Efficient unified Montgomery inversion with multibit shifting

Computation of multiplicative inverses in finite fields GF(p) and GF(2/sup n/) is the most time-consuming operation in elliptic curve cryptography, especially when affine co-ordinates are used. Since the existing algorithms based on the extended Euclidean algorithm do not permit a fast software implementation, projective co-ordinates, which eliminate almost all of the inversion operations from the curve arithmetic, are preferred. In the paper, the authors demonstrate that affine co-ordinate implementation provides a comparable speed to that of projective co-ordinates with careful hardware realisation of existing algorithms for calculating inverses in both fields without utilising special moduli or irreducible polynomials. They present two inversion algorithms for binary extension and prime fields, which are slightly modified versions of the Montgomery inversion algorithm. The similarity of the two algorithms allows the design of a single unified hardware architecture that performs the computation of inversion in both fields. They also propose a hardware structure where the field elements are represented using a multi-word format. This feature allows a scalable architecture able to operate in a broad range of precision, which has certain advantages in cryptographic applications. In addition, they include statistical comparison of four inversion algorithms in order to help choose the best one amongst them for implementation onto hardware

Fish powder as a low-cost component in media for producing bacterial cellulose

Some bacteria can produce extracellular bacterial cellulose (BC). This polysaccharide is chemically identical to cellulose produced by plants but has no associated lignin and hemicelluloses. The unique mechanical properties, chemical stability and purity allow BC to be exploited for a range of biomedical applications. However, medium costs limit commercial BC production. The suitability of using fish powder as a low-cost media component for producing BC by submerged culture of Gluconacetobacter xylinus in shake flasks was investigated. Fish powder was made by drying and grinding Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), a pest fish in New Zealand waterways. Fermentations were done at 30oC in a growth medium containing 50 g/L glucose, the required minerals, and either 5 g/L yeast extract or 15 g/L fish powder, The BC yield on both yeast extract and fish powder was 0.04 g/g glucose, demonstrating fish powder was a suitable low cost ingredient for supplying nitrogen and amino acids in the media

On The Financial Characteristics Of Firms That Have Achieved The Highest Levels Of Accuracy In Earnings Predictability

The value of a company is said to be a function of the future earnings or cash flows the company will produce discounted at a rate commensurate with risks associated with those cash flows. The subject of earnings predictability or the lack of reliable forecasts has been of interest to academic researchers and financial managers for years. Value Line publishes weekly, a ranking of the reliability of earnings predictions for every firm in their database. The higher the Value Line ranking for earnings predictability, the more likely they would recommend it as a safe investment. Earnings predictability is then, simply one of their important measures of potential value and safety.  The purpose of this study is to provide a financial analysis of those firms described by Value Line as having the most reliable levels of earnings predictability in their database. Specifically, the analysis will test for significant differences in the financial profiles of those firms that achieved the highest Value Line ratings for earnings predictability, and companies selected at random from the same industries.  A unique financial profile is estab­lished for the highest rated group, and it is suggested that the profile may be used to identify firms that because of their financial nature are capable of producing the most accurate sales forecasts, and earnings predictability. As in previous studies of this nature Multiple Discriminant Analysis is used.&nbsp

Visual Analytics of Event Data using Multiple Mining Methods

Most researchers use a single method of mining to analyze event data. This paper uses case studies from two very differentdomains (electronic health records and cybersecurity) to investigate how researchers can gain breakthrough insights by com-bining multiple event mining methods in a visual analytics workflow. The aim of the health case study was to identify patternsof missing values, which was daunting because the 615 million missing values occurred in 43,219 combinations of fields. How-ever, a workflow that involved exclusive set intersections (ESI), frequent itemset mining (FIM) and then two more ESI stepsallowed us to identify that 82% of the missing values were from just 244 combinations. The cybersecurity case study’s aim wasto understand users’ behavior from logs that contained 300 types of action, gathered from 15,000 sessions and 1,400 users.Sequential frequent pattern mining (SFPM) and ESI highlighted some patterns in common, and others that were not. For thelatter, SFPM stood out for its ability to action sequences that were buried within otherwise different sessions, and ESI detectedsubtle signals that were missed by SFPM. In summary, this paper demonstrates the importance of using multiple perspectives,complementary set mining methods and a diverse workflow when using visual analytics to analyze complex event data

Compressive and Tensile Capacity of Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) with Glass as Supplement Material

The amount of construction waste is increased significantly over the years due to reconstruction and the demolition of old buildings. One of the major challenges of our present society is to protect the environment by recycling the existing construction waste. This study concerned on two types of variable in the production of concrete which are the utilization of coarse recycled aggregate and utilization of different supplement ratio of fine glass wastes to cement. To evaluate the viability of this study, an experimental work was performed in order to monitor the mechanical behavior of such concrete. The compression and splitting tensile strength of concrete were determined on this study. From the result, it is conclude that the utilization of recycled aggregate does not much affect in the uniaxial compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of concrete, for replacement ratio up to 25 %. However, the utilization of fine glass as supplement material to cement is increase the uniaxial compressive and splitting tensile strength of concrete, for supplement ratio up to 5 %. Thus, it can be stated that the optimum concrete mixture is the mixture of 25 % recycled aggregate and 5% glass.&nbsp