bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Political Warfare, The Muslim Brotherhood, and The Targeting of America
Authors: Probst Peter S.
Published: February 2025

For the foreseeable future, the prime internal security threat to the United States will most probably be radical Islam in a multitude of forms and guises, using a broad array of tactics and strategies that fall under the rubric of Political Warfare. According to documents entered into evidence in the recent government's prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation in Dallas, Texas, the American branch of the Muslim Brotherhood has for some 40 years engaged in a sophisticated campaign of subversion and political action designed to promote the radical Islamist agenda, eviscerate government capabilities to uncover and dismantle terrorist cells and support mechanisms, coupled with a sophisticated covert campaign to influence American decision making at the highest levels. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of Political Warfare which has capitalized on the American government's failure to recognize the scope and extent of their Political Action activities which have been promoted through a variety of seemingly independent and benign front groups, charities, media outlets and agents-of-influence, as well as through the exploitation of the gullible and well meaning individuals that the Communists used to describe as “useful idiots.”
Responsible Stewardship of Advances in Life Sciences Research: Lessons from the Fink and Lemon-Relman Reports
Authors: Husbands Jo L.
Published: February 2025

This chapter offers an account of the work of the US National Academies, in cooperation with other national and international scientific organizations, to address increasing concerns about the potential security risks posed by continuing and dramatic developments in the life sciences. The work, begun in 2001, builds on a much longer line of work by the Academies on the periodic tensions between the culture of scientific openness and the desire to prevent adversaries from using advances in science and technology to cause harm to national or international security.
The Supercourse: Former Soviet Union Countries Practice
Authors: Shubnikov Eugene  , Linkov Faina  , Trufanov Andrey  , LaPorte Ronald
Published: February 2025

Former Soviet Union (FSU) SuperCourse is created in the frame of Supercourse project – online library of lectures in public health, epidemiology and Internet – www.pitt.edu/~super1. Education and information sharing is paramount to preventing all forms of diseases and conditions. The Supercourse Team asserts that the Internet provides a powerful and inexpensive tool for the improvement of health as well protection from disasters. To date, more than 500 public health workers from all 15 FSU countries have participated to integrate Internet-based education into prevention of all form of diseases and terrorism/bioterrorism. FSU Supercourse is collaboration of FSU scientists involved in prevention and the Internet for creation of Russian language library of lectures. The main topics of presentations include global health, information security, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, disaster medicine, disaster preparedness and mitigation. The training in the area of prevention and Internet-Prevention (I-Prevention) is the primary goal of the collaboration. We started development of FSU Supercourse at the beginning of 2000 as a part of Drs.Shubnikov and Troufanov’s fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. The number of Internet users in Russia reached 2 million people in 2000. By the end of year 2006 the number of Internet users in Russia reached 21% of total population (about 30 million people). The fast growing of Internet users is big advantages for Internet based programs, but the number of Internet users in Russia still lower compare with European countries (more than 50%). Recently, we introduced a Russian language Supercourse web site at http://www.supercourse.pochta.ru/. More than 250 lectures translated into Russian language already available, including lecture by Dr.Noji on Public Health Disaster Consequences of Disasters. Creation and development of country or language specific libraries of lectures and development of scientific networks as FSU Supercourse, is a tool for education and improving global health including prevention of biological threats and pandemics. Our FSU Supercourse may become a backbone for other health and science projects in FSU countries.
On the Geostrategic Aspects of NATO's Enlargement
Authors: Sanfelice di Monteforte Ferdinando
Published: February 2025

During the “Cold War”, NATO enlargement was motivated by the desire to obtain geostrategic gains for collective defense and manpower additions to deter possible aggression. Later, new members' contribution to NATO's out-of-area operations as well as improved territorial continuity became important. In the future, the key geostrategic consideration could be projecting stability into Asia.
Hungary
Authors: Horvath Gabor
Published: February 2025

The first round of NATO enlargement with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland ushered a new era in global security. This chapter reviews the benefits the new members as well as NATO enjoyed as a result. The author discusses the issues which will shape NATO's future.
Implicit flows in malicious and nonmalicious code
Authors: Russo Alejandro  , Sabelfeld Andrei  , Li Keqin
Published: February 2025

Information-flow technology is a promising approach for ensuring security by design and construction. When tracking information flow, of particular concern are implicit flows, i.e., flows through control flow when computation branches on secret data and performs publicly observed side effects depending on which branch is taken.
Quantum algorithm for preparing thermal Gibbs states – detailed analysis
Authors: Chiang Chen-Fu  , Wocjan Pawel
Published: February 2025

