A new distribution for robust least squares

A new distribution is introduced, which we call the twin-t distribution. This distribution is heavy-tailed like the t distribution, but closer to normality in the central part of the curve. Its properties are described, e.g. the pdf, the distribution function, moments, and random number generation. This distribution could have many applications, but here we focus on its use as an aid to robustness. We give examples of its application in robust regression and in curve fitting. Extensions such as skew and multivariate twin-t distributions, and a twin ofComment: 29 pages. 5 figures provided at the end of the pape

Untangling the Web: A Blueprint for Reforming American Security Sector Assistance

Since the attacks of 9/11, the United States has spent more than $250 billion building up military and police forces around the world. From attempts to build whole armies in Iraq and Afghanistan to efforts to help Yemen or Nigeria fight terrorism, the impact of these efforts has been mixed and in some cases counterproductive, exacerbating local corruption, human rights abuses, and even terrorism.A knot of U.S. offices and agencies have evolved to provide this aid, mostly pulling in different directions.Untangling the Web: A Blueprint for Reforming American Security Sector Assistance describes the main failures in the system and sets out immediate steps the next administration can take to improve how the U.S. government plans, coordinates, and executes its security-related assistance. This would significantly increase transparency and accountability and link the aid more closely to the human rights, development, and governance outcomes that are essential to U.S. foreign policy interests and national security

Movement, Technological Mediation and Embodied Interactions, in the Education of children with autism.

The thesis offers insight into an embodied practice informed by childhood development studies, cognitive science, and pedagogy as an iterative approach to develop creative alternatives to the application of solo engagement with technologies in the education of autistic children. Through the diverse experiences enabled by the project’s dual practice and theoretical approach, this work evidences alternative ways to reflect on the education of autistic children, and reports methods that can offer the education sector ways to support children exposed to computer technologies in education through more holistic methods. The thesis advocates for an approach, developed through the practice-research method, that works with computer technologies socially, to engage children, rather than resorting to the commonly seen isolated interactions. The concept of a hybrid offers an alternative to binary, either/or, approaches to consider the role of ICT in special needs education, and instead suggests a more productive triad of approaches premising adaptation over compromise. This triad, suggests three areas of interest; autism, education and technological advances. By applying techniques such as improvisation, somatic movement techniques and participant observation, the thesis proposes a reconsideration of existing interventions in order to promote holistic development, rather than short-term temporary solutions. The practical research of one-to-one movement interactions, with autistic children, is a method basing its approach at the intersection between traditional interventions and therapies, reliant on human interaction, and more recent technological advances developing as a result of ICT use in schools. The focus on the diagnosis of autism leads the thesis to focus on themes relating to human interaction. Empathy, mimicry and touch are developed as central concerns due to their placement in literature surrounding both childhood development and movement practices. The thesis suggests how Dance and Movement practices may offer insights into adapting such engagements with technologies within the education sector. The research advocates for a hybrid model throughout the education of autistic children. It reports a body of practice-research using movement with autistic children, as the participants, that situates and explores themes of embodiment

An Archaeological Analysis of Spatial Patterning in College Dormitory Rooms

Bert Salwen\u27s (1973) pilot study of dormitory residents\u27 behavior is used to demonstrate that patterning in a modern, above-ground site can be investigated with archaeological techniques. The spatial patterning in 89 dormitory rooms is analyzed to identify the various types of territories maintained by the residents. Several sociocultural variables are then selected to see if specific spatial behavior can be linked with given attributes

Estimation of Delamination Crack Depth Using Passive Thermography

Passive thermography is used to monitor small increases in temperature resulting from delamination damage formation in a composite hat-stiffened panel during quasi-static loading. The heating is composed of two heat generation components. The first component is an instantaneous response due to a strain release during quasi-static loading. The second component is mechanical heating, at the interface of failure, due to fracture damage. This second component produces a transient rise in temperature that is a function of the damage depth and thermal diffusivity. The first component defines the thermal start time for the transient response. A one-dimensional thermal model is used to determine the damage depth. The results are compared to ultrasonic and X-ray CT data. The advantages and limitations of the thermal technique for damage depth detection are discussed

The Oregon Sustainable Community Digital Library: Built to Fill a Need

The article focuses on the launching of the Oregon Sustainable Community Digital Library (OSCDL) at the Portland State University Library in Portland, Oregon. The digital library is created to be a central repository for an access of historical planning documents within the area. The collaboration among the university, library, state and municipal agencies in this common goal has made the project more significant. Making the digitalization of vital planning reports and images from the 1960s through 1990s has been the latest goal of the project. This is in line of its vision in making information accessible regardless of physical location and off-site storage

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Skin-Stiffener Separation Using a Seven-Point Bend Configuration

Skin-stiffener separation in stiffened composite panels consists of a complex interaction between multiple scales of progressive damage and failure mechanisms. This work used a superposed cohesive element method of modeling resistance curve effects that represents the structural interface of a unidirectional tape skin and a fabric stiffener. Finite element models using cohesive elements with input properties obtained from tape-to-fabric interface characterization tests were compared to experimental results of a stable skin-stiffener separation characterization test using a seven-point bend fixture. This fixture deformed the stiffened panel specimens into a buckled configuration which induced mixed-mode interlaminar stress states at the skin-stiffener interface. The advantage of this fixture was the potential for more stable damage initiation and delamination growth compared to a stringer-stiffened panel under axial compression. Use of the superposed cohesive elements showed promise, but the characterization of interface material properties as input to the cohesive elements remains a crucial component to be investigated to ensure accurate prediction of skin-stiffener separation

Teacher Evaluation in the State of Indiana: Alignment Efforts in University Based Teacher Instruction

As teacher evaluation in the state of Indiana continues to evolve it has become increasingly difficult to prepare, expose and train pre-service teachers to the evaluation process utilized in K-12 education. While the State adopted The Rise Evaluation instrument to create a common standard of measurement, many school corporations modified, interpreted and scored each domain differently. During the evaluation process many shared themes were discovered in over 20 different school corporation evaluation instruments. In an effort to find the basis for a common assessment, a new instrument was created that incorporates these common themes. The new evaluation form has been constructed into a reusable digital template. This new instrument not only helps with teacher training but also aids in comparing University induction evaluation to each individual school corporation. This data is critical in supporting Woodrow Wilson teachers as they enter and work through Induction years. This effort will also serve as University based data collection for Teacher Education program evaluation, while also allowing for a more delicate transition into the fast paced competitive K-12 workforce

Efficient Esterification of Oxidized l-Glutathione and Other Small Peptides

xidized l-glutathione was esterified to the tetra methyl ester using thionyl chloride in methanol solvent. Other alcohols were tested and the reaction progress was monitored via ESI-MS. This procedure proved to be compatible with other small peptides not containing serine and cysteine residues. In contrast to previously reported methods this procedure provided convenient access to esterified peptides requiring no purification, extended reaction times, or complicated reaction setups