VARs with Mixed Roots Near Unity

Limit theory is developed for nonstationary vector autoregression (VAR) with mixed roots in the vicinity of unity involving persistent and explosive components. Statistical tests for common roots are examined and model selection approaches for discriminating roots are explored. The results are useful in empirical testing for multiple manifestations of nonstationarity -- in particular for distinguishing mildly explosive roots from roots that are local to unity and for testing commonality in persistence.Common roots, Local to unity, Mildly explosive, Mixed roots, Model selection, Persistence, Tests of common roots

An initial study on the influences of problem solving in children's learning

Researchers have advocated problem solving to induce learners in conceptual change process as problem representation is central to whether or not learners achieve the intended change [1]. One way to help learners develop their problem representations is through tools that will enable them to externalize problem representations [2] and this can be done by encouraging learners to build dynamic models of the real world systems as it not only supports problem solving but also the transfer of knowledge. This study which included a sample size of 70 fifth grade students was conducted in a public elementary school in two science classrooms. Students who received the treatment were given an ill-structured problem to solve by building dynamic system models as a form of external representation. Quantitative data were collected through a pre and post test quasi experimental design. Responses from Knowledge Tests and Problem Solving Skills Tests were pilot tested for reliability prior to the actual study. Results gained from the pre and post tests showed that students who had gone through the problem solving activity achieved better conceptual understanding on the two main concepts of the water cycle-evaporation and condensation than those who were not given the treatment. This group of students also managed to build more sophisticated conceptual models. This suggest that a problem solving environment may enable students to develop or activate their problem solving skills and enabled them to see the value of meaning making in science

Conditions for the occurrence of mean-motion resonances in a low mass planetary system

The dynamical interactions that occur in newly formed planetary systems may reflect the conditions occurring in the protoplanetary disk out of which they formed. With this in mind, we explore the attainment and maintenance of orbital resonances by migrating planets in the terrestrial mass range. Migration time scales varying between millions of years and thousands of years are considered. In the former case, for which the migration time is comparable to the lifetime of the protoplanetary gas disk, a 2:1 resonance may be formed. In the latter, relatively rapid migration regime commensurabilities of high degree such as 8:7 or 11:10 may be formed. However, in any one large-scale migration several different commensurabilities may be formed sequentially, each being associated with significant orbital evolution. We also use a simple analytic theory to develop conditions for first order commensurabilities to be formed. These depend on the degree of the commensurability, the imposed migration and circularization rates, and the planet mass ratios. These conditions are found to be consistent with the results of our simulations.Comment: 11 pages with 4 figures, pdflatex, to appear in the proceedings of the conference "Extra-solar Planets in Multi-body Systems: Theory and Observations"; eds. K. Gozdziewski, A. Niedzielski and J. Schneider, EAS Publication Serie

Optimization and characterization of femtosecond laser inscribed in-fiber microchannels for liquid sensing

In-fiber microchannels were fabricated directly in standard single mode fiber using the femtosecond laser inscribe and etch technique. This method of creating in-fiber microchannels offers great versatility, since it allows complex three-dimensional structures to be inscribed and then preferentially etched with hydrofluoric acid. In addition, inscription does not require a photosensitive fiber; the modification is induced through nonlinear processes triggered by an ultrashort laser pulse. Four in-fiber microchannel designs were experimentally investigated using this technique - microhole, microslot channel along the core, microslot channel perpendicular to the core and helical channel around the core. Each device design was evaluated through monitoring the optical spectral change while inserting a range of index matching oils into each microchannel; an R.I. sensitivity up to 1.55 dB/RIU was achieved in these initial tests. Furthermore, an all femtosecond laser inscribed Fabry-Pérot-based refractometer with an R.I. sensitivity of 2.75 nm/RIU was also demonstrated. The Fabry-Pérot refractometer was formed by positioning a microchannel between two femtosecond laser inscribed point-by-point fiber Bragg gratings

Fabrication of high quality optical coherence tomography (OCT) calibration artefacts using femtosecond inscription

