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This treatise analysis what functions light has in theater. It was inspired by Rosalinda Kraussessay Sculpture in the Expanded Field but builds mostly on the following three booksLinda Essig Lighting and the design idea (2nd ed), Nigel H. Morgan Stage lighting fortheater designers and Francis Reid The stage lighting handbook (6th ed). It discovers nineunique functions of light (performance style, dramatic style, image,illumination, 3Dspace, 3D form, selectivity, environment, atmosphere) and develops a graphical mappingof them based on a mapping by Reid. The functions performance style, dramatic style,image are superior the others. Some light functions are more closely related than othersand the different functions can easily be misunderstood.The functions performance style and dramatic style (or just style) are especially difficultto understand and map out. Environment and atmosphere are two functions that is inopposition to one another and it would be interesting to make an expansion around theseset of terms by using Krauss theories.

This thesis project evaluates and compares different deep learning based segmentation tools for acquiring 3D segmentations of mitochondria. These segmentations could then hopefully be used in the future to quantify the mitochondria dynamics, which is vital for the survival of human cells. Four different models were evaluated and compared using the metrices Intersection over Union (IoU) and Dice, and a measurement of the quantity and area of the segmented mitochondria. The four different models were from the Fiji U-Net plugin, MitoSegNet, EmbedSeg 2D and EmbedSeg 3D. The data used was microscopic images of transfected MDCKII cells taken using a Lattice light-sheet microscope. Processing of the data was done in Fiji, which included manual annotation of the images in order to acquire ground truth segmentations. The results showed that the most suited model for this task was the model from the Fiji U-Net plugin. The other models also generated adequate segmentations, but could not adapt to images from a different cell. It was also concluded that stacking together 2D segmentations in order to achieve a 3D segmentations was successful. / Detta examensarbete utvärderar och jämför olika djupinlärningsbaserade segmenteringsverktyg för att få 3D-segmenteringar av mitokondrier. Dessa segmenteringar kan sedan förhoppningsvis användas i framtiden för att kvantifiera mitokondriernas dynamik, vilken är avgörande för de mänskliga cellernas överlevnad. Fyra olika modeller utvärderades och jämfördes med hjälp av måtten IoU och Dice, samt en mätning av kvantiteten och arean av de segmenterade mitokondrierna. De fyra olika modellerna var från en Fiji U-Net-plugin, MitoSegNet, EmbedSeg 2D och EmbedSeg 3D. Datan som användes var mikroskopbilder av transfekterade MDCKII-celler tagna med ett Lattice light-sheet mikroskop. Processeringen av datan gjordes i Fiji, som inkluderade manuell annotering av bilderna för att få ground truth segmenteringar. Resultaten visade att modellen som var bäst lämpad för denna uppgift var modellen från Fiji U-Net-pluginen. De andra modellerna genererade också adekvata segmenteringar, men kunde inte anpassa sig till bilder av en annan cell. En slutsats var också att stapla samman 2D-segmenteringar för att få 3D-segmenteringar var en lyckad metod.

