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An accretion disk formed around a supermassive black hole after it disrupts a star is expected to be initially misaligned with respect to the equatorial plane of the black hole. This misalignment induces relativistic torques (the Lense–Thirring effect) on the disk, causing the disk to precess at early times, whereas at late times the disk aligns with the black hole and precession terminates1,2. Here we report, using high-cadence X-ray monitoring observations of a tidal disruption event (TDE), the discovery of strong, quasi-periodic X-ray flux and temperature modulations. These X-ray modulations are separated by roughly 15 days and persist for about 130 days during the early phase of the TDE. Lense–Thirring precession of the accretion flow can produce this X-ray variability, but other physical mechanisms, such as the radiation-pressure instability3,4, cannot be ruled out. Assuming typical TDE parameters, that is, a solar-like star with the resulting disk extending at most to the so-called circularization radius, and that the disk precesses as a rigid body, we constrain the disrupting dimensionless spin parameter of the black hole to be 0.05 ≲ ∣a∣ ≲ 0.5.

Cornwell, John. Seminary Boy. Doubleday. Jun. 2006. c.320p. ISBN 0-385-51486-7 [ISBN 978-0-385-51486-6]. $24.95. REL Cornwell, author, journalist, and fellow at Jesus College in Cambridge, England, here tells the story of [...]

AbstractPresently there exist no experimental methods readily available to characterize the comprehensive motion of wire-wrapped pins for the purpose of measuring fluid structure interactions. Specifically, the dearth of capabilities lies in the need to capture pin-to-pin interactions within the bundle that do not have visual access. This study leverages recent previous efforts that have demonstrated the successful use of a distributed strain sensor to characterize the motion of a single wire-wrapped pin under fluid flow and expands through the use of multiple instrumented pins to characterize the simultaneous motion of pin-to-pin interaction. The outcome of this study demonstrates the direct measurement of pin-to-pin contact, rubbing, and interaction over a range of relevant flow rates on a 19-pin wire-wrapped bundle.

In an attempt to understand the findings presented in the Comment by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539), we followed their data analysis methodology, omitting the hot and cold‐load calibrations that are an important part of the standard SOFIA GREAT instrument calibration procedure. This process requires scaling of the Venus off‐source spectra by an arbitrary factor, which in turn introduces residuals of the intrinsic receiver bandpass shape as spurious components in the resulting line/continuum spectra. Although these additional artifacts can be reduced via Fourier‐domain spectral filtering, their removal depends on an ill‐constrained interpolation of the Venus continuum across the PH3spectral line positions, resulting in an unreliable final spectrum. We therefore conclude that the PH3lines claimed to be detected in the Comment by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539) originate from data/analysis artifacts, and confirm our original result that there is no evidence for phosphine in the SOFIA Venus data. We performed observations using a unique, flying telescope—the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)—to search for a gas called phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus, which has been suggested to be an indicator for life. The observations, published by Cordiner et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gl101055), were analyzed carefully but showed no evidence of phosphine. Our findings were called into question in the Comment by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539), who claimed to find phosphine lines in the SOFIA observations after following an unconventional data analysis method. We have investigated their method, and conclude that it is likely to introduce spurious signals into the data, so the claimed phosphine detection is therefore not significant. The revised calibration procedure adopted by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539) introduces additional receiver artifacts into the SOFIA 4G2 Venus spectraThe claimed PH3 detection is likely a result of this, combined with interpolation artifacts that occur during subsequent Fourier filteringWe confirm our original conclusion that there is no evidence for phosphine in the SOFIA GREAT Venus data The revised calibration procedure adopted by Greaves et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103539) introduces additional receiver artifacts into the SOFIA 4G2 Venus spectra The claimed PH3 detection is likely a result of this, combined with interpolation artifacts that occur during subsequent Fourier filtering We confirm our original conclusion that there is no evidence for phosphine in the SOFIA GREAT Venus data

