On Automorphisms and Focal Subgroups of Blocks

Given a p-block B of a finite group with defect group P and fusion system on P, we show that the rank of the group is invariant under stable equivalences of Morita type. The main ingredients are the construction, due to Broué and Puig, a theorem of Weiss on linear source modules, arguments of Hertweck and Kimmerle applying Weiss’ theorem to blocks, and connections with integrable derivations in the Hochschild cohomology of block algebras

Electromagnetic Calorimeter Calibration with π0\pi^{0}

Several methods can be used in order to achieve precise calibration of the LHCb Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) once reasonable cell equalization has been reached. At low transverse energy, the standard calibration procedure is an iterative method based on the fit of the $\gamma\gamma$ invariant mass distribution for each cell of the decay $\pi^{0}\to\gamma\gamma$ with resolved photons. A new technique for generating the combinatorial background of such decays directly from data has been developed. Knowledge of the background could allow an alternative calibration method based on a event by event fit of the same $\gamma\gamma$ invariant mass distribution where contributions from groups of cells are considered in a single fit. The background generation procedure and this possible new calibration method are presented in this poster, in addition to an overview of the LHCb Calorimetry system and ECAL calibration techniques

Temporal variability and composition of settling particle fluxes on the Barcelona continental margin (Northwestern Mediterranean)

The results of a year-long sediment-trap experiment provide the first direct observations of sediment fluxes to the seafloor on the Barcelona continental margin. Time-series of vertical particle fluxes and major constituents (organic carbon, biogenic silica, calcium carbonate and aluminosilicates) were determined inside and in the vicinity of the Foix submarine canyon from May 1993 to April 1994. The spatial and temporal variability of bi-weekly total mass fluxes indicate significant high frequency variability related to physical and biological processes at this site. The Foix submarine canyon acts as an actual conduit for transport of sediment from the shelf to the slope, and as a mid-slope sedimentary depocenter. The shelf-slope sediment transfer through this canyon is sporadic and takes place during and immediately after an important storm event or a river discharge increase. During periods of low cross-margin sediment transfer injected through the canyon, the vertical flux of particles is controlled by the along-slope geostrophic circulation. Breaking of the summer water stratification and vertical mixing also appears to be a major process which contributes to increasing the vertical flux of particles. Particle composition inside the Foix submarine canyon does not reflect any significant seasonal variations, but in the adjacent open slope, summer water stratification controls the composition of settling particulate matter. Retention of shelf-derived suspended particles along isopycnals in summer results in a decrease in total mass fluxes and an enrichment of organic carbon and clay mineral content in the settling particulate matter outside the canyon. During the spring biological bloom, the opal content increases particularly on the open slope, but the calcium carbonate does not because the high input of terrigeneous carbonate dominates that from biogenic carbonate production. The aluminosilicates fraction is the largest constituent of the vertical particle fluxes on the Barcelona continental margin, reaching higher percentages inside the Foix submarine canyon

Evaluating Learner Engagement with Gamification in Online Courses

Several reasons underlie the low retention rates in MOOCs. These reasons can be analysed from different perspectives, either in terms of the course design or the enrolled students. On the student side, we find little social interaction, boredom, tiredness, and a lack of motivation and time. These challenges can be addressed by adaptive gamification that proposes the design of personalised, hedonic learning experiences. Studies to date have adopted either the one-fits-all approach or the adaptive approach. Nevertheless, the adaptive solutions have considered a static player profile throughout the entire experience. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a dynamic adaptive gamification approach which—based on students’ interactions with game elements and also their opinions about these elements—dynamically updates the students’ player profile to better figure out which game elements suit them. We evaluated the engagement of students with gamification elements by means of a course composed of a knowledge "pill" related to the topic of “recycling plastics from the sea”, offered through the nanoMOOCs learning platform. We propose metrics such as the mean number of interactions with the gamification dashboard, the time spent by participants with game elements, and the opinions of students about these elements to compare the Dynamic Adaptive Gamification (DynamicAG) and the Static Adaptive (StaticAG) approaches. An experimental study with 66 high school students showed significant differences between both approaches. Specifically, the DynamicAG group spent twice as much time with the Dashboard than the StaticAG group. Moreover, students in the DynamicAG group were more engaged with game elements (mean number of interactions = 12.13) than those in the StaticAG group (mean number of interactions = 3.21)

Can You See It?: Providing Visual Arts Access to Audiences with Visual Impairment and Blindness

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Arts of Bard College

Goodness of fit tests for the skew-Laplace distribution

The skew-Laplace distribution is frequently used to fit the logarithm of particle sizes and it is also used in Economics, Engineering, Finance and Biology. We show the Anderson-Darling and Cramér-von Mises goodness of fit tests for this distribution

El actor sindical en la transformación del sistema financiero

El artículo de Julio Puig, investigador de la Escuela Nacional Sindical, El actor sindical en la transformación del sistema financiero, es resultado de una investigación enfocada a demostrar cómo las transformaciones empresariales en el país se han llevado a cabo en detrimento de las organizaciones de los trabajadores.Introducción Las transformaciones del sector financiero y de su mercado de trabajo. Líneas de la transformación de la industria. Líneas de transformación del mercado laboral. El debilitamiento del actor sindical en el sector financiero. La reducción dramática de la afiliación. Cuadro 1: Evolución del empleo y la afiliación sindical. Cambios estructurales contradictorios. Cuadro 2: Evolución de la división/dispersión del sindicalismo. Las prioridades. Los logros y cartas del actor sindical del sector financiero. Intervención en los escenarios nacionales. El impacto de los sindicatos en las remuneraciones Cuadro 3: Gastos de personal por unidad, según presencia o ausencia de sindicatos. Cuadro 4: Reconocimiento de un impacto del sindicalismo (Dos variables dependientes de percepción y tres independientes). Cuadro 5: Influencia de la afiliación sindical, el sexo, la cobertura de las convenciones colectivas y la edad en el reconocimiento del impacto de los sindicatos en las remuneraciones. Cuadro 6: Influencia del sexo y la afiliación sindical en la importancia actual de los sindicatos. Conclusiones Bibliografí