Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Utah: An Analysis of Wildlife Road Mortality Hotspots, Economic Impacts and Implications for Mitigation and Management

In the US, the roaded landscape has had serious ecological effects. We studied wildlife-vehicle collisions occurring on the 248 state routes in Utah from 1992 to 2002. We tracked trends and patterns in deer-vehicle collisions, evaluated all routes for frequency of deer kills, and identified hotspots ( segments of road with high concentrations of collisions per mile). We found pronounced patterns: e.g., 61.15% of all collisions occurred on only 10 routes. We studied the effects of posted speed limit and annual average daily traffic flow and found that no relationship existed between traffic volume and/or posted speed limit and the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions that occurred. We put the economic costs associated with wildlife vehicle collisions into a public safety perspective and confirmed that associated costs, damage, injuries, and loss of resources are significant aspects of DVCs that require attention and justify mitigation

Locations of Deer–Vehicle Collisions are Unrelated to Traffic Volume or Posted Speed Limit

Consensus is lacking regarding the influence of vehicle speed and traffic volume on deer–vehicle collision (DVC) rates. Yet, annual average daily traffic fl ow (AADT) and posted speed limit (PSL) typically are used to measure these variables. To resolve this conflict, we studied the effects of traffic volume and vehicle speed on DVCs in Utah. Our results showed no relationship between AADT or PSL and DVC occurrence. There are at least 3 explanations for our results: (1) no causal relationship exists; (2) AADT and PSL, as measured, actually explain little of the variation; and (3) data quality problems exist. We discuss the likelihood for each explanation. We argue that even though traffic speed and volume have been used to predict DVC occurrence and may be useful explanatory variables, the metrics AADT and PSL are poor surrogate variables. Thus, uses of these variables to predict risk will likely provide unreliable results

Deer-Vehicle Crash Hotspots in Utah: Data for Effective Mitigation

Animal-vehicle collisions and their associated ecological impacts have been reported since at least the early 1920s and continue to be of national and international concern today. Over 1 million deer-vehicle crashes may occur each year in the United States. On average, ~2,300 deer are reported killed on Utah highways each year. Reported numbers of deer-vehicle collisions may be conservative because only from ½ to 1/6 of deer vehicle collisions that occur are actually reported to authorities. The number of wildlife-vehicle collisions continues to grow with increasing urban and suburban development, growing numbers of vehicle miles traveled per year (VMT), and an expanding road network. Utah is accessed and divided by ~9500 km (~5,900 miles) of state routes and ~56,327 km (~35,000 miles) of city and county roads that are being used by a growing number of drivers. From 1990 to 2001 (the most current data available), the number of licensed drivers in the state increased 43%, from 1,046,106 to 1,495,887. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) increased from \u3e14 million to \u3e23 million (60.1%) over the same time period (Bureau of Transportation Statistics 2004). In addition, the population of Utah increased by 29.6% (510,319 people) from 1990-2000 and is projected to continue with an estimated increase of 554,401 people (24.8%) from 2000 to 2010. As the population increases, it is expected that licensed drivers and vehicle miles traveled will also grow, making the issue of animal vehicle collisions an ever larger safety and conservation priority

An Investigation of the Accounting Information and Its Role for Capital Expenditure Decisions in the Industrial Companies Listed in Amman Stock Exchange

The study has dealt with accounting information, and its definition as well as its importance. It's aimed to investigate the role of accounting information in making decisions in capital expenditure to industrial companies listed in Amman Stock Exchange. Thus to achieve this goal, the researchers were distributed a questionnaire to a sample of (70) the industrial companies. The researchers have used the necessary groups of statistical methods are available in the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS), to achieve the results of the study.An important result of the study, was apparent, that having a statistically significant effect of the three types of accounting information and of (About the expected cash flows at the end of the term of the asset investment, and information cash inflows and outflows, and information cash outflows (tax)). In capital expenditure decisions, and increase awareness of the departments of industrial companies and contribute to awareness of the role of accounting information will contribute significantly to the upgrading and advancement of capital expenditure decisions in the companies mentioned. The main recommendation reached by this study was the continuation of the industrial companies for using accounting information such as expected cash flows at the end of the life of the asset, information of cash outflows (taxes), and the annual cash flow information, which become of their significant impact on capital expenditure decisions. Keywords: Accounting information, decisions capital expenditure, industrial companies

Studying Relationship between the Approach of Business Reengineering and Performance "An Empirical Study on Food Companies Listed at the Amman Stock Exchange" )

In Jordan, the changing dynamics of the industrial companies in general and food industry specially, forced players at all levels to re-engineering their business companies. This research aims to study the response and support food companies to the concept of business re-engineering. To measure the extent of support managements to apply the concept of re-engineering, the extent of availability requirements for the application of process re-engineering, and, to measure the extent of the application of re-engineering processes and its impact on the financial performance of food companies listed at the Amman Stock Exchange.The researchers studied the intellectual frame and scientific rooting for business reengineering to achieve study objectives. They have designed a questionnaire aimed to execute of the study problem variables in order to test hypotheses. The research suggested the following results: application of re-engineering have benefits for companies that are applied. It could improving their competitive, increasing market share, productions, efficiency, and cost reduction. There are a statistically significant relationship in the attitudes of the study sample towards the response and support management of companies, the availability of requirements of the application, and the impact of the application of business re-engineering to the performance on food companies. It recommended that reengineering process remains effective tools for companies needing to operate as effectively and efficiently. Companies are required to reengineering their business processes in order to achieve best performance and growth. Keywords:  Business Process, Business Process Re-engineering (BPR), Companies Performance, Information Technology, Evaluation Process

