Abstract Computer hobbyists as a new, technology-based subculture constitute a challenging and nuanced educational research area. The goals of this particular research are the following: a) to describe computer hobbyist in general, b) to examine the self-image of computer enthusiasts and its connection to Hacker's Ethic (Himanen 2001), c) to analyze the interconnection between computing as a hobby and school success of computer enthusiasts, and d) to explore possible differences among identity groups of computers enthusiasts in general level and/or in school success. Information society, youth culture, and social psychological self-theories make up the theoretical framework for the research problem. The main theoretical starting points for this research arise from Manuel Castell's theory of informational society. Furthermore, juvenile-subculture analysis made by Heiskanen & Mitchell, as well as Mead and other sociopsychological interpretations of origin and development of self are important elements of the theoretical frame. Hackers Ethic will build synthesis for triangulation of views. This research can be described as an multimethodical combination of quantitative and qualitative research. A sample of 274 participants emerged from 4500 computer enthusiasts during a four-day Assembly 2002 -computer party in Helsinki. Data collection was performed by using questionnaire, interviews and observation. Statistical information was analyzed with SPSS-software, and interview transcripts were subjected to content analysis. Also included in the data were observation diaries of main personal remarks made by researcher. Findings evidence that the typical computer enthusiast in the study was a 19-year old male who had been involved in computing more than 10 years. Among the hobbyists, males spend weekly circa 33 hours with computers, and females about 25 hours. Five self-image models of computer enthusiasts were discovered. In seven values included to Hacker's Ethic, passion and activity comes true in high level among computer devotees. With regard to computer hobbyists in school, a positive correlation between activeness in computing and school success was discovered. Those who spend more than 40 hours weekly with computers get significally (p < 0.01) better grades in english language (second language) and computing, compared to others. Almost significally (p < 0.05) better results among hobbyists were achieved in mean value of all school subjects, in mathematics and in shop and significally (p < 0.001) weaker results in sports. Results derived from this sample may be generalized in select populations only. Results do open some new and interesting views in computing as a hobby, as well as in the development of an information society, youth culture and research of self-image. Results are meaningful in theoretical practice, as well as in practical implementations and offer implications regarding student individuality, the self-knowledge of computer devotees, general leisure activities of young adults and parenting. / Tiivistelmä Teknologian käyttöön perustuvana alakulttuurina tietokoneharrastajat muodostavat haastavan ja monivivahteisen kasvatustieteellisen tutkimusalueen. Tämän tutkimuksen tehtävänä on a) kuvailla tietokoneharrastajaa yleisellä tasolla, b) tarkastella tietokoneharrastajan minäkuvaa ja sen yhteyttä Himasen (2001) laatimaan hakkerietiikkaan, c) analysoida tietokoneharrastuksen ja koulumenestyksen välistä yhteyttä, sekä d) tutkia eroavatko tietokoneharrastajien identiteettiryhmät toisistaan yleisten ominaisuuksien ja/tai koulumenestyksen suhteen. Teoreettisessa viitekehyksessä tutkimusongelmia tarkastellaan informaatioyhteiskunnan, nuorisokulttuurin sekä sosiaalipsykologisten minäteorioiden näkökulmista. Tutkimuksen keskeisiä teoreettisia lähtökohtia ovat Manuel Castellsin teoria informaatioyhteiskunnasta sekä hänen näkemyksensä 'identiteetin' käsitteestä, Heiskasen ja Mitchellin analyysi nuorten alakulttuureista sekä Meadin ja muiden sosiaalipsykologien tulkinta minän synnystä ja kehityksestä. Synteesi eri tarkastelukulmille muodostuu Himasen laatimasta hakkerietiikasta. Käsillä olevan tutkimuksen tutkimusstrategia on monimenetelmällinen kvantitatiivisen ja kvalitatiivisen tutkimusstrategian yhdistelmä. Noin 4500 tietokoneharrastajan perusjoukosta kerättiin otos (N = 274) neljä vuorokautta kestäneen Assembly 2002 -tapahtuman aikana Helsingissä. Tiedonhankintamenetelmiä olivat kyselylomake, haastattelut sekä observointi. Tilastoaineisto analysoitiin SPSS-ohjelmistolla ja litteroidut haastattelut analysoitiin sisällönanalyysin keinoin. Observointipäiväkirjaan