bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost-Effectiveness of Sequential Therapy with Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: DAVIES ANDREW , CIFALDI MARY A. , SEGURADO OSCAR G. , WEISMAN MICHAEL H.
Published: November 2008

Objective

To estimate the comparative lifetime cost-effectiveness of sequenced therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists as the initial therapeutic intervention for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Because patients with RA switch regimens many times throughout the course of disease, sequenced therapeutic interventions were modeled, continuing until the last effective agent failed or death occurred. The model used published clinical outcomes from short-term, randomized controlled trials. Direct treatment costs and costs of lost productivity were modeled for each of 5 alternative treatment sequences. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are expressed as quality-adjusted lifeyears (QALY) gained.

Results

Treatment sequences that included TNF antagonists produced a greater number of QALY than conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drug regimens alone. The cost-effectiveness of sequenced therapy initiated with adalimumab plus methotrexate (MTX) extendedly dominated both infliximab-plus-MTX–initiated and etanercept sequences. The cost of adalimumab plus MTX per QALY was US $47,157 excluding productivity losses, and $19,663 including productivity losses. A supplementary sequence that incorporated adalimumab-plus-MTX–initiated first-line therapy followed by another TNF antagonist as second-line therapy was modeled; this sequence resulted in additional QALY gained and extendedly dominated all single-TNF strategies.

Conclusion

Of the 3 single-TNF antagonist sequences, the adalimumab-plus-MTX–initiated sequence was cost-effective in producing the greatest number of QALY. Multiple TNF strategies, such as the supplementary sequence modeled in this analysis, may be cost-effective in producing even greater health gain.
Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Physician Service Use in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: BERNATSKY SASHA , PANOPOLIS PANTELIS , HUDSON MARIE , POPE JANET , LECLERCQ SHARON , ROBINSON DAVID , JONES NIALL , MARKLAND JANET , ABU-HAKIMA MAYSAN , MATHIEU JEAN-PIERRE , DOCHERTY PETER , KHALIDI NADER , SUTTON EVELYN , BARON MURRAY ,   the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group
Published: November 2008

Objective.

To assess physician service use in a large sample of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and to determine factors associated with physician use.

Methods.

Our sample was a national SSc registry maintaining data on demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income) and clinical factors (disease onset, organ involvement, etc.). Registry cohort members completed detailed questionnaires, and rheumatologists provided clinical assessments. We examined cross-sectional data from 397 patients who provided information on physician visits in the past 12 months. Patients were classified as high physician-users if they reported more than the median number (6) of physician visits in the past year. In multivariate logistic regressions, we assessed the independent effects of race/ethnicity, education, degree of skin involvement, comorbidity, and SF-36 scores on physician use.

Results.

On average, subjects reported 3.8 visits per year to specialty physicians (SD 4.2) and 3.5 visits per year to family physicians (SD 4.3). Regression models suggested the following factors as independently associated with number of physician visits: high skin scores, greater comorbidity, and low physical component summary scores on the SF-36.

Conclusion.

There is evidence of independent relationships between clinical characteristics and physician use by patients with SSc.
Evolution tectono-sédimentaire et magmatique des bassins viséen supérieur d’Azrou-Khénifra et des Jebilet orientales (Meseta marocaine)
Authors: Bamoumen H. , Aarab El M. , Soulaimani A.
Published: November 2008

Au Viséen supérieur, les bassins mesetiens des Jebilet orientales et d’Azrou Khénifra montrent de grandes similitudes de leur évolution tectono-sédimentaire et magmatiques. Leurs dépôts enregistrent de grandes instabilités liées à une tectonique syn-sédimentaire responsable localement d’une intense désorganisation et de grandes variations de faciès et d’épaisseurs. Ces instabilités sont engendrées par une tectonique en blocs basculés qui affecte le substratum anté-Viséen, contrôlée par des accidents bordiers sub-verticaux à forte composante transcurrente. Des corps magmatiques, pour l’essentiel basiques, se mettent en place dans ces bassins. Ils présentent des caractères chimiques des séries magmatiques alcalines mise en place dans un contexte intracontinental et anorogénique.
Initiés le long de la zone de transition entre la Meseta orientale et occidentale, les bassins d’Azrou-Khénifra et des Jebilet orientales correspondent à des sillons intracontinentaux, initiés et contrôlés par des décrochements. Leur évolution est sans doute plus précoce et montre un faible taux d’ouverture que celui enregistré dans les bassins adjacents de la meseta occidentale.
Terrorism Risk: Characteristics and Features
Authors: Ayyub Bilal M.
Published: November 2008

