The Working Public’s Perceptions of Service Dogs: A Phenomenological Investigation of Gatekeepers’ Experiences

The purpose of this study was to capture the essence of the working public’s experiences with, and perceptions of service dogs. The population for the study was the working public of Kentucky, who through their employment, have experienced first-hand the phenomenon. A phenomenological framework informed the research design. In-depth, unstructured interviews were conducted to obtain data. Interview transcriptions were analyzed according to suggestions from Moustakas (1994) and Hycner (1985) regarding phenomenological research. The results of this research study naturally formed into five themes. Findings showed prevalent misunderstandings, confusion and lack of knowledge regarding service dogs, including how to identify a service dog, how to differentiate service dogs from other dogs, uniform and certification or registration expectations, legislation, and the labels used to describe different assistance dogs. Additionally, findings showed exposure to dogs in general, and training procedures, could impact one’s perceptions of, and level of comfort around service dogs. Furthermore, participants identified misrepresentation of a service dog as a primary issue around this topic. Participants placed value in standardization of service dog uniforms and identification processes, as well as the need for increased educational programs across social groups. Based on these findings, recommendations for future research were made to further establish an understanding of the public’s perceptions of assistance animals and assistance dog legislation. Recommendations were also made for adaptations and educational opportunities for various social groups. Increased research and education are necessary catalysts for change and further understanding of how to successfully incorporate service dogs into our communities

Life-History Correlates of Taxonomic Diversity

One of the most pervasive, nonrandom evolutionary patterns is extreme domination of a taxon by one subtaxon or only a few subtaxa. Domination refers to taxonomic diversity and the fraction of the taxon that is classified in the most diverse subtaxon. We attempt to explain how subtaxa come to dominate their phyletic counterparts by examining correlations between taxonomic diversity and life history traits such as age of first reproduction, longevity, fecundity and partitioning of reproduction, and resource availability in a variety of vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant groups. Regardless of taxonomic group or rank, the number of taxa within an assemblage, or the school of taxonomy employed, diverse taxa were characterized by short generation time (early age of first reproduction and short life—span) and the ability to contact many resources (high mobility and high resource availability). We suggest that the intrinsic character of short generation time increases diversity because it promotes speciation and reduces extinction. Extrinsic factors such as resource availability and environmental complexity and variability may have a secondary influence on diversity by constraining or enhancing speciation for taxa with short generation times. Read More: http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.2307/293718

Electrometry Using Coherent Exchange Oscillations in a Singlet-Triplet-Qubit

Two level systems that can be reliably controlled and measured hold promise in both metrology and as qubits for quantum information science (QIS). When prepared in a superposition of two states and allowed to evolve freely, the state of the system precesses with a frequency proportional to the splitting between the states. In QIS,this precession forms the basis for universal control of the qubit,and in metrology the frequency of the precession provides a sensitive measurement of the splitting. However, on a timescale of the coherence time, $T_2$, the qubit loses its quantum information due to interactions with its noisy environment, causing qubit oscillations to decay and setting a limit on the fidelity of quantum control and the precision of qubit-based measurements. Understanding how the qubit couples to its environment and the dynamics of the noise in the environment are therefore key to effective QIS experiments and metrology. Here we show measurements of the level splitting and dephasing due to voltage noise of a GaAs singlet-triplet qubit during exchange oscillations. Using free evolution and Hahn echo experiments we probe the low frequency and high frequency environmental fluctuations, respectively. The measured fluctuations at high frequencies are small, allowing the qubit to be used as a charge sensor with a sensitivity of $2 \times 10^{-8} e/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$, two orders of magnitude better than the quantum limit for an RF single electron transistor (RF-SET). We find that the dephasing is due to non-Markovian voltage fluctuations in both regimes and exhibits an unexpected temperature dependence. Based on these measurements we provide recommendations for improving $T_2$ in future experiments, allowing for higher fidelity operations and improved charge sensitivity

