Traveling Traders' Exchange Problem: Stochastic Modeling Framework and Two-Layer Model Identification Strategy

The Travelling Traders’ Exchange Problem (TTEP) is formalised, aiming at studying the collision-exchange systems found in various research areas. As an example of the TTEP models, a 1-D model is developed and characterised in detail. The computational stochastic simulation of the 1-D TTEP model relies on a stochastic simulation algorithm implemented based on the Monte Carlo method. A model identification framework is proposed where the money distribution in the system obtained from the stochastic model is characterised in terms of (a) standard deviation of the money redistribution; (b) its probability density function. Results indicate that the expressions of the estimated functions for (a) and (b) are tightly related to the system input conditions. The example of curve fitting on the probability density function shows how the variation of money redistribution in the system in time is driven by different values of the parameters describing the interaction mechanism

Analyzing high energy physics data using database computing: Preliminary report

A proof of concept system is described for analyzing high energy physics (HEP) data using data base computing. The system is designed to scale up to the size required for HEP experiments at the Superconducting SuperCollider (SSC) lab. These experiments will require collecting and analyzing approximately 10 to 100 million 'events' per year during proton colliding beam collisions. Each 'event' consists of a set of vectors with a total length of approx. one megabyte. This represents an increase of approx. 2 to 3 orders of magnitude in the amount of data accumulated by present HEP experiments. The system is called the HEPDBC System (High Energy Physics Database Computing System). At present, the Mark 0 HEPDBC System is completed, and can produce analysis of HEP experimental data approx. an order of magnitude faster than current production software on data sets of approx. 1 GB. The Mark 1 HEPDBC System is currently undergoing testing and is designed to analyze data sets 10 to 100 times larger

Curriculum Development in Human Rights Education: Teacher Candidates and Faculty Members’ Views

Human Rights Education (HRE) is believed to be crucial in teacher education as it equips teacher candidates (TCs) with the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviors to contribute to the establishment of a human rights culture. However, there is little evidence of HRE curriculum development in Turkish Teacher Education Programs (TTEP). Unfortunately, HRE is not specifically mentioned as a distinct subject or area of study in TTEP. This convergent mixed methods research (MMR) study aimed to understand TCs and Faculty Members\u27 (FMs) views on identifying HRE curriculum components in TTEP. The study merged quantitative survey and qualitative interview data to provide an in-depth confirmatory and complementary explanation of curriculum components in TTEP. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were employed to identify relationships between FMs\u27 and TCs\u27 views on the HRE curriculum, and the qualitative data analysis framework proposed by Miles, Huberman and Saldaña (2019) was used for deductive and inductive coding and comprehension of the statements. The results, which were also discussed in a recent article in Human Rights Education Review (see: Abedi & Fer, 2023), revealed that the participants support an HRE curriculum to raise human rights awareness among FMs and TCs, empower them to advocate for fundamental rights and freedoms, and support learner-centered and interaction-centered learning and effective evaluation processes. The implications for practitioners and researchers, along with the limitations, are discussed

Factors that Influence the Desire to Become Teachers of Technology: An Australian Study

In this study, 337 pre-service teachers enrolled in Technology Teacher Education Programs (TTEP), in eight tertiary institutions across Australia, responded to a questionnaire seeking information about those factors that influenced their decision to become teachers of Technical and Applied Studies (TAS). The study found: a majority of the respondents were male (71%); most came from urban areas (61%); just over half (51%) entered the course from the workforce and just over a third of the respondents entered the course direct from school. Of the 172 respondents who came from the work force, a total of 93 (86 male) had prior trade experience. Factor analysis of attitudinal items set against a four-point Likert scale produced three factors related to their decision to become TAS teachers. These included encouragement from members of the community, the influence of experiences in technology at school, and a desire to teach. A three stage regression model was created with the scale ‘Desire to Teach’ as the ultimate dependent variable. Factors most strongly influencing ‘Desire to Teach’ included hobbies and interests prior to enrolment, encouragement from members of the community and the influence of experiences in technology at school. The authors propose a number of strategies for promoting technology teaching and increasing the TTEP student intake, based on their findings

Genotype, Nitrogen and Harvest Management Effects on Switchgrass Production

Use of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a forage and feedstock species requires knowledge of fertilizer application rates and harvest timing to optimize yield and quality. Three experiments were conducted at the Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station, Raymond, MS to quantify nitrogen rates, harvest timing, and genotype effects on biomass, nutrient removal, chemical composition and ethanol yield. Dry matter yield varied with N rate, genotype, harvest frequency and timing. Yields among genotypes were: NF/GA992 = NF/GA001 (13.7 Mg ha-1) \u3e Alamo (11.6 Mg ha-1) \u3e Cave-in-Rock (6.1 Mg ha-1). A single (9.5 Mg ha-1) or two harvests annually (10.3 Mg ha-1) produced the greatest dry matter yield. As harvest frequency increased from three (7.3Mg ha-1) to six (5.9 Mg ha-1) harvests annually, yield decreased. There was an effect of N application on yield, but not at application rates greater than 80 kg ha-1. Nitrogen did not consistently affect tissue nutrient concentrations but more frequent harvests led to increased nutrient concentration. Nutrient removal responses to N application were mostly similar to the yield responses. Nitrogen use efficiency and recovery declined as N rate increased. Estimated ethanol yield averaged 162 L Mg-1 for Alamo, NF/GA001 and NF/GA992 . A single (2.4 kL ha-1) or 2 harvests annually (2.3 kL ha-1) produced the greatest ethanol production and was correlated with by biomass yield. Nutrient removal, N use efficiency, N recovery and ethanol production were related to biomass yields rather than chemical composition differences. The findings in this dissertation will enable a database on management effects on ethanol yield and composition, enhance current biomass models, facilitate improved management of feedstock production inputs and improve feasibility of alternative fuel development