The Canary in the Mine: Anti-Black Violence and the Paradox of Brazilian Democracy

Latin American Studie

A Comparison of Blocking Methods for Record Linkage

Record linkage seeks to merge databases and to remove duplicates when unique identifiers are not available. Most approaches use blocking techniques to reduce the computational complexity associated with record linkage. We review traditional blocking techniques, which typically partition the records according to a set of field attributes, and consider two variants of a method known as locality sensitive hashing, sometimes referred to as "private blocking." We compare these approaches in terms of their recall, reduction ratio, and computational complexity. We evaluate these methods using different synthetic datafiles and conclude with a discussion of privacy-related issues.Comment: 22 pages, 2 tables, 7 figure

Mukurtu Mobile: Empowering Knowledge Circulation Across Cultures

This project will implement Mukurtu Mobile (mukurtumobile.org), an innovative iPhone application that empowers indigenous communities to collect, share and preserve their cultural and environmental resources. Mukurtu Mobile provides a platform for individuals to bring their own knowledge base to the common concerns of local, traditional and indigenous communities worldwide. With an interface directly to Mukurtu CMS, Mukurtu Mobile will link the power of a robust, culturally responsive CMS to the direct collection of knowledge on-the-ground. Adopted by communities globally, Mukurtu CMS (mukurtu.org) was built to address the specific needs of indigenous communities to manage, share and preserve their digital heritage. From citizen archivists to citizen scientists Mukurtu Mobile will enable the connection of local sets of knowledge and data to fuel research hubs and educational environments that unite local communities around global issues such as natural and cultural resource management

Quantitative exponential bounds for the renewal theorem with spread-out distributions

We establish explicit exponential convergence estimates for the renewal theorem, in terms of a uniform component of the inter arrival distribution, of its Laplace transform which is assumed finite on a positive interval, and of the Laplace transform of some related random variable. Our proof is based on a coupling construction relying on discrete-time Markovian structures that underly the renewal processes and on Lyapunov-Doeblin type arguments.Comment: Accepted for publication in Markov Processes and Related Field

On narrowing coated conductor film: emergence of granularity-induced field hysteresis of transport critical current

Critical current density Jc in polycrystalline or granular superconducting material is known to be hysteretic with applied field H due to the focusing of field within the boundary between adjacent grains. This is of concern in the so-called coated conductors wherein superconducting film is grown on a granular, but textured surface of a metal substrate. While previous work has mainly been on Jc determined using induced or magnetization currents, the present work utilizes transport current via an applied potential in strip geometry. It is observed that the effect is not as pronounced using transport current, probably due to a large difference in criterion voltage between the two types of measurements. However, when the films are narrowed by patterning into 200-, 100-, or 80-micron, the hysteresis is clearly seen, because of the forcing of percolation across higher-angle grain boundaries. This effect is compared for films grown on ion-beam-assisted-deposited (IBAD) YSZ substrate and those grown on rolling-assisted-biaxially-textures substrates (RABiTS) which have grains that are about ten times larger. The hysteresis is more pronounced for the latter, which is more likely to have a weak grain boundary spanning the width of the microbridge. This is also of concern to applications in which coated conductors will be striated in order to reduce of AC losses.Comment: text-only: 10 pages, plus 5 figures on 5 page

Measuring Up: A Case Study of School Finance Equity Among Five Middle Schools

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between intra-district per-pupil expenditures in five middle schools in within the same school division using an equity audit. Broadly, the distribution of resources was examined. Specifically, how intra-district per-pupil expenditures influenced horizontal and vertical equity measures was explored. The questions central to this study were: (a) Does variation exist among schools? (b) What is the per-pupil expenditure by school? (c) When examining per-pupil expenditures, what differences exist? (d) To what extent does the district funding system meet the standards for horizontal and vertical equity? The history of educational funding was discussed. Then, equity in education was examined. Finally, equity audits were completed and the data were analyzed. Data were gathered from Virginia Department of Education School Quality Profiles and other publicly available sources for each of the middle schools using an equity audit format previously used by Owings and Kaplan (2010). Collected data were analyzed within and among five middle schools in the same school district. Additionally, vertical and horizontal equity was examined among the schools. The central question answers were analyzed to determine if consistent patterns could be identified. Using the data patterns uncovered, recommendations for an equitable distribution of resources were provided. Furthermore, recommendations for further research were made

Mirth Matters: Creating the role of Beatrice In William Shakespeare\u27s Much Ado About Nothing

This thesis serves as documentation of my efforts to explore and define my creative process as an actor in creating the role of Beatrice in William Shakespeare\u27s Much Ado About Nothing. This includes research, character analysis, rehearsal journal and an evaluation of my performance. Much Ado About Nothing was produced by the University of New Orleans Department of Film, Theatre and Communication Arts. The play was performed in the Robert E. Nims Thrust Theatre of the Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm on the evenings of April 23 through 25 and April 30 through May 2. There was a student matinee the morning of Friday, May 1 at 9:30 am as well as one public matinee at 2:30 pm on Sunday, May 3, 2009

Student Perceptions of Pullout Instruction

The latest movement in educating students with disabilities is pushing toward full inclusion for academic and social advantages. When considering the educational programming for a child, academic performance is only one part of the picture. Students with special education needs may already have a lower self-esteem than their peers, and leaving the classroom for services may exemplify those feelings. This study focuses on student impressions of how students are affected by special education and receive pull out instruction. Eight students, four in general education, and four in special education and receive pull out instruction were interviewed and observed in the classroom. The data show that students who are pulled out prefer to leave the classroom. The data also show that students who are not in special education do not treat the students who are pulled out any differently or look at them differently because they leave the classroom