The production of an isotropic source or detector by fixing a small resin sphere onto one end of an optical fibre is discussed. The potential application of these fibres to Photochemotherapy is reviewed. Isotropic fibres are used as both sources and detectors in experiments designed to measure the amount of light loss in a 1% solution of Neutralipid (an intravenous nutrient supply). Determination of light loss in this solution is important in one application of Photochemotherapy where an estimate of the irradiation time is required. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Lighting is an important design element that affects human health, comfort levels, mood, feelings, and the overall experience in spaces. Academically, light is integrated late in design education. Architecture and interior design schools usually introduce it as a design principle during the second or third year of education. As a result, students perceive it as an additive element in the schematic or design development phases rather than a concept generator from the ideation phase. If we accept that lighting design is essential in the conceptual design phase in order to create better-performing light spaces, then a new lighting design integration is needed in design curricula to encourage students to think about it from the ideation phase, enhance their understanding of lighting design knowledge, and facilitate their cognitive thinking and decision-making processes to eventually produce better performing lighting design projects. The purpose of this research was to develop a new pedagogical framework for the integration of lighting design knowledge and lighting cognitive tools in design pedagogy to invite students to use it as a concept generator from the early design stages and to aid their cognitive thinking to produce high-quality lighting environments. The framework presents a learning path to introduce lighting design in a sequence from the first year of design education according to three main knowledge domains: the tacit, the procedural, and the explicit. The research contributes to shifting the current approach to lighting design education in Kuwait as an example and in architecture and interior design schools in general. The researcher used multiple sources of data to develop the framework. First, she reviewed scholarly work and the literature that address lighting design pedagogy, design pedagogical theories, design curricula development models, the lighting design process, and design cognitive tools to create a logical argument for the framework's theoretical structure and to develop its research methods. Second, she analyzed lighting design documents from the United States' developed lighting design programs and Kuwait University to understand the current lighting design pedagogical structure, teaching methods, cognitive design tools, and foundational lighting knowledge. Third, she interviewed current lighting design educators from Kuwait University to understand the current lighting pedagogical model and sequence. Fourth, she interviewed lighting design educators from the United States to obtain new foundational lighting knowledge, creative teaching methods, advanced design cognitive tools, and other suggestions to improve lighting design pedagogy. Fifth, the researcher transferred knowledge from the United States' developed programs to Kuwait University to develop the new framework. Lastly, she presented the preliminary framework to lighting design professionals and educators using a Delphi Method to enhance it further and to rate its implementation possibilities. / Doctor of Philosophy / Lighting is an important design element that affects human health, comfort levels, mood, feelings, and the overall experience in spaces. Academically, light is integrated late in design education. Architecture and interior design schools usually introduce it as a design principle during the second or third year of education. As a result, students perceive it as an additive element in the schematic or design development phases rather than a concept generator from the ideation phase. If we accept that lighting design is essential in the conceptual design phase in order to create better-performing light spaces, then a new lighting design integration is needed in design curricula to encourage students to think about it from the ideation phase, enhance their understanding of lighting design knowledge, and facilitate their cognitive thinking and decision-making processes to eventually produce better performing lighting design projects. The purpose of this research was to develop a new pedagogical framework for the integration of lighting design knowledge and lighting cognitive tools in design pedagogy to invite students to use it as a concept generator from the early design stages and to aid their cognitive thinking to produce high-quality lighting environments. The framework presents a learning path to introduce lighting design in a sequence from the first year of design education according to three main knowledge domains: the tacit, the procedural, and the explicit. The research contributes to shifting the current approach to lighting design education in Kuwait as an example and in architecture and interior design schools in general. The researcher used multiple sources of data to develop the framework. First, she reviewed scholarly work and the literature that address lighting design pedagogy, design pedagogical theories, design curricula development models, the lighting design process, and design cognitive tools to create a logical argument for the framework's theoretical structure and to develop its research methods. Second, she analyzed lighting design documents from the United States' developed lighting design programs and Kuwait University to understand the current lighting design pedagogical structure, teaching methods, cognitive design tools, and foundational lighting knowledge. Third, she interviewed current lighting design educators from Kuwait University to understand the current lighting pedagogical model and sequence. Fourth, she interviewed lighting design educators from the United States to obtain new foundational lighting knowledge, creative teaching methods, advanced design cognitive tools, and other suggestions to improve lighting design pedagogy. Fifth, the researcher transferred knowledge from the United States' developed programs to Kuwait University to develop the new framework. Lastly, she presented the preliminary framework to lighting design professionals and educators using a Delphi Method to enhance it further and to rate its implementation possibilities.

