Optimization for source localization and geoacoustic inversion in underwater acoustics

Matched-field inversion techniques are widely used for source localization and geoacoustic parameter estimation. These inversion methods correlate the received data with modeled data and find the model parameters which provide the maximum correlation. However, when a large number of unknown parameters is involved, many modeled data need to be generated and correlated with the observed data and thus, matched-field inversion can be computationally intensive. An optimization process applied to matched-field inversion is often required to accelerate the inversion process. In this work, tabu is applied to matched-field inversion for source localization and environmental parameter estimation. Tabu is a global optimization technique which proceeds by finding the best model in a local neighborhood, where a best model is defined as the set of parameter values that provides the maximum correlation in a given neighborhood. However, the search moves beyond local areas by maintaining records of past moves. Using historical information, the approach avoids certain paths. Thus, tabu limits the search space and redefines neighborhoods in each iteration. Tabu is evaluated through a comparison to fast simulated annealing. To improve efficiency, a tabu approach is also developed for parameter estimation in a rotated coordinate system. Rotation is achieved through the identification of combinations of parameters that affect acoustic field computations

A Study of Cholera Transmission

A recent cholera outbreak in Haiti brought public attention to this disease. Cholera, a diarrheal disease, is caused by an intestinal bacterium, and if not addressed in a timely manner may become fatal. During the project described here, the students will learn how to solve and address a practical problem such as cholera transmission using various mathematical tools. Students will learn to develop a differential equation model based on practical scenarios, analyze the model using mathematics as well as numerical simulation, and finally describe the results in words that are understandable by the people who are not specialists in this field. The goal of our differential equation model activity is to describe the cholera disease dynamics by a set of differential equations, find disease-free and endemic equilibrium points (if any exist), perform a stability analysis of the equilibrium points by using the Jacobian, and describe the disease dynamics by using numerical simulation. The effect of seasonality in pathogen transmission including an endemic disease as well as new outbreak cases can be added as an extension of this project for undergraduate research activities. This model is an extension of a general waterborne pathogen model

Promoting STEM Learning through a Multidisciplinary SENCER Framework at a Minority-Serving Institution

The Prospect Park Biodiversity Project was a SENCER collaboration project between the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Mathematics at the New York City College of Technology. The goal of this project was to enhance students\u27 participation and learning in STEM disciplines through a civically engaged framework. The project utilized the eco-complexity of Prospect Park Lake in Brooklyn, New York for an interdisciplinary study on the water quality. The project, which involved ten students and four faculty mentors, integrated microbiology, chemistry, and mathematics perspectives using active-learning pedagogies, including hands-on exploration and collaborative learning

Advancing Student Futures in STEM

This work reports a programmatic effort devoted to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education at a Hispanic-serving undergraduate higher-education institution. Between Fall 2015 and Spring 2020, the STEM program offered comprehensive academic and financial support to ninety-four students from five STEM majors: Bachelor of Science degrees in Biomedical Informatics, Applied Chemistry, and Applied Mathematics; and Associate of Science degrees in Chemical Technology and Computer Science. The goals of the program were to: (1) support, retain and graduate academically talented low-income and underrepresented minority students in the five targeted STEM majors; (2) establish a model for a comprehensive support system designed to intervene and provides support at critical junctures; (3) encourage the internal transfer of students from associate to baccalaureate degree programs. The program was successful 1) in providing comprehensive support structures such as financial support, academic advisement, and additional academic support, mentoring, and career counselling; 2) in increasing in the support of women and underrepresented minority students in STEM; 3) in retaining and graduating women and underrepresented minority students in STEM; and 4) in increasing undergraduate research activities by the participating STEM students. This paper describes various aspects of the program and reports on the results, using both quantitative and qualitative data. A status update on graduated scholars from this program will also be provided

Study of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Multi-Drug Resistance in Brooklyn: An Integrative Approach

One SENCER ideal is to connect science education and civic engagement by student learning through complex, unresolved public issues. Using this approach, we established a collaborative interdisciplinary project involving faculty and undergraduate students at NYC College of Technology. Over several semesters, students conducted literature search and discovered the complex factors contributing to the occurrence and transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Using microbiology data from 15 hospitals in Brooklyn, NY, they applied statistical analyses, studied the antibiotic resistance, and developed a campaign to bring more awareness of this problem. The results of the project highlight the importance of immediate action in combating HAIs and support the need for a public health campaign. Undergraduate students were provided with the opportunity to conduct research, perform scientific and mathematical analyses, and present their results. They gained better understanding of the complex interactions among microbiology, epidemiology, and mathematics that is needed to develop preventative measures and combat HAIs

The peer-led team learning leadership program for first year minority science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students

Retaining students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields has been a challenge in the United States (U.S.). More startling is the lack of diversity across most of the STEM disciplines. Underrepresented minority groups majoring and graduating in STEM are reported to be far below the national benchmark, and it is not proportionally reflected in the overall national population. To support students in STEM, New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York has designed a Peer-Led Team Learning Leadership Program (PLTL) that recruits and trains upper freshmen majoring in STEM, particularly those who are underrepresented, to facilitate peer-led workshops in foundational STEM courses in chemistry, civil engineering, and mathematics. Results showed the PLTL Leadership Program to be highly effective for first-year underrepresented minority STEM students. First-year students self-reported the peer leading experience had strongly improved their own understanding of chemistry, engineering, and mathematics concepts, and their confidence in these subject areas was significantly increased. They also indicated gains in their confidence in public speaking and in their leadership, communication, and facilitation skills

Practical Tips for Managing Challenging Scenarios in Undergraduate Research

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) has been involved in a number of new initiatives as of late, and one such project is the "Resources for Undergraduate Research". This series brings together topical information on new research methods and strategies for working with undergraduate students on a number of mathematical endeavors. This particular paper looks at how to best manage different scenarios that might arise during the research advising process. Authored by Sarah Adams and Darren A. Narayan, this document is based on solutions discussed by a group of faculty members that participated in the 2008 Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics Workshop. The five-page document discusses five specific scenarios that might occur (including what might be done if a student tends to dominate or control a group project) and offers some specific and concrete solutions to such difficulties. The scenarios discussed could occur in more than just college math classrooms, so this document is broadly relevant for many groups of educators

Supporting undergraduate underrepresented minority students for success in STEM

This presentation reports on a model for engaging, retaining, and supporting undergraduate STEM students, and in particular women and underrepresented minorities (URM), which aims at: recruitment of students in the STEM disciplines and in particular URM students; increased persistence of students; increased graduation rates, and shortened time to graduation. The model has been tested and found to be successful at an urban northeastern university in the USA that has been designated as a Hispanic-serving institution. In this presentation, we describe this model, built from support strategies that include mandatory academic advisement; increased exposure to early research experiences; expanded one-on-one faculty mentoring of students; scholarships; robust supporting peer and mentor communities; and we present some preliminary findings

A Comparative Study of Incidence of Domestic Violence between Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Women in the United States of America

Immigrant women in the USA come from various socio-economic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Some of these women suffer from domestic violence; however, due to their strict cultural or social structure, they often stay quiet and rarely report these incidents to the authorities. Additionally, since these immigrant women face more challenges than their non-immigrant peers, they are more reluctant or unlikely to leave their abusive partners. An analysis was completed using published data as an attempt to establish if any statistically significant differences exist between reported incidences among immigrant women and non-immigrant women. A chi-square analysis (χ2 = 14.53; p-value = 0.0023 \u3c 0.01) reveals that the variation of intimate partner violence incidences among immigrant and native populations is too large to have occurred by chance alone. Comparisons based on gender, marital status, and residency statuses are also studie