Machine learning techniques for anti-money laundering (AML) solutions in suspicious transaction detection: a review

Money laundering has been affecting the global economy for many years. Large sums of money are laundered every year, posing a threat to the global economy and its security. Money laundering encompasses illegal activities that are used to make illegally acquired funds appear legal and legitimate. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive survey of machine learning algorithms and methods applied to detect suspicious transactions. In particular, solutions of anti-money laundering typologies, link analysis, behavioural modelling, risk scoring, anomaly detection, and geographic capability have been identified and analysed. Key steps of data preparation, data transformation, and data analytics techniques have been discussed; existing machine learning algorithms and methods described in the literature have been categorised, summarised, and compared. Finally, what techniques were lacking or under-addressed in the existing research has been elaborated with the purpose of pinpointing future research directions.     

Ignition characteristics of gasless reactions

Initiation energy requirements for condensed phase systems were determined experimentally and analytically and found to obey a diffusion-limited reaction model. A model is described for the evaluation of the threshold input energy either by computer calculations or by approximate formulas. The use of dimensionless variables greatly reduces the necessary number of computer runs and simplifies the derivation of explicit expressions. The results are useful both for parametric study and theoretical prediction. It was found that initiation is promoted by low thermal conductance, low heat capacity, small particle sizes, and high heat of reaction. This method of analysis can also assess the effects of varying the energy deposition time. The predicted data are in reasonable agreement with experimental results which were obtained using pulsed and continuous wave lasers. The theoretical model is expected to be useful in the study of reaction phenomena associated with thermite and intermetallic pyrotechnics as well as in the study of certain metallurgical processes.     

Cell surface properties affect colonisation of raw milk by lactic acid bacteria at the microstructure level

Cell localisation in the matrix microstructure of fermented food is important for microbial activity and ripening. To evaluate the importance of physicochemical factors in these phenomena, the physicochemical behaviour of four strains of lactic acid bacteria were investigated after inoculation of raw milk or milk fractions. To discriminate between physicochemical and metabolic properties, media were (i) rapidly acidified to avoid cell division or (ii) bacteria were allowed to ferment milk. To evaluate the impact of milk components, cells were dispersed in protein or fatty globule fractions. From two Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis strains selected from their different surface properties investigated in previous studies, after rapid acidification one was encountered in fatty globules and protein gels whereas the other was found in serum and on the surface of globules. After fermentation, the first one formed colonies in the lipid phase or next to it in the whey and the second formed colonies in the protein gel. Strains forming long chains (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) were always found in contact with fatty globules, where they developed. Our results suggest that localisation and subsequent spatial colonisation depend on the physicochemical properties of cell surfaces, on the structure in chains as well as on the metabolic ability to develop on proteins or lipids.     

Robust stability of Metzler operators under parameter perturbations

In this paper we study how the spectral bound of Metzler operators changes under parameter perturbations. Characterizations of the stability radii of Metzler operator with respect to this type of disturbances are established. The results generalize those obtained in (Vietnam J. Math. 2006; 34 :357–368; Vietnam J. Math. 1998; 26 :147–163). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quasicrystalline Structures as Catalyst Precursors for Hydrogenation Reactions

The quasicrystalline structures of alloys with nominal compositions of Al₇₂Ni_13.4Co_14.6 and Al_72.3Ni_7.8Co_19.8 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. For catalytic application, the solids were leached with an alkaline NaOH solution and tested at 373 K with two model reactions under atmospheric pressure: hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde and acetonitrile. The catalytic activities of these leached alloys were compared to that of a Raney nickel reference catalyst. Catalysts prepared from quasicrystals showed high catalytic activities and high selectivities towards butanal (in crotonaldehyde hydrogenation) and ethylamine (in acetonitrile hydrogenation).     

Application of headspace analysis to the study of aroma compounds-lipids interactions

Taking into account interactions between aroma compounds and food components is necessary to better manage the flavoring of food products. These interactions occur at a molecular level and reflect changes, at a macroscopic level, in thermodynamic equilibria, such as solubility or volatility. The rate of transfer of an aroma compound from the liquid to the vapor phase can be affected as well. The behavior of aroma compounds in water and lipid solutions was studied in two complementary ways, a thermodynamic and a kinetic approach (head-space analysis). The transfer rate of volatiles at the liquid-water interface does not only depend on the hydrophobicity of the aroma compounds. Vapor-liquid partition and activity coefficients show the presence of solute-solvent interactions. The Gibbs free energy values indicate their physicochemical nature.     

Development of manipulators with a parallel-cross structure

Manipulators of a new class characterized by a parallel-cross structure are considered. Kinematic chains located according to the principles of a parallel structure are linked with cross chains that contain drives or impose constraints. Such a layout may facilitate a decrease in the dimensions of the foundation and the output link and an increase in stiffness. A classification of the proposed mechanisms is presented. The working volumes of the new manipulators and those of the most popular manipulators based on a parallel structure (the Gough-Stewart platform) are compared.     

Data-driven approach to solve vertical drain under time-dependent loading

Currently, the vertical drain consolidation problem is solved by numerous analytical solutions, such as time-dependent solutions and linear or parabolic radial drainage in the smear zone, and no artificial intelligence (AI) approach has been applied. Thus, in this study, a new hybrid model based on deep neural networks (DNNs), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and genetic algorithms (GAs) is proposed to solve this problem. The DNN can effectively simulate any sophisticated equation, and the PSO and GA can optimize the selected DNN and improve the performance of the prediction model. In the present study, analytical solutions to vertical drains in the literature are incorporated into the DNN–PSO and DNN–GA prediction models with three different radial drainage patterns in the smear zone under time-dependent loading. The verification performed with analytical solutions and measurements from three full-scale embankment tests revealed promising applications of the proposed approach.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Naphtho‐fused Heterocycles via Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of N‐Tosylhydrazones

We have developed a palladium(0)‐catalyzed tandem process which involves the cross‐coupling reaction of N‐tosylhydrazones with dibromide compounds followed by a sequence of intramolecular 5‐exo‐trig, 3‐exo‐trig cyclization, ring opening, and β‐hydride elimination to produce 6‐endo‐trig cyclized products. The strategy was successfully applied for the regioselective synthesis of substituted benzo[b]naphtho[2,1‐d]thiophenes, naphtho[1,2‐b]benzofurans, and benzo[a]carbazoles in moderate to excellent yields.

     

Efficient optimization of network protection design with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-cycles

The purpose of this paper is to consider network survivability designs that utilize the p-cycle, and to propose a novel ILP formulation for capacity design based on network fundamental cycles, as well as the available straddling links. Concepts of visible and hidden straddling links—which are essential components of the model presented herein—are also introduced. The proposed model caters for the case of joint optimization of a p-cycle network that can be solved without enumerating p-cycle candidates. In addition, the complexity of the proposed model is much less than any conventional model dealing with large size networks and suitable for the design of networks having multiple quality of protection (MQoP) service classes using mixed protection techniques.