Oxford’s Grove Dictionary of Music describes art song as “song intended for the concert repertory, as opposed to a traditional or popular song,” but despite this broad definition, poetry is the primary text source for art song. Poetry is stereotypically considered more suitable for art song because of its rhythm, meter, and rhyme. However, poems are not the only sources for art songs. Many examples of prose are used in song, such as Libby Larsen’s Try Me, Good King! which sets the last words of the wives of Henry XIII, and Patrice Michaels’ The Long View: A Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Nine Songs, which sets texts from Justice Ginsburg’s life. Despite the wealth of potentials texts, there are not many songs set to text from novels. Even setting letters is more common than novel excerpts, including Stacy Garrop’s My Dearest Ruth and Libby Larsen’s Songs from Letters. There may be concerns which prevent text from novels being set to song, for example, the short length of a song may limit its ability to contextualize plot or character relationships. Composers and performers may also face challenges in approaching narration or dialogue from multiple characters to be sung by only one voice. Additionally, prose often contains more filler words and colloquial language. All of these are challenges which must be faced when adapting and performing text from novels. Despite these challenges, using text from novels can be a rewarding experience for musicians and audiences, as they bring to life the drama and emotion of a character. Some authors, such as Jane Austen, use novels to reflect their characters’ worlds as well as their own cultures and societies. Paired with art song, an intimate way of sharing human experiences with audiences, songs with text from novels have the potential to become profound snapshots of a character or author’s world. This paper will discuss art songs with prose text excerpted from novels and will analyze sources of both poetry and prose to determine if there are fundamental textual differences which prevent the performance of songs with text from novels.

Every year, hundreds of babies in Arizona are found to have a serious condition identified through newborn screening (NBS), and with current law requiring Arizona to include new conditions to be added to the recommended uniform screening panel (RUSP) within two years of addition to the RUSP, the number of identified babies can be expected to increase. It is essential that physicians are prepared to handle the results of NBS and discuss the implications, in a timely manner, with their patients in order to facilitate treatment. Purpose: To (1) evaluate the current practices and processes of communicating newborn screening results to parents; (2) assess the effectiveness and timeliness of the communication methods used for conveying NBS results; (3) identify potential barriers and challenges associated with the communication of NBS results. Methods: Approval for this study was obtained from the Arizona State University Institutional Review Board. A survey was generated through Qualtrics and Arizona physicians were contacted via email (n = 462). The email contained a link to the survey, or a scannable QR code was provided if the survey was to be accessed via handheld device. Results: Seventy physicians responded (15% response rate). More than half of the participants often discuss NBS with families prior to conducting the initial screen. 40% of physicians do not feel confident in explaining the purpose and significance of the two newborn screens required by Arizona law. 54% of respondents are not satisfied with the training and resources provided to support them in counseling patients on newborn screening results. 51% of respondents involve a geneticist, other specialist(s), or other experts in the management of an abnormal result. Of the roughly half that do not involve a geneticist or other specialist when an abnormal result requires follow-up, 50% of those physicians order further genetic testing in office. Conclusions: Most physicians agree that their greatest barrier to delivering abnormal screening results is using patient friendly language and would prefer language friendly ACT sheets to improve their communication of abnormal screening results. Incorporating personnel skilled in communicating uncertain news, such as a genetic counselor (GC), into Arizona's NBS program could enhance physician communication skills and improve patient satisfaction, while also providing psychosocial support and facilitating follow-up care for patients.

As water is essential for survival, seasonal scarcity of freshwater resources can pose a challenge for many species. In xeric environments, efficient location of ephemeral water is crucial to capitalize on this rare, critical resource. Yet little is known about how organisms locate water, though it has been acknowledged that olfactory spatial navigation may benefit water searching in xeric-adapted species. Additionally, drinking behavior may be influenced by water salinity as consuming water with salinity levels that exceed blood osmolality can induce or exacerbate dehydration. To investigate whether animals can locate water via olfaction, whether salinity affects the amount of water consumed, and whether the extent of dehydration affects both processes, I conducted three experiments in a xeric-adapted reptile, the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). Two experiments used a T-maze to examine the effects of various olfactory cues and hydration state on spatial navigation to water resources, while the third experiment examined willingness to drink water of various salinity levels depending on the extent of dehydration. I found that Gila monsters accurately navigated to olfactory cues associated with aged tap water, but not other olfactory cues (pond water, geosmin/MIB, IBMP/IPMP). Increased extent of dehydration correlated with greater spatial navigation efficiency but did not meaningfully impact navigation accuracy. Moderately dehydrated Gila monsters selectively consumed water with lower salinity levels (freshwater, 1,250 ppm, and 2,500 ppm) and avoided highly saline water resources (10,000 ppm and 20,000 ppm). However, considerably dehydrated animals demonstrated an increased propensity to consume water with higher salinity levels. These results provide evidence for olfactory spatial navigation and selective consumption of saline water as strategies to locate water and efficiently osmoregulate in an osmotically challenging environment. These findings underscore the observed adaptable physiological and behavioral traits Gila monsters and other xeric-adapted species use to endure the seasonal water limitations.

