Efficient Implementations of Pairing-Based Cryptography on Embedded Systems

Many cryptographic applications use bilinear pairing such as identity based signature, instance identity-based key agreement, searchable public-key encryption, short signature scheme, certificate less encryption and blind signature. Elliptic curves over finite field are the most secure and efficient way to implement bilinear pairings for the these applications. Pairing based cryptosystems are being implemented on different platforms such as low-power and mobile devices. Recently, hardware capabilities of embedded devices have been emerging which can support efficient and faster implementations of pairings on hand-held devices. In this thesis, the main focus is optimization of Optimal Ate-pairing using special class of ordinary curves, Barreto-Naehring (BN), for different security levels on low-resource devices with ARM processors. Latest ARM architectures are using SIMD instructions based NEON engine and are helpful to optimize basic algorithms. Pairing implementations are being done using tower field which use field multiplication as the most important computation. This work presents NEON implementation of two multipliers (Karatsuba and Schoolbook) and compare the performance of these multipliers with different multipliers present in the literature for different field sizes. This work reports the fastest implementation timing of pairing for BN254, BN446 and BN638 curves for ARMv7 architecture which have security levels as 128-, 164-, and 192-bit, respectively. This work also presents comparison of code performance for ARMv8 architectures

The role of contextual variables in successful post-merger integration: a review and future directions

This paper attempts to investigate what actually influences a merger and acquisition (M&A) successful implementation and post-merger integration. Despite the significant research interest on this topic, there is much to explore in this area. The paper points to new areas of exploration in the existing domain of action research. Based on the existing body of knowledge, the present study explores the influence of a range of factors including organizational, individual, technological and environmental, with intent to investigate the gaps in the existing body of knowledge. It appears that human behavioural and organizational dynamics have been comparably lesser explored than the technological and strategic dimension in this area. However, looking into the future trends, this paper has come up with research objectives that can affect the interventions process and enhance combination success. Future directions for study and potential linkages with other variables have also been provided. Keywords: Merger and acquisitions, merger syndrome, organizational change, post-merger integratio

New approaches to sustainable forest management: a study of service innovation in conserving forestry resources

Sustainability has been a primary concern for the forestry professionals. This paper is concerned with the continuing evolution of approaches to monitor sustainable forest management. It summarises the existing knowledge base and primary techniques and strategies for achieving socially and environmentally acceptable SFM in various forest formations.  Service innovation is one means for the improved monitoring of SFM through the introduction of scientifically based criteria and indicators. This set has been developed on the basis of Dry Forest Asia Initiative. In addition, their implementation has played a key role in interactions with local beneficiaries. Yet, research on the link between service innovation and natural resource management is scant. The paper identifies innovation orientation, external partner collaboration, and information capability as operant resources along with the operand resources captured under the 8 criteria and their respective field level indicators. These antecedents are analyzed to know impact of overall service innovation on social economic development of the area. Keywords: sustainable forest management, service innovation, C&I, community participatio

Control of Hidden Mode Hybrid Systems: Algorithm termination

We consider the problem of safety control in Hidden Mode Hybrid Systems (HMHS) that arises in the development of a semi-autonomous cooperative active safety system for collision avoidance at an intersection. We utilize the approach of constructing a new hybrid automaton whose discrete state is an estimate of the HMHS mode. A dynamic feedback map can then be designed that guarantees safety on the basis of the current mode estimate and the concept of the capture set. In this work, we relax the conditions for the termination of the algorithm that computes the capture set by constructing an abstraction of the new hybrid automaton. We present a relation to compute the capture set for the abstraction and show that this capture set is equal to the one for the new hybrid automaton

Safety control of hidden mode hybrid systems

In this paper, we consider the safety control problem for hidden mode hybrid systems (HMHSs), which are a special class of hybrid automata in which the mode is not available for control. For these systems, safety control is a problem with imperfect state information. We tackle this problem by introducing the notion of nondeterministic discrete information state and by translating the problem to one with perfect state information. The perfect state information control problem is obtained by constructing a new hybrid automaton, whose discrete state is an estimate of the HMHS mode and is, as such, available for control. This problem is solved by computing the capture set and the least restrictive control map for the new hybrid automaton. Sufficient conditions for the termination of the algorithm that computes the capture set are provided. Finally, we show that the solved perfect state information control problem is equivalent to the original problem with imperfect state information under suitable assumptions. We illustrate the application of the proposed technique to a collision avoidance problem between an autonomous vehicle and a human driven vehicle at a traffic intersection.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF CAREER Award Number CNS-0642719

ISO 9000 Quality Management System – Its Awareness and Application to Improve Quality in Construction Industry in India

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Productivity and Profitability of a Cotton-based Production System under Organic and Conventional Management in India

The debate on the relative benefits of conventional and organic farming systems is more topical than ever. The achievements of conventional high-input agriculture were largely brought about at the cost of deteriorating soil fertility; furthermore, they were based to a large extent on fossil fuels. Developing more sustainable farming practices on a large scale is of utmost importance. However, information about the performance of agricultural production systems under organic and conventional management in tropical and subtropical regions is largely lacking. This study aimed to assess agronomic and economic data from a long-term farming systems comparison trial under semi-arid conditions in central India. Four two-year crop rotations comprising cotton-soybean-wheat under biodynamic, organic and conventional management were investigated, including one conventional system with and one without transgenic Bt cotton, between 2007 and 2010. Results showed 13% lower yields in organic compared to conventional systems. Yields in cotton, soybean and wheat were on average 14 %, 7% and 15% lower, respectively. However, production costs of organic systems were on average 32% lower than those of conventional systems, which led to similar gross margins in all systems. To our knowledge, this is the first long-term field trial comparing the agronomic and economic performance of organic, conventional and conventional+Bt cotton-based farming systems. The results of our study suggest that organic farming is a promising alternative to conventional farming in cotton-based production systems in central India. The less capital intensive nature of organic systems may be particularly interesting for smallholder farmers as it decreases dependence on loans for farm inputs. Therefore, our findings have the potential to be useful for decision-making and in turn may lead to a redirection of agricultural policies