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Title: Example-Based Parameterization of Linear Blend Skinning for Skinning Decomposition (EP-LBS
Creator: Hopkins, Kayra M.
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This thesis presents Example-based Parameterization of Linear Blend Skinning for Skinning Decomposition (EP-LBS), a unified and robust method for using example data to simplify and improve the development and parameterization of high quality 3D models for animation. Animation and three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics have quickly become a popular medium for education, entertainment and scientific simulation. In addition to film, gaming and research applications, recent advancements in...
Show moreThis thesis presents Example-based Parameterization of Linear Blend Skinning for Skinning Decomposition (EP-LBS), a unified and robust method for using example data to simplify and improve the development and parameterization of high quality 3D models for animation. Animation and three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics have quickly become a popular medium for education, entertainment and scientific simulation. In addition to film, gaming and research applications, recent advancements in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are driving additional demand for 3D content. However, the success of graphics in these arenas depends greatly on the efficiency of model creation and the realism of the animation or 3D image.A common method for figure animation is skeletal animation using linear blend skinning (LBS). In this method, vertices are deformed based on a weighted sum of displacements due to an embedded skeleton. This research addresses the problem that LBS animation parameter computation, including determining the rig (the skeletal structure), identifying influence bones (which bones influence which vertices), and assigning skinning weights (amounts of influence a bone has on a vertex), is a tedious process that is difficult to get right. Even the most skilled animators must work tirelessly to design an effective character model and often find themselves repeatedly correcting flaws in the parameterization. Significant research, including the use of example-data, has focused on simplifying and automating individual components of the LBS deformation process and increasing the quality of resulting animations. However, constraints on LBS animation parameters makes automated analytic computation of the values equally as challenging as traditional 3D animation methods. Skinning decomposition is one such method of computing LBS animation LBS parameters from example data. Skinning decomposition challenges include constraint adherence and computationally efficient determination of LBS parameters.The EP-LBS method presented in this thesis utilizes example data as input to a least-squares non-linear optimization process. Given a model as a set of example poses captured from scan data or manually created, EP-LBS institutes a single optimization equation that allows for simultaneous computation of all animation parameters for the model. An iterative clustering methodology is used to construct an initial parameterization estimate for this model, which is then subjected to non-linear optimization to improve the fitting to the example data. Simultaneous optimization of weights and joint transformations is complicated by a wide range of differing constraints and parameter interdependencies. To address interdependent and conflicting constraints, parameter mapping solutions are presented that map the constraints to an alternative domain more suitable for nonlinear minimization. The presented research is a comprehensive, data-driven solution for automatically determining skeletal structure, influence bones and skinning weights from a set of example data. Results are presented for a range of models that demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
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Title: Refining trunk injection strategies for control of foliar insect pests and disease in Michigan apple orchards
Creator: Coslor, Charles Clark, 1988-
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: In conventional apple orchards, insect pests are managed with insecticides delivered to the canopy using airblast sprayers, which provide good canopy coverage. However, spraying results in significant product loss: as little as 26% is estimated to reach the tree canopy due to spray drift and less than 0.1% of insecticide ends up reaching the target pest. The remainder is lost to the environment with potential to harm people or non-target organisms. Trunk injection is a discriminating...
Show moreIn conventional apple orchards, insect pests are managed with insecticides delivered to the canopy using airblast sprayers, which provide good canopy coverage. However, spraying results in significant product loss: as little as 26% is estimated to reach the tree canopy due to spray drift and less than 0.1% of insecticide ends up reaching the target pest. The remainder is lost to the environment with potential to harm people or non-target organisms. Trunk injection is a discriminating pesticide delivery system which reduces insecticide inputs and environmental exposure by delivering chemicals directly to the vascular system. It is commonly used to deliver pesticides in ornamental and shade trees. Recent work with trunk injection in apple orchards has shown promise, but more research must be done to determine efficacy and safety in tree fruit crops. In the following studies, we injected emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid, dinotefuran, spinosad, chlorantraniliprole, and abamectin into apple trees to expand the list of insecticides compatible with trunk injection. Nectar and pollen were sampled from trees to compare the effects of injection timing on insecticide concentration in floral resources. In addition, two fundamental injection tool types were compared: drill-based and needle-based. To test compatibility of combined insect and disease management, an insecticide and a fungicide were injected simultaneously. Finally, low-volume injections were performed on nursery apple trees, which normally require high pesticide inputs and do not produce fruit for several years. Emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole and abamectin resulted in moderate to high mortality and reduced feeding in Choristoneura rosaceana bioassays using leaves sampled from trunk injected apple trees. Neonicotinoids reduced Empoasca fabae density in field evaluations, and also showed activity on C. rosaceana at higher concentrations. Spinosad was not well-transported within the apple tree vascular system. Numbers of E. fabae nymphs were lower on trees injected with imidacloprid using a drill-based tool compared with untreated trees in all years, despite a trend of initially higher foliar concentrations with the needle-based tool. This demonstrated that delivery method is an important factor in effective trunk injection based apple management. We found that when an insecticide and a fungicide are injected, they can interact dynamically within the vascular system of a tree. Injections of emamectin benzoate followed by phosphorous acid into the same set of injection ports resulted in higher mortality of C. rosaceana larvae and lower incidence of apple scab compared with untreated trees. This has important implications for expanding the utility of trunk injection for fruit tree management. Nursery tree injections were most effective when emamectin benzoate was injected into the trunk versus the taproot. A rate equivalent to 1/8 the rate used for mature tree injection reduced insect pests more than a 1/80 rate. The higher rate of emamectin benzoate was also persistent in the following year. Imidacloprid and emamectin benzoate were injected in the spring and fall, and nectar and pollen were sampled the following spring. Imidacloprid was not detected in nectar or pollen when injected in the previous spring. Conversely, emamectin benzoate was detected when injected in the previous spring, but was not detected in nectar or pollen when injected in the fall. This study expanded the list of insecticides compatible with trunk injection, demonstrated novel uses of trunk injection to reduce insect pests in apple trees, and introduced possible ways to mitigate accumulation of insecticides in nectar and pollen.
