LOUIS University of Alabama in Huntsville
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Use of Pulsed Laser Ablation in Metal Cluster Synthesis
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Practice change by implementing a standardized checklist during informed consent and improving effective communication, patient understanding and satisfaction, and continued enrollment
No full textInformed consent discussions are often one of the first steps in a medical treatment plan of care. Literature has shown effective communication and a standardized checklist, used as a guide by the consenter to ensure all mandated elements of informed consent are discussed, will help potential research participants make an informed decision. The purpose of this clinical project is to implement a standardized checklist that guides consenters during the informed consent process at a pediatric, hematology, and oncology hospital. The project focused only on therapeutic studies. The consenter performed two informed consent conversations without any prior education on the standardized checklist. The consenter was then educated on the standardized checklist and then performed two more informed consent discussions. The Process and Quality of Informed Consent Checklist was used to score the consenters on how well they discussed the informed consent content and their communication skills. Procedurally, a high score required the consenter to complete two additional informed consent discussions. A lower score required re-education on the standardized checklist. The consenter then performed the two final informed consent discussions. The Quality Informed Consent Collection Tool was used to assess research participant understanding and satisfaction after each consent. This allowed for the collection of pre- and post-intervention data. A spreadsheet and SPSS were used to apply descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. The results showed improvements in the communication of the consenters from pre- to post-intervention and an increase in participant satisfaction and understanding from pre- to post-intervention. Some limitations were identified as the project was conducted only in therapeutic studies and with English-speaking participants. It also only looked at continued enrollment as yes or no and did not collect additional data pointing to rationales. To increase knowledge on this topic, more studies focused on informed consent and its impact should be designed to include non-therapeutic studies and languages other than English
Interlacing unstructured data with deep neural nets for predicting pervious and impervious land cover types
Get PDFThis research delves into the intricate task of delineating land cover types in Tallahassee-Leon County and emphasizes the need for detailed granularity beyond existing classification systems. Utilizing cutting-edge GIS data, the study harnesses the power of deep learning algorithms, including U-net, UNetPlusPlus, FPNnet, and DeepLabV3Plus. A unique approach, ”Interlacing Unstructured Data with Deep Neural Nets,” integrates shapefiles and Tiff images to enhance classification metrics such as mean intersection over union, pixel accuracy, and loss functions. The research aspires to significantly improve the precision of land cover classification, holding implications for urban planning and environmental management. By innovatively integrating unstructured data, the study aims to offer valuable insights and tools for informed decision-making, contributing to urban development and environmental sustainability in Tallahassee-Leon County. The expected outcomes of this research carry profound implications for advancing our understanding of urban landscapes and fostering sustainable development practices
The effect of emotional demeanor of adult sexual assault victim testimonies on mock jurors\u27 verdicts
Get PDFExperiencing a sexual assault and testifying in trial are both highly emotional events that can influence a witness to display strong negative emotions. The display of emotion is referred to as the emotional demeanor and the present study examined the impact of a victim’s emotional demeanor on jury decision-making. Results revealed a main effect of crying during the direct examination with more guilty verdicts and higher pro-victim ratings (believability, credibility, and trustworthiness). Female participants provided higher pro-victim judgments on believability than male participants. Verdict reasoning demonstrated that participants had an idea of what they expected a rape victim to look like and thought it was normal for them to be shown as crying. These results support the emotional victim effect and the expectancy violation theory when the victim cries during the direct examination
How the extraction of free ligands from nanoparticle dispersions affects their Langmuir films
Get PDFWhen nanoparticles are used as coatings on displays, solar cells, or devices, a thin, closely packed, uniform film is desired to enhance performance. Organic ligands are commonly used during the synthesis of metal or semiconductor nanoparticles. The ligands bind to the surface of the nanoparticle to control size, stability, or functionality. Commercially available nanoparticles have excess (free), ligands in their dispersions. Removal of the free ligands can potentially improve the performance of the system, especially when the dispersion is subsequently coated on a surface. Current methods to remove free ligands from nanoparticle dispersions result in mass loss, reduced performance, or decreased stability. In this study, liquid-liquid extraction is investigated as a potential method without mass loss or stripping of bound ligands. Subsequent studies determine how removing free ligands impacts the quality of Langmuir films formed from the altered dispersions. The system is CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with oleic acid ligands. Characterization is done with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, digital imaging, Brewster angle microscopy, and white light interference spectroscopy. The results show that 94% of free ligands can be removed from quantum dot dispersions using liquid-liquid extraction without mass loss, stripping of bound ligands, or agglomeration. The method can be used for commercial applications or research to optimize the ratio of free to bound ligands and thereby reduce unnecessary expenses in ligands. The results also show that removal of free ligands changes spreading dynamics. Finally, the results show the removal of free ligands improves film quality (uniformity) across large scales. This can improve performance in devices that require a thin, closely packed, uniform film
GOES-16 GLM optical energy in the inner core of Hurricane Ian during two rapid intensification periods
Get PDFTropical cyclone (TC) rapid intensification (RI) is difficult to forecast but is a crucial element of TC forecasts and impacts. How lightning evolves prior to and during RI is of interest to better understanding TC RI. Results have not found a consensus in the flash rates within the inner core of rapidly intensifying TCs, indicating that there is not an understanding of these processes. Using the optical energy, measured by satellite imagery, the lightning behavior is investigated during Hurricane Ian\u27s two RI periods, the first with almost no lightning and the second with nearly constant lightning. Radar measurements indicate that the updrafts in the second RI period are larger and more contiguous than in the first RI period, indicating that perhaps the shape and size of updrafts that are of the magnitude to contribute to TC RI may contribute to an increase in flash rate and optical energy
Development of a simulation tool for assessing electrical short risks from metallic whiskers on printed circuit boards using Unity
Get PDFTin whiskers are metal strands that spontaneously form on tin surfaces and can grow up to a centimeter long. These whiskers can cause electrical shorts by breaking off and landing on circuit boards, yet there is limited simulation and analysis data regarding their shorting probability. This thesis presents a software tool developed using Unity, Blender, and FreeCAD to simulate the behavior of tin whiskers on PCBs. The tool accurately represents PCBs and whiskers, applying various forces to predict whisker landing positions and the impacted metal faces. By importing STEP files of PCBs, the software automatically sets up the simulation in Unity, visualizes whisker impacts, and identifies affected metal faces. This project advances towards a reliable 3D whisker simulation, offering significant potential benefits for NASA, the MDA, and other industries. Enhanced understanding of whisker behavior through this tool can lead to more reliable electronic components and improved product safety
Characterization of thin-walled W-24Re structures fabricated using laser-powder bed fusion
Get PDFW-24Re is a refractory alloy used in high temperature applications due to its high melting point, recrystallization temperature, and tensile strength. Due to the high melting point, fabrication is more commonly achieved through powder metallurgy processing, which relies on diffusion. As the material is available as a powder, it is a good candidate for laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processing. This study focuses on characterization of L-PBF of W-24Re thin-walled structures to determine the feasibility and primary failure mechanisms under tension compared to that of bulk W-24Re. A laser parameter set was developed, and samples were provided by Quadrus Corporation for characterization of the material in this study. Through comparison of voids, grain size, microhardness, x-ray diffraction, and tension testing for various specimens, a failure mechanism and potential crack mitigation strategy are proposed. This information can be used in further development of L-PBF W-24Re thin-walled structures to optimize mechanical properties
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a Treatment Method for ADHD
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