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The Coin Collector - Short Film
No full textThe Coin Collector is a short film that follows the story of a handful of people discussing the mystery behind a strange man who wanders around town carrying a giant canister of coins on his back. Everyone has a unique tale about him, but as the story unfolds, we get to uncover just who The Coin Collector truly is. It is ultimately a story about humanizing people we deem as outcasts. The project was designed to give myself and other film majors experience in taking a movie from script to screen. This process included budgeting, auditioning, filming, and editing. As director and producer of the project, I had to oversee every step of pre-production, production, and post-production. A proof of concept for one scene was shot and edited in October of 2023. The rest of the film was shot in February of 2024, with a final edit completed in April of 2024
Metal halide perovskites and selected investigations in defect passivation and energy/charge rransfer
No full textMetal halide perovskites (MHPs) are an emerging class of semiconductors with advantageous properties for use in applications such as light emitting diodes1 and photovoltaics.2 MHPs are made up of by three components in an ABX3 formula where A is a +1 cation such as methylammonium (MA), B is a +2 cation such as lead, and X is a halide anion such as bromide. MHPs take the perovskite crystal form which in the case of MAPbBr3 is cubic, with lead-halide octahedra [PbBr6]4- at the corners of the cube and the MA+ in the center. MHPs have a tunable bandgap,3 are solution processable,4 defect tolerant,5 and have shown high power conversion efficiency in solar cell devices.6
In this dissertation, high-pressure spectroscopy is used as a tool to investigate the effect of growing varying sizes of nanocrystalline MHP (7 nm and 4 nm) in a porous silica (pSiO2) matrix. As the crystal size decreases, the ratio of the number of atoms at the surface of the nanocrystal increases compared to the total number of atoms in the crystal, so if surface defects play a major role in MHP non-radiative recombination, the pressure-induced effects will be more apparent in the smaller nanocrystal. The photoluminescence (PL) and in selected measurement, the visible light absorption of the MHPs in pSiO2 were monitored as a function of pressure. MAPbBr3 grown within a 7 nm pore size pSiO2 showed a novel blue shift to higher energy light emission under high-pressure when compared with the bulk MAPbBr3. The MAPbBr3 grown in 4 nm pore size pSiO2 was relatively insensitive to increasing pressure. It is apparent that the size and shape of the host material largely impacts the pressure induced shift in PL emission.
Energy/charge transfer between porous silicon (pSi) and prefabricated ligand passivated MHP quantum dots (QDs) was investigated using PL quenching experiments. The PL intensity and lifetime of the QDs was measured as the concentration of the pSi is added and a Stern-Volmer model is used to elucidate the mechanism of interaction. The Stern-Volmer plots showed a mixture of both static (irreversible complex forming) and dynamic (collisional) mechanisms in solution.7 The surface area, surface chemistry and pore size of the pSi has a large impact on the PL lifetime and intensity quenching due to accessibility to the surface of the pSi by the QDs and the interaction of the QD with the surface. It is inferred that a Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism is occurring due to the collisional nature of the interaction between pSi and MHP with the ligand passivation preventing intimate interaction of the MHP and pSi.
Large triazine based organic macrocycles were investigated for defect passivation in MHP thin films. Lewis bases are common defect passivating agents in MHP synthesis with oleylamine being commonly used in colloidal nanocrystal formation.8 Triazine based Lewis bases can occupy defect sites and improve the optoelectronic properties of the MHP. Our hypothesis is that large organic macrocycles can ideally add stability to a given MHP film and be tailored to have different passivating moieties, in this case a 24-member triazine macrocycle with a butyl amine functionality. The addition of the triazine based macrocycle containing the amine functionality to MHP thin films showed a fivefold increase in the PL intensity and significant narrowing of the emission linewidth of the MHP thin film in contrast to a macrocycle with a valine moiety that does not provide passivating effects.
