A Stackelberg game model for resource allocation in cargo container security

This paper presents a game theoretic model that analyzes resource allocation strategies against an adaptive adversary to secure cargo container transportation. The defender allocates security resources that could interdict an unauthorized weapon insertion inside a container. The attacker observes the defender’s security strategy and chooses a site to insert the weapon. The attacker’s goal is to maximize the probability that the weapon reaches its target. The basic model includes a single container route. The results in the basic model suggest that in equilibrium the defender should maintain an equal level of physical security at each site on the cargo container’s route. Furthermore, the equilibrium levels of resources to interdict the weapon overseas increase as a function of the attacker’s capability to detonate the weapon remotely at a domestic seaport. Investment in domestic seaport security is highly sensitive to the attacker’s remote detonation capability as well. The general model that includes multiple container routes suggests that there is a trade-off between the security of foreign seaports and the physical security of sites including container transfer facilities, container yards, warehouses and truck rest areas. The defender has the flexibility to shift resources between non-intrusive inspections at foreign seaports and physical security of other sites on the container route. The equilibrium is also sensitive to the cost effectiveness of security investments.     

Pattern discrete and mixed Hit-and-Run for global optimization

We develop new Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers for neighborhood generation in global optimization algorithms based on Hit-and-Run. The success of Hit-and-Run as a sampler on continuous domains motivated Discrete Hit-and-Run with random biwalk for discrete domains. However, the potential for efficiencies in the implementation, which requires a randomization at each move to create the biwalk, lead us to a different approach that uses fixed patterns in generating the biwalks. We define Sphere and Box Biwalks that are pattern-based and easily implemented for discrete and mixed continuous/discrete domains. The pattern-based Hit-and-Run Markov chains preserve the convergence properties of Hit-and-Run to a target distribution. They also converge to continuous Hit-and-Run as the mesh of the discretized variables becomes finer, approaching a continuum. Moreover, we provide bounds on the finite time performance for the discrete cases of Sphere and Box Biwalks. We embed our samplers in an Improving Hit-and-Run global optimization algorithm and test their performance on a number of global optimization test problems.     

Information and preference reversals in lotteries

Several approaches have been proposed for evaluating information in expected utility theory. Among the most popular approaches are the expected utility increase, the selling price and the buying price. While the expected utility increase and the selling price always agree in ranking information alternatives, Hazen and Sounderpandian [11] have demonstrated that the buying price may not always agree with the other two. That is, in some cases, where the expected utility increase would value information A more highly than information B, the buying price may reverse these preferences. In this paper, we discuss the conditions under which all these approaches agree in a generic decision environment where the decision maker may choose to acquire arbitrary information bundles.     

Convex graph invariant relaxations for graph edit distance

Mathematical Programming - The edit distance between two graphs is a widely used measure of similarity that evaluates the smallest number of vertex and edge deletions/insertions required to...     

Fabrication of bimetallic Pt/Pd nanoparticles on 2-thiolbenzimidazole functionalized reduced graphene oxide for methanol oxidation

In this study, an electrocatalyst based on 2-thiolbenzimidazole (TBI) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with platinum and palladium nanoparticles (Pt-PdNPs) was synthesized. The successful synthesis of nanomaterials and the prepared glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces were confirmed by transmission electron microscope, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction method. The effective surface areas of TBIrGO/GCE, PdNPs/TBIrGO/GCE, PtNPs/TBIrGO/GCE and Pt-PdNPs/TBIrGO/GCE were calculated to be 324, 578, 667 and 1189 cm²/mg, respectively. According to the results, the electrochemical surface area of the Pt-PdNPs/TBIrGO is 3.67, 2.06 and 1.78 times higher than those of TBIrGO, PdNPs/TBIrGO and PtNPs/TBIrGO, respectively. The Pt-PdNPs/TBIrGO/GCE also exhibited higher peak current for methanol oxidation than those of comparable TBIrGO/GCE, PdNPs/TBIrGO/GCE, PtNPs/TBIrGO/GCE modified GCEs, thus providing evidence for its higher electro-catalytic activity.     

