Risk Assessment in Telephone Exchanges

A systematic framework has been developed to assess what it is that is at risk in any given telephone exchange. This critical area procedure is designed to identify high risk areas, both in terms of potential property damage and business interruption. This procedure utilizes a functionally based approach that is pictorial in presentation n and well suited to management decision making processes

Effect of Ebola virus proteins GP, NP and VP35 on VP40 VLP morphology

Recently we described a role for Ebola virus proteins, NP, GP, and VP35 in enhancement of VP40 VLP budding. To explore the possibility that VLP structure was altered by co-expression of EBOV proteins leading to the observed enhancement of VP40 VLP budding, we performed density gradient analysis as well as electron microscopy studies. Our data suggest that VP40 is the major determinant of VLP morphology, as co-expression of NP, GP and VP35 did not significantly change VLP density, length, and diameter. Ultra-structural changes were noted in the core of the VLPs when NP was co-expressed with VP40. Overall, these findings indicate that major changes in morphology of VP40 VLPs were likely not responsible for enhanced budding of VP40 VLPs in the presence of GP, NP and/or VP35

Code wars: steganography, signals intelligence, and terrorism

This paper describes and discusses the process of secret communication known as steganography. The argument advanced here is that terrorists are unlikely to be employing digital steganography to facilitate secret intra-group communication as has been claimed. This is because terrorist use of digital steganography is both technically and operationally implausible. The position adopted in this paper is that terrorists are likely to employ low-tech steganography such as semagrams and null ciphers instead

Qualitative Factors as Determinants of Continued Success:An Examination of eBusiness Entrepreneurial Firms Using the NewVenture Template

In this study, we analyze eBusiness entrepreneurs nominated by the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award program to ascertain whether qualitative factors are correlated with success. We find qualitative factors are incrementally informative above and beyond the information provided by quantitative factors. More specifically, firms that are able to maintain their innovative strategies by improving upon the product (or service) they offer and are able to meet the long-term needs of the customer are more likely to experience increased sales growth and have greater access to capital which results in a successful harvest strategy

Late-Summer Abundance and Distribution of Marine Birds in Kasegaluk Lagoon, Chukchi Sea, Alaska

Oil and gas drilling programs in the Alaska Chukchi Sea were carried out on leases offshore from Kasegaluk Lagoon in 1989-91, and further exploration and development activities in this area are likely in future years. We conducted aerial surveys between late July and early September 1989-91 to determine the distribution and abundance of marine birds in the Kasegaluk Lagoon area. We hypothesized that Kasegaluk Lagoon supported an avifauna similar to that found in other lagoon systems in arctic Alaska. In fact, the richness and diversity of bird species using Kasegaluk Lagoon were greater than in lagoon systems in the Beaufort Sea. Brant (Branta bernicla) was the most abundant species in Kasegaluk Lagoon compared to lagoons in the Beaufort Sea, where the Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) is the dominant species. Several other species or species groups, such as Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus), Arctic Tern (Sterna Paradisaea), small shorebirds (mainly Calidris and Phalaropus), and Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) were also relatively abundant in Kasegaluk Lagoon.Key words: waterbirds, aerial surveys, lagoon ecosystems, Kasegaluk Lagoon, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, AlaskaDes programmes de forage pétrolier et gazier ont été exécutés dans la portion alaskienne de la mer des Tchouktches, sur des concessions au large de l'étang côtier Kasegaluk de 1989 à 1991, et on prévoit que d'autres activités reliées à l'exploration et au développement auront lieu à cet endroit dans les années à venir. On a effectué des relevés aériens entre la fin de juillet et le début de septembre de 1989 à 1991, afin de déterminer la distribution et l'abondance des oiseaux marins dans la région de l'étang côtier Kasegaluk. On avait émis l'hypothèse que cet étang était le refuge d'une avifaune semblable à celle qui se trouve dans d'autres systèmes lagunaires dans l'Alaska arctique. En réalité, la richesse et la diversité des espèces d'oiseaux utilisant l'étang Kasegaluk étaient supérieures à celles des systèmes lagunaires de la mer de Beaufort. La bernache cravant (Branta bernicla) représentait l'espèce la plus abondante de l'étang côtier Kasegaluk comparé aux étangs côtiers de la mer de Beaufort, où le canard kakawi (Clangula hyemalis) est l'espèce dominante. Plusieurs autres espèces ou groupes d'espèces, comme le goéland bourgmestre (Larus hyperboreus), la sterne arctique (Sterna paradisaea), les petits oiseaux de rivage (surtout Calidris et Phalaropus) et la petite oie blanche (Chen caerulescens) étaient relativement abondants dans l'étang côtier Kasegaluk.Mots clés : oiseaux aquatiques, relevés aériense,écosystèmes lagunaires, étang côtier Kasegaluk, mer des Tchouktches, mer de Beaufort, Alask

10261 Abstracts Collection -- Algorithm Engineering

From June 27 to July 2, the Dagstuhl Seminar 10261 ``Algorithm Engineering \u27\u27 was held in Schloss Dagstuhl~--~Leibniz Center for Informatics. During the seminar, several participants presented their current research, and ongoing work and open problems were discussed. Abstracts of the presentations given during the seminar as well as abstracts of seminar results and ideas are put together in this paper. The first section describes the seminar topics and goals in general. Links to extended abstracts or full papers are provided, if available

Flood Routing on the Illinois River in Oklahoma

Sanitary and Public Health Engineerin

Ebola Virus Localization in the Macaque Reproductive Tract during Acute Ebola Virus Disease.

Sexual transmission of Ebola virus (EBOV) has been demonstrated more than a year after recovery from the acute phase of Ebola virus disease (EVD). The mechanisms underlying EBOV persistence and sexual transmission are not currently understood. Using the acute macaque model of EVD, we hypothesized EBOV would infect the reproductive tissues and sought to localize the infection in these tissues using immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. In four female and eight male macaques that succumbed to EVD between 6 and 9 days after EBOV challenge, we demonstrate widespread EBOV infection of the interstitial tissues and endothelium in the ovary, uterus, testis, seminal vesicle, epididymis, and prostate gland, with minimal associated tissue immune response or organ pathology. Given the widespread involvement of EBOV in the reproductive tracts of both male and female macaques, it is reasonable to surmise that our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sexual transmission of EVD and persistence of EBOV in immune-privileged sites would be facilitated by the development of a nonhuman primate model in which the macaques survived past the acute stage into convalescence