Improving the viability of mental models held by novice programmers

Recent research has found that many novice programmers often hold non-viable mental models of basic programming concepts such as assignment and object reference. This paper proposes a constructivist-based teaching model, integrating a cognitive conflict strategy with program visualization, with the aim of improving novice programmers’ mental models. The results of a preliminary empirical study suggest that, for the relatively straightforward concept of assignment, tight integration of program visualization with a cognitive conflict event that highlights a student’s inappropriate understanding can help improve students’ non-viable mental models. 14 out of 18 participants who held non-viable mental models of the assignment process successfully changed their model to be viable as a result of the proposed teaching model

Can a 3+2 Oscillation Model Explain the NuTeV Electroweak Results?

The weak mixing angle result from NuTeV falls three standard deviations above the value determined by global electroweak fits. It has been suggested that one possible explanation for this result could be the oscillation of electron neutrinos in the NuTeV beam to sterile neutrinos. This article examines several cases of masses and mixings for 3+2 neutrino oscillation models which fit the current oscillation data at 99% CL. We conclude that electron to sterile neutrino oscillations can account for only up to a third of a standard deviation between the NuTeV determination of the weak mixing angle and the standard model.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Brief Report

High--Resolution 3D Simulations of Relativistic Jets

We have performed high-resolution 3D simulations of relativistic jets with beam flow Lorentz factors up to 7, a spatial resolution of 8 cells per beam radius, and for up to 75 normalized time units to study the morphology and dynamics of 3D relativistic jets. Our simulations show that the coherent fast backflows found in axisymmetric models are not present in 3D models. We further find that when the jet is exposed to non-axisymmetric perturbations, (i) it does not display the strong perturbations found for 3D classical hydrodynamic and MHD jets (at least during the period of time covered by our simulations), and (ii) it does propagate according to the 1D estimate. Small 3D effects in the relativistic beam give rise to a lumpy distribution of apparent speeds like that observed in M87. The beam is surrounded by a boundary layer of high specific internal energy. The properties of this layer are briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Accepted to be publish in the ApJ Letters. Tar+gzip documen

Numerical analysis of a downsized 2-stroke uniflow engine

In order to optimize the 2-stroke uniflow engine performance on vehicle applications, numerical analysis has been introduced, 3D CFD model has been built for the optimization of intake charge organization. The scavenging process was investigated and the intake port design details were improved. Then the output data from 3D CFD calculation were applied to a 1D engine model to process the analysis on engine performance. The boost system optimization of the engine has been carried out also. Furthermore, a vehicle model was also set up to investigate the engine in-vehicle performance

2GHz MIMO channel model from experimental outdoor data analysis in UMTS

The key objective of this work was to obtain a MIMO model for a line of sight (LOS) channel component as well as the covariance matrix for a non-LOS deployment. A maximum likelihood criteria is applied to obtain a LOS spatial signature vector and a NLOS covariance matrix derived from channel measurements taken in the 2 GHz UMTS spectrum for an urban deployment in Bristol (UK). Different user equipment deployments were considered to represent both LOS and NLOS, as well as static and dynamic (motion) situations. The parameters of interest were estimated from these data and the fitness model was satisfactorily evaluated in all cases. Further, the Kronecker product between transmitter and receiver matrices was evaluated in order to simplify the model, for both, LOS and NLOS cases, including polarization diversity cases.The key objective of this work was to obtain a MIMO model for a line of sight (LOS) channel component as well as the covariance matrix for a non-LOS deployment. A maximum likelihood criteria is applied to obtain a LOS spatial signature vector and a NLOS covariance matrix derived from channel measurements taken in the 2 GHz UMTS spectrum for an urban deployment in Bristol (UK). Different user equipment deployments were considered to represent both LOS and NLOS, as well as static and dynamic (motion) situations. The parameters of interest were estimated from these data and the fitness model was satisfactorily evaluated in all cases. Further, the Kronecker product between transmitter and receiver matrices was evaluated in order to simplify the model, for both, LOS and NLOS cases, including polarization diversity cases

The supersymmetric technique for random-matrix ensembles with zero eigenvalues

The supersymmetric technique is applied to computing the average spectral density near zero energy in the large-N limit of the random-matrix ensembles with zero eigenvalues: B, DIII-odd, and the chiral ensembles (classes AIII, BDI, and CII). The supersymmetric calculations reproduce the existing results obtained by other methods. The effect of zero eigenvalues may be interpreted as reducing the symmetry of the zero-energy supersymmetric action by breaking a certain abelian symmetry.Comment: 22 pages, introduction modified, one reference adde