Getting on Track: Good Investments for Pennsylvania's Public Transit System

Provides an overview of the state's transit system and summarizes opportunities for investment in rapid transit, rail, and bus lines in each region. Includes policy recommendations

Multi-agent opportunism

The real world is a complex place, rife with uncertainty; and prone to rapid change. Agents operating in a real-world domain need to be capable of dealing with the unexpected events that will occur as they carry out their tasks. While unexpected events are often related to failures in an agent\u27s plan, or inaccurate knowledge in an agent\u27s memory, they can also be opportunities for the agent. For example, an unexpected event may present the opportunity to achieve a goal that was previously unattainable. Similarly, real-world multi-agent systems (MASs) can benefit from the ability to exploit opportunities. These benefits include the ability for the MAS itself to better adapt to its changing environment, the ability to ensure agents obtain critical information in a timely fashion, and improvements in the overall performance of the system. In this dissertation we present a framework for multi-agent opportunism that is applicable to open systems of heterogeneous planning agents. The contributions of our research are both theoretical and practical. On the theoretical side, we provide an analysis of the critical issues that must be addressed in order to successfully exploit opportunities in a multi-agent system. This analysis can provide MAS designers and developers important guidance to incorporate multi-agent opportunism into their own systems. It also provides the fundamental underpinnings of our own specific approach to multi-agent opportunism. On the practical side, we have developed, implemented, and evaluated a specific approach to multi-agent opportunism for a particular class of multi-agent system. Our evaluation demonstrates that multi-agent opportunism can indeed be effective in systems of heterogeneous agents even when the amount of knowledge the agents share is severely limited. Our evaluation also demonstrates that agents that are capable of exploiting opportunities for their own goals are also able, using the same mechanisms, to recognize and respond to potential opportunities for the goals of other agents. Further and perhaps more interesting, we show that under some circumstances, multi-agent opportunism can be effective even when the agents are not themselves capable of single-agent opportunism

The Radiochemistry of Vanadium

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86134/1/NAS-NS-3022_Vanadium.pd

In-Store Evaluation of Consumer Willingness to Pay for “Farm-Raised†Pre-Cooked Roast Beef: A Case Study

A choice-based conjoint experiment was used to examine consumer willingness to pay for a farm-raised pre-cooked roast beef product. Consumers were contacted in a grocery store and provided a sample of the pre-cooked product. Findings indicate there is a small, but statistically significant willingness-to-pay premium for the farm-raised product, suggesting that some product differentiation may result in higher prices for these products. The study outlines an approach to marketing research.beef, conjoint, convenience foods, experiments, in-store tests, surveys, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

Maine’s Technology Sectors and Clusters: Status and Strategy

The concept of “clusters” has been a key idea in economic development in Maine and other states for more than a decade. In 2002, the Maine Science & Technology Foundation (MSTF) released a study of the cluster characteristics of the seven technology sectors that were designated as the focus of attention for Maine’s research and development support programs. This study is a step towards implementing the Brookings Institution’s recommendations for an aggressive effort to build and expand clusters. It updates and expands the 2002 MSTF cluster report and also builds upon the work of Porter and others to identify distinctive specializations in Maine’s economy by focusing in much greater detail on the knowledge, skills, networks, and entrepreneurial activities in Maine that make up clusters

Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS)

Background: The pir genes comprise the largest multi-gene family in Plasmodium, with members found in P. vivax, P. knowlesi and the rodent malaria species. Despite comprising up to 5% of the genome, little is known about the functions of the proteins encoded by pir genes. P. chabaudi causes chronic infection in mice, which may be due to antigenic variation. In this model, pir genes are called cir s and may be involved in this mechanism, allowing evasion of host immune responses. In order to fully understand the role(s) of CIR proteins during P. chabaudi infection, a detailed characterization of the cir gene family was required. Results: The cir repertoire was annotated and a detailed bioinformatic characterization of the encoded CIR proteins was performed. Two major sub-families were identified, which have been named A and B. Members of each sub-family displayed different amino acid motifs, and were thus predicted to have undergone functional divergence. In addition, the expression of the entire cir repertoire was analyzed via RNA sequencing and microarray. Up to 40% of the cir gene repertoire was expressed in the parasite population during infection, and dominant cir transcripts could be identified. In addition, some differences were observed in the pattern of expression between the cir subgroups at the peak of P. chabaudi infection. Finally, specific cir genes were expressed at different time points during asexual blood stages. Conclusions: In conclusion, the large number of cir genes and their expression throughout the intraerythrocytic cycle of development indicates that CIR proteins are likely to be important for parasite survival. In particular, the detection of dominant cir transcripts at the peak of P. chabaudi infection supports the idea that CIR proteins are expressed, and could perform important functions in the biology of this parasite. Further application of the methodologies described here may allow the elucidation of CIR sub-family A and B protein functions, including their contribution to antigenic variation and immune evasion

Laddie: A True Blue Song

[Verse 1]Deep in the heart of the woodlandSat a little girl one dayHer eyes were red for folds had saidShe was always in the waySoon came a voice from behind herWho\u27s this little fairy hereCheer up little sisterLaddie stooped and kisser her, then she whispered in his ear.[Chorus]Laddie you\u27re the only one who loves meLaddie you\u27re the only one who caresNo one ever tried to make me happyYou\u27re the only one who dares(Darling Laddie Boy)Laddie you\u27re the only one who wants meYou\u27re my only, only joyGoodness how I love you,I think the whole world of you,Darling Laddie Boy. [Verse 2]Deep in the heart of the woodlandLaddie wooed his princess fairClose by his side sweet sister criedLaddie soon would not be thereInto his arms Laddie took herKissed her bitter tears awayThen his look of sadness turned to one of gladness as he heard her softly say. [Chorus