bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidative and Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition of Polymer Electronic Materials for Applications in Energy Conversion and Storage
Authors:   , Nejati Siamak , Lau Kenneth K. S.
Published: July 2021

Initiated and oxidative chemical vapor deposition (iCVD/oCVD) are novel surface polymerization techniques for the formation of polymer thin films. Taking advantage of a vacuum environment, polymer CVD enables the synthesis of stoichiometric polymers that can be applied on different surface geometries down to nanometer scale. In iCVD and oCVD, the surface adsorption of reactive species is typically the limiting step, which means the polymer growth and properties can be tuned by adjusting the surface availability of the reactants. In this work, iCVD and oCVD were utilized for the synthesis and integration of electronic polymer materials in the nanostructured electrodes of energy conversion and storage devices. iCVD was used to synthesize poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) as a potential polymer electrolyte while oCVD was used to make unsubstituted polythiophene (PTh) as a potential electrically conducting polymer. PHEMA was then integrated within the mesoporous electrode of dye sensitized solar cells and iCVD conditions that enabled successful pore filling were identified. The resulting devices fabricated with iCVD PHEMA polymer electrolyte showed superior performance when compared to their liquid counterparts. PTh was integrated in the porous electrode of activated carbon supercapacitors and oCVD conditions that enabled conformal ultrathin coating were found. The resulting devices with oCVD PTh was found to have significantly higher charge storage capacity as a result of the synergistic effect of the redox polymer and the nanostructured topology. Overall, this work demonstrated the viability of iCVD and oCVD pathways for the design, synthesis, and processing of polymers in nanostructured architectures for energy applications. Success ultimately depended on a clear understanding of the fundamental kinetic and transport mechanisms for enabling polymer integration.
Gradient porous structure (GPS) plastics for tissue engineering & orthopedics
Authors:   , Devlin Sean Michael , Lelkes Peter I.
Published: July 2021

Gradient Porous Structures are biologically important features of many tissues that provide mechanical strength paired with porosity. In order to design the manufacturing process for a new class of porous polymer composite tissue scaffolds as surgical fixation devices, we have mathematically correlated morphological changes (such as pore size and distribution) within the polymers to manufacturing parameters such as time and temperature. The material consists of a porous, highly interconnected phase of biodegradable polymer formed from a co-continuous blend of the desired polymer and a sacrificial polymer that has been dissolved away after the ontrolled phase separation process which hones the morphology. Since early prototypes produced an erratic range of mechanical strengths, in silico modeling was proposed to correlate the variety of phase separation parameters that would otherwise be cost prohibitive to physically test. Two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) modeling techniques were explored using the Finite Element Method (FEM) applied to the Level Set Method for tracking moving fluid interfaces in laminar creeping flow, from which empirical correlations were drawn to aid in the manufacture of gradient porous surgical fixation devices. Our analysis defines a novel correlation between structure and manufacturing parameters, suggesting that the resultant the pore size growth rate is equal to the ratio of the interfacial surface tension over the difference in fluid viscosities. These correlations allow for the rational design of surgical fixation devices with tunable gradient porous structures and mechanical properties.
Variable Fractional Digital Delay Filter on Reconfigurable Hardware
Authors:   , Sangaiah Karthik Ramu , Nagvajara Prawat
Published: July 2021

This thesis describes a design for a variable fractional delay (VFD) finite impulse reponse (FIR) filter implemented on reconfigurable hardware. Fractionally delayed signals are required for several audio-based applications, including echo cancellation and musical signal analysis. Traditionally, VFD FIR filters have been implemented using a fixed structure in software based upon the order of the filter. This fixed structure restricts the range of valid fractional delay values permitted by the filter. This proposed design implements an order-scalable FIR filter, permitting fractionally delayed signals of widely varying integer sizes. Furthermore, the proposed design of this thesis builds upon the traditional Lagrange interpolator FIR filter using either asoftware-based coefficient computational unit or hardware-based coefficient computational unit in reconfigurable hardware for updating the FIR coefficients in real-time. Traditional Lagrange interpolator FIR filters have only permitted fixed fractional delay. However, by leveraging todays (2012) low-cost high performance reconfigurable hardware, an FIR-based fractional delay filter was created to permit varying fractional delay. A software/hardware hybrid VFD filter was prototyped using the Xilinx System Generator toolkit. The resulting real-time VFD FIR filter was tested usingSystem Generator, as well as Xilinx ISE and ModelSim.
Implicit cognitive processes in depression
Authors:   , Garlipp Jillian Elizabeth , Lowe Michael R.
Published: July 2021

