Artificial intelligence (AI) is a modern technology that allows plenty of advantages in daily life, such as predicting weather, finding directions, classifying images and videos, even automatically generating code, text, and videos. Other essential technologies such as blockchain and cybersecurity also benefit from AI. As a core component used in blockchain and cybersecurity, cryptography can benefit from AI in order to enhance the confidentiality and integrity of cyberspace. In this paper, we review the algorithms underlying four prominent cryptographic cryptosystems, namely the Advanced Encryption Standard, the Rivest–Shamir–Adleman, Learning with Errors, and the Ascon family of cryptographic algorithms for authenticated encryption. Where possible, we pinpoint areas where AI can be used to help improve their security.
One of the major problems confronted in precision agriculture is uncertainty about how exactly would yield in a certain area respond to decreased application of certain nutrients. One way to deal with this type of uncertainty is the use of scenarios as a method to explore future projections from current objectives and constraints. In the absence of data, soft computing techniques can be used as effective semi-quantitative methods to produce scenario simulations, based on a consistent set of conditions. In this work, we propose a dynamic rule-based Fuzzy Cognitive Map variant to perform simulations, where the novelty resides in an enhanced forward inference algorithm with reasoning that is characterized by magnitudes of change and effects. The proposed method leverages expert knowledge to provide an estimation of crop yield, and hence it can enable farmers to gain insights about how yield varies across a field, so they can determine how to adapt fertilizer application accordingly. It allows also producing simulations that can be used by managers to identify effects of increasing or decreasing fertilizers on yield, and hence it can facilitate the adoption of precision agriculture regulations by farmers. We present an illustrative example to predict cotton yield change, as a response to stimulated management options using proactive scenarios, based on decreasing Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen. The results of the case study revealed that decreasing the three nutrients by half does not decrease yield by more than 10%.
While there is no rigorous framework to develop nanosatellites flight software, this manuscript aimed to explore and establish processes to design a reliable and reusable flight software architecture for cost-efficient student Cubesat missions such as Masat-1. Masat-1 is a 1Unit CubeSat, developed using a systems engineering approach, off-the-shelf components and open-source software tools. It was our aim to use it as a test-bed platform and as an initial reference for Cubesat flight software development in Morocco. The command and data handling system chosen for Masat-1 is a system-on-module-embedded computer running freeRTOS. A real-time operating system was used in order to simplify the real-time onboard management. To ensure software design reliability, modularity, reusability and extensibility, our solution follows a layered service oriented architectural pattern, and it is based on a finite state machine in the application layer to execute the mission functionalities in a deterministic manner. Moreover, a client-server model was elected to ensure the inter-process communication and resources access while using uniform APIs to enhance cross-platform data exchange. A hierarchical fault tolerance architecture was also implemented after a systematic assessment of the Masat-1 mission risks using reliability block diagrams (RBDs) and functional failure mode, effect and criticality analysis (FMECA).
Wildfires are a growing threat in Mediterranean regions where climate variability and land-use practices increase vulnerability to fire risk. Developing effective prediction models is essential for robust wildfire management, particularly in such data-scarce environments. Focusing on data-scarce Mediterranean environments, with reference to environmental conditions observed in Morocco, this review presents prediction models across three methodological categories: spatial risk mapping, temporal forecasting, and fire spread simulation, alongside the satellite data products that support their deployment. Each category is assessed in terms of predictive performance, data requirements, and adaptability to low-resource environments. XGBoost showed strong applicability in data-scarce Mediterranean contexts, while ARIMA was validated for forecasting fire-relevant time series under limited data resources. Freely accessible MODIS-derived products represent a significant asset to the region. Based on this synthesis, a hybrid XGBoost-ARIMA framework incorporating MODIS-derived inputs and SHAP-based interpretability is proposed as a promising candidate architecture to be validated after further investigation. The findings aim to support researchers, land managers, and policymakers in strengthening local wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts by aligning model capabilities with regional data and environmental constraints.