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Reported is a project involving seven chemists, six mathematicians, and six physicists in the production of computer-based, self-study modules for use in introductory college courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. These modules were designed to be used by students and instructors with little or no computer backgrounds, in institutions with modest computer facilities, and were limited to a single major concept or topic. Material included ranged from that covered in a one-hour lecture to a maximum of a single week's study. A complete list of all modules is provided. (PB)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student manual for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student manual for this unit on the concept of the mole includes objectives, prerequisites, discussion, problem exercises, and 20 problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, references, answers to problem sets, sample run of the program showing a quiz being printed and students' answers being graded, a listing of the computer program in BASIC, and 10 unit tests. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student manual for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student module for this solution concentration unit includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, discussion, and 20 problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, answers to problems, software, a listing in BASIC of the computer program, and 20 unit tests. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student materials for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student module for this introductory unit on chemical equilibrium includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, instructions for executing the computer program, and problems. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, software, sample run, and listings of the computer program in both BASIC and FORTRAN. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student materials for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student manual for this acid-base equilibria unit includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, a discussion of equilibrium constants, and 20 problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, answers to problem sets, software, a listing of the computer program in BASIC, and 10 unit tests. (BT)

Volume II of the Education and Experience in Engineering E3 Program is a collection of 21 appendices related to this program which provide information on funding, participants, meetings, and communications among participants. Appendix V, an E3 Handbook for students, contains information on student advising, placement, and evaluation. Appendix VI is a manual designed for training in group dynamics for students and faculty. Other appendices contain evaluation reports of the curriculum committee and subcommittee as well as results of the E3 Program Center Departmental Self-Study. Appendix IX contains sample modules. Appendix XII is a description and discussion of "Self-Paced Calculus." Other information in Volume II includes employment profiles of graduates, perspectives on the use of student project groups, case studies of typical projects, and communications related to the termination of the project. (SK)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student manual for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student manual for this solution stoichiometry unit includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, discussion, and 20 problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, software, answers to problems, extensions, sample run, program listing in BASIC, and 10 unit tests. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student manual for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student module for this unit on dilution problems includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, discussion, and 10 problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, answers to problems, software, computing references, sample run, program listing in BASIC, and 10 unit tests. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student materials for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student manual for this unit on chemical equilibrium calculations includes objectives, prerequisites, a discussion of the equilibrium constant (K), and ten problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, problem solutions, software, a sample run of the program in BASIC, and 20 unit tests on equilibrium calculations. (BT)

Presented is the student manual for one of a series of self-instructional, computer based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. Included in this introductory unit on solutions are objectives, prerequisites, pretest, discussion, and 20 problem sets. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student materials for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student manual for this unit on Le Chatelier's principle includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, instructions for executing the computer program, and problems. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, software, a sample run of the computer program in BASIC, and a listing of the computer program in BASIC. (BT)

Presented are the teacher's guide and student materials for one of a series of self-instructional, computer-based learning modules for an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The student module for this heterogeneous ionic equilibria unit includes objectives, prerequisites, pretest, discussion, and 20 problem sets. Included in the teacher's guide are implementation instructions, answers to problem sets, software, computer program in BASIC, and 10 unit tests. (BT)

Antimicrobial peptides or their synthetic mimics are a promising class of potential new antibiotics. Herein we assess the effect of the type of cationic side chain (i.e., guanidino vs. amino groups) on the membrane perturbing mechanism of antimicrobial alpha-peptide Beta-peptoid chimeras. Langmuir monolayers composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn glycero- 3-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) were used to model cytoplasmic membranes of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while lipopolysaccharide Kdo2-lipid A monolayers were mimicking the outer membrane of Gram-negative species. We report the results of the measurements using an array of techniques, including high-resolution synchrotron surface X-ray scattering, epifluorescence microscopy, and in vitro antimicrobial activity to study the molecular mechanisms of peptidomimetic interaction with bacterial membranes. We found guanidino group-containing chimeras to exhibit greater disruptive activity on DPPG monolayers than the amino group-containing analogues. However, this effect was not observed for lipopolysaccharide monolayers where the difference was negligible. Furthermore, the addition of the nitrobenzoxadiazole fluorophore did not reduce the insertion activity of these antimicrobials into both model membrane systems examined, which may be useful for future cellular localization studies., Published in the Journal of Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes, v1838 n10 p2492-2502, 2014.

The objective of this project is to develop an in-depth understanding of the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic microstructural parameters on dynamic response and failure behavior of Al-Cu alloys through carefully planned and fully instrumented parametric experiments and detailed microstructural characterization at various length scales. Our ultimate goal is to understand microstructural configurations that suppress the tendency of material to shear localization in the form of adiabatic shear banding (ASB). Recognizing the fact that ballistic performance is significantly improved by delaying the onset of ASB in dynamically deforming Al alloys, our approach has the potential of providing unique guidelines for developing thermal-mechanical processing techniques to obtain high performance Al alloys applicable to army mission. Improving the fundamental understanding of how intrinsic and extrinsic parameters influence the deformation substructure and overall dynamic mechanical behavior will aid in: (1) the development of new routes to tailor microstructures that promote homogeneous strain fields and demotes premature shear localization, (2) the development of predictive constitutive models capable of accurately simulating the high strain rate deformation behavior of these materials in armor-based applications, and (3) better understanding as well as manipulation of thermoplastic heating during severe dynamic deformation processes., The original document contains color images.

