A direct primitive variable recovery scheme for hyperbolic conservative equations: the case of relativistic hydrodynamics

In this article we develop a Primitive Variable Recovery Scheme (PVRS) to solve any system of coupled differential conservative equations. This method obtains directly the primitive variables applying the chain rule to the time term of the conservative equations. With this, a traditional finite volume method for the flux is applied in order avoid violation of both, the entropy and "Rankine-Hugoniot" jump conditions. The time evolution is then computed using a forward finite difference scheme. This numerical technique evades the recovery of the primitive vector by solving an algebraic system of equations as it is often used and so, it generalises standard techniques to solve these kind of coupled systems. The article is presented bearing in mind special relativistic hydrodynamic numerical schemes with an added pedagogical view in the appendix section in order to easily comprehend the PVRS. We present the convergence of the method for standard shock-tube problems of special relativistic hydrodynamics and a graphical visualisation of the errors using the fluctuations of the numerical values with respect to exact analytic solutions. The PVRS circumvents the sometimes arduous computation that arises from standard numerical methods techniques, which obtain the desired primitive vector solution through an algebraic polynomial of the charges.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in PLOS ON

Pushout, Persistence, Pullback, and Resistance: The Unnecessarily Complicated Experiences of Women of Color in STEM

In this thesis project, I explore the unnecessarily complicated path of persistence for women of color in STEM. I find that these students are pushed out by the larger culture and climate of STEM which is hostile to their existence. However, there are students that are not pushed out but rather chose to leave STEM in favor of other academic pursuits. For students that do persist, the strategies they engage in order to persist are strategic and agentic. These students are aware that they must navigate STEM carefully. Within persisting, students also resist and push back against the dominant STEM culture, many doing so in hopes of changing the landscape for the next generation of women of color in STEM

Student Satisfaction with a Web-based Collaborative Work Platform

The present paper analyses the results of a research study on translation students’ satisfaction and perceived improvement of their computer, tele- and teamworking skills by using Basic Support Cooperative Work (BSCW) software. The data were obtained from questionnaires given before and after taking part in the project. Results have proven the suitability of BSCW for telework training. The students’ opinions about teamwork are now more positive and they feel more confident about their computer and translation skills. Student satisfaction is almost unanimous