In a recent work [10], POULIN and one of us presented a quantum algorithm for preparing thermal Gibbs states of interacting quantum systems. This algorithm is based on Grover’s technique for quantum state engineering, and its running time is dominated by the factor (√D/𝒵β), where D and 𝒵βdenote the dimension of the quantum system and its partition function at inverse temperature β, respectively. We present here a modified algorithm and a more detailed analysis of the errors that arise due to imperfect simulation of Hamiltonian time evolutions and limited performance of phase estimation (finite accuracy and nonzero probability of failure). This modification together with the tighter analysis allows us to prove a better running time by the effect of these sources of error on the overall complexity. We think that the ideas underlying of our new analysis could also be used to prove a better performance of quantum Metropolis sampling by TEMME et al. [12].
Commercial potential of quantum cryptography
Authors: Dubois John
Published: February 2025

Since 1997 Senetas Corporation Limited has designed and manufactured network encryption hardware that allows high speed voice, video and data networks to operate securely when data is in transmission. Senetas has its encryptors deployed to secure the world’s most critical information networks for governments, military, foreign agencies, banking and financial institutions in over 40 countries. Taking developments from the labs of the University of Geneva and idQuantique, Senetas jointly created the world’s first, and fastest, commercial quantum encryption solution in 2007. Since then Senetas has quantum-enabled its globally-accredited classic encryption hardware to future-proof customers, and continues to work with idQuantique and the University of Geneva to add further functionality to the high speed quantum encryption solution, now deployed on four continents – Africa, Asia, North America and Europe.
Trusted noise in continuous-variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Usenko Vladyslav C.  , Filip Radim
Published: February 2025

We address the problem of the security of the continuous variable quantum key distribution with the coherent states in the presence of a trusted noise of different origins, e.g. preparation noise at the sender side and the detection noise at the remote receiver side. We show the essential difference between the impact of these types of noise under conditions of lossy quantum channel, available to an eavesdropper. While detection noise reduces the key rate without breaking the security, the preparation noise is destructive for the secure transmission. At the same time we show that by the state purification we can compensate for the destructive effect of the preparation noise, so that upon optimal purification its impact becomes similar to that of the detection noise. The effect is persistent also upon realistic error correction.
Human-Triggered Earthquakes and Their Impacts on Human Security
Authors: Klose Christian D.
Published: February 2025

A comprehensive understanding of earthquake risks in urbanized regions requires an accurate assessment of both urban vulnerabilities and earthquake hazards. Socioeconomic risks associated with human-triggered earthquakes are often misconstrued and receive little scientific, legal, and public attention. However, more than 200 damaging earthquakes, associated with industrialization and urbanization, were documented since the 20th century. This type of geohazard has impacts on human security on a regional and national level. For example, the 1989 Newcastle earthquake caused 13 deaths and US$3.5 billion damage (in 1989). The monetary loss was equivalent to 3.4 percent of Australia’s national income (GDI) or 80 percent of Australia’s GDI per capita growth of the same year. This article provides an overview of global statistics of human-triggered earthquakes. It describes how geomechanical pollution due to large-scale geoengineering activities can advance the clock of earthquakes or trigger new seismic events. Lastly, defense-oriented strategies and tactics are described, including risk mitigation measures such as urban planning adaptations and seismic hazard mapping.
Expanding Ecosystem Services: Climate Change, Phenology, and the Building of Citizen “Scientists”
Authors: France Robert L.
Published: February 2025

One of the most pressing of ecosociological concerns is the search for ways in which to engage the public in the monitoring and debate about global climate change. Phenology, the study of the appearance or seasonal timing of natural events such as flowering, migration, and reproduction, is rapidly emerging as an important tool for fostering environmental awareness and participation. Increasingly, professionals are turning to the diaries of 18th and 19th century amateur phenologists in an attempt to gauge biological trends of our modern warming world and at the same time are encouraging groups of contemporary citizen “scientists” to continue undertaking such measurements. This chapter will review and critically comment on these approaches from both a scientific and sociological perspective and offer an expanded view about what might constitute an “ecosystem service” for human welfare.
Regulations, Infrastructure, Stakeholder Responsibilities, and Technology Requirements to Meet Challenges of Cargo Security
Authors: Atoyan Hasmik  , Biermann Joachim  , Cant Dominique  , Ferrin Giovanni  , Shahbazian Elisa  , Snidaro Lauro  , Zec Damir
Published: February 2025

The NATO ARW Breakout Group Three discussed challenges of cargo security in view of regulations, infrastructure, stakeholder responsibilities, and elaborated on technology requirements to meet these challenges.
Maritime Threats: Origins and Enabling Factors
Authors: de Divitiis Valerio
Published: February 2025

Maritime security faces a wide range of challenges in addressing contemporary threats. The safety of trading flows is a pivotal element of the current international order and countermeasures derived from open-minded analysis may contribute to countering and reducing terrorist and criminal maritime menaces.
Disseminating Best Practices and Information in Posttrauma Care: Towards Online Training and Support for Providers Serving Survivors of Trauma
Authors: Ruzek Josef I.
Published: February 2025

