PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2015, Engineering and Applied Science: Electrical Engineering

The kinetics of homogenization of binary melts in the As concentration range x ∈ (0%,50%) are followed using punctuated, off-line Raman profiling, and show that 2 gm sized melts in the range x ∈ (20%,30%) take nearly two weeks to homogenize when the starting materials are reacted at 700°C. The resulting research-grade Arsenic-Selenide glasses are the most compositionally homogeneous glasses produced thus far. The enthalpy of relaxation at Tg (glass transition temperature) -ΔHnr(x) – shows a minimum in x ∈ (29%,37%) in aged samples. In such homogeneous glasses, molar volumes vary non-monotonically with composition and the fragility index m displays a broad global minimum in x ∈ (20%,40%) where m < 20. The super-strong nature of melt compositions in x ∈ (20%,40%) hinders melt diffusion at high temperatures, leading to the observed slow kinetics of melt homogenization. In comparing these results with earlier reports, there is evidence that fragility decreases as melts are homogenized. Furthermore, a clear scaling of m vs. Tg is observed with a negative slope for Flexible glasses and a positive slope for Rigid and Stressed-rigid glasses, in contrast to expectations from some popular viscosity models. The Raman spectra of a large collection of As-Se glasses were analyzed and comparisons were made with the compositional profiles of the Raman modes of the P-Se alloy. For the first time, several key similarities between the systems are observed. The quasi-tetrahedral unit with a 4-fold coordinated Arsenic atom and the As-As homopolar ethylene-like unit are detected and compositional trends are observed to be similar to those of the P-Se system. As-As homopolar bond formation occurs at much lower than the chemical threshold of the system. The impact of the eutectic at As20Se80on the physical properties of the As-Se glasses are studied in great detail and a survey of other binary chalcogenide glasses is conducted and it is found that the eutectic region likely induces p (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Punit Boolchand Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Bernard Goodman Ph.D. (Committee Member); Wayne Bresser Ph.D. (Committee Member); Marc Cahay Ph.D. (Committee Member); Peter Kosel Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Electrical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2011, Spanish and Portuguese

In this dissertation, I analyze the Spanish ingestive verbs comer ‘eat' and beber/tomar ‘drink' that variably occur with the pronoun SE and its person/number variants. Many scholars (De Miguel and Fernandez Lagunilla 2000; Nishida 1994; Sanz 2000; Zagona 1996) have claimed that SE is an aspectual marker, and its use imposes a completive interpretation; on this view SE can only occur with telic predicates. However, it is possible to find examples that show that the alternation between SE-marked and non-SE-marked constructions is not only constrained by aspectual-related factors, but also by other factors such as the degree of individuation of the object (cf. Hopper and Thompson 1980) (1) and the (counter)expectations of the speaker (2): (1) Ayer vi a Sergio, (#SE) estaba comiendo unos tacos pero todavia no le servian ‘Yesterday I saw Sergio, he was about to (#SE) eat some tacos but they hadn't been served yet' (2) a. Marta se comio diez tacos de lengua b. #Marta comio diez tacos de lengua ‘Marta (#SE) ate ten tongue tacos' Maldonado (2000) and Clements (2006) have argued that the use of SE in transitive constructions increases the transitivity of the event. Previous variationist studies of Spanish variable SE marking in motion verbs (Aaron and Torres Cacoullos 2005; Torres Cacoullos and Schwenter 2008) have revealed a set of linguistic factors that contribute to the variability. Among these are clause type, subject expression, grammatical person, tense-mood-aspect and polarity. Thus, a confluence of pragmatic and aspectual factors has been claimed to be relevant to variable SE-marking in Spanish, but qualitative studies cannot explain the myriad of factors determining this variation and their interactions. Following the variationist method, I analyzed variable SE-marking in ingestive verbs in different dialects of Spanish. My analysis of 3958 tokens from spoken and written corpora revealed non-edible/drinkable objects, highly definite and specific objects, non-human (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Scott Schwenter PhD (Advisor); Terrell Morgan PhD (Other); Laura Wagner PhD (Other) Subjects: Linguistics

PHD, Kent State University, 2021, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