The terms implicit and automatic processes are used interchangeably in this dissertation and refer to underlying thought processes that are nonvolitional and occur without awareness or attention. Differences in automatic cognitive processes between depressed individuals and nondepressed individuals are discussed in relation to implicit attentional biases, implicit memory, and implicit judgments and associations. The following hypotheses are proposed in this study: (1) There will be differences in task responses on implicit measures between depressed and never depressed individuals, in that depressed individuals will show stronger association between self and negative content words and will exhibit greater implicit memory for negative words compared to never depressed individuals; (2) Grouping depressed individuals based on a depressive personality style will provide greater sensitivity for implicit measures of depression, in that depressed individuals will show greater implicit processing of negative content words that pertain to the individual's depressive style; and (3) Implicit measures of depression will correlate to a greater degree with each other than with explicit measures. The implicit association test (IAT) and word stem completion task were used to assess implicit cognitive processes, and mixed-model MANOVA's and correlation analyses were used to test the hypotheses. The results of mixed model MANOVA's showed significant differences in self-concept associative bias within depressed and never depressed groups, in that both groups demonstrated a positive bias in self-concept. There were was a strong tendency for differences between groups based on autonomy on the IAT. Those high on autonomy exhibited a tendency for lower self-concept positive bias than those depressed and low on autonomy and those never depressed. These results indicated that those who were depressed and scored high on autonomy viewed themselves in a less positive light than the other groups when they implicitly made associations between themselves and negative autonomous stimuli and positive stimuli. Results indicate significant correlations between implicit and explicit measures and between implicit measures and between explicit measures.
Foreign Introduced Reality Television in China's Market
Authors:   , He Yiyan , Tedesco Albert S.
Published: July 2021

From the hit of Super Girls Voice in 2004, Chinese audience got to know the new genre of television programs, reality TV. Various types of reality television appear on TV and such reality programs have been popular since then. Before 2010, the laws about TV program copyrights were not clear in Mainland China; so there were lots of shows whose format were copied from foreign popular shows in China's media market. Since 2010, some foreign reality shows were introduced while there are still a number of shows plagiarized from foreign shows. Those introduced shows got much attention and became hot topics during airing. In 2012 and 2013, more TV stations chose to buy and broadcast Chinese version introduced shows for prime time slot. But does the Chinese audience accept the introduced programs? Do the introduced shows affect the Chinas TV market? The purpose of the study is to research the current reality television market of China for foreign introduced programs and at the same time to get to know the real Chinese audience's taste for reality television and market of reality TV for interested foreign media investors and local production companies. Three popular different-style introduced reality shows are discussed. The thesis concludes that brand effect, professional production, right broadcasting landscape and other basic elements of the reality TV are the key factors for an introduced or a co-produced show to succeed in Chinas market.
Studying Neutrino Directionality with the Double Chooz Experiment
Authors:   , Caden Erica Price , Lane Charles E.
Published: July 2021

This dissertation describes the Double Chooz neutrino oscillation experiment and the authors contributions to the collaboration, including hardware development and data analysis. We developed and tested both the Front End signal amplification modules and high voltage divider bases for veto photomultiplier tubes, the results of which are presented here. The current position reconstruction algorithm natively skews events towards the center of the detector. With our corrections, we reduce the systematic reconstruction uncertainty to less than 2 cm. Using the two part neutrino interaction of Inverse Beta Decay, we identify the neutrino source at phi = 84.5°±1.35°. The cone which contains 68% of the neutrino signal is calculated to have a half-aperture opening of 9.4°.
Design, Synthesize and Characterize Hierarchically Ordered Nanofibers (NFSKs) for Biomimetic Mineralization
Authors:   , Chen Xi , Li Christopher Y.
Published: July 2021

The seven-level hierarchical structure is essential to the exceptional mechanical properties and biological activities of nature bones. Extensive studied have been devoted to mimicking this complex structure using a synthetic material but limited success has been accomplished. The challenge is to use the soft materials to control the distribution and orientation of minerals. Up to now, only few self-assembled natural and synthetic nanofibers have shown capability to control the orientation of minerals and no synthetic materials are able to achieve control on both distribution and orientation of minerals. In this research, we used a novel structure, nanofiber shish kebabs (NFSKs), to address the challenge. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is selected as the model polymer for the development of NFSKs because of its biocompatibility and semi-crystalline nature. Poly caprolactone and poly acrylic acid (PCL-b-PAA) is synthesized via atomic transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and used as the secondary polymer to decorate on the nanofiber in the form of single crystal lamellae via polymer crystallization. Anionic nanodomains are formed upon crystallization of PCL segments and self-assembly of lamellar crystals. Utilizing those anionic nanodomains, the distribution and orientation of minerals can be both controlled in a biomimetic mineralization process due to geometrical confinement. The introduction of kebabs onto the nanofiber surface also significantly improves the mechanical properties of NFSK fiber mat by utilizing kebabs as the load-bearing and -transferring agents. Our results provide a new route to achieving exquisite nanoscale structural control in biomimetic hybrid materials.
Delayed discounting, appetitive responsivity and dieting in the prediction of hedonically-driven food intake
Authors:   , Ely Alice Valiant , Lowe Michael R.
Published: July 2021

