The built environment has largely separated itself from the natural one, making demands of nature, and requiring the natural environment to exist on its terms. This prevailing condition has led to the detriment of the natural environment and consequently, those who must inhabit both. Because of this, a shift from the domination of the natural environment to reconciliation with it is necessary. Serving as an intermediary between these two worlds, architecture has the potential to blur the boundaries once created by the built environment in the pursuit of reconciliation. Architecture can learn from the natural environment and take that which has been poorly adapted to aim for a more synchronous future. Shaping culture and perspective, architecture can serve as a signal to humanity that this reconciliation is worth pursuing. This thesis explores the dialogue between form and facade to comment on architecture's flawed yet hopeful path as it seeks a more sustainable relationship with nature. / Master of Architecture / The facade acts as an element of nature, attaching itself to the building like a mask as if it were nature itself taking over the building. Composed of coral-inspired ceramic pieces, the facade hosts an alternative green wall of algae. An otherwise typical rectilinear building form transforms itself, stretching certain spaces beyond its bounds to reach out to the facade as if a reconciliation is desired. This thesis explores the dialogue between form and facade to comment on architecture's flawed yet hopeful path as it seeks a more sustainable relationship with nature.

This thesis paper supports the Master of Fine Arts exhibition at the Tipton Gallery, East Tennessee State University, from January 28th through February 8th, 2013. The exhibit is comprised of two hundred fifty-three porcelain objects and lines created with naturally colored porcelain slips used as paint. SURFACE presents my exploration of the natural world; the experiences and memories created during this process compelled this exhibition. Topics discussed are the influences, concepts, techniques, and methods used to create the work. Included are process images, detail images, and images of selected works from the exhibition.

In the sport of track and field, runners excel at their events due not only to physiological characteristics but aspects in their form. Characteristics in form help runners achieve the goal in completing their event in the least amount of time possible. For sprinters, this is done by having a shorter swing phase and ground time along with greater power and a longer stride length. Distance runners accomplish the goal of quicker speeds by balancing it with running economy by spending greater time on the ground with shorter stride lengths compared to those in shorter distance running events. Middle distance runners must find a balance between power and running economy for greater success in the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs. If these characteristics are true for runners while competing in their event, would they also be seen at speeds slower and faster than what they compete at? Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if sprinters, middle distance runners, and distance runners running at the same speeds would exhibit different characteristics in their form which aid them in their events. Methods: Thirty female Division I collegiate runners participated in this study. Runners were separated into categories based on the events they were currently training in: 10 sprinters, 10 middle distance runners, and 10 distance runners. All participants were asked to run for twenty two steps at 3.17 m/s (8:27 min/mile), 3.58 m/s (7:30 min/mile), 4.11 m/s (6.31 min/mile), 4.87 m/s (5:30 min/mile), and 5.95 m/s (4:30 min/mile) pace. Motion analysis was captured at each speed recording knee angles, ground time, center of mass separation, and stride length at 240 Hz. Data was then processed using ANOVA and a Tukey post hoc analysis. Results: Significant differences (p < .05) occurred between distance runners and the groups of middle distance runners and sprinters in knee range, ground time, center of mass separation, and stride length while running at the same speed for all of the five speeds. All groups displayed similar liner slopes as speeds increased with no interactions occurring between groups. As the speed increased, all three groups decreased in knee range measurements and ground time measurements. Increases in speed displayed and increase in center of mass separation and stride length among all three groups. Conclusion: While running at the same speeds, runners exhibit specific characteristics in their form that benefit them in their event. These are even seen in speeds that are faster or slower that what the athletes are used to training at or competing at. In addition, middle distance runners display aspects of form that are between distance runners and sprinters in all variables. By understanding these differences, coaches and athletes can analyze current performance and make needed adjustments.

