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Probabilistically checkable proof

In computational complexity theory, a probabilistically checkable proof (PCP) is a type of proof that can be checked by a randomized algorithm using a bounded amount of randomness and reading a bounded number of bits of the proof. The algorithm is then required to accept correct proofs and reject incorrect proofs with very high probability. A standard proof (or certificate), as used in the verifier-based definition of the complexity class NP, also satisfies these requirements, since the checking procedure deterministically reads the whole proof, always accepts correct proofs and rejects incorrect proofs. However, what makes them interesting is the existence of probabilistically checkable proofs that can be checked by reading only a few bits of the proof using randomness in an essential way.

Probabilistically checkable proofs give rise to many complexity classes depending on the number of queries required and the amount of randomness used. The class PCP[r(n),q(n)] refers to the set of decision problems that have probabilistically checkable proofs that can be verified in polynomial time using at most r(n) random bits and by reading at most q(n) bits of the proof. Unless specified otherwise, correct proofs should always be accepted, and incorrect proofs should be rejected with probability greater than 1/2. The PCP theorem, a major result in computational complexity theory, states that $[O(log n),O(1)] =$.

Definition
Given a decision problem L (or a language L with its alphabet set Σ), a probabilistically checkable proof system for L with completeness c(n) and soundness s(n), where $0 ≤ s(n) ≤ c(n) ≤ 1$, consists of a prover and a verifier. Given a claimed solution x with length n, which might be false, the prover produces a proof π which states x solves $L$ ($x ∈ L$, the proof is a string $∈ Σ^{∗}$). And the verifier is a randomized oracle Turing Machine V (the verifier) that checks the proof π for the statement that x solves $L$(or $x ∈ L$) and decides whether to accept the statement. The system has the following properties:
 * Completeness: For any $x ∈ L$, given the proof π produced by the prover of the system, the verifier accepts the statement with probability at least c(n),
 * Soundness: For any $x ∉ L$, then for any proof π, the verifier mistakenly accepts the statement with probability at most s(n).

For the computational complexity of the verifier, we have the randomness complexity r(n) to measure the maximum number of random bits that V uses over all x of length n and the query complexity q(n) of the verifier is the maximum number of queries that V makes to π over all x of length n.

In the above definition, the length of proof is not mentioned since usually it includes the alphabet set and all the witnesses. For the prover, we do not care how it arrives at the solution to the problem; we care only about the proof it gives of the solution's membership in the language.

The verifier is said to be non-adaptive if it makes all its queries before it receives any of the answers to previous queries.

The complexity class $_{c(n), s(n)}[r(n), q(n)]$ is the class of all decision problems having probabilistically checkable proof systems over binary alphabet of completeness c(n) and soundness s(n), where the verifier is nonadaptive, runs in polynomial time, and it has randomness complexity r(n) and query complexity q(n).

The shorthand notation $[r(n), q(n)]$ is sometimes used for $_{1, 1/2}[r(n), q(n)]$. The complexity class PCP is defined as $_{1, 1/2}[O(log n), O(1)]$.

History and significance
The theory of probabilistically checkable proofs studies the power of probabilistically checkable proof systems under various restrictions of the parameters (completeness, soundness, randomness complexity, query complexity, and alphabet size). It has applications to computational complexity (in particular hardness of approximation) and cryptography.

The definition of a probabilistically checkable proof was explicitly introduced by Arora and Safra in 1992, although their properties were studied earlier. In 1990 Babai, Fortnow, and Lund proved that PCP[poly(n), poly(n)] = NEXP, providing the first nontrivial equivalence between standard proofs (NEXP) and probabilistically checkable proofs. The PCP theorem proved in 1992 states that $[O(log n),O(1)] =$.

The theory of hardness of approximation requires a detailed understanding of the role of completeness, soundness, alphabet size, and query complexity in probabilistically checkable proofs.

Properties
From computational complexity point of view, for extreme settings of the parameters, the definition of probabilistically checkable proofs is easily seen to be equivalent to standard complexity classes. For example, we have the following for different setting of PCP[r(n), q(n)]:
 * PCP[0, 0] = P (P is defined to have no randomness and no access to a proof.)
 * PCP[O(log(n)), 0] = P (A logarithmic number of random bits doesn't help a polynomial time Turing machine, since it could try all possibly random strings of logarithmic length in polynomial time.)
 * PCP[0,O(log(n))] = P (Without randomness, the proof can be thought of as a fixed logarithmic sized string. A polynomial time machine could try all possible logarithmic sized proofs in polynomial time.)
 * PCP[poly(n), 0] = coRP (By definition of coRP.)
 * PCP[0, poly(n)] = NP (By the verifier-based definition of NP.)

The PCP theorem and MIP = NEXP can be characterized as follows:
 * $[O(log n),O(1)] =$ (the PCP theorem)

It is also known that $[poly(n),O(1)] = [poly(n),poly(n)] =  ( = )$. In particular, $[r(n), q(n)] ⊆ (poly(n,2^{O(r(n))}q(n)))$. On the other hand, if $[log n, poly(n)] =$ then P = NP.

Linear PCP
A Linear PCP is a PCP in which the proof is a vector of elements of a finite field $$\pi \in \mathbb{F}^n $$, and such that the PCP oracle is only allowed to do linear operations on the proof. Namely, the response from the oracle to a verifier query $$q \in \mathbb{F}^n $$ is a linear function $$f(q,\pi)$$. Linear PCPs have important applications in proof systems that can be compiled into SNARKs.

title: Probabilistically checkable proof


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Lenda Murray

Lenda Murray (born 22 February 1962) is an American professional female bodybuilding champion.

Early life and education
Murray was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Darcelious and Louvelle Murray. She began participating in organized sports at the age of 15. At Henry Ford High School, Murray was both a record-holding sprinter and varsity cheerleader. She went on to attend Western Michigan University, earning a degree in political science and intended to become a lawyer. While at Western Michigan, she continued to cheerlead, and became the second African American to be chosen as the university’s homecoming queen in 1982.

After a brief tenure cheerleading for the Michigan Panthers in the now-defunct United States Football League, she worked with the Michigan Panthers for two years and then was invited to try out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. After she auditioned for the group and made the next-to-last cut, she decided she might need to slenderize her thighs a bit.

Amateur career
In 1984, Murray joined a gym, the Powerhouse Gym, in Highland Park, Michigan. Within the first two days of joining the gym, Ron Love, an NPC Nationals contender told her that she had the physique to be a bodybuilder. After about a year of training to just stay in shape, Murray decided to compete in the 1985 Ms. Michigan Championships. After placing fourth, she was hooked on the sport. Murray's father did not show up for her first bodybuilding competition, but eventually did for others. She rose quickly through the ranks, soon winning contests at the state and regional levels. In 1989, Murray earned her professional status at the IFBB North American Championships.

1990–1997
Murray soon became a regular presence in bodybuilding magazines and a favorite subject of photographer Bill Dobbins who focused extensively on her in his books The Women and Modern Amazons. At the 1990 Ms. Olympia, Murray succeeded six-time champion Cory Everson and defeated Bev Francis to become the Ms. Olympia champion, a title Murray would hold for six years from 1990 to 1995. She appeared in such mass-market publications as Sports Illustrated, Ebony, Mademoiselle, and Vanity Fair, as well as in Annie Leibovitz’s photo essay Women. Murray’s physique became the standard against which professional female bodybuilders are now judged—an hourglass figure, with broad shoulders tapering into a V-shaped torso mirrored by a proportionally-developed lower body. At the 1991 Ms. Olympia, Murray won the slimmest margin of victory for any Ms. Olympia, edging out Bev Francis by a final score of 31 to 32. Afterwards, she would go on to win the Ms. Olympia competition in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.

First retirement
Murray lost the Ms. Olympia title to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls in 1996, and went into retirement after finishing second to Chizevsky-Nicholls again in December 1997.

2002–2004
Lenda, after Lonnie Teper left a voice message telling her to compete again, started thinking of coming out of retirement. She thought she could beat Juliette Bergman and thought it was sign when they choose Juliette over Iris Kyle in 2001. After four years of retirement, Lenda returned to the Ms. Olympia stage, and won two more Ms. Olympia titles in 2002 and 2003. Her coach was Chad Nicholls, a former bodybuilder, drug and nutrition guru and coach for his wife, Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls, along with professional bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman.

Second retirement
Murray finished second in the heavyweight class to Iris Kyle in 2004, and again retired from competition.

Legacy
Murray has won eight overall Ms. Olympia titles and has two professional wins in her weight class. She is the second most successful female bodybuilder ever, second only to Iris Kyle. From February 28, 2003 to May 31, 2003, she ranked 1st on the IFBB Women's Bodybuilding Professional Ranking List.

Murray has previously done commentary for bodybuilding events on ESPN from 1993 to 1996. She was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In March 2011, she became a member of the National Fitness Hall of Fame and received the award from Arnold Schwarzenegger. Every year there is an NPC competition, held at Norfolk State University, called the Lenda Murray Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships, which she is a promoter and organizer for.

Murray is also spokesperson for Wings of Strength and she owns a nutritional products company Crystal Planet Nutrition.

Competition history

 * 1985 NPC Michigan State - 4th
 * 1985 NPC Eastern Michigan - 1st
 * 1986 NPC Michigan - 3rd
 * 1986 NPC Ironwoman Michigan - 3rd
 * 1987 NPC Michigan - 3rd
 * 1987 NPC North Coast - 2nd
 * 1988 NPC Michigan - 1st
 * 1989 NPC Junior Nationals - 1st (HW and overall)
 * 1989 IFBB North American Championships - 1st (HW and overall)
 * 1990 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
 * 1991 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
 * 1992 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
 * 1993 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
 * 1994 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
 * 1995 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
 * 1996 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
 * 1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
 * 2002 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (HW and overall)
 * 2003 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (HW and overall)
 * 2004 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd (HW)

Best statistics

 * Biceps - 16 in
 * Chest - 39 in
 * Height - 5ft 7in
 * On season weight - 151+1/2 - 153 lb

Personal life
Murray is single and lives in Los Angeles, California with her cats, Martin and William. She is a Christian. She is a grandmother of eleven and a stepmother of four.

