Eva Q. Black

Eva Black, Class of 1930, makes a speech at a Los Angeles alumni meeting, reflecting on how knowledge learned from higher education can be applied later on in life to make better decisions

An Improved Genetic Algorithm for Pipe Network Optimization

An improved genetic algorithm (GA) formulation for pipe network optimization has been developed. The new GA uses variable power scaling of the fitness function. The exponent introduced into the fitness function is increased in magnitude as the GA computer run proceeds. In addition to the more commonly used bitwise mutation operator, an adjacency or creeping mutation operator is introduced. Finally, Gray codes rather than binary codes are used to represent the set of decision variables which make up the pipe network design. Results are presented comparing the performance of the traditional or simple GA formulation and the improved GA formulation for the New York City tunnels problem. The case study results indicate the improved GA performs significantly better than the simple GA. In addition, the improved GA performs better than previously used traditional optimization methods such as linear, dynamic, and nonlinear programming methods and an enumerative search method. The improved GA found a solution for the New York tunnels problem which is the lowest-cost feasible discrete size solution yet presented in the literature

Cha: Liability in the Law of Aviation

Los actores políticos colombianos parecen estar en una competencia desbocada poremitir el discurso más políticamente correcto en educación, mientras es preocupante la correlación entre nivel educativo y cultura política democrática que muestra la Encuesta de Culturas (2007, Bogotá). Se sugiere regresar el concepto de democracia como poliarquía y reducir las expectativas de la educación básica a lo que es instrumentalmente posible: explicar los fundamentos del régimen político democrático.Los actores políticos colombianos parecen estar en una competencia desbocada poremitir el discurso más políticamente correcto en educación, mientras es preocupante la correlación entre nivel educativo y cultura política democrática que muestra la Encuesta de Culturas (2007, Bogotá). Se sugiere regresar el concepto de democracia como poliarquía y reducir las expectativas de la educación básica a lo que es instrumentalmente posible: explicar los fundamentos del régimen político democrático