The release of a captive-raised female African Elephant <em>(Loxodonta africana</em>) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Wild female elephants live in close-knit matrilineal groups and housing captive elephants in artificial social groupings can cause significant welfare issues for individuals not accepted by other group members. We document the release of a captive-raised female elephant used in the safari industry because of welfare and management problems. She was fitted with a satellite collar, and spatial and behavioural data were collected over a 17-month period to quantify her interactions with the wild population. She was then monitored infrequently for a further five-and-a-half years. We observed few signs of aggression towards her from the wild elephants with which she socialized. She used an area of comparable size to wild female elephants, and this continued to increase as she explored new areas. Although she did not fully integrate into a wild herd, she had three calves of her own, and formed a social unit with another female and her calf that were later released from the same captive herd. We recommend that release to the wild be considered as a management option for other captive female elephants

Characterization of rickettsial infection dynamics within Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum

Spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia are primarily associated with their reservoir host and vector, the tick. Rickettsial colonization and maintenance within the arthropod is a key component of vector competence and pathogen transmission to the mammalian host. Contemporary detection of novel tick hosts for rickettsial species, combined with an unprecedented rise in human cases of SFG rickettsiosis, necessitates a deeper understanding of tick/Rickettsia interactions. The hypothesis for this work is that if primary tick/Rickettsia pairings do not exist then rickettsial determinants account for primary vector/pathogen relationships. To this end, Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum ticks were exposed to R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. montanensis, R. amblyommii or R. felis. Rickettsial exposure negatively impacted the fitness of A. maculatum, but not D. variabilis. Transovarial and transtadial transmission of rickettsiae was most successful for R. amblyommii and R. parkeri in both, A. maculatum and D. variabilis eggs, larvae, and nymphs. Maintenance of rickettsiae in both tick species via transstadial transmission was diminished from unfed larvae to unfed F1 adults. To further investigate the maintenance of Rickettsia in the arthropod host, an in vitro and in vivo model of R. parkeri infection was utilized. Rickettsial proteins implicated in intracellular actin-based motility (Sca2 and RickA) were shown to function similarly in mammalian and tick cell culture, suggesting conserved functionality in both hosts. In vivo dissemination of a wild-type strain of R. parkeri was measured against two strains deficient in Sca2 and RickA expression. Wild-type, RickA, and Sca2 deficient strains R. parkeri persisted in all tick organs organs at 7 days post-exposure. The findings suggest transovarial transmission specificity to be tick species dependent and vertical transmission is not sustainable

Polymer or macrocycle? : cobalt complexes of ditopic 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine ligands with flexible spacers

The reaction of transition metal ions with ditopic ligands containing two 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine units linked by flexible spacers can give metallosupramolecular polymers, discrete metallomacrocycles or mixtures of the two. The outcome of the coordination depends on the precise reaction conditions as well as the nature of the spacer and the transition metal salt. This thesis is concerned with the reaction between cobalt(II) salts and bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) ligands in which the metal-binding domains are linked by flexible oligo(ethylene glycol) spacers. An initial study of the ligands and several model mononuclear bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine)cobalt(II) and (III) complexes gave some insight into the solid state and solution properties of these systems, and PGSE NMR spectroscopy was found to be a useful tool for determination of the size of both the ligands and the cobalt(III) complexes in solution. The reaction of the ditopic ligands with cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate in pure alcohol was found to cause the decomposition of the ligand and the formation of a mononuclear bis(4'-alkoxy-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine)cobalt(II) complex. This reaction was extended to monotopic 4'-substituted-2,2':6',2"-terpyridines and can be considered as a reaction giving rise to polymer end-capping units, thus influencing the final outcome of the coordination. The effect of the anion on the coordination was considered further, and the speciation of mono- and bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine)cobalt(II) complexes in solution was investigated using the 4'-methoxy-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine ligand. The product mixtures were found to depend heavily on the anion, solvent and initial ratio of ligand to metal salt. Similar behaviour was observed for a model ditopic ligand. The presence of the mono(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine)cobalt(II) complexes within a system containing the ditopic ligands would also provide polymer end-capping units, influencing the speciation of these mixtures. Finally, a detailed study of the product mixtures obtained from the reactions of the ditopic ligands with cobalt(II) salts revealed a complex dependence of the speciation of many bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine)cobalt(II) complexes on the ligand, anion, solvent, concentration and other seemingly minor reaction parameters. Using the PGSE NMR spectroscopic technique, the sizes of some of the metallomacrocyclic species present in the equilibrium mixtures could be determined. These measurements were in excellent agreement with X-ray crystallographic data. Analysis of initial product mixtures using the same technique suggested that the initial kinetic products of the complexation are significantly larger species

