Adapting Consulting Practices for Struggling Students

Since 2007, the Undergraduate Writing Center (UWC) at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) has consulted with over 22,587 students. In the majority of consultations, the standard 45-minute consultation gives students confidence in their abilities to produce quality papers and empowers them to feel strongly about the improvements they have made. Our over-arching goal is to help students become better writers through nondirective consultation sessions; however, it may be more difficult to achieve this goal with a subgroup of students seeking to overcome internal struggles with the writing experience. Over 23% of the students who utilize the UWC’s services indicate (by self-report) that they struggle with some aspect of the writing processUniversity Writing Cente

A more cooperative EU policy towards MERCOSUR? The case of foreign direct investment (1980-2000)

In the light of the negotiations of the bi-regional framework agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR signed in 1995, this paper inquires whether the European Union foreign policy towards MERCOSUR has become more cooperative in the last decades, and offers an explanation to this question based in a case-study regarding foreign direct investment.À luz das negociações do tratado quadro birregional entre a União Europeia e o Mercosul assinado em 1995, este artigo explora em que medida a política externa da União Europeia relativamente ao Mercosul se tem tornado mais cooperativa nas últimas décadas, e fornece uma explicação baseada num estudo de caso que envolve o investimento estrangeiro directo

2011 Annual Criticality Safety Program Performance Summary

The 2011 review of the INL Criticality Safety Program has determined that the program is robust and effective. The review was prepared for, and fulfills Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) item H.20, 'Annual Criticality Safety Program performance summary that includes the status of assessments, issues, corrective actions, infractions, requirements management, training, and programmatic support.' This performance summary addresses the status of these important elements of the INL Criticality Safety Program. Assessments - Assessments in 2011 were planned and scheduled. The scheduled assessments included a Criticality Safety Program Effectiveness Review, Criticality Control Area Inspections, a Protection of Controlled Unclassified Information Inspection, an Assessment of Criticality Safety SQA, and this management assessment of the Criticality Safety Program. All of the assessments were completed with the exception of the 'Effectiveness Review' for SSPSF, which was delayed due to emerging work. Although minor issues were identified in the assessments, no issues or combination of issues indicated that the INL Criticality Safety Program was ineffective. The identification of issues demonstrates the importance of an assessment program to the overall health and effectiveness of the INL Criticality Safety Program. Issues and Corrective Actions - There are relatively few criticality safety related issues in the Laboratory ICAMS system. Most were identified by Criticality Safety Program assessments. No issues indicate ineffectiveness in the INL Criticality Safety Program. All of the issues are being worked and there are no imminent criticality concerns. Infractions - There was one criticality safety related violation in 2011. On January 18, 2011, it was discovered that a fuel plate bundle in the Nuclear Materials Inspection and Storage (NMIS) facility exceeded the fissionable mass limit, resulting in a technical safety requirement (TSR) violation. The TSR limits fuel plate bundles to 1085 grams U-235, which is the maximum loading of an ATR fuel element. The overloaded fuel plate bundle contained 1097 grams U-235 and was assembled under an 1100 gram U-235 limit in 1982. In 2003, the limit was reduced to 1085 grams citing a new criticality safety evaluation for ATR fuel elements. The fuel plate bundle inventories were not checked for compliance prior to implementing the reduced limit. A subsequent review of the NMIS inventory did not identify further violations. Requirements Management - The INL Criticality Safety program is organized and well documented. The source requirements for the INL Criticality Safety Program are from 10 CFR 830.204, DOE Order 420.1B, Chapter III, 'Nuclear Criticality Safety,' ANSI/ANS 8-series Industry Standards, and DOE Standards. These source requirements are documented in LRD-18001, 'INL Criticality Safety Program Requirements Manual.' The majority of the criticality safety source requirements are contained in DOE Order 420.1B because it invokes all of the ANSI/ANS 8-Series Standards. DOE Order 420.1B also invokes several DOE Standards, including DOE-STD-3007, 'Guidelines for Preparing Criticality Safety Evaluations at Department of Energy Non-Reactor Nuclear Facilities.' DOE Order 420.1B contains requirements for DOE 'Heads of Field Elements' to approve the criticality safety program and specific elements of the program, namely, the qualification of criticality staff and the method for preparing criticality safety evaluations. This was accomplished by the approval of SAR-400, 'INL Standardized Nuclear Safety Basis Manual,' Chapter 6, 'Prevention of Inadvertent Criticality.' Chapter 6 of SAR-400 contains sufficient detail and/or reference to the specific DOE and contractor documents that adequately describe the INL Criticality Safety Program per the elements specified in DOE Order 420.1B. The Safety Evaluation Report for SAR-400 specifically recognizes that the approval of SAR-400 approves the INL Criticality Safety Program. No new source requirements were released in 2011. A revision to LRD-18001 is planned for 2012 to clarify design requirements for criticality alarms. Training - Criticality Safety Engineering has developed training and provides training for many employee positions, including fissionable material handlers, facility managers, criticality safety officers, firefighters, and criticality safety engineers. Criticality safety training at the INL is a program strength. A revision to the training module developed in 2010 to supplement MFC certified fissionable material handlers (operators) training was prepared and presented in August of 2011. This training, 'Applied Science of Criticality Safety,' builds upon existing training and gives operators a better understanding of how their criticality controls are derived. Improvements to 00INL189, 'INL Criticality Safety Principles' are planned for 2012 to strengthen fissionable material handler training