The structure of collagen has been a matter of curiosity, investigation, and debate for the better part of a century. There has been a particularly productive period recently, during which much progress has been made in better describing all aspects of collagen structure. However, there remain some questions regarding its helical symmetry and its persistence within the triple-helix. Previous considerations of this symmetry have sometimes confused the picture by not fully recognizing that collagen structure is a highly complex and large hierarchical entity, and this affects and is effected by the super-coiled molecules that make it. Nevertheless, the symmetry question is not trite, but of some significance as it relates to extracellular matrix organization and cellular integration. The correlation between helical structure in the context of the molecular packing arrangement determines which parts of the amino acid sequence of the collagen fibril are buried or accessible to the extracellular matrix or the cell. In this study, we concentrate primarily on the triple-helical structure of fibrillar collagens I and II, the two most predominant types. By comparing X-ray diffraction data collected from type I and type II containing tissues, we point to evidence for a range of triple-helical symmetries being extant in the molecules native environment. The possible significance of helical instability, local helix dissociation and molecular packing of the triple-helices is discussed in the context of collagen's supramolecular organization, all of which must affect the symmetry of the collagen triple-helix., Sponsored in part by DoE. Published in PLoS ONE, v9 n2 article ID e89519, 24 Feb 2014.

The objective of this proposal is to design and characterize components for utilization in a 94GHz temperature compensated low noise amplifier (LNA) using a 45nm SOI CMOS technology. A ring oscillator based temperature sensor will be designed to compensate for gain variations over temperature. For comparison to a competing solution, a temperature sensor will also be developed in 90nm CMOS to be utilized in conjunction with a III-V based 94 GHz LNA.

High speed deformation events such as caused by projectile penetration, fragment impact and shock/blast loading are of great importance in designing materials and structures for army applications. In these events, materials are subjected to large strains, high strain rates and rapid increase in temperature due to thermoplastic heating. In such severe conditions, overall performance is determined by the evolution of flow stress, failure initiation and propagation, and commonly in the form of adiabatic shear banding., The original document contains color images.

This project is to perform translational research tasks needed to prepare an intracortical visual prosthesis (ICVP) for testing in a human. No human trial testing of the prosthesis will occur under the funded work. Preparatory tasks include final maturation of the implantable hardware, pre FDA IDE testing of the ICVP in non-human primates, reliability and biocompatibility testing, development of a human testing protocol, development of a human volunteer selection and assessment protocol, preparation of an investigation device exemption application (IDE) to the FDA. Progress to-date has been somewhat hampered by delayed approval of the psychology testing protocols (human subjects), and the animal testing protocols (non-human primates), by the USARMYMC. However, all protocol approvals have now been obtained. This delay has also slowed the spending of funds for these areas within the first year. The work focused on technology maturation has been highly productive. Sample stimulator units have been subjected to brutal environmental testing with 100% survival. Larger numbers of stimulator units are in the process of being constructed to provide statistical power for the environmental testing. Following the human protocol acceptances, work has commenced at both IIT and Johns Hopkins for the development of the testing and assessment protocols. A graduate student from IIT has initiated work within the laboratory of Dr. Dagnelie at JHU. Analysis of interview data from the earlier Dobelle visual prosthesis recipients has already yielded valuable insight about the volunteer recruitment and participation process. Sixteen publications and presentations have resulted from the funded work, and several publications are in preparation. While the project is projected for a 1-year no-cost extension request, due to the slow start-up, it is anticipated that by the end of the project all parts of the SOW will be complete, with the ICVP ready for clinical testing in a human trial., The original document contains color images.

The National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST) is a consortium among Illinois Institute of Technology, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the food industry. NCFST's research is implemented through science platforms that reflect the organization's expertise: food processing and packaging, food microbiology, chemical contaminants and allergens, nutrition, and proficiency testing and method validation programs. The NCFST seeks to build on its strong foundation and history of the collaboration with industry, FDA and academia to increase its research portfolio and expand its partnership with its stakeholders. By conducting important research on critical food processing issues to address food safety and nutrition, NCFST can help improve the health and well-being of the public.

The Annual Review of Research contains reports on collaborative research conducted at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology during the fiscal year 2011 (October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011). NCFST's research is implemented through science platforms that reflect the organization's expertise: food processing and packaging, food microbiology, chemical contaminants and allergens, nutrition, and proficiency testing and method validation programs. The NCFST seeks to build on its strong foundation and history of the collaboration with industry, FDA and academia to increase its research portfolio and expand its partnership with its stakeholders. By conducting important research on critical food processing issues to address food safety and nutrition, NCFST can help improve the health and well being of the public., The original document contains color images.

