The term low-discrepancy sequences is widely used to refer to s-dimensional sequences X satisfying the bound D∗(N,X) ≤ cs(logN) + O((logN)s−1), where D∗ denotes the usual star discrepancy. In this article, we are concerned with (t, s)-sequences in base b, one of the most famous families of low-discrepancy sequences along with Halton sequences. The constants cs for (t, s)-sequences were first co...

University of Alberta set out to build a world checkers champion. He succeeded. In 1994, CHINOOK, the program written by Schaeffer and his group, won the Man versus Machine World Checkers Championship. (Although CHINOOK has now mostly retired from championship checkers, it is still possible to play CHINOOK. To play CHINOOK or just see information about CHINOOK and checkers in general, go to www...

Monitoring of water cover and shorelines at a global scale is essential for better understanding climate change consequences and modern human disturbances. The level and turbidity of the surface water, and the background objects in which they interact with, vary significantly at a global scale. The existing water indices applicable to detection and extraction of water cover at local and regiona...

The efforts of Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Stephen Breyer to provoke examination of the vitality of the American judiciary’s independence have inspired two conferences,1 which in turn have produced many thoughtful papers and much commentary. I have been asked to respond to one such paper offered by Professors Paul Carrington of Duke and Roger Cramton of Cornell.2 These two distinguished sc...

Doctors without anatomy are like a blind that deceives the road in the desert. Traditionalists perceive a decline in Anatomy knowledge and attribute it to the modern methods of teaching and learning. Reformers point to evidence that modern approaches offer equivalent results in assessment when compared to traditional courses. It seems that there are three aspects that need to be resolved: when,...

We review the literature on the effects of aggregate crises on human biological outcomes. The crises we consider are acute, severe, and unexpected negative events occurring at the population level: recessions, famines, epidemics, natural and environmental disasters, and wars. Our review of the literature suggests that the effects of aggregate crises on human biology are pervasive and longlasting.