University at Albany, State University of New York
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Dwelling at the Gates of Difference: The Intersection of Beowulf, American Politics, and Monsters
Get PDFMany political scientists, legal scholars, and American citizens have found themselves dedicating a great deal of time to asking why American politics has become so largely polarized over the last 10 years. We are seeing more than ever political acts of violence, families and friendships dissolved over political disagreements. We are witnessing the liquidation of civility in American politics, with a staple of current political debates being personal insults and aggression. Attitudes towards women have become more hostile and negative, attitudes towards transgender Americans have become more disparaging and dangerous. These political opponents become scapegoats and are dehumanized and politically monstered, and political followers on social media gleefully and openly further this monstering. In Beowulf two main groups receive the treatment of political monstering, women and queer individuals. Monsters like Grendel and his mother are made monstrous because of their transgressions towards society’s standards and expectations. Humans like Wealhtheow, Modthryth, and Hrothgar show us that the effects of political monstering enact influence on more than just their targets. Analyzing these characters and the strategy behind their monstering in juxtaposition to Supreme Court cases Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), executive orders from President Trump, and attitudes towards certain individuals exhibited through various media sources, we see the shocking similarities between the two
On the Application of the Diaconis-Holmes-Neal Sampler to Unimodal Underlying Probabilities
Get PDFUpon the introduction of the Metropolis et. al (1953) [6] algorithm, the question of how many steps in the Markov chain were needed to achieve convergence to stationarity became apparent. Eventually it was found that the convergence was rather slow, i.e. for a process on n states the number of steps needed to achieve convergence to stationarity was found to be on the order of n2. [8]
The obvious problem with Metropolis et. al (1953) is that the Markov chain is reversible. [6] In other words, for any state j we can move from j to j + 1 and back to j in two steps. To correct for this, Diaconis, Holmes, and Neal (2000) improved Metropolis et. al (1953) by introducing a non-reversible Markov chain [8]. The Diaconis-Holmes-Neal sampler, as it is widely known, is a Markov chain on two copies of n states, a +1 copy and a −1 copy. The fact that the sampler includes two copies of n states also solves the not-as-serious problem of Metropolis et. al only acting on one copy of n states.
Applications of the Diaconis-Holmes-Neal sampler include Markov chain sampling and situations in statistical physics, among others [8]. However, an answer to the question of how many steps are needed to achieve convergence to stationarity was required. In a 2002 preprint, Hildebrand showed that if the underlying probabilities are log-concave then the sampler achieves convergence to stationarity in at least a constant multiple of n steps [3].
Nonetheless, the question of whether a similar convergence exists when the underlying probabilities are instead unimodal was posed in the preprint. In this dissertation, we answer the question in the two most general cases, namely the general symmetric unimodal case (also known as the general symmetric case) and the general unimodal case
Development and Validation of the Mealtime Behaviors Self-Report Questionnaire
Get PDFDisturbances in eating are a hallmark feature of eating disorders (EDs). However, these disturbances extend beyond dietary patterns, as clinicians have long observed aberrant mealtime behaviors in individuals with EDs. Despite these observations, research on aberrant mealtime behaviors has been limited to a small case study of individuals with anorexia nervosa. Clinically, however, individuals across all ED diagnoses appear to exhibit these behaviors. Notably, there is currently no existing measure designed to assess aberrant mealtime behaviors. Developing such an assessment could provide clinicians with valuable information to inform mealtime interventions. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the prevalence of aberrant mealtime behaviors across ED diagnoses and evaluate the psychometric properties of a newly developed mealtime behavior questionnaire in a sample of individuals with EDs (N = 498). A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Results indicated that the best-fitting model was an 18-item questionnaire with three factors. The questionnaire was significantly associated with ED psychopathology and behaviors, highlighting the clinical relevance of these mealtime patterns
Perception as Creation in Swann\u27s Way
