English

The analysis of variability is mainly concerned with locating the sources of the variability. Many statistical techniques investigate these sources through the use of linear models. This course presents the theory and practice of these models. Topics include: simple linear regression: least squares method, analysis of variance, coefficient of determination, hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for regression parameters, prediction; multiple linear regression: least squares method, analysis of variance, coefficient of determination, reduced versus full models, hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for regression parameters, prediction, polynomial regression; one-way classification models: one-way ANOVA, analysis of treatment effects, contrasts; two-way classification models: interactions, two-way ANOVA for balanced data structures, analysis of treatment effects, contrasts, randomized complete block design; universal approach to linear modeling: dummy variables, multiple linear regression representation of one-way and two-way (unbalanced) models, ANCOVA models, concomitant variables; regression diagnostics: leverage, residual plot, normal probability plot, outlier, studentized residual, influential observation, Cook's distance, multicollinearity, model transformation. 

This course examines the history of folkloristics and the documentation of popular tradition and folklore in Ireland and abroad, with reference to the various movements and interests which have shaped their development. Particular attention is paid to early collecting work in Ireland, and to the work of pioneers in the field. The evolution of collecting methodology in this country, and some of the more important approaches to the study of folklore, are examined and traced from the late 18th century to the present. The course makes reference to the National Folklore Collection's unique archive holdings at UCD, and to the library in the UCD Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore with its comprehensive collection of 18th and 19th century writings and publications.

This course examines American hemispheric history, society, and culture across North and South America. The course will introduce significant social and cultural developments in selected countries of the Americas. Topics will include indigenous - colonial relations; slavery and its legacies; the impact of modernity on society and culture; the struggle for civil rights in 20th and 21st centuries; wars and empire; immigration, forced migration and its impact on politics; globalization and neoliberal economics; and the rise of populist nationalism in the 21st century. 

This course introduces the field of California Studies in its plurality, combining elements of literary and film studies, notions and texts from civilization studies, as well as cultural studies. Starting from the question of what constitutes a “Studies” discipline, it then examines specific works and documents – literature, film, essays, and poetry – that provide insight into the specificities of California culture and its representation. Sometimes trivialized, California has a significant place in the spheres of cultural, artistic, and economic development which has had a vast impact on not only American but also Western and global cultures. Californian representations and themes are often a perfect paradox of dominant and subcultural elements, and the course explores several works and aspects of this construction. As such, it is a perfect laboratory through which to ask broader questions about culture and cultural productions. Authors studied range from Richard Henry Dana to Kem Nunn to Frederick Kohner, and films include titles such as the independent film Humboldt County (2008). In keeping with the Puissance du mode minor thematic, not only odes the course explore this smaller Studies discipline but it also looks at alternative positions in the examination of the works discussed. Students are also encouraged to explore works or concepts linked to the topic and to relate them to their own fields of emerging specialization. This is a seminar rather than a lecture, and active participation in discussions and various activities is expected.

This course provides an introduction and overview of the physics of strong and electroweak interactions and their experimental foundation. These fundamental forces underlie the rich phenomenology of nature's smallest components: elementary particles and atomic nuclei. The course outlines the theoretical and experimental advances which have led to the current understanding of physics at the subatomic scale. These topics are covered at a mathematical level appropriate for undergraduates students of physics. The focus is more on the understanding of phenomena rather than their rigorous mathematical description. The course touches upon selected topics of current interest, including: symmetries and conservation laws in nuclear and particle physics; relativistic kinematics and applications in high-energy reactions; the Standard Model theory: fundamental matter particles and their interactions by strong and electroweak forces; the Higgs mechanism and the origin of mass; neutrino oscillations and masses; effective nucleon-nucleon interactions and models of nuclear physics; alpha, beta, and gamma decay and fission; form factors and structure functions; and selected applications of nuclear and particle physics.

The cell is the basic building block of eukaryotic organisms, and understanding how cells develop and their physiological responses to the environment are key to our understanding of plant growth and development. This course expands on basic cell biology by using the stomatal guard cell as the system to understand plant cell biology. Lectures explore the genetic and molecular regulation of stomatal development and how stomatal guard cells respond to internal and external signals through changes in ion transport to effect changes in stomatal guard cell turgor. Practical components of this course include demonstrations of (i) advanced microscopy techniques (including laser scanning confocal microscopy), (ii) biolistic transformation, and (iii) techniques to assay for stomatal function and stomatal development.

This course cultivates a deep understanding of data augmentation techniques and robust machine learning principles and the ability to apply them to real-world problems.  

Students will implement various data augmentation techniques using programming languages and machine learning libraries and develop problem-solving skills to diagnose and address the performance degradation caused by noisy labels and imbalanced data. Additionally, students will master the use of cross-validation and performance metrics to effectively evaluate models, and learn methods to interpret and explain model predictions, ensuring the development of transparent and trustworthy machine learning applications. The course also emphasizes the ethical aspects of data augmentation and robust machine learning, fostering the ability to implement ethical practices that ensure responsible use of technology. Students will nurture a research-oriented mindset and enhance their collaboration skills through team projects and group discussions, promoting the exchange of ideas. 

Did you know that you will benefit in the economy if you know a great deal about the challenges of cultivating pinot noir? You will benefit even more from understanding why this matters. Sociology is, as Pierre Bourdieu once said, a “martial art” that gives you the tools to fight for yourself in an unequal capitalist world. We will also talk about markets and how they shape people like you. Do they shape the way you think and act? Is it possible or perhaps even likely that you would have a different self if you participated in a different market? What are alternative markets like? Can we learn from them? In what ways is our capitalist market culture changing? Will the future workplace be a neoliberal nightmare in which you’re an independent contractor directed and controlled by algorithms, or will we instead see a post-work world in which the boring stuff is automated and we can focus on creative and social activities that enrich our private and communal lives? These and other questions will be addressed in this math-free course on the complex interactions between cultural and economic forces that shape our worlds. 

This course trains students to become effective communicators, as a speaker, listener or interpreter. The theory of rhetorical communication is applied to the presentation of self and ideas for a specific purpose. Critical thinking processes are emphasized in preparing, making and critiquing various forms of public communication. Since the course aims to improve skills for various types of oral presentations and discussions, each class meeting consists of student presentations and discussions. 

This course examines classical Chinese literary tradition in translation by focusing on genres including fiction, poetry, essays, and biographies in relation to three major themes and traditions: 1) the fantastic, the immortal, and the ghostly; 2) the moral, the loyal, and the outlaws; and 3) the romantic, the scholar, and the beauty. Through these themes and traditions, we analyze key issues regarding the formation of literary canon in China and how Han Chinese literati define the relationship between the Han and the non-Han, male and female, lawful subjects and outlaws in the process of literary canonization.