Discipleship out of transition : a study of the new membership policies and procedures of the Free Methodist Church and its impact on discipleship

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1168/thumbnail.jp

Bootstrap Percolation in the Random Geometric Graph

Bootstrap percolation on a graph is a process which models the spread of an infection given an initially infected set of vertices of the graph. To state the problem more precisely, suppose G is a graph, k is a natural number, and I_0 is a set of initially infected vertices. Then for any discrete time t, we define I_t to be I_{t-1} along with any vertex outside of I_{t-1} which has at least k edges to vertices of I_{t-1}. This type of process may be used to model the spread of a disease by taking people as vertices, interactions between people as edges, and assuming a rate at which the infection spreads. That is, if the rate of spread is 10%, we would expect that if a person is in contact with 10 infected people, then the person will become infected. Other applications of this type of model involve the spread of rumors and the fault tolerance for distributed computing. The random geometric graph is formed by fixing an r value and choosing n points from the unit square uniformly at random. We then join a pair of these points by an edge if their distance is less than r. This kind of random graph seems particularly relevant in the current socially distant world in which people attempt to only interact with others when necessary (i.e. distance-based edges roughly model this kind of relative isolation). Random geometric graphs have been well-studied. Bootstrap percolation on random geometric graphs has been examined although prior results in this direction cover limited regimes of the parameters. In our project, we extend previous work to study other ranges of values of the parameters. Along the way we use similar ideas to identify the threshold for connectivity in the random geometric graph which is a problem of independent interest.https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/sureposters/1000/thumbnail.jp

Solar System Processes Underlying Planetary Formation, Geodynamics, and the Georeactor

Only three processes, operant during the formation of the Solar System, are responsible for the diversity of matter in the Solar System and are directly responsible for planetary internal-structures, including planetocentric nuclear fission reactors, and for dynamical processes, including and especially, geodynamics. These processes are: (i) Low-pressure, low-temperature condensation from solar matter in the remote reaches of the Solar System or in the interstellar medium; (ii) High-pressure, high-temperature condensation from solar matter associated with planetary-formation by raining out from the interiors of giant-gaseous protoplanets, and; (iii) Stripping of the primordial volatile components from the inner portion of the Solar System by super-intense solar wind associated with T-Tauri phase mass-ejections, presumably during the thermonuclear ignition of the Sun. As described herein, these processes lead logically, in a causally related manner, to a coherent vision of planetary formation with profound implications including, but not limited to, (a) Earth formation as a giant gaseous Jupiter-like planet with vast amounts of stored energy of protoplanetary compression in its rock-plus-alloy kernel; (b) Removal of approximately 300 Earth-masses of primordial gases from the Earth, which began Earth's decompression process, making available the stored energy of protoplanetary compression for driving geodynamic processes, which I have described by the new whole-Earth decompression dynamics and which is responsible for emplacing heat at the mantle-crust-interface at the base of the crust through the process I have described, called mantle decompression thermal-tsunami; and, (c)Uranium accumulations at the planetary centers capable of self-sustained nuclear fission chain reactions.Comment: Invited paper for the Special Issue of Earth, Moon and Planets entitled Neutrino Geophysics Added final corrections for publicatio

Neutrino Mixing Discriminates Geo-reactor Models

Geo-reactor models suggest the existence of natural nuclear reactors at different deep-earth locations with loosely defined output power. Reactor fission products undergo beta decay with the emission of electron antineutrinos, which routinely escape the earth. Neutrino mixing distorts the energy spectrum of the electron antineutrinos. Characteristics of the distorted spectrum observed at the earth's surface could specify the location of a geo-reactor, discriminating the models and facilitating more precise power measurement. The existence of a geo-reactor with known position could enable a precision measurement of the neutrino oscillation parameter delta-mass-squared.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, minor revisions, submitted to PR

