Wanted: Trained Security Specialists\u27

This paper looks at security concerns within the IT industry and how to increase student interest in this field of study. One specific activity is presented as a way to expose students to security concerns they are likely to encounter as a system administrator

Assessing Simulations of Imperial Dynamics and Conflict in the Ancient World

The development of models to capture large-scale dynamics in human history is one of the core contributions of cliodynamics. Most often, these models are assessed by their predictive capability on some macro-scale and aggregated measure and compared to manually curated historical data. In this report, we consider the model from Turchin et al. (2013), where the evaluation is done on the prediction of "imperial density": the relative frequency with which a geographical area belonged to large-scale polities over a certain time window. We implement the model and release both code and data for reproducibility. We then assess its behaviour against three historical data sets: the relative size of simulated polities vs historical ones; the spatial correlation of simulated imperial density with historical population density; the spatial correlation of simulated conflict vs historical conflict. At the global level, we show good agreement with population density ($R^2 < 0.75$), and some agreement with historical conflict in Europe ($R^2 < 0.42$). The model instead fails to reproduce the historical shape of individual polities. Finally, we tweak the model to behave greedily by having polities preferentially attacking weaker neighbours. Results significantly degrade, suggesting that random attacks are a key trait of the original model. We conclude by proposing a way forward by matching the probabilistic imperial strength from simulations to inferred networked communities from real settlement data

Wanted: Trained Security Specialists\u27

This paper looks at security concerns within the IT industry and how to increase student interest in this field of study. One specific activity is presented as a way to expose students to security concerns they are likely to encounter as a system administrator

Space Shuttle Partial Stack Rollout Test Analytical Correlation In Support Of Fatigue Load Development

A rollout test with only the Solid Rocket Boosters was conducted in November 2003 to gather structural dynamic response data of the transportation environment from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the Launch Pad. The data was acquired to develop and validate analytical methods used to predict rollout Orbiter fatigue load spectra. Earlier predictions computed by a base drive approach with only 5 input drive degrees-of-freedom raised questions that commissioned the partial stack test. Not only was there a concern because of the input degree-of-freedom omission due to measurement limitations, but there was also a concern with the implementation of the "large mass" itself. Three methods were evaluated with the partial stack test data. The analytical correlations to measured strain derived SRB base loads and acceleration5 showed the earlier 5 degree-of-freedom base drive approach to yield the most conservative results for all quantities monitored except the SRB base moment about the axis in which the input drive was missing. This non-conservative shortcoming led to a recommendation to use either the 6 degree-of-freedom base drive or the 12 degree-of-freedom Craig-Bampton boundary drive methods whose results did not substantially differ

Radio Cores in Low-Luminosity AGN: ADAFs or Jets?

We have surveyed two large samples of nearby low-luminosity AGN with the VLA to search for flat-spectrum radio cores, similar to Sgr A* in the Galactic Center. Roughly one third of all galaxies are detected (roughly one half if HII transition objects are excluded from the sample), many of which have compact radio cores. Follow-up observations with the VLBA have confirmed that these cores are non-thermal in origin, with lower limits for the brightness temperatures around ~10^8 K. The brightest of these are resolved into linear structures. The radio spectral indices of the cores are quite flat (alpha~0), with no evidence for the highly inverted radio cores predicted in the ADAF model. Spectrum and morphology of the compact radio emission is typical for radio jets seen also in more luminous AGN. The emission-line luminosity seems to be correlated with the radio core flux. Together with the VLBI observations this suggests that optical and radio emission in at least half the low-luminosity Seyferts and LINERs are black hole powered. We find only a weak correlation between bulge luminosity and radio flux and an apparently different efficiency between elliptical and spiral galaxies for producing radio emission at a given optical luminosity.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, (ESO) LaTex, to appear in ``Black Holes in Binaries and Galactic Nuclei'', ESO workshop, eds. L. Kaper, E.P.J. van den Heuvel, P.A. Woudt, Springer Verlag; also available at http://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/staff/hfalcke/publications.html#eso9

Planetary defence: a duty for world defenders

This poster is an advocacy document. We believe that it is now time for an international coalition of military/industrial/atomic agencies to take on the tasks of designing, building and maintaining in readiness active defenses against asteroids and comets threatening to impact Earth. We visualize a policy environment where a relatively small portion of existing defense resources is redirected to Planetary Defense, with already-established ground and space PD efforts allocated increased backing and increased responsibility in supporting roles. A main part of the needed policy structure is already in place. An International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and a Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) are functioning under auspices of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). In the near term, intercept action will be launched upon validation of an impact threat by IAWN and SMPAG. The activity should start with conventional technology while awaiting needed international policy changes allowing use of nuclear energy, essential in the case of less-likely but more dangerous threats. An important side benefit of the proposed collaborative military involvement would be increased knowledge of the risk and increased trust among nations

Reflections on the Cost of Low-Cost Whole Genome Sequencing: Framing the Health Policy Debate

The cost of whole genome sequencing is dropping rapidly. There has been a great deal of enthusiasm about the potential for this technological advance to transform clinical care. Given the interest and significant investment in genomics, this seems an ideal time to consider what the evidence tells us about potential benefits and harms, particularly in the context of health care policy. The scale and pace of adoption of this powerful new technology should be driven by clinical need, clinical evidence, and a commitment to put patients at the centre of health care policy