Research suggests that characteristics identified in obese individuals, such as impulsive decision-making and appetitive responsivity, may exist in weight gain prone populations. This study examined the independent and interactive effects of three variables on food intake: dieting status (historical dieting or lack thereof), impulsive decision-making (measured via a delay discounting task) and hedonic hunger (assessed with the Power of Food Scale, PFS). Eighty participants ate a standard meal, completed self-report measures and the delay discounting task, and participated in a sham taste test of palatable foods. PFS scores, historical dieting and high delay discounting were all hypothesized to predict greater snack food intake independently, as was the interaction of these variables. None of these variables demonstrated significant main effects or interaction effects predictive of ad lib highly palatable food consumption. However, post hoc analyses demonstrate some differences between historical dieters and those who have never dieted before, despite a lack of differences in overall snack food intake. Potential explanations are discussed as well as possibilities for future research.
Endothelial Cell-Basement Membrane Response to Glycated Collagen
Authors:   , Figueroa Dannielle Solomon , Clyne Alisa Morss , Allen Fred D.
Published: July 2021

People with diabetes suffer from accelerated atherosclerosis, which is linked to endothelial cell dysfunction in high glucose. Glucose affects endothelial cells directly and glycates basement membrane collagen. Endothelial cells are exposed to cyclic stretch in vivo and align their actin cytoskeleton and remodel the basement membrane in response to this stimulus. However, the effect of collagen glycation on stretch response is not known. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that glycated collagen alters endothelial cell mechanotransduction by disrupting focal adhesions, which prevents both the cell and basement membrane response to cyclic stretch. Cyclic stretch was applied to porcine aortic endothelial cells seeded on flexible membranes coated with native or glycated collagen. While cells on native collagen aligned and formed actin stress fibers perpendicular to the stretch direction, cells on glycated collagen did not align. FAK phosphorylation was diminished in cells on glycated collagen in response to cyclic stretch, which could contribute to loss of alignment. Inhibited mechanotransduction also affected endothelial cell barrier function. Cells on glycated collagen demonstrated threefold higher permeability with stretch compared to cells on native collagen. Increased permeability could relate to altered cell-cell junction morphology, as evidenced by invaginated cell-cell junctions and increased [beta]-catenin translocation to the nucleus in cells on glycated collagen. Similar to actin, cells on glycated collagen substrates did not align basement membrane fibers in response to stretch. While basement membrane protein content did not change in cells on native or glycated collagen in response to cyclic stretch, there was decreased degradation activity in cells on glycated collagen. MMP-2 and MT1-MMP protein levels decreased, and therefore MMP-2 activity also decreased. We have shown that these MMP changes could relate to the inhibition of Jnk phosphorylation with cyclic stretch, which has previously been linked to FAK. These data suggest that collagen glycation elicits structural and biochemical changes that disrupt the endothelial cell-basement membrane co-regulatory unit. Endothelial cells that cannot adapt to the mechanical environment may express a pro-atherosclerotic phenotype, and thereby contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in people with diabetes. Understanding the role of collagen glycation in endothelial dysfunction could lead to target-specific drug therapies and help to reduce the high associated risk of vascular morbidity and mortality seen in diabetic patients.
Stochastic Models of Quantum Decoherence
Authors:   , Kennerly Samuel , Gilmore Robert
Published: July 2021

Suppose a single qubit is repeatedly prepared and evolved under imperfectly-controlled conditions. A drunk model represents uncontrolled interactions on each experimental trial as random or stochastic terms in the qubits Hamiltonian operator. Time evolution of states is generated by a stochastic differential equation whose sample paths evolve according to the Schrödinger equation. For models with Gaussian white noise which is independent of the qubits state, the expectation value of the solution obeys a master equation which is identical to the high-temperature limit of the Bloch equation. Drunk models predict that experimental data can appear consistent with decoherence even if qubit states evolve by unitary transformations. Examples are shown in which reversible evolution appears to cause irreversible information loss. This paradox is resolved by distinguishing between the true state of a system and the estimated state inferred from an experimental dataset.
Braided Multi-Electrode Probes for Neural Interfaces
Authors:   , Kim Taegyo , Giszter Simon F.
Published: July 2021