The Communicative Criterion: Establishing a New Standard for Non-Violent Sexual Encounters by Reframing Consent

Consent is a primary framework by which communities in the United States understand whether a particular sexual encounter is acceptable. Despite its centrality, consent is a troubling criterion for judging violent sexual interactions. Through an examination of historical articulations of consent, empirical studies on sexuality, and philosophical objections to the term, I argue that consent is a problematic construct, especially when addressing acquaintance rape. In order to rethink consent, I start from Pineauââ¬â¢s communicative criterion and offer a model for understanding sexual encounters in which intersubjective processes of meaning making are central. Where the consent criterion prompts the question, ââ¬ÅDid A agree to have sex with B?ââ¬Â the communicative criterion seeks to understand whether the partners attended to each other, sought information from each other about likes and dislikes, and negotiated boundaries. Actors exemplifying the communicative criterion for acceptable sexual encounters notice both verbal and nonverbal cues and check their perceptions. Additionally, they assume that individuals behave, communicate, and interpret experiences in a variety of ways, always informed by cultural scripts. The communicative criterion focuses not on one individualââ¬â¢s knowledge of the other, but on the process existing in the space between sexual actors. The communicative criterion disrupts heteronormative conceptions of sexuality and has important implications for the law, academic scholarship, and public education

Effects of Visual Distractions in the Classroom Environment on the Time on Task of Elementary Students with ADHD

The focus of this study is to demonstrate that the visual distractions, narrowly defined as wall decoration, in an elementary classroom can be a factor in the amount of time students with ADHD spend on-task in that classroom. This study builds upon the information revealed by studies conducted by such researchers as Creekmore (1987), Cruickshank (1967), Doyle, Anderson, and Halcomb (1976), and Steinkamp (1980), which tested the effects of visual distractions on participants with ADD/HD . These studies did not use learning tasks and used distractions that are not typical to an elementary classroom. This study attempted to answer the question of whether elementary students with ADHD would have a higher percentage of time on task in an organized environment and a lower percentage of time on task in a visually distracting environment. This study used a learning task and tried to create distractions in the environment that are typical to an elementary classroom. Six students participated, ranging from second to fifth grade, three with a diagnosis of ADHD paired with three without an ADHD diagnosis. Three rooms were used to create three classroom environments, each with a different amount of wall decoration. The results show that participants with a diagnosis of ADHD had the highest percentage of time on-task inthe environment with the least decoration. Participants with ADHD had a low percentage of time on-task in the environment that had the least organized, most cluttered decoration. Participants with ADHD had the highest percentage of time on-task in the room with the least decoration and the lowest percentage of time on-task in the least organized environment. Participants without a diagnosis of ADHD had the highest percentage of time on-task in the environment with controlled and organized decoration, with a slightly lower percentage of time on-task in the room with the least decoration. Participants without ADHD had the lowest percentage of time on-task in the environment with the least organized, most cluttered decoration. Due to the small number of participants, it cannot be concluded with certainty which environment results in the highest percentage of time on-task for elementary students with ADHD

To Step or To Spring: The Influence of State Anxiety on Perceptual Judgments and Executed Action

To Step or To Spring: The Influence of State Anxiety on Perceptual Judgments and Executed Actio

Visible and Near Infrared imaging spectroscopy and the exploration of small scale hydrothermally altered and hydrated environments on Earth and Mars

