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The Public Parks Paradox: Look but Don\u27t Touch
No full textBuenos Aires, Argentina is one of the least green cities in the world, with estimates of 1.5 - 6m² of green space per person – far below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 15m². Neoliberal policies continue to fragment and privatize the city’s green spaces, posing serious threats to public health. The remaining parks in Buenos Aires employ physical barriers to preserve the park’s green elements, including metal gates (often painted green), restricted gardens and quads, and signs that prohibit stepping on the grass. These barriers deprive opportunities for sensory engagement, reducing park users’ interactions to passive visual and auditory experiences. Here, \u27public\u27 doesn’t mean accessible to all; rather, it refers to spaces that are meticulously controlled and managed by the city to keep the parks’ few remaining fragments of nature safely away from people. The city government\u27s priority for its public parks is to preserve an elite green façade, which it achieves through the physical barriers depicted in this photo essay.
These field photographs invite viewers to reckon with the very concept of ‘public,’ and how its definition may vary across spatial and political boundaries. It features five prominent parks in Buenos Aires visited by an undergraduate from Middlebury College during ten months of ethnographic research in 2023
Bridging the digital skills gap: a comparative study of employability readiness among tourism students and professionals in Malaysia
No full textThe increasing digitalisation of the tourism industry has introduced new expectations for workforce competencies, particularly in developing economies like Malaysia. The present study investigates how three core digital competencies, i.e. digital literacy, platform/tool awareness, and technology readiness, influence employability readiness among two key groups including final-year tourism students and in-service professionals. Drawing on Human Capital Theory and the Technology Readiness Index, the research applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine 350 responses collected through purposive sampling. Results confirm that all three competencies positively influence employability readiness, with platform/tool awareness exerting the strongest effect. Multi-group analysis reveals that digital literacy has a significantly greater impact on students than on professionals, suggesting that students depend more on digital skills to enhance employability perceptions due to limited experience. The results highlight how crucial it is to match job training and educational curricula with changing digital needs. The results provide practical insights for educators, business professionals, and policymakers looking to bridge digital skill gaps and fortify the tourist workforce in the face of continuous digital transformation
Applying the synergy of experience accounting and service dominant logic to rank customer experiences in the mainstream cruising
No full textThis study analyzes how service-related experiences influence customer satisfaction and perceived value for money in the cruise industry. By integrating Service-Dominant Logic (S-D-L) and Experience Accounting (EA), it aims to support the development of customer-centric performance systems for managerial decision making in the all-inclusive hospitality sector. This is the first empirical study to merge data from three perspectives in service-for-service exchanges: customer review ratings from online platforms, ship-level operational characteristics, and financial metrics from corporate reports. This integrated approach allows for a holistic evaluation of the service ecosystem and cocreation of value onboard cruise ships. A quantitative analysis was conducted using a series of multivariate regressions, including a hybrid mediation model, to examine how service ratings influence other experience categories, and ultimately, customer satisfaction and value perceptions. The analysis is based on 9,753 online cruise reviews combined with data on ship characteristics and corporate financials. Service and dining emerged as the most important predictors of overall cruise satisfaction across all ship classes. Mediation analysis revealed that service not only directly and indirectly affects satisfaction positively but also shapes perceptions of ambiance, dining, and value for money. While the ship’s physical environment (operand resources) contributed to customer experiences, its impact varied depending on the combination of experiences driven by service and staff (operant resources). These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between the tangible and intangible elements of customer experience and position service as the central drivers of cocreated value within the cruise experience
Reframing service quality in ai-powered hospitality environments
No full textThe hospitality and tourism industry is experiencing a technological shift through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), transforming both guest experiences and service operations. While AI offers hyper-personalization, efficiency, and scalability, it challenges traditional notions of service quality rooted in human interaction. This viewpoint explores the emerging concept of tech-augmented hospitality, where AI and human employees co-create guest experiences. The paper highlights key research directions for reconceptualizing service quality in the era of AI-enhanced hospitality. It argues for the development of new evaluative frameworks that encompass hybrid service models, cultural adaptability, inclusivity, and AI literacy
Phosphorus: From the Origins of Life to the Origin of an Industry