Titan's stratosphere exhibits significant seasonal changes, including breakup and formation of polar vortices. Here we present the first analysis of midinfrared mapping observations from Cassini's Composite InfraRed Spectrometer to cover the entire mission (Ls=293–93°, 2004–2017)—midnorthern winter to northern summer solstice. The north polar winter vortex persisted well after equinox, starting breakup around Ls∼60° and fully dissipating by Ls∼90°. Absence of enriched polar air spreading to lower latitudes suggests large‐scale circulation changes and photochemistry control chemical evolution during vortex breakup. South polar vortex formation commenced soon after equinox and by Ls∼60° was more enriched in trace gases than the northern middle‐winter vortex and had temperatures ∼20 K colder. This suggests that early‐winter and middle‐winter vortices are dominated by different processes—radiative cooling and subsidence‐induced adiabatic heating respectively. By the end of the mission (Ls=93°) south polar conditions were approaching those observed in the north at Ls=293°, implying seasonal symmetry in Titan's vortices. The Cassini spacecraft observed Saturn's largest moon, Titan, during its 13‐year tour of the Saturn system. This allowed temperature and gas composition to be measured for almost half a Titan year, which lasts 29.46 Earth years. Spectra measured by Cassini's infrared spectrometer show that Titan's winter poles are much colder and significantly more enriched in trace gas species than more equatorial latitudes. These observations can be explained by the presence of winter polar vortices, where sinking air enriches the composition of the lower atmosphere and isolation by strong vortex winds allows enhanced cooling in the winter darkness. The coldest temperatures and most extreme trace gas concentrations were seen at Titan's southern pole during early winter and vortex formation. Early‐ and middle‐winter polar vortices have distinct behaviors and different dominant processesLarge‐scale dynamics and photochemistry determine polar chemical evolution during vortex breakupThe northern winter vortex persisted until late spring, with breakup completed by midsummer

Stutzman, Ervin R. Tobias of the Amish: A True Story of Tangled Strands in Faith, Family, and Community. Herald. 2001. c.352p. photogs. ISBN 0-8361-9190-0. $22.99; pap. ISBN 0-8361-9170-6. $13.99. REL [...]

Romanowski, William D. Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture. Brazos. 2001. c. 176p. photogs. ISBN 1-58743-009-6. pap. $12.99. REL Romanowski (communications, Calvin Coll.; Pop Culture Wars) here [...]

Why I Am a Christian: Leading Thinkers Explain Why They Believe. Baker Bk. House. Jul. 2001. c.320p. ed. by Norman L. Geisler & Paul K. Hoffman. ISBN 0-8010-1210-4. $19.99. REL [...]

Kraybill, Donald B. & Carl F. Bowman. On the Backroad to Heaven: Old Order Hutterites, Mennonites, Amish, and Brethren. John Hopkins. Apr. 2001. c.352p. permanent paper. photogs. index. LC 00-010406. [...]

Wilson, Laura. Hutterites of Montana. Yale Univ. 2000. 149p. permanent paper. photogs. LC 00-035938. ISBN 0-300-08339-4. $39.95. SOC SCI Situated in Montana, the Hutterites are one of the last communal [...]

Melton, J. Gordon. American Religions: An Illustrated History. ABC-CLIO. Dec. 2000. c.300p. permanent paper. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57607-222-3. $99. REL As director of the Institute for the Study of [...]

Walker, Randi Jones. Emma Newman: A Frontier Woman Minister. Syracuse Univ. Nov. 2000. c.224p. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8156-0674-5. $29.95. REL Walker (church history, Pacific Sch. of Religion; Protestantism in [...]

Brown, Fred & Jeanne McDonald. The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith. Blair. 2000. 352p. permanent paper. photogs. index. ISBN 0-89587-191-2. $19.95. REL While snake-handling Christians, called sign followers, [...]

Cassadaga: The South's Oldest Spiritualist Community Univ. Pr. of Florida. (History & Culture). 2000. 296p. permanent paper. ed. by John J. Guthrie & others. photogs. bibliog. index. LC 99-38727. ISBN [...]