This chapter introduces the “Risk Modeling and Vulnerability Assessment” section of the handbook. The concept of risk, defined as the potential loss due to uncertain event, is introduced in this chapter. Risk can be attributed to natural, technological, and intentional human‐caused events. As a multi‐dimensional notion, risk entails the identification of hazards, threats, and scenarios, and the qualification of associated likelihoods and consequences and associated uncertainties, and the population at risk. Consequences might have varying severities that require the use of appropriate valuation and economic analysis methods. Risk taking, as a characteristic of intelligence for living species, helps with decision making. Benefit‐cost analysis methods are also discussed. The chapter defines and discusses terrorism risk and its characteristics and features.
Vulnerability Assessment
Authors: Neale Donald E. , Jackson Elizabeth M. , Coghlan Glenn
Published: November 2008

This article provides a general overview of vulnerability assessments, a topic so expansive that a wealth of information detailing its many aspects is publicly available. Numerous books have been written on specific vulnerability assessment methodologies; to consider all methodologies in a single snapshot would be unreasonable. However, understanding the concept of a vulnerability assessment by its focuses can help the reader to understand the systematic approach that all methodologies use. This understanding can enable the reader to adapt the various elements and systematic approach of vulnerability assessments to a particular need.
Multiobjective Decision Analysis
Authors: Parnell Gregory S.
Published: November 2008

This article provides a summary of multiobjective decision analysis methods and techniques. Multiobjective decision analysis is appropriate when we have complex alternatives, conflicting objectives, and significant uncertainty. Complexity and simplifications are discussed. A computational example analyzing an adversary threat scenario using multiobjective decision analysis with a decision tree is provided.
Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)
Authors: Apostolakis George E.
Published: November 2008

This article describes the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methodology as applied to technological systems and discusses its possible applicability to terrorism. The principal PRA obejctives are the evaluation of the frequency of occurrence of undesirable system states, the identification of accident sequences leading to these states, the evaluation of their frequencies of occurrence, and the ranking of these sequences according to these frequencies. Systems, structures, and components are also ranked according to their contributions to the frequencies of the undesirable states. These rankings are important inputs to risk management. The application of PRA to terrorism presents several challenges. The identification of terrorist events that may lead to undesirable consequences and the evaluation of their frequencies of occurrence are major challenges. Additionally, the binary logic employed in traditional PRAs is not useful for infrastructures because the analysis must account for the capacity of their nodes and arcs. Illustrative examples are provided.
Deterrence: An Empirical Psychological Model
Authors: Anthony Robert W.
Published: November 2008

Data from historical and ongoing operations against cocaine traffickers provide the basis for deriving a simple empirical mathematical expression, the willingness function, representing the psychological aspects of deterrence. The willingness function relates the willingness to perpetrate an illicit act to the perceived probability and consequences of being interdicted. This function can be generalized to estimate willingness to act when faced with a mixture of different consequences. The nonlinear willingness function provides, in turn, the basis for a deterrence model relating the probability of perpetrators being thwarted to the probability of their being interdicted. Operations against air traffickers flying cocaine base from Peru to Colombia validate the model and yield an estimate of the deterrence threshold for lethal consequences. An extension of this model estimates the effectiveness of layered defenses, taking terrorist perceptions into account. A number of critical tactical and strategic considerations are discussed, including employing surges of interdiction effort to find the deterrence threshold, assessing whether deterrence is working, preventing a collapse of established deterrence protections, and ensuring essential intelligence support. Analysis of the complex preparations leading up to the 9/11 attacks reveal the terrorists' caution and susceptibility to deterrence. Other evidence also argues for the validity of representing terrorist behavior with this function. Finally, the willingness function can be empirically tested as a possible general behavioral pattern for extreme risk taking by sportsmen, criminals, insurgents, or terrorists. Since there are many interpretations of deterrence, definitions and data sources are discussed first.
Risk Transfer and Insurance: Insurability Concepts and Programs for Covering Extreme Events
Authors: Kunreuther Howard C. , Michel‐Kerjan Erwann O.
Published: November 2008

This article discusses factors that determine the insurability of a risk and the extent of coverage offered by the private sector to provide protection against events where there is a low probability of a catastrophic loss. Such extreme events include natural disasters, catastrophic industrial accidents, and large‐scale terrorism. We begin the discussion by focusing, for several reasons, on insurance for natural hazards, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. First, natural disasters have been studied for many years. Second, the concepts that define insurability of natural disasters are also applicable to other disasters. The article then discusses how federal and state governments in the United States have contributed to supplementing private insurance in dealing with catastrophe risks.
Quantitative Representation of Risk
Authors: Ayyub Bilal M. , Kaminskiy Mark P.
Published: November 2008

