Cognitive Mapping and Planning for Visual Navigation

International Journal of Computer Vision - We introduce a neural architecture for navigation in novel environments. Our proposed architecture learns to map from first-person views and plans a...     

Exploring Social Norms as a Group‐Level Phenomenon: Do Political Participation Norms Exist and Influence Political Participation on College Campuses?

This research explores the relationship between campus political norms and student political participation. This study conceptualizes norms as a group‐level construct by collecting data at several universities (k = 32 universities, n = 1,389 students) where norms vary without campaign intervention. Multilevel modeling reveals that perceptions of political norms converge within universities. Further, frequency of political communication at the group‐ and individual‐level explains increases in normative perceptions. This increase is meaningful because norms at the group level were predictive of political behaviors at the individual level. This research documents the existence of political norms beyond the individual level of analysis and highlights the important role of political norms, political communication, and social context in understanding political participation.     

THE TWO-MESSAGE PROBLEM IN CIPHER TEXT AUTOKEY. PART II

This is Part II of a two-part paper on the problem of the title. In this part the analysis of the two-message problem started in Part I is completed. In addition a brief discussion is given of a computer-assisted solution. A list of twelve two-message problems involving several types of conditions is attached for the benefit of the reader.     

APPLICATIONS OF THE DRAZIN INVERSE TO THE HILL CRYPTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM. PART III.

In this part it is shown how the scalar unit coefficient a appearing in the W key formula (see Part I) can be replaced by an invertible matrix coefficient Γ. (A similar discussion with respect to the V key will appear In Part IV.) Various examples illustrate in detail the different procedures involved. Some examples in the encipherment and decipherment calculations are left as problems for the reader. The Appendix contains a proof of the main theorem.     

Elaboration of energy saving renovation measures for urban existing residential buildings in north China based on simulation and site investigations

It is necessary to determine whether to implement a retrofit measure or not based on its energy saving and economic benefits, when conducting a retrofit project. The common way to do that is to set up a building simulation model and calculate its energy saving and economic benefits. Because of the great discrepancy between the actuality and the building simulation model, it is very important to use the factual energy use to calibrate the model, so as to accurately predict the benefits of retrofit measures. Although the energy efficiency retrofit of residential buildings in north China is implemented in a large scale, it seldom knows whether the commonly used retrofit packages are optimized. Therefore, a typical residential building is selected in Beijing, and the energy saving and economic benefits of different retrofit measures are analyzed using a simulation model calibrated with its actual space heating energy use, and the optimized retrofit packages are put forward. Results shows the retrofit of space heating system is a very attractive measure due to its relatively low investment but good energy saving benefit, and roof retrofit is also cost effective, while window retrofit and wall retrofit are not economic to conduct separately. Four optimized retrofit packages are figured out to realize the 50% and 65% reductions of space heating intensity required in the energy efficiency standards, which have less investment costs compared with currently widely used packages, and the retrofit packages for the 65% reduction is more cost-effective than the packages for the 50% reduction.     

Applications of the psychotherapy phase model to clinically significant deterioration.

While previous research on deterioration has focused on identifying individuals at risk for negative outcomes, little is known about the nature or pattern by which deterioration occurs. The problem of deterioration is especially salient in training clinics; a setting in which higher deterioration rates have been reported. Two studies were designed to test the applicability of the phase model to deterioration in a training clinic and to replicate the model with a training clinic referral-base sample. In Study 1, the course of therapy was monitored for 135 clients. For the 38 clients who deteriorated during therapy, a model where increased symptoms (demediation) reliably preceded both decreased functioning (dehabilitation) and decreased well-being (demoralization) was found. In Study 2, the same three phases were prospectively monitored for 914 undergraduate students on a weekly basis throughout a single semester. For the 158 individuals who deteriorated during this time, a model where demediation reliably preceded dehabilitation, which preceded demoralization was found. These results have clinical implications for the use of tailored intervention strategies focusing on the deterioration phases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APPLICATIONS OF THE DRAZIN INVERSE TO THE HILL CRYPTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM. PART II.

The present Part II continues the discussion in Part I of the Drazin inverse as applied to the Hill system. A second type of Drazin inverse key-matrix (V-key) is treated in detail. The V-key is of a more complex nature than the W-key considered in Part I and allows for the use of a general involution. There are several worked out Examples and some Problems for the reader. The reader should have available Part I which includes a mod 26 multiplication table.     

HPLC/ESI-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry for characterization and direct quantification of amphoteric and nonionic surfactants in aqueous samples

An amphoteric (cocamidopropylbetaine, CAPB) and a nonionic (alcohol polyethoxylate, AE) surfactant were characterized by electrospray ionization quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) as to their homologue distribution and ionization/fragmentation chemistry. Quantitative methods involving reversed-phase gradient HPLC and (+)ESI-MSn were developed to directly determine these surfactants in hydroponic plant growth medium that received simulated graywater. The predominant homologues, 12 C alkyl CAPB and 9 EO AE, were monitored to represent the total amount of the respective surfactants. The methods demonstrated dynamic linear ranges of 0.5-250 ng (r2 > 0.996) for CAPB and 8-560 ng (r2 > 0.998) for AE homologue mixture, corresponding to minimum quantification limits of 25 ppb CAPB and 0.4 ppm AE with 20-microL injections. This translated into an even lower limit for individual components due to the polydispersive nature of the surfactants. The procedure was successfully employed for the assessment of CAPB and AE biodegradation in a hydroponic plant growth system used as a graywater bioreactor.