The Benefits of Using Expressive Writing in the First-Year Writing Classroom During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

This thesis examines the ways in which expressive writing helps individuals process trauma, and, specifically, how the implementation of expressive writing exercises into the first-year writing classroom might positively benefit university students. It begins with an in-depth exploration of previous expressive writing studies and an analysis of the ways in which expressive writing provides physical and emotional benefits and assists in the processing of trauma. This thesis additionally examines the traumatic impact of COVID-19 on the global population and how expressive writing might serve to assist in the processing of this trauma. Finally, I put forth the thesis offers suggestions as to the ways expressive writing might specifically be integrated into the first-year writing classroom at the university level following the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help students both process the impact of the pandemic as well as assist in student success in the first-year writing classroom and throughout their academic careers

Optische 3D-Messtechnik : Präzise Gestaltvermessung mit einem erweiterten Streifenprojektionsverfahren

Die Streifenprojektion mit zeitlich kodierten Beleuchtungsmustern hat sich nach ihrer Erfindung - trotz vorhandener Schwächen - schnell neben den, seit Jahrzehnten ausgereiften, mechanischen Koordinaten-Messmaschinen in der 3D-Messtechnik etabliert. Diese Arbeit stellt einen Beitrag zu ihrer Konsolidierung dar. Zur Abschätzung der Leistungsfähigkeit werden die Genauigkeitsgrenzen eines Streifenprojektionssystems mit einem neuen Ansatz theoretisch erfasst. Es wird ein Verfahren zur präzisen Bestimmung der systematischen, räumlich hochfrequenten Fehler eines Streifenprojektionssystems beschrieben. Durch die genaue Bestimmung der systematischen Fehler wird ihre Korrektur mit Hilfe einer Umkehrfunktion möglich. Außerdem wird ein vereinfachtes radiometrisches Kalibrierverfahren vorgestellt, das mehr System-spezifische Phänomene als die herkömmlichen Methoden erfasst und dabei mit geringerem Aufwand umzusetzen ist. Basierend auf erprobten numerischen Methoden der Photogrammetrie wird ein geometrisches Kalibrierverfahren für eine hoch genaue Systemkalibrierung spezifiziert, das mit einem einfachen Kalibrierkörper und ohne den Einsatz einer Präzision-Positioniermechanik auskommt. Da die Robustheit jedes Messsystems eine wesentliche Komponente für seine Einsetzbarkeit ist, wird ein robuster Dekoder für kombinierte Gray-Kode-Phasenschiebe Systeme beschrieben, der auch mit schwierigen Objekt-Situationen zurecht kommt und für nicht dekodierte Punkte eine genaue Klassifizierung der Ausfall-Ursache angibt. Schließlich werden eine Implementierung dieser Techniken im Ganymed-System und einige ausgewählte Anwendungen beschrieben

Autonomy, Relatedness, and Advocacy in Parenting Youth with Type-1 Diabetes

Self-Determination Theory is focused on interplay between extrinsic forces acting on persons and the intrinsic motive and needs of human beings. The three identified psychological human needs, according to self-determination theory, are competence, relatedness, and autonomy. This study grounded itself in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) with emphasis on Autonomy Supportive Environments. The study seeks to address how implementing the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can influence a child’s diabetes management and their relationship with their environments. The purpose of this pilot study was to test interviews that can be replicated for further examination with parents of children with type-1 diabetes within the REACH program. Interview questions were prepared for data collection on perspectives of parents and healthcare providers. In November 2022, a parent of a child with Type-1 diabetes and an endocrinology pediatric nurse participated in pilot study interviews via Zoom. Researchers followed an interview protocol: mentioning the ten questions assigned to parents and seven questions assigned to healthcare providers, and mentioning the period of twenty-thirty minutes for interviews. Questions regarding the fostering of competence, relatedness, autonomy, choice provision, rational provision, perspective taking, and advocacy were asked following these mentions. Findings suggest parenting children with type 1 diabetes poses many challenges, but there is room for improvement by including healthcare providers and individuals within a child’s social environment through fostering advocacy, autonomy, and relatedness. Due to this study’s small sample size, more research is needed to further understand the impact of fostering autonomy supportive environments while parenting children with diabetes

In vivo sun protection factor and UVA protection factor determination using (hybrid) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and a multi‐lambda‐LED light source

The sun protection factor (SPF) values are currently determined using an invasive procedure, in which the volunteers are irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Non-invasive approaches based on hybrid diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (HDRS) have shown a good correlation with conventional SPF testing. Here, we present a novel compact and adjustable DRS test system. The in vivo measurements were performed using a multi-lambda-LED light source and an 84-channel imaging spectrograph with a fiber optic probe for detection. A transmission spectrum was calculated based on the reflectance measured with sunscreen and the reflectance measured without sunscreen. The preexposure in vitro spectrum was fitted to the in vivo spectrum. Each of the 11 test products was investigated on 10 volunteers. The SPF and UVA-PF values obtained by this new approach were compared with in vivo SPF results determined by certified test institutes. A correlation coefficient R-2 = 0.86 for SPF, and R-2 = 0.92 for UVA-PF were calculated. Having examined various approaches to apply the HDRS principle, the method we present was found to produce valid and reproducible results, suggesting that the multi-lambda-LED device is suitable for in-vivo SPF testing based on the HDRS principle as well as for in-vivo UVA-PF measurements

Noninvasive measurement of the 308 nm LED‐based UVB protection factor of sunscreens

The current method for determining the sun protection factor (SPF) requires erythema formation. Noninvasive alternatives have recently been suggested by several groups. Our group previously developed a functional sensor based on diffuse reflectance measurements with one UVB LED, which was previously evaluated on pig ear skin. Here we present the results of a systematic in vivo study using 12 sunscreens on 10 volunteers (skin types [ST] I-III). The relationship of the UVB-LED reflectance of unprotected skin and melanin index was determined for each ST. The spatial variation of the reflectance signal of different positions was analyzed and seems to be mainly influenced by sample inhomogeneity except for high-protection factors (PFs) where signal levels are close to detection noise. Despite the low-signal levels, a correlation of the measured LED-based UVB PF with SPF reference values from test institutes with R-2 = 0.57 is obtained, suggesting a strong relationship of SPF and LED-based UVB-PF. Measured PFs tend to be lower for increasing skin pigmentation. The sensor design seems to be suitable for investigations where a fast measurement of relative changes of PFs, such as due to inhomogeneous application, bathing and sweating, is of interest