EM Side Channel Analysis on Complex SoC architectures

The EM side channel analysis is a very effective technique to attack cryptographic systems due to its non invasive nature and capability to launch an attack even with limited resources. The EM leakage from devices can give information about computations on the processor, which can in turn reveal the internal state of the algorithm. For security sensitive algorithms, these EM radiations can be exploited by the adversary to extract secret key dependent operations hence EM side channel must be studied for evaluating the security of these algorithms. Modern embedded devices composed of System-on-Chip architectures are considered hard targets for EM side channel analysis mainly due to their complex architecture. This thesis explores the viability of EM side channel attacks on such targets. There is a comprehensive literature overview of EM side channel analysis followed by a practical side channel attack on a SoC device using well know cryptographic library OpenSSL. The attack successfully extracts the secret key dependent operation which can be used to retrieve the private key in security protocols such as TLS and SSH. The thesis concludes, with practical single trace attacks, that cryptographic implementations can still be broken using EM side channel analysis, and a complex nature of the device have no significant effect when combined with signal processing methods for extracting side channel information, hence the cryptographic software implementations must address these issues

Correlation of Dental and Skeletal Maturity Using Dimirgian and Cervical Vertebral Maturation Indices in Orthodontic Patients

OBJECTIVES To determine the correlation between skeletal and dental maturity using the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) index (CVMI) and Demirjian index (DI) in orthodontic patients. METHODOLOGY Panoramic and lateral cephalogram radiographs of 105 patients pretreatment records were retrieved. Tooth calcification stages for mandibular left molar were recorded using Demirjian Index on the panoramic radiograph. The skeletal maturation stages were evaluated on a lateral cephalogram through CVMI staging. Fisher’s exact test and Cramer’s V values were estimated to determine the correlation between DI and CVMI. Weighted kappa statistics were used to determine the reproducibility of inter-observer assessment of DI and CVMI. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. RESULTS A statistically significant correlation is present among the various stages of DI and CVMI for the males (Fisher exact = 25.006, Cramer’s V = 0.848, p = < 0.001) and females (Fisher exact = 41.006, Cramer’s V = 0.623, p = <0.001). A comparison of DI with respect to CVMI shows a more advanced skeletal stage in males than for female subjects. CONCLUSION The correlation between CVMI and DI stages was found to be highly significant. Stage D and F of DI were significantly correlated with stage 3 and stage 4 of CVMI in females and males respectively

Construction of Brand Identity through Language in the Video Advertisements of Pakistani Telecom Companies

This research explored the construction of brand identity in the video advertisements of Pakistani telecom companies. Brand identity is constructed mainly by showing competitor’s submissive and weaker image rather than by using creative and unique advertising techniques. Data for this research was collected from five advertisements of five telecom companies. Positioning theory was applied on these advertisements. The data showed that all cellular companies of Pakistan were using positioning techniques to make their advertisements and construct the language of their ads to communicate with the society at large. The cellular companies have engaged in such kind of social communication due to the competition in the market of cellular services. This type of positioning in the language of advertisements is helpful in the conflicting and competitive business environment and explicitly or implicitly promotes competition. The research found that the cellular companies are using second order acknowledgement status and putting competitors in the third order status in their advertisements. The study found that Ufone is the company using this language technique mostly in its advertisements

Reversible Dementia in victims of Chronic Subdural Hematomas

Objective: The objective of this joint study was to offer the prompt surgical treatment to all diagnosed victims of Reversible dementia with chronic subdural hematomas in our population. Evaluation was based upon comparison of their Pre and Postoperative MMS scoring and HDS-R grading.Materials and Methods: This study started in June 2013 and is currently ongoing at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences with its allied Services Hospital, Lahore as a joint venture principally between the departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology. We included 30 cases in this study.Results: Out of 30 cases there were 25 (83.3%) males and 05 (16.66%) females patients. Twenty five out of 30 victims (83.3%) were suffering from dementia pre operatively. Twenty out of these patients (80%) recovered fully and three patients (10%) partially. 02 patients (6.6%) neither improved nor deteriorated. Twenty eight out of 30 victims underwent surgical evacuation by burr holes with closed drainage system under general anesthesia (91.1%) and 2 under went under local anesthesia (6.6%) due to their co-morbid conditions.Complications: There was no noticeable mortality. One patient complained of post operative pyrexia with convulsions (%) and was managed satisfactorily by conservative treatment. Another patient complained of head-ache for 3 days which was also managed conservatively pie diagram – II. There was no intracranial wound infection in our study.Conclusion: It was concluded that there was marked post operative improvement in patient’s memory, behavior and neurological status. This was established by proper recording, documentation and comparison of their pre and post operative MMS scoring and HDS-R grading system. It is recommended that the victims of chronic subdural hematomas should be offered prompt evacuation to improve their neurological status

Clinical Outcome of Cortical Venous Thrombosis in Stroke Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Southern Punjab

