The ERICA Tool is a computerised, flexible software system that has a structure based upon the ERICA Integrated Approach to assessing the radiological risk to biota. The Tool guides the user through the assessment process, recording information and decisions and allowing the necessary calculations to be performed to estimate risks to selected animals and plants. Tier 1 assessments are media con...

An efficient and well-operated network is designed so that its parts function well together. This coordinated efficiency arises from having each element of a network perform those tasks for which it is best designed. Similar to the division of labor in a human society, the division of labor amongst elements in a communications network allows them to maximize the network’s output (e.g., bandwidt...

Business processes in the global environment increasingly encompass multiple partners and complex, rapidly changing requirements. In this context it is critical that strategic business objectives align with and map accurately to systems that support flexible and dynamic business processes. To support the demanding requirements of global business processes, we propose a comprehensive, unifying 4...

In this paper, we introduce GeoDec, an end-to-end system that enables geospatial decision-making by virtualizing the real-world geolocations. With GeoDec, first the geolocation of interest is rapidly and realistically simulated and all relevant geospatial data are accurately fused and embedded in the virtualized model. Subsequently, user can interactively formulate her abstract decision-making ...

This essay surveys the need for a clear and objective definition of medical futility. It is urged that once agreement is obtained for structuring operational guidelines for determining futility, a three-tier decisional structure can be developed for testing whether a given treatment falls within the scope of these guidelines. Under the first tier, the treating physician would be given the prima...

Highlights of GAO-10-30, a report to congressional requesters Recent congressional initiatives seek to focus funds for certain federal social programs on interventions for which randomized experiments show sizable, sustained benefits to participants or society. The private, nonprofit Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy undertook the Top Tier Evidence initiative to help federal programs identify...

Changes in assessment methodology: Assessment of squids is challenging due to a lack of reliable data and their unusual life history. In this document we suggest several alternatives for calculating ABC and OFL using the NPFMC’s tier system. Tier 5 requires reliable estimates of biomass and natural mortality rate (M). Under Tier 5, OFL is calculated as M * biomass, while ABC = 0.75 * M * biomas...

The article describes parallel implementations of two parametric identification algorithms. The first algorithm is based on the estimation of Bravais unit cell parameters, and the second one estimates Wigner-Seitz cell volumes. The developed parallel implementations are based on the two-tier model of concurrency. An external tier of concurrency uses Message Passing Interface (MPI) technique to ...

Endosulfan is an insecticide-acaricide used in South Florida and is one of the remaining organochlorine insecticides registered under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act by the U.S.EPA. The technical grade material consists of two isomers (alpha-, beta-) and the main environmental metabolite in water, sediment and tissue is endosulfan sulfate through oxidation. A comprehensive...