kirjattiin tutkijan keskeiset omakohtaiset havainnot. Tulosten perusteella tyypillinen tietokoneharrastaja on noin 19-vuotias poika, joka on harrastanut tietokoneita yli 10 vuoden ajan. Tietokoneen parissa pojat viettivät viikoittain noin 33 tuntia ja tytöt 25 tuntia. Tutkimuksessa voitiin erottaa pääkomponenttianalyysin avulla viisi tietokoneharrastajia kuvaavaa minäkuvamallia. Hakkerietiikan seitsemästä arvosta intohimo ja aktiivisuus toteutuvat tietokoneharrastajien keskuudessa erittäin hyvin. Tietokoneharrastajat menestyvät yleensä koulussa hyvin. Harrastusaktiivisuus on yhteydessä koulumenestykseen siten, että yli 40 t viikossa tietotekniikkaa harrastavien koulumenestys englannin kielessä sekä tietotekniikassa oli tilastollisesti merkitsevästi (p < 0,01) parempi kuin vähemmän harrastavien. Tilastollisesti melkein merkitsevästi (p < 0,05) parempia tuloksia he saavuttivat kaikkien aineiden sekä lukuaineiden keskiarvoissa, matematiikassa sekä teknisessä / tekstiilityössä. Tilastollisesti erittäin merkitsevästi (p < 0,001) heikompia he olivat liikunnassa. Otoksen tuottamat tulokset ovat yleistettävissä ainoastaan valikoituneeseen populaatioon. Tutkimustulokset avaavat mielenkiintoisia uusia näkökulmia tietokoneharrastukseen, informaatioyhteiskunnan ja nuorisokulttuurin kehittymiseen sekä minäkuvatutkimukseen. Tutkimustuloksilla voidaan nähdä olevan niin teoreettista merkitystä kuin käytännön implikaatioita opettajan oppilaantuntemuksen, oppilaiden yksilöllisyyden huomioinnin, tietokoneharrastajan itsetuntemuksen sekä harrastustoiminnan ja kotikasvatuksen kehittämisen kannalta.

Feeding selectivity by the rainbow mussel (Villosa iris) was examined for three age groups; 2-3 days old, 50-53 days old, and 3-6 years old. The mussels were fed an algal diet consisting of Scenedesmus quadricauda (22.3 - 44.5 μm), Nannochloropsis oculata (2.8 – 8.1 μm), and Selenastrum capricornutum (3.6 – 8.5 μm) in equal cell densities. The change in relative abundance of each algal species within feeding chambers over a 5 hr feeding trial was used to discern selectivity. At the conclusion of the feeding trials, the gut contents of mussels were analyzed for preferential ingestion. The mussels selected for N. oculata and S. capricornutum over S. quadricauda (p < 0.05). This may be an indication of particle size-dependent selection. Feeding trials also suggest that selectivity by the rainbow mussel does not change with age. Gut content analyses showed a preferential ingestion of algae, in the sequence N. oculata, S. capricornutum, then S. quadricauda. The suitability of two algal diets, S. quadricauda and N. oculata, for rearing captive juveniles of V. iris in 145-L recirculating culture systems was compared. Juveniles were fed their assigned diet at a density rate of approximately 30,000 cells/ml for 42 days, and sampled weekly for percent survival and shell length. Regardless of diet, juvenile survival decreased rapidly after 21 days, and growth did not exceed approximately 450 μm. High mortality rates and slow growth of juveniles was likely due to inadequate diets. Juveniles that were fed S. quadricauda lacked chlorophyll coloration in their guts, indicating that the juveniles did not ingest this species of algae. Colonies of S. quadricauda were likely too large for the juveniles to ingest. The gut content of juveniles fed N. oculata showed chlorophyll coloration, indicating that the juveniles ingested this species, but N. oculata may have been difficult for the juveniles to assimilate. Under the culture conditions provided, survival and growth did not compare favorably to those of other studies with V. iris. Newly metamorphosed juveniles of V. iris were reared in 145-L recirculating culture systems containing sediment (< 600 μm) of two depths, 5 mm and 15 mm. Mussels were fed a bi-algal diet of Nannochloropsis oculata and Neochloris oleoabundans. Survival differed significantly between treatments (p=0.04), and was higher for juveniles reared in 5 mm of sediment over a 40-day period. Growth was not significantly different between treatments. After 40 days, juveniles achieved a mean length of approximately 578 μm in both treatments. Survival and growth of juveniles compared favorably to those of other culture studies using juveniles of V. iris. A shallow layer of sediment is recommended for the culture of juvenile mussels. / Master of Science