This study investigated undergraduate health education and promotion (HEDP) students' intention towards taking a sexual and reproductive health education (SRHE) class if offered at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. This study examined the acceptance of taking a SRHE class if offered at Jazan University; the predictive values of selected demographics, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and stigma to the acceptance; and the relationship between these constructs. This study examined impact of stigma on students' selected demographics, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention. The significance of this study was providing important data for Jazan University policy makers to make informed decisions about offering a SRHE class at their university in the future. Findings of this study indicated that students had positive attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention towards taking a SRHE class at Jazan University. Students also showed higher stigma levels towards taking a SRHE class. This study found attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, stigma, and intention towards taking a SRHE class if offered at Jazan University were significantly different between students who discussed sex related matters with their parents and those who didn't. Finally, attitude, perceived behavioral control, age, and stigma were all statistically significant predictors of students' intention. The results of this study provided health educators and university policy makers the opportunity to view evidence of the need for offering SRHE classes for college students. Additionally, this study provided critical information about the need for developing and implementing SRHE curriculums in college settings.

Committee: Donna Bernert (Committee Chair); Kele Ding (Committee Member); Karen Gordon (Committee Member) Subjects: Health; Health Education; Health Sciences; Public Health; Public Health Education

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Physics

Cd(Se,Te) has emerged as a leading choice for commercial thin-film PV devices, owing to their lower cost of production, high energy yields, and low degradation rates compared to silicon technology. Despite significant advancements, Cd(Se,Te) cells suffer from recombination losses, reducing the open-circuit voltage (Voc). This thesis aims to identify, distinguish, and quantify recombination losses and their locations within Cd(Se,Te) solar cells via temperature and light intensity-dependent current-voltage (JVTi) analysis. Cd(Se,Te) solar cells were modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics, simulating parameters such as temperature (T ), light intensity (i), front surface recombination velocity (Sf), back surface recombination velocity (Sb), bulk lifetime (τ ), conduction and valence band offset (CBO and VBO at heterojunctions), and back contact Schottky barrier height (Φbp). Additionally, graded and uniform selenium devices were studied, and ZnTe:Cu was investigated as a back contact interface. In this work, recombination activation energies, Ea, from JVTi studies were shown to quantify the front interface conduction band offset losses when the interface band gap is smaller than the bulk band gap and when front interface recombination dominates. If the Ea equals the bulk band gap, then Voc losses may occur at the front interface or within the bulk. When the front surface recombination and bulk lifetime are moderately low, a transition from front surface (low Ea) to bulk (higher Ea) mechanisms can be observed with increasing light intensity, i. Back surface recombination has negligible effects on Voc for the device parameters specified herein. Comparison of Cd(Se,Te) JVTi data provided by NREL to simulations in this work indicates that front surface recombination dominates Voc losses for Sf = 103 cm/s and CBO = -0.2 eV for that particular device. Adjusting the band alignment to CBO = 0 eV and reducing Sf would significantly increase Voc.

Committee: Marco Nardone (Committee Chair); Mikhail Zamkov (Committee Member); Alexy Zayak (Committee Member) Subjects: Physics

Master of Science, Miami University, 2024, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) are regarded as a leading technology that enhances the effectiveness and security of contemporary transportation networks. The development of intelligent transportation systems will greatly benefit from the implementation of VANETs. The primary objectives of VANET include enhanced traffic flow, delay tolerance, entertainment, time-sensitive safety applications, and more. The speed of the vehicles presents several types of technical challenges, including frequent handovers, resource allocation, security, delay constraints, availability, and scalability. These issues become prominent with the increasing number of vehicles in the network. In order to achieve network scalability, we investigated in this paper how to implement Scalable Cell-Free Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (SCF massive MIMO) in VANET. The major focus of the analysis was to maximize the Spectral Efficiency (SE) considering a vehicle goes through pilot contamination and meets a certain threshold of Signal to Noise plus Interference Ratio (SINR). We adopted fractional power allocation to meet the power constraint of the system and chose the Linear Partial Minimum Mean Square Error (LP-MMSE) combining technique to maximize SE considering the scalability of the system. We completed the required calculations for the uplink and downlink transmission, channel estimation, pilot signal, SINR, and SE calculation while taking into account several vehicles in a pilot sequence. We performed simulations for both sparse and dense networks. We have analyzed the system for different numbers of vehicles and roadside units. We compared both uplink and downlink performance for the sparse and dense networks with conventional massive MIMO. The simulation results of the proposed system consistently outperformed the conventional approach.

