In June 2010 an urban fox (Vulpes vulpes) attacked twin baby girls in their bedroom in Hackney, East London. The story made national newspaper headlines for weeks to follow and elicited commentary from concerned city-dwellers, pest controllers, foxhunters, politicians, scientists and animal protectionists. Many considered urban foxes a growing menace, branding them overabundant, out of place and more aggressive than their rural counterparts. Hunters pointed to the ban on hunting with dogs as a possible cause of a supposed explosion in the urban fox population and as a manifestation of urban ignorance regarding wildlife management. Others defended the foxes' place in the city and warned against knee-jerk reactions to one-off incidents. However, the response from many public and political figures to media reports of fox attacks was to call for urgent action on what is ostensibly a problem of animal behaviour. This thesis examines the urban fox attack phenomenon as a form of moral panic. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of a large sample of tabloid and broadsheet national newspaper articles, as well as a selection of television documentaries, pest control industry publications and lobby group materials spanning five years (2009–2014), is used to track the emergence and development of this moral panic and to examine how it is tied to anxieties surrounding not only human/animal relations in urban space, but also human social conflict more widely. In so doing, the thesis contributes a new perspective to the study of moral panics by reflecting on the implications for moral panic theory of ‘bringing animals in’.

Wonder Woman is seen as the embodiment of feminism in the comic world and her placement as the secretary of the Justice Society of America is seen as a crime against her character. Many blame Gardner Fox for this decision, but I argue that accusing him of sexism is an oversimplification. My work seeks to fill in the lack of knowledge regarding his writing of Wonder Woman and restore his name. While scholars are right to be attentive to the use of demeaning stereotypes that have long been used to keep women from access to power, the way in which Gardner Fox wrote Wonder Woman, conveys a sense of respect for women and their contributions to society in general; therefore, assertions that he is a sexist are not only misleading but inappropriately degrading the work of a man who was trying to accurately represent the women he saw around him.

During the summer of 1968 a gravity survey was conducted over the Fox* Glacier, Yukon Territory, for the purpose of finding ice depths. Choice of the Fox Glacier was as a result of its predicted surge, and the survey was part of a long-term analysis of the physical condition of the glacier. Although seismic sounding was attempted, the thinness of the glacier prevented successful results. Analysis of the gravity measurements indicated 88m as the maximum depth; comparison with depths from three drilled holes showed that the gravity results were not seriously in error. A small near-surface temperature program was completed and the results identify the Fox as a sub-polar glacier. *This is not an officially accepted name. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Water is essential to life. Three general forms of water exist: pre-formed water that is available in food, metabolic water that is created as a byproduct of life processes (e.g., metabolism of fat or breakdown of carbohydrates), and free water (i.e., water available for drinking). As humans settle arid environments, the addition of man-made free water sources (e.g., sewage ponds, catchment ponds) often occurs. In addition, a tool commonly used to increase the abundance or distribution of wildlife species in desert environments is the addition of water sources, usually specifically designed to benefit game species like bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar). In recent decades, some scientists have argued that adding water sources to deserts may have little to no effect on desert species because they are adapted to living in desert conditions, and have thus evolved to obtain their water needs in preformed and/or metabolic form. Scientists have also suggested that adding water sources to desert environments may actually harm some individual species and alter the arraignments of groups of similarly related species, known as communities. I conducted four studies at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground to determine if man-made water sources have an influence on the rodent community, jackrabbits, and the canid community at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. I found that turning off water sources had no effect on abundance of rodent communities or jackrabbits. I found that a portion of coyotes used water sources and coyotes were only slightly less common near water sources once they were turned off. In addition, a portion of coyotes rarely or never drink from water sources and that coyotes did not leave their territories if water sources accessible to them were turned off. My final study revealed that turning off water sources did not influence kit fox survival or abundance, and that kit fox territories differed from areas associated with water sources in several key environmental characterizes, which may suggest that areas associated with water sources were not historically used by kit foxes. In summary, these findings suggest that water developments have little impact on the species that I studied.

Human population growth and development reduce the area and quality of natural communities and lead to a reduction of populations of the species associated with them. Certain species can be useful indicators or "focal species" for determining the quality of ecosystem remnants and the required management practices. Tree squirrels are good models for studies on the effects of fragmentation because they depend on mature forests. The Big Cypress fox squirrel, (Sciurus niger avicennia), a state-listed Threatened subspecies endemic to south Florida, appears sensitive to habitat fragmentation and fire regime. This research aims to assess the conservation status of the Big Cypress fox squirrel. I documented the current distribution of the fox squirrel by obtaining and mapping occurrence records and through interviews with biologists and other field personnel of public land-managing agencies, and private landowners including golf course managers. Transect sampling was used to survey and sample natural areas and private lands to evaluate the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of fox squirrels. Natural areas and suburban areas appear to support Big Cypress fox squirrels, but individuals are widely distributed and only found in low numbers throughout southwest Florida. The distribution of fox squirrel populations depends on land use and understory height, but not the size of trees. Fire suppression has resulted in a dense understory in large portions of parks and preserve lands, which is unsuitable for fox squirrels.

