Overview of NASA's Propulsion 21 Effort

Propulsion 21 technologies contribute to reducing CO2 and NO(x) emissions and noise. Integrated Government/Industry/University research efforts have produced promising initial technical results. Graduate students from 5 partnering universities will benefit from this collaborative research--> educating the future engineering workforce. Phase 2 Efforts scheduled to be completed 3QFY06

Prenatal growth markers in schizophrenia: a monozygotic co-twin control study.

OBJECTIVE: This co-twin study investigated monozygotic twins who were discordant for schizophrenia for evidence of prenatal growth differences between the affected and well co-twins. METHOD: Four dermatoglyphic markers of prenatal growth were obtained by established procedures from 26 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia, 13 monozygotic twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia, and several normal monozygotic twin samples. RESULTS: The a-b ridge count differences between the affected and well co-twins were greater than those found for concordant and normal monozygotic pairs. In comparison with their well co-twins, the affected twins, in discordant pairs, had developed fewer epidermal ridges in the a-b interdigital area of their right palms. In contrast, no significant differences were found between the affected twins and their well co-twins on markers associated with fetal development before 13 or after 15 weeks estimated gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Because the a-b ridges are known to complete development between 13 and 15 weeks estimated gestational age, the results provide physical evidence suggesting that the schizophrenia-affected monozygotic twins alone experienced a time-specific and time-limited dysgenesis during this time. Commonalities in the ontogeny of epidermal and neurological structures are discussed

One health research in Northern Tanzania – challenges and progress

East Africa has one of the world’s fastest growing human populations—many of whom are dependent on livestock—as well as some of the world’s largest wildlife populations. Humans, livestock, and wildlife often interact closely, intimately linking human, animal, and environmental health. The concept of One Health captures this interconnectedness, including the social structures and beliefs driving interactions between species and their environments. East African policymakers and researchers are recognising and encouraging One Health research, with both groups increasingly playing a leading role in this subject area. One Health research requires interaction between scientists from different disciplines, such as the biological and social sciences and human and veterinary medicine. Different disciplines draw on norms, methodologies, and terminologies that have evolved within their respective institutions and that may be distinct from or in conflict with one another. These differences impact interdisciplinary research, both around theoretical and methodological approaches and during project operationalisation. We present experiential knowledge gained from numerous ongoing projects in northern Tanzania, including those dealing with bacterial zoonoses associated with febrile illness, foodborne disease, and anthrax. We use the examples to illustrate differences between and within social and biological sciences and between industrialised and traditional societies, for example, with regard to consenting procedures or the ethical treatment of animals. We describe challenges encountered in ethical approval processes, consenting procedures, and field and laboratory logistics and offer suggestions for improvement. While considerable investment of time in sensitisation, communication, and collaboration is needed to overcome interdisciplinary challenges inherent in One Health research, this can yield great rewards in paving the way for successful implementation of One Health projects. Furthermore, continued investment in African institutions and scientists will strengthen the role of East Africa as a world leader in One Health research

The Eating Disorders Diagnostic Inventory (EDDI): The Development of a New Assessment Instrument.

The area of eating disorders have been intensively by both the psychological and medical researchers over the last two decades. Differential diagnosis of the four most prevalent eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, and the non-binging obese) continues to be a problem for both researchers and clinicians. Diagnosis of these disorders has been complicated by the many changes in diagnostic criteria for each of the disorders. One consequence of these frequent changes is that there is no single self-report inventory for differential diagnosis which is based on currently accepted diagnostic criteria. The purpose of this study was the construction of an assessment instrument, the Eating Disorders Diagnostic Inventory (EDDI), which could reliably differentiate anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, non-binging obese, and normals. The EDDI was developed from a group of test items which included items from the Eating Attitudes Test, the Bulimia Test, and the Eating Questionnaire-Revised, totalling 91 items. In the initial test construction phase of the study, there were 397 subjects. Discriminant analysis identified 35 items, which formed the EDDI, which differentiated the five diagnostic groups included in the study (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, obese, and normals) with a correct classification rate of 85.5%. Factor analysis identified three scales of the EDDI: a Binge Eat scale, a Drive for Thinness scale, and a Purgative Behavior scale. A second phase of the study, the Validation Phase, included four groups: bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeaters, obese, and normals. There were 15 subjects per group. A group of anorexics could not be obtained, so this group was dropped from the study. Measures of temporal stability indicated that the EDDI had satisfactory test-retest reliability over a two-week period. However, discriminant validity of the instrument was found to be unsatisfactory in that only 75% of the subjects were correctly classified using the discriminant function established in the first phase. The concurrent validity of the three factors of the EDDI was supported, however. Discussion focused upon additional research steps which may better establish the discriminant validity of the EDDI