Echinoids have an endoskeletal system which is ideal for studying calcified structures such as development of vertebrate skeletons. However, understanding echinoid skeletal (test) growth has proven challenging to analyse solely on the basis of any one approach or process. Therefore, theoretical models have been developed to understand growth and form of echinoid tests. Herein, Holotestoid, a computational model of echinoid test growth is described. The model incorporates mathematical principles (e.g., close-packing), physical principles (e.g., interface between coalescing bubbles) and biological processes (e.g., echinoid ontogenic processes). It is the first computational model that emulates all five ontogenic processes involved in test growth (plate growth, plate addition, plate interaction, plate gapping, and visceral growth) using a geometrical representation and three analogies (coalescing bubble, circle-packing, and catenary chains). The emulated processes are used to predict plate size, plate shape, and test shape. The results from the simulations of the growth zones show that the ambulacral column angle (e.g., for A. punctulata α_am= 22° and for S. franciscanus α_am = 32°) is a crucial parameter that distinguishes between species when varied. The. comparison of simulated data with those from real specimens yielded high accuracies, thereby validating the model. The combination of the simulated processes produced patterns mimicking real biological specimens. The model was further used to investigate the test morphological disparity observed among echinoids, specifically between. regular echinoid (sea urchin) tests and irregular echinoid (sand dollar) tests. Both exhibit morphological similarities as imagines, however, they develop different test morphologies as adults. Thus, Holotestoid was used to explore the influence of each parameter on test height-todiameter ratio (h:d). The results showed that both ambulacral column widening and increase in total plate number cause the test h:d to decrease thereby leading to test flattening. Whereas the absolute size of the apical system and peristome does not influence test h:d, however, their growth with respect to column length caused an increase in the test h:d. These results provide an explanation of how the different test shapes were obtained. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p> Using a potentiometric method on 10^-4M and 10^-5M Al(NO3)3 solutions at constant ionic strength (0.1 M KNO3) and temperature (25°C), titration curves were defined and examined with respect to three variables (total aluminum concentration, pH range, and time) in order to assess the reversibility of the aqueous system.</p> <p> Increasing pH titration interval decreased reversibility while increasing time interval led to a slight increase in reversibility. Decreasing the total aluminum concentration also slightly improved reversibility. Overall, the reversibility of the system was observed to be poor.</p> <p> Computer models were compared to experimental titration data in order to derive the speciation schemes which best fit the data. Polynuclear hydrolysis schemes fit the data best for the concentration levels as follows: Al^3+, Al(OH)4^-, and Al6(OH)15^3+ for 10^-5M Alt. Al^3+, Al(OH)4^-, and Al8(OH)20^4+ and/or Al13(OH)32^7+ for 10^-4M Alt. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> Oxygen deficient SrTiO3-x with x = 0.28(2) was prepared in single crystal form and found to have a perovskite structure with a small tetragonal distortion. The structure was studied by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction. No long range order of the oxygen vacancies could be detected. The transport studies show that SrTiO2.72 is a metallic conductor. </p> <p> Some new K2NiF4 - type compounds, PrSrVO4, SmSrVO4, EuSrVO4 and PrSrGaO4, were prepared and studied by powder diffraction methods. The crystal structures of LaSrVO4, CeSrVO4, PrSrVO4 and NdSrVO4 were refined from powder neutron diffraction data. Powder X-ray diffraction data for all the new compounds above and for EuSrAlO4 are presented here. </p> <p> Magnetic susceptibilities are reported for SrTiO2.72 which exhibits metal-like Pauli-paramagnetism, PrSrGaO4, NdSrGaO4, EuSrAlO4 and LnSrVO4 where Ln = La, Ce, Pr and Nd. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> A review of theoretical analyses and predictions of the 3He and 3H bound-state properties is presented. The predictions of various theoretical models, with the choice of different nucleon-nucleon potentials and methods for solving the Schroedinger equation fer the chosen potentials, are compared with one another. For given nucleon-nucleon forces (provided the potential has a soft-core) , the diagonalisation method seems to be preferable to other methods. Among the nucleon-nucleon potentials, the Riihimaki potential is favourable compared to other realistic N-N forces. </p> <p> The experimental data on 3H and 3He form factors together with Schiff's theoretical analysis of the 3H and 3He charge form factors is brought so that study phenomenologically the wave function of a bound three-nucleon (T=1/2, J=1/2) system. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

In this dissertation, I argue that infrastructural development, with its technological promises but widening geographic disparities and social and environmental consequences, informs both the narrative content and aesthetic forms of modernist and contemporary Anglophone fiction. Despite its prevalent material forms—roads, rails, pipes, and wires—infrastructure poses particular formal and narrative problems, often receding into the background as mere setting. To address how literary fiction theorizes the experience of infrastructure requires reading “infrastructurally”: that is, paying attention to the seemingly mundane interactions between characters and their built environments. The writers central to this project—James Joyce, William Faulkner, Karen Tei Yamashita, and Mohsin Hamid—take up the representational challenges posed by infrastructure by bringing transit networks, sanitation systems, and electrical grids and the histories of their development and use into the foreground. These writers call attention to the political dimensions of built environments, revealing the ways infrastructures produce, reinforce, and perpetuate racial and socioeconomic fault lines. They also attempt to formalize the material relations of power inscribed by and within infrastructure; the novel itself becomes an imaginary counterpart to the technologies of infrastructure, a form that shapes and constrains what types of social action and affiliation are possible.

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