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) are protocols that enable a prover to convince a verifier of the truth of a statement without leaking any other information. The main properties of ZKP include completeness, soundness and zero-knowledge. These features are correlated with each other, and together with the lighter computational requirements, makes zero-knowledge protocols very attractive in authentication service in airborne networks. Although useful, the non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs based on standard cryptographic assumptions used to be inefficient and not useful in practice. The use of pairing-based ZKP on elliptic curves can potentially enhance the security strength of the system. Besides these advantages, pairing-based ZKPs can also integrate smoothly with other pairing-based cryptographic schemes (e.g., identity-based encryption, pairing-based signatures, key agreement, and proxy re-encryption) making the combined schemes quite efficient., The original document contains color images.

Mission critical systems often operate for limit time durations. For these systems, we subscribe to the notion that provisioning of security can be based on the expected duration of a system's mission. In this paper, we present a simple and safe K - variant approach to improve time-based mission critical systems' attack-survivability and provide formal analysis about K - variant system's attack survivability under M memory-based attack attempts. Our theoretical analysis supported by extensive simulations and a case study provide good evidences that the proposed approach may be in improving system's attack-survivability., See also ADA553912. International Conference on Security of Information and Networks (4th) (SIN 2011) Held in Sydney, Australia on November 14-19, 2011. Approved for public release; U.S. Government or Federal Purpose Rights License. Also supported by CNS-1035894.

The Department of Defense seeks to develop body armor that is, among other things, lighter and more flexible. For example, the new armor based on shear thickening fluids (STF) is very flexible, but stiffens under the load of impacting projectiles in order to provide protection. Hence, the interaction of the armor with human tissue (e.g., muscle) becomes very important. However, there is not sufficient understanding in how tissue responds to the large stresses, and high strain rates that occur in such interactions. Moreover, in order to test armor candidates, one needs a synthetic material that can mimic the response of tissue. Our projects seek to address both of these limitations, both by modeling the transient mechanical (rheological) properties of tissue, and by developing software that can predict the same response of many possible synthetic testing materials. Specifically, we proposed the following: 1. Generalization of our entanglement theory to cross-linked systems. 2. A progressive coarse graining of the theory to create a continuum-level description. Success here would create a model more amenable to simulation in complex geometries. This was a longer-term goal, with no promised deliverables in the time frame of the proposal. 3. Make available to the Army resulting computer code. 4. Generalization to co-polymers. 5. Generalization to semi-flexible polymers. Such polymers are ubiquitous in tissue, and largely determine their rheological and mechanical properties.

An advanced understanding of thermoplastic heating process in dynamic deformation events is one of the key steps which not only enhances design and analysis capabilities but also may lead to development of new material systems with unprecedented impact and blast protection performance. The main objective of this project is to develop reliable and repeatable experimental data to serve this purpose and develop predictive models for the fraction of plastic work converted into heat (i.e., thermo-mechanical coupling strength) in dynamically deforming metals. This objective has been achieved by integrating high-strain-rate split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experiments with high-speed IR thermometry measurements, and by establishing repeatable calibration procedures. The results of experiments conducted on a series of alloys, including CP-Ti, OF HC copper (FCC), 1018 cold rolled steel and Al 2139-T8 alloy, have shown that thermo-mechanical coupling strength may evolve as a complex function of strain, strain rate, and deformation history. We have established that dislocation density based strain hardening models lend themselves to satisfactory prediction of thermo-mechanical coupling strength factor for most material systems with the exception of 2139-T8 aluminum alloy. The alloy 2139-T8, which is a newly developed aluminum alloy with promising properties to use in armor applications, has repeatedly showed that fraction of plastic work converted to heat is smaller than other alloy systems, and unlike other alloys this fraction does not reach to 0.9-1 interval but rather stays below 0.6 even at large plastic strains.

A rod in cross flow is a technique known for its simple and effective means of suppressing cavity tones. Although several hypotheses have been put forward regarding its working principle, no validated explanation exists. In the present study we investigate whether the cylinder, through its wake, changes the stability characteristics of the shear layer that develops over the cavity. The present study pertains to a shallow cavity of length to depth ratio L/D = 2, for subsonic Mach numbers ranging from 0.5 to 0.8. The upstream boundary layer was found to be turbulent for all cases considered. We use linear stability theory in the spatial, compressible and inviscid formulation for our study. We construct artificial velocity profiles that are prototypical of the experimentally measured velocity profiles, to investigate how the wake of the cylinder influences the stability of the shear layer. Comparison of these integrated growth rates with the acoustic suppression data showed that the link between the two is weak. Thus the ability of the rod to suppress cavity resonance is not directly explained by linear stability analysis of the modified shear layer, for the configurations considered.

When using radar to transit a dark rugged area, the pilot needs to recognize dangerous obstacles ahead from radar images. Since the radar image is displayed as range versus azimuth, the obstacles cannot be easily seen, and the heights of obstacles are especially difficult to determine. It is important to detect potential obstacles such as tall buildings so that the aircraft can avoid collision. Therefore, we investigated height reconstruction methods (including multi-scale wavelet and histogram analysis) on the extracted radar shadows formed by obstacles. Preliminary results indicated that height construction was successful even with long thin shadows embedded in a noisy radar image.