Optimal Timing in Dynamic and Robust Attacker Engagement During Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are stealthy attacks which make use of social engineering and deception to give adversaries insider access to networked systems. Against APTs, active defense technologies aim to create and exploit information asymmetry for defenders. In this paper, we study a scenario in which a powerful defender uses honeynets for active defense in order to observe an attacker who has penetrated the network. Rather than immediately eject the attacker, the defender may elect to gather information. We introduce an undiscounted, infinite-horizon Markov decision process on a continuous state space in order to model the defender's problem. We find a threshold of information that the defender should gather about the attacker before ejecting him. Then we study the robustness of this policy using a Stackelberg game. Finally, we simulate the policy for a conceptual network. Our results provide a quantitative foundation for studying optimal timing for attacker engagement in network defense.Comment: Submitted to the 2019 Intl. Symp. Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc, and Wireless Nets. (WiOpt

AI Without Math: Making AI and ML Comprehensible

If we want nontechnical stakeholders to respond to artificial intelligence developments in an informed way, we must help them acquire a more-than-superficial understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Explanations involving formal mathematical notation will not reach most people who need to make informed decisions about AI. We believe it is possible to teach many AI and ML concepts without slipping into mathematical notation

Bridging Borders: Exploring Impacts of Cultural Differences on Achieving Cross-Border M&A Harmonization - A Case Study

MSc in International Business and TradeCross-border M&A has become a popular strategy for firms to enter new markets. Even though the advantages of cross-border M&A are well known, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the procedure. Therefore, our study aims to add to the body of knowledge by examining the variables that affect the harmonization of cross-border M&A. To accomplish this goal, a single case study methodology will be used, with a focus on the M&A process and the contribution of culture to harmonization. Another key aspect that aligns with the cultural dimension is the relationship between the headquarters and subsidiaries and its subsequent impact on the process. Additionally, this study seeks to advance scholarly knowledge on a relatively novel phenomenon: the attainment of legitimacy in the region through local sourcing following the completion of M&A. Our findings emphasize the significance of culture and the strategies employed to facilitate cultural assimilation, including adjustments in the HQ-subsidiary relationship to streamline information flow. Furthermore, our findings suggest that local sourcing serves as a critical instrument for achieving local legitimacy, thereby reducing the cultural distance between the acquiring and target firms. This study is limited to a single case study within the F&B industry in developing countries. As such, the generalizability of our findings is limited to cross-border M&A occurring in similar contexts

Constraining the Jurassic extent of Greater India: Tectonic evolution of the West Australian margin

Alternative reconstructions of the Jurassic northern extent of Greater India differ by up to several thousand kilometers. We present a new model that is constrained by revised seafloor spreading anomalies, fracture zones and crustal ages based on drillsites/dredges from all the abyssal plains along the West Australian margin and the Wharton Basin, where an unexpected sliver of Jurassic seafloor (153 Ma) has been found embedded in Cretaceous (95 My old) seafloor. Based on fracture zone trajectories, this NeoTethyan sliver must have originally formed along a western extension of the spreading center that formed the Argo Abyssal Plain, separating a western extension of West Argoland/West Burma from Greater India as a ribbon terrane. The NeoTethyan sliver, Zenith and Wallaby plateaus moved as part of Greater India until westward ridge jumps isolated them. Following another spreading reorganization, the Jurassic crust resumed migrating with Greater India until it was re-attached to the Australian plate ∼95 Ma. The new Wharton Basin data and kinematic model place strong constraints on the disputed northern Jurassic extent of Greater India. Late Jurassic seafloor spreading must have reached south to the Cuvier Abyssal Plain on the West Australian margin, connected to a spreading ridge wrapping around northern Greater India, but this Jurassic crust is no longer preserved there, having been entirely transferred to the conjugate plate by ridge propagations. This discovery constrains the major portion of Greater India to have been located south of the large-offset Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone, excluding much larger previously proposed shapes of Greater India

Primary oral manifestation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis refractory to conventional therapy but susceptible to BRAF-specific treatment: a case report and review of the literature

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We report on a rare case of its primary oral manifestation that was treated successfully with the BRAF-specific agent, vemurafenib, after insufficient standard LCH treatment. This case underlines the importance of proper diagnosis and the evaluation of targeted therapy as a valuable tool in LCH treatment. Furthermore, the close collaboration of surgeons, oncologists, and dentists is mandatory to ensure adequate treatment, restore the stomatognathic system in debilitating post-treatment situations, improve quality of life, and ensure effective disease control in infants and young patients

