Adaptive authentication and key agreement mechanism for future cellular systems

Since the radio medium can be accessed by anyone, authentication of users is a very important element of a mobile network. Nowadays, in GSM/GPRS a challenge response protocol is used to authenticate the user to the mobile network. Similarly, in third generation mobile systems [3] a challenge response protocol was chosen in such a way as to achieve maximum compatibility with the current GSM security architecture. Both authentication mechanisms use symmetric key cryptography because of the limited processing power of the mobile devices. However, recent research [6] has shown that asymmetric, or public, key cryptography can be enabled successfully in future mobile terminals. In this paper, we propose a new adaptive authentication and key agreement protocol (AAKA) for future mobile communication systems. The novelty of AAKA and its main advantage over other challenge response protocols is that can be adaptive to the mobile environment and use symmetric and/or public key cryptography for user and network authentication

Multi-Party Trust Computation in Decentralized Environments

In this paper, we describe a decentralized privacy-preserving protocol for securely casting trust ratings in distributed reputation systems. Our protocol allows n participants to cast their votes in a way that preserves the privacy of individual values against both internal and external attacks. The protocol is coupled with an extensive theoretical analysis in which we formally prove that our protocol is resistant to collusion against as many as n-1 corrupted nodes in the semi-honest model. The behavior of our protocol is tested in a real P2P network by measuring its communication delay and processing overhead. The experimental results uncover the advantages of our protocol over previous works in the area; without sacrificing security, our decentralized protocol is shown to be almost one order of magnitude faster than the previous best protocol for providing anonymous feedback

Protecting biometric templates with image watermarking techniques

Biometric templates are subject to modifications for identity fraud especially when they are stored in databases. In this paper, a new approach to protecting biometric templates with image watermarking techniques is proposed. The novelty of this approach is that we have combined lattice and block-wise image watermarking techniques to maintain image quality along with cryptographic techniques to embed fingerprint templates into facial images and vice-versa. Thus, protecting them from being modified

Vulnerabilities of Decentralized Additive Reputation Systems Regarding the Privacy of Individual Votes

In this paper, we focus on attacks and defense mechanisms in additive reputation systems. We start by surveying the most important protocols that aim to provide privacy between individual voters. Then, we categorize attacks against additive reputation systems considering both malicious querying nodes and malicious reporting nodes that collaborate in order to undermine the vote privacy of the remaining users. To the best of our knowledge this is the first work that provides a description of such malicious behavior against such systems. In light of this analysis we demonstrate the inefficiencies of existing protocols

Moving away from the motor vehicle: the German and Hong Kong experience

Includes bibliographical references and index.Based on: Proceedings of Seminar held on 13th April, 1992 at the University of Hong Kong. Sponsored by: The Geothe- Institut of Hong Kong, the Centre of Urban Planning & Environmental Management, Green Power, Hong Kong.Erratum slip inserted.published_or_final_versionCh.6 From pedestrian zones to traffic calmed city centres Monheim, Rolf Monheim, Rolf 57Ch.10 Prospects and opportunities for light rail transit Runnacles, Tim V. Runnacles, Tim V. 119List of tables vList of figures ivCh.12 Conclusions Chau, Simon Chau, Simon Dimitriou, Harry T. Dimitriou, Harry T. 143Ch.11 Visions of a more motor vehicle dependent-free strategy Dimitriou, Harry T. Dimitriou, Harry T. 131Preface Wang, Gungwu Wang, Gungwu viCh.9 Prospects for city and suburban public transport Meakin, Richard T. Meakin, Richard T. 103Ch.8 Managing transport for environmental quality Barron, William F. Barron, William F. 91Ch.7 The urban transport policy agenda revisited Dimitriou, Harry T. Dimitriou, Harry T. 75Ch.5 Cooperative urban traffic management Monheim, Rolf Monheim, Rolf 45Ch.4 New developments in urban and suburban public transport Retzko, Hans G. Retzko, Hans G. 37Ch.3 New goals, methods and procedures in urban traffic and transport planning Retzko, Hans G. Retzko, Hans G. 27Ch.2 Problems of traffic growth and strategies for traffic calming: perceptions among citizens and opinion makers Monheim, Rolf Monheim, Rolf 7Ch.1 Introdution Chau, Simon Chau, Simon Dimitriou, Harry T. Dimitriou, Harry T. 1Index 165Notes on contributors 163Appdx.2 Participants of the seminar 159Appdx.1 Transcript of panel discussion on visions of motor vehicle free cities 147Pt.2 The Hong Kong experiencePt.1 The German experienceAcknowledgements Dimitriou, Harry T. Dimitriou, Harry T. ixForeword Uwe, Nitschke Uwe, Nitschke vii

Caffeine increases strength and power performance in resistance‐trained females during early follicular phase

