The Distribution of Demersal Fishes Over Heterogenous Seafloor Habitats: An Application of Landscape Ecology to Video Imagery Collected in a Central California State Marine Conservation Area

Using landscape ecology approaches, this study investigated the importance of structural patterning in the seafloor landscape and the scales at which demersal fishes associate with different habitats. The following document describes the project in three parts: 1) The circumstances surrounding the management of the study site and the methodological approaches used; 2) The analytical framework and results; 3) Potential applications of these results in management. By describing the landscapes across which demersal fish are distributed at the Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area (PBSMCA), within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, we evaluated fish-habitat associations in the context of other central California deepwater studies. Quantifying and monitoring the distribution of fishes over the habitats at this site is critical to understanding how this marine protected area (MPA) may function as a conservation measure. Imagery surveys are ideal for collecting data on seafloor habitats and observing fishes in these habitats; these data are becoming an increasingly important contribution to marine conservation management. We examined imagery collected at the PBSMCA with a towed camera system. Surveys were conducted in 2007 and 2008 in water depths ranging from 30-120 m. Video imagery gathered with the sled was viewed as a set of non-overlapping video quadrats (frames). We compared generalized linear models to estimate the probability of response (detection) of selected demersal fish groups to a number of habitat variables, assuming a uniform probability of detection. Results suggested that, for all fish groupings, there is evidence that seafloor substrate plays a very strong role in determining distributions. Depth also played an important role, while biogenic structure and soft-sediment bedforms were rarely of importance to the distributions. Our results are consistent for the most part with fish distribution studies conducted at other sites within the central California region. These results highlight the importance of using imagery to collect monitoring data about marine landscapes. Use of a simple, low-cost camera system enabled us to address complex ecological questions about demersal fish-habitat associations across a heterogeneous landscape and provided useful results in the form of baseline data to MPA managers and site characterization to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Comparison of the Effects of Hofmeister Ions on Transition Temperature of Two Thermoresponsive Polymers

It has been hypothesized that poly(vinylmethylether) (PVME) could be used to replace poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAM) in various thermoresponsive applications based on literature searches and previous lab experiments. PVME is cheaper and easier to process, and would make pNIPAAM applications more cost effective. In order to verify this, experimental data was gathered on the effects of four anions from the Hofmeister series (SO42-, Cl-, I-, and SCN-) on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of pNIPAAM and compared to previous data collected on PVME. Commercial pNIPAAM from Sigma Aldrich and Polysciences were used. The reported LCST range for pNIPAAM is 30-35°C. From this study, the pNIPAAM from Sigma Aldrich was found to be at the upper end of this range, and pNIPAAM from Polysciences at the lower end. ANOVA and t Tests were run to determine significant difference in the LCST between the polymers. The results were inconclusive, with there being significant differences for some ions, but not in others. It is recommended that further testing to be completed with an increased number of tests for each anion in order to have more accurate statistical analyses. It is also recommended to use other anions in the Hofmeister series

Through the Looking Glass: The Perpetuation of Homelessness Through Awareness Media

The definition of who the homelessness are has historically been defined by media. This project performs a genealogical analysis influenced by the work Foucault has done in Madness and Civilization to contextualize the way different forms of media through the years has constructed the homeless stereotype we live with today. By zeroing in on awareness media that is produced by independent documentarians, it becomes apparent the goal is not to educate on the systemic issue of homelessness, but more so to create an empathy-based connection between the subject and the viewer. This paper argues that an empathy-based production is not strong enough to evoke actual change and furthermore, undermines its goal of creating awareness through the way it is produced. The underlying importance being, these productions are readily accessible on YouTube. A space that has been acclaimed as the new place to be in the media realm. This is the next step in the media timeline that defines homelessness. Empathy based productions ultimately misrepresent the homeless as a natural occurrence in society and lack a call to action. Therefore, allowing the timeline to continue uninterrupted and the homeless stereotype untouched, but reinforced

Is Leucine Intake Associate with Enhanced Muscle Protein Synthesis and Attenuated Muscle Protein Breakdown?