This article provides a summary of new developments in the representation of risk, including random variables relating to losses, occurrence rates, and moments and parameters. Risk results from an event or sequence of events that is called ascenario. A scenario can be viewed as a potential cause, and if it occurs, it may result in consequences with severities. The representation of risk is essential for risk communication and decision making. In this article, quantitative methods that are suitable to represent risk for homeland security applications are described, and illustrated. Loss exceedance probability distributions, loss exceedance rates, probability density functions, and descriptive point estimates are included for this purpose. Computational examples are used to illustrate these methods. The selection of an appropriate method should be based on the decision situation under consideration.
Qualitative Representation of Risk
Authors: Smith Gary R. , Scouras James , DeBell Robert M.
Published: November 2008

A qualitative representation of risk relies on natural language, rather than mathematics, to communicate the nature and magnitude of risk. Qualitative risk representations may be necessary because the underlying risk assessment is not amenable to quantification or preferred because they are more readily understood by a broad audience. However, natural language is an imprecise communication medium that can undermine the effectiveness of the message. This article provides guidelines and examples of qualitative scales for the principal components of risk—likelihood and consequences. A qualitative risk matrix is developed to illustrate the advantages, limitations, and pitfalls in this widely used technique for displaying risk. A brief discussion of risk comparisons indicates which types of comparisons are most appropriate.
Terrorism Risk
Authors: Woo Gordon
Published: November 2008

Terrorism risk emerged as a quantitative modeling discipline after 9/11. This article describes methods that have been developed for modeling the terrorism risk from Islamist militants. While the damage wrought by a terrorist attack is amenable to engineering loss analysis, the terrorist modus operandi is a function of human behavior, and hence requires special methods drawn from fields such as game theory, social psychology, and network analysis. In order to analyze the global terrorist threat from Islamist militants, a coherent global perspective is required that tracks the radicalization of Muslim diaspora communities.
High Consequence Threats: Electromagnetic Pulse
Authors: Frankel Michael J.
Published: November 2008

A nuclear weapon detonated at an altitude greater than 40 km or so will produce an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that may subject a large region of the country to electromagnetic field intensities that disrupt, degrade, or destroy modern electronic components within the region of influence. The pulse will include a “fast” component that may electromagnetically shock computers, digital relay switches, communications equipment, supervisory control and data systems (SCADAs), and many other critical components of our national infrastructures that make ordinary life livable and keep the social fabric of society functioning. A large weapon will also include a “slow” pulse component that attacks particular vulnerabilities of the national power grid. Although it is the task of government to prevent such a high consequence scenario from being perpetrated, prudent steps may also be taken to reduce our overall vulnerability. As far as possible, these should include steps that provide dual benefits, reducing the vulnerability to EMP while simultaneously conferring other benefits. But, the foremost recommendation is to institute and then exercise a planning activity within the Department of Homeland Security.
Protection and Prevention: an Overview
Authors: Cummings John
Published: November 2008

The focus of this section is on protecting assets, networks, systems, and humans by preventing and/or mitigating physical attacks and damage. This article provides an overview and addresses the question “what do protection and prevention mean from a homeland security and defense perspective?” Definitions and terminologies are included in the article. Most of the emphasis is on protecting a wide variety of infrastructure elements and the people who work or reside in them. A broad range of threats and attack modes is considered—from the use of small arms and weapons to explosives to biological and chemical agents. The article discusses important auxiliary elements such as assessments, training, and preparations. Many forms of defensive components and systems are treated—from body armor to blast shields to “smart” ventilation systems. Concepts such as robustness and resilience, response and recovery, deterrence, and devaluation of potential targets/sites are discussed. Finally, advanced concepts and designs using innovative components and materials are highlighted as areas of future research and development.

This overview focuses on protecting assets, networks, systems, and humans by preventing and/or mitigating
physical
attacks and damage (see also Cyber‐Security). Background information includes the historical development of the concept of homeland security and defense following acts of terrorism on US soil in the late 1990s. A number of plans for federal and national research and development (R&D) efforts have been published. Risks from terrorism (defined here as the likelihood of threats exploiting vulnerabilities to cause consequences) must be understood and managed in a cost‐effective manner—science and technology can provide solutions to some of the most challenging concerns. It is unrealistic to think that we can protect everything and prevent all possible attacks; we must therefore be smart about our utilization of resources. We must be prepared to accept some risk and to rapidly recover if we are attacked (the fear of terrorism can do more damage to our way of life than actual attacks). Threats are dynamic and involve a wide range of possible means of attack ranging from the use of conventional explosives to biological agents to nuclear explosives. The number of possible targets is enormous and some vulnerabilities are part of the nature of a free and open society. Consequences of possible terrorist actions range from tens to thousands of lives lost and millions to billions of dollars of economic losses. Protecting our infrastructure and citizens from terrorist acts and preventing catastrophic impacts is a truly daunting challenge that will involve the efforts of many global R&D organizations. Science and technology can assist the development of systems to inform us about the status of our critical infrastructure and ultimately design advanced infrastructure that will be inherently secure, safe, and resilient.
Roles and Implications of Transportation Systems in Homeland Security
Authors: Ekern David , Crossett Joe
Published: November 2008