Clearing the hurdles for nanotechnology: In vivo inhalation effects

Nanoparticle Poster SessionINTRODUCTION: Nanoparticles of many types have been created for industrial and medical applications. Among these nanoparticles, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are of high interest for their physicochemical properties and application in electronics, drug delivery and other areas. With the rapid expansion in SWCNT-based new technologies, a full understanding of their safety and risks for human exposure must be considered. Because of the potential human risk of nanoparticle exposure we have developed an animal model to study the effects of nanoparticle exposure on lung tissue. Using this rat model we hypothesized that an acute nanoparticle exposure would result in an inflammatory response in lung tissue. METHODS: Particle instillation (intratracheal under direct visualization) of 50 μL pediatric surfactant containing 500 micrograms SWCNT (or surfactant alone) was performed in 32 rats to date. Pulmonary histology and biochemical measures on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pleural fluid, serum and lung cells was quantified. RESULTS: Very early (<30 minutes) eosinophilia developed in lung tissue following SWCNT instillation. Innate immune system sterile response, or Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) protein was released. Our dose proved sterile, <0.03 EU LPS, showing the effect was damage-induced not pathogen-induced. High mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB1), a nuclear chaperone and prototype DAMP was elevated (ELISA) following SWCNT exposure. A second DAMP, heatshock protein 70 (HSP-70), a cytoplasmic chaperone, was also quantified by ELISA. The response OF HSP-70 over time is similar to HMGB1. Western blots performed on time-harvested lungs exposed to SWCNT demonstrated a receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), with a strong peak at 3 hours after pulmonary exposure. The inflammatory cytokine TNFα appeared in lung tissue and bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) at 30 minutes, with the same timing as the HMGB1 and HSP-70 release. Flow cytometry of type II pneumocytes and pulmonary macrophages from SWCNT-exposed rats demonstrated secondary DAMP receptors. A potential chronic effect was noted at one month. HMGB1 and HSP-70 peaked acutely at approximately 24 hr and then slowly decreased at 1 to 2 weeks. At 1 month, however, a new increase was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The hydrophobic SWCNT, important industrial components, form bundles and fibers in the hydrophilic lung, creating an immediate cellular inflammatory response, measurable cellular necrosis and very rapid chemokine release. Early data suggests the potential for chronicity

Low energy neutrino astronomy with the large liquid scintillation detector LENA

The detection of low energy neutrinos in a large scintillation detector may provide further important information on astrophysical processes as supernova physics, solar physics and elementary particle physics as well as geophysics. In this contribution, a new project for Low Energy Neutrino Astronomy (LENA) consisting of a 50kt scintillation detector is presented.Comment: Proccedings of the International School of Nuclear Physics, Neutrinos in Cosmology, in Astro, Particle and Nuclear Physics, Erice (SICILY) 16 - 24 Sept. 200

Evaluation of mobile emissions contributions to Mexico City's emissions inventory using on-road and cross-road emission measurements and ambient data

Mobile emissions represent a significant fraction of the total anthropogenic emissions burden in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) and, therefore, it is crucial to use top-down techniques informed by on-road exhaust measurements to evaluate and improve traditional bottom-up official emissions inventory (EI) for the city. We present the measurements of on-road fleet-average emission factors obtained using the Aerodyne mobile laboratory in the MCMA in March 2006 as part of the MILAGRO/MCMA-2006 field campaign. A comparison of our on-road emission measurements with those obtained in 2003 using essentially the same measurement techniques and analysis methods indicates that, in the three year span, NO emission factors remain within the measured variability ranges whereas emission factors of aldehydes and aromatics species were reduced for all sampled driving conditions. We use a top-down fuel-based approach to evaluate the mobile emissions from the gasoline fleet estimated in the bottom-up official 2006 MCMA mobile sources. Within the range of measurement uncertainties, we found probable slight overpredictions of mean EI estimates on the order of 20–28% for CO and 14–20% for NO. However, we identify a probable EI underprediction of VOC mobile emissions between 1.4 and 1.9; although estimated benzene and toluene mobile emissions in the inventory seem to be well within the uncertainties of the corresponding emissions estimates. Aldehydes mobile emissions in the inventory, however, seem to be under predicted by factors of 3 for HCHO and 2 for CH3CHO [CH subscript 3 CHO]. Our on-road measurement based estimate of annual emissions of organic mass from PM1 particles suggests a severe underprediction (larger than a factor of 4) of PM2.5 [PM subscript 2.5] mobile emissions in the inventory. Analyses of ambient CO, NOx [NO subscript x] and CO/NOx [CO/NO subscript x] concentration trends in the MCMA indicate that the early morning ambient CO/NOx [CO/NO subscript x] ratio has decreased at a rate of about 1.9 ppm/ppm/year over the last two decades and that the decrease has been driven by reductions in CO levels rather than by NOx [NO subscript x] concentration changes, suggesting that the relative contribution of diesel vehicles to overall NOx [NO subscript x] levels has increased over time in the city. Despite the impressive increases in the size of the vehicle fleet between 2000 and 2006, the early morning ambient concentrations of CO and NOx [NO subscript x] have not increased accordingly, probably due to the reported low removal rates of older vehicles, which do not have emissions control technologies, and partially due to the much lower emissions from newer gasoline vehicles. This indicates that an emission-based air quality control strategy targeting large reductions of emissions from mobile sources should be directed towards a significant increase of the removal rate of older, highly-polluting, vehicles.Atmospheric Sciences Program (U.S.) (DE-FG02-05ER63980)Atmospheric Sciences Program (U.S.) (DE-FG02-05ER63982)United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (Atmospheric chemistry program ATM-0528170)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Atmospheric chemistry program ATM-528227

Particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon spatial variability and aging in Mexico City

International audienceAs part of the Megacities Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations (MILAGRO) study in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area in March 2006, we measured particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other gaseous species and particulate properties at six locations throughout the city. The measurements were intended to support the following objectives: to describe spatial and temporal patterns in PAH concentrations, to gain insight into sources and transformations of PAHs, and to quantify the relationships between PAHs and other pollutants. Total particulate PAHs at the Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo (T0 supersite) located near downtown averaged 50 ng m?3, and aerosol active surface area averaged 80 mm2 m?3. PAHs were also measured on board the Aerodyne Mobile Laboratory, which visited six sites encompassing a mixture of different land uses and a range of ages of air parcels transported from the city core. Weak intersite correlations suggest that local sources are important and variable and that exposure to PAHs cannot be represented by a single regional-scale value. The relationships between PAHs and other pollutants suggest that a variety of sources and ages of particles are present. Among carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide, particulate PAHs are most strongly correlated with NOx. Mexico City's PAH-to-black carbon mass ratio of 0.01 is similar to that found on a freeway loop in the Los Angeles area and approximately 8?30 times higher than that found in other cities. Ratios also indicate that primary combustion particles are rapidly coated by secondary aerosol in Mexico City. If so, the lifetime of PAHs may be prolonged if the coating protects them against photodegradation or heterogeneous reactions

Geoantineutrino Spectrum, 3He/4He-ratio Distribution in the Earth's Interior and Slow Nuclear Burning on the Boundary of the Liquid and Solid Phases of the Earth's Core

The description problem of geoantineutrino spectrum and reactor antineutrino experimental spectrum in KamLAND, which takes place for antineutrino energy \~2.8 MeV, and also the experimental results of the interaction of uranium dioxide and carbide with iron-nickel and silicaalumina melts at high pressure (5-10 GP?) and temperature (1600-2200C) have motivated us to consider the possible consequences of the assumption made by V.Anisichkin and coauthors that there is an actinid shell on boundary of liquid and solid phases of the Earth's core. We have shown that the activation of a natural nuclear reactor operating as the solitary waves of nuclear burning in 238U- and/or 232Th-medium (in particular, the neutron- fission progressive wave of Feoktistov and/or Teller-Ishikawa-Wood) can be such a physical consequence. The simplified model of the kinetics of accumulation and burnup in U-Pu fuel cycle of Feoktistov is developed. The results of the numerical simulation of neutron-fission wave in two-phase UO2/Fe medium on a surface of the Earth's solid core are presented. The georeactor model of 3He origin and the 3He/4He-ratio distribution in the Earth's interior is offered. It is shown that the 3He/4He ratio distribution can be the natural quantitative criterion of georeactor thermal power. On the basis of O'Nions-Evensen-Hamilton geochemical model of mantle differentiation and the crust growth supplied by actinid shell on the boundary of liquid and solid phases of the Earth's core as a nuclear energy source (georeactor with power of 30 TW), the tentative estimation of geoantineutrino intensity and geoantineutrino spectrum on the Earth surface are given.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures. Added text, formulas, figures and references. Corrected equations. Changed content of some section