The Importance of Fair Value Accounting to Information Quality on Financial Statements (Field Study of Jordanian Commercial Banks)

The study aimed to identify the importance of the application of fair value accounting on the quality of financial statements to Jordanian commercial banks information. How is expand of the application of accounting fair value to the latest accounting standards used. To achieve this goal the researchers develop a questionnaire for that.  Main findings of this study; the study showed that the more the quality of accounting information elements affected at fair value are appropriate. It was found through a field study that there is a significant impact of the application of fair value accounting and the appropriateness of the accounting information contained in the financial statements of commercial banks listed in ASE. One of the main recommendations of the study are: to listed in ASE commercial banks focus on the appropriateness of accounting information to investors and decision makers because of the impact on the decisions of investors and senior management in making investment decisions and administrative rational. In addition, when the issuance of the financial statements of commercial banks should be these lists are able to give useful and relevant information to help shareholders and investors make appropriate investment decisions. The commercial banks commitment to accounting and financial standards in the preparation of its financial statements because it is considered essentially very important to show the characteristics and quality of accounting information to the financial statements are appropriate and reliable, and committed bank provisions and laws set by the Central Bank of Jordan. Keywords: Fair value accounting, Quality of information, Jordanian commercial banks

The Innovative Approach for Accounting and Accountability of Government Revenues in Iraq

This study indicates that accountability of government revenue procedures are sufficient, adequate,  and well developed and illustrates new control bodies that parliament has created (such as the Commission of Integrity) in addition to the Board of Supreme Audit (BSA)  to fight financial and managerial corruption.  It covers both theoretical and empirical aspects. The theoretical side includes literature review, defining the accountability, audit of revenues, performance audit, taxation policy, and the sources of governmental income. While the empirical side includes studying the economic influence of government revenues in Iraq, different sources of government income, governmental control bodies, and the auditing procedures used by the BSA.This research considers how the contribution of oil revenue and tax revenues can be measured. It shows that the Iraqi Government depends almost totally on oil revenues (about 93% in 2012). The situation has deteriorated since 2003, when Iraq was first occupied, in spite of increased revenue from taxation.The Study highlights that the State should increase its role from different organizations to control all expenditures and develop revenue streams in other sectors. Although there is an emphasis on financial and budgetary measures for financial accountability, the use of non-financial measures in determining outcome accountability is increasing. Keywords: Government, Revenues, Accountability, Audit, Control Bodies, Innovation

A Pyrene Maleimide with a Flexible Linker for Sampling of Longer Inter-Thiol Distances by Excimer Formation

Pyrene-containing compounds are commonly used in a number of fluorescence-based applications because they can form excited-state dimers (excimers) by stacking interaction between excited-state and ground-state monomers. Their usefulness arises from the facts that excimer formation requires close proximity between the pyrenes and that the excimer emission spectrum is very different from that of the monomers. One of many applications is to assess proximity between specific sites of macromolecules labeled with pyrenes. This has been done using pyrene maleimide, a reagent that reacts with reduced thiols of cysteines, but its use for structural studies of proteins has been rather limited. This is because the introduction of two cysteines at sufficiently close distance from each other to obtain excimer fluorescence upon labeling with pyrene maleimide requires detailed knowledge of the protein structure or extensive site-directed mutagenesis trials. We synthesized and tested a new compound with a 4-carbon methylene linker placed between the maleimide and the pyrene (pyrene-4-maleimide), with the aim of increasing the sampling distance for excimer formation and making the use of excimer fluorescence simpler and more widespread. We tested the new compound on thiol-modified oligonucleotides and showed that it can detect proximity between thiols beyond the reach of pyrene maleimide. Based on its spectroscopic and chemical properties, we suggest that pyrene-4-maleimide is an excellent probe to assess proximities between cysteines in proteins and thiols in other macromolecules, as well as to follow conformational changes

Knowledge about stroke among adults in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Background: In UAE, stroke is the second leading cause of disability after RTA, where annually 8,000 to 10,000 patients get a stroke. Our aim is to identify the knowledge levels of stroke among Sharjah’s adult citizens.Methods: Using self-administered questionnaires, in a cross-sectional design, a non-probability convenience sampling method was used to enrol subjects. Eligible subjects were above 18 years of age, comprehended Arabic or English, and are currently residing in Sharjah. The questionnaire was 17 questions structured in 5 sections which included: demographics, general knowledge, knowledge of signs and symptoms, risk factors, and appropriate response towards stroke. SPSS V.22 was used to analyse the data. Percentages, means, and ANOVA were used. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results: The study included 426 subjects, mean age was 35.1 years, 65.2% were females. 51.8% of the subjects claimed they know what stroke is, out of whom 24.3% provided incorrect descriptions. The mean knowledge level of signs and symptoms was 55.4%, and of risk factors was 40.6%. Visual disturbance was the least identified of the five signs and symptoms (38.0%). Female gender, African American race, and age above 60, were the least identified of the 8 risk factors (4.7%, 3.5%, 19.8% respectively). Better knowledge was associated with increased age and higher education. Conclusion: The majority of the sample showed an average to low level of knowledge. Such results indicate the importance of implementing more awareness programs that target younger age groups in the community