Application of computer techniques to some problems in linear viscoelasticity

Computer solutions in terms of molecular theories of linear viscoelasticit

A Potential Civil Death: Guardianship of Persons with Disabilities in Utah

This Note tracks guardianship and guardianship-related issues throughout time while discussing reformation efforts and mechanisms to mitigate the damages guardianship may impose upon a person, especially a person with a disability

Calcium-Rich Gap Transients: Tidal Detonations of White Dwarfs?

We hypothesize that at least some of the recently discovered class of calcium-rich gap transients are tidal detonation events of white dwarfs (WDs) by black holes (BHs) or possibly neutron stars. We show that the properties of the calcium-rich gap transients agree well with the predictions of the tidal detonation model. Under the predictions of this model, we use a follow-up X-ray observation of one of these transients, SN 2012hn, to place weak upper limits on the detonator mass of this system that include all intermediate-mass BHs (IMBHs). As these transients are preferentially in the stellar haloes of galaxies, we discuss the possibility that these transients are tidal detonations of WDs caused by random flyby encounters with IMBHs in dwarf galaxies or globular clusters. This possibility has been already suggested in the literature but without connection to the calcium-rich gap transients. In order for the random flyby cross-section to be high enough, these events would have to be occurring inside these dense stellar associations. However, there is a lack of evidence for IMBHs in these systems, and recent observations have ruled out all but the very faintest dwarf galaxies and globular clusters for a few of these transients. Another possibility is that these are tidal detonations caused by three-body interactions, where a WD is perturbed toward the detonator in isolated multiple star systems. We highlight a number of ways this could occur, even in lower-mass systems with stellar-mass BHs or neutron stars. Finally, we outline several new observational tests of this scenario, which are feasible with current instrumentation.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in MNRA

Faith-sensitive RSE in areas of low religious observance: really?

It is widely agreed that Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) needs to take account of cultural and religious considerations and this principle is reflected in current government advice in England. At the same time, and for a number of reasons, many of those who teach RSE in schools find it difficult to take account of religious considerations, for example because they are unsure how to handle the views of students when these are strongly influenced by religious values. In this article, we report on fieldwork undertaken with school students in England including in one school that was characterised by low religious observance. Our key finding troubles the notion that students who identify as agnostic or atheistic are unsympathetic to religious considerations. We found that the large majority of students for whom religion was not personally important nevertheless saw great value in what we term ‘faith-sensitive RSE’. This has implications for how RSE might be taught in schools where there is a diversity of students, in regards to the importance they attach to religion

PERCEPTIONS OF LEAFY SPURGE BY PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS, LOCAL DECISION MAKERS, AND RANCH OPERATORS

A survey of 459 ranchers, 56 local decision makers, and 50 public land managers (565 total) was conducted to evaluate managerial, institutional, and social factors that may affect the rate and extent of implementation of various leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) controls. The study focused on a five-county region in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The questionnaire focused on weed management in general and specifically on the perceptions and attitudes of ranchers, land managers, and local decision makers who have been directly and indirectly affected by leafy spurge.leafy spurge, weed management, rancher opinion, public land manager opinions., Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CONTROLLING LEAFY SPURGE WITH SHEEP

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.), a widely established exotic, noxious, perennial weed, is a major threat to rangeland and wildland in the Upper Great Plains. Chemical, biological, and cultural control methods have limitations in their applicability and effectiveness in treating leafy spurge. However, many of the constraints prohibiting the use of herbicides, tillage, and biological controls do not apply to sheep grazing. Sheep grazing, while known to be effective in controlling leafy spurge since the 1930s, has lacked widespread adoption as a leafy spurge control. A deterministic, bioeconomic model, incorporating relationships between sheep grazing and leafy spurge control, grass recovery, and forage use by cattle, was developed to evaluate the economic viability of using sheep to control leafy spurge. Discounted annual control costs were compared to discounted annual control benefits over 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year periods. Various scenarios were developed depicting likely situations involving adopting a sheep enterprise or leasing sheep for leafy spurge control. Situational factors considered included fencing expenses, debt considerations, grazing values, infestation size, infestation canopy cover, rangeland productivity, and flock performance. Two levels of flock profitability, one based on a level of proficiency achieved by sheep ranches and one substantially lower than typically achieved in the sheep industry, represented best-case and worst-case situations, respectively. In the best-case situations, using sheep to control leafy spurge was economical in all of the control scenarios examined. However, in the worst-case situations, economics of using sheep to control leafy spurge were mixed across the scenarios examined. Leafy spurge control with poor sheep management, high fence expense, and unproductive rangeland generally was not economical. However, situations with low fencing costs, moderately productive rangeland, and poor sheep management resulted in less economic loss than no treatment. Although many of the key relationships tying leafy spurge control to grazing benefits remain unquantified, the economics of sheep grazing were positive across many of the scenarios evaluated in this study. Actual returns from leafy spurge control for most ranchers will likely fall between the two extremes examined. As a precaution, careful evaluation using site- and rancher-specific inputs would be recommended before implementing sheep grazing as a leafy spurge control method.Leafy Spurge, Weed Control, Sheep Grazing, Economics, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

RANCH OPERATORS' PERCEPTIONS OF LEAFY SPURGE

A survey of 459 ranchers was conducted to evaluate managerial, institutional, and social factors that may affect the rate and extent of implementation of various leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) controls in a five-county region in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Ranchers returned 187 questionnaires. Weeds were considered a greater problem for ranchers with leafy spurge than for those without leafy spurge; however, even among ranchers with leafy spurge, there was strong agreement that other ranching issues were of greater concern. Over 65 percent of the respondents indicated that weeds on their ranch were a `minor problem.' Leafy spurge was ranked as the most important weed. Nearly 60 percent of ranchers felt that using herbicides, biological agents, and grazing animals on leafy spurge were economical; however, only 25 percent of ranchers with leafy spurge felt those controls were `very effective.' A majority of ranchers with leafy spurge indicated plans to treat their infestations with herbicides and biological agents in the future. Reasons for not using various leafy spurge controls fell into environmental, educational, and financial categories. Ranchers depend heavily on their county extension agents and local weed control officers for information on weed control. Information on the effectiveness and economics of various controls was most requested by ranchers. The responses of ranchers to various statements on weed and range management indicated that ranchers, as a group, are generally very concerned about weeds in rangeland. Respondents generally felt it makes economic sense to control weeds in rangeland, and felt very strongly that not enough was being done to control weeds on public land. Ranchers realize the difficulty in controlling leafy spurge, but indicated they are still planning on fighting the weed in the future. Financial and educational constraints to adopting and using leafy spurge controls could be abated through university and governmental educational programs and through cost-share or other financial assistance.leafy spurge, control, rancher opinion, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Examining the Effects of a Virtual Character on Learning and Engagement in Serious Games

Virtual characters have been employed for many purposes including interacting with players of serious games, with a purpose to increase engagement. These characters are often embodied conversational agents playing diverse roles, such as demonstrators, guides, teachers or interviewers. Recently, much research has been conducted into properties that affect the realism and plausibility of virtual characters, but it is less clear whether the inclusion of interactive agents in serious applications can enhance a user’s engagement with the application, or indeed increase efficacy. In a first step towards answering these questions, we conducted a study where a Virtual Learning Environment was used to examine the effect of employing a virtual character to deliver a lesso