The Effect of Print Angulation on the Accuracy and Precision of 3D-Printed Orthodontic Retainers

Purpose: The aims of this study were: 1) to compare the accuracy and precision of 3- dimensional (3D) printed retainers at various angulations, 2) to evaluate the effect of angulation on printing time and the amount of resin consumed. Methods: Using a stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer, a total of 60 clear retainers were printed at five angulations (n=12, each): 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees. Six retainers were printed each cycle at a random order for all print angulations as print 1 and print 2. Digital images of the original and printed retainers were superimposed. Discrepancies on eight landmarks were measured by two independent examiners. 0.25 mm was set as the clinically acceptable threshold to determine the accuracy of the retainers. Results: Deviations ranged from 0.074 mm to 0.225 mm from the reference retainer at the cusp tips and incisal edges at all angulations, falling within the threshold of clinical acceptance. Smooth surfaces ranged from 0.263 mm to 0.480 mm, falling beyond the level of clinical acceptance. Printing at 15 degrees was estimated to be the most time-efficient, while printing at 45 degrees was estimated to be the most cost-effective. Conclusions: 3D-printed retainers, using an SLA printer, were found to be accurate within 0.25 mm at all print angulations at the cusp tips and incisal edges when compared to the reference digital file. Smooth facial surfaces fell beyond of the level of clinical acceptability. Printing at 15 degrees was estimated to be the most time-efficient, while printing at 45 degrees was estimated to be the most cost-effective

Value theory in environmental ethics and economics

2020 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.The need for an environmental ethic is clear. Many in environmental ethics claim that an environmental ethic ought to be based on the intrinsic and/or non-anthropocentric value of nature, without consensus on a clear definition of those terms and without a clear analysis of the implications of adopting such an ethic. The purpose of this thesis is to first make sense of those different definitions and claims. Then, I describe Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic, a community-based environmental ethic outlined by Aldo Leopold, in order to contrast the different ways in which we ought to value the natural world with how we value things in economics. I argue that theories of value in economics, specifically existence value, are not compatible with nor can they capture the intrinsic, non-anthropocentric value of nature, and I propose an alternative ethic in opposition to the commodification of nature, and the relationship to the natural world formed by economics

The therapeutic landscapes concept as a mobilizing tool for liberation

In this reflection, I argue for using the therapeutic landscapes concept as a tool for mobilizing positive change in the world. I first lay out three major research areas in therapeutic landscapes inquiry, and provide a review of similarities in this area of inquiry in both health geography and medical anthropology. Next, I argue for the application of the therapeutic landscapes concept in liberating, if even in a small way, the growing population of the most vulnerable in our society, countries, and globe. I note two anthropological contributions that illustrate how the concept of therapeutic landscapes can be employed in liberating vulnerability, before discussing a work in progress, specific to an intentional ashram community with a mandate dedicated to world peace. I conclude by setting out the importance of this new direction for the future application of the therapeutic landscape concept as a tool for liberation

The Benefits of Dual Immersion Programs on Elementary School Students

This capstone aims to share the benefits of Dual Immersion Programs at the Elementary school years. Understanding what a Dual Immersion Program is and knowing that there are different models within the program allow for parents to select which program is best suited for their students. A key point in clarification is that a Dual Immersion program does not aim to replace an English, or standard, education program, but add a target language to enhance the learning of the students. This study looks at the short- and long-term academic and social benefits students can gain from kindergarten through fifth grade through the use of literature review, teacher surveys, as well as personal experiences. In addition, this study also looks at the popularity and what is needed to maintain this sort of program within California. The findings of this capstone indicate that bilingualism, biliteracy, and multicultural competence are all important products of a Dual Immersion program

The role of accuracy in children’s judgments of experts’ knowledge.

Children prefer to trust people with expertise and people who are accurate. Because experts make mistakes and give incorrect information (e.g., predictions and diagnoses), this dissertation explores children’s judgments of knowledge for experts who provide inaccurate information. Across two studies, 6- to 9-years-olds (N = 160) were introduced to two experts in different domains (doctor and mechanic) and rated how much each expert knows about their relevant domain. Then, over four consecutive trials, participants heard one expert give inaccurate answers to easy questions in their domain. After each trial, children explained why they believed the expert gave inaccurate answers and rated both experts’ level of knowledge. Finally, children chose which expert knew more about the two relevant domains of expertise. Study 2 included an additional measure of how children rely on accuracy and expertise when given a task that required expertise (i.e., assigning questions to be answered by the experts or themselves about bodies and cars). Across both studies, children decreased their knowledge ratings for the inaccurate expert as they heard more inaccurate answers. In Study 1, children’s explanations predicted their knowledge ratings, such that children who described the expert as having a negative trait (e.g., not being smart) gave lower knowledge ratings and children who endorsed the expert’s inaccurate statements gave higher knowledge ratings. In the additional question delegation measure in Study 2, children assigned relevant questions in the inaccurate expert’s domain to the inaccurate expert and relevant questions in the control expert’s domain to the control expert, and rarely assigned questions to themselves. When justifying why they delegated questions to the inaccurate expert, children referred to the inaccurate expert’s relevant expertise. Also, they indicated that the other expert and/or they did not have relevant knowledge. Together, these studies demonstrate that children weigh accuracy and expertise differently depending on the task at hand. They also provide evidence for individual differences in whether children prioritize an informant’s accuracy or expertise. These findings suggest that caregivers should discuss circumstances where experts could be inaccurate and encourage children to listen and think critically about the answers people provide

