Multiplicative Invariants of Root Lattices

We describe the multiplicative invariant algebras of the root lattices of all irreducible root systems under the action of the Weyl group. In each case, a finite system of fundamental invariants is determined and the class group of the invariant algebra is calculated. In some cases, a presentation and a Hironaka decomposition of the invariant algebra is given

Overcoming Stereotypes through a Liberal Arts Math Course

I\u27m just not a math person.” We’ve heard this comment countless times from our students. It is a mentality that both paralyzes and strangely comforts them. In this talk I will describe how I use my liberal arts Joy of Mathematics course to help students address and overcome stereotypes. In particular, I will discuss a specific assignment as well as share some student comments and perspectives on how this course helped change their viewpoint on more than just math

Die Wirkungen von gesundheitsbezogenen Aussagen auf das Kaufverhalten: Unterschiede zwischen ökologischen Lebensmitteln im Vergleich zu konventionellen Lebensmitteln

Für die meisten Verbraucher sind Gesundheitsaspekte der entscheidende Grund, Öko-Lebensmittel zu kaufen. Daher ist gerade im Öko-Lebensmittelmarketing der überlegte Umgang mit Claims (nährwert- und gesundheitsbezogene Aussagen laut EG-VO Nr. 1924/2006) relevant. Projektziel war die Untersuchung des Verbraucherverhaltens bezüglich Claims auf Öko-Lebensmitteln. Geklärt werden sollte die Wirkung auf die Kaufentscheidung (positiv, negativ, neutral), deren Bestimmungsgründe (Soziodemographie, Einstellungen, etc.) sowie die Unterschiede zur Wirkung im konventionellen Bereich. Hierzu wurden Kaufsimulationen sowie anschließende Befragungen mit Öko-Konsumenten durchgeführt. Daraus gingen Daten zu 630 Kaufentscheidungen hervor, die mittels logistischer Regression und bivariaten Verfahren ausgewertet wurden. Über den Vergleich mit einem analog im konventionellen Bereich durchgeführten DFG-Forschungsprojekt wurden die Unterschiede herausgearbeitet. Im Ergebnis zeigte sich, dass Claims auf den Produkten oft nicht wahrgenommen wurden. Wenn Konsumenten jedoch Claims gelesen hatten, präferierten sie diese Produkte im Öko-Bereich ähnlich stark wie im konventionellen Bereich. Auch schienen Claimprodukte dem Verbraucher gesünder. Wie stark die Wirkung von Claims auf Öko-Lebensmitteln war, hing davon ab, wie gesund Verbraucher Produkte mit Claims im Gegensatz zu ökologischen und konventionellen Produkten ohne Claims einschätzten und wie wichtig ihnen solche Angaben waren. Zudem deuten bivariate Ergebnisse auf eine erhöhte Kaufwahrscheinlichkeit hin, wenn die Verbraucher jünger als 31 oder älter als 50 Jahre sind, keine Kinder in ihrem Haushalt leben und sie nicht zu ihrer Stammmarke greifen. Der Unterschied zur Wirkung im konventionellen Bereich erwies sich als gering. Ausgehend von den Ergebnissen wurden Strategieüberlegungen dargestellt und zuvor erkundete Annahmen von Öko-Anbietern reflektiert, um die Nutzbarkeit der wissenschaftlichen Ergebnisse für die Marketingüberlegungen der Öko-Anbieter zu erhöhen

Resource partitioning between the oligolectic leafcutter bee Megachile lapponica (Hymenoptera, Apiformes) and other visitors on flowers of Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)

