A Modern Natural Theology?

The author examines two different traditions of nineteenth-century natural theology and their reappearance in a modern work. Michael Denton\'s Nature\'s Destiny is used as an example of modern natural theology, showing how current writers attempt to resurrect the classical arguments of William Paley and William Whewell. The stance taken here is that, due to the heavily historical character of Foley\'s and Whewell\'s work, it is inappropriate to use their traditions uncritically as windows into religious understandings of science

Algae and Biodiesel: Patenting Energized as Green Goes Commercial

In the twenty-first century, predominant dependence on fossil fuels as energy resources will not be sustainable. Developing and commercializing green energy innovations will be an essential component of the transition to a more diversified energy economy. Algal biodiesel is one of the most promising green fuels because of its potential as a renewable and sustainable fuel source without displacing food crops. Algal biodiesel research and development are necessary early steps towards a transition to a green energy economy. The strategic use of strong patent portfolios will drive this by attracting investment, incentivizing innovation and accelerating commercialization. Whereas algal biodiesel research and development is largely still early stage, this will rapidly change as aggressive investments and government subsidies facilitate economically competitive algal biodiesel to enter the energy market. Algal domestication, improvement and industrial utilization for biodiesel production will therefore inevitably create value, leading to increased assertion of property rights, of which intellectual property rights in the form of patents are fundamental. This article provides a summary of representative patents and patent applications in the algal biodiesel technology space and their commercial applications

A stochastic volatility Libor model and its robust calibration

In this paper we propose a Libor model with a high-dimensional specially structured system of driving CIR volatility processes. A stable calibration procedure which takes into account a given local correlation structure is presented. The calibration algorithm is FFT based, so fast and easy to implement.Libor modelling, stochastic volatility, CIR processes, calibration

Characteristics, sexual behaviour and risk factors of female, male and transgender sex workers in South Africa

Background. In South Africa, information on sex workers' characteristics, sexual behaviour and health needs is limited. Current social, legal and institutional factors impede a safe working environment for sex workers and their clients. Objectives. To describe characteristics and sexual behaviour of female, male and transgender sex workers, and assess their risk factors for unprotected sex. Methods. Repeat cross-sectional surveys among sex workers were conducted in Hillbrow, Sandton, Rustenburg and Cape Town in 2010. Sex workers were interviewed once; any re-interviews were excluded from analysis. Unprotected sex was defined as any unprotected penetrative vaginal or anal sex with last two clients. Results. Trained sex worker-research assistants interviewed 1 799 sex workers. Sex work was a full-time profession for most participants. About 8% (126/1 594) of women, 33% (22/75) of men, and 25% (12/50) of transgender people had unprotected sex. A quarter of anal sex was unprotected. Unprotected sex was 2.1 times (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 95% CI 1.2 - 3.7; p=0.011) more likely in participants reporting daily or weekly binge drinking than non-binge drinkers. Male sex workers were 2.9 times (AOR, 95% CI 1.6 - 5.3; p<0.001) more likely, and transgender people 2.4 times (AOR, 95% CI 1.1 - 4.9; p=0.021) more likely, than females to have unprotected sex. Sex workers in Hillbrow, where the only sex work-specific clinic was operational, were less likely to have unprotected sex than those in other sites. Conclusion. Tailored sex work interventions should explicitly include male and transgender sex workers, sex work-specific clinics, focus on the risks of unprotected anal sex, and include interventions to reduce harm caused by alcohol abuse