State departments of transportation are responsible for planning, delivering, operating, and maintaining a vast surface transportation network that Americans depend on for safe, predictable, and easy movement of people and goods. The apparent scale and redundancy of the nation's transportation network gives a false sense of security because in many parts of the country that network is straining to keep up with the transportation demands of society and the economy. A single unexpected interruption in one location may have a dramatic ripple effect on ease and reliability of travel across a wide region. Nonetheless, surface transportation is uniquely positioned among critical infrastructures and key resources in terms of its management by agencies with broad policy responsibility, public accountability, large and distributed workforces, heavy equipment, and communications infrastructure. This institutional heft and continuous programmatic investment provide a stable base for a campaign to systematically reduce risk exposure over time through hazards capital budgeting. This article discusses the emergency preparedness capabilities that public‐sector transportation agencies are acquiring as their awareness grows about threats to safe and efficient operation of the nation's transportation network. It covers the organizational elements and planning approaches critical to developing effective all‐hazards emergency preparedness capabilities and it examines the roles that transportation agencies are developing to help prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from serious incidents.
Homeland Security and Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Mills Marc A. , Brenner Richard C. , Kreissl James F. , Suidan Makram T.
Published: November 2008

Wastewater results from mankind's use of water in all aspects of daily life. Historically, increasing population density forced mankind to abandon localized disposal (cesspools, septic tanks, etc.) toward collection and conveyance of contaminated water away from population centers for prevention of disease and protection of water. The aggregate of these contaminated waters has become known as wastewater or sewage. The first sewer system in a major city in the U.S. was constructed in New York City in 1895. Storm water conveyance has been documented as the major reason for the construction of sewers. This article describes the treatment of wastewater and public vulnerability to disruptions of wastewater collection.

Most of the modern large treatment plants are comprised of primary settling, or clarification (primary treatment), and secondary biological treatment consisting of biological oxidation, followed by separation of solids, The liquid treatment sequence is followed by one or more tertiary treatments (to reduce control nutrients and solids in final effluent). Effluent disinfection is the final step in order to reduce pathogenic potential.

Although disruptions in wastewater collection and treatment are of secondary nature and not as critical as disruptions to drinking water, power, communications, and public health system, there can be severe implications associated with wastewater collection disruption. Impacts on human health, economic effects, and longer term ecological effects are discussed.
Water Supply and Wastewater Management Regulations, Standards, and Guidance
Authors: Leiby Vanessa M.
Published: November 2008

An extensive system of regulations, standards, and guidance has been put in place over the last 35 years to protect human health and the environment from exposure to chemical and microbial contaminants, hazardous materials, and pollutants from human activity. These include provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Clean Water Act, and other environmental laws. There are also a number of laws that relate to protection and access to sensitive information. More recently, a number of Presidential Directives relative to homeland security have been issued, and the SDWA has been amended by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. This article briefly describes these laws and highlights those aspects that offer potential benefits to avoiding or mitigating the consequences of intentional acts of terror.
Roles of Federal, State, and Local Authorities in Water Infrastructure Security
Authors: Roberson J. A.
Published: November 2008

The role of federal, state, and local authorities in water infrastructure security has been evolving over the past several years based on 9/11, and Katrina and other natural disasters. This article summarizes some of the Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs) that impact water security and summarizes how the HSPDs are being implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This article summarizes the current state and local role in water security, and how state and local authorities fit into this evolving federal role.
Designing an Optimum Water Monitoring System
Authors: Grayman Walter M.
Published: November 2008

In a perfect world, utility managers would like to have the capability to monitor water quality in their system on a real‐time basis. Real‐time water quality data can be used to detect unusual contaminants in the source water or distribution system, assist in routine operations of the water system, and fulfill regulatory requirements. However, the complexity and scale of drinking water systems as well as the number of potential contamination agents present real challenges to implementing cost‐effective monitoring systems. Methods do exist to assist in the design of optimal systems. The goal of this article is to provide guidance and technology options for implementing these approaches.
Interdependent Energy Infrastructure Simulation System
Authors: Toole G. Loren , McCown Andrew W.
Published: November 2008

This article discusses interdependent energy infrastructure simulation system (IEISS). The primary function of IEISS is to enable homeland security analysts and decision makers to understand and accurately assess intrinsic vulnerabilities in critical US infrastructures and those vulnerabilities that result from other forms of attack. It provides a high‐quality, flexible, and extensible actor‐based approach that has been used for

analyzing interdependent infrastructures;

understanding and answering questions of importance to homeland security such as identifying potential events that cause catastrophic system failure;

developing policy procedures that will aid in the prevention of physical terrorism.
Managing Critical Infrastructure Interdependencies: The Ontario Approach
Authors: Nelson Bruce D.
Published: November 2008

