Bank profits rebound as loss set-asides ease

Banks across the U.S., including the Eleventh Federal Reserve District, appear to be recovering from the financial crisis that began in mid-2007. The news is welcome because a healthy banking sector spurs economic growth by providing financing for businesses to expand investment spending and for consumers to purchase goods and services. ; Data for 2010 show strong profit growth, with banks across the nation rebounding from a net loss in 2009 and those in the Dallas-based Eleventh District almost doubling their profits. There was also good news regarding asset quality: Problem loans are starting to moderate. And there are indications that the banking industry has grown more efficient, supporting more operations at lower cost. ; However, concerns linger about the sustainability of profits because the recent improvement can be attributed almost entirely to a reduction in what banks set aside to cover future loan losses. Banks refer to this as their provision expense, and it usually falls as asset quality improves. But there is a limit to how far it can decline and contribute to profitability.Business conditions ; Profit

The complexities of managing historic buildings with BIM

Purpose The adoption of building information modelling (BIM) in managing built heritage is an exciting prospect, but one that presents complexities additional to those of modern buildings. If challenges can be identified and overcome, the adoption of historic BIM (HBIM) could offer efficiencies in how heritage buildings are managed. Design/methodology/approach Using Durham Cathedral as a case study, we present the workflows applied to create an asset information model to improve the way this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site is managed, and in doing so, set out the challenges and complexities in achieving an HBIM solution. Findings This study identifies the need for a better understanding of the distinct needs and context for managing historic assets, and the need for heritage information requirements (HIR) that reflect this. Originality/value This study presents first-hand findings based on a unique application of BIM at Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study provides a better understanding of the challenges and drivers of HBIM adoption across the heritage sector and underlines the need for information requirements that are unique to historical buildings/assets to deliver a coherent and relevant HBIM approach

The fear of losing control in social anxiety: An experimental approach

Social anxiety disorder is often conceptualized as arising from a variety of maladaptive cognitions (e.g., attentional bias towards internal sensations, negative beliefs about the self and a fear of negative evaluation). One cognitive domain that has received relatively little attention, despite endorsement from people struggling with social anxiety, is the belief that they may lose control over their speech/behaviour and/or their physical symptoms of anxiety. This parallels similar beliefs about losing control seen in other disorders (e.g., panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder). The present study aimed to evaluate the causal role of beliefs about losing control on social anxiety symptoms in an analogue sample. Beliefs were manipulated using false feedback in a sample of undergraduate psychology students (N = 130) to induce either high or low levels of beliefs about losing control. Participants then engaged in a ‘getting to know you’ task with a confederate. Participants in the high beliefs about losing control (HLC) condition reported significantly greater anxiety just before meeting the confederate than those in the low loss of control (LLC) condition (t(128)=2.90, p=0.004, d=0.51). Further HLC participants reported significantly worse social performance than did those in the LLC condition during their social interaction with a confederate (F(1, 128)=4.19, p=0.04). Finally, the HLC condition was associated with greater perceived failure of control over behaviour during the social interaction than was the LLC condition (t(128)=2.93, p=0.004, d=0.51). Results suggest beliefs about losing control are relevant to the cognitive model of and perhaps treatments for social anxiety

African Diaspora Archaeology in Guadeloupe, French West Indies

Provides information on an investigation into the archaeology of the African diaspora in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. Use of historical cartographic data; History of French slavery at the site; Goals of the research

Sainte-Anne – Habitation Crève‑Cœur

Depuis 2004, le Dr. Kenneth Kelly (université de la Caroline de Sud, États-Unis) poursuit l’étude archéologique de l’habitation Crève‑Cœur (commune de Sainte-Anne, Martinique) dans la zone du village des esclaves. Il dirige une équipe d’universitaires américains et français et d’étudiants bénévoles plurinationaux. Ce travail représente un prolongement de ses recherches menées de 2002 à 2005 sur les villages d’esclaves en Guadeloupe. L’étude archéologique de l’Habitation Crève‑Cœur présente un..

Sainte-Anne – Crève Cœur

Depuis 2004, Dr Kenneth Kelly (université de la Caroline de Sud, États-Unis) poursuit des études archéologiques à Habitation Crève Cœur (commune de Sainte-Anne, Martinique) dans la zone du village des esclaves. Il dirige une équipe d’universitaires américains et français et d’étudiants bénévoles plurinationaux. Ce travail représente une continuation de ses recherches sur les villages d’esclaves en Guadeloupe, de 2002 à 2005. L’étude archéologique d’Habitation Crève Cœur présente un énorme pot..

Understanding the complexities of managing historic buildings through heritage BIM: a case study of Durham Cathedral

The adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the management of built heritage is an exciting prospect, but one that presents some unknowns and complexities additional to those of modern buildings. If challenges can be identified and overcome, the adoption of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM), could offer a number of advantages, including: more efficient and effective archiving, monitoring, inspection and surveying of sites; better evaluation of conditions and historical development; and more informed procurement, estimating and scheduling of interventions, particularly those that are outsourced. HBIM offers a new approach of visualising and managing historic building and estates by offering efficiency and effectiveness in the conservation, long-term management and presentation of historic built assets. The key factors are (1) the ‘parametric’ and ‘intelligent’ potential of BIM; (2) the capacity of BIM to embed non-geometric information (specifications, material properties, reports, etc. along with unique theoretical and heritage information associated with heritage buildings); and (3) the accessibility and flexibility to access and utilise the data, both graphical and non-graphical. However, despite this potential, and growth in interest, there has, to date, been little research into what Maxwell’s (2014) COTAC BIM4Conservation report highlights as ‘a specific HBIM approach that is coherent and relevant, whilst also taking fully into account the wide diversity of issues that affect the heritage’. It is from this challenge, that the research discussed in this paper aims to contribute. Using Durham Cathedral as a case study, this paper presents an overview of BIM-based workflow processes and technologies applied to improve the way this UNESCO world heritage site is managed. The paper sets out the challenges and complexities in managing the estate and provides an insight into the approach taken to capture and visualise a HBIM solution that provides functionalities that improves efficiencies compared with traditional pre-BIM workflows. In doing so, the research provides an underpinning narrative for understanding the potential advantages, disadvantages, challenges and drivers of HBIM adoption for facilities management across the heritage sector. The paper draws conclusions and areas of future research that identify the need for a stronger understanding of the culture within heritage building for managing historic assets, and identification of Heritage Information Requirements (HIR) and the unique theoretical and heritage information associated with heritage buildings, in order to deliver a coherent and relevant HBIM approach