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Title: The effects of doping and processing on the thermoelectric properties of platinum diantimonide based materials for cryogenic Peltier cooling applications
Creator: Waldrop, Spencer Laine
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The study of thermoelectrics is nearly two centuries old. In that time a large number of applicationshave been discovered for these materials which are capable of transforming thermalenergy into electricity or using electrical work to create a thermal gradient. Current use ofthermoelectric materials is in very niche applications with contemporary focus being upontheir capability to recover waste heat. A relatively undeveloped region for thermoelectricapplication is focused upon Peltier...
Show moreThe study of thermoelectrics is nearly two centuries old. In that time a large number of applicationshave been discovered for these materials which are capable of transforming thermalenergy into electricity or using electrical work to create a thermal gradient. Current use ofthermoelectric materials is in very niche applications with contemporary focus being upontheir capability to recover waste heat. A relatively undeveloped region for thermoelectricapplication is focused upon Peltier cooling at low temperatures. Materials based on bismuthtelluride semiconductors have been the gold standard for close to room temperature applicationsfor over sixty years. For applications below room temperature, semiconductors basedon bismuth antimony reign supreme with few other possible materials.The cause of this diculty in developing new, higher performing materials is due tothe interplay of the thermoelectric properties of these materials. The Seebeck coecient,which characterizes the phenomenon of the conversion of heat to electricity, the electricalconductivity, and the thermal conductivity are all interconnected properties of a materialwhich must be optimized to generate a high performance thermoelectric material. While forabove room temperature applications many advancements have been made in the creationof highly ecient thermoelectric materials, the below room temperature regime has beenstymied by ill-suited properties, low operating temperatures, and a lack of research.The focus of this work has been to investigate and optimize the thermoelectric propertiesof platinum diantimonide, PtSb2, a nearly zero gap semiconductor. The electronic propertiesof PtSb2 are very favorable for cryogenic Peltier applications, as it exhibits good conductivityand large Seebeck coecient below 200 K. It is shown that both n- and p-type dopingmay be applied to this compound to further improve its electronic properties. Throughboth solid solution formation and processing techniques, the thermal conductivity may bereduced in order to increase the thermoelectric gure of merit. Further reduction in thermalconductivity using other novel approaches is identied as an area of promising future research.Continued development of this material has the potential to generate a suitable replacementfor some low temperature applications, but will certainly further scientic knowledge andunderstanding of the optimization of thermoelectric materials in this temperature regime.
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Title: Electromagnetic transition strengths studied with Doppler-shift techniques across the contours of the valley of stability
Creator: Loelius, Charles Robert
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The electromagnetic transition strengths between bound states in nuclei provide insight into nuclear structure. On one hand, from a single particle perspective the electromagnetic excitation and de-excitation of nuclei quantify the overlaps of nuclear wavefunctions, probing the internal configuration. On the other hand, in a collective model, the shape and dynamics of the nucleus are reflected in the electromagnetic transition strengths. For example, electric quadrupole transitions are...
Show moreThe electromagnetic transition strengths between bound states in nuclei provide insight into nuclear structure. On one hand, from a single particle perspective the electromagnetic excitation and de-excitation of nuclei quantify the overlaps of nuclear wavefunctions, probing the internal configuration. On the other hand, in a collective model, the shape and dynamics of the nucleus are reflected in the electromagnetic transition strengths. For example, electric quadrupole transitions are sensitive to the deformation of a nucleus and distinguish between various pictures of collectivity, such as rotors and vibrators. In this work, electromagnetic transition strengths are studied through lifetime and Coulomb-excitation measurements. Nuclei across the contours of the valley of stability are studied to investigate features of nuclear structure and how they change near and far from stability.The first experiment discussed in this work investigates the effect of the $N=Z=28$ shell closure on collectivity in $^{58}$Ni. $^{58}$Ni has 28 protons and 30 neutrons, and therefore is not expected to exhibit enhanced collectivity compared to its neutron rich neighbors. However, a previous measurement of the lifetime of the $4_1^+$ state indicates an enhanced $B(E2;4_1^+\rightarrow2_1^+)$ transition strength, suggesting unexpectedly large collectivity. The present work revisits the lifetime of the $4_1^+$ state with a more sensitive technique, namely a Recoil Distance Method measurement at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The GRETINA detector array was employed with the S800 Spectrograph to measure the $4_1^+$ state lifetime. The model independent $B(E2;4_1^+\rightarrow2_{1}^+)$ from the present work supports an unenhanced transition strength, as expected near the shell closure.The second experiment discussed in this work is a study of the electromagnetic transition states in $^{27}$Ne. $^{27}$Ne is a loosely-bound neutron rich nucleus although it does not exhibit a halo structure in its ground state. This work investigates the excited states of $^{27}$Ne that lie closer to the particle threshold for features associated with a halo structure. The lifetimes of the $1/2^+$ and $3/2^-$ states in $^{27}$Ne and the branching ratio of the $1/2^+$ state decaying into the $3/2^-$ excited state and $3/2^+_{gs}$ ground state are measured. These values are used to determine the $B(E1;3/2^-\rightarrow3/2^+_{gs})$ and $B(E1;1/2^+\rightarrow3/2^-)$ values. It was found that the $B(E1)$ connecting the $1/2^+$ state to the $3/2^-$ state is at least 50 times larger than that between the $3/2^-$ and $3/2^+_{gs}$ states, indicating an extended radial component in the $1/2^+$ state wavefunction. Lifetime measurements of excited states in $^{28}$Ne are also presented. A new setup for performing Coulomb-excitation measurements based on heavy ion inelastic scattering with two targets is presented and employed to measure the $B(E2;3/2^+_{gs}\rightarrow1/2^+)$ strength in $^{27}$Ne. The method is demonstrated through a reference measurement of the $B(E2;0_{gs}^+\rightarrow2_1^+)$ of $^{30}$Mg. Combined with the lifetime measurement, the $B(M1;1/2^+\rightarrow3/2_{gs}^+)$ transition strength is extracted. The measured value is unhindered, indicating that the $1/2^+$ excited state of $^{27}$Ne is not dominated by an $s$-wave component. The electromagnetic transition strengths in $^{27}$Ne therefore indicate that the $1/2^+$ excited state may exhibit behaviors characteristic of deformed halos.In summary, this study of electromagnetic strengths demonstrates the features of nuclei in the valley of stability, and explores new aspects of nuclear structure that arise toward the edges of stability. Concurrently, Doppler-shift methods are shown to be powerful tools for investigating the structure of nuclei across the nuclear landscape.