Inhalation of respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) can lead to chronic lung diseases, including coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) and more severe forms such as progressive massive fibrosis. After the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act was passed in 1969, limits on exposure to respirable dust were set, and the prevalence of CWP abruptly decreased. However, during the last two decades, a resurgence of the disease has been reported. Many authors have argued that the increasing numbers might be related to mining practices, including the extraction of thinner coal seams, characteristics of the mineral deposits, and more powerful cutting machines. Dust particles in coal mines are usually associated with three main sources: Coal particles are produced when the coal seam is being actively extracted. Silica and silicates are generated while cutting the rock strata surrounding the coal or during roof-bolting activities. Finally, rock dust application is the primary source of highly pure carbonates. Timely information about dust composition would allow the identification of potential dust sources and pursue efforts to control dust exposure efficiently. However, this information needs to be provided promptly since dust levels are dynamically changing through the shift. Currently, monitoring technologies such as the continuous personal dust monitor allow real-time measurements, but they are limited to total dust concentration and provide no information about dust composition. More recently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been developing an end-of-shift silica monitor. Still, technologies that offer information on dust composition in a semi-continuous manner are needed. In this work, a new monitoring concept is explored that has the potential to provide near real time data on RCMD constituents. The possible use of a portable optical microscopy (OM) combined with image processing techniques is explored as the basis for a novel RCDM monitoring device. The use of OM in different fields and the rapid development of automated image analysis reveals a clear opportunity that has not been yet exploited for mine dust monitoring applications. This thesis research consisted of two primary studies. The first was an analysis of lab-generated respirable dust samples containing the main mineralogical classes in RCMD (i.e., coal, silica, kaolinite as a proxy for silicate minerals, and a real rock dust product). Samples were imaged using a polarizing microscope and analyzed using an image processing routine to identify and classify particles based on optical characteristics. Specifically, birefringence of particles was exploited to separate coal particles form mineral particles. This is an exciting result since even such a basic fractionation of RCMD would be valuable to track changing conditions at the mine production face and enable rapid decision making. The second study was conducted to explore subclassification of the mineral fraction. A model was built to explore multiple particle features, including particle size, shape, color, texture, and optical properties. However, a simple stepwise method that uses birefringence for separating coal particles first and then classifying silica particles proved most effective. One particular challenge to the silica classification was determined to be the particle loading density. Future work to further enhance the output of the algorithm and next steps were depicted. This thesis research demonstrated that OM and image processing can be used to separate mineral and coal fractions. Subclassification of silica and other minerals using optical properties such as birefringence of particles alone was successful, but showed less accuracy. A robust sampling method that accounts for particle loading density and a more complex model with additional differentiating features might enhance the results. This approach should be considered as a potential candidate for the development of new RCMD monitoring technologies. This tool could enable better tracking of dust conditions and thus better decision-making regarding ventilation, dust controls, and operator position to reduce exposure hazards. / M.S. / Inhalation of fine particles in underground coal environments can lead to chronic lung diseases, such as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), which is the most severe form of disease. During the last two decades, the rates of reported cases of PMF in underground coal miners have more than doubled. Many authors have suggested different reasons to explain this trend, including the extraction of thinner coal deposits, mining techniques, changes in mineral content, and the use of high-powered cutting equipment. However, detailed information of specific dust constituents and monitoring the variability of dust concentrations during work shifts are needed to determine possible dust sources and comprehend the more recent changing disease patterns. A dust-monitoring system that provides accurate and timely data on specific respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) constituents would enable the deployment of effective control strategies to mitigate exposure to respirable hazards. Optical microscopy (OM) has been used for a long time to analyze and identify dust particles. More recent advances in portable microscopy have allowed the microscope analysis to be implemented in the field. On the other hand, automated image processing techniques are rapidly progressing and powerful imaging hardware has become a reality in handy small devices. OM and image processing technologies offer a path for near real-time applications that have not been explored for RCMD monitoring yet. In this work, a novel monitoring concept is explored using OM and image processing to classify RCMD particles. Images from dust samples captured with a polarizing microscope were used to build a classification model based on optical properties. The method herein described showed outstanding accuracy for separating coal and mineral fractions. Additionally, the Identification of silica particles in the mineral fraction was investigated and has proved more challenging. A particular finding suggests that particle loading density in the images plays an important role in classification accuracy.

