A Graduate Recital In Voice

A Graduate Recital in Voice A Thesis by: Theresa Fischer The following thesis consists of accompanying program notes for my graduate vocal performance recital. The recital includes a variety of music including composers such as Carlisle Floyd, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Strauss, Lili Boulanger, and Pauline Viardot. Each song is accompanied by program notes that include a brief biography of the composer, information about the song, text and translation, and a performance reflection

Is Your Discovery Tool REALLY Better than Google?

With the advent of Google-like searching, academic libraries across the country have been compelled to create one-search options that return locally owned physical items, full-text materials, and Open Access scholarly content. Whether your library has already implemented one-search software or is just beginning the conversation, this session will give you tools and knowledge to assess the functionality and usefulness of your systems. You will begin to answer questions such as: What is your discovery tool really finding? How can you be sure? Presenters for this session will base examples on their experiences with ProQuest’s Summon (with the MnPALS API) and WorldCat Discovery. Their experiences also include configuring and using behind-the-scenes tools such as SFX, ProQuest 360 Linker, and the WorldCat Knowledgebase

Statistical periodicity in driven quantum systems: General formalism and application to noisy Floquet topological chains

Much recent experimental effort has focused on the realization of exotic quantum states and dynamics predicted to occur in periodically driven systems. But how robust are the sought-after features, such as Floquet topological surface states, against unavoidable imperfections in the periodic driving? In this work, we address this question in a broader context and study the dynamics of quantum systems subject to noise with periodically recurring statistics. We show that the stroboscopic time evolution of such systems is described by a noise-averaged Floquet superoperator. The eigenvectors and -values of this superoperator generalize the familiar concepts of Floquet states and quasienergies and allow us to describe decoherence due to noise efficiently. Applying the general formalism to the example of a noisy Floquet topological chain, we re-derive and corroborate our recent findings on the noise-induced decay of topologically protected end states. These results follow directly from an expansion of the end state in eigenvectors of the Floquet superoperator.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. This is the final, published versio

Convergence rates of the Allen-Cahn equation to mean curvature flow: A short proof based on relative entropies

We give a short and self-contained proof for rates of convergence of the Allen-Cahn equation towards mean curvature flow, assuming that a classical (smooth) solution to the latter exists and starting from well-prepared initial data. Our approach is based on a relative entropy technique. In particular, it does not require a stability analysis for the linearized Allen-Cahn operator. As our analysis also does not rely on the comparison principle, we expect it to be applicable to more complex equations and systems.Comment: 12 page

Enantioselective Nucleophilic Dearomatization of Heteroarenes by Anion-Binding-Catalysis

Chiral heterocycles are ubiquitous structures in natural and synthetic molecules, but chemists are still struggling to develop general, convenient and mild methods for a direct synthesis of these products. Therefore, important work has been done in the field of anion-binding thiourea-catalyzed dearomatization reactions of heteroarenes by applying chiral thiourea catalysts. In this regard, the group of Olga García Mancheño developed a new class of triazole based C-H bond anion-binding catalysts. These catalysts were successfully applied into asymmetric dearomatization reactions of quinolines, isoquinolines and pyridines. The main aim of this PhD was the development of novel asymmetric dearomatization reactions with the TetraTri catalysts showing their broad synthetic application spectrum. In Chapter 2, the first anion-binding organocatalyzed enantioselective Reissert-type dearomatization of diazarenes has been developed. Due to various reactive sites in the diazarene structures, the reaction presents regioselectivity issues and is therefore highly challenging. Fortunately, the use of a chiral tetrakistriazole as a C–H-based hydrogen-donor catalyst allowed the straightforward highly regio- and enantioselective synthesis of a variety of chiral diazaheterocycles. In Chapter 3, phosphorous nucleophiles were further explored. We could describe the first enantioselective synthesis of chiral heterocyclic α-amino phosphonates by nucleophilic dearomatization of quinolines and pyridines using an anion-binding organocatalysis approach. Chiral tetrakistriazoles were employed as efficient hydrogen-bond donor catalysts. The corresponding products were obtained in complete or high regioselectivities and up to 97:3 e.r. for quinolines or up to 87:13 e.r. for the more demanding pyridine substrates. This method allows the rapid access to substituted chiral cyclic α-amino phosphonates, which can easily further be transformed into phosphonic acid derivatives. Introducing boron-nucleophiles in the same reaction was not successful and did not lead to any new discovery. In Chapter 4, we changed from the nitrogen-containing heteroarenes to the more challenging oxygen-containing heterocycles. A general and highly enantioselective catalytic synthesis of 2-alkyl substituted oxygen heterocycles by nucleophilic dearomatization of pyrylium triflate derivatives with silyl ketene acetals has been developed. The use of chiral triazoles as anion-binding catalysts, able to form a close ion-pair with the substrates, was crucial to achieve both high conversions and chirality transfer. Thus, this method provides a simple access to chiral chromanones and dihydropyranones in excellent enantioselectivities from the corresponding 4-(benzo)pyranones. Besides the main theme of my thesis, in chapter 5 the project of my stay abroad at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid was described. A novel intramolecular photocatalyzed enantioselective α-alkylation of aldehydes was developed, yielding the desired product in good yield and enantioselectivity. Due to reproducibility issues and a limited applicability of the substrate scope, no further investigations were done