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Title: Dreams of a soccer city : politics, consumption, and urban transformation in 20th century Buenos Aires
Creator: Galarza, Alex Gabriel
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This dissertation examines the Ciudad Deportiva of Club Atlético Boca Juniors, a massive stadium, sports complex, and leisure site that aimed to redevelop the city’s dilapidated riverfront in the 1960s. The directors of Boca Juniors drew state and municipal support for the Ciudad Deportiva by appealing to developmentalist ideals that prioritized public-private collaborations, consumption, and leisure space for middle class families. As Argentina’s most popular soccer club, hundreds of...
Show moreThis dissertation examines the Ciudad Deportiva of Club Atlético Boca Juniors, a massive stadium, sports complex, and leisure site that aimed to redevelop the city’s dilapidated riverfront in the 1960s. The directors of Boca Juniors drew state and municipal support for the Ciudad Deportiva by appealing to developmentalist ideals that prioritized public-private collaborations, consumption, and leisure space for middle class families. As Argentina’s most popular soccer club, hundreds of thousands of fans and supporters also invested in the project’s fundraising campaign with the belief that Boca’s stadium and facilities would contribute to the city’s modernization and symbolize national progress. Multiple democratic and military governments aided Boca’s efforts throughout a turbulent political and economic period in Argentina’s history, a signal that this kind of mass consumption and family leisure were key concerns for successive, yet divergent, political projects. The club completed most of the original planned facilities by 1970 including various sports fields, an amusement park, an aquarium, a concert pavilion, Argentina’s first drive-in movie theatre, and a social headquarters with a pool and restaurant. However, political infighting at the club, a withdrawal of public and private support, and national economic crises all contributed to Boca’s failure to construct the stadium in time for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The municipality seized the Ciudad Deportiva in 1979 but over the next thirteen years Boca’s directors were able to regain control of the property and eventually sell it for 22 million dollars. Drawing on newspapers, sports magazines, club documents, and state sources, as well as over twenty oral histories, this dissertation makes two principal arguments. First, that soccer clubs played significant roles in shaping conceptions of neighborhood identity, gender, and class in 20th century Buenos Aires. These institutions did so in tension with their legal status as non-profit civic associations providing services to a membership base while also functioning as producers of the commercialized spectacle of professional soccer. Second, the successes and failures of the Ciudad Deportiva offer a unique perspective through which to consider the very real dreams of development that animated politics in the post-Peronist decades in Argentina. Scholars tend to focus on political polarization and instability, often obscuring the importance of notions about national and urban development embodied in the Ciudad Deportiva.
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Title: Use of water mist to reduce the risk of frost damage in tree fruits
Creator: Rijal, Ishara
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Climate variability and change have been major threats to global food security historically and will almost certainly continue to be threats in the future given the sensitivity of agricultural production systems to their surrounding environment. Recent changes in temperature and seasonality have significantly impacted commercial fruit production in the Great Lakes region. Michigan's sour cherry and apple production in 2012 was reduced by about 90% and 88%, respectively, compared to the...
Show moreClimate variability and change have been major threats to global food security historically and will almost certainly continue to be threats in the future given the sensitivity of agricultural production systems to their surrounding environment. Recent changes in temperature and seasonality have significantly impacted commercial fruit production in the Great Lakes region. Michigan's sour cherry and apple production in 2012 was reduced by about 90% and 88%, respectively, compared to the previous year's production due to a series of spring freeze events (USDA, 2013). The timing of the seasonal warm up in the spring and resulting onset of phenological development is a key factor in determining potential cold damage risk for overwintering perennial tree fruit crops, as the vulnerability of vegetation to freeze injury increases rapidly with the stage of development. Application of water prior to the onset of growth has been used in the past to delay early vegetative development of temperate tree fruit crops. Evaporative cooling associated with this approach effectively reduces plant tissue temperature, slowing the rate of growth and leaving it less vulnerable to freezing temperatures. There are several potential drawbacks, however, including consumption of large quantities of water that could increase nutrient leaching along with elevated risks of plant disease risk. This study examined the potential effectiveness of water applied as a spray mist via a new plant management technology, the solid set canopy delivery system (SSCD), to suppress tree fruit bud temperatures and delay the phenological development of the buds. There were two major portions: 1) A detailed collection of field-based phenological and physiological observations associated with the operation of a prototype SSCD cooling system and: 2) Development of a deterministic model of tree fruit bud temperature that was used to examine the potential of water-based cooling of buds in Michigan. The observational study aimed to identify the timing and discharge rate of mist applications on cherry and apple trees was carried out in a growth chamber and at five Michigan orchards (apple at St. Joseph, Charlotte, and Hillsdale, sweet cherry at SWMREC, and sour cherry at Traverse City,) during the 2014, 2015, and 2016 growing seasons with automated instrumentation to monitor and control the water mist flow rate based on environmental conditions. Water mist was applied to apple and cherry buds via the SSCD system after the end of endo-dormancy until king bloom in the non-misted buds based on ambient air temperature and relative humidity. Overall, in three years of the field study misting delayed bloom by 4-9 days in apple and 7- 11 days in cherry, all using substantially less water than that reported in earlier studies; 8.4 to 26 cm/ha in apple and 5.5 to 10.8 cm/ ha in sweet cherry. The deterministic heat transfer model of a tree fruit bud was developed with observational data from growth chamber, potted plant and field-based studies. The model was calibrated using growth chamber data and validated using potted plant and field data. In a model validation study, model simulated one-minute bud temperatures were generally found to be in good agreement with observed bud temperatures, with overall mean average differences of -0.5±0.30C (lab observations) and -0.3±0.15 0C (field observations), mean absolute differences less than 10C and R-square values of 0.80 or greater. The model was then run with ten years of hourly climate data at three locations in major fruit-producing regions of Michigan (2006-2015). Overall, the model estimated a delay in bloom of misted buds by more than a week compared to non-misted buds, which translates into a potential reduction in the frequency of damaging freeze events of 50-75 %, and decrease in freeze injury severity by 10-60 % in misted apple buds and 45-100% in misted cherry buds. Collectively, the results suggest that the spray mist technique has promise as a straightforward and effective indirect frost control strategy with relatively few environmental impacts.
