The Effects of Interactive Object Provisioning on Corticosterone, Stress-Related Behaviors, and Cognition in Juvenile and Adult Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

Identification and reduction of unnecessary stress in lab animals is important for welfare, and for scientific validity. Providing animals with infrastructure and objects that encourage exercise and species-typical manipulative behaviors can help reduce stress by meeting physical and psychological needs. The effects of such “environmental enrichment†(EE) have been heavily studied in both zoo animals—where it has been shown to reduce maladaptive behaviors—and in lab animals such as rodents, where it clearly reduces stress and anxiety, dampens reactions to stressful events, and increases cognition and the volume of related brain regions. While there is some evidence that EE is similarly effective in birds, no rigorous studies have been completed using the zebra finch (ZF) (Taeniopygia guttata), a common avian lab model. Although there are basic EE guidelines established by local IACUCs, it is unclear if the accepted minimal provisions reduce stress-related behaviors or provide a buffer for stressful events, and whether more advanced EE could reduce anxiety and improve cognition as enrichment does in rodents. Thus, I tested whether EE compared to basic housing reduced anxiety and improved cognition in juvenile and adult ZFs of both sexes by measuring baseline plasma levels of corticosterone (CORT), and changes in CORT induced by restraint; monitoring bodyweight; quantifying abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs); and assaying behavior in a Novel Object Test; a Hyponeophagia Test; and a spatial maze. In this research I found that in juveniles, EE prevents the development of ARBs, and in both age groups, EE birds weighed less than non-enriched birds. In adults, EE allows females to reach male levels of spatial cognition, with this difference not appearing in juveniles. In adults, the Novel Object test showed that enrichment was associated with activity or exploration in adults, but both female treatment groups moved sooner. In juveniles, it revealed that females of both treatments moved sooner than males. Hyponeophagia did not differ, baseline CORT levels did not change over time, and there were no differences in reactive CORT across any group. Given these results, I suggest implementation of EE for ZF starting at a young age for the greatest benefit

Case Studies of the Literacy Interactions of Preschool Deaf Children with their Parents in the Home

In the field of deaf education, a long-standing and still unanswered question is why are the reading levels and academic achievement levels of deaf and hard of hearing children inferior to their hearing peers. Teachers and parents continue to look for reasons to explain the gap and strategies they can use to narrow this gap between the reading achievement of children who are deaf and children who hear. For all children, literacy learning begins at birth. During the early years, children listen to and learn from the language their parents speak to them. The children are affected by the family interactions and experiences of daily life both inside and outside the family. Examination of literacy interactions of deaf children and their parents may provide answers to help us understand the literacy achievement gap deaf children experience. For this research dissertation, my focus was on: (a) How does the communication method of the deaf child affect language learning?; (b) How can the parent-child literacy interactions of deaf children be described?, and (c) How can preschool-age deaf children’s emergent literacy behaviors be described? This naturalistic study looked at the early literacy interactions of preschool deaf children of hearing parents. From an initial group of ten families, three families from an early intervention program were selected. The researcher identified the literacy histories of the deaf children, described the parent-child literacy interactions, and explored emergent literacy behaviors occurring in the home. Data sources included parent questionnaires, parent interviews, literacy logs, and observations of parent-child literacy interactions, including storybook reading. Findings reveal that overall family support, the definitive personality of the parents, and the early diagnosis and amplification of the deaf child defined the difference between the deaf child that excelled as an emergent reader and those who did not. Family support assisted in making each child a successful emergent reader. Parents who made an early decision and commitment to a communication mode, whether manual or oral, allowed their child to progress in areas beyond simple vocabulary. Lastly, the early diagnosis of deafness and early amplification aided the deaf child in emergent literacy achievements

Hunting The Most Distant Stars in the Milky Way: Methods and Initial Results

We present a new catalog of 404 M giant candidates found in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). The 2,400 deg$^2$ available in the UKIDSS Large Area Survey Data Release 8 resolve M giants through a volume four times larger than that of the entire Two Micron All Sky Survey. Combining near-infrared photometry with optical photometry and proper motions from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey yields an M giant candidate catalog with less M dwarf and quasar contamination than previous searches for similarly distant M giants. Extensive follow-up spectroscopy of this sample will yield the first map of our Galaxy's outermost reaches over a large area of sky. Our initial spectroscopic follow-up of $\sim$ 30 bright candidates yielded the positive identification of five M giants at distances $\sim 20-90$ kpc. Each of these confirmed M giants have positions and velocities consistent with the Sagittarius stream. The fainter M giant candidates in our sample have estimated photometric distances $\sim 200$ kpc (assuming $[Fe/H]$ = 0.0), but require further spectroscopic verification. The photometric distance estimates extend beyond the Milky Way's virial radius, and increase by $\sim 50\%$ for each 0.5 dex decrease in assumed $[Fe/H]$. Given the number of M giant candidates, initial selection efficiency, and volume surveyed, we loosely estimate that at least one additional Sagittarius-like accretion event could have contributed to the hierarchical build-up of the Milky Way's outer halo.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, emulateapj format. Accepted by A

