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Effect of Film Thickness and Structure on the Photoelectrochemical Performance of Cr-, Al-, and Fe-Oxide Semiconductor Films
No full textControlling photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties in ternary metal oxide films is crucial for optimizing hydrogen production via water splitting. This study investigates how cyclic voltammetry (CV) scan rate and deposition time influence the composition, structure, and PEC behavior of Fe-Cr-Al films prepared via electrodeposition. We find that faster scan rates yield homogeneous films with p-type behavior, while slower scan rates lead to compositional stratification and n-type response. Despite identical precursor solutions, adjusting scan parameters alone enables tuning of semiconductor polarity. These findings highlight layer structure as a powerful and scalable design tool for tailoring PEC performance without altering chemical composition, offering a simplified strategy for the development of tandem photoelectrodes
Gridiron Fortunes: Analyzing the NFL Prospects of College Quarterbacks
No full textThis study investigates the challenging task of predicting NFL quarterback success, using extensive data analysis and modeling techniques. The NFL\u27s quarterback position plays a pivotal role in a team\u27s performance, and predicting the success of quarterbacks has been a longstanding challenge for analysts and teams alike. The study covers a dataset of drafted quarterbacks spanning from 1997 to 2022 and includes various metrics such as college statistics, combine measurements, and draft information. The analysis employs different regression models and binary classification methods to predict cumulative statistics, including the number of games played and net points for NFL quarterbacks. The results indicate that a model including only the year drafted and overall pick of a quarterback was the most accurate in predicting success metrics, suggesting that NFL teams may possess qualitative information about players that is not publicly available. Additionally, the study highlights that college statistics, often considered a strong predictor of success, do not consistently perform well in forecasting NFL quarterback performance. The complexity of predicting quarterback success is emphasized, given the relatively high misclassification rates and absolute prediction errors. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the challenges and limitations of predicting NFL quarterback success, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of this task and the potential role of qualitative factors in decision-making
Blank Spaces: Negotiating Remembrance with Holocaust Memorials
No full textMy thesis explores the complexities of Holocaust remembrance through the lens of German memorial architecture, focusing particularly on the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Jewish Museum Berlin. Engaging with J.L. Austin’s speech act theory—specifically the distinctions between illocutionary, locutionary, and perlocutionary acts—I argue that the effectiveness of Holocaust memorials lies not in the original intent of their architects (illocutionary act), but in the emotional and cognitive effects they produce in visitors (perlocutionary effect), often mediated through aesthetic and spatial design (locutionary features). Drawing on personal encounters with memorial sites and the work of theorists such as Geoffrey Scarre and James E. Young, I contend that counter-memorials—those that subvert traditional monumental norms—are particularly effective in invoking reflective, affective responses like “sonder,” the unsettling recognition of individual subjectivity within mass suffering. Ultimately, my thesis maintains that while memorials cannot dictate meaning, their power resides in their capacity to provoke unresolvable, ongoing engagement with historical trauma
Make Techno Not Friends: Friendship in the Posthuman World of Emma Braslavsky’s “Ich bin dein Mensch: Ein Liebeslied”
No full textThe Debate on Bilingualism and Executive Function: Is There a Cognitive Advantage?
No full textIn early language research, learning a second language was thought to lead to a mental handicap and stunt intellectual potential (Pintner & Keller, 1922). Decades later, as cognitive tests grew more complex, the term “cognitive flexibility” became increasingly common. This caused an ideological shift, pointing towards a possible advantage in second language acquisition, improving cognitive function rather than inhibiting it (Peal and Lambert, 1962). Subsequent studies led to a new proposal: that there are cognitive advantages to bilingualism. According to this new wave of research, led primarily by psychologist Ellen Bialystok, the cognitive benefits of bilingualism are attributed to the need for continued regulation of both languages and selecting the one most appropriate for a given context (Bialystok 1999, 2001). This paper provides a systematic review of the current research on the relationship between bilingualism and executive function. Inconsistent participant selection and varying definitions of bilingualism complicate research. Additionally, the wide range of executive function measures hinder generalization. Similarly, there are dozens of tests that measure executive function, causing problems of generalization due to the broadness of the term. These ongoing methodological challenges raise an important question: Does bilingualism cause a cognitive advantage
Siamese Neural Networks for Few-Shot Facial Image Recognition
No full textWe present a few-shot learning approach for facial recognition using Siamese Neural Networks, addressing the challenge of limited training data availability in facial verification tasks. Unlike conventional deep learning methods that require extensive datasets, our model demonstrates ef- fective learning from minimal examples per individual. Using the Tufts-Face-Database comprising 112 subjects with varying poses, expressions, and occlusions, we implement a Siamese architec- ture with shared weights and evaluate the performance of different pre-trained models (VGG19, ResNet50, VGG16). Our preprocessing pipeline includes facial detection, landmark identification, and standardization procedures to ensure consistent input quality. The model achieves 96% accu- racy and 0.99 AUC score on the test set when using VGG19 as the base architecture, significantly outperforming other tested models. Through extensive experimentation, we demonstrate that model performance varies with the number of positive pairs per class and is notably affected by facial occlusions and orientations. Our findings suggest that while the model excels at standard facial verification tasks, challenges remain in handling occluded faces and varying orientations, providing direction for future improvements in few-shot facial recognition systems. This research contributes to the development of more efficient and ethically conscious facial recognition systems that can operate effectively with limited training data
Sex Hormones and X Chromosome Inactivation Produce Aberrant T Cell Population Ratios in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Contributing to a Strong Female Bias
No full textMany autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by sex dimorphism, as women are significantly more likely to develop these diseases compared to men. Women tend to have stronger immunity, leading to this exaggerated immune response in ADs. While the exact mechanisms underlying sex differences in immunity are still unknown, there is influence from sex hormones, sex chromosomes, microRNA expression, gut microbiota, environmental factors, and the complex interplay between these components (Dodd and Menon 2022). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) demonstrates one of the strongest female biases amongst other ADs. The female-to-male ratio in SLE after puberty and before menopause is reported between 7:1 and 15:1. Additionally, pregnancy worsens SLE symptoms, indicating a connection between sex hormones and SLE (Desai and Brinton 2019). Although sex hormones and sex chromosomes influence the pathology, the connection is complex and poorly understood. It should be noted that SLE is a complicated disease that varies greatly within the population, so it’s difficult to generalize the mechanism in all cases of SLE. In this paper, I will outline a potential mechanism for how sex hormones and X chromosome inactivation (XCI) impacts the development of select cases of SLE. Elevated estrogens and lower androgens in cis-gender women favor T follicular helper cell (Tfh) and potentially T peripheral helper (Tph) cell differentiation, while opposing T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cell differentiation. Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) from escaped XCI is overexpressed in women, therefore expanding B cell, Tfh, and Tph populations. Together the elevated Tfh and Tph cells, without proper Tfr regulation, release interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-21 (IL-21) to promote B cell growth and differentiation into autoantibody producing plasma cells, a hallmark of SLE pathology
BGA Development
No full textMy group developed 4 different simple table top games for Board Game Arena consisting of Regicide, Gomoku, Connect 4, and BS