Risk Perceptions of Metallic Mineral Mining in Maine

As society’s need for metals increases more mining locations will likely be sought. Maine contains 10 known significant metal deposits but there are currently no active metal mines. Interest in developing one of these deposits prompted legislative changes to the metallic mineral mining (MMM) law and rules to be pursued. Social license to operate (SLO) or the acceptance of mining activities by communities plays an increasing role in the siting and profitability of mining activities. This study broadens the application of SLO to the context of a statewide policy debate. Appropriate policy development for MMM needs to consider the views of residents and their risk perceptions toward this type of mining activity being conducted in the state. This thesis aims to measure Maine residents’ risk perception and acceptance levels of MMM in order to inform a current statewide policy debate. Using a mixed methods approach, this study implemented a qualitative case study and a quantitative resident mail survey (N = 501). The case study dove into the context of the debate and used qualitative content analysis (QCA) to identify the positional stances of stakeholders and the major themes that have been most prominent throughout the debate. Opposition to the proposed rules has been the principal stance from stakeholders. The QCA resulted in four prominent themes from this debate: water permeates everything, using experiences and examples, inadequate rules, and mistrust. The qualitative results show that, counter intuitively, pushing to get a bill passed can actually hinder the fulfillment of the bill’s purpose. The quantitative study investigated the risk perceptions of Maine residents to MMM in their state and explored the social-psychological constructs that explain risk perception levels. This study also examined the utility of a risk perception model originally developed for the topic of climate change on an additional natural resource topic. Results from the hierarchal regression analysis show that the full risk perception model is able to explain over 80% of the variance in risk perceptions with significant predictors being knowledge of impacts to local assets, normative factors, biospheric value orientations, and level of trust in certain information sources. This thesis concludes with a convergence of the findings from both the qualitative and quantitative components. Predominantly congruent with each other these findings demonstrate the advantage of a mixed methods approach in studying contemporary social-natural resource issues

An Examination of the Psychological Skills Profiles of Oval Racers and Road Racers

Introduction: Given the global popularity and far-reaching economics of auto racing, it is surprising how few studies have examined the sport generally and the psychological aspects of the sport specifically. Consistent with this general lack of research is the specific absence of studies examining the psychological skills needed to participate in the two main disciplines of auto racing, specifically oval and road racing. The purpose of the current study was to examine the use of psychological skills by athletes who participate in distinct sub-disciplines within the sport of auto racing, specifically oval racers and road racers. Methods: A total of 106 amateur oval racers (n = 51) and road racers (n = 55) completed the Test of Performance Strategies - 2 (TOPS-2). Results: Road racers scored significantly higher than oval racers on emotional control (p \u3c .001) and significantly lower than oval racers on negative thinking (p \u3c .004), on the competition subscale of the TOPS-2. No significant differences were observed between the two groups on any of the practice subscales of the TOPS-2. Road racers participated in significantly fewer races than oval racers in the past two seasons (Mroad = 14.00, Moval = 37.59, p \u3c .0001). Compared to a general population of athletes, oval racers and road racers scored significantly higher on imagery in practice (p \u3c .004) and significantly lower on self-talk strategies in both practice and competition (p \u3c .004). Discussion: The differences observed between oval and road racers may be due to their opportunities for competition. Road racers may use psychological skills to a different extent than oval racers in order to effectively cope with the challenges associated with fewer opportunities for competition. Compared to other athletes, both oval and road racers reported more frequent use of imagery in practice settings, which may be due to their practice habits. Due to the financial and logistical constraints of practice, racing drivers may rely on imagery (e.g., cognitive-general imagery) to facilitate strategy acquisition and execution. The specific type of imagery used by racing drivers, along with an examination of the psychological skills used by professional drivers for improved performance, are topics for future study. In line with the results of the current study, practitioners are encouraged to work with drivers to develop their imagery skills. Overall, those interested in studying or working with racing drivers should look for opportunities to collaborate with other professionals (e.g., strength and conditioning coach, mental training coach, driver coach, crew chief) so that they can focus on driver development by utilizing an integrated approach to performance enhancement

