Team cognition in group interventions: The relation between coleaders' shared mental models and group climate.

The relation between the convergence in group coleaders' mental models of their groups and group members' perceptions of group climate was examined. Coleaders of 8 intergroup dialogue groups provided paired-comparison ratings of the similarity of their group members, and group members provided group climate ratings, following each of 7 sessions. The paired-comparison ratings were analyzed using pathfinder network analysis (Schvaneveldt, 1990) to examine the structure of each coleader's mental model of her or his group, and to compare these mental models within coleader pairs to determine degree of similarity in coleaders' mental models for each coleader pair for each week (i.e., how similarly coleaders of a group view their group). Growth curve analyses of the degree of similarity and group climate data showed an increase in similarity of coleaders' mental models within groups across sessions, and that similarity in coleader mental models was related to increases in the engaged and decreases in the avoiding aspects of the group climate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Determination of Fatty Acid Primary Amides by Capillary Gas Chromatography

A method has been developed for the determination of 12 primary amides of long-chain fatty acids by capillary column gas chromatography. The method uses no derivatization or sample preparation other than extraction of the sample. A variety of commercial amidecontaining materials have been analyzed successfully. The amides, along with other soluble materials, are first separated from the host using refluxing 2-propanol containing an internal standard. The fatty acid amides are then identified and measured by gas chromatography over a programmed temperature range of 200 to 260 C. The chromatograms obtained show sharp peaks, unique retention times and acceptable reproducibility for quantitation.Cis- trans isomers of several of the fatty acid amides were tested and found to be resolved under the conditions employed.     

Proinflammatory macrophage-activating properties of the novel phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate

We have found that the novel phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), identified in bacteria, yeast, and plants, but not in mammalian cells, is able to potently activate macrophages for enhanced secretion of arachidonate metabolites, a key event in the immunoinflammatory response of leukocytes. Macrophage responses to DGPP are specific and are not mediated by its conversion into other putative lipid mediators such as phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, or diacylglycerol. The responses to DGPP are compatible with a receptor-recognition event because they are blocked by suramin. Intracellular signaling initiated by DGPP includes phosphorylation and activation of the Group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 and of the extracellular-signal regulated p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p44 MAPK, and membrane translocation of the protein kinase C isoenzymes alpha, epsilon, delta. These results establish DGPP as a novel macrophage-activating factor and suggest a potential role for this compound in triggering homeostatic cellular responses.     

An Examination of the Trade Study Process at NASA

Abstract:

Engineering managers increasingly rely on trade study processes to design optimum system architectures. Opinions on what constitutes a quality trade study differ, and this can hinder the engineering manager in determining what trade study processes to follow. This article contributes to the manager's body of knowledge by identifying trade study best practices through reviews of published research and interviews with engineers who conducted successful trade studies supporting the design of complex space systems.

A checklist of trade study best practices was developed. Three completed NASA trade studies were then evaluated against the checklist in conjunction with interviews of engineers involved in the studies. Through one-on-one interviews with engineers, assessments were made on the value, appropriateness, and effectiveness of each trade study. Key issues, taken from the checklist, were addressed and the lessons learned were identified. The goal of the study was to establish the groundwork for a more detailed analysis of trade study processes. The engineering manager can use these preliminary findings to ensure that their trade study processes are timely, set up properly, and contain needed checks and balances.     

Construction of a Microcomputer Controlled Photoacoustic Spectrometer

ABSTRACT

We have developed a UV-Visible photoacoustic spectrophotometer using relatively inexpensive individual optical components. The instrument was initially developed due to the absence of a commercial photoacoustic instrument in the UV-Visible range. We have found that this custom built instrument allows numerous software generated options that are unavailable on any commercial spectrometric instruments. In addition to recording routine intensity versus wavelength spectra, we can record the following: 1) resolution of the spectra in layered samples; 2) quantitative depth profiles in samples; 3) spectra and spectral fragments can be smoothed and joined into continuous spectra; and 4) signal averaging of spectra can be carried out. The construction of this custom built instrument allowed the maximum flexibility in experimental application with minimum cost to the investigator.