Martian terrains

Terrain studies of candidate landing sites for a future rover/sample-return mission to Mars are being conducted to evaluate the geologic and trafficability aspects of each site. An optimum site should have geologic units of widely diverse ages and chemical compositions occurring in close enough proximity and in smooth enough terrain so that a roving vehicle of limited traverse ability (+ or - 100 km) could collect representative samples. In FY 1986, geologic maps were compiled at 1:500,000 and 1:2 million scales of the Mangala Valles, Kasei Valles, Chasma Boreale (north polar), and Planum Australe (south polar) areas, and a study was begun of the topography and surface roughness characteristics of the Mangala Valles site. Geologic mapping has been greatly facilitated by specially enhanced, high-resolution Viking photographs, which clarify stratigraphic relations of units unrecognized earlier. Photoclinometric profiles of topographic features provide width and depth measurements of four classes of channels, the thickness of some volcanic units, and the throw on some faults. Estimates of the surface roughness of units are calculated using a newly developed USGS computer program and using measurements derived from Earth-based radar

Topics concerning state variable feedback in automatic control systems. Part 1 - Specification. Part 2 - Sensitivity. Part 3 - Intentional nonlinearities. Part 4 - Unavailable states

Specifications, sensitivity, intentional nonlinearities, and unavailable states concerned with state variable feedback in automatic control system

Chronotypical and Habitual Exercise Timing Effects on Physical Activity and Sleep Quality

An individual\u27s circadian rhythm and chronotype, or circadian preference, influence physical activity (PA) and sleep patterns during the 24-hour period, with people who prefer later exercise exhibiting poorer sleep patterns and reduced physical activity (PA) levels. Previous work comparing exercise timing’s relationship with chronotype examined single bouts of exercise, indicating the need to examine habitual exercise trends on a longer-term basis. PURPOSE: To analyze the interaction between chronotype and long-term exercise timing preference on physical activity and sleep quality. METHODS: Data were analyzed retrospectively from an open-source data set collected by Cunningham et al. from 05/2020 – 11/2021. Chronotype was determined using the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) along with daily questionnaires throughout 2020 and 2021 where participants self-reported exercise timing and step count. PA was reported as a percent of exercise days to total days responded. Habitual exercise timing (time of day, TOD) was categorized as \u3e33% of their reported exercise completed in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Two-way ANOVA was used to determine the interaction between TOD of exercise and chronotype. RESULTS: From 05/2020 – 11/2021, participants averaged 67 daily questionnaire responses. PA and step count was higher among earlier chronotypes (main effect [ME] Chronotype; pCONCLUSION: The 67 average responses allowed us to create robust exercise timing groups and analyze patterns larger than a single bout of exercise. Supporting previous literature, later chronotypes are less physically active and exhibit worse sleep quality, regardless of the individual\u27s habitual exercise timing. Further investigation is necessary to determine cardiovascular or wellness consequences of later chronotypes performing reduced physical activity

Search for Mars lander/rover/sample-return sites: A status review

Ten Mars sites were studied in the USA for four years. The sites are the Chasma Boreale (North Pole), Planum Australe (South Pole), Olympus Rupes, Mangala Valles, Memnonia Sulci, Candor Chasma, Kasel Valles, Nilosyrtis Mensae, Elysium Montes, and Apollinaris Patera. Seven sites are being studied by the USSR; their prime sites are located at the east mouth of Kasel Valles and near Uranius Patera. Thirteen geological maps of the first six USA sites are compiled and in review. Maps of the Mangala East and West sites at 1:1/2 million scale and a 1:2 million scale map show evidence of three episodes of small-channel formation interspersed with episodes of volcanism and tectonism that span the period from 3.5 to 0.6 b.y. ago. The tectonic and geological history of Mars, both ancient and modern, can be elucidated by sampling volcanic and fluvial geologic units at equatorial sites and layered deposits at polar sites. The evidence appears clear for multiple episodes of fluvial channeling, including some that are quite recent; this evidence contrasts with the theses of Baker and Partridge (1986) and many others that all channels are ancient. Verification of this hypothesis by Mars Observer will be an important step forward in the perception of the history of Mars