Murray has done many videos to help others in their pursuit of fitness, been a professional cheerleader, a physical fitness trainer, a private trainer to professional wrestlers, athletes and others, along with trying out to become a professional wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation in 1997. In November 1990, she founded Lenda Murray Inc. From June 1999 to November 2004, she oversaw the daily operations, administrative and financial activities of The Fitness Firm. From 1999 to 2005, Murray owned a gym in Virginia Beach, Virginia called The Fitness Firm.

Television appearances
Murray has appeared on daytime talk shows like Geraldo, The Montel Williams Show, and The Jerry Springer Show.

Murray also done an interview for the Killer Sally 3 part series, highlighting the rise of female bodybuilding in the 80s and 90s.

Movie appearances
In 2015, Murray appeared in Adam Sandler's The Ridiculous 6 where she played (Terry Crews's character) Chico's mother.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Lenda Murray


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Madeleine station

Madeleine station is a station on lines 8, 12 and 14  of the Paris Métro in central Paris and the 8th arrondissement.

Location
The station is located under the Place de la Madeleine, the platforms being positioned:
 * on Line 8, east of the square and oriented approximately east-west, along the axis of Boulevard de la Madeleine (between Concorde and Opéra stations));
 * on Line 12, also east of the square and oriented approximately north-south, curved along the axis of the side carriageway of the said square on the one hand, and Rue Tronchet on the other hand, (between Saint-Lazare and Concorde);
 * on Line 14, northeast of the square and oriented approximately northwest/southeast, along the axis of Rue de Sèze (between Saint-Lazare and Pyramides).

History
The station was opened on 5 November 1910 as part of the original section of the Nord-Sud Company's line A between Porte de Versailles and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.It is named after the nearby Église de la Madeleine, which was dedicated to Mary Magdalene in the 18th century. A small settlement had grown up in the district by the 6th century around a stronghold of the Bishop of Paris. It was known from an early date as la Ville-l’Évêque ("Town of the Bishop").

The line 8 platforms opened on 13 July 1913 as part of the original section of the line between Beaugrenelle (now Charles Michels on line 10) and Opéra. On 27 March 1931 line A became line 12 of the Métro. The line 14 platforms opened on 15 October 1998 as part of the original section of the line between Madeleine and Bibliothèque François Mitterrand. It was the north-western terminus of Line 14 until its extension to Saint-Lazare in 2003.

In 2020, with the Covid-19 crisis, 4,297,547 passengers entered this station, which places it in 25th position among metro stations for its attendance.

Access
The station has five accesses divided into seven metro entrances:
 * access 1 -Place de la Madeleine, comprising a fixed staircase and a lift giving access to line 14, leading to the right of no. 22 of the place;
 * access 2 - Eglise , consisting of a fixed staircase adorned with two atypical masts (indicating the existence of an underground passage by the double inscription PASSAGE PUBLIC - METRO), located opposite no. 16 of the Square de la Madeleine, at the corner with the same named boulevard;
 * access 3 - Rue Duphot, consisting of a fixed staircase with a PASSAGE PUBLIC - METRO mast and an ascending escalator arranged back-to-back, located to the right of no. 23 Boulevard de la Madeleine, and communicating directly with the basement of the Decathlon store located at this address;
 * access 4 - Rue de Sèze, consisting of a fixed staircase communicating with the underground car parks under the square, leading out opposite no. 2 rue Tronchet;
 * access 5 - Rue Tronchet, consisting of a fixed staircase, located to the right of nos. 3 and 5 of this same street;

Platforms
The platforms of the three lines are of standard configuration. Two in number per stopping point, they are separated by the metro tracks located in the center and the vault is elliptical.

On line 8, the decoration is in the Andreu-Motte style with two yellow light strips, benches and corridor outlets in flat yellow tiles and yellow Motte seats. However, the thresholds of the corridors allowing the connections with line 14 have a flat white tiling. These arrangements are combined with the same tiles that cover the side walls, the vault and the tunnel exits. The advertising frames are metallic and the name of the station is written in Parisine typeface on enamelled plates.

The platforms of line 12 are built in a curve and have a semi-elliptical vault, a shape specific to the old North-South stations. They are also furnished in the Andreu-Motte style with red strip light canopies, flat red tiled benches and red Motte seats. The outlets of the corridors are also covered in flat red tiling, except for those allowing connections with line 14 which are equipped either with flat white tiling, or with the marble characteristic of the corridors of this line. As with line 8, these fittings are combined with the flat white tiling on the side walls, the vault and the tunnel exits. The advertising frames are metallic and the name of the station is written in Parisine font on enamel plates.

The architecture of the line 14 station is contemporary and follows the principles defined by Bernard Kohn for the whole of this line in 1991, both in the choice of materials (vault in light concrete, marble side walls fitted with glass, tiled floor, wooden seats, etc.) As for lighting and ceiling height; the platforms are also wider than those of other lines. The name of the station appears in Parisine font on backlit panels embedded in the side walls and on stickers affixed to the platform facades.

In addition, the platforms of line 14 are sadly famous for the nauseating odour which reigns there due to the emanation of Hydrogen sulfide due to the poor sealing of the station.

Corridors
The connection between line 14 and line 8/12 is done via a large circular access shaft, with many escalators, which is the old TBM access shaft for the construction of the line up to Madeleine. This allows quick trips between platforms.

Cultural facilities
Three works of art are located in the corridors or on the platforms created for line 14, La Prière and Ryaba la Poule are in the connecting corridor with line 12 while Tissignalisation no 14] adorns the vault of the platforms.

La Prière is a sculpture created by Constantin Brâncuși. This work, a reproduction of the 1907 work, has been on display in the station since December 2001 and features a woman praying. Offered to France by the president of the International Franco-Romanian Foundation, the sculptor Remus Botar Botarro, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of Constantin Brâncuşi (1876-2001), this identical copy was made in the Noack art foundry in Berlin, in 2000, from a silicon rubber moulding.

“Everything contributes to it. The hole in the shadows of the eyes, the absence of particular features, its anonymous character, the suppression of useless details (the ears, the fingers), the slow and serious movement of the head, the hand, the shoulders, the amputation of the left forearm which would have hampered the almost ritual rhythm of the composition, the asymmetry of the legs, one being more advanced than the other, the tormented, harsh, fragmented moulding and above all the spiritual intensity, of this invisible that the artist makes visible through the animated form. To the emotional space of sculpture, Brâncuşi adds a new dimension: that of time, expressed by the continuous rhythm and by the march towards the human. A humanity seen in recollection and faith, a humanity animated by charity and nostalgia for heaven." (From Ionel Jianu, Modern Sculpture in France.)

Ryaba la Poule is a work by Russian artist Ivan Lubennikov. Installed in 2009, it is a 40m2 stained glass window made up of 20 panels inlaid with glass elements placed on the mezzanine access to the platforms, at the outlet of the connecting corridor with line 12. In exchange for this work, Ile-de-France transport provided the Moscow metro with a Guimard kiosk, installed at the entrance to Kievskaïa station on the Koltsevaïa11 line.

Tissignalisation no 14 is a work by the French artist Jacques Tissinier. Created at the same time as the station, it is installed on the vault. This is an installation using a thousand embedded discs in coloured enamelled steel. Each disc measures 16 cm in diameter and represents a stylized papyrus sheet coloured in red, white, blue and orange.

Bus connections
The station is served by lines 42, 45, 52, 84, 94 of the RATP Bus Network.

Nearby

 * Église de la Madeleine, Place de la Madeleine
 * Olympia
 * Ministry of Justice
 * Colonne Vendôme
 * Théâtre de la Madeleine
 * Théâtre Édouard VII
 * Cour des comptes
 * Pinacothèque de Paris

Tenants
At one time Northwest Airlines had its Paris offices in the station.

title: Madeleine station


text:
Grands Boulevards station

Grands Boulevards, formerly named Rue Montmartre (1931–1998), is a station on Lines 8 and 9 of the Paris Métro. In 2019, it was the 44th busiest station of the Métro network, with 6,807,424 yearly users.

The section of both lines from just east of Richelieu–Drouot to west of République was built under the Grand Boulevards, partly on the border between the 2nd and 9th arrondissements, that replaced the Louis XIII wall and is in soft ground, which was once the course of the Seine. The lines are built on two levels, with Line 8 on the higher level and Line 9 in the lower level. The platforms are at the sides and the box containing the lines and supporting the road above is strengthened by a central wall between the tracks. There is no interconnection between the lines at Grands Boulevards, with each level having different accesses to the street.

Opening
The station was opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of Line 8 from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton. The Line 9 platforms were opened on 10 December 1933 with the extension of the line from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Montreuil.

Name change
The station was originally called "Rue Montmartre," but the tiled nameplates read simply "Montmartre." This caused confusion for non-Parisians and tourists, as the Montmartre neighbhorhood lies significantly north of the station. In 1966, an attempt was made to improve clarity by covering the original nameplates with signs reading "Rue Montmartre," but confusion continued. The station was renamed to "Grands Boulevards" in 1998 to reflect the programme of the former Mayor of Paris, Jean Tiberi, to upgrade the main Boulevards of Paris and because the old name continued to be misleading.

Access
The station has six entrances:
 * Entrance 1 - Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre
 * Entrance 2 - Boulevard Montmartre, Musée Grévin
 * Entrance 3 - Rue Montmartre
 * Entrance 4 - Boulevard Poissonnière
 * Entrance 5 - Rue Saint-Fiacre
 * Entrance 6 - Rue Rougemont

Platforms
The platforms of the two lines, 105 meters long, have a particular configuration. Two in number per stopping point, they are isolated in two half-stations separated by a central wall due to their construction in unstable land. Those of line 8 have an elliptical vault while those of line 9, arranged below, have vertical side walls and a horizontal reinforced concrete ceiling.

