Constraining A4A_4 Leptonic Flavour Model Parameters at Colliders and Beyond

The observed pattern of mixing in the neutrino sector may be explained by the presence of a non-Abelian, discrete flavour symmetry broken into residual subgroups at low energies. Many flavour models require the presence of Standard Model singlet scalars which can promptly decay to charged leptons in a flavour-violating manner. We constrain the model parameters of a generic $A_4$ leptonic flavour model using a synergy of experimental data including limits from charged lepton flavour conversion, an 8 TeV collider analysis and constraints from the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The most powerful constraints derive from the MEG collaborations' limit on Br$\left(\mu\to e\gamma\right)$ and the reinterpretation of an 8 TeV ATLAS search for anomalous productions of multi-leptonic final states. We quantify the exclusionary power of each of these experiments and identify regions where the constraints from collider and MEG experimental data are complementary.Comment: v1: 28 + 9 pages, 8 figures. v2: 30 + 10 pages, 10 figures. v2 consistent with JHEP accepted version where further discussion of results and several more references were adde

Aesthetic Chills: An Autoethnographic Study

Aesthetic Chills: An Autoethnographic Study Jessica Turner, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Richard Bargdill, Dept. of Psychology The purpose of this poster is to describe autoethnographic research that recorded experiences of aesthetic chills. Aesthetic chills are a psychophysiological response to stimuli that create pilo-erection and a “chill” effect on the body not related to temperature (i.e. goosebumps due to experiences of beauty). For the last two years, the researcher has made a written record of each instance of his experience of an aesthetic chill and the circumstances that triggered the chill. The data consists of brief descriptions of the triggering event, the date the chill occurred. Some descriptions also include the location where the chills were experienced on the body (i.e. back of the neck) as well as the intensity of that chill (mild, intense, pulsar). The encounters have been analyzed for similarities in conditions and given a number in numerical order of the date it was recorded. This research has provided both quantitative and qualitative data to analyze for the purpose of understanding more about the how frequently and under what thematic categories the aesthetic chills occur for this researcher. According to Denzin (2008) analytic autoethnography has five key features. It is ethnographic work in which: (a)The researcher “is a full member in a research group or setting” meaning that the researcher is also the participant (b) The researcher “uses analytic reflexivity;” the researcher is researching one’s own experience and has decided in advance how to capture that experience. (c) The researcher “has a visible narrative presence in the written text.” That is, the data is a record of the researchers experience and contains one’s personal knowledge. (d) The researcher “engages in dialogue with informants beyond the self.” The data is to be shared with other researchers of the topic and his research team. e) Researcher “is committed to an analytic research agenda focused on improving theoretical understandings of broader social phenomena.” The research is intended to answer questions about whether recording aesthetic chills increases one’s sensitivity to them and thus increases their frequency. Dr. Bargdill is the autoethnographer since he is both author and focus of the research. He is the one who narrates his experiences as the observer and the observed. By being able to incorporate himself into the research, he is able to tie together the personal aspect of the culture, thinking and observing as an ethnographer and both the writing and describing as a storyteller and researcher.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1392/thumbnail.jp

The Rise of Large-Scale Imaging Studies in Psychiatry

From the initial arguments over whether 12 to 20 subjects were sufficient for an fMRI study, sample sizes in psychiatric neuroimaging studies have expanded into the tens of thousands. These large-scale imaging studies fall into several categories, each of which has specific advantages and challenges. The different study types can be grouped based on their level of control: meta-analyses, at one extreme of the spectrum, control nothing about the imaging protocol or subject selection criteria in the datasets they include, On the other hand, planned multi-site mega studies pour intense efforts into strictly having the same protocols. However, there are several other combinations possible, each of which is best used to address certain questions. The growing investment of all these studies is delivering on the promises of neuroimaging for psychiatry, and holds incredible potential for impact at the level of the individual patient. However, to realize this potential requires both standardized data-sharing efforts, so that there is more staying power in the datasets for re-use and new applications, as well as training the next generation of neuropsychiatric researchers in “Big Data” techniques in addition to traditional experimental methods. The increased access to thousands of datasets along with the needed informatics demands a new emphasis on integrative scientific methods

