Twisted Reflection Positivity

Reflection positivity has several applications in both mathematics and physics. For example, reflection positivity induces a duality between group representations. In this thesis, we coin a new definition for a new kind of reflection positivity, namely, twisted reflection positive representation on a vector space. We show that all of the non-compactly causal symmetric spaces give rise to twisted reflection positive representations. We discover examples of twisted reflection positive representations on the sphere and on the Grassmannian manifold which are not unitary, namely, the generalized principle series with the Cosine transform as an intertwining operator. We give a direct proof for the reflection positivity of the Cosine transform on SO(n). On the other hand, we generalize an integrability theorem to the case of non-positive definite distribution. As a result, we give a relation between the non-compactly causal symmetric spaces and the reflection positive distributions. Cocycle conditions are also treated. We construct a general method to generate twisted reflection positive representations and then we apply it to get twisted reflection positive representations on the Euclidean space. Finally, we introduce a reflection positive cyclic distribution vector for the circle case. Then we prove that this distribution vector generates a well known reflection positive function

Janus: An Uncertain Cache Architecture to Cope with Side Channel Attacks

Side channel attacks are a major class of attacks to crypto-systems. Attackers collect and analyze timing behavior, I/O data, or power consumption in these systems to undermine their effectiveness in protecting sensitive information. In this work, we propose a new cache architecture, called Janus, to enable crypto-systems to introduce randomization and uncertainty in their runtime timing behavior and power utilization profile. In the proposed cache architecture, each data block is equipped with an on-off flag to enable/disable the data block. The Janus architecture has two special instructions in its instruction set to support the on-off flag. Beside the analytical evaluation of the proposed cache architecture, we deploy it in an ARM-7 processor core to study its feasibility and practicality. Results show a significant variation in the timing behavior across all the benchmarks. The new secure processor architecture has minimal hardware overhead and significant improvement in protecting against power analysis and timing behavior attacks.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Formulating layered adjustable autonomy for unmanned aerial vehicles

Purpose - In this paper, we propose a Layered Adjustable Autonomy (LAA) as a dynamically adjustable autonomy model for a multi-agent system. It is mainly used to efficiently manage humans and agents share control of autonomous systems and maintain humans’ global control over the agents. Design/Methodology/Approach - We apply the LAA model in an agent-based autonomous Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) system. The UAV system implementation consists of two parts, software, and hardware. The software part represents the controller and the cognitive and the hardware represents the computing machinery and the actuator of the UAV system. The UAV system performs three experimental scenarios of dance, surveillance and search missions. The selected scenarios demonstrate different behaviors in order to create a suitable test plan and ensure significant results. Findings - The results of the UAV system tests prove that segregating the autonomy of a system as multidimensional and adjustable layers enables humans and/or agents to perform actions in a convenient autonomy levels. Hence, reducing the adjustable autonomy drawbacks of constraining the autonomy of the agents, increasing humans’ workload and exposing the system to disturbances. Originality/value - The application of the LAA model in a UAV manifests the significance of implementing dynamic adjustable autonomy. Assessing the autonomy within three phases of agents run cycle (task-selection, actions-selection, actions-execution) is an original idea that aims to direct agents’ autonomy towards performance competency. The agents’ abilities are well exploited when an incompetent agent switches with a more competent on

ANTIMICROBIAL AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF SELECTED QATARI FLORA

Conventional medicine has been challenged by various issues, including drug resistance and safety. On the other hand, Complementary Alternative Medicine has been increasingly gaining the interest of the scientific community and the public for its efficacy and safety. Therefore, the search for cytotoxic and antimicrobial agents from plants has been booming in the last few decades. This study was designed to investigate the anticancer and antifungal activities of the crude extracts (aqueous and organic) from four native Qatari plant species; Aerva javanica, Limonium axillare, Salsola soda and Suaeda vermiculata. The antifungal activity of their crude extracts on the species; Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Botrytis cinerea, was assessed in vitro by two methods; poisoned food and agar diffusion method. While aqueous extracts were not effective, the ethanolic extracts of all plant (aerial parts) were active against all of the tested fungi, and the concentration of 10 mg/ml was enough to inhibit fungal growth. Extracts of L. axillare had the highest activity, with minimal concentration values between 5 and 2.5 mg/ml. The anti-cancer activity of the crude extracts was also assessed on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, indicating that with water crude extracts of S. vermiculata at concentrations of 400 and 300 μg/μl were the only effective doses worked against MCF-7 cell proliferation. A comprehensive study is needed to assess the anticancer activity of the S. vermiculata crude extract, using normal human epithelial breast cells and various additional breast cancer cell lines. Last but not least, fractionation will be carried out to identify the bioactive ingredients that are responsible for both anti-cancer and anti-fungal activities

A Psychoanalytic Reading of Ahmed Saadawi's Novel Frankenstein in Baghdad

Ahmed Saadawi’s novel Frankenstein in Baghdad provides a distinct exposure of the psychic ailments (disorders) that engulf almost all of the characters in the novel. Even though they are not themselves aware of the problem, the characters in the novel suffer from split psyches, traumas they cannot deal with and knots they cannot resolve. The novel shows, to quote T. S. Eliot, but “a heap of broken” (Ellmann 459) psyches. Such is a phenomenon that blights contemporary Iraqi personality in general and can, in a sense, be termed collective unconscious (Bressler 127) (Note 1). The novel is, thus, a representation of what can be dubbed psychic fractures that have befallen the Iraqi character, noticeably ensuing the American invasion of Iraq that took place in 2003, the aftermaths of which the Iraqi people is still undergoing. Importantly, despite being an essential facet of the novel and an indispensable venue to understanding the characters this aspect has escaped the attention of critics and researchers alike

National Cultures and Stock Prices: Evidence from the Emerging Markets

This report in the field of behavioral finance explores the effect of national culture factors and firm specific factors on the stock prices of publicly traded firms in the 36 countries in the emerging markets. Using linear regression, we tested 13 variables (three of them were Hofstede’s indices for Individualism, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-term Orientation) against the stock prices. We found that in the Africa, America, and Europe regions, the cultural factors had no significant effect on stock prices. On the other hand we found that only individualistic behavior had a significant effect on stock prices in businesses in Arab and Asia. Moreover, we found that a firm’s value and investment activities had a significant impact on stock prices in Africa and Asia regions, while a firm’s size had that impact in Latin America and Arab regions