Their decoration is in the Andreu-Motte style in both cases. Those of line 8 have two red light strips (one per half-station), a bench in flat red tiles and orange Motte seats. Those of line 9 have two green light canopies (one per half-station, offset on the side opposite the track), benches in flat green tiles and green Motte seats. These fittings are combined with the flat white ceramic tiles, which are placed horizontally and in staggered rows on the side walls and the vaults of line 8, while they are placed vertically and aligned on the side walls of line 9, the ceiling of the latter being simply painted white. The advertising frames are metallic, and the name of the station is written in Parisine typeface on enamelled plates.

Bus connections
The station is served by lines 20, 32, 39, 74 and 85 of the RATP Bus Network.

Nearby

 * Musée Grévin
 * Théâtre des Nouveautés
 * Théâtre des Variétés
 * Passage Jouffroy
 * Passage des Panoramas
 * Galerie Saint-Marc
 * Galerie Montmartre

title: Grands Boulevards station


text:
Bonne Nouvelle station

Bonne Nouvelle is a station on Lines 8 and 9 of the Paris Métro. The section of both lines from just east of Richelieu – Drouot to west of République was built under the Grand Boulevards, which replaced the Louis XIII wall and is in soft ground, which was once the course of the Seine. The lines are built on two levels, with line 8 on the higher level and line 9 in the lower level. The platforms are at the sides and the box containing the lines and supporting the road above is strengthened by a central wall between the tracks. There is no interconnection between the lines at Bonne Nouvelle, with each level having different accesses to the street; however, passengers may pass between levels in order to make connections.

History
The station was opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of Line 8 from Richelieu – Drouot to Porte de Charenton. The Line 9 platforms were opened on 10 December 1933 with the extension of the line from Richelieu – Drouot to Porte de Montreuil.

Name
The station is named after the district of Bonne-Nouvelle and Boulevard de Bonne-Nouvelle, both named after the church of Notre-Dame de Bonne-Nouvelle.

Nearby attractions
Nearby are the church of Notre-Dame de Bonne-Nouvelle, the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique (national dramatic art school), the Grand Rex theatre and the Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell.

In tribute to the area's contribution to the theatrical and cinematic arts, the signage for the Bonne Nouvelle station is done up in a fashion similar to the Hollywood sign.

title: Bonne Nouvelle station


text:
Talk:The Wasp Factory

Untitled
the underlying theme throughout the wasp factory is that of the connection between Frank and his father. The idea of secrecy and mistrust is one that Banks approaches the audience with.

This is far too much like a book review and not enough like an encyclopedia article. Criticisms of the Thatcher regime belong elsewhere. 82.32.83.19 07:48, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

I'm going to have a go at rewriting it. Guinnog 00:18, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Also, what is the dispute here? Guinnog 00:21, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

I've taken out the POV stuff about it being a political novel. It just isn't. Guinnog 16:43, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

This needs more work on the plot and what exactly happens. Skinnyweed 17:39, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I don't agree. I think there is enough here already summarising the story. Feel free to make any additions you think are warranted though. Guinnog 18:45, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

 * Well the ending is missed out, which is one of the main plot points and essential to the whole book. What justification is there for not including the revelation of frank as a girl and of the build up to that?    —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.194.30.174 (talk) 22:06, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

 * Well, this book looked interesting to me and I was considering reading it, until I read the ending spoiler listed in the Overview section. That's a good justification for not including the revelation. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 161.225.129.111 (talk) 20:24, 23 July 2010 (UTC)

Regarding adding a link to a blog post - this is an electronic version of an article I wrote several years ago about the influence of The Tin Drum on The Wasp Factory. I think the article is relevant and interesting. I didn't realise I was breaking protocols, sorry! --Severian582 (talk) 15:01, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Themes
I would argue that control is perhaps the more dominant theme throughout the book. Also, the entire literary criticism section would appear to be original criticism, which doesn't seem to mesh with the "pedia" part of wikipedia. No its not, its just copied, but uncited, from here: http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth12

I feel there is more to say here about the initial reaction to the novel (with citation) which seemed to polarise critics. Some copies of the Wasp Factory even carried quotation from extremely negative reviews which criticised it as being vile and disgusting. Iain Banks himself requested they be put on the cover because he believed they would help increase sales (listen to the Guardian Book Club podcast that I added to the External Links). MrSplendid (talk) 19:51, 30 August 2009 (UTC)

What does this mean ?
"The father said it was simply "an experiment" and there are hints it was in order to distance himself from the women he felt had ruined his life." Is this Frank's father? What "was" what ?

Should this read - "Frank's father said that the device was simply "an experiment" and there are hints it was constructed by Frank in order to distance himself from the women he felt had ruined his life."

Andrew Smith —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.32.50.77 (talk) 09:46, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

Tarantino
"In a post-Tarantino world, critics find it hard now to see what the fuss was about." What do the films of Quentin Tarantino have to do with a this novel? A better context would be, I don't know, Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel "American Psycho," or Irvine Welsh's works, or what's-his-head, the "Fight Club" guy, Chuck P. Willerror 21:49, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
 * One of the sources I used when I researched my rewrite of the article made the comparison, and I thought it a good one. I think it means that graphical violence with a satirical or highly stylised style has become far more acceptable than it was in the 1980s. Of course YMMV. Guinnog 21:55, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

I think you should have approached it more as a Gothic text, exploring gothic themes such as transgression and excess. Also, the concerns in the novel of masculinity and its destructive nature characterised by the themes of 'the noble soildier' or the patriarchal father. 195.93.21.1 14:53, 10 May 2006 (UTC)THWAR195.93.21.1 14:53, 10 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Fine. You can be bold and just edit the article, if you can show evidence that the novel has been reviewed in this way by a reputable source. Guinnog 15:32, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Catapult?
I just read the novel and am wondering about the term "catapult", which is indeed used in both the book and the Wikipedia article for one of Frank's instruments of cruelty. But at one point near the end, Frank describes holding one prong of the device, setting up his target through the other two prongs, and pulling the rubber band back. This sure sounds like a slingshot to me, and perhaps "catapult" is a Scottish nickname for a slingshot. This may matter for the Wikipedia article, because the term "catapult" links to the giant device used to hurl boulders at walled cities. ---  DOOMSDAYER 520 (Talk|Contribs) 14:39, 16 July 2019 (UTC)
 * The WP Catapult article also says (rather bizarrely, in the "Military" subsection): "In the 1840s the invention of vulcanized rubber allowed the making of small hand-held catapults, either improvised from Y-shaped sticks or manufactured for sale; both were popular with children and teenagers. These devices were also known as slingshots in the USA." JezGrove (talk) 15:31, 16 July 2019 (UTC)
 * So perhaps in Scotland they still use the term "catapult" for what Americans call a "slingshot". It seems that the blue "catapult" link in this article should be redirected to slingshot but it's not a deal-breaker. ---  DOOMSDAYER 520 (Talk|Contribs) 16:13, 16 July 2019 (UTC)
 * Not just in Scotland - in the rest of the UK as well. But yes, the link should be redirected as you suggest. Best wishes, JezGrove (talk) 16:43, 16 July 2019 (UTC)

title: Talk:The Wasp Factory


text:
Filles du Calvaire station

Filles du Calvaire is a station on Line 8 of the Paris Métro, at the limit between the 3rd and 11th arrondissements.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton.

It is named after the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, which is named after the Calvairiennes or Filles du Calvaire (Daughters of Calvary), who were an order of reformed Benedictine sisters. Antoinette d'Orléans and Père Joseph founded the order in Poitiers, in 1617. The convent was later moved to Paris before it was closed in the French Revolution.

Although named after the boulevard, it is located just north of it, under the Boulevard du Temple.

title: Filles du Calvaire station


text: User talk:64.110.205.113

title: User talk:64.110.205.113


text:
Chemin Vert station

Chemin Vert is a station of the Paris Métro on Line 8, named after the Rue de Chemin Vert.

Location
The station is located under Boulevard Beaumarchais, between Rue Saint-Gilles and Rue du Chemin-Vert. Oriented along a north-south axis, it is sandwiched between the Saint-Sébastien-Froissart and Bastille stations.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu - Drouot to Porte de Charenton. The Rue de Chemin Vert (green path) follows the route of an old footpath through the middle of market gardens. In 1868 the Rue de Chemin Vert was extended from the Rue des Amandiers-Popincourt to the Barrier des Amandiers, a gate on the former Wall of the Farmers-General.

As part of the RATP's Renouveau du Metro program, the station was completely renovated, starting with the platforms in 2001, then it was the turn of the corridors opening on 18 December 2006. The decoration of the quays in the interwar style of the former CMP was thus renewed and completed with new lighting, but the advertising frames with plant motifs were recreated in brown earthenware and no longer in honey colour as in the original.

On 20 March 2018, half of the nameplates on the station's platforms were temporarily replaced by the RATP to celebrate the arrival of spring, in parallel with the distribution of flowers to passengers, as in five other stations. The new plaques depict a green landscape crossed by a path, where a wooden sign bearing the name "Chemin Vert" was depicted, referring to the origin of the name of the Rue du Chemin-Vert.

In 2020, 685,294 passengers entered this station.

Access
The station has two entrances, each consisting of a fixed staircase adorned with a balustrade and a Dervaux-type candelabra:
 * Access 1 Boulevard Beaumarchais / Rue Saint-Gilles - Place des Vosges - leading to nos. 59 and 61 of the boulevard;
 * Access 2 Boulevard Beaumarchais / Rue du Chemin-Vert - located to the right of nos. 52 and 54 of the same boulevard.