Marty, Martin E. with Jonathan Moore. Politics, Religion, and the Common Good. Jossey-Bass. May 2000. c.240p. permanent paper. index. LC 99-050450. ISBN 0-7879-5031-9. $22.50. REL Marty, senior editor of Christian [...]

Webber, Robert E. Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World. Baker Bk. House. Nov. 1999. c.256p. ISBN 0-8010-6029-X. pap. $15.99. These two books together give an excellent overview of [...]

Balmer, Randall. Blessed Assurance: A History of Evangelicalism in America. Beacon, dist. by Houghton. Nov. 1999. c.160p. ISBN 0-8070-7710-0. $23. REL These two books together give an excellent overview of [...]

Seaman, Ann Rowe. Swaggart: The Unauthorized Biography of an American Evangelist. Continuum. Nov. 1999. c.448p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8264-1117-7. $27.50. REL This well-documented account of the life of evangelist [...]

Graetz, Robert S. A White Preacher's Memoir: The Montgomery Bus Boycott. Black Belt. 1999. 160p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-57966-015-0. pap. $14.95. REL Graetz, a white Lutheran pastor from Ohio, became [...]

Steer, Roger. Guarding the Holy Fire: The Evangelicalism of John R.W. Stott, J.I. Packer, and Alister McGrath. Baker Bk. House. Jun. 1999. c.368p. bibliog, index. ISBN 0-8010-5846-5. pap. $25.99. REL [...]

Wuthnow, Robert. Boundless Faith: The Global Outreach of American Churches. Univ. of California. May 2009. c.356p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-520-25915-7. $26.95. REL Wuthnow (director, Ctr. for the Study of [...]

Elshtain, Jean Bethke. Sovereignty: God, State and Self. Basic Bks: Perseus. 2008. c.352p. index. ISBN 978-0-465-03759-9. $35. REL Elshtain (social & political ethics, Univ. of Chicago; Just War Against Terror) [...]

Pope John Paul II. Memory and Identity: Conversations at the Dawn of a Millenium. Rizzoli, dist. by St. Martin's. 2005. 192p. ISBN 0-8478-2761-5. $19.95. REL Offering transcribed conversations that took [...]

The Betrayal of Tradition: Essays on the Spiritual Crisis of Modernity. World Wisdom. (Perennial Philosophy). Jan. 2005. c.376p. ed. by Harry Oldmeadow. index. ISBN 0-941532-55-0. pap. $21.95. REL These 25 [...]

Pandora: Routledge. (C. Henry Smith, Vol. 4). Jan. 2003. c.280p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-931038-06-6. pap. $22.95. REL Kasdorf (The Body and the Book: Writing from a Mennonite Life) here examines [...]

We demonstrate how topology‐based measures of connectivity can be used to improve analytical estimates of effective permeability in 2‐D fracture networks, which is one of the key parameters necessary for fluid flow simulations at the reservoir scale. Existing methods in this field usually compute fracture connectivity using the average fracture length. This approach is valid for ideally shaped, randomly distributed fractures, but is not immediately applicable to natural fracture networks. In particular, natural networks tend to be more connected than randomly positioned fractures of comparable lengths, since natural fractures often terminate in each other. The proposed topological connectivity measure is based on the number of intersections and fracture terminations per sampling area, which for statistically stationary networks can be obtained directly from limited outcrop exposures. To evaluate the method, numerical permeability upscaling was performed on a large number of synthetic and natural fracture networks, with varying topology and geometry. The proposed method was seen to provide much more reliable permeability estimates than the length‐based approach, across a wide range of fracture patterns. We summarize our results in a single, explicit formula for the effective permeability. Fluid flow through fractured rocks is of great importance in many applications—from petroleum production to groundwater utilization and waste management. Since the rocks are beneath the surface, it may often be difficult to know how fast water or oil would move through the fractures. One piece of the puzzle is connectivity: do the fractures form a connected path through the rocks? And how many of the fractures contribute to the overall flow path? Some clues can be obtained by studying borehole rock samples, and analogous rock formations that are exposed on the surface. But the information gained from these sources has previously been analyzed using oversimplified methods. Part of the problem is that existing methods are dependent on the average fracture length. Not only is this property difficult to measure, but the link between fracture length and connectivity is only valid in special cases. In this work, we show how connectivity can be found using a different set of parameters: the relative amount of fracture intersections, abutments, and terminations, which are easily obtained from field studies. We test our methodology on a wide variety of fracture patterns, and demonstrate that the new method is superior to the length‐based approach. We derive an expression for fracture network permeability based on simple topological measurementsNumerical validation against a large and diverse set of synthetic and natural fracture patternsThe method is able to predict effective permeability within a standard deviation of 11%

