21978 research outputs found
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Development and Validation of a Spacesuit Simulator for Collecting Experimental Physiological and Behavioral Data
Spaceflight research has seen an increased focus on developing models of astronaut health, operational readiness, and cognitive states from physiological data during astronaut operations. In particular, astronaut monitoring during extravehicular activities (EVAs) will become increasingly important for future deep space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars with reduced reliance on Earth-based support. A primary challenge in developing models is the ability to collect sufficient, representative sample data in realistic operational settings, and models developed to date have been constrained to using human data collected in laboratory settings. Spacesuit simulators offer a means to collect data in experimental settings on simulated EVA, but a suite of physiological and behavioral sensors and data acquisition has yet to be incorporated into simulated spacesuits. As a result, existing models remain unvalidated in representative environments. Without providing human participants with similar ecological constraints and validity, models trained on lab-based data may not generalize to field EVA operations. To address these gaps, this work presents the development and validation of a spacesuit simulator capable of collecting behavioral, physiological (including neural) data during naturalistic simulated EVAs. Specifically, the spacesuit simulator enables the collection of speech and navigation data as well as functional near-infrared spectroscopy and eye-tracking, recorded from in-suit sensors by embedding data acquisition hardware within the portable life support system. To simulate teaming constraints, the helmet ventilation system forces communication to be mediated by technological devices. Finally, these suits accommodate diverse anthropometries (5th percentile female to 95th percentile male) to enable the collection of generalizable sample datasets. Following fabrication, the collection of these physiological data for future model development was validated in dyads during simulated EVA surface operations.</p
Radiation belt phase space density: calculation analysis and model dependence
The reprocessing of radiation belt electron flux measurements into phase space density (PSD) as a function of the adiabatic invariants is a widely-used method to address major questions regarding electron energization and loss in the outer radiation belt. In this reprocessing, flux measurements j (α, E) at local pitch angles α, energies E, and optionally magnetometer measurements B, are combined with a global magnetic field model to express the phase space density f (L*) in terms of the third invariant Φ ∝ 1/L* at fixed first and second invariants M and K. While the general framework of the calculation is agreed upon, implementation details vary amongst the literature, and the issue of magnetic field model dependence is rarely addressed. This work reviews the steps of the calculation with lists of commonly used implementation options. For the first time, analysis is presented to display the effect of doing the calculation with different implementation options and with different backing models (including both empirical and MHD-driven models). The results are summarized to inform evaluation of existing results and future efforts calculating and analyzing radiation belt electron phase space density. Three events are analyzed, and while differences are found, the primary structural interpretations of the phase space density analysis exhibit model independence.
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German Newspaper Coverage of Climate Change or Global Warming, 2004-2024 - December 2024
The Media and Climate Change Observatory Data monitors 131 sources (across newspapers, radio and TV) in 59 countries in seven different regions around the world. Data is assembled by accessing archives through the Lexis Nexis, Proquest and Factiva databases via the University of Colorado libraries. More information may be found at: http://mecco.colorado.edu.</p
Spanish Newspaper Coverage of Climate Change or Global Warming, 2000-2024 - December 2024
The Media and Climate Change Observatory Data monitors 131 sources (across newspapers, radio and TV) in 59 countries in seven different regions around the world. Data is assembled by accessing archives through the Lexis Nexis, Proquest and Factiva databases via the University of Colorado libraries. More information may be found at: http://mecco.colorado.edu.</p
Latin American Newspaper Coverage of Climate Change or Global Warming, 2005-2025 - February 2025
The Media and Climate Change Observatory Data monitors 131 sources (across newspapers, radio and TV) in 59 countries in seven different regions around the world. Data is assembled by accessing archives through the Lexis Nexis, Proquest and Factiva databases via the University of Colorado libraries. More information may be found at: http://mecco.colorado.edu.</p
Examining the Drivers of Far-Right Support in Western Europe: How Cultural Threats Shape Electoral Outcomes
This paper examines the rise of far-right parties in Western Europe, focusing on the role of cultureand traditional values in driving electoral success. The central argument is that traditional values,encompassing social conservatism, opposition to progressive social changes, and religious identity, havebecome a dominant driver of far-right support since 2017, surpassing the influence of immigrationconcerns. Using data from the European Social Survey (ESS) from 2002-2024, the study finds thattraditional values predict far-right voting, with a significant increase in support from 2018 onward. Theanalysis shows that individuals with higher traditional values were far more likely to vote for far-rightparties, with a dramatic rise in the probability of support from 5% to 25% for the most traditional votersin the post-2017 period. The findings indicate that while immigration remains relevant, culturalconservatism is now a new and significant factor driving far-right success. Through a comparativeanalysis of France’s National Rally, Italy’s Brothers of Italy, and Germany’s Alternative for Germany(AfD), the paper explores how these parties have leveraged cultural narratives to resonate with voters.Case study findings reveal that far-right parties across Europe have successfully mobilized voters byprioritizing cultural issues, rather than solely relying on economic or immigration concerns. This trendhighlights the increasing importance of cultural conservatism in shaping European politics. Ultimately,the paper concludes that the surge in far-right support is not based on previous explanations like economicturmoil, a reaction to immigration, or party competition, but that cultural factors, specifically thepreservation of national identity and traditional values, are driving the growth of far-right movements,reshaping the political landscape in Europe.</p
European Newspaper Coverage of Climate Change or Global Warming, 2004-2025 - May 2025
The Media and Climate Change Observatory Data monitors 131 sources (across newspapers, radio and TV) in 59 countries in seven different regions around the world. Data is assembled by accessing archives through the Lexis Nexis, Proquest and Factiva databases via the University of Colorado libraries. More information may be found at: http://mecco.colorado.edu.</p
Neurodiverse Musicians Wellness
The Neurodiverse Musicians Wellness (nm-wellness.squarespace.com) website will be an accessible online resource to support neurodiverse musicians in their personal and professional development. nm-wellness.squarespace.com will focus on wellness practices such as the Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, and Dalcroze, highlighting how these methods can empower neurodiverse musicians in their careers and well-being. While the content will be tailored for neurodiverse musicians, nm-wellness.squarespace.com is designed to be a valuable resource for anyone seeking disability and accommodation resources in the arts.