An investigation into flow properties of self‐healing agents in damaged zones of cementitious materials

This thesis is concerned with the experimental and numerical study of capillarity in cementitious materials. Capillarity is a phenomenon that has been researched by many; however, literature shows few studies completed on capillarity in cementitious materials, in particular discrete cracks. This thesis presents experimental and numerical data to further those areas in research that rely on capillary flow mechanisms, such as the deterioration process in concrete and the flow of healing agents in self‐healing cementitious materials. Experimental simulations of capillary flow through five different crack configurations in cementitious materials have been studied. Alongside the experimental work capillary flow theory has been used to validate the experimental results with the use of numerical formulae. This thesis presents details of the Lucas‐Washburn equation traditionally used in capillarity and glue flow theory in chapter 5 and the experimental results alongside the theory are used to assess the performance of the numerical models. Some of the conclusions that have been made are listed below however, a more in depth view is shown in chapter 4: • results looking at the effect of crack configuration show that the crack path does not have a large effect on capillarity; • specimen age of mortar was another area that was looked at and results and readings do show that the rate of rise is affected by age; • the difference between the healing agents used in experiments does show that viscosity does play a large part in rate of capillarity and • specimen saturation, one of the parameters also touched on in this thesis does show that the more saturated the specimen, the higher the flow of the healing agent. iv Conclusions are made and are presented in chapter 6 based on the analysis of the experimental results and the validation of the numerical solution. Comparisons between the experimental work and numerical solution show that the numerical solution for various crack configurations is reliable to determine the glue flow theory for healing agents

CARPE-ID: Continuously Adaptable Re-identification for Personalized Robot Assistance

In today's Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) scenarios, a prevailing tendency exists to assume that the robot shall cooperate with the closest individual or that the scene involves merely a singular human actor. However, in realistic scenarios, such as shop floor operations, such an assumption may not hold and personalized target recognition by the robot in crowded environments is required. To fulfil this requirement, in this work, we propose a person re-identification module based on continual visual adaptation techniques that ensure the robot's seamless cooperation with the appropriate individual even subject to varying visual appearances or partial or complete occlusions. We test the framework singularly using recorded videos in a laboratory environment and an HRI scenario, i.e., a person-following task by a mobile robot. The targets are asked to change their appearance during tracking and to disappear from the camera field of view to test the challenging cases of occlusion and outfit variations. We compare our framework with one of the state-of-the-art Multi-Object Tracking (MOT) methods and the results show that the CARPE-ID can accurately track each selected target throughout the experiments in all the cases (except two limit cases). At the same time, the s-o-t-a MOT has a mean of 4 tracking errors for each video

FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION: FROM REFERENCE SCENARIO DEFINITION TO KEY TECHNOLOGIES ROADMAPS