Genotypic variability for carbon isotope discrimination in the mutant and improved lines of barley

Drought tolerance is an important breeding objective in dry and semi-dry conditions. Carbon isotope discrimination (Delta) is a tool that may be used to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) as an indirect selection criterion. The study investigated the variability for Delta in improved F7 lines and their parents (three cultivars and two mutant lines), which were sampled randomly from an F6 nursery performing well under semi-dry conditions. In total, 40 entries were grown in sand culture, arranged in three-replicated randomized complete block designs in two sets of experiments in Antalya, Turkey. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.01) among genotypes in both sets of experiments for Delta, and Delta values range from 20.14 to 21.86. Low coefficient of variation (C.V.) values, i.e. 2 and 1.65 %, for both data sets revealed efficient control of experimental error for Delta and indicated little effect of environment. Consequently, broad-sense heritability estimates for Delta were 0.63 and 0.74. As Delta showed a considerably high heritability and consistency over the two sets of experiments and low C.V. values, it was concluded that this trait could be used in breeding programmes aimed at developing drought tolerance lines. The early heading mutant, M-K-88, and the cultivar selected from land race, Tokak 157-37, showed lowest Delta values, indicating that they had the best water-use efficiency. Low Delta values of these two genotypes were inheritable.     

Human Papilloma Virus-11 DNA Detection by Graphene-PAMAM Modified Impedimetric CRISPR-dCas9 Biosensor

Human Papilloma Virus-11 (HPV-11) is leads to condylomata acuminata (CA), which has commonly known as genital wards that global widespread incidence of 160 to 289 cases per year. In the first-time literature, we detect HPV-11 DNA by using dCas9 modified graphene oxide-PAMAM modified electrodes, impedimetrically. Chronoimpedimetric detection was facilitated the biosensor response time optimization of HPV-11 DNA in 5 minutes. The biosensor has ability to analyze HPV-11 DNA between 50 pM and 1000 pM with good linearity, sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, we tested our biosensor in real samples matrix by considering recovery of the samples.     

Nano-Impact Single-Entity Electrochemistry Enables Plasmon-Enhanced Electrocatalysis**

Plasmon-enhanced electrocatalysis (PEEC), based on a combination of localized surface plasmon resonance excitation and an electrochemical bias applied to a plasmonic material, can result in improved electrical-to-chemical energy conversion compared to conventional electrocatalysis. Here, we demonstrate the advantages of nano-impact single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) for investigating the intrinsic activity of plasmonic catalysts at the single-particle level using glucose electrooxidation and oxygen reduction on gold nanoparticles as model reactions. We show that in conventional ensemble measurements, plasmonic effects have minimal impact on photocurrents. We suggest that this is due to the continuous equilibration of the Fermi level (E_F) of the deposited gold nanoparticles with the E_F of the working electrode, leading to fast neutralization of hot carriers by the measuring circuit. The photocurrents detected in the ensemble measurements are primarily caused by photo-induced heating of the supporting electrode material. In SEE, the E_F of suspended gold nanoparticles is unaffected by the working electrode potential. As a result, plasmonic effects are the dominant source of photocurrents under SEE experimental conditions.     

Synthesis,Spectral, Thermal Studies of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)‐arginato Complexes. Crystal Structure of Monoaquabis(arginato‐κO,κN)copper(II). [Cu(arg)2(H2O)].NaNO3

Transition metal complexes of arginine (using Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) cations separately) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, TG/DTA‐DrTG, UV‐Vis spectroscopy and elemental analysis methods. Cu(II)‐Arg complex crystals was found suitable for x‐ray diffraction studies. It was contained, one mole Cu^II and Na⁺ ions, two arginate ligands, one coordinated aqua ligand and one solvent NO₃^? group in the asymmetric unit. The principle coordination sites of metal atom have been occupied by two N atoms of arginate ligands, two carboxylate O atoms, while the apical site was occupied by one O atom for Cu^II cation and two O atoms for Co^II, Ni^II, Zn^II atoms of aqua ligands. Although Cu^II ion adopts a square pyramidal geometry of the structure. Co^II, Ni^II, Zn^II cations have octahedral due to coordination number of these metals. Neighbouring chains were linked together to form a three‐dimensional network via hydrogen‐bonding between coordinated water molecule, amino atoms and O atoms of the bridging carboxylate groups. Cu^II complex was crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁, a = 8.4407(5) Å, b = 12.0976(5) Å, c = 10.2448(6) Å, V = 1041.03(10) ų, Z = 2. Structures of the other metal complexes were similar to CuII complex, because of their spectroscopic studies have in agreement with each other. Copper complex has shown DNA like helix chain structure. Lastly, anti‐bacterial, anti‐microbial and anti‐fungal biological activities of complexes were investigated.