Reliability-Based Design of Thermal Protection Systems with Support Vector Machines

The primary objective of this work was to develop a computationally efficient and accurate approach to reliability analysis of thermal protection systems using support vector machines. An adaptive sampling approach was introduced informs a iterative support vector machine approximation of the limit state function used for measuring reliability. The proposed sampling approach efficient adds samples along the limit state function until the reliability approximation is converged. This methodology is applied to two samples, mathematical functions to test and demonstrate the applicability. Then, the adaptive sampling-based support vector machine approach is applied to the reliability analysis of a thermal protection system. The results of all three problems highlight the potential capability of the new approach in terms of accuracy and computational saving in determining thermal protection system reliability

Calibration Probe Uncertainty and Validation for the Hypersonic Material Environmental Test System

This paper presents an uncertainty analysis of the stagnation-point calibration probe surface predictions for conditions that span the performance envelope of the Hypersonic Materials Environmental Test System facility located at NASA Langley Research Center. A second-order stochastic expansion was constructed over 47 uncertain parameters to evaluate the sensitivities, identify the most significant uncertain variables, and quantify the uncertainty in the stagnation-point heat flux and pressure predictions of the calibration probe for a low- and high-enthalpy test condition. A sensitivity analysis showed that measurement bias uncertainty is the most significant contributor to the stagnation-point pressure and heat flux variance for the low-enthalpy condition. For the high-enthalpy condition, a paradigm shift in sensitivities revealed the computational fluid dynamics model input uncertainty as the main contributor. A comparison between the prediction and measurement of the stagnation-point conditions under uncertainty showed that there was evidence of statistical disagreement. A validation metric was proposed and applied to the prediction uncertainty to account for the statistical disagreement when compared to the possible stagnation-point heat flux and pressure measurements

The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey XV. The Formation Efficiencies of Globular Clusters in Early-Type Galaxies: The Effects of Mass and Environment

The fraction of stellar mass contained in globular clusters (GCs), also measured by number as the specific frequency, is a fundamental quantity that reflects both a galaxy's early star formation and its entire merging history. We present specific frequencies, luminosities, and mass fractions for the globular cluster systems of 100 early-type galaxies in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey, the largest homogeneous catalog of its kind. We find that 1) GC mass fractions can be high in both giants and dwarfs, but are universally low in galaxies with intermediate luminosities. 2) The behavior of specific frequency across galaxy mass is dominated by the blue GCs. 3) The GC fractions of low-mass galaxies exhibit a dependence on environment. Nearly all dwarf galaxies with high GC fractions are within 1 Mpc of the cD galaxy M87, presenting the first strong evidence that GC formation in dwarfs is biased toward dense environments. 4) GC formation in central dwarfs is biased because their stars form earliest and most intensely. Comparisons to the Millennium Simulation show that central dwarfs have older stellar populations and form more stars at higher star formation rates (SFRs) and SFR surface densities. The SFR surface density in simulated dwarfs peaks before the total SFR, naturally producing GC populations that are older and more metal-poor than the field stars. 5) Dwarfs within ~40 kpc of the giant ellipticals M87 and M49 are red and have few or no GCs, suggesting that they have been tidally stripped and have contributed their GCs to the halos of their giant neighbors. The central dwarfs with high GC mass fractions are thus likely to be the survivors most similar to the protogalaxies that assembled the rich M87 globular cluster system.(Abridged)Comment: 27 pages, 21 figures, 7 tables. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

The ACS Fornax Cluster Survey. II. The Central Brightness Profiles of Early-Type Galaxies: A Characteristic Radius on Nuclear Scales and the Transition from Central Luminosity Deficit to Excess

We analyse HST surface brightness profiles for 143 early-type galaxies in the Virgo and Fornax Clusters. Sersic models provide accurate descriptions of the global profiles with a notable exception: the observed profiles deviate systematically inside a characteristic "break" radius of R_b ~ 0.02R_e where R_e is the effective radius of the galaxy. The sense of the deviation is such that bright galaxies (M_B < -20) typically show central light deficits with respect to the inward extrapolation of the Sersic model, while the great majority of low- and intermediate-luminosity galaxies (-19.5 < M_B < -15) show central light excesses; galaxies occupying a narrow range of intermediate luminosities (-20 < M_B < -19.5) are usually well fitted by Sersic models over all radii. The slopes of the central surface brightness profiles, when measured at fixed fractions of R_e, vary smoothly as a function of galaxy luminosity in a manner that depends sensitively on the choice of measurement radius. We show that a recent claim of strong bimodality in slope is likely an artifact of the galaxy selection function used in that study. To provide a more robust characterization of the inner regions of galaxies, we introduce a parameter that describes the central luminosity deficit or excess relative to the inward extrapolation of the outer Sersic model. We find that this parameter varies smoothly over the range of ~ 720 in blue luminosity spanned by the Virgo and Fornax sample galaxies, with no evidence for a dichotomy. We argue that the central light excesses (nuclei) in M_B > -19 galaxies may be the analogs of the dense central cores that are predicted by some numerical simulations to form via gas inflows. (ABRIDGED)Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journal, December 2007. Full resolution paper available at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~ajordan/ACSFCS/Home.htm

