This book introduces BlastSim - a physics-based simulation platform to model and simulate suicide bombing events. The BlastSim software is designed to test, analyze, and validate the results of different explosive and injury model combinations under various conditions with different sets of parameters, such as explosive and crowd formation characteristics, blockage and human shielding effects, fragmentation and shrapnel, and the bomber's position in 2- and 3-dimensional environments. The suicide bombing event can also be re-created for forensic analysis. The number of fatalities and injured after a suicide bombing event can be predicted using this software with 91% accuracy. The assessment of an explosion's effect on a crowd can lead to better management of disasters, triage of patients, locating blast victims under the debris, development of protective gear, and safe distance recommendations to reduce casualties.

This book introduces BlastSim - a physics-based simulation platform to model and simulate suicide bombing events. The BlastSim software is designed to test, analyze, and validate the results of different explosive and injury model combinations under various conditions with different sets of parameters, such as explosive and crowd formation characteristics, blockage and human shielding effects, fragmentation and shrapnel, and the bomber's position in 2- and 3- dimensional environments. The suicide bombing event can also be re-created for forensic analysis. The number of fatalities and injured after a suicide bombing event can be predicted using this software with 91% accuracy. The assessment of an explosion's effect on a crowd can lead to better management of disasters, triage of patients, locating blast victims under the debris, development of protective gear, and safe distance recommendations to reduce casualties.

"In this work, Zeeshan sets out to study the herding effect in supermarket and retail-store settings and the effect of technology to herding. He explores the possibility that an alternative sales model can be used to influence customer impulse purchasing while providing a valuable service to the customers themselves. Customers get to know about the shopping activities of others (in real time) and respond to these activities. Far from being the answer to all questions in the field, this work provides us with just some of the answers but, more importantly, it naturally opens our eyes to the possibilities that the herding theory can offer."

-Ronaldo Menezes
Associate Professor of Computer Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology

"Mr. Usmani's "swarm-moves" model appeals to supermarkets because it increases sales without the need to give people discounts. And it gives shoppers the satisfaction of knowing that they bought the "right" product-that is, the one everyone else bought."

-The Economist

"By calling attention to the interactions between consumers, this work suggests many new, fascinating research questions."

-Matthew J. Salganik
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Princeton University

""Ambassadors for Peace" represents an important contribution at a time when cross-cultural understanding and exchange is imperative. The exchange fellows from Pakistan and the United States who share their experiences and impressions help to fulfill the vision of Senator Fulbright to build peace by investing in international exchange and understanding among students and scholars."
Prof. William W. Monning, J.D., Monterey Institute of International Studies; Senior Fulbright Scholar; President, Global Majority

"It is a pleasure to see how exchange scholars in their unique role as true ambassadors of peace can impact a world fraught with conflict, violence and dubious diplomacy. Like the flight of doves, the book shows gentle stirrings of life, hope and friendship."
Nibir K Ghosh, Author of "Multicultural America" & Chief Editor, Re-"Markings"

"More than a glimpse into the lives of these shining scholars, it is a wonderful testament to their strive for mutual understanding and harmony. Simply a compelling read"
Siraj A. Shaikh, United Nations University

The production of this book was partially sponsored by the Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology. www.FulbrightAcademy.org

""Ambassadors for Peace" represents an important contribution at a time when cross-cultural understanding and exchange is imperative. The exchange fellows from Pakistan and the United States who share their experiences and impressions help to fulfill the vision of Senator Fulbright to build peace by investing in international exchange and understanding among students and scholars."
Prof. William W. Monning, J.D., Monterey Institute of International Studies; Senior Fulbright Scholar; President, Global Majority

"It is a pleasure to see how exchange scholars in their unique role as true ambassadors of peace can impact a world fraught with conflict, violence and dubious diplomacy. Like the flight of doves, the book shows gentle stirrings of life, hope and friendship."
Nibir K Ghosh, Author of "Multicultural America" & Chief Editor, Re-"Markings"

"More than a glimpse into the lives of these shining scholars, it is a wonderful testament to their strive for mutual understanding and harmony. Simply a compelling read"
Siraj A. Shaikh, United Nations University

The production of this book was partially sponsored by the Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology. www.FulbrightAcademy.org

JFDP - Reflections of Eurasian Scholars is a journey of exchange scholars from Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Serbia, and Kazakhstan to USA. This anthology presents the interesting, shocking, and unforgettable moments of JFDP scholars' experiences. Anyone, who is interested to study in USA or going to any of the contributors' country, should read this book. This volume provides a rare perspective of observing the country from student's point of view to learn, share and cope with the cultural shock. The Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP) is an exchange program tailored for early career scholars and professionals. JFDP program allows young scholars to experience and learn from American classrooms. The participants join American Universities and class room teaching to observe, share, and learn various subjects from diverse perspectives. The JFDP program also offers young scholars to participate in professional events like conferences, forums and discussions. These essays may not reflect the accurate picture of America, its society and people, but the reminiscences of these unofficial cultural ambassadors bring forward the interesting and surprising encounters that would interest anyone who is concerned with people, cultures, and diversity.

"Similarity in Diversity" documents experiential learning of exchange scholars from Malaysia and the USA. This anthology of personal essays presents the full range of cross-cultural experiences-experiences which enhance mutual understanding and create a sense of affinity among the exchange scholars.

The personal essays in this collection are interesting, shocking, and unforgettable. Anyone who is interested in studying in the United States or going to Malaysia should read this book. This volume provides a rare perspective-observing a country from students' point of view. As students learn, share and make the connections, we create a better world for us and for future generations.

While these essays do not necessarily present a representative picture either of Malaysia or the USA, the sketches do describe exchange experiences of interest to anyone who is concerned with people, cultures and diversity.

The production of this book was partially sponsored by the Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology. www.FulbrightAcademy.org

"Beyond Boundaries-Reflections of Indian and U.S. Scholars" documents experiential learning of exchange scholars from India and the U.S.A. These essays from Fulbright Scholars, Post-Doc Researchers, Humphrey Fellows, and participants of International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and East-West Center, provide a diverse spectrum of their cultural and academic experiences. The personal essays in this collection are interesting, shocking, and unforgettable. Anyone interested in studying in the United States or going to India ought to read this book for it provides a rare perspective that comes from observing a country from the students' point of view. Here, students learn, share and make the connections that go on to the making of a better and safer world for us and for future generations. While these essays do not necessarily present a representative picture either of India or the U.S.A., the sketches do describe exchange experiences of interest to anyone who is concerned with people, cultures and diversity. The production of this book was partially sponsored by the Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology. www.FulbrightAcademy.org

These stories of foreign Fulbrighter in the United States, "Experiencing America: Through the Eyes of Visiting Fulbright Scholars" give the reader a firsthand account of the value of the international education exchange program. Each story is unique and personal, describing different impressions and values. Harriet Mayor Fulbright Since its establishment, nearly 300,000 people have been "Fulbright Scholars." Hundreds of thousands of others have served as local hosts to these visitors, helping them adapt to a new culture, providing space for research and scholarship, and building bridges between the different societies. In turn, these scholars and their hosts have influenced the entire world, through their teachings, their research, and their discoveries. This year (2006) is the 60th Anniversary of the Fulbright Exchange Program, and a few of their stories have been gathered for this collection of essays. All of the contributors are grantees who came to the United States from other countries, some for the first time. The stories of these citizen ambassadors may be humorous or heart-wrenching, but they are all true. Eric S. Howard