Corban University

Flash Joule heating (FJH) presents an attractive method to decompose per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) but suffers from an optimization challenge due to its complex reaction dynamics. In this study, we introduce a data-driven workflow that includes a Human-Guided Bayesian Optimization (HGBO) algorithm and an interpretable multibranch neural network (MBNN) to understand and optimize PFAS removal from soil. The HGBO algorithm incorporates expert intuition into the optimization cycle via a probabilistic acquisition strategy to enhance efficiency. In two iterations, HGBO improves the PFAS removal efficiency by 60%, outperforming vanilla BO and human-centered optimization. The results are well interpreted by SHapley additive expansion (SHAP) values and partial dependence analysis (PDA) to quantify feature significance and interactions. An interpretable MBNN is then developed to quantify the contributions of functional groups in various PFAS to the FJH degradation mechanism, which is further validated by density functional theory calculations. Seamless integration of HGBO and interpretable MBNN in one data-driven workflow not only accelerates experimental optimization but also provides interpretability, enabling more informed experimental decisions in complex chemical synthesis with limited data.

Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative case study examines the practical implementation and challenges of internal controls for safeguarding cash within online gadget stores. Conducted during the 2024-2025 school year, the study focused on the experiences of ten store owners in Pagadian City, Philippines. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research explored the strategies employed by these owners to mitigate financial risks.Research Findings: A key finding reveals a duality in control mechanisms, while owners adopt modern digital payment gateways, they maintain a heavy reliance on conventional physical security measures such as CCTV surveillance and daily cash reconciliation. The most significant challenges identified were customer-initiated fraud (bogus buyers), internal theft, and cash mismanagement. In response, owners implemented strategies centered on stringent cash monitoring, restricted employee access, and layered transaction verification. The study concludes that small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners perceive risks in both the digital and physical realms, necessitating a hybrid internal control approach.Contribution/Originality/Novelty: This research contributes to the SME risk management literature by highlighting the critical need to integrate physical and digital security protocols within the dynamic online retail environment. Desain / metodologi / pendekatan: Studi kasus kualitatif ini mengkaji implementasi praktis dan tantangan pengendalian internal untuk menjaga keamanan uang tunai di toko gawai daring. Dilaksanakan selama tahun ajaran 2024-2025, studi ini berfokus pada pengalaman sepuluh pemilik toko di Kota Pagadian, Filipina. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus kualitatif, penelitian ini mengeksplorasi strategi yang digunakan oleh para pemilik ini untuk memitigasi risiko keuangan.Temuan Penelitian: Temuan utama mengungkapkan adanya dualitas dalam mekanisme pengendalian: meskipun pemilik mengadopsi gerbang pembayaran digital modern, mereka tetap sangat bergantung pada langkah-langkah keamanan fisik konvensional seperti pengawasan CCTV dan rekonsiliasi kas harian. Tantangan paling signifikan yang teridentifikasi adalah penipuan yang diinisiasi pelanggan (pembeli palsu), pencurian internal, dan salah urus kas. Sebagai tanggapan, pemilik menerapkan strategi yang berpusat pada pemantauan kas yang ketat, akses karyawan yang terbatas, dan verifikasi transaksi berlapis. Studi ini menyimpulkan bahwa pemilik usaha kecil dan menengah (UKM) memandang risiko baik di ranah digital maupun fisik, sehingga memerlukan pendekatan pengendalian internal hibrida. Kontribusi / Orisinalitas / Kebaruan: Penelitian ini berkontribusi pada literatur manajemen risiko UKM dengan menyoroti kebutuhan penting untuk mengintegrasikan protokol keamanan fisik dan digital dalam lingkungan ritel daring yang dinamis.

Abstract In 1963, the Normative Aging Study (NAS) was initiated at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic. Over the next several years, 2280 men, mostly veterans, were enrolled into a life-long study of aging. To better understand the distinction between aging per se vs. the progression of disease, these men were selected for good health, regardless of age. The intention was to examine, over their lifespan, the interplay between aging and the development and progression of disease. Men returned to the clinic every few years for examinations and completed periodic surveys that assessed their health, disease, anthropometry, and health behaviors. In this talk, we will discuss the origins of the NAS and its place in the first wave of longitudinal studies of aging (e.g., Framingham, Baltimore, Duke). We will then focus on the growth of the psychosocial research program at NAS, which was nascent in the initial decades but expanded rapidly during the 1980’s. This program examined social support, stress and coping, mental health, personality and cognition. We will also mention recent work in this deeply phenotyped study that focuses on epigenetics and its role in psychosocial aging and health. In concluding, we offer some observations on the complexities of establishing and maintaining longitudinal studies and their contributions to the study of aging and development.

