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Revelation and Participatory Eschatology: A Constructive Evaluation of James K. A. Smith and Emmanuel Levinas
No full textThe thesis of this dissertation is that Christian theology is captured in the metaphysical models of its time, which establish for theology what counts as reasonable and plausible. This thesis is explored in light of the structures and the modes of the doctrine of revelation utilizing a phenomenological methodology. In the first chapter, I walk through Smith’s phenomenology of revelation, with an emphasis on the elements of his position that are most distinctive as well as relevant to my own project. In the second chapter, I make a broader and more detailed case for the heuristic value of the three metaphysical models for theology. In the third chapter, I turn to Levinas and the origins of the third, eschatological model, which will be a strong test of my thesis. In the fourth chapter, I will continue to support my thesis with a fuller development of the participatory eschatological model such that revelation need not be reduced to the understanding of the recipient. In the fifth chapter, I apply the participatory eschatological model to ecclesiology in order to correct a soteriological reliance on socialization while opening the church to difference. Other than the trajectory of the argument as a whole, the concept and doctrine of revelation runs throughout each chapter bringing an overall coherence to the project and justifying my choices of Smith and Levinas as lynchpins for the project
Ultra-Low-Overhead Arbitrary-Waveform Generation as a Circuit Macro: Augmenting the Characterization of Radiation-Induced Transient Effects in Highly Scaled Integrated Circuits
No full textArbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) are not typically feasible as subsystems on integrated circuits due to their size and complexity, but they are versatile circuits that are broadly useful. The purpose of this work is to show that by prioritizing minimal overhead and designing for targeted performance, as necessary for the application, it is possible to create a reusable on-chip AWG circuit macro in a small form factor. To support this claim, details and results are provided for a proof-of-concept implementation in a 45nm partially depleted silicon-on-insulator process. The presented design is able to achieve a small size by eliminating the complicated calibration and filtering circuitry commonly used in contemporary designs, instead relying on intrinsic accuracy of the base circuits. The reliability and accuracy of the AWG are driven by careful design down to the layout level, including the development of a variant of the traditional common-centroid layout technique called distributed-centroid layouts (DCL), which addresses the importance of bias circuitry in mitigating process-induced mismatch. A custom simulation workflow was developed to investigate the effectiveness of this technique at the circuit level as compared to other designs from the literature. The proof-of-concept circuit was designed to improve the characterization of radiation-induced transient effects in highly scaled integrated circuits by providing built-in self-test and hardware-emulation capabilities to a custom photocurrent measurement circuit (PMC). Details of this specific application are explored in detail, along with experimental measurements made using flash x-ray and pulsed laser sources. Alternative AWG designs that might benefit a broader application space beyond radiation effects are also provided
Neural Representations of Flow Data for Visual Analysis
No full textFlow visualization serves as a crucial tool for scientists and researchers to gain valuable insights into complex flow data. However, with the growing complexity and scale of the numerical simulations, the resulting datasets have expanded considerably, presenting challenges in terms of storage, transmission, and subsequent analysis. Motivated by these challenges, this dissertation explores the integration of neural representations within flow visualization frameworks. By leveraging the latest developments in deep learning, novel approaches are developed to enhance computational efficiency, improve data reduction and enable interactive visual analysis. First, we investigate the fusion of neural representation with visualization tasks. We propose a technique to integrate streamlines within the superresolution framework enabling the generation of high-resolution flow fields that enhance the fidelity of flow visualization. Next, we propose a technique to reconstruct arbitrary flow map samples using an implicit neural representation (INR), providing a compact and accurate representation for comprehensive analysis. To further bridge neural representations and visualization, we propose a technique for incorporating scale information within INRs, offering a compact model that permits filtering, sampling, and progressive representation of data. Finally, a comprehensive framework is proposed for learning neural representation of flow maps that strikes a balance between accuracy, computational efficiency, and scalability. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of neural representations as a tool that scientists and researchers can utilize to extract essential flow insights, manage data effectively and enable accurate visual analysis
Ultra-Low-Overhead Arbitrary-Waveform Generation as a Circuit Macro: Augmenting the Characterization of Radiation-Induced Transient Effects in Highly Scaled Integrated Circuits
