Induced magnetic fields as evidence for subsurface oceans in Europa and Callisto

The Galileo spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 7 December 1995, and encounters one of the four galilean satellites-Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto-on each orbit. Initial results from the spacecraft's magnetometer have indicated that neither Europa nor Callisto have an appreciable internal magnetic field, in contrast to Ganymede and possibly Io. Here we report perturbations of the external magnetic fields (associated with Jupiter's inner magnetosphere) in the vicinity of both Europa and Callisto. We interpret these perturbations as arising from induced magnetic fields, generated by the moons in response to the periodically varying plasma environment. Electromagnetic induction requires eddy currents to flow within the moons, and our calculations show that the most probable explanation is that there are layers of significant electrical conductivity just beneath the surfaces of both moons. We argue that these conducting layers may best be explained by the presence of salty liquid-water oceans, for which there is already indirect geological evidence in the case of Europa.     

Prevalence of voice problems in teachers

Teachers are frequently cited as experiencing a high rate of vocal dysfunction (1-7). Despite considerable research in the area of voice problems in teachers, the prevalence of voice disorders in this group is unknown. This study investigated the prevalence of self-reported voice problems in teachers using a mail survey of a simple random sample of 1168 state school teachers (preschool-Grade 12) in South Australia. As part of the survey, teachers were asked to report voice problems for the day of the survey, during the current teaching year, and during their careers. The response rate was 75%, with 16% of teachers reporting voice problems on the day of the survey, 20% reporting problems during the current teaching year, and 19% reporting problems at some time during their career. Females were twice as likely as males to report voice problems. These findings clearly indicate a need for further investigation of the causes of vocal dysfunction in teachers and for the development of educational programs aimed at preventing voice problems in this group of professional voice users.     

Analyzing subjectivity in therapeutic discourse: Rogers, Perls, Ellis, and Gloria revisited.

Analyzed the film Three Approaches to Psychotherapy (E. L. Shostrom, 1966), which depicts C. Rogers (client-centered therapy), A. Ellis (rational-emotive therapy), and F. S. Perls (Gestalt therapy) interviewing the same client, Gloria. Verbal exchanges between participants were analyzed, using T. S. Essig and R. L. Russell's (1988) categories for analyzing psychological relations between subjects and events in discourse. Predictable patterns in how therapists of different theoretical orientations represent subjectivity in discourse can be screened with these categories. Classification categories are appended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maximizing learning without sacrificing the fun: Stealth assessment,adaptivity and learning supports in educational games

In this study, we investigated the validity of a stealth assessment of physics understanding in an educational game, as well as the effectiveness of different game-level delivery methods and various in-game supports on learning. Using a game called Physics Playground, we randomly assigned 263 ninth- to eleventh-grade students into four groups: adaptive, linear, free choice and no-treatment control. Each condition had access to the same in-game learning supports during gameplay. Results showed that: (a) the stealth assessment estimates of physics understanding were valid—significantly correlating with the external physics test scores; (b) there was no significant effect of game-level delivery method on students' learning; and (c) physics animations were the most effective (among eight supports tested) in predicting both learning outcome and in-game performance (e.g. number of game levels solved). We included student enjoyment, gender and ethnicity in our analyses as moderators to further investigate the research questions.     

Regulation of lactate production in Streptococcus bovis: A spiraling effect that contributes to rumen acidosis

When Streptococcus bovis was grown in batch culture with 6 g/L glucose at pH 6.7, maximum specific growth rate was 1.47 h(-1), and lactate was the primary fermentation product. In continuous culture at pH 6.7 and growth rate equal to .10 h(-1), little lactate was formed, and formate, acetate, and ethanol accounted for most of the product. When extra-cellular pH decreased to 4.7, intra-cellular pH declined to 5.4, and organisms switched back to lactate production. Intracellular concentration of fructose 1,6-diphosphate of batch culture cells was greater than 12 mM, a concentration that allowed maximal lactate dehydrogenase activity. When Streptococcus bovis was grown in continuous culture at pH 6.7, intracellular fructose-l,6-diphosphate declined to .4 mM, a concentration which gave little lactate dehydrogenase activity at pH 6.5 or greater. Decreasing pH of continuous culture to 4.7 increased intracellular fructose-1,6-diphosphate concentration to .8 mM. This concentration was still limiting if lactate dehydrogenase was assayed at pH 6.5, but nearly maximal activity was obtained when enzyme was assayed at pH 5.5. The small increase in fructose-l,6-diphosphate and decreased requirement of lactate dehydrogenase for fructose-l,6-diphosphate under acidic assay conditions, accounted for increased lactate production during low pH (4.7) continuous culture. These and other aspects of lactate regulation by Streptococcus bovis are discussed as factors leading to rumen acidosis. This pattern of regulation also helps to explain why rumen acidosis is difficult to reverse.     

