Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within the Rural Black Churches of Central Virginia

The purpose of this project is to assist church leaders and their congregations in the rural black churches in Central Virginia to become more aware of the intergenerational conflict that has governed and, in some instances, legitimated the church. Qualitative and quantitative analysis and academic research revealed a majority of rural black churches in central Virginia are challenged with limited increase in membership because of the frequency of blatant disregard shown among the various generations. This thesis proposes a biblical model for Christian pastors and church leaders to provide resourceful methods of leading their congregations into more productive growth

Profile of the U 5f magnetization in U/Fe multilayers

Recent calculations, concerning the magnetism of uranium in the U/Fe multilayer system have described the spatial dependence of the 5f polarization that might be expected. We have used the x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity technique to obtain the profile of the induced uranium magnetic moment for selected U/Fe multilayer samples. This study extends the use of x-ray magnetic scattering for induced moment systems to the 5f actinide metals. The spatial dependence of the U magnetization shows that the predominant fraction of the polarization is present at the interfacial boundaries, decaying rapidly towards the center of the uranium layer, in good agreement with predictions.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Influence of fogging lenses and cycloplegia on open-field automatic refraction

Purpose: To compare refractive values measured without cycloplegia, cycloplegia and fogging lenses using an open-field auto-refractor. Methods: One hundred and forty-two young adults were enrolled from a university population; 96 were female (67.6%) and 46 were male (32.4%), the age range was 18 to 26 years (mean 22.3 ± 3.7 years). The refraction measurement was obtained with autorefractor Grand Seiko Auto Ref/Keratometer WAM-5500 (GS) under three conditions, always in this sequence: 1) without cycloplegia (GS), 2) without cycloplegia but using a +2.00D fogging lens (GS_2D) and 3) with cycloplegia (GS_cycl). Results: When the average values of spherical equivalent were compared both accommodation control strategies were almost equally successful: GS, M= -0.85 ± 2.21 D; GC_2D, M= -0.53 ± 2.10 D and GS_cycl, M= -0.57 ± 2.24 D (Kruskal-Wallis Test, p<0.001). When the results were analyzed separately for different refractive groups, emmetropes and hyperopes show statistically significant differences while myopes did not. When both accommodation strategies were compared there was a trend for more myopic subject to display more negative values under cycloplegia, while low myopes, emmetropes and hyperopes tend to display more negative values with the +2.00 D fogging lenses (less effectiveness of accommodation control). Conclusions: Over-refraction through +2.00 D fogging lenses is useful to achieve additional relaxation of the accommodative response in a similar way than cycloplegia when open-field autorefraction is performed in young adults.Grand Seiko Auto Ref/Keratometer WAM-5500

Binar Space Program: Mission Two Payloads and Operations Plan

The second mission of Western Australia’s Binar Space Program consists of three 1U CubeSats targeting a 2023 launch. Aiming to improve the platform for future missions, the primary purpose of Binar 2, 3 and 4 is on-orbit testing of radiation shielding alloys developed by CSIRO. In this first-of-its-kind experiment, all three simultaneously deployed Binar spacecraft will contain radiation sensing payloads to assess the efficacy of various compositions of Australian made radiation shielding alloys. Alongside this, hardware changes to the Binar platform are discussed, including deployable solar arrays, additional communications solutions, and a removable payload bay. The Iridium network will be leveraged to test its suitability for CubeSat targeted re-entry. Several software-based payloads are implemented, including on-board hardware emulation, enabling an industry partner to control the spacecraft in a demonstration of remote operations capability. An undergraduate student lead project will continue on from Binar-1 to see a star tracker flown for testing alternative methods of attitude determination. From a community perspective, strengthening the engagement between amateur radio operators and the Binar Space Program will be explored by expanding on what amateurs can do with on-orbit satellites. Lastly, autonomous agile mission planning will be tested through an on-board multipurpose simulation running on the dual-core flight computer

The Acidic Probe LysoSensor™ is not Useful for Acrosome Evaluation of Cryopreserved Ram Spermatozoa

P. 363-367To try new acrosomal probes for assessing ram spermatozoa, we compared the LysoSensor™ probe, which labels acidic organelles, with the frequently used peanut agglutinin acrosomal probe (PNA‐PE; phycoerythrin as fluorescent moiety). The previous microscopic observations showed a lack of relationship of LysoSensor™ with acrosomal status. Semen was obtained from five rams and frozen in four pools. Each pool was analysed carrying out a triple staining propidium ioide/PNA‐PE/LysoSensor™ Green DND‐189 to test acrosome labelling, and a double staining SYBR‐14/PI, to assess sperm viability. Stained samples were analysed by flow cytometry. All measurements were replicated. Data were processed using agreement and repeatability tests. LysoSensor™ labelling did not agree with PNA (mean of differences: 30.8%; coefficient of agreement: 22.6%), confirming microscopic observations. Nevertheless, when LysoSensor™ was compared with SYBR‐14/PI, the agreement was high (mean of differences: −0.05%; coefficient of agreement: 5.07%). Repeatability of both methods was high and similar. LysoSensor™ did not seem to specifically stain the acrosome, but it may accumulate in the cytoplasm and label viable spermatozoa. Therefore, LysoSensor™ might not be used as an acrosomal probe in ram spermatozoa, but it could be used in other kind of studies, taking advantage of its pH sensitivity.S

