Book Review: State Supreme Courts in State and Nation. by G. Alan Tarr and Mary Cornelia Aldis Porter.

Book review: State Supreme Courts in State and Nation. By G. Alan Tarr and Mary Cornelia Aldis Porter. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. 1988. Pp. 288. Reviewed by: Michael C. Tolley

Absurd Vessel

Absurd Vessel is a series of multimedia paintings using themes of science fiction to explore the cognitive estrangement of mind and body through devotional imagery. These paintings provide a playful space in which earnest existential topics are expressed through so-called gay filth and deviancy and reoriented as rites of personal salvation. In this body of work, I research the various ways queer artists and writers come to terms with their spirituality while existing on the theological fringes. I extend this endeavor to cosmic cycles of death and rebirth in order to express a type of extro-science fiction, where full comprehension is just beyond reach. This ineffability parallels my former Christian beliefs’ inability to conceive of the exaltation of a queer body

Hydrothermal alteration of ash-flow tuffs in the Indian Peak District of southwestern Utah

Careful petrographic study of the ash-flow tuffs in the Indian Peak District of southwestern Utah reveals hydrothermal alteration around the fluorite veins. The alteration minerals themselves and the intensity of alteration vary with distance from the veins. Primary plagioclase has altered to secondary feldspar, calcite, sericite, and traces of epidote and zoisite. Hornblende and biotite have altered to chlorite, calcite, and secondary iron oxide, and traces of epidote and zoisite. Diopside has changed to calcite and secondary iron oxide. An overall picture of the mining district shows that certain minerals increase and others decrease as one nears the veins. Hydrothermal quartz veins and veinlets increase in concentration toward the veins. Epidote and zoisite appear only in trace and small amounts and have no particular trend of concentration. Sericite generally increases toward the vein, but decreases immediately adjacent to it. Secondary feldspar varies very little until immediately near the veins, it decreases, as sericite does. Chlorite generally increases away from the vein. Secondary iron oxide occurs only in small amounts and seems to have no particular general trend. Calcite appears to increase away from the vein. Hydromuscovite appears only near the veins. The primary mineral content decreases toward the veins --Abstract, page ii

Origami-Inspired Printed Robots

Robot manufacturing is currently highly specialized, time consuming, and expensive, limiting accessibility and customization. Existing rapid prototyping techniques (e.g., 3-D printing) can achieve complex geometries and are becoming increasingly accessible; however, they are limited to one or two materials and cannot seamlessly integrate active components. We propose an alternative approach called printable robots that takes advantage of available planar fabrication methods to create integrated electromechanical laminates that are subsequently folded into functional 3-D machines employing origami-inspired techniques. We designed, fabricated, and tested prototype origami robots to address the canonical robotics challenges of mobility and manipulation, and subsequently combined these designs to generate a new, multifunctional machine. The speed of the design and manufacturing process as well as the ease of composing designs create a new paradigm in robotic development, which has the promise to democratize access to customized robots for industrial, home, and educational use.National Science Foundation (U.S.). Expeditions Program (Grant CCF-1138967

Actively Learning Reinforcement Learning: A Stochastic Optimal Control Approach

In this paper we provide a framework to cope with two problems: (i) the fragility of reinforcement learning due to modeling uncertainties because of the mismatch between controlled laboratory/simulation and real-world conditions and (ii) the prohibitive computational cost of stochastic optimal control. We approach both problems by using reinforcement learning to solve the stochastic dynamic programming equation. The resulting reinforcement learning controller is safe with respect to several types of constraints and it can actively learn about the modeling uncertainties. Unlike exploration and exploitation, probing and safety are employed automatically by the controller itself, resulting real-time learning. A simulation example demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed approach

