Plate Tectonics: Earthquake Epicenter

This lesson provides an overview of destructive earthquakes and their connection to tectonic movements of the Earth's crust. It includes a discussion of some especially destructive historic earthquakes, and a brief introduction to contintental drift and the theory of plate tectonics. There is also discussion of basic seismology (types of waves) and measures of the magnitude of an earthquake (the Richter Scale). The lesson inlcudes an activity in which students use an online simulator to locate the epicenter of an earthquake using readings from three different seismograph stations. After they have completed the simulation, they attempt to locate the epicenter of a real earthquake using data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) earthquake website. Educational levels: Undergraduate lower division, High school

Behavioral Human Crowds and Society

This chapter provides an introduction to the contents of this edited volume. In keeping with the style of the previous edited volumes, we also consider research perspectives. The first part of this chapter contributes to the selection of some key perspectives that take into account not only the technical interest of modeling and simulation, but also the impact that this research activity can have on the well-being of society. The second part provides a brief introduction to the contents of the chapters that follow this editorial introduction. The contents of the chapter refer both to the aforementioned key topics and to the contents of the preceding edited volumes (Bellomo and Gibelli, Behavioural human crowds, recent results towards new research frontiers. In: Bellomo, Gibelli (eds) Crowd dynamics, Volume 3 - Modeling and social applications in the time of COVID 19. Birkhäuser, New York, pp 1–9, 2021; Bellomo et al., Behavioural human crowds. In: Gibelli (ed) Crowd dynamics, Volume 2 - Theory, models, and applications. Birkhäuser, New York, pp 1–10, 2020; Gibelli and Bellomo, Behavioral human crowds. In: Crowd dynamics, Volume 1 - Theory, models, and safety problems. Birkhäuser, New York, pp 1–14, 2018).</p

Evolution - #8: Ecosystem disrupted

This is the culminating activity for the evolution unit. For this assignment, students must research into the impact human industry has on a small part of our world. Students have had a brief introduction to the history of the planet and the role that carbon dioxide concentration play in climate change. The role of climate and weather patterns is important in a discussion of a chosen place on the planet. Students have spent a large amount of effort in understanding evolutionary theory and mechanisms and seen it in practice as they read about speciation. With this assignment, students can synthesize all of their previous learning into one presentation

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThe research presented in this dissertation focuses on the use of platinum-based catalysts to enhance endothermic fuel cooling. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction to the motivation for this work. Chapter 2 presents fundamental studies on the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylene by size-selected Ptn (n = 4, 7, 8) clusters deposited onto thin film alumina supports. The model catalysts were probed by a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques including; temperature-programmed desorption and reaction (TPD/R), low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), plane wave density-functional theory (PW-DFT), and statistical mechanical theory. It is shown that the Pt clusters dehydrogenated approximately half of the initially adsorbed ethylene, leading to deactivation of the catalyst via (coking) carbon deposition. The catalytic activity was observed to be size-dependent and strongly correlated to the cluster structure, with Pt7 demonstrating the highest activity. In Chapter 3 the focus turns to selectively doping Pt7 clusters with boron. A combination of experiment and theory were used investigate the alkene-binding affinity of the bimetallic (PtnBm/alumina) model catalysts. A comparison of the theoretical and experimental results show that doping the Pt clusters with boron modifies the alkene-binding affinity and thus the tendency toward dehydrogenation to coke precursors. Chapter 4 describes a way to produce bimetallic (PtnBm/alumina) model catalysts by exposing prepared Ptn/alumina samples to diborane and heating. It is shown that the diborane exposure/hearting procedure results in the preferential binding of B to the Pt clusters

Distinguishing Deductible Repairs from Capitalized Improvements: An Expectations Approach to the New Repair Regulations

This Article explores an economic model of the business use of assets that supports an expectations approach to distinguishing between immediately deductible repairs and capitalized improvements. Under an expectations approach, the classification of an activity as a repair or a capital improvement depends on the taxpayer’s reasonable expectation when first placing the depreciable property in service—whether, upon acquisition of the property, the taxpayer reasonably expected the activity to be required in the future to keep the property operating in its ordinarily efficient operating condition. Many of the rules provided by the new regulations are consistent with this approach. The inconsistent provisions can present problems. Section II of this Article provides a background of deductible repairs and capital improvement. After a brief overview of the purpose for distinguishing deductible repairs from capitalized improvements, this Article begins with an introduction to the expectations approach. An economic analysis that provides a basis for an expectations approach follows. In Section III, this underlying economic theory is used to evaluate whether the new regulations fully implement an expectations approach, leave any gaps, or otherwise create inconsistencies. In particular, this Article compares the regulations’ application both to an asset that performs as originally expected and to an asset that does not so perform. Section IV concludes

Distinguishing Deductible Repairs from Capitalized Improvements: An Expectations Approach to the New Repair Regulations

This Article explores an economic model of the business use of assets that supports an expectations approach to distinguishing between immediately deductible repairs and capitalized improvements. Under an expectations approach, the classification of an activity as a repair or a capital improvement depends on the taxpayer’s reasonable expectation when first placing the depreciable property in service—whether, upon acquisition of the property, the taxpayer reasonably expected the activity to be required in the future to keep the property operating in its ordinarily efficient operating condition. Many of the rules provided by the new regulations are consistent with this approach. The inconsistent provisions can present problems. Section II of this Article provides a background of deductible repairs and capital improvement. After a brief overview of the purpose for distinguishing deductible repairs from capitalized improvements, this Article begins with an introduction to the expectations approach. An economic analysis that provides a basis for an expectations approach follows. In Section III, this underlying economic theory is used to evaluate whether the new regulations fully implement an expectations approach, leave any gaps, or otherwise create inconsistencies. In particular, this Article compares the regulations’ application both to an asset that performs as originally expected and to an asset that does not so perform. Section IV concludes

