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Sunbathers
Full text linkSunbathers is a Studio Art Honors project that explores the awkward intimate nature of introspective life through autobiographical, figurative ceramic sculptures. The forms capture the relationship between body and reality. The project consists of seven portraits, varying in size and display, arranged together on pink pedestals. Each figure communicates a part of self, embodying the internal interactions of everyday existence. The sculptures perform as objects yet speak with the specific sense of being seen/presented. Features shift in and out of focus—glossy glazes draw the eye, while matte colors move inward; the exaggerated, slumped forms are adorned with bright, illuminating glazes. Sunbathers depicts the experience of being alive - fully and honestly, with compassion and introspection
Electropolymerization of Nile Blue and Toluidine Blue dyes for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts
Full text linkThis work investigated electropolymerized (EPD) organic conductive polymers poly-Nile Blue (PNB) and poly-Toluidine Blue (PTB) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We investigated the effect of changing the heteroatoms in the pi-conjugated structure of poly-Neutral Red (PNR). UV-vis spectroscopy was used to estimate film thickness. Catalytic activity was quantified by Tafel slope and formal redox potential. PNB and PTB exhibited low current densities and small standard rate constants. Although neither showed highly active catalysts for HER, future directions should continue to pursue structures similar to PNR for HER electrocatalysts
Non-Destructive Compositional Analysis of Lead Halide Perovskite Films Using THz Spectroscopy and a Three-Oscillator Dielectric Model
Full text linkTerahertz (THz) Spectroscopy offers a novel approach to probing low-energy phonon excitation in complex crystalline materials like methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) perovskite films. In this research, we use time-resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy in tandem with a three-oscillator model to non-destructively ascertain the relative volumetric composition of MAPI and residual lead iodide (PbI₂) in spin-coated films. The dielectric function is modeled as a product over longitudinal and transverse optical phonon modes. This model is then fitted to the measured THz spectra, allowing us to extract the contributions from both MAPI and PbI₂
Archaeology By the Book, But Which Book?: Archaeology and Nation Building in Germany and Israel
Full text linkArchaeology is a powerful tool wielded by nations to tell their own stories. How can two countries in different situations harness archaeology to tell their own national narratives? Through investigation of the archaeological heritage of Israel and Germany, both by their individual archaeologists as well as institutions such as museums, I have discovered the different ways in which nation states can utilize archaeology to their advantage. By choosing to excavate well-known sites, only display certain artifacts, or claim modernity through the science of the discipline, each nation strengthens their national identity via archaeology and related artifacts. Individual archaeologists have more wide-ranging approaches to the use of archaeology in nation building, whereas institutions seem to draw a firmer line between archaeology and the nations in which they are located
Examining Species Boundaries and Evolutionary Relationships of New Zealand\u27s Mite Harvesters in the Genus Rakaia (Arachnida; Opiliones; Pettalidae)
No full textMite harvesters (Suborder Cyphophthalmi, Order Opiliones) are small terrestrial arachnids that reside in leaf litter habitats and caves worldwide. Three genera of these animals are endemic to New Zealand, including Rakaia, the genus of focus in this study. Mite harvesters are a very interesting system for taxonomic study because they are incredibly dispersal-limited and morphologically conserved. This presents a unique challenge in terms of species classification that necessitates the application of an intensive integrative approach, a process which had not been fully completed for the genus Rakaia. In this study, I perform species delimitation analysis using an integrative approach in the hopes of further understanding the species structure within Rakaia. Based on this work, I present descriptions of two new species: R. n. sp. Kaikoura and R. n. sp. antipodiana clade 2 and validate existing species boundaries within Rakaia. This increased knowledge on a species level allows for further investigation of broader evolutionary relationships within Rakaia, specifically patterns of isolation-by-distance. An analysis of isolation by distance trends on a species level revealed that a widespread North Island species, R. media, has a weaker relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance than widespread South Island species, perhaps reflecting the impacts of Post-Pleistocene expansion. Overall, this study contributes to the larger goal of elucidating species relationships within Rakaia and engages with early analysis of broader evolutionary patterns and how they are impacted by geologic history
Anxiety Among Sexual Minoritized Subgroups: An Investigation into the Disproportionately High Rates of Social Anxiety Among Emerging Identity Populations
