Precision Measurement of Boron-to-Carbon ratio in Cosmic Rays from 2 GV to 2 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

AMS-02 is a wide acceptance high-energy physics experiment installed on the International Space Station in May 2011 and it has been operating continuously since then. AMS-02 is able to separate cosmic rays light nuclei ($1\leq Z \leq 8$) with contaminations less than $10^{-3}$. The ratio between the cosmic rays Boron and Carbon fluxes is known to be very sensitive to the properties of the propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy, being Boron a secondary product of spallation on the interstellar medium of heavier primary elements such as Carbon and Oxygen. A precise measurement reaching the TeV region can significantly help understanding cosmic rays propagation in the Galaxy and the amount of matter traversed before reaching Earth. The status of the measurement of the boron-to-carbon ratio based on 10 millions Boron and Carbon events is presented.Comment: XXV ECRS 2016 Proceedings - eConf C16-09-04.

HOW LANGUAGE VARIETY AND MOTIVATION IMPACT LANGUAGE ACQUISITION IN ADULT HERITAGE LEARNERS OF PORTUGUESE

Portuguese is a language rich in varieties. Some adult heritage learners of Portuguese acquire it quickly and easily, while others students display negative attitudes towards the instructor’s dialect and withdraw from classes altogether, despite both groups receiving the same linguistic input. The dearth of research on this topic begged the research question, How does linguistic variety affect motivation in adult heritage learners of Portuguese? This study used semistructured interviews with 20 adult heritage learners to provide insight into the question, and aspects of adult learning, the L2 motivational self-system, and L2 acquisition theory as theoretical frameworks. Overlapping themes of identity, ideal selves, and language attitudes related to motivation towards Portuguese varieties, as well as their profound influence on a heritage learner’s motivation and acquisition success, emerged. These results suggest placing greater importance on consideration of linguistic variety in the classroom when assessing adult heritage learners.  Article visualizations

A Glimpse into Sustainability in the Culinary Kitchen

Background: Eating sustainably has been becoming more and more popular for the general public over the past years. As chefs it is our duty to create sustainable options not only for people to enjoy, but also for the sake of the planet. This poster summarizes a few ways to achieve this taught in Sustainability in the Culinary Kitchen. Methods: To show growth of knowledge after taking this course, connections to a prior environmental science class were expanded upon. Assumptions about types of sustainably farmed foods previously held were examined and corrected, while connecting this new information to a future food venture. Lastly, food hubs, a special and inspiring aspect of the food industry, were highlighted, including Rhode Island’s own Farm Fresh. All of this information from Sustainability in the Culinary Kitchen was compiled into a poster using Canva. Results: This created an easily digestible summary on how to be a more sustainable chef; from learning about how producing food impacts the environment to learning to use local and organic foods when possible, potentially even from a food hub. The contents of this poster are meant to inspire chefs and non-chefs alike to learn about eating sustainably and apply it to their day to day lives. Conclusion: As chefs, we have the power to change how the world views and produces food for the better. All it takes is a bit of learning, and this poster can hopefully help start that process for people. Sustainability in the Culinary Kitchen was an empowering class that taught how each of us have the potential to turn the food world into a better place, and sharing this message is important for the sake of all of our futures