The Fuzzy Logic and the Fuzzy Approach: A Comparative Law Perspective

This paper intends to contribute to the epistemological discussion on classifications in comparative law through the explanation of the value of fuzzy logic and of the usefulness of the fuzzy approach in legal studies. The analysis will proceed as follows. After a brief introduction, section II outlines the state of the art of classifications in comparative law. In section III, the ways of thinking which can be applied in the activity of classification are illustrated. Sections IV and V are devoted to the explanation of the fuzzy set theory with the aim to understand the relevance of fuzzy logic in legal research and to illustrate a few applications of the fuzzy approach. The final section is dedicated to some reflections on the extent to which it is reasonable to adopt the fuzzy set theory in legal studies.Il presente lavoro intende contribuire alla discussione epistemologica sulle classificazioni nel diritto comparato mediante l’illustrazione del valore della logica fuzzy e dell’utilità dell’approccio fuzzy negli studi giuridici. L’analisi procede in questo modo. Dopo una breve introduzione, il paragrafo II delinea lo stato dell’arte delle classificazioni nel diritto comparato. Nel paragrafo III sono chiariti i modi di pensare che possono applicarsi all’attività catalogatoria. I paragrafi IV e V sono dedicati alla spiegazione della fuzzy set theory con l’intento di comprendere la rilevanza della logica fuzzy nelle indagini giuridiche e di illustrare alcune applicazioni dell’approccio fuzzy. Nell’ultimo paragrafo si riflette su fino a che punto sia ragionevole adottare la fuzzy set theory negli studi giuridici

Situaciones didácticas para la aprendizaje de las matemáticas en la educación infantil

Este trabajo constituye una breve introducción a la Teoría de Situaciones Didácticas en Matemáticas para maestros de educación infantil. Partimos de la idea de que los conocimientos matemáticos aparecen como respuesta a problemas que les dan sentido y evidencian su funcionalidad. A continuación, describimos las características que deben tener las situaciones para facilitar que los alumnos desarrollen una verdadera actividad matemática. Finalmente, desarrollamos tres situaciones para ejemplificar las ideas teóricas esbozadas en este artículo. Los conocimientos matemáticos que se aprenden con estas situaciones, diseñadas para alumnos de 3 a 5 años, son la enumeración y los usos del número natural con sentido cardinal y ordinalThis article constitutes a brief introduction, for early childhood teachers, to the theory of didactic situations in mathematics. We begin with the idea that mathematical knowledge appears in response to problems that give it meaning and demonstrate its functionality. Then, we describe the characteristics of situations required to enable that children develop a genuine mathematical activity. Finally, we develop three situations to illustrate the theoretical ideas outlined in this article. The mathematical knowledge learned in these situations, designed for children from 3 to 5 years, encompasses enumeration and the uses of natural numbers as cardinal and ordinal number

The ProActive trial protocol - a randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of a family-based, domiciliary intervention programme to increase physical activity among individuals at high risk of diabetes [ISRCTN61323766].

BACKGROUND: Increasing prevalence of obesity and disorders associated with sedentary living constitute a major global public health problem. While previous evaluations of interventions to increase physical activity have involved communities or individuals with established disease, less attention has been given to interventions for individuals at risk of disease. METHODS/DESIGN: ProActive aims to evaluate the efficacy of a theoretical, evidence- and family-based intervention programme to increase physical activity in a sedentary population, defined as being at-risk through having a parental family history of diabetes. Primary care diabetes or family history registers were used to recruit 365 individuals aged 30-50 years, screened for activity level. Participants were assigned by central randomisation to three intervention programmes: brief written advice (comparison group), or a psychologically based behavioural change programme, delivered either by telephone (distance group) or face-to-face in the family home over one year. The protocol-driven intervention programme is delivered by trained facilitators, and aims to support increases in physical activity through the introduction and facilitation of a range of self-regulatory skills (e.g. goal setting). The primary outcome is daytime energy expenditure and its ratio to resting energy expenditure, measured at baseline and one year using individually calibrated heart rate monitoring. Secondary measures include self-report of individual and family activity, psychological mediators of behaviour change, physiological and biochemical correlates, acceptability, and costs, measured at baseline, six months and one year. The primary intention to treat analysis will compare groups at one-year post randomisation. Estimation of the impact on diabetes incidence will be modelled using data from a parallel ten-year cohort study using similar measures. DISCUSSION: ProActive is the first efficacy trial of an intervention programme to promote physical activity in a defined high-risk group accessible through primary care. The intervention programme is based on psychological theory and evidence; it introduces and facilitates the use of self-regulatory skills to support behaviour change and maintenance. The trial addresses a range of methodological weaknesses in the field by careful specification and quality assurance of the intervention programme, precise characterisation of participants, year-long follow-up and objective measurement of physical activity. Due to report in 2005, ProActive will provide estimates of the extent to which this approach could assist at-risk groups who could benefit from changes in behaviours affecting health, and inform future pragmatic trials