Material Object Project: The Hagia Sophia

In 527, Justinian became ruler of the Byzantine Empire and left a legacy that still exists today. One remaining aspect of this legacy is the Hagia Sophia. The greatness of this structure lies not only in its grandeur, but also its representation of the Byzantine Empire and the value it placed on art and religion. The transformation that the building has undergone over the centuries represents the shifts in the Byzantine Empire both culturally and religiously. As a culture, Byzantium managed to align itself with Western Europe, while at the same time having strong enough ties with the East to set it apart into its own separate empire

Atticus the Man

What makes a man, a man? One could argue biology and physical appearance. One could say a certain age determines manhood, or his independence, success in the world, power or achievements. However, masculinity is not fixed, but rather fluid; it is a social construct and what it entails to achieve manhood differs according to culture (Motl). Lee comments on the roles of race and gender dynamics in the early 20th century South throughout her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. American stereotypes of masculinity include, but are not limited to: competition, power, aggression, and stoicism. Furthermore, manhood is often considered merely the opposite of everything that is feminine. Atticus Finch, the southern, 1930’s, lawyer presents a unique example of manhood. No reader can deny the masculinity of Finch. However, he does not fit the standard of manliness as defined by the town of Maycomb or even America during that time. He even displays qualities that can be deemed feminine such as diplomacy, tenderness, and the ability to nurture. The combination of these qualities displayed in the character of Atticus make him a literary father figure that readers strive to emulate. Atticus Finch stands as the epitome of a man of character in To Kill a Mockingbird through his display of courage, sympathy for the well-being of others, and resolve to do what is right despite the hardships those choices may bring

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus?: O\u27Connor\u27s Critique of Protestantism in Wise Blood

Published in 1949, Flannery O’Connor’s first novel, Wise Blood, satirizes not Christianity itself, but rather man’s twisted practice of the faith that O’Connor held so dear. O’Connor, a devout Roman Catholic living in the Bible Belt, writes to critique the heresy, hypocrisy, and apathy that pervaded the lives of Protestants in the South—a region that O’Connor describes as “hardly Christ-centered” but “most certainly Christ-haunted” (Mystery and Manners 44). O’Connor portrays the characters in Wise Blood as Protestants, non-Christians, or the nihilistic protagonist and hero himself, Hazel Motes, who in his rejection of the gospel, founds the Church of Christ without Christ, acting as its first preacher. My discussion on the distorted gospel messages found in this novel will focus on two preachers: Asa Hawks and Hazel Motes. Hawks practices Christianity as a hypocritical performance. In contrast, for nearly the entire novel Hazel Motes practices nihilism, completely rejecting the gospel, until the last chapter when he reverts to Christianity, adding his own form of extreme penance to his faith. O’Connor portrays these freakish but realistic characters to shock, creating unease in her readers. Writing as a Roman Catholic in the South, O’Connor was attempting, I think, to make specific critiques of Protestantism as opposed to Catholicism. The central issue O’Connor satirizes throughout Wise Blood is the danger of adding man-made doctrine or subtracting Biblical truth from the gospel of Jesus Christ

Playing Superhero : Agency and the Role of the Teenaged Superhero

The discussion of agency within Young Adult Literature is an extensive topic that includes various criteria, such as power in various types of relationships and social ideologies. In the media form of graphic novels, the concept of agency is taken to a separate level because the primary teenagers depicted in graphic novels are titled as superheroes with abilities that surpass the norm. The role of being a teenaged superhero becomes conditional, depending on whether the teenager demands agency in the form of controlling his/her abilities or are assigned the role by their adult prototypes and society. The texts that this thesis will focus on are Brian K. Vaughan\u27s Runaways, Mark Millar and Chuck Austen\u27s Ultimate X-Men series, Grant Morrison\u27s Batman and Robin series, and Geoff Johns\u27 Teen Titans. These texts were chosen primarily for the casting of well-known superheroes as teenagers and for the conflict of teenagers within the superhero personas. Marv Wolfman\u27s Teen Titan Spotlight: Raven will also be analyzed to examine the conflict of controlling ancient, limitless power within the fragile body of a teenager. In reference to these graphic novel series, additional graphic novels such as Chris Claremont\u27s Uncanny X-Men: The New Age and Craig Kyle\u27s X-Force will be included to analyze the treatment of the new generation of superp.eroes by the classical predecessors. By examining these generational gapped series, this thesis will not only analyze the treatment of teenaged super heroes\u27 figurative and literal powers but also how past adolescent heroes approach new generations when they become the adult authority. However, this thesis will not include a comparison of how the publishing companies DC Comics and Marvel treat the superhero youth, for it includes a mixture of approaches to two primary concepts: the mentor and pupil relationship and the teenagedoriented family unit. In addition, this thesis will explore the pattern of youth superheroes following and rebelling against the legacies of their predecessors. As the thesis explores the individual treatment of the chosen series, it will differentiate the progressive and reactionary elements of the superhero youth. It is my goal to explore and analyze the concept of the figurative and literal levels of power of teenaged superheroes to determine whether or not the role of hero delivers the agency of progressive young adult characters