For years Christian institutions in the West have observably supported and maintained kataphatic approaches to faith formation. Respectively, many schools have neglected apophatic considerations when teaching principles and approaches within emerging adult faith formation. Layered into this predicament is the strong inclination of predominantly kataphatic learning contexts to use increasing digital forms of instruction. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating reliance on digital technology in college classrooms has only exacerbated this dilemma. As a result, apophatic attentions, which tend to move away from trending pedagogical approaches and subsequent outcomes, remain formidable. The following paper employs a 14-year case review of students’ spiritual type similarities and differences at a private Christian university in the U.S. The review's theoretical and phenomenological framework utilizes spiritual typologies associated with apophatic and kataphatic nomenclature found in the “Circle of Sensibility” and espoused by spiritual type theorists. The data supports the theory of a general dividing line between approaches to Christian spirituality between apophatic and kataphatic taxonomical constructs. Additionally, perhaps most notably, this paper looks at digital distraction in current academic, spiritual formation contexts as a critical explanation for the lack of apophatic emphases. Digital distraction, in other words, undercuts the power of apophatic teaching. Based on the findings, recommendations for incorporating complementary kataphatic and apophatic approaches in spiritual formation coursework are offered.

Flash Joule heating has emerged as an ultrafast, scalable, and versatile synthesis method for nanomaterials, such as graphene. Here, we experimentally and theoretically deconvolute the contributions of thermal and electrical processes to the synthesis of graphene by flash Joule heating. While traditional methods of graphene synthesis involve purely chemical or thermal driving forces, our results show that the presence of charge and the resulting electric field in a graphene precursor catalyze the formation of graphene. Furthermore, modulation of the current or the pulse width affords the ability to control the three-step phase transition of the material from amorphous carbon to turbostratic graphene and finally to ordered (AB and ABC-stacked) graphene and graphite. Finally, density functional theory simulations reveal that the presence of a charge- and current-induced electric field inside the graphene precursor facilitates phase transition by lowering the activation energy of the reaction. These results demonstrate that the passage of electrical current through a solid sample can directly drive nanocrystal nucleation in flash Joule heating, an insight that may inform future Joule heating or other electrical synthesis strategies.

Purpose: This study aims to investigates the perceptions of 3rd-year accountancy students concerning the passing rates of the Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (LECPA).Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized a qualitative research design with a multiple case study approach, the researchers employed in-depth interviews, observations, and data mining to explore students’ decisions to persist in pursuing CPA licensure or reconsider their career paths.Research Findings: The results of the study indicated that some participants exhibited strong determination fueled by personal commitment, while others expressed hesitancy due to concerns about exam difficulty and the risk of failure. These insights emphasize the importance of robust support systems for aspiring Certified Public Accountants.Contribution/Originality/Novelty: The findings contribute valuable insights for academic institutions and educators to tailor effective support systems and interventions, advancing the understanding of career choices, educational motivation, and dynamics within the field of accountancy for 3rd-year students. Tujuan Penelitian: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui persepsi mahasiswa akuntansi tahun ke-3 mengenai tingkat kelulusan Ujian Lisensi Akuntan Publik Bersertifikat (LECPA).Desain / metodologi / pendekatan: Penelitian ini memanfaatkan desain penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus ganda, para peneliti menggunakan wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan penggalian data untuk mengeksplorasi keputusan siswa untuk tetap mengejar lisensi CPA atau mempertimbangkan kembali jalur karir mereka.Temuan Penelitian: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa beberapa peserta menunjukkan tekad yang kuat yang dipicu oleh komitmen pribadi, sementara yang lain menyatakan keraguan karena kekhawatiran akan kesulitan ujian dan risiko kegagalan. Wawasan ini menekankan pentingnya sistem pendukung yang kuat bagi calon Akuntan Publik Bersertifikat.Kontribusi / Orisinalitas / Kebaruan: Temuan ini memberikan kontribusi wawasan berharga bagi institusi akademis dan pendidik untuk menyesuaikan sistem pendukung dan intervensi yang efektif, memajukan pemahaman tentang pilihan karir, motivasi pendidikan, dan dinamika dalam bidang akuntansi untuk siswa tahun ke-3.

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and widespread environmental contaminants that have infiltrated freshwater systems. Granular activated carbon (GAC), the most widely used sorbent for PFAS removal from water, becomes a secondary waste when PFAS is sorbed upon it (PFAS-GAC). Current methods for treatment of this contaminated spent carbon, such as incineration, release large amounts of hazardous gaseous fluorocarbons. To address these challenges, here we demonstrate the disposal of PFAS-GAC using an electrothermal mineralization process. Flash Joule heating (FJH) of PFAS-GAC in the presence of sodium or calcium salts yields inert, non-toxic fluoride salts with >96% fluorine conversion efficiency. Simultaneously, the spent carbon is upcycled into high-value flash graphene, offsetting the cost of treatment by $1900 US per tonne. The entire process operates without the need for solvents or expensive catalysts. The life cycle assessment (LCA) shows a reduction in cumulative energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and water usage. The ease of scalability and the production of valuable co-products, as highlighted in the technoeconomic assessment (TEA), showcases this method as an attractive route to mineralize PFAS in ~1 s.

Medicine, Religion, and Magic in Early Stuart England: Richard Napier's Medical Practice. Ofer Hadass. Magic in History. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2018. xvi + 214 pp. $89.95. - Volume 72 Issue 3