisted of a reduced energy intake of 1200-1500 kcals/day using a high-volume low-calorie diet combined with a progressive walking program to target 300 min/wk. Fasted (12 hr) blood samples were collected at baseline and post-weight-loss (3 months) and assayed for concentrations of glucose, insulin, BDNF, and leptin. Using DXA, total VAT and subcutaneous (SubQ) adipose tissue mass were measured at baseline and post-weight-loss (3 months). To identify significant changes over time, ANOVA with repeated measures was performed with significance set at p\u3c0.05. RESULTS: Following the 3-month weight-loss program, both BMI and HOMA-IR were significantly reduced 9.3% and 49%, respectively. The reduction in BMI and HOMA-IR were matched by a significant reduction in both VAT (-658 g; -33%, p\u3c0.001) and SubQ (-367 g; -17%, p\u3c0.001). Interestingly, leptin was reduced and BDNF was increased by 43% (p\u3c0.001) and 42% (p=0.011), respectively. Linear regression revealed that changes in VAT were associated with changes in leptin (b=0.298, p=0.026), but not with BDNF (b=0.027, p=0.896). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the reduction in VAT, by caloric restriction and physical activity, was associated with the reduction in circulating leptin concentrations, but not with changes in BDNF. Changes in leptin and BDNF may be in part responsible for the normalization of the energy homeostasis observed after weight-loss; however, changes in BDNF may be independent of VAT

Implementation of the LANS-alpha turbulence model in a primitive equation ocean model

This paper presents the first numerical implementation and tests of the Lagrangian-averaged Navier-Stokes-alpha (LANS-alpha) turbulence model in a primitive equation ocean model. The ocean model in which we work is the Los Alamos Parallel Ocean Program (POP); we refer to POP and our implementation of LANS-alpha as POP-alpha. Two versions of POP-alpha are presented: the full POP-alpha algorithm is derived from the LANS-alpha primitive equations, but requires a nested iteration that makes it too slow for practical simulations; a reduced POP-alpha algorithm is proposed, which lacks the nested iteration and is two to three times faster than the full algorithm. The reduced algorithm does not follow from a formal derivation of the LANS-alpha model equations. Despite this, simulations of the reduced algorithm are nearly identical to the full algorithm, as judged by globally averaged temperature and kinetic energy, and snapshots of temperature and velocity fields. Both POP-alpha algorithms can run stably with longer timesteps than standard POP. Comparison of implementations of full and reduced POP-alpha algorithms are made within an idealized test problem that captures some aspects of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a problem in which baroclinic instability is prominent. Both POP-alpha algorithms produce statistics that resemble higher-resolution simulations of standard POP. A linear stability analysis shows that both the full and reduced POP-alpha algorithms benefit from the way the LANS-alpha equations take into account the effects of the small scales on the large. Both algorithms (1) are stable; (2) make the Rossby Radius effectively larger; and (3) slow down Rossby and gravity waves.Comment: Submitted to J. Computational Physics March 21, 200

The Effect of Gender on Circulating Adipokines during Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance

