Spectroscopic Studies of Brooker\u27s Merocyanine in Zeolite L

Zeolites are porous, crystalline substances that have very unique atomic organizations which allow for the formation of complex channels within the crystals. Each type of zeolite has a distinct shape and structure. To better understand the properties of zeolite channels, a dye molecule known as Brooker’s merocyanine was inserted into Zeolite L. Maximum dye loading into the zeolite channels was achieved by altering different experimental variables, such as heat, solution concentration, stirring, cation exchange, and light exposure. X-ray diffraction was used to verify the synthesis of zeolites, the cation exchange process, and dye loading. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to measure the amount of dye adsorbed by the zeolite. By using the UV-Vis absorbance values and Beer’s Law, the concentration of dye in the zeolites was determined. The results showed that an increase of heat and stirring correlated to an increase of adsorption of dye by the zeolite. Due to the light sensitivity of Brooker’s merocyanine, it was found that limiting the amount of light exposure of the dye solutions also resulted in higher dye adsorption by the zeolites. An increase of the concentration of the dye solution increased the rate of adsorption in the channels. However, exchanging the potassium ions found within the synthesized Zeolite L channels with smaller hydrogen ions did not have an affect on the adsorption of dye in the channels. Characterizing how to achieve a maximum of dye adsorption in the zeolites allows for a better understanding of how dye molecules interact within the zeolite channels

The social service of Quakerism.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston Universit

Teaching gastrointestinal history: t he efficacy of including a comprehensive endoscopic digital overview of the gastrointestinal system in a histology curriculum

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityOver the past several decades, significant changes have been made to the methods of teaching medical histology. One of the most significant modifications is the implementation of virtual microscopy in replacement of conventional light microscopes and glass slides. This innovative method for viewing histological samples allows students to use their computers as virtual microscopes and gives them access to hundreds of relevant digital histology slides through an online database. This modification increases efficiency and gives students more time to explore clinically relevant topics. One challenge students face in a typical histology curriculum is developing a connection between the microscopic histological samples in which they are studying and their macroscale anatomical counterparts. In gastrointestinal histology in particular, the ability to bridge this gap is imperative for generating an all-encompassing understanding of this complex system. On endoscopy, the specialized mucosal surfaces of the organs of the gastrointestinal system can be thoroughly investigated. By combining high-definition endoscopic footage of the normal gastrointestinal system with histological samples, the bridge between microanatomy and macroanatomy can be established. This study investigates the implementation of a comprehensive overview of the structure and function of the gastrointestinal system using high-definition endoscopic videos and histologic samples in a graduate and medical histology curriculum. Student performance is analyzed by comparing test question performance between students who watched the video and students who did not. After a complete review of the student performance data and student feedback, it is evident that this multidimensional overview assisted students in developing a comprehensive understanding of gastrointestinal histology

Recent studies of the Hexham Abbey painting collection

A recount of the latest work on the collection and the analysis of the medieval paintings of Hexham Abbey is provided. Medieval pigments of the panel paintings such as blue azurite pigment and post-1840 restoration substitute pigments such as French ultramarine were detected with visible light and ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy. A recently found painting in the Abbey's collection, was studied by means of multispectral imaging and was attributed to the 15th century 'Dance of Death' sequence of panels. After a virtual varnish removal on highly pigmented colour spots with the aid of non-negative least squares analysis resulting in quantitative heat-maps of the panel, the pigment concentration on the painting surface and enhanced reflectance image spectra were extracted. With the aid of these spectra the presence of original medieval pigments such as yellow ochre, verdigris, madder and Egyptian blue was indicated

Advancements in uncertainty quantification with stochastic expansions applied to supersonic and hypersonic flows