No full textArbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) are not typically feasible as subsystems on integrated circuits due to their size and complexity, but they are versatile circuits that are broadly useful. The purpose of this work is to show that by prioritizing minimal overhead and designing for targeted performance, as necessary for the application, it is possible to create a reusable on-chip AWG circuit macro in a small form factor. To support this claim, details and results are provided for a proof-of-concept implementation in a 45nm partially depleted silicon-on-insulator process. The presented design is able to achieve a small size by eliminating the complicated calibration and filtering circuitry commonly used in contemporary designs, instead relying on intrinsic accuracy of the base circuits. The reliability and accuracy of the AWG are driven by careful design down to the layout level, including the development of a variant of the traditional common-centroid layout technique called distributed-centroid layouts (DCL), which addresses the importance of bias circuitry in mitigating process-induced mismatch. A custom simulation workflow was developed to investigate the effectiveness of this technique at the circuit level as compared to other designs from the literature. The proof-of-concept circuit was designed to improve the characterization of radiation-induced transient effects in highly scaled integrated circuits by providing built-in self-test and hardware-emulation capabilities to a custom photocurrent measurement circuit (PMC). Details of this specific application are explored in detail, along with experimental measurements made using flash x-ray and pulsed laser sources. Alternative AWG designs that might benefit a broader application space beyond radiation effects are also provided
Dignity at End of Life for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Plus Population
No full textLeadership and Learning in Organizations capstone projectThis study partnered with Capital Caring Health (CCH), the largest non-profit advanced illness care provider in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area. CCH has provided hospice care, palliative care, and counseling to nearly 200,000 patients and their families throughout its history. It aspires to lead in providing advanced illness care of the highest quality to its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LGBTQ+) patients and their loved ones. While there has been some progress made in the medical system when providing care for this population, there is still much work to be done, and a paradigm shift is needed to change the way that LGBTQ+ people are cared for at their end of life (Acquaviva, 2017). This study uses an adapted conceptual framework that combined Bernstein and Salipante (2023)’s Framework for Inclusive Practices with an Inclusive Excellence framework and organizational behavior model (Williams et al., 2005). The adapted framework highlights how an organization can set up conditions to be inclusive and diverse, but first it must understand its own inclusive practices and how those practices impact interactions within and among the organization. Ultimately, this will uncover the impact of the lived experiences of the organization’s staff and the communities it serves. This study’s aim was twofold: to understand CCH’s current practices that demonstrate LGBTQ+ inclusivity and determine what additional actions CCH can take to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ population at their end of life. It is a mixed-methods study, utilizing an online survey to volunteers, semi-structured interviews to volunteers and staff, and organizational document analysis. Through two findings and four recommendations, this study assists CCH in better understanding what LGBTQ+-inclusive practices exist and what additional practices are needed as it aspires to be the leading hospice organization supporting the LGBTQ+ population and their loved ones at the end of life
THREE PAPERS ON POSTSECONDARY ACCESS AND SUCCESS IN TENNESSEE
No full textThe purpose of this dissertation is to better understand postsecondary access and success in the context of Tennessee. Postsecondary access and success are important policy issues to explore as participation in the U.S. labor market increasingly requires a postsecondary credential. This three-paper dissertation examines these issues by focusing on two aspects of postsecondary access and success: rural residents, who may face unique, structural barriers to postsecondary access, and the role of public assistance programs in providing essential basic needs assistance to students pursuing college degrees. In the first, co-authored paper, Dr. Adela Soliz and I describe the landscape of rural postsecondary access in Tennessee by exploring regional variation in rural college-going using state administrative data. In the second paper, I build on this work by estimating the effect of a supplemental college counseling program in rural high schools in Tennessee. In the last paper, I move beyond college access to focus on a particular college persistence issue: basic needs insecurity. I use interview and focus group data from students and administrators from three community colleges in Tennessee to describe students’ participation in three public assistance programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Together, these papers contribute to existing literature on postsecondary access and success by highlighting the unique contexts that frame rural residents’ college-going, evaluating the impact of an intervention for increasing rural residents’ postsecondary access, and describing how students’ engagement with public assistance programs is important for facilitating their college persistence
Exploring the Language Guidance in "The Creative Curriculum for Preschool": An Analysis of the Written Curriculum and Teachers’ Described Enactment
No full textEffective language practices are crucial for children's oral language and reading development in early childhood education (ECE), yet they are often underutilized in pre-K classrooms. Published curricula provide a potential framework to guide teachers' instructional practices, but little research examines the specific language guidance within ECE curricula or how teachers implement and adapt it. This dissertation addresses this gap by investigating the language guidance in The Creative Curriculum for Preschool (6th Ed.), a widely used Pre-K curriculum, and exploring teachers' interpretations and adaptations of this guidance. Through content analysis and semi-structured interviews, the study examines two primary research questions: the types of teacher talk promoted by the curriculum and teachers' perceptions and responses to the language guidance. Findings from the content analysis reveal diverse types and purposes of teacher talk, highlighting the importance of fostering meaningful conversations, modeling complex language, and