University of Central Florida

About: University of Central Florida is a education organization based out in Orlando, Florida, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Population. The organization has 18822 authors who have published 48679 publications receiving 1234422 citations. The organization is also known as: UCF.

Comparison of the properties of titanium dioxide films prepared by various techniques.

Abstract: Fourteen university, government, and industrial laboratories prepared a total of twenty pairs of single-layer titanium dioxide films. Several laboratories analyzed the coatings to determine their optical properties, thickness, surface roughness, absorption, wetting contact angle, and crystalline structure. Wide variations were found in the optical and physical properties of the films, even among films produced by nominally the same deposition techniques.

Wanna Dance? How Firms and Underwriters Choose Each Other

Abstract: We develop and test a theory explaining the equilibrium matching of issuers and underwriters. We assume that issuers and underwriters associate by mutual choice, and that underwriter ability and issuer quality are complementary. Our model implies that matching is positive assortative, and that matches are based on firms' and underwriters' elative characteristics at the time of issuance. The model predicts that the market share of top underwriters and their average issue quality varies inversely with issuance volume. Various cross-sectional patterns in underwriting spreads are consistent with equilibrium matching. We find strong empirical confirmation of our theory.

Observation of asymmetric transport in structures with active nonlinearities.

Abstract: A mechanism for asymmetric transport which is based on parity-time-symmetric nonlinearities is presented. We show that in contrast to the case of conservative nonlinearities, an increase of the complementary conductance strength leads to a simultaneous increase of asymmetry and transmittance intensity. We experimentally demonstrate the phenomenon using a pair of coupled Van der Pol oscillators as a reference system, each with complementary anharmonic gain and loss conductances, connected to transmission lines. An equivalent optical setup is also proposed.

Welding of polymers using a 2 μm thulium fiber laser

Abstract: Absorber-free transmission and butt-welding of different polymers were performed using thulium fiber laser radiation at the wavelength 2 μm. The relations between the laser process conditions and the dimensions and quality of the seam were investigated by means of optical and phase-contrast microscopy. Mechanical properties of the weld joints were studied in tensile strength tests. Laser-welded polyethylene samples revealed a tensile strength of greater than 80% of the bulk material strength. Transmission welding of different polymer combinations featured the formation of different joint classes depending on the spectral properties. The experiments demonstrate new application areas of mid-IR fiber laser sources for materials processing.

Opinion: In the wake of COVID-19, academia needs new solutions to ensure gender equity.

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has upended almost every facet of academia (1) Almost overnight the system faced a sudden transition to remote teaching and learning, changes in grading systems, and the loss of access to research resources Additionally, shifts in household labor, childcare, eldercare, and physical confinement have increased students’ and faculty’s mental health needs and reduced the time available to perform academic work A pandemic naturally highlights privileges, such as financial security and access to mental health care It also amplifies the mental, physical, social, and economic impacts attributable to preexisting inequities in academia Making matters worse, in times of stress, such as pandemics, biased decision-making processes are favored (2), which threaten to deprioritize equity initiatives Many women academics will likely bear a greater burden during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic Academia needs to enact solutions to retain and promote women faculty who already face disparities regarding merit, tenure, and promotion Image credit: Dave Cutler (artist) All this means that even among those with privileged positions, including many academics, women will likely bear a greater burden of this pandemic The burden will be even heavier for women who face intersecting systems of oppression, such as ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender, age, economic class, dependent status, and/or ability Thus, academia will need to enact solutions to retain and promote women faculty who already face disparities regarding merit, tenure, and promotion (3) Here, we examine ways in which COVID-19 is amplifying known barriers to women’s career advancement We propose actionable solutions, which include the formation of a Pandemic Response Faculty Fellow or Pandemic Faculty Merit Committee (PFMC), new/revised tenure and promotion metrics created by the aforementioned committee, and a framework to ensure that the new metrics and policies are adopted college-wide We also caution against the popular … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed Email: jlmalisch{at}smcmedu [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1