New advances in the partial-reflection-drifts experiment using microprocessors

Improvements to the partial reflection drifts experiment are completed. The results of the improvements include real time processing and simultaneous measurements of the D region with coherent scatter. Preliminary results indicate a positive correlation between drift velocities calculated by both methods during a two day interval. The possibility now exists for extended observations between partial reflection and coherent scatter. In addition, preliminary measurements could be performed between partial reflection and meteor radar to complete a comparison of methods used to determine velocities in the D region

Dispersal of _Aedes aegypti_: field study in temperate areas and statistical approach

We studied the dispersion of _Aedes aegypti_ during egg laying in natural conditions. Two independent experiments involving mosquitoes dispersing from urbanization towards adjacent un-urbanized areas were carried out and analyzed in statistical terms. We find relations between stochastic variables related to the egg laying mosquito activity (ELMA), useful to assess dispersion probabilities, despite the lack of knowledge of the total number of ovipositions in the zone. We propose to evaluate the activity as minus the logarithm of the fraction of negative ovitraps at different distances from buildings. We also estimate the average number of eggs laid per oviposition using a regression between the ELMA and the number of eggs found. Three zones with different oviposition activity were determined: a corridor surrounding the urbanized area, a second region between 10m and 25m and the third region extending from 30m to 45m from the urbanization. The landscape (plant cover) and the human activity in the area appear to have an influence in the dispersal of _Aedes aegypti_

Dispersal of Aedes aegypti: Field study in temperate areas using a novel method

Background & objectives: Since Aedes aegypti was identified as vector of yellow fever and dengue, its dispersal is relevant for disease control. We studied the dispersal of Ae. aegypti in temperate areas of Argentina during egglaying, using the existing population and egg traps. Methods: Two independent replicas of a unique experimental design involving mosquitoes dispersing from an urbanized area to adjacent non-urbanized locations were carried out and analyzed in statistical terms. Results: We found relationship between stochastic variables related to the egg-laying mosquito activity (ELMA), useful to assess dispersal probabilities, despite the lack of knowledge of the total number of ovipositions in the zone. We propose to evaluate the egg-laying activity as minus the logarithm of the fraction of negative ovitraps at different distances from the buildings. Interpretation & conclusion: Three zones with different oviposition activity were determined, a corridor surrounding the urbanization, a second region between 10 and 25 m and the third region extending from 30 to 45 m from the urbanization. The landscape (plant cover) and the human activity in the area appear to have an influence in the dispersal of Ae. aegypti. The proposed method worked consistently in two different replicas.Fil: Bergero, Paula Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Ruggerio, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto del Conurbano; ArgentinaFil: Lombardo Berchesi, Ruben Jorge. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto del Conurbano; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Schweigmann, Nicolas Joaquin. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Solari, Hernan Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; Argentin

SURPASSING SPECTACLE: architectual representation & image-based society

The project will critique current modes of operation by a linear problem-solving design process. By acting through representation as both a vehicle for developing design and as a means of communicating and experiencing it, the project will engage the design of a tactile deployment of architecture and effective means of communicating its intent. The architecture will function in the way that the visual arts do in terms of their scale and engagement in cultural issues. Research into tangible artifacts of the site will yield a combination of image, drawing and model forms of representation. Through this analysis, a strategy of intervention will be established and provide foundations of instillation-scaled project. The project seeks to engage production by culture, rather than a discipline of site-specific problem technical solution

Social Support in Doctoral Education: The Role of Relationship Resources and Gender in Graduate Student Professional Socialization

Thesis (PhD) - Indiana University, Sociology, 2007Sociologists have explored the effect of social relationships on the outcomes of education for many years. Relationships with parents, teachers, and peers have long been established to influence student socialization, academic achievement, and educational aspirations, expectations, and attainment. Therefore, it is surprising that social support, as conceptualized mainly in the medical sociology literature, has rarely been explored as a source of influence on educational outcomes. Using the context of doctoral education in the United States and conceptualizing social support as resources accumulated through social relationships, I examine not only the effect of social support on graduate student professional socialization, but also the effect of organizational and individual level factors on the perceptions and use of support. I use measures from a private dataset entitled the Survey on Doctoral Education (SDE), as well as data from the National Research Council and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), to conduct factor analysis and multivariate regression analysis. My findings suggest that organizational factors such as institutional and departmental characteristics, discipline, and departmental climates significantly but differentially affect the perception of most forms of social support. Furthermore, although women are more likely than men to perceive higher levels of peer support and personal support from their advisors, they tend to perceive significantly less support from faculty across several social support measures. Results also indicate that although social support is thought to be a positive aspect of social relationships, support can both benefit and detract from the development of professional self-concepts. Women also use some types of social support differently than men in the development of task preparation and confidence, as well as in the establishment of preferences and expectations to work at particular types of institutions as future faculty members. This study has implications for sociological research on social support, social capital, professional socialization, and the reproduction of inequality in education, and offers suggestions for higher education reform

