19468 research outputs found
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Zebra finches increase social behavior in traffic noise: Implications for urban songbirds
No full textTraffic noise is a pervasive pollutant that affects wildlife at individual and group levels through mechanisms such as disrupting communication, affecting antipredator strategy, and/or changing how they use space within a habitat. Urbanization is expanding rapidly—few places remain untouched by anthropogenic noise disturbance—so understanding the implications of noise on wildlife behavior is paramount to conservation efforts. We asked whether trafc noise could change space use and social network metrics in flocks of captive birds. Specifically, we quantified the effects of playbacks of traffic noise on individual sociality (weighted degree, number of social partners weighted by the frequency of interactions with those social partners) and flock clustering (global clustering coefficient, connectivity of neighbors). In this study, we recorded social interactions and space use of flocks of captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) before, during, and after an experimental traffic noise introduction in two treatments: high- and lower-amplitude noise. Our results demonstrated that individual sociality and flock clustering increased in response to the noise introduction in both high-amplitude and low-amplitude treatments. Additionally, birds in the high-amplitude treatment spent more time in the room with active playback during noise playback whereas birds in the lower-amplitude treatment decreased time spent in the room closest to the high-amplitude treatment. Increased social behavior in response to traffic noise could influence disease transmission, social learning, and mating dynamics. We suggest future studies explore the mechanisms driving increased social behavior in traffic noise, such as perceived predation risk, vigilance, and cross-sensory interference
Euripides' Alcestis: Translation with Introduction, Notes, and Essay
No full textEuripides' Alcestis is a timeless Greek tragedy that explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and the fragility of life. The story centers on Alcestis, the devoted wife of Admetus, who volunteers to die in his place when no one else will. Her selfless act is a poignant portrayal of love's power and the human condition's complexities. As Alcestis fades, Admetus is torn between his gratitude and overwhelming guilt. Just as all seems lost, the arrival of the hero Heracles offers a glimmer of hope. This new translation offers a profound meditation on the value of life, the depth of marital devotion, and the ultimate cost of love.
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Consumers, Commodities, and Connections: King and Queen County, Virginia as a Window to the Eighteenth-Century Commercial Marketplace
No full textThis thesis uses the business records of Ninian Boog, who operated a store in Walkerton, King and Queen County, Virginia, from 1748-1753, to highlight a variety of consumer networks connecting King and Queen County’s residents to each other and to the larger Atlantic World. Analysis of these networks draws a connection between studies of consumer activity in colonial port cities and the backcountry, with Walkerton representing a middle ground between these two types of consumer experiences. As a factor for Buchanan & Hamilton’s Scottish firm, Boog’s store integrated the region into the wider Atlantic World of merchant networks and consumer goods. Providing centralized location for exchange for the town of Walkerton, the store also served as an outlet specifically for enslaved people and women to exercise economic agency through both the consumption of goods and the sale of commodities. With these opportunities and connections to the Atlantic World, this thesis argues for a greater integration of King and Queen County into our understanding of Virginia history.HistoryBachelors of Arts (BA
Synthesis Of Onychine By Cycloaddition/Cycloreversion Of An Intermediate 1,2,4-Triazine
No full textThis study investigates the synthetic sequence for the preparation of onychine, a natural product with antifungal activity. The scaffold is accessed through an azafluorenone intermediate prepared by a Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder cycloaddition/cycloreversion of a ninhydrin-derived 1,2,4-triazine precursor. Downstream elaboration towards the alkaloid core structure is made through complementary condensation and aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) strategies.ChemistryMaster of Science (M.Sc.
Selling Irish Republicanism: Alliances, Culture, And Ideology, 1970-2000
No full textRealpolitik, Race, and Irish Republicanism: Multiracial Alliances in a Cold War Context, 1980-1998. This paper explores the stratified relationships between Sinn Féin, Noraid, Irish American republican grassroots activists, and various communities of color, activist groups, and “Third World” liberation struggles. In doing so, it disrupts dominate trends in Irish and Irish American historiography regarding Irish and Irish American social and political ties with people of color and places Irish and Irish American multiracial alliances within a Cold War and post-Cold War context and climate. “Each Dollar a Bullet,” Each Grand a Ballot: Selling Conflict, Culture, and Change in Irish America, 1970-2000. This paper explores how, what I define as, Irish American republican material and experiential culture both facilitated and reflected Noraid and Sinn Féin’s appeal to wealthy elites over their traditional working class white ethnic base. Through analysis of the shift in the kind and cost of events hosted, merchandise sold, and experiences offered, this paper traces Sinn Féin and Noraid’s political strategy through new and innovative means and methods.HistoryMaster of Arts (M.A.