During obesity, the altered release of adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, have been strongly associated with development of the metabolic syndrome. Treatment with weight loss has been shown to increase adiponectin, in particular high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, and reduce circulating leptin levels indicating an increased leptin sensitizing effect. Interestingly, a gender dichotomy has been identified with women generally possessing higher plasma concentrations of both adipokines. Weight loss effects have been well established; however, it remains to be determined how the gender differences in adiponectin and leptin will affect these adipokines during prolonged weight maintenance. PURPOSE: To identify gender differences in adiponectin and leptin concentrations following a 6-month weight loss and weight maintenance program. METHODS: Sixty-five obese (mean±SEM; age=47.9±1.1 years; BMI=34.3±0.7 kg/m2;) adults (M=20, F=45) completed a 3-month weight loss program that consisted of a reduced energy intake of 1200-1500 kcals/day using a high-volume low-calorie diet combined with a progressive walking program to target 300 min/wk. During the 3-month weight maintenance program, participants consumed sufficient calories to maintain weight loss with continued walking to target 300 min/wk. Fasted (12 hr) blood samples were collected at baseline, post- weight loss (3 months), and weight maintenance (6 months) and assayed for glucose, insulin, total and HMW adiponectin, and leptin. To identify significant changes over time and between gender, a repeated measures (time x gender) ANOVA was performed with significance set at P\u3c0.05. Results: At baseline, no significant difference in BMI or HOMA-IR were observed between genders. Following 3 months of weight loss, BMI was significantly reduced 9.9% and 8.5% in men and women, respectively, and BMI remained unchanged through the weight maintenance program. Interestingly, only men demonstrated a significant reduction in HOMA-IR following weight loss. Following weight maintenance in women, HOMA-IR increased slightly such that it was not significantly different than the baseline or weight loss time points. At baseline, women had significantly higher circulating levels of total and HMW adiponectin, and leptin. No significant changes in total or HMW adiponectin were observed over time for either gender. Following weight-loss, leptin concentrations were reduced 49.6% and 39.2% in men and women, respectively. Interestingly, only women demonstrated a transient reduction in leptin through the weight maintenance program. Conclusions: At baseline, we identified the presence of a clear gender dichotomy for total and HMW adiponectin, and leptin concentrations. Despite these significant differences in circulating adipokines at baseline, both men and women responded similarly to a 6-month weight loss and weight maintenance program

Nanoparticles modified with multiple organic acids

Surface-modified nanoparticles of boehmite, and methods for preparing the same. Aluminum oxyhydroxide nanoparticles are surface modified by reaction with selected amounts of organic acids. In particular, the nanoparticle surface is modified by reactions with two or more different carboxylic acids, at least one of which is an organic carboxylic acid. The product is a surface modified boehmite nanoparticle that has an inorganic aluminum oxyhydroxide core, or part aluminum oxyhydroxide core and a surface-bonded organic shell. Organic carboxylic acids of this invention contain at least one carboxylic acid group and one carbon-hydrogen bond. One embodiment of this invention provides boehmite nanoparticles that have been surface modified with two or more acids one of which additional carries at least one reactive functional group. Another embodiment of this invention provides boehmite nanoparticles that have been surface modified with multiple acids one of which has molecular weight or average molecular weight greater than or equal to 500 Daltons. Yet, another embodiment of this invention provides boehmite nanoparticles that are surface modified with two or more acids one of which is hydrophobic in nature and has solubility in water of less than 15 by weight. The products of the methods of this invention have specific useful properties when used in mixture with liquids, as filler in solids, or as stand-alone entities

A Randomized, Controlled, Supervised, Excerise Trial in Young Overweight Men and Women: The Midwest Exercise Trial II (MET2)

We evaluated weight loss response to 16 months of supervised exercise (45 minutes/d, 5 d/wk, 75% heart-rate-reserve) in sedentary, overweight/obese participants without energy restriction in the Midwest Exercise Trial (MET1). Results indicated men lost weight, women did not. The gender differences were associated with differences in the energy expenditure of exercise (EEEx) (men = 667 ± 116; women = 439 ± 88 kcal/session) when exercise was prescribed by frequency, intensity and duration. MET2 is a randomized control trial designed and powered to examine differences in weight loss and gender in response to EEEx for men and women of 400 or 600 kcal/session, 5d/wk, for 10 months without energy restriction. One hundred forty one participants will be randomized to 1 of 2 exercise groups or a non-exercise control. EEEx will be verified by indirect calorimetry monthly during the intervention. This study will evaluate: (1) the weight change response to two levels of EEEx versus non-exercise control; (2) gender differences in weight response to two levels of EEEx; (3) potential compensatory changes in energy intake and/or daily physical activity that may explain the observed weight changes. Results from this study may impact how exercise is prescribed for weight loss and prevention of weight regain and may clarify if men and women differ in response to exercise