An Empirical Test of Terrie Moffitt’s Developmental Taxonomy of Delinquency

Terrie Moffitt (1993) hypothesized that there will be three distinct types of juveniles: (1) Life-course-persistent offenders, who begin their antisocial behavior at a young age and continue to offend over their lives; (2) Adolescence-limited offenders, who are involved in criminal behavior only through their adolescent years, and; (3) Abstainers, who do not engage in any delinquent behavior. This study tested both the theory and methodology using general growth mixture modeling. The methodological results were conclusive whereas the theoretical ones were less clear. The different latent variable variance structures were freed and fixed to test the best model specifications to test Moffitt\u27s taxonomic theory using general growth mixture modeling. Relaxing the variance restrictions both fits the theory and the data best, but the external validity of group membership is still uncertain. The theoretical results provided partial support for her theory. While there were three groups, as anticipated by Moffitt, they did not fit her hypotheses about the size or the trajectory shape of the groups. The abstainer group fit her model but was made up of a much larger proportion of the. The adolescence-limited offenders made up a much small proportion of the sample than expected, and did not peak in late adolescence as predicted. The final group, the life-course-persistent offenders, did not match her theory in respect to the shape of their trajectories, but did constitute the proportion of the sample that she anticipated. Moffitt\u27s hypotheses about the correlates of group membership were somewhat confirmed. As Moffitt predicted, hyperactivity and concentration problems in childhood were related to the highest trajectory group, peer deviance in adolescence was related to the adolescence-limited offending groups, and a strong belief in social bonds was related to abstaining from delinquency. However, contrary to her theory, the early measures of psychological and family dysfunction were not found to be related to offending trajectories. The largest risk factors uncovered in this analysis were both measures that are easy to collect from classroom teachers, which make them practical for purposes of identifying children who could benefit from additional services

Social Comparison in Eating Disorder Recovery: A Mixed-Methodological Approach

This dissertation examines social comparison tendencies in young women during eating disorder (ED) recovery. Study one drew on a photo-elicitation method (“PhotoVoice”) and semi-structured interviews to examine this relation. Thirty U.S. women, ages 18-35, in self-defined recovery from disordered eating, used photography to capture personally-meaningful social and cultural influences on their recovery. Participants then shared these photographs with the research team and described them in detail. Photographs and interviews were examined for social comparisons using thematic analysis, and two broad categories emerged: recovery-promoting and recovery-hindering comparisons. The presence of both “upward” and “downward” comparisons that both support and hinder recovery suggests that social comparisons during the recovery process are more nuanced than previously known. Study two drew from this qualitative data to revise and validate an existing measure of food and body comparisons for women in ED recovery. Women from across the U.S. (n = 183) completed measures of body, eating, and exercise social comparison general comparison orientation, and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in one online session. After removing four items based on prior research and theory, the revised model fit the data well. Results suggest that body, eating, and exercise social comparisons continue to correlate with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating during recovery, but there are nuances in the content of the comparisons. Study three used this revised measure of social comparison to examine how the interrelations among thin ideal internalization, social comparison, and disordered eating outcomes vary throughout the disorder and recovery processes. An additional 78 women with an active ED, and 178 healthy-control women completed the above-mentioned measures, along with a measure of thin-ideal internalization. Multi-group path analysis showed that the relations among these constructs change between disordered eating and recovery. Study four drew from the same interviews explored in study one, returning to the interviews and photographs to highlight the key areas of potential change for clinicians and policymakers. Participant responses clustered into six themes: healthcare practice and access, health insurance reform, education, objectification of the female body, and mental health stigma. Direct suggestions and implications are discussed

Low-Sugar Bread Formulations Using Alice, A Hard White Winter Wheat

Alice white wheat is a new cultivar of white wheat that has many desirable attributes for the baking industry. Its main appeal is the reduction in bittering compounds and pigments. White wheat is in demand in the booming Asian noodle market. The purpose of this study was to analyze rheological properties of white wheat flours using the Mixolab, a state of the art dough rheology instrument. Additional objectives included sensory testing of various reduced-sugar bread formulations and the determination of physico-chemical properties of flours and of bread made with them. Experimental baking using standardized methods revealed that sugar levels could be reduced by half and yet yield acceptable loaves of bread.This was possible owing to the reduced levels of phenolic compounds in white wheat. Such compounds mask the sweetness perception of breads made when hard red wheat is used.Acceptable loaves of bread were produced with Alice flour and Alice whole wheat flour as judged by evaluation of bread characteristics. Loaf height, crumb structure, crust color and other bread characteristics were also acceptable by objective and subjective standards