The human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the Global Exploration Roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterization of one out of several Design Reference Missions (DRM) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. A human expedition to a NEA, milestone of the GER ‘Asteroid Next' scenario, is considered the mission that would offer the largest suite of benefits in terms of scientific return, operational experience and familiarity on human deep space missions, test of technologies and assessment of human factors for future long-duration expeditions (including planetary bodies), evaluation of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and, more specifically, opportunity to test asteroid collision avoidance techniques. The study started from the identification and analysis of feasible evolutionary scenarios for Deep Space Exploration. Different destinations were considered as targets, with particular attention to Earth-Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Mars as an alternative path to a Moon campaign. In the frame of the scenario selected as the preferable one, a DRM to a NEA (reference target) was defined in detail in terms of architecture and mission elements, as well as of the subsystems composing them. Successively, the critical subsystems and the relevant key technologies were investigated in detail, from their status-of-the-art up to an assessment of their development roadmaps. They shall enable the DRM and support the whole scenario. The paper describes the process that was followed within the study and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenarios and mission analysis. Furthermore the key technologies that were identified are listed and described highlighting the derived roadmaps for their development according to the reference scenario

Is there an appropriate following up process of residents in the medical clinic field during their training?

Objetivos: Caracterizar el proceso de enseñanza, aprendizaje, evaluación y acompañamiento de los Residentes (R) en las Residencias (Re) de Clínica Médica (CM); comparar Re estatales (ReE) vs privadas (ReP) de Mendoza. Material y métodos: Estudio protocolizado, descriptivo y comparativo. Encuesta validada, autoadministrada y anónima a residentes (R) y jefe de residentes (JR) de CM de ReE y ReP. Incluyó datos sociodemográficos, formación y actividad académica, investigación y conformidad R con institución (In). Análisis estadístico: medidas de tendencia central, medidas de dispersión, test exacto de Fisher, ANOVA. Resultados: Encuestas 86. Mujeres 69%, edad 28 ±3.4, R1 39%, R2 21%, R3 19%, R4 16% y JR 6%. Comité de docencia e investigación (CODEI) 84%. Instructor residentes (IR) 95% y JR 87%. Consulta a médico clínico (MC) en guardia (G): no presencial 60.5%, presencial 26%, sin posibilidad 14%. Máximo responsable G R superior 73.5%. Comparten la G 4 R 51%. Atención pacientes ambulatorios solos y sin supervisión 64.5%. Decisiones asistenciales supervisadas por MP en CE poco frecuente 41% e internación siempre 53%. Investigación: publicación en revistas científica (PRC) 63%, presentación oral (PO) en jornadas y congresos 96.5%. Evaluación: fin rotación evaluación teórica (ET) 89% y práctica (EP) 51%, anual ET 96% y EP 70%, final Re ET 82% y EP 60%; no son evaluados 4%. Tienen programa 92%, lo conocen parcialmente 52%, se cumple satisfactoria-mente 48%. Recorridos de sala y clases teóricas diarias 93%, ateneo (At) semanal 73%, reuniones de mortalidad (RM) nunca 72%, bibliográfica semanal (BS) 63%, auditora de internación 56%, At de errores médicos nunca 47%. El 26% participa de cursos de formación continua. Evaluación Re: compromiso y dedicación MP con formación, conformes 44%, compromiso de In, conformes 52%, formación académica y capacitación conformes 50%. Análisis comparativo: ReP vs ReE: R/guardia 1.6 ±1.1 vs 3.4 ±1.1 p<0.001. Investigación: PRC 30% vs 68.5% p=0.03, PO 90% vs 97% (pNS), PI 60% vs 95% p=0.005. CODEI 80% vs 99% p=0.03, IR 70% vs 99% p=0.004, JR% 40% vs 93% p<0.001. Evaluación: Lista de procedimiento realizados (LRP) 67% vs 83% (pNS). Máximo responsable G: R superior 40% vs 75% p=0.03. BS 30% vs 67% p=0.03, RM, epicrisis y At