Although clinical use of invasive neural interfaces is very limited, due to safety and reliability concerns, the potential benefits of their use in brain machine interfaces (BMIs) seem promising and so they have been widely used in the research field. Microelectrodes as invasive neural interfaces are the core tool to record neural activities and their failure is a critical issue for BMI systems. Possible sources of this failure are neural tissue motions and their interactions with stiff electrode arrays or probes fixed to the skull. To overcome these tissue motion problems, we have developed novel braided multi-electrode probes (BMEPs). By interweaving ultra-fine wires into a tubular braid structure, we obtained a highly flexible multi-electrode probe. In this thesis we described BMEP designs and how to fabricate BMEPs, and explore experiments to show the advantages of BMEPs through a mechanical compliance comparison and a chronic immunohistological comparison with single 50[mu]m nichrome wires used as a reference electrode type. Results from the mechanical compliance test showed that the bodies of BMEPs have 4 to 21 times higher compliance than the single 50[mu]m wire and the tethers of BMEPs were 6 to 96 times higher compliance, depending on combinations of the wire size (9.6[mu]m or 12.7[mu]m), the wire numbers (12 or 24), and the length of tether (3, 5 or 10 mm). Results from the immunohistological comparison showed that both BMEPs and 50[mu]m wires anchored to the skull caused stronger tissue reactions than unanchored BMEPs and 50[mu]m wires, and 50[mu]m wires caused stronger tissue reactions than BMEPs. In in-vivo tests with BMEPs, we succeeded in chronic recordings from the spinal cord of freely jumping frogs and in acute recordings from the spinal cord of decerebrate rats during air stepping which was evoked by mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulation. This technology may provide a stable and reliable neural interface to spinal cord researches with freely moving animals as well as to BMI researches. In addition this is extensible to various applications.
Plasticity of Trunk Motor Cortex as a result of Spinal Cord Injury and Robot Rehabilitation Training
Authors:   , Oza Chintan S. , Giszter Simon F.
Published: July 2021

Cortex is believed to have the necessary substrate to manifest plasticity following manipulations of sensorimotor experience, peripheral or spinal cord injury (SCI). One common model for studying SCI is a complete low thoracic transection in rats resulting in total paraplegia. Complete thoracic SCI induces significant cortical reorganization, such as expansion of forelimb sensory map into the deafferented cortex and expansion of motor representation of hand and proximal muscles. Trunk motor control is crucial after SCI and several rehabilitative strategies are aimed at enhancing trunk stabilization and postural control. How the trunk motor cortex reorganizes after SCI is not clear. Recently using trunk based robot rehabilitation we showed that SCI rats can significantly improve function. Underlying cortical mechanisms associated with successful recovery of function with robot rehabilitation are not completely understood. To this end, we used intracortical microstimulation to examine motor representations in the cortex of SCI rats. We first examined plasticity of trunk motor cortex after chronic adult SCI. We next investigated the effects of robot rehabilitation training on the plasticity of trunk motor cortex in adult SCI rats and adult rats with neonatal SCI. Lastly, we investigated the importance of trunk sensorimotor cortex in mediating recovery of function with robot rehabilitation in adult rats with neonatal SCI through cortical lesion studies. Our results suggest that chronic adult SCI induces significant reorganization of trunk motor cortex. This results in formation of novel synergies between trunk and forelimb and between different trunk segments. Passive (non-stepping) rehabilitation training of adult SCI rats does not induce any measurable plastic changes in trunk motor cortex. Successful robot rehabilitation training of adult rats with neonatal SCI induces significant reorganization of the trunk motor cortex including fractionation and emergence of novel complex muscle synergies within trunk motor cortex. Bilateral lesions to the trunk sensorimotor cortex in adult rats with neonatal SCI disrupts the sensorimotor integration associated with robot training resulting in lack of improvement over the duration of training along with no measurable plastic changes in the cortex. Taken together our findings imply significant reorganization of trunk motor cortex with SCI and successful rehabilitation training.
Afferent effects in wipe reflex corrections
Authors:   , Ramakrishnan Arun , Giszter Simon F.
Published: July 2021