Is Supplemental Leucine Intake Associated with Enhanced Post Exercise Muscle Protein Synthesis and Attenuated Muscle Protein Breakdown? Knight AD, Benardot D, Thompson W, and Henes ST Introduction: The role of individual amino acids on protein synthesis and their impact on physical performance is of high importance to athletes and to those studying the science of sports nutrition. Leucine, one of three branched-chain amino acids, is a frequently researched amino acid because of its potential stimulatory effect on muscle protein synthesis (MPS) following exercise in humans. Purpose: Although there have been many studies conducted on leucine’s muscle stimulatory effect, questions remain as to the efficacy and feasibility of leucine as an MPS catalyst. Contributing to these questions are the widely varied dosing and timing strategies that different researchers have employed. It is the purpose of this thesis, therefore, to assess the differences in study protocols and shed light on the potential effectiveness on leucine as a MPS stimulator. Central to this issue is whether supplemental leucine intake is associated with enhanced post exercise MPS and, if so, what associated factors, including timing and level of intake, are most likely to influence this effect. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature on leucine and its effect on MPS was performed. Studies were organized into similar topics, with an assessment and summary of effect produced for each topic area. A general conclusion was made that was based on the summary of each topic area. Results: Leucine is involved in protein metabolism regulation through its role in stimulating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade and by indicating energy and amino acid availability. It functions to initiate MPS and decrease muscle protein breakdown by downregulating the ubiquitin-proteasome system, lysosomal activity, and/or increasing circulating insulin. Conclusions: Supplementation with the amino acid leucine effectively enhances MPS and attenuates muscle protein degradation in humans following bouts of physical exertion. Leucine intake in amounts greater than that found in ~20g whole protein saturates MPS and increases leucine oxidation. For this reason, an upper limit of leucine intake should be established. While leucine successfully increases MPS, it remains unclear whether this translates to enhanced physical performance, an area that requires more studies to be conducted

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS PROGRAMS AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS TO ATTEND COLLEGE

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the opportunity to participate in community college athletics and students’ aspirations regarding higher education. Students who may not have considered a college education due to a lack of family support, financial resources, or underperformance in secondary education may decide to attend college because of the opportunities to excel in college sports. This interest in sports motivates some student-athletes towards academic accomplishments including completion of a college degree. This study employed a partially mixed methods approach, which included a survey of community college athletes, focus groups of community college student-athletes, and focused interviews with athletics directors at community colleges. The research produced a collective case study of three community colleges in Illinois in order to provide a description of the relationship between opportunities for intercollegiate athletics participation at the community college and the student athlete’s aspiration to attend college. The findings indicate athletics participation is one of the primary reasons the student athletes in this study aspired to attend college. However, as the participants considered the opportunity to continue excelling at their sport at the postsecondary level, they experienced additional influences such as the recognition that college is an effective way to prepare for a career that is both financially rewarding and meaningful and the perception that a college education is a vehicle for improved social mobility. In addition, the student athletes and their parents recognized that their athletic achievements could be rewarded by college scholarships at both the two-year and four-year levels, and that these scholarships have the potential to ease the burden of the costs of a college education. The findings reveal the significance of these combined factors on college aspiration for student athletes. The study concludes with the Knight Model for the impact of athletics participation on aspiration to attend college, which provides community college leaders with a visual understanding of the implications of this study