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Title: Students' development and use of models to explain electrostatic interactions
Creator: Mayer, Kristin Elizabeth
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The National Research Council (2012) recently published A Framework for K-12 Science Education that describes a vision for science classrooms where students engage in three dimensions—scientific and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas—to explain phenomena or observations they can make about the universe around them. This vision of science instruction is a significant shift from current classroom instruction. This dissertation provides detailed examples of...
Show moreThe National Research Council (2012) recently published A Framework for K-12 Science Education that describes a vision for science classrooms where students engage in three dimensions—scientific and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas—to explain phenomena or observations they can make about the universe around them. This vision of science instruction is a significant shift from current classroom instruction. This dissertation provides detailed examples of how students developed and used models to build causal explanations of phenomena. I co-taught classes that focused on having students develop and revise models of electric fields and atomic structure using a curriculum that was designed to align with the three-dimensional vision of learning. I developed case studies of eleven students from these classes. I analyzed the students’ responses and interviewed the students throughout the school year. By comparing and contrasting the analysis across the analysis of students’ interviews, I identified four themes: 1) students could apply their ideas to explain novel and abstract phenomena; 2) students struggled to connect changes in their atomic models to evidence, but ended up with dynamic models of atomic structure that they could apply to explain phenomena; 3) students developed models of atomic structure that they applied to explain phenomena, but they did not use models of electric fields in this way; and 4) too much focus on details interfered with students’ ability to apply their models to explain new phenomena. This dissertation highlights the importance of focusing on phenomena in classrooms that aim at aligning with three-dimensional learning. Students struggled to focus on specific content and apply their ideas to explain phenomena at the same time. In order to apply ideas to new context, students had to shift their focus from recalling ideas to applying the ideas they do have. A focus on phenomena allowed students to show their understanding through applying their ideas to new context. During this transition, students struggled, and in particular, had a hard time using evidence from experiments to justify the changes they made to their models of atomic structure. While the changes students made looked unproductive at times, by the end of the semester, students had developed models of atomic structure that incorporated relationships among charged components that they could apply to explain complex phenomena. Asking students to explore and evaluate their own ideas supported their development of models that they could apply to explain new context they experience in their future.
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Title: Types of feedback in peer review and the effect on student motivation and writing quality
Creator: Sloan, Christopher Colgan
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: In writing classrooms, peer review has been shown to have numerous practical and cognitive benefits. However, little research has been done that examines how different types of peer feedback motivate adolescent students and the effects that different types of feedback have on writing quality. While the literature has indicated that peers give each other much more positive feedback than their teachers do, the research has yielded conflicting findings on whether comments about strengths or...
Show moreIn writing classrooms, peer review has been shown to have numerous practical and cognitive benefits. However, little research has been done that examines how different types of peer feedback motivate adolescent students and the effects that different types of feedback have on writing quality. While the literature has indicated that peers give each other much more positive feedback than their teachers do, the research has yielded conflicting findings on whether comments about strengths or comments about weaknesses are more helpful. For this study high school seniors in an AP English Language and Composition class were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: a group directed only to provide comments about the strengths in the writing of their peers, a second group directed only to provide comments about weaknesses, and a "business as usual" group who were directed to provide helpful feedback (typically a mix of strength and weaknesses comments). There were no treatment group differences in students' writing quality and motivation (attributions, belongingness, and sociocognitive conflict regulation). However, there were clear indicators that suggest students saw statistically significant differences in how helpful some types of comments were perceived to be. Implications for the theory and practice of peer-based feedback in writing instruction are discussed.
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Title: Development and application of a rapid, user-friendly and inexpensive method to detect and quantify Dehalococcoides mccartyi genes in groundwater samples
Creator: Kanitkar, Yogendra Hemant
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) are the predominant contaminants at hazardous waste sites in the United States. The remediation of these chlorinated solvents at contaminated sites frequently involves bioremediation approaches such as biostimulation or bioaugmentation. Both approaches aim at increasing the population of Dehalococcoides cells in the subsurface. It has become common to quantify the population of these microorganisms both before and during the remediation...
Show moreTetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) are the predominant contaminants at hazardous waste sites in the United States. The remediation of these chlorinated solvents at contaminated sites frequently involves bioremediation approaches such as biostimulation or bioaugmentation. Both approaches aim at increasing the population of Dehalococcoides cells in the subsurface. It has become common to quantify the population of these microorganisms both before and during the remediation process. TaqMan probe based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) specific to the biomarker reductive dehalogenase (RDase) genes, such as vcrA, bvcA, and tceA, is now a widely accepted molecular biological tool (MBT) for this task. To date, a wide range of qPCR protocols based on vcrA, bvcA, and tceA genes have been successful for monitoring the reductive dechlorination driven by Dehalococcoides cells. However, alternate molecular methods that are faster and cheaper may make quantification significantly easier. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays were developed for the rapid and specific quantification of the RDase genes, vcrA, tceA, and bvcA in groundwater samples. As a first step, the developed LAMP assays were validated using DNA templates prepared from commercially available bioaugmenting cultures (SDC-9 and KB-1) and groundwater samples. To do this, the concentrations of Dehalococcoides mccartyi RDase genes with DNA templates obtained using LAMP were compared to concentrations obtained using qPCR on a real time thermal cycler. Additionally, the use of direct amplification was investigated. LAMP assays were then adapted for the development a field deployable kit. Here, an approach that requires only low cost laboratory equipment (a bench top centrifuge and a water bath) and significantly less time and resources compared to qPCR is described. The method involves the concentration of biomass from groundwater (without DNA extraction) and LAMP of the cell templates. The amplification products are detected by a simple visual color change (orange/green). Finally, the most probable number technique was incorporated into the altered visual detection LAMP method for the quantitative estimation of RDase gene concentrations in groundwater samples. Overall, quantification with LAMP on a real time thermal cycler was comparable to quantification with qPCR when DNA extracts prepared from SDC-9 and KB-1 or bioaugmented groundwater samples were used as templates for amplification. The LAMP assays to visually detect RDase genes, without DNA extraction or a thermal cycler, was successful to 1.8 X 105 gene copies per L for vcrA and 1.3 X 105 gene copies per L for tceA. Both values are below the threshold recommended for effective in situ dechlorination. Quantification with the MPN-LAMP assay using cell templates underestimated the concentration of RDase genes in groundwater samples by an order of magnitude compared to quantification with DNA templates and qPCR assay. Based on these results, response factors to correlate the MPN-LAMP data to estimated concentrations of RDase genes in groundwater samples are suggested. Future work should include a technology transfer of MPN-LAMP protocols to remediation practitioners.
