Authors - Rui Liu, Neng Zeng Abstract - The Bank for International Settlements' Project Leap Phase 2 trial demonstrated that post-quantum cryptography (PQC) can be functionally integrated into the Eurozone T2 real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system, reporting an average PQC signature verification time of ≈209.9 ms against ≈28.1 ms for the traditional baseline. The report, however, explicitly leaves two questions open for "future testing phases": how the observed timing translates into an SLA-aware deployment plan, and how the system should be architected for a migration-safe transition that NIST IR 8547 recommends but Leap did not test (hybrid signature, hybrid KEM, and a non-modifying deployment path on top of the existing ESMIG/NSP stack). This paper contributes the analytical answer to the first question and audits Leap's framework for the second. We adapt the classical TCP-style timeout bound to a closed-form Watchdog inequality Ttimeout ≥E[Tcompute] + 2 · TRTT + k · σjitter, derive a sensitivity table that maps the safety multiplier k to four financial-grade SLA tiers, and a closed-form capacity-planning bound whose ratio between asynchronous and synchronous throughput is parametric in the FPGA parallelism. We then audit the Leap report against its own admitted limitations on hybrid signature testing, hybrid KEM, and the "modified ESMIG connector" workaround, and we attach to each gap a bounded fix direction expressed entirely within the cost-model envelope. We complement the analysis with a formal EUF-CMA reduction sketch for the nested PQC–RSA signature (degrading gracefully under attacks on either layer) and a production-grade C empirical anchor on a single self-contained library (the LK LEGO PQC platform, native RSA, no OpenSSL): on a commodity x86-64 cloud VM, Dilithium-5 verify takes ≈0.71 ms at the median (σjitter ≈130 µs), the nested PQC–RSA verify 0.77 ms, and the hybrid ML-KEM-768 + RSA-2048-OAEP decapsulation 1.66 ms. These refine Leap's 209.9 ms PQC verify into a fast cryptographic core (0.34%) plus a slow protocol envelope (99.66%) and show both untested hybrid constructions fit inside a single-millisecond budget; a throughput cross-check (2115 verify/s single-core, 83% scaling at 2 threads) validates the independent-cycles assumption. The measured software-only path already meets the legacy 500 ms ceiling, so FPGA acceleration is an optional optimisation rather than a requirement. Production-grade RTGS measurements with HSM transport and full ISO 20022 parsing remain future work.
Authors - Shakeeb Abdullah, Jim Hjartarson, Rony E. Amaya Abstract - Currently the fastest tried, tested, and reliable electro-optical transceivers operate at 56 Gbaud (56 Gbit/s NRZ or 112 Gbit/s PAM-4) communication speeds per lane, and while some companies have finally started rolling out their 112 Gbaud (224 Gbit/s PAM-4) line of products for commercial use, not all companies have caught up; nor is their much research presented on 112 Gbaud TIAs. Higher speeds such as 400 Gbit/s are usually obtained by transmitting data through multiple parallel lanes of 100 Gbit/s PAM-4. The optical industry has been pushing for the next generation of 112 Gbaud (112 Gbit/s NRZ or 224 Gbit/s PAM4) rates for devices, however, it had stalled (hitting many roadblocks) in the past six years or so. Currently, the popularized TIA architectures are producing diminishing returns in terms of their bandwidth performance for every incremental improvement in its designs (or heavily relying on DSP); for this reason, a new paradigm construct is required to overcome such obstacles and meet the new standards of the next generations of TIAs. This brief proposes a different approach in designing TIAs for 112 Gbaud speeds or higher. Estimated criterion dictates a 3-dB BW of 78.4 GHz to process clean eyes at 112 Gbaud. Proposed TIA architecture in this paper utilizes distributed approach instead of usual common gate or feedback mode to convert the incoming photodiode current into an electrical voltage. Post-layout electromagnetic simulations show that these amplifiers can process PAM-4 eyes with 40 mV pk-pk outputs at -3 dBm of input optical power.
