Studies of atmospheric water vapor by means of passive microwave techniques

Atmospheric water vapor determined with passive microwave technique

A Turn to Liturgy in Contemporary Political Theology

Contemporary development of Christian political theology has been marked, among others, by a turn to liturgy. At first glance, such a turn might be easily associated with the sound principle of the inextricable connection between vita activa and vita contemplativa. The turn to liturgy, therefore, aims to affirm that mystics (the life of prayer) and politics (social engagement) should go hand in hand. However, does this classical idea stand as the sole reason for the turn to liturgy in the contemporary discussion in political theology? In this article, the author argues that while this classical argument still provides part of the answer to that question, the turn to liturgy in contemporary political theology to a considerable extent deals with the question of self-definition of the Church in exercising its political engagement. The turn to liturgy insists that the Church is inherently political, and thus its political significance is not defined by its relationship with the politics of the state alone. On the contrary, the political nature of the Church and its political role wells up from its identity as the sign and instrument of the Kingdom of God. As such, in its political engagement, the Church ought not to be considered merely as a social or voluntary organization

Group creativity

Group creativity is vital in overcoming the numerous challenges that the world faces. Yet group creativity is deeply puzzling. It seems plausible that only agents can be creative, so group creativity requires group agency. But how could groups possess the mental states required to be agents, let alone the rich range of them required to be creative? It appears more reasonable to hold that group creativity is not a real phenomenon, but is merely the summed creativity of the individuals forming the group. There is also much empirical evidence that groups are no more creative than their members. In this paper I examine the conceptual and empirical challenges to group creativity, defend its existence, and offer an explanation of how it is possible.PostprintPeer reviewe

Experimental Design Modulates Variance in BOLD Activation: The Variance Design General Linear Model

Typical fMRI studies have focused on either the mean trend in the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) time course or functional connectivity (FC). However, other statistics of the neuroimaging data may contain important information. Despite studies showing links between the variance in the BOLD time series (BV) and age and cognitive performance, a formal framework for testing these effects has not yet been developed. We introduce the Variance Design General Linear Model (VDGLM), a novel framework that facilitates the detection of variance effects. We designed the framework for general use in any fMRI study by modeling both mean and variance in BOLD activation as a function of experimental design. The flexibility of this approach allows the VDGLM to i) simultaneously make inferences about a mean or variance effect while controlling for the other and ii) test for variance effects that could be associated with multiple conditions and/or noise regressors. We demonstrate the use of the VDGLM in a working memory application and show that engagement in a working memory task is associated with whole-brain decreases in BOLD variance.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

Letter from Charlotte Gaut to John Muir, 1910 May 23.

[1]San Francisco, Cal.May 23, 1910.Dear Mr. Muir;-I was very much pleased to hear from you. I felt it quite an honor to receive a letter from such a busy man.I like San Francisco very much. The second day I was here I secured a position in a Neckwear Factory as bookkeeper and stenographer for the small sum of a dollar a day. I am now working in an architect\u27s office. They keep me pretty busy. Some of04765 [2]the specifications are forty-eight pages long and I have to make six carbon copies and sometimes more than that.I find that working is not fun by any means, but it is sure to become easier with practice.How glad I will be to see you when you come to San Francisco. I will give you my working address so that if it is more convenient to call on me down town you may. It is room[3]119 in the Chronicle Building. You have my other address.Thanking you very much for your kind letter, I remain,Ever your friendCharlotte Gant.0476

The Tree of Life Model of Faith-Based Living: A Practice Model for Faith Community Nursing

The advancement of nursing practice is supported by a plethora of theories, conceptual models, and theoretical frameworks. Additionally, the complexity of nursing and the profession’s ability to respond to diverse manifestations of patient or client response to illness manifests in a number of specialty areas of practice. Faith Community Nursing is a specialty area of nursing practice that appears to lack a specific conceptual model upon which to support the faith-based practice of Faith Community Nurses. The Tree of Life Model of Faith-Based Living, an adaptation of the Activities of Living Model, supports the faith-based practice of Faith Community Nurses and recognizes the diversity of experiences shared among individuals, families, and faith communities. Concepts of the nursing metaparadigm are defined from a faith perspective and TOL assumptions are shared

Evaluation of object attributes to study speed-accuracy trade-off of gloves using ISO 9241-411 standard

Selection of appropriate gloves plays an important role in the overall comfort and productivity of workers. Currently, there are no standards and/or guidelines available to systematically evaluate the glove performance based on speed-accuracy trade-off. The ISO 9241-411 standard which is based on Fitts’ Law has been extensively used in the literature to measure speed-accuracy trade-off in terms of throughput in the virtual environments. This study was aimed at developing guidelines for implementing ISO 9241-411 standard in the physical environment so that it can be used to estimate (and compare) throughputs of safety gloves. Specifically, the various physical attributes of objects used in the target transfer tasks (within the ISO 9241-411 standard) were evaluated using an experimental study. Fifteen healthy subjects performed a series of target transfer tasks using three glove conditions (barehand, glove type 1, glove type 2), three object heights (0.28 , 0.43 , 0.88 ), two object materials (nylon, stainless-steel) and two object shapes (circular, hexagonal). The main effect of glove condition was statistically significant. The mean throughput for the barehand was 3.61 bits/sec, and for glove types 1 and 2, the mean throughputs were 3.36 bits/sec and 3.31 bits/sec, respectively. The interaction effect of object height with object material was statistically significant. The mean throughput for 0.88 stainless-steel objects (2.99 bits/sec) was significantly different from 0.88 nylon objects (3.13 bits/sec), but for 0.28 and 0.43 objects, there was no difference in the mean throughput due to difference in the material. The main effect of object shape was statistically insignificant. Based on the additional analysis of different statistical measures, the stainless-steel 0.88 circular object was found to perform better compared to other objects in terms of its ability to distinguish different glove conditions. In summary, this study concludes that it is possible to use ISO 9241-411 standard in a 3-D physical environment to compare barehanded exertions with gloved exertions. However, it cannot be said conclusively that the standard can be used for comparing different gloves

Letter from Helen Lukens Gaut to John Muir, 1909 Dec 21.

Helen Lukens GautMagazine Correspondent182 East Walnut Street[Pasadrna ?], Cal.Dec. 21, 1909.My dear Mr. Muir:-I thank you most sincerely for the splendid testimonial you sent me. Its value to me will be great.In this same mail I am forwarding the six [Illegible] booklets, also a tinted photograph of a brook scene that I took in the Klamath River country this summer, which I hope you will accept with my best greetings. I also enclose a chromo of a homely, but good-natured subject.Col. Sellers and wife have returned from the East,and are at their home on Calif. St.I believe my father has written you today. He is well, and very happy with the girls , as he calls his wife and sister-in-law, and I am happy for him.Mr. Gaut and Ralph join me in wishing you a merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and Lottie sends you her love. She has, and always has had, an especially warm corner in her heart for dear Mr. Muir.Thanking you again for your dear good letter, I am,Sincerely yours,[Illegible]0465