Das schmalblättrige Weideröschen, Epilobium angustifolium, zählt in Mitteleuropa zu den charakteristischen Pionierpflanzen auf Kahlschlagflächen und Waldrändern. Durch seine lange Blütezeit (Juni bis September) ist es für viele Blütenbesucher eine wichtige Pollen- und Nektarressource im ansonsten blütenarmen Spätsommer (MAURITZIO & SCHÄFER 1994). Zu seinen häufigsten Blütenbesuchern zählt die solitär lebende oligolektische Blattschneiderbiene Megachile lapponica. Sie sammelt Pollen nur an Pflanzen der Gattung Epilobium und bevorzugt dabei das schmalblättrige Weidenröschen (WESTRICH 1989). Aber auch Honigbienen, Apis mellifera, sind oft in großer Menge an diesen Blüten anzutreffen. Sie nutzen E. angustifolium vorwiegend als Nektarquelle (MAURITZIO & SCHÄFER 1994), sammeln aber auch Pollen auf den Blüten. Bei starkem Beflug durch die Honigbienen könnte es daher zu einer Verknappung der Ressource Pollen kommen. Dies könnte dazu führen, dass die Wildbienenweibchen für ihre Sammelflüge mehr Zeit und Energie aufwenden müssen. Im kritischen Fall einer Konkurrenz sollte auch die Aufzuchtrate und somit die Fitness von M. lapponica betroffen sein, deren Larven fast ausschließlich mit Epilobium-Pollen verpflegt werden. Auf einer Kahlschlagfläche im Kottenforst (Bonn) sollte untersucht werden, welche Insekten an den Blüten des schmalblättrigen Weidenröschens Pollen und/oder Nektar sammeln und welche Blütenbesucher gleichzeitig auch Blütenbestäuber sind. Vor allem aber sollte die Frage geklärt werden, ob es durch die Honigbiene zur Konkurrenz um den Pollen kommt.In a clear-felling in the Kottenforst (Bonn) we registered the abundance of flower visiting insects on Epilobium angustifolium and observed their behaviour during flower visits. The most frequent bees on the flowers were Megachile lapponica, an oligolectic bee on Epilobium, Apis mellifera L. and Bombus spec. Furthermore syrphid flies and beetles were observed. Recordings of the seed set after single visits to flowers showed that syrphid flies and bumblebees were more efficient pollinators than M. lapponica and honeybees. In order to study the potential competition between honeybees and M. lapponica, we increased the density of honey bees in two trials of 14 days each by bringing 15 bee hives with approximately 15.000 individuals per colony to the study site. Before and during the presence of additional honeybees we recorded the frequencies of visits by M. lapponica on pilobium-flowers, measured the duration of foraging flights and the numbers of brood cells constructed per day by single M. lapponica females. In the pollen traps of the bee hives we recorded the number of pollengrains and the relative amount of Epilobium-pollen collected by honeybees. We found that honey bees collected 440 g pollen per day. The portion of Epilobium-pollen in the pollen traps of the honey bees was very low with mean 0,97 % (SD=4,89, n=251). During the increased density of honeybees we recorded neither a decline in the frequency of flower visits by M. lapponica, nor an increase in duration of foraging trips. Furthermore, no decline in the number of brood cells built and provisioned by M. lapponica could be registered. Thus, our results of this case study do not indicate a negative influence of the increased abundance of honey bees on the fitness of M. lapponica

Predictors and Outcomes of Physical Activity for Young Adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion released the Healthy People 2020 plan in 2010 (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], 2010). The mission of Healthy People 2020 is focused on improving the health of all Americans. One common tool utilized to improve the health of Americans is physical activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011b). However, many young adults, including individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), engage in low amounts of physical activity (Haskell et al., 2007) and often struggle to achieve an optimal health status (Park, Mulye, Adams, Brindis, & Irwin, 2006). Therefore, more successful health promotion efforts are needed. In order to achieve this goal two separate studies were conducted to help understand the mechanism of how to promote physical activity and the role of physical activity within health outcomes for young adults with and without ASD. The first study (Chapter 2) cross-validated the self-determination theory for physical activity among young adults with ASD. One-hundred and forty-three young adults with ASD completed a questionnaire pertaining to their basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), self-determined motivation, and physical activity level. Results from a path analysis revealed an overall adequate model fit (x² (3, N = 143) = 11.99, p = .007, GFI = .97, NFI = .95, CFI =. 96, RMSEA = .15) concerning the self-determination theory for young adults with ASD. The second study (Chapter 3) reported the influence of physical activity and ASD on the multiple domains of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for young adults. Three-hundred and twenty participants, including young adults with ASD, completed a questionnaire regarding their physical activity level and HRQOL. Results from five separate multiple regressions, based on bias-corrected bootstrapping, suggested that physical activity levels significantly predicted overall HRQOL (b = .04; CI = .02, .06), and the four domains, including physical health (b = .007; CI= .002, .01), psychological (b = .01; CI= .01, .02), environment (b = .01; CI = .002, .02), and social relationships (b = .01; CI = .00, .02). Additionally, after controlling for physical activity and an individual’s sex, status of (having) ASD significantly influenced overall HRQOL (b = -7.28; CI = -9.82, -4.70), as well as the physical health domain (b = -2.68; CI = -3.39, -1.98), psychological domain (b = -2.04; CI = -2.81, -1.33, and the environment domain (b = -1.86; CI = -2.51, -1.21). This research supports the importance of physical activity to positively influence HRQOL. Also, results suggest that the self-determination theory is one appropriate conceptual model that practitioners could utilize to increase physical activity among young adults with ASD. Although this research helps to clarify the predictors and outcomes of physical activity for young adults, further research is needed. Future research should focus on examining specific strategies to improve the perceptions of the basic psychological needs for young adults with ASD. Additionally, researchers could investigate how the physical activity setting (e.g., team sports) influences an individual’s HRQOL