Object Augmentation for the Visually Impaired Using RP

We demonstrate the application of rapid prototyping technology to augment every-day objects for the visually impaired. A freeform fabricator was used to print a tactile alphabet on multiple surfaces including paper, plastic, and metal. We have identified and experimented with multiple non-toxic materials and analyzed the dimensional tolerance, repeatability, and adhesion characteristics on multiple surfaces. Printing time for 1x1cm embossed letters varied from 14 to 52 seconds. More broadly, these experiments open the door to RP applications that involve custom product adaptation to address disabilities.Mechanical Engineerin

Senior management perspectives of mathematics and statistics support in higher education: moving to an ‘ecological’ approach

© 2016 Association for Tertiary Education Management and the LH Martin Institute for Tertiary Education Leadership and ManagementThis article explores the perspectives of three senior managers in higher education institutions in England regarding their mathematics and statistics support provision. It does so by means of a qualitative case study that draws upon the writing of Ronald Barnett about the identity of an ‘ecological’ university, along with metaphors associated with the notion of organisations as living ‘organisms’, suggested by Gareth Morgan. Using these ideas as a heuristic sheds light upon the view that whilst outwardly universities appear to represent a uniform landscape, mathematics and statistics support alternatively, can be seen as different ‘species’ within the higher education system. The study illustrates how three universities occupying contrasting ecological ‘niches’ are responding to the challenges they face by providing and planning different forms of learning support for mathematics and statistics. In conclusion, it is recommended that senior managers reflect upon the possibilities offered by the idea of ‘ecological’ identities in order to explore how they might respond strategically to a rapidly changing environment. This includes adapting various solutions and the further development of innovative ways of supporting students’ transitions throughout the academic lifecycle. In addition, an ecological approach could also aid the formation of the co-creational relationships and networks required for the future success of those developments

Self-folding with shape memory composites

Origami-inspired manufacturing can produce complex structures and machines by folding two-dimensional composites into three-dimensional structures. This fabrication technique is potentially less expensive, faster, and easier to transport than more traditional machining methods, including 3-D printing. Self-folding enhances this method by minimizing the manual labor involved in folding, allowing for complex geometries and enabling remote or automated assembly. This paper demonstrates a novel method of self-folding hinges using shape memory polymers (SMPs), paper, and resistive circuits to achieve localized and individually addressable folding at low cost. A model for the torque exerted by these composites was developed and validated against experimental data, in order to determine design rules for selecting materials and designing hinges. Torque was shown to increase with SMP thickness, resistive circuit width, and supplied electrical current. This technique was shown to be capable of complex geometries, as well as locking assemblies with sequential folds. Its functionality and low cost make it an ideal basis for a new type of printable manufacturing based on two-dimensional fabrication techniques.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (award number CCF-1138967)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (award number EFRI-1240383

Self-folding shape memory laminates for automated fabrication

Nature regularly uses self-folding as an efficient approach to automated fabrication. In engineered systems, however, the use of self-folding has been primarily restricted to the assembly of small structures using exotic materials and/or complex infrastructures. In this paper we present three approaches to the self-folding of structures using low-cost, rapid-prototyped shape memory laminates. These structures require minimal deployment infrastructure, and are activated by light, heat, or electricity. We compare the fabrication of a fundamental structure (a cube) using each approach, and test ways to control fold angles in each case. Finally, for each self-folding approach we present a unique structure that the approach is particularly suited to fold, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award CCF-1138967)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award EFRI-1240383

Exploration into the hidden world of Mozambique’s sky island forests:new discoveries of reptiles and amphibians

We carried out a survey of reptiles and amphibians within Afromontane forest and woodland slopes of three inselbergs in northern Mozambique (Mount Mabu, Mount Namuli, and Mount Ribáuè). A total of 56 species (22 amphibians and 34 reptiles) were recorded during the current survey. Our findings substantially increase the number of herpetofaunal species recorded from these mountains (Mount Ribáuè 59%, Mount Mabu 37%, and Mount Namuli 11% of the total species), including one new country record and several putative new species. An updated checklist of the herpetofauna of these mountains is presented