Critical Aviation Information Systems

This chapter is devoted to developing formalization methods for identification and security objects of critical information infrastructure (CII) in civil aviation. The analysis of modern approaches to the CII identification was carried out that gave a possibility to determine weaknesses and to formalize a scientific researches task. As a result, the unified data model was developed for formalizing the process of a list of CII objects forming in certain field and at the state level. Moreover, the specialized technique was developed. Besides, the identification method was proposed, and it gives a possibility to determine elements of CII field, mutual influences, and influence on functional operations of critical aviation information system. Furthermore, special software was developed and implemented that can be useful for CII elements identification and also for determining its influences on functional operations. Also, the basic aspects of cybersecurity ensuring for identified critical aviation information system were described in this chapter.

Toxicity as a biogeochemical problem

<p>Most part of the existing encyclopedic dictionaries and reference books define the notion of “toxic substances” as a certain group of elements and compounds capable of significantly worsening the physiological state of organism. With development of civilization the amount and variety of such substances is steadily increasing. The process is accompanied by a growing list of diseases of geochemical origin. Now the main efforts are focused on minimizing the consumption of the so-called toxicants although almost the whole world population is practically subjected to their impact. The prevailing inductive-empirical approach towards solution of the problem of toxicity, of course, gives useful results, but leads to an economically unacceptable increase in costs of its realization and, moreover, due to a specific spatial and temporal variability of the controlled objects the effective application of MPC (TLV) standards is significantly reduced.</p><p>The mentioned approach dominates but it does not exclude a deductive decision capable of providing the general solution of the problems of this class without a significant loss of accuracy and address capacity of the results. Such a solution can be found on the basis of theoretical biogeochemistry. Performed analysis enabled to draw to the following important inferences.</p><ol><li>Objectively “toxic” elements or compounds existed neither in the initial biosphere nor in modern noosphere, there existed only toxic concentrations.</li> <li>Diseases of a geochemical nature can be caused not only by toxic excess concentration of elements or substances but may also result from an artificial deficiency due to strict following of MPC prescriptions.</li> <li>The final result of the ecological and geochemical impact on living organisms is determined by specificity of spatial interference of the geochemical fields of natural and technogenic genesis.</li> <li>The problem of creating a universal algorithm for assessing the ecological and geochemical quality of the territory can be reduced to fixation of the difference between the ideal and the observed state of the environment.</li> </ol><p>The proposed approach does not have obvious contraindications, and the achieved level of development in measuring elements and compounds as well as that of computer technology makes it possible to practically implement the creation of a specialized technique.</p><p>A unique opportunity to test the hypothesis presented has appeared after the Chernobyl disaster, when the geochemical field of stable <sup>127</sup>I has been shortly overlain by the field of the technogenic radioactive <sup>131</sup>I.</p><p>Application of this approach opens up a new path to eliminating diseases of a geochemical nature and in the future will allow the creation of specialized decision-making systems for the safe organization of territories, the formation of the strategy an environmental-geochemical regulation and the prevention of microelementoses.</p>

Holographic measurement of surface acoustic wave parameters in crystals

The theoretical basis of a specialized technique for applying digital holographic interferometry to measure the parameters of surface acoustic waves is presented, a measuring system for visualization and quantitative analysis of the parameters of ultralow-amplitude high-frequency oscillations arising in electronic devices using surface acoustic waves is developed, and experimental results of the study of surface acoustic waves in crystals of lithium niobate are obtained. In this case, to ensure the possibility of recording precision double-exposure interferograms of high-frequency surface acoustic waves, a picosecond pulsed laser with two-stage frequency multiplication was used as a radiation source, and to increase the spatial resolution of the system with the possibility of observing a wide field of view, an adjustable optical zoom of the incoming image was applied to the matrix input (based on charge-coupled devices) of the recording camera and digital zoom was used for obtained interferogram. We achieved the measuring sensitivity of the surface acoustic waves amplitude and spatial-temporal resolution allowing visualization and measurement of surface acoustic waves with amplitudes of the order of 1 nm and frequencies of the order of 10 MHz, which is far beyond the capabilities of standard methods of holographic interferometry.

Symmetry-Breaking Constraints for Grid-Based Multi-Agent Path Finding

We describe a new way of reasoning about symmetric collisions for Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) on 4-neighbor grids. We also introduce a symmetry-breaking constraint to resolve these conflicts. This specialized technique allows us to identify and eliminate, in a single step, all permutations of two currently assigned but incompatible paths. Each such permutation has exactly the same cost as a current path, and each one results in a new collision between the same two agents. We show that the addition of symmetry-breaking techniques can lead to an exponential reduction in the size of the search space of CBS, a popular framework for MAPF, and report significant improvements in both runtime and success rate versus CBSH and EPEA* – two recent and state-of-the-art MAPF algorithms.

Critical Aviation Information Systems

This chapter is devoted to developing formalization methods for identification and security objects of critical information infrastructure (CII) in civil aviation. The analysis of modern approaches to the CII identification was carried out that gave a possibility to determine weaknesses and to formalize a scientific researches task. As a result, the unified data model was developed for formalizing the process of a list of CII objects forming in certain field and at the state level. Moreover, the specialized technique was developed. Besides, the identification method was proposed, and it gives a possibility to determine elements of CII field, mutual influences, and influence on functional operations of critical aviation information system. Furthermore, special software was developed and implemented that can be useful for CII elements identification and also for determining its influences on functional operations. Also, the basic aspects of cybersecurity ensuring for identified critical aviation information system were described in this chapter.

