Suicide Terrorism and the Weakest Link

In this paper we examine a model of terrorism which focuses on the tradeoffs facing a terrorist organization that has the ability to utilize either or both suicide and conventional terrorism tactics. The terrorist organization’s objective is to successfully attack at least one target. Success for the target government is defined as defending all targets from any and all attacks. In this context, we examine how terrorist entities strategically utilize suicide attacks when other modes of attack are available, and the optimal anti-terrorism measures.conflict, suicide terrorism, weakest link, Colonel Blotto

Security-Induced Lock-In in the Cloud

Cloud services providers practice security-induced lock-in when employing cryptography and tamper-resistance to limit the portability and interoperability of users’ data and applications. Moreover, security-induced lock-in and users’ anti-lock-in strategies intersect within the context of platform competition. When users deploy anti-lock in strategies, such as using a hybrid cloud, a leader–follower pricing framework increases profits for cloud services providers relative to Nash equilibrium prices. This creates a second-mover advantage, as the follower’s increase in profits exceeds that of the leader owing to the potential for price undercutting. By contrast, introducing or enhancing security-induced lock-in creates both an increase in profits and a first-mover advantage. Cloud services providers therefore favor security-induced lock-in over price leadership. More broadly, we show why standardization of semantics, technologies, and interfaces is a nonstarter for cloud services providers

Design of an artificial intelligence model that refines the results of analysis in economic decision making. The case of final energy consumption in the UE

[ES] El objetivo de este Trabajo de Fin de Grado, titulado ‘Diseño de un modelo de Inteligencia Artificial que afina los resultados del análisis en la toma de decisiones en economía: el caso del consumo final de energía en la UE’, es arrojar luz sobre el potencial de la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) para el proceso de toma de decisiones. El estudio comienza estableciendo las bases del enfoque tradicional para la toma de decisiones y analizando los procesos que existen. Además, se definen las limitaciones de estos enfoques tradicionales. La siguiente sección explora los nuevos enfoques basados en IA. En primer lugar, se establecen los conceptos fundamentales de la IA. Además, se aclaran las diferencias entre IA y ‘Machine Learning’. Luego, se profundiza en el proceso de toma de decisiones utilizando esta tecnología. Habiendo sentado las bases, la investigación se adentra en los efectos económicos que surgen de la integración de la IA en empresas y organizaciones internacionales, diferenciando entre el nivel de la empresa y las repercusiones micro y macroeconómicas. Por último, se presenta un estudio de un caso real en el sector energético europeo, para comparar el rendimiento predictivo de los métodos tradicionales con las técnicas novedosas de la IA.[EN] The objective of this Final Degree Dissertation, entitled ‘Design of an Artificial Intelligence model that refines the results of the analysis in economic decision making: the case of final energy consumption in the UE’ is to shed light on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) from a decision-maker perspective. The study commences by establishing the bases of the traditional way of conducting data-driven decisions and discussing the various processes that exist. Additionally, it defines the limitations of these traditional approaches. The subsequent section explores the novel AI approaches for the decision making process, first, it establishes the fundamental concepts of AI. Additionally, it clarifies the distinctions between AI and Machine Learning. Then, it dives into the process of making decisions using AI, proposing examples of techniques employed in different areas. Having laid the groundwork, the research delves into the economic effects that arise from the integration of AI in businesses and international organizations, distinguishing between firm level, and microeconomic and macroeconomic level repercussions. Lastly, a real-world case study in the European energy sector is presented, to compare the predictive performance of traditional methods with AI techniques

Smart and networking underwater robots in cooperation meshes : the swarms ECSEL : H2020 project

The work presented on this paper is aimed to explain the role that unmanned underwater vehicles (AUVs/ROVs) plays in the ECSEL-H2020 SWARMS project. The main goal of the project is to reduce the operational cost and increase the safety of tasks assigned to divers in these operations. This will be achieved enabling the AUVs/ROVs to work in a cooperative mesh. The challenge is to design and develop an integrated platform (a set of Software/Hardware components), incorporated into the current generation of underwater vehicles in order to improve autonomy, cooperation, robustness, cost-effectiveness, and reliability of the offshore operations. The first demonstration of the project will be performed at PLOCAN (Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands) where these technologies will be validated on its first stage.Peer Reviewe

Structure and permeability of ion-channels by integrated AFM and waveguide TIRF microscopy.

