A reversible system based on hybrid toggle radius-4 cellular automata and its application as a block cipher

The dynamical system described herein uses a hybrid cellular automata (CA) mechanism to attain reversibility, and this approach is adapted to create a novel block cipher algorithm called HCA. CA are widely used for modeling complex systems and employ an inherently parallel model. Therefore, applications derived from CA have a tendency to fit very well in the current computational paradigm where scalability and multi-threading potential are quite desirable characteristics. HCA model has recently received a patent by the Brazilian agency INPI. Several evaluations and analyses performed on the model are presented here, such as theoretical discussions related to its reversibility and an analysis based on graph theory, which reduces HCA security to the well-known Hamiltonian cycle problem that belongs to the NP-complete class. Finally, the cryptographic robustness of HCA is empirically evaluated through several tests, including avalanche property compliance and the NIST randomness suite.Comment: 34 pages, 12 figure

Educational and training model for implementation of E-CRM strategy

In developed market economies led by fast development of IT and database software, like EU and USA, priority of business activity is two-way strategic communication between companies and their consumers. Customer relationship management (CRM) is a relatively new concept, which aims to enable more effective and efficient implementation of company objectives through analytical review of customer needs. While there are numerous software packages that support it, CRM is not technology itself - it should be a fundamental change in organizational culture. The development of appropriate software allows CRM system to become automated process, but it does not imply successful implementation. Effective CRM strategy can not be integrated overnight. Changes must occur at all company levels which must take shape in accordance with the principles of CRM. Despite high expectations, as many as 50-70% of CRM initiatives fail to deliver expected outcomes. High failure rate is a result of fast and unplanned implementation of CRM. In this paper we define and analyze six most common reasons for the failure. Further on, by using several models we present a new „CRM E&T model” which provides safer implementation of CRM

Tracking Lone Wolf Terrorists

Terrorism takes many forms, and many advances in identifying and tracking terrorists have been made in the past few years. However, the rise of self-radicalized lone wolf terrorists is an increasing challenge, compounded by their different types and the social and political contexts in which their threats exist. These predators require multiple strategies to track and neutralize

Rethinking cultural democratization projects - Proposal of an Inclusive Framework for Underdeveloped Environments

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceCultural assets are physical or intangible artifacts that embody humanity’s expressions of individual and collective experience, and supportively contribute to education and knowledge dissemination. Yet, it is fathomed that “underdeveloped countries” experience a multitude of structural barriers that limit their citizens from accessing these important cultural artifacts. In pursuits of an interdisciplinary approach, this study first intends to identify the cultural, historical, and international paradigms that devise these limitations, and pinpoint the existing cultural democratization barriers that these nations withstand. Moreover, it hopes to acknowledge the value of ethical cultural democratization projects and mindful partnerships between organizations, governments, and institutions as potentiators of equality, and economic and social growth. That being said, grounded on a Design Science Research Methodology, the main objective of this research is the construction of an inclusive framework that aids in the democratization of access to cultural assets in “underdeveloped countries”. Essentially, this artifact should function as an accessible tool that supports decision-makers in the creation of cultural democratization projects, by providing them strategies for problem-solving through innovative approaches and recommending the available technological solutions for mitigating cultural democratization barriers. All throughout contemplating the capacities and necessities of each setting. Additionally, this study acknowledges the prevailing power dynamics and oppressive colonial control that looms over underdeveloped nations. With that in mind, it entirely rejects the ideals of cultural dominance in favor of supporting the democratic principles of cultural reciprocity

Campus Research Day Program November 29, 2017

Campus research day program for November 29, 2017.https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/campusresearchday/1008/thumbnail.jp

Finance 4.0 - Towards a Socio-Ecological Finance System

This Open Access book outlines ideas for a novel, scalable and, above all, sustainable financial system. We all know that today’s global markets are unsustainable and global governance is not effective enough. Given this situation, could one boost smart human coordination, sustainability and resilience by tweaking society at its core: the monetary system? A Computational Social Science team at ETH Zürich has indeed worked on a concept and little demonstrator for a new financial system, called “Finance 4.0” or just “FIN4”, which combines blockchain technology with the Internet of Things (“IoT”). What if communities could reward sustainable actions by issuing their own money (“tokens”)? Would people behave differently, when various externalities became visible and were actionable through cryptographic tokens? Could a novel, participatory, multi-dimensional financial system be created? Could it be run by the people for the people and lead to more societal resilience than today’s financial system (which is effectively one-dimensional due to its almost frictionless exchange)? How could one manage such a system in an ethical and democratic way? This book presents some early attempts in a nascent field, but provides a fresh view on what cryptoeconomic systems could do for us, for a circular economy, and for scalable, sustainable action

2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium Abstract Book

Abstract book from the 2009 UMM Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) which celebrates student scholarly achievement and creative activities

Coordination in Service Value Networks - A Mechanism Design Approach

The fundamental paradigm shift from traditional value chains to agile service value networks (SVN) implies new economic and organizational challenges. This work provides an auction-based coordination mechanism that enables the allocation and pricing of service compositions in SVNs. The mechanism is multidimensional incentive compatible and implements an ex-post service level enforcement. Further extensions of the mechanism are evaluated following analytical and numerical research methods