Learning the lessons from the developed world: e-banking security in Nigeria

In the past decade banks invested heavily in internet technology so as to engage in e-business and e-commerce activities. However, this development exposed banks to threats, such as online fraud. Consequently, there was a need to adopt security measures and controls to mitigate such threats. Banks in developed countries have developed a level of ‘best practice’ to reduce such online threats. The objective of this study was to explore the extent to which banks in the developing world were benefitting from the experiences of banks in the developed world in terms of how they address online security threats. Case studies of two Nigerian Banks were undertaken using interviews and short questionnaire. The findings show respondents perceived the level of threats to e-banking in Nigeria to be low. When adopting e-banking security controls, the case study banks placed more emphasis on the technical dimension than the human dimension. Senior management commitment is a significant barrier to adopting best practice, which is highlighted in limited financial resources being provided for new investment in training or customer education. The study concludes that senior managers need to change their perceptions and priorities towards IT security to reduce the vulnerability of their e-banking services

Coping with People’s Inflation Perceptions During a Currency Changeover

The gap between actual and perceived inflation is one of the more unexpected consequences of the euro changeover in January 2002. In this note we argue that this gap was caused by a lack of preparation and experience of the authorities to appropriately communicate with the public during the changeover. Using principles of crisis communication we identify the mistakes made and give policy recommendations for future changeovers.crisis communication, transformative explanation, perceived inflation, euro changeover

Three ages of Venus

A central question for any planet is the age of its surface. Based on comparative planetological arguments, Venus should be as young and active as the Earth (Wood and Francis). The detection of probable impact craters in the Venera radar images provides a tool for estimating the age of the surface of Venus. Assuming somewhat different crater production rates, Bazilevskiy et al. derived an age of 1 + or - 0.5 billion years, and Schaber et al. and Wood and Francis estimated an age of 200 to 400 million years. The known impact craters are not randomly distributed, however, thus some area must be older and others younger than this average age. Ages were derived for major geologic units on Venus using the Soviet catalog of impact craters (Bazilevskiy et al.), and the most accessible geologic unit map (Bazilevskiy). The crater counts are presented for (diameters greater than 20 km), areas, and crater densities for the 7 terrain units and coronae. The procedure for examining the distribution of craters is superior to the purely statistical approaches of Bazilevskiy et al. and Plaut and Arvidson because the bins are larger (average size 16 x 10(6) sq km) and geologically significant. Crater densities define three distinct groups: relatively heavily cratered (Lakshmi, mountain belts), moderately cratered (smooth and rolling plains, ridge belts, and tesserae), and essentially uncratered (coronae and domed uplands). Following Schaber et al., Grieve's terrestrial cratering rate of 5.4 + or - 2.7 craters greater than 20 km/10(9) yrs/10(6) sq km was used to calculate ages for the geologic units on Venus. To improve statistics, the data was aggregated into the three crater density groups, deriving the ages. For convenience, the three similar age groups are given informal time stratigraphic unit names, from youngest to oldest: Ulfrunian, Sednaian, Lakshmian

Coping with People's Inflation Perceptions during a Currency Changeover

The discrepancy between popular impressions of how the 2002 changeover to the euro affected prices and its actual impact is perhaps the most surprising consequence of the single currency’s introduction. Following the changeover, perceived inflation rose significantly and returned to its prechangeover level only several months later. This paper argues that people’s inflation misperceptions could have been avoided. Using principles of crisis communication, we identify the mistakes made and present policy recommendations for future changeoverseuro changeover, perceived inflation, communication, perceptual crisis

Tag Retention in Re-Introduced Species of Selected Darters in the Pigeon River, TN

The Pigeon River has historically suffered from the cumulative effect of years of pollution and hydrological alternation. TVA noted that the fish community consisted of pollution tolerant species such as gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and goldfish (Carassius auratus). During the past 12-15 years, water quality improvements have brought about the return of some species of fish. Other species have not returned on their own due to population isolation, or non-migratory behavior. Water quality improvements in the river have led state, federal, and private agencies to re-introduce several species into the Pigeon River. To assess the survival of the relocated species, a fluorescent visible implant elastomer (VIE) tagging technique was tested using a surrogate darter species (Etheostoma rufilineatum) in a laboratory setting. Fish were tagged with one of three colors of VIE and observed in aquaria for 125 days. A blue LED light and amber lens were used in conjunction to augment tag visibility. Tag retention after 125 days was 100%, and mortality was zero. Clove oil was evaluated, as an alternative to MS-222, as a possible field anesthetic. The lowest effective concentrations producing knock down times under three minutes were 30 and 40 mg/L of clove oil. Statistical analysis found no significant differences between the mean induction times of these two concentrations. The species considered for initial re-introduction were small, non-game, benthic fish. The first re-introductions were blueside (E. jessiae), bluebreast (E. camurum), and gilt darters (Percina evides). All fish were collected from area streams with similar habitat within the French Broad River drainage. Fish were batch tagged with various colors of VIE before release at one of two re-introduction sites. From 14 March 2001 through 13 March 2003 at Taimery Island and McSween Memorial Bridge, 974 gilt darters, 329 bluebreast darters, and 619 blueside darters were released. Snorkel surveys, during the summer of 2002, revealed substantial numbers of healthy gilt darters, a few bluebreast darters, and no blueside darters at the Tannery Island site. Representatives of all four re-introductions were seen. Additional snorkel surveys were conducted upstream and downstream of Tannery Island to locate fish, which may have moved from that re-introduction site. A number of tagged fish were observed in the riffle just upstream of Tannery Island. Possible blueside habitat has been identified downstream of the McSween Memorial Bridge site and will be sampled during the spring of 2003. What appeared to be a young of the year gilt darter was collected during the annual IBI sampling of the Pigeon River. It was located approximately 26.5 km (8 mi) upstream of Tannery Island. If some gilt darters have migrated further upstream, this may be an indication of successful reproduction by the transplants

Alien Registration- Coombs, C A. (Baldwin, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/33012/thumbnail.jp

No More Games: A Pronunciation Guidebook for New EFL Teachers Working in Asian Countries

Many cram schools in Asia and online TESOL certificate programs often do not include training focused on pronunciation instruction. Consequently, teachers lack confidence and skills to teach pronunciation. The area of instruction is commonly ignored, and a need exists for instructional materials designed for new EFL teachers to support their students. This guidebook is a tool for inexperienced pre-service or in-service EFL teachers who plan to teach abroad. The overall purpose of the project was to raise the level of pronunciation training for inexperienced teachers, give them confidence to include it as a part of their curriculum, and to instill a desire for them to become self- learners of pronunciation features in English and across languages. The materials were developed based on communicative teaching strategies and include suggestions for assessing, monitoring, and providing feedback to learn

Alien Registration- Coombs, Florence A. (Baldwin, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/32885/thumbnail.jp