Evaluating the Performance of Functionalized Carbon Structures with Integrated Optical Fiber Sensors under Practical Conditions

An Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) based fiber optic sensor scheme “embedded” in concrete for the purpose of structural health monitoring (SHM) of carbon concrete composites (C3) is presented. The design, while strengthening the concrete structure, also aims to monitor common SHM parameters such as strain and cracks. This was achieved by weaving the carbon fiber together with optical fiber, based on a specialized technique that uses an embroidery setup where both the carbon and optical fiber are woven on a water dissolvable polymer substrate. The performance of the sensing scheme was characterized in-situ utilizing the OFDR based technique and the results presented. The sensors embedded on a custom made concrete block were subjected to varying strain via a three point bending test to destruction and the results discussed. The intended dual-achievement of the scheme thus proposed in SHM and strengthening the C3 is demonstrated. The suitability of the OFDR scheme for C3 is combined with a fibre Bragg grating (FBG)-based approach, and discussed in detail.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery: Development, Technique, and Applications in Cutaneous Malignancies

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a specialized technique for treating skin malignancies that offers the highest cure rate by allowing histological evaluation of the entire peripheral and deep margins. MMS also maximally preserves as much uninvolved, normal adjacent tissue as possible, allowing for the best cosmetic and functional outcomes. When used for appropriate indications, this technique is also more cost-effective than other treatment modalities. In this article, the authors will discuss the development of MMS, the steps involved in this procedure, and the indications for this technique. They will also review the use of MMS for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma in situ, and some less common skin malignancies.

Investigating a Die Quench Cracking Problem in 52100 Steel Bearing Rings With Computer Simulation

Quenching using a press with controlled die loads, commonly referred to as press quenching, is a specialized technique used to minimize distortion of critical components such as gears and high quality bearing races. Improper press load magnitudes or timing of the load application may restrict part movement during quenching to the point of imposing stresses that cause cracking, especially in a common bearing steel such as AISI 52100, high carbon, high strength steel. This paper applies a finite element based heat treat simulation tool, DANTE®, to investigate the sensitivity of cracking to press quenching process parameters. The typical method for designing a press quench process to control flatness, out-of-round, and taper is by experience coupled with trial-and-error. This is accomplished by adjusting oil flow rates, flow directions, die loads, and the timing of die loads. Metallurgical phase transformations occur during the quenching process as austenite transforms to martensite and possibly to diffusive phases. Thermal contraction due to cooling and volumetric expansion due to the phase changes therefore occur simultaneously during the heat treating process. A constantly changing stress state is present in the part, and improperly applied die loads, oil flow or oil flow rate can add additional stress to result in cracking. An inconsistent cracking problem in an AISI 52100 bearing ring was evaluated using production trials, but the process statistics were not conclusive in identifying the source of the problem. Heat treatment process modeling using DANTE was used to investigate the effects of quench rate, die load pulsing, and several other process variables to determine how these parameters impact the resulting stresses generated during the press quenching operation.

Technical recommendations for the use of carotid duplex ultrasound for the assessment of extracranial blood flow

Duplex ultrasound is an evolving technology that allows the assessment of volumetric blood flow in the carotid and vertebral arteries during a range of interventions along the spectrum of health and chronic disease. Duplex ultrasound can provide high-resolution diameter and velocity information in real-time and is noninvasive with minimal risks or contraindications. However, this ultrasound approach is a specialized technique requiring intensive training and stringent control of multiple complex settings; results are highly operator-dependent, and analysis approaches are inconsistent. Importantly, therefore, methodological differences can invalidate comparisons between different imaging modalities and studies; such methodological errors have potential to discredit study findings completely. The task of this review is to provide the first comprehensive, user-friendly technical guideline for the application of duplex ultrasound in measuring extracranial blood flow in human research. An update on recent developments in the use of edge-detection software for offline analysis is highlighted, and suggestions for future directions in this field are provided. These recommendations are presented in an attempt to standardize measurements across research groups and, hence, ultimately to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of measuring extracranial blood flow both within subjects and between groups.

Clinical and dermoscopic features of keratinizing skin tumors in BRAFi-treated patients.

e19052 Background: Development of keratinizing skin tumors (KST), including squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), keratoacanthomas (KA) and verrucae (warts), are common in patients receiving BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi), including vemurafenib (V), XL281 (X) and GSK211846 (G). Dermoscopy is a specialized technique for examining skin lesions. While the clinical characteristics of these lesions are well known, the dermoscopic morphology remains to be elucidated. Methods: Patients on V, X or G who developed biopsy-proven KSTs were included in the study. Clinical and dermoscopic images of the KSTs were evaluated to determine the clinical and dermoscopic features. Frequent and reproducible structures were identified. P values were calculated based on Fisher's exact test. Results: 44 lesions (8 SCC/KAs, 36 verrucae) were identified in 21 patients. Clinically, SCC/KAs presented as scaly papules (75%) or plaques (25%) with a central scale/crust (63%), erythematous halo (63%) and/or scaly rim (63%). Verrucae presented as papules (97%) with an erythematous halo (50%). Dermoscopically, keratinizing pearls were exclusive to the SCC/KAs and keratin “petals”, “domes” or horns were seen exclusively in verrucae (Table). In the verrucae, thrombosed vessels were often observed within keratin structures; vs. vessels seen in the SCC/KAs, which were mainly located outside the keratin, around the center or in the base of the tumor. Conclusions: Although KSTs secondary to BRAFi do not result in drug discontinuation, they can affect dosing and quality of life. The dermoscopic features described herein may aid in the differentiation of benign vs. malignant lesions, with keratinizing pearls appearing to be unique to SCC/KAs. Management strategies for BRAFi KSTs may be tailored based on dermoscopic findings, with more conservative treatment for verrucae vs. SCC/KAs, which may decrease morbidity and cost. [Table: see text]