“You can’t possibly be The Witcher”
GM hypo-allergenic cats only a dream?
BoingBoing points out an update to the Allerca reserve your allergy free cat article. From the New Scientist:
Allerca’s claims that a technique called RNA-induced gene silencing can work in cats are “unfounded”, says Greg Hannon at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York state, and author of the book RNAi: A Guide to Gene Silencing. So far the technique has been used only in mice.
While it seems like we won’t be getting our hypo-allergenic cats for some time, that’s not a bad thing in my opinion. Allerca’s research has not even begun, and is not even taking place in their own labs–rather, they are outsourcing it in 2005. Why pay for a product that is not even in development? And, the ethical considerations of a modified breed are considerable, as RNA-induced gene silencing may cause defects in the animals.
Cornell Researchers solve the Falling-Paper Problem
James Maxwell in 1853 studied the motion of falling playing cards, wondering why flat surfaces do not fall straight down like other objects. Now a researcher from Cornell University has found an answer. As J. Wang explains, “Leaves and paper fall and rise in a seeming chaotic manner. As they fall, air swirls up around their edges, which makes them flutter and tumble. Because the flow changes dramatically around the sharp edges of leaves and paper, known as flow singularity, it makes the prediction of the falling trajectory a challenge” (www.physorg.com/news1630.html).
“There were a few surprises,” Wang notes. “We found the flat paper rises on its own as it falls, which would not happen if the force due to air is similar to that on an airfoil.”
See more in the Cornell Daily Sun and Slashdot.
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Next Semester’s Classes
Introduction to Compilers (COMS 412, 413)
Spring. 3 credits. Prerequisites: COM S 312 (or permission of instructor) and COM S 314. Corequisite: COM S 413.
An introduction to the specification and implementation of modern compilers. Topics covered include lexical scanning, parsing, type checking, code generation and translation, an introduction to optimization, and the implementation of modern programming languages. The course entails a substantial compiler implementation project.
Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms (COMS 482)
Spring, summer. 4 credits. Prerequisites: COM S 280, 312, and either 381 or 481, or permission of instructor.
Techniques used in the creation and analysis of algorithms. Combinatorial algorithms, computational complexity, NP-completeness, and intractable problems.
British Modernist Novel (ENGL 354)
Spring. 4 credits. M. Hite.
Virginia Woolf observed, “in or about December, 1910, human character changed.” In her (tongue-in-cheek) statement, the early twentieth century inaugurated a very different understanding of character, and a consequent shift in the emphasis of the novel. The class reads novels by Woolf, E. M. Forster, D. H. Lawrence, Ford Madox Ford, Jean Rhys, and Rebecca West, along with critical and theoretical writings by these novelists. Writing requirements include a weekly post to the class e-list and two ten to twelve page papers.
Basic Engineering Probability and Statistics (ENGRD 270)
Fall, spring, summer. 3 credits. Prerequisites: MATH 191 and 192.
This course gives students a working knowledge of basic probability and statistics and their application to engineering. Computer analysis of data and simulation are included. Topics include random variables, probability distributions, expectation, estimation, testing, experimental design, quality control, and regression.
Business Law I (HADM 385
Fall, spring. 3 credits. Open to hotel school juniors, seniors, and graduate students and non-hotel school students. Elective. P. Wagner.
Provides students with a presentation of three substantive areas of business law: contracts, intellectual property, and business organizations. Students read judicial opinions, learn to identify issues, and analyze the issues by applying legal principles.
Intro To Handgun Marksmanship & Safety (P ED 371)
Introduction to and instruction in the use of the pistol in the three modes of 50 foot competitive target shooting, i.e., slow fire, timed fire and rapid fire. Major emphasis is placed on safety resulting from a thorough understanding of the operation of the firearm and the personal responsibility of each individual on the range. Classes are 2 hours per meeting. Transportation will be provided.
This is a standard 18 hour credit load. Of course, for the next three semesters I need only take 10 credit hours to graduate, but I would prefer to go above and beyond the minimum and maximize my educational opportunity. After this semester I will need to take 2 more 300+ level English courses, COMS 381, another COMS 400+ course, and a Government, Asian Studies, or History course. That’s only 5 courses!!