The Province of Ontario developed the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Program based upon risk management, business continuity process, and the collaboration of three levels of government and the private sector. It addresses the resiliency of systems and networks and their ability to function at some level throughout a threat. It is an all‐hazards approach that concentrates its efforts in the prevention and mitigation pillars of emergency management. The systems are addressed by sectors and their information sharing networks are an integral part of the program. The program includes a modeling program that is fed by the work of the sectors and addresses the strength of relationships amongst the sectors’ dependencies and interdependencies. The program's work is validated through an annual interdependency exercise involving all sectors and smaller exercises on particular threats or identified vulnerabilities between sectors. The most valuable part of the program is the sharing of knowledge throught the information‐sharing network.
Infrastructure Dependency Indicators
Authors: Brown Theresa
Published: November 2008

This article provides examples of infrastructure dependencies and representative dependency indicators developed in the course of creating models of infrastructures for disruption analyses. Infrastructures are a complex set of interconnected, interdependent systems on which the nation, commerce, industry, and individuals depend. Indicators provide a starting point for describing and evaluating infrastructures and their effects on each other, populations, and commerce. Indicators do not provide historical or situational context, although they can be designed to account for long‐term dynamics. The dynamics of infrastructure dependencies and interdependencies are due to variable supply and demand conditions occurring due to diurnal, seasonal variations as well as changes in physical infrastructure or the management of operations. Examples of widely used indicators developed for individual infrastructures and sectors are provided along with new indicators based on models of dynamic dependencies.
Nano‐Enabled Power Sources
Authors: Wang Enoch , Doughty Daniel H.
Published: November 2008

Nanotechnology has become an important tool in security and military applications and has potential to provide important new contributions. As security devices become more portable and shrink further in size, the performance of existing power source technologies is pushed to their limits. Nanotechnology is an enabling technology since it offers an opportunity to extend or revolutionize the performance of energy storage and conversion devices. Nanotechnology, especially nanomaterials, has demonstrated revolutionary improvement in several power source technologies. In the case of batteries and capacitors, nanomaterials have resulted in the commercialization of several high power or high energy cells. This article reviews emerging nano‐enabling applications in energy harvesting and energy conversion technologies as well as projects future trends of nanomaterials for power source applications.
Security and Safety Synergy—Advancing Security with Human Factors Knowledge
Authors: Dahlström Nicklas , Dekker Sidney
Published: November 2008

Security and safety share fundamentally important features as operational activities with the goal to protect people, property, and the smooth economical functioning of organizations and society. In safety‐critical industries, safety is seen as the positive outcome of management of problems and trade‐offs that are rooted in systems' complexity, goal interaction, and resource limitations. This perspective has led safety research to shift focus and go beyond individual acts and move to systematic aspects of human, technological, and organizational performance. It involves dealing with problems connected to regulations and standardized procedures, technology and automation, and efforts to understand the impact of communication, group dynamics, leadership, and culture on safety. In spite of distinct differences in the nature of threats (intentional/unintentional), there are many areas (use of standardized procedures, human factors training, and modeling for increased understanding of adverse events) where knowledge and experiences from safety operations can fruitfully spill over to security. To establish cooperation between these two fields, for example on regulatory and procedural development, training and simulation, as well as operational evaluation, would be to produce synergies not yet known today.
Human Behavior and Deception Detection
Authors: Frank Mark G. , Menasco Melissa A. , O'Sullivan Maureen
Published: November 2008

Human intelligence is the key to stopping terrorism, and therefore it is essential to know when the information obtained is false. This article briefly outlines the research on behavioral clues to deception, as well as research on people's abilities to spot deception once it has happened. We find that there is no clue or clue pattern that is specific to deception, although there are clues specific to emotion and cognition. In general, behavioral clues are only limited in their abilities to identify deception and that there are still behavioral measurement issues that may plague research on deception. Moreover, a closer examination of the laboratory research suggests that many research studies are not relevant to security contexts, thus the research literature may underestimate the usefulness of behavioral information—particularly for the utility of identifying emotional and cognitive states. We also find that most people, unaided by technology, cannot detect lies from behavioral information, but that some groups do show significantly higher levels of accuracy—although more research is needed to understand why. We conclude that a more directed interaction with scientists and practitioners—in both lab work and in the real world, in creating real‐world databases, identifying base rates for malfeasant behavior in security settings, optimizing training, and identifying preexisting excellence within security organizations can more rapidly capitalize on the usefulness of behavioral information in security settings.
Vulnerability of the Domestic Food Supply Chain
Authors: Chalk Peter
Published: November 2008

The US agricultural and food industries have received comparatively little attention with respect to critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and general homeland security. Unfortunately, these fiscally important sectors remain inherently vulnerable to deliberate disruption and sabotage. The impact of a major strike against agriculture and related food products could be significant, politically and, especially, economically. Although agro‐terrorism is unlikely to constitute a principal mode of terrorist aggression, it could well emerge as a favored secondary tactic that is designed to disrupt rather than physically destroy. Agro‐terrorism is also a tactic that would seem to have salience to the strategic calculus of the post‐9/11 militant international jihadist movement, both in terms of ease of management and the imposition of asymmetric cost‐burden effects.