Charakterisierung von zwei monogenen Mutanten der Erbse, Pisum sativum L., mittels molekularbiologischer Arbeitsmethoden

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Lalli, Scarron et les Mazarinades – Parodie et réalisme dans la littérature française au milieu du XVIIe siècle

Comme chacun sait, le roman est aujourd’hui «la chose du monde la mieux partagée». Les non-spécialistes le prennent pour un équivalent de littérature, les spécialistes s’occupent aussi volontiers des autres genres littéraires. Mais le roman a ceci de particulier que son histoire paraît être exemplaire: c’est le genre qui démontre le plus ostensiblement qu’après des débuts idéalistes, la littérature finit par devenir réaliste. Ce n’est pas un hazard que quand nous parlons de réalisme en littér..

standard and innovation

Die akute lymphoblastische Leukämie im Kindesalter hat mit heutigen Methoden eine Heilungsrate von über 90%. Dagegen überleben nur etwa 50% der Kinder mit Rückfall einer ALL trotz intensiver Chemotherapie und HSZT bei den meisten Patienten. Somit besteht bei Kindern mit ALL-Rezidiv ein dringender Bedarf für die weitere Optimierung der Standardtherapie, der besseren Charakterisierung von biologischen und prognostischen Subgruppen sowie für neue Medikamente mit anderen idealerweise gezielteren Wirkmechanismen, die in der Lage sind, Therapieresistenz der leukämischen Klone zu durchbrechen. Die ALL-REZ BFM Studiengruppe hat seit nunmehr 30 Jahren Therapieoptimierungsstudien durchgeführt und damit die Prognose der Kinder mit ALL-Rezidiv konsequent verbessert. Dabei wurde insbesondere die Dosierung und der Verabreichungsmodus von hoch dosiertem Methotrexat in prospektiven randomisierten Studien untersucht, wobei in der Studie ALL-REZ BFM 90 die Dosis von 1g/m² mit einer Infusionsdauer von 36 und einer reduzierten Leukovorin Rescue als optimales Konzept etabliert werden konnten. Neben den randomisierten Fragen konnte diese Studie eine Reihe weiterer Erkenntnisse über die biologische Charakteristik der Erkrankung, prognostische Faktoren und Therapieverbesserungen im historischen Vergleich erarbeiten. Die intensive Chemotherapie und die allogene hämatopoetische Stammzelltransplantation ist verbunden mit akuten Nebenwirkungen und Spätfolgen zu denen auch das Auftreten von Zweitmalignomen gehört. Im Verlauf der ALL-REZ BFM Studien konnten Patientengruppen definiert werden, die eine besonders schlechte Prognose haben und mit konventioneller Therapie nicht heilbar sind. Zu diesen zählen Patienten mit Rezidiv von lymphoblastischen Lymphomen, sowie Patienten mit Nonresponse auf die konventionelle Rezidiv- Induktionstherapie. Innovative diagnostische Verfahren erlauben darüber hinaus, weitere Patientengruppen zu definieren, die ein hohes Folgerezidivrisiko trotz intensiver konventioneller Therapie haben. Dazu zählt die Quantifizierung minimaler Resterkrankung im Therapieverlauf durch molekularbiologische Methoden. Insbesondere Patienten mit einer hohen minimalen Resterkrankung vor allogener hämatopoetischer Stammzelltransplantation haben ein hohes Risiko für ein erneutes ALL-Rezidiv mit dann infauster Prognose. Die so definierten Patientengruppen haben neben solchen mit Folgerezidiv einer ALL einen dringenden Bedarf für die Einführung von neuen Substanzen mit anderen Wirkmechanismen als die der konventionellen Chemotherapie und idealerweise mit gezielter leukämiespezifischer Aktivität und geringeren akuten und langfristigen Nebenwirkungen. Die ALL-REZ BFM Studiengruppe beteiligt sich an einem Programm zur Entwicklung von neuen Substanzen bei ALL im Kindesalter, das eine enge Interaktion mit den zuständigen Behörden, der pharmazeutischen Industrie und den involvierten akademischen Gruppen erfordert. Die zukünftigen Strategien zur Behandlung von Kindern mit rezidivierter und/oder refraktärer ALL werden in einem durch die EU finanziertes Projekt international harmonisiert und erlauben die Durchführung von prospektiven randomisierten Studien in biologischen Subgruppen, um neue Substanzen nach erfolgreichen Phase I/II Studien in kurative Therapiekonzepte integrieren zu können. Die aus dieser Entwicklung erwachsene Vision ist eine nebenwirkungsarme gezielte und individualisierte Behandlung von Kindern mit ALL mit möglichst vollständiger Vermeidung von Rückfällen der Erkrankung.Today’s cure rates of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have exceeded 90%. In contrast, only 50% of children with relapsed ALL survive despite intensive chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell Transplantation (HSCT) in most patients. Thus, there is an urgent need for optimization of standard therapy in childhood relapsed ALL, for a better characterization of biologic and prognostic subgroups, and for new drugs with ideally targeted mechanism of action allowing for overcoming treatment resistance of leukemic clones. The ALL-REZ BFM Study Group has conducted clinical trials for optimization of treatment since 30 years and subsequently improved the prognosis of children with relapsed ALL. In particular the dose and mode of application of high dose methotrexate has been investigated in randomized prospective trials. Furthermore, improvement of therapy has been achieved with uncontrolled changes referring to historical controls. Intensive chemotherapy and allogeneic HSCT is associated with acute and late toxicities one of which is secondary malignancy. In the course of the ALL-REZ BFM trials patient subgroups could be defined with a very poor prognosis and without chance of cure with conventional therapies. These include patient with relapse of a lymphoblastic lymphoma and those with nonresponse to conventional salvage induction therapy. The quantification of minimal residual disease (MRD) with molecular biologic techniques allow defining additional patient groups with very high risk for subsequent relapse despite intensive conventional treatment. Those patients with high MRD pre allogeneic HSCT have a high risk of relapse post HSCT with then dismal prognosis. These patient groups have an urgent need for the introduction of new drugs with targeted mechanism of action and less acute and late side effects. The ALL-REZ BFM Study Group joins activities to develop such new agents in close collaboration with industry and competent authorities. Future strategies for treatment of childhood relapsed ALL in Europe are harmonized in an EU funded FP7 project allowing for performing large prospective randomized trials in biologic subgroups to integrate new agents after successfully passing phase I/II trials in curative treatment protocols. The vision for the future is a low-toxic individualized treatment for children with ALL with prevention of relapse of the disease