The primary objective of this study was to develop improved methodologies for efficient and accurate uncertainty quantification with stochastic expansions and apply them to problems in supersonic and hypersonic flows. Methods introduced included approaches for efficient dimension reduction, sensitivity analysis, and sparse approximations. These methods and procedures were demonstrated on multiple stochastic models of hypersonic, planetary entry flows, which included high-fidelity, computational fluid dynamics models of radiative heating on the surface of hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerators during Mars and Titan entry. For these stochastic problems, construction of an accurate surrogate model was achieved with as few as 10% of the number of model evaluations needed to construct a full dimension, total order expansion. Another objective of this work was to introduce methodologies used for further advancement of a quantification of margins and uncertainties framework. First, the use of stochastic expansions was introduced to efficiently quantify the uncertainty in system design performance metrics and performance boundaries. Then, procedures were defined to measure margin and uncertainty metrics for systems subject to multiple types of uncertainty in operating conditions and physical models. To demonstrate the new quantification of margins and uncertainties methodologies, two multi-system, multi-physics stochastic models were investigated: (1) a model for reentry dynamics, control, and convective heating and (2) a model of ground noise prediction of low-boom, supersonic aircraft configurations. Overall the methods and results of this work have outlined many effective approaches to uncertainty quantification of large-scale, high-dimension, aerospace problems containing both epistemic and inherent uncertainty. The methods presented showed significant improvement in the efficiency and accuracy of uncertainty analysis capability when stochastic expansions were used for uncertainty quantification. --Abstract, page iii

Numerical investigation of plasma actuator configurations for flow separation control at multiple angles of attack

The primary objective of the study presented in this thesis was to analyze the effectiveness of aerodynamic plasma actuators as a means of active flow control over a low speed airfoil at multiple angles of attack each corresponding to two different flow separation mechanisms (i.e., laminar separation bubble and turbulent flow separation at stall conditions). Detailed parametric studies based on steady and unsteady Navier-Stokes simulations, modified to include the body force term created by the plasma actuator, were performed for a NACA 0012 airfoil at a chord Reynolds number of 10⁵. In particular, parametric studies were performed to investigate the influence of the number, the location, the imposed body force magnitude (power input) and steady vs. unsteady operation of plasma actuators on the flow control effectiveness. First, the effectiveness of plasma actuators was studied when applied to the airfoil at a relatively low angle of attack, which involved the development of a laminar separation bubble (LSB). Next, the effectiveness of plasma actuators was analyzed at a high angle of attack where the stall of the airfoil occurs with a fully turbulent flow assumption. The results show that plasma actuators can provide significant improvement in aerodynamic performance for the flow conditions considered in this study. For LSB control, as much as a 50% improvement in the lift to drag ratio was observed. Results also show that the same improvement can be achieved using an unsteady or multiple actuators, which can require as much as 75% less power compared to a single, steady actuator. For the stalled airfoil case, as much as a 700% improvement in L/D was observed from a single, steady actuator. Note that this was achieved using a power input eight times higher than what was used for LSB control. Also, unsteady and multiple actuator configurations do not provide the same enhancement as the single, steady actuators. This was found to be due to the nature of the turbulent separation (trailing edge separation) at the stall condition that occurs for the selected airfoil and Reynolds number --Abstract, page iii

Epeoloides pilosulus (Cresson) Rediscovered in Michigan, with Notes on the Distribution and Status of its Macropis hosts.

Epeoloides pilosulus (Cresson 1878) is one of the rarest bees in North America with only a handful of records since 1960. The last collection in Michigan was made in 1944. Epeoloides pilosulus is a brood parasite of Macropis bees, which until recently had not been collected in Michigan for several decades. Bee surveys in Midland County, Michigan have led to the rediscovery of E. pilosulus in this state – the first record in 74 years. Michigan becomes the fourth state where E. pilosulus has been rediscovered after Connecticut in 2006, New York in 2014 and Maine in 2016, and the sixth region in North America after Nova Scotia in 2002 and Alberta in 2010. State-wide bee surveys have also shown that the principal host, Macropis nuda (Provancher 1882), remains widespread in Michigan, and that Macropis patellata Patton 1880 is newly recorded for the state

FRANKLIN COUNTY, IOWA'S PROGRAM IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Public Economics,