The task of assisting health and mental health providers to deliver care for trauma survivors in ways that are consistent with current understanding of best practices in posttraumatic stress disorder assessment and treatment is an important public health priority. However, these providers face significant challenges in learning evidence-based interventions, keeping their knowledge current, and locating resources useful to their work. The Internet can provide a crucial element of more comprehensive training in empirically-supported practices and offer a useful means of shaping provider behavior and ensuring delivery of best practices. Dissemination is aided by effective training, ongoing consultation and coaching, monitoring of implementation, facilitative administrative support, and systems interventions; and the Internet can be used, to a greater or lesser extent, to support these various aspects of systematic implementation and knowledge management. Online training methods can offer many of the components of effective training, achieve some important instructional goals, and increase the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of in-person training. In addition, websites can support communities of practice, assist with preparation for dissemination projects, facilitate measurement of practitioner needs, preferences, and practices, make evidence-based practices easier to use, create better-informed clients, and enable clinicians and managers to more rapidly and efficiently locate the information they require.
Monitoring of Occupational Exposures in Albania (2003–2007), Using TLD –100 Cards
Authors: Qafmolla Luan  , Hoxhaj Enver
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the monitoring of occupational staff who worked in ionizing radiation field of the diagnostic centres in Albania between 2003 and 2007 as well as analyses and discusses the mean annual dose rate recorded for the above-mentioned period.
Clinical Estimation of Radiation Effects Using the Organ-Related Response Categories Concept METREPOL
Authors: Dörr H.  , Fliedner T.M.  , Meineke V.
Published: February 2025

In the case of an nuclear or radiological incident with several patients exposed to ionising radiation, diagnostic and therapeutic decisions are time critical. Since results of a physical dose-reconstruction but also from methods for biodosimetry (e.g. dicentrics) will be available after several days or even weeks, clinical signs and symptoms of the radiation exposed patients may be the only available basis for estimation of radiation effects and prediction of the clinical course. The METREPOL-System is based on indicators of effect and repair to manage radiation accident victims considering multi-organ involvement and potential treatment options.
Biomarkers in the Retrospective Biological Radiation Dosimetry (LET, Dose, Dose Rate Effects)
Authors: Cebulska-Wasilewska Antonina
Published: February 2025

The challenge for molecular epidemiology and environmental studies is to further improve the process for assessing risk to human health from exposure to genotoxic agents. It is well recognized that exposure to ionizing radiation is unavoidable. The issue of exposures from nuclear power and nuclear waste receives the greatest public attention, yet these types of exposures are only a minor source of total environmental chemical and radiation exposures. However, for the populations at risk or close to these sources, the issue is a real one. The concern here is the risk of unforeseen accidents as well as the public’s lack of understanding the acute and chronic exposures differences and their associated risks.
Assessement of Hemopoietic Progenitor Cells in Patients Affected by Chernobyl Accident and Risk of Oncohematological Diseases
Authors: Bilko Nadia M.
Published: February 2025

Morphofunctional properties of hemopoietic progenitor cells in victims of Chernobyl accident were investigated by the method of cultivating in gel diffusion chambers inserted into peritoneal cavity of experimental animals. The oppressing of colony-forming activity of CFU-GMdc (granulocyte-monocytic colony-forming units in diffusion chamber) in patients with ARS (acute radiation sickness) and recovery of those indices later testifies to the preservation and restoration of stem cells department during some period of time. No significant difference in colony-forming activity of bone marrow cells between control group and groups of people irradiated at different dose rates (from 0.25 to 0.5 Gy, from 0.5 to 0.75 Gy and from 0.75 to 1 Gy) was determined. However, depressing of efficiency and disturbance in differentiation in the colonies in some patients, predominance of eosinophilic colonies in majority of patients illustrate the need for a high degree of suspicion in establishing an early diagnosis. Early identification of these patients is important as they are at risk of eventual evolution into more hazardous clinical state.
Sensitivity and Significance: How to Analyse the Complexity of Conflict Dynamics?
Authors: Neumann Martin
Published: February 2025

The paper explores methodological question of how to evaluate the evidence of simulation models of complex systems. This is the process of model validation. Since simulation models provide a tool for investigating social mechanisms, model validation requires an approach that differs from the analysis of statistical significance of variables. The conceptual difference can be explained by distinguishing clear and distinct terms, a terminology of early modern philosophy. It is suggested that model validation benefits from making use of Max Weber’s concept of adequate causality. This can be investigated by means of sensitivity analysis. A mechanism is causally adequate if the model is not robust under variation. This is illustrated by an example. An analysis of this example reveals the significance of extreme events. In complex systems, extreme events provide evidence of the presence of presumed social mechanisms that are implemented in a model. This implies regarding conflicts as extreme events of societal operations that indicate fundamental social mechanisms.
National security in 21
Authors: Crnčić Igor  , Jakešević Ružica  , Tatalović Siniša
Published: February 2025