“Who’s been a good dog?”: owner perceptions and motivations for treat giving

Complex relationships commonly exist between owners and their companion animals, particularly around feeding behaviour with an owner’s affection or love for their animal most pronounced through the provision of food. It is notable that the pet food market is experiencing strong year-on-year growth in sales of dog and cat treats. Recognising the impact of treat giving in pet nutrition, the objective of the study was to investigate owner attitudes and motivations towards feeding treats (shop bought and other) to their dogs. A researcher-mediated questionnaire consisting of both quantitative and qualitative questions was used to interview dog owners (n = 280) at two locations: an out-of-town retail park and a country park in the East Midlands. Owners almost unanimously viewed the word ‘treat’ within a nutritional context, as opposed to a new toy or other pleasure. The majority (96%) of owners interviewed reported feeding treats to their dog, with 69% feeding shop-bought treats on a daily basis. A wide range of treats was reportedly given by owners and the majority of owners interviewed fed multiple treat types. No association was found between owner age and frequency of shop-bought treats fed (P = 0.659) nor between owner age and frequency of food given to the dog from the owner’s plate (P = 0.083). A wide range of foods which would not be considered balanced for the animal’s nutritional requirements was viewed as a treat by some dog owners. A range of positive and negative views around the feeding of treats were expressed by dog owners, with some citing beneficial effects while others were clearly aware of the association between treat feeding and potential weight gain/obesity. Owner views included themes around positive reinforcement and responsibility but also reflected relational aspects of the human-animal bond. The results of the study show that treat giving is commonplace in feeding regimes and that treats are embedded in the feeding behaviour of many dog owners. However, the different views expressed around the motivations for, and feeding of, dog treats, reinforce the need to better understand owner psychology linked to this area, and the role this may play in the growing pet obesity epidemic

A new superwind galaxy: XMM-Newton observations of NGC 6810

We present the first imaging X-ray observation of the highly inclined (i = 78 deg) Sab Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 6810 using XMM-Newton, which reveals soft X-ray emission that extends out to a projected height of ~7 kpc away from the plane of the galaxy. The soft X-ray emission beyond the optical disk of the galaxy is most plausibly extra-planar, although it could instead come from large galactic radius. This extended X-ray emission is spatially associated with diffuse H-alpha emission, in particular with a prominent 5-kpc-long H-alpha filament on the north-west of the disk. A fraction <~35% of the total soft X-ray emission of the galaxy arises from projected heights |z| > 2 kpc. Within the optical disk of the galaxy the soft X-ray emission is associated with the star-forming regions visible in ground-based H-alpha and XMM-Newton Optical Monitor near-UV imaging. The temperature, super-Solar alpha-element-to-iron abundance ratio, soft X-ray/H-alpha correlation, and X-ray to far-IR flux ratio of NGC 6810 are all consistent with local starbursts with winds, although the large base radius of the outflow would make NGC 6810 one of the few ``disk-wide'' superwinds currently known. Hard X-ray emission from NGC 6810 is weak, and the total E=2-10 keV luminosity and spectral shape are consistent with the expected level of X-ray binary emission from the old and young stellar populations. The X-ray observations provide no evidence of any AGN activity. We find that the optical, IR and radio properties of NGC 6810 are all consistent with a starburst galaxy, and that the old classification of this galaxy as a Seyfert 2 galaxy is probably incorrect.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 12 pages including jpeg-encapsulated ps files, full resolution version available at http://proteus.pha.jhu.edu/~dks/dks_published.htm

The ESR1 (6q25) locus is associated with calcaneal ultrasound parameters and radial volumetric bone mineral density in European men

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Purpose:&lt;/b&gt; Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 6q25, which incorporates the oestrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1), as a quantitative trait locus for areal bone mineral density (BMD(a)) of the hip and lumbar spine. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of this locus on other bone health outcomes; calcaneal ultrasound (QUS) parameters, radial peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) parameters and markers of bone turnover in a population sample of European men.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the 6q25 locus were genotyped in men aged 40-79 years from 7 European countries, participating in the European Male Ageing Study (EMAS). The associations between SNPs and measured bone parameters were tested under an additive genetic model adjusting for centre using linear regression.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; 2468 men, mean (SD) aged 59.9 (11.1) years had QUS measurements performed and bone turnover marker levels measured. A subset of 628 men had DXA and pQCT measurements. Multiple independent SNPs showed significant associations with BMD using all three measurement techniques. Most notably, rs1999805 was associated with a 0.10 SD (95%CI 0.05, 0.16; p = 0.0001) lower estimated BMD at the calcaneus, a 0.14 SD (95%CI 0.05, 0.24; p = 0.004) lower total hip BMD(a), a 0.12 SD (95%CI 0.02, 0.23; p = 0.026) lower lumbar spine BMD(a) and a 0.18 SD (95%CI 0.06, 0.29; p = 0.003) lower trabecular BMD at the distal radius for each copy of the minor allele. There was no association with serum levels of bone turnover markers and a single SNP which was associated with cortical density was also associated with cortical BMC and thickness.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Our data replicate previous associations found between SNPs in the 6q25 locus and BMD(a) at the hip and extend these data to include associations with calcaneal ultrasound parameters and radial volumetric BMD.&lt;/p&gt