Platforms
Chemin Vert is a station with a standard configuration. It has two platforms separated by the metro tracks located in the centre and the vault is elliptical. The decoration is in the style used for most metro stations. The lighting strips are white and rounded in the Gaudin style of the metro revival of the 2000s, and the bevelled white ceramic tiles cover the walls, the vault and the tunnel exits. The advertising frames are made of earthenware with brown plant motifs (a shade that did not originally exist) and the name of the station is also made of earthenware in the interwar style of the original CMP. The platforms are equipped with wooden slatted benches painted purple.

It is one of the few stations in the network whose ceramic decoration in the "CMP" style is no longer original, having been completely reconstructed during the 2006 renovation.

Bus connections
The station is served by lines 29, 69 and 91 of the RATP Bus Network and, at night, by lines N01 and N02 of the Noctilien network.

Nearby

 * Canal Saint-Martin
 * Place des Vosges with Square Louis-XIII in its centre and Maison de Victor Hugo at its south-east end
 * Musée Picasso
 * Jardin Arnaud-Beltrame

title: Chemin Vert station


text:
Ledru-Rollin station

Ledru-Rollin is a station on Line 8 of the Paris Métro. It is located at the intersection of the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine and Avenue Ledru-Rollin (after which it is named), on the border between the 11th arrondissement and 12th arrondissement.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu – Drouot to Porte de Charenton. Avenue Ledru-Rollin is named after lawyer Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin (1807–1874) who founded the newspaper La Réforme in 1843 and served as Minister of the Interior in 1848.

The station is one of three stops chosen as prototypes of the decorative Andreu-Motte style, with Pont-Neuf on line 7 and Voltaire on line 9, which was tested there in 1974. It is the model for those in dark blue.

As part of the RATP's Renouveau du metro revival programme, its corridors were renovated by 28 November 2002.

In 2013, 3,917,141 passengers used the station, making it the 128th busiest out of 302 on the Métro network.

Access
The station has four accesses, each with two metro entrances (eight in total), all made up of fixed staircases with Dervaux-type balustrades:
 * Access 1 Avenue Ledru-Rollin, embellished with a mast with a yellow M inscribed in a circle, leading to the right of no. 90 of the avenue;
 * Access 2 Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, decorated with a Dervaux candelabra, facing no. 100 of this street;
 * Access 3 Rue Traversière, with a yellow M mast, located to the right of no. 87 Avenue Ledru-Rollin;
 * Access 4 Rue de Charonne, equipped with a Dervaux totem, opening opposite numbers 68 and 70 Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine.

Platforms
Ledru-Rollin is a standard configuration station. It has two platforms separated by the metro tracks and the vault is elliptical. The decoration is in the Andreu-Motte style with two blue light canopies, benches treated in flat blue tiles and blue Motte seats. These fittings are combined with the bevelled white ceramic tiles that cover the walls, the vault, the tunnel exits and the corridor outlets. The advertising frames are made of honey-coloured earthenware and the name of the station is also in earthenware in the style of the original CMP.

Bus connections
The station is served by lines 61, 76 and 86 of the RATP Bus Network and, at night, by lines N16 and N34 of the Noctilien network.

Places of interest
The Promenade Plantée, a 4.5 km long elevated garden along the abandoned railway which led to the former Gare de La Bastille railway station, is located nearby. The Opéra Bastille, also served by Bastille station, is also close to Ledru-Rollin.

title: Ledru-Rollin station


text:
McFly (disambiguation)

McFly is an English pop rock band.

Fictional McFly can also refer to:
 * Marty McFly, the protagonist in the Back to the Future film series
 * George McFly, Marty's father
 * Lorraine McFly, Marty's mother

title: McFly (disambiguation)


text:
Montgallet station

Montgallet is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the 12th arrondissement. It is named after the nearby rue Montgallet, which is in turn named after the former owner of the land on which the road was built upon. Rue Montgallet is well known in Paris for its computer shops.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 as part of the extension of line 8 from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton.

As part of the "Un métro + beau" programme by the RATP, the station's corridors and platform lighting were renovated and modernised on 19 November 2007.

In 2019, the station was used by 1,596,702 passengers, making it the 274th busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 804,190 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 266th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 1,108,395 passengers, making it the 273rd busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has a single access at rue Montgallet.

Platforms
The station has a standard configuration with 2 tracks surrounded by 2 side platforms. The increased height of its vault along with the lower portion of its side walls being vertical instead of elliptical distinguishes it from the other stations on the line.

Other connections
The station is also served by line 46 of the RATP bus network.

Nearby

 * Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture (Promenade Plantée)
 * Coulée verte René-Dumont
 * Église Saint-Éloi de Paris
 * Hôpital des Diaconesses de Reuilly
 * Jardin de Reuilly - Paul Pernin
 * Square Saint-Éloi

title: Montgallet station


text:
Ribet

Ribet may refer to:

 * Florent Ribet (born 1989), French bobsledder who competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics
 * Ken Ribet (born 1948), American mathematician
 * Ribet Academy, a private independent boarding school for boys and girls in Los Angeles, California

title: Ribet


text:
Michel Bizot station

Michel Bizot is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the 12th arrondissement. It is named after the nearby avenue du Général-Michel-Bizot, which is in turn named after the French military engineer General Michel Brice Bizot (1795–1855), fatally shot at the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 as part of the extension of line 8 from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton.

As part of the "Un métro + beau" programme by the RATP, the station's corridors and platform lighting were renovated and modernised on 6 July 2005.

In 2019, the station was used by 1,906,545 passengers, making it the 251st busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 910,938 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 254th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 1,403,416 passengers, making it the 245th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has 4 accesses:

 * Access 1: rue de Toul
 * Access 2: rue de Picpus
 * Access 3: rue de Fécamp
 * Access 4: avenue Daumesnil (an exit only escalator from the northbound platform)

Platforms
The station has a standard configuration with two tracks surrounded by two side platforms. The vault is elliptical. The decoration is of the style used for the majority of metro stations. The lighting canopies are white and rounded in the Gaudin style of the Renouveau du Métro des Années 2000, and the beveled white ceramic tiles cover the straight walls, the vault, the tunnel exits and the outlets of the corridors. The advertising frames are made of honey-colored earthenware and the name of the station is also made of earthenware in the style of the original CMP. The seats are Motte style and orange in color. This decoration is completely identical to that of the neighboring station, Porte Dorée.

Other connections
The station is also served by line 46 of the RATP bus network, and at night, by line N33 of the Noctilien bus network.

Nearby

 * Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture (Promenade Plantée)
 * Coulée verte René-Dumont
 * Jardin Ilan-Halimi
 * Square Charles-Péguy

title: Michel Bizot station


text:
Porte Dorée station

Porte Dorée is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the 12th arrondissement.

The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton. It is named after the Porte Dorée, one of the former gates of Paris.

Along with Porte de Bagnolet on line 3, Porte de Pantin on line 5, and Porte d'Italie on line 7, it is one of the four stations on the network built at the former gates of Paris without having originally served as a terminus.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 as part of the extension of line 8 from Richelieu–Drouot to Porte de Charenton for the Paris Colonial Exposition held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes in 1931.

On the evening of 16 May 1937, Lætitia Toureaux was found stabbed in the first class car where she was alone, the first murder on the métro. Despite many investigations over the years, the identity of the culprit remains unknown till today. This story inspired Pierre Siniac's (1928–2002) novel Le Crime du dernier métro published in 2001 as well as one of the legends of the Le Manoir de Paris, a walk-through haunted house in the 10th arrondissement.

As part of the "Un métro + beau" programme by the RATP, the station's corridors and platform lighting were renovated and modernised on 2 December 2008.

In 2019, the station was used by 2,763,236 passengers, making it the 191st busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 1,428,784 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 182nd busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 1,918,182 passengers, making it the 186th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has 6 accesses:

 * Access 1: Place Édouard Renard Palais de la Porte Dorée (with an ascending escalator)
 * Access 2: avenue Daumesnil
 * Access 3: Boulevard Poniatowski
 * Access 4: rue Ernest Lacoste
 * Access 5: rue de Picpus
 * Access 6: rue Joseph Chailley

Platforms
The station has a standard configuration with two tracks surrounded by two side platforms. The vault is elliptical. The decoration is of the style used for the majority of metro stations. The lighting canopies are white and rounded in the Gaudin style of the Renouveau du Métro des Années 2000 revival, and the beveled white ceramic tiles cover the straight walls, the vault and the tunnel exits. The advertising frames are made of honey-coloured earthenware and the name of the station is also made of earthenware. The seats are Motte style, orange in colour.

Tramway
The station has been served by tramway T3a since 15 December 2012 as part of its extension from Porte d'Ivry to Porte de Vincennes.

Bus
The station is also served by lines 46 and 201 of the RATP bus network, and at night, by line N33 of the Noctilien bus network.

Nearby

 * Bois de Vincennes (where Pelouse de Reuilly, the location of the Foire du Trône fun fair in April and May, is located)
 * Foire du Trône
 * Palais de la Porte Dorée (an exhibition hall built for the Paris Colonial Exposition)
 * Aquarium du palais de la Porte-Dorée
 * Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration (a museum of immigration history)
 * Paris Zoological Park
 * Porte Dorée

title: Porte Dorée station


text:
Porte de Charenton station

Porte de Charenton is a station on Line 8 of the Paris Métro located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.

History
The station opened on 5 May 1931 with the extension of the line from Richelieu–Drouot for the Paris Colonial Exposition, held in the nearby Bois de Vincennes. It was the southeastern terminus of the line until its extension to Charenton–Écoles on 5 October 1942. It is named after the Porte de Charenton, a gate in the 19th-century Thiers wall of Paris on the road to Charenton-le-Pont.

An interchange with Île-de-France tramway Line 3a opened on 15 December 2012.

The nearby Pelouse de Reuilly (part of the Bois de Vincennes) is the location of the Foire du Trône funfair in April and May.

