Are agency and responsibility solely ascribable to humans? The advent of artificial intelligence (AI), including the development of so-called “affective computing,” appears to be chipping away at the traditional building blocks of moral agency and responsibility. Spurred by the realization that fully autonomous, self-aware, even rational and emotionally-intelligent computer systems may emerge in the future, professionals in engineering and computer science have historically been the most vocal to warn of the ways in which such systems may alter our understanding of computer ethics. Despite the increasing attention of many philosophers and ethicists to the development of AI, there continues to exist a fair amount of conceptual muddiness on the conditions for assigning agency and responsibility to such systems, from both an ethical and a legal perspective. Moral and legal philosophies may overlap to a high degree, but are neither interchangeable nor identical. This paper attempts to clarify the actual and hypothetical ethical and legal situations governing a very particular type of advanced, or “intelligent,” computer system: medical decision support systems (MDSS) that feature AI in their system design. While it is well-recognized that MDSS can be categorized by type and function, further categorization of their mediating effects on users and patients is needed in order to even begin ascribing some level of moral or legal responsibility. I conclude that various doctrines of Anglo legal systems appear to allow for the possibility of assigning specific types of agency – and thus specific types of legal responsibility – to some types of MDSS. Strong arguments for assigning moral agency and responsibility are still lacking, however.

As organizações públicas e privadas são constantemente expostas a fatores internos e externos, que podem comprometer sua estabilidade diante das oscilações da economia e dos concorrentes. Nestas empresas, os tomadores de decisão são essenciais para analisar e avaliar todas as variáveis que envolvem estes fatores, com o objetivo de identificar o melhor caminho para os negócios. Entretanto, conseguir gerenciar os dados internos e externos à organização não é uma atividade simples. Neste contexto, os Sistemas de Suporte à Decisão (SSD) tornaram-se fundamentais para auxiliar os tomadores de decisão na solução de problemas mal estruturados ou sem nenhuma estruturação. Porém, a complexidade que envolve os projetos de implantação ou desenvolvimento de um SSD, geralmente compromete a efetividade dos testes que garantem a conformidade do sistema em relação às especificações previamente definidas. Uma solução para esse problema é considerar os atributos ou fatores de testabilidade nestes projetos, pois podem elevar o grau de eficácia e eficiência da atividade de teste e consequentemente contribuírem para redução do tempo e custos do projeto. Portanto, conseguir identificar esses atributos ou fatores que tenham influência na testabilidade dos SSD e algum método que permita analisar e avaliar o quanto estão presentes neste sistema, é essencial para aumentar a qualidade do sistema. Diante desta necessidade, este trabalho investigou e selecionou os principais fatores que podem influenciar no grau de testabilidade de um software e propôs um método para analisar e avaliar o quanto o SSD está considerando esses fatores em sua arquitetura. Com o objetivo de avaliar e validar o método de análise e avaliação, foram realizados testes de aplicabilidade em empresas de pequeno, médio e grande porte, bem como no meio acadêmico. Com os resultados obtidos nos testes, foi possível concluir que o método é específico para SSD, que pode ser usado como um guia durante o processo de desenvolvimento e auxiliar na classificação de SSD quanto a sua testabilidade. / Public and private organizations are constantly exposed to internal and external factors which could compromise their stability in the face of fluctuations in the economy and competitors. In these companies, decision makers are essential to analyze and evaluate all the variables regarding these factors, in order to identify the best way for business. However, managing internal and external data of the organization is not a simple activity. In this context, Decision Support Systems (DSS) have become essential to assist decision makers in solving unstructured problems or lock of structure. However, the complexity involved in the implementation of projects or development of a DSS usually compromises the effectiveness of tests that ensure compliance of the system in relation to previously defined specifications. One solution to this problem is to consider the attributes or testability factors in these projects, since they can raise the level of effectiveness and efficiency of testing activity and thus contribute to reducing the time and project costs. Therefore, the ability to identify these