A Dispersive Scattering Center, Parametric Model for 1-D ATR

The dispersive scattering center (DSC) model characterizes high-frequency backscatter from radar targets as a finite sum of localized scattering geometries distributed in range, these geometries, along with their relative locations, can be conveniently used as features in a one-dimensional automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithm. The DSC model\u27s type and range parameters correspond to geometry and distance features according to the geometric theory of diffraction (GTD). Since these parameters are estimated in the phase history domain of the radar signal, the range parameter does provide superresolution in the time domain. To demonstrate the viability of feature extraction based on the DSC model\u27s range and type parameters, a four class ATR experiment was performed. The experimental data contains 301 direct range measurements each for four model aircraft of similar size and shape at 0 degrees elevation and from 0 to 30 degrees azimuth. After implementing DSC model feature extraction on this data, a fully-connected, two-layer neural net obtained over 98% classification accuracy. In addition, DSC model feature extraction offers an approximate 85% reduction in the number of features compared to the numerous Fourier bin magnitudes in template matching approaches to ATR

Phase History Decomposition for Efficient Scatterer Classification in SAR Imagery

A new theory and algorithm for scatterer classification in SAR imagery is presented. The automated classification process is operationally efficient compared to existing image segmentation methods requiring human supervision. The algorithm reconstructs coarse resolution subimages from subdomains of the SAR phase history. It analyzes local peaks in the subimages to determine locations and geometric shapes of scatterers in the scene. Scatterer locations are indicated by the presence of a stable peak in all subimages for a given subaperture, while scatterer shapes are indicated by changes in pixel intensity. A new multi-peak model is developed from physical models of electromagnetic scattering to predict how pixel intensities behave for different scatterer shapes. The algorithm uses a least squares classifier to match observed pixel behavior to the model. Classification accuracy improves with increasing fractional bandwidth and is subject to the high-frequency and wide-aperture approximations of the multi-peak model. For superior computational efficiency, an integrated fast SAR imaging technique is developed to combine the coarse resolution subimages into a final SAR image having fine resolution. Finally, classification results are overlaid on the SAR image so that analysts can deduce the significance of the scatterer shape information within the image context

In Defense of the Pure Pilgrim: De Re Defensionibus Peregrini Castiori

Does the pure pilgrim exist? Probably not as a person, but the idea of a pure pilgrim is very much alive, although under threat. John Muir (2002), environmentalist and mountaineer, argued that there is a proper way to climb a mountain. By analogy, there is a virtuous way, allowing for meaningful, spiritual experiences which can be applied to proper peregrination. The early medieval ascetic understanding of pilgrims (St Jerome c. 347-420), was that of wandering monks, forsaking the bustling cities as to immerse themselves in the mercy of Christ in the solitude of the country (Webb, 2002). In modern times, pilgrimage has become rather a process of self-exile, of social and physical isolation, time used to try to come closer either to God or to one’s self. However, the concepts of authentic pilgrimage and pure pilgrim seem to be anachronistic, waning in popular pilgrimage culture. The Camino, traditionally the apex of the idea of pure pilgrimage, has now been ‘app’efied’ and commoditised, so that being a pure pilgrim is near-impossible from the perspective of the comfort needs of the modern post-pilgrim. The model of personal transformation, through suffering, avoidance of comfort and overcoming obstacles, seems to many to be unnecessary, even laughable. Yet, for an activity to have any meaning, one must not skirt the perceived rules that make that activity possible (Suits, 2005). The goal of a pilgrimage is not to arrive at the destination, but to arrive by means of being a pilgrim. The medieval pilgrims wanted to show God their willingness to make sacrifices in hope of salvation, which idea C.S Lewis (2012 [1952]:145), contends, saying that as long as pilgrims are thinking of a reciprocal relationship with God, this relationship remains skewed. The pure pilgrim must then be simply pure rather than presumptuous

