Hurdles for Recent Measures in Eternal Inflation

In recent literature on eternal inflation, a number of measures have been introduced which attempt to assign probabilities to different pocket universes by counting the number of each type of pocket according to a specific procedure. We give an overview of the existing measures, pointing out some interesting connections and generic predictions. For example, pairs of vacua that undergo fast transitions between themselves will be strongly favored. The resultant implications for making predictions in a generic potential landscape are discussed. We also raise a number of issues concerning the types of transitions that observers in eternal inflation are able to experience.Comment: 15 PRD-style pages, 5 figures, expanded discussion of measures in Sec. II, added reference

Computerized Scoring of Results in Track and Field and Multiple Event Competitions

Recording results and scoring track and field competitions is time consuming and contains a number of areas in which errors can be made. A need exists to decrease the potential. for errors and facilitate the organization and scoring of track and field meets and multiple event competitions. Computer programs were developed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of scoring track and field competitions. Three separate computer programs were developed: (1) to assist in storing all IAAP multiple event scoring tables on computer disks, (2) select point values for individual. performances and then add total scores during multiple event competitions and, (3) to organize results and add team scores for track and field meets. The track and field meet Scoring program, Fascore - College Version, and the multiple event scoring program, Decscore, were compared to manual scoring methods. Scoring competitions with the computer programs took less time and contained fewer errors than manual scoring methods in each of four tests. The track and field meet scoring program, Fascore, is available in a High School Version and a College/Open Version. Multiple event scoring programs have been developed for the decathlon (Decscore), heptathalon (Hepscore), and men\u27s and women\u27s pentathlon (Pentscore - Men and Pentscore - Women). Scoring with these computer programs is more efficient and accurate than manual scoring methods. These programs can also be used by persons with minimal computer experience

Zooplankton and Ichthyoplankton in a Power Plant Cooling Reservoir

The species composition, abundance, seasonal cycles, distribution, and entrainment mortality of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton were studied in the Big Stone Power Plant cooling reservoir, South Dakota, from January 1979 to April 1980. Mean annual density and biomass of zooplankton for 1979 were 15.8 organisms/liter and 384.7 ug/liter respectively. Cyclopoid copepodites made up 43.0% of the mean annual number, Daphnia pulex, 15.8% and Chydorus sphearicus, 15.2%. Zooplankton density attained a spring maximum of 203.1/liter on 16 May and a fall maximum of 18.7/liter on 15 November. The species composition and density of zooplankton in water entrained by the power plant were similar to those in the reservoir. NO differences were found between dial periods of entrainment. An estimated 48,817.4 kg or 27.1% of the annual number of zooplankton entrained suffered immediate mortality from the effects of entrainment. Five species of ichthyoplankton were collected in the reservoir. The mean density was .053/m³ with a maximum density of .161/m³ in June. The intake area contained significantly higher numbers of ichthoplankton than the other areas of the reservoir. Spawning times and larval fish growth rates were similar to those in other northern lakes. The number of ichthyoplankton in entrainment water is similar to that estimated in reservoir. Lepomis spp. made up 90.5% of the total number entrained. An estimated 100% of all entrained larval fish died from the effects of entrainment

Quasi-Exact Helical Cone Beam Reconstruction for Micro CT

A cone beam micro-CT system is set up to collect truncated helical cone beam data. This system includes a micro-focal X-ray source, a precision computer-controlled X-Y-Z-theta stage, and an image-intensifier coupled to a large format CCD detector. The helical scanning mode is implemented by rotating and translating the stage while keeping X-ray source and detector stationary. A chunk of bone and a mouse leg are scanned and quasi-exact reconstruction is performed using the approach proposed in J. Hu et al. (2001). This approach introduced the original idea of accessory paths with upper and lower virtual detectors having infinite axial extent. It has a filtered backprojection structure which is desirable in practice and possesses the advantages of being simple to implement and computationally efficient compared to other quasi-exact helical cone beam algorithms for the long object problem

THE PROFITABILITY OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ON A REPRESENTATIVE GRAIN FARM IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION, 1981-89

A long-term whole-farm analysis compared conventional and low-input farming systems. Data from a nine-year agronomic study at the Rodale Research Farm, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, were used to analyze profitability, liquidity, solvency, and risk on a representative commercial grain farm. Conventional and low-input farms participating in government programs are the most profitable scenarios, followed by conventional and low-input farms not participating in government programs. All farms increased their net worth. The low-input approach is advantageous for risk-averse farmers using a safety-first criterion.Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Micro-CT Image-Derived Metrics Quantify Arterial Wall Distensibility Reduction in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Hypertension

We developed methods to quantify arterial structural and mechanical properties in excised rat lungs and applied them to investigate the distensibility decrease accompanying chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Lungs of control and hypertensive (three weeks 11% O2) animals were excised and a contrast agent introduced before micro-CT imaging with a special purpose scanner. For each lung, four 3D image data sets were obtained, each at a different intra-arterial contrast agent pressure. Vessel segment diameters and lengths were measured at all levels in the arterial tree hierarchy, and these data used to generate features sensitive to distensibility changes. Results indicate that measurements obtained from 3D micro-CT images can be used to quantify vessel biomechanical properties in this rat model of pulmonary hypertension and that distensibility is reduced by exposure to chronic hypoxia. Mechanical properties can be assessed in a localized fashion and quantified in a spatially-resolved way or as a single parameter describing the tree as a whole. Micro-CT is a nondestructive way to rapidly assess structural and mechanical properties of arteries in small animal organs maintained in a physiological state. Quantitative features measured by this method may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms causing the elevated pressures in pulmonary hypertension of differing etiologies and should become increasingly valuable tools in the study of complex phenotypes in small-animal models of important diseases such as hypertension