semanal pNS. Compromiso MP en la formación conforme 80% vs 39% p=0.01. Compromiso In conforme 40% vs 53% (pNS). Conclusiones: las decisiones asistenciales en la internación son supervisadas por MP en la mitad de los casos, menos frecuente en CE. 1 de cada 3 R atiende solo y sin supervisión y solo 1 de cada 5 puede consultar. Más de la mitad han realizado publicaciones científicas. Se realizan actividades académicas en un alto porcentaje, pero el 72% no reflexiona respecto a la mortalidad de sus pacientes. La mitad nunca ha hecho un ateneo de errores médicos. Las ReP investigan menos, tienen menos CODEI y menos presencia de JR e IR. En las ReE hay menor compromiso de los MP. A pesar de esto un alto porcentaje está muy conforme con la formación académica.Objectives: to characterise the teaching and learning process, assessment, and following up process of residents (R) at residences (Re) in the field of medical clinic (MC); to compare public (PRe) vs Private ones (PriRe) in Mendoza. Materials and methods: Protocol, descriptive and comparative study. Validated, self-administrated and anonymous survey to residents and chief resident (CR) of MC in Pre and PriRe. It included socio-demographic data, training and academic activity, research and R accordance with the institution. Statistics analysis: measures of central tendency and dispersion, Fisher’s exact test and variance ANOVA test. Results: 86 Surveys. Women 69%, aged 28 ±3.4, R1 39%, R2 21%, R3 19%, R4 16% y JR 6%. Teaching and Research Committee (CODEI) 84%. Resident Instructor (IR) 95% and JR 87%. Clinician consultation (MC) on call (G): no present 60.5%, present 26%, without possibility 14%. Superior maximum responsible G R 73.5%. on-call shared G 4 R 51%. Outpatient care along and without supervision 64.5%. Caring decisions supervised by MP at CE infrequent 41% and admission 53%. Research: scientific publication journal (PRC) 63%, oral presentation (PO) at seminars and conferences 96.5%. Assessment: end-rotation theoretical examination (ET) 89% and practice (EP) 51%, annual ET 96% and EP 70%, final Re ET 82% and EP 60%; there are no evaluated 4%. Having program 92%, the program is partially known 52%, the program is satisfactory fulfilled 48%. Rounds and theorical classes on a daily basis 93%, weekly Ateneo (At) 73%, meetings about mortality (RM) never 72%, weekly bibliographic (BS) 63%, auditor of admission 56%, At of medical mistakes never 47%. 26% participates of continuous training seminars and courses. Evaluation Re: MP commitment and dedication with training, satisfied 44%, In commitment, satisfied 52%, academic training satisfied 50%. Comparative analysis: ReP vs ReE: R/on call 1.6 ±1.1 vs 3.4 ±1.1 p<0.001. Research: PRC 30% vs 68.5% p=0.03, PO 90% vs 97% (pNS), PI 60% vs 95% p=0.005. CODEI 80% vs 99% p=0.03, IR 70% vs 99% p=0.004, JR% 40% vs 93% p<0.001. Assessment: List of procedures made (LRP) 67% vs 83% (pNS). Maximum responsible G: R superior 40% vs 75% p=0.03. BS 30% vs 67% p=0.03, RM, epicrisis y At pNS weekly. MP commitment in the training, satisfied 80% vs 39% p=0.01. In commitment satisfied 40% vs 53% (pNS). Conclusion: Decisions on assistance in admission are supervised by MP in half the cases, this is less frequent at CE. 1 in 3 R sees patients alone and without supervision and only 1 in 5 can consult. More than half of them have made scientific publications. Although academic activities are made in a high percentage, 72% don’t reflect upon the mortality of their patients. Half of them have never made an Ateneo on medical mistakes. ReP do less research, they have less CODEI and less presence of JR and IR. At ReE there are less MP compromise. Despite this, a high percentage is very satisfied with academic training.Fil: Gasull, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasFil: Hoffman, María Paula. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de Clínica MédicaFil: Fernandez, Matías . Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de Clínica MédicaFil: Lascano, Soledad. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de Clínica MédicaFil: Gisbert, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasFil: Salomón, Susana. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médica