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Black Rail Inventory at Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores, Interim Report for 2022: Surveys of Cape Lookout National Seashore
No full textThe eastern black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) is one of two subspecies that occur in North America. The form is listed as endangered in six states along the Atlantic Coast and has been recently listed as threatened at the federal level. Black rails have experienced a southward range contraction within historical times and a catastrophic decline over the past 30 years at least throughout the northern portion of the breeding range. Historic population size was likely in the tens of thousands but is now believed to be in the low thousands to hundreds. The underlying cause for declines of coastal populations is believed to be ongoing rises in sea-level and associated drops in key demographic parameters though the expansion of Phragmites australis australis throughout the east coast may have also contributed to their decline. Given the secretive nature of this marsh dwelling bird, and associated bird species, little is known about its occurrence, distribution, and abundance at Cape (CALO) Lookout or Cape Hatteras (CAHA) National Seashores. An Inventory of marsh birds is required to inform management decisions on a cabin relocation project (demolition and construction), road/trail construction, dock construction, and dredging projects associated with hurricane recovery in a near marsh habitat. In addition, accurate population surveys for the eastern black rail would benefit CALO management of future critical habitat designations. During the 2022 field season, we conducted 613 surveys at 219 survey points on North Core, South Core, and Shackleford Island. We conducted an additional 16 surveys at 16 points at Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge. These surveys resulted in the detection of 209 Clapper Rails at 97 points, 150 Seaside Sparrows at 60 points, 18 Virginia Rails at 10 points, a single Marsh Wren, and 11 Black Rails at 7 points. Black Rails detections on CALO were restricted to the high marsh habitat on the northern end of North Core Banks. 6 detections were recorded at three points. Detections at 3 points result in a raw occupancy of 1.37%
On Conditional Reasons
No full textImagine that you are choosing between two options, A and B, and you judge A to be a better option than B. Before finalizing your choice, I add in a third option: C. You hate C’s, so you immediately exclude it from consideration. Clearly, you rationally ought to choose A over B, right? Not necessarily. There have been many famous cases in Ethics and Decision Theory in which agents can rationally make choices that resemble the choice above. In each of these cases, the addition of the alternative C changes the context such that the agent can rationally switch his or her preferences over A and B. In this paper, I want to argue that there are also cases in which the exclusion of the alternative C from consideration presents new reasons that justify a preference change. Cases involving such reasons, which I have called “Conditional Reasons,” can be used to advance conversations of conditional obligations in Ethics and certain axioms within Decision Theory. In this paper, I defend the existence of conditional reasons and use them to build on what I take to be our best accounts of how we make judgements about conditional statuses. I conclude with a brief argument as to why we might reject the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives in decision theory, on the grounds that such an axiom cannot make sense of conditional reasons.PhilosophyBachelors of Arts (BA
Beyond June: (Re)Visiting Sorority/Fraternity Messages About LGBTQ+ Identities and Issues from 2020 - 2021
No full textIn this critical discourse analysis (CDA), we examine 140 inter/national social sorority and fraternity organizations and their messages– and lack thereof–regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) identities and issues. Just 1.24% (507) of total posts (40,778) during 2020-2021 were about LGBTQ+ identities and issues. Despite the immense increase in LGBTQ+ recognition for most sororities and fraternities during Pride Month (June), CDA allowed us a criticality of these messages, both within and outside of Pride Month. Recommendations include being explicit about “LGBTQ+” framing, and also call for continued research to understand how organizations and members engage online
Materials Characterization for Microwave Atom Chip Development
No full textThis thesis describes research to characterize materials to be implemented on a microwave atom trap chip, which will be able to trap and spatially manipulate atoms using the spin-specific microwave AC Zeeman effect. Potential applications of this research include atom-based interferometry and quantum computing. Namely, this thesis describes the characterization of the following: (1) the dielectric constant of a well-characterized substrate, Rogers RO4350B, in order to provide proof-of-concept for a method that can be applied to the chip’s substrate, aluminum nitride (AlN), (2) the maximum current that will be able to be applied to the chip, and (3) surface roughness and quality of cuts of samples to be utilized in creating the chip. In the broader context of the ultracold atom research in the Aubin Lab, characterizing these materials will be a major engineering milestone toward developing the chip. The next step of this research is to characterize the loss tangent of RO3450B. Then, a microwave-to-chip coupler to effectively insert microwaves onto a chip made from AlN is to be developed in order to apply the dielectric constant and loss tangent measurement methods to aluminum nitride. Finally, using the results of this research, fabrication and testing of the microwave atom trap chip itself will begin.PhysicsBachelors of Science (BS
The Book of Ruth: Between Story and History, Between Sacred and Secular (or, Scripture for the Pew’s Jews)
No full textTerror Management Theory in International Relations: Vladimir Putin and Slobodan Milosevic
No full textThis thesis outlines Terror Management Theory as a psychological motive measure that can be used to study leaders in international relations. This descriptive piece analyzes Putin and Milosevic as leaders who are possible case studies for further research regarding Terror Management Theory. The case studies focus on early childhood, political career, and present decisions through the frame of worldview preservation and self-esteem-bolstering actions. The conclusions of this piece suggest that individual backgrounds matter and can potentially illuminate the decisions made by leaders in the long run.International RelationsBachelors of Arts (BA
In Relation to Speciesism
No full textFormat: Multimedia zine Abstract: "In Relation to Speciesism" is a multi-media zine reflecting on the socializing effect animals have on children, gender, and identity. Utilizing personal narration, the zine questions the institution of speciesism's role in a variety of realms, including pet ownership and loss, the creation of 'pest' narratives, and eating ethically. While speciesism has the obvious justice implications on non-humans, that is not where it ends; speciesism also functions to support and exacerbate sexism, racism, and ableism. "In Relation to Speciesism" invites readers to view themselves and other animals they interact with every day in a new light
The Uninvited Host: Goa and the Parties not Meant for its People
Get PDFDespite its history as a favored destination for hippies from the West in the 1960s and 1970s, present-day party tourism in Goa largely attracts Indian travelers. This is a product of the post-1990s liberalization of the Indian economy, coupled with the exoticization of Goa, which has rendered it a pleasure periphery to the subcontinent. Such difference, and attraction, occurs because, unlike most of the rest of the India that annexed Goa, the region was a Portuguese colony until 1961. Goa’s Lusitanization suggests a more liberal milieu, social gatherings with music and dancing being commonplace culturally, for example. While tourism has become an economic mainstay in Goa, the party economy pays little heed to Goans and their culture, treating the land as a place where fun is paramount and local concerns, including environmental ones, are sidelined.Englis
