In the context of debates about the causal role that new media technologies did or didn’t play in the 2011 Arab uprisings, my dissertation conversely examines some of the diverse and contradictory ways new media technologies have been used and their power envisaged during revolution and war in Syria since 2011. Exploring various contexts of use, I consider how the same technologies have been understood to ground divergent political projects, to produce contradictory affective responses, and to mint antithetical epistemic values. I ask how technologies come to be seen as answers to social and political problems; and I give an account of the social and political questions asked of a technology as it moves through geographies, institutional settings, or historical moments. By investigating the infrastructural, epistemological, and affective dimensions of the Syrian revolution and war and the work of its media activists I develop a conceptual analysis of political possibilities and their foreclosure in Syria over the past decade. My dissertation draws on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Turkey, Lebanon, France and Germany (2018-2020) among communities of humanitarian, media and digital forensic activists involving two different but connected things. First, following activists as they move, across borders, in and out of organizations, and in and out of activism. Second, following images as they move, also across borders, in and out of contexts of use, and in and out of use. These two movements happen at different intensities and speeds, and with different levels of friction, marked by the politics of access to Syria. Based on interviews with a range of actors invested in the use of new media technologies, I give an account of how and why Syrian activists persevered with their political projects and technological practices despite having little hope of success. Second, amidst widespread scholarly interest in humanitarian intervention, I argue that the governmental practice of stabilisation, despite congruences with the practices of human rights video and forms of humanitarian intervention, has served as a distinct form of intervention in the wake of the ‘War on Terror’. Third, amidst widespread arguments that the Syrian uprising was a failed democratic revolution, I argue that the uprising should be considered on the basis of its central demand for dignity, while tracing the career of the concept in a debate amongst Syrian intellectuals over the “right to a dignified image”. Finally, by participating in a digital forensic investigation, I give an account of the legal, technical and political hurdles that would have to be overcome to turn open source content into legally felicitous evidence in a possible future war crimes tribunal.

Tropical Storm Irene’s most extreme rainfall resulted in record-breaking sediment loads from upland tributaries to the Connecticut River. However, was the event exceptional with respect to resultant deposition downstream? Off-river waterbodies to the Lower Connecticut River, such as cut-off meanders and blocked valley lakes, are a particularly important floodplain environment, which have been shown to serve as a focal point for the trapping of sediment and associated contaminants. This study evaluates the relative role of extreme events like Tropical Storm Irene in infilling these off-river environments. To meet this objective we compare the magnitude and composition of resultant sedimentation from Irene to that observed following the 2011 and 2013 spring freshets. Tropical Storm Irene deposits were identified as compositionally distinct, grey layers that were relatively inorganic compared to sediments deposited by the annual spring freshet. Sediment within the Irene deposit was enriched in elemental potassium and depleted in zircon, a finding consistent with being enriched by glacigenic lacustrine and till sediments. Decreased mercury levels in the Irene deposits suggest that this event served to cap highly contaminated, industrial era sediment with a layer of relatively clean, fine-grained silt and clay. Resampling of these waterbodies in Fall 2012 revealed preservation of the 2-3 cm thick Irene deposit as well as 3-4 cm of more recent sediments deposited on top of this event. Sediment contributions from rare events, like Tropical Storm Irene, were found to be less influential than the annual spring freshet in the long-term infilling of waterbodies along the Lower Connecticut River. However, sediments from Irene are compositionally unique and serve to highlight the importance of this event in removing glacially derived fines from the river’s upland catchments.

