A Phenomenological Approach to Addiction

This paper proposes a phenomenological investigation of addiction, with the goal of describing how it is experienced from within, as an embodied and existential phenomenon. I begin by establishing a conceptual framework—drawn from the works of existential phenomenologists Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty—outlining the key structures of everyday experience such as being-in-the-world, freedom, embodiment, bad faith, and sedimentation. I then turn to a description of the lived experience of addiction by drawing on various first-person addiction memoirs, showing how the aforementioned existential structures are experienced in active addiction and how pathways to sobriety reflect and are experienced as targeting these structures. I argue that addiction is experienced as a deeply sedimented process, one that is both shaped by and reinforced by the existential conditions that structure everyday life

Chemical looping combustion of low-volatile semi-anthracite coal with Co-based metal oxide: Performances, kinetics, and mechanisms

The kinetics of Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) using Co3O4 as an oxygen carrier for low-volatile semi-anthracite coal were studied with the aim of integrating CO2 capture into the combustion process. The effectiveness of varying temperature regimes (800–950 °C) and oxygen carrier ratios (ϕ = 0.5–2.0) on the CLC process was evaluated. The findings indicate a distinct two-stage combustion sequence: initially, the combustion of volatiles with solid Co3O4 occurs between 460 and 650 °C, followed by the combustion of fixed carbon with gas-phase oxygen released from Co3O4 between 750 and 950 °C. Moreover, the activation energy for volatile combustion was found to be 82 kJ/mol, while for fixed carbon combustion during the non-isothermal stage, it ranged from 31 to 140 kJ/mol. During the isothermal stage, the activation energy for fixed carbon combustion was approximately 234 kJ/mol, with a reaction rate constant (k₀) of 3.7 × 108 s⁻1. The kinetics varied from diffusion-controlled reactions at lower temperatures to first-order or phase-boundary-controlled reactions, and then to Avrami-Erofeev modeled kinetics at higher temperatures, influenced by both temperature and oxygen carrier ratios. This pioneering study provides a comprehensive analysis of the multi-stage kinetics of solid fuel CLC, bridging gaps in current knowledge and laying the groundwork for improved design and efficiency of CLC systems for cleaner energy conversion

Reading Nietzsche as a Tool for Feminist Politics

My Honors Thesis in Political Science builds upon the scholarly tradition of reading beyond Friedrich Nietzsche’s explicit discussions of women, which are oftentimes blatantly misogynistic. As a philosopher typically included in the Western existentialist canon, Nietzsche’s ethics of self-transcendence is relevant to one of the vital feminist objectives: individual autonomy. His commentary in Beyond Good and Evil, The Gay Science, On the Genealogy of Morals, and The Use and Abuse of History for Life prescribe ways of being that disrupt traditional moral systems and their accompanying social conditioning. If we examine patriarchy as one of these value systems that are presented as immutable, natural truth throughout Western culture, we become empowered as feminists to actively participate in the dismantling of patriarchy. We become inclined to transition from a passive posture to an active one in the making of meaning. Chapter one interrogates existing feminist interpretations of Nietzsche’s ethics that I argue misinterpret his claims or take his aphorisms at face value. Furthermore, I explore how his genealogical method of looking at history can be used to understand how the contingent constructions of gender become so ingrained that they seem inevitable or natural, limiting individuals’ range of possibilities and self knowledge. Chapter two investigates how Nietzsche’s ambivalent approach to history is useful to feminists, due to his emphasis on actively engaging with origins in order to overcome present stagnation. Ultimately, my thesis recognizes how Nietzsche’s existentialist approach to self-transformation, self-overcoming, and self-creation can be of use for feminist politics in the contemporary era, despite his claims of being an “anti-political” thinker. My analysis reveals the problematic, life-denying implications of certain feminist practices through the application of a Nietzschean ethical lens

The Alien Language: Game The Developmental Trajectory of Auditory and Visual Statistical Learning