This article expands the debate on domestic homeland security by assessing the vulnerabilities of the agricultural and related food processing industries to a deliberate act of biological terrorism. It explores the vulnerabilities inherent in agriculture, the capability requirements of exploiting these vulnerabilities, the likely outcomes of a successful attack, and the place of agro‐terrorism in the overall strategic calculations of the post‐9/11 international jihadist movement.
Risk Communication—An Overlooked Tool in Combating Terrorism
Authors: Ropeik David
Published: November 2008

Efforts to protect the public from acts of terrorism, or to mitigate the impacts of attacks that do occur, are inadequate if they fail to take into account public perceptions of and reactions to such attacks. Those perceptions and reactions can lead to real harms, which can exceed the direct impacts of the attacks themselves. Risk communication, therefore, should be a high priority for mitigating those secondary harms, whether terrorists are using bullets, bombs, or bugs on food.
Microbial Forensics and Plant Pathogens: Attribution of Agricultural Crime
Authors: Fletcher Jacqueline , Melcher Ulrich , Luster Douglas G. , Sherwood John L.
Published: November 2008

New awareness of the vulnerability of a nation's agricultural infrastructure to the intentional introduction of pathogens or pests has led to the enhancement of programs for prevention and preparedness. A necessary component of a balanced biosecurity plan is the capability to determine whether an outbreak may have been deliberate, to trace that outbreak to its source, and to identify those responsible for it. Microbial forensics is an emerging discipline that blends elements of numerous disciplines including microbiology, forensic science, and agricultural sciences. The discipline of plant pathology offers much knowledge, as well as many technologies and resources developed for peaceful purposes, which can be adapted and applied to the development of the new subdisciplines of plant pathogen forensics. Targeted research and education programs also will be needed to meet this need.
Potential for Human Illness from Animal Transmission or Food‐Borne Pathogens
Authors: Hartley David M
Published: November 2008

Theoretically, human illness could result accidentally in a biological attack aimed at domestic livestock, or as the intended outcome of a bioterrorist utilizing animal species, food, or foodstuffs to specifically target human populations. The number and diversity of agents, modes of transmission, disease ecologies, and illnesses and outcomes form a vast zoonotic and food‐borne disease “threat space” against which we must defend. In this brief resume, we describe the diversity of zoonotic and food‐borne threats and observe that most of these remain poorly characterized from an analytical viewpoint. Options for control exist for many of these diseases, but often the options are problematic. Significant gaps exist in terms of prophylactic and therapeutic agents for the majority of these diseases. Methodologies exist that can be applied to identify and analyze potential public health prevention and response strategies and to guide future research. Although programmatic opportunities exist for pursuing such research, much remains to be done.
The Use of Threat, Vulnerability, and Consequence (TVC) Analysis for Decision Making on The Deployment of Limited Security Resources
Authors: Linacre Nicholas A. , Cohen Marc J. , Koo Bonwoo , Birner Regina
Published: November 2008

The allocation of security resources to counterterrorism is a complex task that requires decisions on the risk allocation mechanism, estimation of risk, and tolerable levels of risk. The purpose of this article is to provide an understanding of threat, vulnerability, and consequence (TVC) analysis, its use in the deployment of limited resources, and some of the challenges associated with using TVC as a risk‐based allocation mechanism for homeland security.
Classes of Vulnerabilities and Attacks
Authors: Meunier Pascal
Published: November 2008

In the first part of this article, popular vulnerability and attack types used in books, vulnerability disclosures, and databases are reviewed. They are discussed in the context of what makes them useful and how they fail to meet scientific criteria, without going into the exploit details. Practical efforts such as the various MITRE enumerations and lists of common security problems by other organizations are also reviewed. The second part discusses attempts at scientific classifications, with the reasoning leading to the current state of the art. The third part discusses ongoing and future research with a focus on ontologies.
Multilevel Security
Authors: Irvine Cynthia E.
Published: November 2008