Heineman, Kenneth J. God Is a Conservative: Religion, Politics, and Morality in Contemporary America. New York Univ. Aug. 1998. c.324p, permanent paper, index. ISBN 0-8147-3554-1. $26.95. REL. In this excellent [...]

Skees, Suzanne. Hyperion, dist. by Little, Brown. 1998. c.288p. bibliog. ISBN 0-7868-6237-8. $22.95. REL Skees, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, writes theological features for newspapers and magazines. This, her [...]

Martin, William. Broadway. 1996. c.432p. photogs. index. LC 96-2919. ISBN 0-553-067451. $27.50. REL Martin (Prophet with Honor: The Billy Graham Story, LJ 11/1/91), an authority on the history and sociology [...]

Religion in America: A Comprehensive Guide to Faith, History and Tradition. Sterling. Nov. 2009. c.992p, ed. by Harold Rabinowitz & Greg Tobin. illus, index. ISBN 978-1-4027-4301-6. $34.95. REL This is [...]

Marsden, George M. A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards. Eerdmans. 2008. c.172p, bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8028-0220-0. pap. $15. REL Marsden (history, Univ. of Notre Dame), author of the definitive biography [...]

Winters, Michael Sean. Left at the Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics and How the Catholics Can Save the Democrats. Basic Bks: Perseus. Jul. 2008. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-465-09166-9. $26. [...]

Grainger, Brett. In the World But Not of It: One Family's Militant Faith and the History of Fundamentalism in America. Walker. Mar. 2008. c.176p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-8027-1559-3. $21.95. REL This [...]

The presence of phosphine (PH3) in the atmosphere of Venus was reported by Greaves et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1174-4), based on observations of the J= 1–0 transition at 267 GHz using ground‐based, millimeter‐wave spectroscopy. This unexpected discovery presents a challenge for our understanding of Venus's atmosphere, and has led to a reappraisal of the possible sources and sinks of atmospheric phosphorous‐bearing gases. Here we present results from a search for PH3on Venus using the German REceiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies instrument aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy aircraft, over three flights conducted in November 2021. Multiple PH3transitions were targeted at frequencies centered on 533 and 1,067 GHz, but no evidence for atmospheric PH3was detected. Through radiative transfer modeling, we derived a disk‐averaged upper limit on the PH3abundance of 0.8 ppb in the altitude range 75–110 km, which is more stringent than previous ground‐based studies. We performed observations using a unique, flying telescope—the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy—to search for a gas called phosphine (PH3) in the atmosphere of Venus, which has been suggested to be an indicator for life. Our observations showed no evidence of PH3, in contrast to the original claim, and we provide a stringent upper limit on its abundance. Two other recent studies using different telescopes also found no evidence for PH3on Venus, in agreement with our present result. A recent detection of phosphine (PH3) (a possible biomarker) on Venus at millimeter wavelengths has been called into question by subsequent workWe performed far‐infrared spectroscopic observations of Venus using the German REceiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies instrument onboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy aircraftPH3was not detected, and a strict upper limit on its atmospheric abundance of 0.8 ppb was derived between 75 and 110 km A recent detection of phosphine (PH3) (a possible biomarker) on Venus at millimeter wavelengths has been called into question by subsequent work We performed far‐infrared spectroscopic observations of Venus using the German REceiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies instrument onboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy aircraft PH3was not detected, and a strict upper limit on its atmospheric abundance of 0.8 ppb was derived between 75 and 110 km

