An Actor\u27s Freedom

This thesis is an exploration and reflection on the discovery of an actor\u27s freedom following an intense, three year study of the craft. It contains my statement of artistry, documentation of my thesis project and performance, as well as my future professional development materials

Features of Molecular Structure Beneficial for Optical Pumping

Fast and efficient state preparation of molecules can be accomplished by optical pumping. Molecular structure that most obviously facilitates cycling involves a strong electronic transition, with favorable vibrational branching (diagonal Franck-Condon factors, aka FCFs) and without any intervening electronic states. Here, we propose important adjustments to those criteria, based on our experience optically pumping SiO$^+$. Specifically, the preference for no intervening electronic states should be revised, and over-reliance on FCFs can miss important features. The intervening electronic state in SiO$^+$is actually found to be beneficial in ground rotational state preparation, by providing a pathway for population to undergo a parity flip. This contribution demonstrates the possibility that decay through intervening states may help state preparation of non-diagonal or polyatomic molecules. We also expand upon the definition of favorable branching. In SiO$^+$, we find that the off-diagonal FCFs fail to reflect the vibrational heating versus cooling rates. Since the branching rates are determined by transition dipole moments (TDMs) we introduce a simple model to approximate the TDMs for off-diagonal decays. We find that two terms, set primarily by the slope of the dipole moment function ($d\mu/dx$) and offset in equilibrium bond lengths ($\Delta x = r_e^g-r_e^e$), can add (subtract) to increase (decrease) the magnitude of a given TDM. Applying the model to SiO$^+$, we find there is a fortuitous cancellation, where decay leading to vibrational excitation is reduced, causing optical cycling to lead naturally to vibrational cooling

A Theoretical Model of the Psychological Processes of Surrogate Decision-Making at Adult End-of-Life in the Intensive Care Unit: A Case Study Design Using Cognitive Task Analysis

Thesis advisor: Pamela J. GraceSignificance/Background: Surrogate decision-makers (SDMs) take part in 1.5 million end-of-life (EOL) decisions per year. Most find the role burdensome, often do not make decisions concordant with patients' wishes, and many suffer negative psychological aftereffects. Specific Aims: 1) Identify and describe the psychological processes of recent SDMs for adults at EOL in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 2) develop a theoretical model of SDMs' psychological processes. Methods/Analysis: Descriptive, multiple case study research design using a cognitive task analysis (CTA) interviewing approach. Participants completed an in-depth semi-structured CTA interview and a demographic form. Verbatim transcribed interviews were encoded and analyzed until theoretical saturation was met. Results: Nineteen SDMs (female=11) with a mean age of 59 years (± 11) who made decisions for patients (mean age, 67±13 years) who died in the ICU completed interviews. Data analysis yielded 27 psychological processes representing the hypothesized theoretical links amongst 20 individual psychological concepts. The PREDICAMENTS model (Psychology, Reasoning, and Ethics Demonstrated In Choices about the Acceptability of Medical Treatments and Patient Conditions Encountered in Life Threatening Situations) of surrogate decision-making was assembled from these psychological processes and concepts. The model depicts a complex web of psychological processes wherein SDMs ultimately express acceptance or rejection of medical treatments and/or the patient's physical condition based on their perception of the acceptability (or lack thereof) of medical treatments and/or the patient's physical condition. Conclusions: The PREDICAMENTS model offers an initial picture of the underlying psychological processes operating in SDMs decision-making. Implications for Practice and Research: The PREDICAMENTS model can be used to assess and understand SDMs' thought processes, emotions, and ethical concerns. Further research is needed to test and corroborate constructs and linkages in this model with the aim of developing decision support interventions. Ethicists need to discuss the implications of this descriptive theoretical model for the normative ethical standards expected of SDMs.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013.Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing.Discipline: Nursing

Human Herpesviridae Methods of Natural Killer Cell Evasion

Human herpesviruses cause diseases of considerable morbidity and mortality, ranging from encephalitis to hematologic malignancies. As evidence emerges about the role of innate immunity and natural killer (NK) cells in the control of herpesvirus infection, evidence of viral methods of innate immune evasion grows as well. These methods include interference with the ligands on infected cell surfaces that bind NK cell activating or inhibitory receptors. This paper summarizes the most extensively studied NK cell receptor/ligand pairs and then describes the methods of NK cell evasion used by all eight herpesviruses through these receptors and ligands. Although great strides have been made in elucidating their mechanisms, there is still a disparity between viruses in the amount of knowledge regarding innate immune evasion. Further research of herpesvirus innate immune evasion can provide insight for circumventing viral mechanisms in future therapies

Low Temperature Liquid Metal Batteries for Energy Storage Applications

The present invention relates to a molten metal battery of liquid bismuth and liquid tin electrodes and a eutectic electrolyte. The electrodes may be coaxial and coplanar. The eutectic electrolyte may be in contact with a surface of each electrode. The eutectic electrolyte may comprise ZnC12:KCI

Young infants' binocular interaction : evoked potential measures

The primary purpose of the dissertation was to determine the presence or absence of binocular interaction in young infants. The anaglyphic (color separation) method of splitting the visual field was employed to present a stimulus continuously to the right eye (continuous stimulus) while another stimulus was flashed (flashed stimulus) to the left eye with neither eye seeing the stimulus presented to the other. The continuous stimuli were darkness, a diffuse light (equal in space-averaged luminance to that of the patterns), a pattern of 20' dots and a pattern of 80' dots. The flashed stimuli were diffuse light, a pattern of 20' dots and a pattern of 80' dots. The dependent measure was the electrical voltage changes recorded over the visual cortex (Oz referenced to the right ear) during the first 500 milliseconds following the flashed stimulus. Any changes in the visually evoked potential related to variations in the continuous stimuli were interpreted as indications of binocular interaction

The effects of demand characteristics on heart rate : implications for a triple response mode hypothesis

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether a social variable, demand characteristics, could influence heart rate on the behavioral avoidance test(BAT). Two levels of fear, as measured by the fear survey schedule(FSS), and two levels of demand permitted the simultaneous study of demand, fear, and demand-by-fear interactions on heart rate change(HR-C), BAT, and a self-rating of fear, fear thermometer(FT). Demand Level was varied by means of testing instructions to the two groups. The Low demand group received testing instruction informing them only that their level of physiological arousal was being measured. High Fear groups were told specifically that their heart rate was being measured. Further, high demand subjects were told that they would be encouraged to continue with each item unless a significant increase was observed in their heart rate. Discriminant analyses showed that levels of fear and levels of demand could be differentiated using all three measures. No single measure could differentiate fear groups on analyses of variance of HR-C, BAT, or FT. Only heart rate differed significantly for demand groups. This significant finding could not be accounted for by significant, systematic differences in initial heart rate. Demand level accounted for 49% of the total heart rate variance