Adult spinal bullfrogs perform rapid hindlimb wipe reflexes in response to noxious stimuli. Both cutaneous and proprioceptive feedback modalities are essential in the planning and execution of this reflex. Although gated cutaneous feedback is known to organize online (mid-wipe) corrections, studies suggest that proprioceptive feedback does not elicit online corrections, at least in the early phase of the wipe. We tested this by applying continuous elastic and pulsed perturbations at the ankle of the frog limb during the wipe. Our results indicate significant EMG variations in response to elastic field that systematically change with the elastic field stiffness. Through multielectrode recordings, we have isolated neural underpinnings of this modulation in the spinal cord. Pulsed perturbations could be ignored or compensated actively depending on their timing in the wipe motor pattern. All our previous work suggests that the reflex organization and corrections follow a primitive based framework that uses a linear combination of muscle synergies to create muscle activations. Our results support this framework and we have isolated associated interneurons that show firing-rate changes proportional to the magnitude of amplitude modulation of certain primitives during the proprioceptive perturbations. This lays a strong foundation and body of evidence for selective online proprioceptive integration in reflex wipes. We used a 3D biomechanical model to study the effects of introducing continuous feedback in a spinal wipe reflex. We performed simulations from various starting limb configurations and under varying environmental conditions including elastic field, inertial loading and pulsed force perturbations. We have previously published the importance of joint space estimation in fine tuning the directionality of a wipe reflex. Here we test the efficacy of initial joint space estimation in conjunction with continuous spindle feedback. Continuous application of spindle feedback shows significant reduction in target error and result in convergent trajectories under unperturbed, elastic and inertial loading. However pulsed perturbations get exaggerated and result in divergent trajectories. From this we conclude that proprioceptive feedback is definitely incorporated during wipe planning and execution. However the nature of its integration during execution may not be continuous and may be subject to gating, filtering and modulation to optimize performance under the constraints of spinal circuitry.
Sleep Disturbance in Groups of Patients with Differing Cancer Diagnoses
Authors:   , Simpson Sarah Horsey , Kloss Jacqueline D.
Published: July 2021

Sleep disturbance is one distressing symptom commonly experienced in patients with cancer and is associated with negative outcomes (e.g., decreased quality of life, poor treatment compliance, and/or physical or psychological symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and depressed mood). Conceptualizing symptoms as clusters is a way to investigate sleep disturbance and its relationships to other physical and psychological symptoms commonly experienced in patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of sleep disturbance among a cluster of symptoms commonly experienced in patients with cancer and examine a prospective mediation model whereby sleep disturbance mediates the relationship between pain and depressed mood, and then fatigue over time. Secondary analysis using data collected from a pilot study of symptom clusters in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy was conducted. Indices of physical and psychological symptoms collected at multiple time points during a one month period were available for analyses. Actigraphy data were collected as an objective measurement of sleep disturbance. Results indicated that sleep was poor and previous bivariate correlations between sleep disturbance and the other symptoms of interest were replicated. A single factor containing the four symptoms identified was significant via Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA), supporting the symptom cluster structure recognized. Prospective mediation analyses indicated that our proposed model was not significant; however, a revised model was supported. Pain and depressed mood were found to mediate the relationship between sleep disturbance and fatigue. Results confirm that sleep is poor in patients with cancer and demonstrate the need to consider or evaluate all four symptoms of the cluster when one or more symptoms are identified in clinical or research settings. The supported mediation model provides evidence for an intervention in patients with cancer where sleep disturbance is treated by addressing pain and depressed mood, which in turn, reduces fatigue.
A Study of the Relationship of Perceived Principal Supervision and Support to the Perceived Self-Efficacy of Beginning and Experienced K-12 Teachers
Authors:   , Spearing Leonard M. , Miller O'Neal Michel L.
Published: July 2021

In this quantitative study the author examined the relationship between the perceived level of principal supervision and support to the perceived self-efficacy of K-12 teachers in a suburban public school district. The impact of perceived self-efficacy upon the commitment to remain in teaching was also considered. Finally the differential relationship between perceived principal support and supervision to commitment to remain in teaching was compared for novice and experienced teachers. This study did not introduce an experimental treatment but surveyed teachers in their naturally occurring situation. Teachers in a suburban school district filled out a 40-item online questionnaire assessing their perceptions of the level of principal support and supervision they receive along with their perceived self-efficacy and their level of commitment to remain in teaching. 152 questionnaires were completed for a return rate of 17.1%. Correlations were run for each of the research questions. Weak positive correlations were found to exist between perceived self-efficacy and principal support (r =.164, p < .05, N = 152) and principal supervision (r = .324, p < .01, N = 152). Weak correlations were also found for commitment to remain in teaching, for experienced teachers, and principal support (r = .354, p < .01, n = 144) and principal supervision (r = .258, p < .01, n = 144). The sample population of novice teachers was small, n = 8, and yielded no significant results. Suggestions for further research include investigations into alternative methods of principal supervision and collecting measurements of collective self-efficacy. Keywords: perceived self-efficacy, principal supervision
The Interaction of Therapist Experiential Avoidance and Extraneous Clinical Information in Predicting Therapist Preference for Exposure Treatment for OCD
Authors:   , Rabin Stephanie Justine , Herbert James D. , Forman Evan M.
Published: July 2021