No full textThe element phosphorus is a key biogenic element that is often the limiting reagent for life. Phosphorus is quickly bound by metal divalent cations making it virtually insoluble and inert in water (forming the phosphate mineral apatite). Due to this, it becomes imperative to understand alternative pathways to increase biogenically available phosphorus in environments. To that end, this dissertation involved examining olivine as an alternative source of phosphorus to apatite, analyzing a novel grain of iron silicide found via lightning reduction in a fulgurite, and finally sought to understand the impact of phosphate mining through phosphogypsum stacks. Olivine is a silicate mineral that composes most of the upper mantles of planets. It has been demonstrated that the silicon in olivine can be replaced with phosphorus during rapid formation. I examined the phosphorus content in ten olivine samples from various localities and found phosphorus present in all ten. I then examined a unique grain of iron silicide in a fulgurite. Fulgurites are glassy mineraloids that primarily form through lightning strikes. The lightning strike produces a localized reducing environment. Iron silicides are a semi-rare occurrence that seem to be common in fulgurites. This grain is unique due to affording us a glimpse of the iron silicide reduction process from core to rim. Finally, the phosphate industry has been a sizable portion of the Florida economy since the late 1800’s. It unfortunately produces millions of tons of a radioactive byproduct known as phosphogypsum per year. Phosphogypsum must be stored in large open-air piles known as phosphogypsum stacks. I provided an overview of phosphogypsum, examining the issues present (heavy metals, radionuclides, and phosphate/fluoride) while also discussing potential remediation measures
Evaluating the Protective Role of EPO-R76E in Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Death in Retinal Pigment Epithelium
No full textAge-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) causes dysfunction and loss of Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The degeneration and death of RPE cells causes irreversible visual impairment. Oxidative stress is a widely accepted triggering factor for RPE dysfunction. A hormone called Erythropoietin (EPO) is responsible to facilitate the erythropoiesis process, prevents progenitor cells from apoptosis and protects photoreceptors downregulating retinal degeneration. In this study, we aim to elucidate the role of EPO in downregulating oxidative stress in RPE. It is hypothesized that EPO will have a positive impact on suppressing oxidative stress and ferroptosis-mediated RPE degeneration due to its vital role in apoptosis prevention. For our experiment, we have used a modified version of Erythropoietin, EPO-R76E which has been shown to have neuroprotective activity. For the delivery of EPO-R76E to the ARPE-19 cells, we cloned EPOR76E into lentiviral plasmid and prepared lentivirus to develop a stable ARPE cell lines for further experiments. Oxidative stress was introduced to the ARPE-19 cells using Paraquat. In EPO-R76E treated ARPE-19 cells with paraquat, we observed protection against ferroptosis and increased cell viability under cell toxicity assay. Western blot analysis revealed reduced levels of ferroptosis biomarkers ferritin, p62, and p-AMP and an improved GPX4 level in cells expressing EPO-R76E suggesting that EPO-R76E enhances the cellular antioxidant defense mechanism. The intracellular iron content was found lower in EPO-R76E expressing cells indicating a potential protective effect of EPO-R76E against ferroptosis and reduction of oxidative stress. This finding will be a significant groundbreaking approach to combat retinal degeneration in AMD
Secondary ELA Mentor Teachers’ Feedback on Preservice Teachers’ Video-Recorded Lessons
No full textThis dissertation explores the feedback practices of secondary English Language Arts (ELA) mentor teachers and the reasoning behind their feedback to preservice teachers (PSETs) during early field experiences. Motivated by my own experience as a preservice teacher, where the absence of timely, meaningful feedback often left me without needed guidance, I was drawn to study how mentor teachers notice, interpret, and respond to novice teaching. This study focuses not on the mentoring relationship itself, but on the content and rationale of feedback provided by mentors.
Three secondary ELA mentor teachers participated in this qualitative study. Each responded to two video-recorded lessons of preservice teachers and took part in two sets of interviews. Using a Teacher Noticing framework, I analyzed what mentors noticed, why they chose to respond, how they delivered feedback, and how their prior experiences shaped those decisions.
Findings indicate that mentors’ own experiences with receiving and giving feedback significantly influenced what they prioritized and how they responded to preservice teaching moments. Across participants, feedback focused on seven key areas of teaching and was driven by three consistent reasons. While the study focuses on a small group in a specific context, it raises important questions about broader trends in ELA mentor feedback. I recommend further research across diverse contexts to examine the consistency of feedback practices among mentor teachers
Simulation of Multi-Receiver Solar Power Tower by Enhancement of SolarPILOT Software and a Review of Absorber Coating Materials for the Receivers
No full textCentral receiver concentrating solar power (CSP) towers offer significant potential for cost-effective renewable electricity but face increasing optical losses with larger heliostat fields. This thesis introduces enhancements to NREL’s SolarPILOT software through a Python-based API named CoPylot, which enables comprehensive optimization of heliostat field layouts for multi-receiver systems. The enhanced methodology incorporates per-heliostat ray tracing, receiver orientation optimization (tilt angle β), and an incidence-angle-dependent absorptance (α(θ)) model to evaluate optical performance, thermal losses, and techno-economic metrics within an integrated simulation framework.