Effects of early-postmortem glycolytic rate on beef tenderness

Electrical stimulation (ES) was applied at 500 V to one side from each of 60 beef carcasses at 30 to 40 min postmortem. Wide ranges of early-postmortem glycolytic and cooling rates were produced in the musculature by use of three different forms of ES (in addition to non-ES treatment of the contralateral sides) and application of chilling routines of four different degrees of severity. Panel and Warner-Bratzler shear evaluations of loin steaks from all 120 sides showed that tenderness was highest when glycolysis had proceeded at an intermediate rate (corresponding to the attainment of a 3-h pH of about 6·1) and was appreciably lower on both sides of this mid-value. The toughening effect of rapid glycolysis (relative to that of a moderately increased glycolytic rate) persisted through 14 days of aging at 2°C.

These observations appear to be incompatible with the view that lysosomal enzymes contribute significantly to ES-induced tenderization. They also indicate that the effect of ES on tenderness is highly dependent on the subsequent cooling rate, very slow chilling sometimes accelerating the already high rate of pH fall to such an extent that the tissue is significantly toughened. Finally, they suggest that the goal of maximizing the early-postmortem rate of pH decline in bovine muscle is misguided and, if attained, will cause sub-optimal tenderness.     

Psychology, history, and the press: The case of William McDougall and The New York Times..

A number of reasons have been suggested for the rapid decline in influence and credibility experienced by William McDougall after his arrival in America. To obtain some evidence on this issue, all articles appearing in The New York Times between 1906 and 1940 in which McDougall was mentioned were coded for the nature of the image conveyed. Articles mentioning the two authors most similar to McDougall in terms of number of citations, Joseph Jastrow and Edward L. Thorndike, were also coded for the nature of the image conveyed. In contrast to the images of Jastrow and Thorndike, the image McDougall conveyed was significantly more negative. McDougall was more often satirized, and references to McDougall were significantly less likely to be simple reporting of something he had said or done. Results are discussed in terms of the role of the press in "deciding" controversies in which the scientific community has lost interest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An informationally complete Wigner function for the Tavis–Cummings model

Journal of Computational Electronics - Here we consider an informationally complete Wigner function approach to look at multiple atoms (qubits) coupled to a field mode. We consider the...     

Plasma Metabolomics Analysis of Polyvinyl Chloride Workers Identifies Altered Processes and Candidate Biomarkers for Hepatic Hemangiosarcoma and Its Development

Background: High-level occupational vinyl chloride (VC) exposures have been associated with hepatic hemangiosarcoma, which typically develops following a long latency period. Although VC is genotoxic, a more comprehensive mode of action has not been determined and diagnostic biomarkers have not been established. The purpose of this study is to address these knowledge gaps through plasma metabolomics. Methods: Plasma samples from polyvinyl chloride polymerization workers who developed hemangiosarcoma (cases, n = 15) and VC exposure-matched controls (n = 17) underwent metabolomic analysis. Random forest and bioinformatic analyses were performed. Results: Cases and controls had similar demographics and routine liver biochemistries. Mass spectroscopy identified 606 known metabolites. Random forest analysis had an 82% predictive accuracy for group classification. 60 metabolites were significantly increased and 44 were decreased vs. controls. Taurocholate, bradykinin and fibrin degradation product 2 were up-regulated by greater than 80-fold. The naturally occurring anti-angiogenic phenol, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, was down-regulated 5-fold. Top affected ontologies involved: (i) metabolism of bile acids, taurine, cholesterol, fatty acids and amino acids; (ii) inflammation and oxidative stress; and (iii) nicotinic cholinergic signaling. Conclusions: The plasma metabolome was differentially regulated in polyvinyl chloride workers who developed hepatic hemangiosarcoma. Ontologies potentially involved in hemangiosarcoma pathogenesis and candidate biomarkers were identified.