Geometry of Control-Affine Systems

Motivated by control-affine systems in optimal control theory, we introduce the notion of a point-affine distribution on a manifold X - i.e., an affine distribution F together with a distinguished vector field contained in F. We compute local invariants for point-affine distributions of constant type when dim(X)=n, rank(F)=n-1, and when dim(X)=3, rank(F)=1. Unlike linear distributions, which are characterized by integer-valued invariants - namely, the rank and growth vector - when dim(X)<=4, we find local invariants depending on arbitrary functions even for rank 1 point-affine distributions on manifolds of dimension 2

Geometry of Optimal Control for Control-Affine Systems

Motivated by the ubiquity of control-affine systems in optimal control theory, we investigate the geometry of point-affine control systems with metric structures in dimensions two and three. We compute local isometric invariants for point-affine distributions of constant type with metric structures for systems with 2 states and 1 control and systems with 3 states and 1 control, and use Pontryagin's maximum principle to find geodesic trajectories for homogeneous examples. Even in these low dimensions, the behavior of these systems is surprisingly rich and varied

A Comparison of Chronic and Transient Loneliness on the Variables of Anxiety, Depression and Self-Esteem.

This study sought to determine whether chronic and transient loneliness are meaningful distinctions in loneliness research and to provide data to guide future investigations. To do this, the study differentiated people who reported chronic loneliness from those who reported transient or no experience with loneliness and compared them on the characteristics of trait anxiety, self-esteem, and depression. The subjects were 281 student volunteers, ages 18 to 25, who were enrolled in undergraduate psychology classes at Louisiana State University. Subjects categorized themselves as chronically lonely, transiently lonely, or never lonely on the Personal History of Loneliness Questionnaire (PHOL). Current loneliness was assessed with the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Subjects were classified on the basis of these two instruments into four groups reflecting loneliness history and presence or absence or current loneliness. Chronically lonely people were found to have higher levels of trait anxiety and were more likely to be mildly to moderately depressed than transiently lonely individuals. Chronically and transiently lonely individuals did not differ on self-esteem, although they had lower self-esteem than the nonlonely people. Greatest self-esteem was found among the never lonely. The results of this study provided additional support for the conclusion that chronic and transient loneliness are two different types of loneliness and suggested a number of important leads for future research in this area

Incorporating Song and Pneumonic Devices into Learning a Foreign Language

Teachers of foreign language often use strict drill tactics with students. In order to better engage and motivate my students to achieve high results when acquiring the French language, I focused on incorporating authentic French music and pneumonic devices. This study was completed using a qualitative self-study approach and included varying data collection methods such as finding popular French music, talking with French native speakers, collecting student work, and gathering student opinions on music. I discovered using music within lessons engages students in the language of French, creates a personal and meaningful connection for students with the language, and builds upon the universal appeal of music. In addition, pneumonic devices help students learn important concepts and commit them to memory. I found the power of rhyme is greater than spoken word alone. For teachers of a foreign language, this study provides support for using pneumonic devices and music in the target language within the classroom. In the future, I will continue to incorporate the use of authentic music and pneumonic devices within the lessons

Conservation Evaluation of the Pacific Population of Tall Woolly-heads, Psilocarphus elatior, an Endangered Herb in Canada

In Canada, Psilocarphus elatior occurs in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. This paper examines the status of the Pacific populations located on southeastern Vancouver Island in southwestern British Columbia. The Pacific population consists of 12 recorded sites of which only five have been confirmed since 1993. In British Columbia, P. elatior is associated with dried beds of vernal pools and other open, moist depressions at lower elevations. In British Columbia, P. elatior populations occur in large numbers at only two of the seven locations

Induction......

Inductive Reasonin

Novel Prostate Cancer Biomarkers Derived from Autoantibody Signatures

AbstractBACKGROUND: Due to the low specificity of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay and a high false positive rate, a large number of prostate cancer (PCA) biopsies are performed unnecessarily. Consequently, there is a need for new biomarkers that can identify PCA at any stage of progression while limiting the number of false positives. The use of autoantibody signature–developed biomarkers has proven to be an effective method to solve this problem. RESULTS: Using T7 phage–peptide detection, we identified a panel of eight biomarkers for PCA on a training set. The estimated receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve had an area under the ROC curve of 0.69 when applied to the validation set. Spearman correlations were high, within 0.7 to 0.9, indicating that the biomarkers have a degree of inter-relatedness. The identified biomarkers play a role in processes such as androgen response regulation and cellular structural integrity and are proteins that are thought to play a role in prostate tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Autoantibodies against PCA can be developed as biomarkers for detecting PCA. The scores from the algorithm developed here can be used to indicate a relative high or low risk of PCA, particularly for patients with intermediate (4.0 to 10 ng/ml) PSA levels. Since most commercially available assays test for PSA or have a PSA component, this novel approach has the potential to improve diagnosis of PCA using a biologic measure independent of PSA

Two photon absorption and photo-induced polymerization in partially polymerized crystals of polydiacetylene poly 4,6-dodecadiyn-1,10-diol-bis(n-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane)

We investigated the validity of noninteracting molecular chain theories for fully polymerized polydiacetylene crystals by measuring the two photon absorption spectrum of poly[4,6-dodecadiyn-1,10-diol-bis(n-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane)] chains isolated in their monomer matrix and comparing the results to those obtained previously from polydiacetylene single crystals. Data were taken over 800-940 nm using Z-scan and the measurements were found to be consistent with previously measured results in polydiacetylene single crystal poly[bis(p-toluene sulfonate) of 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol], indicating the validity of the isolated molecule theoretical approach. We also report a low photo-induced polymerization threshold

Two photon absorption and photo-induced polymerization in partially polymerized crystals of polydiacetylene poly 4,6-dodecadiyn-1,10-diol-bis(n-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane)

We investigated the validity of noninteracting molecular chain theories for fully polymerized polydiacetylene crystals by measuring the two photon absorption spectrum of poly[4,6-dodecadiyn-1,10-diol-bis(n-butoxycarbonylmethylurethane)] chains isolated in their monomer matrix and comparing the results to those obtained previously from polydiacetylene single crystals. Data were taken over 800-940 nm using Z-scan and the measurements were found to be consistent with previously measured results in polydiacetylene single crystal poly[bis(p-toluene sulfonate) of 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol], indicating the validity of the isolated molecule theoretical approach. We also report a low photo-induced polymerization threshold

Differences between Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders: Rural Social Work Implications for Prevention, Assessment and Treatment

This literature review examined nine quantitative research studies published between 1992-2013 that compared children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to identify: (a) the differences between these children (e.g., intellectual, behavioral); and (b) the diagnostic tools that may be used to distinguish between them, thereby providing a differential diagnosis. Special focus was placed on rural treatment implications. These studies revealed differences between the intellectual, executive functioning, adaptive behavior, motor, and behavioral skills of children with FASD and ADHD. This review identified neurodevelopmental assessments used in these nine research studies that appear to support learning and behavior differences between children with FASD and ADHD. Implications for prevention, assessment, and mental health treatment in rural social work practice are offered