Environmental stress conditions can drastically affect plant growth and productivity. In contrast to soil moisture or salinity that can gradually change over a period of days or weeks, changes in light intensity or temperature can occur very rapidly, sometimes over the course of minutes or seconds. So, in our study we have taken an metabolomics approach to identify the rapid response of plants to light stress. In the first part we have focused on the ultrafast (0-90 sec) metabolic response of local tissues to light stress and in the second part we analyzed the metabolic response associated with rapid systemic signaling (0-12 min). Analysis of the rapid response of Arabidopsis to light stress has revealed 111 metabolites that significantly alter in their level during the first 90 sec of light stress exposure. We further show that the levels of free and total glutathione accumulate rapidly during light stress in Arabidopsis and that the accumulation of total glutathione during light stress is dependent on an increase in nitric oxide (NO) levels. We further suggest that the increase in precursors for glutathione biosynthesis could be linked to alterations in photorespiration, and that phosphoenolpyruvate could represent a major energy and carbon source for rapid metabolic responses. Taken together, our analysis could be used as an initial road map for the identification of different pathways that could be used to augment the rapid response of plants to abiotic stress. In addition, it highlights the important role of glutathione in initial stage of light stress response. Light-induced rapid systemic signaling and systemic acquired acclimation (SAA) are thought to play an important role in the response of plants to different abiotic stresses. Although molecular and metabolic responses to light stress have been extensively studied in local leaves, and to a lesser degree in systemic leaves, very little is known about the metabolic responses that occur in the different tissues that connect the local to the systemic leaves. These could be important in defining the specificity of the systemic response as well as in supporting the propagation of different systemic signals, such as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) wave. Here we report that local application of light stress to one rosette leaf resulted in a metabolic response that encompassed local, systemic and transport tissues (tissues that connect the local and systemic tissues), demonstrating a high degree of physical and metabolic continuity between different tissues throughout the plant. We further show that the response of many of the systemically altered metabolites could be associated with the function of the ROS wave, and that the level of eight different metabolites is altered in a similar way in all tissues tested (local, systemic, and transport tissues). These compounds could define a core metabolic signature for light stress that propagates from the local to the systemic leaves. Taken together, our findings suggest that metabolic changes occurring in cells that connect the local and systemic tissues could play an important role in mediating rapid systemic signaling and systemic acquired acclimation to light stress.

The field of nanophotonics is a major research topic, as it offers potential solutions to important challenges, such as the creation of low power, high bandwidth interconnects or optical sensors. Within this field, resonant structures and slow light waveguides are used to improve device performance further. Photonic crystals are of particular interest, as they allow the fabrication of a wide variety of structures, including high Q-factor cavities and slow light waveguides. The high scattering loss of photonic crystal waveguides, caused by fabrication disorder, however, has so far proven to be the limiting factor for device applications. In this thesis, I present a detailed study of propagation loss in slow light photonic crystal waveguides. I examine the dependence of propagation loss on the group index, and on disorder, in more depth than previous work by other authors. I present a detailed study of the relative importance of different components of the propagation loss, as well as a calculation method for the average device properties. A new calculation method is introduced to study different device designs and to show that photonic crystal waveguide propagation loss can be reduced by device design alone. These “loss engineered” waveguides have been used to demonstrate the lowest loss photonic crystal based delay line (35 dB/ns) with further improvements being predicted (< 20 dB/ns). Novel fabrication techniques were investigated, with the aim of reducing fabrication disorder. Initial results showed the feasibility of a silicon anneal in a nitrogen atmosphere, however poor process control led to repeatability issues. The use of a slow-fast-slow light interface allowed for the fabrication of waveguides spanning multiple writefields of the electron-beam lithography tool, overcoming the problem of stitching errors. The slow-fast-slow light interfaces were combined with loss engineering waveguide designs, to achieve an order of magnitude reduction in the propagation loss compared to a W1 waveguide, with values as low as 130 dB/cm being achieved for a group index around 60.