Photophysical and Photochemical Effects of UV and VUV Photo-Oxidation and Photolysis on PET and PEN

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer in the bottling, packaging, and clothing industry. In recent years an increasing global demand for PET has taken place due to the Solar Disinfection (SODIS) process. SODIS is a method of sterilizing fresh water into drinkable water. The PET bottles are used in the process to contain the water during solar irradiation due to its highly transparent optical property. Alongside PET, polyethylene 2,6-napthalate (PEN) is used in bottling and flexible electronic applications. The surface of PEN would need to be modified to control the hydrophilicity and the interaction it exudes as a substrate. The UV light absorption properties of PET and PEN are of great importance for many applications, and thus needs to be studied along with its photochemical resistance. The optical and chemical nature of PET was studied as it was treated by UV photo-oxidation, photo-ozonation, and photolysis under atmospheric pressure. Another investigation was also used to study PEN and PET as they are treated by vacuum UV (VUV) photo-oxidation, VUV photolysis, and remote oxygen reactions. The extent of the photoreactions\u27 effect into the depth of the polymers is examined as treatment conditions are changed. The different experimental methods established the rate of several competing photoreactions on PET and PEN during irradiance, and their effect on the optical quality of the polymers

On Counterexample Guided Quantifier Instantiation for Synthesis in CVC4

We introduce the first program synthesis engine implemented inside an SMT solver. We present an approach that extracts solution functions from unsatisfiability proofs of the negated form of synthesis conjectures. We also discuss novel counterexample-guided techniques for quantifier instantiation that we use to make finding such proofs practically feasible. A particularly important class of specifications are single-invocation properties, for which we present a dedicated algorithm. To support syntax restrictions on generated solutions, our approach can transform a solution found without restrictions into the desired syntactic form. As an alternative, we show how to use evaluation function axioms to embed syntactic restrictions into constraints over algebraic datatypes, and then use an algebraic datatype decision procedure to drive synthesis. Our experimental evaluation on syntax-guided synthesis benchmarks shows that our implementation in the CVC4 SMT solver is competitive with state-of-the-art tools for synthesis

Introduction. A Remarkable Occurrence: Progress for Civil Society in an Open Myanmar

A remarkable thing happened in Myanmar in the summer of 2013. A government that, in recent decades, enacted and carried out among the most draconian and repressive policies toward civil society organizations in the world sat down with a large, representative body of such organizations to hear criticisms of a recently passed law. Perhaps more remarkably, the government then revised the law in response to these criticisms, fundamentally altering the people’s right to freely associate. This introductory piece to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal’s special edition devoted to Myanmar provides context for this seemingly remarkable occurrence. It demonstrates one important and hopeful occurrence in Myanmar’s immense and ongoing reform effort. It is the author’s hope that this occurrence is merely one example of many systemic reforms underway to address the myriad issues facing Myanmar and its people

Characterising Testing Preorders for Finite Probabilistic Processes

In 1992 Wang & Larsen extended the may- and must preorders of De Nicola and Hennessy to processes featuring probabilistic as well as nondeterministic choice. They concluded with two problems that have remained open throughout the years, namely to find complete axiomatisations and alternative characterisations for these preorders. This paper solves both problems for finite processes with silent moves. It characterises the may preorder in terms of simulation, and the must preorder in terms of failure simulation. It also gives a characterisation of both preorders using a modal logic. Finally it axiomatises both preorders over a probabilistic version of CSP.Comment: 33 page