Objective:  This study was determined to find out the clinical Outcome of Cortical Venous Thrombosis (CVT) in Stroke patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Southern Punjab. Material & Methods:  A total of 100 patients with cortical venous thrombosis were included in this descriptive case series study, which was conducted at Department of Neurology, Nishtar Hospital Multan. Outcome of patients in terms of partial recovery or complete recovery, any recurrence, any complication, indication for Surgery and any disability in terms of focal deficit, prolonged hospital stay and Mortality was followed. Results:  Our study included a total of 100 patients with cortical venous thrombosis (CVT), 35 (35%) were male and 65 (65%) were female patients with their mean age was 37.69 ± 16.52 years, ranging from 20 – 83 years (51.37 ± 17.44 in males versus 30.32 ± 10.15 years for females). Headache was noted in 80%, focal deficit in 57%, nerve palsy in 30%, coma in 22% and disability was noted in 35%. Partial recovery was noted in 65%, whereas complete recovery was noted in 35% while, complications were noted in 12 (12%) of these patients with CVT. Conclusion:  Cortical venous thrombosis was more prevalent in females in their younger age groups and it was associated with poor prognosis as high frequency of partial recovery was noted in our study. Keywords:  Cortical venous thrombosis, Stroke, headache, recovery, outcome

Hematological Profile of Patients with Dementia in South Punjab

Objectives:  A case-control study was conducted to find the prevalence of abnormal blood indices and electrolytes in patients with dementia. Material & Methods:  The levels of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, electrolytes, and ESR were determined from the biochemistry lab. A t-test was applied to see the significance of the difference between each dementia patient group (Alzheimer Disease-AD, Parkinson’s Disease-PD, and Frontotemporal Dementia-FTD) with the control group for each CBC and electrolyte parameter Results:  In each patients’ groups (AD, PD, and FTD), the mean value of every erythrocyte was lower than the normal range. A significant difference existed for each erythrocyte between dementia patients and controls, except MCHC. Low levels were observed in neutrophils in all groups of dementia including control group. Very high levels were observed in ESR in all groups of dementia. Significant differences existed in the WBC levels between controls and AD as well as PD patients, in platelets between the control group and FTD patients, and in ESR in each group of dementia patients vs. control group. Normal values observed in all groups of dementia patients as well as in the control group.  Conclusion:  We found low levels in erythrocytes in cases of Alzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia. Age-related changes to hematological indices especially related to RBCs, and inflammatory mediators like cytokines, hamper the microcirculation in the cerebral tissue leading to micro-infarcts or microbleeds which cause neuronal insults and parenchymal damage

“Frenemies” of innovation: understanding the role of coopetition in service innovation in emerging markets

open access articleCoopetition is considered an important strategy for innovation. However, the literature provides limited evidence on how coopetition relates to innovation in service sector, particularly in emerging markets. Moreover, little is known about the effects of the formal and informal aspects of coopetition on innovation and how absorptive capacity of firm may influence this relationship. Against this background, using the official national innovation surveys of Nigeria (2008 and 2011), this study contributes to the ongoing debate by empirically examining the innovation endeavors of 421 Nigerian SMEs. The study employs logistic regression methods to model and explore the relationships between coopetition and innovation in the sample. The results show that that formal coopetition hinders innovation while informal coopetition supports it and absorptive capacity moderates these relationships. The study provides important insights about the concept of coopetition in emerging markets, especially vis-à-vis their institutional idiosyncrasies. Finally, the study highlights its implications and suggests some avenues for future research

An agent based architecture for cognitive spectrum management

In the recent years, wireless technologies and devices have progressed dramatically that has augmented the demand for electromagnetic spectrum. Some research work showed that spectrum access and provision to user is not possible due to shortage of spectrum but federal communication commission refused to accept this theory and indicated that the spectrum is available since most of the frequency bands are underutilized. In order to allow the use of these frequency bands without interference, cognitive radio was proposed that characterizes the growing intelligence of radio systems can adapt to the radio environment, allowing opportunistic usage and sharing with the existing uses of spectrum. To take this concept a step further, we propose to use intelligent agent for spectrum management in the context of cognitive radio in this paper. In our proposed architecture, agents are embedded in the radio devices that coordinate their operations to benefit from network and avoid interference with the primary user. Agents carry a set of modules to gather information about the terminal status and the radio environment and act accordingly to the constraints of the user application

Data-based Startup Profile Analysis in the European Smart Specialization Strategy: A Text Mining Approach

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to develop novel scientific metrics approach to the European Smart Specialization Strategy. The European Union (EU) has introduced Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) to increase the innovation and competitive potential of its member states by identifying promising economic areas for investment and specialization. While the evaluation of Smart Specialization Strategy requires measurable criteria for the comparison of rate and level of development of countries and regions, policy makers lack efficient and viable tools for mapping promising sectors for smart specialization. To cope with this issue, we used a text mining approach to analyze the business description of startups from Nordic and Baltic countries in order to identify sectors in which entrepreneurs from these regions see new business opportunities. In particular, a topic modeling, Latent Dirichlet Allocation approach is employed to classify business descriptions and to identify sectors, in which start-up entrepreneurs identify possibilities of smart specialization. The results of the analysis show country-specific differences in national startup profiles as well as variations among entrepreneurs coming from developed and less developed EU regions in terms of detecting business opportunities. Finally, we present policy implications for the European Smart Specialization Strategy. </div