The long and the short of it: modelling double neutron star and collapsar Galactic dynamics

The work presented here examines populations of double compact binary systems and tidally enhanced collapsars. We make use of BINPOP and BINKIN, two components of a recently developed population synthesis package. Results focus on correlations of both binary and spatial evolutionary population characteristics. Pulsar and long duration gamma-ray burst observations are used in concert with our models to draw the conclusions that: double neutron star binaries can merge rapidly on timescales of a few million years (much less than that found for the observed double neutron star population), common envelope evolution within these models is a very important phase in double neutron star formation, and observations of long gamma-ray burst projected distances are more centrally concentrated than our simulated coalescing double neutron star and collapsar Galactic populations. Better agreement is found with dwarf galaxy models although the outcome is strongly linked to the assumed birth radial distribution. The birth rate of the double neutron star population in our models range from 4-160 Myr^-1 and the merger rate ranges from 3-150 Myr^-1. The upper and lower limits of the rates results from including electron capture supernova kicks to neutron stars and decreasing the common envelope efficiency respectively. Our double black hole merger rates suggest that black holes should receive an asymmetric kick at birth.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS, 18 pages, 12 figures, 5 table

Watermelons and weddings: Making women, peace and security ‘relevant’ at NATO through (re)telling stories of success

This article analyses how the Women, Peace and Security agenda is made ‘relevant’ at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) through the (re)telling of stories of success: one concerning watermelon and the other, the preparation for a wedding. The article provides a critical examination of how 'new' gender norms, in particular a 'gender perspective', are normalised within NATO, through narratives and storytelling, in ways that are political and problematic. The article highlights the lack of detailed gender analysis within official accounts, showing how the stories are used to communicate an understanding of success and progress that is less concerned with the detail of the actual events, but serves to develop a string of signifiers around ‘gender’, ‘women’ and ‘security’ which are familiar and relatable to their intended audience. The article offers a cautionary tale of how an organisation in the early stages of developing a ‘gender agenda’ can reinforce an essentialised and reductive understanding of the role and place of women within the military

MESOPOROUS SILICA NANOPARTICLES AS DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

Micro- and nano-scale silica materials have recently gained attention due to their potential as biosensors, site-specific drug delivery systems and diagnostic tools. Accordingly, examples of the preparation and use of silica materials for such applications are highlighted throughout this dissertation. A significant portion of developing materials used for targeting, detection, or sensing applications is functionalizing the surface of the material with biomolecules (i.e. proteins, nucleotides, carbohydrates) that function as targeting or receptor moieties. N-linked pentenyl glycoside derivatives, prepared via a modified Staudinger ligation method, proved to be key intermediates in developing a methodology to efficiently prepare carbohydrate derivatives capable of functionalizing a variety of different materials. Glucosyl and lactosyl siloxane derivatives, synthesized from the hydrosilation of the corresponding pentenyl glycoside intermediate, were used to prepare glucose- and lactose-functionalized evanescent wave fiber Bragg gratings. The carbohydrate-functionalized fibers were subsequently used to detect the specific binding of lectins to the carbohydrates attached to the surface of the fiber, demonstrating their potential as biosensors. In addition, olefin cross metathesis was used to couple N-linked pentenyl glycoside intermediates with terminal alkene derivatives containing moieties used to functionalize a range of inorganic material, thus yielding glycoconjugates capable of functionalizing material of various composition. The advantage of this synthetic strategy is the ability to create a series of carbohydrate derivatives capable of functionalizing a variety of different material from a common N-linked pentenyl glycoside intermediate. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) have potential as drug delivery and controlled release devices due to their high surface area and large payload capacity. The effect of surface charge and pH on the release of the fluorescent dye rhodamine 6G from MSN prepared via an aerosol methodology has been studied. Release profiles of rhodamine 6G from bare and amine-coated MSN at pH 5.0 and 7.4 are very different and demonstrate that electrostatic interactions between entrapped rhodamine 6G molecules and the charged surface of the MSN have a significant effect on release kinetics. Release of rhodamine 6G from amine-coated MSN can be fit to a single exponential function, while release from bare MSN can be fit to a double exponential function--indicating that the release of rhodamine 6G from bare MSN is a two-phase process. In addition, it was determined that MSN need to be sonicated in dye solution to maximize their loading capacity. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSN) are being studied for their potential in diagnostic imaging techniques and immunoassays. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles were prepared by incorporating a hydrophobically modified dye into a mesoporous silica nanoparticle synthesis procedure. The MSN-based FSN do not leach dye and have strong, stable fluorescence that is 5 times more intense than that of CdSe quantum dots. For diagnostic applications, a method to selectively and covalently bind antibodies to the surface of the FSN was devised. It was found that the triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127, is effective in preventing nonspecific binding of proteins to FSN. Antibodies were selectively and covalently attached to FSN that were functionalized with a mixed PEG/epoxide coating in the presence of Pluronic F127