Despite claims of nearly 100% access to potable drinking water in the US, issues of drinking water quality, accessibility, and equity persist in many regions of the country. Drinking water is a common health concern in rural communities, where social, geographic, and economic challenges can inhibit the provision of reliable municipal water. Households without access to municipal water often rely on private wells, which are solely the responsibility of the homeowner to test, treat, and maintain, or roadside springs. These water sources often do not employ water treatment and users can therefore be uniquely susceptible to environmental contaminants. The goal of this research was to examine point-of-use (POU) treatment options that can be used by individuals to improve their drinking water quality and reduce exposure to common contaminants prior to consumption. Two drops (~0.10 mL) of unscented, household bleach in one gallon of spring water is a simple, low-cost treatment option that successfully inactivates total coliform and E. coli and provides an appropriate free chlorine residual (> 0.5 mg/L) over a 1-month time period, without exceeding free chlorine taste thresholds (< 2 mg/L). Efforts to distribute information on this disinfection protocol to spring users in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia were well-received; however, only 60% of surveyed spring users report that they plan to implement the protocol. POU faucet filters have been successfully implemented in homes reliant on municipal water to reduce metal contaminant levels in drinking water. Few studies have assessed the effectiveness of these filters in improving water quality in homes reliant on private wells. Faucet-mounted POU filters distributed to homes reliant on private wells in Virginia and southern West Virginia statistically significantly lowered levels of Ba, Cd, Cr, Total Coliform, U, Cu, Pb, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Sr in tap water. However, levels of many contaminants of interest still exceeded at least one Safe Drinking Water Act regulation/recommendation in several filtered samples. Additionally, less than half of study participants reported that they liked using the filters with several citing issues with flowrate. Faucet-mounted POU filters can also be a useful tool in assessing exposure to contaminants at the tap. The acid flow-through method of metals recovery has previously proven to be successful in recovering dissolved Pb from dosed filters. In this study, the acid flow-through extraction method was applied to water spiked with high or low levels of Pb, Fe, or Cu. While faucet-mounted activated carbon filters successfully removed Pb and Cu from dosed influent (>91% removal), filter behavior under influent Fe concentrations of greater than 300 ppb was extremely variable. The acid flow-through method of metals extraction provided some recovery from filters dosed with high and low concentrations of Pb (38.9-70.4%). Recovery of Cu and Fe was variable, likely in part due to Fe and Cu leaching from filter media, suggesting that alternative methods of metals extraction and recovery from POU faucet filters dosed with Fe and Cu, or other common water contaminants (e.g., As, Ba, Cd), must be explored. While POU treatment can be useful in improving drinking water quality in rural households, limitations to adoption persist and must be addressed along with efforts to protect drinking water quality in homes in a more permanent, sustainable way. / Doctor of Philosophy / Drinking water quality is a common health concern in rural communities, where social, geographic, and economic challenges can make municipal water quality unreliable. Households without access to municipal water often use private wells and sometimes roadside springs for drinking water. These water sources are often untreated which can expose users to environmental contaminants such as bacteria or metals. The goal of this research was to study point-of-use (POU) treatment options that can be used by individuals looking to improve their drinking water quality and reduce their exposure to common contaminants, perhaps while waiting for more permanent improvements and upgrades. Household bleach is a simple, low-cost way of lowering levels of bacteria in roadside spring water that is being used as drinking water. Two drops of unscented, household bleach in one gallon of spring water successfully kills total coliform and E. coli bacteria and provides an enough leftover chlorine to continue to disinfect the water for 1-month. This information was given to spring users in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia and, while most people who provided feedback found the information useful, only 60% of surveyed spring users report that they plan to implement this protocol. Point-of-use faucet filters have been found to successfully reduce metals contaminant levels in drinking water in homes that use municipal water. However, few studies have tested the effectiveness of POU faucet-mounted filters in lowering contaminant levels in water in homes reliant on private wells. Faucet-mounted POU filters given to homes reliant on private wells in Virginia and southern West Virginia lowered levels of many contaminants of interest in tap water, including lead, copper, iron, and total coliform bacteria. However, in some of the filtered samples, levels of many of these contaminants were higher than at least one Safe Drinking Water Act regulation. Less than half of study participants reported that they liked using the filters with several stating that they had issues with low flowrate. Faucet-mounted POU filters can also be a useful tool in better understanding exposure to contaminants at the tap. The acid flow-through method of metals recovery has previously proven to be successful in recovering lead, and other metals, that are collected inside the filters during water treatment. In this study, an extraction method using acid was tested on filters that treated water with high or low levels of lead, iron, or copper. The filters were successful in removing lead and copper from test water, but filters were not as consistently successful in removing iron from test water. The extraction method using acid provided some recovery from filters dosed with high and low concentrations of lead (38.9-70.4%). However, recovery of copper and iron was more inconsistent, suggesting that a different method of metals recovery may be necessary. While POU treatment can be useful in improving drinking water quality in rural households, there are limits to how useful it is in certain situations, such as when treating water with extreme water quality. In order to make sure rural households have access to safe drinking water, these limits need to be addressed and efforts need to be made to figure out a way to protect and supply drinking water in a more permanent way.