Terrorism as a political and security phenomenon has always attracted, in various forms, the interest of the international community, and affected security establishments in different countries and regions all over the world. Although we can trace its historical roots 200 years back, the most significant impact on safety was in the 20thand at the beginning of the 21stcentury. From state-sponsored terrorism (which will be remembered in history as an attempt to satisfy the legitimacy of terror and protection of foreign interests), through internationalization of national liberation wars and ethnic conflicts, to the left and right-oriented terrorist groups in Europe, terrorism was always determined by two basic appearances: terror and violence. These appearances forced European countries, unsatisfied with global efforts to combat terrorism in the last century, to find common solutions in creating an institutionalized framework for cooperation.
Matrices for graphs, designs and codes
Authors: Haemers Willem H.
Published: February 2025

The adjacency matrix of a graph can be interpreted as the incidence matrix of a design, or as the generator matrix of a binary code. Here these relations play a central role. We consider graphs for which the corresponding design is a (symmetric) block design or (group) divisible design. Such graphs are strongly regular (in case of a block design) or very similar to a strongly regular graph (in case of a divisible design). Many constructions and properties for these kind of graphs are obtained. We also consider the binary code of a strongly regular graph, work out some theory and give several examples.
The Future of the Alliance: Toward a Transatlantic ‘Hub’?
Authors: de Rougé Guillaume
Published: February 2025

This paper tries to show that the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) have growing interests in the evolution of the alliance towards a more informal transatlantic ‘hub’, but also that such an evolution definitely requires the emergence of the EU as a strategic actor. To conclude, this paper proposes four scenarios about the future of the alliance.
Turkey's Caucasus Policies
Authors: Aydin Mustafa
Published: February 2025

The emergence of newly independent states in the Caucasus at the end of the Cold War presented challenges to Turkey, while enlarging its role. The collapse of the Soviet Union removed the century-old Soviet/Russian threat, while at the same time created a power vacuum on Turkey's borders. In this environment, Turkey became an important actor in the region as a result of its strong historical connections. While Turkey had traditionally avoided involvement in regional politics, it has since been drawn into the volatile new politics of the region. After twenty years, Turkey has become one of the important players in a region where its involvement has particularly increased since the August 2008 with its suggestion to establish Caucasus Cooperation and Stability Platform. Although its attempt to further engage Armenia is halted now and, economic and political conditions in the region are unlikely to stabilize for some years, it is without doubt that Turkey will continue to create new networks of interdependency between Ankara and the regional capitals.
The Role of Intergovernmental Institutions in Regional Cooperation
Authors: Manoli Panagiota
Published: February 2025

External players either in terms of third countries or of international organisations significantly affect dynamics in the South Caucasus. This paper considers the possible impact of international organisations on regional processes, and maps the obstacles and breakthroughs in regional cooperation in the South Caucasus. It argues that regionalism might be driven by international institutions but its success rests on local countries' initiatives and support.
Immigration as a Possible Trajectory for Political Radicalism and Terror
Authors: Kimhi Shaul
Published: February 2025

The present paper focuses on immigration as a possible trajectory for political radicalism and the use of political violence and terror. Each of these issues has been well researched. However, studies on the combination of both, especially from a psychological point of view, are scarce and much more knowledge is needed. The present paper try to combine knowledge based on studies focusing on immigration with studies focusing on the psychological root causes of political violence and terror, and suggests a model of immigration as a possible trajectory for political radicalism and the use of political violence.
“Russian” Criminal Operators in Belgium
Authors: Janssen Stefaan
Published: February 2025

In Belgium, most of the Russian prostitution networks are collaborating with local bar exploiters from different ethnic origin, also functioning for the most visible criminal tasks, while the Russians remain on the back scene. Russian criminal networks appear as geographical partners for Asiatic criminal networks on the Moscow-route, which is one of the two main roads for smuggling and trafficking human being from Asia. All the cases demonstrate, through connections in space, time and operations, the serenity of Russian criminal networks in a country infiltrated by those. Most of them demonstrate that without links in the ‘upper world” (public administration, police, justice, lawyers,...), these crimes could by no way take place, a fortiori write, during decennia's, their own story in our countries. Therefore, it is important to put the focus on the dismantling of the criminal system and not on the fight against the executing criminal personnel who are people that easily can be replaced by others.
Time has Come to Abolish the New Slavery
Authors: Arlacchi Pino
Published: February 2025

Most people thought about slavery assuming that it was eliminated during the nineteenth century, however this is far from the truth. The current system offers too many incentives to criminals and outlaw states to market humans, and promises too little in the way of sanctions: what matters most is the rate of profit and the risk involved in each set of transactions.
Eastern-European Criminal Organizations and the ‘Ndrangheta
Authors: Macri Vincenzo
Published: February 2025