Prior literature has identified several simultaneously occurring trends: namely, sharply intensifying negative partisanship, partisan patterns of media trust, increasingly partisan content on cable news networks, and increased viewership of these networks. A large portion of this literature, as well as journalistic research, has predominantly focused on individuals' consumption, rather than trust, of particular political media sources. I explore to what degree the nature of how individuals are consuming partisan media (be it trustingly, skeptically, etc.) plays a role in the relationship between partisan media consumption and partisan sentiment. Using OLS regression models across three ANES samples, I test the relationship between individuals' viewership and trust levels of particular partisan cable news sources (Fox News and MSNBC) and corresponding partisan sentiment, taking into account individuals' own partisan leanings. I find those who consume like-minded partisan media to express more partisanship (both for their own political group and against the other). I additionally find that trust, as opposed to just viewership, of these partisan networks correlates strongly with partisan sentiment. In light of these findings, I conclude that future research on this topic should more clearly distinguish between trust and viewership of political media. / Master of Arts / Over the last two decades, surging mass political polarization has occurred simultaneously with a strikingly more segmented and increasingly partisan news media landscape. A large portion of research on this topic, both academic and journalistic, has focused exclusively on individuals' viewership or consumption levels of particular media sources. Relying solely on consumption does not take into account the trust levels that individuals have in what they are consuming. In this study, I explore to what degree the nature of how individuals are consuming partisan media (be it trustingly, skeptically, etc.) plays a role in the relationship between partisan media consumption and partisan feelings. Utilizing multiple American National Election Studies samples, I test the relationship between individuals' viewership and trust levels of particular partisan cable news sources (Fox News and MSNBC) and corresponding partisan sentiment, taking into account individuals' own partisan leanings. I find those who consume like-minded partisan media (Republicans watching Fox News and Democrats watching MSNBC) to express increased levels of partisanship - both for their own political group and against the other. I additionally find a strong relationship between individuals' trust, as opposed to just viewership, of these partisan networks and their own partisan feelings. In light of these findings, I conclude that future research on this topic should more clearly distinguish between trust and viewership of political media.

High arsenic concentrations (>100 ppb) have been measured in wells completed in the Ordovician St. Peter sandstone aquifer of eastern Wisconsin. The primary source of arsenic is As-bearing sulfide minerals within the aquifer. There is concern that periodic disinfection of wells by chlorination may facilitate arsenic release to groundwater by increasing the rate of sulfide mineral oxidation. Current guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recommends a "low-dose" treatment of 20% of the chlorine strength and 10% of the of the contact time of chlorine treatments used in non-arsenic impacted wells for well disinfection and biofilm removal. In order to provide information pertaining to WDNR's recommendations, St. Peter sulfide minerals were reacted with a range of chlorine "shock-treatments" similar to those occurring in wells. This study focuses on abiotic processes that mobilize arsenic from the solid phase during controlled exposure to chlorinated solutions. Thin sections were made from aquifer material collected at Leonard's Michael quarry, located in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Bulk arsenic content of this material was measured as 674 ppm. Quantitative EPMA analysis shows As zoning in pyrite grains with concentrations up to 1 wt. % As. After mineral characterization, the thin sections were exposed to solutions of 60 mg/L "free chlorine," 1200 mg/L "free chlorine," and nanopure water (control) at pH 7.0 and pH 8.5 for 24 hours. Thin sections were then analyzed to measure changes in the pyrite surfaces. For solution experiments, aquifer material was crushed to between 250 μm and 355 μm mesh sizes (S.A. ~ 50 cm2/g – 60 cm2/g, Foust et al. 1980) and reacted under the same conditions as the thin sections in a batch reactor. Solution samples were collected periodically during the 24 hour exposure and analyzed for arsenic, iron, and sulfate ion. Pyrite oxidation is shown to dramatically increase with increasing chlorine concentrations as shown by measurements of released sulfate ion, used here as the reaction progress variable. EPMA maps also reveal complete oxidation of pyrite cements to Fe-oxyhydroxides at 1200 mg/L "free chlorine" and pH 7.0. This behavior does not occur at lower concentrations or higher pH. Arsenic release to solution does not appear to be directly correlated to increasing chlorine concentrations, but is governed by Fe-oxyhydroxide nucleation, which inhibits the release of dissolved arsenic at higher concentrations of chlorine. / Master of Science

<p>Uppsatsen tar upp Arne Naess djupekologi. Den undersöker djupekologins struktur och vilka krav som ställs på en teori för att den skall vara en djupekologi. Uppsatsen tar även upp skillnader mellan djupekologi och grundekologi på en praktisk nivå. Uppsatsen behandlar Warwick Fox kritik rörande djupet i djupekologin och Arne Naess svar på den kritiken. Författaren till uppsatsen finner att Fox kritik inte är helt träffande och att Naess svar på kritiken är för svag.</p> / <p>This paper discusses Arne Naess’ theory of deep ecology. It investigates the structure of deep ecology and what conditions a theory has to fulfil to be a deep ecology. The paper demonstrates differences between deep ecology and shallow ecology on a practical level. The paper presents a criticism put forward by Warwick Fox which focuses on the deepness of deep ecology, and an answer from Arne Naess on this criticism. The author of this paper finds Fox’ criticism not quite convincing, and that Naess’ answer is too weak.</p>