A Racial Impact Analysis of HB 869/SB 274

Virginia is growing. Between 1990 and 2000, Virginia’s population rose by over 14% - the largest population growth experienced by the state in a single decade (Pollard, 2007). And the state continues to grow. It has been estimated that by 2030, Virginia’s total population may exceed 9.8 million people (Pollard, 2007). Along with population growth, land development has increased which in turn affects transportation, housing and job placement across the Commonwealth. In fact, in many parts of the state, development has outpaced population growth. According to Pollard, “If current patterns continue, Virginia will develop more land in the next 40 years than in the previous 400 years (p.8).” In an effort to curb sprawling development and decrease transportation expenditure, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 3202 in 2007. One major outcome of this multifaceted legislation was the introduction of mandatory Urban Development Areas (UDAs). The goal of UDAs was for localities to concentrate growth and development in order to reduce the cost of transportation and increase opportunities to build multi-use developments and expand affordable housing. In 2012, the General Assembly passed House Bill 869 and Senate Bill 274 which effectively make UDAs no longer mandatory but optional for all localities in the Commonwealth. In this paper, we analyze the racial impact and explore the political history of HB 869/SB 274 while addressing the larger issue of sprawl across the Commonwealth. Smart Growth policies are known to positively impact the environment but they also positively impact low-income and minority communities by increasing access to housing, transportation and ultimately jobs. The story behind Urban Development Areas in the Commonwealth is one of politics and regulation but issues as critical as housing, transportation and job access should be focused much more on the citizens of the Commonwealth. The friction created by the UDA policy between the localities and the state has the potential to spark a statewide conversation about land use and more importantly - the need for people-centered solutions to a growing problem

An Approach to the Collection, Processing, and Analysis of Towed Camera Video Imagery for Marine Resource Management

A variety of video and photographic imaging platforms are used to survey seafloor habitats and organisms beyond the effective depth of most SCUBA diving (\u3e30 m). Each platform has benefits and shortcomings, with the most frequently limiting factors being (a) access to the most advanced instruments, (b) response of organisms, and (c) resolution of organism identification. Here, we describe the approaches used to collect, process, and analyze video imagery collected with a simple towed camera sled in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as part of a larger, ongoing characterization project that began in 2006. We describe the details of deployment, imagery collection, postprocessing, and analyses gleaned from hundreds of hours of underwater video. Data extracted from camera sled imagery have been analyzed using multivariate model comparison techniques and have been represented in a variety of forms to support management needs and public outreach efforts

Toward Enacted Cosmopolitan Citizenship: New Conceptualizations of African Immigrants’ Civic Learning and Action in the United States

The rapid growth of African residents in the U.S. is shaping global civil society, and calls for rethinking global identities and notions of global citizenship. This paper presents findings from a qualitative, interpretive case study on the civic learning and action of second- and 1.5-generation African immigrants in New York, U.S.A. We consider how African immigrants are constructing an understanding of their civic learning and action, and conceptualize an enacted cosmopolitan citizenship to better understand their civic engagement involving social justice issues in the U.S. and globally. We examine African immigrants' enacted cosmopolitan citizenship across two intersecting themes: 1) identities/attachments within and across local and global communities, and 2) enactments within and across local and global communities. We build upon theories of cosmopolitanism to extend understandings of an action-oriented global worldview of cosmopolitan citizenship, and point to implications for enacting new conceptualizations of citizenship and civic participation in global societies

Guidance and Learning from Elderly Victimisation Prevention in Avon & Somerset Police

This report provides an overview of an elderly victimisation programme working with Avon and Somerset police, outlining the approach, components and key learning from the initiative. The Senior Citizen Liaison Team (SCLT) is an all-volunteer group of police officers/staff/VIP’s who provide a tailored crime prevention and victim support service to the older adult population of the wider Avon and Somerset area, led by Sergeant Ashley Jones.The SCLT is a registered UK charity (No: 1148383) which operates in collaboration with the Avon and Somerset Police and in conjunction with the Force Cyber Crime User Group and the Distraction Burglary Silver Group. The SCLT operates under the direction of a volunteer management committee, who set targets and goals for the team within the boundaries of the SCLT constitution and the PCC’s Objectives. The SCLT fully complies with all requirements of the Charity Commission. All volunteers receive routine supervision and guidance from the initiative leader.With the support of Home Office Transformation funding, the project sought to extend the reach of the voluntary work and to produce guidance to enable a roll out of this model in other forces