Cricketsim: a Genetic and Evolutionary Computer Simulation

We present cricketsim, an individual-based simulator of species and community dynamics that allows experimenters to manipulate genetic and evolutionary parameters as well as parameters affecting the simulated environment and its inhabitants. The simulator can model genotypic and phenotypic features of species, such as male signals and female preferences, as well as demographic and fitness-related features. The individual-based simulator creates a lattice (cellular) world in which males and females interact by moving, signaling/responding, and mating. One or more species evolves over simulation time as individuals of a species interact with others during its lifetime, possibly creating new offspring through successful mating. The program\'s design, parameters, execution and data collection are described, an example experiment is presented, and several applications are discussed.Individual-Based Model, Genetic Algorithms, Communication, Sexual Signaling, Speciation, Evolution, Genetics

Differing Mastery Criteria Effects on Maintenance of 1-Step Instruction Following in Children with Disabilities

The majority of Early Intervention clinics throughout the United States are currently using a practice that is not considered evidence based. When teaching skills to children with developmental disabilities, clinicians assign an accuracy standard for those skills. The most common accuracy standard, called a “mastery criterion,” is 80% across three teaching sessions. There is little to no evidence to support using this specific mastery criterion. The purpose of this study was to add more research regarding this topic, and how it affects how the skills taught maintain over time when teaching has ceased for a specific skill. Two children were taught different skills to different mastery criteria. The results of this study were not what was expected, and no meaningful conclusions can be made at this time regarding specific mastery criteria

Conservation in Focus: Capturing the Payments for Ecosystem Service (PES) Scheme through Ecotourism Activities in Laos

In the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area (NEPL-NPA) in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has deployed nature-based tourism activities as a market-mechanism for species conservation. After initially entering the country to increase a low tiger population, WCS since launched three programmes that aim to incentivize wildlife conservation by linking wildlife sightings by ecotourists with cash payments. Due an unpredictability in sightings, WCS has integrated infrared camera-traps into two programmes, similarly generating additional income to local communities for each wildlife photographed. While market-based governance schemes have been championed by environmental institutions, this thesis provides evidence that such processes are messy, variegated, and produce questionable results. Crucially, this thesis argues that the PES-ecotourism project spearheaded by WCS imposes a regulated market to replace a pre-existing market in wildlife trade, demonstrating that the process of value creation via commodification also requires a devaluation via decommodification

Interactions of Organic and Biomolecules with Solid Surfaces Probed by Atomic Force Microscopy

Force spectroscopy has become a valuable tool to measure physical and chemical interactions at the molecular level through a variety of techniques. This dissertation focuses on applications of friction force microscopy and single molecule force spectroscopy to measure surface interactions of thin films and single molecules in a quantitative manner. Since the force microscope is capable of distinguishing very small forces (piconewton level), a precise and accurate calibration procedure is required. We present a rapid calibration procedure using the thermal noise spectrum of the cantilever to determine the normal and lateral force sensitivity without contacting any surfaces. Calibration without contacting a surface is advantageous because many experiments may require the force probe to be functionalized with molecules that may be damaged or removed during experiments.The interactions between DNA and carbon nanotubes provide many potential applications in nanotube sorting and purification and therapeutic treatment of diseases. Fundamental knowledge of interactions between DNA and the surface of carbon nanotubes through simulations and experiments is essential in guiding the development of biomolecule complexes with nanomaterials. In order to model the interaction of DNA with a carbon nanotube, single molecule force spectroscopy was used to remove DNA from graphite. The removal of single-stranded DNA from a graphite surface resulted in steady-state peeling forces for each DNA homopolymer oligomer. The peeling forces for homopolymer oligomers on graphite produced the ranking T ≥ A \u3e G ≥ C. However, it is fundamentally more interesting to directly measure the interaction through force experiments between DNA and individual carbon nanotubes. Horizontally suspended carbon nanotubes were prepared through a simple, self-assembly method for use in DNA peeling experiments. The peeling forces of the DNA homopolymer oligomers on suspended carbon nanotubes decreased compared to graphitic substrates and produced the ranking A ≥ T ≥ G \u3e C. For oligomers where tube wrapping and 3-dimensional structures are important for formation of stable complexes, force curves on suspended CNTs displayed a higher peeling force than force curves measured on flat surfaces. Oligomers having a special sequence motif capable of structural identification of CNTs based on size and chirality displayed periodic stretching features in peeling curves indicating the presence of intrastrand interactions.Additionally, lateral force spectroscopy was used to detect differences in the yield strength of Langmuir-Blodgett bilayer films supported on solid substrates. We were able to damage Langmuir-Blodgett bilayer films controllably by a slow increase in the normal load, resulting in complete film removal. Film damage was detectable by abrupt changes in the friction forces of the films. This procedure enabled us to demonstrate the dramatic increase in the yield strength of Langmuir-Blodgett films due to addition of a poly-ionic interlayer that acted like a glue within the films

Over-Relaxation in Diffusive Integer Lattice Gas

One of the most striking draw-backs of standard lattice gas methods over lattice Boltzmann methods is a much more limited range of transport parameters that can be achieved. It is common for lattice Boltzmann methods to use over-relaxation to achieve arbitrarily small transport parameters in the hydrodynamic equations. Here, we show that it is possible to implement over-relaxation for integer lattice gases. For simplicity we focus here on lattice gases for the diffusion equation. We demonstrate that adding a flipping operation to lattice gases results in a multi-relaxation time lattice Boltzmann scheme with over-relaxation in the Boltzmann limit.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

ASEA Redox Supplement Fails to Improve Aerobic Capacity and Ventilatory Threshold: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

The ASEA redox cell signaling supplement beverage has been commercially available for the past decade. Despite the market longevity of this supplement, athletic sponsorship, and anecdotal ergogenic claims, there is no independent, peer-reviewed research on its efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine if ASEA improves aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and/or ventilatory threshold (VT) of physically active subjects. Eleven (6 females, 5 males) young adults (21.9 ± 3.9 yrs) performed 3 VO2 max tests: (a) baseline; (b) after 2 wks of supplementing with ASEA; and (c) after 2 wks of taking a placebo in a cross-over design. The treatment order was randomized and double-blind. The subjects consumed 4 oz∙d-1 (118 mL∙d -1) of the ASEA treatment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The subjects’ VO2 max values at baseline (55.0 ± 8.6 mL·kg-1 ·min-1), placebo (53.6 ± 9.1 mL·kg-1 ·min-1), and ASEA (53.7 ± 10.1 mL·kg-1 ·min-1) were not significantly different (P=0.172). Similarly, absolute VO2 max (P=0.436), time to reach VO2 max (P=0.955), VT as a percentage of VO2 max (P=0.678), and maximal heart rate (P=0.410) were not significantly different between trials. Contrary to the manufacturer’s claims, ASEA did not improve the aerobic performance of young, fit adults who supplemented with the product daily for 2 wks