An examination of the relationships among personality, religiosity, spirituality, and mysticism

Empirical research has demonstrated differences between religiosity and spirituality; the current study further clarifies the constructs by exploring their respective divergent and convergent validities in relation to two higher-order factors of the Big Five personality variables, traditionalism and transformation. The current study examines the relationships among personality, spirituality, religiosity and mysticism. Predictions were partially supported. Participants high on traditionalism and low on transformation scored higher in extrinsic religious orientation compared to those low on traditionalism and high on transformation. Participants low on traditionalism and high on transformation did not score higher on spirituality compared to those high on traditionalism and low on transformation. Participants high on intrinsic religious motivation and low on extrinsic motivation were more spiritual than those low on intrinsic motivation and high on extrinsic; and, participants high on spirituality and low on religiosity reported more mystical experiences than those low on spirituality and high on religiosity

Cell Modeling

The Air Force is currently developing new products that incorporate a variety of chemicals which may come in contact with product users. To define which chemicals are dangerous to the user, toxicity studies have been performed. However, analysis of toxicity ultimately requires models of the exposed cellular systems. This thesis provides an introduction of how to model and analyze small and large cellular systems. Understanding the underlying behavior of small models and their relation to large systems will lead to a better understanding of how the Air Force should construct intracellular models to assist in future toxicology studies. Developing analysis techniques to include steady state analysis through linearization, and then considering small reaction systems, such as the Brusselator and Schnackenberg models, led to a basic understanding of model behavior. This knowledge was applied to create new models in an effort to begin a transition from previously created models to the construction of models unique to the Air Force. Sensitivity analyses performed on existing systems furthered research efforts by developing knowledge of how systems behave under various initial conditions and perturbations of uncertain constant parameters. Analysis displayed great sensitivity within some models. This analysis was applied to a new model to look for interesting behavior such as oscillatory convergence. The new model was then incorporated into a larger model to determine how its behavior changed with respect to changes in the larger model. This knowledge of how small systems behave in relation to larger systems should help the Air Force to develop and analyze intracellular toxicology models

Contribution of electrostatic and structural properties of Kv4.3 S4 arginine residues to the regulation of channel gating

AbstractPrevious work has demonstrated that replacing individual arginine (R) residues in the S4 domain of Kv4.3 with alanine (A) not only altered activation and deactivation processes, but also those of closed-state inactivation (CSI) and recovery. R → A mutants eliminated individual positive charge while substantially reducing side chain volume and hydrophilic character. Their novel effects on gating may thus have been the result of electrostatic and/or structural perturbations. To address this issue, and to gain further insights into the roles that S4 plays in the regulation of Kv4.3 gating transitions, we comparatively analyzed arginine to glutamine (R → Q) mutations at positions 290, 293, and 296. This maneuver maintained positive charge elimination of the R → A mutants, while partially restoring native side chain volume and hydrophilic properties. R → A and R → Q mutant pairs produced similar effects on the forward gating process of activation. In contrast, significant differences between the two substitutions were discovered on deactivation, CSI, and recovery, with the R → Q mutants partially restoring wild type characteristics. Our results argue that modification of individual S4 residue properties may result in altered localized interactions within unique microenvironments encountered during forward and reverse gating transitions. As such, predominant effects appear on the reverse gating transitions of deactivation and recovery. These results are consistent with the proposal that arginine residues in S4 are involved in regulating Kv4.3 CSI and recovery

A re-examination of the growth of the gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus) from Queensland, Australia

The gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus) is endemic to Australia and is the target of commercial fisheries in southern Australia. However, the Queensland population is subjected to low levels of fishing mortality. The present study re-analysed a limited length-at-age dataset collected from central Queensland to estimate growth parameters in a Bayesian framework, with informative priors for size-at-birth and maximum size. Growth parameters were estimated using a multi-model approach. This study showed that M. antarcticus caught in Queensland exhibits slow growth compared with conspecifics in southern Australia, and females grow slower and larger than do males. The combined length-at-age data for males and females was best described by the von Bertalanffy growth function and the growth parameters were L∞ = 1852 mm (total length, TL), L0 = 261 mm TL and k = 0.044 year−1 for males and females combined. The ‘BayesGrowth’ R package offers a simple method to minimise bias in the estimation of growth parameters from a limited length-at-age dataset in a Bayesian framework

