Extending recent modeling efforts for emulsions, we propose a nonlocal fluidity relation for flowing granular materials, capturing several known finite-size effects observed in steady flow. We express the local Bagnold-type granular flow law in terms of a fluidity ratio and then extend it with a particular Laplacian term that is scaled by the grain size. The resulting model is calibrated agains...

Recent dense granular flow experiments have shown that shear deformation in one region of a granular medium fluidizes its entirety, including regions far from the sheared zone, effectively erasing the yield condition everywhere. This enables slow creep deformation to occur when an external force is applied to a probe in the nominally static regions of the material. The apparent change in rheolo...

Cognitive scientists describe creativity as fluid thought. Drawing from findings on gesture and embodied cognition, we hypothesized that the physical experience of fluidity, relative to nonfluidity, would lead to more fluid, creative thought. Across 3 experiments, fluid arm movement led to enhanced creativity in 3 domains: creative generation, cognitive flexibility, and remote associations. Alt...

To test the hypothesis that glycerol would concomitantly affect sperm membrane structure and the function of the intact cells, boar semen (4 ejaculates from 4 boars) was cryopreserved in an egg yolk extender with 0%, 2%, 4%, or 8% glycerol in 0.5-mL straws using previously derived optimal cooling and thawing rates. Increasing glycerol concentrations increased spermatozoal progressive motility i...

Chronic lindane intoxication by injecting subcutaneously the toxicant, resulted in an altered lipid pattern in rat ventral prostate membranes. An increase of membrane fluidity was also observed using a fluorescence polarization technique. When in vitro experiments were carried out with both treated and untreated rats, an interesting lack of parallelism was found, which could indicate the develo...

BHK 21 cells can adhere to a protein-coated plastic dish in the presence of Ca2+ at temperatures above 12 degrees C. However, they cannot adhere below 8 degrees C. The ESR spectrum of cells spin-labeled with a stearic acid label indicated that the membrane fluidity changed characteristically at 10 degrees C, 20 degrees C, and 30 degrees C. The critical temperature for cell adhesion coincided we...

The relationship among religion, education and social mobility in Scotland is analysed statistically using the Scottish Household Survey of 2001. The large sample size allows much greater statistical power for this purpose than any previous source, and thus allows a more reliable assessment of claims that the stratifying effect of religion in Scotland may have declined. The questions investigat...

In the present study, we describe possible mechanisms by which hypercholesterolemia may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Treatment of rat aortic smooth muscle cells for 20 hours with cholesterol-rich liposomes (500 micrograms/mL cholesterol, 100 micrograms/mL low-density lipoprotein) resulted in a 76 +/- 12% increase in total cholesterol content. The effects of choleste...

The relationship between thermotolerance and membrane properties was studied by using a ciliated protozoan, Paramecium aurelia. P. aurelia is a complex of sibling species termed ;syngens' whose cell morphology appear similar on microscopic examination. From the comparison of tolerance to increasing temperature among 14 syngens of P. aurelia, we selected syngens 2 and 3 as low thermotolerant exa...

An important new stream of thought stressing the importance of organizational fluidity has emerged in recent years. It represents a reaction to the increasing complexity and environmental turbulence that organizations have to master. The solutions proposed are highly flexible and fluid organizational forms, based on relentlessly changing templates, quick improvisation, and ad hoc responses. Thi...