Exploring distance learning experiences of in-service music teachers from Puerto Rico in a master's program

Thesis (D.M.A.)--Boston UniversityThe purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of in-service music teachers who chose to pursue a master's degree in music education through distance learning. In this study, I examined the motivations of in-service music teachers for choosing to pursue a master's degree in music education through distance learning; the benefits teachers reported as a result of emolling in a distance learning program; the challenges teachers faced when studying in an online distance learning graduate program; and, the learning experiences teachers found significant for their profession and teaching environments. Teachers who pursued a master's degree in music education through distance learning at Cambridge College Puerto Rico Regional Center comprised the sample. The primary data collection method was individual semi-structured interviews. Results depicted that the experiences gained by in-service music teachers increased their capacity in teaching pedagogy, theoretical understanding of the field, communication skills, and capability in handling technological issues. The difference between the number of students satisfied and dissatisfied with the program was significant, with the former outnumbering the latter. The salient disadvantages reported by the sample group included a technological gap, reduced direct interaction with professors, a need for self-motivation, and a reduced practical ability between the moderators and the students. On the other hand, the primary advantage of distance learning was the convenience and flexibility of pursuing a music education degree online, which allowed the in-service music teachers to study at home and gave them the capability to balance their domestic and professional responsibilities. The participants' main reasons for enrolling in an online degree program were a desire to excel in their careers, the lack of a geographically closer option, professional and/or family lifestyles, a need for increasing academic knowledge, and a need to improve teaching capability and capacity. Recommendations are offered for leaders and institutions engaged in distance learning programs to address the challenges raised by students who have gone through the system. I hope that the knowledge gained from this study will expand both scholars' and prospective students' current understanding of distance learning as an educational model, especially in the music education field

Fuzzy inference system for integrated VVC in isolated power systems

This paper presents a fuzzy inference system for integrated volt/var control (VVC) in distribution substations. The purpose is go forward to automation distribution applying conservation voltage reduction (CVR) in isolated power systems where control capabilities are limited. A fuzzy controller has been designed. Working as an on-line tool, it has been tested under real conditions and it has managed the operation during a whole day in a distribution substation. Within the limits of control capabilities of the system, the controller maintained successfully an acceptable voltage profile, power factor values over 0,98 and it has ostensibly improved the performance given by an optimal power flow based automation system. CVR savings during the test are evaluated and the aim to integrate it in the VVC is presented.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1401.163

Mechanical, dielectric, and physicochemical properties of impregnating resin based on unsaturated polyesterimides

This work aims to characterize the dielectric and the mechanical properties of a resin based on an unsaturated polyesterimide diluted in methacrylate reactive diluents used in the impregnation of rotating machines. The broadband dielectric spectrometry and the dynamic mechanical analysis were used to quantify the changes in dielectric and mechanical properties of the network PEI resin, as a function of temperature and frequency. The network characterizations highlight the presence of two main relaxations, a and a0, confirmed by the differential scanning calorimetry analysis, showing the complexity of the chemical composition of this resin. The dielectric spectroscopy shows a significant increase in the dielectric values due to an increase of the material conductivity, while the mechanical spectroscopy shows an important decrease of the polymer rigidity and viscosity expressed by an important decrease in the storage modulus. The PEI resin shows a high reactivity when it is submitted in successive heating ramps, which involves in a post-cross-linking reaction

Multibeam second-harmonic generation by spatiotemporal shaping of femtosecond pulses

We present a technique for efficient generation of the second-harmonic signal at several points of a nonlinear crystal simultaneously. Multispot operation is performed by using a diffractive optical element that splits the near-infrared light of a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser into an arbitrary array of beams that are transformed into an array of foci at the nonlinear crystal. We show that, for pulse temporal durations under 100 fs, spatiotemporal shaping of the pulse is mandatory to overcome chromatic dispersion effects that spread both in space and time the foci showing a reduced peak intensity that prevents nonlinear phenomena. We experimentally demonstrate arbitrary irradiance patterns for the second-harmonic signal consisting of more than 100 spots with a multipass amplifier delivering 28 fs, 0.8 mJ pulses at 1 kHz repetition rate.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) and FEDER through the projects FIS2010-15746, FIS2009-09522, and SAUUL (CSD2007-00013) and the Fundació Caixa Castelló (P1- 1B2010-26)