The political uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa in 2011 created a new political order in the region. This research is aimed at examining how political trust has developed from 2011- 2022 in Tunisia and Egypt. It also aims to understand which variables affect political trust and whether the two countries differ. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the field by using the most recent data up until 2022. The research has been conducted with a comparative quantitative method, using Arab Barometer survey data. The results of the study results align with previous scholars’ results, the political trust declined in both countries after the Arab Spring but the most recent results from Tunisia show that the trust is slightly recovering. The results also indicate that the institutional theories of political trust are the more relevant theories when it comes to explaining political trust in the studied countries.

The proposal is to create an architecturally interesting and unique, comprehensive, research-modern complex information and visitor center "WATER TOWN AQUADOMOS". The project addresses the urban design concept of the complex and its individual elements - visitor center with aquariums, museums and galleries with the history of the river Svratka outdoor recreation area with a water surface, the input element and an underground car park for visitors. The design of all elements are reflected themes of inspiration vody.Navržený house responds to the urban context in the area and complements the present block of buildings on the waterfront. The main entrance is placed on the most exposed part of the plot, the entrance to the underground garage and restaurant supply is oriented to the street Pisárecká, near křižovatky.Budova is fashioned in the shape of two prisms, which are linked through a central part. The shape of the building is influenced by communication and development plan.

Hole idea of this design connects to existing situation and state, to historical, artistic significance of this region. The concept coming out of two main representants of life and history of Jasenov (Jasenov castle, Jasenov healing spring) and is coupled with new form, that is represented in form of Regional museum. First part includes analysis of area and surroundings, wider relationships, history and landmarks nad memories, static analysis of state of Jasenov castle and it's consequences on concept. Second part includes design of Jasenov healing spring. This place is historically significant because of effect on historical progress. For this place I designed „spiritua“ place, place for relaxation. Main part is represented by particular form, form that is inpired by classical chapels and churches of this region of Zemplin. Around main design, there are 23 rocks for sitting, that represents 23 families ( These families were really significant for hole progress and history of this village). Hole place communicates with it's surroundings, nature and gently complement this area. Third part deals with Museum of Region. Museum serves not only for representation of history, but also like place for relax, exibitions, performances ( amphiteather for 250 people), representation of traditional manufacturing and folklor. Concept consist of 7 main houses, in center of area si amphiteather/ park. Forms organicly conncets with nature, terrain in similar style like traditional architecture of Zemplin. Museum is alcou main crossroad of turistic paths (Humenné- Jasenov castle, Húbková- Chlmec, Jasenov castle- Krivoštianka).

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects about 1.5 million individuals in the US alone. The consequences of ASD affect families, caregivers, and social structures. This thesis adds to a growing group of people performing research on mitigating the effects of autism through robotics. Children with ASD tend to interact with robots more easily than with other humans. The goal of robotic therapy is not to help children interact with robots, but to generalize the behavior to humans. An articulated spine is a key to human emotional expression through shaping, weight shifting, and flow. Despite this importance, this feature is all but lacking in robots. The primary contribution of this work is a novel 3-link planar spine with compliant, partial-gravity-compensating springs, capable of reproducing simple emotion-conveying poses for use in robot-based therapy for children with ASD. The design was based on the movements of expression experts using motion tracking markers. This information was used to optimize the number of links in the spine and their corresponding lengths. It is the goal of this research to make robotic therapy more effective for the children, raising the potential for life-changing results.

For the same reasons which prompted its ratification in 1990 as the Global Stratotype Section and Point for the Mid-Carboniferous boundary, namely, section completeness, abundant fossils, and excellent exposure, the Morrowan Arrow Canyon Bird Spring strata is recommended as a candidate standard sequence stratigraphic reference for the Morrowan portion of the Lower Absaroka I supersequence. The stratigraphic architecture of Morrowan strata in Arrow Canyon was largely controlled by high-amplitude (100-m), high-frequency sea-level changes. Outcrop data and facies stacking patterns define 59 fifth-order fundamental cycles. These fundamental cycles stack into ten third-order sequences with an average duration of 320 ka. Changes in both cycle thickness and fundamental cycle type indicate that the second-order sea-level curve of Golonka and Keissling for the Lower Absaroka Ia supersequence should be modified to reflect rising sea-level from the Mid-Carboniferous boundary with maximum flooding conditions ~120 to 135 meters above the Mid-Carboniferous boundary, followed by falling sea-level to ~6 meters below the Morrowan-Atokan boundary in Arrow Canyon. Additionally, cycle diagnostic conodonts and foraminifera permit correlation of selected third-order sequences to basins containing time-equivalent strata.