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Title: Phase sensitive measurements of ferromagnetic Josephson junctions for cryogenic memory applications
Creator: Niedzielski, Bethany Maria
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: A Josephson junction is made up of two superconducting layers separated by a barrier. The original Josephson junctions, studied in the early 1960's, contained an insulating barrier. Soon thereafter, junctions with normal-metal barriers were also studied. Ferromagnetic materials were not even theoretically considered as a barrier layer until around 1980, due to the competing order between ferromagnetic and superconducting systems. However, many exciting physical phenomena arise in hybrid...
Show moreA Josephson junction is made up of two superconducting layers separated by a barrier. The original Josephson junctions, studied in the early 1960's, contained an insulating barrier. Soon thereafter, junctions with normal-metal barriers were also studied. Ferromagnetic materials were not even theoretically considered as a barrier layer until around 1980, due to the competing order between ferromagnetic and superconducting systems. However, many exciting physical phenomena arise in hybrid superconductor/ferromagnetic devices, including devices where the ground state phase difference between the two superconductors is shifted by π. Since their experimental debut in 2001, so-called π junctions have been demonstrated by many groups, including my own, in systems with a single ferromagnetic layer. In this type of system, the phase of the junction can be set to either 0 or π depending on the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer. Of interest, however, is the ability to control the phase of a single junction between the 0 and π states. This was theoretically shown to be possible in a system containing two ferromagnetic layers (spin-valve junctions). If the materials and their thicknesses are properly chosen to manipulate the electron pair correlation function, then the phase state of a spin-valve Josephson junction should be capable of switching between the 0 and π phase states when the magnetization directions of the two ferromagnetic layers are oriented in the antiparallel and parallel configurations, respectively. Such a phase-controllable junction would have immediate applications in cryogenic memory, which is a necessary component to an ultra-low power superconducting computer. A fully superconducting computer is estimated to be orders of magnitude more energy-efficient than current semiconductor-based supercomputers.The goal of this work was to experimentally verify this prediction for a phase-controllable ferromagnetic Josephson junction. To address this complicated system, first, studies of junctions with only a single ferromagnetic junction were required to determine the 0-π transition thickness of that material, the decay of the critical current through the junction with thickness, and the switching field of the material. The materials studied included NiFeMo, NiFe, Ni, and NiFeCo. Additionally, roughness studies of several different superconducting base electrodes and normal metal buffer and spacer layers were performed to determine the optimum junction layers. The ferromagnetic layers used were on the order of 1-2 nm thick, so a smooth growth template is imperative to maintain continuous films with in-plane magnetizations. Lastly, single junction spin-valve samples were studied. We are not equipped to measure the phase of a single junction, but series of samples where one ferromagnetic layer is systematically varied in thickness can inform the proper thicknesses needed for 0-π switching based on relative critical current values between the parallel and antiparallel magnetic configurations. Utilizing this background information, two spin-valve samples were incorporated in a superconducting loop so that the relative phase of the two junctions could be investigated. Through this process, the first phase-controllable ferromagnetic Josephson junctions were experimentally demonstrated using phase-sensitive measurement techniques. This provided the proof of concept for the Josephson Magnetic Random Access Memory (JMRAM), a superconducting memory system in development at Northrop Grumman, with whom we collaborate on this work. Phase-controllable systems were successfully demonstrated using two different magnetic material stacks and verified with several analysis techniques.
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Title: What does it mean to be literate? Designing and implementing a framework of inclusive literacy practices in a rural context
Creator: Mehta, Rohit
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Written as two interconnected articles, this dissertation study is about identifying literacy practices that are inclusive of multiple ways of being, knowing, and doing. Using these, the purpose of this study is to create a framework of inclusive literacy practices that teachers and researchers can use--implement and refine--based on their contextual needs and expectations. Driven by the rhetorical question of 'What does it means to be literate?' I use three lenses of culturally sustaining...
Show more"Written as two interconnected articles, this dissertation study is about identifying literacy practices that are inclusive of multiple ways of being, knowing, and doing. Using these, the purpose of this study is to create a framework of inclusive literacy practices that teachers and researchers can use--implement and refine--based on their contextual needs and expectations. Driven by the rhetorical question of 'What does it means to be literate?' I use three lenses of culturally sustaining pedagogy, transdisciplinary thinking, and multiliteracies to challenge normative practices that dominate acceptable ways of being, knowing, and doing in the world. To achieve this, I conducted a two-part study. In this first part, I reviewed 170 highly cited articles to compile a framework of ten literacy practices--five for learners and five for teachers--that I call Culturally sustaining, Transdisciplinary, Multiliteracies (CTM) Practices. Using this preliminary framework, I offered a set of guidelines for teachers to implement it in their classrooms. In the second part, to test the feasibility of the framework, I situated myself in an underrepresented context in multicultural education--a predominantly white rural school, and studied the affordances and constraints of the framework. I designed an embedded case study and used ethnographic methods and critical discourse analysis to analyze the framework. I found that CTM Practices framework faced four major challenges: forms of marginalization disguised in practices of social networking, distancing from experiences of other people and places, conflict between discourses of school and self, and siloed practices and definitions of literacies. I offered resolutions for each of the challenges, and found the framework to be adaptable to the rural contexts. I call for further implementation of this framework across new contexts to test its feasibility"--Pages ii-iii.
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Title: 'Poisining the viewer' : the status of drama and dramatists, paintings and painters in Renaissance England
Creator: Royston, Jennifer A.
