title: Does odour complexity alter the influence of intermittent reinforcement on dogs' scent detection performance?

authors: Parker , Chloë

abstract: Scent detection work exists in many fields such as medical research/diagnostics and law enforcement, in which canines have proven success in detecting biological and non-biological scents. Their olfactory capabilities allow them to detect trained odours while ignoring nontrained odours existing in the environment. This study aimed to determine if odour complexity altered the influence of intermittent reinforcement on dogs' scent detection performance. Using an Applied Behaviour Analysis framework, dogs were trained to use a carousel and be exposed to odours varying in complexity. This study used a within-subject, cross-over design where dogs completed one condition before switching to the other condition. The Complex Condition consisted of one target odour comprised of three chemicals and deionised water and nine non-target odours with overlapping target components and deionised water. The Simple Condition consisted of one target odour comprised of one chemical and deionised water and a blank segment that served as the nontarget.  Data was collected using custom-designed software for every session. Potential sequence effects were observed which might have impacted the overall results however, this cannot be confirmed. Longer session times were also observed for the Complex Condition compared to the Simple Condition. This indicates that although a sequence effect may be responsible for some of the results, the increased complexity of odours in the Complex Condition likely impacted dogs’ scent detection performance. It may be helpful for future research ideas to replicate the study with applied targets and try to recruit more dogs.

text: Does odour complexity alter the influence of intermittent reinforcement on dogs' scent detection performance? Scent detection work exists in many fields such as medical research/diagnostics and law enforcement, in which canines have proven success in detecting biological and non-biological scents. Their olfactory capabilities allow them to detect trained odours while ignoring nontrained odours existing in the environment. This study aimed to determine if odour complexity altered the influence of intermittent reinforcement on dogs' scent detection performance. Using an Applied Behaviour Analysis framework, dogs were trained to use a carousel and be exposed to odours varying in complexity. This study used a within-subject, cross-over design where dogs completed one condition before switching to the other condition. The Complex Condition consisted of one target odour comprised of three chemicals and deionised water and nine non-target odours with overlapping target components and deionised water. The Simple Condition consisted of one target odour comprised of one chemical and deionised water and a blank segment that served as the nontarget.  Data was collected using custom-designed software for every session. Potential sequence effects were observed which might have impacted the overall results however, this cannot be confirmed. Longer session times were also observed for the Complex Condition compared to the Simple Condition. This indicates that although a sequence effect may be responsible for some of the results, the increased complexity of odours in the Complex Condition likely impacted dogs’ scent detection performance. It may be helpful for future research ideas to replicate the study with applied targets and try to recruit more dogs.

year: 2025

title: Exact and quasiexact solvability of second order superintegrable quantum systems. II. Relation to separation of variables

authors: Kalnins, Ernie G.

subjects: Mathematics

abstract: We make explicit the intimate relationship between quasiexact solvability, as expounded, for example, by Ushveridze [Quasi-exactly Solvable Models in Quantum Mechanics (IOP, Bristol, 1993)], and the technique of separation of variables as it applies to specific superintegrable quantum Hamiltonians. It is the multiseparability of superintegrable systems that forces the existence of interesting families of polynomial solutions characteristic of quasiexact solvability that enables us to solve these systems in distinct ways and that gives us the basis of a classification theory. This connection is generalized in terms of the understanding of the role of finite solutions of quantum Hamiltonians

text: Exact and quasiexact solvability of second order superintegrable quantum systems. II. Relation to separation of variables We make explicit the intimate relationship between quasiexact solvability, as expounded, for example, by Ushveridze [Quasi-exactly Solvable Models in Quantum Mechanics (IOP, Bristol, 1993)], and the technique of separation of variables as it applies to specific superintegrable quantum Hamiltonians. It is the multiseparability of superintegrable systems that forces the existence of interesting families of polynomial solutions characteristic of quasiexact solvability that enables us to solve these systems in distinct ways and that gives us the basis of a classification theory. This connection is generalized in terms of the understanding of the role of finite solutions of quantum Hamiltonians

year: 2007-02

title: Pōuri: Two original screenplays

authors: Kohere, Anthony

subjects: Screenplays

abstract: Pōuri, as defined on Te Aka Māori Dictionary, means “regret, mournful, gloomy, in the dark.” It is an apt description of the following stories: Unprivate Moments, and Haytham; or, The Māori Gothic. A common thematic tie between the characters is that they regret past actions, have become disheartened, and experience severe distress. As a thesis, the aim is to expand on what a “Māori story” is beyond the familiar, or dare I say, expected.

'Unprivate Moments' is about an estranged father and son reconciling their differences, disguised as a low-level spy film. I see this as an opportunity to take a well-defined genre and treat it in a realistic fashion in terms of location and character, although not necessarily in believability. Set in Whanganui it can play with many tropes and preconceptions, almost with self-awareness without falling into parody or metacommentary. The formatting does not follow industry standards but inverts the layout of the scene descriptions and dialogue. While I cannot say for certain, Stanley Kubrick is the only one I am aware of that has done this when he adapted 'A Clockwork Orange'. His rationale for this break in style was to draw the eye to the visual storytelling rather than the dialogue.

'Haytham' is centred on a young Byronic Māori man during the late 1880s. Like the archetype he is derived from, Haytham is a tall, dark, and mysterious man. As he reveals himself both to the audience and to the other characters, we come to find someone who has been  damaged and corrupted. This issue of childhood trauma is the central crux of the story and is explored through his relationships with the women in his life. And finally, despite the script’s setting and intentional use of familial names, this is not a biographical work.

text: Pōuri: Two original screenplays Pōuri, as defined on Te Aka Māori Dictionary, means “regret, mournful, gloomy, in the dark.” It is an apt description of the following stories: Unprivate Moments, and Haytham; or, The Māori Gothic. A common thematic tie between the characters is that they regret past actions, have become disheartened, and experience severe distress. As a thesis, the aim is to expand on what a “Māori story” is beyond the familiar, or dare I say, expected.

'Unprivate Moments' is about an estranged father and son reconciling their differences, disguised as a low-level spy film. I see this as an opportunity to take a well-defined genre and treat it in a realistic fashion in terms of location and character, although not necessarily in believability. Set in Whanganui it can play with many tropes and preconceptions, almost with self-awareness without falling into parody or metacommentary. The formatting does not follow industry standards but inverts the layout of the scene descriptions and dialogue. While I cannot say for certain, Stanley Kubrick is the only one I am aware of that has done this when he adapted 'A Clockwork Orange'. His rationale for this break in style was to draw the eye to the visual storytelling rather than the dialogue.

'Haytham' is centred on a young Byronic Māori man during the late 1880s. Like the archetype he is derived from, Haytham is a tall, dark, and mysterious man. As he reveals himself both to the audience and to the other characters, we come to find someone who has been  damaged and corrupted. This issue of childhood trauma is the central crux of the story and is explored through his relationships with the women in his life. And finally, despite the script’s setting and intentional use of familial names, this is not a biographical work.

year: 2022