explaining new vocabulary. The content analysis also identifies varying levels of explicitness within The Creative Curriculumlanguage guidance, emphasizing the nuanced ways in which the curriculum addresses language development. Additionally, the content analysis highlights how different activity settings within the curriculum necessitate unique patterns of teacher talk, emphasizing the importance of flexible language approaches across the classroom day. Insights from the teacher interviews indicate that while teachers were guided by the written curriculum, they also adapted it to suit their contexts by referencing, supplementing, modifying, and scaling back the guidance. These adaptations were influenced by factors such as student characteristics, teacher characteristics, and broader systemic considerations, illustrating the complexity of curriculum implementation in ECE. Overall, these findings have significant implications for curriculum development and teacher learning opportunities in ECE, informing strategies to support effective language practices and ultimately enhance children's language and literacy development
Multicultural Chaplaincy through First Korean Immigrants’ Perspective
No full textDivinity School Doctor of Ministry in Integrative Chaplaincy Final ProjectsThis project is about multicultural chaplaincy. We have learned the importance of cultural differences during CPE programs and other training, yet we have a hard time approaching this cultural barrier effectively in practice. In this Project, I develop a practical theological approach through Korean immigrant cases. There are cultural barriers related to using the healthcare system among Korean immigrants in America as well as cultural differences that can result in mental health issues such as depression and cultural trauma. I use three Biblical wisdoms from the Protestant perspective related to cultural issues to provide better spiritual support for patients, their families, and staff in hospital settings. From the perspective of patient-centered care, cultural issues are essential and have an important position in a multicultural society. Chaplains in medical settings should know how to effectively give spiritual care to patients of various cultures. Through greater attention to Korean immigrants, we can practice the principles of multicultural chaplaincy, which are relevant to anyone who struggles with cultural barriers. Here, Anderson’s five steps are particularly helpful from which I develop eight guidelines for multicultural chaplaincy from a Korean immigrant perspective
Ketamine-Induced Modulation of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission and the Implications for Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Treatment
No full textThe mechanism underlying ketamine’s rapid and sustained antidepressant action remains incompletely understood. In this dissertation, we investigated ketamine’s modulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission and explored the implications of our findings for the treatment of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. At excitatory synapses, we found that homeostatic plasticity induced by ketamine is mechanistically distinct from classic Hebbian plasticity, and these processes may co-occur at the synaptic level. As learning and memory are thought to be encoded by Hebbian long-term potentiation, this finding provides a synaptic basis for the lack of effect of low-dose ketamine on learning and memory in clinical populations. We also demonstrated that direct agonism of the TrkB receptor, which is stimulated in the signaling cascade activated by ketamine in excitatory neurons, was sufficient to recapitulate excitatory synaptic potentiation similar to ketamine. However, direct TrkB agonism failed to replicate ketamine’s robust behavioral effects. Our investigation of inhibitory neurotransmission revealed that ketamine induced an acute but transient reduction of inhibitory activity that appears to be mechanistically distinct from ketamine’s action at excitatory synapses. BDNF-TrkB signaling alone could not replicate this transient disinhibition at inhibitory synapses, but it was required for restoration of the homeostatic set point of inhibitory activity after ketamine treatment. In Mecp2 knockout mice, which model the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, loss of MeCP2 function did not influence the response to ketamine at excitatory synapses. However, Mecp2 knockout mice exhibited a selective impairment of homeostatic recovery after ketamine treatment at inhibitory synapses, suggesting a role of MeCP2 in buffering against sustained inhibitory plasticity. Taken together, our findings reveal new mechanistic insight into the molecular underpinnings of ketamine’s action at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. This knowledge provides important perspectives for the ongoing investigation into the safety and efficacy of ketamine for therapeutic intervention in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders
A Brain-Computer Interface for Decoding Decisions During Learning in a Multidimensional Environment
No full textThe aim of this work was to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) for decoding decision from neuronal recordings. This was accomplished by collecting a novel dataset of neural recordings during a feature learning task, identifying the information encoded in the data, and lastly using this knowledge to create a cognitive BCI for decoding decision
A variational autoencdoer based decoder is developed. The encoder and decoder portions were constructed using gated recurrent units and a classifer off of the latent space used long short-term memory units. This network architecture was specifically designed for decoding decision features, achieving peak decoding accuracy approaching 15\%.
The findings reveal significant correlations between neural activity and cognitive variables, underscoring the roles of the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and caudate in the decision-making process. Additionally, an importance analysis identifies key channels contributing to decision decoding. The conclusions drawn from this work highlight the potential for real-time monitoring of latent behavioral variables