Mandatory access control (MAC) policies regulate the access by users to information based upon the sensitivity level of the information and the authorization of each individual user. Multilevel secure systems provide a technical mechanism for enforcing MAC policies. Here, the background and motivation for multilevel secure systems is provided through a description of both mandatory confidentiality and mandatory integrity access control policies. Confinement is motivated and described. Supporting policies are introduced along with the notion of trusted subjects. A discussion of the criticality of multilevel mechanisms leads to design considerations and the reference monitor concept. Implementation techniques to ensure life cycle assurance are presented, including requirements for covert channel analysis. Specific technical approaches for monolithic and distributed multilevel systems are presented. Challenges associated with the development of applications able to enhance user's access to information at multiple sensitivity levels are discussed.
Cyber Security Metrics and Measures
Authors: Black Paul E. , Scarfone Karen , Souppaya Murugiah
Published: November 2008

Metrics are tools to facilitate decision making and improve performance and accountability. Measures are quantifiable, observable, and objective data supporting metrics. Operators can use metrics to apply corrective actions and improve performance. Regulatory, financial, and organizational factors drive the requirement to measure IT security performance. Potential security metrics cover a broad range of measurable features, from security audit logs of individual systems to the number of systems within an organization that were tested over the course of a year. Effective security metrics should be used to identify weaknesses, determine trends to better utilize security resources, and judge the success or failure of implemented security solutions.
Cyber Security Technology Usability and Management
Authors: Smetters Diana K.
Published: November 2008

Usability and security are no longer at odds, but instead increasingly seen as two critical components of effective cyber systems. This article reviews recent results on designing systems that are usable, useful, and secure, and describes general principles important in the management of secure systems.
Cyber Security for the Banking and Finance Sector
Authors: Abend Valerie , Peretti Brian , Axlerod C Warren , Bach Andrew , Barry Kevin , Donahue Don , Wright Ken , Carlson John , Castelluccio Frank , DeWaal Dan , Engaldo David , Hender George , LaFalce David , Merkow Mark , Nelson William , Panchery John , Schutzer Dan , Solo David , Bayuk Jennifer L.
Published: November 2008

The banking and finance sector requires secure, resilient, and reliable systems to ensure seamless operations and maintain public confidence in monetary systems. Many financial institutions are at the forefront of developing best practices and deploying advanced technologies to secure their systems and assets. More importantly, the sector serves as a model of the cooperation necessary to develop standards and best practices that benefit all sectors. This article identifies some of the important cyber security‐related collaboration among the private and public sector organizations that make up the sector, and explores the culture that enables such cooperation.

Information security is an important concern for all institutions in the banking and finance sector. Financial institutions are persistently targeted by criminals and others with malicious intent. To address these problems, institutions across the sector worked collaboratively to improve inter‐ and intrasector communication and created private–public partnerships for information sharing and encouraging innovation. This article explores the foundations of cooperation and information sharing, including some of the major initiatives, associations, and challenges the sector faced as it worked to improve defenses against attack, enhance resiliency, and sustain public confidence in trusted banking relationships.
Sensing Releases of Highly Toxic and Extremely Toxic Compounds
Authors: Gray D. Anthony
Published: November 2008

Chemical terrorism is a serious threat in modern society (i.e., using or threatening to use chemicals as weapons of terror), which is likely to continue for many years. One of the ways to prepare for chemical terrorism events is to develop sensors capable of identifying and quantifying the chemical in use so that when an event occurs, it can be rapidly and accurately identified and its effects can be mitigated. A second way is to identify a list of chemicals that have toxicological and physiochemical properties that are consistent with use as a chemical agent. Both of these activities are important to preparing for such an event and are the major topics discussed in this article. This article is therefore devoted to describing a methodology for identifying potential chemical threat agents, identifying a set of toxic industrial chemicals that fit the criteria, and describing sensor availabilities for selected highly and extremely toxic chemicals.
An adaptive switching scheme for uncertain discrete time‐delay systems
Authors: Moezzi Kaveh , Momeni Ahmadreza , Aghdam Amir G.
Published: November 2008

In this paper, an adaptive switching control algorithm is proposed for the stabilization of uncertain discrete‐time systems with time‐varying delay. It is assumed that the time delay is unknown and time varying, nonetheless bounded with a known bound. It is supposed that the system is highly uncertain, and that a set of controllers are designed (off‐line) to stabilize the system in the whole uncertain parameter space; subsequently, a switching scheme is developed to stabilize the uncertain time‐delay system. A thorough stability analysis for the uncertain time‐delay system under the mentioned control scheme is provided. Furthermore, an upper bound on the allowable rate of change of the system parameters and delay is obtained. Simulation results are presented to show the efficacy of the proposed switching scheme. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Asymmetric Dimerization of Disubstituted Ketenes Catalyzed by N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes
Authors: Lv Hui , Zhang Yan‐Rong , Huang Xue‐Liang , Ye Song
Published: November 2008