Authors - Nirmal Prabhu K, Sisira M S, Kanagaraj S, Kirthika P, Ashwin C Abstract - The proliferation of information and communication technologies has brought ICTs to the forefront as important enablers of social inclusion, governance, and rural development. However, the existence of inequalities over the years concerning the use, benefit, and application of ICTs, among others, has brought about a noticeable digital divide, especially among emerging nations such as India. This paper presents the underlying causes for the existence of the digital divide among rural populations in India as part of a comprehensive research review on the matter, adopting the Resource and Appropriation Theory by Van Dijk. A structured search of studies was conducted using the Scopus database, identifying articles related to rural India, both quantitative and qualitative studies. Findings indicate that the problem of the digital divide is not solely found among the rural populations of India, which lack the necessary infrastructure, as it is also ingrained among the socio-economic, geographical, and linguistic population groups, among others of India, including women as the most vulnerable section of society. The study concludes comprehensive multidimensional approach is required to bridge the digital divide.
Authors - Sowmyashree N, Madhu Sunkanur, Impana M, Suchithra B S, Hemalatha P G Abstract - This paper will outline a cold storage technique that utilizes solar power for the conservation of agricultural produce in rural and non-grid connected areas. This system includes a solar photovoltaic cell together with a backup battery that is used to guarantee continuity of electricity supply. The charge controller manages the electrical input into the circuit. The cooling process is done using a TEC-12706 Peltier unit controlled through an Arduino Uno microcontroller. Sensors are employed to monitor the temperature and voltage. The collected data is fed to the LCD screen, while good insulation ensures that cool temperatures are maintained. A performance assessment has been conducted on the proposed design, which proved its efficacy in lowering dependence on traditional energy resources while maintaining the consistency of cooling efficiency. Implementation of the suggested technology will help reduce losses from post-harvests, boost the financial state of farmers, and promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Additionally, the design will enhance environmental sustainability by minimizing greenhouse fuel emissions
Authors - Francka Sakti Lee, Christian Haposan Pangaribuan, Liem Bambang Sugiyanto, Sulistyowati, Jovann Kurniawan, Henry Nugraha Abstract - Voluntary employee attrition presents a systemic challenge to organizational stability, yet predictive modeling is frequently constrained by the accuracy paradox and algorithmic opacity. This study proposes an Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) framework integrating eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) with Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to transform attrition analysis into prescriptive intelligence. By implementing a Random Over-Sampling (ROS) protocol, the model successfully neutralized extreme class imbalances, significantly enhancing the detection sensitivity of latent resignation signals. The novelty of this research lies in its SHAP-driven demographic bifurcation, exposing critical asymmetries in risk triggers between young and senior employees. Empirical findings identify a "Burnout Triad" comprising compensation, overtime, and job satisfaction. Crucially, junior cohorts exhibit hypersensitivity to immediate transactional factors, whereas senior cohorts are driven by intrinsic role actualization. This framework culminates in a Decision Support System (DSS) enabling surgical retention interventions, shifting human capital management toward strategic, evidence-based governance.
Authors - Giordana Castelli, Ida Giulia Presta, Marialucia Camardelli, Mariagiulia Di Lizia, Davide Donato Russo, Giovanni Felici Abstract - Contemporary cities are increasingly shaped by climate change, digital transformation, demographic growth, socio-economic inequalities, and environmental uncertainty. These transformations challenge traditional static planning approaches and require new governance paradigms capable of dynamically addressing urban complexity. This paper discusses the Urban Intelligence paradigm as an integrated framework for adaptive and cognitive urban governance. Within this framework, an Urban Digital Twin is not just as a digital replica of the city, but a cognitive infrastructure capable of integrating datasets, simulation models, real-time monitoring systems, and participatory processes into a unified environment for knowledge production and decision-making. We explore the different technical and multidisciplinary challenges that derive from this approach, with special focus on Information and Communication Technologies that enable the effective realization of Urban Intelligent Systems, providing examples of current work in Italian Cities. We conclude by presenting the 4C Model, a conceptual model for Urban Governance designed to support the path towards resilient and cognitively enabled cities that learn from uncertainty and promote sustainability, inclusion, transparency, and collective well-being.