In Italy, the introduction of the offence of mafia associations was accompanied by measures concerning patrimonial restrictions (seizure and confiscation of assets accumulated by those recognized as belonging to the mafia). It was a formidable instrument, which aimed to remove the symbol of their power of “mafiosi”, i.e. the wealth acquired by the offence and shown as sign of arrogance, an additional factor of intimidation to the society.
Continuous Training of the Population – an Important Means of Preventing Disasters
Authors: Alaverdyan Rudik
Published: February 2025

Principles are worked out for the organisation and implementation of the training of the population on the issues of protection from disasters (TPIPD). TPIPD should be indissoluble and continuous, and the existing educational system, governing bodies and mass-media should be considered as a basis for TPIPD. Educational-methodology, organisational, legal and other issues are discussed for the enhancement of the effectiveness of TPIPD, the system of which, and its activities, in the Republic of Armenia are analyzed.
Environmental Monitoring as a Tool for Risk Assessment and Development of Damage Mitigation Actions
Authors: Saghatelyan Armen K.  , Sahakyan Lilit V.
Published: February 2025

Environmental monitoring employing eco-geochemical research methods is one tool for assessing pollution risks and developing and implementing actions on mitigation of such pollution-induced damage.
Prevention and Intervention in the Case of Catastrophes in the Moldova Area of Romania
Authors: Douglas Brian  , Toma Ovidiu
Published: February 2025

The causes and effects, including emergency preparedness of all agencies involved, of both natural and man-made disasters in 2010 in the Moldova region of Romania are examined, looking specifically at Dorohoi in Botosani County as an example. The lessons learned, and aspects which need further attention so as to help avoid future disasters, both natural and man made, are highlighted.
Plant Monitoring and Shut-Down Control
Authors: Tschiedel Kerstin
Published: February 2025

Complex plant monitoring consists of self-responsible monitoring by the plant operator, by the authorities and by experts who perform technical and safety-related tests. The monitoring must cover all its life stages, including the shut-down of the plant. Thanks to the ‘checklist method’, based on the recommendations given by the River Basin Commissions, water pollution control for relevant plants can be tested and assessed.
Determining the Real Plant Safety Level – The Checklist Method
Authors: Platkowski Jörg
Published: February 2025

The ICPDR developed a method for assessing potential danger from environmentally relevant industrial plants. On the basis of the WRI (water risk index) it is possible to establish the accidental risk spots (ARS). However, the problem is that this WRI takes into consideration only the volumes of substances and the degrees of water risk from the substances, but not the types of safety level. Thus a company in which all recommendations of the river basin commissions are realized, is evaluated exactly the same as a company with serious safety-relevant faults. That requires an evaluation of a plant with regard to the current risk. The current risk can only be determined and assessed on the basis of a thorough testing and evaluation of the relevant plant. The Checklist Method that has been developed is particularly suitable for this purpose. The most complex industrial plant can be checked and evaluated simply, in structured form, and in accordance with international recommendations by means of this method. Based on this method a possibility was developed that characterizes the safety level of a plant.
Prediction of Irradiation Doses for the Population under the Russian Federal Programme: “Development of the Russian Atomic Energy Industrial Complex for 2007–2020”
Authors: Valyaev A.N.  , Krylov A.L.  , Semenov V.N.  , Nikoliski D.V.
Published: February 2025

The intense growth of electrical energy production at nuclear power plants (NPP) results in the increasing generation of radionuclide gas-aerosol discharges (RGAD) to atmosphere and liquid radioactive discharges (LRD) into different water bodies. According to the observed Russian Federal Programme, 17 new nuclear reactors will be commissioned up to 2020 at the 7 currently operated NPPs. It is necessary to provide exclusive safety measures, particularly regarding the limiting of irradiation human organism doses (IHD). These IHDs must not exceed the 10 Micro Sievert level on every factor of response, that have based by the special homeland sanitary rules and instructions, corresponded to the international ones. We have collected and analyzed data on RGAD and LRD values for all 10 Russian NPPs during the last 13 years of their exploitation. The observed stable annual tendency of decreasing of these values has created a well-grounded scientific base for predicting the levels for each NPP in the future period of Program realization according to our developed methodology. The predicted RGAD and LRD levels have been used for IHD calculations on the special certified model information-simulation systems (developed in our Institute) through all possible ways and chains of radionuclide penetration into human organisms. For the most critical population group, namely fishermen, we have carried out conservative (maximum) IHD assessments. The obtained IHD values provide the permitted risk level less than 10−6per year (i.e. one death per one million irradiated people). The radiation, created by every NPP under its future exploitation, will be less by 2-3 orders than the local natural radioactive background near NPP locations. Our consideration has a universal character and may be used for making decisions on some thematic problems of atomic energy.
An Overview of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation
Authors: Kibaroglu Mustafa  , Gurzel Aylin
Published: February 2025