Despite the overwhelming evidence that the behavioral components of cognitive-behavior therapies (CBTs) are critical for patient improvement, particularly in the case of anxiety disorders, there remains a wide gap between science and practice in their consistent use. In particular, exposure therapy for anxiety is underused and frequently misunderstood, even among self-proclaimed cognitive-behavior therapists. Some have speculated that this underuse is related to therapist discomfort with and avoidance of the temporary increase in distress that patients often experience during exposure therapy, and the secondary distress that this may cause in therapists themselves. Recent studies have begun to examine therapist characteristics that are associated with the use of evidence-based psychotherapies, but these studies have focused on EBP as a whole rather than on specific interventions such as exposure, and have not addressed therapist psychological variables. In addition, there has been a great deal of research on errors and biases in psychodiagnosis and clinician decision-making regarding risk of violence, but there has been little research on factors impacting treatment planning. The current study examined the role of therapists experiential avoidance in the use of exposure-based interventions to treat a fictional patient for whom exposure therapy is clearly indicated. In addition, the study experimentally manipulated the presence of extraneous, irrelevant information in the patients presentation, and we tested whether this variable interacted with experiential avoidance in predicting clinician preference for exposure therapy. Results suggested that participants who were higher in experiential avoidance tended to allot less time to exposure therapy, r(162) = -.30, p < .001. When vignettes contained extraneous clinical information, participants tended to allot less time to exposure. There was no interaction between experiential avoidance and extraneous information. Additional therapist personality factors were associated with use of exposure therapy as well, including intuitive personality and attitudes toward evidence-based treatments.
Load Capability for Smart Distribution Systems
Authors:   , Coleman Nicholas Stephen , Miu Karen Nan
Published: July 2021

The load capability problem has traditionally been associated with long-term system planning, but as distribution networks become increasingly strained, load capability is becoming a daily challenge for grid operators. In a smart grid environment, operators can measure system states remotely and in real-time, which would allow real-time load capability assessment if desired. Utilities could benefit from smarter measurement schemes, in which data collection frequencies adapt to thecondition of the circuit. This thesis presents the implicit temporal load capability formulation, which, given circuit parameters and a load forecast, identifies times when the system would benefit from closer measurement monitoring. In addition to the new formulation, this thesis presents an updated version of general load capability, which includes new equations to compute load capability with respect to power factor limits, clarifies the units of the problem, and introduces time as a solution parameter. Corresponding solution algorithms are proposed and implemented in a MATLAB-based software package that solves both problems. Simulation results were obtained on 21- and 105-bus distribution networks. One set of simulations solved general load capability for the 105-bus system with respect to both positive and negative load variations. These simulations successfully demonstrate efficient computation of currentand power factor-limited load variation factors as a part of the updated general formulation. A second set of simulations solved implicit temporal load capability for both circuits with a given load forecast,and various loading conditions and control settings. These simulations efficiently identify critical times and lull periods in a load forecast, where utilities may benefit from modified data collection schemes.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a Sentencing Mitigator for Veterans in Criminal Court
Authors:   , Davis Jennie Patricia , DeMatteo David S.
Published: July 2021

Research has shown the relationships among military combat, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and criminal behavior to be quite complex. Despite a lack of empirical data to support the practice, lawyers continue to introduce evidence of PTSD on behalf of veteran defendants in criminal cases with limited success. The present study aimed to fill this gap in the literature by exploring whether a criminal defendant's military history and mental health status can influence sentencing. A total of 362 participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk to participate in the study. Participants were assigned to read one of six vignettes in which a defendant pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and an expert psychologist subsequently testified during sentencing about the defendant's mental health. The defendant's military history (veteran or non-veteran) and mental health diagnosis (PTSD, depression, or none) were manipulated. Participant responses to a series of online questionnaires were analyzed to examine six hypotheses regarding mock jurors' sentencing recommendations and perceptions of the defendant's treatment amenability and likelihood of violent recidivism. Results of a series of factorial ANOVAs revealed that veteran defendants diagnosed with PTSD received significantly shorter prison sentences than veteran defendants diagnosed with depression or no mental illness. For defendants diagnosed with PTSD, veterans received significantly shorter sentences than non-veterans. Non-significant findings, results of exploratory analyses, and implications for legal practice are also discussed.
Interactive Graphic Novel Experience
Authors:   , Havens Sonia F. , Wagner Michael G.
Published: July 2021

Comics and Graphic Novels have been around for decades and within the last several years have been created to be displayed through the web as daily strips or larger works. Most of these works have held fast to the traditional format of Comics and Graphic Novels, but several have explored navigation and formatting that could be considered experimental in the world of Comics. The Interactive Graphic Novel will experiment with non-linear storytelling and navigation through the use of user directed panel selection. This Interactive Graphic Novel Experience will enable users to interact with the story by selecting an item within a panel to learn more about the characters while continuing through the larger overarching plot-line. Users will interact with the graphic novel through a web based interface using Unity, they can read through comic book-like panels, scenes contained within set boundaries, and select a highlighted item to explore further character content and backstory. The interface will allow users to toggle between 3 main character perspectives in order to see the story as each character experiences it. The use of parallax and movement within and between each panel will help to emphasize the selectable items and direct the users through the story and sub-story. The user will be able to interact with the graphic novel through animated navigation in a three dimensional space which will further explore the capabilities of digital graphic novels as compared to the print form of graphic novel.
Gold Nanoparticle Decorated Carbon Nanopipettes for Intracellular SERS
Authors:   , Longenbach Travis S. , Gogotsi Yury
Published: July 2021