Access
The station has four access points. The first two, at the south-west end of the quays, lead: The last two, at the north-east end of the quays, allowing access to the Reuilly lawn, lead: at Boulevard Poniatowski on the even number side, near the corner with Place du Cardinal-Lavigerie; at 59, boulevard Poniatowski. These two old emergency exits were renovated and put into service in 2020 [ref. necessary].
 * at 68, boulevard Poniatowski, alongside the Léo-Lagrange stadium;
 * at 25, boulevard Poniatowski.

Platforms
Porte de Charenton is a station with a particular configuration. Due to its former status as a terminus, it has four tracks and two platforms, each of them being framed by two tracks. This rare arrangement can also be observed at Porte de Montreuil station. Trains usually serve the station via the side tracks. The central tracks only serve as a depot or in the event of an exceptional termination. These platforms are fitted out in the Andreu-Motte style with two orange light canopies, benches treated with brown flat tiles and orange Motte seats. These arrangements are combined with the flat white ceramic tiles which cover the walls and the particularly wide vault. The advertising frames are metal and the name of the station is written in capital letters on enameled plaques.

Other connections
The station is served by lines 77, 87 and 111 of the RATP Bus Network and at night, by line N35 of the Noctilien network.

Since 15 December 2012, it is also served by the T3a tramway after its extension from Porte d'Ivry.

title: Porte de Charenton station


text:
Liberté station

Liberté is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont. It is named after the nearby avenue de la Liberté which runs above the station, it refers to the motto of the France: Liberté, égalité, fraternité.

History
The station opened on 5 October 1942 as part of the extension of the line from Porte de Charenton to Charenton–Écoles. In 1969, the station was renovated in the Mouton-Duvernet style, characterised by its two-toned orange tiling, as opposed to the traditional white bevelled tiles found on the majority of the network's stations.

As part of the "Un métro + beau" programme by the RATP, the station was closed from 2 July to 29 August 2012 as part of its renovation and modernisation, including the replacement of the tiling, signage, and lighting, restoring the original look of the station.

In 2019, the station was used by 2,532,442 passengers, making it the 205th busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 1,195,690 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 219th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 1,704,609 passengers, making it the 207th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has four access points:

 * Access 1: rue de Paris (an exit-only escalator from the eastbound platform)
 * Access 2: avenue de la Liberté (on both sides of rue de Paris)
 * Access 3: rue de Valmy
 * Access 4: avenue du Général Chanzy

Platforms
The station has a standard configuration with 2 tracks surrounded by 2 side platforms. The vault is elliptical. The decoration is of the style used for the majority of metro stations. The lighting canopies are white and rounded in the Gaudin style of the Renouveau du Métro des Années 2000 renewal, and the beveled white ceramic tiles cover the walls, the vault, the tunnel exits and the outlets of the corridors. The advertising frames are made of white ceramic and the name of the station is written in Parisine font on enameled plaques. The Akiko style seats are green in colour.

Other connections
The station is also served by lines 77, 109, 111, and 180 of the RATP bus network, and at night, by line N35 of the Noctilien bus network.

Nearby

 * Bois de Vincennes
 * Cirque Phénix
 * Foire du Trône
 * Musée Toffoli, a museum dedicated to the French painter Louis Toffoli (1907-1999) who once resided in Charenton-le-Pont.
 * Pelouse de Reuilly
 * Vélodrome de Vincennes, the main stadium for the 1900 Olympics

title: Liberté station


text:
Maisons-Alfort–Stade station

Maisons-Alfort–Stade is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort. It is named after the commune the station is situated in, and after the stade de la Suze (1935-1970) which still existed when the station was built in 1969 and which has been replaced a year later by the Métropolis building complex at number 99. This lost stadium is the very reason why the platforms have a set of stairs going nowhere on the opposite hand of the platform exit, the construction of the obsolete access to the stadium having been aborted soon before the opening to the public. This northwest access and mezzanine for ticket barriers thus remained blind and were later converted for staff use. The situation is comparable to Porte Molitor station that as no access, being originally intended for Parc des Princes. The name of the station didn't change due to the nearby Stade Auguste Delaune that filled the void.

History
The station opened on 19 September 1970 as part of the extension of the line from Charenton–Écoles, serving as its eastern terminus until it was further extended to Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes on 27 April 1972. This began a new wave of network expansions after a 18-year break due to limited financial resources during the post-war period. It marks the first appearance of "box stations", characterised by its rectangular shape due its cut-and-cover method of construction.

In 2019, the station was used by 2,330,375 passengers, making it the 221st busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 1,393,467 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 186th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 1,702,479 passengers, making it the 208th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has 2 accesses:
 * Access 1: avenue du Général Leclerc côté des numéros impairs
 * Access 2: avenue du Général Leclerc côté des numéros pairs (with an ascending escalator)
 * Access “Stade de la Suze” was never completed (what's left of it is a set of stairs and a mezzanine for ticket barriers on the opposite hand of the platform exit) since the stadium was destroyed to build the Métropolis building complex soon before the station opened to public.

Platforms
The station has a standard configuration with 2 tracks surrounded by 2 side platforms. Built in the 1970s, it is a cage station with vertical walls and a horizontal ceiling due to its cut-and-cover construction. The decoration, typical of this decade, is similar to a variation of the Mouton-Duvernet style with walls and tunnel exits covered with hollow patterned tiles in various shades of ochre, placed vertically and aligned, as well as a ceiling and wall tops treated in white. Lighting is provided by two suspended canopies that can also be found at the next station, École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort, as well as at the Porte de Bagnolet station on line 3 (in addition, the Gambetta station on the latter line was equipped with the same model of canopy until its renovation in 2007). The advertising frames, slightly recessed in the walls, are metal and the name of the station is inscribed in Parisine font on enamelled plaques. The seats are Motte style in red.

The station shares this decorative style only with the two framing stopping points, École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort and Maisons-Alfort-Les Juiliottes. However, ochre-coloured tiles also exist in the access corridors to the platform of the Créteil-Université station on the same line, except that they only have the lightest shade.

Other connections
The station is also served by lines 104 and 372 of the RATP bus network, and at night, by line N35 of the Noctilien bus network.

Nearby

 * Cimetière de Maisons-Alfort
 * Collège Edouard Herriot
 * Fort de Charenton
 * Stade Auguste Delaune

title: Maisons-Alfort–Stade station


text:
Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes station

Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes is a station on line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Maisons-Alfort. It is named after the Juilliottes quarter of Maisons-Alfort.

History
The station opened on 27 April 1972 as part of the line's extension from Porte de Charenton–Écoles, serving as its eastern terminus until it was further extended to Créteil–L'Échat on 24 September 1973.

As part of the "Un métro + beau" programme by the RATP, the station's corridors and platform lighting were renovated and modernised on 11 September 2015. As a result, despite the station being built in the 1970s, the walls of its corridors and mezzanine are clad with the traditional white beveled tiles found on the older stations on the métro. Some of the tiles have dimensions twice that of the classic tiles – a feature also found at Châtelet as well as Basilique de Saint-Denis on Line 13. Only its platforms have retained its original coloured tiles.

In 2019, the station was used by 1,779,627 passengers, making it the 260th busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 905,627 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 255th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 1,297,495 passengers, making it the 251st busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has 4 accesses:

 * Access 1: rue Louis Pergaud Centre Commercial
 * Access 2: avenue du Général Leclerc
 * Access 3: rue du Buisson Joyeux (formerly rue Hoche, a street that stood where the highway A86 now stands)
 * Access 4: avenue du Maréchal De Lattre de Tassigny (formerly an access to a bus station and loop from and towards Créteil)

The layout of the access points 3 and 4 reminds the profound changes in a district that the station preceded in its construction, built two years before the start of the A86 works. Surprisingly, accesses 1 and 2, today the busiest, do not have an escalator, unlike accesses 3 and 4 which are however less frequented. This escalator was originally intended to carry the passengers from the arrival platform of this terminus towards a bus station which has now disappeared, of which the parking lot retains the shape of the turnaround loop for buses extending the service to Créteil. Meanwhile, access 3 lead to rue Hoche (parallel to rue du Buisson Joyeux), a residential area of which absolutely nothing remains, the street and the area having been completely torn down to build the motorway A86 only two years after the construction of the station. This is how today access 4 oddly leads to a tiny car park, while access 3 bizarrely faces towards a fallow vegetation on the motorway exit embankment.

Platforms
The station has a particular arrangement specific to the stations serving or had served as a terminus. It has three tracks and two island platforms, of which only 1 island platform and two tracks are in regular use.

Built in the 1970s, it is a box station with vertical walls and a horizontal ceiling due to its cut-and-cover construction. The decoration, typical of the 1970s, is similar to a variation of the Mouton-Duvernet style with walls and tunnel exits covered with tiles in various shades of ochre (sand-coloured at the right of the advertisements), placed vertically and aligned, a ceiling and wall tops treated in white as well as a suspended lighting system with a red structure. The advertisements on the walls are frameless and the name of the station is inscribed in Parisine font on enamelled plaques. The seats are Motte style in red (replacing benches of the same colour).

The station shares this decorative style only with the two other stopping points of the line located on the territory of the municipality, École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort and Maisons-Alfort-Stade. However, ochre-coloured tiles also exist in the access corridors to the platform of the Créteil–Université station, except that they only have the lightest shade.

Other connections
The station is also served by lines 104, 217, and 372 of the RATP bus network, and at night, by lines N32 and N35 of the Noctilien bus network.

Nearby

 * Cimetière de Maisons-Alfort
 * Les Juilliottes

title: Maisons-Alfort–Les Juilliottes station


text:
Azathioprine

Azathioprine, sold under the brand name Imuran, among others, is an immunosuppressive medication. It is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus; and in kidney transplants to prevent rejection. It is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a group 1 human carcinogen. It is taken by mouth or injected into a vein.