Epioblasma capsaeformis, commonly named the oyster mussel, once occupied thousands of miles of stream reaches, but has now been reduced in range to small, isolated populations in a few river reaches. Due to this significant decline in population numbers, a study was conducted to develop a diet for propagating this endangered species under captive conditions. Oyster mussel juveniles were collected from several sites on the Clinch River and sacrificed for gut content and biochemical composition analyses in summer. Feces and pseudofeces from live river-collected juveniles were examined seasonally for algae, detritus, and bacteria to qualitatively determine diet of specimens. Two feeding trials also were conducted in this study to evaluate effect of diet (commercial and non-commercial diets), on growth and survival of oyster mussel juveniles. From examination of gut contents, fecal and pseudofecal samples, it was apparent that algae and a significant amount of detritus (~90%) composed wild juvenile diets. E. capsaeformis juveniles (1-3 y of age) could have fed on particles up to 20 µm in size and seemed they were mostly ingesting particles within the 1.5-12 µm size range. Protein content of sacrificed juveniles ranged from 313 to 884 mg/g and was highly variable. Glycogen content ranged from 49-171 mg/g. Caloric content of four juveniles ranged from 2,935.10 to 4,287.94 cal/g, providing a preliminary baseline range for future energetic studies on freshwater mussels. Growth was significantly higher in those juveniles fed the triple concentration algae-mix (62,076 cells/ml) than all other diets tested in trial 1. Results of both feeding trials indicated that survival of juvenile oyster mussels was enhanced when fed an algal diet supplemented by bioflocs. / Master of Science

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA), located in Tennessee and Kentucky, has prepared a management plan to include restoration of its mussel fauna to historic levels. Restoration activities include propagation of juvenile mussels and relocation of adults to suitable sites in the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River (BSF) and its tributaries. This study was conducted to identify host fish for Cumberland elktoe (Alasmidonta atropurpurea) and Cumberland bean (Villosa trabalis), to determine suitable juvenile culture conditions for Epioblasma brevidens and V. trabalis, and to locate sites important to future mussel restoration efforts in the NRRA. Host fish identifications and propagation techniques were determined for two of the endangered species in the NRRA, Cumberland elktoe (Alasmidonta atropurpurea) and Cumberland bean (Villosa trabalis). Of seven host species tested, banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae) was the most suitable host fish for propagation of A. atropurpurea. Of five host species tested, fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare) were the most suitable host fish for propagation of V. trabalis. Culture techniques to raise juvenile mussels in captivity were evaluated, using newly metamorphosed juveniles of V. trabalis and E. brevidens in recirculating systems. No differences in juvenile growth or survival were detected among substrates used (fine sediment, coarse sand, and a mixture of the two). Recirculating system design seemed to affect juvenile growth and survival; however, variable condition of juveniles also seemed to affect results, making it difficult to determine effects from trial treatments. Finally, an assessment of potential sites in the NRRA for restoration activities was conducted using spatial analysis in a geographic information system (GIS) and several measures of conservation value. Mussel restoration sites were assessed for potential threats from adjacent land uses that may negatively affect mussels, including coal mines, oil and gas wells, transportation corridors, agriculture and urban development. Sites were also evaluated on their current conservation value to designate which sites are most important to long-term maintenance of mussel fauna. Several sites were identified that contain relatively few land-use threats, and are appropriate for mussel restoration activities, including Big Island, Station Camp Creek, and Parchcorn Creek sites on the mainstem BSF, as well as sites on Clear Fork and North White Oak Creek. Many of these sites also have high conservation values. Other sites had relatively high land-use threats that need to be addressed before restoration activities take place. Such sites include Leatherwood Ford, Rough Shoals Branch, Blue Heron, and Yamacraw on the mainstem BSF. The dominant threat to most sites came from transportation corridors, whereas some sites in southern and eastern portions of the watershed also were threatened by coal mines, and oil and gas wells. / Master of Science