Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys Imbricata Nesting Environment and Population Study in Cuero Y Salado Wildlife Refuge on the Coast of Northern Honduras

This report outlines my contributions to ProTECTOR\u27s Hawksbill turtle conservation project along the beachfront at Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge of Honduras. Observation-focused nightly beach patrols were conducted so as to census numbers of turtles nesting in this location presently and beach characteristic surveys were undertaken to create a map of environmental factors relevant to Hawksbill nesting along this beach. Resulting environmental maps were correlated with known factors contributing to Hawksbill nest site choice in order to assess the suitability of this beach for Hawksbill nesting, and thus determine its value for preservation efforts and ongoing funding. Of the 10 km beachfront under observation, 267 m were selected for more intensive nesting environment data analysis. This analysis included mapping the elevation, multiple vegetation, and pollution factors as multiple overlying map layers so as to identify most viable sites for turtle nesting via ArcGIS technology. It was found that while the beach was underpopulated (our nightly observations yielded a count of 0 nesting turtles), significant portions of the beachfront displayed both overlap of environmental conditions favorable to function as a Hawksbill nesting site and an absence of environmental conditions which are know to inhibit Hawksbill nesting. I found that certain portions of the beach displayed the most beneficial combination of environmental factors and are of highest value for preservation whereas other portions of the beach lacked positive environmental factors and thus are of much lower conservation value

Elemental Abundances in M31: Alpha and Iron Element Abundances from Low-Resolution Resolved Stellar Spectroscopy in the Stellar Halo

Measurements of [Fe/H] and [$\alpha$/Fe] can probe the minor merging history of a galaxy, providing a direct way to test the hierarchical assembly paradigm. While measurements of [$\alpha$/Fe] have been made in the stellar halo of the Milky Way, little is known about detailed chemical abundances in the stellar halo of M31. To make progress with existing telescopes, we apply spectral synthesis to low-resolution DEIMOS spectroscopy (R $\sim$ 2500 at 7000 Angstroms) across a wide spectral range (4500 Angstroms $<$ $\lambda$ $<$ 9100 Angstroms). By applying our technique to low-resolution spectra of 170 giant stars in 5 MW globular clusters, we demonstrate that our technique reproduces previous measurements from higher resolution spectroscopy. Based on the intrinsic dispersion in [Fe/H] and [$\alpha$/Fe] of individual stars in our combined cluster sample, we estimate systematic uncertainties of $\sim$0.11 dex and $\sim$0.09 dex in [Fe/H] and [$\alpha$/Fe], respectively. We apply our method to deep, low-resolution spectra of 11 red giant branch stars in the smooth halo of M31, resulting in higher signal-to-noise per spectral resolution element compared to DEIMOS medium-resolution spectroscopy, given the same exposure time and conditions. We find $\langle$[$\alpha$/Fe]$\rangle$ = 0.49 $\pm$ 0.29 dex and $\langle$[Fe/H]$\rangle$ = 1.59 $\pm$ 0.56 dex for our sample. This implies that---much like the Milky Way---the smooth halo of M31 is likely composed of disrupted dwarf galaxies with truncated star formation histories that were accreted early in the halo's formation.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures, accepted to Ap

Vulnerability in Social Epistemic Networks

Social epistemologists should be well-equipped to explain and evaluate the growing vulnerabilities associated with filter bubbles, echo chambers, and group polarization in social media. However, almost all social epistemology has been built for social contexts that involve merely a speaker-hearer dyad. Filter bubbles, echo chambers, and group polarization all presuppose much larger and more complex network structures. In this paper, we lay the groundwork for a properly social epistemology that gives the role and structure of networks their due. In particular, we formally define epistemic constructs that quantify the structural epistemic position of each node within an interconnected network. We argue for the epistemic value of a structure that we call the (m,k)-observer. We then present empirical evidence that (m,k)-observers are rare in social media discussions of controversial topics, which suggests that people suffer from serious problems of epistemic vulnerability. We conclude by arguing that social epistemologists and computer scientists should work together to develop minimal interventions that improve the structure of epistemic networks