Employment Experiences of Visible Minority Immigrant Women: A Literature Review

This literature review provides an overview of the employment experiences of visible minority immigrant women based on a critical review of the international English language peer-reviewed publications from 1980 to 2011.The overall goal of the review was to raise awareness and understanding of immigrant women's employment experiences, health experiences, and the link between employment and health for this subpopulation. Approximately 126 papers articles were analysed. The key findings specific to women's employment experiences are: 1) Economic welfare of immigrants continues to deteriorate with post-2000 arrivals to Canada facing much more occupational downward mobility than their 1990's cohort; 2) Gender, ethnicity and immigrant status intersect to shape visible minority women's employment experiences of deskilling, discrimination, and marginalization; 3) Collaboration is required with all three levels of government (federal, provincial, and municipal) employers, educational institutions, and community agencies to foster immigrant visible minority women's economic integration in Canadian society

Individual Quality and Double-brooding in a Highly Synchronous Songbird Population

Multiple brooding, the production of more than one set of offspring per breeding season, is a life history trait potentially doubling or tripling fecundity, but the factors responsible for variation in occurrence of multiple brooding within species remain poorly understood. We investigated the potential causes and consequences of double-brooding in the highly-synchronously breeding European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), where we predicted that ‘date’ (clutch initiation) would have little effect on double-brooding propensity compared to individual ‘quality’. Double-brooding effectively doubled annual fecundity in European starlings (based on annual number of chicks fledged), but on average only 38% of individual females was double-brooded. Furthermore, 39% of females that initiated a second clutch experienced total failure of their second brood, thus accrued no fecundity advantage from their decision to double-brood. As we predicted variation in propensity for, and success of double-brooding was independent of laying date, but also of other putative measures of individual ‘quality’ (clutch size, egg mass, relative age, and provisioning rate). However, we found no evidence of a cost of double-brooding; double-brooded females had significantly higher return rate, and similar breeding productivity in the year after double-brooding compared with single-brooding females. Thus, a small proportion (~20%) of “high quality” female European starlings effectively double their potential breeding productivity through double-brooding without apparently paying a cost or experiencing simple trade-offs

Mancession or Momcession ?: Good Providers, a Bad Economy, and Gender Discrimination

In the aftermath of the 2008 economic downturn, two of the hardest hit industries were manufacturing and construction. As a result, men became unemployed at a higher rate than women, and consequently, women—for the first time ever—became over fifty percent of the employment. This mancession gave rise to great debate over the place of women in the workforce and the important role that employment plays in shaping male identity. An intervening critique came in the form of the momcession discourse that focused on the impact of the recession on mothers, who were often responsible for caretaking, homemaking, and providing the primary income for the family. This paper explores the interplay between mancession and momcession, and what each discourse expresses about the right to employment, workplace privilege, and discrimination against caregivers in the workplace. The paper subsequently investigates claims of caretaker discrimination, brought by both men and women, and finds that men and women alike suffer from the illicit association of carework with feminine concern and the circumscription of carework to the home, exclusive of the working world

Mancession or Momcession ?: Good Providers, a Bad Economy, and Gender Discrimination

In the aftermath of the 2008 economic downturn, two of the hardest hit industries were manufacturing and construction. As a result, men became unemployed at a higher rate than women, and consequently, women—for the first time ever—became over fifty percent of the employment. This mancession gave rise to great debate over the place of women in the workforce and the important role that employment plays in shaping male identity. An intervening critique came in the form of the momcession discourse that focused on the impact of the recession on mothers, who were often responsible for caretaking, homemaking, and providing the primary income for the family. This paper explores the interplay between mancession and momcession, and what each discourse expresses about the right to employment, workplace privilege, and discrimination against caregivers in the workplace. The paper subsequently investigates claims of caretaker discrimination, brought by both men and women, and finds that men and women alike suffer from the illicit association of carework with feminine concern and the circumscription of carework to the home, exclusive of the working world