The Evolution of Language Groups among Cooperating Digital Predators

Many species of animals have evolved complex means for communicating with one another. Oftentimes, communication is essential for the execution of tasks that require cooperation between individuals, such as group hunting and mate selection. As a result, communication itself becomes essential for survival. While these facts are readily observed, the evolutionary processes underlying them are less understood, in large part because observational - much less controlled - studies of these processes are impossible. Both the timescales and population sizes required for such studies are simply too great. To address these problems, this thesis uses simulated predators to study the evolution of language in animals. These digital predators evolve to perform two cooperative tasks: hunting and mate selection. After the populations of predators have evolved to perform both tasks successfully, the population is decomposed into both language groups and cooperative groups. Spectral clustering identifies predators that speak similar languages, while merge clustering is used to find those groups of predators that are the most successful when working together. Analysis of the groups generated by these two different methods shows that the most successful pairings are not necessarily those in which the two individuals are speaking the same language. Rather, organisms can evolve to speak a different language than the one to which they respond. Moreover, even though one task -- mate selection -- evolves earlier in evolutionary history, the language diversity it produces counteracts any head-start provided for the evolution of the second task. Thus, not only is language important for the evolution of cooperative task success, but the appearance of language groups can also play a determinant role in the evolution of cooperation.Computer Science

Effects of Insurance Coverage on Healthcare Access and Outcomes for Children in Ohio

Objective: Despite health insurance coverage correlating to improved child health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs, it is estimated that 8.7% of children in America lack continuous insurance. Although coverage has expanded multiple times through the Children\u27s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) initiated in 1997, rates for child insurance vary drastically across regions of the country. In this study we investigated child insurance rates over time and by state, as well as explored the effects of having insurance and child health outcomes. To do this, we measured the association of uninsured children to primary care physician access and child mortality in the U.S. Methods: We collected data from 2023 National County Health Rankings and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute with records from 2016 and 2022. This data included rates of uninsured children in Ohio and states in different regions including Mississippi and New York, along with differences in access to primary care physicians and the development of childhood obesity. Results: The rates of uninsured children were found to decrease in Ohio between 2016 and 2022 from 6.119 to 5.510% (t = -4.337, p \u3c .001). Rates between states were significantly different, measuring 6.50% of uninsured children in Mississippi compared to Ohio and New York, with 2.51% in 2022 (p\u3c.001). Primary care access was seen to increase as uninsurance rates decrease in children (r=-.164), and a positive correlation was found between lack of insurance and child mortality rates (r=.164, p\u3c00.1

Optimizing velocities and transports for complex coastal regions and archipelagos

We derive and apply a methodology for the initialization of velocity and transport fields in complex multiply-connected regions with multiscale dynamics. The result is initial fields that are consistent with observations, complex geometry and dynamics, and that can simulate the evolution of ocean processes without large spurious initial transients. A class of constrained weighted least squares optimizations is defined to best fit first-guess velocities while satisfying the complex bathymetry, coastline and divergence strong constraints. A weak constraint towards the minimum inter-island transports that are in accord with the first-guess velocities provides important velocity corrections in complex archipelagos. In the optimization weights, the minimum distance and vertical area between pairs of coasts are computed using a Fast Marching Method. Additional information on velocity and transports are included as strong or weak constraints. We apply our methodology around the Hawaiian islands of Kauai/Niihau, in the Taiwan/Kuroshio region and in the Philippines Archipelago. Comparisons with other common initialization strategies, among hindcasts from these initial conditions (ICs), and with independent in situ observations show that our optimization corrects transports, satisfies boundary conditions and redirects currents. Differences between the hindcasts from these different ICs are found to grow for at least 2–3 weeks. When compared to independent in situ observations, simulations from our optimized ICs are shown to have the smallest errors

Assistive Multi-Purpose Mobility Device with Folding Temporary Seat

Crutches and canes are widely used to provide stability and support while walking. Many users, particularly the elderly, have limited endurance. The goal of this project was to design and build a device that can be used as a forearm crutch or a cane and integrates the ability for the user to rest comfortably and safely in a seated position. A first generation multi-purpose device was successfully designed and manufactured that includes a foldable seat and two folding support legs attached to the main shaft that forms a base of support when deployed. The prototype successfully supported a 205 lb. seated user on carpeted floor. Student testers reported that folding the device into a seat was very intuitive. Future prototypes would increase load limit, especially on low friction surfaces

Why Does Reducing Caloric Intake Increase Sustainability?

This flyer explains why reducing caloric intake increases sustainability

The Ecohydrological Implications of a Restored Rangeland in Central Texas

Military training lands are among the most degraded rangelands in the United States. Tracked vehicle training represents the largest source of soil disturbance on these rangelands (Fang et al. 2002). Training activities facilitate changes in vegetation composition towards alternate floral communities characteristic of highly disturbed soils (Johnson 1982). The Department of Defense (DoD) manages the land to mitigate disturbance, however the effectiveness of their mitigation and restoration strategies are not well known. Furthermore, the long-term effects of intensive training activities on the ecohydrology of the landscape are not well understood. This study uses large-scale rainfall simulation to develop an understanding of the dynamic relationships between rainfall, runoff, and erosion. Simulations were conducted on two areas of interest: (1) a degraded grassland that underwent a conversion to a mesquite woodland and was restored via mechanical brush removal and (2) a highly degraded hillslope will little to no topsoil. Data suggests that: (1) runoff is rapid when no topsoil or vegetation is present; (2) runoff velocity is significantly lower after restoration, and (3) sediment loads do not move across the landscape in large flushes following restoration

Triple Helix, Fall 2018

Table of Contents: Science Agenda: The Politics of Grant Writing / by Kavya Rajesh (p. 4) -- From the Experts / by Katherine Bruner (p. 5) -- 3D Printed Drugs: The Future of Pharmaceuticals / by Ethan Wang (p. 6) -- Computerized Markets: Wall Street Takeover / by James Kiraly (p. 10) -- The Evolution of Fear / by Alisha Ahmed (p. 14) -- ADDing Up / by Victor Liaw (p. 18) -- The Clone Wars / by Jina Zhou (p. 22) -- Physician-Assisted Suicide: Drawing the Line / by Haley Wolf (p. 26) -- Supervised Injection Sites / by Alex Gajewski (p. 30) -- On Emerging Medicalization and Health Care / by Patrick Lee (p. 33) -- The Future of Human Gene Modifications / by Elizabeth Robinson (p. 36)College of Natural SciencesUT LibrariesLiberal Art