A re-examination of the growth of the gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus) from Queensland, Australia

The gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus) is endemic to Australia and is the target of commercial fisheries in southern Australia. However, the Queensland population is subjected to low levels of fishing mortality. The present study re-analysed a limited length-at-age dataset collected from central Queensland to estimate growth parameters in a Bayesian framework, with informative priors for size-at-birth and maximum size. Growth parameters were estimated using a multi-model approach. This study showed that M. antarcticus caught in Queensland exhibits slow growth compared with conspecifics in southern Australia, and females grow slower and larger than do males. The combined length-at-age data for males and females was best described by the von Bertalanffy growth function and the growth parameters were L∞ = 1852 mm (total length, TL), L0 = 261 mm TL and k = 0.044 year−1 for males and females combined. The ‘BayesGrowth’ R package offers a simple method to minimise bias in the estimation of growth parameters from a limited length-at-age dataset in a Bayesian framework

The effect of surgical approach on the histology of the femoral head following resurfacing of the hip : analysis of retrieval specimens

Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of surgical approach on the histology of the femoral head following resurfacing of the hip. Methods: We performed a histological assessment of the bone under the femoral component taken from retrieval specimens of patients having revision surgery following resurfacing of the hip. We compared the number of empty lacunae in specimens from patients who had originally had a posterior surgical approach with the number in patients having alternative surgical approaches. Results: We found a statistically significant increase in the percentage of empty lacunae in retrieval specimens from patients who had the posterior approach compared with other surgical approaches (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This indicates that the vascular compromise that occurs during the posterior surgical approach does have long-term effects on the bone of the femoral head, even if it does not cause overt avascular necrosis

Modular tunable coupler for superconducting qubits

The development of modular and versatile quantum interconnect hardware is a key next step in the scaling of quantum information platforms to larger size and greater functionality. For superconducting quantum systems, fast and well-controlled tunable circuit couplers will be paramount for achieving high fidelity and resource efficient connectivity, whether for performing two-qubit gate operations, encoding or decoding a quantum data bus, or interfacing across modalities. Here we propose a versatile and internally-tunable double-transmon coupler (DTC) architecture that implements tunable coupling via flux-controlled interference in a three-junction dcSQUID. Crucially, the DTC possesses an internally defined zero-coupling state that is independent of the coupled data qubits or circuit resonators. This makes it particular attractive as a modular and versatile design element for realizing fast and robust linear coupling in several applications such as high-fidelity two-qubit gate operations, qubit readout, and quantum bus interfacing

Transparency and Yielding of Law Officers Reform (TAYLOR) Act of 2020: Proposal for Police Reform

The Transparency and Yielding of Law Officers Reform Act of 2020 (TAYLOR) proposes an example bill for law enforcement reform. During the summer of 2020, the United States witnessed civilian demonstrations nationwide calling for a change to policing. Our proposal is hoping to heed that call, offering a foundation for change that police forces and localities across the United States can utilize to rebuild trust and accountability. The goal of the TAYLOR Act is not to defund the police; but rather, TAYLOR rethinks the priorities of the police. There can be no denying that the relationship of trust and security between the public and law enforcement has been damaged over time. As with any damaged relationship, identifying the problems and searching for viable solutions, is essential. TAYLOR aims to repair this important relationship by providing best-practice policy ideas and budgetary procedures. TAYLOR begins with the historical framework, serving as a preamble to the current state of affairs. We then dive into several key aspects for reform including but not limited to training, school resource officers, response to incidents, and budgetary procedures. We also thought critically about our word choice; we wanted to appeal to all ends of the spectrum while still remaining honest about the realities of the relationship between the police and the public in the U.S. The use of force is the most serious action a government can do to its citizens; and force has become central to policing. We propose a seed for rethinking traditional approaches to crime--a path toward encouraging society to look at other options to solve crime. Policing in the United States has formed the culture of using force now, then asking questions and getting the details of the crime later. We want to change the narrative. We want to move away from the use of force and to look for other, viable options to maintain peace and order while also respecting and honoring human lives