The use of Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) imaging spectroscopy is a cornerstone of planetary exploration. This work shall present an investigation into the limitations of scale, both spectral and spatial, in the utility of VNIR images for identifying small scale hydrothermal and potential hydrated environments on Mars, and regions of the Earth that can serve as martian analogues. Such settings represent possible habitable environments; important locations for astrobiological research. The ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars rover PanCam captures spectrally coarse but spatially high resolution VNIR images. This instrument is still in development and the first field trial of an emulator fitted with the final set of geological filters is presented here. Efficient image analysis techniques are explored and the ability to accurately characterise a hydrothermally altered region using PanCam data products is established. The CRISM orbital instrument has been returning hyperspectral VNIR images with an 18 m2 pixel resolution since 2006. The extraction of sub-pixel information from CRISM pixels using Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) algorithms is explored. Using synthetic datasets a full SMA pipeline consisting of publically available Matlab algorithms and optimised for investigation of mineralogically complex hydrothermal suites is developed for the first time. This is validated using data from Námafjall in Iceland, the region used to field trial the PanCam prototype. The pipeline is applied to CRISM images covering four regions on Mars identified as having potentially undergone hydrothermal alteration in their past. A second novel use of SMA to extract a unique spectral signature for the potentially hydrated Recurring Slope Lineae features on Mars is presented. The specific methodology presented shows promise and future improvements are suggested. The importance of combining different scales of data and recognising their limitations is discussed based on the results presented and ways in which to take the results presented in this thesis forward are given

SEFA Hub and Spoke Evaluation - year two progress report and interim findings 2014-15

This report details findings from the second year of a four-year evaluation of the ‘Hub and Spoke’ initiative, being undertaken by the University of Bedfordshire. Funded by the Child Sexual Exploitation Funders’ Alliance (CSEFA), this initiative aims to improve services in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE). It utilises the expertise, resources and infrastructure of an established voluntary sector CSE service (the ‘Hub’) by locating experienced CSE workers (known as ‘Spoke workers’) into new service delivery areas. The evaluation assesses the extent to which the Hub and Spoke model triggers cultural and systemic change in the way that services engaging with young people respond to CSE.

Improving employee wellbeing and effectiveness: a systematic review and meta-analysis of workplace psychological interventions delivered online

Background: Stress, depression and anxiety amongst working populations can result in reduced work performance and increased absenteeism, but while there is evidence that these common mental health problems are preventable and treatable in the workplace, uptake of psychological treatments amongst the working population is low. One way to address this may be the delivery of occupational digital mental health interventions, but while there is convincing evidence for delivering digital psychological interventions within a health and community context, there is no systematic review or meta-analysis of these interventions in an occupational setting. Objective: This review aims to identify the effectiveness of occupational digital mental health interventions in enhancing employee psychological wellbeing and increasing work effectiveness, and to identify intervention features associated with the highest rates of engagement and adherence. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Cochrane guidelines. Papers published between 2000 and May 2016 were searched in 2 the PsychINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, Science Direct and the Cochrane databases, as well as the databases of the researchers and relevant websites. Unpublished data was sought using the Conference Proceedings Citation Index and the Clinical Trials and ISRCTN research registers. A metaanalysis was conducted by applying a random-effects model to assess the pooled effect size for psychological wellbeing and the work effectiveness outcomes. A positive deviance approach was used to identify those intervention features associated with the highest rates of engagement and adherence. Results: In total 21 RCTs met the search criteria. Occupational digital mental health interventions had a statistically significant effect post intervention on both psychological wellbeing (g = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.50) and work effectiveness (g = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.41) compared to the control condition. No statistically significant differences were found on either outcome between studies using CBT approaches (as defined by the authors) compared with other psychological approaches, offering guidance compared with selfguidance, or recruiting from a targeted workplace population compared with a universal workplace population. In depth analysis of the interventions identified by the positive deviance approach suggests that interventions that offer guidance, are delivered over a shorter timeframe (6 to 7 weeks), utilise secondary modalities for delivering the interventions and engaging users (i.e. emails and text messages), and use elements of persuasive technology (i.e. self-monitoring and tailoring) may achieve greater engagement and adherence. Conclusions: This review provides evidence that occupational digital mental health interventions can improve workers’ psychological wellbeing and increase work effectiveness. It identifies intervention characteristics that may increase engagement. Recommendations are made for future research, practice and intervention development. Registration: The protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration number CRD42016033935)