The Winning Narrative: The Social Genesis of Pilgrimage Sites

While pilgrimage sites may be sparked by historical events, their meaning is created by their accompanying narratives. A pilgrimage site becomes sacred to visitors not merely because of scripture, or supposed religious facts, but also because of social and psychological contexts. It is their winning narrative that supplies meaning and a framework for understanding. Without such narratives, it is conceivable that some pilgrimage sites would not have gained their enduring popularity and international appeal. This article not only describes a few instances of such sites rising to fame, but also the philosophy behind a winning narrative. The idea that narrative can construct the Identity of a place is based on the notion that a story can supply meaning by unifying discrete, and otherwise disjointed events, into a coherent account (McAdams, 2013). While the concept of narrative identity is most often associated with personal psychology (Hammack, 2011; Nussbaum, 1990), the authors of this paper find analogies between the function of narrative in personal psychology, and in pilgrimage. These analogies are applied to pilgrimage to illustrate how narratives function at pilgrimage sites to unite events with historical, religious, personal, cultural and political contexts. A pilgrimage narrative forms the framework for how people and institutions understand their roles and motivations, and thus how they will act, respond, and experience things. The authors identify five features that make some narratives more successful than others, claiming that ‘winning narratives’ are so powerful that a sacred site or shrine’s establishment and development could not have done without it, or at least, would not have enjoyed the rate of success in visitor numbers in comparison to similar sites that lacked a winning narrative and enjoyed therefore less popularity and visitors. The five features of a winning narrative are here illustrated with examples

Transition state redox during dynamical processes in semiconductors and insulators

Activation barriers associated with ion diffusion and chemical reactions are vital to understand and predict a wide range of phenomena, such as material growth, ion transport, and catalysis. In the calculation of activation barriers for non-redox processes in semiconductors and insulators, it has been widely assumed that the charge state remains fixed to that of the initial electronic ground state throughout a dynamical process. In this work, we demonstrate that this assumption is generally inaccurate and that a rate-limiting transition state can have a different charge state from the initial ground state. This phenomenon can significantly lower the activation barrier of dynamical process that depends strongly on charge state, such as carbon vacancy diffusion in 4H-SiC. With inclusion of such transition state redox, the activation barrier varies continuously with Fermi level, in contrast to the step-line feature predicted by the traditional fixed-charge assumption. In this study, a straightforward approach to include the transition state redox effect is provided, the typical situations where the effect plays a significant role are identified, and the relevant electron dynamics are discussed

Spatial and temporal variability of soil temperature, moisture and surface soil properties

The overall objectives of this research were to: (l) Relate in-situ measured soil-water content and temperature profiles to remotely sensed surface soil-water and temperature conditions; to model simultaneous heat and water movement for spatially and temporally changing soil conditions; (2) Determine the spatial and temporal variability of surface soil properties affecting emissivity, reflectance, and material and energy flux across the soil surface. This will include physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of primary soil components and aggregate systems; and (3) Develop surface soil classes of naturally occurring and distributed soil property assemblages and group classes to be tested with respect to water content, emissivity and reflectivity. This document is a report of studies conducted during the period funded by NASA grants. The project was designed to be conducted over a five year period. Since funding was discontinued after three years, some of the research started was not completed. Additional publications are planned whenever funding can be obtained to finalize data analysis for both the arid and humid locations

Coarse-graining protein energetics in sequence variables

We show that cluster expansions (CE), previously used to model solid-state materials with binary or ternary configurational disorder, can be extended to the protein design problem. We present a generalized CE framework, in which properties such as energy can be unambiguously expanded in the amino-acid sequence space. The CE coarse grains over nonsequence degrees of freedom (e.g., side-chain conformations) and thereby simplifies the problem of designing proteins, or predicting the compatibility of a sequence with a given structure, by many orders of magnitude. The CE is physically transparent, and can be evaluated through linear regression on the energies of training sequences. We show, as example, that good prediction accuracy is obtained with up to pairwise interactions for a coiled-coil backbone, and that triplet interactions are important in the energetics of a more globular zinc-finger backbone.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Feasibility of Modifying Existing Chemistry Demonstrations by Using Substitute Materials