Committee: Mark Scott (Advisor); Miao Wang (Committee Member); Bryan Van Scoy (Committee Member); Chi-Hao Cheng (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Electrical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2022, Physics

CuInSe2 (CIS) and related materials have been studied intensively for applications as the absorber layers of solar cells. CIS absorber layers have favorable electronic and optical properties particularly for applications in the bottom cells of thin film multijunction devices. CIS exhibits a narrow bandgap, strong direct bandgap absorption, and controllable p-type conductivity. In this dissertation research, spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) has been performed on CIS thin films and solar cells with a goal toward characterizing and optimizing this low bandgap absorber for tandem solar cell applications. CIS for film growth and materials studies was deposited to thicknesses within the range of 500-1000 A by one-stage and two-stage thermal co-evaporation on crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafer substrates. These thin films were characterized by real time SE (RTSE) and by additional analytical techniques. CIS films for incorporation into devices were fabricated using the same deposition system to thicknesses within the range of 1.5-2.0 µm on Mo-coated soda-lime glass (SLG) in the substrate cell configuration. The deposition system and processing that were used for these devices has yielded > 17% efficient CuIn1 xGaxSe2 (CIGS) cells incorporating a standard absorber layer thickness of 2.5 µm and an alloy content of x = [Ga]/{[In + Ga]} = 0.3 [1]. As a narrow bandgap semiconductor absorber of interest for use in the bottom cell of thin film tandem solar cells, CIS can be fabricated by a variety of methods. The highest efficiency solar cells use CIS absorbers prepared by multisource thermal co-evaporation [2]. The initial goal of this dissertation research is the development of a reliable calibration method for CIS multi-source co-evaporation. Five Cu depositions were performed sequentially each on the same c-Si wafer substrate at different Cu source temperatures and measured by RTSE. Five In2Se3 films were deposited and measured similarly. Each layer of the two film stacks w (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert W. Collins Dr. (Committee Chair); Sanjay V. Khare Dr. (Committee Member); Yanfa Yan Dr. (Committee Member); Nikolas J. Podraza Dr. (Committee Member); Marco Nardone Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Physics

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2022, Physics

As the world continues to move toward clean renewable energy, the need for solar energy only becomes more necessary. Photovoltaic devices are comprised of a semiconductor and metal layers that allow the solar cells to convert light to electrical energy. The composition of the primary semiconductors used in this research are p-type Cd(Se,Te) with Mg(Zn,O) as a n-type partner and a Perovskite with a Carbon-60 (C60) interface. The efficiency of these photovoltaic devices may decrease significantly as they are used. The goal of this research is to determine the underlying cause of Cd(Se,Te) and Perovskite device degradation when exposed to light and heat. Finite element device simulations were employed to analyze performance metrics, including efficiency, fill factor, open-circuit voltage, and short-circuit current. Numerous simulated current vs voltage curves of varying doping and defect levels were used to obtain the various performance metrics. Cd(Se,Te) performance metrics were simulated with various MZO doping, interface defect density and electron affinities. Perovskite performance metrics were also simulated with various defect densities at the Perovskite/C60 interface, defect density at the Perovskite/Hole Transport Layer interface and C60 electron affinity. Results were compared to pre/post stress experimental data of Cd(Se,Te) and Perovskite photovoltaic devices in attempt to determine the potential cause of irreversible degradation. Results suggest that a decrease in MZO electron affinity and an increase in MZO/Cd(Se,Te) interface defects during light/heat stress cause the observed degradation. For the perovskite devices, results suggest that the course of degradation was an increase in C60 electron affinity and increase in defect densities at the Perovskite/C60 interface.