Convergence rates of the Allen-Cahn equation to mean curvature flow: A short proof based on relative entropies

We give a short and self-contained proof for rates of convergence of the Allen--Cahn equation towards mean curvature flow, assuming that a classical (smooth) solution to the latter exists and starting from well-prepared initial data. Our approach is based on a relative entropy technique. In particular, it does not require a stability analysis for the linearized Allen--Cahn operator. As our analysis also does not rely on the comparison principle, we expect it to be applicable to more complex equations and systems

Zur Relevanz von Geschlecht in einer Universität - der Feldzugang als Hürde und Erkenntnisquelle

Within the framework of ethnography, field access plays an essential role for the progress and success of research projects using such a methodology. Based on a gender studies project in which we analyzed the change of gender arrangements (LENZ & ADLER, 2010) within a German university, we illustrate how field access not only poses a methodological challenge but also serves as an important source of information. Contrasting two faculties we show how the issue of gender is addressed in different organizational units. The two faculties have in common that they understand the gendering of the faculty culture as a question of numbers. At the same time the topic is externalized and thereby not taken as a relevant organizational task. Finally, we link the empirical results to the theoretical discussion about the "gendered organization" (ACKER, 1990; MÜLLER, RIEGRAF & WILZ, 2013) and deduce methodological challenges for gender studies.In der ethnografischen Forschung spielt der Feldzugang eine entscheidende Rolle für den Fortgang und das Gelingen von Forschungsprojekten. In diesem Beitrag soll am Beispiel eines Geschlechterforschungsprojekts, in dem der Wandel von Geschlechterordnungen (LENZ & ADLER 2010) an einer Universität untersucht wurde, aufgezeigt werden, wie der Feldzugang nicht nur eine forschungspraktische Herausforderung darstellt, sondern bereits als eine wichtige Erkenntnisquelle dienen kann. Auf der Basis von Beobachtungsprotokollen werden zwei Fakultäten kontrastiert und es wird dabei herausgearbeitet, wie unterschiedlich sich Struktureinheiten innerhalb einer Hochschule organisational arrangieren und wie das Thema Geschlecht darin jeweils thematisiert wird. Gemeinsam ist wiederum beiden Fakultäten, dass die Frage nach der Vergeschlechtlichung einer Fachkultur auf die Frage nach numerischen Anteilen reduziert, externalisiert und damit nicht als relevante organisationale Gestaltungsaufgabe aufgegriffen wird. Aus den empirischen Ergebnissen werden zum Schluss Anschlüsse an die geschlechter- und organisationstheoretische Debatte um die "Gendered Organization" (ACKER 1990; MÜLLER, RIEGRAF & WILZ 2013) sowie methodische Herausforderungen für die Geschlechterforschung abgeleitet

Facing the orientation framework of a gender-neutral university. Gender equality in higher education management

Der Beitrag fokussiert kollektive Geschlechterwissensbestände an einer deutschen Universität, die fortbestehende Geschlechterungleichheiten legitimieren und sich als ein Nebeneinander von widersprüchlichen Deutungsmustern beschreiben lassen. Daraus leiten sich Distanzierungen und Vorbehalte gegenüber Gleichstellungsarbeit ab, die eine gleichstellungsorientierte Organisationsentwicklung behindern können. Basis des Artikels bilden Gruppendiskussionen mit Hochschulangehörigen verschiedener Statusgruppen, welche nach der Dokumentarischen Methode (Bohnsack, 2000) ausgewertet wurden. (DIPF/Orig.)The article focuses on collective gender knowledge at a German university, which keeps legitimizing persistent gender inequalities and consists of contradictory interpretive patterns. This leads to a distance towards gender equality efforts possibly impeding an equality-focused organizational development. The article is based on group discussions with members of different academic status, which were analyzed through Documentary Method (Bohnsack, 2000). (DIPF/Orig.

Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease - Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a risk factor for surgical complications and a relative contraindication to bariatric surgery. This study evaluates early outcomes after bariatric surgery in patients with CLD with and without liver cirrhosis (LC). METHODS: In a retrospective analysis of 2012–2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-National Inpatient Sample, adult patients with obesity undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) were studied. CLD and LC were identified along with patient comorbidities. Outcomes were Long Hospital Stay (LHS) defined as ≥5 days (as a proxy of complicated course), blood product transfusion, total hospital charges, and in-hospital mortality. Binary logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis (MVA). RESULTS: 139,952 patients were analyzed (RYGB 36.6%, female 78.6%, age 44.7±12 years). CLD was listed in 17,423 (12.4%) patients, including 818 (0.6%) with LC. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was the most common cause of CLD. Patients with LC were more likely to be older, male, and have diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. 37.7% of LC and 42.1% of non-cirrhotic CLD patients underwent RYGB. Transfusion, LHS, and total charges were higher in the LC group (Table). In-hospital mortality was higher in CLD (0.1%) and LC (<0.3%). In MVA, LC was an independent predictor of LHS (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.82, 95% CI: 1.25-2.67) but non-cirrhotic CLD was not a predictor of LHS. Subgroup MVA in CLD showed RYGB was independently associated with LHS (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.53-2.25). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery can be performed safely in appropriately selected patients with non-cirrhotic CLD and LC. Further studies are needed to assess long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in CLD.N