Statistical learning (SL) extends across multiple stimulus domains and modalities, including vision, audition, and touch. However, it remains to be seen whether SL is supported by a modality-general or modality-specific mechanism(s). Prior work examined this by varying the rate of presentation across modalities, finding evidence of modality-specific constraints on learning (Emberson, Conway & Christiansen, 2011). In a prior experiment, I extended this work by testing the effect of presentation rate in standardized audio and visual SL tasks. The results of this project provided evidence against modality constraints to SL, suggesting instead that the mechanism is modality-general in nature. However, SL’s developmental trajectories in school age children are highly debated and minimally researched, begging the question of whether modality constraints on statistical learning exist at any point during development. Utilizing a gamified version, The Alien Language Game, of the task used in my prior experiment, I was able to examine the mechanism’s performance in the visual and auditory domains at two rates of presentation in children 7- to 12- years-old. Performance in the auditory domain was significantly better than that of the visual domain, with performance in visual task at both rates of presentation at or below chance, suggesting the SL mechanism is better equipped to track temporal dependencies of auditory stimuli. However, performance at the slower rate of presentation in both the auditory and visual domains improved with age. Thus, my results provide evidence that differ from previous predictions of modality constraints on SL (see Emberson et al., 2011), suggesting the developmental trajectory of visual and auditory SL is different than previously predicted

Augmenting Energy Capture in Low Energy Density Flows

Marine hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies are emerging as a promising source of renewable energies given their ability to provide constant baseline power, predictable loading, and proximity to high density populations. An overlooked yet widely available source of marine energy are ocean currents: a low-energy density source. When considering the energy capture potential of a MHK turbine in low current speeds (\u3c 2 knots) the costs far outweigh the benefits. Pennsylvania State University (PSU) has proposed a novel technology that seeks to harness the power of low velocity ocean currents: Rapidly Deployable Parachute Augmented Turbine (RDPAT). A stream tube capture device (SCD) or flow augmenter integrated with an MHK turbine has the potential to accelerate flows, enabling meaningful energy capture. The SCD increases capture area and accelerates the flow into an MHK turbine, resulting in a lower weight to capture area ratio as compared to a standard ducted MHK turbine. These benefits as compared to standard ducted MHK turbines may reduce levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the RD-PAT device. The goal of this master’s thesis is to collect high-quality flow data with low fidelity models at laboratory-scale in a hydraulic flume to verify the hypothesized flow field effects of SCDs. The collection and processing of velocity field and drag force measurements of models to characterize the flow around an SCD in unbounded flow is the primary objective of this study. Using the data to verify and inform a control volume analysis, an investigation will be done on the SCD to quantify fluid effects as a function of varied geometry

Femmephobia & the Mental Load in Academia

In this article, I extend the existing theoretical foundation on the mental load to the realm of academia. Using autoethnographic analysis paired with femme theory (Hoskin 2017), I argue that my experience of the mental load within academia distinctly illustrates the denigration of femininity and feminine traits while simultaneously relying upon them for the success and functionality of the workplace. As a result of sharing these autoethnographic vignettes and highlighting these experiences, I advocate for mechanisms to intervene into these phenomena, which impact the professional climate and experience for feminized academics. Ultimately, I highlight a few immediate practical applications for examining our own work cultures and advocating for cultures that are less femmephobic and which more readily recognize the value and contributions of feminized labor including the critical role of the mental load

Drag Reduction in Ground Vehicles using a Model Porous Medium

This research investigates aerodynamic drag reduction on a 25° Slanted Ahmed Body (SAB) by integrating porous media model rods through combined experimental and computational methods at a Reynolds number of 1.16×10⁴. Two porous media configurations: short rods (6.75% of the model height) and long rods (20.0% of the model height), both featuring cylindrical rods with 80% porosity, were systematically compared against a baseline SAB. In-depth analyses were performed to investigate the wake flow topology, recirculation region characteristics, pressure coefficient distribution, Reynolds stress distributions and drag coefficient. Experimental investigations employed particle image velocimetry for precise flow visualization, while Reynold Averaged Navier-Stokes numerical simulations through a COMSOL Multiphysics software were used to complement and extend the experimental insights. Key findings revealed that incorporating porous rods significantly enhanced wake filling, marked by accelerated recovery of streamwise momentum and reduced wake momentum deficits. This wake filling effect contributed directly to an increased base pressure and notable reduction in pressure drag. Moreover, the porous model rods effectively modified Reynolds stress distributions, resulting in more stabilized, coherent wake structures with increased recirculation length and stability. Quantitatively, the long rod configuration yielded the most substantial aerodynamic improvement, achieving an 8.27% drag reduction compared to the baseline SAB, while the short rod configuration demonstrated a modest but meaningful reduction of approximately 3%. These comprehensive analyses confirm the efficacy of a porous medium as an innovative passive drag-reduction strategy in automotive applications, emphasizing their potential to optimize vehicle aerodynamic performance through targeted wake stabilization and pressure recovery enhancements