SB18-19/20: Resolution Amending the ASUM Personnel Policy to Reflect Gender Neutral Pronouns

SB18-19/20: Resolution Amending the ASUM Personnel Policy to Reflect Gender Neutral Pronouns passed 16Y-2N-2A in a Roll Call Vote in the October 16,2019 ASUM Senate meetin

Multifamily house renovation project

Have you ever been interested in owning your own income property? This project encompassed all the aspects of the renovations for the house all the way from insurance requirements upon purchase, to the needs of each separate unit from floor to ceiling, and a couple other challenges that were met during the duration. Upon purchase of the house, there was a single unit that would reasonably be considered rentable, while the others were in complete disrepair, which made this an excellent choice as many of the aspects of the college’s program were utilized during completion. There were many challenges between starting with a fully occupied house, planning around tenants moving, and making choices based around finances that culminated throughout the course of the project. Upon completion the house was able to pass all legal requirements as well as end with some very happy tenants

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activation Polypeptide (PACAP) Regulates Feeding in the Rat Striatum and Hypothalamus

The following dissertation focuses on preclinical rodent feeding paradigms that were designed to examine the mechanisms by which the brain regulates caloric (homeostatic) and palatability (hedonic)-driven feeding. Taken together, my findings suggest differentially motivated feeding can, in part, signal through isolated non-overlapping mechanisms in the brain. Furthermore, some of these mechanisms occur in similar neurocircuits that have been implicated in other compulsive behaviors, such as drug abuse. In an effort to support the argument that binge eating disorder (BED) and substance abuse share similar behavioral and molecular targets, we first demonstrate that the development of BED in rodents is attenuated by both systemic and central administration of a cysteine pro-drug (N-acetylcysteine or NAC) which is a compound that targets the understudied glutamate system and is currently used to treat other disorders that have aspects of compulsion, such as trichotillomania or drug addiction (chapter II). Interestingly, NAC-induced hypophagia is specific to feeding stimulated by palatability as NAC did not produce any suppression of feeding in animals not maintained under a feeding paradigm that would produce binge behavior. In addition to studying differentially motivated feeding, a large component of this dissertation examines the mechanisms by which the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) regulates feeding in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) as well as the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Our results indicate that PACAP microinjected into the VMN suppresses feeding elicited specifically by food deprivation, as PACAP did not effecting feeding elicited by palatability. Interestingly, in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region important for reward related activity, PACAP suppresses palatably-driven feeding in satiated rats, while not effecting feeding driven by food deprivation (chapter III). The opposing behavioral effects of PACAP on feeding propelled the lab to further investigate the mechanism by which PACAP was working in these two regions. In the VMN, we demonstrate that PACAP interacts with leptin signaling as acute blockade of PACAP receptors (PAC1R) in the VMN inhibits the behavioral and molecular actions of leptin (chapter IV). In the nucleus accumbens, PACAP attenuates hedonic drive in a site-specific manner and we identified PACAP mRNA expressing striatal afferents originating in the prefrontal cortex (chapter V), which is significant as obese individuals display hypoactive medial prefrontal cortex and stimulation of this area decreases calories consumed and body weight. Taken together, the opposing behavioral effects of PACAP emphasize an important point that a signaling mechanism in one brain region can be significantly different in another

GEOPHYSICAL TECHNIQUES USED FOR THE ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION OF SOIL STRENGTH AND MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR

Determining soil properties involves extensive laboratory testing of samples at discrete timing and location. Non-destructive analysis methods, such as electrical and seismic, presents alternatives to means of gathering soil properties accompanied with increased flexibility due to spatial and temporal applications. This research examined the ability of seismic wave data to predict soil behavior such as stress-strain and pore pressures using a modified version of Duncan and Chang (1970). Friction angle predictions were also analyzed using shear wave velocity and a modified form of the Santos and Gomez-Correria (2001) equation. This research also analyzed the use of electrical data to predict soil strength properties such as tangent modulus and CBR values using electrical resistance and capacitance. Empirical models were found to accurately predict the triaxial behavior of soil using bender element shear and compression wave measurements. Phi-angles were also predicted using shear wave velocity. Relationships were established between resistivity values and soil strength properties such as tangent modulus and CBR. The ability to use seismic and electrical measurements is viable in predicting soil strength and behavior properties