Russell, Jeffrey Burton. Paradise Mislaid: How We Lost Heaven--and How We Can Regain It. Oxford Univ. May 2006. c.240p. bibliog, index. ISBN 0-19-516006-1 [ISBN 97B-0-19-516006-2]. $26. REL Russell (history, emeritus, [...]

This study used three-dimensional information from Stealth navigation technology during simulated right internal jugular vein cannulation to define the initial needle trajectory taken when using three approaches: landmark (LM), short-axis (SAX) ultrasound and long-axis (LAX) ultrasound. Nineteen volunteers indicated the entry site and needle direction (track) they would use in performing right internal jugular vein cannulation by the three approaches. The likelihood of cannulation success, arterial puncture and needle direction were recorded. Volunteers were asked to assess the suitability of the simulation system for validity and educational benefit. The SAX track crossed the jugular vein more frequently than the LAX and LM tracks (SAX: 94%; LAX: 80%; LM: 47% [SAX versus LM, P<0.01]). The mean indicated needle direction in the coronal plane for LM, SAX and LAX were -4, 13 and 11 degrees, respectively. The track associated with the LAX technique would have entered the carotid artery by 16% of volunteers. At needle depths of over 40 mm, the track crossed the vertebral artery at the following rates (LM: 11%; SAX: 16%; LAX: 16%). The use of Stealth technology to provide three-dimensional feedback of the needle path taken during simulated right internal jugular cannulation was considered realistic (16/19) and of benefit for 18 of 19 (95%) respondents. The SAX track was associated with the highest likelihood of successful jugular cannulation and the lowest cross rate of the carotid artery. The simulation model using Stealth was considered to be valuable and realistic by participants despite some limitations.

Hutson, James H. The Founders on Religion: A Book of Quotations. Princeton Univ. Nov. 2005. c.236p. ISBN 0-691-12033-1. $19.95. REL In this compendium, Hutson (chief, manuscript division, Library of Congress; [...]

Smith, Huston. The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition. HarperSanFrancisco: HarperCollins. Sept. 2005. c.160p. index. ISBN 0-06-079478-X. $22.95. REL Noted religion scholar Smith (The World's Religions) sets out to [...]

Johnson, Marshall D. The Evolution of Christianity: Twelve Crises That Shaped the Church. Continuum. May 2005. c.256p. index. ISBN 0-8284-1842-X. $24.95. REL Johnson has written a brief, succinct church history [...]

Wallis, Jim. God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It; A New Vision for Faith and Politics in America. HarperSanFrancisco: HarperCollins. Apr. 2005. c.256p. [...]

BRIDGE, STEVEN L. Getting the Gospels: Understanding the New Testament Accounts of Jesus' Life. Hendrickson. Nov. 2004. c.176p. ISBN 1-56563-943-X. pap. $14.95. REL In a readable and often amusing study […]

Habits of Devotion: Catholic Religious Practice in Twentieth-Century America. Cornell Univ. Jul. 2004. c.312p. ed. by James M. O'Toole. ISBN 0-8014-4256-7. $39.95. REL Everyday American Catholicism in the last century […]

Peacock, Charlie. New Way To Be Human: A Provocative Look at What It Means To Follow Jesus. Shaw: WaterBrook. Mar. 2004. c.238p. ISBN 0-87788-071-9. pap. $12.99. REL A Christian songwriter, […]

Brazos. Jun. 2004. c.256p. ISBN 1-58743-086-X. pap. $18.99. REL According to Griffiths (Catholic studies, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago; Religious Reading), St. Augustine provided the first fully Christian position on lying [...]