A Handbook of Historical Briefs

https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books/1594/thumbnail.jp

Systematic Examination of the Additive Effects of Humorous Verbal Stimuli on Cooperative Responding During an Analogue Data Entry Work Task

Experiencing humor has numerous beneficial effects for humans. Producing humor (e.g., telling jokes, using satire) and engaging in the humor response (e.g., smiling, laughing) are associated with physical (Kelley et al., 1984) and mental health benefits (Martin & Lefcourt, 1984), positive social connections (Demjen, 2016), and facilitating social change (Chenoweth & Stephan, 2011). Humorous stimuli are common components of human communication, and much of human communication involves rules or contingency-specifying stimuli. Motivative augmentals are statements that temporarily alter the value of the reinforcer specified in the statement and any associated behaviors (Barnes-Holmes, et al., 2001). By drawing upon literature on humor, behavior, and a scientific account of motivation, humorous stimuli (jokes) were used as antecedent stimuli and analyzed in terms of their potential motivative augmental effect on cooperative behaviors in an analogue medical data entry task. Study 1 examined which joke delivery modality, text only, audio only, or text-plus-audio, was experienced as funnier and more likely to prompt cooperation. Pilot Studies A-E and Study 2 investigated the potential effects humorous stimuli had on the cooperation during the data entry task. Results demonstrated the augmental function of some humorous stimuli in relation to cooperative responding. The implication and limitations of using humorous stimuli as motivative augmentals for cooperation are discussed

Perturbation theory in a pure exchange non-equilibrium economy

We develop a formalism to study linearized perturbations around the equilibria of a pure exchange economy. With the use of mean field theory techniques, we derive equations for the flow of products in an economy driven by heterogeneous preferences and probabilistic interaction between agents. We are able to show that if the economic agents have static preferences, which are also homogeneous in any of the steady states, the final wealth distribution is independent of the dynamics of the non-equilibrium theory. In particular, it is completely determined in terms of the initial conditions, and it is independent of the probability, and the network of interaction between agents. We show that the main effect of the network is to determine the relaxation time via the usual eigenvalue gap as in random walks on graphs.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

CHAPTER 11 PROACTIVE OR RISK MANAGEMENT CASES 11.1 DROUGHT IN THE U.S. GREAT PLAINS

There is good evidence that droughts have been a recurrent feature of the climate of the Great Plains for as far back. at least. as man has inhabited the region. Much of the evidence is based on chronologies of tree rings. Specimens of red cedar and western yellow pine found in western Nebraska were studied by Weakly (1965). In the time span extending back to 1220 A.D, he found many short periods of drought. Droughts frequently lasted for more than five years. and one such period lasted 38 years. Will (1946) found a similar pattern in central North Dakota extending back to 1539 A.D. More recently. Stockton. Mitchell and Meko (1981) have prepared time series of drought indices based on tree rings since 1700 A.D. for several Great Plains sites

Cluster Winds Blow along Supercluster Axes

Within Abell galaxy clusters containing wide-angle tailed radio sources, there is evidence of a ``prevailing wind'' which directs the WAT jets. We study the alignment of WAT jets and nearby clusters to test the idea that this wind may be a fossil of drainage along large-scale supercluster axes. We also test this idea with a study of the alignment of WAT jets and supercluster axes. Statistical test neighbours indicate no alignment of WAT jets towards nearest clusters, but do indicate approximately 98% confidence in alignment with the long axis of the supercluster in which the cluster lies. We find a preferred scale for such superclusters of order 25 Mpc $h^{-1}$.Comment: Latex, 5 pages, with 5 postscript figures. To be published in MNRAS. Slight revisions to coincide with journal text. Linked to color image at http://kusmos.phsx.ukans.edu/~melott/images/A2634SUW.jp

The Effect of Variability on the Estimation of Quasar Black Hole Masses

We investigate the time-dependent variations of ultraviolet (UV) black hole mass estimates of quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). From SDSS spectra of 615 high-redshift (1.69 < z < 4.75) quasars with spectra from two epochs, we estimate black hole masses, using a single-epoch technique which employs an additional, automated night-sky-line removal, and relies on UV continuum luminosity and CIV (1549A) emission line dispersion. Mass estimates show variations between epochs at about the 30% level for the sample as a whole. We determine that, for our full sample, measurement error in the line dispersion likely plays a larger role than the inherent variability, in terms of contributing to variations in mass estimates between epochs. However, we use the variations in quasars with r-band spectral signal-to-noise ratio greater than 15 to estimate that the contribution to these variations from inherent variability is roughly 20%. We conclude that these differences in black hole mass estimates between epochs indicate variability is not a large contributer to the current factor of two scatter between mass estimates derived from low- and high-ionization emission lines.Comment: 76 pages, 15 figures, 2 (long) tables; Accepted for publication in ApJ (November 10, 2007