Evaluation of Sex Trivalent Chromosome in Giant Shield Mantis (Rhombodera megaera) and Holocentric Chromosome in Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)

Aneuploidy, which refers to the abnormal number of chromosomes within a haploid set, has a significant effect in both physical and cognitive process of development. Proper chromosome segregation during cell division is crucial to prevent aneuploidy. Chromosome segregation is affected by the alignment of chromosomes on the metaphase plate as well as the position of centromere on the chromosome. Many arthropod species have sex chromosomes that either naturally are unpaired or pair in ways that differ for the usual patterns for autosomes. Also, some arthropods possess unique centromere position on their chromosomes which directly affects chromosome segregation pattern. Evaluating the chromosome behavior during cell division in such species provides great insight into the chromosome’s segregation pattern. The two primary goals of this study are: (1) Evaluation of sex trivalent chromosome in giant shield mantis (Rhombodera megaera) and (2) Analysis of chromosome movement in meiosis and mitosis in an organism with holocentric chromosome Oncopeltus fasciatus. In this study, I investigated both systems using live-cell and fixed cells using immunofluorescence imaging to reveal the mechanisms that control and regulate chromosome alignment and segregation, to facilitate more comprehensive understanding of general principles of chromosome behavior across species

Interrogating the Sacred and Special: Engaging Students in Diversifying Special Collections

The answer to the question “What is the future of special collections?” is one that has evolved in scope over the past twenty-five years. Through the late twentieth century, the role of the special collections librarian seemed largely curatorial: to conserve these precious, unique resources—rare books, archival material, and other unique collections— for posterity and for “serious” researchers. While it remains true that the nature of its special collections can distinguish an academic library in ways that its database and print holdings may not, what emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s was a movement to put rare books and manuscripts into the hands of undergraduates, born of the dual mandates of justifying resources allocated to these items and improving pedagogies through experiential learning.1 Active learning sessions have moved far beyond the “show-and-tell” model into what are often sustained student engagements grounded in constructivist pedagogy. At our institution, it has become commonplace for classes to engage with special collections multiple times throughout the semester, not only seeing the materials but also using them both for their content and often for their materiality. These engagements remain vitally important and can be continuously improved. However, the future of special collections in this new decade can lie in problematizing the nature of what—and who—is “special.” Today’s special collections holdings often stand as memorials to the elite, white supremacist socio-cultural environments in which they were formed, and they rightfully need to respond to the justified critiques that come their way. Unquestionably, the existing collections need to be challenged, and a collection development strategy that prioritizes white supremacist, imperialist, capitalist, and patriarchal values needs to be overturned in favor of a “‘total cost of stewardship framework’… asking what is the composition of our current collection, how are our collection decisions made, by whom, and with what information, and how do we want that to change?” What if student learning could accompany these reflections on collection development and consequent changes? In this chapter, we offer an example of a scaffolded approach to engaging students in the process of critiquing the special collections of Muhlenberg College with an eye toward having the students themselves directly involved in considering what collecting priorities should be emphasized moving forward. We discuss our expectations and student responses, challenges that emerged, and the wider applicability of these concepts

Data Centers: Centers of Controversy in the Big Tech AI Buildout

This is a project looking at industry reports on environmental impacts of data centers for a broad overview of the issues raised by the current AI-driven data center buildout. It uses news coverage to add dimension to the impacts experienced by the particular communities in which these massive data centers are being constructed