Altered matter. Like icons, stored

This thesis proposes research findings that run parallel to my own practice. At the heart of the concepts discussed there is a notion of invention and the transmutation of materials. Attempting to find clear ways of making something with the legitimacy of an artwork. Artists considered along side my practice include Alberto Giacometti, Manfred Pernice, Mike Nelson and Ryan Trecartin. As a result of my academic inquiry, my ideas start to move towards the informational as a way to understand how information and invented symbolism may be inscribed or instilled into something. This may be through constellational choices in joining, script writing or by embracing technological ways to mediate the world and the artwork, extending its quiddity or “thingness” by embracing editing and manipulation. The studio work extends on my previous installation practice:sculptures in a variety of sizes and materials. Sculptures that suggest function in an ambiguous way, mimesis in an uncanny way and have an unclear classification as support, artwork, relic or invention. Amid this ambivalent environment I use constellational choices, inscription into materials and proximity relationships to communicate a fictional language or signs of what may appear to have come from an extraterrestrial culture, in, around and on the sculptures. Some materials appear as “repurposed” through the unusual joining of everyday components. Other materials may have been reduced to mere “matter” by altering them to near unrecognisable states. The sculptures and installation elements have a second mediated form by appearing in still and moving images

A theoretical model for single molecule incoherent scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Single molecule scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), with dephasing due to elastic and inelastic scattering, is of some current interest. Motivated by this, we report an extended Huckel theory (EHT) based mean-field Non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) transport model with electron-phonon scattering treated within the self-consistent Born approximation (SCBA). Furthermore, a procedure based on EHT basis set modification is described. We use this model to study the effect of the temperature dependent dephasing, due to low lying modes in far-infrared range for which hw<<kT, on the resonant conduction through highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of a phenyl dithiol molecule sandwiched between two fcc-Au(111) contacts. Furthermore, we propose to include dephasing in room temperature molecular resonant conduction calculations.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Design of dual-action & selective Histone Deacetylase enzyme inhibitors

Carcinogenesis cannot be explained only by genetic alterations. Epigenetic processes such as histone modification via (de)acetylation play a key role in gene expression, where overexpression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, can result in aberrant transcription of key genes regulating important cellular functions such as cell proliferation, cell‐cycle regulation and apoptosis. Herein we report the synthesis of novel organometallic HDAC inhibitors based upon copper(II) and ruthenium(II), with a view to designing new anticancer agents. An emerging area in the field of HDAC inhibitors is the design of dual-action inhibitors, focussing on the inclusion of copper(II) into the design to harness the DNA targeting and therapeutic effects of copper(II) generally, in addition to the potency of drugs inhibiting HDAC enzymes. In this study a novel copper(II) complex, dichloro(N20-hydroxy-N11-(1,10-phenanthrolin-5-yl)octanediamide)copper(II), was synthesised, inhibiting HDAC activity by 50% in-vitro at a lower concentration than clinically approved vorinostat (SAHA), attributing an IC50 = 0.32 ± 0.02 µM, compared to SAHA’s IC50 = 0.70 ± 0.05 µM. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that enhanced potency of HDAC inhibitors lies in the design of inhibitors that selectivity inhibit particular HDAC enzymes within the family of 11 zinc-dependent HDACs. The ability of selective recognition using organometallics has been realised through the design of piano stool ruthenium complexes, where variation in the capping arene leads to differences in HDAC isoform selectivity. We report the synthesis of 11 novel ruthenium(II) piano stool complexes which are awaiting a series of HDAC selectivity assays to determine their superior potency. Overall, this study illustrates the crucial importance of HDAC inhibitors in oncology, the tuneability of such complexes, and the remaining potential of these inhibitors in the design of dual-action and enzyme-selective analogues

Evolutionary Psychology and Stone Tool Production: An Examination of Novice Blow Strength Judgement in a Knapping Task

Despite representing an approach to psychology that places the most emphasis on the importance on the role of our ancestral past in shaping the human cognitive architecture, Evolutionary Psychology remains largely neglected in the field of archaeology. Though archaeologists have incorporated approaches into their research that adopt both cognitive and evolutionary perspectives, the lack of engagement with the concepts and methodologies of Evolutionary Psychology arguably risks the abnegation of valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration that could greatly benefit both fields. This research applies the methodology of Evolutionary Psychology to the study of stone tool production, which is arguably the most abundant source of evidence from our ancestral environments regarding past cognition. The research provides an assessment of the adaptive advantages and information-processing problems of the various task domains associated with stone tool producing behaviours, together with considerations of possible test designs from the perspective of Evolutionary Psychology. The data collected relating to novices’ judgment of blow strength adopting a mixed-methods, explanatory sequential test design are also presented. The results are then evaluated to determine the extent to which a posited cognitive bias for acquiring competence in blow strength judgement is supported