Empathy and Threatened Egotism in Men’s Use of Violence in Intimate Relationships

The current study was undertaken to explore the relationship between self-esteem, narcissism, and empathy with intimate partner violence perpetration among men in 2 samples: college students and inmates. The sample was analyzed both as an aggregate and separately. A negative relationship was hypothesized between intimate violence perpetration and both self-esteem and empathy. A positive relationship was expected between intimate violence perpetration and narcissism. A 2-way interaction was examined between self-esteem and narcissism as a test of threatened egotism, defined as high self-esteem coupled with high narcissism, which was not expected in the current study. Empathy was hypothesized to moderate the relationship between intimate violence perpetration and threatened egotism, such that low empathy coupled with high narcissism and high self-esteem was expected to result in increased intimate violence perpetration. Participants were 488 men (249 college students; 239 inmates). Surveys consisted of a demographic questionnaire, CTS2 for participants’ relationships, CTS for their parents’ relationship, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, entitlement and exploitative subscales of the NPI, and the IRI. Independent samples t-tests were used to explore differences in the 2 samples. Hierarchical multiple regression was undertaken in the aggregate sample as well as the college sample and inmate sample separately. For the aggregate sample significant main effects emerged for family violence, self-esteem, narcissism, and cognitive and affective empathy, as well as the 2-way interaction between self-esteem and narcissism. Results were similar for the college sample with the exception that affective empathy was not significant. For the inmate sample main effects emerged for family violence, narcissism, and affective empathy as well as the 2-way interaction between self-esteem and narcissism. The results appear to support the theory of threatened egotism, though further analysis indicates the findings are not so clear. Empathy did not moderate the 2-way interaction between self-esteem and narcissism

A Strategy for the Cultivation of Community Strength

This professional plan is a community-based template for neighborhoods in the urban landscape that were once thriving and are now struggling with population stability. The study area is found in the south side of Richmond, Virginia in the neighborhoods of Bellemeade and Oak Grove. The recommendations of this plan are focused on the cultivation of long-term residents. The research of this plan investigates three elements that can be focused on in order to cultivate this demographic: aging in place, abandonment due to family growth, and housing issues. These three elements have been researched and developed in order to craft well rounded recommendations that can be achieved on a community level. The research findings of this plan are split into four themes that were collected during interviews with multiple extremely long-term residents: accountability, beautification, cultivation of families, and leveragability of assets. These four elements once investigated gave way to multiple findings that shocked and can potentially re-brand a neighborhood

Plant-derived extracellular matrix mimetic scaffolds for bone repair applications

Autologous and allogeneic bone grafts are currently used to treat large bone defects or fractures that will not heal. However, for patients with osteoporosis or other conditions that impair the natural bone healing process, such as diabetes, smoking, bed rest, aging, autologous bone graft, which is the patient\u27s own bone, is limited in quantity and its healing potential may be compromised. Allograft bone, or donated bone, lacks the necessary biological activity and has poor integration into defect. There is an urgent need for constructs/grafts capable of promoting bone cell function in fracture healing and large bone defects where the endogenous healing process is impaired. The development of tissue engineering scaffolds seeks to alleviate these challenges. In this work, plant derived materials are fabricated into fibrous scaffolds that could mimic the architecture and composition of the native bone extracellular matrix (ECM) to enhance bone cell activity under normal gravity and hypergravity conditions. Zein, a corn protein, has been shown to promote osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo, however, electrospun zein lacks hydrolytic stability. Sulfated GAGs have been suggested to influence the osteogenic differentiation of bone precursor cells and inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Here, carrageenans, a family of plant derived sulfated polysaccharides that resemble the chemical structure of sulfated GAGs are incorporated into electrospun zein scaffolds. To achieve hydrolytically stable fibrous scaffolds, this work identifies trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TMPGE) as a successful crosslinker to zein protein and carrageenan without adverse effects to cell viability. Pre-osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells on scaffolds display enhanced cell growth, promoted osteogenic differentiation by elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, enhanced collagen matrix deposition and maturation, and upregulation of bone markers (RUNX2, collagen Type I, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin). The cells on scaffolds also displayed enhanced mineralization, and reduction of factors that induce bone resorption (RANKL, sRANKL/OPG ratio and GDF15). Further, evidence suggests that osteoblasts favor kappa-carrageenan that resembles the sulfated GAG in mature bone, while stem cells favor lambda-carrageenan which resembles the sulfated GAG in bone marrow. Additionally, the scaffolds and hypergravity by centrifugation have a synergistic effect on cell proliferation, collagen matrix deposition, and osteogenic differentiation and mineralization. Findings demonstrate that the plant-derived scaffolds hold promise for bone tissue engineering and bone repair strategies