Overall, physiochemical manipulation of charge transfer, defect passivation, and high-pressure probing of surface defects in MHPs were shown in this dissertation. It is apparent that the MHP semiconductor is influenced greatly by the interfacial environment and that it can be optimized for use in LED’s and PV devices with novel bandgap tunability, a better understanding of charge transfer between pSi and MHPs, and tailored defect passivation of thin films, many challenges remain however
Injection Laryngoplasty for Children with Dysphagia after Cardiac Surgery
No full textObjective. To determine whether injection laryngoplasty (IL) resolves thin liquid aspiration among children with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) after cardiac surgery. Study Design. Retrospective case-control. Setting. Tertiary children's hospital. Methods. Consecutive children (<5 years) between 2012 and 2022 with UVCP after cardiac surgery were included. Resolution of thin liquid aspiration after IL versus observation was determined for children obtaining videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS). Results. A total of 32 children with left UVCP after cardiac surgery met inclusion. Initial surgeries were N = 9 (28%) patent ductus arteriosus ligations, N = 7 (22%) aortic arch surgeries, N = 9 (28%) surgeries for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and N = 7 (22%) other cardiac surgeries. The mean age at initial surgery was 1.8 months (SD: 3.7). All children had a VFSS obtained after surgery that confirmed aspiration. There were 17 children that obtained an IL at 33.6 months (SD: 20.9) after cardiac surgery and 15 children observed without IL procedure. No surgical complications after IL were noted. The rate of aspiration resolution based on postoperative VFSS was N = 14 (82%) for the IL group and N = 9 (60%) for the control group P = .24. Documented VFSS aspiration resolution after cardiac surgery occurred by 9.6 months (SD: 10.0) in the observation group and 47.4 months (SD: 24.1) in the IL group (P < .001). Conclusion. IL can help treat aspiration in children with UVCP after cardiac surgery but the benefit beyond observation remains unclear. Future studies should continue to explore the utility for IL in managing dysphagia in this pediatric population
Five near-infrared-emissive graphene quantum dots for multiplex bioimaging
No full textDue to high tissue penetration depth and low autofluorescence backgrounds, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has recently become an advantageous diagnostic technique used in a variety of fields. However, most of the NIR fluorophores do not have therapeutic delivery capabilities, exhibit low photostabilities, and raise toxicity concerns. To address these issues, we developed and tested five types of biocompatible graphene quantum dots (GQDs) exhibiting spectrally-separated fluorescence in the NIR range of 928¿1053 nm with NIR excitation. Their optical properties in the NIR are attributed to either rare-earth metal dopants (Ho-NGQDs, Yb-NGQDs, Nd-NGQDs) or defect-states (nitrogen doped GQDS (NGQDs), reduced graphene oxides) as verified by Hartree-Fock calculations. Moderate up to 1.34% quantum yields of these GQDs are well-compensated by their remarkable >4 h photostability. At the biocompatible concentrations of up to 0.5¿2 mg ml ?1 GQDs successfully internalize into HEK-293 cells and enable in vitro imaging in the visible and NIR. Tested all together in HEK-293 cells five GQD types enable simultaneous multiplex imaging in the NIR-I and NIR-II shown for the first time in this work for GQD platforms. Substantial photostability, spectrally-separated NIR emission, and high biocompatibility of five GQD types developed here suggest their promising potential in multianalyte testing and multiwavelength bioimaging of combination therapies
Stem Of A Kind: A Sociological Creative Writing Story On Marxist Alienation, Artificial Intelligence Technology, Neo-Feudalism, And The Future Of Humanity From An Afrofuturist, Solarpunk Lens
No full textIn modern American society, issues of poverty, mental illness, isolation, and environmental degradation stain the lived experiences of the masses. Rather than potentially solving the widening wealth gap in the nation, many Americans worry that the fast-paced advancement of technology, especially within artificial intelligence, will exacerbate class issues further. As with all technology, artificial intelligence exists as a tool that can be used for numerous applications and outcomes, but it operates within the mission of its users and programmers. What does it look like when artificial intelligence is used to exclude lower-class citizens from participation in society completely? Likewise, what does it look like when artificial intelligence is used to advance the progression toward equity in society? The science fiction and Afrofuturist piece, Stem of a Kind, explores these questions alongside themes of love, liberation, exploitation, community, and value
Avid Custom Skis
No full textThis paper presents a comprehensive case study on the development of Avid, a unique brand in the ski industry that allows consumers to customize their skis. The study explores the multifaceted approach of branding and marketing a fully customizable product, addressing a niche market segment of avid skiers who value personalization and performance. Through descriptive research, this project analyzes various successful case studies within the custom product space, including companies like Trek Custom Bicycles and Wagner Custom Skis, to understand industry trends, consumer behavior, and successful marketing strategies. This methodological approach helped in gathering detailed insights into effective branding elements, such as naming, typography, color schemes, and imagery that resonate with the target audience.
The branding process for Avid involved creating a distinct visual identity that reflects the energy and passion of its consumer base. The name 'Avid' signifies enthusiasm and is directly targeted at passionate skiers. This case study provides insights into the effective strategies for launching a custom product brand by offering a detailed examination of consumer engagement and brand loyalty in the context of personalized sporting goods
The traumatic blue sky: the psychological consequences of aerial combat in the twentieth century
No full text“The Traumatic Blue Sky: The Psychological Consequences of Aerial Combat in the Twentieth Century” explores the medical problems that the United States’ Army Air Service and Army Air Forces faced in World War I and II. With rapidly changing technology and wartime operations to meet these changes, the air served as a new front of warfare. The aerial realm of combat created unique psychological ailments, like Staleness, Flying Fatigue, and a Lack of Moral Fiber, that affected new and experienced fliers alike. In order to tackle these challenges, medical and administrative personnel turned to contemporary masculine ideals to treat and help fliers overcome the psychologically traumatic experiences of aerial combat. This scholarship argues that the advancing technological nature of warfare, in-sync with changing masculine norms between World War I and World War II, dictated the way that the United States Air Force’s predecessors defined, diagnosed, treated, and regulated psychological problems among American military airmen.