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) also known as “unconventional weapons” possess the capacity to inflict death on a massive scale. First and foremost, nuclear weapons are the most destructive of all because they are explosive devices that release huge amounts of energy and lethal radiation as a result of a self-sustained chain reaction achieved by splitting atoms of fissile material, either Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) or Plutonium. Second, chemical weapons and toxic chemical agents in liquid or gas forms can cause incapacitation, injury or even death in the targeted population. Third, biological weapons are infectious diseases that cause incapacitation or death in the target population by causing serious illnesses. Although a worldwide norm has been established which prohibits use and even possession of nuclear weapons, for biological weapons and chemical weapons the full implementation still has not been achieved. Today, a world with WMDs is more dangerous since as countries proliferate further, then the possibility of non-state actors' acquisition of WMD capabilities increases parallel to it.
Improvised Nuclear Attacks
Authors: Zimmerman Peter D.
Published: February 2025

It used to be said that terrorists were interested in activities that would have everybody watching, and not make everybody dead. In the intervening years, the threat has evolved, so that in the wake of 9/11, the Madrid and London bombings, and even the Aum Shinrikyo Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system, we know that it may be merely a question of time before Al Qaeda, or any one of many ever-mutating groups seeks not only to acquire mass casualty weapons, but use them. By “WMD” (or mass casualty weapon), I mean specifically nuclear explosives, biological agents (including agents that attack plants or farm animals), chemical weapons, and the spreading of radioactive material.
How to Face a Radiological Attack by Dirty Bomb
Authors: Salama Mohamed
Published: February 2025

“Nuclear terrorism” refers to a number of different ways nuclear materials might be exploited as a terrorist tactic. These include attacking nuclear facilities, purchasing nuclear weapons, or building such weapons or otherwise finding ways to disperse radioactive materials. For the latter extremists could exploit radioactive materials by creating a “dirty bomb” or a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD), by loading a conventional bomb with radioactive materials, which would disperse when the bomb exploded.
What Does Security Mean for the Balkans?
Authors: Turkovic Bisera
Published: February 2025

Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) is a good example of a state which has successfully pulled itself away from a state of total insecurity to relative security. After the brutal wars of the 1990s the region has managed, with international help, to maintain a peaceful and increasingly secure and prosperous future. Militias have been disarmed, the armed forces have been depoliticised and some regional states (including BiH) have been allowed to join international security groups like NATO. This is a long process that is far from completely fulfilled, but the increase in national security in BiH has allowed individual human security to flourish, and vice versa- the security of nations and the individuals who live in them are inextricably linked.
Terrorism and the Media
Authors: Şenerdem Barbaros Hayrettin
Published: February 2025

Throughout history, terrorism has made use of communication with an increasing trend of growing technology in order to have a catalyst effect for terrorist acts. Unfortunately, as means of communication serve the commercial interests of players in the media, by-product formation of the catalyst effect seems around a symbiotic relationship between each party. At the point of breaking the relationship, governments enter the scene and intervene in it. While doing that, governments actually have experience to avoid vulnerabilities of democracies that serve the freedom of expression for the media. Therefore, it is required to open the media's eyes to make them choose a balanced way in defence against terrorism. And yet, this article provides a platform to present details of the relationship consisting of three parties in order to deeply understand expectations of each party so that appropriate measures in defence against terrorism through the media can be described.
Legal and Intelligence Difficulties in Combating Financing of Terrorism
Authors: Ridley Nick
Published: February 2025

This article opens by providing an overview of initial international reactions to the problem of combating terrorist financing in the post 9/11 environment. It then examines more recent obstacles to solving the problem including, finding agreement on definitions of terrorism and identifying terrorist activities among other criminal financial dealings, the later issue being the main focus of this paper.
Integrated Environment for the Enhancement of Security Sector Operations Training
Authors: Minchev Zlatogor  , Shalamanov Velizar
Published: February 2025

This paper considers an integrated environment for enhancing integrated security sector operations training (Basic low-cost Environment for Simulation and Training – BEST) and the challenges related to Security Sector Governance (SSG) in South East Europe (SEE) and the Wider Black Sea Area (WBSA). BEST was successfully implemented in the newly established Joint Training Simulation and Analysis Centre – Civil Security (JTSAC-CS) using the paradigm of serious gaming, e-learning and co-learning. JTSAC-CS capabilities in education and training via Computer Assisted Exercises (CAX) and Operational Analysis (OA) are presented in the context of BEST environment that also includes and quantitative measurement of the quality of training.
Assessing Military Student and Education Delivery Performance
Authors: Labarre Frederic
Published: February 2025

