Gaining assurance in a voter-verifiable voting system

The literature on e-voting systems has many examples of discussion of the correctness of the computer and communication algorithms of such systems, as well as discussions of their vulnerabilities. However, a gap in the literature concerns the practical need (before adoption of a specific e-voting system) for a complete case demonstrating that the system as a whole has sufficiently high probability of exhibiting the desired properties when in use in an actual election. This paper discusses the problem of producing such a case, with reference to a specific system: a version of the Prêt à Voter scheme for voter-verifiable e-voting. We show a possible organisation of a case in terms of four main requirements – accuracy, privacy, termination and ‘trustedness’– and show some of the detailed organisation that such a case should have, the diverse kinds of evidence that needs to be gathered and some of the interesting difficulties that arise

Coastal settlements rehabilitation affected by the 2010 tsunami in Pelluhue county, Chile

Indexación: Scopus.La Comuna de Pelluhue fue una de las más afectadas durante el terremoto y tsunami del 27 de febrero de 2010 en Chile central, registrando 47 fallecidos, el mayor número de muertes per-cápita del país. Este estudio se orienta a analizar la resiliencia de los centros urbanos de la comuna, desde sus principales instancias: preparación, resistencia, recuperación y adaptación. Los daños generados por el tsunami se estudian mediante un levantamiento in-situ, complementado con levantamientos efectuados en 2013 y 2015, consulta de percepción de seguridad y un análisis del impacto de los instrumentos de planificación territorial en la rehabilitación de los centros urbanos. De estos estudios se concluye que la comuna experimentó una rápida recuperación de infraestructura entre 2010 y 2012. Las modificaciones incorporadas en la ordenanza del Plan Regulador Comunal a finales de 2012 promovieron el uso de una nueva tipología estructural adaptada al riesgo de tsunami en la Zona Turística de Borde Costero (ZTBC-1). El uso de marcos estructurales de madera y hormigón en el primer piso, se adoptó en respuesta al bajo coeficiente de ocupación de suelo sugerido en la ordenanza del Plan Regulador Comunal para dicha zona, sin necesariamente cumplir con criterios de diseño estructural. En otras zonas ubicadas en el área inundada, no obstante, se reconstruyó sin adoptar criterios de adaptación. Aun cuando se implementó una consulta, que no tiene la representación adecuada de toda la población, el sondeo indica que el plan de emergencia implementado por ONEMI, por su parte, generó una mejor percepción de seguridad en las zonas de riesgo por parte de los residentes, pero los visitantes desconocen las medidas de evacuación vigentes.The Pelluhue country was one of the most affected during the earthquake and tsunami of February 27, 2010 in central Chile, with 47 deaths, the highest number of per-capita deaths in the country. This study is oriented to analyze the resilience of the urban centers of the commune, from its principal instances: preparation, resistance, recovery and adaptation. The damage generated by the tsunami is studied through an on-site survey, supplemented by surveys conducted in 2013 and 2015, a safety perception consultation and an analysis of the impact of territorial planning instruments in the rehabilitation of urban centers. From these studies it is concluded that the commune experienced a rapid infrastructure recovery between 2010 and 2012. The modifications incorporated in the ordinance of the Community Regulatory Plan at the end of 2012 promoted the use of a new structural typology adapted to the tsunami risk in the Coastal Tourist Zone (ZTBC-1). The use of wood and concrete structural frames on the first floor was adopted in response to the low coefficient of soil occupation suggested in the ordinance of the Community Regulatory Plan for that area, without necessarily complying with structural design criteria. However, in some other areas, within the flooded area, it was rebuilt without adopting adaptation criteria. Even when a consultation was implemented, which does not have adequate representation of the entire population, the survey indicates that the emergency plan implemented by ONEMI, in turn, generated a better perception of safety in the risk areas by residents, but visitors are unaware of the current evacuation measures. © 2017, Escuela de Ciencias del Mar. All rights reserved.http://www.lajar.cl/pdf/imar/v45n4/Art%C3%ADculo_45_4_03.pd