Experimental Setup for Irradiation of Cell Cultures at L2A2

[EN] Laser-plasma proton sources and their applications to preclinical research has become a very active field of research in recent years. In addition to their small dimensions as compared to classical ion accelerators, they offer the possibility to study the biological effects of ultra-short particle bunches and the correspondingly high dose rates. We report on the design of an experimental setup for the irradiation of cell cultures at the L2A2 laboratory at the University of Santiago de Compostela, making use of a 1.2 J Ti: Sapphire laser with a 10 Hz repetition rate. Our setup comprises a proton energy separator consisting of two antiparallel magnetic fields realized by a set of permanent magnets. It allows for selecting a narrow energy window around an adaptable design value of 5 MeV out of the initially broad spectrum typical for Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA). At the same time, unwanted electrons and X-rays are segregated from the protons. This part of the setup is located inside the target vessel of the L2A2 laser. A subsequent vacuum flange sealed with a thin kapton window allows for particle passage to external sample irradiation. A combination of passive detector materials and real-time monitors is applied for measurement of the deposited radiation dose. A critical point of this interdisciplinary project is the manipulation of biological samples under well-controlled, sterile conditions. Cell cultures are prepared in sealed flasks with an ultra-thin entrance window and analysed at the nearby Fundacion Publica Galega Medicina Xenomica and IDIS. The first trials will be centred at the quantification of DNA double-strand breaks as a function of radiation dose.Projects RTI2018-101578-B-C21 and RTI2018-101578-B-C22 are funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER "Una manera de hacer Europa". Project AICO/2020/207 is funded by Generalitat Valenciana. Supports PEJ2018-002035-A and PEJ2018-002037-A are financed by AEI and "El FSE invierte en tu futuro". Additional funding is by FPI predoctoral grant BES-2017-08917 and Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu, MdM-2016-0692-17-2. Action is co-financed by the European Union through the Programa Operativo del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) of the Comunitat Valenciana 2014-2020 (IDIFEDER/2018/022 and IDIFEDER/2021/004). FPGMX-IDIS research is partially supported by the Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) funding, which is an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation partially supported by European Regional Development FEDER Funds (INT20/00071, PI19/01424, AC18/00117) and through the Autonomous Government of Galicia (Consolidation and structuring program: IN607B) given to A. Vega.Torralba, A.; Palenciano-Castro, L.; Reija, A.; Rigla, JP.; Peñas, J.; Llerena, JJ.; Contreras-Martinez, R.... (2022). Experimental Setup for Irradiation of Cell Cultures at L2A2. Quantum Beam Science. 6(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs60100101116

The Impact of Opuntia ficus-indica and Other Vegetables on Serum Cholesterol and Triglycerides: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: Cholesterol is primarily synthesized in the liver. Treatment with statins and diet regulation are commonly prescribed for people with hypercholesterolemia. Previous claims suggest that the consumption of nopal and other vegetables may have a significant effect on diabetes but scarce is known about its relationship with cholesterol and triglycerides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of nopal and other vegetables on serum cholesterol and triglyceride level in population not related with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: We analyzed a dataset comprising of students from UMAN and their relatives totaling 198 participants. Participants completed an informed consent, filled out questionnaires, anthropometric and serum lipid measurements. A semi-quantitative food questionnaire assessed the frequency and amount of consumption for 56-specific foods. We did a factor analysis with varimax rotation using 7 specific foods we were interested. We conducted linear regression analyses with total cholesterol, LDL-c, and triglycerides as dependent variables. Age, sex, BMI, body fat percentage, and consumption factors (fruits, vegetables, and grains) were included as predictors. Collinearity was assessed using VIF calculations. Results: Approximately 48% of participants consumed nopal on a weekly basis, with most considering their intake to be of median to large amounts, while only 11% reported never consuming nopal. Participants with diabetes showed higher nopal consumption [3.1 (s.e.m. 0.24) vs non-diabetic 2.7 (0.22) vs unknown 1.7 (0.28), p\u3c0.04]. A slight correlation was observed between high self-efficacy in diet and nopal ingestion (rho 0.15, p=0.02), but no significant correlations were found for fruits or grains. Regression analysis revealed that LDL-c was associated with obesity (b=-20, p=0.04) and marginally with body fat percentage (adjusted b=0.83, p=0.069), but not with any of the consumption factors. Total cholesterol was explained by age (adjusted b=0.5, p=0.002) and body fat percentage (b=1.05, p=0.024). HDL-c was marginally associated with sex (Male b=-8.3, p=0.08), while triglycerides were associated with age and obesity (overweight and Class-I, b=0.04, p=0.001 and b=0.04, p=0.04, respectively). No collinearity was found in the analyzed regressions (VIF between 0.1 and 3.4). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cholesterol and other lipid traits are primarily influenced by genetic factors, with diet playing a minor role. Nopal, vegetables, and fruit showed no significant effects on serum lipid levels in our study. A limitation of our study is its cross-sectional design, and future research could benefit from longitudinal studies with controlled amounts of nopal and other foods

Herramienta computacional para la documentación de pruebas de software enmarcado en actividades de investigación

El presente artículo describe el diseño de una herramienta computacional para la documentación de pruebas de software. La herramienta permite gestionar documentos como el plan maestro de pruebas; los planes de nivel, casos  y procedimientos de prueba; reporte de anomalías y reporte de pruebas, que hacen parte de una adecuada documentación de pruebas de software. Utilizando diagrama de paquetes  y casos de uso se muestra la funcionalidad disponible en la herramienta, la cual ha sido diseñada a partir de la norma IEEE 829