This study aimed to reiterate the use of Chemistry demonstrations as effective teaching tools to students while addressing some of its drawbacks, which discourages teachers from doing them such as cost and safety. Four chosen existing Chemistry demonstrations (Blue Bottle Experiment, Copper Sulfate Experiment, Blown Away, Dancing Flames) were modified by using substitute reagents, which are more accessible, relatively safer, and at lower cost. These demonstrations were chosen based on how easily the substitute reagents will be obtained. Afterwards, with the permission of a private junior high school, they were presented to a group of Grade 9 students of their choosing. The students were asked to evaluate each demonstration using a Likert scale-based questionnaire. This questionnaire rates each demonstration in terms of aesthetics, the materials and procedure done, effectiveness to explain certain Chemistry topics, safety, and the students’ overall judgment regarding the use of demonstrations as teaching tools. By converting their evaluation to quantitative values, the demonstrations scored high in all major categories. With this, it is highly recommended to explore other Chemistry demonstrations for possible modifications, which can be integrated in lecture classes

Un nuevo modelo de construcción de paz

Christians have been engaged in peacebuilding since Jesus began gathering disciples. However, little systematic attention has been given to their role as peacebuilders. The Bible does not offer a coherent theology of peace, but key passages such as Jesus’ blessing for peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and his counsel to “turn the other cheek” – a transforming initiative – provide a framework for such a theology. Paul of Tarsus viewed the churches (ekklesiae), a term signifying political, economic and religious communities of the converted, as the instruments in the hands of God, for the peaceful transformation of a world reconciled through the death and resurrection In the past two decades a new model – “Just Peacemaking” – has emerged to fill that gap, grounded on New Testament “transforming initiatives,” drawing on lessons learned from the struggle against slavery, colonialism and racism and applying the insights drawn from theologies of liberation focused on the poor, women and indigenous peoples. Just Peacemaking supports peace activism through advocacy, promotion of dialogue between warring parties, and non-violent direct action. The new model can be used both by pacifists and those who believe that armed force may sometimes be necessary to deal with violent conflict.Los cristianos han estado comprometidos en la construcción de paz desde que Jesús comenzó a reunir discípulos. Sin embargo, se ha prestado poca atención sistemática a su papel como promotores de la paz. La Biblia no ofrece una teología coherente de la paz, pero pasajes clave como la bendición de Jesús para los pacificadores (Mateo 5: 9) y su consejo de “volver la otra mejilla” -una iniciativa transformadoraproporcionan un marco para tal teología.Pablo de Tarso vio las iglesias (ekklesiae), un término que significa las comunidades políticas, económicas y religiosas de los convertidos, como instrumentos en manos de Dios, para la transformación pacífica de un mundo reconciliado a través de la muerte y resurrección de Jesucristo. A lo largo de los milenios evolucionaron dos modelos básicos de consolidación de la paz; el pacifismo fue el enfoque de los primeros padres de la iglesia como Tertuliano, reemplazado por el modelo de guerra justa lanzado por Agustín y refinado por Tomás de Aquino, que establece pautas para los líderes políticos sobre el uso de la fuerza.Lutero y Calvino apoyaron básicamente el enfoque católico, mientras que los reformadores radicales como Menno Simons insistieron en la aplicación literal del llamado de Jesús a la resistencia no violenta al conflicto armado. Un tercer enfoque - la Guerra santa - ganó el apoyo papal en las Cruzadas y todavía tiene ecos en el período actual, pero ha sido rechazado por la mayoría de los líderes cristianos responsables. Ninguno de los modelos básicos proporciona mucha orientación para los activistas cristianos por la paz.En las últimas dos décadas, ha surgido un nuevo modelo, “Paz justa”, para llenar esa brecha, basado en “iniciativas transformadoras” del Nuevo Testamento, aprovechando las lecciones aprendidas de la lucha contra la esclavitud, el colonialismo y el racismo y aplicando las ideas extraídas de las teologías de liberación centrada en los pobres, las mujeres y los pueblos indígenas. Paz justa apoya el activismo en nombre de la paz mediante la abogacía, la promoción del diálogo entre las partes en conflicto y la acción directa no violenta. El nuevo modelo puede ser utilizado tanto por pacifistas como por aquellos que creen que la fuerza armada a veces puede ser necesaria para hacer frente a un conflicto violento.