Committee: Marco Nardone Ph.D. (Advisor); Alexey Zayak Ph.D. (Committee Member); Haowen Xi Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Physics

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2017, Chemistry

Tuberculosis(TB) is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB resulted in the deaths of 1.8 million people from a total of 10.4 million infection cases in 2015. In order to eradicate the ongoing TB threat and combat multidrug-resistant strains (MDR-TB) new therapies are need. This dissertation covers the history of TB, Mtb cell wall structure, trehalose utilization pathways (TUP), and the design and synthesis of inhibitors related to targets in TUP; i.e. Glycosyl hydrolase GlgE, Antigen 85C (Ag85C), Pks13 and TPP2. The second chapter describes the design and synthesis of a molecular probe to investigate the active site topology of Streptomyces coelicolor (Sco) GlgEI, a model enzyme of Mtb GlgE. Mtb GlgE is an essential enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of cytoplasmic a-glucan by transferring maltose-1-phosphate (M1P) to a growing alpha-1,4-glucan chain. 2-Deoxy-2,2-difluoro-alpha-maltosyl fluoride (alpha-MTF) was designed as a non-hydrolysable substrate mimic of M1P to probe the active site of GlgE1 without disruption of catalytic residues. The synthesis and challenges faced during preparation of alpha-MTF are briefly described in this chapter. The key reaction in the synthesis was the use of 1-(chloromethyl)-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ditetrafluoroborate (Selectfluor), which was used to transform peracetylated 2-fluoro-maltal into peracetylated 2,2-difluoro-a-maltosyl fluoride and peracetylate 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-alpha-maltosyl fluoride in a single step. The resulting compound was used by the Ronning group and co-crystallized with the Sco GlgEI-V279S. The X-ray structure of the crystals identified key interactions which may be helpful in further drug design. The third chapter involves targeting Ag85C, in which we synthesized a library of 2-alkyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones as potential covalent inhibitors. The synthesis used a novel thermal and photoinduced copper- (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sucheck Steven Prof (Advisor); Donald Ronning Prof (Committee Member); Zhu Jianglong Dr (Committee Member); Tillekaratne Viranga Dr (Committee Member) Subjects: Chemistry; Organic Chemistry

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Linguistics

Researchers have long had the intuition that interpreting deictic motion verbs involves perspective-taking (see e.g. Fillmore 1965, 1966). In some sense, this perspective-taking is what differentiates deictic motion verbs from other motion verbs. It's what makes them "deictic". In this dissertation, I investigate the role perspective-taking plays in the interpretation of two deictic motion verbs in two typologically unrelated languages, the verbs come in English and zu 'come' in Bulu, a Bantu language of Cameroon. The investigation reveals that zu 'come' represents a previously undocumented type of deictic motion verb and that, differences in meanings notwithstanding, the interpretation of both verbs does involve perspective-taking. Part I of the dissertation consists of detailed investigations of the meanings of come and zu 'come'. Conducting detailed investigations of their meanings makes it possible to state precisely the connection between their lexical semantics and pragmatics and perspective-taking. Here it is. Interpreting either come or zu 'come' requires the retrieval of a contextually supplied perspective, a body of knowledge that represents the way a particular individual imagines things to be. For come or zu 'come' to be used acceptably, it must be true, according to the retrieved perspective, that the individual herself is located at the destination of the motion event being described. If, according to the retrieved perspective, the individual does not self-ascribe being located at the destination, then neither come nor zu 'come' can be used. This is why their use is felt to involve perspective-taking. In addition to describing a motion event, an interlocutor using a deictic motion verb also communicates something about where a particular individual imagines herself to be located. Based on this new understanding of what it is for deictic motion verbs to be perspectival, in Part II of the dissertation I take the first steps toward developing a form (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Craige Roberts (Advisor); Judith Tonhauser (Advisor); Marie-Catherine de Marneffe (Committee Member); Zhiguo Xie (Committee Member) Subjects: Linguistics