attributes or factors that influence testability of DSS and a process for analyzing and evaluating how much the present in this system, is essential to increase system quality. Given this need, this work investigated and selected the main factors that can influence the degree of testability of software and proposed a way to analyze and assess how the DSS is considering these factors in its architecture. In order to evaluate and validate the analysis and evaluation method, applicability tests were performed in small, medium and large companies, as well as in academy. As results obtained in the tests, it was concluded that the method is specific for DSS, which can be used as a guide during the development process and assist in the DSS classification regarding its testability.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2016-06-22T16:10:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertacao_SinndyDayanaRicoLugo_2016.pdf: 3067162 bytes, checksum: bf4e6bc8fdefc54a21c8315582de00a1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-22T16:10:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertacao_SinndyDayanaRicoLugo_2016.pdf: 3067162 bytes, checksum: bf4e6bc8fdefc54a21c8315582de00a1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-01 / CNPQ / A determinação dos requerimentos de materiais nas Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs) cujo ambiente de produção é do tipo Job Shop, tem sido categorizado na literatura como um problema devido ao complexo processo de tomada de decisões subjacente, gerado pela grande quantidade de variáveis no sistema de fabricação, aos níveis de apropriação de tecnologias da informação e às características dos modelos e das ferramentas que atualmente encontram-se disponíveis. Dentro deste contexto, uma solução fundamentada em um modelo de decisão multicritério foi proposta, incluindo a execução do processo de elicitação das preferências do decisor, e suportada na geração de um Sistema de Apoio à Decisão (SAD) de ambiente Web. Ao longo deste trabalho é apresentada a caracterização das etapas de construção do modelo, os pontos relevantes para a escolha do Modelo Aditivo como base, as melhorias feitas ao processo de elicitação, e o detalhamento da interação do software desenvolvido com o processo decisório de determinação de requerimentos de matérias primas. Apresenta-se também a aplicação do modelo em algumas empresas do tipo PME, realizando uma análise comparativa entre os resultados esperados e os obtidos com o uso da ferramenta SAD e recolhendo todos os comentários dos decisores, com a finalidade de caracterizar, em um ambiente de fábrica real, os prós, contras e possíveis melhorias do modelo proposto. Todas as aplicações foram realizadas em duas fases: na primeira o decisor usou o SAD de forma isolada, sem o acompanhamento da analista com o intuito de obter uma visão totalmente externa; e na segunda o decisor usou o software com o acompanhamento direto da analista tendo como objetivo a interatividade e a troca de conhecimentos. A execução da primeira fase proporcionou informação relevante de como os decisores se sentem em relação às perguntas da elicitação de preferências, à linguagem usada, aos gráficos e às demais características desenvolvidas no aplicativo, concluindo que não contar com um analista obriga ao decisor a pensar cuidadosamente nas suas respostas e a ler detalhadamente as instruções. A segunda fase permitiu aos decisores maior compreensão do processo de elicitação e principalmente, em relação ao uso do SAD na etapa da analise de sensibilidade. Adicionalmente, apresenta-se a proposta de um segundo modelo baseado em outras teorias de decisão multicritério, Teoria de Utilidade Multiatributo (MAUT por sua sigla em inglês) e Utilidade Rank Dependente (RDU por sua sigla em inglês), com a diferença de que a ferramenta SAD foi testada com dados reais de única empresa. Assim, os resultados da aplicação deste modelo mostram diferenças substanciais entre utilizar o método clássico da Utilidade Esperada (EU em inglês) e usar a RDU; enquanto que diferenças menores, mas também relevantes, foram encontradas entre elicitar a função peso da probabilidade e usar os valores dos parâmetros sugeridos comumente na literatura com base em estudos comportamentais / Determining the requirements of materials in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), whose production environment is Job Shop type, has been categorized in the literature as a problem caused by the complex underlying decision-making process, generated by the large number of variables in the manufacturing system, the appropriation levels of information technology and the characteristics of the models and tools that currently are available. Within this framework, a solution based on a multi-criteria decision model was proposed, including the execution of the elicitation process of decision maker's preferences, and supported