A Synoptic, Multiwavelength Analysis of a Large Quasar Sample

We present variability and multi-wavelength photometric information for the 933 known quasars in the QUEST Variability Survey. These quasars are grouped into variable and non-variable populations based on measured variability confidence levels. In a time-limited synoptic survey, we detect an anti-correlation between redshift and the likelihood of variability. Our comparison of variability likelihood to radio, IR, and X-ray data is consistent with earlier quasar studies. Using already-known quasars as a template, we introduce a light curve morphology algorithm that provides an efficient method for discriminating variable quasars from periodic variable objects in the absence of spectroscopic information. The establishment of statistically robust trends and efficient, non-spectroscopic selection algorithms will aid in quasar identification and categorization in upcoming massive synoptic surveys. Finally, we report on three interesting variable quasars, including variability confirmation of the BL Lac candidate PKS 1222+037.Comment: AJ, accepted for publication 15 Dec 200

Frequency of Interspecific Crossing Utilizing Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines of Sorghum Vulgare Exposed to Pollen from Sorghum Halepense

Agronomy (Field Crops

Spectral Variability of Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. II: The C IV Line

We examine the variability of the high-ionizaton C IV line in a sample of 105 quasars observed at multiple epochs by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We find a strong correlation between the change in the C IV line flux and the change in the line width, but no correlations between the change in flux and changes in line center and skewness. The relation between line flux change and line width change is consistent with a model in which a broad line base varies with greater amplitude than the line core. The objects studied here are more luminous and at higher redshift than those normally studied for variability, ranging in redshift from 1.65 to 4.00 and in absolute r-band magnitude from roughly -24 to -28. Using moment analysis line-fitting techniques, we measure line fluxes, centers, widths and skewnesses for the C IV line at two epochs for each object. The well-known Baldwin Effect is seen for these objects, with a slope beta = -0.22. The sample has a median intrinsic Baldwin Effect slope of beta = -0.85; the C IV lines in these high-luminosity quasars appear to be less responsive to continuum variations than those in lower luminosity AGN. Additionally, we find no evidence for variability of the well known blueshift of the C IV line with respect to the low-ionization Mg II line in the highest flux objects, indicating that this blueshift might be useful as a measure of orientation.Comment: 52 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska

This report was commissioned by the UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) with the objective of evaluating and summarizing the existing scientific literature related to our changing climate. Scientists from the IANR’s School of Natural Resources and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences have been the principal contributors to the report under the able leadership of long-time, internationally leading applied climate scientist Professor Don Wilhite. Their efforts have resulted in a timely and seminal reference for state and local policy-makers, government agency leaders, private industry, and indeed all citizens of our great state. Globally, we face significant economic, social, and environmental risks as we confront the challenges associated with climate change. The body of scientific evidence confirms with a high degree of certainty that human activities in the form of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, changes in land use, and other factors are the primary cause for the warming that the planet has experienced, especially in recent decades. Is there a debate within the scientific community with regard to observed changes in climate and human activities as the principal causal factor? The short answer here is “no”, at least certainly not among climate scientists—that is, those scientists who have actual expertise in the study of climate and climate change. For more than a decade, there has been broad and overwhelming consensus within the climate science community that the human-induced effects on climate change are both very real and very large. The debate in 2014 is restricted to precisely how these changes will play out and what actions we will need to take to adapt to and mitigate the effects of these changes. The magnitude and rapidity of the projected changes in climate are unprecedented. The implications of these changes for the health of our planet, and the legacy we will leave to our children, our grandchildren and future generations are of vital concern. Therefore, it is imperative that we develop strategies now to adapt to the multitude of changes we are experiencing and will continue to experience in our climate. This process of adaptation must begin at the local level, where these changes are being observed and their impacts felt. However, global agreements on the reduction of GHG emissions are a critical part of the solution in terms of mitigating as much future warming as possible. The approach taken in this report is to review the voluminous scientific literature on the subject and interpret—given time and resource constraints—our current understanding of the science of climate change and the implications of projections of climate change for Nebraska. The goal of this report is to inform policy makers, natural resource managers, and the public about 1) the state of the science on climate change, 2) current projections for ongoing changes over the twenty-first century, 3) current and potential future impacts, and 4) the management and policy implications of these changes. Hopefully, this report will lead to a higher degree of awareness and the initiation of timely and appropriate strategic actions that enable Nebraskans to prepare for and adapt to current and future changes in our climate