Strain and field modulation in bilayer graphene band structure

Using an external electric field, one can modulate the bandgap of Bernal stacked bilayer graphene by breaking A-~B symmetry. We analyze strain effects on the bilayer graphene using the extended Huckel theory and find that reduced interlayer distance results in higher bandgap modulation, as expected. Furthermore, above about 2.5 angstrom interlayer distance, the bandgap is direct, follows a convex relation to electric field and saturates to a value determined by the interlayer distance. However, below about 2.5 angstrom, the bandgap is indirect, the trend becomes concave and a threshold electric field is observed, which also depends on the stacking distance.Comment: 3 pages, 5 figures - v1 and v2 are the same, uploaded twice - v3, some typos fixed and a reference adde

Changing the meaning of shameful memories through compassionate meditation

This thesis investigated the relationships between attachment styles, shame and compassion. Part 1 is a systematic literature review that sought to clarify which attachment styles were related to shame. The review suggested that fearful or preoccupied attachment styles were most closely related to shame. Both of these styles depend on negative working models of the self, so the review supported the conceptual model of shame as a model of oneself as inferior in relation to others. Part 2 describes an empirical study that investigated the effectiveness of a brief compassionate meditation for alleviating state shame. Fifty-seven students used a guided imagery-based meditation focussed on cultivating compassion to reconsider a shameful memory of their own choosing. Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods were used to examine their responses to doing so. The results showed that quantitative measures of shame and self-blame decreased reliably following the meditation, and were accompanied by shifts from negative to positive affect. Participants’ ability to problem-solve about the shaming event was enhanced by these changes. Participants’ ease of cultivating compassion was studied in relation to their memories of their parents as children and any current signs of depression. A qualitative analysis of participant feedback provided information on the qualities of helpful and unhelpful meditations. Recommendations are given for clinical practice and future research. Part 3 is a critical appraisal that gives reflections on the literature review and empirical paper, offering some guidance and recommendations to others considering similar projects. It discusses issues in study design and measurement, as well as the use of imagery or meditation as a therapeutic intervention

The Status and Distribution of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) in the Yukon

The presence of a breeding population of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) in the Yukon is established from previous summer records of swans and by data from extensive aerial surveys. The population is estimated to number about 50 pairs, with at least 32 pairs found near Toobally Lakes in southeast Yukon Territory. Habitat, nesting, population, and migration data are presented for the Toobally Lakes population. The habitat is characterized by rolling hills interspersed with water bodies from 5 ha to 250 ha in the area, frequently influenced by beaver. Nesting and cygnet development appeared to be later than those reported for Alaska or Alberta. Cygnet production was 19 young by August 1980 and 26 young by July 1981. Band returns indicate that part of the Yukon population winters in Montana. Recommendations for habitat protection are made.Key words: Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator, Yukon, breeding, distribution, migration, habitatMots cl&eacute;s: Cygne trompette, Cygnus buccinator, Yukon, nidification, distribution, migration, habita

The external ear morphology and presence of tragi in Australian marsupials

Multiple studies have described the anatomy and function of the external ear (pinna) of bats, and other placental mammals, however, studies of marsupial pinna are largely absent. In bats, the tragus appears to be especially important for locating and capturing insect prey. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pinnae of Australian marsupials, with a focus on the presence/absence of tragi and how they may relate to diet. We investigated 23 Australian marsupial species with varying diets. The pinnae measurements (scapha width, scapha length) and tragi (where present) were measured. The interaural distance and body length were also recorded for each individual. Results indicated that all nectarivorous, carnivorous, and insectivorous species had tragi with the exception of the insectivorous striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata), numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), and nectarivorous sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). No herbivorous or omnivorous species had tragi. Based on the findings in this study, and those conducted on placental mammals, we suggest marsupials use tragi in a similar way to placentals to locate and target insectivorous prey. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) displayed the largest interaural distance that likely aids in better localization and origin of noise associated with prey detection. In contrast, the smallest interaural distance was exhibited by a macropod. Previous studies have suggested the hearing of macropods is especially adapted to detect warnings of predators made by conspecifics. While the data in this study demonstrate a diversity in pinnae among marsupials, including presence and absence of tragi, it suggests that there is a correlation between pinna structure and diet choice among marsupials. A future study should investigate a larger number of individuals and species and include marsupials from Papua New Guinea, and Central and South America as a comparison

An Extended Huckel Theory based Atomistic Model for Graphene Nanoelectronics

An atomistic model based on the spin-restricted extended Huckel theory (EHT) is presented for simulating electronic structure and I-V characteristics of graphene devices. The model is applied to zigzag and armchair graphene nano-ribbons (GNR) with and without hydrogen passivation, as well as for bilayer graphene. Further calculations are presented for electric fields in the nano-ribbon width direction and in the bilayer direction to show electronic structure modification. Finally, the EHT Hamiltonian and NEGF (Nonequilibrium Green's function) formalism are used for a paramagnetic zigzag GNR to show 2e2/h quantum conductance.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figure