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This dissertation examines representations of artistic professionalization in Early Modern English drama. Focused on the paragone—a series of sixteenth and seventeenth-century treatises that argued for the superiority of one artistic medium over all others—I approach drama from a sociocultural perspective, utilizing a textual archive that includes drama, antitheatrical texts, emerging artistic history, and rhetorical manuals. Bridging the theoretical gap between Early Modern literary and...
Show moreThis dissertation examines representations of artistic professionalization in Early Modern English drama. Focused on the paragone—a series of sixteenth and seventeenth-century treatises that argued for the superiority of one artistic medium over all others—I approach drama from a sociocultural perspective, utilizing a textual archive that includes drama, antitheatrical texts, emerging artistic history, and rhetorical manuals. Bridging the theoretical gap between Early Modern literary and cultural studies and contemporary revisions of theories on visual culture, this project argues for the cultural efficacy of the rising multimedia artist, the dramatist. While my interdisciplinary study builds on scholarship related to print and performance, idolatry, and art history, my project responds to current interest regarding the significance of multimedia perspectives. My research opens up traditional analyses of textual rhetoric to the realm of the visual and sheds light on the relation between aesthetics and cognitive processes in the Renaissance. Departing from previous reflections on the role of the verbal and visual in Early Modern drama, I conceptualize more specifically the tie between the rising visual and verbal artist and the ways in which this connection gets expressed in performance during England’s tumultuous religious and political Renaissance.
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Title: Factors that influence an intern's learning about and enactment of discussion-based teaching
Creator: Meier, Jessica
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This multi-case qualitative study examined the factors that influenced an intern's learning about and implementation of a core practice, discussion-based teaching (DBT) during her two semesters of student teaching. Influenced by theories of how teachers learn about and enact core practices, comparative case studies were conducted involving two cases: (1) an intern and her first mentor teacher and (2) the same intern and her second mentor teacher. Specifically, the purpose of studying each...
Show moreThis multi-case qualitative study examined the factors that influenced an intern's learning about and implementation of a core practice, discussion-based teaching (DBT) during her two semesters of student teaching. Influenced by theories of how teachers learn about and enact core practices, comparative case studies were conducted involving two cases: (1) an intern and her first mentor teacher and (2) the same intern and her second mentor teacher. Specifically, the purpose of studying each case was to understand (a) how the mentor and intern worked together to promote the intern's vision of DBT, (b) the ways in which opportunities for practice influenced the intern's enactment of DBT and (c) how the contextual and biographical factors influenced the intern's implementation and learning about DBT. Data sources included direct observations, semi-structured interviews, and audio-recorded conversations. Cross-case analysis suggested contextual factors were most influential in the intern's enactment of DBT, namely the opportunities for practice and learning community provided by her second mentor teacher. Evidence from the study shows interns can learn core practices such as DBT, but autonomy and exposure are not enough to build complex learning. Interns need to be placed with mentors who provide modeling, targeted feedback and collaboration, and regular opportunities for guided reflection around the core practice. Findings from the study have implications for teacher education programs as they prepare new teachers to enact core practices.
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Title: The Leber Congenital Amaurosis CEP290 cat model : working towards a cure
Creator: Minella, Andrea Louise
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is an early-onset and severe inherited retinaldystrophy. The most commonly implicated gene is the centrosomal 290kDa (CEP290)gene. There are currently no treatments for LCACEP290. Animal models are integral fortreatment safety and efficacy testing, with a feline model for CEP290 retinopathiesshowing promise for this purpose. This model has a spontaneous mutation in CEP290resulting in a progressive retinal degeneration and vision loss. This mutation...
Show moreLeber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is an early-onset and severe inherited retinaldystrophy. The most commonly implicated gene is the centrosomal 290kDa (CEP290)gene. There are currently no treatments for LCACEP290. Animal models are integral fortreatment safety and efficacy testing, with a feline model for CEP290 retinopathiesshowing promise for this purpose. This model has a spontaneous mutation in CEP290resulting in a progressive retinal degeneration and vision loss. This mutation alterssplicing and is predicted to result in a truncated protein. CEP290 is integrally involved inthe transport within photoreceptor cells, localizing to the interconnecting cilium.The CEP290 mutant cat ("rdAc") has a milder phenotype than the phenotypemost commonly associated with CEP290 mutations in people. Understanding thereason for this milder phenotype was an important aim of this dissertation. We analyzedthe wild-type and truncated mutant transcript levels and total CEP290 protein levels incat retinal tissue across genotypes (wild-type, heterozygous, homozygous mutant). Ourfindings show that the milder phenotype in mutant cats is likely the result of low-levelproduction of wild-type transcript and protein combined with production of truncatedprotein that we suspect retains some function. These measures can also serve asobjective markers of disease progression or treatment success in future studies.Further objective markers were investigated utilizing spectral-domain opticalcoherence tomography. By analyzing photoreceptor layer thickness (receptor plus/REC+) and the ellipsoid zone (EZ), a zone noted to change with disease in people, weshowed that REC+ thickness and EZ integrity can be used as markers of diseaseprogression. These findings support the cat as a CEP290 model, and show the affectedcats have a degeneration with central retinal sparing as described in human patients.We also developed an in vitro tool by developing primary fibroblast cell culturesfrom skin samples of CEP290 cats. We showed that cilia formation, which involvesCEP290, can be induced, opening the door for future cilia studies. We assessed cilialength as an objective marker of disease, however, no difference was found in cilialength across genotypes. Utilizing this new tool, we tested a CRISPR/Cas-9 genomeediting treatment in an attempt to replace the mutated region with a sequence thatwould direct splicing to the correct location. We achieved high efficiency transduction ofCRISPR components, however, we failed to detect insertion of our chosen sequence.As we work towards a treatment, it is imperative to develop an optimized methodto deliver the treatment to feline photoreceptors. To achieve this aim we tested hybridadeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, the retinal viral vector of choice, in the wild-typefeline retina. We showed that all serotypes studied, AAV2/2, 2/5, 2/8, and 2/9, transducephotoreceptor cells with AAV2/8 and 2/9 showing higher transduction and faster onset.Interestingly, we found more efficient transduction of cones than rods, an unusualfinding that speaks to the need to use caution when extrapolating across species.It is our hope that these data will help the scientific community move closer totreatments for CEP290 retinopathies. We have added to the understanding of the rdAccat model and determined objective markers, supported the cat as a model, and havemade progress towards a treatment.
