A spectral optical flow method for determining velocities from digital imagery

We present a method for determining surface flows from solar images based upon optical flow techniques. We apply the method to sets of images obtained by a variety of solar imagers to assess its performance. The {\tt opflow3d} procedure is shown to extract accurate velocity estimates when provided perfect test data and quickly generates results consistent with completely distinct methods when applied on global scales. We also validate it in detail by comparing it to an established method when applied to high-resolution datasets and find that it provides comparable results without the need to tune, filter or otherwise preprocess the images before its application.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to Earth Science Informatic

Overt Research Project- 'A Fieldguide to Dark Places - South Edition'

Directed by artist researcher Neal White, Office of Experiments collaborated with researcher and artist Steve Rowell a project manager at the Center for Land Use Interpretation for 18 months in an exchange of methods, standard and experimental, fieldwork and mapping processes. The development of a specifically named research method 'Overt Research' was used to label an inversion of the direction of technologies and techniques exploited in surveillance and security control, and was used in this research to document both the real and imaginary spaces of secrecy in the UK, initially near to Southampton. Using photographic and GIS data sites of experimentation, intelligence and knowledge not normally accessible to the public were brought together in a drupal database. With a taxonomy and vocabulary based on levels of transparency of sites the research output brought together discourse concerning the UK and its techno-scientific and military complex and the public imaginary in relation to these sites. 'A Fieldguide to Dark Places - South Edition' was a central part of the larger exhibition, Dark Places, that White co-curated at John Hansard Gallery in 2009-10. ORP was launched as an 'open project' that also engages members of the public and amateur enthusiasts, and now incorporates them into the research process through attendance of planned activities and events. Many works are also included in 'Critical Dictionary' (Blackdog 2012) and were also exhibited in an installation at Blackdog Gallery, London 2012. Featured extracts from the database appeared in a 6 page article as part of Blueprint magazine edition examining new topographies. March 2010. Critical excursions / mediated bus tours using the ORP have further been supported by ESCR (Experimental Ruins, UCL, London), Big Picture (Secrets of Portland, Portland, Dorset 2011) and The Heritage Lottery Fund (London Orbital Tour 2012)

An A Priori Knowledge Based Wiener Filtering Approach to Ultrasonic Scattering Amplitude Estimation

The Wiener filter is currently used in the ultrasonic scattering amplitude estimation problem as a means of desensitization during deconvolution [1,2,3]. The work summarized here focuses on a Wiener filtering approach which incorporates a priori flaw and noise information. It will be shown that this approach leads to improved scattering amplitude estimates and improved radius estimates

Movement of Bigmouth Sleeper, Gobiomorus dormitor, in the Río Cañas, Puerto Rico, revealed by radio telemetry, and a discussion of the species’ amphidromous characterization

Bigmouth Sleeper, Gobiomorus dormitor, are tropical fish native to rivers of Puerto Rico. They are popular sport fish targeted by local anglers. They are considered as diadromous, but this characterization is controversial. The displacement of Bigmouth Sleepers in the Río Cañas, Puerto Rico, was examined using radio telemetry. Twenty fish were radio-tagged and monitored from January to November 2008. Fish were in the Río Cañas 69%, 62%, and 59% of the time before (January-May), during (June-August), and after (September-November) the spawning season, respectively. Average detected linear home range (within the river) for all tracking periods was 2.3 km, but varied from less than 0.1 km to 8.1 km. Detected linear home range was not related to weight class or sex. They may remain in freshwater as juveniles and adults, only spending their larval stage in estuarine or marine habitats (i.e. amphidromous diadromy). However, they can complete their larval stage in freshwater but appear to make periodic migrations to the marine environment as adults, as suggested by this study. The best descriptor of Bigmouth Sleeper is that of a facultative amphidromous euryhaline species. Fishery and habitat management for this fish should take into consideration their general migratory behavior and their plasticity with respect to this life history strategy