This article explores a method to reconcile student feedback for the learning activities and lecturing they received and the assessment of the students' performance by the teaching staff for the same activities, but in relation to the stated aims and learning levels. This requires the student and teaching staff to be aware of the learning objectives not only for planning purposes, but also for overall evaluation of education. This article shows the potential of this three way reconciliation, where the performance of the students can be matched with the learning levels and objectives, and the performance of the lecturing is also assessed by the students by the same standards.
Security, Governance and Security Sector Governance
Authors: Brzoska Michael
Published: February 2025

The understanding of security has recently moved away from national security to include the consideration of a larger number of threats and additional objects of security. In parallel, changes occurred in governing, with growing importance of norms and rules coming from outside of the state and multi-actor participation in decision making and implementation. These trends are also increasingly found in the making and implantation of policies for the security sector, resulting in a number of different forms of security sector governance. Globalization and growing demands for participation and legitimization of a wider set of political actors increasingly seem to require more comprehensive approaches to security sector governance which include a range of relevant domestic actors and orientation towards regional and global norms. Security sector education should reflect these trends.
Ultra-High Field 7T MRI: A New Tool for Studying Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Kerchner Geoffrey A.
Published: February 2025

Ultra-high field 7T MRI offers superior signal-to-noise and spatial resolution relative to any other noninvasive imaging technique. By revealing fine anatomical details of the living brain, 7T MRI allows neuroimaging researchers the opportunity to observe in patients disease-related structural changes previously apparent only on postmortem tissue analysis. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a natural subject for this technology, and I review here two AD-related applications of 7T MRI: direct visualization of cortical plaques, and high resolution hippocampal imaging. I also discuss limitations of this technology as well as expected advances that are likely to establish 7T MRI as an increasingly important tool for the diagnosis and tracking of AD.
Disease Tracking Markers for Alzheimer's Disease at the Prodromal (MCI) Stage
Authors: Drago Valeria  , Babiloni Claudio  , Bartrés-Faz David  , Caroli Anna  , Bosch Beatriz  , Hensch Tilman  , Didic Mira  , Klafki Hans-Wolfgang  , Pievani Michela  , Jovicich Jorge  , Venturi Luca  , Spitzer Philipp  , Vecchio Fabrizio  , Schoenknecht Peter  , Wiltfang Jans  , Redolfi Alberto  , Forloni Gianluigi  , Blin Olivier  , Irving Elaine  , Davis Ceri  , Hårdemark Hans-goran  , Frisoni Giovanni B.
Published: February 2025

Older persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) feature neurobiological Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in 50% to 70% of the cases and develop dementia within the next 5 to 7 years. Current evidence suggests that biochemical, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, and neuropsychological markers can track the disease over time since the MCI stage (also called prodromal AD). The amount of evidence supporting their validity is of variable strength. We have reviewed the current literature and categorized evidence of validity into three classes: Class A, availability of multiple serial studies; Class B a single serial study or multiple cross sectional studies of patients with increasing disease severity from MCI to probable AD; and class C, multiple cross sectional studies of patients in the dementia stage, not including the MCI stage. Several Class A studies suggest that episodic memory and semantic fluency are the most reliable neuropsychological markers of progression. Hippocampal atrophy, ventricular volume and whole brain atrophy are structural MRI markers with class A evidence. Resting-state fMRI and connectivity, and diffusion MR markers in the medial temporal white matter (parahippocampus and posterior cingulum) and hippocampus are promising but require further validation. Change in amyloid load in MCI patients warrant further investigations, e.g. over longer period of time, to assess its value as marker of disease progression. Several spectral markers of resting state EEG rhythms that might reflect neurodegenerative processes in the prodromal stage of AD (EEG power density, functional coupling, spectral coherence, and synchronization) suffer from lack of appropriately designed studies. Although serial studies on late event-related potentials (ERPs) in healthy elders or MCI patients are inconclusive, others tracking disease progression and effects of cholinesterase inhibiting drugs in AD, and cross-sectional including MCI or predicting development of AD offer preliminary evidence of validity as a marker of disease progression from the MCI stage. CSF Markers, such as Aβ1-42, t-tau and p-tau are valuable markers which support the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. However, these markers are not sensitive to disease progression and cannot be used to monitor the severity of Alzheimer's disease. For Isoprostane F2 some evidence exists that its increase correlates with the progression and the severity of AD.
Resting State Cortical Rhythms in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: Electroencephalographic Evidence
Authors: Babiloni Claudio  , Vecchio Fabrizio  , Lizio Roberta  , Ferri Raffaele  , Rodriguez Guido  , Marzano Nicola  , Frisoni Giovanni B.  , Rossini Paolo M.
Published: February 2025