A series of chiral N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), derived from L‐pyrogutamic acid, were found to be efficient catalysts for the asymmetric dimerization of alkylarylketenes to give the corresponding α‐quaternary β‐alkylidenyl‐β‐lactones in good yields with up to 97% ee. A chiral NHC with a proximal hydroxy group is superior in comparison with the corresponding NHC with its hydroxy group protected.
Identification of a HOXD13 mutation in a VACTERL patient
Authors: Garcia‐Barceló Maria‐Mercè , Wong Kenneth Kak‐yuen , Lui Vincent Chi‐hang , Yuan Zhen‐wei , So Man‐ting , Ngan Elly Sau‐wai , Miao Xiao‐ping , Chung Patrick Ho‐yu , Khong Pek‐lan , Tam Paul Kwong‐hang
Published: November 2008

VACTERL acronym is assigned to a non‐random association of malformations in humans with poorly known etiology. It is comprised of vertebral defects (V), anal atresia (A), cardiac anomaly (C), tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia (TE), renal dysplasia (R) and limb lesions (L). Here, we report on, for the first time, a female patient with VACTERL association with a 21 base‐pair deletion in the exon 1 triplet repeats of HOXD13, a sonic hedgehog (SHH) downstream target. Our data provide the first piece of clinical evidence of the implication of the SHH pathway in VACTERL. Moreover, HOXD13 may not only be implicated in limb malformations but also in the development of gut and genitourinary structures, as predicted from the mouse models. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Skeletal dysplasia in ancient Egypt
Authors: Kozma Chahira
Published: November 2008

The ancient Egyptian civilization lasted for over 3000 years and ended in 30 BCE. Many aspects of ancient Egyptian culture, including the existence of skeletal dysplasias, and in particular achondroplasia, are well known through the monuments and records that survived until modern times. The hot and dry climate in Egypt allowed for the preservation of bodies and skeletal anomalies. The oldest dwarf skeleton, the Badarian skeleton (4500 BCE), possibly represents an epiphyseal disorder. Among the remains of dwarfs with achondroplasia from ancient Egypt (2686–2190 BCE), exists a skeleton of a pregnant female, believed to have died during delivery with a baby's remains in situ. British museums have partial skeletons of dwarfs with achondroplasia, humeri probably affected with mucopolysaccharidoses, and a skeleton of a child with osteogenesis imperfecta. Skeletal dysplasia is also found among royal remains. The mummy of the pharaoh Siptah (1342–1197BCE) shows a deformity of the left leg and foot. A mummified fetus, believed to be the daughter of king Tutankhamun, has scoliosis, spina bifida, and Sprengel deformity. In 2006 I reviewed the previously existing knowledge of dwarfism in ancient Egypt. The purpose of this second historical review is to add to that knowledge with an expanded contribution. The artistic documentation of people with skeletal dysplasia from ancient Egypt is plentiful including hundreds of amulets, statues, and drawing on tomb and temple walls. Examination of artistic reliefs provides a glance of the role of people with skeletal dysplasia and the societal attitudes toward them. Both artistic evidence and moral teachings in ancient Egypt reveal wide integration of individuals with disabilities into the society. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prenatal diagnosis of monosomy 1p36: A focus on brain abnormalities and a review of the literature
Authors: Campeau Philippe M. , Ah Mew Nicholas , Cartier Lola , Mackay Katherine L. , Shaffer Lisa G. , Der Kaloustian Vazken M. , Thomas Mary Ann
Published: November 2008

Monosomy 1p36 is an increasingly recognized chromosomal anomaly. We describe two patients with monosomy 1p36 who had brain abnormalities detected on prenatal ultrasound. The first patient was ascertained prenatally with ultrasound abnormalities, including ventriculomegaly, a single umbilical artery, a unilateral club foot, a ventricular septal defect, and intra‐uterine growth retardation. Amniocentesis showed a normal karyotype. A postnatal MRI showed moderate to severe non‐obstructive hydrocephalus, bilateral colpocephaly, and abnormal myelination of the anterior limb of the internal capsule. A postnatal karyotype demonstrated a deletion of 1p36.3 that was not detected prenatally due to low resolution. Molecular studies by array comparative genome hybridization (CGH) identified a terminal deletion of ∼10 Mb. Our second patient was a fetus who had brain abnormalities suggestive of holoprosencephaly identified on prenatal ultrasound. Amniocentesis showed 46,XX,der(1)t(1;20)(p36.1;p12.2), that was found to be maternally inherited. Fetal autopsy demonstrated hydrocephalus, focal polymicrogyria, and cerebellar hypoplasia. However, holoprosencephaly was not confirmed. In addition to describing two patients with monosomy 1p36 who had abnormal brain anatomy on prenatal ultrasounds, we review the literature of other prenatally detected patients with monosomy 1p36 and review brain abnormalities seen both prenatally and postnatally. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.