in the generation of a decision support system (DSS) Web based. Throughout this document presents the characterization of model building steps, relevant points for choosing the Additive Model as a base, improvements made to the elicitation process and details of interaction within the software developed and the decision-making process of raw material requirements determination. It presents also the application of the model in some companies of type SME, performing a comparative analysis between expected results and those obtained using the SAD tool and compiling all the comments of decision-makers, in order to characterize, in environment real factory, the pros, cons and possible improvements of the proposed model. All applications were done in two phases: first the decision maker used the SAD in isolation, without the accompaniment of the analyst in order to get a fully external view; and in the second the decision maker used the software with analyst's direct monitoring aiming to the interaction and exchange of knowledge. The implementation of the first phase provided relevant information about how the decision-makers feel in relation to the preferences elicitation questions, to the language used, to the graphics and to other features developed in the application, concluding that if there is not an analyst, the decision maker has to think carefully in their responses and thoroughly reads the instructions. The second phase offered to decision-makers greater understanding of the elicitation process and especially regarding the use of the SAD in the sensitivity analysis step. In addition, a second model based on other theories of multi-criteria decision (Multi-attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) and Rank Dependent Utility (RDU)) was presented, with the difference that the SAD tool was tested with real data of only one company. Thus, the results of applying this model show substantial differences between using the classic method of Expected Utility (EU) and use RDU; while minor differences, but also relevant, were found between eliciting the probability weighting function and using the values of the parameters commonly suggested in the literature based on behavioral studies.

As doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII) são causadas por desequilíbrio entre as respostas imunes efetoras e reguladoras na mucosa intestinal e podem ser moduladas pelo eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal (HPA) por meio de interações neuroimunoendócrinas e secreção de cortisol. Embora os glicocorticóides (GC) sejam utilizados para tratar a DII, o cortisol produzido pelas glândulas supra-renais também está envolvido na resposta ao estresse, que pode levar a doenças inflamatórias descontroladas. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a participação do eixo HPA na modulação da resposta imune de mucosa intestinal. Para tal, camundongos C57BL/6 foram submetidos à remoção das glândulas adrenais seguida por indução de colite pela administração de água contendo 3% de dextran sulfato de sódio (DSS). Os resultados demonstraram que a ausência das adrenais levou à maior suscetibilidade à doença e mortalidade precoce, fenômeno que não foi prevenido pela reposição de GC. Os animais adrenalectomizados com colite apresentaram níveis significativamente menores de LPS, concomitantemente ao aumento de IL-6 no soro quando comparados aos camundongos não adrenalectomizados. Além disso, os animais adrenalectomizados apresentaram menor celularidade na lâmina própria (LP), menos áreas de erosão e menor escore histopatológico associado ao aumento de IFN-? e FasL, no intestino, sem produção local compensatória de corticosterona. Houve aumento na atividade das enzimas mieloperoxidase (MPO), N- acetilglicosaminidase (NAG) e eosinófilo-peroxidase (EPO) no intestino dos animais expostos ao DSS quando comparados ao grupo de camundongos controles saudáveis, independentemente da presença do eixo HPA intacto e o tratamento com GC nos animais adrenalectomizados levou à redução significativa da atividade de MPO. Também foi observado na LP dos camundongos adrenalectomizados aumento significativo na frequência de células dendríticas tolerogênicas CD11b+CD11c+CD103+, T auxiliares (CD3+CD4+), T citolíticas (CD3+CD8+) e NKT (CD3+CD49b+), além de redução significativa da população de células dendríticas pró-inflamatórias CD11b+CD11c+CD103-, leucócitos CD11b+ e linfócitos intra-epiteliais, de maneira dependente de GC. A ausência do eixo HPA intacto levou à diminuição de leucócitos totais no baço quando comparados ao grupo com colite, relacionada principalmente à redução significativa na frequência de células NKT (CD3+CD49b+), as quais foram restauradas nos camundongos tratados com GC exógenos. Durante a exposição ao DSS houve aumento de células Th2 e Th1 no baço dos camundongos não adrenalectomizados, enquanto que a remoção das adrenais