Optimizing a Model-Agnostic Measure of Graph Counterdeceptiveness via Reattachment

Recognition of an adversary's objective is a core problem in physical security and cyber defense. Prior work on target recognition focuses on developing optimal inference strategies given the adversary's operating environment. However, the success of such strategies significantly depends on features of the environment. We consider the problem of optimal counterdeceptive environment design: construction of an environment which promotes early recognition of an adversary's objective, given operational constraints. Interpreting counterdeception as a question of graph design with a bound on total edge length, we propose a measure of graph counterdeceptiveness and a novel heuristic algorithm for maximizing counterdeceptiveness based on iterative reattachment of trees. We benchmark the performance of this algorithm on synthetic networks as well as a graph inspired by a real-world high-security environment, verifying that the proposed algorithm is computationally feasible and yields meaningful network designs.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figure

FSM Builder: A Tool for Writing Autograded Finite Automata Questions

Deterministic and nondeterministic finite automata (DFAs and NFAs) are abstract models of computation commonly taught in introductory computing theory courses. These models have important applications (such as fast regular expression matching), and are used to introduce formal language theory. Undergraduate students often struggle with understanding these models at first, due to the level of abstraction. As a result, various pedagogical tools have been developed to allow students to practice with these models. We introduce the FSM Builder, a new pedagogical tool enabling students to practice constructing DFAs and NFAs with a graphical editor, giving personalized feedback and partial credit. The algorithms used for generating these are heavily inspired by previous works. The key advantages to its competitors are greater flexibility and scalability. This is because the FSM Builder is implemented using efficient algorithms from an open source package, allowing for easy extension and question creation. We discuss the implementation of the tool, how it stands out from previous tools, and takeaways from experiences of using the tool in multiple large courses. Survey results indicate the interface and feedback provided by the tool were useful to students.Comment: 7 page

Desarrollo de un modelo de metabolismo hídrico para el análisis de la sustentabilidad hídrica de cuencas hidrológicas de llanura

En la República Argentina, los estudios de cuencas hidrológicas tienen una tradición de enfocarse a aspectos como la predicción de inundaciones, el uso del agua para la agricultura y el desarrollo de obras de infraestructura, generando información no siempre suficiente para analizar la sustentabilidad del sistema. Atendiendo a esto, el objetivo de la presente tesis fue elaborar un modelo conceptual para analizar el metabolismo hídrico de cuencas hidrológicas de llanura y evaluar su tendencia hacia escenarios de sustentabilidad hídrica. Se desarrolló un análisis teórico del concepto de sustentabilidad hídrica y se elaboró una definición aplicable a cuencas hidrológicas de llanura. Sobre esta base, se elaboró un modelo conceptual para analizar el metabolismo hídrico de una cuenca frente a diferentes escenarios de gestión territorial y evaluar su sustentabilidad hídrica. La elaboración de un ejemplo de aplicación del modelo en una subcuenca de la Pampa Ondulada evidenció su potencialidad para responder a diferentes escenarios de gestión y alertar respecto a condiciones de insustentabilidad.Fil: Ruggerio, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto de Ciencias; Argentina

Desarrollo de un modelo de metabolismo hídrico para el análisis de la sustentabilidad hídrica de cuencas hidrológicas de llanura

En la República Argentina, los estudios de cuencas hidrológicas tienen una tradición de enfocarse a aspectos como la predicción de inundaciones, el uso del agua para la agricultura y el desarrollo de obras de infraestructura, generando información no siempre suficiente para analizar la sustentabilidad del sistema. Atendiendo a esto, el objetivo de la presente tesis fue elaborar un modelo conceptual para analizar el metabolismo hídrico de cuencas hidrológicas de llanura y evaluar su tendencia hacia escenarios de sustentabilidad hídrica. Se desarrolló un análisis teórico del concepto de sustentabilidad hídrica y se elaboró una definición aplicable a cuencas hidrológicas de llanura. Sobre esta base, se elaboró un modelo conceptual para analizar el metabolismo hídrico de una cuenca frente a diferentes escenarios de gestión territorial y evaluar su sustentabilidad hídrica. La elaboración de un ejemplo de aplicación del modelo en una subcuenca de la Pampa Ondulada evidenció su potencialidad para responder a diferentes escenarios de gestión y alertar respecto a condiciones de insustentabilidad.Fil: Ruggerio, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto de Ciencias; Argentina