Hierarchically Structured Photoelectrodes via Atomic Layer Deposition

In the search for a sustainable method to meet increasing energy needs, solar energy emerges as an underutilized, plentiful resource. Solar intermittency and requirements for transportation necessitate storing solar energy in the form of chemical bonds via artificial photosynthesis. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting generates hydrogen fuel from solar energy and water. A semiconducting material that successfully meets the complex requirements for building an industrially scalable PEC device has yet to emerge. This is leading to a reevaluation of materials previously overlooked within PEC research, mainly materials with limitations such as minimal charge carrier mobility and propensity to corrosion under illumination in aqueous environments. Cupric oxide (CuO) is one such candidate semiconductor, energetically suitable as a photocathode for PEC water splitting, and possesses both limitations mentioned above. Hierarchical three-dimensional structuring can circumvent the charge mobility limitations of CuO while maintaining its ability to absorb maximal incident solar illumination. Our proposed method of hierarchical structuring is coating nanometer-thick layers of CuO across a three-dimensional conductive scaffold of silica spheres, which maintains the path length of illumination through the semiconductor. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) can be used throughout construction of a PEC device based on this scaffold. In this work, the transparent conducting oxide (TCO) Al:ZnO (AZO) deposited using ALD is proposed as a conductive layer in hierarchical structuring of a PEC device. AZO is soluble in the extreme pH environments often present in current PEC water splitting research. An ultra-thin film of ALD-TiO2 is evaluated as a protection layer for AZO from chemical dissolution. This protection layer work is further applied to intervening in CuO photocorrosion. Additionally, we studied the impact the work function of a back contact in the PEC performance of protected CuO electrodes. We conclude with a discussion on the viability of CuO as a material for three-dimensional structuring in the proposed scaffold

Family Diabetes Camp Amidst COVID-19: A Community of Practice Model

Studies have found that youth are experiencing higher anxiety levels than prior to COVID-19, and youth with type 1 diabetes are at higher risk. Medical specialty camps are a type of camp that provide opportunities for youth with chronic illnesses to share common goals, increase socialization, improve camper well-being, and increase knowledge of diabetes management. The program evaluation sought to determine the impact of a campers’ outcomes of independence and perceived competence and familial impact during COVID-19. Over half the participants were at their first diabetes camp and 71% of the campers felt their perceived competence “increased a little bit” because of camp. Over 95% of parents felt that their participation in camp had increased their diabetes knowledge. Qualitative data from parents revealed 2 themes, camp as a meeting place and learning from others. The findings from this study demonstrate that medical specialty camps influence campers’ perceptions of independence and competence and that families play an important role in creating a community of practice

Senior Recital: Justin Rowan, trumpet

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Mr. Rowan studies trumpet with Karin Bliznik.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1445/thumbnail.jp

Senior Recital: Melinda Mason, tuba

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Ms. Mason studies tuba with Bernard Flythe.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1172/thumbnail.jp

Philharmonic and Concert Band

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Philharmonic and Concert Band.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1425/thumbnail.jp

Family Diabetes Camp Amidst COVID-19: A Community of Practice Model

Studies have found that youth are experiencing higher anxiety levels than prior to COVID-19, and youth with type 1 diabetes are at higher risk. Medical specialty camps are a type of camp that provide opportunities for youth with chronic illnesses to share common goals, increase socialization, improve camper well-being, and increase knowledge of diabetes management. The program evaluation sought to determine the impact of a campers’ outcomes of independence and perceived competence and familial impact during COVID-19. Over half the participants were at their first diabetes camp and 71% of the campers felt their perceived competence “increased a little bit” because of camp. Over 95% of parents felt that their participation in camp had increased their diabetes knowledge. Qualitative data from parents revealed 2 themes, camp as a meeting place and learning from others. The findings from this study demonstrate that medical specialty camps influence campers’ perceptions of independence and competence and that families play an important role in creating a community of practice

Experiential Learning in a Management Information Systems Course: Simulating IT Consulting and CRM System Procurement

Educating management students in technology-based disciplines can be enhanced through experiential team projects simulating the activities employees perform in actual technology jobs. This paper describes an experiential team project the authors use in the Management Information Systems course at Boston College. The project was developed jointly by Boston College faculty and consultants from the Boston office of a major consulting firm. The project involves student teams playing the roles of IT consultants who must compete against one another to win a consulting engagement at an imaginary company. The company\u27s business situation is communicated to students through a case study written in the format of a Request For Proposal (RFP) informing information technology (IT) vendors that the company is interested in procuring a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Each student team develops a consulting proposal responding to the RFP and presents the proposal to company managers. The activities involved in identifying the company\u27s business needs, developing a proposal, and determining which team wins the contract are simulated through phone calls and live meetings with company managers, who are role-played by consulting firm employees. These real-life business interactions expose students to the ever changing nature of IT, motivate them to improve their technical understanding, and challenge them to improve their communication skills through written deliverables and live business presentations. Student buy-in and response to the project is strong and immediate since they find themselves challenged by complex, relevant business issues

Junior Recital: David Anders, French horn

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Mr. Anders studies French horn with Tom Witte.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1532/thumbnail.jp

Jazz Ensembles

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Jazz Ensembles.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1362/thumbnail.jp

Using APAR to Predict Aboveground Plant Productivity in Semi-Arid Rangelands: Spatial and Temporal Relationships Differ

Monitoring of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) is critical for effective management of rangeland ecosystems but is problematic due to the vast extent of rangelands globally, and the high costs of ground-based measurements. Remote sensing of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) can be used to predict ANPP, potentially offering an alternative means of quantifying ANPP at both high temporal and spatial resolution across broad spatial extents. The relationship between ANPP and APAR has often been quantified based on either spatial variation across a broad region or temporal variation at a location over time, but rarely both. Here we assess: (i) if the relationship between ANPP and APAR is consistent when evaluated across time and space; (ii) potential factors driving differences between temporal versus spatial models, and (iii) the magnitude of potential errors relating to space for time transformations in quantifying productivity. Using two complimentary ANPP datasets and remotely sensed data derived from MODIS and a Landsat/MODIS fusion data product, we find that slopes of spatial models are generally greater than slopes of temporal models. The abundance of plant species with different structural attributes, specifically the abundance of C4 shortgrasses with prostrate canopies versus taller, more productive C3 species with more vertically complex canopies, tended to vary more dramatically in space than over time. This difference in spatial versus temporal variation in these key plant functional groups appears to be the primary driver of differences in slopes among regression models. While the individual models revealed strong relationships between ANPP to APAR, the use of temporal models to predict variation in space (or vice versa) can increase error in remotely sensed predictions of ANPPEEA Concepción del UruguayFil: Gaffney, Rowan. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit; Estados UnidosFil: Porensky, Lauren M. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit; Estados UnidosFil: Feng, Gao. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Irisarri, Jorge Gonzalo Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Durante, Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Concepción del Uruguay; ArgentinaFil: Derner, Justin D. United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service. Rangeland Resources Research Unit; Estados UnidosFil: Augustine, David J.. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit; Estados Unido