A Data Mining Perspective of XRF Elemental Analysis from Pueblo People’s Pottery

Hierarchical clustering was used to identify elemental signatures in artifacts attributed to the Pueblo peoples. The artifacts in this study are pottery samples found at different sites in the state of New Mexico, USA. Three methods were applied: complete, average, and Ward. Their corresponding cophenetic correlation coefficients were used to contrast the three methods. Elemental characterization was only based on X-ray fluorescence excitation from a portable spectrometer with the silver anode. The elemental correlations here disclosed by data mining techniques are expected to guide further archaeological studies and assist experts in the assessment of provenance and historical ethnographic studies. XRF elemental analysi

Comparison of Dynamics Stability Testing Techniques with Magnetic Suspension Wind Tunnel Capabilities

Dynamic stability testing techniques currently utilized at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) are conducted in multiple facilities and consists of free flight, forced oscillation, and free-to-oscillate tests. The NASA/ODU Magnetic Suspension and Balance System (MSBS) has been recommissioned to explore its utility as an additional facility to expand the dynamic stability test capabilities currently available at NASA LaRC. Simulations were created to replicate each current test facility and method as closely as possible. Data collected from the simulated environments was corrupted with replicated noise sources of the different testing environments and then compared to real data collected during tests when such data was available. The corrupted data was then passed through data reduction and System Identification (SID) to estimate the accuracy of the results with the known aerodynamic model that was utilized within the simulation to generate the original data. Magnitudes of noise were varied utilizing Monte Carlo analysis to perform sensitivity analysis of each noise source on the extracted dynamic stability coefficients. Some preliminary results will be presented

T-cell derived acetylcholine aids host defenses during enteric bacterial infection with Citrobacter rodentium.

The regulation of mucosal immune function is critical to host protection from enteric pathogens but is incompletely understood. The nervous system and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine play an integral part in host defense against enteric bacterial pathogens. Here we report that acetylcholine producing-T-cells, as a non-neuronal source of ACh, were recruited to the colon during infection with the mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. These ChAT+ T-cells did not exclusively belong to one Th subset and were able to produce IFNγ, IL-17A and IL-22. To interrogate the possible protective effect of acetylcholine released from these cells during enteric infection, T-cells were rendered deficient in their ability to produce acetylcholine through a conditional gene knockout approach. Significantly increased C. rodentium burden was observed in the colon from conditional KO (cKO) compared to WT mice at 10 days post-infection. This increased bacterial burden in cKO mice was associated with increased expression of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα, but without significant changes in T-cell and ILC associated IL-17A, IL-22, and IFNγ, or epithelial expression of antimicrobial peptides, compared to WT mice. Despite the increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines during C. rodentium infection, inducible nitric oxide synthase (Nos2) expression was significantly reduced in intestinal epithelial cells of ChAT T-cell cKO mice 10 days post-infection. Additionally, a cholinergic agonist enhanced IFNγ-induced Nos2 expression in intestinal epithelial cell in vitro. These findings demonstrated that acetylcholine, produced by specialized T-cells that are recruited during C. rodentium infection, are a key mediator in host-microbe interactions and mucosal defenses

Temperature Effects in the Composition of Metal Halide Perovskite thin Films

Metal halide perovskites have shown to be a structure with great promise as an efficient photovoltaic, but at the same time it is affected by instability problems that degrade their performance. Degradation mechanisms vary with temperature, moisture, oxidation, and energy conversion during light exposure. We study performance loss due to temperature by probing diffusion of elemental composition across the thickness of films produced by spin coating and for temperatures ranging from 20 to 200°C. X-ray reflectivity was used to identify the electron density, composition, and quality of the films, aided with X-ray fluorescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies to obtain information about degradation of the organic phase of the films

Design and implementation of a strategic process for an integrated management of the hydrologic resources of the Lerma-Chapala-Santiago watershed

La Red-Lerma tiene por objetivo facilitar y contribuir al fortalecimiento de las capacidades de la cuenca Lerma-Chapala-Santiago, a través de la generación conjunta de conocimientos, la formación de especialistas y la elaboración de alternativas a los problemas que los recursos hídricos enfrentan en la zona, permitiendo mejorar la calidad de vida de sus habitantes y su ambiente. En este contexto, la Red Lerma desarrolló una guía estructurada en torno a la Gestión Integrada de Recursos Hídricos (GIRH), con base en un proceso de planeación estratégica participativa, usando los indicadores Presión-Estado-Impacto-Respuesta y bajo un esquema de trabajo en Red, útil para los tomadores de decisiones de gobierno (Federal, Estatal y Municipal), organizaciones e instituciones, que convergen en in espacio inter-institucional e inter-disciplinario de una red local (Unidad Interdisciplinaria de Trabajo-UIT). En el ámbito regional, se han iniciado los procesos de integración de las UIT's en los estado de México, Nayarit, Guanajuato y Michoacán. Se participa además en el desarrollo y seguimiento del Plan Estratégico para la Recuperación de la Cuenca Alta del Río Lerma (CARL), así como en los trabajos de la Mesa Técnica de Educación Ambiental y Participación Social, ambos impulsados por la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México y el Gobierno del Estado de México (GEM)

