Synthesis of mechanisms for function, path, and motion generation using invariant characterization, storage and search methods

This work presents an approach for the synthesis of four-bar planar mechanisms for function, path, and motion generation based upon the use of invariant descriptors and local database generation and search methods;Transformation and descriptor methods are used to characterize the motion of four-bar planar mechanisms (function, path and motion generation) and to store the invariant characteristic information in a database. Spatial transforms, one-dimensional Fourier transforms, two-dimensional Fourier transforms, and invariant moments are used to generate invariant characteristic descriptors. The resulting characteristic information for each curve is invariant regardless of the rotation, translation or scaling of the curves. A description of each method and the relative performance of file development and search methods are developed. Over 8,000 function, path and motion solutions are generated for global search solutions for each transform and descriptor method. The function, path and motion solutions are based on the solutions developed by Hrones and Nelson and based on the implementation of a random search of a local design space. Solution comparison and matching techniques are discussed, and implemented, to evaluate the deviation of a candidate curve to curves stored in a database;A methodology is developed to allow the designer to investigate a local design space by generating a database of candidate solutions based on the random development of four-bar mechanisms. The designer may then define a desired solution and search the generated candidate solution files. This technique supports the evaluation of a local solution space through the generation, characterization, and identification of candidate mechanisms that may be practical to implement. After the identification of candidate mechanisms, local optimization techniques may be used with candidate mechanisms

Missional Apologetics: An Examination of Essential Elements in the Apologetic Approaches of Early Christian Era Apologists in Light of the Mission of Christ to a Pluralistic World

The cultural ethos known as postmodernism has impacted the epistemological and functional structures of contemporary society in dramatic ways. Changes in the attitudes, standards, and belief systems from which people operate in their day-to-day lives have seen radical alterations in the last fifty years. The impact of the postmodern milieu has been evident in various ways in local church ministry, as well as the extension of local church ministry on the mission field.As a result of the waning effectiveness of traditional evangelism methods and indications that there is a relationship between that waning efficacy and the postmodern milieu, scholars have attempted to formulate strategies for effectively penetrating the culture with the gospel. There is an urgent need for pre-evangelism tools aimed at garnering the thoughtful consideration of the Christian message by a society identified as postmodern, post-evangelical, and post-Christian by researchers and scholars. Apologetics has historically filled the needed role in presenting arguments and evidence designed to legitimize the Christian worldview in cultures where it was not seen as a viable option. This work proposes that a Missional Apologetic approach is also a viable option for promoting the Christian Worldview in the post-Christian world. The Missional Apologetic approach proposed must find its basis in the Mission of Christ (Missio Christi) as defined in the Gospels and Acts and as extended in the works of the Early Church apologists. The similarities of the culture versus Christian conflict in the early Christian era and post-Christian era cultures, makes it is necessary to take a deeper look at the apologists who defended the Christian faith in the pre-Christian culture. Taking a closer look at the apologies of men like Aristides, Justin Martyr, Tatian, and Tertullian can provide some principles that take the work of apologetics in the post-Christian culture to a higher level of effectiveness

Leading By Example: Creating Motivation That Fosters Positive Change in Young People

It is not what one has in life; rather, what is left as the legacy. Personally I have received many awards. However, I feel so much better when I help people receive their own awards. Now, I want to use positive language and positive action to help motivate young people, encouraging them to achieve their own success, as well as foster success in others. Oftentimes people get wrapped up in personal issues and forget about others. The purpose of this paper is twofold. One is to shed light on the issue of self-motivation or lack of self-motivation in young people. The second, and primary purpose of this work, is to understand and to create a framework for others who struggle with being successful on a daily basis, and to discover methods of teaching self-motivation. The literature reveals that this type of work is possible. Others have this idea and are trying to put it into practice. Young people want to be motivated. While there is much work done in this area, there is no cohesiveness to bringing this information together and applying it, operationalizing this information in practice. The present study is qualitative in design, using three settings to gather data. Participants included a group of high school football players who agreed to engage in a focus group following a practice and several games. The second source of information came from discourse on the issue of motivation. The third source came from snapshot data following lectures on motivation in selected school sites in Florida and Kentucky. Information was recorded and analyzed for common themes. Results indicated that the act of purposely motivating others had a positive effect on increasing individual motivation

Disparate effects of lithium and a GSK-3 inhibitor on neuronal oscillatory activity in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

© 2018 Nguyen, Fan, George and Perreault. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) plays a critical role in cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the mechanism by which GSK-3 alters cognitive processes in other disorders, such as schizophrenia, remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated a role for GSK-3 in the direct regulation of neuronal oscillations in hippocampus (HIP) and prelimbic cortex (PL). A comparison of the GSK-3 inhibitors SB 216763 and lithium demonstrated disparate effects of the drugs on spatial memory and neural oscillatory activity in HIP and PL. SB 216763 administration improved spatial memory whereas lithium treatment had no effect. Analysis of neuronal local field potentials in anesthetized animals revealed that whereas both repeated SB 216763 (2.5 mg/kg) and lithium (100 mg/kg) induced a theta frequency spike in HIP at approximately 10 Hz, only SB 216763 treatment induced an overall increase in theta power (4-12 Hz) compared to vehicle. Acute administration of either drug suppressed slow (32-59 Hz) and fast (61-100 Hz) gamma power. In PL, both drugs induced an increase in theta power. Repeated SB 216763 increased HIP-PL coherence across all frequencies except delta, whereas lithium selectively suppressed delta coherence. These findings demonstrate that GSK-3 plays a direct role in the regulation of theta oscillations in regions critically involved in cognition, and highlight a potential mechanism by which GSK-3 may contribute to cognitive decline in disorders of cognitive dysfunction

The Ursinus Weekly, January 29, 1917

Historical cantata delights audience • Prominent speaker for week of prayer • New Jersey five trounced varsity • Vesper services • Adaptability • Among the colleges • Speakers at vespers • Literary societies • Notice to alumni • On the campus • Inter-class basketball league • Reserves suffered defeathttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2581/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, January 22, 1917

Schaff debaters win from Penn team • Events of local interest coming • Ursinus wins and loses on trip • Taste • College calendar • They came • Literary societies • New instructor • Inter-class basketball leaguehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2580/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, January 8, 1917

College football pre-eminent sport • Ursinus wallops Harrisburg team • Classes will form basketball league • Culture • Important debate coming • Literary societies • Resolutionshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2576/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, June 12, 1916

Junior orators win gold prizes • Senior Class Day exercises held • Commencement Day exercises • Numerous alumni visit alma mater • Alumni oration • The Library • Women Graduates\u27 Association meeting • Athletic Club reception a success • Statement • President\u27s reception • 1911 class reunion • Among the colleges • Reverend John Edward Stonehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2633/thumbnail.jp