Temperature affects all biological processes, from the rate of cellular growth and metabolism to the stability of proteins that make up the machinery of life itself. Thus, all organisms must have the capacity to detect and respond to external temperature. Thermosensation endows animals with the ability to sense and respond...
This dissertation presents novel advancements in the field of continuous nonlinear optimization, focusing on the development of efficient second-order methods for second-order conic programs (SOCPs) and continuous nonlinear two-stage optimization problems. The primary focus is on the theory and computations of Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods, which are widely used...
Recent progress in semiconductor synthesis and photophysics has revealed a host of new materials with exciting properties for applications in optoelectronic devices such as sensors, photovoltaics, solid state lighting, and more. One of the most significant recent additions to the field is the class of hybrid and inorganic materials that...
Bacterial infections (BI) are a frequent, expensive, and life-threatening condition for critically ill patients. For patients with serious BI, minimizing the time between admission to the
intensive care unit (ICU) and administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy is crucial to
improve prognosis. However, the current gold-standard for identifying the appropriate
antimicrobials...
Herein, we present an overview of our studies of the morphology, dynamics, and formation of heterogeneous soft matter systems via the emerging technique of liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM). This particular subset of materials, more commonly referred to as emulsions, is tremendously commercially and biologically relevant, encompassing applications in...
This dissertation explores the entanglements of performed refusals and witnessing practices in the face of gendered violences. I analyze how contemporary artists use staged performance to generate new modes for witnessing histories of gendered violence across temporal and national boundaries. In particular, I investigate four performances addressing local histories of...
Volunteers play an essential role in humanitarian and non-profit organizations that strive to improve society. 30% of the population in the United States volunteered in 2019, and this percentage has been stable for the past two decades. This dissertation is motivated by the scheduling decision process in nonprofit organizations. These...
The simplicity of morphogenesis, manifested as collective shape changes, emerges from complex biophysical regulations within a multicellular embryo. Constructing a spatio-temporal atlas of mechanical stresses is central for understanding the emergence of this simplicity. Developing a new mathematical theory for the static mechanics of three-dimensional multicellular aggregates involving pressures and...
Bacteria represent the most abundant form of life on Earth and have evolved to successfully colonize nearly every environmental niche. In doing so, bacteria predominately form multicellular communities known as biofilms, resulting in increased resilience, persistence, and emergent behaviors. Consequently, biofilms present an attractive target for engineering and synthetic biology,...
The literature on racial/ethnic diversity in schools largely shows evidence of positive academic outcomes for students in diverse schools relative to segregated schools. At the same time, there is ample research demonstrating the discrimination and marginalization that students of color experience in desegregated schools. In this dissertation, I seek to...