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Thin films are ubiquitous, with uses ranging from optoelectronics to antibacterial coatings. Unfortunately, precisely quantifying how the choice of substrate influences epitaxial growth remains an unsolved problem. Here, a novel thin film of holmium oxide with record-high paramagnetic saturation was grown on a variety of substrates. Conventional attempts to extract epitaxial information to characterize the growth mechanism were ineffective, due to the unique size regime of the product. Instead, a signal-processing inspired Fourier method was used to elucidate information on epitaxial ordering from purely topographical data, avoiding the pitfalls of atomic-level diffraction. Further, we define and utilize an inner product-based metric termed a q-score that can quantify the relative degree of ordering of epitaxial crystallites. The q-score provides a direct measure of epitaxy, enabling more quantitative future studies of thin film growth., 7 pages, 8 figures, published in NanoScientific Magazine, vol 21, pp 19-24, 2021

The controllable handling of an arbitrary single particle of matter with sub-100 nanometer (nm) dimensions is an essential but unsolved scientific challenge. We demonstrate nanoparticle-seeded glancing angle deposition using 10-100 nm diameter nanoparticle seeds (Er2O3, Fe@C, and Fe). The products are nanoparticle-nanowire heterostructures composed of arbitrary nanoscale tips attached to micron-length nanowire handles. Optical micromanipulation of the micron-scale handles enables concurrent manipulation of the attached nanoscale particles of matter., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables, updated reference DOIs and fixed typos and formatting issues

Mental health concerns often develop during the "transitional age" (between 18-24 years old), a time during which young adults often begin to experience the stressors and responsibilities of emerging adulthood. Yet, treatment complications and limitations that uniquely affect this age group have frequently been unaddressed, both in academia and in practice. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is one of the most common, costly, and intractable mental health concerns that affects this demographic. Here, we perform a literature review of 35 publications and find that traditional methods of treatments such as medications, family therapies, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are not only underutilized, but also poorly applied within the transitional age demographic. Emerging treatment research suggests that devising treatment plans for transitional age youth using modified traditional practices and new evidence-based practices should improve the outcomes of SUD treatments. To improve treatment efficacy and adherence, we suggest promising areas of research surrounding therapeutic alliances, community engagement, continuity, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Multisystemic Therapy.