Full text linkSexual minoritized individuals report higher rates of social anxiety than the general population, and research suggests that those belonging to emerging sexual identities are particularly vulnerable. The few existing interventions targeting anxiety in sexual minoritized populations tend to ignore subgroup differences, so the present study proposes an adaptation of an existing CBT-based intervention tailored to pansexual individuals. In addition, existing research offers contradictory findings about emerging identity individuals’ experiences of social anxiety, notably regarding specific subgroup differences. Therefore, in the present study, a survey was conducted to measure social anxiety among sexual minoritized populations. Findings suggest that emerging identity sexual minoritized populations experience significantly higher levels of social anxiety compared to established sexual minoritized populations. However, there were no significant differences between specific sexuality subgroups. Qualitative analyses revealed that fear of judgment from society broadly and from within sexual minoritized communities are important factors impacting social anxiety experiences among sexual minoritized participants. The present qualitative findings also highlighted gaps in research regarding asexual and aromantic spectrum subgroups, whose identities are rarely respectfully and accurately included in the social anxiety literature. Future research should more thoroughly examine the factors associated with disproportionate rates of social anxiety among emerging identity subgroups and integrate these unique factors into tailored treatment designs
Stability Analysis of Turbulent Fluid Flow
Full text linkHydrodynamic stability refers to the study of when and how laminar flows transition to turbulence. This includes investigations of the mechanisms of transition, as well as the classification of known flow configurations as either stable or unstable and the identification of critical values of flow parameters at which this bifurcation occurs. In this thesis, we introduce the mathematical theory behind continuum mechanics and fluid dynamics as well as some tools from the study of dynamical systems. We apply these concepts to the linear stability analysis of zero pressure gradient flat plate flow via numerical simulations in OpenFOAM, discussing both the theoretical and numerical issues. We use the Arnoldi iteration method to solve for the leading eigenvalues at the critical value of the Reynolds number parameter. We conclude by discussing the prospect of using topological data analysis to characterize flow snapshots in real time
Who Grows There? Rethinking Forest Types Beyond Biomass and Composition in Coastal Ecuador
Full text linkTropical Dry Forests (TDFs) are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Many are biodiversity hotspots, and most are fragmented and vulnerable to deforestation, wildfires and climate change. TDFs also receive less conservation attention compared to other tropical forest types. To provide critical baseline information for their conservation, this research defines and quantifies the extent of different forest types and their respective aboveground biomass (AGB) in a fragmented TDF landscape in Manabí, Ecuador. Focusing on two forest reserves and their adjacent areas, we used tree plot inventories (N=16) and community composition analyses to define forest types based on tree community composition. We then applied PlanetScope imagery and a Random Forest classification approach to estimate the extent of forest types according to both our community composition-based and a local forest categorization. Classification results indicate that the community-based categorization of five forest classes provides the best estimate of forest type extent with 96% accuracy and a Kappa coefficient \u3e 0.98. Using the same plot inventories, we estimated plot-level AGB using allometric equations. These data were subsequently used in a Random Forest regression with PlanetScope imagery to estimate AGB across forest types. Results indicate that the identified five forest types vary in AGB, ranging from the highest with a mean of 258.02 ± 60.05 Mg ha -1 biomass in Wet or Seasonal Evergreen Foothills Forest to 84.32 ± 23.19 Mg ha -1 in Early Successional or Degraded Season Evergreen Forest. This research highlights the importance of defining forest types to understand variation in AGB and provides critical baseline information to monitor forest change and integrate AGB in conservation initiatives
Extremal Trees for Random Walks
Full text linkA random walk is a sequence of adjacent vertices that are chosen uniformly at random from the neighbors of the previous vertex. An access time is the average length of time that a random walk takes to reach a target probability distribution from a starting probability distribution, given an optimal stopping rule. This paper deals with characterizing the trees of diameter d and on n vertices that extremize three different types of access times
Evaluating the Power of Admixture Mapping
No full textAdmixture mapping (AM) is a statistical method to help identify genetic variants that cause diseases in admixed populations. This project assesses the power of AM via simulation studies. I used genetic data simulation tools to generate admixed genotypes and binary disease outcomes, vary- ing disease characteristics such as heritability and prevalence. Three AM methods (marginal logistic regression, case-only, and case-control) were evaluated by calculating empirical power under two thresholds (Bonferroni and permutation-based). Results indicate that statistical power improves with increased heritability and disease prevalence across all methods, high- lighting the effectiveness of AM for detecting true associations