An analysis and a comparative study of cryptographic algorithms used on the internet of things (IoT) based on avalanche effect

Ubiquitous computing is already weaving itself around us and it is connecting everything to the network of networks. This interconnection of objects to the internet is new computing paradigm called the Internet of Things (IoT) networks. Many capacity and non-capacity constrained devices, such as sensors are connecting to the Internet. These devices interact with each other through the network and provide a new experience to its users. In order to make full use of this ubiquitous paradigm, security on IoT is important. There are problems with privacy concerns regarding certain algorithms that are on IoT, particularly in the area that relates to their avalanche effect means that a small change in the plaintext or key should create a significant change in the ciphertext. The higher the significant change, the higher the security if that algorithm. If the avalanche effect of an algorithm is less than 50% then that algorithm is weak and can create security undesirability in any network. In this, case IoT. In this study, we propose to do the following: (1) Search and select existing block cryptographic algorithms (maximum of ten) used for authentication and encryption from different devices used on IoT. (2) Analyse the avalanche effect of select cryptographic algorithms and determine if they give efficient authentication on IoT. (3) Improve their avalanche effect by designing a mathematical model that improves their robustness against attacks. This is done through the usage of the initial vector XORed with plaintext and final vector XORed with cipher tect. (4) Test the new mathematical model for any enhancement on the avalanche effect of each algorithm as stated in the preceding sentences. (5) Propose future work on how to enhance security on IoT. Results show that when using the proposed method with variation of key, the avalanche effect significantly improved for seven out of ten algorithms. This means that we have managed to improve 70% of algorithms tested. Therefore indicating a substantial success rate for the proposed method as far as the avalanche effect is concerned. We propose that the seven algorithms be replaced by our improved versions in each of their implementation on IoT whenever the plaintext is varied.Electrical and Mining EngineeringM. Tech. (Electrical Engineering

Anisotropic Geomechanical Characterization of Sojuko Field, Shallow Offshore, Niger Delta

Borehole stability and hydraulic fracture issues are a major concern in the economic development of hydrocarbon reserves especially for deep targets which require drilling below well control. Characterizing geomechanical properties along a wellbore provides understanding of the vertical heterogeneity in the mechanical properties of the rocks, both in reservoirs and the bounding non-reservoir formations, and is critical to the operational planning and design of stable wellbores to successfully drill, complete and exploit proven hydrocarbon reserves even at shallow depths. In this work, velocity anisotropy, assuming vertical transverse isotropy with vertical axis of symmetry, was utilized to evaluate important geomechanical properties which include Young’s modulus and the Poisson’s ratio, in order to accurately determine rock strength and in situ horizontal stresses using geophysical well logs obtained from some wells in the Sojuko field, shallow Niger Delta offshore. The aim was to determine accurate parameters, by consideration of anisotropy, to aid well design and prevent formation failure during future developmental drilling in the field, and the subsequent landing of wells. The starting point was the estimation of the Thomsen’s delta anisotropic parameter from analysis of well and seismic interval velocities at a well location, which then aided derivation of the epsilon and gamma anisotropic parameters. The three anisotropy parameters were used in combination with bulk density and sonic log data to determine stiffness constants for the estimation of the geomechanical properties, which subsequently enabled the determination of rock strength and in situ stresses around the wellbore for analysis of rock failure and mudweight requirements for safe and cost effective drilling of the well. Computed in situ minimum horizontal stress in the area varies with depth from 727 psi to 7,500 psi, with an average gradient of 0.69 psi/ft, while the maximum horizontal stress is about 12.27% higher on the average. Minimum average safe drilling mudweight for the well is 0.529 psi/ft, giving an average overbalance of 655 psi mud pressure which is relatively higher in shale than sands. Predicted safe drilling mudweight window ranges from 0.529 psi/ft to 0.713 psi/ft. Comparison of the results with geomechanical data computed with isotropic assumption shows that the non-consideration of anisotropy results in under prediction of geomechanical data in subsurface formations where velocity anisotropy is present. This has serious safety and cost implication during drilling as most of the Niger Delta deep targets are located in geopressured formations where velocity anisotropy is a perennial problem. Keywords: velocity anisotropy, geomechanical properties, geomechanical characterization, minimum horizontal stress, maximum horizontal stress. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-5-04 Publication date:May 31st 201