levou a notável redução na população de células T CD4 produtoras de IL-4, IL-10, IFN-? ou IL-17, com aumento de células Th17 e diminuição significativa de células Th1 no baço dos camundongos adrenalectomizados e tratados com GC. De forma interessante, houve menor acúmulo de células T reguladoras juntamente à redução na intensidade média de fluorescência (MFI) de FOXP3 em células T CD4+CD25+ do baço dos camundongos adrenalectomizados expostos ao DSS, de maneira geral dependente de GC. Por fim, esta diminuição de mecanismos reguladores foi acompanhada de menor índice de proliferação e aumento de IL-10 no sobrenadante de cultura de esplenócitos de camundongos com o eixo HPA não ii funcional, indicando que a ausência de GC endógenos pode alterar significativamente a homeostase do sistema imunológico. Juntos, nossos resultados demonstram que o eixo HPA é importante na modulação da resposta imunológica durante a colite induzida experimentalmente / Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are caused by imbalance between regulatory and effector immune responses in the intestinal mucosa and can be modulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis via neuroimmune endocrine interactions and secretion of cortisol. Although glucocorticoids (GC) are used to treat IBD, cortisol produced by the adrenals glands is also involved in the stress response, which can lead to uncontrolled inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the HPA axis in the modulation of the immune response of intestinal mucosa. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to removal of the adrenal glands followed by induction of colitis by administration of water containing 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The results showed that the absence of adrenals led to increased susceptibility to disease and early mortality, a phenomenon that was not prevented by GC replacement. Adrenalectomized animals exposed to DSS had significantly lower levels of LPS, concomitantly to increased IL-6 in the serum when compared to non-adrenalectomized mice. In addition, adrenalectomized animals had lower cellularity in the lamina propria (LP), less erosion areas and less histopathologic score associated with increased IFN-? and FasL in the intestine, without compensatory local production of corticosterone. There was an increase in the activity of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme, N- acetilglicosaminidase (NAG) and eosinophil-peroxidase (EPO) in the intestines of DSS-exposed animals when compared to the healthy control group of mice, regardless of the presence of intact HPA axis, while treatment with GC led to significantly reduced MPO activity. It was also observed in the LP of adrenalectomized mice significant increase in the frequency of tolerogenic dendritic cells CD11b+CD11c+CD103+, helper T (CD3+ CD4+), cytolytic T (CD3+ CD8+) and NKT (CD3+ CD49b+) besides significant reduction in the population of pro-inflammatory dendritic cells CD11c+ CD11b+ CD103-, leukocyte CD11b+ and intraepithelial lymphocytes, GC-dependent manner. The absence HPA intact carried decrease in total leukocytes in spleen when compared to the group with colitis, related mainly to significant reduction in the frequency of NKT cells (CD3+CD49b+), which were restored in the GC treated mice. During exposure to DSS there was increased Th2 and Th1 cells in the spleen of non-adrenalectomized mice, while the removal of the adrenals was associated to a marked reduction in the population of CD4 T cells producing IL-4, IL-10, IFN-? or IL-17 with increased Th17 cells and significant decrease in Th1 cells in the spleen of adrenalectomized mice treated with GC. Interestingly there was less accumulation of regulatory T cells together to a reduction in mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of FOXP3 in CD4+CD25+ T cells in the spleen of mice exposed to DSS after adrenalectomy, most dependent on GC. Finally, the decline of regulatory mechanisms was accompanied by lower rates of proliferation and increased IL-10 in the supernatant culture of splenocytes of mice with disrupted HPA axis, indicating that the absence of endogenous GC altered significantly the homeostasis of the immune system. Together, our results demonstrate that the HPA axis is important in modulating the immune response during experimentally induced colitis

The aim of this thesis is to present possibility to integrate Decision Support System with specialized system for statistical computing and provides easier way to analyze economics indicators using sophisticated statistical methods. The R project is complex set of applications, designated for manipulation, computing and graphical presentation of data sets. It is mostly used for statistical analysis and graphical presentations. It allows users to create new methods with language similar to S as well as using the default methods provided.