Common side effects include bone-marrow suppression and vomiting. Bone-marrow suppression is especially common in people with a genetic deficiency of the enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase. Other serious risk factors include an increased risk of certain cancers. Use during pregnancy may result in harm to the baby. Azathioprine belongs to the purine analogues subclass of antimetabolites family of medications. It works via 6-thioguanine to disrupt the making of RNA and DNA by cells.

Azathioprine was first made in 1957. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In 2018, it was the 358th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 800,000 prescriptions.

Medical uses
Azathioprine is used alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection following organ transplantation, and to treat an array of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematosus, Behçet's disease, and other forms of vasculitis, autoimmune hepatitis, atopic dermatitis, myasthenia gravis, neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease), restrictive lung disease, and others. It is also an important therapy and steroid-sparing agent for inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and for multiple sclerosis.

In the United States, it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in kidney transplantation from human donors, and for rheumatoid arthritis.

Transplantation
Azathioprine is used to prevent rejections of kidney or liver allografts, usually in conjunction with other therapies including corticosteroids, other immunosuppressants, and local radiation therapy. The administration protocol starts either at the time of transplantation or within the following two days.

Rheumatoid arthritis
Being a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), azathioprine has been used for the management of the signs and symptoms of adult rheumatoid arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids may be combined or continued (if they were already in use) with azathioprine, but the combination with other DMARDs is not recommended.

Inflammatory bowel disease
Azathioprine has been used in the management of moderate to severe chronically active Crohn's disease, to maintain clinical remission (absence of disease activity) in corticosteroid-dependent patients, and to provide benefit in people with fistulizing Crohn's disease. The onset of action is slow, and it may require several months to achieve clinical response.

Azathioprine treatment is associated with an increased risk of lymphoma, but if this is due to the drug or a predisposition related to Crohn's disease is unclear. Lower doses of azathioprine are used as a therapy in children with refractory or corticosteroid-dependent Crohn's disease, without causing many side effects. It may also be used to prevent flares in those with ulcerative colitis.

Others
Azathioprine is sometimes used in systemic lupus erythematosus, requiring a maintenance dose of 15 mg or higher of prednisone in those who experience recurrent flares.

It is used as an add-on therapy when steroid therapy is given by mouth for pemphigus and myasthenia gravis, as a "steroid-sparing" agent. Azathioprine is also used to maintain remission in people who have granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

It can be very effective in eczema and atopic dermatitis, though it is not commonly used. The British National Eczema Society lists it as a third-line treatment for severe to moderate cases of these skin diseases.

It was widely used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis until the first half of the 1990s. Concerns about increased risk of malignancy has led to a decreased use, yet it is still used in maintenance treatment for people who frequently relapse. A 2007 Cochrane review found that azathioprine reduced the number of relapses in the first year of treatment and disease progression in the first two to three years and did not find an increase in cancer, and noted the need for direct comparison of azathioprine and interferon beta, conflicting conclusions regarding cancer, and the potential for long-term risks.

A widely used therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was azathioprine in combination with prednisone and N-acetylcysteine. A 2012 study showed that outcomes were worse with this combination than with placebo.

Adverse effects
Nausea and vomiting are common adverse effects, especially at the beginning of a treatment. Such cases are met with taking azathioprine after meals or transient intravenous administration. Side effects that are probably hypersensitivity reactions include dizziness, diarrhea, fatigue, and rashes. Hair loss is often seen in transplant patients receiving the drug, but rarely occurs under other indications. Because azathioprine suppresses the bone marrow, patients can develop anaemia and be more susceptible to infection; regular monitoring of the blood count is recommended during treatment. Acute pancreatitis can also occur, especially in patients with Crohn's disease. Treatment is discontinued in up to 30% of patients due these effects but therapeutic drug monitoring of the biologically active metabolites, i.e. thiopurine nucleotides can help to optimize the efficacy and safety. Clinically, most hospitals resort to ion-exchange LC-MS (liquid chromotography – mass spectrometry) but the newly developed approach of porous graphitic carbon based chromatography hyphenated with mass spectrometry appears superior with respect to patient care in this respect.

It is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans).

Pharmacogenetics
The enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is responsible for various activation and deactivation steps in azathioprine's mechanism of action. The first metabolic step that azathioprine undergoes in the body is the conversion to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP; see Pharmacokinetics), which is itself an immunosuppressant prodrug. The TPMT enzyme is responsible, in part, for the methylation of 6-MP into the inactive metabolite 6-methylmercaptopurine – this methylation prevents 6-MP from further conversion into active, cytotoxic thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) metabolites. Certain genetic variations within the TPMT gene can lead to decreased or absent TPMT enzyme activity, and individuals who are homozygous or heterozygous for these types of genetic variations may have increased levels of TGN metabolites and an increased risk of severe bone marrow suppression (myelosuppression) when receiving azathioprine. In many ethnicities, TPMT polymorphisms that result in decreased or absent TPMT activity occur with a frequency of approximately 5%, meaning that about 0.25% of patients are homozygous for these variants. However, an assay of TPMT activity in red blood cells or a TPMT genetic test can identify patients with reduced TPMT activity, allowing for the adjustment of azathioprine dose or avoidance of the drug entirely. The FDA-approved drug label for azathioprine recommends testing for TPMT activity to identify patients at risk for myelotoxicity. Indeed, testing for TPMT activity is one of the few examples of pharmacogenetics being translated into routine clinical care. Missense SNP in NUDT15 (e.g., rs116855232, inducing R139C)) has been identified to be a causal factor for AZA-induced leukopenia through a genome wide association study (GWAS) in East Asians.

Cancers
Azathioprine is listed as a human carcinogen in the 12th Report on Carcinogens by the National Toxicology Program of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asserting that it is "known to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans." Since August 2009, the U.S. FDA has required warnings to be placed on packaging with respect to increased risks of certain cancers.

The risks involved seem to be related both to the duration and the dosage used. People who have previously been treated with an alkylating agent may have an excessive risk of cancers if treated with azathioprine. Epidemiological studies by International Agency for Research on Cancer have provided "sufficient" evidence of azathioprine carcinogenicity in humans (group 1), although the methodology of past studies and the possible underlying mechanisms are questioned.

The various diseases requiring transplantation may in themselves increase the risks of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, hepatobiliary carcinomas, and mesenchymal tumours to which azathioprine may add additional risks. Those receiving azathioprine for rheumatoid arthritis may have a lower risk than those undergoing transplantation.

Cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma – a rare type of lymphoma – have been reported in patients treated with azathioprine. The majority occurred in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Adolescents and young adult males were the majority of cases. They presented with a very aggressive disease course, and with one exception, died of the lymphoma. The FDA has required changes to the labeling to inform users and clinicians of the issue.

Skin cancers
In transplant patients, skin cancer is 50 to 250 times more common than in the general population, and between 60 and 90% of patients are affected 20 years after transplantation. The use of immunosuppressive medication including azathioprine in organ transplantation has been linked to increased rates of developing skin cancer. Azathioprine causes the accumulation of 6-thioguanine (6-TG) in patients' DNA, which might trigger cancer when the patient is later exposed to ultraviolet light. Patients taking azathioprine were found to be abnormally sensitive to UVA light.

Overdose
Large single doses are generally well tolerated; a patient who took 7.5 g azathioprine (150 tablets) at once showed no relevant symptoms apart from vomiting, slightly decreased white blood cell count, and marginal changes in liver function parameters. Main symptoms of long-term overdosing are infections of unclear origin, mouth ulcers, and spontaneous bleeding, all of which are consequences of its bone-marrow suppression.

Interactions
Other purine analogues, such as allopurinol, inhibit xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that breaks down azathioprine, thus increasing the toxicity of azathioprine. Low doses of allopurinol, though, have been shown to safely enhance the efficacy of azathioprine, especially in inflammatory bowel disease nonresponders. This may still lead to lower lymphocyte counts and higher rates of infection, therefore the combination requires careful monitoring.

Azathioprine decreases the effects of the anticoagulant warfarin and of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants, but increases the effect of depolarizing muscle relaxants. It can also interfere with niacin (vitamin B3), resulting in at least one case to pellagra and fatal medullary aplasia.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Azathioprine can cause birth defects. A 2003 population-based study in Denmark showed that the use of azathioprine and related mercaptopurine resulted in a seven-fold incidence of fetal abnormalities, as well as a 20-fold increase in miscarriage. Birth defects in a child whose father was taking azathioprine have also been reported. Although no adequate and well-controlled studies have taken place in humans, when given to animals in doses equivalent to human dosages, teratogenesis was observed. Transplant patients already on this drug should not discontinue on becoming pregnant. This contrasts with the later-developed drugs tacrolimus and mycophenolate, which are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Traditionally, as for all cytotoxic drugs, the manufacturer advises not to breastfeed whilst taking azathioprine, but the "lactation risk category" reported by Thomas Hale in his book Medications and Mothers' Milk lists azathioprine as "L3", termed "moderately safe".

Pharmacokinetics
Azathioprine is absorbed from the gut to about 88%. Bioavailability varies greatly between individual patients, between 30 and 90%, because the drug is partly inactivated in the liver. Highest blood plasma concentrations, counting not only the drug itself, but also its metabolites, are reached after 1–2 hours, and the average plasma half-life is 26 to 80 minutes for azathioprine and 3–5 hours for drug plus metabolites. 20 to 30% are bound to plasma proteins while circulating in the bloodstream.

Azathioprine is a prodrug, a substance that is not an active drug itself, but is activated in the body. This happens in several steps; at first, it is slowly and almost completely converted to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) by reductive cleavage of the thioether (–S–). This is mediated by glutathione and similar compounds in the intestinal wall, the liver, and on red blood cells, without the aid of enzymes. 6-MP is metabolized analogously to natural purines, giving thioguanosine triphosphate (TGTP) and thiodeoxyguanosine triphosphate (TdGTP) via thioinosine monophosphate (TIMP) and several further intermediates. On a second path, the sulfur atom of 6-MP and TIMP is methylated. The end products of azathioprine metabolism are thiouric acid (38%) and various methylated and hydroxylated purines, which are excreted via the urine.

