Dr. Patrick T. Conley on the Law and Order Constitution

In this interview, Dr. Patrick T. Conley, constitutional historian and Dorr scholar, discusses the deficiencies of the Law & Order Constitution of 1843, the provisions of the People\u27s Constitution of 1841, and his personal involvement in the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1977. To view this video interview please visit the Dorr Rebellion Project web site’s video gallery: http://library.providence.edu/dps/projects/dorr/video.php

Brooks's theorem for measurable colorings

We generalize Brooks's theorem to show that if $G$ is a Borel graph on a standard Borel space $X$ of degree bounded by $d \geq 3$ which contains no $(d+1)$-cliques, then $G$ admits a $\mu$-measurable $d$-coloring with respect to any Borel probability measure $\mu$ on $X$, and a Baire measurable $d$-coloring with respect to any compatible Polish topology on $X$. The proof of this theorem uses a new technique for constructing one-ended spanning subforests of Borel graphs, as well as ideas from the study of list colorings. We apply the theorem to graphs arising from group actions to obtain factor of IID $d$-colorings of Cayley graphs of degree $d$, except in two exceptional cases.Comment: Minor correction

A Path to Alignment: Connecting K-12 and Higher Education via the Common Core and the Degree Qualifications Profile

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which aim to assure competency in English/language arts and mathematics through the K-12 curriculum, define necessary but not sufficient preparedness for success in college. The Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP), which describes what a college degree should signify, regardless of major, offers useful but not sufficient guidance to high school students preparing for college study. A coordinated strategy to prepare students to succeed in college would align these two undertakings and thus bridge an unfortunate and harmful cultural chasm between the K-12 world and that of higher education. Chasms call for bridges, and the bridge proposed by this white paper could create a vital thoroughfare. The white paper begins with a description of the CCSS and an assessment of their significance. A following analysis then explains why the CCSS, while necessary, are not sufficient as a platform for college success. A corresponding explanation of the DQP clarifies the prompts that led to its development, describes its structure, and offers some guidance for interpreting the outcomes that it defines. Again, a following analysis considers the potential of the DQP and the limitations that must be addressed if that potential is to be more fully realized. The heart of the white paper lies in sections 5 and 6, which provide a crosswalk between the CCSS and the DQP. These sections show how alignments and differences between the two may point to a comprehensive preparedness strategy. They also offer a proposal for a multifaceted strategy to realize the potential synergy of the CCSS and the DQP for the benefit of high school and college educators and their students -- and the nation

Methodology for tidal turbine representation in ocean circulation model

The present method proposes the use and adaptation of ocean circulation models as an assessment tool framework for tidal current turbine (TCT) array layout optimization. By adapting both momentum and turbulence transport equations of an existing model, the present TCT representation method is proposed to extend the actuator disc concept to 3-D large-scale ocean circulation models. Through the reproduction of experimental flume tests and grid dependency tests, this method has shown its numerical coherence as well as its ability to simulate accurately both momentum and turbulent turbine-induced perturbations in both near and far wakes in a relatively short period of computation time. Consequently the present TCT representation method is a very promising basis for the development of a TCT array layout optimization tool

Measurable realizations of abstract systems of congruences

An abstract system of congruences describes a way of partitioning a space into finitely many pieces satisfying certain congruence relations. Examples of abstract systems of congruences include paradoxical decompositions and $n$-divisibility of actions. We consider the general question of when there are realizations of abstract systems of congruences satisfying various measurability constraints. We completely characterize which abstract systems of congruences can be realized by nonmeager Baire measurable pieces of the sphere under the action of rotations on the $2$-sphere. This answers a question of Wagon. We also construct Borel realizations of abstract systems of congruences for the action of $\mathsf{PSL}_2(\mathbb{Z})$ on $\mathsf{P}^1(\mathbb{R})$. The combinatorial underpinnings of our proof are certain types of decomposition of Borel graphs into paths. We also use these decompositions to obtain some results about measurable unfriendly colorings.Comment: minor correction

Integrated Numerical Modelling System for Extreme Wave Events at the Wave Hub Site

This paper examines an extreme wave event which occurred during a storm at the Wave Hub site in 2012. The extreme wave of 9.57 m height was identified from a time series of the heave data collected by an Oceanor Seawatch Mini II Buoy deployed at the site. An energy density spectrum was derived from this time series and then used to drive a physical model, which represents the extreme wave at 1:20 scale in Plymouth University’s new COAST Lab. The NewWave technique was used to define the input to the physical model. The experiment is reproduced in a numerical wave tank using the fully nonlinear CFD library OpenFOAM® and the wave generation toolbox waves2Foam. Results are evaluated, and issues regarding the predictions of a numerical model that is driven by the NewWave input signal are discussed. This study sets the basis for further research in coupling field data, physical modelling and numerical modelling in a more efficient and balanced way. This will lead to the new approach of composite modelling that will be implemented in future work

Periodic Variation of Stress in Sputter Deposited Si/WSi2 Multilayers

A tension increment after sputter deposition of 1 nm of WSi2 onto sputtered Si was observed at low Ar gas pressures. Wafer curvature data on multilayers were found to have a periodic variation corresponding to the multilayer period, and this permitted statistical analyses to improve the sensitivity to small stresses. The observation of tension instead of compression in the initial stage of growth is new and a model invoking surface rearrangement is invoked. The data also bear on an unusual surface smoothing phenomena for sputtered Si surfaces caused by the sputter deposition of WSi2 . We furthermore report that for low Ar pressures the Si layers are the predominant source of built-up stress

Harmonic Maa{\ss}-Jacobi forms of degree 1 with higher rank indices

We define and investigate real analytic weak Jacobi forms of degree 1 and arbitrary rank. En route we calculate the Casimir operator associated to the maximal central extension of the real Jacobi group, which for rank exceeding 1 is of order 4. In ranks exceeding 1, the notions of H-harmonicity and semi-holomorphicity are the same.Comment: 28 page

Bandgap Engineering of Strained Monolayer and Bilayer MoS2

We report the influence of uniaxial tensile mechanical strain in the range 0-2.2% on the phonon spectra and bandstructures of monolayer and bilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) two-dimensional crystals. First, we employ Raman spectroscopy to observe phonon softening with increased strain, breaking the degeneracy in the E' Raman mode of MoS2, and extract a Gr\"uneisen parameter of ~1.06. Second, using photoluminescence spectroscopy we measure a decrease in the optical band gap of MoS2 that is roughly linear with strain, ~45 meV% strain for monolayer MoS2 and ~120 meV% strain for bilayer MoS2. Third, we observe a pronounced strain-induced decrease in the photoluminescence intensity of monolayer MoS2 that is indicative of the direct-to-indirect transition of the character of the optical band gap of this material at applied strain of ~1.5%, a value supported by first-principles calculations that include excitonic effects. These observations constitute the first demonstration of strain engineering the band structure in the emergent class of two-dimensional crystals, transition-metal dichalcogenides.Comment: Article appears in print in Nanoletter