“The Traumatic Blue Sky” ties disparate fields together to break new ground and bring new perspectives to the fields of aerospace history, military history, the history of technology, the history of medicine and disability, and gender studies. As a social and cultural history of war trauma, this dissertation appeals to scholars interested in these various fields as it demonstrates that gender has a consequential impact on how a person experiences life. Moreover, gender plays an extremely influential, and sometimes deciding, role in shaping how military personnel experience wartime service and the psychological legacies of combat, for better and for worse. Overall, by shedding light on the consequences of aerial combat on the human psyche from World War I to World War II, this project seeks to restore the human costs of air power in wartime
Building Biomimetically
No full textThis honors thesis delves into the intersection of architecture and environmental science, with a focus on developing a sustainable Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system inspired by the ingenious design of Macrotermes Natalensis termite mounds. By analyzing the intricate structure and composition of these mounds, particularly their interconnecting tunnels and passive temperature regulation mechanisms, the study aimed to revolutionize HVAC systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Through the application of biomimicry principles and passive architecture techniques, a novel HVAC system was conceptualized and developed. This system promises to significantly decrease HVAC consumption and costs within the South-Central Region of the United States, consequently mitigating the substantial 4% of greenhouse gas emissions attributed solely to HVAC systems. The culmination of the research led to the creation of a pioneering passive architecture pavilion, seamlessly integrating the features of termite mounds with passive architectural design principles. This pavilion operates entirely through passive regulation, without the need for mechanical ventilation. The proposed system not only addresses current environmental concerns but also exhibits adaptability to future climate change scenarios. It has the potential to catalyze a paradigm shift in HVAC and passive architecture practices worldwide, fostering sustainability and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges
‘Almond Moms’: Association between diet talk and female college students' wellbeing
No full textCurrently, the term "Almond Mom" has gone viral as celebrity parents were seen overly restricting their child's choice of food and implementing extreme dieting practices. The "Almond Mom" aligns with authoritarian parenting, which is a parenting style that shows high levels of demandingness and low levels of warmth and responsiveness towards their child. The authoritarian parent creates unrealistic expectations for their child, which can lead to lower self-esteem and depressive symptoms. According to previous literature, it has also been found that negative family food talk and parental commentary can lead to disordered eating. Nearly all research focuses on the direct relationship of negative diet talk and wellbeing. However, little is known about the possible interventions that could buffer the effects of diet talk. To address this gap, 820 female college students (Mage = 24.7 years; SD= 5.47) were asked to complete a set of surveys with the following themes: disordered eating, orthorexia nervosa, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, family food talk, parental commentary, and parental warmth. The results showed that negative food self-talk and negative commentary from the mother were positively associated with disordered eating, whereas fathers' negative commentary was positively associated with lower self-esteem. It was also found that fathers' parental warmth had a negative relationship with depressive symptoms regardless of the presence of family food talk, but that it had little effect on the students' depressive symptoms in the presence of high food talk. The results of this study indicate the need for parents to educate themselves on disordered eating and for research on possible interventions of diet talk within the family dynamic
Time and change: A meta-analysis of temporal decisions in longitudinal studies
No full textLongitudinal research has grown in popularity in the field of management and organizations. However, the literature has neglected to consider the important ways in which researchers' temporal decisions can influence observed change in longitudinal studies. Researchers must make a set of temporal decisions to capture change, such as the temporal precision of the hypothesized form of change, the selection of a sample that is expected to exhibit the change, the choice of variables to be measured repeatedly, the frequency of measurements, and the time interval between measurements. However, these decisions typically are based on ¿educated guesses,¿ which makes their effects on the observed change unclear. In this paper, we develop a conceptual framework to explain how temporal decisions influence observed change and validate it by meta?analyzing longitudinal studies ( k ?=?268). Specifically, we found that observed change is affected by hypotheses (i.e., temporal precision), the sample (i.e., presence of a change trigger), variables (i.e., variable type and rating source), and measurement occasions (i.e., frequency and time interval). These findings offer insights into the importance of making informed temporal decisions. The implications of our findings are broad and applicable across research streams and theoretical traditions