When it comes to cloud services, security has many a times been the hot topic. This has been especially relevant within the payment card industry and the secure handling of payment card data. The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (the council) was formed in order to ensure a global enhancement of payment card data. The council has issued requirements that all companies that handle payment card data are obliged to follow. However, the council has become much more strict as of recently, creating an urgency to become compliant. Thus, cloud service providers (CSP) have constructed standardized, PCI DSS compliant products so as to relief such customers. Since this emerging market is somewhat new, this thesis has researched how CSPs should relate to products within that market and the potential customer base. The case study for this research was conducted at Tieto, an IT service company, and its standardized, PCI DSS compliant product TiCC. The study collected empirical data in the form of qualitative interviews as well as quantitative telephone interviews with companies within the payment card industry. The study came to the conclusion that there is a demand that is not being met within the payment card industry related to products that aid organizations to become PCI DSS compliant. Standardized products have been constructed so as to fit financial customers while overlooking the demand of another large customer base, retail. Additionally, the products are being tweaked and features are being added, thus providing customization. CSPs are striving for both standardization as well as customization, something that has been considered counterproductive. The existing demand is thus not met with the current supply in the market, which has both multiple competitors and heterogeneity in market demand. The above mentioned thus leaves room for market seizure, to create own rules and thus making all competitors irrelevant. A potential way of doing that is through mass customization by standardizing higher levels of cloud computing.

No description available.

Die Autorenbeiträge geben ein Gesamtbild über das Selbstverständnis der Dresdener Studiengemeinschaft Sicherheitspolitik (DSS) e. V. und ihr zehnjähriges Wirken. Eine Chronik zur Entstehungsgeschichte und Tätigkeit der DSS e. V. sowie 26 Anlagen ergänzen das Bild. Die Anlagen sind in der elektronischen Veröffentlichung nicht enthalten, es wird auf die Printausgabe verwiesen.:Vorwort des Herausgebers und der Autoren. Autorenbeiträge: - Wolfgang Scheler, Die Umwälzung im sicherheitspolitischen Denken der achtziger Jahre. - Rolf Lehmann, Wissenschaftler in Uniform vor neuen Herausforderungen. Sicherheitspolitische Forschung und Impulse für die Militärreform an der Militärakademie 'Friedrich Engels' in den Jahren 1988-1990. Erinnerungen an eine bewegte Zeit. - Joachim Klopfer, Rolf Lehmann, Wolfgang Scheler, Chronik ausgewählter Ereignisse, Zeitraum: August 1975 bis November 1990. - Joachim Klopfer, 10 Jahre Dresdener Studiengemeinschaft Sicherheitspolitik e. V. (DSS). . Einleitung. . 1 Kurzcharakteristik. . 2 Die Mitglieder der Studiengemeinschaft. . 3 Die DSS-Studienprojekte. . 4 Veranstaltungen und Publikationen (Übersichten).' - Wolfgang Scheler, 10 Jahre danach: Neuer Kalter Krieg oder gemeinsame Sicherheit. Anlagen (1 bis 26) zu den Beiträgen: Dokumente, Listen, Verzeichnisse. (nicht in der elektronischen Ausgabe enthalten, siehe Printausgabe)

<p dir="ltr">Climate change hazards are becoming more frequent and severe and their impact on Department of Defense installations has become a matter of national security. This thesis investigates the intricate relationship between climate change hazards and the Department of Defense (DoD) by examining the multifaceted impacts of environmental shifts on military operations, infrastructure, and strategic planning. As the global climate continues to undergo unpredictable changes, the DoD faces evolving challenges that extend beyond traditional security concerns.</p><p dir="ltr">The research employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating environmental science and analysis with military strategy to assess the current and anticipated hazards posed by climate change. As the beginning of a multi-year project, this thesis examines extreme weather events in relation to their potential to disrupt critical military assets and installations in Yuma County Arizona.</p><p dir="ltr">Additionally, decision support systems were created and analyzed as part of this thesis in order to provide Department of Defense decision-makers with a tool to create personalized and up to date visuals and data. This support tool could have positive implications for force readiness, mission effectiveness, and strategic planning, recognizing climate change as a pervasive and dynamic threat.