Over the last decade, the classic organic donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) has emerged as an important functionality in supramolecular systems and complex ligand chemistry. Due to synthetic advances, TTF is no longer a moiety strictly limited to the area of charge transfer salts in material science. In fact, many complex systems incorporating the electron rich donor system are known. More can be imagined. This doctoral dissertation describes the author's journey in designing, synthesizing, and studying various compounds in which the TTF moiety serves a practical purpose, oftentimes giving known molecules new functions. The reported findings have led to a greater understanding of anion binding effects on TTF-containing anion receptors, the use of transition metals to pre-organize [pi]-faces for through-space donor-acceptor interactions, and the introduction of actinide species to tetrathiafulvalene ligands. The first Chapter provides a brief introduction and a short history of TTF chemistry. It also provides an overview describing the fundamental properties of TTF compounds, including TTF dimeric behavior and redox properties. Chapter 2, as the major focus of this dissertation, details the use of a flexible TTF-modified macrocyclic ligand, which upon metallation can effectively preorganize two TTF units to interact when oxidized. Specifically, a new way to stabilize the through-space mixed-valence TTF dimer, in which a transition metal can affect the degree of interaction between the two TTF units, is described. The mixed-valence TTF species in question could see use as components in molecular machines and could play an important role as molecular organic conductors, and discussions along these lines are included in this chapter. These mixed valence complexes were investigated by spectroscopic (¹H-NMR, UV-Vis NIR titrations, and EPR analysis) and X-ray single crystallographic analyses involving both the neutral and oxidized products. Chapter 3 introduces the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemistry of the first TTF-ligand to form a complex with an actinide cation. Chapter 4 details the synthesis, binding studies and X-ray single crystallographic analyses of a TTF-based electrochemical sensor for dihydrogen phosphate anion detection. Experimental procedures and characterization data are reported in Chapter 5. / text

Triptych is a thirty-minute work in three movements for flute, clarinet, baritone saxophone, percussion and live electronics. Rhythmically intricate musical “tessellations” are juxtaposed with long, evolving drones amidst an electronic backdrop of environmental found sound, granular clouds, procedurally generated rhythmic sequences, and simple oscillators. The piece examines conceptions of pattern, pitch and period in the environment, highlighting the musical elements and structures of creatures and machines – the “almost-human” musical beings all around us. Each “panel” of the triptych is designed to work effectively as either a part of the larger work, or as its own, autonomous piece of music. The electronics are designed to maximize performability and improvisatory flexibility in the ensemble. All processing and cueing is coded in Max/MSP. Triptych was commissioned by the Fountain City Ensemble, and will be premiered in March, 2014. / text

We compute the E-polynomials of a family of twisted character varieties M [superscript g] (Sl [subscript n]) by proving they have polynomial count, and applying a result of N. Katz on the counting functions. To compute the number of F [subscript q]-points of these varieties as a function of q, we used a formula of Frobenius. Our calculations made use of the character tables of Gl [subscript n](q) and Sl subscript n](q), previously computed by J. A. Green and G. Lehrer, and a result of Hanlon on the Möbius function of a subposet of set-partitions. The Euler Characteristics of the M [superscript g] (Sl [subscript n]) are calculated then with these polynomial. / text

The multistage testing (MST) has drawn increasing attention as a balanced format of adaptive testing that takes advantages of both fully-adaptive computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and paper-and-pencil (P\&P) tests. Most previous studies on MST have focused on purely dichotomous or polytomous item formats although the mixture of two item types (i.e., mixed-format) provides desirable psychometric properties by combining the strength of both item types. Given the dearth of studies investigating the characteristics of mixed-format MST, the current study conducted a simulation to identify important design factors impacting the measurement precision of mixed-format MST. The study considered several factors-namely, total points (40 and 60), MST structures (1-2-2 and 1-3-3), the proportion of polytomous items (10%, 30%, 50% and 70%), and the routing module design (purely dichotomous and a mixture of dichotomous and polytomous items) resulting in 32 total conditions. A total of 100 replications were performed, and 1,000 normally distributed examinees were generated in each replication. The performance of MST was evaluated in terms of the precision of ability estimation across the wide range of the scale. The study found that the longer test produced greater measurement precision while the 1-3-3 structure performed better than 1-2-2 structure. In addition, a larger proportion of polytomous items resulted in lower measurement precision through the reduced test information during the test construction. The interaction between the large proportion of polytomous items and the purely dichotomous routing module design was identified. Overall, the two factors of test length and the MST structure impacted the ability estimation, whereas the impact of the proportion of polytomous items and routing module design mirrored the item pool characteristic. / text

