Woodstock Union High School & Middle School

Scattering in turbid water attenuates optical ranging signals, limiting detectable distance. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate attenuation-resilient underwater optical ranging using a petal-like structured beam such that the detectable ranging distance is increased. The structured beam is generated by combining Bessel-Gaussian (BG) modes with two different orbital angular momentum (OAM) orders, each order contains multiple longitudinal wavenumbers (kz). This creates a transverse spatial intensity profile with a two-petal-like feature in a central region that (i) angularly rotates during propagation and (ii) has a tailorable longitudinal intensity profile. Despite scattering-induced loss, the power in the central petal region is preserved by strategically redistributing energy from the sidelobes to the beam center. The proposed ranging beam enables (i) an extended detectable distance and (ii) adaptability to tailor the longitudinal intensity distribution under different turbid underwater environments. Experimental results show (i) a ~ 13 dB enhancement in petal power at a propagation distance of 0.4 m as compared to a conventional optical ranging approach using a two-kz structured beam; (ii) an average ranging error < 5 mm across the full 0.4 m in turbid water, while the conventional beam fails beyond 0.25 m and shows an over-80 mm average error. Underwater optical ranging systems face distance limitations due to power loss caused by scattering in turbid water. The authors demonstrate an attenuation-resilient approach using a petal-like structured beam with a tailorable longitudinal intensity profile, which provides a distance-dependent center power gain to ensure accurate ranging in challenging underwater environments.

Recently, international movements advocating for gender equality and children's rights have gained widespread support. Simultaneously, we find the existence of a centuries-old tradition of the Kumari in Nepal, where young girls are worshipped as living goddesses. The research paper examines the impact of the tradition on children and women across Nepal by investigating the social and cultural viewpoints and gender dynamics embedded within the tradition. Through detailed interviews and structured surveys conducted among citizens of Nepal, the paper explores personal beliefs, generational divides, and social attitudes toward the continuation of the tradition. The findings revealed a concern for the loss of childhood experiences faced by the Kumari, specially through an educational and social viewpoint. However, despite these concerts, a significant majority of the respondents supported the continued existence of the tradition, including acceptance and adherence to the 35 physical characteristics checked during selection. By analyzing these finances, the paper reveals how the Kumari tradition explored the complexities of the modern human rights framework while highlighting the tension between cultural preservation and the evolving discourse on children's rights and gender equality.

Educação a distância constitui uma modalidade de ensino e aprendizagem condicionada pela disponibilidade de acesso às tecnologias de mediação e pelo letramento digital dos atores desse processo. O desafio de adquirir competência para utilizar as tecnologias de mediação demanda esforços que são adicionados ao próprio conteúdo educacional que é transmitido nas aulas. Auxiliar estudantes e professores no uso da tecnologia Moodle através de um robô de conversação foi uma abordagem implementada na Superintendência de Educação a Distância da Universidade Federal da Paraíba para diminuir as dificuldades com o uso da tecnologia. O chatbot desenvolvido foi capaz de atender os pedidos dos estudantes, dar suporte aos professores e esclarecer dúvidas frequentes, reduzindo assim a sobrecarga de atendimentos do suporte humano. A pesquisa deste artigo foi fundamentada com a design science e teve como metodologia o estudo de caso na apresentação das etapas e desafios no desenvolvimento da robô de conversação batizada de Dorinha. A solução utilizou o processamento de linguagem natural para o entendimento das intenções dos interlocutores objetivando reduzir o impacto das requisições e chamados destinados ao setor de suporte da instituição em que foi implementada.

India is ranked as the worst country in the world, in terms of number of people lacking access to safe water. This study examines the socio-economic inequity of India through the lens of privileged Indian respondents’ perceptions of the water quality accessible to communities of different socio-economic status. To address this aim, a survey was conducted to measure the level of social awareness around this issue among privileged Indian respondents with regards to their ratings of the safety of the water in three different communities: their own, the underprivileged, and India as a whole. Respondents rated their water quality to be the highest, followed by India as a whole, and then the underprivileged. The main reasons they offered for their ratings were: the government’s failure to set up an adequate infrastructure for piping water without polluting it and the inability of the underprivileged to afford water filters in India. Despite the gravity of the health problems that can ensue from the lack of access to safe water, the lack of accountability for the government, and apathy from the privileged residents, can be attributed to the deeply entrenched discrimination in India, which is founded upon its caste tradition and its pursuit of the capitalist agenda in the ‘90s. Therefore, it is vital that the Indian government and people take responsibility for providing safe water to all by: increasing awareness amongst all communities; provision of water filters for all, and the eventual changing of the piping system in the long term.

The main aim of the paper is to analyse the dramatic figures in “Huntig for Cockroaches” by Janusz Głowacki. The dramatic figure is a vital problem for the theory of drama and the theory of theatre. Author portrays contemporary figures, showing their existence and identities. He does it with irony and grotesque. An important problem that is posed is how emigrants try to find their place in a new society. Głowacki’s play is a reflection on wounded identity, both with regard to the human being in general and the author himself who is hidden within the characters.

The world of colored gems is endlessly fascinating. Since ancient times, colored stones have been thought to possess certain magical powers or the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. Emeralds were thought to be good for the eyes; yellow stones were thought to cure jaundice; red stones to stop the flow of blood. At one time it was believed that a ruby worn by a man indicated command, nobility, lordship, and vengeance; worn by a woman, however, it indicated pride, obstinacy, and haughtiness. A blue sapphire worn by a man indicated wisdom, and high and magnanimous thoughts; on a woman, jealousy in love, politeness, and vigilance. The emerald signified for man joyousness, transitory hope, and the decline of friendship; for woman, unfounded ambition, childish delight, and change.