</p><p dir="ltr">The study also delves into the strategic response of the DoD to climate change hazards, evaluating adaptation measures, resilience-building initiatives, and the integration of climate considerations into defense planning processes. By examining historical and future conditions, the research identifies areas where these installations could implement changes in order to enhance climate resilience and efficiency within the defense framework.</p><p dir="ltr">In conclusion, this thesis provides an understanding of the intricate interplay between climate change hazards and national security, focusing on their direct and indirect impacts on two military installations in Arizona. By shedding light on the complexities of this relationship, it contributes to the growing body of knowledge essential for developing adaptive strategies and policies that ensure the readiness and effectiveness of the military in the face of a changing climate.</p>

Dagens samhälle genomsyras av olika teknologier som påverkar människan, ekonomin och samhället. Numera besitter verksamheter stora datamängder som behöver registreras och struktureras och detta kan göras med hjälp av ett beslutstödsystem som ger underlag till beslutsfattare. I och med den stora och fortsatt ökade datamängden som behöver registreras och analyseras begränsas människans kognitiva förmåga till att hantera all denna data på egen hand. Som en lösning till denna problematik kan Artificial Intelligence (AI) användas. Syftet med denna forskningsstudie är att undersöka hur AI kan påverka beslutstödsystem inom verksamhetsstyrning. Fokuset grundar sig inom tre aspekter- planering, analys och uppföljning. För att besvara forskningsmålet har en djupare analys genomförts i form av en kvalitativ ansats, där sex deltagare intervjuats. Dessa intervjuer var semistrukturerade och enbart personer med välinsatta kunskaper inom beslutsstödsystem och AI har deltagit. Litteraturstudien, som baseras på tidigare forskning om AI och beslutsstödsystem och hur dessa två fungerar tillsammans, gav en grund för analysering, förklaring och diskussion tillsammans med den empiriska insamlade datan. Med hjälp av den insamlade datan kunde sedan intervjuerna analyseras tematiskt. Resultatet visade att AI:ns förmågor medför fördelar hos verksamheter genom ökadprestanda, effektivisering av strukturerad och ostrukturerad data samt frigör tid hosbeslutsfattare. Baserat på resultatet belystes det att beslutstödsystem kan enbart göra relativt enkla analyser på strukturerad data medan den är begränsad på ostruktureraddata. I samband med detta framhäver resultatet att verksamheter behöver även bearbeta extern information såsom omvärldsbevakningen. På så sätt ger teknologin användarna bästa möjliga beslutsunderlag samt då ett bredare beslutsunderlag tas fram och vidare förbättra planering, analys och uppföljning genom att AI kan analysera och samla in data från olika datakällor. Däremot behöver människan alltid vara närvarande i beslutsfattandet då AI besitter också begränsningar vilket kankompletteras med människan. / In today's society there are various technologies which affect people, the economy and society. Nowadays, businesses have large amounts of data that need to be registered and structured and this can be done with the help of a decision support system that provides information to decision makers. With the large amount of data being established even today, the human cognitive ability is limited to handling allthis data on their own. As a solution to this problem, AI can be used. The purpose of this research study is to investigate how AI can affect decision support systems in operations management. The focus is based on three aspects -planning, analysis and follow-up. In order to answer the research aim, a qualitative approach has been used where six participants were interviewed. These interviews were semi-structured and only people with well-versed knowledge in decision support systems and AI have participated. The literature study, which is based on previous research on AI and decision support systems and how the two work together, provided a basis for analysis, explanation and discussion along with the empirical data collected. As a result of the collected data, the interviews were analyzed thematically. The result showed that AI's capabilities bring benefits to businesses through increased performance, efficiency of structured and unstructured data and frees uptime for decision makers. Based on the results, it was highlighted that decision support systems can only perform relatively simple analyzes on structured data while it is limited on unstructured data. In connection with this, the result highlights that businesses also need to process external information such as monitoring of the environment. In this way, the technology provides users with the best possible basis for decision-making. This is because a broader basis for decision-making is produced and therefore improves planning, analysis and follow-up as AI can analyze and collect data from different data sources. However, the human always needs to be present in the decision-making as AI also has limitations which can be supplemented with the human.