The thermal optimization of computer systems is a study dating back to their creation. Because powerful computers typically generate additional heat, the more heat one can remove from a computer, the more powerful they can make it. Over the years, it has become a popular solution for many companies to build computers using standardized, modular hardware. Our research questions the cooling efficiency of this standardized hardware. Initially, we are creating a 3D simulation of a desktop computer that will allow us to quickly test various internal component layouts for thermal efficiency. Using a custom-programmed microcontroller for data collection, our real-world testing includes the building and monitoring of both a computer built in this standardized fashion and one reconfigured to other custom layouts, which, from our simulations, we anticipate will improve the cooling capabilities of the computer. By using this data in conjunction with observations from our digital 3D simulations, we hope to test potential improvements to the layout of computer components to enhance the performance of both high-end computers and everyday desktops.

Rotary encoders are present in many electronic devices, and are used to measure changes in rotation. The common photo type encoder has remained largely unchanged in its fundamental operation, and faces limitations in resolution at small sizes. This research explores an encoder design utilizing polarizers, that can achieve higher resolutions than similarly sized photo encoders. Current photo encoders achieve their rotational measurements through a rotating disk, with perforations located along the circumference. As the disk rotates, a photodiode receives pulses of light through the perforations from a light source. The resulting signal(s) consists of a multitude of digital pulses that require compiling and processing, before position can be determined. To achieve higher resolutions, more perforations are required, and more photodiodes are needed. High-resolution encoders can therefore become very expensive as the perforations increase, and the perforations, and therefore resolution, is limited at smaller sizes. However, there is a way to inexpensively achieve indefinite resolution and absolute position, at sizes that are unfeasible with current encoder technologies. Such an encoder utilizes an initially polarized light source, followed by an analyzer polarizer, and then a photodiode. As the analyzer is rotated, the photodiode receives a gradually increasing, and then decreasing, change in brightness (translating into current). Rotating the analyzer continuously, produces a sine graph of current change, with each point corresponding to a position of the analyzer. In this research, this configuration has been adapted to create a small scale, and high-resolution rotary encoder. This polarizer encoder measures only ten millimeters in diameter, and achieves greater resolution than current similarly sized rotary encoders.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer with a high (20%) rate of distant metastases, 80 percent of which occur within 2 years of diagnosis. Metastatic MCC (mMCC) to the heart is rare and presents a management challenge. Our systematic literature review revealed only 11 cardiac mMCC case reports. Most (n=6) patients received chemotherapy which is now known to lack durable response in MCC, and 2 received no treatment due to advanced disease and comorbidities. Hence, to better understand cardiac mMCC we queried an MCC data repository of patients diagnosed between 2011-2021. Progression-free survival (PFS) was measured from date of cardiac mMCC to progression or death. Among 582 MCC patients with distant metastases, 9 developed cardiac mMCC. Median age at initial MCC diagnosis (stage I (1), stage III (6), stage IV (2)) was 69 years. Most (n=8) patients  developed mMCC to the right atrium, except for 1 patient (initial stage pIIIA) who had metastasis to the left atrium. Treatment for cardiac mMCC varied: 5 patients received immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy, while the reminder received immunotherapy alone, somatostatin analog, or chemotherapy. Five patients had a complete response in the cardiac lesion after immunotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. Median PFS and overall survival (OS) was 114 and 325 days, respectively. To explore whether presence of cardiac mMCC impacts OS, we matched cardiac mMCC patients to non-cardiac mMCC patients by age, sex, stage, immunosuppression status, and number of prior metastatic episodes. Using Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis, we found no difference in OS for the matched cohort (p=0.96). Taken together, these data indicate the emerging role of immunotherapy and radiotherapy in controlling cardiac mMCC. Furthermore, the location of mMCC to the heart does not appear to confer a worse prognosis compared to non-cardiac sites.