Risk reduction in a project portfolio

The positive impacts of managing projects as a portfolio are quantified by comparing the value of the integrated risk of a project portfolio and the aggregation of single project risks implemented separately. Firstly, the integrated risk is defined by proposing risky events based on set theory. Secondly, as projects interact with each other in a project portfolio, the integrated risk is evaluated by using a Bayesian network structure learning algorithm to construct an interdependent network of risks. Finally, the integrated risk of a practical case is assessed using this method, and the results show that the proposed method is an effective tool for calculating the extent of risk reduction of implementing a project portfolio and identifying the most risky project, so as to assist companies in making comprehensive decisions in the phase of portfolio selection and portfolio controlling.     

Network Motif Detection： Algorithms, Parallel and Cloud Computing,and Related Tools

Network motif is defined as a frequent and unique subgraph pattern in a network, and the search involves counting all the possible instances or listing all patterns, testing isomorphism known as NP-hard and large amounts of repeated processes for statistical evaluation. Although many efficient algorithms have been introduced, exhaustive search methods are still infeasible and feasible approximation methods are yet implausible.Additionally, the fast and continual growth of biological networks makes the problem more challenging. As a consequence, parallel algorithms have been developed and distributed computing has been tested in the cloud computing environment as well. In this paper, we survey current algorithms for network motif detection and existing software tools. Then, we show that some methods have been utilized for parallel network motif search algorithms with static or dynamic load balancing techniques. With the advent of cloud computing services, network motif search has been implemented with MapReduce in Hadoop Distributed File System(HDFS), and with Storm, but without statistical testing. In this paper, we survey network motif search algorithms in general, including existing parallel methods as well as cloud computing based search, and show the promising potentials for the cloud computing based motif search methods.     

Flora of the Lee Creek valley, Alberta

The floristic composition of the Lee Creek valley in southwestern Alberta, Canada, is presented. The valley flora consists of 299 species of vascular plants representing 173 genera and 46 families. The flora is dominated by forbs (73 percent), followed by grasses (24 percent), shrubs (12 percent), and trees (11 percent). The valley of Lee Creek is divided into upper and lower sections on the basis of elevational, climatic, and biotic differences. Floristic richness of the Lee Creek valley is quite evenly divided between the upper and lower valleys: 105 species limited to the upper valley, 95 to the lower valley, and 99 species shared by both upper and lower valleys.     

Records of the northern grasshopper mouse ( Onychomys leucogaster ) in western Iowa

In Iowa, the northern grasshopper mouse ( Onychomys leucogaster ) previously was known only from the northwestern part of the state. Herein, we report records of O. leucogaster from the 1970s and 1980s that extend its distribution into west-central and southwestern Iowa. These records may represent dispersal movements into these parts of Iowa by southward movements from populations in northwestern Iowa or they may represent eastward movements of individuals from Nebraska prior to channelization of the Missouri River.     

Local cytoplasmic calcium gradients in living mitotic cells

Cytoplasmic free calcium has been proposed as a regulator of many microtubule-mediated processes, including mitosis. It has been difficult to test this hypothesis because methods for local measurement of free Ca2+ in the living cell have not been available. We have used the fluorescent calcium indicator dye Quin-2 (methoxyquinoline-1bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N' -tetra acetic acid), which allows such observations to be made by digital processing of fluorescent images from the light microscope. Here we report the application of this technique to the study of local Ca2+ concentrations in mitotic endosperm cells of Haemanthus sp., and show that there is transient increase in free Ca2+ at the mitotic spindle poles during anaphase. This locally high Ca2+ may provide a mechanism for the regional control of microtubules and other cytoskeletal elements during anaphase.     

Stormwater Management in Hong Kong

IntroductionStormwater management(SWM) in Hong Kong isthe responsibility of the drainage servicesdepartment (DSD) of the Governmentof the HongKong Special Administrative Region.Thedepartment is charged with the formulation ofpolicy and the design,construction,operation andmaintenance of all public stormwater drainagesystems,as well as approving private drainsthrough an administrative framework.　 The principal concern of SWM is the reductionof the risk and extent of flooding.Thus,thesuc…     

Critical considerations in the development of systems thinking and practice

This paper is concerned with the development of ‘Systems Thinking.’ In particular, it considers and critiques ‘traditional Systems Thinking’ within the framework of Critical Systems Thinking. Before embarking on such a venture it is necessary to derive a base context from which to develop argument and analysis. Therefore the outline of this paper is as follows: A contextual setting for Systems Thinking, Theoretical Considerations, Soft Systems Thinking and Methodology, and A Critical Systems Thinking (CST) approach. The account of the development of Systems Thinking is followed by a synopsis of a theoretical framework for Systems Thinking which will allow us to gain an understanding of contemporary views. The paper then goes on to review SSM and CST in order to provide a platform for a critique of traditional forms of Systems Thinking. The final section briefly discusses the applicability of CST to the ‘real-world’ context by outlining some current studies being undertaken by the author.     

Colour mixing and colour preferences in neonate gulls

Zusammenfassung Junggeschlüpfte Silber- und Heringsmöven zeigen beim Picken von kleinflächigen, beweglichen Reizen Spektralfarbbevorzugungen. Drei theoretische Modelle sind vorgeschlagen worden, die diese Bevorzugungen erklären sollen. Die Voraussagen dieser Modelle bezüglich der Bevorzugung von Mischfarben wurden experimentell geprüft und als nicht zutreffend befunden. Vielmehr legen die Ergebnisse die Vermutung nahe, dass die Bevorzugung nicht, wie bisher angenommen, auf einem afferenten sensorischen Filtermechanismus beruht, sondern auf einen mehr zentralen, postperzeptualen Prozess zurückzuführen ist.