Marine Shell Ear Disks from Protohistoric Caddo Sites on Stoots Creek, Hopkins County, Texas

In this article, we discuss three engraved marine shell ear disks from two protohistoric (ca. A.D. 1670-1700) Caddo sites on Stouts Creek in Hopkins County, Texas. These rather unique engraved marine shell disks have only been reported from three other archaeological sites in the entire southern Caddo area. Stouts Creek is a tributary to White Oak Creek. The drainage is situated in the modern Post Oak Savanna, at the far western edge of the distribution of Late Caddo Titus phase sites in Northeast Texas. The Stouts Creek marine shell ear disks we report on have been recovered from two different sites in the Stouts Creek valley. One came from a Caddo midden near the Culpepper site (41HP1), a protohistoric Caddo site excavated by The University of Texas in 1931. This particular marine shell disk has a central perforation and a 13.7 mm diameter engraved circle on its outer surface

muZic Appreciation: Bridging the Gap between Generation Z & Classical Music

Today’s music educators stand in a strategic position in the history of classical music in America. At a time when symphony orchestras are struggling to survive due to an aging and declining customer base, a generation of musical omnivores are ripe for a connection to the world of classical music. Generation Z has a vast, eclectic musical appetite, choosing to listen to a variety of genres and styles of music instead of adopting a generational style. However, they have limited interaction with classical music due to certain non-musical attitudes and values. It is possible the disconnect between Generation Z and classical music can be bridged with an innovative approach to music appreciation courses in higher education. This study examined existing literature concerning the non-music major student’s interaction with classical music in an effort to determine factors that influence Generation Z’s attitudes and exposure to classical music. The research revealed that the attitudes, behaviors, and values of Generation Z are influential factors in the interaction and enjoyment of classical music. These factors informed the creation of a curricular framework that facilitates engaging popular music to make connections with other genres in a music appreciation course for non-music majors

A Study of Brightest Cluster Galaxies Over the Last Five Billion Years

The location of Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs), at the centre of the clusters of galaxies, suggests a strong link between the formation and evolution of the BCG and that of the host cluster; with their unique environment distinguishing BCG evolution from that of massive field ellipticals. In this thesis I explore some of the contributing factors to the unique evolution of BCGs. In particular, I investigate the interaction of gas cooling from the intracluster medium (ICM) and the BCG, in fuelling star formation and AGN activity in BCGs, as well as the properties of the multi-phase gas itself. I also investigate the stellar mass growth of BCGs through galaxy--galaxy mergers. I attempt to constrain the prevalence of BCGs undergoing star formation and/or AGN activity by conducting a multi-wavelength photometric census of 981 BCGs, from an X-ray selected sample of clusters at z<0.5. It is found that at least 14 per cent of the BCGs have colours which deviate from those expected for a passively evolving galaxy. A strong association is discovered between BCG colours and optical line emission, indicating the presence of multi-phase gas and a strong association is also discovered between BCG colour and the X-ray luminosity of the host cluster, with implications regarding the proportion of active BCGs and the selection of a particular sample of clusters. These results demonstrate that a significant fraction of BCGs are in fact active, contrary to their ``red and dead'' reputation. The theme of AGN activity in BCGs is continued via an investigation searching for clusters around some 3500 ROSAT selected AGN. The aim is to address the ambiguity that exists between clusters and AGN in low resolution X-ray imaging, which disfavours the detection of the inherently rare systems where a strong AGN is hosted by a BCG. I identify 22 candidate systems with significant overdensities of red galaxies, with several being independent rediscoveries of such systems. Six best candidate systems are found where the cluster and AGN X-ray emission are likely to be comparable. Identification of such systems will ultimately aid in our understanding of the role of AGN feedback in this unique environment. The stellar mass assembly of BCGs at z<0.25 is also explored, targeting 23 merger--like BCGs, drawn from a large parent cluster sample, with wide-field integral field spectroscopy. The stellar kinematics are used to determine a bound probability for companion cluster galaxies and average merger timescales are estimated. Due to selection effects the average BCG stellar mass growth cannot be constrained tighter than between 9(+/-3) and 57(+20/-17) per cent, with typical values in the literature of 10-20 per cent. Nevertheless, the techniques utilised in this analysis should help lay the groundwork for subsequent studies; demonstrating the power of using a statistically significant number of IFU observations to study BCG mergers. Spatially resolved optical line emission is also explored in ten cluster cores. A variety of morphologies and kinematic profiles are discovered, and the properties of each individual system are discussed in turn. The most striking results relate to two systems where the ionised gas lies offset from the BCG. An X-ray observation of A2566 confirms the X-ray peak is offset from the BCG and coincident with the offset line emission, which, along with previous observations, suggest cooling of the ICM can occur in isolation of, and away from, the BCG -- likely related to sloshing of the ICM. A 40 kpc filament is discovered in A2533, offset from the BCG and spatially coincident with star formation and dust lane features in the continuum. An ALMA observation also finds cold molecular gas, which almost perfectly traces the warm ionised gas. Without a high resolution X-ray observation a definitive link between the offset emission and the ICM cannot be established for this system, however, we predict the X-ray peak will be offset, analogous to A2566. Such systems allow the rare opportunity of studying cooling flows in isolation of the role of AGN feedback within BCGs

'Community and Exclusion: The Torrey Canyon Disaster of 1967'

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Social History following peer review. The version of record in Vol. 48 (4) pp. 892-909 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jsh/shv004Oral historians have only recently begun to record the memories of communities affected by major oil spills. In this article we investigate how the first supertanker oil spill in 1967, the Torrey Canyon, is remembered in the coastal communities of Cornwall. Environmental disasters cause more than just environmental damage. They also challenge communities, bringing to the forefront social tensions and conflicts. This study reveals the widespread sense of exclusion within the community as the national political, military and scientific elites took control over the clean-up operation. While aspects of the disaster have been successfully integrated into existing Cornish shipwreck narratives, the displacement of local hierarchies of knowledge by national elites challenged both personal and community identities revealing a subaltern community, often economically vulnerable, whose indigenous knowledge was ignored or devalued. Connecting these dimensions of community memory is the fundamentally moral question of intent, and the resistance to imposed peripheral status enacted through processes of remembering, telling of trickster tales and black humor.British Academy/Leverhulm

A Return to State-Led Integrated Regional Planning? Emerging Approaches from Three U.S. States

After decades of neglect, several U.S. states have increased support for regional development planning, creating new programs, organizations, and funding streams to support it. Analysis of programs in three states (New York, Michigan, and Indiana) shows similarities among them as well as contrasts with prior episodes of state-led regional planning. The new programs deliberately sidestep older regional planning organizations like COGs and RPCs in favor of new organizations with larger roles for the private sector and greater access to public funds. The resulting plans focus on individual projects within a pro-development agenda, but still have potential to coordinate action at a regional scale

The designer of the 90's: A live demonstration

A survey of design tools to be used by the aircraft designer is given. Structural reliability, maintainability, cost and predictability, and acoustics expert systems are discussed, as well as scheduling, drawing, engineering systems, sizing functions, and standard parts and materials data bases