From Interest to Decision: A Comparative Exploration of Student Attitudes and Pathways to Co-op Programs in the United States and the United Kingdom

Cooperative education programs (co-op) play a vital role in developing engineering and computing students’ applied technological skills and professional self-confidence. Nevertheless, not all students choose to participate in co-ops. Through empirical data collection undertaken at two universities, this article explores the reasons why some students did not participate in an optional co-op program and the perceptions students have about the co-op program. Because students’ backgrounds may play a role in their choice, demographic data were also considered. The 408 participants were in one of three groups: A) co-op participants, B) interested applicants and non-applicants, or C) those not interested and/or did not apply. Using Rational Choice Theory as an interpretive framework, a mixed methods approach including quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys and interviews was used to compare and contrast experiences, approaches, motivations and attitudes across student groups in the United States and the United Kingdom. Results show that US and UK students who identified as not being interested in co-op shared similar perceptions, including the perceived cost of additional time to graduation. Students also expressed concern that taking time away from campus to complete a co-op would affect social interactions with their peers. The results of this work can be used to inform co-op program processes and policies, highlighting ways in which programs can increase participation. The study also shows how key stakeholders can learn cross-cultural ‘best practices’ to make co-op education accessible and effective

From Interest to Decision: A Comparative Exploration of Student Attitudes and Pathways to Co-op Programs in the United States and the United Kingdom

Cooperative education programs (co-op) play a vital role in developing engineering and computing students’ applied technological skills and professional self-confidence. Nevertheless, not all students choose to participate in co-ops. Through empirical data collection undertaken at two universities, this article explores the reasons why some students did not participate in an optional co-op program and the perceptions students have about the co-op program. Because students’ backgrounds may play a role in their choice, demographic data were also considered. The 408 participants were in one of three groups: A) co-op participants, B) interested applicants and non-applicants, or C) those not interested and/or did not apply. Using Rational Choice Theory as an interpretive framework, a mixed methods approach including quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys and interviews was used to compare and contrast experiences, approaches, motivations and attitudes across student groups in the United States and the United Kingdom. Results show that US and UK students who identified as not being interested in co-op shared similar perceptions, including the perceived cost of additional time to graduation. Students also expressed concern that taking time away from campus to complete a co-op would affect social interactions with their peers. The results of this work can be used to inform co-op program processes and policies, highlighting ways in which programs can increase participation. The study also shows how key stakeholders can learn cross-cultural ‘best practices’ to make co-op education accessible and effective

Global summer schools: developing multicultural competencies staying at home

International summer schools are a well know approach to improve technical skills as well as to develop multicultural competencies (Lerke, 2020). University students benefit particularly from these as they can also learn specialist knowledge which might inspire them to pursue a specific research topic or to consider options abroad for further education or employment after graduation. The global disruption of COVID-19 prevented international summer schools in 2020 and 2021, and continues to restrict international travel, with some higher education institutions holding a stricter policy to protect students and staff, limiting travel until further notice. A virtual alternative global summer school was coordinated by an international team of universities: Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnologia (UPIBI-IPN, Mexico), Escuela Nacional de Educacion Superior-Juriquilla (ENES-Juriquilla, Mexico), Universita de Piemonte Orientale-Novara (UPO-Novara, Italy) and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU, UK) to enable students in biomed/biotech/bioeng areas, to experience a virtual summer school, supporting their employability while fostering international academic collaborations between departments. The aim was to deliver an online summer school that would provide an insight into the latest research projects, as much as, allow students to learn about other cultures. The programme was planned for 66% for scientific talks, and 33% cultural talks, the latter including virtual tours of cities, live food sessions, recorded videos of participants performing folkloric dances and introduction to languages. The programme ran over four days, each hosted by a different institution. Prior institutional experience on blended teaching and virtual collaborations allowed the team to run the online school with appropriate technologies to coordinate questions and polls to monitor students’ experience and assess their learning. The official language of the programme was English; speakers, chairs and coordinators connected via zoom, with sessions being watched by 200long-term viewers in Facebook live and Youtube live. Sessions were interactive with quizzes and polls using Kahoot and Vevox, the latter, allowed real time data analysis to compare the perception of students about their multicultural and scientific experience. Finally, students were assessed on the scientific content with a final VLE MCQ, which also allowed one institution (UPO) to award credits for a module, and another institution (MMU) to provide extracurricular points for their RISE Award. Student engagement was constant and feedback showed their satisfaction for attending a summer school that not only exposed them to high-quality international research, but also to other cultures; with data showing 66% of students enjoyed cultural sessions as much as scientific talks (n=35±10). In addition, 95% of students confirmed that they were more likely to travel to one of the hosting countries, and 93% more likely to learn one of the hosting languages after the global summer school, indicating a strong correlation between a virtual international activity, and an inclusive attitude and new-found multicultural proficiency. Despite the success, our current structure should evolve to include virtual spaces to facilitate group work and students’ interactions (de Hei, 2020) to assist intercultural learning and complement the high-quality scientific engagement and the rich cultural exchange

CRP 463: Active Transportation Plan for the City of Paso Robles

As a part of CRP 463 led by Dr. William Riggs, this report provided an analysis of the bicycle, pedestrian and transit travel in the City of Paso Robles and produced a draft Active Transportation Plan for the City