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2014, English

In an attempt to use Catholicism to unify and nationalize nineteenth-century Ecuador, political leaders such as Gabriel Garcia Moreno and Ignacio de Veintemilla instituted rigid centralization measures that heightened the power of the clergy and divided liberals and conservatives. Amid this backdrop one leading liberal thinker, Juan Montalvo, attacked Ecuadorian tyrannical leaders and clergy in his numerous political pamphlets and journals and wrote prolifically about the importance of individual freedoms and regaining basic human rights. In 1895 Montalvo published an imitation of the popular Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes titled Los capitulos que se le olvidaron a Cervantes (The Chapters Cervantes Forgot), transforming the madman into a biblically virtuous figure to immortalize his anti-clerical humor and social commentary on religious and governmental institutions. By offering an analysis in English of his satirical comedy and political and religious themes, I bring a previously untranslated yet important work to a wider readership while offering another interpretation for its full comedic potential. I draw biographical and literary comparisons between Cervantes and Montalvo and demonstrate the power of Don Quixote and its eponymous character to become a transnational vehicle for meaningful religious and political expression.

Committee: David Burton (Advisor); Eric LeMay (Advisor) Subjects: Comparative Literature; Latin American History; Latin American Literature; Latin American Studies

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2011, Medicine: Clinical and Translational Research

Background: Preschool-aged children with social-emotional (SE) problems (e.g., behavior problems, delayed social competencies) are at high risk for later psychopathology. To develop protocols for addressing SE development in primary care, a better understanding is needed of the scope of the problem and parental attitudes toward potential interventions. Objectives: To estimate prevalence of SE problems among preschool-aged children in a low-income clinical population, to explore correlates of SE problems, and to assess families' receptivity to referrals to services that promote health SE development. Methods: 254 parents of 3- and 4-year-old children at two primary care clinics completed a standardized screen for SE problems (Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE)). Additional questions addressed childcare arrangements, parental depressive symptoms, and attitudes toward preschool and behavioral health referrals. Descriptive and chi-squared statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The sample was 91% Medicaid. 24% (95% CI 16.5-31.5%) of children screened positive for SE problems. 27% of parents screened positive for depression. 99% of parents reported they “would welcome” or “would not mind” a referral to preschool. Among parents of children who screened positive for SE problems, 79% reported they would welcome or would not mind a referral to a counselor or psychologist; only 16% had been referred previously. Conclusions: One in four low-income preschool-aged children screens positive for SE problems, and most parents are amenable to referrals to preschool or early childhood mental health. This represents an opportunity for improvement in primary prevention and early intervention.

Committee: Erin Nicole Haynes DrPH (Committee Chair); Kristen Copeland MD (Committee Member); Robert Kahn MDMPH (Committee Member) Subjects: Surgery

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2003, Engineering : Electrical Engineering

The doping behavior of the group III additive Indium in GexSe1-x glasses is examined in temperature modulated DSC (MDSC) measurements. The results show that variation in Tg, (dTg/dy)obs, in GexInySe1-x-y glasses, in the floppy (x = 0.10), intermediate (x = 0.22) and stressed rigid (x > 0.26) phases reveal slopes that can be quantatively understood in term of a model in which In segregates into nanocrystalline In2Se3 clusters. A parallel behavior is suggested for Ga in stressed rigid (x > 0.26) base glasses. Molecular structure of Ge x S 1-x glasses in the 0.30 < x < 0.34 range is examined by Raman scattering, 119Sn Mossbauer spectroscopy, and MDSC. The results show that the stoichiometric glass, x = 1/3 (Tg = 508°C is partially polymerized into 3 phases; a majority phase consist of Ge(S1/2)4 tetrahedra (A); a Ge-rich minority phase consisting of ethanelike Ge2(S1/2)6 units (B), and a minority GeS phase consisting of distorted rocksalt Ge(S1/6)6 units (C) in approximately 93.4 : 3.6 : 3.0 ratio as deduced from Raman scattering. Raman Scattering and MDSC investigations of the molecular structure of (GeS2)1-x(Ga2S3)x glasses shows the existence of a rather striking anomaly when x = 17%. In the 0 < x < 17% range, additive (Ga 2 S 3 ) enters the base glass as Ga(S 1/2 ) 4 units forming part of the base glass network, and results in a Ge-rich Ge 2 S 3 nanophase to segregate from the backbone. At x > 17%, the additive (Ga2S3) now nucleates a Ga-rich, GaS like phase, releasing S that permits Ge2S3 nanophase to alloy back in the base glass network.

