How young women come to know the engineering profession

As the United States transitions to a knowledge economy, information age, and unprecedented warfare, a diverse and technologically literate workforce is essential. Likewise, the contributions of women to science, engineering, and technology professions are vital, yet the number of young women considering these historically male-dominated professions remain at unacceptably low levels. The public and private sectors have invested millions of dollars since the 1980s to remove barriers and encourage and support women in the sciences and technological fields. Little or no advancement has been made in the representation of women in the technical field of engineering since the late 1980s (American Society for Engineering Education, 2001).;Still, employment prospects for women have increased dramatically in the late 20th century. Yet, in the engineering profession, a profession that holds promise and opportunity for one to positively impact society---the lack of women in the field seems baffling. Studies suggest the lack of academic preparation (in mathematics and the sciences, in particular) is not a feasible explanation for the low numbers of young women interested in majoring in engineering upon graduation from high school (ACT, 2003; Iowa Department of Education, 2002; National Center for Education Statistics, 2000).;This study, via a participatory action research methodology [academic researcher and adolescent females], documents the career exploration journey and analyzes how young women (10th-grade girls) came to know the technical profession of engineering. The study analyzed young women\u27s career exploration approach, the influences that dominated their sense of the profession, and their views and feelings about the career option upon the conclusion of the exploration experience.;Experiential learning themes dominated the exploration approach, while perceptions of otherness and gendering quickly developed as the young women came to know engineering. The extensive and opportunistic nature of the profession was appealing, however, the messages were alienating. Personal choices of the young women evolved around lifestyle and fit. The engineering profession they came to know had little in common with their world or future

Detection of differential rotation in psi Cap with profile analysis

We report detection of differential rotation on the F5 dwarf psi Cap using line profile analysis. The Fourier transform of both FeI lambda 5775 and SiI lambda 5772 are used to obtain a projected rotational velocity of v sini = (42+-1)km/s. Modelling of the Fourier transformed profiles shows that the combined effects of equatorial velocity, inclination and differential rotation dominate the line profile while limb darkening and turbulence velocities have only minor effects. Rigid rotation is shown to be inconsistent with the measured profiles. Modelling the line profiles analogous to solar differential rotation we find a differential rotation parameter of alpha = 0.15+-0.1 (15+-10%) comparable to the solar case. To our knowledge this is the first successful measurement of differential rotation through line profile analysis.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Using GLM Flash Density, Flash Area, and Flash Energy to Diagnose Tropical Cyclone Structure and Intensification

Increased lightning in tropical cyclones (TCs) is typically associated with intensification, but significant lightning outbreaks are also observed in weakening storms. The total number of lightning flashes in a TC is not always a reliable indicator of TC intensity evolution. Issues with the range and detection efficiency of ground-based networks, particularly for intracloud lightning. Physical processes such as vertical wind shear can intensify asymmetric convection while also weakening the TC. The commissioning of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) aboard GOES-16 and GOES-17 marked, for the first time, the presence of an operational lightning detector in geostationary orbit. In addition to flash density (the number of flashes per unit area per unit time), GLM also provides continuous observations of flash area and total optical energy

Diffusion due to the Beam-Beam Interaction and Fluctuating Fields in Hadron Colliders

Random fluctuations in the tune, beam offsets and beam size in the presence of the beam-beam interaction are shown to lead to significant particle diffusion and emittance growth in hadron colliders. We find that far from resonances high frequency noise causes the most diffusion while near resonances low frequency noise is responsible for the large emittance growth observed. Comparison of different fluctuations shows that offset fluctuations between the beams causes the largest diffusion for particles in the beam core.Comment: 5 pages, 3 postscript figure

The rise of a capital: on the development of al-Fusṭāṭ's relationship with its hinterland, 18/639-132/750

This thesis studies the relationship of the town al-Fusṭāṭ, located at the southern end of the Nile delta in Egypt, and its hinterland in the period between the town’s foundation in A.D. 641 and the arrival of the Abbasids in 750. Non-literary sources such as papyri and inscriptions (Arabic, Coptic, and Greek) and archaeology form the main source material of this thesis. Some topics, however, cannot be addressed but via medieval historical sources. The thesis presents four case studies: on (1) the administrative relationship between al-Fusṭāṭ and Alexandria, (2) the economic development of Alexandria after the foundation of al-Fusṭāṭ, (3) al-Fusṭāṭ’s role in the military administration of Upper Egypt, and (4) al-Fusṭāṭ and the legal administration of Upper Egypt. This thesis’s main findings are that the relationship between al-Fusṭāṭ and the rest of Egypt before 750 developed in three main steps: (1) c. 641 until c. 661, a period in which fiscal and military aspects dominated this relationship; (2) c. 661 until c. 700, a first period of centralization (civil, military, and legal administration) coinciding with the Sufyanids’ come to power; and (3) 700 until 750, a second period of centralization (civil, legal, and economic) coinciding with the Marwanid reforms.Egypt, al-Fustat, Alexandria, capital, military, economy, law, papyrology, early IslamEuropean Research CouncilMiddle Eastern Studie

Voluntary enslavement in an Abbasid-era papyrus letter

Central to this article is an Arabic letter written on papyrus in an Egyptian prison in the late ninth or early tenth century ce. The author complains that he and his companions are being kept in terrible conditions and that they have received insufficient support from outside prison. Interestingly, he indicates that there is a strong inclination among the group to offer themselves as slaves in order to find relief from their crushing living conditions. By doing so, they would have transgressed Islamic law of that time, which forbade the enslavement of free inhabitants of the Realm of Islam. The letter is a unique source for the social history of slavery, especially self-enslavement, in Abbasid society. This article presents, translates, and annotates this letter and offers a detailed study of its contents.Middle Eastern Studie

The intriguing messages of a Muslim slave's tombstone

Middle Eastern Studie

A call to arms: an account of Ayyubid or early Mamluk Alexandria

This article offers an edition, translation, and study of a hitherto unknown text about Ayyubid or early Mamluk Alexandria. The author, one Abū Khuzayma Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Wahhāb, gives a short yet rich description of the city based as much on Alexandria’s real cityscape as on legends. The text treats famous monuments, such as the city’s lighthouse and the Column of the Pillars, as well as less well-known buildings, such as mosques, colleges, watchtowers, and gates. An analysis of the account leads to the conclusion that its author wrote the account in order to mobilize Muslims for the defense of the city against Frankish or Byzantine attacks on Alexandria or Egypt’s Mediterranean coast in general.Middle Eastern Studie