Benthic macroinvertebrates and degradation of phytomass as indicators of ecosystem functions in flooded rice cropping.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the ecosystem functions of a natural wetland and of artificially flooded rice areas, managed under organic and conventional systems, by phytomass degradation and by the colonization of this material by benthic macroinvertebrates. The experiment was carried out in a natural wetland area, and in two flooded rice areas managed under organic and conventional systems. Twenty-five decomposition bags filled with 10 g of dry vegetation were installed in each site. At 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 days after the beginning of the experiment, five bags from each site were collected. Macroinvertebrates were identified and classified by functional trophic group. The number of species of benthic macroinvertebrates increased: natural wetland > organic system > conventional system. The Chironomidae group was present in all areas, confirming its food plasticity and adaptability to different substrates and environmental stress situations. The Amphipoda group was present only in the artificially flooded rice area, and the Acari, only in the natural wetland. The diversity of species in the natural wetland area was higher than in the artificially flooded rice area. Nutrient cycling, provided by phytomass decomposition, is affected by the management system, and the delay in this process causes a reduction of the ecosystem functions in the conventional system.Título em português: Macroinvertebrados betônicos e degradação da fitomassa como indicadores de funções ecossistêmicas em arroz irrigado por inundação

The new SPIL logo: A face for the future

No abstract

On the influence of the magnetic field of the GSI experimental storage ring on the time-modulation of the EC-decay rates of the H-like mother ions

We investigate the influence of the magnetic field of the Experimental storage ring (ESR) at GSI on the periodic time-dependence of the orbital K-shell electron capture decay $(EC$) rates of the H--like heavy ions. We approximate the magnetic field of the ESR by a uniform magnetic field. Unlike the assertion by Lambiase et al., arXiv: 0811.2302 [nucl-th], we show that a motion of the H-like heavy ion in a uniform magnetic field cannot be the origin of the periodic time-dependence of the EC-decay rates of the H-like heavy ions.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

On the Hyperbolicity of Lorenz Renormalization

We consider infinitely renormalizable Lorenz maps with real critical exponent $\alpha>1$ and combinatorial type which is monotone and satisfies a long return condition. For these combinatorial types we prove the existence of periodic points of the renormalization operator, and that each map in the limit set of renormalization has an associated unstable manifold. An unstable manifold defines a family of Lorenz maps and we prove that each infinitely renormalizable combinatorial type (satisfying the above conditions) has a unique representative within such a family. We also prove that each infinitely renormalizable map has no wandering intervals and that the closure of the forward orbits of its critical values is a Cantor attractor of measure zero.Comment: 63 pages; 10 figure

Minimising medicine use in organic dairy herds through animal health and welfare planning

Livestock is important in many organic farming systems, and it is an explicit goal to ensure high levels of animal health and welfare (AHW) through good management. This will lead to reduced medicine use and better quality of animal products. In two EU network projects NAHWOA & SAFO it was concluded that this is not guaranteed merely by following organic standards. Both networks recommended implementation of individual animal health plans to stimulate organic farmers to improve AHW. These plans should include a systematic evaluation of AHW and be implemented through dialogue with each farmer in order to identify goals and plan improvements. 15 research institutions in 8 European countries are involved in the proposed project with the main objective to minimise medicine use in organic dairy herds through active and well planned AHW promotion and disease prevention. The project consists of 5 work packages, 4 of which comprise research activities building on current research projects, new applications across borders, exchange of knowledge, results and conclusions between participating countries, and adopting them to widely different contexts. International and national workshops facilitate this exchange. Focus areas are animal health planning, AHW assessment using animal based parameters and development of advisory systems and farmer groups. Epidemiological analyses of the effect on AHW from reduced medicine use and herd improvements are planned in all participating countries

Farmer groups for animal health and welfare planning in European organic dairy hers

A set of common principles for active animal health and welfare planning in organic dairy farming has been developed in the ANIPLAN project group of seven European countries. Health and welfare planning is a farmer‐owned process of continuous development and improvement and may be practised in many different ways. It should incorporate health promotion and disease handling, based on a strategy where assessment of current status and risks forms the basis for evaluation, action and review. Besides this, it should be 1) farmspecific, 2) involve external person(s) and 3) external knowledge, 4) be based on organic principles, 5) be written, and 6) acknowledge good aspects in addition to targeting the problem areas in order to stimulate the learning process

Choosing Your Moment: Interruptions in Multimedia Annotation.

In a cooperative mixed-initiative system, timely and effective dialogue between the system and user is important to ensure that both sides work towards producing the most effective results, and this is affected by how disruptive any interruptions are as the user completes their primary task. A disruptive interaction means the user may become irritated with the system, or might take longer to deal with the interruption and provide information that the system needs to continue. Disruption is influenced both by the nature of the interaction and when it takes place in the context of the user’s progress through their main task. We describe an experiment based on a prototype cooperative video annotation system designed to explore the impact of interruptions, in the form of questions posed by the system that the user must address. Our findings demonstrate a preference towards questions presented in context with the content of the video, rather than at the natural opportunities presented by transitions in the video. This differs from previous research which concentrates on interruptions in the form of notifications