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We have developed a prototype of breathable thermochromic textile ideal for sensor applications, e.g., medical thermography. The textile was woven/knitted from polyester filaments pre-coated with thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) ink, in lieu of coating the TLC ink on the woven/knitted textile. This process brings us closer to achieving breathable thermochromic textiles while enhancing the versatility of the textile. A combination of precoated yarns can be preselected according to the desired thermochromic properties of the textile. Swatches from both knitted and handwoven fabrics showed excellent reversible thermochromic property showing color from red to blue as the temperature is raised from 26 to 32 °C, consistent with the unincorporated TLC ink.

We report formation of complex responsive fibers consisting of a low molecular weight liquid crystal (LC) core surrounded by a polymer sheath using simple airbrush or jet spraying techniques. The fibers are formed using a solution of LC and polymer dissolved in a common solvent. With proper control of the solution composition and formation conditions the fibers self‐assemble. The diameter of the resulting fibers can be adjusted over a range spanning from one to tens of microns. The core of the fiber retains all of the responsive properties associated with low molecular weight LCs. A nematic LC core's director aligns along the long axis of the fiber making them highly birefringent. An electric field applied across the fiber changes both the director alignment and the optical properties of the fiber. Alternatively, thermochromic fibers are formed using a cholesteric LC in the core. Unlike similar electrospun fibers, the airbrushed fibers can be sprayed as continuous mats on virtually any surface or woven into textiles. The resulting fabrics can be made into displays, thermochromic temperature sensors, or for detection of chemical or biological agents. They offer numerous opportunities for wearable textiles that respond optically to a variety of stimuli.

Vacuum deposited indium tin oxide, ITO, is the material of choice for producing the transparent conducting electrodes used in a wide variety of electro-optic applications, including flat panel displays and solar cells. In addition to rigid substrates such as glass, ITO can be coated on flexible substrates for the production of flexible devices. Because the ITO is brittle it easily cracks if the flexible substrates are bent. The cracking of the ITO is therefore viewed within the industry as a major problem. Here we demonstrate how we can control the cracking of the ITO to produce uniform electrodes. This is accomplished by bending the film around a tight radius of curvature. The electrodes are narrow having a width of 5~10 μm. The cracks separating the electrodes are much narrower with a width of less than 0.05 μm. We demonstrate the use of these substrates using a polymer dispersed liquid crystal switchable window that can be switched in individual lines creating an electronic venetian blind effect. The addressed lines in the PDLC are defined by the contact electrode and by the applied field. Because the cracks are much smaller than the thickness of the active PDLC material they are not visible. In addition to switchable windows these substrates can be used to make passive matrix displays and touch screens. Uni-axially cracking can be easily integrated into a roll-to-roll manufacturing process.

Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus Rafinesque) are a large-bodied fish highly valued and commercially exploited across most of their range. Despite this, relatively little is known of their population demographics compared to other exploited species. To fill these knowledge gaps, we analyzed two independent long-term datasets (30 and 57 years, respectively) and population demographic data (age structure, growth, mortality, age at maturity, and recruitment) from multiple pools of the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) and Illinois River (Illinois, USA). Long-term data (30-year dataset) generally show downward trends or significant declines in catch per unit effort in the UMRS, while the 57-year dataset shows a stable trend or a significant increase in the Illinois River. The oldest smallmouth buffalo were estimated to be 39 years old, with nearly every pool sampled having individuals estimated to exceed 30 years of age. Except for Pool 13 of the UMRS, 90% of smallmouth buffalo were estimated to mature between 411 and 470 mm in length or between 8.7 and 11.2 years old. Recruitment was variable: strong year classes were generally preceded by multiple years of weak year classes. Our results indicate that the smallmouth buffalo population may be stable in portions of the UMRS and Illinois River systems, but significant declines in the northern extent of the UMRS may warrant conservation concern. Recent research into ages of buffalofishes shows that consideration should be given to the idea that the UMRS population could be age truncated. Results also emphasize the importance of long-term data and the ability to show changes in exploited populations over time.