Development and Validation of SOBACES
No full textSense of belonging among students has been studied extensively (Gopalan & Brady, 2020), and has been shown to be a predictor of success, engagement, and well-being in college students. While studies have investigated a sense of belonging amongst specific marginalized groups within a university (e.g. Duran et al., 2020; Lewis et al., 2021; Sims et al., 2020) there have been few studies that examine a sense of belonging among master students in counselor education programs. This paper will outline the development and validation of a new instrument, Sense of Belonging among Counselor Education Students (SOBACES)
Multi-Sensor Fusion and V2V Collaboration in Autonomous Vehicles: A Comprehensive Framework for Self-Driving
No full textSelf-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, represent a significant advancement in transportation technology. These vehicles utilize a combination of LiDAR sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence to navigate without human intervention. The development of self-driving technology promises to enhance road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease vehicle collisions. As the demand for autonomous vehicles increases, so does the need for robust systems that can reliably interpret complex environments, necessitated by the current challenges of navigating through dynamic, uncertain, and safety-critical scenarios in real-world driving. Key components of autonomous driving include lane detection, traffic sign recognition, and vehicle tracking, all of which are crucial for ensuring safe and efficient navigation. In addition, vehicle-to-vehicle collaboration plays an essential role in facilitating communication among autonomous vehicles, enabling them to make informed decisions based on real-time data from their surroundings. This paper presents a multi-modal autonomous driving framework designed for robotic vehicles, integrating critical functionalities such as lane detection, traffic sign detection, vehicle detection and tracking, and vehicle-to-vehicle collaboration. We evaluate the performance of our autonomous systems compared to Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD), Waymo’s self-driving, and CommaAI’s openpilot system. Our autonomous driving system achieves 92% accuracy in lane detection and an accuracy of 94% for various traffic signs. The code to supplement this paper can be found at: https://github.com/mcropper14/Thesis-Code.Computer ScienceBachelors of Science (BS
Until The Well Runs Dry, Revisited
No full textIn April 1994, during the construction of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical Sciences Building, workers unearthed a well containing human skeletal remains of adults and children of African descent. This discovery prompted a re-evaluation of the university's historical practices, especially regarding its employment of cadaver hunters. Dr. Shawn Utsey's 2011 documentary further illuminated the university's controversial past and initiated discussions about the broader exploitation of vulnerable populations by medical institutions. In response, Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao established the East Marshall Street Well Project, forming a collaborative effort with researchers from Williams & Mary and the descendant community. This paper examines the project's implementation of a biocultural anthropological approach, emphasizing the significance of descendant community leadership in research involving human remains and complex historical narratives of exploitation. The findings underscore the potential for such collaborative approaches to address historical injustices and contribute to the healing of affected communities.AnthropologyMaster of Arts (M.A.
Exercise-Induced Production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Exhibits Neuroprotective Effects
No full textBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an endogenously produced neurotrophin that modulates neuronal survival, plasticity, differentiation, and health of synapses in the central nervous system. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD), disrupt these vital processes, marked by progressive loss of neuronal structure or function and the abnormal accumulation of specific proteins detrimental to brain health. The diminished expression of BDNF can further exacerbate these dysfunctions in neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases require effective therapies to manage the challenges faced by those affected. One prominent therapy involves the use of BDNF. Notably, physical exercise emerges as a protective intervention, exhibiting synaptic and neural protection, with BDNF serving a key role in facilitating exercise-induced improvements in cognitive function. This paper explores the mechanisms by which exercise upregulates BDNF production and its impacts on the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Using CellDesigner to create biochemical network diagrams and COPASI to evaluate these pathways, we tested the neuroprotective implications of BDNF from exercise. We found that exercise-induced production of BDNF exhibits significant improvements in synaptic and neuronal function, demonstrating its role as a potential therapeutic. The beneficial effects of BDNF highlights the potential of lifestyle modifications to serve as a mitigating factor in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.NeuroscienceBachelors of Science (BS
Editorial: A Call to Action for Sorority and Fraternity Life
No full textJournal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice editorial: a call to action for sorority and fraternity life