Bringing Acquisition Reform into Focus

The response of our defense industrial base to major changes, such as the collapse of the former Soviet Union, emphasize the need to continue to improve the way the United States buys weapon systems. By looking through a historical lens, this paper addresses predicting the long-term success of acquisition practices and reform initiatives for the cost community. A literature review identifies acquisition reform legislation and initiatives since World War II. Looking at past acquisition reform and their long term impacts leads to the conclusion that acquisition reform efforts must be viewed skeptically. Given a dynamic environment, estimating costs may actually be made more difficult by reform initiatives. Improvement in the acquisition of weapon systems requires fundamental cange that emphasizes future implications, not just focusing on the present or past

\u3ci\u3eIntegrated Technologies, Innovative Learning (Vol. II)\u3c/i\u3e

Chapter 8: Midwestern Independence and Educational Technology Use: Evaluation Strategies of the Nebraska Catalyst Project, co-authored by Neal Grandgenett, UNO faculty member. This chapter discusses the efforts of the Nebraska Catalyst Project and its collaborative evaluation process for monitoring progress of the integration of educational technology use into pre-service teacher education in the state. Nebraska is a very independent operational environment for educational institutions, which includes 535 K12 school districts, and 17 institutions of higher education accrediting Nebraska teachers. Such institutional independence meant that the higher education institutions and K12 school districts, although individually quite excellent, had limited experience in working together on educational technology related goals. The Nebraska Catalyst Project was a bold step toward shared institutional strategic planning, decision-making, and faculty training related to educational technology. The evaluation mechanism used by the project was an important component of this successful project, and used four key strategies to help successfully monitor progress. These strategies included 1) developing a well-organized reporting system, 2) encouraging joint work on institutional assessments, 3) establishing an online format for evaluation information, and 4) systematically returning feedback to the individual institutions. This article describes the evaluation component of the Nebraska Catalyst Project and how it operated in the context of these four evaluation strategies, and within the very independent educational environment existing within the state. Hundreds of teacher education programs throughout the United States are currently working to determine how to best prepare teachers so they can effectively harness the potential of technology for learning. Hundreds of school districts and institutions of higher education throughout the nation are working to maximize the return on their investment in technology. The over 400 consortia of the Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to use Technology (PT3) program have redesigned undergraduate and graduate curricula, addressed issues of digital equity, and established innovative ways of transforming teacher education through the power of technology. The two volumes of this book document significant insights of PT3 projects around the country. Volume I is available in paperback from ISTE and includes 20 chapters filled with a wealth of ideas and approaches for integrating technology in teacher preparation. The chapters in this second volume of the book further document implemented and tested strategies that represent geographically broad and economically diverse contexts.https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/facultybooks/1111/thumbnail.jp

An Examination of the Application of Wiener Filtering to Ultrasonic Scattering Amplitude Estimation

In 1978, Murakami, et al. [1], applied the Wiener filter to the flaw characterization problem. The filter was used at that time and is still used as a means of desensitization to noise during deconvolution. In 1980, Elsley, et al. [2], outlined use of the Wiener filter as a maximum likelihood based scattering amplitude estimation technique. To date, the Wiener filter has not been applied explicitly in this manner. The intent of this paper is to explore use of the Wiener filter as a scattering amplitude estimation technique rather than as a means of desensitization.</p

Helping Elementary Education Majors Brush Up on Mathematical Modeling: Insights from a Field Test of a New Online Learning Prototype

This paper describes insights related to the potential use of on-line training modules with elementary education pre-service teachers for enhancing their experience and background in mathematical modeling. These insights resulted from a field test of a new online learning prototype developed within a National Science Foundation Proof-of-Concept project. The insights listed in the paper are further supported by two URL addresses that link to detailed notes, background documents, and various demonstration pieces

From Zero to Over 2,500 Eportfolios in Six Years: The Eastern Kentucky University Experience

In 2000, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) was awarded a Preparing Tomorrows Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) Implementation grant. One of the major goals of the grant was to create an electronic/multimedia portfolio (eportfolio) assessment system through which future teachers would document their proficiencies and amass strategies to enhance their future teaching. Between the fall of 2000 and the summer of 2003 an eportfolio development team, consisting of faculty from the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences, a college student, a public school teacher, and a technology expert, developed and implemented an eportfolio to be used by all teacher education candidates in the College of Education. Through systematic piloting and review, the obstacles and challenges of developing an eportfolio were met and a professional product was incorporated into the teacher education program in the College of Education. As of spring 2006, over 2,500 College of Education student eportfolios are online