The purpose of this qualitative research was to determine whether Canadian pastors in the ministry may be inadequately prepared in skills of emotional intelligence (EI), and if this possible lack of preparation in EI negatively affects their job satisfaction. Twenty Canadian pastors were interviewed to determine which of the 18 EI competencies from Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee (2013) are utilized by pastors while serving in the ministry, and how the utilization of EI contributes to pastoral self-efficacy and job satisfaction. This study also researched the extent to which Bible colleges and seminaries in Canada and the U.S. offer EI-focused content by conducting a document analysis of college transcripts collected from the interviewed pastors. In addition, the corresponding course descriptions, syllabi, and academic catalogs from each of these institutions were analyzed to provide additional detail and context regarding the courses offered in each of these pastoral training programs. Next, five institutional interviews were conducted with key administrators from Bible colleges and seminaries to determine which of the EI competencies were offered in their coursework and their rationale for offering EI-focused content in their curriculum. The research demonstrated that all 18 of the EI competencies were relevant to Canadian pastors and the utilization of EI improved pastoral self-efficacy and corresponding job satisfaction. Further, this study revealed that Canadian pastors are inconsistently trained in Bible colleges and seminaries in the EI competencies. Several recommendations for policy and future research were made to facilitate the improvement of pastoral preparation programs and how they train pastors in the competencies of EI.

The Solar Gravitational Lens (SGL) allows for major brightness amplification (\\(\\sim 10^{11}\\) at wavelength of \\(1~\\mu\\)m) and extreme angular resolution (\\(\\sim10^{-10}\\) arcsec) within a narrow field of view. A meter-class telescope, with a modest coronagraph to block solar light with 1e-6 suppression placed in the focal area of the SGL, can image an exoplanet at a distance of 30 parsec with few kilometer-scale resolution on its surface. Notably, spectroscopic broadband SNR is \\(\\sim 10^{-6}\\) in two weeks of integration time, providing this instrument with incredible remote sensing capabilities. A mission capable of exploiting the remarkable optical properties of the SGL allows for direct high-resolution imaging/spectroscopy of a potentially habitable exoplanet. Such missions could allow exploration of exoplanets relying on the SGL capabilities decades, if not centuries, earlier than possible with other extant technologies.

The remarkable optical properties of the solar gravitational lens (SGL) include major brightness amplification (~1e11 at wavelength of 1 um) and extreme angular resolution (~1e-10 arcsec) in a narrow field of view. A mission to the SGL carrying a modest telescope and coronagraph opens up a possibility for direct megapixel imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy of a habitable Earth-like exoplanet at a distance of up to 100 light years. The entire image of such a planet is compressed by the SGL into a region with a diameter of ~1.3 km in the vicinity of the focal line. The telescope, acting as a single pixel detector while traversing this region, can build an image of the exoplanet with kilometer-scale resolution of its surface, enough to see its surface features and signs of habitability. We report here on the results of our initial study of a mission to the deep outer regions of our solar system, with the primary mission objective of conducting direct megapixel high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of a potentially habitable exoplanet by exploiting the remarkable optical properties of the SGL. Our main goal was to investigate what it takes to operate spacecraft at such enormous distances with the needed precision. Specifically, we studied i) how a space mission to the focal region of the SGL may be used to obtain high-resolution direct imaging and spectroscopy of an exoplanet by detecting, tracking, and studying the Einstein ring around the Sun, and ii) how such information could be used to detect signs of life on another planet. Our results indicate that a mission to the SGL with an objective of direct imaging and spectroscopy of a distant exoplanet is challenging, but possible. We composed a list of recommendations on the mission architectures with risk and return tradeoffs and discuss an enabling technology development program.

Concerning a recent letter attacking use of new milk cartons in Coventry, we believe the public is poorly served by misstatements suggesting that one product is \"greener\" than another. Let me correct the record.

I read with interest the recent article on school prayer in Utah. I find what seems to be proposed in the name of \"individual rights\" to be in actuality a serious threat to the inherent individual rights that our country espouses so emphatically. Theoretically, it is easy to say that church and state should be forever separated. As a practical matter, this is impossible. Government itself, and many extensions of it such as public education, are run by individuals whose decisions and behavior are determined by their individual religious beliefs (or lack of any, which is in and of itself a religion of sorts).