Marquette University 2009 Commencement Address

ABOUT THE TALK: Dick Enberg presented the Commencement address to Marquette University\u27s graduating Class of 2009 on May 17, 2009. He spoke to an audience of more than 2000 graduating students, their family and friends, and members of the Marquette community. The event took place at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dick Enberg is an award-winning sports journalist who has covered nearly every major sporting event since his debut on NBC in 1975. Enberg is the only person to win an Emmy as a sportscaster, writer and producer, having received 14 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy. He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1995 Enberg began his broadcast career while a student at Indiana University, doing play by play for football and basketball games while earning his master’s and doctoral degrees in health sciences

Binomial Difference Ideal and Toric Difference Variety

In this paper, the concepts of binomial difference ideals and toric difference varieties are defined and their properties are proved. Two canonical representations for Laurent binomial difference ideals are given using the reduced Groebner basis of Z[x]-lattices and regular and coherent difference ascending chains, respectively. Criteria for a Laurent binomial difference ideal to be reflexive, prime, well-mixed, perfect, and toric are given in terms of their support lattices which are Z[x]-lattices. The reflexive, well-mixed, and perfect closures of a Laurent binomial difference ideal are shown to be binomial. Four equivalent definitions for toric difference varieties are presented. Finally, algorithms are given to check whether a given Laurent binomial difference ideal I is reflexive, prime, well-mixed, perfect, or toric, and in the negative case, to compute the reflexive, well-mixed, and perfect closures of I. An algorithm is given to decompose a finitely generated perfect binomial difference ideal as the intersection of reflexive prime binomial difference ideals.Comment: 72 page

Introduction: The difference that makes a difference

This article introduces TripleC’s Special Issue on The Difference That Makes a Difference, containing papers arising from a workshop of the same name that ran in Milton Keynes in September 2011. The background to the workshop is explained, workshop sessions are summarised, and the content of the papers introduced. Finally, some provisional outcomes from the workshop and the Special Issue are described

Race: the difference that makes a difference

During the last two decades, critical enquiry into the nature of race has begun to enter the philosophical mainstream. The same period has also witnessed the emergence of an increasingly visible discourse about the nature of information within a diverse range of popular and academic settings. What is yet to emerge, however, is engagement at the interface of the two disciplines – critical race theory and the philosophy of information. In this paper, I shall attempt to contribute towards the emergence of such a field of enquiry by using a reflexive hermeneutic (or interpretative) approach to analyze the concept of race from an information-theoretical perspective, while reflexively analyzing the concept of information from a critical race-theoretical perspective. In order to facilitate a more concrete enquiry, the concept of information formulated by cyberneticist Gregory Bateson and the concept of race formulated by philosopher Charles W Mills will be placed at the centre of analysis. Crucially, both concepts can be shown to have a connection to the critical philosophy of Immanuel Kant, thereby justifying their selection as topics of examination on critical reflexive hermeneutic grounds

Difference Balanced Functions and Their Generalized Difference Sets

Difference balanced functions from $F_{q^n}^*$ to $F_q$ are closely related to combinatorial designs and naturally define $p$-ary sequences with the ideal two-level autocorrelation. In the literature, all existing such functions are associated with the $d$-homogeneous property, and it was conjectured by Gong and Song that difference balanced functions must be $d$-homogeneous. First we characterize difference balanced functions by generalized difference sets with respect to two exceptional subgroups. We then derive several necessary and sufficient conditions for $d$-homogeneous difference balanced functions. In particular, we reveal an unexpected equivalence between the $d$-homogeneous property and multipliers of generalized difference sets. By determining these multipliers, we prove the Gong-Song conjecture for $q$ prime. Furthermore, we show that every difference balanced function must be balanced or an affine shift of a balanced function.Comment: 17 page