On the Multiple Deaths of Whitehead's Theory of Gravity

Whitehead's 1922 theory of gravitation continues to attract the attention of philosophers, despite evidence presented in 1971 that it violates experiment. We demonstrate that the theory strongly fails five quite different experimental tests, and conclude that, notwithstanding its meritorious philosophical underpinnings, Whitehead's theory is truly dead.Comment: 22 pages; to be submitted to Studies In History And Philosophy Of Modern Physic

An Automated Information Extraction Tool for International Conflict Data with Performance as Good as Human Coders: A Rare Events Evaluation Design

Governmen

Testing Gravity in the Outer Solar System: Results from Trans-Neptunian Objects

The inverse square law of gravity is poorly probed by experimental tests at distances of ~ 10 AUs. Recent analysis of the trajectory of the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft have shown an unmodeled acceleration directed toward the Sun which was not explained by any obvious spacecraft systematics, and occurred when at distances greater than 20 AUs from the Sun. If this acceleration represents a departure from Newtonian gravity or is indicative of an additional mass distribution in the outer solar system, it should be detectable in the orbits of Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). To place limits on deviations from Newtonian gravity, we have selected a well observed sample of TNOs found orbiting between 20 and 100 AU from the Sun. By examining their orbits with modified orbital fitting software, we place tight limits on the perturbations of gravity that could exist in this region of the solar system.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, uses AASTex v5.x macro

Social and acoustic determinants of perceived laughter intensity

Existing research links subjective judgments of perceived laughter intensity with features such as duration, amplitude, fundamental frequency, and voicing. We examine these associations in a new database of social laughs produced in situations inducing amusement, embarrassment, and schadenfreude. We also test the extent to which listeners’ judgments of laughter intensity vary as a function of the social situation in which laughs were produced

Social and acoustic determinants of perceived laughter intensity

Existing research links subjective judgments of perceived laughter intensity with features such as duration, amplitude, fundamental frequency, and voicing. We examine these associations in a new database of social laughs produced in situations inducing amusement, embarrassment, and schadenfreude. We also test the extent to which listeners’ judgments of laughter intensity vary as a function of the social situation in which laughs were produced

Foreword

The effects of invasive vertebrate species on agriculture, human health and safety, and the environment are a growing concern around the world. The number of incidents of invasive species causing harm continues to climb with increased worldwide travel and transportation of goods. The focus for many decades was on invasive pathogens, plants, and invertebrates because they can greatly affect human and animal health and food supplies. In recent years, invasive vertebrate species, such as rats, feral pigs, and feral cats, have garnered more attention because the magnitude of their impacts have been repeatedly highlighted in the media. In response, better methods of prevention, detection, and management of invasive species have been developed. For example, several eradications of invasive vertebrates on islands have been successful, although management on mainland settings is generally much more challenging

Minimizing Black Bear Problems at New York State Public Campgrounds

The black bear\u27s omnivorous foraging behavior has been both beneficial and detrimental to its coexistence with modern humans. The ability to feed on a variety of animal and vegetable matter, alive or dead, has been advantageous to the black bear\u27s survival as its range has diminished. Although black bears have an innate aversion to people, many have learned to tolerate humans to acquire easily obtainable high energy concentrated artificial foods. Human carelessness in the storage and disposal of foods within or near bear habit at has resulted in conflicts between campers and wild bears. Forest Preserve public campgrounds create a unique situation by concentrating people and food in remote forested environments frequented by black bears. The failure to effectively deal with this situation resulted in chronic bear-human problems at approximately one-third of New York\u27s Forest Preserve public campgrounds. In addition to loss of food, some people suffered property damage and a few sustained physical injuries. Alleviation of bear nuisance activity typically included attempts to capture and relocate bothersome bears. The high cost and ultimate failure of this approach led to the destruction of many bears while little long-term improvement was achieved