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Title: Prevention of environmental-toxicant triggered autoimmunity by consumption of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, Docosahexaenoic acid
Creator: Bates, Melissa A.
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: While heredity is a primary predisposing factor for autoimmunity, cumulative exposures to environmental factors such as toxic stressors and diet greatly impact the latency and severity of autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The chapters within this dissertation test the hypothesis that dietary DHA prevents activation of autoreactive lymphocytes that establish the lung as a platform to exacerbate systemic autoimmunity after cSiO2 exposure in lupus-prone NZBWF1 mice. Herein, it is demonstrated...
Show moreWhile heredity is a primary predisposing factor for autoimmunity, cumulative exposures to environmental factors such as toxic stressors and diet greatly impact the latency and severity of autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The chapters within this dissertation test the hypothesis that dietary DHA prevents activation of autoreactive lymphocytes that establish the lung as a platform to exacerbate systemic autoimmunity after cSiO2 exposure in lupus-prone NZBWF1 mice. Herein, it is demonstrated that airway exposure to crystalline silica (cSiO2) triggers early loss of self-tolerance in the lung characterized by prolonged elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines, and strikingly, early infiltration of autoreactive B and T cells into the lung which collectively drive production of autoantibodies that exacerbate systemic autoimmunity and glomerulonephritis in the lupus-prone female NZBWF1 mouse. Supplementing NZBWF1 mouse diets with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), dose-dependently blocks this triggering in the lung, kidney, and systemic circulation. The anti-inflammatory effects of DHA were evident through ablation of lymphocytic infiltration and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs that corresponded to reduced serum autoantibodies and cytokine concentrations and accordingly, reduced severity of cSiO2-triggered glomerulonephritis in the kidneys of NZBWF1 mice. To elaborate on these findings, we utilized an integrative approach with quantitative immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics, and targeted proteomics to identify relevant cell populations and putative molecular pathways responsible for cSiO2-driven autoimmunity and targets for the ameliorative effects of DHA. Taken together, the findings in this dissertation establish a model that permits dissection of the countervailing roles of cSiO2 (potentiation) and DHA (attenuation) in initiation and progression of autoimmunity. The results from these studies demonstrate how modification of cellular lipids with the ω-3 fatty acid, DHA, could be harnessed to attenuate lupus and related autoimmune diseases triggered by toxic environmental stressors.
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Title: Characterization of Nannochloropsis Oceanica CCMP1779 grown in light
Creator: Poliner, Eric
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Nannochloropsis is a genus of fast-growing microalgae that have a high lipid content. Nannochloropsis species have a high triacylglycerol (TAG) content and contain a large amount of the omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). There is a growing interest in Nannochloropsis species as models for the study of microalga lipid metabolism and as a platform for synthetic biology. Genome sequences are available for several species, and genetic engineering...
Show moreNannochloropsis is a genus of fast-growing microalgae that have a high lipid content. Nannochloropsis species have a high triacylglycerol (TAG) content and contain a large amount of the omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). There is a growing interest in Nannochloropsis species as models for the study of microalga lipid metabolism and as a platform for synthetic biology. Genome sequences are available for several species, and genetic engineering techniques are being introduced. In this study, I developed a new generation of transgenic vectors for gene stacking and marker-free gene disruption in Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779. These tools enable gene specific studies and were applied to investigate a lipid biosynthetic pathway that is co-expressed under different light conditions. As for all photosynthetic organisms, light plays an important role in driving metabolism and regulation by photosensing in Nannochloropsis species. Each day photosynthetic organisms must maximize their energy capture during the day and be able to sustain themselves during the night. Nannochloropsis cultures synchronize cell division during a light:dark cycle, with cell division occurring at night, along with the usage of stored metabolites that are accumulated during the day. RNA-sequencing measures global transcript abundance, that ultimately might lead to changes in enzymatic activity, metabolism and physiology. I investigated the role of transcriptional regulation on metabolite levels and cell physiology using RNA-sequencing. In the study I found coordination between cell growth, triacylglycerol and hexose content, and transcript abundance of the genes in relevant pathways. Briefly anabolic processes were phased to the light period and catabolic processes phased to the dark period. Furthermore, promoters for transgenic expression were chosen based on transcriptomic measurements gathered in this study. Eicosapentaenoic acid is a high-value fatty acid that is a necessary nutrient for humans, with a biosynthetic pathway consisting of 5 fatty acids desaturases (FADs) and a fatty acid elongase (FAE). Interestingly, the genes of this biosynthetic pathway were strongly co-expressed during light:dark cycles, and I set out to characterize the pathway. Expression of isolated cDNAs in S. cerevisiae resulted in the production of the expected long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), and ultimately EPA when all 4 LC-PUFA FADs and an FAE were co-expressed. Selected FADs were overexpressed in N. oceanica and resulted in increased LC-PUFA and EPA content. CRISPR/Cas9 is a potent tool for gene editing. The RNA-guided nuclease, Cas9, was tested as a fusion with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and NanoLuciferase (Nlux) reporters, and the Cas9-Nlux fusion was readily detectable for efficient screening of transformants for recombinant protein production. Single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) when fused to 5’ and 3’ self-cleaving ribozymes efficiently targeted genes. The two components of the system were expressed from a bidirectional promoter. N. oceanica is capable of expressing transgenes from circular episomal DNA, and an episomal CRISPR construct was generated. The nitrate reductase gene was targeted and the mutants generated with frame-shifts in the coding sequence were unable to grow on nitrate. When antibiotic selection was removed, the episome was lost, and a mutant line that was “cured” of the episome was isolated. These tools are being utilized for gene specific studies in N. oceanica.
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Title: Preservice teachers' self-efficacy, intent to use, and technology integration descriptions : a study of technology learning experiences and their effects
Creator: Amalfitano, Tracy Ellen Russo
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Today’s teachers are charged with transforming education through technology, providing all learners with access and meaningful experiences across content areas in ways of teaching and learning they may never have experienced themselves. This dissertation examines the effect of increasing preservice teachers’ prior personal learning experiences using digital instructional tools has on their self-efficacy, intent to use, levels of technology integration, and instructional features described in...