Asphalt crack sealants are essential for preserving the integrity of asphalt pavements. They act as a barrier against water infiltration, a primary cause of base erosion and structural failure. However, these sealants are susceptible to degradation from traffic wear, weathering, and thermal stresses. This degradation manifests in multiple failure modes, including loss of cohesion, adhesion, and settlement. Being one of the most cost-effective pavement maintenance techniques, its market size is expected to be worth about $1.1 billion by 2028, with a 56% market share in North America alone. With extreme climatic events, sealants will have a tendency to fail more often. Therefore, this research effort investigated the incorporation of various modifiers into asphalt crack sealants and fillers to enhance their performance and durability, to perform beyond their designed life. Four different modifiers were selected and tested using a specific laboratory testing protocol targeting the failure modes observed in the field and ultimately leading to extended pavement lifespans and reduced maintenance expenditures. Furthermore, a novel test procedure to measure the coefficient of expansion and contraction of control and modified sealants was developed and calibrated as part of this study. These modifiers included an aerogel modified bituminous material, a pre-activated crumb rubber material, a recycled aerogel composite, and synthetic fibers.The testing program included durability and strength testing such as bonding strength, shear thinning, toughness, and tenacity; and thermal behavior testing such as expansion and contraction, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity. The coated aerogel modifier provided better toughness, tenacity, and bonding properties with improved thermal properties. The pre-activated crumb rubber reduced the effect of aging, whereas fibers showed promising results across most parameters. As for the recycled aerogel composite, thermal susceptibility was slightly improved, in addition to low temperature behavior for the filling material. Finally, a multiple decision-making criteria method was adopted to rank the best modifier for each material for parking lots and roadways followed by a life cycle cost analysis. A survey was conducted to rate the importance of each factor affecting performance, based on the integration of both quantitative and qualitative criteria, thereby accommodating diverse decision contexts and preferences.

Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, has come a long way from its traditionalroots. It’s now being used in modern engineering and design. In this thesis, I explored multi-stable origami structures. These structures can hold multiple stable shapes, which could have a big impact on various technologies. I aim to break down the complex ideas behind these structures and explain their potential applications in a way that’s easy to understand. In this research, I looked at the history of origami and recent developments in computational design to create and study multi-stable origami structures. I used computer tools like parametric modeling software and finite element analysis to come up with new origami designs. These tools helped me create, improve, and test these designs with a level of accuracy and speed that hadn’t been possible before. The process begins with the formulation of design principles rooted in the fundamental geometry and mechanics of origami. Leveraging mathematical algorithms and optimization techniques, diverse sets of origami crease patterns are generated, each tailored to exhibit specific multi-stable behaviors. Through iterative refinement and simulation-driven design, optimal solutions are identified, leading to the realization of intricate origami morphologies that defy traditional design constraints. Furthermore, the technological implications of multi-stable origami structures are explored across a spectrum of applications. In robotics, these structures serve as foundational building blocks for reconfigurable mechanisms capable of adapting to dynamic environments and tasks. In aerospace engineering, they enable the development of lightweight, deployable structures for space exploration and satellite deployment. In architecture, they inspire innovative approaches to adaptive building envelopes and kinetic facades, enhancing sustainability and user experience. In summary, this thesis presents a comprehensive exploration of multi-stable origami structures, from their generation through computational design methodologies to their application across diverse technological domains. By pushing the boundaries of traditional design paradigms and embracing the synergy between art, science, and technology, this research opens new frontiers for innovation and creativity in the realm of origami-inspired engineering.

The recently discovered fast growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 11901 has high industrial potential due to its quick doubling time, ability to grow on various carbon substrates and unique metabolism. Since its discovery, little work has been done to model the metabolic pathways present in the organism. In order to accurately model such an organism, experimentally determined steady state biomass flux constraints are necessary. These constraints will influence the design of a flux balance analysis model & provide realistic restrictions on the model’s outputs. The construction of such a metabolic model will assist metabolic engineers in their genetic design. By modeling the thousands of reactions and each metabolite present in the organism, engineers can gain deep insights into the complex nature of metabolism. By designing new reaction pathways, and changing the model, metabolic engineers can use this work to predict the result of various genetic manipulations on the organism. This serves as the experimental basis for building such a model.

To combat the global antimalarial resistance crisis effective resistance management strategies are needed. To do so, I need to gain a better understanding of the ecological interactions occurring within malaria infections. Despite the importance of the complex interplay among co-infecting strains, our current knowledge and empirical data of within-host diversity and malaria disease dynamics is limited. In this thesis, I explore the multifaceted dynamics of malaria infections through an ecological lens. My overall research question is: "How do ecological interactions, including niche complementarity, competition dynamics, and the cost of resistance, shape the outcomes of malaria infections, and what implications does this have on understanding and improving resistance management strategies?” In Chapter II, titled “Niche Complementarity in Malaria Infections” I demonstrate that ecological principles are observed in malarial infections by experimentally manipulating the biodiversity of rodent malaria P. chabaudi infections. I observed that some parasites experienced competitive suppression, others experienced competitive facilitation, while others were not impacted. Next, in Chapter III, titled “Determining the Differential Impact of Competition Between Genetically Distinct Plasmodium falciparum Strains” I investigate the differential effect of competition among six genetically distinct strains. The impact of competition varied between strain combinations, and both suppression and facilitation were observed, but most pairings had no competitive interactions. Lastly, in Chapter IV, titled “Assessing Fitness Costs in Malaria Parasites: A Comprehensive Review and Implications for Drug Resistance Management”, I summarize where the field currently stands and what evidence there is for the presence of a fitness cost, or lack thereof, and I highlight the current gaps in knowledge. I found that evidence from field, in vitro, and animal models are overall suggestive of the presence of a fitness cost, however, these costs were not always found. Amid the current focus on malaria eradication, it is crucial to understand the impact of biodiversity on disease severity. By incorporating an ecological approach to infectious disease systems, I can gain insights on within-host interactions and how they impact parasite fitness and transmissibility.