Membrane ion channels regulate key cellular functions and their activity is dependent on their 3D structure. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images 3D structure of membrane channels placed on a solid substrate. Solid substrate prevents molecular transport through ion channels thus hindering any direct structure-function relationship analysis. Here we designed a ~70 nm nanopore to suspend a membrane, allowing fluidic access to both sides. We used these nanopores with AFM and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) for high resolution imaging and molecular transport measurement. Significantly, membranes over the nanopore were stable for repeated AFM imaging. We studied structure-activity relationship of gap junction hemichannels reconstituted in lipid bilayers. Individual hemichannels in the membrane overlying the nanopore were resolved and transport of hemichannel-permeant LY dye was visualized when the hemichannel was opened by lowering calcium in the medium. This integrated technique will allow direct structure-permeability relationship of many ion channels and receptors

Assessment of Physical Vulnerability in Santo Domingo De Heredia, Costa Rica, Central America

Artículo científico--Universidad de Costa Rica, Vicerrectoría de Acción Social, Extensión Docente. 2014. Para mayor información puede escribir a [email protected] work assesses the physical vulnerability of the Santo Domingo Canton in the province of Heredia in Costa Rica. We evaluate the vulnerability of areas located in high risk zones as well as the structural resistance of structures of the canton and then combine them to obtain an index of Physical Vulnerability. Most of the communities in high risk areas in this Canton have not been properly identified and mapped. This identification and mapping will enhance the management of disaster risks, reduce the infrastructure vulnerability and protect vulnerable families in there. We created an index ranging between 0 and 1 for each indicator of physical vulnerability (human settlements in areas of high risk and structural resistance) and another similar index resulting from the combination of vulnerability information from both indicators. The greater part of the territory of Santo Domingo has low physical vulnerability but there are critical sites in the West and the East of the canton.Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Sociales::Facultad de Ciencias Sociales::Escuela de Geografí

Weakest-Link Attacker-Defender Games With Multiple Attack Technologies

In this article, we examine a model of terrorism that focuses on the tradeoffs facing a terrorist organization that has two qualitatively different attack modes at its disposal. The terrorist organization\u27s objective is to successfully attack at least one target. Success for the target government is defined as defending all targets from any and all attacks. In this context, we examine how terrorist entities strategically utilize an efficient but discrete attack technology e.g., suicide attacks when a more conventional mode of attack is available, and the optimal anti-terrorism measures

Sistema automatizado del método FAO Penman para el control de riego del frijol canario según las condiciones climáticas de Trujillo

Las necesidades que tienen los agricultores de frijol canario en la ciudad de Trujillo con relación al manejo del agua y crecimiento del frijol motivaron el desarrollo del presente proyecto. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue diseñar sistema automatizado basado en el método FAO PENMAN para controlar la proporción de agua que se suministra al riego del frijol canario según las condiciones climáticas en un ambiente simulado de la ciudad de Trujillo. Se trabajo sobre una muestra de las condiciones climáticas durante 5 meses, obteniendo datos importantes para comparar los rendimientos del método de riego Fao Penman con respecto al método tradicional. Los resultados de la investigación determinaros que el mejor mes para iniciar el cultivo del frijol canario es marzo, debido a que es el mes de mayor precipitación de agua, y que se vió reflejado en el volumen total de agua que debe ser suministrada, presentando el valor de volumen más bajo en comparación a otros mesesThe needs of Canarian bean farmers in the city of Trujillo in relation to water management and bean growth motivated the development of this project. The objective of this work was to design an automated system based on the FAO PENMAN method to control the proportion of water supplied to the irrigation of Canarian beans according to climatic conditions in a simulated environment in the city of Trujillo. Work was done on a sample of climatic conditions for 5 months, obtaining important data to compare the yields of the Fao Penman irrigation method with respect to the traditional method. The results of the investigation determined that the best month to start the cultivation of canary beans is March, because it is the month with the highest rainfall, and that was reflected in the total volume of water that must be supplied, presenting the lower volume value compared to other months.Tesi

Proposal to Disseminate the Knowledge of Tsunamis in the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, Central America

Artículo científico--Universidad de Costa Rica, Vicerrectoría de Acción Social, Extensión Docente. 2014. Para mayor información puede escribir a [email protected] work is a proposal to spread the knowledge of tsunamis in the schools of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Ignorance of basic information about tsunamis and the existing threat, could result in deaths in areas where tsunami occur. For this reason, we have implemented this project which is intended to inform the population of coastal schools of the natural threat and how to deal with it. It is expected to prepare the population to adequately face an emergency by tsunami and reduce its impact. The work will be done through information sessions, training workshops and the production of a video that will be used for a permanent training in schools. The selected schools are in the communities of Barra del Colorado, Barra the Tortuguero, Barra de Parismina, Puerto Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Geológicas (CICG