Chasing Target Zero: Contributing Factors of Fatal Crashes in South Carolina

South Carolina consistently ranks in the top-10 in fatal crashes per 100,000 capita and 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This thesis summarizes an analysis of contributing factors for fatal crashes in South Carolina. A primary objective of this thesis is to investigate differences in contributing factors for fatal crashes as compared to all crashes in South Carolina. 2018 South Carolina fatal crashes (N=970) and all crashes (N=152,973) were analyzed and compared using classic Venn diagrams to compare differences in contributing factors between fatal crashes and all crashes. Fatal, non-fatal, and all crashes were aggregated into one of seven possible contributing categories based on crash contributing factor assignment as either driver, environment, vehicle, or a combination thereof. The data showed that the driver contributes to 94.9% of all crashes, which is like findings from earlier studies. An interesting finding of this research is that only 83.6% of fatal crashes had a driver contribution. Even more interesting, the contribution from environmental factors increased from 18.1% in all crashes to 49.6% in fatal crashes. Odds Ratios were used to quantify the strength of associations between fatal crashes and non-fatal crashes for specific contributing factors associated with the aggregated contributing factor categories. From these Odds Ratios, it was found that non-motorist contributing factors have a disproportionate association with fatal crashes compared to non-fatal crashes. Fixed objected related crashes were also found to have significant odds ratios values as well. Also, 2020 South Carolina fatal crash data (N=960) and all-crash data (N=133,189) were analyzed to compute Odds Ratios in comparison to 2018 South Carolina crash data to quantify the changes in fatal crash contributing factors considering the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings will be useful to South Carolina officials as statewide countermeasure plans are developed and implemented to ultimately help achieve the mission of “Target Zero,” which is to eliminate fatalities on South Carolina’s roadways

The Loyal West: Civil War And Reunion In Middle America

Interview with Matthew Stanley, author of The Loyal West: Civil War and Reunion in Middle America Interviewed by Tom Barber CWBR: Today the Civil War Book Review is pleased to speak with Matthew E. Stanley, assistant professor of history at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. Today ...

A Primal-Dual Method for Optimal Control and Trajectory Generation in High-Dimensional Systems

Presented is a method for efficient computation of the Hamilton-Jacobi (HJ) equation for time-optimal control problems using the generalized Hopf formula. Typically, numerical methods to solve the HJ equation rely on a discrete grid of the solution space and exhibit exponential scaling with dimension. The generalized Hopf formula avoids the use of grids and numerical gradients by formulating an unconstrained convex optimization problem. The solution at each point is completely independent, and allows a massively parallel implementation if solutions at multiple points are desired. This work presents a primal-dual method for efficient numeric solution and presents how the resulting optimal trajectory can be generated directly from the solution of the Hopf formula, without further optimization. Examples presented have execution times on the order of milliseconds and experiments show computation scales approximately polynomial in dimension with very small high-order coefficients.Comment: Updated references and funding sources. To appear in the proceedings of the 2018 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Application

The Success of Establishing Legislative Commissions to Address Complex and Critical Needs: Examining the Early Recommendations and Outcomes of the Commission on School Construction and Modernization

The 2020 creation of the Virginia Commission on School Construction and Modernization proved to be a pivotal moment in addressing the longstanding issue of school construction and modernization in the state. With $1.25 billion in new resources allocated for school divisions in 2022, including an increased Literary Fund and a flexible formula-based grant, legislators took decisive action to support school infrastructure. The creation of the School Construction Fund and School Construction Assistance Program, with ongoing funding provided through taxes on casino revenues, marked a significant step forward in providing ongoing resources for school projects. Despite several successful legislative outcomes, some proposals—such as the 1% sales tax authorization for localities and further financial investments in 2023—faced challenges and were not enacted. Nevertheless, the 2022 session left a lasting impact on the education landscape, prompting bipartisan support for continued progress. The Commission on School Construction and Modernization played a vital role in shaping these advancements, guiding policy makers in making informed decisions and bolstering the state\u27s commitment to improving learning environments for all students. The path paved by the Commission offers hope for further investments and reforms in the future, positioning Virginia as a leader in supporting education infrastructure

The War That Forged a Nation: Why the Civil War Still Matters

The Civil War’s Long Shadow Coming on the heels of social unrest in St. Louis County and released amid galvanized debate over the Confederate battle flag, James M. McPherson’s question of “why the Civil War still matters might seem self-evident. But there is nothing obvious about the dep...