Flexible Session Management in a Distributed Environment

Many secure communication libraries used by distributed systems, such as SSL, TLS, and Kerberos, fail to make a clear distinction between the authentication, session, and communication layers. In this paper we introduce CEDAR, the secure communication library used by the Condor High Throughput Computing software, and present the advantages to a distributed computing system resulting from CEDAR's separation of these layers. Regardless of the authentication method used, CEDAR establishes a secure session key, which has the flexibility to be used for multiple capabilities. We demonstrate how a layered approach to security sessions can avoid round-trips and latency inherent in network authentication. The creation of a distinct session management layer allows for optimizations to improve scalability by way of delegating sessions to other components in the system. This session delegation creates a chain of trust that reduces the overhead of establishing secure connections and enables centralized enforcement of system-wide security policies. Additionally, secure channels based upon UDP datagrams are often overlooked by existing libraries; we show how CEDAR's structure accommodates this as well. As an example of the utility of this work, we show how the use of delegated security sessions and other techniques inherent in CEDAR's architecture enables US CMS to meet their scalability requirements in deploying Condor over large-scale, wide-area grid systems

Metric Is Coming

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/government_posters/1054/thumbnail.jp

Radon progeny in underground mines

"This document presents the recommendations of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) regarding occupational exposure to radon progeny in underground mines. Ventilation is discussed as an important control technology approach in the management of excessive concentrations of radon daughters. Data is presented pertaining to the linkage of radon exposure with the risk of human lung cancer. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) takes into account studies and documentation of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as its own risk assessment modeling, accumulated measurement data, and technical feasibility assessments. The REL allows for 0.2 pCi/l (picocuries per liter of air) at 1 working level month (WLM - 170 hours per month). This should be considered as an upper limit and it is recommended that mine operators limit exposure to the lowest levels possible. In addition, it is emphasized that this recommended standard contains many important provisions in addition to the annual exposure limit. These include recommendations for limited work shift concentrations of radon progeny, sampling and analytical methods, recordkeeping, medical surveillance, posting of hazardous information, respiratory protection, worker education and notification, and sanitation." - NIOSHTIC-2Cover title: A recommended standard for occupational exposure-- radon progeny in underground mines.Shipping list no.: 88-26-P."October 1987."Includes bibliographies

Criteria for a recommended standard

"Standard designed to protect the health and safety of employees exposed to ethylene-glycol-monobutyl-ether (111762) (EGBE) and ethylene-glycol-monobutyl-ether-acetate (112072) (EBGEA) by reducing those exposures to not more than 5 parts per million. The document contains information on recommended exposure limits for EGBE and EGBEA, exposure monitoring, medical monitoring, labeling and posting, protective clothing and equipment, informing workers about the hazards of EGBE and EGBEA, engineering controls and work practices, sanitation and hygiene, recordkeeping, chemical and physical properties of the substances, production methods and uses, number of workers potentially exposed, effects on humans, metabolism, elimination, effects on animals (hematologic effects, reproductive effects, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity), environmental sampling, analytical methods, correlation of effects and exposure, work practices (worker isolation, storage and handling, sanitation and hygiene), and spills and waste disposal." - NIOSHTIC-2"September 1990."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-158)

Environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace: lung cancer and other health effects

"NIOSH has determined that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is potentially carcinogenic to occupationally exposed workers. In 1964, the surgeon general issued the first report on smoking and health, which concluded that cigarette smoke causes lung cancer. Since then, research on the toxicity and carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke has demonstrated that the health risk from inhaling tobacco smoke is not limited to the smoker, but also includes those who inhale ETS. ETS contains many of the toxic agents and carcinogens that are present in mainstream smoke, but in diluted form. recent epidemiologic studies support and reinforce earlier published reviews by the surgeon general and the national research council demonstrating that exposure to ETS can cause lung cancer. These reviews estimated the relative risk of lung cancer to be approximately 1.3 for a nonsmoker living with a smoker compared with a nonsmoker living with a nonsmoker. Recent evidence suggests a possible association between exposure of nonsmokers to ETS and an increased risk of heart disease. Although these data were not gathered in an occupational setting, ETS meets the criteria of OSHA for classifying substances as potential occupational carcinogens. NIOSH recommends that ETS be regarded as a potential occupational carcinogen in conformance with the OSHA carcinogen policy, and that exposures to ETS be reduced to the lowest feasible concentration. Employers should minimize occupational exposure to ETS by using all available preventive measures." - NIOSHTIC-2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer [and] Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation, and Field Studies."June 1991."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 14-18)

Occupational exposure to ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and their acetates

"September 1991."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 258-293)

NIOSH recommendations for occupational safety and health: compendium of policy documents and statements

"A compilation of NIOSH documents that contain recommendations for safety and health standards in the workplace was provided. Section- A listed all NIOSH documents containing recommendations for chemical, physical, and other hazards in the workplace. Section-B contained the NIOSH recommended exposure limits (RELs) for all the hazards mentioned as well as associated health effects. Section-A included NIOSH publications and written testimony from NIOSH on rules proposed by regulatory agencies such as OSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or the United States Environmental Protection Agency as well as testimony provided by NIOSH at regulatory hearings by OSHA or MSHA. Documents were in the form of Criteria Documents, Current Intelligence Bulletins, Alerts, Special Hazard Reviews, Occupational Hazard Assessments, Miscellaneous Statements and Reports, and Responses to Regulatory Agencies. Section-B contained three tables listing hazardous chemicals, physical hazards, and the particular industry, process or work environment. Five appendices dealt with classes of chemicals and chemicals for which RELs were and were not adopted by NIOSH and chemicals for which NIOSH revised existing RELs. Pesticides were categorized into three levels of toxicity based on the 1978 NIOSH criteria." - NIOSHTIC-2"January 1992."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 4-44) and indexes

Lifting the lid: a clinical audit on commode cleaning

Many healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are preventable by infection control procedures designed to interrupt the transmission of organisms from a source. Commodes are in use constantly throughout healthcare facilities. Therefore commode surfaces are constantly handled, and any pathogens present have the potential to be transferred to not only other surfaces but also, more importantly, to patients, thus compromising patient safety. In order to examine the effectiveness and thoroughness of cleaning commodes an audit was undertaken to assess compliance with evidence-based practice. This audit demonstrates a cycle which includes defining best practice, implementing best practice, monitoring best practice and taking action to improve practice. The audit results confirmed an issue that the authors had long suspected. That is, that commodes allocated to individual patients are not always cleaned after every use. Using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence as an indicator of organic soiling also demonstrated that commodes that were considered clean were not always cleaned to a high standard. Implementing the audit recommendations improves staff knowledge through education, standardises cleaning procedures and ultimately improves patient safety