God of War: Masculinity and Fatherhood Through Procedural Rhetoric

Video games and academia have a long history with one another. Academic researchers have continued to debate the extent to which video games can materialize real world effects. In this thesis, I employ procedural rhetoric and feminist scholarship to analyze the rhetorical power of God of War. I focus on the game’s immersive procedures and the performances of masculinity from Kratos, Atreus, and Baldur. These three characters all perform different masculinities, and their interactions with one another inform the game’s portrayal of masculinity and fatherhood. By engaging in violence and depicting nuanced performances of masculinity, God of War positions the player to recognize harmful hegemonic masculine norms and their effects on men and their relationships. This is rhetorically significant, as God of War’s interrogation of hegemonic masculinity encourages players to interrogate hegemonic masculine norms in the material world

Aspects Of Combinatorial Geometry

This thesis presents solutions to various problems in the expanding field of combinatorial geometry. Chapter 1 gives an introduction to the theory of the solution of an integer programming problem, that is maximising a linear form with integer variables subject to a number of constraints. Since the maximum value of the linear form occurs at a vertex of the convex hull of integer points defined by the constraints, it is of interest to estimate the number of these vertices. Chapter 2 describes the application of certain geometrical interpretations of number theory to the solution of integer programming problems in the plane. By using, in part, the well-known Klein interpretation of continued fractions, a method of constructing the vertices of the convex hull of integer points defined by particular constraints is developed. Bounds for the number of these vertices and properties of certain special cases are given. Chapter 3 considers the general d-dimensional integer programming problem. Upper and lower bounds are presented for the number of vertices of the convex hull of integer points defined by particular constraints. Chapter 4 is concerned with the approximation of convex sets by convex polytopes. First, a detailed description of recent work on minimal circumscribing triangles for convex polygons and the extension to minimal circumscribing equilateral triangles is given. This leads to a new approach to constructing a Borsuk Division and finding a regular hexagon circumscribing a convex polygon. Then, a method of approximating general convex sets by convex polytopes is presented, leading to consideration of the problem of a d-simplex approximating a d-ball. Chapter 5 develops algorithms for finding points with particular combinatorial properties, using containment objects such as balls, closed half-spaces and ellipsoids. Chapter 6 gives a new approach to the problem of inscribing a square in a convex polygon, leading to possible ideas for an algorithm

Development of High-Density Propulsion System Technologies for Interplanetary Small Satellites and CubeSats

The goal of this research was to support the development of a novel propulsion system for small satellites (\u3c180 kg) and CubeSats. This was pursued by conducting a collection of studies that were designed to provide engineering data that would be critical in designing a functional prototype. The novel propulsion system was conceived by the author to provide best-in-class performance for the small satellite and CubeSat families of spacecraft. This context presents specific design requirements that the presented technology attempts to satisfy. The most critical among these is high density; the propellant was designed to be stored with high density and the thruster was designed to be as compact as possible. The propulsion system is composed of two primary elements, a propellant generator and a thruster. The propellant generator works by sublimating a solid crystal into vapor and then using this vapor to etch a dense metal. The resulting gaseous byproducts of this reaction are the propellant. This dissertation used xenon difluoride (XeF2) vapor to etch tungsten (W) which react to form xenon gas (Xe) and tungsten hexafluoride (WF6). This approach gave a theoretical propellant storage density 5.40 g/cm3; and 5.17 g/cm3 was demonstrated. The sublimation dynamics of the XeF2 were studied as a function of surface area and temperature and it was found to be suitable for the intended application due to its high effluence rate; that is, it sublimates fast enough to be useful. The sublimation rates are on the order of 10’s of µg/s. The etch rate of XeF2 on W was also studied and found to be suitably fast to provide useful amounts of reactants for use as a propellant, again on the order of 1’s of µg/s. The thruster is an electrostatic radio frequency (RF) ion thruster design and is manufactured with Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) materials system and manufacturing technology. Manufacturing samples of the thruster were built at the University of Arkansas in July 2015 and tested at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in May 2018. Testing validated the viability of the LTCC thruster and provided valuable information on how to improve the thruster’s design