Modelling the Risks Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pose to People on the Ground

Worldwide there is much e ort being directed towards the development of a framework of air- worthiness regulations for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). It is now broadly accepted that regulations should have a strong foundation in, and traceability to, the management of the safety risks. Existing risk models for RPAS operations do not provide a simple means for incorporating the wide range of technical and operational controls into the risk analysis and evaluation processes. This paper describes a new approach for modelling and evaluating the risks associated with RPAS operations near populous areas based on the barrier bow tie (BBT) model. A BBT model is used to structure the underlying risk management problem. The model focuses risk analysis, evaluation, and decision making activities on the devices, people, and processes that can be employed to reduce risk. The BBT model and a comprehensive set of example risk controls are presented. The general model can be applied to any RPAS operation. The foundations for quantitative and qualitative assessments using a BBT model are also presented. The modelling and evaluation framework is illustrated through its application to a case-study rotary wing RPAS for two operational scenarios. The model can be used as a basis for determining airworthiness certification requirements for RPAS

Brexit Report - Impact on Business Models of Scottish Companies

The Brexit Business Model Report is a preliminary assessment of research, interviews and survey results regarding the impact of Brexit on the business models of Scottish companies as they prepare for post-Brexit scenarios. The survey was used to compile data to support research questions gathered during the research and interview process for this graduate class project. Questions were designed to assess how Brexit is impacting the ability of Scottish companies in the areas of business model, contingency planning, supply chain, staffing, innovation, global reach, risk assessment, and opportunities. The questions reflected areas of the business model that may have present and future implications. The answers help measure the Brexit impact on Scottish firms’ business models and the potential for international growth. The upper management of Scottish companies from the “Insider Top 500” list, “FactSet list, and various trade organizations were selected to receive the survey. The focus of this study was on the potential impact of Brexit on Scottish companies’ business models. The survey findings show the importance of understanding the elements of a business model in the Brexit context (see Additional File, Executive Summary below for Business Model Brexit Implications on Scottish Companies based on Key Findings table)

Applying Deep Learning To Airbnb Search

The application to search ranking is one of the biggest machine learning success stories at Airbnb. Much of the initial gains were driven by a gradient boosted decision tree model. The gains, however, plateaued over time. This paper discusses the work done in applying neural networks in an attempt to break out of that plateau. We present our perspective not with the intention of pushing the frontier of new modeling techniques. Instead, ours is a story of the elements we found useful in applying neural networks to a real life product. Deep learning was steep learning for us. To other teams embarking on similar journeys, we hope an account of our struggles and triumphs will provide some useful pointers. Bon voyage!Comment: 8 page

The Long-Term Gender and Race Issues in Long-Term Care

Women outlive men, and, as a consequence, comprise the majority of residents in both the home health and nursing home long-term care settings. Their caregivers are also overwhelmingly-women -- 92% of nursing assistants in nursing homes, for example. And those caregivers are largely non-white. Long-term care has long been regarded as women\u27s work, beginning with its slavery antecedents in the home setting. This article explores the connection between the devaluing of long-term care, which is largely state-funded through Medicaid, and the gender and race dynamics of long-term care

Does Janus vs. AFSCME Signal the Death of Mandatory Bar Associations?

In Janus vs. AFSCME, a closely-divided U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 41-year-old precedent and ruled that the practice of public sector unions charging agency fees to non-members in bargaining units, without affirmative consent, was “compelled speech.” The dissent warned that the decision had weaponized the First Amendment, and noted that “almost all economic and regulatory policy affects or touches speech.” Does the logic of Janus apply to mandatory bar association dues? There is strong evidence it does. And if it signals the death of mandatory bar associations, would that necessarily be a bad thing for the legal profession? This essay examines the evidence, particularly as it involves the author’s own licensing jurisdiction of the state of Washington, and makes the argument that the traditional bar association model is a thing of the past