Show moreToday’s teachers are charged with transforming education through technology, providing all learners with access and meaningful experiences across content areas in ways of teaching and learning they may never have experienced themselves. This dissertation examines the effect of increasing preservice teachers’ prior personal learning experiences using digital instructional tools has on their self-efficacy, intent to use, levels of technology integration, and instructional features described in context of their future teaching using similar digital tools. Set within an educational technology teacher preparation course, the aim of this quasi-experimental study was to describe the effects resulting from intentional pedagogical changes using existing course content and assessments for teacher technology preparation improvement. Interventions to increase personal learning experiences using three focal tools (Interactive PowerPoint, Webquests, and Digital Storytelling) were administered in three of six course sections prior to participants completing course activities using these tools to create teaching materials. Surveys were administered in all sections to investigate changes in participants’ overall digital self-efficacy and their stated intent to use the focal tools. Written reflections about possible future focal tool uses in teaching and technology integrated lesson plans written at the end of the course were analyzed to examine differences in technology integration levels using the Replacement, Amplification, and Transformation framework (Hughes, Thomas, & Scharber, 2006). Additionally, key instructional features in the written descriptions (student learning, instructional methods, curriculum/content, and structural factors) were investigated. Students in both the control and treatment sections showed significant growth in computer self-efficacy during the course. The intervention changes to increase prior personal learning experiences did not result in a significant difference between groups in self-efficacy growth or stated intent-to-use. A significant difference between treatment and control groups was found in the described integration levels for Webquest as well as the number of instructional features described related to structural factors for Interactive PowerPoint. No significant differences between groups were found in the descriptions of future use for Digital Storytelling or the final Technology Integrated Lesson Plan.
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Title: Examining organizational supports within domestic violence programs that support or hinder responses to reproductive coercion
Creator: McGirr, Sara
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Reproductive coercion (RC) is a newly identified but commonly experienced form of domestic violence (DV) with serious potential consequences for women's health and well-being. Despite the high prevalence of RC against DV survivors, initial reports suggest that few DV advocates regularly engage in RC-related practices with their clients. In order to better understand the factors that may be impeding advocates' RC-responsiveness, the study examined data collected via a brief online survey of...
Show moreReproductive coercion (RC) is a newly identified but commonly experienced form of domestic violence (DV) with serious potential consequences for women's health and well-being. Despite the high prevalence of RC against DV survivors, initial reports suggest that few DV advocates regularly engage in RC-related practices with their clients. In order to better understand the factors that may be impeding advocates' RC-responsiveness, the study examined data collected via a brief online survey of more than 300 domestic violence advocates across the U.S. and its territories. Results identified critical barriers and facilitators to RC-responsive practice in DV organizations on the intrapersonal and organizational ecological levels. While intrapersonal factors (levels of comfort discussing sexuality and comfort discussing reproductive health) influenced advocates' frequency of universal and targeted RC practice, the level of RC-responsive supports provided by advocates' organizations was much more impactful. In addition to supporting the assertion that intervention on multiple ecological levels has the greatest potential for successful change in professionals' behavior, the study's results also provide initial insight into a minimum level of organizational supports that may be necessary to promote more frequent RC-responsive practice in DV organizations. This guidance may prove useful for agencies aiming to improve their RC-responsiveness; by focusing on those factors, DV programs and their staff will ultimately be better prepared and better able to support survivors of RC in regaining their reproductive control.
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Title: Holding hands with death : ethical promises and political failures of our humanitarian present
Creator: Ivanovic, Mlado
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Taking the point of departure in the urgent social challenges tied with current failures of humanitarian management and inclusion of Non-Western others in "developed" Western societies, this dissertation explores the ways in which representation and knowledge about human suffering guides our (un)willingness to act ethically with respect to vulnerable strangers and the difficult conditions they endure." -- Abstract.

Title: Blurring boundaries within mathematics education : prospective K-8 teachers interrogating intersectional identities, narratives, and positionings in out-of-school contexts
Creator: Guzmán, Lynette DeAun
Date: 2017
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Mathematics teacher noticing as a pedagogical practice--attending to, interpreting, and responding to children's mathematical thinking--is growing within mathematics education communities. Much of the research literature primarily focuses on supporting teacher noticing of children's mathematical thinking within classroom contexts, such as analyzing classroom artifacts and video recordings. Recent efforts to support teachers make connections between mathematics and children's funds of...
Show more"Mathematics teacher noticing as a pedagogical practice--attending to, interpreting, and responding to children's mathematical thinking--is growing within mathematics education communities. Much of the research literature primarily focuses on supporting teacher noticing of children's mathematical thinking within classroom contexts, such as analyzing classroom artifacts and video recordings. Recent efforts to support teachers make connections between mathematics and children's funds of knowledge, however, often involve professional work outside of classrooms where teachers learn about children's lived experiences and communities. While there is a growing expectation that teachers draw on children's funds of knowledge to support mathematics learning, this kind of professional work requires an ability to notice mathematics in out-of-school contexts. The bulk of this dissertation is written as a series of three interconnected papers from a single qualitative study where I explored activities of a working group I facilitated to support prospective K-8 teachers to notice children's mathematical practices in out-of-school contexts. A primary thread across this work involves blurring boundaries within mathematics education. In my first article (pp. 51-76), I provided an overview of boundary blurring that prospective teachers in this study engaged--between mathematics and people as well as between mathematics and other disciplines--through early field experiences in out-of-school contexts. I zoomed in to examine a specific boundary, women and mathematics, in my second article (pp. 83-105) and explored intersections of gender, age, and elementary mathematics during an interaction at a science museum site visit. Then, in my third article (pp. 110-133), I zoomed out to focus on broader discourses within mathematics education to challenge overly simplistic allor-nothing type stories about mathematics and people (e.g., 'being a math person'). Across my three articles, I engage an overarching question: What stories do prospective teachers tell about themselves, about children, and about mathematics? This study contributes to a collection of stories about prospective teachers' learning to notice children and their mathematical practices with implications for supporting mathematics teacher education, particularly in contexts outside of school. In closing, I share how my work connects to a broader project in mathematics education, blurring boundaries. I pose an underlying question for my continued work: What would it take to decolonize mathematics education?"--Pages ii-iii.
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