The effects of 4 mg·kg‐1caffeine ingestion on strength and power were investigated for the first time, in resistance‐trained females during the early follicular phase utilizing a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover design. Fifteen females (29.8±4.0 years, 63.8±5.5 kg [mean±SD]) ingested caffeine or placebo 60 minutes before completing a test battery separated by 72 hours. One‐repetition maximum (1RM), repetitions to failure (RTF) at 60% of 1RM, were assessed in the squat and bench press. Maximal voluntary contraction torque (MVC) and rate of force development (RFD) were measured during isometric knee‐extensions, while utilizing interpolated twitch technique to measure voluntary muscle activation. Maximal power and jump height were assessed during countermovement jumps (CMJ). Caffeine metabolites were measured in plasma. Adverse effects were registered after each trial. Caffeine significantly improved squat (4.5±1.9%, effect size [ES]: 0.25) and bench press 1RM (3.3±1.4%, ES: 0.20), and squat (15.9±17.9%, ES: 0.31) and bench press RTF (9.8±13.6%, ES: 0.31), compared to placebo. MVC torque (4.6±7.3%, ES: 0.26), CMJ height (7.6±4.0%, ES: 0.50) and power (3.8±2.2%, ES: 0.24) were also significantly increased with caffeine. There were no differences in RFD or muscle activation. Plasma [caffeine] was significantly increased throughout the protocol and mild side‐effects of caffeine were experienced by only 3 participants. This study demonstrated that 4 mg·kg‐1 caffeine ingestion enhanced maximal strength, power and muscular endurance in resistance‐trained and caffeine‐habituated females during the early follicular phase, with few adverse effects. Female strength and power athletes may consider using this dose pre‐competition and ‐training as an effective ergogenic aid

The Planning and Appraisal of Mega Transport Infrastructure Projects Delivered by Public–Private Partnerships: The Case for the Use of Policy-Led Multi-Criteria Analysis

Mega transport infrastructure projects are frequently perceived as critical to the “success” of major metropolitan, regional and national development because of their potential to affect significant socioeconomic and territorial changes. However, the mega infrastructure development literature tends to focus upon the frequent failures of such projects because of their inability to meet their original expectations. A major cause for such perceived underperformance has been attributed to the inadequacies of ex-ante project appraisal methodologies. In particular, their excessively narrow focus has prompted growing calls for broader and more transparent project appraisal frameworks. These calls coincide with a period where public private partnerships (PPPs) are growing in importance globally as the favoured procurement route for governments looking to undertake new mega transport infrastructure developments. Some see the practicalities of PPPs as placing them at odds with aspirations for more inclusive and open project appraisal with adequate consideration of the public interest. It is the authors’ contention that if introduced with broader and more systematically presented sustainability concerns, PPPs can remain compatible with such ambitions. Towards this end, this paper presents the rudimentaries of a policy-led multi-criteria analysis (PLMCA) approach to project appraisal as a means by which PLMCA can contribute to more holistic PPP procurement practices. The authors contend in the latter part of the paper that PLMCA addresses many of the limitations associated with the application of narrower decision-making and project appraisal approaches currently supporting PPPs and other more conventional procurement practices

The role of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in the assessment of athletes reporting exertional dyspnoea

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common cause of breathing difficulty in athletes. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is an indirect marker of airway inflammation, recommended for the assessment and management of asthma; however, the role of FeNO in detecting and monitoring EIB has yet to be fully established. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the predictive value of FeNO to confirm or refute EIB in athletes presenting with exertional dyspnoea. Method: Seventy athletes (male: n = 45) (age: 35 ± 11 years) reporting respiratory symptoms (i.e. wheeze, cough and dyspnoea) during exercise attended the laboratory on a single occasion. All athletes performed resting FeNO and spirometry pre-and-post a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea challenge (EVH) in accordance with international guidelines. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for established FeNO thresholds: (intermediate [≥25ppb] and high [>50ppb]) and evaluated against objective evidence of EIB: (EVH diagnostic cut-off [-10% ΔFEV1 at two consecutive time-points] and [-15% ΔFEV1 at one time-point]). The diagnostic accuracy of FeNO was calculated using receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (ROC-AUC). Results: All had normal resting lung function (>80% FEV1 pred). The prevalence of EIB was 33% (-10% ΔFEV1) and 23% (-15% ΔFEV1) (median (IQR) ΔFEV1 = -7% (10.02)). FeNO values ≥25ppb and >50ppb were observed in 49% and 23% of the cohort, respectively. ROC-AUC for FeNO was 75% (-10% ΔFEV1) and 86% (-15% ΔFEV1). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV are presented in Table 1. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that FeNO >50ppb provides good specificity for a positive EVH test; however, should not replace indirect bronchoprovocation for diagnostic purposes. The high proportion of athletes reporting breathing difficulty in the absence of EIB highlights the requirement to consider alternative causes of exertional dyspnoea during clinical work-up

Recovery following a marathon: a comparison of cold water immersion, whole body cryotherapy and a placebo control

Purpose: Cryotherapy is an increasingly popular recovery strategy used in an attempt to attenuate the negative impact of strenuous physical activity on subsequent exercise. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) and cold water immersion (CWI) on markers of recovery following a marathon. Methods: Thirty-one endurance trained males completed a marathon. Participants were randomly assigned to a CWI, WBC or placebo group. Perceptions of muscle soreness, training stress and markers of muscle function were recorded before the marathon and at 24 and 48 h post exercise. Blood samples were taken at baseline, post intervention and 24 and 48 h post intervention to assess inflammation and muscle damage. Results: WBC had a harmful effect on muscle function compared to CWI post marathon. WBC positively influenced perceptions of training stress compared to CWI. With the exception of C-reactive protein (CRP) at 24 and 48 h, neither cryotherapy intervention positively influenced blood borne markers of inflammation or structural damage compared to placebo. Conclusion: The findings show WBC has a negative impact on muscle function, perceptions of soreness and a number of blood parameters compared to CWI, contradicting the suggestion that WBC may be a superior recovery strategy. Further, cryotherapy is no more effective than a placebo intervention at improving functional recovery or perceptions of training stress following a marathon. These findings lend further evidence to suggest that treatment belief and the placebo effect may be largely responsible for the beneficial effects of cryotherapy on recovery following a marathon