Get PDFMarcel Proust’s Swann’s Way is written with such detail that it overwhelms both the reader’s and the character’s sensory experience. Despite all the details, each character takes their senses of the world and strings them together as coherent images and stories. Proust shows that perceptions and memories are malleable, as individuals perceive objects in a way that brings entire stories or images to their conscious experience. The way that Proust’s characters take sensory objects and create images shows that each character can consciously interpret the world around them. Social images find themselves competing with the personally constructed images of an individual, both competing in an individual’s created world. Like the social aspects of mental images, the arrival of a love interest changes the way each character views the objects around them. Love shakes the world of Proust’s characters so violently that it changes the images they once had of the objects they love. Marcel and Swann shine through as the sole creators of their individual worlds, even with the competing forces of perception, society, and love that exert their influence on their internally constructed images. Marcel and Swann’s status as creators turns what could be seen as a cacophony of sensations and creations that are incomprehensibly numerous into a personally curated set of images, each telling the story that Marcel and Swann find most valuable
The Benefit of New Perspective: An Analysis of Postcolonial Adaptation
Get PDFIn our modern world, the concept of literary adaptation is not unheard of. Each release of a new, popular text comes with an underlying chance that it will likely be snatched up by Hollywood executives to be told through a cinematic setting. However, there is less fanfare when it comes to the topic of literary adaptation, particularly of famous texts that are deemed “classic” of the literary canon. Usually, any news of a literary adaptation of a classic book is meant with polarizing views from the general public. Some welcome the change, excited for what a new author can bring to the table; on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are some who refuse the need for any change, clamoring for the author’s work to be the only version of the text that should be read. This debate begs the question: why adapt literary works, and is there any merit to justify reworking the art of others? This thesis explores the importance of postcolonial adaptations in literature and how they provide an opportunity for greater exploration of societal matters; this is done by comparing works by Daniel Defoe, Mark Twain and Charlotte Brontë to adaptations of the original novels written by J.M Coetzee, Percival Everett, and Jean Rhys
Investigation of Electromigration Stresses of Advanced Node Conductors through Pulsed Power Behavior
Get PDFThe microelectronics industry continues to put a heavy focus on preventing electromigration (EM) failures at advanced node conductors. The continuous scaling coupled with higher operating current densities further accentuate the problem. Most of the electromigration testing in the industry is performed with DC currents to evaluate the electromigration reliability of metal interconnects. However, most of the real-world applications operate using a pulsed current rather than a constant direct current. EM testing with pulsed direct current (PDC) show interesting results with how the current induced stress gradient evolves in absence of the electromigration driving force. It is generally assumed that the current induced stress acts opposite to electromigration driving force, but that is not always the case. During the nucleation phase of the EM failure, the current induced stress gradient does act opposite to the EM force but once the void is nucleated, the stress gradient temporarily switches direction and acts in the direction of the EM force causing damage even when the current is turned off.
In such a scenario, it is interesting to see how relevant the direct current EM testing is to the real-world applications, that mostly undergo pulsed operation. Black’s law is widely used by the industry to predict the lifetime of devices for EM failure. In view of this recent finding of additional damage during the periods of no current stress, Black’s law with a constant value of current density exponent (n) shows errors while calculating the lifetime of devices under test. It is of great interest is to see if this variation in the value of n is observed at different duty cycles of a pulsed current. And if yes, how disparate are the results from a conventional power law that is used for lifetime extrapolations for EM failure. A study of the current density exponent was therefore conducted as a function of duty cycle at accelerated test conditions. It was observed that in addition to the extended lifetime at lower duty cycles there was a gradual change in the value of the current density exponent as we went from a lower duty cycle to direct current stress.
Additionally, industry often uses the average current in design rules to estimate electromigration damage caused during a pulsed powering. It considers the use of average current passing through the interconnects over the duration of the test to calculate the lifetime of the interconnect. It is useful to see whether the use of average current remains relevant in light of the recent findings of additional damage incurred during the periods of no current stress. It was established that the present-day approach of direct current testing for EM is not entirely relevant to pulsed current operation. The good news is the extrapolated lifetimes calculated with a constant direct current stress are shorter than what is obtained with a pulsed direct current. The use of power law is therefore conservative but may be too restrictive. The duty cycle of operation should be considered to make more accurate predictions of failure times. Data analysis with this consideration may seem cumbersome, but extrapolation of constant stress data to pulsed operation is not as straightforward as we are made to believe.
