This paper describes a system that uses evolutionary computation to evolve tower-like structures. The construction takes place in a computer simulated gravitational environment. The evolution targets the morphology; each chromosome carries structural description of the entity. Fitness functions evaluate the structural integrity and “goodness” of each individual based on indicators such as joint...

In this investigation, the performance of a tower for absorption of sulphur dioxide gas into calcium carbonate solution has been studied. The trays had no downcomer and the tower itself was a scaled down pilot from industrial equipment. The industrial scale tower was used for clean up of 110000 m3/hr gas using 40 m3/hr alkaline solution. The study was composed of two parts. In the first section...

Lasinus orientalis Yin & Bekchiev, new species, is described from the eastern Chinese provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangxi, with major diagnostic features illustrated. The new species is compared with, and distinguished from related congeners.

The multibillion-dollar trade in bushmeat is among the most immediate threats to the persistence of tropical vertebrates, but our understanding of its underlying drivers and effects on human welfare is limited by a lack of empirical data. We used 30 years of data from Ghana to link mammal declines to the bushmeat trade and to spatial and temporal changes in the availability of fish. We show tha...

PURPOSE In this study, the authors examined the influences of selected social (gender, employment status, educational achievement level) and style variables (race of examiner, interview topic) on the production of African American English (AAE) by adults. METHOD Participants were 50 African American men and women, ages 20-30 years. The authors used Rapid and Anonymous Survey (RAS) methods to ...

Cigarette smuggling reduces the price of cigarettes, thwarts youth access restrictions, reduces government revenue, and undercuts the ability of taxes to reduce consumption. The tobacco industry often opposes increases to tobacco taxes on the claim that greater taxes induce more smuggling. To date, little is known about the magnitude of smuggling in the Philippines. his information is necessary...