Future API Manufacturing Excellence

Many pharmaceutical manufacturing processes are costly, time-intensive, and energy-intensive. Due to the high operational costs, optimization of these processes would result in large economic savings. Fluid bed granulation takes inputs of air temperature, air flow rate, phase duration, binder spray rate, and inlet air humidity. A series of simulations were run to determine optimal operating conditions. It was determined that the process parameters should be limited to the following to meet product standards and reduce costs: air flow rate of 2800 (m3/h), inlet air temperature of 55˚C for spraying and 75˚C for drying, phase duration 124 minutes , binder spray rate of 900 g/s, and inlet air humidity can range from 1-20 g water/kg air. The lyophilization simulation takes process inputs of maximum process time, temperature, pressure, and vial type and returns outputs of peak product temperature, drying time, and maximum sublimation rate. Several primary drying simulations were run for an 8R vial dose and a 20 mL vial dose to determine the optimal operating conditions. The conditions that resulted in the greatest operational cost savings for both the 8R vial and the 20 mL vial were a pressure of 30 Pa, an initial temperature of -9˚C and a final temperature of 1˚C. Based on the proposed conditions, both operational cost and equipment depreciation savings were identified mainly due to lower run times across both processes. For fluid bed granulation, $31,136 operational annual savings were identified amounting to$467,000 over the 15-year project. For lyophilization, $23,500 in annual operational cost savings amounting to$352,000 over the 15-year project life were found. Further operational savings only yielded marginal improvements in profitability

Elemental Abundances in M31: A Comparative Analysis of Alpha and Iron Element Abundances in the the Outer Disk, Giant Stellar Stream, and Inner Halo of M31

We measured [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] using spectral synthesis of low-resolution stellar spectroscopy for 70 individual red-giant-branch stars across four fields spanning the outer disk, Giant Stellar Stream (GSS), and inner halo of M31. Fields at M31-centric projected distances of 23 kpc in the halo, 12 kpc in the halo, 22 kpc in the GSS, and 26 kpc in the outer disk are α-enhanced, with ⟨ [α/Fe]〉= 0.43, 0.50, 0.41, and 0.58, respectively. The 23 and 12 kpc halo fields are relatively metal-poor, with ⟨ [Fe/H]⟩ = −1.54 and −1.30, whereas the 22 kpc GSS and 26 kpc outer disk fields are relatively metal-rich with ⟨ [Fe/H]⟩ = −0.84 and −0.92, respectively. For fields with substructure, we separated the stellar populations into kinematically hot stellar halo components and kinematically cold components. We did not find any evidence of a radial [α/Fe] gradient along the high surface brightness core of the GSS between ~17 and 22 kpc. However, we found tentative suggestions of a negative radial [α/Fe] gradient in the stellar halo, which may indicate that different progenitor(s) or formation mechanisms contributed to the build up of the inner versus outer halo. Additionally, the [α/Fe] distribution of the metal-rich ([Fe/H] > −1.5), smooth inner stellar halo (r_(proj) ≾ 26 kpc) is inconsistent with having formed from the disruption of a progenitor(s) similar to present-day M31 satellite galaxies. The 26 kpc outer disk is most likely associated with the extended disk of M31, where its high α-enhancement provides support for an episode of rapid star formation in M31's disk possibly induced by a major merger

A virtual world of paleontology

Computer-aided visualization and analysis of fossils has revolutionized the study of extinct organisms. Novel techniques allow fossils to be characterized in three dimensions and in unprecedented detail. This has enabled paleontologists to gain important insights into their anatomy, development, and preservation. New protocols allow more objective reconstructions of fossil organisms, including soft tissues, from incomplete remains. The resulting digital reconstructions can be used in functional analyses, rigorously testing long-standing hypotheses regarding the paleobiology of extinct organisms. These approaches are transforming our understanding of long-studied fossil groups, and of the narratives of organismal and ecological evolution that have been built upon them

Examining the Success and Failure of Multiethnic Coalition Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Cases of Kenya and Senegal

This thesis is focused on multiethnic coalitions in Africa. Specifically, it seeks to identify the causal mechanisms at play in the formation of multiethnic coalitions and whether or not they succeed or fall apart. It also seeks to identify whether multiethnic coalition success or failure is related to the emergence or lack thereof, of violence. Case studies and process tracing are the primary methods of analysis, using Kenya and Senegal as cases under the most similar systems design. There is an examination of the actors involved in the formation of multiethnic coalitions in both nations, why the opposition coalitions fell apart in both Kenya and Senegal as well as the relationship between coalition failure and violence. Through this examination, causal hypotheses have been developed that can be tested by other scholars, thus hopefully leading to more advancements in the field of research on multiethnic coalition formation and success