Committee: Dr. Punit Boolchand (Advisor) Subjects:

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2002, Engineering : Electrical Engineering

Ternary Ge1/4Se3/4-y Iy glasses in the composition range 0 < y < 0.40 were synthesized by melt quenching and their physical properties examined in T-modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) and Raman scattering measurements. The results show that glass transition temperatures systematically decline with increasing iodine concentration “y”, consistent with the idea that the global connectivity of the glasses decreases as one-fold coordinated I replaces bridging Se atoms in the network. The non-reversing enthalpy, ΔHnr(y), shows a sharp global minimum near y = 0.16. The result is in harmony with predictions of constraint counting algorithms that predict a floppy to rigid transition to occur near y = 0.166. The molecular structure of the glasses probed by Raman scattering shows the evolution of mixed Ge(Se1/2)4-mIm tetrahedra with m = 0, 1, 2, 3,4 as iodine is alloyed in the Ge1/4Se3/4 base glass. The mode assignments and m-unit concentrations could be unambiguously made because we had at our disposal predictions of the expected vibrational modes and their cross-sections using first-principles cluster calculations performed by Dr. Alan Jackson. The results show mode concentrations to vary nearly stochastically with y, except for a rather striking step localized near y = 0.16, the floppy to rigid transition. The step-like behavior in variation of the m = 1 unit concentrations at the expense of m = 0 unit ones, suggests the existence of an Intermediate Phase. It is observed in the present glasses because of the large stress that accumulates when iodine is alloyed. The step-like feature is the result of a stress-release mechanism when glasses self-organize in the intermediate phase.

Committee: Dr. Punit Boolchand (Advisor); Dr. Marc Cahay (Other); Dr. Bernard Goodman (Other) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2010, History

The twelfth-century litterateur, courtier, and cleric Gerald of Wales (d. 1223) is an invaluable, if controversial, source for historians of Wales, Ireland, and the Plantagenet monarchy. Because Gerald was descended from both the Cambro-Norman castellans and the native Welsh princes of his half-conquered homeland, his voluminous writings – especially the Itinerarium Kambriae and Descriptio Kambriae – have been scoured by scholars interested in issues of identity and ethnicity. Literary scholars, particularly Monika Otter and David Rollo, have detected in his early works a dense, intra-referential text supportive of multiple, even subversive, interpretations. Less studied has been the De Rebus a se Gestis (c. 1208-1216); this most “autobiographical” of the three accounts Gerald wrote detailing his struggle to obtain metropolitan status for the see of St. David's (1199-1203) survives in only one, incomplete, copy. The De Rebus a se Gestis has been under-valued and misunderstood; it is not, as one historian has described it, a mere “chronological” account of the St. David's controversy. A close study of the text, especially when contrasted with other Geraldine sources such as the Symbolum Electorum, reveals an audacious revisionist project undertaken by Gerald to create for himself a useable past. In the De Rebus a se Gestis, Gerald downplayed his decade as a Plantagenet courtier and reinvented himself as a Welsh firebrand. The key to this project of self-reinvention is Gerald's pious-sounding account of his visit to Wechelen, the anchorite of Llowes. At one level, which I have termed “exoteric,” the “Wechelen story” valorizes Gerald's ignominious departure from the Plantagenet court (c. 1194) by subsuming his failure beneath a conventional narrative of religious resignation. At another level, which I have termed “esoteric,” Wechelen's strange tale of a plot undertaken by “the Devil” and a “woman disguised as a nun,” a plot intended both to defame the anchorite and de (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Barbara Hanawalt PhD (Advisor); Daniel Hobbins PhD (Committee Member); Richard Firth Green PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: History; Middle Ages