Mechanism of action
Azathioprine inhibits purine synthesis. Purines are needed to produce DNA and RNA. By inhibiting purine synthesis, less DNA and RNA are produced for the synthesis of white blood cells, thus causing immunosuppression.

Azathioprine is converted within tissues to 6-MP, some of which is converted, in turn, to 6-thioguanine by the addition of an amino group. Both 6-MP and 6-thioguanine are conjugated with ribose, and then phosphorylated to form the nucleotides thioinosinic acid and thioguanylic acid, respectively. These nucleotides masquerade, respectively, as inosinic acid and guanylic acid; the former is the starting point for purine nucleotide biosynthesis, while the latter is one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

 * The nucleotides are incorporated into newly synthesized (but nonfunctional) DNA, halting replication.
 * The nucleotides act to inhibit glutamine-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase (GPAT), one of the enzymes involved in purine biosynthesis, one of the earlier steps in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. They achieve GPAT inhibition through a form of negative feedback called product inhibition. Because actively replicating cells (such as cancer cells and the T cells and B cells of the immune system) are most active in synthesizing purine, making new DNA, these cells are most strongly affected.
 * A portion of the nucleotides is additionally phosphorylated to the triphosphate forms. These bind to GTP-binding protein Rac1, blocking synthesis of the protein Bcl-xL, thus sending activated T cells and mononuclear cells into apoptosis (programmed cell death). Increased apoptosis of mononuclear cells is seen in inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with azathioprine.

Chemistry
Azathioprine is a thiopurine linked to a second heterocycle (an imidazole derivative) via a thioether. It is a pale yellow solid with a slightly bitter taste and a melting point of 238–245 °C. It is practically insoluble in water and only slightly soluble in lipophilic solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, and diethylether. It dissolves in alkaline aqueous solutions, where it hydrolyzes to 6-mercaptopurine.

Azathioprine is synthesized from 5-chloro-1-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazole and 6-mercaptopurine in dimethyl sulfoxide. The synthesis of the former starts with an amide from methylamine and diethyl oxalate, which is then cyclized and chlorinated with phosphorus pentachloride; the nitro group is introduced with nitric and sulfuric acid.

History
Azathioprine was synthesized by George Herbert Hitchings and Gertrude Elion in 1957 (named BW 57-322) to produce 6-MP in a metabolically active, but masked form, and at first used as a chemotherapy drug.

Robert Schwartz investigated the effect of 6-MP on the immune response in 1958 and discovered that it profoundly suppresses the formation of antibodies when given to rabbits together with antigens. Following the work done by Sir Peter Medawar and Gertrude Elion in discovering the immunological basis of rejection of transplanted tissues and organs, and Schwartz's researches on 6-MP, Sir Roy Calne, the British pioneer in transplantation, introduced 6-MP as an experimental immunosuppressant for kidney and heart transplants. When Calne asked Elion for related compounds to investigate, she suggested azathioprine, which was subsequently found out to be superior (as effective and less toxic to the bone marrow) by Calne.

In April 1962, with regimens consisting of azathioprine and prednisone, the transplantation of kidneys to unrelated recipients (allotransplantation) was successful for the first time. For many years, this kind of dual therapy with azathioprine and glucocorticoids was the standard antirejection regimen, until cyclosporin was introduced into clinical practice (by Calne as well) in 1978.

Cyclosporin has now replaced some of the azathioprine use due to a longer survival time, especially in heart-related transplantations. Moreover, despite being considerably more expensive, mycophenolate mofetil is also increasingly being used in place of azathioprine in organ transplantation, as it is associated with less bone marrow suppression, fewer opportunistic infections, and a lower incidence of acute rejection.

title: Azathioprine


text:
Créteil–Université station

Créteil–Université station is an at-grade station on Line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil. It is located in the middle of the Route départementale 1 (RD 1). Its name refers to the nearby Paris-East Créteil University.

History
The station opened on 10 September 1974 as part of the line's extension from Créteil–L'Échat to Créteil–Préfecture. It owes its name to its location in the municipal territory of Créteil as well as to its proximity to the headquarters and main site of the Paris-East Créteil University (UPEC), a French multidisciplinary institution also known as Paris XII.

In 2019, the station was used by 3,536,972 passengers, making it the 137th busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 1,935,234 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 125th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 2,496,595 passengers, making it the 135th busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has two accesses:
 * Access 1: Mail des Mèches (pedestrian mall) / Paris-East Créteil University
 * Access 2: Route de Choisy / Hôpital Albert Chenevier

Platforms
Créteil–Université is an elevated station with a particular configuration. It has a central platform framed by the two tracks of the metro. This platform is equipped with Akiko style seats in blue, replacing Motte seats in the same shade; the name of the station is inscribed in Parisine font on suspended backlit panels. The metal advertising frames were moved to the limits of the line's rights-of-way, the width of which made it possible to build an additional track and platform.

The access corridors to the platform are decorated with light ochre-coloured tiles that can also be found on the platforms of the stations established on the territory of the neighbouring municipality of Maisons-Alfort (École vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort, Maisons-Alfort-Stade and Maisons-Alfort-Les Juilliottes), except that they have several different shades of ochre in the latter and not only the lightest shade.

Nearby

 * Hôpital Albert-Chenevier
 * Paris-East Créteil University

title: Créteil–Université station


text:
International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), more commonly known as the International Baccalaureate (IB), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for students aged 15 to 19, the IB Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16, and the IB Primary Years Programme for children aged three to 12. To teach these programmes, schools must be authorized by the International Baccalaureate.

The organization's name and logo were changed in 2007 to reflect new structural arrangements. Consequently, "IB" may now refer to the organization itself, any of the four programmes, or the diploma or certificates awarded at the end of a programme.

Inception
When Marie-Thérèse Maurette wrote "Educational Techniques for Peace. Do They Exist?" in 1948, she created the framework for what would eventually become the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). In the mid-1960s, a group of teachers from the International School of Geneva (Ecolint) created the International Schools Examinations Syndicate (ISES), which would later become the International Baccalaureate Office (IBO), followed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and then the International Baccalaureate (IB).

First programme
The IB headquarters were officially established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968 for the development and maintenance of the IB Diploma Programme. The objective of this programme was to "provide an internationally acceptable university admissions qualification suitable for the growing mobile population of young people whose parents were part of the world of diplomacy, international and multinational organizations" by offering standardized courses and assessments for students aged 16 to 19.

International Baccalaureate North America (IBNA) was established in 1975 by Peter Nehr, International Baccalaureate Africa, Europe and Middle-East (IBAEM) in 1986, and International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific (IBAP) during the same period. The International Baccalaureate now functions as a global organization with global centers in Geneva, Washington D.C., The Hague, Cardiff and Singapore.

Other programmes
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) was first offered in 1994. Within five years, 51 countries had MYP schools. A revised MYP programme, referred to as the IB Middle Years Programme New chapter was introduced in September 2014.

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) was piloted in 1996 in 30 primary schools on different continents, and the first PYP school was authorized in 1997, with 87 authorized schools in 43 countries within five years.

The IB Career-related Programme (formerly IB Career-related Certificate ) was first offered in 2012.

Directors general
Alec Peterson was IB's first director general (1968–1977), followed by Gérard Renaud (1977–1983), Roger Peel (1983–1998), Derek Blackman (1998–1999), George Walker (1999–2005), Jeffrey Beard (2006–2013) and Siva Kumari (2013–2021).

As of May 2021, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Finnish politician and director of the Finnish National Agency of Education, was selected by the board of directors to serve as director general, replacing Siva Kumari.

Organization
The IB is a nonprofit organization, selling its products and services to schools in a system analogous to a franchise network. Schools buy products and services from the IB – assessments, publications, the right to use branding – and in turn schools act as distributors, reselling the products and services to families.

The IB maintains its head office in Geneva, Switzerland. Assessment and grading services are located in Cardiff, Wales and the curriculum centre moved in 2011 to The Hague, Netherlands. Two other offices are located in Washington D.C., United States and Singapore.

The organization is divided into three regional centres: IB Africa, Europe and Middle East (IBAEM), administered from The Hague; IB Americas (IBA), administered from Washington D.C.; and IB Asia-Pacific (IBAP), administered from Singapore.

Sub-regional associations "are groups formed by and for IB school practitioners to assist IB schools, teachers and students in their communities—from implementing IB programmes to providing a forum for dialogue." There are currently fifty-six (56) sub-regional associations, including:
 * fifteen in the IB Africa, Europe and Middle East (IBAEM) region;
 * thirty-six in the IB Americas (IBA) region; and
 * five in the IB Asia Pacific (IBAP) region.

In 2003, the IB established the IB Fund, incorporated in the United States, to enhance fundraising and keep funds raised separately from operational funds. In 2004, the IB approved a strategic plan to "ensure that programmes and services are of the highest quality" and "to provide access to people who are socio-economically disadvantaged." In 2010 and 2015 the strategic plans were updated after substantial consultation. The vision for the next five years was to more consciously establish the IB as a leader in international education and the Board outlined a vision and four strategic goals with key strategic objectives.

Access remains fundamental to the mission of the IB and a variety of initiatives and projects are helping to take it forward in Ecuador, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Spain, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.

The United States has the largest number of IB programmes (2,010 out of 5,586) offered in both private and public schools.

The IB works with governments and non-governmental organizations across the world and has consultative status as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and has collaborative relationships with the Council of Europe and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

Governance
The IB governance is composed of an IB Board of Governors and six committees (access and advancement, audit, education, finance, human resources and governance). The Board of Governors appoints the Director General, sets the strategic direction of the organization, adopts a mission statement, makes policy, oversees the IB's financial management, and ensures autonomy and integrity of the IB Diploma Programme examinations and other student assessments. The structure of its different committees is based on respect, representation and collaboration.

