Virtual Assurance Research Articles

Virtual assurance: Reflecting on the ‘confident prayer of the Church’ through online worship

The author addresses two constant questions in Roman Catholic sacramental theology against the background of the broadcasting of online Mass, especially during the restrictions imposed on in-person attendance to inhibit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These are: what constitutes sacramental communion in the Roman Catholic Church and what is the role of the priest in celebrating the Eucharist? Looking at the first of those questions, he briefly examines the recent work of Katherine G. Schmidt and her use of the sacramental theology of Louis-Marie Chauvet, which addresses both the idea and the experience of presence and absence in the celebration of the Eucharist. The author concludes that, while her work raises some important issues that need to be addressed, she does not entirely represent Chauvet’s thinking, and the fullest understanding of sacramental communion in the Roman Catholic tradition will always include the physical. It is in addressing the second question, that of the responsibility of the priest in celebrating the Mass with an online congregation, that the author believes a more satisfactory answer can be found as to the sacramental ‘value’ of virtual worship. Employing the ideas of authority, authenticity, and assurance, as they relate to the ordained ministry, he maintains that it is crucial the ‘confident prayer of the Church’ be visible and accessible.

VolksgemeinschaftEngineers: The Nazi “Voyages of Technology”

Punctually at 4:05 on the morning of March 31, 1938, a new diesel locomotive left the Holzkirchen Bahnhof in Munich, pulling the first traveling “achievement exhibition” (Leistungsshau) of German technology. It had been nineteen days since theAnschluss, and on April 10 all Greater Germany would vote its approval of incorporating Austria into the Reich. Despite their use of terror to influence the Austrian vote and virtual assurance of electoral success, the National Socialists embarked on an extensive propaganda effort in Austria to ensure a wide margin of victory there. Hitler campaigned throughout Austria during the last ten days before the vote, making six major speeches, and other top Nazi officials made electioneering tours. Famous for constructing theAutobahnnetwork, Fritz Todt, Inspector General for German Highways, and the engineers of the NSDAP Central Office for Technology, organized a traveling propaganda exhibit to display German technology under the motto “Austria's chimneys will smoke again.” It was the first of three “Voyages of Technology” undertaken by Todt and his Nazi engineers.

Restricting virtual weights in data envelopment analysis

The consequences of the use of absolute weights restrictions (i.e. restricting the multipliers) on the efficiency score and targets of a DEA model have been explored elsewhere, the same is not true for the use of restrictions on the virtuals (i.e. the product of the input/output factor by its multiplier). In this paper, a reflection on the uses of virtual weights restrictions is presented. The reasons for using virtual weights restrictions instead of absolute weights restrictions, in particular cases, are explained. Following a critique of Wong and Beasley's [J. Oper. Res. Soc. 41 (1990) 829] first proposed method for constraining the virtuals in DEA, a new classification scheme for virtual weights restrictions is presented, which brings the concept of assurance regions into virtual weights restrictions. It is shown that the use of simple virtual restrictions and virtual assurance regions are preferable to the use of the more generally advocated WB's proportional virtual weights restrictions. In recognition of levels of decision making at the unit, and external to the unit, the use of the terms unit of assessment (UOA) and controller is proposed. It is concluded that the use of virtual assurance regions applying to the target UOA can be a natural representation of preference structures and translate established patterns between the input–output divide. Also, the meaning of the efficiency score and targets in this approach most approximate traditional DEA. Alternatives to using virtual weights restrictions are considered, namely using absolute weights restrictions with a virtual meaning. Finally, an empirical example is offered.

Sustainable development issues and strategies for Alberta's oil industry

This paper discusses the sustainable development issues for the Alberta oil industry and suggests strategies for its long-term survival. While oil and gas are finite resources, Alberta's massive non-conventional reserves are a virtual assurance that it can meet all the fossil fuel demands for Canada and its export market in the foreseeable future. This makes it a sustainable resource in practical terms. Despite its large economic contribution, this industry will face many challenges to remain viable over the next 50 years. Large investments will be required and it must improve its public consultation process and environmental record if it is to become sustainable. In recent years, stakeholder pressure, tougher regulations and better enforcement has made the industry more environmentally friendly, but its track record suggests that continued regulation will still be required. There is a growing realisation that sustainable development can no longer remain a low priority for those organisations with aspirations for long-term survival, and this makes it a bone fide strategic issue. Concern over environmental protection has become a critical issue for the industry, and must be addressed in terms of the natural regenerative capacity of the environment, and the legitimate need for an economically viable sector. As such, sustainable development inextricably links environmental protection with economics and stakeholder interests. In the longer term, competition from less polluting alternate fuels is likely to intensify and this will force contraction of the industry and a loss of market share. This smaller, more competitive environment of the future will likely favour those companies that can best integrate growth with a low cost strategy and environmental protection. As such, size is likely to be important insofar that it usually correlates with financial resources and the ability to achieve economies of scale.

Water Legislation in the U.S.: an Overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act

Clearly there is a long history of legislative activity related to water quality in the U.S. Each of the recent legislative provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act will put in motion the adoption of an extensive set of regulations. There is virtual assurance that costly regulations will be promulgated and that these regulations will have a disproportionate impact on small systems, and on the institutional mechanisms for managing and operating water and waste water systems.

Trauma Angiography

Two-hundred eighty angiographic studies performed for suspected acute arterial trauma were reviewed to evaluate the relationship between the clinical findings and arterial injury. Extremity injury occurred in 237 cases. The proximity of a penetrating injury or a fracture to a major vascular structure was the sole indication for angiographic study in 136. No major arterial injury was discovered in either group. Exclusion of these patients would have improved the extremity angiographic yield from 25% to 58% while missing no patients with major arterial injury. We conclude, based on the negligible yield, that clinical observation of these patients is a safe alternative if adequate followup is assured; elective angiography may be performed if followup is questionable. Nineteen of 20 (95%) patients with an absent distal pulse and clinical signs of extremity ischemia had a major arterial injury. All extremity arterial injuries occurred within 5 cm of bullet fragments, bone fragments, entrance wound, or exit wound. Given the virtual assurance of finding major arterial injury, patients with unifocal injury and a threatened limb may proceed directly to the operating room to minimize ischemic time.

Mediastinal Tumors: An Analysis of 141 Cases

The mediastinal tumor which remains undiagnosed (treated by observation) is a dangerous lesion for two reasons: The ever-present threat of malignancy, and the possibility that life-threatening complications might occur in benign tumors. Early thoracotomy is thoroughly justified in the management of mediastinal tumors not only because of its low mortality, but also because of the virtual assurance of a cure when benign lesions are encountered.