Single cell analysis is an increasingly important factor for understanding fundamental cellular functions at the molecular level. As a label-free technique capable of measuring multiple molecules simultaneously, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an ideal candidate for miniaturization to the cellular level. Current SERS-active probe designs are limited by their size, fabrication difficulty, or background signal derived from functionalization. In this work, a protocol for batch fabrication of residue-free gold nanoparticle decorated carbon nanopipettes was developed. SERS-activity of the decorated nanopipettes was demonstrated on droplets of 1 mM glycine. The stability of the attached nanoparticles was confirmed in vivo by interrogation of living cells. Moreover, identification of several key factors related to particle growth will provide an avenue for future optimization of particle size and coverage.
Use of Infrared Thermography in a Data Fusion Framework for Thermal and Damage Properties Quantification
Authors:   , Rajaram Satish S. , Bartoli Ivan , Kontsos Antonios
Published: July 2021

Infrared Thermography (IRT) is already a widely used technique for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for infrastructure evaluation and damage detection. This thesis has two goals; the first is to calculate a thermo physical property, the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) using two non-contact and full field measurement techniques, IRT and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) which provide temperature and displacement fields, respectively. The second goal is to use IR and DIC (IRIC) as a full field non-contact technique that allows not only measurements of a thermal property but can further detect damage within a material. By providing full field data it is shown that it is possible to measure CTE in partitioned regions which can be used to identify damage. Simultaneously the accurate measurement of thermal expansion can be used to differentiate thermal strains generated in a material due to thermo-elastic effects from the mechanical induced strain and therefore assist the understanding of the behavior of a material. Literature reviews show a multitude of ways to calculate just CTE which demonstrates the novelty of this thesis to simultaneously measure a material property and identify damage. In summary, the aim of this thesis is to produce a quick, efficient and reliable technique to provide accurate CTE measurements of both isotropic and anisotropic materials, which can potentially be used to make corrections of strain measurements induced by mechanical loading, and therefore provide a way to identify progressive damage.
Sleep Disturbance and Worry in Parental Caregivers of Children in the Maintenance Phase of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Authors:   , Walsh Colleen Marie , Kloss Jacqueline D.
Published: July 2021

Background: Research indicates that parental caregivers of children with chronic illnesses have reported sleep disturbance and poor sleep quality, possibly due to nighttime caregiving, frequent monitoring, disturbance of the child's sleep, and emotional distress. Among chronic illnesses, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer and the maintenance phase is the third and longest phase of treatment, often requiring caregivers to be vigilant advocates and care providers. However, despite the high prevalence of ALL and the attending demands of caregiving, knowledge of the impact of worry and child sleep disturbance on sleep quality among this specific population of caregivers is limited. Therefore, the aim of this informative pilot study was to describe overall subjective sleep quality and disturbance among caregivers of children in the maintenance phase of ALL, as well as to examine the relationship between subjective sleep quality, child sleep disturbance, and worry of caregivers in order to inform the literature and the development of future quantitative studies. The current study was part of a larger study which aimed to prospectively describe the impact of corticosteroids on sleep patterns and health-related quality of life of 128 children with ALL over a 28-day period in maintenance treatment. Method: At a single time point, 32 caregivers of children with ALL ages 3 to 12 receiving care at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children completed measures of demographic information, caregiver worry, and subjective sleep quality of the past month, as well as measures regarding the child's developmental history and sleep habits and disturbance of the past week. Results: Participants were 28 mothers and 4 fathers (75% married, 81.3% Caucasian, 12.5% Hispanic) ranging in age from 21 to 67 years old. No significant relationship was found between higher levels of caregiver subjective sleep quality, child sleep disturbance and caregiver worry. However, caregivers were nearly evenly divided between good and poor sleepers, as 43.8% were found to be poor sleepers and scored >5 on the PSQI. Conclusions: Though limited, the findings provide a description of the subjective sleep quality and disturbance of this distinct caregiver population and highlight the need for further research and support of caregivers of children with pediatric illnesses, particularly sleep patterns, quality, and sources of sleep disturbance over time.
Combinatorial aspects of generalizations of Schur functions
Authors:   , Heilman Derek , Morse Jennifer
Published: July 2021

