Data confidentiality for IoT networks: cryptographic gaps and physical-layer opportunities

The conventional solution for providing data confidentiality is by means of encryption (a branch of cryptography). However, encryption schemes are generally designed to provide a certain level of security without necessarily taking resource consumption into account. This poses an issue for Internet of Things (IoT) devices which are limited in terms of storage capacity and computational capabilities. In this paper, we discuss the capabilities of cryptographic solutions for providing data confidentiality and we evaluate whether these solutions are appropriate for IoT networks in terms of resource consumption. Based on the identified drawbacks of cryptographic solutions, we discuss opportunities within the area of physical-layer security (PLS). Finally, we provide an overview of PLS schemes which aim to enhance data confidentiality in IoT networks

SPARC 2017 retrospect & prospects : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2017 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the 50th anniversary of Salford as a University, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 130 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to exploit this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas to your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

Optimized pulsing of high-intensity focused ultrasound for enhanced therapeutic window

University of Minnesota. M.S. thesis. March 2010. Major: Biomedical engineering. Advisor:Emad Ebbini. 1 computer file (PDF)); v, 37 pages. Ill. (some col.)High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) provides a unique modality to perform non-invasive surgeries. The thermal ablation technique relies on focusing the non-ionizing acoustic wave within soft tissues to produce a small lesion. HIFU operations are typically attempted by continuous-wave (CW) applications of the beam intervened by wait periods to allow surrounding tissue to cool down. Large contiguous lesions are produced by raster-scanning the beam over the volume of the tumor; a procedure that requires up to three hours for a 2-cm diameter tumor. This is one of the main limitations of HIFU thermal therapy. As part of the ongoing research to accelerate the procedure, we investigate the role of pulsed-HIFU (pHIFU) parameters in the enhancement of the therapeutic gain within the HIFU focus. A therapeutic gain is observed when high duty cycle pHIFU is pulsed at the mechanical resonance of the medium. Up to 50% increase in temperature was measured in lab-prepared tissue mimicking phantoms. The therapeutic gain achieved by pHIFU over cwHIFU is attractive as no modifications on the currently used applicators are required.Al-Qaisi, Muhammad K.. (2010). Optimized pulsing of high-intensity focused ultrasound for enhanced therapeutic window. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/60691

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography using polarization-maintaining fibers

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. December 2010. Major: Biomedical Engineering. Advisor: Taner Akkin. 1 computer file (PDF); xxii, 171 pages, appendices A-D. Ill. (some col.)Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a sensitive imaging technique that generates cross-sectional images of turbid tissues with a micrometer-scale resolution. Polarization-Sensitive (PS) OCT adds additional contrast to OCT by detecting polarization alterations within tissues, and provides accurate OCT images in polarization-altering tissues. Common approaches to build PSOCT are either: simple but difficult to incorporate in clinics and laboratories, or fiber-based and flexible but expensive, sophisticated, and computationally demanding. We have developed a new approach to build PSOCT using Polarization-Maintaining Fibers (PMF). A single depth scan is sufficient to calculate reflectivity, retardance, and axis orientation information using computationally-inexpensive algorithms. We present novel PMF-based PSOCT systems and demonstrate sensitivity figures larger than 100 dB, equivalent to common approaches. The developed PMF-based interferometers are used to measure minute Faraday rotations in tissue-mimicking phantoms, and the polarization properties of unmyelinated nerves. A novel algorithm is also developed to correct for errors calculating the birefringence of samples, and generate interpretable PSOCT images

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background: Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods: The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results: A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion: Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P &lt; 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)