End-to-end security in service-oriented architecture

A service-oriented architecture (SOA)-based application is composed of a number of distributed and loosely-coupled web services, which are orchestrated to accomplish a more complex functionality. Any of these web services is able to invoke other web services to offload part of its functionality. The main security challenge in SOA is that we cannot trust the participating web services in a service composition to behave as expected all the time. In addition, the chain of services involved in an end-to-end service invocation may not be visible to the clients. As a result, any violation of client’s policies could remain undetected. To address these challenges in SOA, we proposed the following contributions. First, we devised two composite trust schemes by using graph abstraction to quantitatively maintain the trust levels of different services. The composite trust values are based on feedbacks from the actual execution of services, and the structure of the SOA application. To maintain the dynamic trust, we designed the trust manager, which is a trusted-third party service. Second, we developed an end-to-end inter-service policy monitoring and enforcement framework (PME framework), which is able to dynamically inspect the interactions between services at runtime and react to the potentially malicious activities according to the client’s policies. Third, we designed an intra-service policy monitoring and enforcement framework based on taint analysis mechanism to monitor the information flow within services and prevent information disclosure incidents. Fourth, we proposed an adaptive and secure service composition engine (ASSC), which takes advantage of an efficient heuristic algorithm to generate optimal service compositions in SOA. The service compositions generated by ASSC maximize the trustworthiness of the selected services while meeting the predefined QoS constraints. Finally, we have extensively studied the correctness and performance of the proposed security measures based on a realistic SOA case study. All experimental studies validated the practicality and effectiveness of the presented solutions

Corporate Acquisition Through Bankruptcy Auctions

The objective of this case is to teach and initiate a class discussion about how to find potential buyers for a bankrupt firm.  The discussion is facilitated by a real world case example that focuses on strategies based on use of databases such as D&B or Sorkins, trade associations networks, trade magazines, information on recent industry acquisitions, and use of private equity groups.  Issues relevant to optimal design of a bankruptcy auction and the required bidding process for achieving an optimal sale price are also addressed

THE COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF PRESENTING WORDS IN SEMANTICALLY RELATED AND UNRELATED SETS IN INTENTIONAL AND INCIDENTAL LEARNING CONTEXTS ON IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS’ VOCABULARY LEARNING

This study was conducted among 120 female EFL learners who were selected among a total number of 180 based on their performance on a piloted Cambridge Key English Test (KET) and randomly put into four experimental groups. The same content was taught to all four groups throughout the fifteen-session treatment; the only difference was over the mechanism of teaching vocabulary to the four groups. In the first group, vocabulary was taught in semantically related sets and in an incidental learning mode. The second group received them in the same sets but in an intentional learning mode. The third experimental group experienced semantically unrelated sets and in an intentional learning mode, while the fourth group was taught the vocabulary in semantically unrelated sets but in an incidental learning mode. A vocabulary achievement test within the content area was given to the students in all groups at the end of the instruction and the mean scores of all groups on this posttest were compared through a two-way ANOVA which led to the rejection of all four null hypotheses raised in the study, thus concluding that presenting words in semantically unrelated sets and in an intentional learning mode was more effective on students’ vocabulary achievement compared to the other modes

The Impact Of CoCo Bonds On Bank Value And Perceived Default Risk: Insights And Evidence From Their Pioneering Use In Europe

Contingent convertible (CoCo) bonds convert to equity during financial distress. They help transfer the responsibility for bearing the costs of poor performance from the taxpayers to the bank owners. Our results are thus relevant for investors, financial decision-makers, and regulators. We analyze the effects of the pioneering use of CoCos in Europe by Lloyds Banking Group in 2009. The bank’s motivation for the issue is explored, considering both its economic situation and the Basel III regulations. We document a reduction in the bank’s market value following the announcement of the intention to issue CoCos. Simultaneously, the credit default swap spread goes up. This study suggests that CoCos can have a negative effect on a bank’s creditworthiness and firm value

Effects of various penetration enhancers on percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from emulgels

A suitable emulgel formulation of piroxicam was prepared and its percutaneous permeation was investigated using Wistar rat skin and diffusion cell technique. The concentrations of the drug in receptor phase of diffusion cells were measured using HPLC method. The effect of three types of penetration enhancers (Myrj 52, cineol and Transcutol P) with different concentrations on transdermal permeation of the drug was also evaluated. Flux, Kp and enhancement ratios (ERs) of piroxicam in the presence of enhancers was measured and compared with emulgel base alone and simple commercial gel. The results showed a significant enhancement in the flux from emulgel base compared to hydroalcoholic gel formulation (9.91 folds over simple gel). The highest enhancement ratio (ER=3.11) was observed for Myrj 52 at the concentration of 0.25%. Higher concentrations of Myrj 52did not show any enhancement in the drug flux due to micelle formation and solubilization of the drug by micelles. The increase in solubility, in turn, increases the saturated concentration and reduces the thermodynamic activity of the drug. Transcutol® P with concentrations higher than 0.25% w/w showed burst transportation of the drug through the skin. All concentrations of cineol and Transcutol did not show any enhancing effects over emulgel base alone (ER <1)

Is The Indian Stock Market A Casino?

This paper examines the empirical association between stock market development and economic growth for a period of ten years around the Indian market &ldquo;liberalization&rdquo; event.&nbsp; We find no support for the hypothesis that the Indian stock market development is associated with the economic growth in that country during the entire event study period of 1981 to 2001.&nbsp; We find support for relevance of stock market to econmic development during the pre-liberalization sub-period.&nbsp; We also find a negative correlation between stock market development and economic growth for the post-liberalization period.&nbsp; We offer a number of hypotheses consistent with the inverse relationship between growth and stock market development in the post-liberalization period.&nbsp; In particular, our results are consistent with the suggestion that the Indian Stock market is a casino for the sub-period of&nbsp; post liberalization and for the entire ten-year event study period

Valuation And Market Timing In Private M&A Transactions

The objective of this case is to teach and initiate a classroom discussion about the optimal market timing for the sale of a mid-cap privately held firm.&nbsp; The discussion is facilitated by a real world case example that focuses on the sale of a Little Rock, AK based plastic injection molding company with approximately $20 million in revenues.&nbsp;Theoretical and practical issues central to receiving maximum price in relation to selling at the right time are addressed.&nbsp; Considered are the desired time to close the deal from the owner&rsquo;s point of view, the time required for successful completion of the sale process, business conditions in this industry, firm-specific business conditions, and ability of agents to time this market.&nbsp; &nbsp;This case also discusses various reasons for the sale of private companies and the effect of respective sale motives on the placement of these firms.&nbsp; Principally, the retirement decision by the owners of small privately held firms as the most frequent reason for the sale of these companies is explored