License to Kill: An Analysis of the Legality of Fully Autonomous Drones in the Context of International Use of Force Law

We live in a world of constant technological change; and with this change, comes unknown effects and consequences. This is even truer with weapons and warfare. Indeed, as the means and methods of warfare rapidly modify and transform, the effects and consequences on the laws of war are unknown. This Article addresses one such development in weapon and warfare technology—Fully Autonomous Weapons or “Killer Robots”—and discusses the inevitable use of these weapons within the current international law framework. Recognizing the current, inadequate legal framework, this Article proposes a regulation policy to mitigate the risks associated with Fully Autonomous Weapons. But the debate should not end here; States and the U.N. must work together to adopt a legal framework that coincides with the advancement of technology. This Article starts that discussion

Killing superalgebras for lorentzian five-manifolds

We calculate the relevant Spencer cohomology of the minimal Poincar\'e superalgebra in 5 spacetime dimensions and use it to define Killing spinors via a connection on the spinor bundle of a 5-dimensional lorentzian spin manifold. We give a definition of bosonic backgrounds in terms of this data. By imposing constraints on the curvature of the spinor connection, we recover the field equations of minimal (ungauged) 5-dimensional supergravity, but also find a set of field equations for an $\mathfrak{sp}(1)$-valued one-form which we interpret as the bosonic data of a class of rigid supersymmetric theories on curved backgrounds. We define the Killing superalgebra of bosonic backgrounds and show that their existence is implied by the field equations. The maximally supersymmetric backgrounds are characterised and their Killing superalgebras are explicitly described as filtered deformations of the Poincar\'e superalgebra.Comment: 29 pages; LaTex errors on pages 26 and 27 fixed in v2. v3 final version to appear in JHE

Mitigation Localized Flooding - Development of a Green Infrastructure Master Plan in the Lower Rio Grande Valley

The City of Mercedes in partnership with the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) proposed to develop a demonstration green infrastructure (GI) master plan to mitigate localized flooding in a high priority region within the city limits of the City. Local governments in the LRGV control localized flooding and stormwater runoff by adopting strict drainage design policies. During the course of this project, participating in local governments and the project team reviewed the city drainage policy. The project team identified those that already incorporate GI language, provided GI related information to the local government staffers and recommendations for policy enhancement. The flat terrain characteristic of the LRGV provides stormwater engineers with complicated flow, detention and flood design problems. The GI Master Plan can provide a unique innovative strategy that will be used as a demonstration tool that can be duplicated throughout the region. Through the GI Master Plan, the City intends to establish the general and specific guidelines for the management and treatment of rainwater to diminish its impact and to apply the strategies that allow the construction of “green” structures. Of the twenty-one (21) LRGV Stormwater Task Force members (SWTF), solely the City of Weslaco has GI language in its drainage policy, primarily stating that the GI strategies can be used in managing stormwater runoff. Through this project, the City of Mercedes and other participating local governments assessed GI facilities and considered providing language that encourages GI in their policies. The GI Master Plan is an approach for land development that works with nature to manage rainwater and it’s based on the preservation and recreation of natural landscape characteristics, minimizing impervious surfaces to create functional drainage. The idea is that rainwater can be integrated as a natural attraction of urbanism instead of being considered a discarded product, therefore avoiding the creation of ponds and future contamination

A Family History of Type 2 Diabetes does Not Impact Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Normoglycemic, Hispanic Males

A family history of type 2 diabetes (FH+) is considered a risk factor for insulin resistance and poor cardiorespiratory fitness. However, it is not known if a FH+ impedes exercise-induced improvements in maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if normoglycemic, sedentary, Hispanic men with FH+ have a lower VO2max compared to those without a family history of type 2 diabetes (FH-) and if the improvement in VO2max after 8-weeks of combined exercise training is comparable between FH- and FH+. Methods: 20 participants underwent 8 weeks of combined exercise training (35 min aerobic at 60-75% VO₂max followed by 6 full-body resistance exercises) 3x/week. VO₂max was measured using ParvoMedics 2400 metabolic measurement system during a standardized graded exercise test performed on a treadmill. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: There was no difference in VO2max at baseline regardless of family history (3.57 ± 1.7 vs. 3.91 ± 0.21 L/min; p=0.22). Eight weeks of combined exercise training significantly improved VO₂max (3.57 ± 0.17 to 3.82 ± 0.16 L/min; p=0.002) in FH+, and tended to increase VO2max in FH- (3.91 ± 0.21 to 4.06 ± 0.21 L/min; p=0.09). There was no difference in VO2max between groups after 8 weeks of exercise training (p=0.67). Lean body mass significantly improved in both groups (FH+ 50.7 ± 1.7 to 53.5 ± 1.79 kg; pConclusions: A family history of diabetes shows no effect on cardiorespiratory fitness in a normoglycemic, sedentary, Mexican American population

How Random Incidents Affect Travel-Time Distributions

We present a novel analytical model to approximate the travel-time distribution of vehicles traversing a freeway corridor that experiences random quality of service degradations due to non-recurrent incidents. The proposed model derives the generating function of travel times in closed-form using clearance time, incident frequency and severity, and other ordinary traffic characteristics. We validate the model using data from a freeway corridor where weather events and traffic accidents serve as the principal causes of service degradation. The resulting model is equivalent in performance to widely used methodologies while uniquely providing a clear connection on how incidents affect travel time distribution. With this connection, the model readily yields travel time reliability measures for alternative roadway behaviors, providing crucial information for long-term planning

Diagnosis of Spinocerebellar Ataxia in the West Indies

Background: Access to medical care in many regions is limited by socioeconomic status, at both the individual and the community level. This report describes the diagnostic process of a family residing on an underserved Caribbean island where routine neurological care is typically addressed by general practitioners, and genetic diagnosis is not available through regular medical channels. The diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative disorders is especially challenging in this setting. Case Report: We diagnosed a family with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) in an underdeveloped nation with limited access to genetic medicine and no full-time neurologist. Discussion: Molecular diagnosis of the SCAs can be challenging, even in developed countries. In the Caribbean, genetic testing is generally only available at a small number of academic centers. Diagnosis in this family was ultimately made by utilizing an international, pro bono, research-based collaborative process. Although access to appropriate resources, such as speech, physical, and occupational therapies, is limited on this island because of economic and geographical factors, the provision of a diagnosis appeared to be ultimately beneficial for this family. Identification of affected families highlights the need for access to genetic diagnosis in all communities, and can help direct resources where needed