The Board of Governors can comprise between 15 and 25 members. Members are elected by the Board on the recommendation of the governance committee and from nominations presented by the Heads Council, Regional Councils and the Board. To encourage diversity of gender, culture and geography, there are only three ex officio positions: Director General (non-voting), the chair of the Examining Board and the chair of the Heads Council.

Advisory bodies include the Heads Council and Regional Councils.

Reception
The IB Diploma Programme was described as "a rigorous, off-the-shelf curriculum recognized by universities around the world" when it was featured in the December 18, 2006, edition of Time titled "How to bring our schools out of the 20th Century". The IBDP was also featured in the summer 2002 edition of American Educator, where Robert Rothman described it as "a good example of an effective, instructionally sound, exam-based system."

In the US, in 2006, as part of the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI), President George W. Bush and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings presented a plan for the expansion of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate mathematics and science courses, intending to increase the number of AP and IB teachers and the number of students taking AP and IB examinations, as well as tripling the number of students passing those exams. Howard Gardner, a professor of educational psychology at Harvard University, said that the IBDP curriculum is "less parochial than most American efforts" and helps students "think critically, synthesize knowledge, reflect on their own thought processes and get their feet wet in interdisciplinary thinking."

In 2006, government ministers in the United Kingdom provided funding so that "every local authority in England could have at least one centre offering sixth-formers the chance to do the IB." In 2008, due to the devaluing of the A-Levels and an increase in the number of students taking the IB exams, then-Children's Secretary Ed Balls abandoned a "flagship Tony Blair pledge to allow children in all areas to study IB." Fears of a "two-tier" education system further dividing education between the rich and the poor emerged as the growth in IB is driven by private schools and sixth-form colleges. While the number of Diploma Programme state schools has dropped under budget constraints, the new Career-related Programme has seen solid uptake in the UK with 27 schools in Kent alone.

In 2006, an attempt was made to eliminate it from a public school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some schools in the United States have eliminated the IBDP due to budgetary reasons and low student participation. In Utah in 2008, funding for the IBDP was reduced from $300,000 to $100,000 after State Senator Margaret Dayton objected to the IB curriculum, stating, "First, I have never espoused eliminating IB ... I don't want to create 'world citizens' nearly as much as I want to help cultivate American citizens who function well in the world." Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, meanwhile, believes that IB should be an option for students in Chicago Public Schools. Elizabeth Brackett, reporting on her own experience of studying the IB in Chicago, found that it made for a stressful school experience but subsequently eased the pressures of university study. A further report by the University of Chicago concluded that Chicago Public School students who completed the IB curriculum were 40% more likely to attend a four-year college, 50% more likely to attend a selective four-year college, and significantly more likely to persist in college than their matched peers outside the IB. The City of Miami Beach Commission entered into an education compact with Miami-Dade County Public Schools with one of the initiatives of the compact to implement the IB curriculum throughout Miami Beach feeder schools.

In some other parts of the world, the International Baccalaureate has been well received. In 2013, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and the IB announced a plan that will expand the opportunities for Japanese students to complete the IB curriculum in Japanese. In Malaysia, a project has been developed in response to interest expressed by the Malaysia Ministry of Education (MoE) in working with the IB to implement the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in select secondary state schools. The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) signed an agreement with the IB to widen the options offered to parents and to meet the different needs of students in the United Arab Emirates. In April 2014 The King Faisal Foundation in Saudi Arabia and the IB signed a memorandum of understanding to develop IB programmes, including the IBDP, in up to forty primary and secondary schools, with the goal of intending to develop these schools as centres of excellence as IB World Schools. In Peru President Ollanta Humala has committed to building a high-performing schools network (COAR) made up of IB World Schools. In early 2016 thirteen new schools were authorized by the IB as part of this programme. In Ecuador, President Rafael Correa has also committed to improving education in state schools by implementing IB programmes and by January 2016 there were over 200 state schools. With support from local organizations, there are thirteen state IB schools in Russia. In Spain, various models have been implemented (3 types of schools in Spain: public schools, private schools and state funded-private or "concerted" schools) and led to extensive growth with 140 schools.

Internationally the IB continues to be recognized as innovative, and in 2014 the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) announced the IB Career-related Certificate as a finalist for their annual WISE Awards. However, the IB came under heavy criticism around the world in 2020 for controversial estimated grades, set when COVID-19 precautions obstructed examinations.

According to tertiary educational agency 7Acad, the diploma mean grade stands at a four-year low of 4.54 points,with total points at a five-year low of 28.51 pts as of 2019.

A study published by the University of Cambridge showed that a Cambridge student, who had obtained a score of 41 or more, achieved above-average success while at Cambridge. Students who had received 38 or less, were receiving grades below the average of all Cambridge students. Those that had an IB score of 38 or 39, obtained above-average grades in science, and below-average grades in social studies and humanities.

Marking guides plagiarism
In October 2010, the IBO was accused of plagiarising some of its confidential examiner marking guides from Wikipedia.

May 2020 examination results
In March 2020, the IB announced that exams for the May 2020 session had been cancelled as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It claimed that the final grades would instead be calculated based on coursework, students' teacher-predicted grades, and historical school data. "Prior to the attribution of final grades, this process was subjected to rigorous testing by educational statistical specialists to ensure our methods were robust. It was also checked against the last five years’ sets of results data," an IB spokesman said. In July 2020, the IB released its results for the Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme candidates enrolled in the May 2020 session. Over 17,000 signatories signed an online petition calling for a clarification of the grading methodology, and free remarking and retesting. Several educators have criticized IB's approach to the 2020 grading. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation stated it would "scrutinize" the grades. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority asked the IB to provide data under the General Data Protection Regulation.

Some argued that using a school's historical data to produce grades was unfair to black or low-income students, or students from smaller schools. Others complained about the lack of transparency and fair process of the grades' appeal process.

May 2021 examination session
In August 2020, amidst the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the IB announced a series of comprehensive amendments to its scheduled examinations in May 2021. They were inclusive of a few assessment components being discounted (for select subjects), and others being revised in length or syllabi. On 4 February 2021, the IB announced a dual exam route for the May 2021 examination: examinations were expected to take place in regions where a written assessment could be "administered safely", while candidates in other regions follow a non-exam "alternative route" based on coursework and predicted grades. This decision was met with stiff backlash as students taking the IB Diploma Programme protested against perceived injustice. Students argued that exams would harm student mental health and well-being as well as possible consequences for university admissions. The IB's dual system approach has also been criticized by exam boards such as Cambridge Assessment International Education, who cancelled their IGCSE and international A-level exams.

May 2024 examination leaks
In late April/early May, select IB final exams were leaked to the subreddit r/pirateIB and other platforms. To date, there have been documents shared for Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, English, Chinese, German, Psychology, Digital Societies, Geography, Business Management, Computer Science and Global Politics. Some online forums have been expressing student discontent, especially with concerns on unfair advantages in examinations, with claims of miscommunication from the IB. A statement from the IBO was published on May 4th, claiming that the organization had discovered a very small number of students engaged in "time zone cheating", further claiming that the cheating wasn't widespread. South China Morning Post rebutted this claim, having discovered over 45,000 downloads of papers. Significant numbers of students have raised concerns about grade boundaries being inflated as a result of the leaks. One group dedicated to leaking papers has affirmed the concerns, by restricting the release of English Lang. Lit. leaks to "protect the grade boundaries".

Following the examination leaks, the IBO also experienced an alleged security breach in their IT Infrastructure, potentially exposing internal documents and further test papers. Upon inspecting data shared online by the unknown threat actor(s), vx-underground, a group dedicated to investigating malware and cybersecurity, confirmed on the morning of May 6th that the breach appeared to be legitimate. On May 7th, the IBO confirmed that some of their data from 2018 was breached, including employee names, positions, and emails. The organization also stated that no exam material has been compromised.

title: International Baccalaureate


text:
Créteil–Préfecture station

Créteil–Préfecture station is an elevated station on Line 8 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Créteil.

Its name refers to the nearby prefecture (administrative headquarters of the department) of the Val-de-Marne.

The 40 ha Créteil Lake opened nearby in 1970 in place of a former quarry.

History
The station opened on 10 September 1974 as part of the line's extension from Créteil–L'Échat, serving as its eastern terminus until it was further extended 1.3km east to Pointe du Lac on 8 October 2011.

In 2019, the station was used by 4,663,191 passengers, making it the 91st busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.

In 2020, the station was used by 2,778,189 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 62nd busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

In 2021, the station was used by 3,330,602 passengers, making it the 92nd busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.

Access
The station has 2 accesses:

 * Access 1: Préfecture Centre Commercial Créteil–Soleil
 * Access 2: avenue du Docteur Paul Casalis Le Mont-Mesly

Platforms
Créteil–Préfecture is an elevated station with a particular arrangement specific to the stations serving or had served as a terminus. It has three tracks and two island platforms. Only the outer two tracks are in regular use.

Nearby

 * Créteil Soleil
 * Créteil town hall (Hôtel de Ville)
 * Lac de Créteil
 * Maison des arts et de la culture de Créteil

title: Créteil–Préfecture station


text:
User:Brian Schlosser42

I live in Kentucky. I am about 33 years old.

I may be emailed at brianschlosser42(at)gmail(dot)com.

Articles I have written or started:

United States three cent coin Humana Inc. Flying Eagle cent Cincinnati Southern Bridge C&O Railroad Bridge Carrol C. Cropper Bridge

To date the funniest thing I have seen on Wikipedia is this statement, from the Popular Culture article:

"For instance, giant pandas have become prominent known items of popular culture; parasitic worms, though of greater practical importance, have not."

I shall henceforth attempt to rectify this injustice in the name of all parasitic worms, everywhere.

title: User:Brian Schlosser42