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Dolphin Behavioral Responses to Uncrewed Aerial Systems as a Function of Exposure, Height, and Type
Get PDFUncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are becoming a standard tool in the study of cetaceans, however, a comparative assessment of animal responses to UAS has not been established to gauge the most effective systems for cetacean study. We utilized Dolphin Quest Bermuda’s eleven bottlenose dolphins as subjects for such an investigation taking place over five weeks in 2022 and five weeks in 2023. The dolphins were evaluated for investigative behavioral responses to six off-the-shelf UAS types and a custom fixed wing system. Each UAS was flown in decreasing height vertically above the main dolphin lagoon to evaluate dolphin behavioral responses in terms of number of looks and duration of submersion. We evaluated dolphin responses to UASs as a function of UAS type, height, and flight number. Results indicated that UASs with a large visual and noise profile generated high behavioral responses from the dolphins. In terms of UAS height, dolphin submersion duration decreases as height decreases, but that individual subject seems to be a strong overall predictor of responses. Also, we found evidence for habituation to the UASs over successive flights. Together these data support the idea that dolphins are best studied with small rotary UAS consistently in a population over time to allow for habituation
Effectiveness of 2016 Watershed Protection Plan on Bacteria and Nutrient Concentration Loads in the Attoyac Bayou Watershed
Get PDFIn 2004, bacteria and nutrient sampling on the Attoyac Bayou Watershed discovered elevated concentrations of E. coli on five of the main channels key tributary streams. The Attoyac Bayou was then listed on the Texas 303d list of impaired waterbodies and further research was conducted to identify the main sources of contamination in the waterbody. In 2016, the Attoyac Bayou Watershed Plan (WPP) was developed to implement best management practices (BMPs) that would decrease bacteria and nutrient concentrations in the watershed. Educational outreach programs, on-site-sewage facility repair, and livestock management were some of the strategies suggested by the protection plan that sought to decrease bacteria across the watershed. Monthly water quality sampling on five sampling locations across the watershed has been conducted from 2010 to 2022 to monitor changes in water quality and quantity. Data from 2010 to 2022 were separated into pre-implementation plan and post-implementation plan periods in order to determine the effectiveness of these strategies in lowering bacteria and nutrient concentrations. E. coli concentrations currently remain elevated above the primary contact standard of 126 CFU/100mL when data from all five sampling sites are compared. On a per site basis, there was no significant change in E. coli concentrations in four of the five sampling sites. Concentrations at the fifth sampling location, Waffelow Creek, increased significantly. Waffelow Creek also had the greatest increase in the frequency of E. coli concentrations violating the standard of 126 cfu/100ml, with 53% of samples violating the standard during the pre-WPP period and 86.5% of samples violating the standard in the post-WPP period. Continued water quality monitoring is required in order to more accurately assess the efficacy of the Watershed Protection Plan and address potential sources of contamination from Waffelow Creek across time and weather conditions. Due to higher post-WPP period streamflow rates, annual mass loading of E. coli increased significantly in the post-WPP period on the three largest sub-watersheds (Attoyac, Big Iron Ore Creek, and Naconiche Creek) indicating that additional monitoring is warranted for these watersheds as well
Modifying the Composition of a High Temperature Superconductor
Get PDFThe purpose of this research was to recreate a known superconductor, YBa2Cu3Ox, and modify it in an attempt to raise its transition temperature. A superconductor is any material that excludes magnetic flux from its interior when at a temperature below its transition temperature. A “high temperature” superconductor refers to material that shows superconductivity at or above the temperature of liquid nitrogen temperatures (77.15K).
Here we were successful in reproducing the original YBa2Cu3Ox and measuring its critical temperature; However, our efforts at raising the transition temperature have, as of yet, not been successful. The processes for fabricating these superconductors are explained here
Not \u27Fit in More,\u27 I Would Say \u27Stand Out Less\u27: Dialogical Learning with a Filipino-American High School Student in a Predominantly White High School: A Case Study
Get PDFThis piece seeks to amplify the voice of Jamie: a Filipino-American student in a predominantly White high school. Through a series of dialogues, the researcher seeks to take an intentional, purposeful step toward uncovering how Jamie\u27s understanding of her school\u27s cultural makeup influences her education, her self-conception, and her identity.
Through a series of qualitative interviews, the researcher seeks to value the singularity of Jamie\u27s experience while, alternatively, taking note of how a better knowledge of her circumstances lends insight into the nuanced educational experiences of minority students in predominantly White schools. Using Shields\u27s (2004) dialogical leadership for social justice as a framework, this study positions—to the extent that it is possible—the student and researcher on an equal plane as learners, equal partners in pedagogy and learning.
The study seeks to answer the following questions: To what extent does a first-generation American high school student who is not part of her school’s dominant culture identify with, or feel included/excluded by this culture? What effect does this identification, inclusion, or exclusion have on her education?
To answer these research questions, the researcher uses as evidence a series of interviews conducted with Jamie. Her commentaries revealed several findings: disparate extents to which she felt included and excluded from dominant culture-sharing at home as opposed to her life at school, disparate regard for Tagalog and Ilocano language fluency according to different contexts, teachers’ lack of culturally responsive pedagogy, and several additional themes that transcended her home, her workplace, and her academic pursuits. The study finishes with the researcher\u27s reflection
Factors Associated with Resilience among MSW Students in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFCOVID-19 continues to affect the general population, and its impact on MSW students is unknown. Therefore, this study aims to examine resilience, attachment, and other mental health constructs among MSW students during COVID-19. U.S. MSW program directors were emailed the electronic surveys to distribute to their MSW students. Authors evaluated the bivariate relationship between the variables and conducted a multiple hierarchical regression predicting resilience. The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of resilience have lower levels of depression and PTSD. Finally, attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and self-efficacy were statistically significant predictors of resilience in the hierarchical regression. This study adds to the literature on how MSW students have been impacted by COVID-19 stressors and the role resilience, self-efficacy, and attachment styles have in terms of mental health outcomes during the pandemic. These results are important when considering interventions to assist MSW students during and after the pandemic, especially regarding stress reduction and student success
A Comparison of Investing Strategies for Individual Investors
Get PDFObjective: I compared the performance of three trading strategies to identify if one of them leads to higher ending wealth for the investor
Professional Development as an Opportunity to Enhance Your Praxis
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of participating in two different professional developments on enhancing praxis. The first professional development focused on skill-building while the second focused on reflective practice. Results indicate that both professional developments were effective in enhancing praxis, but the reflective practice approach had a greater impact on sustained improvement. These findings suggest that a combination of skill-building and reflective practice can be an effective approach to professional development for enhancing praxis
Detection of Carbamazepine, Diclofenac, and Ketoprofen Via a SPE-HPLC-PDA Method in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in East Texas, USA
Get PDFPharmaceutical compounds are introduced into the environment and may pose adverse environmental and human health effects. The sources of pharmaceuticals include sewage, animal waste, and/or improper disposal from homes and hospitals. In this study, the spectroscopic, and chromatographic properties of carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DF), and ketoprofen (KT) were analyzed by using UV-Vis, fluorescence and HPLC. Via UV-VIS spectroscopy, CBZ, DF, and KT exhibited absorption peaks at 285 nm, 284 nm and 255.6 nm, respectively. The determined fluorescence quantum yield (Ff) for CBZ, DF, and KT were Ff = 0.226, 0.287, and 0.327, respectively. Retention times was observed at 3.84 (CBZ), 4.84 (KT), and 9.84 (DF) min. The removal efficiencies is in the range 8.8% (KT) to 39.2% (CBZ). This study is useful for the quantitation of these pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants and possible risks