In addition to curated resources, the future of this website will feature a blog section where I will share insights from my journey as a neurodiverse musician, fostering a personal connection with visitors. This interactive space will also allow viewers to contribute and recommend resources, encouraging a collaborative and supportive community.
This website represents a novel approach to a master’s thesis by prioritizing an accessible, user-friendly, and lasting format. Through this project, I aim to foster a thriving community where musicians of varying neurodiversity can connect, support each other, and access wellness resources that meet their unique needs. My vision for nm-wellness.squarespace.com extends beyond its initial information stage, evolving into a dynamic, interactive space for neurodiverse musicians to engage as performers, individuals, and allies.</p
Analysis of the Interaction of Habitat Fragmentation and Wildfires using NDVI
Habitat fragmentation leads to the degradation of ecosystems and leaves them vulnerableto damage from wildfires. The edges of habitat patches show the greatest changes in morphologyand microclimate due to fragmentation, and there is non consensus as to if these edges areburned more severely in wildfires. The purpose of this study is to compare the edges and cores ofan experimentally fragmented forest after a wildfire, using normalized difference vegetationindex (NDVI) as the metric for forest health and post-fire recovery. The study site for this projectis the Wog Wog Experiment in New South Wales, Australia. The Wog Wog site burned inJanuary of 2020 and consists of several patches of eucalypt forest isolated in a commercial pinetree monoculture. Using Planet 4-Band images, I calculated the NDVI of Wog Wog fromDecember of 2016-2020. I used 165 sampling sites to extract NDVI values for each of 6fragment treatment combinations: small patch edge, small patch core, medium patch edge,medium patch core, large patch edge, and large patch core. I then compared the two mixed linearmodels with a likelihood ratio test to determine if the interaction between the experimentaltreatments and the fire was significant. The interaction term was statistically significant,indicating that fire damage varied by experimental treatment. The edges and cores of the smallpatched had the lowest NDVI four years after the fire, while the cores of the medium and largepatches had the highest NDVI of the experimental group. Because the NDVI was lower in thepatches than the control, the fire burned the patches more severely than the continuous forest.Further research into the morphological changes in each experimental treatment would addbiological context to the observed results. Understanding the variables contributing tovulnerabilities of habitat fragments is crucial to mitigating damage to remaining fragments, thuscontributing to the preservation of global biodiversity.</p
East Asiaβs Innovation Frontier: The Interplay of Emerging Technology, Taxation, and Institutional Corruption
This thesis investigates the governmental factors contributing to ecosystems of domestic innovation for specialized and emerging technology sectors in East Asian economies. The innovation metrics are compiled based on yearly patent data from 2012 to 2013 from the following industries: semiconductor components, digital advanced telecommunications, biotechnology, solar energy components, digital communications, computing technology, fuel cell technology, and artificial intelligence. By creating a viable comparison of multiple East Asian countries, the study employs Poisson and negative binomial regressions to analyze the impact of fiscal and institutional variables. These factors include VAT rates, corruption, business startup costs, and bureaucratic delays. This enabled a cross-model comparison that weighted the per capita data to incorporate smaller nations such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Findings indicate mixed significance for VAT rates and corruption, but highlight significant correlations between innovation outcomes and institutional factors such as startup days and per capita startup costs. The analysis categorizes government interventions into broader schools of thought: Tax and Spend, Market-Driven (Neoclassical), and the Chinese hybrid BT to VAT model, revealing how differing economic strategies influence technological advancement. Country comparisons yielded difficulty in comparing East Asian governments due to the lack of uniformity and China’s economic anomalies. Broadly, the results offer policy implications that underscore the importance of institutional efficiency and cost structures in supporting innovation.</p