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive three-dimensional imaging system that is capable of producing high resolution in-vivo images. OCT is approved for use in clinical trials in Japan, USA and Europe. For OCT to be used effectively in a clinical diagnosis, a method of standardisation is required to assess the performance across different systems. This standardisation can be implemented using highly accurate and reproducible artefacts for calibration at both installation and throughout the lifetime of a system. Femtosecond lasers can write highly reproducible and highly localised micro-structured calibration artefacts within a transparent media. We report on the fabrication of high quality OCT calibration artefacts in fused silica using a femtosecond laser. The calibration artefacts were written in fused silica due to its high purity and ability to withstand high energy femtosecond pulses. An Amplitude Systemes s-Pulse Yb:YAG femtosecond laser with an operating wavelength of 1026 nm was used to inscribe three dimensional patterns within the highly optically transmissive substrate. Four unique artefacts have been designed to measure a wide variety of parameters, including the points spread function (PSF), modulation transfer function (MTF), sensitivity, distortion and resolution - key parameters which define the performance of the OCT. The calibration artefacts have been characterised using an optical microscope and tested on a swept source OCT. The results demonstrate that the femtosecond laser inscribed artefacts have the potential of quantitatively and qualitatively validating the performance of any OCT system

3D vadose zone modeling using geostatistical inferences

In developing a 3D model of the 600 ft thick interbedded basalt and sediment complex that constitutes the vadose zone at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) geostatistical data were captured for 12--15 parameters (e.g. permeability, porosity, saturation, etc. and flow height, flow width, flow internal zonation, etc.). This two scale data set was generated from studies of subsurface core and geophysical log suites at RWMC and from surface outcrop exposures located at the Box Canyon of the Big Lost River and from Hell's Half Acre lava field all located in the general RWMC area. Based on these currently available data, it is possible to build a 3D stochastic model that utilizes: cumulative distribution functions obtained from the geostatistical data; backstripping and rebuilding of stratigraphic units; an expert'' system that incorporates rules based on expert geologic analysis and experimentally derived geostatistics for providing: (a) a structural and isopach map of each layer, (b) a realization of the flow geometry of each basalt flow unit, and (c) a realization of the internal flow parameters (eg permeability, porosity, and saturation) for each flow. 10 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab

Support for the use of Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer

In this thesis, different aspects of the quality of standard excision and Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer are analysed and compared. The results presented in this thesis should help patients and clinicians to position Mohs micrographic surgery better in their skin cancer treatment strategies

Closing the gap: Pre-service teachers' perceptions of an ICT based, student centred learning curriculum

As technology continues to influence many aspects of our social and work lives, it is important that school experiences equip students the skills and knowledge that will enable them to develop into effective independent, creative, and lifelong learners to cope with the influx of changes. Given that teachers play a key role in the effective use of technology in education, there is a need to ensure that teacher education programs prepare teachers for the effective integration of ICT in the classrooms. We believe that there is a need to adopt a student-centered learning framework to design our ICT based Student-Centred Learning (SCL) curriculum for all pre-service teachers. In this paper, we presents parts of the findings from a curriculum review which evaluated 483 pre-service teachers' overall satisfaction level towards an ICT based SCL course. We also provide some recommendations to the ICT curriculum based on the results found. © 2007 Chwee Beng Lee, Timothy Teo, Ching Sing Chai, Doris Choy, Ashley Tan and Jimmy Seah

Effect of membrane character and solution chemistry on microfiltration performance

To help understand and predict the role of natural organic matter (NOM) in the fouling of low-pressure membranes, experiments were carried out with an apparatus that incorporates automatic backwashing and long filtration runs. Three hollow fibre membranes of varying character were included in the study, and the filtration of two different surface waters was compared. The hydrophilic membrane had greater flux recovery after backwashing than the hydrophobic membranes, but the efficiency of backwashing decreased at extended filtration times. NOM concentration of these waters (7.9 and 9.1 mg/L) had little effect on the flux of the membranes at extended filtration times, as backwashing of the membrane restored the flux to similar values regardless of the NOM concentration. The solution pH also had little effect at extended filtration times. The backwashing efficiency of the hydrophilic membrane was dramatically different for the two waters, and the presence of colloid NOM alone could not explain these differences. It is proposed that colloidal NOM forms a filter cake on the surface of the membranes and that small molecular weight organics that have an adsorption peak at 220 nm but not 254 nm were responsible for “gluing” the colloids to the membrane surface. Alum coagulation improved membrane performance in all instances, and this was suggested to be because coagulation reduced the concentration of “glue” that holds the organic colloids to the membrane surface

Bishop and Laplacian Comparison Theorems on Three Dimensional Contact Subriemannian Manifolds with Symmetry

We prove a Bishop volume comparison theorem and a Laplacian comparison theorem for three dimensional contact subriemannian manifolds with symmetry