196,615 research outputs found
Introduction: Technology and International Relations – The New Frontier in Global Power
No full textThe chapter introduces how changes in advanced technology deeply affect international politics, this book theoretically engages with the overriding relevance of investments in technological research, and the ways in which they directly foster a country’s economic and military standing. The scholars and practitioners in the volume present important insights on the technical and social issues at the core of technology competition. The Introduction to Technology and International Relations emphasizes the importance of leadership styles, domestic political agendas and the relative weight of technologically driven countries in global affairs. It highlights the now widely shared belief among both developed and developing countries that technology will be the defining factor in international politics. The book also unpacks the complexity of real-life cases of key technological advances, including artificial intelligence, UAVs, satellites and the responses of governments and the private sector to rising technological challenges
Mechanism of the Cassie-Wenzel transition via the atomistic and continuum string methods
No full textThe string method is a general and flexible strategy to compute the most probable transition path for an activated process (rare event). We apply here the atomistic string method in the density field to the Cassie-Wenzel transition, a central problem in the field of superhydrophobicity. We discuss in detail the mechanism of wetting of a submerged hydrophobic cavity of nanometer size and its dependence on the geometry of the cavity. Furthermore, we analyze the algorithmic analogies between the continuum “interface” string method and CREaM [Giacomello et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 226102 (2012)], a method inspired by the string that allows for a faster and simpler computation of the mechanism and of the free-energy profiles of the wetting process
A perfect storm: privatization, public–private partnership and the security of critical infrastructure
No full textThis chapter analyzes the conjuncture of three events, originated in business efficiency, that have led to greater potential weaknesses of critical information infrastructures (CII). Modern societies depend on assets called “critical infrastructures”, which include financial services, energy, transportation, telecommunications, water supply, medical services, public administration, and so on. When these systems and utilities are operated, managed and/or controlled via computer networks, they become critical information infrastructures. The first event was the “internetization” of data-gathering and remote management of industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA) allowed businesses world wide to cut personnel costs and reduce time management. The second was the “privatization wave” of the 1980s, when, following the example of the United States, utilities were privatized in Europe and elsewhere, under the conviction that the private sector could be more efficient in delivering the same services. Finally, the emergence of transnational public–private partnerships (PPP) in the ownership, accountability, and governance of utilities and critical infrastructures further enlarged the sectors of CII and magnify the inherent vulnerabilities brought about by the “privatization wave”. In the end, the decision to “go private” for public utilities as CII hardly took into account what consequences such move could have had in terms of cybersecurity
Analisi statistica dei fattori che contribuiscono allo sviluppo umano: l’esperienza di alcuni Paesi asiatici e africani a confronto
No full textPredominant ortho-substitution in the gas-phase attack of the tert-butyl cation on m-xylene
No full textThe gas-phase attack of radiolytically formed t-butyl cation on m-xylene yields over 65% of the 1,3-dimethyl-4-t-butyl isomer under conditions favouring kinetic control of products, while a significant proportion of 1,3-dimethyl-5-t-butylbenzene is formed as the pressure is lowered from 760 to 20 Torr
An improved viscosimetric assay for vertebrate collagenase activity.
No full textAn improved viscosimetric assay for vertebrate collagenase acitivity is described. The assay is carried out at 35 degrees C in the presence of 1 M glucose to prevent fibril formation. The decrease in viscosity is linear with ime and proportional to enzyme concentration
Reactions of "free" methyl cations with aromatic substrates. A study of their attack on tert-butylbenzene in the gaseous and liquid phase.
No full textThe Information Society and the Danger of Cyberterrorism
No full textThe chapter analyzes the impact of terrorism, or better cyberterrorism, on modern societies, which are dependent of critical infrastructures, and wha consequences could arise from this state of affairs
Temporal dynamics of membrane contact sites
No full textCell behaviour changes temporally in response to environmental and metabolic cues. This also applies to membrane contact sites (MCSs), where organelles come into close proximity to perform specific functions, such as lipid transfer or calcium signalling. Here, we discuss how MCSs change over time and whether MCSs exhibit circadian rhythmicity
Energy harvesting from flutter instabilities of heavy flags in water through ionic polymer metal composites
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