A Risk Based Approach to Node Insertion within Social Networks

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a primary tool for counter-terrorism operations, ranging from resiliency and influence to interdiction on threats stemming from illicit overt and clandestine network operations. In an ideal world, SNA would provide a perfect course of action to eliminate dangerous situations that terrorist organizations bring. Unfortunately, the covert nature of terrorist networks makes the effects of these techniques unknown and possibly detrimental. To avoid potentially harmful changes to enemy networks, tactical involvement must evolve, beginning with the intelligent use of network in filtration through the application of the node insertion problem. The framework for the node insertion problem includes a risk-benefit model to assess the utility of various node insertion scenarios. This model incorporates local, intermediate and global SNA measures, such as Laplacian centrality and assortative mixing, to account for the benefit and risk. Application of the model to the Zachary Karate Club produces a set of recommended insertion scenarios. A designed experiment validates the robustness of the methodology against network structure and characteristics. Ultimately, the research provides an SNA method to identify optimal and near-optimal node insertion strategies and extend past node utility models into a general form with the inclusion of benefit, risk, and bias functions

Epidemiology and management of rice tungro disease

Since the mid 1960s, rice tungro virus disease has had a serious economic impact on rice production in South-East Asia. Although the frequency and intensity of outbreaks have declined since their peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, occasional major epidemics do sill occur, often associated with changes in agronomic practices. Epidemiology and Management of Rice Tungro Disease is the outcome of a workshop held in Malaysia where researchers including representatives from five major rice producing countries met to discuss the present status of the disease and the progress of research into its management. The publication outlines current options for integrated management of tungro and critically reassesses vector control strategies. The book will be of interest to scientists and officials from national agricultural departments who have to make decisions on the management of this important disease

Pfaffian-like ground states for bosonic atoms and molecules in one-dimensional optical lattices

We study ground states and elementary excitations of a system of bosonic atoms and diatomic Feshbach molecules trapped in a one-dimensional optical lattice using exact diagonalization and variational Monte Carlo methods. We primarily study the case of an average filling of one boson per site. In agreement with bosonization theory, we show that the ground state of the system in the thermodynamic limit corresponds to the Pfaffian-like state when the system is tuned towards the superfluid-to-Mott insulator quantum phase transition. Our study clarifies the possibility of the creation of exotic Pfaffian-like states in realistic one-dimensional systems. We also present preliminary evidence that such states support non-Abelian anyonic excitations that have potential application for fault-tolerant topological quantum computation.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures. Matching the version published Phys.Rev.

Using the J1-J2 Quantum Spin Chain as an Adiabatic Quantum Data Bus

This paper investigates numerically a phenomenon which can be used to transport a single q-bit down a J1-J2 Heisenberg spin chain using a quantum adiabatic process. The motivation for investigating such processes comes from the idea that this method of transport could potentially be used as a means of sending data to various parts of a quantum computer made of artificial spins, and that this method could take advantage of the easily prepared ground state at the so called Majumdar-Ghosh point. We examine several annealing protocols for this process and find similar result for all of them. The annealing process works well up to a critical frustration threshold.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures (2 added), revisions made to add citations and additional discussion at request of referee

Livelihood Vulnerability Index: An Approach to Assess Vulnerability of Crop Farmers to Climate Variability and Change in Ghana

Climate change has emerged as a global concern, especially its negative impacts on agriculture, particularly amongst poor subsistence and smallholder farmers because of the sector’s dependency on rainfall. The impacts of climate change and climate related extreme events may vary among farmers within the same locality based on the interplay of factors such as differences in households’ socio-demographic and economic characteristics. The extent of the impacts of climate change depends on the capacity of farmers and appropriateness of the adaptation measures undertaken to mitigate such impacts. This study adopts the Livelihood Vulnerability Index to assess the vulnerability of the two districts (Atwima Mponua and Ejura-Sekyeredumase) in different agro-ecological zones (Semi-Deciduous Forest and Transition Zone respectively). The study used household questionnaires to collect primary data from150 farming households from each district as well as using secondary data on rainfall and temperature from the Ghana Meteorological Agency. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index was used to assess the vulnerability of the two districts. The overall LVI indicates that Ejura-Sekyeredumase District may be more vulnerable to climate change impacts than Atwima Mponua District. The vulnerability triangle indicates that Ejura-Sekyeredumase District is more sensitive to climate change and variability impacts than Atwima Mponua District.  Although Atwima Mponua District may have a higher adaptive capacity than Ejura-Sekyeredumase District, the difference is relatively small. The study found that while it is important to have generic policies that address the main agricultural issues in Ghana, development and implementation of region-specific adaptation policy is crucially important. Keywords: Climate variability and change, Livelihood Vulnerability Index, exposure, sensitivity, adaptative capacity DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-1-03 Publication date: January 31st 202