Mose

http://www.ester.ee/record=b4182893*es

Creating Digital Narratives: The Structure and Design of Stories Told Across Multiple Media

Transmedia narratives are a rapidly emerging form of communication in which stories are told across multiple media. Transmedia narratives are being developed for a wide variety of applications including entertainment, education, marketing, advertising, organizational change, and activism. The integration of several different media into a cohesive and coherent narrative is a major challenge for the creators of transmedia narrative. Among those challenges are keeping readers/viewers interested in a narrative scattered across multiple media and providing a comprehensive framework to guide transmedia project design and development teams. The research question of this thesis focuses on how transmedia narrative designers and developers can tell effective stories across multiple media. An effective transmedia narrative is more than a collection of story elements or stories scattered across a number of different media and the process of creating them is a relatively uncharted area. Six online projects that use transmedia techniques were reviewed in order to develop a list of questions that identified key areas of transmedia narrative design. This preliminary list of questions was used to develop a framework for transmedia narrative design. Concept mapping–a graphical tool used to organize and represent knowledge–was employed to identify the concepts embedded within the questions and the relationships between those concepts and develop a hierarchical structure of transmedia concepts and their associated properties. The final round of data collection consisted of a set of online interviews with three professionals experienced in the creation of transmedia narratives. They were asked to review these materials and provide feedback that was used to validate the set of concepts identified and determine if the design-related questions sufficient for creating a transmedia narrative design framework. This thesis develops an ontology for transmedia narrative design that defines the objects, entities, and concepts and their interrelationships. This ontology provides a framework that links together the diverse elements of narrative, user engagement, and interaction design. The ontology provides a common set of concepts and interrelationships that will allow the members of a multi-disciplinary team to ―speak a common language‖ while working on various aspects of transmedia narrative design and development. A four-level process (transmedia project, storyworld, story, and scene/sequence levels) is also developed to document the steps involved in designing a transmedia narrative. The four-level process provides a structured framework that will help teams standardize their design and development approaches to transmedia narrative projects. This should help improve quality and efficiency and reduce costs associated with the development of transmedia projects. A comprehensive set of key design questions, when used in conjunction with the four-level process identified, provides a detailed framework for the design of transmedia narratives.Kathryn Stam, Adviser ; Ibahim Yucel, AdviserSUNY Polytechnic Institut