The Color Variability of Quasars

We quantify quasar color-variability using an unprecedented variability database - ugriz photometry of 9093 quasars from SDSS Stripe 82, observed over 8 years at ~60 epochs each. We confirm previous reports that quasars become bluer when brightening. We find a redshift dependence of this blueing in a given set of bands (e.g. g and r), but show that it is the result of the flux contribution from less-variable or delayed emission lines in the different SDSS bands at different redshifts. After correcting for this effect, quasar color-variability is remarkably uniform, and independent not only of redshift, but also of quasar luminosity and black hole mass. The color variations of individual quasars, as they vary in brightness on year timescales, are much more pronounced than the ranges in color seen in samples of quasars across many orders of magnitude in luminosity. This indicates distinct physical mechanisms behind quasar variability and the observed range of quasar luminosities at a given black hole mass - quasar variations cannot be explained by changes in the mean accretion rate. We do find some dependence of the color variability on the characteristics of the flux variations themselves, with fast, low-amplitude, brightness variations producing more color variability. The observed behavior could arise if quasar variability results from flares or ephemeral hot spots in an accretion disc.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ - in press, 17 pages, 14 figures - v2: abstract typo corrected & reference clean-u

Relationship of Polymorphisms in The FSH Beta Subunit Gene With Reproduction in Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus Cattle

Two experiments were conducted to characterize polymorphisms (SNP) in the bovine FSHβ gene promoter region to examine breed differences in SNP, and to determine effects of SNP on reproduction in beef cattle. Experiment 1 - DNA samples were collected from 5 Angus (ANG), 13 Balancer (BAL), & 16 Brahman influenced (BI) bulls. Polymorphisms were identified by sequencing of 3 sequential PCR products from the promoter region revealed 17 SNP & 4 insertion/deletions (INDEL). Semen samples were collected and sperm quality variables determined via computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) or stained smears. The MIXED procedure for ANG & BAL indicated interactions of week and SNP 485for LIN, AREA, & MINAB (P ≤ 0.05), effects of SNP 169 & 170 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.07), SNP 485 on MOT, PROG, RAP, VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF, AREA, & LIVE (P ≤ 0.05),and SNP 1130 on VCL, ALH, LIN (P ≤ 0.05), & STR (P = 0.06). For BI bulls effects of SNP 171, 225, 353, 410, 411, 412, & INDEL 413-414 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.09), SNP 783 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.03), BCF & MAJAB (P ≤ 0.09), SNP 1130 on VCL (P = 0.05), VAP, & VSL (P ≤ 0.09), and SNP 1702 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.04). Experiment 2 - DNA samples were collected from early & late pubertal Brahman heifers and SNP were identified by sequencing 2 upstream segments of FSHâ promoter region. Chi square revealed effects upon puberty for SNP 783 (P = 0.02) and 171 (P = 0.08), breed differences in frequency of occurrence for 10 SNP (171, 225, 321, 353, 410, 411, 412, 783, 887, 1702), and 2 INDEL (411-412 INDEL & 413-414 INDEL). Results indicate breed differences in frequency of occurrence of SNP in FSHâ promoter region, and that SNP may be useful as markers related to semen quality in bulls and puberty in Brahman heifers

Beyond Gross-Pitaevskii Mean Field Theory

A large number of effects related to the phenomenon of Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC) can be understood in terms of lowest order mean field theory, whereby the entire system is assumed to be condensed, with thermal and quantum fluctuations completely ignored. Such a treatment leads to the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation (GPE) used extensively throughout this book. Although this theory works remarkably well for a broad range of experimental parameters, a more complete treatment is required for understanding various experiments, including experiments with solitons and vortices. Such treatments should include the dynamical coupling of the condensate to the thermal cloud, the effect of dimensionality, the role of quantum fluctuations, and should also describe the critical regime, including the process of condensate formation. The aim of this Chapter is to give a brief but insightful overview of various recent theories, which extend beyond the GPE. To keep the discussion brief, only the main notions and conclusions will be presented. This Chapter generalizes the presentation of Chapter 1, by explicitly maintaining fluctuations around the condensate order parameter. While the theoretical arguments outlined here are generic, the emphasis is on approaches suitable for describing single weakly-interacting atomic Bose gases in harmonic traps. Interesting effects arising when condensates are trapped in double-well potentials and optical lattices, as well as the cases of spinor condensates, and atomic-molecular coupling, along with the modified or alternative theories needed to describe them, will not be covered here.Comment: Review Article (19 Pages) - To appear in 'Emergent Nonlinear Phenomena in Bose-Einstein Condensates: Theory and Experiment', Edited by P.G. Kevrekidis, D.J. Frantzeskakis and R. Carretero-Gonzalez (Springer Verlag

Pampering, Well-Being And Women’s Bodies In The Therapeutic Spaces Of The Spa

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Social and Cultural Geography, 2013, Vol. 14 Issue 1 pp. 41-58 © 2012 copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/ DOI: 10.1080/14649365.2012.734846This paper develops and extends recent work in geography on therapeutic landscapes and the body in an examination of pampering practices in the contemporary spa. Drawing on feminist research on health, gender identity and the body, the paper explores the importance of escape, relaxation and other strategies to combat stress on the well-being practices and routines of women. Using original data collected from interviews in two spas in the South West of England, the paper argues that a visit to the spa is increasingly being seen as an important part of women’s wider health and bodily maintenance providing a space for relaxation and withdrawal from responsibilities of the home and workplace. The pampering treatments reinforce the therapeutic benefits of the spa creating a sense of luxury and a focus on the self. The paper locates these arguments within the twin theoretical concerns of the ‘care of the self’ and disciplining the body, suggesting that any attempts to understand the practices and therapies for maintaining bodily well-being must incorporate a recognition of their simultaneous role in regulating the size and shape of women’s bodies