The understanding of the space of symmetric functions is gained through the study of its bases. Certain bases can be dened by purely combinatorial methods, sometimes enabling important properties of the functions to fall from carefully constructed combinatorial algorithms. A classic example is given by the Schur basis, made up of functions that can be dened using semi-standard Young tableaux. The Pieri rule for multiplying an important special case of Schur functions is proven using an insertion algorithm on tableaux that was dened by Robinson, Schensted, and Knuth. Furthermore, the transition matrices between Schur functions and other symmetric function bases are often linked to representation theoretic multiplicities. The description of these matrices can sometimes be given combinatorially as the enumeration of a set of objects such as tableaux. A similar combinatorial approach is applied here to a basis for the symmetric function space that is dual to the Grothendieck polynomial basis. These polynomials are dened combinatorially using reverse plane partitions. Bijecting reverse plane partitions with a subset of semi-standard Young tableaux over a doubly-sized alphabet enables the extension of RSK-insertion to reverse plane partitions. This insertion, paired with a sign changing involution, is used to give the desired combinatorial proof of the Pieri rule for this basis. Another basis of symmetric functions is given by the set of factorial Schur functions. While their expansion into Schur functions can be described combinatorially, the reverse change of basis had no such formulation. A new set of combinatorial objects is introduced to describe the expansion coecients, and another sign changing involution is used to prove that these do in fact encode the transition matrices.
Pop-Culture Psychopathy
Authors:   , Keesler Michael Edward , DeMatteo David S.
Published: July 2021

Psychologists conceptualization of psychopathy has gradually evolved over time, with interest peaking in recent decades. Concurrently, the lay publics relationship with psychology has changed from guarded skepticism to acceptance and even demand. The tie that binds psychology and the public has always been mass communication, both in news and popular media format. Reflecting changing trends, mass media has altered the way it objectively describes and popularly portrays psychopathy. Whereas psychopaths were consistently portrayed as villains in the mid-20th Century, today they comprise a growing cast of protagonists. It is currently unclear what effect, if any, these co-occurring changes have had on public understanding or perception of psychopathy. This research sought to explore that dynamic, and found a variety of interesting descriptive and statistically significant findings. Included among those is the finding that great misunderstanding of psychopathy, as a construct, exists in the minds of many lay individuals. Additionally, that misunderstanding might be positively slanted among individuals with high exposure to protagonist portrayals of psychopathy. Said another way, fans of television and movie protagonist psychopaths may conceptualize a kind of romanticized psychopathy. This signals important legal, practical, and ethical implications, including the potential for biased jurors, confounded research about psychopathys effect as a label, and questions about how psychologists should respond to this information. Many of this projects limitations are attributable to its largely exploratory nature, but are discussed at greater length. As for future directions for research, this exploratory investigation offers a foundation toward a psychopathy bias scale - a tool that could be utilized in research on the labeling effects of psychopathy.
The Faculty-Student Relationship Dynamic: A Study of Faculty Who Teach Online Courses at a Public Four-year University
Authors:   , Kent Tracy Ann , Bureau W. Edward
Published: July 2021

With the growing market for online courses in California and the United States, institutions must better understand how the faculty-student dynamic, defined as the interactions between faculty and students in the online environment, impacts student engagement and success. The purpose of this study was an in-depth exploration of faculty assumptions, perspectives, and lived experiences related to online courses in order to aid institutions and faculty in identifying effective practices for teaching in the online environment. The study drew upon theories of online course design, technology-mediated communication, and faculty presence to answer three questions: How do instructors of online courses perceive their interactions with students? What instructional practices do these faculty members believe have a positive impact on student success in their courses? Why do faculty members believe the identified instructional practices have positive impact on student success? This study employed a phenomenological qualitative methodology entailing open-ended, face-to-face interviews of six professors from diverse subject areas at California State University, Sacramento, a four-year public institution of higher education. The studys findings related to a) the efficiency of the online modality, b) the effects of class size, c) methods for maximizing student motivation, engagement, and interaction, d) the tracking of outcomes, e) computer literacy (of both students and faculty), and f) the policing of student contributions and cheating. The study resulted in three main conclusions. First, faculty-student interaction was seen as essential to student success and engagement but difficult and time-consuming to promote, especially if traditional teaching methods are employed. Second, greater faculty use of interactive tools and practices was related to their attitudes toward and familiarity with technology and associated with more favorable assessment in terms of impact on student engagement. Third, impact on student engagement and success was believed to be related to the applicability of both instructional practices and course discipline to the online environment. Broader cultural and economic factors shaping student motivation, student computer access and literacy, and cheating were also identified as factors impacting student success. Recommendations are made for policy change, reform of institutional practices, and future research.