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2006, Philosophy

The central question of this dissertation is whether we are justified in believing in the existence of abstract mathematical objects. In Part I, I provide an in-depth examination and criticism of the most popular argument for the justifiability of believing in the existence of mathematical objects, the Quine-Putnam Indispensability Argument. I argue that the naturalistic basis for the argument not only depends essentially upon an untenable form of radical confirmational holism, but is ultimately self-undermining. In Part II, I examine the most popular argument for the unjustifiability of believing in the existence of abstract mathematical objects, Field's Inexplicability Argument. I argue that not only does the argument ignore contemporary epistemological theories of justified belief and knowledge, but that the justificatory constraint that it suggests is implausible and open to general counterexample. Thus, in Parts I and II, I show that the most popular arguments for and against the justifiability of believing in the existence of abstract mathematical objects rest upon untenable epistemological theories. In Part III, I develop a new epistemological approach to justified belief, validationism. I argue that a validationist constraint on justified belief provides the minimal internalist condition that is needed for being justified and having knowledge. According to validationism, being justified requires one to have “validated” the reliability of the source of one's belief through regular comparison of the output of that source with the output of other established sources. Not only does this approach allow us account for our most fundamental epistemic intuitions, but it helps to explain why justified true beliefs are so valuable. In the end, I apply the validationist approach to the case of mathematics and argue that belief in the existence of abstract mathematical objects cannot be justified.

Committee: Stewart Shapiro (Advisor) Subjects: Philosophy

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2011, French, Italian, and Classical Studies

This thesis explores the theme of subjective memory as a cinematic landscape, depicted specifically in two films, Le jour se leve (1939) and Quai des brumes (1938), by French director Marcel Carne. Divided in two parts, the first examines the technical cinematic aspects of mise-en-scene, montage and the like used by Carne to depict the subjective and represent memory on-screen. These techniques will be analyzed and read through the filter of Deleuze's affection-image and the resulting espace quelconque (detailed in his work Cinema I). The second part examines memory artifacts found within the on-screen images, or what Roland Barthes would describe as punctum, and how they relate to the theme of subjective cinematic memory landscapes.

Committee: Dr. Elisabeth Hodges (Advisor); Dr. James Creech (Committee Member); Dr. Mark McKinney (Committee Member) Subjects: Film Studies; Literature; Modern Literature; Motion Pictures

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2010, Spanish

This thesis investigates the representation of NAFTA in two documentaries and two films about violence against women in Ciudad Juarez. Chapter I outlines Mexico's adoption of neoliberal economic policies that culminated in NAFTA, and then specifies individual clauses in the NAFTA text that illustrates the promises and expectations that accompanied the signing of the free trade agreement. These clauses are: Chapter 7 on Agriculture, Chapter 11 on Inversion, and the additional agreements on labor and the environment. The main analysis then, evaluates two documentaries and two Hollywood-type feature movies. Chapter II analyzes Lourdes Portillo's Senorita extraviada (2001), and Steev Hise's On the Edge: Femicide in Ciudad Juarez (2006). Senorita extraviada, was selected because it was the first documentary that brought to light and investigated the problem of the women's murders in Ciudad Juarez, trying to identify the real culprits. On the Edge, was chosen because director Hise's main focus was to evaluate all the different components that originated and exacerbated the problem of the femicide in Ciudad Juarez. Both documentaries represent NAFTA as an explicit or implicit factor that is associated with the femicide murders. Chapter III analyzes Bordertown (2006) from director Gregory Nava starring Jennifer Lopez, and El traspatio/Backyard (2009) from director Carlos Carrera staring Ana de la Reguera. Bordertown is an American production, while El traspatio is a Mexican production. Both films portray women going to Ciudad Juarez, either to help solve the problems of the femicide, or to work in maquilas where they become victims of violence. They both implicate the implementation of NAFTA as having a profound impact on the Mexican agricultural sector, causing job losses, massive rural migration, particularly of women, to the border mainly to Ciudad Juarez. They also associate the work in the maquiladoras, which is implicitly related to NAFTA, as causing social changes in (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Amy Robinson PhD (Advisor); Francisco Cabanillas PhD (Committee Member); Am&#237;lcar Chall&#250; PhD (Committee Member); Federico Chalupa PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Economic Theory; Gender; Labor Economics; Latin American History; Latin American Literature; Motion Pictures; Womens Studies