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The widespread use of embedded mixed-signal cores in system-on-chip (SoC) or System-on-Package (SoP) design has been increasingly important in cost-effective manufacturing test for mixed-signal devices. A typical SoP encapsulates many of its internal functions, and its production test is performed by application of test signals to the SoP under control of external Automatic Test Equipment (ATE). However it is a problem that the external ATE does not have direct access to all the internal embedded functions of the SoP. Thus a classical test approach to SoP suffers from limited controllability and observability of its subsystems. Built-in Self-Test (BIST) and Built-off Self-test (BOST) schemes have been suggested and developed to overcome the limitations of conventional test, such as limited test Input/Output (I/O) accessibility as well as high test cost. However most BIST/BOST approaches have limited test accuracy. The focus of the dissertation is to develop a cost-effective performance-based test methodology based on BIST/BOST, while maintaining the same accuracy as conventional test. This dissertation proposes one BIST approach and two BOST schemes. Our BIST methodology presents a methodology for efficient prediction of circuit specifications with optimized signatures. The proposed Optimized Signature-Based Alternate Test (OSBAT) methodology accurately predicts the specifications of a Device Under Test (DUT) using a strong correlation mapping function. The approach overcomes the limitation that analytical expressions cannot precisely describe the nonlinear relationships between signatures and specifications. Our first BOST approach presents a practical methodology for effective prediction of individual dynamic performance parameters of differential devices with a cascaded Radio-Frequency (RF) transformer in loopback mode. The RF transformer produces differently weighted loopback responses, which are used to characterize the DUT dynamic performance. The approach overcomes the imbalance problem of Design for Test (DfT) circuitry on differential signaling, thereby accurately measuring the dynamic performance of differential mixed-signal circuits. The second BOST scheme is an efficient methodology for accurate prediction of aperture jitter using cost-effective loopback methodology. Aperture jitter is precisely separated from input and clock jitter as well as additive noise present in the DUT, by using an efficient loopback scheme. Hardware measurements were performed for all our approaches, and good results were obtained. This fact verifies that all approaches can be practically used for production test in industry.

This study tested the construct validity of the People of Color Racal Identity Attitudes Scale (PCRIAS) for Asian Americans using a mixed methods inquiry. The study produced mixed results with regard to the construct validity of the PCRIAS; Conformity and Immersion-Emersion statuses were somewhat corroborated by the qualitative data and provide tentative construct validity for these statuses of Helms’s model. Though statistically insignificant, results for the Internalization status,purportedly the most mature and developed of all racial identity statuses, were opposite to what racial identity theory would predict. Although some dimensions of the PCRIAS may be meaningful for Asian Americans, findings cast doubt upon the overall applicability of PCRIAS scale for Asian Americans. Results draw attention to the importance of race-specific experiences for Asian Americans and highlight the within-group heterogeneity of Asian Americans’ racial experiences. Qualitative analysis yielded critical theoretical points that illuminate how the historical, political, and economic context of Asian Americans has led to a multitude of options for the management of racial stimuli. Emergent themes revealed that Asian Americans have discursive options—factors such as the model minority myth and recourse to ethnic identity—that may offer possible detours around the recognition of racism or the incorporation of race into their sense of identity. These detours, however, may not necessarily be experienced as maladaptive or ego-dystonic. Nonetheless, one of the most prevalent emergent themes involved an endorsement of subjective distress caused by some racial experience, highlighting the clinical significance of Asian Americans’ racial identity and their management of racial stimuli. Emergent themes also revealed that the salience of race is externally imposed upon Asian Americans through the experiences of being (mis)recognized as a racial other. Limitations of the current study are discussed and suggestions for future research are explored. / text

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

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