Uppsatsen tar upp Arne Naess djupekologi. Den undersöker djupekologins struktur och vilka krav som ställs på en teori för att den skall vara en djupekologi. Uppsatsen tar även upp skillnader mellan djupekologi och grundekologi på en praktisk nivå. Uppsatsen behandlar Warwick Fox kritik rörande djupet i djupekologin och Arne Naess svar på den kritiken. Författaren till uppsatsen finner att Fox kritik inte är helt träffande och att Naess svar på kritiken är för svag. / This paper discusses Arne Naess’ theory of deep ecology. It investigates the structure of deep ecology and what conditions a theory has to fulfil to be a deep ecology. The paper demonstrates differences between deep ecology and shallow ecology on a practical level. The paper presents a criticism put forward by Warwick Fox which focuses on the deepness of deep ecology, and an answer from Arne Naess on this criticism. The author of this paper finds Fox’ criticism not quite convincing, and that Naess’ answer is too weak.

L'objet de cette thèse est l'étude de la sélection des structures transverses stationnaires dans les lasers. Nous nous attachons à décrire expérimentalement et à expliquer numériquement à l'aide d'une méthode de type Fox--Li les observations de modes transverses qui peuvent être réalisées dans un laser à état solide pompé longitudinalement. Ainsi, nous sommes amenés à explorer en profondeur le comportement des cavités non--dégénérées dans différentes situations de pompage, ainsi que les notions de dégénérescence exacte et de dégénérescence partielle. Nous sommes également amenés à étudier, bien que de manière assez qualitative, le rôle important des effets thermiques dans la formation des modes transverses dans les zones de dégénérescence de la cavité. Ces questions ont fait l'objet de multiples investigations depuis l'avènement du laser, mais nous mettons toutefois en évidence que de sérieux problèmes d'interprétations d'observations expérimentales persistent dans la littérature scientifique contemporaine. Une idée fausse assez répandue stipule par exemple qu'il est possible d'exciter un mode Laguerre--Gauss ou Ince--Gauss d'ordre élevé en utilisant un faisceau de pompe suffisamment petit afin qu'il recouvre parfaitement le lobe principal du mode visé. Nous montrons analytiquement, numériquement et vérifions expérimentalement que ceci est impossible dans une situation non--dégénérée, et expliquons comment certaines observations réalisées proches d'une dégénérescence peuvent contribuer à propager cette idée erronée. Bien que le modèle que nous utilisons n'élude pas les questions importantes concernant le rôle de la dynamique temporelle dans la formation des modes transverses dans un laser, sa pertinence réside dans sa simplicité et sa capacité à reproduire de manière très satisfaisante toutes les observations expérimentales. Ainsi, toutes les observations de modes transverses qu'il est possible de réaliser dans un laser peuvent être comprises à travers ce modèle, qui ne nécessite comme ingrédients principaux qu'une cavité, un gain saturé, des effets thermiques et éventuellement des effets de diaphragme. De plus, le modèle simple que nous présentons peut s'étendre sans difficulté à l'étude de cavités instables ou de cavités à miroirs asphériques qui offrent des possibilités nouvelles pour l'excitation de modes transverses originaux. / The main concern of this thesis is the selection of stationary transverse structures in lasers. Throughout the manuscript, we get involved into describing the observations that can be realized in a longitudinally pumped solid--state laser, from both experimental and numerical perspectives using Fox--Li simulations. We explore in detail, on the one hand, the particular behavior of non--degenerate cavities in various pumping situations, and on the other hand the exact and partial degeneracy situations. We also investigate the very influential role played by thermal effects concerning the formation of transverse structures in degeneracy regions, although this study is limited to a more qualitative description. These problems have been of great interest since the early development of laser, however we show in this manuscript that the contemporary scientific litterature still suffers from misinterpretations concerning experimental observations of transverse modes that can occur in lasers. For instance, there still remains the widespread belief that it is possible to excite a high-order Laguerre--Gaussian or Ince--Gaussian mode by strongly focusing the pump beam inside the active medium so that it matches the principal lobe of the targeted mode. We demonstrate analytically, numerically and experimentally that this idea is unfounded and show how some experiments that occur near a cavity degeneracy are misleading and can contribute to spread this misconception. Even if the model we use is unable to deal with some very significant issues concerning the mode formation in the time domain and the build--up of the laser oscillation, we believe that its strength lies into its simplicity and its ability to reproduce every experimental observation in a very accurate way. Hence, we managed to explain and interpret all the experimental observations we have realized given a very few assumptions including the presence of a cavity, a saturated gain, thermal effects and eventually diaphragm effects. Moreover, the simple model that we present can be extended without any difficulty to the case of unstable resonators, or to resonators built from graded--phase mirrors which offer new possibilities towards the excitation of original transverse modes.