Secondary prompt gamma-rays to improve proton range verification

The goal of this research is to evaluate the secondary prompt gamma (PG) yield from proton therapy at high characteristic energies from MC model simulations and experimental data. Recent studies indicate that target composition influences PG characteristic energy and yield, and the quantification of PG may be used to offer real-time dose verification for proton therapy. In this study PG analysis was performed for MC simulations to evaluate the characteristic measurements and total yield of secondary PG emitted from a target in the 0-8 MeV range from a proton therapy beam over a range of four different beam energies (70 MeV, 160 MeV, 200 MeV, 220 MeV). This was repeated in several target materials (carbon, calcium oxide, calcium fluoride, PMMA, and HDPE) in order to evaluate the influence of the incident energy and the target material on the PG yield and energy spectra. PG energy spectra determined from the specified target materials indicated that the 3.74 MeV energy peak shows a linear correlation between PG intensity and calcium mass fraction of the target material. 6.13 MeV and 4.44 MeV energy peak are not unique to the respective, oxygen and combined oxygen and carbon, mass fraction of the target material. This relationship is complicated by the addition of calcium within the target. Experimental data was collected in order to validate the computational model based on comparison of relative characteristic energy peek intensities. The relative peak ratio determined from experimental data is in good agreement with model prediction, the combined peak ratio is within 0.2%.Ph.D

Do e-Textiles for Fashion Require Specific Legislation and Developmental Guidelines in Order to Avoid Harmful Waste?

This research aims to identify the legislative gap that lies within textiles, electronics and nanomaterials for the safe disposal and recovery of e-textiles. This research examines the current knowledge and understanding of the environmental impact of new e-textiles and the legislation in place to make them safe as they are developed, manufactured and discarded within design for disassembly principles and circular economy theory. E-textiles are a rapidly expanding body of materials, with extensive prototyping and market testing being carried out globally for fashion, military and medical applications. This is leading to novel combinations of nanomaterials, electrical components and fibers. A small number of researchers such as Kohler 2011, 2013 and Veske, P. et al. (2019) have identified the need for regulations specifically in this area and have highlighted the potential environmental impact of e-textiles, stating, “Lack of standardisation of smart textiles and their waste management seems to be a significant barrier for industry entering the mass-market” Veske, P. et al. (2019). These new materials are partially covered by a myriad of directives and legislature within the EU and UK, which is leading to a call for action to clarify where e-textiles reside within current legislation and where e-textiles require specific consideration in this regard. Heinzel, T. and Hinestroza, J. P. (2020) discuss the philosophical questions needed to categorize materials that are both organic and inorganic and how we can address this dilemma. Electronic waste is a global problem as illustrated by Fedele (2016) [6], highlighting unregulated e-waste recycling in Ghana. In January 2018 the Chinese government enacted a ban on receiving waste from other countries, pressing countries to find solutions at home. The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive instigated in 2006 to address electronic waste management provides clear and actionable outlines for electronic devices with emphasis on producer and user responsibilities. In 2019, the WEEE directive stated the need to assess whether nano-embedded materials require specific treatment to avoid harmful waste. WEEE is based on circular economic theory, de Jesus and Mendonça (2017) highlight the barriers to a circular economy advocating intervention and environmental innovation to create a global multi-layered consensus. The same cannot be said for the complex directives and legislation relating to fashion and textile waste, where there are many recommendations and self-regulatory options with little incentive to take part when it comes to disposal and recovery. The Pulse report (UK Gov 2019) identified the need for producer responsibility in fashion and asked for “increased pressure from international political level(s)” and the UK government found that “clothing companies are not yet required by legislation to take responsibility for end of life recovery … unlike electrical and electronic goods.” The World Economic Forum (2019) makes the point that, “in contrast to paper, aluminium or steel, there is no credible recycling concept for the billions of tonnes of fast fashion items sold every year, mainly from non-biodegradable fibres”. Thus, considering the potential of e-textiles in fashion, the projected waste profiles are chilling. The EU and UK have sought to explore the effects of nanomaterials; however, there is currently no specific direction on the disposal of nanocomposite materials other than to assess nano substances as part of existing REACH legislation. The NanoRisk Governance Council are bringing together three nano research areas, RiskGone, Gov4Nano and NanoRigo, with one aspect of their remit being to consider the safe and sustainable growth of nanomaterials with a “safety by design” approach. A number of researchers have highlighted the potential impact of nanomaterials often used in e-textiles. Souza (2020) showed that silver nanoparticles “can be genotoxic, cytotoxic and induce morphoanatomical and biochemical changes” and Begum et al. (2011) recommend the ecologically safe disposal of graphene. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2009) led to the UK Government Facility for Environmental Nanoparticle Analysis and Characterisation, to detect and monitor manufactured nanoparticles in the environment, and a further body in the Nanotechnology Research Coordination Group (NRCG). Currently, nanotechnologies are being monitored and a number of research projects are underway however “specific regulatory measures for nanomaterials are still rare”, Fautz, C. (2013)