Physiological brain aging is characterized by a combination of synaptic pruning, loss of cortico-cortical connections and neuronal apoptosis that provoke age-dependent decline of cognitive functions. Neural/synaptic redundancy and plastic remodeling of brain networking, also secondary to mental and physical training, promotes maintenance of brain activity in healthy elderly for everyday life and fully productive affective and intellectual capabilities. Unfortunately, in pathological situations, aging triggers neurodegenerative processes that impact on cognition, like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oscillatory electromagnetic brain activity is a hallmark of neuronal network function in various brain regions. Modern neurophysiological techniques including digital electroencephalography (EEG) allow non-invasive analysis of cortico-cortical connectivity and neuronal synchronization of firing, and coherence of brain rhythmic oscillations at various frequencies. The present review of field EEG literature suggests that discrimination between physiological and pathological brain aging clearly emerges at the group level, with some promising result on the informative value of EEG markers at the individual level. Integrated approaches utilizing neurophysiological techniques together with biological markers and structural and functional imaging are promising for large-scale, low-cost, widely available on the territory and non-invasive screening of at-risk populations.
Volumetry of the Olfactory Bulb and Tract: Relation to Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy and to Cognitive Performance in MCI and AD
Authors: Thomann Philipp A.  , Santos Vasco Dos  , Wüstenberg Torsten  , Seidl Ulrich  , Kaiser Elmar  , Toro Pablo  , Essig Marco  , Schröder Johannes
Published: February 2025

Neuropathological research consistently revealed that the olfactory bulb and tract (OBT) is subjected to degenerative processes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we assessed OBT volumes in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in patients with probable AD, and in healthy comparison subjects using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. In both MCI and AD patients OBT volumes were significantly lower compared to controls with atrophy being most prominent in the AD group. In the patient group, lower mean OBT volumes were associated with a decreased gray matter density in the MTL bilaterally. Further, OBT volumes in patients were significantly correlated with cognitive performance. Our findings suggest the OBT volume as a potentially useful marker of AD and MCI related neurodegeneration.
Short-Term Intensive Cognitive Rehabilitation in OEF/OIF Veterans – Applying the STEP Model
Authors: Cantor Joshua B.  , Gordon Wayne A.  , Dams-O'Connor Kristen  , Tsaousides Theodore
Published: February 2025

Among the most common and debilitating cognitive impairments after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is disruption of executive functions and related emotional and behavioral dysregulation. Executive dysfunction after TBI represents one of the most significant barriers to recovery, community reintegration, and return to duty in military personnel with TBI. Investigators at the Brain Injury Research Center of Mount Sinai (BIRC-MS) have developed two theoretically- and empirically-based intensive group cognitive rehabilitation interventions that combine three distinct types of training (attention, emotional regulation and problem solving): Executive Plus and Short Term Executive Plus (STEP). A federally funded randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effectiveness of Executive Plus was recently completed and an RCT of STEP is currently under way at the BIRC-MS. The proposed presentation will describe the methodology of these two RCTs. Preliminary findings from the Executive Plus study will be presented that treatment resulted in lasting benefits in the domains of self-efficacy, problem solving, attention, and quality of life even after treatment was withdrawn. In addition, MIL-STEP, a proposed adaptation of the model for treatment of veterans of OEF/OIF with TBI will be described.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans of Polish Military Contingents, Psychiatrically Hospitalized with Combat Related Stress Disorders
Authors: Ilnicki Stanisław  , Radzikowski Andrzej K.  , Wojtłowska-Wiechetek Dorota
Published: February 2025

In order to evaluate the occurrence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in participants of military operations outside of Poland suffering from combat-related stress disorders, treatment records of veterans of Polish Military Contingents (PMC) hospitalized in the Department of Psychiatry and Combat Stress (DP&CS) of the Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw were reviewed. During the period of 2006-2010, a total of 144 PMC veterans were hospitalized. Firstly, we excluded from this group: those with confirmed examination and observation of evident brain damage; those whose mental condition made it impossible to obtain a credible anamnesis; those who were serving at posts without direct contact with combat operations during deployment, and those who had received a head injury prior to the deployment or after deployment. Basing on the above-presented criteria, 18 patients have been eliminated from further examinations. Medical records of the remaining 126 were analyzed by means of Brief Traumatic Brain Injury Screen (BTBIS). The analysis conducted showed that 53 (42.1%) out of 126 patients evaluated had, at the deployment, one or more injuries caused by an external force directly related to combat operations. Patients with a positive result of BTBIS (mTBI) made up 20 out of 53 (37.7%) injured veterans.
Chapter 14: SillyNegoBot Architecture
Authors: Polberg Sylwia
Published: February 2025

This chapter describes the design of an architecture of a bot capable of playing the Diplomacy game, to be used within the dip framework—a testbed for multi-agent negotiations—created in the Spanish Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (IIIA). The proposed SillyNegoBot, is an extension of an earlier SillyBot. It is designed to be used in the “first level” negotiations taking place during the Diplomacy game.