Contemplating Glaciers - A Dialogue

This project investigates the evolving relationship between art, climate education, and audience engagement. It explores how the visual arts serve as a medium for fostering awareness and dialogue about climate change while inspiring climate resilience through artistic and curatorial intervention. The exhibition Contemplating Glaciers – A Dialogue showcases the work of Canadian artist Jan Kabatoff, whose practice incorporates multisensory experiences, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, VR, and soundscapes to engage viewers with the ongoing degradation of glaciers. The exhibition bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and artistic expression within a gallery space designed to encourage participation and reflection. It seeks to elicit emotional and intellectual responses, fostering connections between audiences and the environment. By integrating participatory practices such as virtual reality, surveys, and storyboards, the exhibition expands the scope of climate communication beyond conventional methods, emphasizing inclusivity and cognitive diversity. Through this approach, Contemplating Glaciers challenges traditional modes of climate change education and underscores the potential of art and curatorial practices to inspire hope and action to build climate resilience effectively

Investigating marine particle distributions and processes using in situ optical imaging in the Gulf of Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2015The Gulf of Alaska is a seasonally productive ecosystem surrounded by glaciated coastal mountains with high precipitation. With a combination of high biological production, inputs of suspended sediments from glacial runoff, and contrasting nutrient regimes in offshore and shelf environments, there is a great need to study particle cycling in this region. I measured the concentrations and size distributions of large marine particles (0.06-27 mm) during four cruises in 2014 and 2015 using the Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP). The UVP produces high resolution depth profiles of particle concentrations and size distributions throughout the water column, while generating individual images of objects >500 μm including marine snow particles and mesozooplankton. The objectives of this study were to 1) describe spatial variability in particle concentrations and size distributions, and 2) use that variability to identify driving processes. I hypothesized that UVP particle concentrations and size distributions would follow patterns in chlorophyll a concentrations. Results did not support this hypothesis. Instead, a major contrast between shelf and offshore particle concentrations and sizes was observed. Total concentrations of particles increased with proximity to glacial and fluvial inputs. Over the shelf, particle concentrations on the order of 1000-10,000/L were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than offshore concentrations on the order of 100/L. Driving processes over the shelf included terrigenous inputs from land, resuspension of bottom sediments, and advective transport of those inputs along and across the shelf. Offshore, biological processes were drivers of spatial variability in particle concentration and size. High quantities of terrigenous sediments could have implications for enhanced particle flux due to ballasting effects and for offshore transport of particulate phase iron to the central iron-limited gyre. The dominance of resuspended material in shelf processes will inform the location of future studies of the biological pump in the coastal Gulf of Alaska. This work highlights the importance of continental margins in global biogeochemical processes

Provenance and Depositional History of Late Pleistocene New Jersey Shelf Sediments

Pleistocene New Jersey shelf sedimentology is strongly influenced by glacially driven sea level changes. A combination of regressive shoreline processes, subaerial exposure, fluvial downcutting, and deposition and reworking during transgression has influenced the NJ shelf sediment composition. Sediment provenance and transport history may be determined on a shelf environment through analysis of grain size distribution, heavy mineral content, magnetic mineral concentrations, and isotopic dating methods. A combination of surface grab and stratigraphic samples were analyzed within the study area. Relatively high percentages of heavy minerals were found in the 2 phi and 3 phi size fractions and hornblende grains provided K-Ar age values indicating two groups of sediment sources. The first source is Grenville with apparent ages above 900 Ma deposited during marine OIS 1. The second source is a mixed assemblage of Grenvillian and Paleozoic sources deposited during marine OIS 3, with apparent ages of approximately 850 ± 20 Ma