A case study for Daggett, California demonstrates that transitioning from a baseline single-receiver system (180 m tower, 5×5 m heliostats) with 112 MW absorbed power at 75.2% combined efficiency to a dual-height receiver configuration increases absorbed power to 256 MW, despite absorptance degradation (α \u3c 0.6) at high incidence angles on the upper receiver.
Additionally, this research critically reviews state-of-the-art solar selective absorber coatings suitable for high-temperature CSP applications. Advanced sputtered cermet and nitride multilayer coatings already achieve excellent optical performance (α ≥ 0.94, ε ≤ 0.10) and robust durability at temperatures above 600 °C. Emerging high-entropy ceramic materials offer further improvements, promising prolonged service lifetimes and economic viability. Integrating these advanced coatings with angle-optimized layouts and adaptive receiver tilting presents a clear pathway toward achieving utility-scale CSP installations with significantly reduced levelized electricity costs
Branding in the Spotlight: The Impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on Athlete Brand Image in College Athletics
No full textThis qualitative thesis explores the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on athlete brand image within college athletics, with a focus on the lived experiences of men and women college basketball players. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight Division I athletes, the study examines how NIL has influenced personal branding, identity construction, and public visibility. Guided by brand identity theory and athlete brand image, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, four central themes emerged: athlete (brand) empowerment, legacy through authenticity, navigating influence, image, and objectification, and economic viability and opportunity. Additionally, the concept of self-presentation emerged as a significant factor in the impact of NIL, consistently reflected across various dimensions of the study. These findings offer insight into how college athletes can strategically manage their brand while navigating pressures related to authenticity, marketability, and public scrutiny. The study provides practical implications for athlete, universities, and organizations by identifying best practices for brand development, the support structures needed to sustain athlete branding efforts, and the broader impact of NIL on athlete identity and public perception
Mode Engineering and Functional Enhancement in Piezoelectric-on-Silicon MEMS Resonators with Magnetic Field Sensing Applications
No full textThis dissertation significantly advances the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) resonators by exploring novel post-fabrication tuning techniques, electrode configuration effects, and innovative sensor applications for thin-film piezoelectric-on-silicon (TPoS) resonator devices. Driven by the increasing demand for tunable, high-precision and robust MEMS resonators in radio frequency (RF) applications such as sensing, timing, and filtering, this research aim to provide foundational knowledge and practical solutions for overcoming existing technological limitations. The dissertation is organized into three main research thrusts, each addressing critical challenges and opportunities in the design, fabrication, and application of TPoS MEMS resonators.
The first research thrust investigates an innovative frequency trimming and performance enhancement technique for TPoS MEMS resonators through Joule heating-induced localized annealing. This approach significantly improves resonator performance by selectively tuning resonance frequencies post-fabrication, effectively reducing motional impedance across various resonator designs. The reliability and effectiveness of localized annealing represents a substantial leap forward, offering a versatile solution for precise frequency control in RF MEMS applications.
The second research thrust investigates a previously unexplored aspect of MEMS resonator design—the rotational orientation of the top electrode—and its impact on vibrational mode selection and piezoelectric transduction efficiency. By systematically rotating the top electrode with respect to the resonator body, the study investigates how this geometric variation influences the excited vibrational modes and the resulting piezoelectric transduction. This investigation uncovers critical relationships between electrode orientation and resonator performance, therefore offering practical design guidelines for enhancing mode selection and signal quality in sensor and oscillator applications.
The third thrust applies the tailor-designed TPoS resonator technology to develop a Lorentz force magnetometer, showcasing a novel sensor capable of detecting magnetic fields with exceptional sensitivity. In this application, the resonator is engineered to respond to external magnetic fields by exploiting the Lorentz force effect. The device demonstrates the capability to detect and measure magnetic fields with high sensitivity, leveraging the high quality factor and low motional impedance of the TPoS resonators. This work shows initial promise to expand the utility of piezoelectric MEMS resonators beyond traditional timing and filtering applications, thus highlighting their potential as core components in advanced sensing systems.
Collectively, the dissertation makes significant contributions to better understanding and practical realization of tunable, high-performance TPoS MEMS resonators. The outcomes not only enhance fundamental understanding but also set a robust technological foundation for future innovations in MEMS-enabled RF systems, sensor technologies, and advanced microsystem applications, thus promising transformative impacts on next-generation wireless communication, sensing, and timing system solutions