Community Based Program for Young Adults with High Functioning Autism: Social Participation and Dating

Purpose: In the United States, autism spectrum disorders affect 1 in 88 individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Autism spectrum disorders affect individuals throughout their lifespan (Alexander, 2011). The most significant impairment in individuals with high functioning autism experience is qualitative impairment in social interaction (Sadock & Sadock, 2008). Services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders are available until the age of 21. Therefore, adults with autism spectrum disorders have limited access to intervention even though they continue to struggle (Shattuck, Wagner, Narendorf, Sterzinger, & Hansley, 2011). The focus of this project is young adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and the social interactions that occur in relationships, specifically dating. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted in order to understand difficulties individuals face in dating along with evidenced-based interventions for social participation. The information obtained from the literature review was then analyzed using the Person Environment Occupation model (Law et al., 1996). Through the use of the Person Environment Occupation model, a systematic analysis of the occupational performances issues was conducted. Areas of need were then identified and interventions were created to improve occupational performance specific to dating. Results: Based upon the methodology described above, we developed a community based dating intervention protocol for young adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. The program includes weekly 90 minute sessions for 14 weeks. Each session focuses on a deficit area identified in the literature review as well as the systematic analysis. Sessions are graded to build upon one another in order to facilitate successful acquisition of dating skills. Conclusion: Several barriers may limit this programs implementation, such as the length of dedicated time to the program, limited funding and resources, and the effectiveness and validity of the program have not yet been researched. Despite these weaknesses, the program has several areas of strength including filling a current need, serving adults with autism spectrum disorders. The program is also based on research and grounded in a model

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Auswahl und Charakterisierung von Klebstoffschichten auf RF-Aerogelen

Mit dem im September 2010 von der Bundesregierung verabschiedeten Energiekonzept kommen große Herausforderungen auf die Industrie in Deutschland, aber auch auf die einzelnen Verbraucher zu: Bis 2050 sollen nicht nur die Emissionen von Treibhausgasen um 80% gegenüber 1990 reduziert werden, sondern auch der Hauptanteil des Energiebedarfs durch erneuerbare Energien erbracht werden [1]. Ein wichtiger Aspekt bei der Verfolgung dieser Ziele ist die Steigerung der Energieeffizienz, wobei vor allem die Gebäude mit 40% des Gesamtenergieverbrauchs im Fokus stehen. Sie verursachen alleine etwa ein Drittel aller CO2-Emissionen in Deutschland, sodass der Bedarf an Innovationen zur Sanierung energetisch veralteter Häuser und im Neubau groß ist [2]. Ebenfalls vor Herausforderungen im Bereich der Energieeffizienz steht die Automobilindustrie: Bis 2020 müssen die CO2-Emissionen der Fahrzeuge unter 95 Gramm pro Kilometer gesenkt werden, was einem Verbrauch von etwa 4 Litern Benzin pro 100 Kilometer entspricht. Das größte Einsparpotenzial liegt im Gewicht des Fahrzeuges. Bei Konstrukteuren gilt die Faustregel, dass eine Reduzierung des Gewichtes um 100 Kilogramm den Verbrauch bis zu einen halben Liter senkt [3]. Um die oben genannten Problemstellungen zu beheben, ist der Einsatz alternativer Materialien mit verbesserten Eigenschaften, in diesen Fällen bessere Isolationseigenschaften (Wärmedämmung) und geringere Dichte, notwendig. Eine Materialklasse, die diese Eigenschaften miteinander kombiniert, sind die Aerogele: hochporöse Materialien, bei welchen die Porenflüssigkeit des Gels durch Luft ausgetauscht ist, wobei die Struktur der Poren und des Teilchennetzwerkes weitgehend erhalten bleibt [4]. Aufgrund der Porosität von bis zu 99,8% werden Aerogele neben einer für Feststoffe geringen Dichte von 0,004-0,500 g cm-3 auch durch eine geringe Wärmeleitfähigkeit (0,012-0,021 W m-1K-1 in Luft bei 300K) sowie eine hohe spezifische innere Oberfläche (100-1600 m2 g-1) charakterisiert [5]. Somit zeigen Aerogele im Vergleich zu anderen verwendeten Isoliermaterialien wie beispielsweise Styropor geringere Wärmeleitfähigkeiten, zudem sind umweltfreundlicher in der Entsorgung und wirken als Brandschutz [6]. Im Vergleich zum Leichtbaumetall Aluminium weisen sie nur der Dichte oder weniger auf. Aerogele werden sowohl auf organischer (meist Resorcin- Formaldehyd-Aerogele [RF]), als auch auf anorganischer Basis (meist Silica-Aerogele) hergestellt. Hier heben sich die organischen RF-Aerogele von den anorganischen Silica-Aerogelen insofern hervor, dass sie eine noch geringere Wärmeleitfähigkeit besitzen und steifer, sowie fester als Silica Aerogele sind [5]. Somit bieten die RF-Aerogele die geforderten Eigenschaften zum Einsatz im Bauwesen, sowie in der Automobilindustrie. Jedoch fehlt für den Einsatz der Aerogele noch die Optimierung der mechanischen Eigenschaften sowie der Haptik: Die Aerogele sind spröde, zeigen Steifigkeiten von nur 0,1- 28 MPa und ihre Oberfläche ist staubig[7]. Zur Lösung dieses Problems bietet sich die Produktion eines Sandwichverbundes aus RF-Aerogel, Waben und Deckschicht an; die Waben verbessern die mechanische Performance der Aerogele [8] und die Kaschierung bietet eine funktionsgerechte Haptik ohne Staub. Zudem dient sie als zusätzlicher Stabilisator. Es liegen schon erste Veröffentlichungen zur Kombination von Aerogeln mit Waben (Aramidwaben) vor [8], jedoch wurden bisher keine Versuche zur Kaschierung unternommen. Diese Bachelorarbeit thematisiert die Auswahl geeigneter Klebstoffe zur Kaschierung des Aerogel-Waben-Verbundes, um dem Ziel eines optimierten Werkstoffes für den Einsatz in der Baubranche und Automobilindustrie einen Schritt näherzukommen

Aerogel-honeycomb sandwich composites based on resorcinol-formaldehyde and silica

Composites consisting of aerogels are lightweight materials with possible applications in many fields including the aerospace, automotive, and building sectors. In that context, we have previously demonstrated how aerogels derived from resorcinol-formaldehyde and silica can be mechanically reinforced using aramid-, paper-, or aluminum-based honeycomb structures as matrix in the sol-gel process. This poster describes efforts to produce sandwich materials using such honeycomb-aerogel-composites as core material, and metal sheets as coating. Qualitative studies regarding different adhesives and suitable joining methodology for aerogel-honeycomb composites, as well as joining of core composite and aluminum sheets of varying thickness are described. The resulting sandwich materials were characterized in terms of their thermal and mechanical behavior. More specifically, the thermal conductivity of sandwich materials and core components were determined using a heat flow meter or transient plane source technique, respectively. Regarding mechanical properties, compressive, tensile, shear, and bending tests were performed. The combined results allow for the design of aerogel composite sandwich materials with a balanced trade-off between thermal and mechanical properties. The studies presented herein will guide current and future efforts directed to the production of generic parts for automotive applications