The study of the physical phenomena behind EM damage has become more and more important since it can provide a deeper knowledge basis to anticipate the EM effect. In this context, experimental characterization coupled with mathematical simulations become a convenient way to understand the EM-induced failure. Therefore, the mathematical modeling has become a fundamental tool for explaining numerous experimental observations and, ultimately, can deliver a stronger basis for design and production of reliable metallization. The aim of this work is to merge the two different domains: on one side the experimental characterization of interconnect structures conventionally done in industry and on other hand side the development of a simulation setup, suitable for implementation in COMSOL, a tool for numerical calculations, as these two domains are often too disconnected. This original approach has brought excellent results, and it has allowed to confirm the hypothesis formulated by experimental analysis
Investigating a Brief Mindfulness Curriculum on On-Task Behavior: A Single Case Study of the Learning to Breathe Program
Get PDFCurrent research has uncovered that mindfulness engagement improves students’ emotional regulation, attention skills, and academic engagement (Bertin, 2014; Khoury, et al., 2013; Remmers, et al., 2016; Quach et al, 2016; Sanaei, et al., 2014). Broderick’s (2013) Learning to BREATHE (L2B) curriculum is a mindfulness-based program designed for adolescents and has been shown to improve attention skills through self-report data (Eva & Thayer, 2017; Rosenman et al., 2011). Meanwhile, behaviorally based interventions such as Check-in/Check-out (CI/CO) have been shown to improve student attention via direct observation. The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of L2B as a standalone intervention as well as the additional effect of integrating CI/CO. Three general education students in high school who were referred for on-task and off-task behavior concerns consented to participate. A multiple-baseline design across participants was used with each participant proceeding through three phases in the following order: (1) baseline, (2) L2B intervention, (3) CI/CO intervention. To analyze the results, a combination of visual analysis in accordance with the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC; Kratochwill et al., 2010) standards, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression modeling was used (Shadish et al., 2013). Because of the high variability in the data, separate models were run for each participant yielding idiosyncratic results. Student on-task behavior appeared to decrease during the L2B phase and increase during CI/CO. Student off-task behavior appeared to increase L2B phase and decrease during CI/CO. Findings indicate CI/CO may be a more useful intervention to use amongst adolescent populations to improve on-task or off-task behavior
Wide Band Gap Halide Perovskite
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the composition of alloyed materials required to stabilize cubic halide perovskites, aiming to offer a viable alternative to the commonly used oxides and lead-based perovskite wide band gap materials. This research aimed to identify materials that exhibit comparable or superior optoelectronic properties while minimizing geopolitical risks associated with critical materials. A wide band gap semiconductor, with a band gap larger than 2 eV, allows for more outstanding thermal and voltage stability and can absorb in the UV to the visible spectrum. The perovskite proposed in this study, CsSn0.975Zn0.025Cl3, demonstrates promising potential for enhanced performance and versatile applications. The primary challenge researchers have with halide perovskites is their stability, particularly when exposed to air. This work focused on developing a stable alloyed compound that retains its integrity in ambient conditions. The samples were synthesized utilizing a straightforward, solid solution methodology, further enhancing the appeal of this composition. This investigation revealed that the alloy, CsSn0.975 Zn0.025Cl3, can be synthesized with a wide band gap and remain stable when exposed to air. These findings are of great interest, as they present an attractive alternative to oxide-based materials currently dominating the industry. This halide perovskite composition also offers superior tunability and is less toxic than lead-based alternatives, highlighting its potential as a more sustainable option for future wide band gap materials
Prolegomenon to the Impact of Epistemic Beliefs on Online Pedagogical Affinity: A Comparative Study of STEM and Non-STEM Faculty
No full textThis study explores relationships between epistemic beliefs, pedagogical affinity, and objectivist/positivist views in higher education faculty. Anchored in STEM and non-STEM disciplines, it investigates how beliefs about the nature of knowledge shape instructional orientations—particularly the tension between positivist and constructivist approaches. Using a cross-sectional, quantitative design, 241 faculty were surveyed, measuring five dimensions of epistemic beliefs, objectivist/positivist views, and indicators of pedagogical affinity. Triangulation of Likert-scale measures and vignette-based indicators provided multidimensional perspectives on epistemic and pedagogical patterns. Correlation analyses revealed strong-moderate relationships, showing that faculty who believe in expert and certain knowledge are more likely to favor objectivist, instructor-centered approaches. ANOVA results highlighted disciplinary differences: STEM faculty reported stronger beliefs in the certainty of knowledge, greater trust in expert knowledge, and higher affinity for positivist pedagogy than their counterparts in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Further analysis of disciplinary subgroups revealed that faculty in the Natural and Formal Sciences showed the strongest objectivist views, while those in the Natural and Applied Sciences exhibited the highest positivist pedagogical affinity. Building on these findings, the study critiques current epistemic belief frameworks and proposes a Constructionist Epistemic Beliefs Model—reframing epistemic beliefs as Dialogic Knowledge, Situated Knowledge, Knowledge Construction, Learning Potential, and Critical Pluralism. This reconceptualization advances the field by challenging embedded objectivist hierarchies evident in epistemic beliefs research and reframing them as constructionist constructs. This study affirms that epistemic beliefs influence openness to constructivist pedagogy and lays the conceptual and theoretical groundwork for future research and learner-centered online STEM environments