Einflussfaktoren auf den Kauf von Öko-Produkten mit nährwertund gesundheitsbezogenen Angaben: Ergebnisse einer Kaufsimulation

Health is an increasingly important argument in advertising and in information given on food product packages. The EU regulation on nutrition and health claims made on food poses a challenge to such messages, including those on organic foods. This paper examines whether organic foods with claims are refused or preferred, and which are the influencing factors on choice for such a product. The results show that in case that attentiveness to the claim is given, the likelihood of choice is significantly higher. Several factors prove to be influencing choice significantly, but in different directions. Recommendations for the marketing of organic products with claims are derived from the results

Urban Design of Bristol Waterfront, Lower Thames Street

The marketplace is going to be one of the highlights on Thames Street, serving as a destination for leisure, shopping and dining. The concept of the project is to have indoor space continue out to the water, providing an outdoor space for dining and leisure, but also giving the boardwalk a resting point. The building is planned as two floors, with the fish market and multipurpose area on the first and an eatery, sitting area, balcony and facilities on the second. The building will be made of a light metal frame with panels to enclose the space and is designed with a folded glass panel that can be opened up to the outside, yet decrease wind pressure in a storm

Computed Tomography Imaging in Simulated Ongoing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: No Need to Switch Off the Chest Compression Device during Image Acquisition

Computed tomography (CT) represents the current standard for imaging of patients with acute life-threatening diseases. As some patients present with circulatory arrest, they require cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Automated chest compression devices are used to continue resuscitation during CT examinations, but tend to cause motion artifacts degrading diagnostic evaluation of the chest. The aim was to investigate and evaluate a CT protocol for motion-free imaging of thoracic structures during ongoing mechanical resuscitation. The standard CT trauma protocol and a CT protocol with ECG triggering using a simulated ECG were applied in an experimental setup to examine a compressible thorax phantom during resuscitation with two different compression devices. Twenty-eight phantom examinations were performed, 14 with AutoPulse and 14 with corpuls cpr. With each device, seven CT examinations were carried out with ECG triggering and seven without. Image quality improved significantly applying the ECG-triggered protocol (p < 0.001), which allowed almost artifact-free chest evaluation. With the investigated protocol, radiation exposure was 5.09% higher (15.51 mSv vs. 14.76 mSv), and average reconstruction time of CT scans increased from 45 to 76 s. Image acquisition using the proposed CT protocol prevents thoracic motion artifacts and facilitates diagnosis of acute life-threatening conditions during continuous automated chest compression

Changes in acceptance of diversity through volunteering with youth with disabilities

Background/Purpose: A variety of models have been proposed to understand individuals with disabilities. Although it is important to consider the perspective of disability each model presents, the social model has gained considerable attention. This model explains disability as limitations and restrictions of society and the environment. A subset of the social model is the minority group model, which focuses on the similarities of racial minority groups and people with disability. To decrease the negative experiences of individuals with disabilities, more research is needed. The purpose of this study was to identify the potential factors influencing acceptance of diversity, in context of a service-learning program. Method: Eighty-Nine participants, volunteered in an 8-week physical activity program for youth with disabilities, and completed weekly surveys based on perceptions of their own experience, the behavior of the youth they were paired with, and support from their activity leader. The pre-and post-survey included the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity scale to assess acceptance of diversity. Results: Four multiple regressions were used in this study. The first multiple regression showed the participant’s perceived experience (β =50) and the youth’s behavior (β =-.50) significantly influence acceptance of diversity of contact (R=. 25). The second multiple regression showed own experience (β =. 48) to significantly influence acceptance of relativistic appreciation (R=. 26). The third multiple regression revealed own experience (β =-.56) and of youth’s behavior (β =-.47) significantly influence acceptance of comfort with differences (R=. 30). The fourth multiple regression showed own experience (β =. 62) and of youth’s behavior (β =-.55) significantly influence overall acceptance of diversity (R=. 31). Conclusion: Service-learning programs that give volunteers opportunities to interact with youth with disabilities, have the potential to influence acceptance of diversity. Thus, it may be important to provide students with opportunities to interact in diverse situations