Quartz and Prehnite: Minerals during the Renaissance

Minerals were displayed in wonder rooms for their beauty and used by apothecaries for their medical properties and artists, for sculptures and pigments. Minerals during the Renaissance were collected and displayed in wonder rooms to illustrate the beauty of nature. Humanists would have categorized minerals by their external qualities- color, transparency, form, luster, and smell. Over time, geologists continue to study these external qualities when they are first analyzing minerals, and the internal properties. Today the six major factors in identifying minerals are cleavage, the tendency of minerals to break into flat surfaces; color; crystal form or how the form of the mineral changes as the mineral crystallizes; hardness, the resistance to scratching to measure its strength; luster, the light reflection; and streak, the color of the streak left when a mineral is grinded on porcelain. [excerpt

A Tradition of Bells: Glatfelter Bell and Hall

Every hour, students and staff hear the tolling of a bell. Some students hear it and count the number of times it rings to see what time it is. Others hear it and realize they are late to class. And many come back after they have graduated and are happy to hear the bell toll once more. There are many times when the bell is rung today. The bell is rung at graduation, funerals in the Chapel, and alumni and donor recognition. The Glatfelter Bell has been part of the Gettysburg experience since 1892. This bell is housed in one of the most iconic buildings on campus—Glatfelter Hall. The hall was built between 1887-1889, before the college considered buying the bell. Both Glatfelter and its bell have a long history that began with the building initiative of the late 1800’s beginning under the presidency of Dr. Milton Valentine and that came to fruition during the presidency of Harvey McKnight

That\u27s An Irish Lullaby (Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral)

[Verse 1] Over in Killarney, Many years ago, Me Mither sang a song to me In tones so sweet and low, Just a simple little ditty, In her good ould Irish way, And I’d give the world if she could sing That song to me this day. [Chorus] “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now, don’t you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That’s an Irish lullaby.” [Verse 2] Oft, in dreams, I wander To that cot again, I feel her arms a huggin’ me As when she held me then. And I hear her voice a hummin’ To me as in days of yore, When she used to tuck me fast asleep Outside the cabin door. [Chorus

Beyond Rodin: Revisiting the Legacy of Camille Claudel

French sculptress Camille Claudel has gained recognition in the past 30 years due to a focus on her tragic life rather than her artistic talent. Despite critical acclaim and respect amongst her peers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, her affair with Auguste Rodin and her struggles with mental illness have cast a dark, dramatic shadow over modern interpretations of Claudel’s oeuvre. Considering how difficult it was for a woman to be working as an artist at this time, Claudel’s sculptures should not be outweighed by her personal life. In order to challenge the reader not to accept a simple biographical analysis of her oeuvre, I am looking at select works and considering how Claudel incorporated other art genres, daily life and literature references. Just as Claudel is often overlooked in a biography of Rodin, this investigation into Claudel’s inspirations does not simply accept him as the driving force behind her pieces, but instead chooses to go beyond Rodin in search of a renewed acclaim, and a new legacy, for Camille Claudel

The Things We Don’t See: Oppressive Mental Health Language in 1940’s East Texas

In the mental health files I examine, the oppressive mental health language, descriptions, and inaccurate twentieth-century perceptions of female patients will be brought to light and reexamined. It is my hope that, by doing so, the patients who suffered will be remembered, and their stories never again repeated

Plasma cleaning device

High vacuum cleaning of contaminated surfaces such as hydrocarbon containment films can be accomplished by a plasma cleaning device which includes a plasma discharge housing to permit generation of a plasma in an environment having a higher pressure than the surface which is to be cleaned. A ground electrode and a radio frequency electrode partially surround a quartz plasma tube, for the introduction of an ionizable gas. These electrodes ionize the gas and help generate the plasma. This plasma flows through a non-constrictive aperture, through the plasma discharge housing and then on to the contaminated surface

Classical Statistics Inherent in a Quantum Density Matrix

A density matrix formulation of classical bipartite correlations is constructed. This leads to an understanding of the appearance of classical statistical correlations intertwined with the quantum correlations as well as a physical underpinning of these correlations. As a byproduct of this analysis, a physical basis of the classical statistical correlations leading to additive entropy in a bipartite system discussed recently by Tsallis et al emerges as inherent classical spin fluctuations. It is found that in this example, the quantum correlations shrink the region of additivity in phase space.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Design of a variable-focal-length optical system

Requirements to place an entire optical system with a variable focal length ranging from 20 to 200 cm within a overall length somewhat less than 100 cm placed severe restrictions on the design of a zoom lens suitable for use on a comet explorer. The requirements of a wavelength range of 0.4 to 1.0 microns produced even greater limitations on the possibilities for a design that included a catadioptric (using mirrors and glass) front and followed by a zooming refractive portion. Capabilities available commercial zoom lenses as well as patents of optical systems are reviewed. Preliminary designs of the refractive optics zoom lens and the catadioptric system are presented and evaluated. Of the two, the latter probably has the best chance of success, so long as the shortest focal lengths are not really needed

Laboratory demonstration model: Active cleaning technique device

The technique which utilizes exposure to a plasma to remove contaminants from a surface was incorporated into a laboratory model which demonstrates active cleaning by both plasma cleaning and ion sputtering modes of operation. The development phase is reported and includes discussion of the plasma tube configuration, device design, and performance tests. A general description of the active cleaning device is provided which includes information on the main power/plasma discharge sensors, and the power, gas supply, and ion accelerator systems. Development of the active cleaning species at high vacuum conditions is described and results indicate that plasma cleaning occurs in the region of a visible plume which extends from the end of the plasma tube. Recommendations are made for research to determine the plasma cleaning mechanism and the plasma species responsible for the cleaning, as well limitations on the type of contaminants that can be removed