The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. XVII. The Spatial Alignment of Globular Cluster Systems With Early-Type Host Galaxies

We study the azimuthal distribution of globular clusters (GCs) in early-type galaxies and compare them to their host galaxies using data from the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. We find that in host galaxies with visible elongation (epsilon > 0.2) and intermediate to high luminosities (M_z<-19), the GCs are preferentially aligned along the major axis of the stellar light. The red (metal-rich) GC subpopulations show strong alignment with the major axis of the host galaxy, which supports the notion that these GCs are associated with metal-rich field stars. The metal-rich GCs in lenticular galaxies show signs of being more strongly associated with disks rather than bulges. Surprisingly, we find that the blue (metal-poor) GCs can also show the same correlation. If the metal-poor GCs are part of the early formation of the halo and built up through mergers, then our results support a picture where halo formation and merging occur anisotropically, and where the present day major axis is an indicator of the preferred merging axis.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Integrating 3D Printing Technology into Arts, Science, and Engineering Subjects

Abstract A strong emphasis on active learning and integration of hands-on activities into course curriculum have been shown to significantly enhance students\u27 conceptual understanding of the course. Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also called additive manufacturing, has been a subject of many academic and industrial research projects. Many higher education institutions across the United States and the world are increasingly incorporating 3D printing technology into their curriculum. 3D printing is a manufacturing method in which solid 3D objects are printed layer by layer from raw materials. Various types of raw materials can be used for 3D printing that include plastics, metal, nylon, ceramic, powders, and liquids. Currently, plastics are the most widely used materials. The Art Department in collaboration with the Physics Department at the University of North Georgia (UNG) Gainesville opened the 3D Printing Lab, focused on producing physical models from computer-designed, virtual models. The goals are to assist faculty in using 3D printing technology and to develop the curriculum. The UNG 3D Printing Lab, located in Dunlap Mathis Building, provides students and faculty with state-of-the-art lab and collaborative project spaces. The lab is currently equipped with a variety of 3D printers, 3D digital scanners, and slicing software for 3D printers. Currently, students from Art, Physics, and Pre-engineering programs are able to develop and print models individually designed for class projects, design groups, research, or personal use. The Art and Physics departments operate the lab with student supervisors from the two departments, who are available to assist in printing models. Keywords: 3D printing, 3D digital scanners, and plastic

Personality disorder & serious further offending

Offender characteristics are considered important in the prediction of future risk of re-offending and response to treatment. The psychiatric classification of offenders can therefore be an important variable influencing decision making. Although the relationship between personality disorder and offending is established in the literature, the relationship is complex. Recidivism of any type, particularly serious further offending that is violent or sexual in nature, has far reaching implications on the victims, the perpetrator, the criminal justice system and wider society. The identification and management of individuals with personality disorder is a priority for both mental health professionals and the criminal justice system. The overall aim of this thesis is to examine the relationship between personality disorder and further offending in adult forensic populations (prison and probation). Chapter one presents a general introduction to the topic. Chapter two presents a literature review following a systematic approach and poses the question: Is personality disorder associated with recidivism? The findings are generally supportive of the view that some personality disorders are associated with a greater likelihood of recidivism. The limited good quality research available indicates the need for further research. Chapter three presents a critique of a screening tool for personality disorder, the Standardised Assessment of Personality: Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS). It highlights that despite some shortcomings, the SAPAS is a simple, brief and useful first-stage screening tool for personality disorder that possesses adequate psychometric properties. It is proposed that a combined screening approach, using the SAPAS and Offender Assessment System Personality Disorder (OASys PD) screen, is necessary to improve the detection of antisocial cases, particularly in forensic populations. In Chapter four an exploratory cohort study examines personality disorder in a UK sample of offenders, that have committed a further serious sexual or violent offence, whilst under the active supervision of the London Probation Trust. The study investigated the prevalence and type of personality disorders using the SAPAS and OASys PD screen. Comparisons were made between serious further offence (SFO) offenders with and without personality disorder, and within the SFO group by type of SFO (violent or sexual). The SAPAS and OASys PD screen were also explored in relation to their ability to predict group membership (SFO vs. non-SFO). The study identified that personality disorder prevalence was higher in SFO offenders, particularly antisocial traits, and that the OASys PD and OASys risk of harm (RoH) classification are significant variables for predicting group membership. The study has added to the knowledge base and understanding of SFO offenders and has implications for the practice of Offender Managers/Supervisors in UK prisons and probation units. The findings support the efficacy of the screening approach used in the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway (DOH/NOMS, 2012), London Pathways Project. A single case study is presented in Chapter five which evaluates the utility of psychological therapy with a man on Licence, presenting with traits of antisocial personality disorder. The difficulties associated with working with this client group are considered. In Chapter six a discussion of the work presented concludes the thesis. Overall, the thesis identifies some interesting findings in relation to the prevalence of personality disorder in SFO offenders and the utility of some key tools used in the assessment of offenders in probation/prison, and how these could be used in relation to risk management. Chapter 5, the single case study, has been removed and is only accessible in the printed version